Entertainment
All 5 Stephen King Novella Collections, Ranked
You can read every single novel Stephen King has written and still find yourself far off from completing his body of work, so to speak, since he’s also been prolific as a writer of novellas and short stories on top of his nearly 70 (to date) novels. Most of these are compiled in collections, of which there are a dozen official ones. Seven are more short story-focused than novella-focused, as in they’re mostly made up of short stories, rather than novellas. Skeleton Crew is one, because while it kicks off with The Mist, which is a novella (and a pretty great one), most of the tales in that 1985 collection are of the short story variety.
So, there are five works by Stephen King that can be labeled novella collections, and all of them are ranked below. Four of them only have novellas and, funnily enough, all four of those are made up of four novellas each. There’s one other here that’s made up of three novellas and two short stories, but still, more than half are novellas, and in any event, the majority of your time spent reading that one will be on novellas rather than the short stories. These are spread out quite neatly through King’s bibliography (one from the 1980s, two from the 1990s, one from the 2010s, and one from the 2020s), and they range from decent to pretty great in quality, with the best novella collection written by King being up there among his most essential works to date.
5
‘Full Dark, No Stars’ (2010)
While Full Dark, No Stars might be the least interesting of all the novella collections here, it’s still not bad, and there are definitely things here that King’s constant readers will be able to appreciate. Also, people do seem to like this one a little more than some of the collections that’ll be ranked ahead of it, and maybe the stories here finding success with getting movie adaptations showcase that, to some extent. Granted, the movie adaptations haven’t been great, and were the sorts that were viewed as weaker than the source material, but still, they tried. There was interest in attempts being made.
There are also some references here to other Stephen King stories, which is always fun if you are someone very invested in everything he’s written (the guy has pretty much made his own multiverse, at this point). If you want more of a hot take than putting Full Dark, No Stars in last place, then how about this: “Fair Extension,” the shortest of the stories, is also the best one. It doesn’t waste any time and feels like vintage King. Every other novella here overstays its welcome, to some extent. “1922” doesn’t do so as drastically as the painfully drawn-out “A Good Marriage,” but both of them (and maybe “Big Driver,” too) could well have been made a little more impactful with a few words trimmed out here and there.
4
‘Hearts in Atlantis’ (1999)
Hearts in Atlantis is the one title that was a little tricky to add here, since it’s made up of three novellas and two short stories. But, you know, more of a novella collection than a short story collection. But wait! Things get more complicated, because Hearts in Atlantis has some continuity between the five stories it contains, with some recurring characters and similar themes explored across all the stories, so it almost feels like a novel, or it at least comes closest to feeling like one coherent story out of all the Stephen King collections. It’s further ambitious because it tackles the Vietnam War and its aftermath, really diving into a specific historical event to a pretty dramatic extent, by King’s standards.
There are some fantastical elements, especially in the first (and best) story of the bunch, “Low Men in Yellow Coats,” which has some surprisingly direct ties to The Dark Tower series, too.
He does so decently well, even if he lays it on a bit thick at times, and does seem insecure, as a writer, about his readers not “getting” certain things. So he really goes on and on, when you’re like, “No, I get it,” but then he keeps explaining things, it can feel frustrating. When Hearts in Atlantis is working, though, it’s pretty darn good. There are some fantastical elements, especially in the first (and best) story of the bunch, “Low Men in Yellow Coats,” which has some surprisingly direct ties to The Dark Tower series, too. That novella, plus the final story here, “Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling,” were adapted into Hearts in Atlantis, a 2001 movie, but with all the references to The Dark Tower and most of the fantastical elements pretty much taken out, which was disappointing. Oh well.
3
‘If It Bleeds’ (2020)
While If It Bleeds is the most recent Stephen King novella collection, it’s not his most recent collection of stories, since You Like It Darker came out in 2024. That one was mostly short stories, but it speaks to King’s productivity that they both came out in the 2020s, and so too did six other novels (and counting). The man cannot be stopped. Anyway, If It Bleeds is pretty good. None of the novellas here are 10/10-worthy, necessarily, but none entirely miss the mark, either, and they are all indeed pretty good.
