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8 Most Universally Beloved Action Movies of All Time, Ranked

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Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

Universal love is a hard thing to earn in action cinema. Plenty of action movies are iconic. Plenty are influential. Plenty have one immortal set piece, one immortal star, one immortal villain, one immortal line. Universal love asks for more. It asks for a movie people return to with real affection, the kind that survives changing tastes, new technology, endless imitation, and the usual backlash that comes for anything successful enough to become part of the culture. These are the films that somehow keep clearing every generation anyway.

And I’ve noticed that among these movies, the common thread is precision. Each one understands movement, stakes, character, and escalation so well that the thrills never feel empty. The action keeps revealing people. The plot keeps tightening while the set pieces get bigger. The audience gets excitement and emotional payoff in the same breath. That is why this list is limited to eight movies. All eight of them stayed beloved instead of becoming dusty important classics for a reason.

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8

‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ (2000)

Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Image via Sony Pictures Classics/Columbia TriStar Film

This film has universal love because Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon gives action the one thing a lot of imitators never quite manage to hold onto: yearning. Every fight has longing inside it. Every leap across rooftops carries pride, repression, unfinished love, wounded discipline, or the hunger to live outside a life somebody else designed. Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-fat) and Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) are heartbreaking because the movie lets years of restraint sit between them in every scene. Jen (Zhang Ziyi) explodes into that emotional geometry like a lit match, gifted enough to astonish everyone and immature enough to weaponize that gift against herself.

That is why the action feels so complete. Jen stealing Green Destiny is plot. Jen fighting Shu Lien with escalating weapons is character. Jen flying across rooftops is rebellion. The desert story with Lo (Chang Chen) turns her into something fuller than a spoiled prodigy and makes the final tragedy hit harder. People love Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon because it gives them beauty, velocity, romance, pain, and one of the greatest uses of movement as emotional language ever put on screen.

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7

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

Tom Hardy driving in Mad Max: Fury Road
Tom Hardy in Mad Max: Fury Road
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

People love Mad Max: Fury Road because it feels like action cinema purified down to instinct and then rebuilt with miraculous control. The movie has speed, noise, sand, chrome, fire, and vehicles that look like they were invented by people who never slept again after the apocalypse. It also has an emotional spine strong enough to make the whole thing matter. Furiosa (Charlize Theron) is the key. Her decision to smuggle the wives out turns the movie from chase spectacle into liberation story, and once that clicks into place, every mile gets heavier.

Max (Tom Hardy) helps because he enters as a man reduced to survival reflex, and the script slowly drags him back toward human commitment. Nux (Nicholas Hoult) becomes one of the film’s secret weapons because his arc turns fanaticism into something sad, then brave. The Green Place revelation is where Mad Max: Fury Road becomes a masterpiece. Hope in one direction dies, and suddenly the answer is to go back through the nightmare and take the citadel itself. That reversal is such a brilliant plot turn that the second half feels even more alive than the first.

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6

‘Aliens’ (1986)

Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) points a gun while holding Newt (Carrie Henn) in Aliens.
Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) points a gun while holding Newt (Carrie Henn) in Aliens.
Image via 20th Century Studios

This movie has stayed beloved because Aliens gives people everything they want from action while deepening everything they loved in Alien. Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) returns carrying trauma that the film treats seriously, then gets pushed right back toward the species that broke her life. That alone gives the movie emotional weight before a single pulse rifle starts firing. Then James Cameron adds marines, machinery, swagger, military procedure, corporate greed, and the child-survival bond with Newt (Carrie Henn), and suddenly the film has a much bigger heartbeat.

The colony discovery is such a great slow burn. The movie lets dread accumulate through architecture, silence, and evidence. Then the motion trackers start mattering. Then the hive becomes a kill box. Then Gorman (William Hope) collapses, Hudson (Bill Paxton) loses his nerve, Vasquez (Jenette Goldstein) goes full war spirit, Burke (Paul Reiser) exposes his rot, and Ripley becomes the only adult in the room who understands what this enemy actually means. The power loader ending has action writing with blood in it.

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5

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)

Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford, eyes a golden idol in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'.
Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford, eyes a golden idol in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Image via Paramount Pictures

This movie remains beloved because Raiders of the Lost Ark moves with the confidence of a film that knows every second should entertain, reveal, or endanger. Indy (Harrison Ford) gets the idol in the opening and already feels complete as a hero: smart, lucky, tough, vain enough to miscalculate, human enough to get hurt. Then the movie keeps handing him problems that feel bigger than one man without ever breaking the line of adventure. Marion (Karen Allen) matters because she brings emotional friction and toughness. Belloq (Paul Freeman) matters because he is the version of Indy with the conscience sanded off.

