After the death of John Wayne in the late ’70s, the Western genre was never the same. Clint Eastwoodwas moving away from the horse opera himself, only making Pale Rider in the ’80s, and with its popularity having waned after the failure of Heaven’s Gate, the Western was no longer in the saddle as Hollywood’s biggest moneymaker. Nevertheless, the genre persevered throughout the 1980s, and although they’ve been largely forgotten, there are several Western movies worth revisiting.
From biopics and adventure movies to Western tales from down under, these ’80s Westerns may not be Silverado or Young Guns, but they’re certainly worth their salt. If you’re looking for a night in as you travel back to the Old West, give these Westerns a try. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your next favorite?
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5
‘Barbarosa’ (1982)
Gary Busey and Willie Nelson in ‘Barbarosa’ (1982)Image via Universal Pictures
Willie Nelson and Gary Busey are probably not a duo that you would come to expect to see on the screen together, but when you toss them into the Western genre, it somehow just makes sense. Barbarosa follows a young farm boy (Busey) as he finds himself paired with the title outlaw (Nelson) in an adventure that puts them both on the run. If you’ve never seen this picture before, here’s your sign to give it a shot. With a quick 90-minute runtime, Barbarosa makes for a great evening watch for those looking for some solid Western fare.
From Australian director Fred Schepisi, Barbarosa is a buddy comedy with great characters played by an unlikely pair with phenomenal on-screen chemistry. If not for the fact that it’s a bit unconventional at times, it’s the Nelson and Busey team-up that makes this horse opera special. As far as revenge Westerns go, it’s among the most entertaining, even if it is a bit outlandish at times.
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4
‘Tom Horn’ (1980)
Steve McQueen as Tom HornImage via Warner Bros.
You’ve seen him as Josh Randall on Wanted: Dead or Alive and as part of an ensemble in The Magnificent Seven, but Steve McQueen once again reminds us he can command a Western all on his own with Tom Horn. Playing the famed mountain man of the same name, McQueen wrestles with his own mortality in high fashion as he wanders the American West. An older McQueen offers a more nuanced performance than we’re used to from the “King of Cool,” and as his penultimate film appearance it stands out as among his best.
As the sun was fading on McQueen’s own life and career, so too is the case of Tom Horn, and the parallels between them are staggering. Directed by William Wiard in his only feature film production, Tom Horn is an intimate portrayal of how the hardened career of a longtime cowboy ultimately plays out — and considering it was based on the real-life Horn’s own firsthand accounts, there’s a lot of great material to chew on. As McQueen’s swan song to the Western genre, Tom Horn is not a film to be forgotten or ignored.
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3
‘The Man From Snowy River’ (1982)
Jim Craig (Tom Burlinson) rounds up some horses in the snow in ‘The Man from Snowy River’Image via 20th Century Studios
Moving from the Old West to a land Down Under, The Man From Snowy River is a familiar Western tale that trades the typical Rocky Mountains in America for the “Snowies” of Australia. Directed by George T. Miller (who is not to be confused with Mad Max director George Miller), the picture follows young Jim Craig (Tom Burlinson) as he fights to make a name for himself while coming of age in the wilderness. As one of the most underrated Western movies out there, don’t let the international setting fool you — this picture feels about as traditional as it gets.
Even better, Western legend Kirk Douglasplays dual roles as estranged brothers, Harrison and Spur, each of whom plays a direct part in Jim’s story. Based on the popular Australian poem of the same name, The Man From Snowy River is a brilliant coming-of-age style and the immaculate scenery on display in Australia’s High Country. It’s also full of fine romance and expert horsemanship that one cannot help but get swept away in as the drama unfolds. It’s a great story, one made even greater by Douglas’ fine performances.
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2
‘Billy the Kid’ (1989)
Billy (Val Kilmer) walks down the street in ‘Billy the Kid’Image via TNT
Okay, Billy the Kid is technically a made-for-TV movie that some may consider more on the B-picture side of things, but considering it was Val Kilmer‘s first foray into the Western genre, it deserves a spot here. Several years before he would decide to tackle the story of Doc Holliday in Tombstone, Kilmer played the wide-eyed outlaw who took Lincoln County by storm. Covering the famed conflict between the Tunstall and Murphy-Dolan factions of the “Lincoln County War,” William H. Bonney (Kilmer) finds himself caught right in the middle.
Written by Gore Vidal and directed by William Graham, Billy the Kid had the unfortunate happenstance of airing on TNT only a year after Young Guns solidified Emilo Estevez as the care-free gunslinger. But even if Billy the Kid doesn’t quite live up to those high standards, Kilmer nails the role by perfectly embodying the youthful charm that “The Kid” was most famous for. If not simply to see Kilmer in another Western production, there’s no reason that you shouldn’t give Billy the Kid a go — it’s only 96 minutes.
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1
‘Walker’ (1987)
Ed Harris as William Walker in ‘Walker’Image via Universal
Not to be confused with the Chuck Norris series Walker, Texas Ranger, this 1987 Western featured a young Ed Harris as the real-life William Walker, a man who in the 1850s fought to make himself the leader of Nicaragua. Harris is enrapturing as Walker, and the film’s interesting (if not somewhat unsettling) satirical take on the true story — not to mention American imperialism at large — is what sets Walker apart as quite unique compared to most Westerns at the time. But that’s not even the strangest part.
Walker could technically be considered a “Weird Western” for the surreal way that the picture ends. Director Alex Cox pushed every single boundary that one might construct for a typical historical biopic to turn Walker into a strange social commentary on United States foreign policy. Although Roger Ebert hated the final product, many consider Walker to be a fascinating feature that defies expectation and forces the audience to consider the past in light of our present. Whether you agree with those results, Harris is great.
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Collider Exclusive · Action Hero Quiz Which Action Hero Would Be Your Perfect Partner? Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt
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Five legends. Five completely different ways of getting out alive — with style, with muscle, with charm, with luck, or with a plan so intricate it probably shouldn’t work. Ten questions will reveal which action hero was built to have your back.
