Entertainment
8 Most Perfect Movies of the Last 11 Years, Ranked
The past decade has been incredibly fruitful when it comes to film; to translate it into meme language, “We are so back” when it comes to great cinema. New filmmakers emerged with incredibly creative ideas, while established names have seemingly achieved their collective magnum opus, delivering some of their strongest and most powerful works in recent years.
The last ten years (plus one) have been very exciting as cinematic boundaries were often moved, Oscar records were broken, and the landscape of cinema changed with the wider resurrection of 70mm film and the awakening of streaming. Without further ado, here are the eight most perfect movies of the last 11 years, ranked by their impact, general critical consensus, and perhaps a touch of personal preference.
8
‘The Batman’ (2022)
The Batman is an incredible neo-noir action film that has taken everyone by surprise. It’s only surpassed by the secrecy and magnitude of its still-in-production sequel, but we mustn’t forget it’s a film that carries its own weight. While the long runtime may have deferred some people from undertaking the feat of watching this DC Comics-based film, the runtime is barely felt throughout; there are true moments of filmmaking ingeniosity, including the stunning cinematography and skilled editing. The performances are strong, heavy, and felt throughout, with particular praise to Colin Farrell, who still manages to give Oz Cobb, aka The Penguin, a massive personality underneath a ton of prosthetics and makeup.
The Batman focuses on the vigilante’s detective side a lot more than his physical heroics; Bruce Wayne/Batman is portrayed by Robert Pattinson, and he finds himself at a crossroads in Gotham: protect the innocent or persecute the corrupt? The Riddler (Paul Dano) does him the service of the latter by targeting seemingly random officials and leaving messages for the Batman throughout. The film describes Gotham as a seedy urban landscape filled with reprehensible people—and at the same time, as a place full of innocent folks falling victim to the minority of those sitting greedily in their local government. Whether or not there is a sequel, The Batman is perfect as a standalone film, too; you don’t have to be a fan of comics or superhero stories to enjoy the film, which is probably the best part of all. It explains and introduces its characters with clarity, paving the way for how we see vigilante-themed cinema.
7
‘Midsommar’ (2019)
Many would deem Ari Aster‘s feature film debut, Hereditary, a better film, but Midsommar is a perfect sophomore feature for this horror director and one of the most perfect films of the decade. It’s been a wonderful decade for horror; one of the greatest directors of our time, Robert Eggers, has been especially dominant in the horror-fantasy landscape, and filmmakers like Coralie Fargeat, Danny and Michael Philippou, and Damian McCarthy have helped re-establish horror as a sentimental genre. Any true fan of horror understands that the scary stuff is rooted in trauma, social conditioning, and pain, and so presenting themes of loss and grief through horror isn’t anything new. Like a Newton’s cradle that stopped moving back and forth, Aster pulled the first ball and gave that sentimentally scary machine momentum to keep going once again.
Midsommar follows Dani (Florence Pugh), a young woman who loses her entire family in a tragic murder-suicide. Dani has been dating Christian (Jack Reynor) for a while, but their relationship has grown cold, and her grief seems to take them further apart. When their friend, a native Swede named Pelle (Vilhelm Blomgren), invites Dani, Christian, and their two friends Josh (William Jackson Harper) and Mark (Will Poulter) to a traditional week-long celebration of midsummer in his ancestral commune named Hårga, they all agree to go. Dani becomes the first to realize that the Hårga have different, pagan-like customs and feels compelled to run and give in at the same time. Many call Midsommar a breakup movie, and it technically is; however, it’s a cathartic release of grief in the same sense, and though it does get downright unsettling, it’s a folk horror that feels deeply human.