The truck chase makes you grow out of everything the movie has built, and puts Indy through hell in a way that keeps him heroic. The supernatural payoff at the end is the final reason people love this film so fiercely. The Ark stays mysterious long enough that when it finally opens, the movie reveals it was never just an object to be won. Everybody chasing it with greed, pride, or arrogance gets exactly the ending they earned.

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4

‘The Matrix’ (1999)

A close-up of Keanu Reeves as Neo looking to the distance with sunglasses on in The Matrix.
A close-up of Keanu Reeves as Neo looking to the distance with sunglasses on in The Matrix.
Image via Warner Bros.

Universal love came to this film because The Matrix gave people action that felt like revelation. And it’s more relevant than ever today in 2026, 27 years later and that’s something. That’s brilliant. Neo (Keanu Reeves) starts out with a feeling every audience member understands in some form: something about life is wrong, but the structure around him is too complete to challenge directly. The red-pill choice is a pop culture phrase now. Once Neo wakes up in the real world, every piece of action that follows gains an extra charge. Fights are arguments about reality, control, and belief.

Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) gives the movie mythic conviction. Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) gives it emotional proof that faith in Neo existed before he could justify it. Smith (Hugo Weaving) turns authority into hatred with a face and a voice that keep getting more frightening the more he talks. And while the set pieces aren’t brilliant as per today’s standards, they’re okay still because the movie is strong. The themes justify them still. The dojo teaches the rules. The lobby shootout declares war on those rules. The rooftop and helicopter rescue announce that Neo is crossing into a new level of agency. The subway fight and resurrection make the whole film click into destiny. People still love The Matrix because it feels smart, cool, emotional, and structurally perfect all at once.

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3

‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight.
Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight.
Image via Warner Bros.

The Dark Knight takes blockbuster action and ties it directly to moral pressure. Gotham feels like a real city under stress instead of a comic-book backdrop waiting for destruction — all thanks to Christopher Nolan. Bruce (Christian Bale) wants Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) to become the public face that could let Batman step back, which gives the story a genuine political and emotional center. Then the Joker (Heath Ledger) arrives and starts attacking every fragile structure at once: organized crime, public confidence, legal order, heroic symbolism, and the private bonds between Bruce, Harvey, and Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal).

The action sequences are beloved because each one changes the story. The bank robbery introduces the Joker’s logic. The penthouse attack exposes how vulnerable Bruce’s emotional hopes really are. The armored convoy chase feels huge because Dent matters. The interrogation scene works like action without movement because the power balance keeps shifting. Harvey’s collapse matters because the movie spent real time building him as Gotham’s answer. The ferry dilemma and the ending give people something bigger than spectacle to love.

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2

‘Die Hard’ (1988)

Bruce Willis, playing John McClane, crawls through a duct with a lighter in Die Hard.
Bruce Willis, playing John McClane, crawls through a duct with a lighter in Die Hard.
Image via 20th Century Studios

This movie has universal love because Die Hard feels perfectly calibrated from the first minute. John McClane (Bruce Willis) arrives in Los Angeles carrying marital strain, attitude, and enough vulnerability to make him feel human before the shooting starts. Then the office Christmas party gets hijacked, and the movie becomes a masterpiece of pressure. Every floor of Nakatomi has a purpose. Every side character adds friction. Every setback deepens McClane’s isolation while also making him more inventive.

Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) is one huge reason people love this film so much. He brings intelligence, style, contempt, and adaptability, which means the movie never gets lazy about the villain side of the chessboard. Powell (Reginald VelJohnson) gives the story warmth and a lifeline to the outside world. Holly Gennero McClane (Bonnie Bedelia) matters because she is written as capable and proud, which raises the stakes far above generic hostage material. The barefoot detail is classic action writing because it turns McClane’s body into part of the suspense structure. By the time he is bloody, tired, and pulling glass from his feet while still trying to stay alive long enough to stop the whole operation, the audience is completely with him.

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1

‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991)

The T-800 aiming a rifle while John Connor sits in front of him in Terminator 2: Judgment Day
The T-800 aiming a rifle while John Connor sits in front of him in Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Image via Tri-Star Pictures

This is number one because Terminator 2: Judgment Day gives people almost everything they could want from action cinema and does every part of it at an elite level. And it has this weird nostalgic pull that other films in this list don’t. It’s the one that you watched with your cousins and kept thinking about it. Watching it now reveals that Judgement Day’s first brilliant move is the role reversal. Arnold enters carrying the memory of terror from the original film, then the mall hallway sequence flips that memory into protection. Suddenly the T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is the shield, the T-1000 (Robert Patrick) is the nightmare, and the sequel has reinvented its emotional engine before the chase has fully begun.