🎖️Rambo
🍸James Bond
🏺Indiana Jones
🔧John McClane
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🎭Ethan Hunt
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01
You’re dropped into a dangerous situation with no warning. What do you need most from a partner? The first few seconds tell you everything about who belongs beside you.
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02
You have to get somewhere dangerous, fast. How do you travel? How you get there is half the mission.
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03
You’re pinned down and outnumbered. What does your ideal partner do? This is when you find out what someone is really made of.
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04
The mission is paused. You have one evening to decompress. What does your partner suggest? Who someone is when the pressure drops is who they actually are.
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05
How do you prefer your partner to communicate mid-mission? Good communication is the difference between partners and a liability.
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06
Your enemy is powerful, well-resourced, and has the upper hand. How should your partner approach them? The approach to the enemy defines the partnership.
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07
Things go badly wrong and you’re captured. What do you trust your partner to do? Who someone is when you need them most is the only thing that matters.
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08
What does your ideal partner bring to the table that you couldn’t replace? A great partner fills the gap you didn’t know you had.
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09
Every partnership has a cost. Which of these can you live with? No one comes without baggage. The question is whether you can carry it together.
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10
It’s the final moment. Everything is on the line. What do you need from your partner right now? The last question is the most honest one.
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Your Partner Has Been Assigned Your Perfect Partner Is…
Your answers have pointed to one action hero above all others. This is the person built to have your back — for better or considerably, spectacularly worse.
Rambo
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Your partner doesn’t talk much, doesn’t need to, and will have assessed every threat in your immediate environment before you’ve finished your first sentence. John Rambo is not a man of plans or politics — he is a force of nature shaped by survival, loyalty, and a capacity for endurance that goes beyond anything training can produce. He will not leave you behind. He has never left anyone behind who deserved to come home. What you get with Rambo is the most capable, most quietly ferocious partner imaginable — one who has been through things that would have broken anyone else, and who chose to keep going anyway. You’ll never need to ask if he has your back. You’ll just know.
James Bond
Your partner will arrive perfectly dressed, perfectly briefed, and with a cover story so convincing it’ll take you a moment to remember what’s actually true. James Bond is the most professionally dangerous person in any room he enters — and the most disarmingly charming, which is the point. He operates in a world of layers, where nothing is what it appears and every advantage is used without apology. You’ll never be bored. You’ll occasionally be furious. But when it matters — when the mission is genuinely on the line and the margin for error has collapsed to nothing — Bond is exactly the partner you want. He has survived things that have no business being survivable. He does it with style. That is not nothing.
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Indiana Jones
Your partner will know the history, the language, the cultural context, and exactly why the thing everyone else is ignoring is actually the most important thing in the room. Indiana Jones is brilliant, reckless, and occasionally impossible — but he is also one of the most resourceful, most genuinely knowledgeable partners you could find yourself beside. He approaches every situation with a scholar’s eye and a brawler’s instinct, which is an unusual combination and a remarkably effective one. He hates snakes and gets personally attached to objects of historical significance, both of which will slow you down at least once. It doesn’t matter. What Indy brings is irreplaceable — and the adventures you’ll have together will be the kind people write books about. Assuming you survive them.
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John McClane
Your partner was not supposed to be here. He does not have the right equipment, the right information, or anything approaching the right odds. He has a sarcastic remark and an absolute refusal to accept that the situation is as bad as it looks. John McClane is the greatest accidental hero in the history of action cinema — a man whose superpower is stubbornness, whose contingency plan is improvisation, and whose capacity to absorb punishment and keep moving would be alarming if it weren’t so useful. He will complain the entire time. He will make it significantly more chaotic than it needed to be. And he will absolutely, unconditionally, without question come through when it counts. Yippee-ki-yay.
Ethan Hunt
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Your partner has already run seventeen scenarios by the time you’ve finished reading the briefing, and the plan he’s settled on involves at least two things that should be physically impossible. Ethan Hunt operates at the absolute edge of human capability — technically, physically, and intellectually — and he brings the same relentless precision to protecting his partners that he brings to dismantling organisations that shouldn’t exist. He is not easy to know and he will never fully tell you everything. But he will carry the weight of the mission so completely, so absolutely, that your job is simply to trust him — and the remarkable thing is that trusting him always turns out to be the right call. The mission will be impossible. He will complete it anyway.
From LAPD officer Jack Traven’s (Keanu Reeves) race against time in Speed and the true story of a plan to break free in The Great Escape, to a battle of minds between Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) and Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) in Heat, to the effort to foil a Christmas terrorist plot in Die Hard, some of the very best movies of all time are action thrillers.
Perhaps the finest pure action thriller ever made debuted in 1993, storming to box office triumph and even making its mark at the Academy Awards. The movie in question is The Fugitive, released at the height of Harrison Ford‘s fame and starring the Star Wars icon as Richard Kimble, a man wrongly accused of murdering his wife. Attempting to escape the law, Kimble finds himself tracked in a gripping game of cat-and-mouse by the unflinching Deputy Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones). If Ford was the draw for the movie, it was Jones who stole the show, even winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his trouble.
This was one of seven nominations The Fugitive received at the 66th Academy Awards, including a nod in the coveted Best Picture category. Sadly, The Fugitive came out empty-handed from the biggest category of the night, losing to Steven Spielberg‘s tearjerking masterpiece, Schindler’s List. Just over 32 years since The Fugitive‘s single Oscar win in March 1994, the film is still proving popular. At the time of writing, the film is one of the ten most-streamed films on the free streaming site Tubi in the U.S.
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Collider Exclusive · Action Hero Quiz Which Action Hero Would Be Your Perfect Partner? Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt
Five legends. Five completely different ways of getting out alive — with style, with muscle, with charm, with luck, or with a plan so intricate it probably shouldn’t work. Ten questions will reveal which action hero was built to have your back.