6
‘Sentimental Value’ (2025)
Joachim Trier has an interesting ability to depict life with a lightness behind its inherent heaviness. No matter how long you watch or what is on-screen, there’s a sense of final optimism in his stories; themes like depression, generational trauma, grief, and avoidance are quite common for the director, but while you watch his protagonists, you get the uncanny sense that despite all the tragedy, things can end up well. With every unspoken word or a spoken cry for help, you feel seen by Trier’s films, especially if you’ve ever felt like one of the people in them. Sentimental Value won the Oscar for Best International Feature at this year’s Oscars, but its running for Best Picture overall was a genuinely justified nomination. Sentimental Value feels like you are truly watching three generations of the same family trying to resolve their shared trauma.
Sentimental Value follows the eldest daughter in her family, actress Nora (Renate Reinsve), whose film director father Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård) reappears in her and her little sister Agnes’ (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) lives after their mother’s death. Agnes lives with her husband and son in their childhood home, which has been in Gustav’s family for generations, and when they all find themselves under the same roof again, their memories intertwine with the trauma of each of their upbringings. It’s an incredibly moving film full of life; Reinsve brings to life a hurt woman who is still a little girl inside, while Skarsgård hits all the right notes as a father trying to mend his poor past. If you haven’t seen it, you simply must.
5
‘Aftersun’ (2022)
Speaking of father-daughter relationships, a film that must never be forgotten is Charlotte Wells‘ Aftersun. If there has ever been a feature capable of making you stop everything and have a good cry during the end credits, it is this one. While it celebrates the relationship of a teen girl and her young father, it also honors her memory of him that has undoubtedly grown into a trauma she can’t easily put behind her. Aftersun was apparently based on Wells’ life and relationship with her own father, allowing the director to resolve her trauma in some way; most of her work is based on some form of healing or opening of deep-seated grief. This film was Paul Mescal‘s breakthrough into the world and his first Oscar nomination; it was well-deserved because he is raw and vulnerable in it.
Aftersun follows 11-year-old Sophie (Frankie Corio) during the time she went on a holiday to Turkey with her 30-year-old father, Calum (Mescal). She records a big portion of the holiday on her camera, remembering how things really were in between; Calum seems loving but like a capacity to be fully present is missing. The film shows Sophie’s perspective and her making friends and being a child on holiday—as she should—but it often switches to Calum, who is pondering, changes his mind frequently, and wonders about life past thirty. Aftersun is a touching slow-burn that will undoubtedly make you emotional, at least; it’s beautifully made, obviously with lots of love and care for the protagonists, differentiating itself from a standard family drama in more ways than one.
4
‘Sinners’ (2025)
Sinners is the new record-setting film, celebrating 16 Oscar nominations, which is the most of any film (14 had been the norm so far). Ryan Coogler‘s fifth film is also his fifth collaboration with Michael B. Jordan—ahem, Oscar winner Michael B. Jordan—and with composer Ludwig Göransson. The trio has always been good, but it seems their friendship has left the biggest impact on Sinners, which has slowly turned into a movie of a grand, symbolic, and beautiful relevance. The storyline feels reminiscent of From Dusk Till Dawn, which Coogler cited as an inspiration, but Sinners dedicates its entire runtime to understanding the context of the villains, making the protagonists people worth defending and cheering for, and weaving tradition, heritage, culture, and social history within the narrative.
Elevated from a simple vampire slasher, Sinners carries the symbol of a musician whose musical skill can bridge the gap between the spirit world and the world of the living; that musician is young Sammie (Miles Caton), the son of a preacher who deems his blues singing sinful. Sammie is cousins with the Smokestack twins (both played by Jordan), who return to their Mississippi hometown from Chicago, ready to open a juke joint for the locals. In a whole different place, sinister spirits gather as Irish vampire Remmick (Jack O’Connell) turns a pair of Klan members into vampires, hears Sammie’s song from afar, and takes his thralls to him, hoping to feed. Sinners is an encapsulating experience that will not leave you behind for a while, and you will feel compelled, even invited in, to rewatch the film again and again.