Then there’s John Connor (Edward Furlong). The movie lets him be a kid with pain, defiance, and genuine emotional influence. Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) matters because the film shows what surviving the first movie actually did to her. She has become hard, prophetic, nearly machine-like in her sense of purpose, and the Dyson scene proves how close that hardness has brought her to losing the line entirely. Every action sequence does story work: the canal chase, the hospital escape, the Cyberdyne siege, the steel mill finale. It has scale, clarity, sadness, and perfect payoff.













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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.

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Terminator 2: Judgment Day


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Release Date

July 3, 1991

Runtime

137 minutes

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Director

James Cameron

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Writers

James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd, William Wisher

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Original ‘Avatar’ Stars Call for Theatrical Release After Paramount Movie Leak

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Two weeks ago, the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender movie, Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, was leaked online. The film was meant to be a continuation of the highly praised Nickelodeon TV show and is scheduled to be released directly to Paramount+, despite original plans for a theatrical release. Now, there are more calls to bring this movie to cinemas, and it’s not just fans that are making noise.

Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender features a brand-new voice cast teaming up with Avatar, set years after the defeat of Fire Lord Ozai, with our young heroes aged up. Voicing the last airbender is Eric Nam, who was a contestant on The Traitors US and South Korea’s The King of the Mask Singer. Also starring in this movie are Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy), Jessica Matten (Dark Winds), Román Zaragoza (Ghosts), Steven Yeun (Avatar: The Legend of Korra), and Dionne Quan (The Fairly OddParents). Since the leak, some animators have expressed disappointment, calling out fans for “justifying” the leak with Paramount’s decision to drop the film on streaming. Now, there are even more calls to bring the movie to theaters, especially as Metro reported that over 10 million people saw it online.

During a panel at Supanova Melbourne, the original voice cast of Avatar: The Last Airbender addressed the leak. Zach Tyler Eisen (Aang), Jack De Sena (Sokka), Michaela Jill Murphy (Toph), Jennie Kwan (Suki), and Olivia Hack (Ty Lee) were asked whether they had seen the movie online. While they admit they didn’t see the movie in its entirety, they still believe Avatar: The Last Airbender should be released in cinemas. This is what Hack had to say:

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“I’ve skimmed it. The art looks beautiful. Here’s my thing. If it was going to be the actual release, right, it’d be like, ‘don’t watch it, because it takes away from the box office.’ Paramount has my nickel. I already subscribed. So I skimmed it, and the art looks gorgeous. And I haven’t watched it yet. Release it in theaters. That’s what I’m saying. And when you do watch it, you can see. I mean, it’s really spectacular. The artwork is gorgeous, and so, yeah.”































































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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

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

What Is ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ About?

Avatar: The Last Airbender is a media franchise that began in 2005 and has since expanded its main story into a Netflix live-action series, an M. Night Shyamalan movie adaptation, and numerous graphic novels that explore what happens after the show ends. The original series (and the live-action film and Netflix adaptation) follows Aang, a young airbender who’s also the Avatar, someone who can control all four elements: Water, fire, Earth, and Air. He’s destined to stop the Fire Nation from taking over the world, and joining him are his allies, Katara, Sokka, Toph, and, eventually, Prince Zuko (Dante Basco).

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The original TV series spanned three seasons and sits at a perfect 100% critics’ score and a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. This led to the creation of its spin-off sequel, Avatar: The Legend of Korra, which follows a new Avatar, named Korra, and takes place less than 100 years after the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Additionally, a new TV show called Avatar: Seven Havens is in the works and scheduled to debut in 2027.

Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender is scheduled to come out on Paramount+ on October 9, 2026


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Release Date

October 9, 2026

Writers

Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko, Kenneth Lin

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Franchise(s)

Avatar: The Last Airbender

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“The Blind Side” star Quinton Aaron opens up about learning of his wife's other marriage after he awoke from coma

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Aaron shares the shocking discovery about his marriage months after suffering a spinal stroke that sent him into a coma.

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Netflix’s New Shark Thriller Will Make You Clean Your House

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Netflix's New Shark Thriller Will Make You Clean Your House

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

In my household, one of our major guilty pleasures is shark movies. Most of them are a blend of two distinct genres: thriller and horror. These are two great tastes that don’t always taste great together, which is why these films always feel like a coin flip. Some of them are crowd-pleasing action schlockfests that are fun to watch with your friends over a few beers. Some, though, are so bad that you’d rather get devoured by a shark than watch until the credits.