🎖️Rambo
🍸James Bond
🏺Indiana Jones
Advertisement
🔧John McClane
🎭Ethan Hunt
Advertisement
01
You’re dropped into a dangerous situation with no warning. What do you need most from a partner? The first few seconds tell you everything about who belongs beside you.
Advertisement
02
You have to get somewhere dangerous, fast. How do you travel? How you get there is half the mission.
Advertisement
03
You’re pinned down and outnumbered. What does your ideal partner do? This is when you find out what someone is really made of.
Advertisement
04
The mission is paused. You have one evening to decompress. What does your partner suggest? Who someone is when the pressure drops is who they actually are.
Advertisement
05
How do you prefer your partner to communicate mid-mission? Good communication is the difference between partners and a liability.
Advertisement
06
Your enemy is powerful, well-resourced, and has the upper hand. How should your partner approach them? The approach to the enemy defines the partnership.
Advertisement
07
Things go badly wrong and you’re captured. What do you trust your partner to do? Who someone is when you need them most is the only thing that matters.
Advertisement
08
What does your ideal partner bring to the table that you couldn’t replace? A great partner fills the gap you didn’t know you had.
Advertisement
09
Every partnership has a cost. Which of these can you live with? No one comes without baggage. The question is whether you can carry it together.
Advertisement
10
It’s the final moment. Everything is on the line. What do you need from your partner right now? The last question is the most honest one.
Advertisement
Your Partner Has Been Assigned Your Perfect Partner Is…
Your answers have pointed to one action hero above all others. This is the person built to have your back — for better or considerably, spectacularly worse.
Advertisement
Rambo
Your partner doesn’t talk much, doesn’t need to, and will have assessed every threat in your immediate environment before you’ve finished your first sentence. John Rambo is not a man of plans or politics — he is a force of nature shaped by survival, loyalty, and a capacity for endurance that goes beyond anything training can produce. He will not leave you behind. He has never left anyone behind who deserved to come home. What you get with Rambo is the most capable, most quietly ferocious partner imaginable — one who has been through things that would have broken anyone else, and who chose to keep going anyway. You’ll never need to ask if he has your back. You’ll just know.
James Bond
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Your partner will arrive perfectly dressed, perfectly briefed, and with a cover story so convincing it’ll take you a moment to remember what’s actually true. James Bond is the most professionally dangerous person in any room he enters — and the most disarmingly charming, which is the point. He operates in a world of layers, where nothing is what it appears and every advantage is used without apology. You’ll never be bored. You’ll occasionally be furious. But when it matters — when the mission is genuinely on the line and the margin for error has collapsed to nothing — Bond is exactly the partner you want. He has survived things that have no business being survivable. He does it with style. That is not nothing.
Indiana Jones
Your partner will know the history, the language, the cultural context, and exactly why the thing everyone else is ignoring is actually the most important thing in the room. Indiana Jones is brilliant, reckless, and occasionally impossible — but he is also one of the most resourceful, most genuinely knowledgeable partners you could find yourself beside. He approaches every situation with a scholar’s eye and a brawler’s instinct, which is an unusual combination and a remarkably effective one. He hates snakes and gets personally attached to objects of historical significance, both of which will slow you down at least once. It doesn’t matter. What Indy brings is irreplaceable — and the adventures you’ll have together will be the kind people write books about. Assuming you survive them.
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John McClane
Your partner was not supposed to be here. He does not have the right equipment, the right information, or anything approaching the right odds. He has a sarcastic remark and an absolute refusal to accept that the situation is as bad as it looks. John McClane is the greatest accidental hero in the history of action cinema — a man whose superpower is stubbornness, whose contingency plan is improvisation, and whose capacity to absorb punishment and keep moving would be alarming if it weren’t so useful. He will complain the entire time. He will make it significantly more chaotic than it needed to be. And he will absolutely, unconditionally, without question come through when it counts. Yippee-ki-yay.
Advertisement
Ethan Hunt
Your partner has already run seventeen scenarios by the time you’ve finished reading the briefing, and the plan he’s settled on involves at least two things that should be physically impossible. Ethan Hunt operates at the absolute edge of human capability — technically, physically, and intellectually — and he brings the same relentless precision to protecting his partners that he brings to dismantling organisations that shouldn’t exist. He is not easy to know and he will never fully tell you everything. But he will carry the weight of the mission so completely, so absolutely, that your job is simply to trust him — and the remarkable thing is that trusting him always turns out to be the right call. The mission will be impossible. He will complete it anyway.
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‘The Fugitive’ Smashed Box Office Expectations
1993 was a strong year at the box office, with theaters dominated by the global phenomenon Jurassic Park. With Mrs. Doubtfire finishing the year in second, it was The Fugitive that surprised most by taking third place in the end-of-year box office ranks. Against a reported budget of $44 million, the movie grossed $354 million worldwide, split between a domestic haul of $184 million and a further $170 million from overseas markets. Alongside Ford and Jones, the movie also features Sela Ward as Helen Kimble, Joe Pantoliano as Cosmo Renfro, and Jeroen Krabbé as Charles Nichols.
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Harrison Ford’s The Fugitive is one of the ten most-streamed movies on Tubi, and is available to stream now. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.
Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik may not be on good terms, and fans are starting to notice. The former One Direction bandmates are fueling feud speculation after Tomlinson seemingly “unfollowed” Malik on Instagram, adding weight to recent reports of a serious falling out. While Louis Tomlinson is no longer following Zayn Malik, the “Pillowtalk” singer still appears to be following him, at least for now.
MEGA
The social media move comes after shocking claims that the two were involved in a physical altercation that reportedly left Tomlinson injured. According to Page Six, the situation escalated while the pair were filming a three-part Netflix docuseries together, eventually turning physical.