3
‘Arrival’ (2016)
Arrival is, and I can’t say this enough, one of the most beautiful films ever made. Its use of science fiction to tell the story of fate and choice is an ingenious way to make the science feel closer and the fiction less fictional; Denis Villeneuve cements himself as a director to watch, although we already knew how brilliant he was thanks to Incendies, Prisoners, and Sicario. Arrival was based on the novella Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang, and it asks several questions throughout the film, one being is language or mathematics the universal language? and the other, more relevant one, if you knew how your life evolves from here on out, would you still make the same choices? It’s not just about those emotionally resonant themes either; Arrival is its own form of love letter to language, communication, and understanding.
Arrival is set in modern times, when twelve oval-shaped black alien ships appear across Earth, just hovering and neither making contact nor threats. Linguistics expert Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is hired by the US Military outpost in Montana, where a spaceship hovers, together with physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner), and their task is to understand the spaceship. They enter it and find octopus-like creatures sending them signals like octopuses squirting ink, but the signals take the shapes of symbols and Louise and Ian realize it’s the aliens’ language. Arrival takes the hypothesis of linguistic relativity, which is the theory that language can affect a person’s worldview or cognition, placing it within the context of love and loss. I get emotional just writing about it because you can only imagine where the story can go; if you’re also a language enthusiast or a graduated linguist (ahem), Arrival will scratch a particular itch because it treats linguistics like the miracle that it is.
2
‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)
Mad Max: Fury Road is the greatest action film of the 21st century, and while this is highly subjective, critics and audiences haven’t shied away from giving George Miller‘s film this flattering title. Fury Road also still makes the cutaway, as it’s been exactly 11 years since it came out—I remember watching its premiere at the cinema so vividly that there’s no way a decade has passed. This is another testament to its enduring appeal—over ten years later, we still talk about and honor Fury Road as the best among the best. Achieved through mostly practical effects, location shoots, and an arduous editing process, Fury Road had actually been in the making since 1987, going through some seriously lengthy development hell. And yet, it seems like it came at the right time, providing Miller with enough technological and practical freedom in filmmaking to bring his vision to perfection.
Fury Road is set in the apocalyptic wasteland where water is a scarce commodity. One warlord, Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), holds monopoly over a massive water source, hoarding it for himself and his children; to avoid defective inheritors, Joe keeps a group of young, healthy women as his brides, forcing them to give birth to his successors. The War Rig driver, Furiosa (Charlize Theron), decides to escape Joe’s tyrannical hands and brings the brides along with her. She is aided by Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy), Joe’s prisoner and a man with no land or home; what follows is a tireless, action-packed pursuit across the wasteland, showing us bravery in the face of danger. If you believe in freedom enough, you’ll understand it’s worth going through hell and back for it—Fury Road writes that message out like a line in the sand.
1
‘Parasite’ (2019)
Parasite wasn’t just the first-ever Best Picture winner from South Korea, but also the first-ever non-English-speaking Best Picture winner, which was also accompanied by Best International Feature, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. That means that Parasite is literally the perfect package of a film, coming from the mind of a modern filmmaking genius, Bong Joon-ho. To some people, the Oscars aren’t the true measure of quality (which is understandable), but so many stacked accolades send a signal—a signal that this is a film to pay attention to; as director Bong said, to paraphrase, getting over the three-inch barrier of subtitles should be a priority if you truly wish to open your heart to cinema’s greats. Fun fact: the house that is heavily featured in Parasite isn’t real; it was built for the purpose of filming, and the levels it occupies were intentionally designed by Bong and production designer Lee Ha-jun to achieve a linear yet contrasting narrative structure.
Parasite follows the poor Kim family, who live in a subterranean apartment, mooch the neighbors’ Wi-Fi, and leave their windows open when a fumigator comes so they can “get free disinfection.” The Kims find themselves in a scheme where they infiltrate the lives of the wealthy Park family, mostly through their well-intentioned but snobbish and out-of-touch matriarch. The Kims and the Parks are depicted as a contrast between class structures in Korea, but also as a result of the imposed class structure; their behavior isn’t always inherent, with a lot of it coming from years of living within the system. Parasite will make you laugh, maybe even shed a short tear or two; it’s also terrifying in small doses, becoming a proper psychological thriller as it moves forward. A masterpiece that will not be so easily forgotten. In fact, let me go watch it again.
