Entertainment
Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire Officially Return in New Sony ‘Spider-Man’ Release
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has been swinging through various box office records ever since it premiered just last week, and that means Spidey fever is taking over the globe again. Sony is taking that opportunity to strike while the iron is hot, and bringing back two decades’ worth of web-slinging in a new release that will thrill fans.
Sony Pictures has officially released 10 brand-new digital posters celebrating its entire Spider-Man movie library, featuring the various Peter Parkers, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Tom Holland, and Miles Morales (Shameik Moore). The newly unveiled artwork has begun appearing across digital storefronts, including Prime Video and the iTunes Store, giving every Spider-Man movie a consistent visual identity for the first time.
Rather than treating every release as its own thing, the design is unifying them all under one big Spidey umbrella with a shared design strategy. Each poster features its respective Spider-Man as the central focus, backed by a distinct color palette while key supporting characters and villains surround the hero. The Raimi trilogy uses a rich red color scheme, Garfield’s Amazing Spider-Man films are bathed in blue, Holland’s MCU trilogy embraces gold, while the animated Spider-Verse movies are highlighted with vibrant purple hues.
The collection includes all three of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films starring Maguire, with posters showcasing iconic characters including Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) and Sandman (Thomas Haden Church). Garfield’s two Amazing Spider-Man movies also receive redesigned artwork featuring Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), Electro (Jamie Foxx), Green Goblin (Dane DeHaan) and the Lizard (Rhys Ifans).
Holland’s MCU trilogy—Spider-Man: Homecoming, Far From Home and No Way Home—rounds out the live-action collection, while both Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse complete the lineup with artwork centered around Miles Morales and the wider Spider-Verse.
How Successful Is ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’?
It’s officially one of the biggest movies of all time, based on the rip-roaring start it’s had. After opening to a record-breaking $360 million domestic debut, it posted the biggest opening weekend in North American box office history, surpassing Avengers: Endgame. Internationally, it launched with $932 million worldwide, the second-biggest global opening of all time, trailing only Endgame.
Brand New Day crossed $1 billion worldwide in just six days, making it the second-fastest film in history to do that — again, sitting just behind Endgame. And while it’s already the highest-grossing movie of 2026, it’s already realistic to discuss the prospect that it’ll surpass Spider-Man: No Way Home’s $1.92 billion total.
Brand New Day is playing in theaters worldwide right now.
- Release Date
-
July 29, 2026
- Runtime
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145 minutes
- Director
-
Destin Daniel Cretton
- Writers
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Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers
- Producers
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Avi Arad, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Amy Pascal, David Cain
Entertainment
Spencer Pratt Details ‘Working’ With President Trump
Spencer Pratt detailed his recent meeting with President Donald Trump following his loss in the Los Angeles mayoral race.
“Working with the President on a 25% FEDERAL film tax credit to bring back Hollywood,” the Hills alum, 42, wrote via Instagram on Friday, August 7. “While Gavin Newsom’s commissioner is actively outsourcing production jobs to Hungary, and his rogue AG is trying to destroy CA production companies, the adults in the room are actually trying to repatriate the most quintessential American industry.”
Pratt’s post included a photo of him and the president, 80, during their meeting at Trump’s golf club in Los Angeles.
“I’m committed to saving Hollywood, and I’m very grateful for the President’s remarkable generosity and focus on this issue,” Pratt continued. “He is very passionate about revitalizing the entertainment industry and we will not let Canada, or the UK or Budapest steal our lunch anymore.”
Pratt added that during their meeting, he and Trump shared a meal which he described as the “best clam chowder” he has ever had.
“We discussed several other very important topics, as well. I’m humbled and grateful for all the time and discussion from the President,” Pratt recalled. “Unlike many other cynical doomers out there, he refuses to write off California.”
When Pratt entered the Los Angeles mayoral race earlier this year, Trump seemingly endorsed the former reality star. (While Pratt is a registered republican, the Los Angeles mayoral race was a nonpartisan election.)
“I’d like to see him do well. He’s a character,” Trump told reporters ahead of the primary election. “I assume he probably supports me. I heard he’s a big MAGA person.”
In May, Pratt spoke with Us about his mayoral bid and stressed his deep commitment to the endeavour. “It was always very serious, but when I announced [my run] in front of thousands of fire victims, everyone cheered so much that it kicked off a new path of being taken seriously,” he exclusively told Us, revealing his wife, Heidi Montag, showed unwavering support. “And as I go to all of these communities and meet with community leaders, they just have so much faith in me.”
Pratt ended up finishing in third in the June primary election, falling short of the runoff by less than 30,000 votes. Los Angeles voters will choose between current mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman this November.
Following the loss, Trump continued to advocate for Pratt.
“Spencer Pratt…He shouldn’t go away quietly,” Trump said of Pratt’s loss during a June speech to the Faith & Freedom Coalition, before erroneously — and without any evidence — claiming the election outcome was not legitimate. “He should protest because it was, in my very strong opinion, that was a rigged election.”
Last month, Pratt paid a visit to the White House and hinted his career in politics wasn’t over yet.
“I will never stop fighting for my community,” Pratt wrote via Instagram alongside a photo of him and Trump inside the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C.
Details about Pratt and Trump’s July meeting were not publicly revealed at the time.
Entertainment
Blue Bloods’ Will Estes to Make Boston Blue Season 2 Cameo
When Boston Blue returns for season 2, there will be another familiar face: Jamie Reagan!
Will Estes, who was a fan-favorite on Blue Bloods, is officially set to make a cameo on the CBS spinoff, according to a new photo shared by Donnie Wahlberg.