Unfortunately, the new Netflix film Thrash (2026) falls into the latter category. The movie has a few things going for it, including some interesting effects that do their best to heave this disaster of a disaster film to life. It also features a number of unique characters, including one played by breakout Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor. Sadly, those qualities aren’t enough to save a film that feels like a snooze-worthy, waterlogged slog from beginning to end.

Shark Of Darkness

Compared to the shipload of shark movies on streaming, Thrash has a relatively unique premise. A small town on the East Coast is getting ready for the ravages of a Category 5 hurricane, with most residents evacuating. Those who can’t or won’t leave are in serious trouble when the sea wall is breached, flooding the full force of the ocean. Of course, the town is also flooded with sharks, leaving the beleaguered residents wondering what will kill them first: the rising water or the growing legion of bloodthirsty predators now patrolling every neighborhood.

While shark movies are decidedly hit or miss, I had relatively high hopes for Thrash. The film was directed by Tommy Wirkola, who previously brought us Dead Snow, a movie in which hapless medical students must fight a small army of Nazi zombies. More recently, he directed Violent Night, in which Stranger Things star David Harbor plays a cranky Kris Kringle who must survive his own Die Hard-like encounter with a group of armed thugs. Each of those movies provided the kind of memorable schlock that I love, so I hoped Thrash would be more of the same. 

Slow, Disconnected Plots

Unfortunately, the plot just meanders, a problem made worse by the fact that the characters never really gel together. Whitney Peak plays a character with agoraphobia, which neatly explains why she hasn’t evacuated in the face of a hurricane. But she has absolutely zero chemistry with Phoebe Dynevor, an expectant mother who could give birth at any moment. Their attempts to survive effectively form the A plot of the movie, while the B plot focuses on a group of redneck kids whose foster father has the intelligence and survival instincts of a slug.

Now, this can’t be emphasized enough: these plot threads do not intersect in any way. The A plot is more filled out, with its characters having more substantial things to actually do. Plus, Peak’s character has an uncle (the excellent Djimon Hounsou, who steals almost every scene) who is ever-so-slowly coming to the rescue. But the B plot is so sparse (it’s mostly foul-mouthed kids figuring out they need to get to higher ground) and so completely disconnected that it feels tacked on to pad the runtime. That’s ironic, because this unnecessary subplot makes the 86 minutes of Thrash feel like an eternity of misery.

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From Splash To Splatter

As you might expect, this middling shark movie got “thrashed” by the critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 42 percent critical rating, putting this stinker of a film firmly in the “rotten” category. Adding some sea salt to the wound, it has a far lower 24 percent audience score, which is the real kiss of death here. Thrash was clearly aimed at general audiences looking for a popcorn film, but it turns out that sticking a Bridgerton star in the middle of a low-rent, shark-infested disaster film just wasn’t enough to hold even the most casual movie lover’s interest.

That is, ultimately, the worst sin of Thrash: for all its efforts at shlocky spectacle, most of this movie is downright boring. The effects are genuinely solid, and the actors are giving it their all, but this is a genre-mashing movie that effectively screws up two different genres. As a horror movie, it’s just not that scary, and as a thriller, it’s just not very thrilling. Even if you love shark movies, you’ll likely hate it because it pales in comparison to better movies on other streamers (seriously, just search for “shark” on Tubi; you can thank me later).

Wanting to see just how bad this Netflix original can get? Care to hate-watch this subpar shark film in all its garish glory? In that case, all you have to do is stream Thrash on Netflix today. If nothing else, this film will inspire you to be more productive. That’s because it will only take a few scenes before you realize that doing the dishes, taking out the trash, and vacuuming the house are all a much, much better use of your time than this deep-sea disappointment. 


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IDIOTS | Teaser Trailer | Independent Film Company : Coastal House Media

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Practical Magic 2 | Official Teaser Trailer : Coastal House Media

Genre:

Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Martial Arts

Release Date:

May8, 2026

Director: 

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Simon McQuoid

Cast:

Karl Urban, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tati Gabrielle, Jessica McNamee, Mehcad Brooks, Lewis Tan, Joe Taslim, Ludi Lin

Plot Summary:

The fan favorite champions — now joined by Johnny Cage himself — are pitted against one another in the ultimate battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.

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What Anne Hathaway Is Letting Go Of After Decades In Hollywood

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Anne Hathaway at Oscars 2026

From her breakout role in “The Princess Diaries” to starring in fashion cult favorite “The Devil Wears Prada” and winning an Oscar for “Les Misérables,” Anne Hathaway has spent more than two decades at the top of Hollywood. She’s built a career defined by range, critical acclaim, and major box office success, but behind the scenes, she says it hasn’t always felt as effortless as it looked. Now at 43, Anne Hathaway is stepping into a new chapter, one where she’s finally letting go of the pressure that once defined her early years in the spotlight.