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“Euphoria” star Barbie Ferreira reacts to season 3 moving forward without her after shocking exit
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Ferreira left the Zendaya-starring show after season 2.
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Your guide to the biggest Las Vegas residencies of 2026: Lisa, Metallica, Mary J. Blige, and more
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Here are all the artists living la vida Vegas this year.
Summer House’s Amanda Batula has been spotted as she faces backlash from her romance with West Wilson – and it appears her ex Kyle Cooke is supporting her through the drama.
In new photos published by Page Six, Batula, 34, was snapped reuniting with Cooke, 43, on Friday, April 4.
During the outing, the pair chatted on the street while walking their dogs. At one point, Cooke hugged Batula.
Batula and her Summer House costar Wilson, 31, confirmed their romance earlier this week after speculation increasingly swirled about the nature of their relationship.
“We’ve seen the growing online speculation, so while this is still very new, we wanted to provide some clarity,” read an Instagram statement on Tuesday, March 31. “It was never our intention to purposely hide anything. Given the complicated relationship dynamics involved and the scrutiny that comes with being on a reality show, we needed a little space to process things privately before speaking on it.”
Batula and Wilson continued to address how their relationship changed.
“We’ve shown up for each other as friends over the years, through all the highs and lows, and what’s developed recently was the last thing either of us expected,” they continued. “Our connection grew out of a genuine, longstanding friendship, which made it especially important for us to approach this with care.”
West Wilson. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Both Batula and Wilson have come under fire for the relationship, as Wilson previously dated Batula’s best friend and Summer House costar, Ciara Miller, in 2023.
Cooke broke his silence on his ex’s burgeoning romance with Wilson on Wednesday, April 1.
“I’m good. I appreciate people checking in. I’m actually really worried about Amanda, if I’m being honest,” Cooke told street journalist Adam Glyn in a TikTok video.
Cooke added that he had spoken to Batula, who gave him “a heads-up” about making a statement on her relationship with Wilson.
“I talked to her last night, and I understand people have all sorts of opinions, and I’m not justifying any behavior, but, like, from what I’m seeing, she’s getting cyberbullied,” he said.
Cooke and Batula announced in January that they had separated after four years of marriage.
“After much reflection, we have mutually and amicably decided to part ways as a couple,” the pair said in a joint statement at the time. “We share this with a heavy heart and kindly ask for your grace and support while we focus on our personal growth and healing.”
Of all the major crime procedurals, Criminal Minds is considered one of the darkest, thanks to its focus on serial killers and their often twisted psyches. But that is also the reason why this show has been around for so long, with its 19th season airing this year and its renewal for a 20th season already confirmed. Serial killers can be heinously creative, which means Criminal Minds still has so much inspiration to draw from and ideas to churn out. Really, the series could go on forever. Apart from pushing the bandwidth of morbid creativity, the show has a legacy that survived a rebranding, one that bodes well for its future.
‘Criminal Minds’ Finds Horror Realism In Even the Most Absurd Ideas
Criminal Minds dug into the niche of serial killers and gave it a psychological twist that makes every episode feel new, even if some of the basics are recycled. We’ve seen countless iterations of sexual sadists, yet by analyzing behavior, each episode feels fresh with different M.O.’s that can be traced back to the perpetrator’s childhood. Other times, there are antagonists whom we can’t help but sympathize with, or ones that chill us to our core, like children who turn out to be sociopaths. As social customs and technology evolve, the show’s capacity for creativity does too, leading to a hauntingly never-ending supply of ways to terrify.
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This show even came back from the dead.