“Welcome (back) to the Family! Jamie Reagan! aka Will Estes! #BostonBlue,” Wahlberg, 56, who played Jamie’s big brother Danny Reagan on Blue Bloods before helming Boston Blue, wrote via his Instagram Story on Friday, August 7.
Estes, 47, can be spotted sitting next to Wahlberg as they dined together at a round table.
Boston Blue stars Sonequa Martin-Green, Marcus Scribner, Mika Amonsen, who play Detective Lena Silver, officer Jonah Silver and Danny’s son Sean Reagan, respectively, were also smiling for the camera while on set.
In the background, fans can see some of the camera crew and a few extras that also appeared to be eating a meal for the shoot.

Sonequa Martin-Green, Marcus Scribner, Mika Amonsen, Will Estes and Donnie Wahlberg on ‘Boston Blue’ set. Courtesy of Donnie Wahlberg/Instagram
Us confirmed on Friday that Estes will, in fact, be making a cameo on season 2 of the hit drama, making him the third Reagan to crossover from the flagship series.
Fans last saw Estes’ Jamie during the Blue Bloods series finale, which aired in December 2024, when Jamie and wife Eddie Janko (Vanessa Ray) revealed they were expecting their first baby.
After 14 seasons on CBS, Blue Bloods came to a close, seemingly ending the Reagan family’s story — for the time being.
Throughout the series, fans became part of the family as every episode dove into the lives of NYPD Fran Commissioner Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck) and his adult children, Detective Danny (Wahlberg), Assistant District Attorney Erin (Bridget Moynahan) and NYPD officer Jamie (Estes), as they navigated being first responders and a close-knit family.
The show also starred Frank’s father, former police commissioner Henry Reagan (Len Cariou), and his three grandchildren.

Blue Bloods’ Will Estes, Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan and Tom Selleck. Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images
Luckily for fans, CBS greenlit Boston Blue soon after the OG show ended. This time, the series follows Danny after he relocates to Boston to help his son Sean — a newly minted BPD officer — after he gets hurt trying to save someone.
Throughout season 1, Danny had to adjust to life in Beantown and quickly found himself assisting on cases as a detective before giving up his shield in NYC to live there full-time.
While his family lives in New York, viewers have been treated to a few Reagan crossovers thus far, including Erin (Moynahan) and Pops a.k.a. Grandpa Henry (Cariou).
Danny’s nephew Joe Hill (Will Hochman) and his former NYC partner and girlfriend, Maria Baez (Marisa Ramirez) also popped up during season 1 before they decided to press pause on their relationship.
Although Jamie didn’t appear on season 1, he was part of the story line as was his and Eddie’s baby. During the season finale in May, Danny revealed that Jamie had a little boy named Joseph, after their late brother.

Vanessa Ray and Will Estes on ‘Blue Bloods.’ CBS/Everett Collection
Prior to Estes’ confirmed return, executive producer Brandon Margolis exclusively told Us that the hope is that all the Reagans will make cameos on the spinoff at one point or another.
“It enriches our lives to get to continue their stories,” Margolis shared in May. “So we would love to extend that invitation and have you know new Reagans appear and Reagans who were there last year to come back.”
Season 2 of Boston Blue premieres on CBS Friday, October 9, at 10 p.m. ET.
Entertainment
My Life With the Walter Boys Star Addresses [Spoiler]’s Accident
While My Life With the Walter Boys hasn’t shied away from major characters facing life-altering events, Ashby Gentry isn’t too concerned about Alex’s fate in the future.
Warning: Spoilers below for season 3 of My Life With the Walter Boys.
“Alex is actually indestructible, so I’m not super worried. Even if something did happen to him, he would emerge from it pristine, like a newborn baby,” Gentry, 27, exclusively quipped to Us ahead of the Thursday, August 6, season 3 premiere on Netflix, before admitting: “Yeah, actually, I get worried sometimes.”
Gentry, who doesn’t partake in the bronc riding on the show, explained to Us that he “[gets] on horses all the time” but still faces nerves for himself and his equine-loving character. That is, until Alex decided to step back from his rodeo crew at Hartford.
“I’m literally going horseback riding after this and I get nervous sometimes because you never know. Things happen. I mean in any stunt sort of encounter, you never know what could happen,” he noted. “But I mean, I’m not really that nervous by the end of the season because he’s not doing the bronc riding anymore.”
While Gentry isn’t concerned for Alex, fans of the show are eagerly awaiting season 4 (dropping on Netflix in 2027) to find out the fate of his brother Cole (Noah LaLonde). The brooding bad boy in an on-again, off-again relationship with Jackie (Nikki Rodriguez) was last seen rolling over in his car several times after being hit by a competitor.
![My Life With the Walter Boys’ Ashby Gentry Teases Whether He Is Worried About Potential Onscreen Death After [Spoiler]’s Shocking Accident](https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Ashby-on-Cole-Spoiler.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all)
From Gentry’s perspective, the accident could serve as a catalyst for Cole and Alex to bond amid their tension stemming from navigating love triangles.
“I would be surprised if it didn’t [bring Alex and Cole closer],” Gentry reflected of the incident. “Jackie brought them closer, like, fighting over a girl brought them closer. So if rolling his car six times doesn’t, something’s backwards there.”
Gentry pointed to the previous cliff-hanger of family patriarch George’s (Marc Blucas) health scare as something that united the Walters in season 3.
“I think George’s stroke at the beginning of season 3 slash end of season 2 brings everybody closer,” Gentry explained. “People are shaped much more by their conditions than they create their conditions. I think we have that backwards in contemporary culture.”