Anne Hathaway Ditches ‘Stress’ Mindset At 43

Anne Hathaway at Oscars 2026
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“When I started out, I thought I’d be a better artist if I was really hard on myself,” she told PEOPLE after being named the magazine’s “World’s Most Beautiful Cover Star.” “And then turning 40, I just kind of found a different gear, and I was no longer interested in living an awkward life. I was just interested in getting to the fun part.”

Now, Hathaway says she’s done putting so much pressure on herself, and is focused on actually enjoying the moment. “I’m at a stage in my life where I don’t want to focus on the stress,” she said.

Instead, she’s leaning into joy, surrounding herself with people who bring laughter and honesty into her life. “Humor. I love to laugh, and I love people who look for the joke in a situation,” the “The Princess Diaries” actress said. “You want people that you can celebrate the ups with, and you want people that you can laugh through the downs with.”

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Hathaway Gets Candid About Childhood Anxiety And ‘Multiple’ Beauty Missteps

Anne Hathaway at ''The Apprentice'' New York Premiere-NYC
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Looking back, Hathaway admits she struggled with communication and anxiety growing up, which only added to her feelings of being out of place. “When I was a kid, I found talking really difficult,” she told the magazine. “So I had a bit of stress and anxiety around just, like, communicating.”

Even something as simple as hair and beauty became a learning curve. “Multiple. I didn’t understand that there’s a whole language when it comes to beauty,” the actress said.

Anne Hathaway Admits Confidence Isn’t Constant

Anne Hathaway at 19th Annual Golden Heart Awards
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Anne Hathaway’s candid comments also come just days after another revealing interview, where she opened up about the ups and downs of confidence. Speaking with Harper’s Bazaar, the actress admitted that even now, self-image can fluctuate. “Some days you look in the mirror, and you’re just like, ‘Not bad,’” she said. “And some days you look in the mirror, and you’re like, ‘What?’ And I was having a ‘What?’ day.”

The “The Devil Wears Prada” star went on to share a relatable moment that forced her to face those feelings head-on. “And you know how you have your aspirational swimsuit that you keep around, just in case you have a good day?” she said. “And then you have your swimsuit that’s got you no matter what? I accidentally packed the aspirational swimsuit.”

The actress added, “Which I then had to wear on a ‘What?’ day. So, I’m ready to have this great day with my family. And I am going to be in front of strangers, and people have phones. And all of the things.”

Hathaway Reframes Aging

Anne Hathaway at Oscars 2026
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Anne Hathaway is also changing the conversation around getting older, and she’s doing it with a refreshing perspective.

“I think that very often, conversations about aging presume that the first part of life is the happiest and the most fulfilling, and I don’t necessarily think that’s true,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting to find another gear at 40.”

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For Hathaway, turning 40 didn’t mark a slowdown, but it unlocked a new chapter, one where confidence, clarity, and joy have taken center stage in a way they hadn’t before.

Anne Hathaway Embraces Confidence At 43

Anne Hathaway at The 2025 Golden Hearts Awards-NYC
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These days, Hathaway is finally feeling comfortable and confident in a way she never has before. Whether she’s blasting music from Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, or Madonna on set or embracing a more relaxed mindset, she’s proving that growth doesn’t have a timeline.

And for Hathaway, it’s clear that the best chapter might just be the one she’s in right now.

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Mary J Blige’s Rage Over BK Commerical Gains Traction

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Mary J. Blige

R&B singer and global superstar Mary J. Blige still isn’t pleased with her spot in a 2012 Burger King commercial. According to some critics, the production, which featured the Grammy-winner singing about chicken, appeared to perpetuate harmful stereotypes, sparking backlash and prompting both Blige and the fast food chain to issue public apologies. Today, the “Enough Cryin’” singer is opening up about how the controversy impacted her career and relationships. However, some social media users appear a bit confused by her firm reaction.

Mary J. Blige ‘Would Never Laugh’ Over What Happened With Her And Burger King In 2012

During an interview with Scott Evans, Blige recalled the commercial, in which she sang about “crispy chicken, fresh lettuce, three cheeses, ranch dressing wrapped up in a tasty flour tortilla,” and said she could never find amusement in the scene.

“I would never laugh at that, because my true, honest fans did not think that sh-t was funny,” she said. “The whole way that s— went down was wrong.”

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Blige went further, seemingly implying that Burger King slighted her during the process. “The way they shot it was wrong. It was set up to make exactly what happened in the press happen like that,” she said.