However, the true marker of success in Criminal Minds’ approach to episodes is that the show manages to root out horror realism in every idea. Of course, some are as simple as the awful sentiment of children being stolen from their families and tortured for years, or the terror of just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But even in the most seemingly outrageous ideas, like an underground social media for serial killers or a Norman Bates-styled hallucination or the psychosis of bugs crawling under one’s skin, the show maintains a grounded semblance of horror, as if these things could really happen. They feed on very real concepts of the dark web and mental health, then push it for entertainment value while never losing sight of why it’s so chilling. The formula works, and as long as Criminal Minds sticks to it, the show can continue to churn out grisly episodes while still provoking the same addictive response.
‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Has Proved the Show’s Ability to Adapt
What really cements Criminal Minds’ longevity is its proven ability to survive and thrive after a rebranding. In 2020, the original show was canceled after Season 15, but only two years later, it returned in full force as Criminal Minds: Evolution. As the subtitle suggests, the show evolved from a crime procedural to something akin to a psychological thriller, where longer overarching storylines are prioritized over episodic ones. However, that doesn’t mean the show has forgotten its roots, as the cases explored during these three seasons are still creepily realistic in the most unexpected ways, even when it dips into bureaucratic conspiracies and schools for budding psychopaths.
Even though the episodic cases aren’t the foundation of the series anymore, it’s actually beneficial for the show. Opting for these longer storylines forces Criminal Minds to be more mindful about the occasional standalone case inserted into the season, while allowing the team to pace their creativity and offer killers that are more twisted than ever. Since the rebranding, we’ve gotten acid chambers, misogynistic zookeepers, and (shudder) spiders, all proving that Criminal Minds still has a deft handle on what makes them stand out in the world of crime.
Over the years, the show has adapted and pivoted to remain relevant, finding unique ways to inject a bit of terror into our lives while exercising its creative muscles. Serial killers will always hold space in the public imagination, and as long as that’s the case, Criminal Minds does too.
Amy Duggar King has seemingly slammed Kendra Duggar for continuing to support her husband Joseph Duggar following his arrest.
While she did not call out Kendra, 27, directly by name, Amy, 39, appeared to take a swipe at her cousin’s wife in a scathing TikTok video posted on Thursday, April 2.
“How in the hell can she not be so unbelievably distraught and mad and disgusted at him,” Amy said, seemingly referencing how Kendra is responding to Joseph, 31, being arrested last month on child molestation charges.
Amy continued, “Oh, just wait, I’ll tell you why, because women in these really toxic systems, like this one, are taught that anger is a sin.”
Amy Duggar King has taken back her previous support of embattled cousin Joseph Duggar’s wife, Kendra Duggar, following Kendra’s arrest on a child endangerment charge. “I think that was a plot twist that no one saw coming,” Amy, 39, said of Kendra’s arrest during a Saturday, March 21, interview with TMZ. “When I gave that […]
Amy continued to slam the conservative culture that the Duggars were brought up in, claiming it was problematic that they were taught to not express anger.
“Anger is wrong and you cannot express it, you have to just keep it inside. Stay sweet, keep the peace and don’t create waves,” she continued. “Oh, and the biggest one that just drives me crazy is you have to forgive quickly, very, very quickly. Because heaven forbid, you take time to process what in the world has just happened, that your entire foundation of what you’ve built your life on with your children has now been completely disrupted and it’ll never look the same again.
She added, “But you’re not allowed to take time for yourself in this kind of environment, to even think for yourself. At all. So when you are angry, you can’t express it so you have to smile, talk sweetly and remember that your husband loves you no matter what.”
@amyrking
Amy said that “grace” is encouraged within the Duggar family, which she believes is unhealthy to use for all situations without question.
“My favorite term that they always use is ‘grace.’ ‘We show them grace. We show the men grace because sins happen and grace covers it,’” Amy said. “Grace does offer repentance. Grace is something that is wonderful. Not in this instance. This isn’t grace, this is suppression. And this is how the cycle continues.”