Despite playing coy about any of the events unfolding in season 4 (“I’ve heard it’s good,” he teased), Gentry did weigh in on what he wishes for Alex’s future.
“I hope Alex has a happy day,” Gentry said. “I hope Alex has a good day for once at some point because Alex has not had a good day in a long time. That’s what I wish for him.”
My Life With the Walter Boys season 3 is streaming on Netflix now.
Entertainment
Bring Home a Piece of the Wizarding World as Harry Potter Announces Its Popcorn Bucket Collection
As Harry Potter prepares for its theatrical re-release as part of the film’s 25th anniversary, the movie theaters are also preparing for the influx of fans wanting to relive the magic once more. So, it comes as no surprise that the popcorn bucket trend has followed suit, allowing fans to take a piece of the wizarding world with them.
The popcorn bucket trend began in 2024 when Dune: Part II released its infamous Sandworm popcorn bucket. This collectible went viral due to its design, to the point where other movies, like Deadpool & Wolverine, followed suit, creating popcorn buckets with questionable designs. At the same time, this led many movie releases to produce their own collectible popcorn bucket, when usually these would be distributed either during press screenings or in amusement parks. One of the recent popcorn bucket designs is an IMAX camera popcorn bucket that was distributed during The Odyssey‘s theatrical run.
With all eight Harry Potter films returning to theaters later this month, Cinemark and Regal unveiled their Harry Potter collectible popcorn bucket and soda cup collection. Cinemark will be releasing three popcorn buckets. One is a tin bucket with a Harry Potter 25th anniversary decal wrapped around it and a “stirring wand” that’s shaped as Harry’s wand. The other two are a Sorting Hat popcorn bucket, where the Sorting Hat is the lid and the books are where the popcorn resides. There is a regular version and a limited edition where the Sorting Hat is color gold rather than the default brown. Lastly, Cinemark will also sell Gripper cups, where each design is based on one of the four houses. Cinemark’s collection is now available to purchase in theaters, and its official social media claims there’s more to come. Meanwhile, Regal’s collectible popcorn bucket offerings offer more variety in terms of design. The theater chain has revealed popcorn buckets designed as the Nimbus 2000, Hogwarts Express, and the Hogwarts Trunk, all coming with large popcorn. Additionally, it will also release a collectible combo which comes with a cup and a bucket with Harry Potter 25th anniversary decals wrapped around it. Regal’s Harry Potter collectibles will be available on August 27, when the Harry Potter theatrical re-releases begin.
What’s Harry Potter About?
Harry Potter is a franchise created by J.K Rowling that first began as a book series, but has expanded into films, video games, theme parks, merchandise, audiobooks, and soon, a TV series. It follows a young boy named Harry Potter who discovers he’s a wizard and was selected to study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Each year has him and his friends, Hermione and Ron, dealing with a new problem that tends to be connected to the return of Lord Voldemort. Years after the film’s release, as well as the spin-off movies, Fantastic Beasts, Harry Potter is making a return to HBO Max, with Season 1 scheduled to come out on December 25, 2026, and Season 2 is currently in production. Starring in this TV series are Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and also starring in the show are John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, to name a few.
All 8 Harry Potter films will return to theaters starting on August 27. In the meantime, you can watch them at home on HBO Max. Follow Collider for more updates.
Entertainment
Love Dakota Johnson’s Fall-Ready Flats? Get the Look for $22
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Dakota Johnson has a knack for making the seasonal style switch feel effortless. While everyone else is squeezing a few more weeks out of their favorite sandals, the actress is already reaching for the polished shoe trend that’s poised to take over this fall. Better yet, you don’t need a designer budget to copy the look.
Johnson was spotted in Los Angeles on August 2 wearing a green slip dress layered under a suede jacket, finished with a printed tote bag and classic black ballet flats. Her exact pair is a Phoebe Philo style that costs $1,100, but we found a near-identical version for just $22 on Amazon that delivers the same timeless, minimalist vibe.
Get the Dream Pairs Foldable Bowknot Ballet Flats for $22 (Was $35) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
The Dream Pairs Foldable Bowknot Ballet Flats capture everything we loved about Johnson’s shoes, from the classic round toe to the delicate bow detail. The sleek silhouette looks just as chic with dresses as it does with jeans, tailored trousers and skirts, making them the kind of versatile staple you’ll reach for well beyond sandal season.
This pair is practical, too. A tri-layer cushioned insole helps keep every step comfortable, while the water-repellent synthetic leather upper is designed to handle whatever the forecast has in store. The shoes even fold flat, making it easy to toss them into a tote for travel, long commutes or whenever your heels need a break.
With more than 4,100 five-star ratings, shoppers say they’re just as comfortable as they are stylish.
One reviewer praised the flats for their “great support,” adding that they’re “extremely walkable and do not hurt the back of your ankle.” Another customer called them “very pretty” and shared that they’ve “received many compliments” wearing them with “dresses, jeans, and black slacks.”
If Johnson’s outfit is any indication, ballet flats are officially taking over where summer sandals left off. Available in her classic black as well as silver, red and other colors, this classic style makes it easy to get ahead of fall style — without spending anywhere close to four figures.
Get the Dream Pairs Foldable Bowknot Ballet Flats for $22 (Was $35) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more from Dream Pairs here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
UsNow Summer Sale Alert: These Chic Fashion Finds are over 30% off – Plus Free Shipping
Welcome to summer with our biggest sale of the year. This summer’s chicest dresses, tops and swimsuits are all over 30% + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.