“Mr. Harrigan’s Phone” is a better phone-related story than Cell, while “The Life of Chuck” is structurally interesting and perhaps a little sappy, but it works better than the (still fairly good) movie adaptation of the same name from 2024. The titular story here is the longest, and is one of many about Holly Gibney, who was introduced in the Bill Hodges trilogy, and got two novels as the protagonist post-If It Bleeds (Holly and Never Flinch). Then there’s “Rat,” which closes out the collection, and is one of many Stephen King stories about the struggles of writing. Also, like a fair few Stephen King stories, it doesn’t end ideally, but the ride before that point is engaging enough. If It Bleeds is just all-around solid. Nothing here represents King at his very best, and nothing here showcases him at his worst. It’s just pretty good. Pretty, pretty, pretty good.
2
‘Four Past Midnight’ (1990)
Before getting to the first of Stephen King’s novella collections, here’s Four Past Midnight, which was his second overall, not to mention his second best, and his first novella collection to be generally horror-focused. Also, some of these novellas are really quite long, as some paperback editions of Four Past Midnight hover around the 1000-page mark. Take the first story, for instance: “The Langoliers.” This one is actually longer than some of Stephen King’s novels. Page counts can vary, depending on the formatting, but the audiobook version of “The Langoliers” is almost nine hours long, and the audiobook for Carrie will take you just under 7.5 hours to listen to. So…
Also, “The Langoliers” might be the highlight here, or it’s neck-and-neck with “The Library Policeman,” which is harder to read, admittedly, but incredibly effective as a work of horror. It’s the reason that Four Past Midnight can be considered up there among the most disturbing of all of King’s novels, short story collections, novella collections, you name it. “Secret Window, Secret Garden” is also good, albeit maybe a little too similar narratively to King’s novel The Dark Half, and then the final story, “Sun Dog,” is an engaging read, being one of a fair few Stephen King stories set in Castle Rock. Four Past Midnight is a strong collection overall, with all four stories ranging in quality from pretty good to pretty great.
1
‘Different Seasons’ (1982)
It’s easy to single out Different Seasons as the best of Stephen King’s novella collections because of two stories here: “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” and “The Body.” They both inspired two all-time great film adaptations (The Shawshank Redemption and Stand by Me), and are phenomenal in their original forms, too. “Apt Pupil” is another story here, and not quite a work of horror, but one that leans more into psychological thriller territory than those other two. It also got a movie adaptation, albeit not a great one.
Things conclude with “The Breathing Method,” which is the only adaptation-less story here, and probably the closest to the horror genre of the bunch, though Different Seasons overall was something meant to showcase King’s knack for writing non-horror stories. He’d largely been known for horror up until that point, and while nowadays, the idea of a Stephen King book not belonging to the horror genre doesn’t sound too wild, it was surprising back in 1982. So, Different Seasons was instrumental in demonstrating King’s range, and has endured because it houses some of his best writing, and two of the stories here went on to be adapted into two pretty-much-perfect movies. If you only ever have time to read one Stephen King novella collection, for whatever reason, then you’re best off making it this one.
The Shawshank Redemption
- Release Date
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September 23, 1994
- Runtime
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142 minutes
- Director
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Frank Darabont
- Writers
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Frank Darabont
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Make one of these TV fantasies your new viewing reality.
Anna Duggar’s life has been under intense scrutiny ever since her husband, Josh Duggar, was convicted in a case that shocked fans of the once-famous reality TV family.
While the scandal upended her seemingly stable life, Anna has remained by his side, even as those closest to her continue to question that decision.
Behind the scenes, family members have reportedly been urging her to move on, while she focuses on raising her seven children and quietly rebuilding her life.
Anna Duggar Urged By Family To Leave Josh Duggar After Conviction
Anna Duggar has reportedly been facing increasing pressure from her family to walk away from Josh Duggar following his conviction.
According to a source, several relatives have openly encouraged her to reconsider her loyalty.
“Anna has several family members who have strongly encouraged her to leave Josh. It’s been very difficult to have those conversations because Anna has been so supportive of Josh, but the family felt that they had to let her know their thoughts” the insider exclusively told Us Weekly.