Amy went on to state that she believes that Kendra is unlikely to be “dealing with the trauma,” and instead is more likely to “defend him, she will smile sweetly, she will talk very kindly to him and she will downplay the situation at hand.”
Amy explained that she believed the feeling of anger has a crucial role in situations that warrant it.
“The healthy response to being hurt and to being betrayed and being, like, completely like, broken-hearted is anger. Anger is a part of it all. Not in this culture,” she said. “It fires me up because instead what you’re going to see is the most perfect, sweet little angel of a wife who’s right beside him through thick and thin and who does that remind you of? The fact that she is not angry at all should deeply concern you.”
Us Weekly has reached out to the Duggar family for comment.
Amy Duggar King has thanked fans on behalf of her family following the arrests of her cousin Joseph Duggar and his wife, Kendra Duggar. The 19 Kids and Counting alum, 39, shared a message from the “God Lady Talk” Instagram account on Friday, March 27, which read, “Surround yourself with people who pray for you […]
Joseph was arrested in Arkansas on March 19. He was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older after a 14-year-old girl came forward to police accusing Joseph of molesting her when she was 9 during a 2020 vacation to Panama City Beach, Florida.
Joseph was extradited to Florida earlier this week, where he pleaded not guilty. He was later released on $600,000 bail.
In addition to the molestation case, Joseph and Kendra were both charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of false imprisonment. These charges are unrelated to the molestation allegations.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
Entertainment
Chuck Norris' family shuts down 'false and misleading information' about his death circulating online
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Love on the Spectrum sparked several romantic connections — but which couples are still dating and who has broken up?
Netflix’s hit series, which premiered in 2022, follows a group of young people on the autism spectrum as they navigate the dating world.
“The show itself has actually become the template for people to then think, ‘That’s what love can look like in my life, and I can be like that character who doesn’t necessarily fit the typical stereotype,’” cocreator Karina Holden told Tudum in 2025. “The uniqueness of individuals within Love on the Spectrum has allowed people to be confident to pursue their version of relationships and friendships and love.”
Over the years, some cast members such as Abbey Romeo and David Isaacma have formed a long-lasting connection while others called it quits.
Scroll down to find out whether your favorite Love on the Spectrum couple is still together:
Abbey Romeo and David Isaacman
The pair, who played a smaller role in season 4, are still going strong off-screen.
Connor Tomlinson and Georgie Harris
Connor Tomlinson chose to end his relationship with Georgie Harris in season 4 of the hit Netflix series.
“It was my decision to end things. Georgie and I … this season was the longest time we spent with each other,” Connor told Us in March 2026. “The more we did, the more we came to realize we’re just two different people. Good people, yes, but not each other’s people.”
He continued: “What she wanted, I couldn’t give her. What I wanted, she couldn’t give me. We both decided it was for the best.”
Shelley Wolfe and James Jones
The duo’s relationship has only gotten more serious as they look for a home together.
Madison Marilla and Tyler White
After finding love, Madison Marilla and Tyler White got engaged while filming season 4 of Love on the Spectrum.
“We have not even started [wedding planning] yet. We want to wait until the time is right,” Madison exclusively told Us Weekly in March 2026 about enjoying life as a newly engaged couple. “I know we’re going to do a very big wedding. We will have all our family and friends and cast mates there.”
Madison teased plans to wear “a big ball gown with lots of bling and lots of tulle,” while Tyler promised to be sporting his signature cowboy hat. The pair revealed to Us that they are still living “down the road” from each other.
“We’re saving moving in together until we’re married,” Tyler noted, to which Madison replied, “We’re saving all that until marriage.”
Emma Sue Miller
Season 4 showed Emma Sue Miller briefly formed a connection with a guy, but they have since parted ways as she continues to search for The One.
Logan Pereira
In the fourth season, Logan Pereira developed feelings for a date but they have called it quits since then.