Entertainment
10 R-Rated Drama Movies That Can Be Called Masterpieces
Movies with the word drama attached to them get reduced to sadness far too often. Give an actor a breakdown, add heavy music, and people start throwing around words like powerful. The real masterpieces, however, earn that reaction through character, consequence, and choices that feel impossible even when nobody is holding a weapon.
These ten films go after ambition, grief, race, captivity, mental health, crime, greed, genocide, and family power without turning people into tidy lessons. Some are brutal. A few are surprisingly funny. All of them offer enough detail, emotion, and moral tension to make another viewing feel useful rather than repetitive. Scroll down slowly if that interests you.
10
‘Whiplash’ (2014)
Whiplash centers on Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller), a young jazz drummer at an elite New York conservatory who becomes obsessed with earning the approval of instructor Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons). Fletcher uses insults, humiliation, manipulation, and physical intimidation while claiming that comfort destroys greatness. Andrew accepts more abuse than anyone should because he wants to become exceptional more than he wants a healthy life.
The drumming is filmed with the urgency of an action movie. Sweat lands on cymbals, fingers bleed, chairs fly, and every change in tempo feels dangerous. Damien Chazelle also keeps the central argument uncomfortable. Fletcher is abusive, but Andrew’s ambition exists independently of him. He is already willing to neglect relationships, health, and basic decency for recognition. The role brought J.K. Simmons an Academy Award, though the lasting debate belongs to the film itself. Is this artistic triumph, emotional ruin, or both happening at once? Whiplash gives you enough evidence to argue all night.
9
‘Manchester by the Sea’ (2016)
Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) works as a handyman in Boston and keeps almost everyone at a distance. After his brother Joe Chandler (Kyle Chandler) dies, Lee returns to Manchester-by-the-Sea and learns that he has been named guardian of his teenage nephew Patrick Chandler (Lucas Hedges). Going home also forces him back into the community where an unbearable personal tragedy destroyed his marriage and his ability to imagine a normal future.
Kenneth Lonergan understands that grief rarely behaves like a clean dramatic journey. Lee can handle practical problems, trade sarcastic remarks with Patrick, and get through a conversation before one familiar street or unexpected encounter knocks the air out of him. Patrick’s own mourning looks different. He worries about girlfriends, hockey, the family boat, and the disruption of his routine. That contrast keeps the film alive and occasionally very funny. Manchester by the Sea respects the fact that some injuries cannot be converted into inspiring recovery stories. It asks for compassion without manufacturing a cure, which is far more honest.
8
‘Moonlight’ (2016)
Moonlight tells Chiron (Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Trevante Rhodes)’s story across three stages of his life in Miami. As a child, he is bullied and neglected. During adolescence, questions around sexuality and masculinity become harder to avoid. Adulthood brings a carefully built exterior that hides how much of the frightened boy remains underneath. Three actors portray Chiron, yet the emotional line between them never breaks.
Barry Jenkins adapted an unpublished play by Tarell Alvin McCraney, whose own childhood helped shape the world of the film. Juan (Mahershala Ali), a drug dealer who offers Chiron protection, is also connected to the addiction destroying Chiron’s mother. Kevin (Jaden Piner, Jharrel Jerome, and André Holland) brings tenderness into a life where tenderness can become dangerous the moment someone else sees it. Moonlight refuses to explain every silence. A glance across a diner table can hold years of loneliness, shame, desire, and hope without turning the conversation into a speech. It is intimate, specific, and generous enough to let Chiron remain complicated. Give it your full attention and it will reward every quiet second.
7
’12 Years a Slave’ (2013)
Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a free Black musician living with his wife and children in New York when two men lure him to Washington, drug him, and sell him into slavery. He is beaten for insisting on his identity, transported south, and forced to survive under several enslavers while searching for any chance to prove who he is. The film comes from Northup’s 1853 memoir, which gives the story the weight of recorded testimony rather than invented suffering.
Directed by Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave refuses to make survival look simple or morally clean. Solomon has to stay intelligent without appearing threatening, preserve dignity while obeying cruel commands, and decide when helping someone else could get both of them killed. Patsey (Lupita Nyong’o) faces even worse treatment under Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender), and her pain exposes the sexual violence built into slavery alongside forced labor and physical punishment. The long, unbroken shots deny viewers an easy escape from what is happening. This is demanding cinema, but the demand is justified. History becomes personal, immediate, and impossible to soften.
6
‘The Shawshank Redemption’ (1994)
Banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) receives two life sentences for the murders of his wife and her lover, then enters Shawshank prison insisting he did not kill them. Inside, he befriends longtime inmate Ellis Redding (Morgan Freeman), known as Red, and slowly learns how the institution operates. Violence comes from prisoners, guards, and officials who benefit from keeping everyone frightened and dependent.
Its reputation can make The Shawshank Redemption sound safer than it is. The film deals with rape, suicide, corruption, institutionalization, and the slow erosion of a person’s belief that life outside prison still belongs to them. Andy’s financial skills give him a degree of protection, though they also make him useful to people with no intention of letting him go. Red’s narration brings warmth without hiding how thoroughly prison has shaped his thinking. Frank Darabont adapted Stephen King’s novella into a story about friendship and patience that has earned its popularity honestly. Watch it again and notice how much pain sits underneath the famous hope.
5
‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ (1975)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is funny enough to lower your guard and devastating enough to make that decision hurt. The ward will feel different after you leave it. Randle McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) enters a psychiatric hospital after being transferred from prison, hoping the ward will offer an easier environment than hard labor. He quickly challenges Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), whose calm routines and group sessions keep the patients obedient while presenting control as treatment. McMurphy encourages gambling, laughter, drinking, rebellion, and the dangerous idea that the men may have more agency than they believe.