“It spiralled into a row then Zayn made a remark about Louis’ mum Johannah [Deakin],” sources said. “Louis was stunned and in shock. As he went to move, Zayn then attacked him. Zayn punched him straight in the face. Because he was wearing rings it cut Louis’ head.”
The alleged fight didn’t just end there. “He was pulled away and Louis was taken for medical treatment. He was left with a concussion,” the source said. “This happened outside in front of so many people. It was shocking.” The reported comment about Tomlinson’s late mother, Johannah Deakin, who died of leukemia in 2016, is said to have been the breaking point.
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Reports of a heated clash between Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik first began circulating in December 2025, just months after their three-part Netflix docuseries was announced, with insiders sharing a similar version of events at the time.
New Details Emerge As Alleged Fight Timeline Resurfaces
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The resurfaced claims come as Malik was also dealing with a separate health scare that forced him to step back from public appearances.
“To my fans, Thank you to all of you for your love & support now & always, been a long week and am still unexpectedly recovering,” Malik wrote via Instagram Stories while sharing a photo from a hospital bed. “Heartbroken that I can’t see you all this week, I wouldn’t be in the place I am today without you guys and am so thankful for your understanding.”
While he didn’t reveal the cause of his hospitalization, Malik took a moment to thank the medical team caring for him. “Thank you to the incredible hospital staff of Drs, nurses, cardiologist, management, admin and everyone who has helped along the way and continue to,” he added. “You are all legends! Big big love xx z”
Netflix Project On Ice As Fallout Between Tomlinson And Malik Deepens
Scooter / AFF-USA.com / MEGA
Sources claim the fallout has had major professional consequences as well. The pair reportedly haven’t spoken in the six months since the incident, and their planned Netflix docuseries has now been put on hold.
The project, first announced in October with a projected 2026 release, was expected to follow the two on a road trip across the U.S., where they would reflect on their time in One Direction, including memories of late bandmate Liam Payne.
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Liam Payne’s Death Casts Shadow Over Band’s Future
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
The stalled project also unfolds in the wake of a heartbreaking loss that still hangs over the former One Direction members.
Liam Payne died in October 2024 after falling from the third floor of his hotel room at CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Toxicology results later revealed multiple substances in his system at the time, including cocaine, crack, and benzodiazepine.
In an emotional moment, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles reunited for Payne’s funeral in the U.K., marking a rare public gathering of the group. The loss was especially devastating as reports suggested the band had been discussing a potential reunion before Payne’s death at just 31.
Future Of Project Remains Uncertain Amid Ongoing Tension With Louis Tomlinson And Zayn Malik
Tammie Arroyo / AFF-USA.com / MEGA
With tensions between Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik reportedly still unresolved, the future of their planned project remains up in the air.
As communication between the two appears nonexistent and fallout continues to linger, it’s unclear whether the docuseries will ever move forward, or if this chapter of their story has come to a permanent halt.
The story had been building quietly for months—questions without answers, grief without closure, and a silence that seemed to stretch on longer than anyone expected. Now, that silence is beginning to crack. Two names—Celeste Rivas Hernandez and D4vd—are once again at the center of a case that has gripped attention. Now, new developments pull both a grieving family into the spotlight.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s Family Speaks After D4vd’s Arrest
Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s family is now speaking out after months of unimaginable loss. Her father, Jesus Rivas, broke his silence just two days after D4vd was arrested on suspicion of her murder. “Thank God… Justice for Celeste,” he said through his attorney, Patrick Steinfeld, in a statement shared April 18. Meanwhile, the 21-year-old singer remains in custody without bail under the Los Angeles Police Department, with a court appearance set for April 20.
D4vd’s Legal Team Stands Firm On His Innocence
As previously reported, D4vd’s legal team is wasting no time pushing back after his arrest, making it clear they’re standing firm against the allegations tied to the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. In a statement shared shortly after he was taken into custody, his attorneys denied any wrongdoing. They also pointed out that, as of now, no formal charges or indictment have been filed, noting that he is being held on suspicion while the investigation continues. Doubling down, they stated, “Let us be clear — the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death.”
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Footage Shows Singer Being Taken Into Custody
All of this comes amid newly surfaced footage that’s now adding another layer to the case. According to reports, videos show the singer being taken into custody by law enforcement in the Hollywood Hills around 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 16. Furthermore, clips obtained by multiple outlets capture multiple officers placing him under arrest. Additional footage shows him walking down a residential street with his hands behind his back as police escort him away.
D4vd—who had reportedly not been seen publicly for months leading up to the arrest—appears in gray sweatpants and a black hoodie, keeping a blank expression as the situation unfolds. Neighbors in the area claimed there was a noticeable police presence. And, video from the scene includes officers using a loudspeaker to call for a surrender before moving in. Authorities later confirmed the arrest was made on probable cause. Police also noted they had been closely tracking developments in the ongoing investigation tied to Celeste’s death.
What was supposed to be a catchy fast-food jingle of “crispy chickennn, fresh lettuce, three cheeseeeesss” ended up having folks quickly tapping out with a side-eye. And years later, it’s still being talked about in the same breath as one of the most debated celebrity ad moments. Now, Mary J. Blige is reflecting on the 2012 Burger King commercial that sparked all that noise in the first place, and the fallout that followed.
Mary J. Blige Reflects On Burger King Commercial Backlash
In a new sit-down with Scott Evans, Mary J. Blige is revisiting her 2012 Burger King commercial and making it clear the experience still sits heavy with her. She shared that the moment didn’t just stay online—it bled into her real life, costing her friendships and impacting her brand, while emphasizing it’s still “not a laughing matter” to her today. Mary said her true fans never found the commercial funny, and she didn’t hold back on how she felt about the execution, calling everything from how it was shot to how it played out publicly “wrong.” She even suggested the rollout felt set-up to unfold the way it did in the press, turning what was meant to be a promotional moment into a full-blown cultural conversation.