Mary J. Blige ‘Learned A Lot’ From Her BK Commercial

Mary J. Blige
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The commercial has since become a viral meme, shared on TikTok and Instagram. While Blige said the situation is far from amusing, she also admitted to having grown as a person because of the fallout. “It’s still not a laughing matter to me, because I was deeply, deeply affected. Now, I learned a lot from it,” she said.

Driving her point home, Blige insisted that the commercial was “not f-cking funny.” Even then, she acknowledged that she couldn’t stop people from enjoying it.

“The bottom line is, my fans were confused. The real, true fans,” she added before revealing her representation did little to stop her from filming the spot. “Everybody dropped the ball, and I’m holding everything. That was a learning curve, but still not funny,” she said.

Mary J. Blige Lost Close Friends Over Her Burger King Commercial

Mary J. Blige posing on the red carpet.
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Although the commercial aired, Burger King pulled the promo within 24 hours. For Blige, however, the damage had already been done.

“A lot of my so-called friends are not around anymore. I was like a disease to people. Nobody wanted to be affiliated,” she said. “This is where I learned I go where I’m celebrated at. They were treating me like I was a disease or something.”

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Blige apologized for her role in 2012, telling TMZ that she didn’t know Burger King was going to release the unfinished version fo the ad.

In her statement, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul acknowledged how the ad might’ve made her supporters feel and maintained that she was unaware of what was coming.

Burger King, meanwhile, also issued a statement, saying the ad was pulled due to a contract issue. “We would like to apologize to Mary J. and all of her fans for airing an ad that was not final,” the company said.

Fans Share Their Reactions After Learning Blige Faced Intense Backlash Over BK Ad

Mary J. Blige
MEGA

Social media users have been reacting to Blige’s interview with Evans, admitting they were confused by the singer’s serious response.

“Not all of us collectively confused as to why there was backlash,” someone wrote, while another said, “Lost friends? over a silly Burger King commercial? Losing them friends was a blessing.”

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A third user wrote, “Am I the only one confused about this situation because I have no idea why anybody would have an issue about this,” and a fourth said, “I was today’s years old when I saw this commercial.”

Others attempted to reassure Blige that the commercial wasn’t as harmful as she may have believed. “Everything is not funny, but this, this is funny,” someone posted.

Blige Snapped At A Fan During A Previous Tour

Mary J. Blige posing
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In 2019, Blige made headlines after she was spotted on camera clapping back at a fan who apparently disrespected her during her “Royalty Tour.”

According to The Blast, a heckler allegedly kept telling Blige to “shut the f-ck up” during her set, prompting her to issue a bold statement.

“… and for the person that’s been in here all night saying Mary shut the f–k up, YOU shut the f–k up,” she screamed.

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Most Disappointing 2026 TV Cancellations: CBS Shows and More

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TV has lost multiple, beloved series in 2026 — including several fan-favorite CBS shows and a Law & Order spinoff.

Colbert confirmed in July 2025 that CBS “will be ending The Late Show.”

“Before we start the show I want to let you know something that I found out just last night. Next year will be our last season, the network [CBS] will be ending The Late Show in May,” he said at the time as the crowd booed.

Colbert went on to reflect on The Late Show’s legacy.

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Why Did CBS Cancel Watson and DMV? TV Changes Explained


Related: Why Did CBS Cancel ‘Watson’ and ‘DMV’? Changes Explained Before Finales

CBS is going through some changes after canceling two shows. News broke on Friday, March 27, that Watson wouldn’t be returning for season 3, while DMV was canceled after one season. Their series finales will air May 3 and May 11, respectively. The update came a week before the network was planning to unveil its […]

“I share your feelings. It’s not just the end of our show but it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away,” he continued. “I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners … And I’m grateful to the audience, you, who have joined us every night, in here, out there, and all around the world.”

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CBS executives, meanwhile, released a statement addressing their decision to end the iconic late night program, revealing it was not “related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount” but was, instead, allegedly due to finances.

The network went on to pull the plug on several other shows, including DMV and Watson. Keep scrolling for the most disappointing TV cancellations — so far — of 2026:

‘Law and Order: Organized Crime’ (NBC)

Law & Order: Organized Crime, which premiered in 2021, went through quite a few shakeups with Matt Olmstead originally taking on the role of showrunner but ultimately stepping down later that year. He was replaced by Ilene Chaiken, who remained on the show for one season before Barry O’Brien took over.

Bryan Goluboff became the showrunner for season 3 but left after three months. He was replaced by Sean Jablonski, who left due to “creative differences” and David Graziano took over for the final episodes of the season.