The conflict has more depth than one rebellious hero fighting one cold authority figure. McMurphy inspires the other patients, but he also treats the ward as a stage for his own ego. Ratched’s cruelty rarely arrives through shouting. She uses shame, personal information, and institutional power while maintaining the appearance of professionalism. Miloš Forman’s adaptation lets the group become a real community, which makes every small change in Billy Bibbit (Brad Dourif), Chief Bromden (Will Sampson), Martini (Danny DeVito), and Cheswick (Sydney Lassick) feel important.
4
‘Goodfellas’ (1990)
Goodfellas traces Henry Hill (Ray Liotta)’s life from a Brooklyn teenager fascinated by gangsters to an adult living inside organized crime. The attraction is immediate. Mob life offers money, respect, excitement, and a community that seems far more powerful than the ordinary world. It also depends on violence, fear, addiction, betrayal, and the knowledge that friendship can disappear the second prison or money enters the conversation.
Martin Scorsese and co-writer Nicholas Pileggi adapted Hill’s story from the nonfiction book Wiseguy, keeping the thrill and ugliness pressed together. Henry’s narration invites the audience into the lifestyle before the film starts exposing its cost. Karen Hill (Lorraine Bracco)’s viewpoint adds another layer as attraction turns into complicity, isolation, and terror. The tracking shots, music choices, sudden violence, and dark humor create a pace that barely lets anyone breathe. Goodfellas never asks viewers to admire these people from a safe distance. It lets the seduction happen first, then shows exactly what was hiding inside the invitation.
3
‘There Will Be Blood’ (2007)
Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) begins as a silver miner and becomes an oilman during the early twentieth-century California oil boom. He buys land, builds wells, manipulates communities, and presents himself as a family businessman while treating nearly every relationship as a transaction. His main opponent is Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), a young preacher whose church offers a different route to influence over the same frightened town.
Daniel’s hatred of other people is almost as strong as his appetite for wealth. Success gives him control without bringing satisfaction, and competition keeps becoming personal even when cooperation would be more profitable. Paul Thomas Anderson drew loosely from Upton Sinclair’s Oil! and created something far more focused on ambition, faith, performance, and American power. The drilling scenes are loud, dangerous, and full of practical detail. The conversations are even more hostile. Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano turn business meetings and religious ceremonies into open combat. Few films make achievement look this impressive and this spiritually empty. There Will Be Blood is a feast for anyone who likes character studies with real bite.
2
‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)
Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) arrives in Kraków during World War II looking for profit. He joins the Nazi Party, builds relationships with German officers, and employs Jewish workers because they cost less than Polish laborers. As persecution turns into mass murder, his factory gradually becomes a place where names on a list can mean the difference between life and death.
Steven Spielberg filmed most of the story in black and white, drawing on documentary imagery while keeping the focus on individual lives inside the Holocaust. Schindler begins as a charming opportunist, and his change comes through witnessing what the system he benefits from is actually doing. Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley) understands the value of the factory long before Schindler fully accepts the responsibility attached to it. Amon Göth (Ralph Fiennes) represents power with every moral limit removed. The girl in the red coat appears briefly, but the image cuts through Schindler’s distance from the killing around him. Schindler’s List is harrowing, deeply researched, and built with enormous care. It should be watched with the seriousness its subject deserves.
1
‘The Godfather’ (1972)
The Godfather introduces the Corleone family during a wedding, where celebration unfolds outside while Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) handles requests in a dark office. His youngest son Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) has returned from war and believes he stands apart from the family business. A conflict over narcotics, rival families, and political protection begins pulling him toward the world he expected to avoid. And that origin shapes the greatest trilogy the cinema has ever seen.
Its greatness reaches far beyond quotable dialogue and mob mythology. Family loyalty becomes a source of love, pressure, identity, and control. Vito understands power as a network of favors and relationships. Michael approaches it with colder focus, and every choice narrows the distance between the respectable future he described and the role waiting for him. Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo turned Puzo’s novel into a full social world shaped by immigration, masculinity, business, religion, and violence. The meals, meetings, marriages, and private warnings are as gripping as the killings. The Godfather is three hours long and somehow feels too rich to rush. Sit down with it properly and let the Corleones pull you in.
The Godfather
- Release Date
-
March 24, 1972
- Runtime
-
175 minutes
- Director
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Francis Ford Coppola
- Writers
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Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola
Entertainment
Teens Who Traveled To Horn Island Launch Search
Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour, the teens who traveled to Horn Island with Nolan Wells, have reportedly launched a search of the island as Ben Crump reacts to their hiring of Edward Andrew Paltzik, a lawyer who has represented Donald Trump.
RELATED: Nolan Wells’ Mom Shares Update After Anonymous Complaint Prompted Miss. Board Of Nursing To Open Misconduct Investigation Against Her
Teens Who Traveled With Nolan Wells Reportedly Launch Search Of Horn Island
According to TMZ, Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour are reportedly investigating Horn Island on Friday. August 7. The outlet reports that the teens, along with their attorneys, Tyler Cox and Edward Andrew Paltzik, released a joint statement to the outlet. In it, they reportedly explained that they would be investigating Horn Island “as they begin investigating Nolan’s death.”
Per the outlet, the group does not intend to gather evidence during the search. Instead, the purpose of the trip is to understand the island’s “layout and dynamics.”