You Already Know Internet Got Jokes About This
Folks quickly ran to TSR’s Instagram comment section to share their thoughts once Mary’s Burger King commercial started trending again. Some users defended it, saying the jingle was actually a “banger.” And, many didn’t understand why it sparked so much controversy or how it led to such a heavy fallout, including her losing friendships. Meanwhile, a few users joked that while it “may not be funny to her,” it’s still hilarious to them, sparking laughs in the comments.
One Instagram user @joseline commented “Was wrong with her getting her money 🤷🏽♀️”
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Then Instagram user @bingeworthy added, “Girl its iconic OWN IT 😂😂”
And, Instagram user @thebrooklynjai shared, “Wait ? I’m confused?? She lost friends for a commercial? Were they haters?“
Likewise, Instagram user @idontgetpaidenoughforthis wrote, “Not all of us collectively confused as to why there was backlash 😭”
While Instagram user @stepyaprettyup said, “Lost friends? That sh*t was a banger“
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Finally, Instagram user @hmuadom joked, “Everything is not funny…. but this, this is funny.“
Inside Mary J.’s Burger King Ad Controversy
The commercial, which aired April 2, 2012, featured Mary J. Blige singing about Burger King’s chicken wraps inside a tight, stylized setup while product shots played alongside her vocals. Instead of landing as a fun celebrity endorsement, the ad immediately drew criticism, with viewers—especially within the Black community—calling out what they felt were stereotypical undertones. Social media even ran with it, remixing clips and turning the campaign into viral discourse within hours.
By the next day, Burger King pulled the ad entirely, citing a “music licensing issue,” even as backlash was already spreading online. The company pointed to other celebrity collaborations tied to the same product line, including campaigns featuring Salma Hayek and Jay Leno, but the conversation stayed locked in on Mary’s commercial, which remained the most dissected—and debated—of them all.
During CBS Fest on Wednesday, April 15, Arielle Kebbel weighed in on possible Yellowstone cameos, telling Us Weekly, “[We need] all of them. We could go for some more country artists any day. [too]!”
“[For Us, the biggest challenge of filming a Yellowstone spinoff] is finding the balance of respecting the why that’s already established and knowing that in that legacy, our job is to also bring these new characters forward,” she explained. “So respecting what’s already been built but also feeling creative and free enough to bring our own character stories forward and really hoping that people join in our world.”
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Yellowstone, which aired from 2018 to 2024, introduced Us to the Dutton family. After the show came to an end in 2024, CBS expanded the TV universe with Marshals, which follows Luke Grimes‘ character Kayce as he leaves ranching life behind to join an elite unit of U.S. Marshals.
Then there is Paramount’s Dutton Ranch, which shows Rip (Cole Hauser) and Beth (Kelly Reilly) adjusting to life in Texas. Despite being Yellowstone spinoffs, both shows are expanding with new characters such as Kebbel’s Belle. There are also characters on Marshals played by Logan Marshall-Green, Ash Santos, Tatanka Means, Brecken Merrill, Mo Brings Plenty and Gil Birmingham.
As fans get more attached to the Marshals cast, they have also formed opinions on the characters. The most recent episode of the show took some by surprise when Belle’s friendship with Cal (Marshall-Green) turned into more as they kissed.
“It didn’t feel quick to me, certainly, because of so much they did before,” Marshall-Green, 49, told Us on Wednesday. “It felt earned. I actually wasn’t that surprised.”
Santos, 32, meanwhile, showed support for the fictional couple, adding, “I was ready for it. I was excited when I finally saw it in the script. It was time!” Kebbel, for her part, “wasn’t surprised” by the progression in the relationship either.
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“The only reason I wasn’t surprised was because I had a meeting with our creator before the season started and he did tell me. But we had a very good talk, and I said, ‘Tell me what I need to know, and don’t tell me anything else,’” she recalled. “I didn’t know that was coming, but I didn’t actually know a lot of the backstory, so I liked it because there was this intersection of Arielle and Belle that knew some things, but not everything, which was very true to the story as well.”
Kebbel admitted that she didn’t think Marshals was ready for Belle and Cal as a couple yet, noting, “We’re still establishing the team [and] the team environment. Obviously, this kiss throws a whole new layer of awkwardness and feelings into the mix. But I think what’s great about both of them is that they put work first. Where they kind of have similarities or understand one another is that they’re struggling with the balance between work and family because they care about both so much. So I think that’s the layers we’re going to see uncovered in future episodes.”
“I didn’t even go there at first either. Other people brought it up to me and I was like, “Whoa! OK.” But I think it’s really interesting to see that relationship,” she admitted to Us. “They are polar opposites.”
She concluded: “I have [seen edits of them]. There’s a girl on TikTok. She makes so many edits. She’s doing the Lord’s work, honey. The edits are so good.”
There are some shows that spike, trend, win awards, and then slowly slide out of the weekly conversation. Severanceclearly isn’t one of them. Even with Apple TV now stacked with high-profile originals, Dan Erickson’s corporate-nightmare sci-fi drama is still sitting in the platform’s global top 10. On April 14, it held the No. 10 spot worldwide on Apple TV, which is a pretty impressive place for a show that’s already had time to become a full-on prestige fixture. It really does refuse to go away.
The cast is a huge part of why it has that kind of tail. Severance stars Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Patricia Arquette,Tramell Tillman, Zach Cherry, Jen Tullock, Michael Chernus, Dichen Lachman, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, and Sarah Bock, and it’s hard to think of another current sci-fi ensemble that blends deadpan weirdness, emotional damage, and office dread this well.
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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
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Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
🌧️Blade Runner
🏜️Dune
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🚀Star Wars
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01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
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02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
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03
What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
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04
How do you deal with authority you don’t trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
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05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
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06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
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07
Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.
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08
What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
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Your Fate Has Been Calculated You’d Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
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The Resistance, Zion
The Matrix
You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.
You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.
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The Wasteland
Mad Max
The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.
You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
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Los Angeles, 2049
Blade Runner
You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.