Despite their concerns, her loved ones are trying to maintain a careful balance.
They reportedly want to keep their relationship with her intact while still being honest about their views.
The situation has not been easy, especially given how deeply the scandal has affected her life.
The source described the aftermath as something she will be dealing with for years, adding that “The only positive thing right now is that he is out of the picture [while in jail].”
Anna Focuses On The Children While Josh Serves Prison Sentence
As Josh Duggar serves a sentence of more than 12 years, Anna Duggar has shifted her attention toward her children.
The couple shares seven kids, Mackynzie, Michael, Marcus, Meredith, Mason, Maryella, and Madyson, who remain at the center of her daily life.
Sources previously emphasized that her role as a mother has not changed, noting that her children are her top priority. She continues to care for them full-time while standing by Josh despite his incarceration.
Josh was arrested in April 2021 for receiving and possessing child pornography and was later found guilty that December.
In May 2022, he was sentenced to 151 months in prison and is expected to remain behind bars until December 2032.
Although he has maintained his innocence, the conviction brought an abrupt end to the family’s former lifestyle.
The couple, who married in 2008, had built what appeared to be a stable life before everything unraveled in 2021, just months before the birth of their seventh child.
Anna Duggar Builds Independence Away From Josh Duggar And His Family
In the years since the conviction, Anna has reportedly begun carving out a more independent life.
Once living on the Duggar family compound, she is no longer residing there and has started creating her own space.
The insider explained that she “has worked very, very hard to get to where she is right now,” highlighting her efforts to move forward.
She has also been described as “becoming independent and gaining strength” as she distances herself from the broader Duggar family.
Part of that shift includes maintaining a lower public profile. Unlike many of her in-laws, Anna does not run a personal social media account, which has helped her avoid constant scrutiny.
However, she occasionally shares updates through her business page, Golden Grove Pups.
In one recent post, she introduced three puppies, writing, “Meet Whitaker, Beaumont, and Harrington — three of our handsome little golden guys,” offering a rare glimpse into her day-to-day life.
Anna Breaks Silence Indirectly Amid Josh Duggar’s Ongoing Legal Fallout
While Anna has largely stayed quiet publicly, glimpses into her mindset have surfaced through private communications.
Emails she sent to her brother-in-law, Joseph Duggar, following his own legal troubles, revealed how she has been navigating the broader family situation.
In one message obtained by PEOPLE, she expressed support, writing, “You’ve got our prayers. We love you — however we can help, please let us know.”
At the same time, she cautioned him about speaking freely, advising, “Just remember, don’t talk about anything legal unless you are with an attorney.”
Joseph was arrested in March 2026 in Arkansas, following an investigation by Florida regarding child molestation incidents that allegedly took place in 2020 during a family vacation in Florida.
He was later extradited to Florida, where he pleaded not guilty to charges and was released on a $600,000 bond.
Amy Duggar Slams Cousin Josh Duggar, Says He Can’t Be Fixed
Meanwhile, Amy Duggar has spoken candidly about her cousin Josh Duggar, insisting he could not be “rehabilitated from such sick stuff” following his conviction.
As The Blast reported, Amy made it clear that she believed his behavior pointed to deeper issues, warning that he would “always have those sick urges” and expressing fear about his eventual release.
She also criticized members of the Duggar family for remaining silent over the years, arguing that ignoring the situation only allowed the behavior to continue.
In her view, the pattern of abuse within the family reflected a broader toxic environment, and she firmly stated she would never allow Josh near her child.
Cardi B’s ex-husband, Offset, is recovering after being shot in Florida.
The former Migos member (real name Kiari Kendrell Cephus) was shot on Monday, April 6, near the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, a rep for the rapper confirmed to Complex.
“We can confirm Offset was shot and is currently at the hospital receiving medical care,” the rapper’s rep told the outlet in a statement. “He is stable and being closely monitored.”
The circumstances behind the shooting are currently unknown. TMZ was first to report the news.