“I have been thinking about dating after that date,” Logan shared with Us. “I’m looking for somebody that has the same interest as me. Maybe somebody that likes model trains and somebody with really nice hair — even if it’s not curvy or straight. Also somebody that has the same connection with me and likes cheesecake and red velvet cake.”
Entertainment
Prime Video’s Sci-Fi Legal Thriller Dominates Global Streaming 3 Months After Box Office Failure
Some movies look like they were made to be judged twice. Mercy had a rougher time making its mark in theaters, but the setup was always solid enough to suggest it could hit differently at home. A near-future thriller about a man racing to prove his innocence inside an AI-driven justice system was always going to get a second look once it landed on streaming. And now that it’s on Prime Video, that second look is turning into a real breakout.
The movie has climbed to No. 1 on Prime Video in the United States, while FlixPatrol’s global snapshot also shows it leading in a number of markets. That has helped turn Mercy into one of the bigger streaming stories of the week, even after a theatrical run that didn’t really catch fire.
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, the film stars Chris Pratt as detective Chris Raven and Rebecca Ferguson as Judge Maddox, the AI authority deciding his fate. The premise is easy to pitch, and it’s even easier to understand why it’s working on streaming: It’s fast, high-concept, and built around a ticking clock. Prime viewers clearly wanted a slick sci-fi thriller, and Mercy is getting the benefit of arriving at exactly the right time.
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Is ‘Mercy’ Worth Watching?
Collider’s review, written by Jeff Ewing, stated that Mercy was a surprisingly inventive evolution of the screenlife subgenre, even if its ambitious ideas occasionally outpaced its logic. The film built on Bekmambetov’s reputation as a pioneer of screen-centric storytelling while cleverly expanding the format through AI-driven crime-scene reconstructions that injected scale, action, and cinematic energy into what could have been a claustrophobic thriller.
“Pratt delivers a sufficiently admirable performance, while Ferguson is stellar as the AI judge. Some of the twists move a little too quickly; even watching on a big screen leads blink-and-you’ll-miss-them details flying by too quickly. There are also a few logical issues with various machinations and character plans, and the world only makes sense in the most superficial of ways. There are successful elements in the script, certainly, but there are also several frustrating moments that simply needed another draft to work the knots out. All that said, it’s a successful foray into sci-fi territory thanks to a willingness to stretch the subgenre’s established rules, making for a fun murder mystery that keeps audiences guessing.”
Mercy is streaming on Prime Video.
- Release Date
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January 19, 2026
- Runtime
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100 minutes
- Director
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Timur Bekmambetov
- Writers
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Marco van Belle
- Producers
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Charles Roven, Majd Nassif, Robert Amidon, Timur Bekmambetov
Entertainment
Apple TV’s Cancelled Sci-Fi Show Stephen King Called “Just About Perfect” Needs Season 2
In 2024, Apple TV quietly launched one of its most ambitious and emotionally grounded sci-fi dramas in Constellation. The series had all the right ingredients: sharp writing, standout performances, and a great blend of cerebral sci-fi and intimate character drama. Known for giving its shows room to grow, many expected Apple to let Constellation find its footing as a show with clear potential to expand its world and deepen its characters.
Instead, the series was disappointingly cancelled after just one season. The decision was especially frustrating given how gripping and well-crafted the show was. It’s no surprise that Stephen King called it “just about perfect.” But with Apple pulling the plug so early, we’re left wondering why a series that earned both critical and audience praise ended so unceremoniously without the chance to finish what it started.
‘Constellation’ Was the Perfect Mix of Sci-Fi and Grounded Drama
From its first episode, Constellation proved it was more than a typical space thriller. While it delivers all the chilling elements you’d expect, what makes it stand out is how deeply it is rooted in character. The series follows Jo Ericsson (Noomi Rapace), an astronaut trying to piece herself back together after a harrowing, potentially world-altering event. After returning to Earth following a catastrophic incident aboard the International Space Station, Jo finds that reality no longer feels right. Her young daughter doesn’t remember her the same way, objects are out of place, and even her own memories seem to shift.