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Arrakis
Dune
Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.
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A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Star Wars
The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
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How Good Is ‘Severance’?
Collider’s review stated that Severance Season 2 does exactly what a great follow-up season should do. It does not rush to answer every question from the first season, but it does deepen the mystery in a way that feels exciting instead of frustrating. The show gets bigger, stranger, and more ambitious, while still keeping its focus on the characters who made Season 1 so compelling.
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Severance is, at its core, the kind of TV show that was always going to get people talking thanks to its twisty nature, but with such a long break between seasons, there was also a risk of audience interest waning, especially when there are countless other shows worth tuning in for in the interim. Ultimately, however, Season 2 should silence any lingering concerns viewers might have through its stunning direction, outstanding performances, and sinuous, compelling mysteries. This evolving, mind-bending continuation, as crafted by Erickson and fellow writers Mohamad El Masri, Wei-Ning Yu, Anna Ouyand Moench, Erin Wagoner, Mark Friedman, and Adam Countee, cements Severance as an absolute triumph of television, proving beyond a shadow of any doubt that the best stories are always worth waiting for.
Ryan Gosling in a still from Project Hail Mary.Amazon MGM Studios
Amazon MGM’s Project Hail Maryexceeded box-office expectations for the fifth weekend in a row, benefiting greatly from the studio’s decision to re-release the movie on IMAX for a week and to delay its debut on Prime Video. Exhibitors weren’t happy about the lean window that Amazon gave to Dwayne Johnsonand Chris Evans‘ Red One, the $250 million action-adventure that the studio simply had to release on Prime Video in time for Christmas. Earlier this year, Amazon quickly put the sci-fi mystery Mercy on Prime Video following a poor theatrical run as well. But Project Hail Mary was marketed as a big-screen event, and it aligns with the studio’s newfound determination to produce movies for theaters.
It helps that Project Hail Mary has struck a chord with audiences and critics. Based on the bestseller by Andy Weir, who also wrote the novel that inspired Ridley Scott‘s The Martian, Project Hail Mary was directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. It stars Ryan Goslingas a scientist-turned-schoolteacher who is sent on an intergalactic mission to save the world in a near-future dystopia. The movie holds a “Certified Fresh” 94% critics’ score and a “Verified Hot” 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The aggregator website’s consensus reads, “A visually dazzling space odyssey that’s carried along effortlessly by the gravitational pull of Ryan Gosling at his most winning, Project Hail Mary is a near-miraculous fusion of smarts and heart.” The movie will likely do gangbusters when it eventually lands on Prime Video.
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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
🌧️Blade Runner
Advertisement
🏜️Dune
🚀Star Wars
Advertisement
01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
Advertisement
02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
Advertisement
03
What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
Advertisement
04
How do you deal with authority you don’t trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
Advertisement
05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
Advertisement
06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
Advertisement
07
Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.
Advertisement
08
What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
Advertisement
Your Fate Has Been Calculated You’d Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
Advertisement
The Resistance, Zion
The Matrix
You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.
Advertisement
You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.
The Wasteland
Mad Max
The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.
Advertisement
You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
Los Angeles, 2049
Blade Runner
You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
Advertisement
You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.
Arrakis
Dune
Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
Advertisement
Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.
A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Star Wars
The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
Advertisement
You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
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Here’s How Much ‘Project Hail Mary’ Has Grossed at the Box Office
For now, it can enjoy having overtaken several older blockbusters such as Scott’s Prometheus, Michael Bay‘s Armageddon, and many more. This weekend, Project Hail Mary hit the $285 million mark domestically and the $570 million mark worldwide, against a reported budget of more than $200 million. In doing so, it overtook the $524 million and the $543 million respective global hauls of Guy Ritchie‘s Sherlock Holmes and its sequel, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Both movies starred Robert Downey Jr. as the iconic detective and Jude Law as his right-hand man, Dr. Watson. Even though the films were very successful at the box office and largely well-received by critics, a long-awaited third installment remains stuck in development hell. Ritchie recently executive-produced Young Sherlock, a Prime Video series which is unrelated to the films. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
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Release Date
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March 15, 2026
Runtime
157 minutes
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Director
Christopher Miller, Phil Lord
Writers
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Drew Goddard, Andy Weir
Producers
Aditya Sood, Amy Pascal, Andy Weir, Christopher Miller, Phil Lord, Rachel O’Connor, Ryan Gosling
No matter the changes in the entertainment landscape, audiences will always fall back on the lighthearted strengths of comedy to create joyous cinematic experiences. The 2020s as a whole have been a great decade for comedy, with many new absolute classics that have delivered in the best way possible. However, the greatness of the genre comes from how it is always evolving and growing, and a great selection of comedies is set to premiere in 2026 that hope to bring that signature sense of charm.
Whether it be long-awaited returns and reboots of beloved franchises or original visions from the most prominent filmmakers of today, there is a great mixture of comedic styles and approaches that make the genre’s future so exciting. Even aside from these standout titles, there are sure to be a wide array of brilliant comedies throughout the year. However, the entries on this list stand out as the most prominent and must-see upcoming titles in the comedy genre.
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‘Scary Movie’ – Release Date: June 5th, 2026
The killer from ‘Scary Movie 6’ on a subwayImage via Paramount Pictures
Spoof movies have been largely out of favor following the string of terrible releases in the 2010s. Still, with the rise of modern spoof films like The Naked Gun and Fackham Hall, Scary Movie is looking to reclaim its throne as the king of parody filmmaking. While the last entry, 2013’s Scary Movie 5, wasn’t particularly good, the long-awaited return of the Wayans Brothers and both Anna Faris and Regina Hall to the franchise has reinvigorated excitement and interest in this concept.
It also helps that there have been so many great horror movies in recent memory, ripe for satire and over-the-top parody. The trailer is filled to the brim with teases for characters and sequences parodying the likes of The Substance, Longlegs, Smile, Terrifier, and more. However, the clear standout is just how much the film is going to parody the reboot culture that has persisted in modern horror, having its own return of legacy characters. It certainly has the potential to be the absolute best in the Scary Movie franchise.