Offset’s upcoming solo album, Kiari, includes some insight about his divorce from ex Cardi B. The Migos rapper, 33, revealed that Kiari’s closing track, “Move On,” is about the end of his relationship with Cardi, 32. “It’s about moving on, like, peacefully,” Offset explained in a recent interview with the Associated Press. “That’s what the […]
Seminole County, Florida, police subsequently told Page Six that no life-threatening injuries were sustained in the shooting.
“We are aware of an incident that occurred at a valet area after 7 p.m. Monday outside of Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood that resulted in non-life threatening injuries to an individual who was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood,” a police spokesperson to the outlet. “Seminole Police were on site immediately and the situation was contained quickly. Two individuals have been detained by police. The investigation is ongoing. The site is secure and there is no threat to the public. Operations continue as normal.”
Us Weekly has reached out to representatives for Offset and the City of Hollywood Police Department for comment.
Offset’s former Migos bandmate Takeoff was killed in a shooting at age 28 in Houston, Texas, in November 2022. The shooting was linked to a high-stakes dice game where fellow Migos member Quavo was also present, though Takeoff (real name Kirsnick Khari Ball) was reportedly an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire. (Patrick Xavier Clark was indicted for Takeoff’s murder in November 2022 and is awaiting trial. Clark maintains his innocence.)
More than 20,000 people turned out to mourn Takeoff at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena in November 2022, with Cardi B, Justin Bieber and Drake among those in attendance.
Offset in September 2023. ason Kempin/Getty Images for MTV
Offset confirmed in 2023 that he and Quavo were disbanding Migos in the wake of Takeoff’s death. However, during an October 2025 appearance on the “Baby, This Is Keke Palmer” podcast, Offset admitted there were issues within Migos even before Takeoff’s murder.
“Things on the business side wasn’t turning to my favor. I’ve got kids and family,” Offset pointed out. “I’m just getting older and getting more smart, paying more attention to my money and my finances. I felt like I wanted a bigger piece, not from [Quavo and Takeoff] but from the business.”
Offset shares three children — daughter Kulture Kiari Cephus, 7, son Wave Set Cephus, 4, and daughter Blossom Belle Cephus, 1 — with his estranged wife, Cardi B, 33. He is also a father of sons Jordan Cephus, 16, and Kody Cephus, 11, and daughter Kalea Marie Cephus, 11, from prior relationships. (Cardi B welcomed her fourth child, a boy, with Stefon Diggs in November 2025.)
Following a tumultuous few years, Cardi B confirmed in December 2023 that she had been “single for a minute now.” She subsequently filed for divorce in July 2024.
Cardi B’s estranged husband, Offset, was hit with a new six-figure lien — bringing his unpaid tax bill to over $2.3 million, Us Weekly can exclusively report. On October 15, the Internal Revenue Service filed a federal tax lien against Offset (real name: Kiari Cephus). The government agency accused the entertainer of owing $486,426.35 in […]
Offset opened up the split on the “Baby, This Is Keke Palmer” podcast, acknowledging that he had regrets over the way his marriage to Cardi ended.
“I should have respected her way more. I made bad decisions, like stepping out,” Offset said in October 2025. “Gotta take that on the chin. When she left, I had to take that on the chin. … We got so much, our kids, to live for. I was being selfish, and I can say that as a man.”
Entertainment
Everything To Remember From ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Before Its New 10-Part Sequel Premieres
Praise be! The wicked world of Gilead continues its religious oppression in The Testaments, the sequel series to The Handmaid’s Tale. Hulu’s adaptation of famed author Margaret Atwood’s 1985 dystopian thriller saw Elisabeth Moss in a career-defining performance as its main protagonist, June Osborne, aka Offred. Throughout its run, The Handmaid’s Tale won 15 Emmys, captivating millions of viewers across six nail-biting seasons.
One year after the series finale of The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments looks to be yet another timely tale about privilege and complicity told through a coming-of-age story, but how does it tie into its predecessor? Let’s take a look at everything you need to remember about The Handmaid’s Tale before watching the premiere of its sequel series.
How Does ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ End?