Ben Crump Reacts To Them Hiring Trump Attorney
Furthermore, Ben Crump reacted to the trio’s addition of Edward Andrew Paltzik to their legal team. In an interview with TMZ, Crump called the move a “distraction.” Per the Clarion Ledger, Paltzik “has handled several high-profile media cases for President Donald Trump.” This, reportedly including cases against “CBS/Paramount, The New York Times, and the BBC.” Additionally, he specializes in defamation and media cases.
“We are focused on getting to the truth of what happened to Nolan Wells. That’s all that matters… it’s all a distraction,” he told the outlet.
More On The Teens Who Traveled With Nolan Wells & Them Hiring Trump Attorney
As The Shade Room previously reported, a legal defense fundraiser was launched earlier this month for Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, Morgan Seymour, and others. To date, it has garnered over $160,000. And it will reportedly serve as a fund to fight wrongful death actions and to address slander and libel.
In addition, Tyler Cox and Edward Andrew Paltzik were hired to defend the teens. Per TMZ, the pair are “proud to stand with and fight for three completely innocent young men” who have “nothing whatsoever to do with the tragic death of Nolan Wells.”
RELATED: Warren Hudson’s Dad Releases Audio Of Apparent Threats Received By His Family Amid Investigation Into Death of Nolan Wells
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
‘The Pitt’ Meets ‘Sherlock’ in Fox’s 8-Season Masterpiece Series
For those who have fallen in love with the critically-acclaimed medical drama The Pitt, the news that the show has been renewed for a third season – before the Season 2 premiere, no less – was welcome, albeit tempered by the fact that it won’t premiere until January 2027. For fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle‘s iconic deerstalker hat-wearing detective, the news is mixed: Young Sherlock has been well-received on Prime Video, but CBS’ Watson has not been renewed for a third season, and an animated series is only in production now, with no premiere date announced as yet. So fans of both have two choices: binge all eight episodes of Young Sherlock and wait patiently for the return of Noah Wyle and company; or watch all eight seasons of a masterpiece series that combines the best of both worlds: House.
An Utterly Brilliant and Deeply Flawed Doctor Centers ‘House’
House premiered on Fox on November 16, 2004, a medical drama centered around Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), arguably the most unconventional doctor in television history. He’s arrogant, caustic, and bitter. Severe, chronic leg pain has caused House to rely heavily on Vicodin, to the point of addiction. Hospital rules and procedures don’t apply to him, a belief that puts him at odds with Dr. Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein), the administrator of New Jersey’s Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. He relentlessly picks at and mocks his fellow doctors, and lest you think he puts that aside for his patients, he doesn’t: House treats everyone horribly, effectively alienating everyone in his life, save for Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard), the Department of Oncology head and the only person House can call friend.
Despite this, he is rarely challenged, for one reason: House is a medical genius. He is the Head of Diagnostic Medicine, a position that allows him to flex his brilliance against rare, mysterious conditions that others have failed at diagnosing (even in real life: doctors in Germany used clues from an episode to diagnose a patient with severe heart failure). His credo of “everybody lies,” built around the idea that patients can’t, or won’t, fully reveal all of their symptoms, leads House to make diagnoses based on subtle clues from the patient.
He’s aided by a team of diagnosticians, which over the course of the series has seen the likes of Dr. Robert Chase (Jesse Spencer), Dr. Allison Cameron (Jennifer Morrison), Dr. Eric Foreman (Omar Epps), Dr. Remy “Thirteen” Hadley (Olivia Wilde) and Dr. Lawrence Kutner (Kal Penn). The team brainstorms, pitches their own theories, tests out House’s sometimes-controversial hypotheses, and – because it takes a team – challenges House’s ideas. It’s a literally thankless position, but they stay to learn from the best.
You Can’t Look Away from ‘House’
House’s team may stay for their own reasons, but why did viewers stick around for eight seasons? Simple: you can’t look away from House, the character and the TV show. House is a decidedly unlikable character, but, in Laurie’s deft hands, there’s a vulnerability in House that keeps him from leaning so far into “villainy” that the show becomes unwatchable. And there are cracks in the veneer that we’re privy to: the empathy he shows his patients, the way he sticks up for his team (he can berate them, but God help others who do), and the charm he can turn on, if he has to. And when he’s utterly broken, as he is in Season 7’s “After Hours,” it’s gut-wrenching to watch. But there’s also a guilty pleasure in hearing Laurie’s comedic leanings in House’s sarcastic wit, if we’re being honest, and while he’s a powerhouse – no pun intended – the rest of the cast is up to the challenge.
Like The Pitt, House is intent on medical accuracy, with producers enlisting the help of Yale internist Dr. Lisa Sanders and two other technical advisers. Not that they’re completely married to the idea, with Dr. Sanders recounting one instance:
“I recall one where this boy is depicted as having a rash in his mouth that they were calling ‘bacterial vaginosis.’ That’s a total violation of language. You can’t get that disease in your mouth. I wrote a long e-mail to the producer and he wrote back to say, ‘Yeah, but it’s funnier my way.’ It made me crazy. But, of course, he was right: His way was funnier.”
The show’s likening of House to Sherlock Holmes is intentional, with Collider suggesting that House even “quietly outplayed” Benedict Cumberbatch‘s iteration of the character. The way he solves mysteries, his own Dr. Watson in Dr. Wilson, and even the Vicodin addiction, a nod to Sherlock’s use of a 7% solution of cocaine. All that said, there’s lots of time before The Pitt‘s return to binge House and Young Sherlock. Hm. Young House has potential, don’t you think?