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‘Power Ballad’ – Release Date: June 5th, 2026
Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas in Power BalladImage via Lionsgate
The latest musical comedy from John Carney, the acclaimed director of Sing Street, Power Ballad sets out to tell a wildly over-the-top story of betrayal as its ramifications are at a global pop-star scale. The film sees Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, and Danny (Nick Jonas), a fading boy-band star, who bond over their mutual love of music during a late-night jam session. However, after Rick shares a personal song that he wrote, Danny takes it and turns it into a global sensation, taking all the credit as if he wrote it himself.
Power Ballad‘s instantly engaging premise, combined with some great comedic stars at its center and the proven directing prowess of John Carney, sets it up to be an absolute comedy smash. While it will sadly be going head-to-head with Scary Movie, coming out on the same day, one can hope that this comedy can get its fair shot in the spotlight, as it certainly has all of the pieces to be a modern musical comedy classic.
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‘Coyote vs. Acme’ – Release Date: August 28th, 2026
The path to Coyote vs. Acme actually getting a theatrical release has ironically been as wild and unpredictable as a Looney Tunes cartoon. Alas, this previously canceled, now un-canceled live-action animation hybrid comedy is finally getting released this August. The Looney Tunes film sees iconic character Wile E. Coyote, tired of the continuous failures of the products he uses from Acme, hiring a billboard lawyer to sue the Acme Corporation once and for all.
The film is sure to feature the distinct flavor of wild Looney Tunes comedy that has made them absolute icons not just in their classic animated shorts, but also in wildly entertaining comedy films like Space Jam and Looney Tunes: Back in Action. However, the real notoriety and increased buzz surrounding the film has come from how it has been un-canceled, no longer set to be shelved as a tax write-off, and gloriously getting a full theatrical release.
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‘Whitney Springs’ – Release Date: TBA
Kendrick Lamar at 2017 MTV Video Music AwardsImage via Sara De Boer
Large parts of the film that many presume to be called Whitney Springs are still shrouded in mystery, but the mix of absolute talent involved, combined with its wildly hilarious and dark premise, makes it a must-watch comedy to keep an eye out for. The film is a collaboration between creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, with legendary 27x Grammy Award winner Kendrick Lamar, a wild musical comedy that satirically tackles race and perceptions in both America’s past and present.
The plot follows a young Black man taking a job performing as a slave at a popular plantation attraction in a living history museum. As if this wasn’t awkward and confusing enough for him to experience on a day-to-day basis, he soon discovers that his girlfriend’s ancestors were, in fact, slave owners who actually owned his ancestors. The premise is overflowing with both distinct dark and satire humor from Parker and Stone as well as striking political commentary similar to Lamar’s music, making it all the more enticing to actually see what the final film will be like.
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‘Jackass: Best and Last’ – Release Date: June 26th, 2026
Johnny Knoxville pours a glass of milk into a magician’s hat in Jackass Forever.Image via Paramount Pictures
The surprise fifth feature film in the Jackass franchise is set to be their last. Jackass: Best and Last is setting itself up to be a glorious send-off letter with its trademark mix of gross, painful, over-the-top pranks and endearing friendship. It will use both old and new footage, acting as a celebration of all things Jackass and all of their years working together as they hurt each other in the best and worst ways possible.
Jackass has always been an acquired style of comedy that either overwhelmingly hits or overwhelmingly misses with someone, yet this last hurrah truly feels like the end of an era in terms of their absolute chaos. While there will certainly always be people doing dumb things on-screen for comedic intent, the talent at Jackass has been striking comedy gold by hurting themselves in the most depraved and shocking ways, with Best and Last promising to be a beautiful swan song finale.
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‘I Want Your Sex’ – Release Date: July 31st, 2026
Olivia Wilde looks at a costar in a still from I Want Your Sex.Image via Magnolia Pictures
Returning to the world of comedy, with over a decade since his last comedy film, Gregg Araki has been an icon of underground queer cinema whose work has massively grown more appreciated in recent years. Thus, his new film, I Want Your Sex, is all the more promising. It also helps that it has already premiered at film festivals like Sundance, and it currently has an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film follows Elliot (Cooper Hoffman), who, after getting a job working for renowned artist Erika Tracy (Olivia Wilde), suddenly has his fantasies come true when she taps him to become her sexual muse. However, this seemingly ideal situation soon takes a turn when Elliot finds himself way out of his depth, with Erika taking him on a journey of profound sexual experiences, delving into a wild world of obsession, power, betrayal and murder that he never could have expected.
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‘Wild Horse Nine’ – Release Date: November 6th, 2026
John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell sitting on a couch in an airport and laughing in ‘Wild Horse Nine’Image via Searchlight Pictures
Director Martin McDonagh has been one of the most consistent names in striking and widely appreciated award-winning dark comedy in recent years. Films like Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Banshees of Inisherin are some of the most revered comedies of recent memory. Wild Horse Nine hopes to continue the director’s winning streak, utilizing great comedic talent and an entertaining espionage premise to create witty comedic gold.
The film will see John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as a duo of CIA agents who have been dispatched to Easter Island shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup. The duo wrestles with both their dark pasts and the conspiracies of the present as they get up to all sorts of mischief on the island. It’s likely that it will premiere at a film festival like Venice or TIFF before its November 6th release date, so we’ll know sooner rather than later if the film lives up to McDonagh’s reputation.
Legacy sequels to widely acclaimed one-off comedy films from the past have been a tried and true method of success for decades now, as audiences simply love revisiting iconic and beloved characters that they’ve been laughing with for years. The Devil Wears Prada 2 stands out as the prominent comedy legacy sequel to look out for, coming out20 years after the original iconic fashion comedy, with the same cast, director, and writer all returning.