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NBC renewed the series for a fourth season with John Shiban as showrunner. He later departed during production of the fifth season, which marked the sixth change in showrunners over the show’s five seasons. NBC confirmed in April 2026 that the series had been canceled.

NBC Introduces Alternate 'Law and Order SVU' Ending — How Do They Differ?
NBC / Courtesy Everett Collection

DMV (CBS)

DMV was waiting on its fate at CBS as decisions about comedy pilots Eternally Yours and The Tillbrooks (formerly known as Regency) were made. Tillbrooks wasn’t picked up but Eternally Yours was, which meant DMV was out.

‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ (CBS)

CBS previously announced in July 2025 that The Late Show would end. The network later confirmed that after the show concludes in May 2026, Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen will take over. The comedy talk show currently airs after The Late Show and is followed by Byron Allen’s other late-night game show, Funny You Should Ask.

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Why Did CBS Cancel Watson and DMV? TV Changes Explained


Related: Which TV Shows Are Canceled in 2026-2027?

2026 has been brutal when it comes to our favorite shows getting canceled. Netflix cut ties with Boots two months after the show premiered. Based on Greg Cope White‘s memoir, the scripted series followed Cameron (Miles Heizer) as he joined the U.S. Marine Corps alongside his best friend Ray (Liam Oh) during the 1990s, the […]

Watson (CBS)

Another CBS show that didn’t get a renewal was Watson. It was originally announced in January that CBS had a sweep of early renewals, with only Watson and DMV left in limbo. Deadline reported that Watson’s future depended on the success of Marshals and CIA, which both scored quick renewals.

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‘Good Cop/Bad Cop’ (The CW)

There’s just something about a Canadian import show on The CW that always has Us invested. So imagine our disappointment.

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Practical Magic 2 | Official Teaser Trailer : Coastal House Media

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Practical Magic 2 | Official Teaser Trailer : Coastal House Media

Genre:

Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Martial Arts

Release Date:

May8, 2026

Director: 

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Simon McQuoid

Cast:

Karl Urban, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tati Gabrielle, Jessica McNamee, Mehcad Brooks, Lewis Tan, Joe Taslim, Ludi Lin

Plot Summary:

The fan favorite champions — now joined by Johnny Cage himself — are pitted against one another in the ultimate battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.

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Patrick Muldoon Dead at 57 After Heart Attack

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Actor Patrick Muldoon has died at age 57.

The Days of Our Lives and Starship Troopers actor died following a heart attack early Sunday, April 19, Deadline reported on Monday, April 20. The actor’s manager subsequently confirmed his death to Variety.

Us Weekly has reached out to Muldoon’s representatives for comment.

Friends of the star described him to Deadline as “endlessly generous — with his poetry, his humor, and his unmistakable presence,” adding that Muldoon “loved animals and people alike, gave unforgettable hugs, and possessed a rare quality of making others feel safe and seen.”

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Patrick Muldoon Dead at 57


Related: Celebrity Deaths of 2026: Days of Our Lives’ Patrick Muldoon and More

Hollywood mourned the deaths of some of its most legendary stars in 2026. The year started off with Broadway performer and influencer Bret Hanna-Shuford’s death at age 46. At the end of the month, comedy acting icon Catherine O’Hara died at age 71. In February, Designing Women’s Camilla Carr died at age 83, Dawson’s Creek […]

The statement added, “Stylish, charismatic, and full of life, he embraced each day with a full-tilt, rock ’n’ roll spirit.”

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Elisabeth Costa de Beauregard Segel, president of global sales and distribution at Muldoon’s company, Storyboard Media, told Us, “Heaven got another angel far too soon,” calling Muldoon “the most amazing person.”

Muldoon first broke out in the early 1990s with stints on sitcoms Who’s the Boss? and Saved by the Bell. In 1992, he joined daytime soap Days of Our Lives as Austin Reed before exiting the show in 1995. He briefly reprised his role from 2011 to 2012, when he was among a handful of cast members let go. He also had a recurring role as villain Richard Hart on primetime soap Melrose Place between 1995 and 1996.

'Days of Our Lives' Actor Patrick Muldoon Dead at 57 After Heart Attack
Jason Merritt/Getty Images

In 1997, Muldoon appeared alongside ex-girlfriend Denise Richards and Casper Van Dien in Starship Troopers. He recently reunited with Richards, 55, for his “Gray Again” music video, in which the actress starred. The making of the romantic video was documented on a 2025 episode of Richards’ short-lived Bravo reality series, Denise Richards & Her Wild Things.

During the episode, Richards revealed that she fell out of touch with Muldoon while she was married to ex-husband Charlie Sheen.