The final season of The Handmaid’s Tale was markedly much less tragic and painful than previous seasons, but it was not without moments that tugged at your heartstrings. Season 6 focused largely on the rebellion movement, as well as the efforts of June and the main resistance group, Mayday, to liberate Boston from Gilead’s oppression.
Episode 8 sees the Handmaids leading a massive rebellion during Serena’s (Yvonne Strahovski) marriage to Commander Wharton (Josh Charles), which began after a wedding cake laced with sedatives immobilized Gilead’s high society. Episode 9 takes a turn with Gilead’s retaliation through the capture of June and dozens of other Handmaids before efforts to murder them via public execution. However, at the perfect moment, the Mayday-led rebellion emerges and frees the women before slaughtering as many Commanders and Gilead army members as possible.
Then, in yet another triumph, June works with Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) to kill the most powerful remaining oppressors with an airplane bomb, which unfortunately involves the Commander sacrificing himself in the process, taking Nick (Max Minghella), the father of June’s second child, Nichole, along with him. June and the Handmaids finally win, liberating Boston and leaving Gilead the same empty shell its incarcerated Handmaids once were, for so long. Though Gilead is destroyed in Boston, it remains intact throughout the rest of America and is strategizing to maintain power.
In Episode 10, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” rebel forces mobilize to try to take the country back. June finally reunites with Nichole, and she and Luke (O-T Fagbenle) decide to end their marriage while vowing never to stop searching for their daughter, Hannah, who remains firmly in Gilead’s grip. Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) experiences a huge change in personal morality, no longer supporting the men of power in the oppressive regime, and after receiving June’s forgiveness, Serena sets out for a refugee camp with nothing but her infant son Noah and a plastic bag of personal belongings. Our one-eyed favorite, Janine (Madeline Brewer), is saved by June from an abusive Commander and reunited with her daughter, Charlotte, and Emily (Alexis Bledel) is also shown to be liberated from her circumstances.
As The Handmaid’s Tale ends, it takes things right back to the beginning, with June returning to the mansion where she once served as a Handmaid. There, she confidently begins to record her story, making it clear that Gilead will continue to fall across the United States, and that she will continue to fight undercover as part of the resistance until she finds Hannah.
‘The Testaments’ Takes Place Four Years After ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’
The Testaments novel takes place more than 15 years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale, but the TV adaptation will pick back up in the same world as its predecessor, set just four years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale finale. While the setting remains inside the Republic of Gilead, the plot doesn’t revolve around the Handmaids. Lydia’s evolution will continue as she moves from being a ruthless zealot and disciplinarian to a double agent desperately searching for a way to overthrow Gilead from the inside out.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, while Season 1 of The Testaments will shed light on Aunt Lydia’s life before Gilead through a series of “strategically placed flashbacks,” the sequel’s narrative largely centers on a completely different generation at an elite prep school where a group of young women, raised in luxury and advantage, are being groomed for marriage.
‘The Testaments’ Tells a New Coming-of-Age Story
Aunt Lydia’s school is more like an authoritarian refining academy, where young women are sent to learn how to carry out the various wifely duties expected of them as future spouses of Gilead’s most highly ranked Commanders. At this school, servitude and obedience are prioritized over education, and uniform colors are coordinated — the Pinks are the youngest girls, the Plums are older teens, and the Greens are the eligibles ready for marriage. The transition to Green only occurs if a Plum gets her period, which is marked by a public confession and praise ceremony.
Having grown up inside the regime as the daughter of a powerful Gilead leader, Agnes MacKenzie (Chase Infiniti), who is also June’s daughter, Hannah, knows no other lifestyle beyond the regime’s oppression and brutality. In training as a wife-to-be, Agnes is dutiful and pious; however, she changes her mind and decides to become an aunt instead of marrying her arranged husband. New arrival Daisy (Lucy Halliday), who is a few years younger than Agnes, enters Gilead and the school as a committed convert, but she is soon revealed to have ulterior motives.
As the two young women navigate the opulent halls of an institute where obedience is brutally instilled with divine justification, they form an intense bond neither of them truly understands. It will soon become the catalyst for upending their past, present, and future, with Daisy’s honesty leading Agnes to question the world around her in ways that threaten to change her life forever.