If the film even comes close to the levels of memorability and strength that the original has, it could certainly be among the all-time greatest legacy sequels in comedy history. The film will largely follow the continued careers of these classic characters, with Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) returning to Runway to work alongside Miranda Priestly, who must now adapt to a wildly different landscape than the one we saw 20 years ago.
‘Digger’ – Release Date: October 2nd, 2026
A man balancing on a railing on one leg while holding a shovel in ‘Digger’Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
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Set to be a wild, highly energizing adventure comedy from legendary Academy Award-winning director Alejandro G. Iñarritu, Digger is the must-see award-hopeful comedy of the year that many are thinking might win Tom Cruise his first acting Oscar. It’s already exciting enough that it is Cruise’s first original film in years, but the prospect of him working with Iñarritu in a comedy film feels like cinematic dreams are coming true.
The crowd-pleasing adventure film still has a lot of details under wraps, but it will supposedly see Cruise as the most powerful man in the world, embarking on a frantic mission to prove to the world that he is the savior of humanity before a disaster that he’s unleashed destroys everything. Its high-flying, electrifying energy can be fully felt from the small teaser for the film, while the overwhelming talent behind and in front of the camera, by itself, sells the film as a must-watch comedy experience.
‘The Invite’ – Release Date: June 26th, 2026
Image via A24
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Easily the biggest smash hit from critics and audiences alike that premiered at Sundance a few months ago, it did not take long for The Invite to be picked up by A24 and set up as one of the year’s most enticing and prominent comedy releases. Olivia Wilde’s latest directorial outing has been touted by critics as her greatest work yet, with a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and utilizing an all-star cast in this performance-centric comedy film.
The film sees Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton playing a duo of couples who meet up together for a dinner party before the night spirals into wild and unexpected places. It’s clear that so much of the comedy and strength is coming from surprises and twists, but the clear chemistry and dynamic between these four all-star titans is sure to make this an absolute blast from start to finish. It isn’t even out yet, but The Invite is one of the safest bets for what could be considered the absolute best comedy of the year.
The ‘90s were a pretty heady time for Star Wars fans. The franchise experienced a resurgence in the form of an Expanded Universe of books, comics, and video games. At the time, all of this was considered canon, which made everything that much more exciting. We had new, official Star Wars adventures for the first time since the credits rolled on Return of the Jedi back in 1983. Plus, we had new characters, some of whom instantly became fan-favorites. Two of those characters came from prolific author Timothy Zahn: Grand Admiral Thrawn and Mara Jade.
Both of those characters, along with the rest of the Star Wars EU, were de-canonized once Disney bought the franchise. Thanks to sheer fan demand, the House of Mouse eventually brought Thrawn back into canon via Rebels and, later, Ahsoka. After that, many Zahn fans figured it was just a matter of time before Mara Jade was brought back. However, Zahn and other writers recently confirmed that Disney keeps turning down their attempts to bring this popular character back into Star Wars canon.
The Coolest Star Wars Character You’ve Never Heard Of
Mara Jade was introduced in Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire as a character who was once the Emperor’s Hand. As a Force-sensitive Imperial agent, she could enact Palpatine’s will all across the galaxy while maintaining mental contact with him. However, the death of the Emperor effectively ruined her career: because almost nobody knew what her role was, she had no real place in the Empire after Palpatine’s death. She had to build a new life for herself as a smuggler, but she is forever haunted by the last command given to her by Palpatine when he died: “YOU WILL KILL LUKE SKYWALKER.”
She proved to be a very popular character and eventually married Luke Skywalker and gave birth to his son (who, very cutely, was named “Ben”). After Disney bought the rights to Star Wars, though, Mara Jade and all her misadventures were no longer part of official canon. Later, however, Thrawn was brought back into canon through appearances in Rebels and Ahsoka. Furthermore, Disney commissioned Timothy Zahn to write new, canonical novels about Thrawn, who is arguably the most popular Star Wars villain since Darth Vader.
If Grand Admiral Thrawn Can Come Back, Why Not Mara Jade?
Understandably, Zahn tried to pitch Disney on reintroducing Jade into the canon in any capacity. In 2024, he told a Dragon Con audience that she is the number one character he would like to bring back to Star Wars in just about any capacity. “I keep nudging Lucasfilm, asking them if I could write a book,” he said. “The answers come back basically some place between ‘no’ and ‘heck no.’”
The matter came up again at MegaCon this year. Prolific Star Wars author Claudia Grey told the audience that she had repeatedly pitched putting Mara Jade into her books. “A couple of times I was like, ‘Really? Really, no Mara Jade?’ And they were like, ‘Nope,’” she said, putting a stern emphasis on the final word. By happenstance, Zahn was at the same panel and chimed in: “I asked them, too,” he said, before revealing that his request was similarly rejected.
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It’s Time For Live-Action Mara Jade
It’s possible that Disney is hesitant to introduce Mara Jade back into canon because so much of her story doesn’t really work in the wake of the Star Wars prequels and sequels. We never really saw anything like an Emperor’s Hand in any subsequent movies, and the Inquisitors seem to fill the role of “Force-connected Imperials outside the regular chain of command.” Plus, her post-Imperial life was spent building a career with Talon Karrde, a smuggler chief who is also no longer part of established canon. Finally, the whole idea of having her marry Luke Skywalker is completely off the table, both because of Mark Hamill’s age and the fact that Luke hardly had time for love after becoming a grumpy recluse.
However, modern Star Wars writers did a solid job bringing Grand Admiral Thrawn back and gently nestling him within existing canon. It seems like it would be easy enough to do that for Mara Jade, especially with her creator doing his best to help out. However, it seems like the powers that be have decided that this fan-favorite character will never grace the screen or even the page, ever again. Which is unfortunate, because bringing her back in her own show or even film would be the perfect way to appeal to Expanded Universe fans who have felt (ahem) “jaded” by the Disney era of Star Wars.
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