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Denise Richards Family Guide


Related: Denise Richards Family Guide: Meet the Reality Star’s 3 Kids

Denise Richards and her family are far from camera shy. The actress first offered fans insight into her life when appearing on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for two seasons from 2019 to 2020. Five years later, in 2025, she peeled back the curtain once again via her own Bravo reality series, Denis Richards […]

“I did not speak to Pat when I was married to Charlie. And it was hard, because I didn’t want to lose him as a friend friend. But, towards the end of the marriage, I talked to him all the time about him,” she said.

“Mine and Pat’s relationship romantically was years ago, and it’s just a deep friendship. I’m so grateful Aaron respects that because Charlie… he had a hard time with my relationship with Pat,” she continued, referring to her estranged husband Aaron Phypers, from whom she filed for divorce in July 2025.

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In a confessional, Phypers said he did not “get jealous like that” seeing Richards and Muldoon kiss for Muldoon’s “Gray Again” music video, adding, “Patrick and I, we have a very good relationship.”

According to Deadline, Muldoon’s latest film, Dirty Hands, is set for release later this year.

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Muldoon was also an accomplished film producer through Storyboard Media. Deadline reported that at the time of his death he was executive producer on the movie Kockroach, which recently began filming and stars Chris Hemsworth and Taron Egerton.

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Queen Naija & Clarence “Ring” Photos, Mom Speaks (Pics + Vids)

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Internet Users React To Queen Naija & Clarence's "Ring" Photos As Her Mom Appears To Confirm Their Engagement (PHOTOS + VIDEOS)

Internet users are reacting to Queen Naija and Clarence‘s “ring” photos as her mom appears to confirm their engagement.

RELATED: Queen Naija Previews A New Love Song After Trying On Wedding Dresses On Stream (LISTEN + VIDEO)

More On Queen Naija & Clarence’s “Ring” Photos

Over the weekend, Queen Naija and Clarence shared a joint carousel post via Instagram. Furthermore, the post shared photos from their time shooting a previously released YouTube video, titled “I CHOOSE YOU FOREVER,” as previously reported by The Shade Room.

Swipe below to see all of the photos from the shoot.

Internet Users React To “Ring” Photos

Social media users immediately entered TSR’s comment section with reactions to Queen Naija and Clarence’s ring photos.

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Instagram user @_suckafreesi wrote, Yall be married to people that won’t even take a picture with you so let’s keep it cute today”

While Instagram user @amourrjae added,is this for a music video? or its fr?!”

Instagram user @kaia.chanel wrote,They got engaged when their frontal lobes were fully developed. They’ve been together for years, did the inner work, and built their way to this moment. This is their life and their timeline. They’re happy, the kids are healthy and no one is harmed.”

While Instagram user @4paigelettah_ added, Bullied him into marrying her i hope it last 🩷”

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Instagram user @ihilvnis wrote, when yall moved at yall own pace ya ended up with 4 kids, 3 different BDs. keep it cutesy.”

While Instagram user @jojanayajtoni added, If this all for a song 🎶 or a album 💿 imma laugh so hard because whaaa”

While Instagram user @itz_ka_sh_i_ri added, Love this!!! Don’t know them in real life!! But this is a good thing. ❤️❤️❤️ blessings in abundance”

Instagram user @djneverkared wrote, she married chris too BIG DEAL”

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While Instagram user @gabsterrb added, you can’t make a man do nothing he don’t want to do – especially not marriage. if he put a ring on it, it’s because he wanted to, not because he was ‘bullied on the internet.’”

Instagram user @nae2x__23 wrote, KEEP THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS TO YOURSELVES!! Let them be happyyyy 🥹🥰🍾”

While Instagram user @heidi.okeke added, Yall are some strong haters. After all yall seen all she’s gone through with Chris, can’t yall show little compassion? Damn just a little. Heart is as hard as a rock or no heart as all smh!”

Her Mom Appears To Confirm Queen Naija & Clarence’s Engagement

As The Shade Room previously reported, amid dropping the “I CHOOSE YOU FOREVER” clip, Queen Naija also released her latest single, ‘Ring.’ Furthermore, around this time, her mom took to social media to share a video congratulating Queen and her “son-in-law to be” Clarence. Ultimately, Queen’s mom explained that she is happy her daughter got to “find” and will “marry the love of her life.”

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“I’m glad this family is healed. I’m glad for Clarence. They’re finally tying the knot,” she said in part.

RELATED: Friends Are Congratulating Queen Naija & Clarence NYC After She Flaunts HUGE Ring While Teasing New Song (PHOTO + VIDEO)

What Do You Think Roomies?

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