Entertainment
10 Forgotten Fantasy Movies That Are Perfect To Watch in 2026
Fantasy might very well be the oldest genre of storytelling. It is used to describe stories that take place in fantastical worlds where monsters, magic, and legendary heroes are present. From there, it can be further broken down into various sub-genres, like the more heroic high fantasy or the grittier dark fantasy. The genre is limited only by the imagination of the storyteller, and oftentimes, fantasy stories are used to teach morals and lessons by representing human fears and anxieties as horrific beasts to be overcome and cast down.
Fantasy movies are pretty much as old as cinema and have expanded quite a bit over the years as new technologies were invented. Naturally, a lot of fantasy movies get overlooked or forgotten about, but if one looks hard enough, there are plenty of hidden gems that represent the genre at its best and most compelling.
‘Ladyhawke’ (1985)
Phillipe Gaston (Matthew Broderick) is a thief known as “The Mouse,” who escapes prison just before his execution on the order of the Bishop of Aquila (John Wood). He is aided by the Bishop’s former guard captain, Etienne of Navarre (Rutger Hauer), and his hawk companion. Etienne coerces Phillipe into helping him take down the Bishop, but during their travels, Phillipe notices that Etienne seems to vanish at night, where he runs into a mysterious woman (Michelle Pfeiffer) accompanied by a black wolf.
Ladyhawke was a box-office bomb on release, but it holds up pretty well today as a fairy tale love story. The romance works thanks to the charisma and believable chemistry between Hauer and Pfeiffer, as well as the mystery surrounding their characters. Phillipe is perhaps the weakest part of the film, since he is more of an observer to the lovers than a proper protagonist, but Broderick still gives a fun performance, especially whenever Phillipe asks God for help.
‘Fire and Ice’ (1983)
The sorcerer rulers of Icepeak, Queen Juliana (Susan Tyrrell) and her son, Nekron (Stephen Mendel), use their power to extend glacial ice southward as the vanguard of their invasion force, driving humans closer to the equator. Soon, only the volcanic citadel of Firekeep stands against them, so Juliana has its princess, Teegra (Maggie Roswell), kidnapped to be Nekron’s bride. Teegra escapes her captors into the wilderness, and finds allies in Larn (William Ostrander), a warrior whose village was destroyed by Nekron, and Darkwolf (Steve Sandor), a mysterious wanderer who is committed to killing the sorcerer king.
Fire and Ice is a beautiful example of 1980s dark fantasy from the mind of Ralph Bakshi. It is structured much like a pulp fiction story, with fast-paced action and a grim world that makes great use of the clash between fire and ice in its backgrounds and landscapes. It also makes great use of rotoscoping to give the characters more lifelike movements, which makes the action sequences feel all the more brutal.
‘The Golden Voyage of Sinbad’ (1973)
After acquiring a golden amulet from a mysterious flying creature, Sinbad the Sailor (John Phillip Law) arrives in Marabia, ruled by its disfigured Grand Vizier (Douglas Wilmer) since the Sultan died without a king. The Vizier tells Sinbad that the amulet is part of a set that can lead the way to the mythical Fountain of Destiny, and Sinbad agrees to come along on an expedition to find it. However, the group is pursued by Koura (Tom Baker), an evil sorcerer who wishes to use the fountain’s power to claim rulership of Marabia.
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad is the second of three Sinbad films made with stop-motion creatures by the legendary Ray Harryhausen. From an animated statue of Shiva that duels our hero to a ferocious centaur that guards the fountain, the creatures stand out thanks to their unique designs and how seamlessly they are blended into the film, at times looking like they are physically interacting with the actors. The story is not quite as well put together as the earlier The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, but it’s still a solid fantasy adventure film, and Baker gives an unforgettable performance as the villain.
‘Legend’ (1985)
With the help of her forest-dwelling companion, Jack O’ the Green (Tom Cruise), Princess Lili (Mia Sara) meets the last two unicorns in the world. Unfortunately, she was followed by the goblin Blix (Alice Playten), who, on the orders of her master, Darkness (Tim Curry), kills the stallion and steals its horn. The crime plunges the world into a dark winter, and Jack and Lili must protect the mare and get the horn back, lest the world never know sunlight again.
Legend tells a simple fairy tale story about good vs evil, but it does it really well. The success is thanks in large part to impressive sets and use of practical effects, which completely transform the actors into mystical creatures, such as Curry’s iconic devilish appearance as Darkness, or Robert Picardo as the foul swamp-hag Meg Mucklebones. If you’re going to watch the movie, try to find the director’s cut, which has additional footage that makes the story and character arcs feel more complete, and music by Jerry Goldsmith.
‘The Adventures of Baron Munchausen’ (1988)
As the Ottoman Empire besieges an unnamed European city in the Age of Enlightenment, Baron Munchausen (John Neville) interrupts a play based on his life’s adventures and criticizes its inaccuracies. He claims that the reason for the attack is due to a bet he made with the Grand Turk, Sultan Mahmud I (Peter Jeffrey), but also claims that he can save the city if he finds his old associates, each of whom possesses superhuman gifts. He is joined on his search by Sally Salt (Sarah Polley), the daughter of the theater troupe leader, but the journey is full of all sorts of perils, while the Angel of Death is always following after the Baron.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen was the final film in Terry Gilliam‘s “Trilogy of Imagination,” with themes focusing on aging and maintaining one’s relevance as the world seems to progress around them. There is a strong contrast with the film’s extravagant sets and costumes: while the heroes travel through the fantastical world, they can never escape the hard truths of reality and must make peace with them if they hope to move forward. It’s also got a surprise cameo from Robin Williams, who has a non-credited role as the King of the Moon, and it’s as hilarious as any of his best performances.