The mystery only deepens from there, using its sci-fi elements to explore personal questions about memory, motherhood, and identity. Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad) plays Henry Caldera (at least in one universe), a brilliant but unstable physicist tied to the strange phenomena unfolding in Jo’s life. The show builds tension not with jump scares or explosive action, but with the quiet terror of no longer recognizing the people you love or even yourself, and wondering if you’re losing your mind. Both Rapace and Banks deliver standout performances, supported by an excellent cast including James D’Arcy, William Catlett, and twins Davina and Rosie Coleman, who share the role of Jo’s daughter, Alice.
Visually stunning and technically ambitious, the series is created by writer Peter Harness (Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell) and executive produced by Michelle MacLaren, who also directs the first two episodes and establishes the show’s striking visual tone. Constellation constantly plays with the question: Is Jo experiencing space sickness, or has something fundamentally shifted in the universe? That uncertainty allows the show to move seamlessly between high-concept sci-fi and grounded emotional drama. Yet amid all its complexity and suspense, it never loses sight of its emotional core. The season’s shocking cliffhanger only deepens the intrigue, landing somewhere between heartbreak and horror, and leaving viewers wanting more.
There Were Already Plans for ‘Constellation’ Season 2
What makes Constellation’s cancellation even more frustrating is how clearly it sets the stage for a second season. In a 2024 interview with Collider, showrunner Peter Harness, who also wrote all eight episodes, revealed there were big plans beyond the initial arc. With such a dense and ambitious story, Harness naturally developed ideas that didn’t fit into Season 1, especially around the dynamic between Henry and Bud. As he puts it, those ideas are “saved up for a rainy day in the future,” hinting at a deeper mythology that only begins to unfold.
Harness was also careful not to end the season on a total cliffhanger, aware of how unsatisfying that might feel. He made sure to tie up key threads, like Jo and Alice’s relationship, in a way that feels emotionally complete while still suggesting that there’s plenty more story to tell. Some viewers may have felt like the ending was still satisfying, but it’s hard not to imagine the possibilities left unexplored: what happens if timelines collide, or if the boundaries between realities fully break down? What if, as Noomi Rapace hoped for, both Jos met each other? It’s truly a shame we’ll never know.
Apple TV’s Stellar 9-Part Sci-Fi Series Has No Bad Episodes
Don’t let the slow-burn premise fool you; this show is filled with shocking surprises and jaw-dropping moments.
The kind of mystery Constellation builds isn’t meant to be rushed. Harness avoids over-explaining or accelerating major plot developments, allowing the emotionally resonant character work to breathe. A story like this needs time to peel back its layers, slowly drawing the audience in while keeping the focus on its characters. Season 1 does that with remarkable restraint. Even without all the answers, the experience remains captivating, helped by Apple’s weekly episode rollout, which gives viewers time to absorb each chapter.
That’s what makes the cancellation sting even more. Apple TV+ has a reputation for nurturing high-concept shows, which makes Constellation’s abrupt ending feel particularly disappointing. In a streaming landscape overloaded with content, this is a show that delivers for both die-hard sci-fi fans and for viewers who are looking for characters to connect with. For a platform that champions slow-burn storytelling like Severance and For All Mankind, cutting Constellation short feels premature. Stephen King wasn’t wrong when he called it “just about perfect.” And while it may never get the second season it clearly earned, Constellation will be remembered as one of the most daring, resonant sci-fi series in recent memory, and a reminder that storytelling this thoughtful deserves room to thrive.
Season 1 of Constellation is available to stream on Apple TV+.
- Release Date
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2024 – 2024-00-00
- Showrunner
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Peter Harness
- Directors
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Michelle Maclaren
- Writers
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Peter Harness
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