Just like with The Handmaid’s Tale, don’t expect The Testaments to be a true adaptation. While it will draw on the novel’s main characters, their world, and their situations, the show is expected to take specific liberties to explore the characters’ lives beyond what just one novel could. Remaining a political cautionary tale, The Testaments feels like a warning against both complicity and complacency, as well as a love letter to friendship and an eye-opening reminder of the power of teenage girls to change the world.
The Testaments premieres April 8 with its first three episodes on Hulu.
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The “Late Show” franchise will end after more than three decades in May.
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Sometimes, even the most unexpected denim trends can be incredibly flattering. Need proof? Look no further than Chrissy Teigen. While it’s true that barrel-leg jeans might seem a little intimidating at first, the roomy, curved silhouette has a way of creating shape in all the right places. It’s a fresh, fashion-forward alternative to classic straight-leg and bootcut styles, and it’s trending just in time for warmer weather.
Teigen was recently spotted sporting the chicest pair of high-rise barrel-leg jeans, so naturally, we set out to find similar styles that deliver the same easy, elevated feel. Spoiler alert: there are so many great pairs at every price point, so you don’t have to splurge to try out the new look. Whether you’re looking for an investment piece or a fun way to incorporate the popular style into your spring and summer wardrobe, there is a pair of barrel-leg jeans waiting for you.
Get the Zesica Barrel Jeans for $38 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
To recreate Teigen’s effortlessly cool vibe, look for barrel jeans in light-to-medium washes. Next, look for a relaxed, slightly curved cut. Teigen paired her pants with a light, flowy blouse that is springtime perfection, and while you can definitely do the same, there are so many other style possibilities, too. Think a fitted tank or tucked-in tee for a casual look, or pull out all the stops with a dressy top for date night. Teigen styled her outfit with chic heels and a playful swan handbag. Ahead, we rounded up our favorite barrel-leg jeans to help you recreate Teigen’s cool-girl look, starting at just $38.
Our Favorite: The most affordable option on our list, Zesica barrel-leg jeans on Amazon offer a modern twist on everyday denim. The high-rise waist and soft stretch fabric make them not just flattering, but ultra-comfortable, too. See more of our favorite spring-forward barrel-leg denim styles below!
Barrel jeans aren’t going anywhere anytime soon . . . but Chrissy Teigen proves they can feel totally new for spring. By pairing hers with a loose, boho-inspired blouse, she showed Us how to give the structured denim a softer, more relaxed vibe. The best part? It’s an easy styling trick you can copy now […]
2025 was a busy year for Tom Hardy, who got the ball rolling by starring in the bone-crunching Netflix original action thriller, Havoc. The film was written and directed by Gareth Edwards, and it was hanging around in the Netflix top 10 as recently as this year — impressive, considering the film debuted last April. Hardy quickly followed Havoc with the debut season of MobLand, the hit crime thriller series from director Guy Ritchie. MobLand co-stars Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren, and it stars Hardy as an up-and-coming fixer who gets caught in the middle of a dangerous gang war. Paramount took some time to sit on things, but the studio finally decided to renew MobLand for Season 2, and it could yet return before the end of this year.
Hardy has starred in plenty of famous projects over the years, but most would agree that his true breakout stretch came between 2010 and 2015, from starring in Inception, Locke, The Dark Knight Rises, and Mad Max: Fury Road. These projects established Hardy as one of the most formidable action stars in Hollywood, a status that he maintains to this day. However, back in 2002, Hardy teamed up with Patrick Stewart for the forgotten Star Trek movie, Nemesis, which is largely hated by the Star Trek fan base. The film earned abysmal scores of 37% from critics and 49% from audiences on the aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, and it grossed only $67 million at the box office against a $60 million budget, making it a massive bomb. All these years later, Star Trek: Nemesis will seek redemption on the free streaming service, Pluto TV, where it’s now available to watch for everyone.
From Walter White to Heisenberg, a Breaking Bad Collider TV Quiz!