‘The Last Unicorn’ (1982)
A unicorn (Mia Farrow) overhears two hunters talking about her kind and wonders if she might be the last unicorn in the world. A passing butterfly (Robert Klein) tells her that the unicorns were herded north long ago into the kingdom of King Haggard (Sir Christopher Lee) by a demonic Red Bull. Thus, the unicorn sets out to learn the truth for herself, and receives help from a bumbling magician named Schmendrick (Alan Arkin) and Molly Grue (Tammy Grimes).
The Last Unicorn is unique among fantasy movies thanks to its melancholic tone. The story touches on mature themes like regret, loss, the power of memory, and identity, all told via the interactions with an immortal unicorn who does not know these emotions and humans who do. It also boasts a beautiful art style that looks like a tapestry come to life, haunting songs by America, and a fun fantasy world that leans so heavily into the genre that the familiar tropes are literally part of the world.
‘A Monster Calls’ (2016)
Conor O’Malley (Lewis MacDougall) is a young boy living with his terminally ill mother (Felicity Jones), who is upset both with her worsening condition and the possibility of having to live with his strict grandmother (Sigourney Weaver). One night, he spots a yew tree growing near a church transforming into a monster (Liam Neeson) before seeking him out. The monster tells Conor that it will visit him again and tell him three stories; afterward, Conor must tell the monster a fourth story based on his recurring nightmares.
A Monster Calls is based on the book of the same name by Patrick Ness, who also wrote the screenplay. It’s a brutal and raw film that explores themes of grief, loss, and the complexities of the human experience, told both through Conor’s struggles at home and school and the monster’s stories. Everyone gives their all in this hidden gem masterpiece, but MacDougall in particular stands out thanks to how perfectly he captures Conor’s turbulent state, from cold detachment to raw, unfiltered rage and sadness.
‘Dragonslayer’ (1981)
Galen Bradwarden (Peter MacNicol) is the young apprentice to the last great sorcerer, Ulrich of Cragganmore (Sir Ralph Richardson). One day, his master is approached by an expedition from the kingdom of Urland asking for his help in killing the ancient dragon Vermithrax Pejorative, who has terrorized the kingdom and devoured many young maidens. Ulrich dies when trying to demonstrate his magic powers, but his magic amulet chooses Galen as its new master, so Galen offers his services against the dragon.
It’s amazing to think that Dragonslayer was coproduced by Disney, because a gritty dark fantasy movie is so far removed from the Mouse House’s carefully constructed brand image. The world is gritty, harsh, and unforgiving, with most of its characters falling into different shades of gray morality, doing horrible things in the short term to guarantee long-term stability. The star of the show is Vermithrax itself, brought to life through a diverse array of special effects including stop-motion puppets and massive animatronics, resulting in perhaps cinema’s best dragon.
‘The Adventures of Prince Achmed’ (1926)
Desiring the local Caliph’s daughter, a sorcerer offers a magical flying horse in exchange for her hand in marriage. The Caliph’s son, Prince Achmed, objects to the offer, so the sorcerer lets him test the horse. Unfortunately, he doesn’t tell Achmed how to control the horse, so it whisks the prince away to a far-off land, forcing him to find a way back home.
The Adventures of Prince Achmed has the honor of being the world’s oldest surviving animated film, and is a truly one-of-a-kind experience. Every frame was made through meticulously placing pieces of cardboard against bright backgrounds to create a style reminiscent of shadow puppetry, while still perfectly displaying whatever emotions the characters are experiencing. Though few people today have seen The Adventures of Prince Achmed, its influence can be felt throughout modern adaptations of the One Thousand and One Nights, and the shadow puppet style inspired the Tale of the Three Brothers in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1.
‘The Secret of Kells’ (2009)
As Viking raiders swarm across Ireland, Cellach (Brendan Gleeson), abbot of Kells, oversees the construction of a great wall, and instructs his young nephew, Brendan (Evan McGuire and Michael McGrath), to stay close to the abbey. One day, the abbey is visited by Brother Aidan (Mick Lally), a master illuminator who is working on the Book of Iona. He recruits Brendan to help him with the illustrations, but as Brendan goes into the woods to find dyes, he meets a fairy named Aisling (Christen Mooney).
The first in a trio of Irish mythology films from Cartoon Saloon, The Secret of Kells is best described with one word: magical. Its art style is enough to hook you in, with stylistic character designs and bright colors that make it feel as if it’s a medieval painting come to life. The story is equally magical, both through the inclusion of the fairy world via Aisling’s friendship with Brendan, and with universal themes of hope, the power of artistic expression, and the dangers of pride.
Entertainment
Lewis Hamilton and Kim Kardashian’s Photos, More Top Stories
Get a rundown of Us‘ top stories making headlines in celebrity news, sports and entertainment on August 7, 2026. Here are the key takeaways:
• Lewis Hamilton shared cozy Instagram photos with girlfriend Kim Kardashian during his mandatory Formula 1 summer break, including snaps of a neighborhood walk in Calabasas, California. The Ferrari driver, who is currently ranked second in the World Championship standings after 14 rounds, captioned the post, “Resting, restoring, recharging.”
• Counting On alum Jeremiah Duggar and his wife, Hannah, secretly welcomed their fourth baby, revealing the arrival in an August 7 Instagram post without previously announcing the pregnancy. The couple, who married in March 2022, are also parents to daughters Brynley, Brielle and Emery.
• A judge ruled that Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul successfully completed her three-year probation sentence stemming from her 2023 arrest after an alleged altercation with ex Dakota Mortensen. The judge also amended Paul’s aggravated assault felony charge to a Class A misdemeanor.
Edited by Samantha Benitz. Story produced with AI assistance
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