There’s no wrong time to break bad with Walter White, Jesse Pinkman, Hank Schrader, and the rest of that Vince Gilligan universe. Let’s start cookin’.
What Is ‘Star Trek: Nemesis’ About?
The official synopsis for Star Trek: Nemesis reads as follows: “The Enterprise is diverted to the Romulan home world, Romulus, because they want to negotiate a peace treaty. Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew discover a serious threat to the Federation once Praetor Shinzon (Tom Hardy) plans to attack Earth.” John Logan, Rick Berman, and Brent Spiner wrote the script for Star Trek: Nemesis, and Stuart Baird directed the film. The rest of the cast consists of Jonathan Frakes as William Riker, Brent Spiner as Data/B-4, LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge, Michael Dorn as Worf, Marina Sirtis as Deana Troi, and Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher.
Check out Star Trek: Nemesis on Pluto TV and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of the Star Trek franchise.
- Release Date
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December 13, 2002
- Director
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Stuart Baird
- Writers
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Gene Roddenberry, John Logan, Rick Berman, Brent Spiner
Following the success of an acclaimed third season of the comedy drama Shrinking and an ongoing sophomore installment of the jaw-dropping Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Apple TV has no interest in slowing down in 2026. Ahead of a return to the soccer pitch in Ted Lasso Season 4 and the hotly anticipated Margo’s Got Money Troubles later this month, the streamer dropped the second season of one of its most addictive original shows, Your Friends & Neighbors.
Released in April last year, the Jon Hamm-led thriller, Your Friends & Neighbors, became an instant hit on Apple TV, finding its way to the top of the streaming charts and earning a remarkable 402 million minutes watched in its debut week. The finale, released on May 30, was a particular hit, cracking the Nielsen Top 10 for streaming originals and drawing 392 million minutes viewed that week. Season 1 was also a hit with critics, earning a strong 79% score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus on the site reading, “An acidly witty riff on breaking bad, Your Friends & Neighbors‘ class commentary occasionally stumbles but has an endlessly watchable avatar in star Jon Hamm.”
But what about the newest second season? Well, on Rotten Tomatoes, it has performed even better to date, landing an 85% rating from 20 reviews thus far. One critic wrote, “In Season 2, Your Friends & Neighbors gets more textured, showcasing a different level of affluence, the costs of lies, and why wealthy white men, in particular, constantly fail upward.” Season 2 consists of ten episodes, released weekly on Apple TV through June 5, 2026.
What Did Collider Say About ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ Season 2?
For Collider, Nate Richard reviewed Your Friends & Neighbors Season 2 and joined those on Rotten Tomatoes by offering glowing praise. After praising the show for “elevating itself to an even more bombastic level than before,” he added, “Your Friends & Neighbors Season 2 is further proof that Tropper, Hamm, and Apple TV have made one of the most addictive series on streaming,” Richard continued, “It may juggle a lot, and takes an episode to truly get into the meat of things, but once the scandals start, you can’t look away.”
Your Friends & Neighbors Season 2 is a hit with critics and airs weekly on Apple TV. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for the latest stories.
- Release Date
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April 11, 2025
- Network
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Apple TV
Lately, I have been so stuck with the feeling of picking apart a thriller when it ends, instead of being impressed. Most of the time, something doesn’t add up, or there are a few characters that act out of convenience. It happens a lot. That’s why a well-written thriller stands out so much more.
The films in this list are some of the perfectly written thrillers. You can follow every decision, even when it leads somewhere uncomfortable. The tension builds up very naturally and comes from how carefully everything is set up. And more importantly, the story still makes sense when you look back at it. Let’s have a look at them.
7
‘The Fugitive’ (1993)
The Fugitive is a thriller that does not rely on twists merely; it works because every part of the story is clear and tightly connected. The film wastes very little time and moves with a steady sense of urgency, but it somehow never feels rushed. From the opening moments, the situation is easy to follow, and the stakes are set in a way that keeps the tension consistent throughout.
Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) is wrongly accused of murdering his wife and is forced to go on the run after a prison transport crash. As he searches for the truth behind the crime, U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) leads the manhunt with sharp focus and determination. What makes the writing stand out is how both sides are given equal weight. Kimble’s investigation and Gerard’s pursuit move side by side, and each step logically leads to the next. There are no unnecessary detours, which makes the story complete and carefully constructed from beginning to end.
6
‘Michael Clayton’ (2007)
Some thrillers build tension through action, while Michael Clayton builds it through decisions and consequences. The film takes a more controlled approach and focuses on how pressure builds over time. It trusts the audience to follow complex situations without over-explaining anything.
Michael Clayton (George Clooney) works as a fixer for a powerful law firm, and he handles problems before they grow out of control. His routine changes when Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson), a senior lawyer, begins to act unpredictably in front of him during a major case involving a large corporation. At the same time, Karen Crowder (Tilda Swinton) tries to contain the situation from the corporate side. The writing is almost perfect because every character has a clear motivation, and every action carries weight. The story shows how a well-written thriller does not need constant action to stay engaging.
5
‘Zodiac’ (2007)
Zodiac focuses on what happens when a thrilling case refuses to be solved. The film moves in a deliberate and controlled way, and shows how time passes without clear answers. Instead of forcing a concrete ending, it stays committed to the uncertainty, which makes the story feel more realistic and honest.
The investigation follows cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), journalist Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.), and inspector Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) as they try to track down the Zodiac killer. Each of them approaches the case differently, though all of them become consumed by it over time. The writing stands out because it does not simplify the process or offer easy conclusions. Clues lead somewhere, then stall. Leads appear promising, then fall apart. As a result, the tension comes from obsession and frustration, which makes the film feel complete even without a clear ending.
4
‘No Country for Old Men’ (2007)
No Country for Old Men takes a quieter approach towards thrillers, though the tension never really fades. The film removes many of the usual thriller elements and replaces them with stillness, timing, and unpredictability. It does not guide the audience in a traditional way, which makes every moment feel more uncertain.
Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) finds a suitcase of money after a drug deal goes wrong, and he decides to keep it, knowing it will bring trouble. That decision puts him in the path of Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), a relentless killer who follows his own strict sense of logic. The writing in the movie is flawless because it avoids the cliché easy explanations, which are visible in every other thriller. This unpredictability gives the film its due credit and makes it feel carefully thought out.
3
‘Chinatown’ (1974)
Some thrillers slowly pull you into a mystery, and Chinatown does exactly that with careful control. The story begins with what seems like a simple case, but it gradually opens into something much larger. Each new detail adds another layer, and the film never rushes to explain everything at once.
Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is a private investigator who is hired to follow a man suspected of infidelity. What starts as routine work quickly turns into a complex investigation involving water rights, corruption, and hidden power. Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway) becomes central to the case, though her situation is not as clear as it first appears. Nothing feels wasted, and the story builds step by step until it reaches an ending that feels both shocking and inevitable.
2
‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)
The Silence of the Lambs keeps its focus tight and controlled, which makes the tension feel constant from start to finish. The film does not rely on large-scale action. Instead, it builds its impact through conversations, psychological pressure, and the space between what is said and what is implied.
Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is a trainee at the FBI who is assigned to help track down a serial killer known as Buffalo Bill. To understand the case better, she interviews Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), an imprisoned psychiatrist with a disturbing past. Their conversations become the center of the story, as Lecter offers insight while also testing Clarice at every step. Every exchange moves the story forward while revealing something about the characters, and nothing feels random.
1
‘Se7en’ (1995)
Se7en is one of the best thrillers ever made since it builds toward a conclusion that feels unavoidable. The film follows a clear structure, though the tone grows darker with each step. From the beginning, it sets a mood that does not shift, which makes the ending more natural.
Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) and Detective Mills (Brad Pitt) investigate a series of murders connected to the seven deadly sins. As they move from one crime scene to another, the pattern becomes clearer, though the purpose behind it remains unsettling. The killer, John Doe (Kevin Spacey), stays hidden for most of the film, which adds to the tension. The writing stands out because everything connects back to the central idea. Each crime, each clue, and each conversation builds toward the last scene, making the story feel complete and carefully planned.
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