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Apple TV’s Smartest Sci-Fi Thriller Is Officially One of Streaming’s Biggest Hits
Every so often, we get a new television series that fully becomes part of the pop culture lexicon. It used to be called a “water cooler show” but, well, everybody works from home now, or they bring their own water bottle to work if they do go into the office. How do people even meet anymore? Sorry, we’ve gotten off-topic. When Apple TV released an intriguing workplace mystery show, people weren’t paying that much attention, but suddenly, everything changed and now everyone wants to work at Lumon Industries.
Created by Dan Erickson and executive produced by Ben Stiller, Severance imagines a world where employees can surgically divide their work memories from their personal lives. For Lumon Industries employee Mark Scout (Adam Scott), that separation begins to unravel after a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries. The official synopsis states:
“Mark leads a team of office workers whose memories have been surgically divided between their work and personal lives. When a mysterious colleague appears outside of work, it begins a journey to discover the truth about their jobs.”
The series stars Britt Lower (Dark Winds) as Helly R., Tramell Tillman (Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning) as Seth Milchick, Zach Cherry (Fallout) as Dylan George, John Turturro (The Batman Part II) as Irving Bailiff, Christopher Walken (Dune: Part Two) as Burt Goodman, Patricia Arquette (They Will Kill You) as Harmony Cobel, and Dichen Lachman (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) as Ms. Casey.
Is ‘Severance’ Worth Watching?
Severance has become one of the most acclaimed television series of the decade. Both seasons have earned extraordinary critical praise, with Rotten Tomatoes scores comfortably above 95%, while the series has collected multiple Emmy Awards and become one of Apple TV’s biggest flagship originals. Critics have lauded it for the genius of the writing and the premise of the series itself, combined with the stunning and star-making performances (in the case of Tillman, especially, who booked himself a Mission: Impossible movie and a Spider-Man movie in the wake of the series) and the incredible production design. It’s also been acclaimed for its daring and its willingness to embrace some genuinely odd storytelling without actually sacrificing any emotional beats that make the characters so relatable.
Severance is streaming now on Apple TV. A third season is officially in development. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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February 17, 2022
- Network
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Apple TV
- Showrunner
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Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman
- Writers
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Anna Ouyang Moench, Wei-Ning Yu
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The funniest TV show of 2026 may also be one of the hardest for American audiences to watch. Released on Channel 4 in the U.K. and HBO Max in Australia, Make That Movie is the new comedy series from Australian actor and comedian Sam Campbell and Saturday Night Live UK star and writer Paddy Young. Already described by The Guardian as “the funniest TV show of the entire year,” the six-part series is a true comedic treat and a must-watch for fans of cringe-comedy risk-takers like Tim Robinson and Nathan Fielder.
The series follows a clear-cut premise: Campbell, playing a fictionalized version of himself, is a once hot-shot movie director who’s now scouring the UK for everyday people who have an idea for a feature film. In each episode, Campbell and his ragtag team of producers, filmmakers, and an awkward yet rich intimacy director (Aaron Chen) meet an ordinary person with a big movie idea, and do their best to make their project come to life. The premise is simple, but the comedic payoff is huge.
‘Make That Movie’ Is Hitting Comedic Gold
Make That Movie, shot in the fan-favorite mockumentary style, is a comedic force, packing more inventive jokes into six episodes than most sitcoms manage in an entire run. Whether it’s the inept idea-starters who know nothing about film, let alone social interaction, or Sam’s team, who are weirder and more unhelpful than he hoped, the series manages to pack one-liners, comedic twists, and laugh-out-loud moments in every aspect of the show. In the first episode, for instance, Sam’s team produces a heist thriller in which a couple suddenly gain the ability to turn into snakes, but only one of them can become a snake at a time. The ambitious project requires CGI, turning regular workers at the printing center into actors, and several live snakes to up the ante.
With that said, however, Make That Movie‘s release comes with a twist. Sadly for international viewers, the six-episode series was only broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK, and released on HBO Max solely in Australia. Per FlixPatrol, Make That Movie is surging well on the streaming charts in the country, though, reaching up to #5. Of course, the limited release becomes even more frustrating knowing the worldwide success some equally distinctive comedic voices like Robinson and Fielder have had over the years.
Among them were Robinson’s I Think You Should Leave on Netflix, which earned its own cult following, and Fielder’s The Rehearsal on HBO, which sees non-actors being put into unthinkable scenarios just like Make That Movie. Knowing that Make That Movie follows a similar absurd premise and uses that same cringe comedy, the series would certainly join in their success if only it were released to a larger audience.
‘Make That Movie’ Isn’t Available to Stream in the U.S.
In addition to Make That Movie‘s surefire comedy, which would certainly cater to millions of viewers worldwide, the series is scoring big with critics. While it hasn’t earned a Rotten Tomatoes score yet, The Guardian called the series “the funniest TV show of the entire year.” “This show is a celebration, not just of bad films in all their various forms, but of comedy as an art form,” wrote Stuart Heritage in his review. “It might be wrong to want it to run and run, because nothing will kill this thing faster than lapsing into formula, but hopefully it’s a sign that Campbell and his uncomprehending face will become a fixture on television for many years to come.”
But while that review certainly gave the series high praise, critics aren’t universally behind the series. To some, the series will only work if you’re a fan of Campbell already, be it from his time on Taskmaster or on the second series of Last One Laughing. “The ever-escalating irreverence isn’t for everyone, naturally,” wrote one review on Rotten Tomatoes. “It’s unlikely to win you over if Campbell’s comedy hasn’t already.” In addition to Campbell, Make That Movie also stars Lara Ricote, Helen Bauer, and David Hargreaves.
Despite a limited release in the UK and Australia, Sam Campbell’s new show Make That Movie is proving to be a force to be reckoned with. Being described as “the funniest TV show of the entire year” is no joke, and it makes the limited release all the more frustrating. With cringe comedy shows in the past receiving critical and public acclaim, here’s hoping Make That Movie can strike a new release deal soon and make waves on an international scale like it surely deserves.
- Release Date
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May 28, 2026
- Network
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Channel 4
- Directors
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Joseph Pelling
- Writers
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Joseph Pelling, Sam Campbell
There’s one particular genre that produced several of the greatest literary classics of yesteryear (a classic here being defined as any book released before the 21st century), and that’s the detective novel. From Sherlock Holmes to Hercule Poirot, some of the most iconic characters in the history of the printed page have come from detective books that are, through and through, among the greatest works of mystery literature the world has ever seen.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, authors of the stature of Maurice Leblanc and Dashiell Hammett completely revolutionized detective literature. Nowadays, there is virtually no detective book that doesn’t owe at least some level of influence to these groundbreaking classics. From the older to the more modern, from the pulpy to the artsy, and from the serious to the more laidback, these terrific books are all essential reading for anyone who loves a good detective story.
8
‘Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar’ (1907)
Even though it’s English-language literature that has produced the vast majority of the most iconic and widely celebrated detective books in history, other languages throughout history have also housed tremendously memorable detectives. Case in point: Arsène Lupin, the master of disguise and criminal mastermind that has become the center of a multimedia franchise among the most beloved in detective fiction. But it was the French collection of short stories Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar by Maurice Leblanc that started it all.
The thing about Gentleman Burglar, however, is that it’s not a traditional detective book at all. In fact, it’s a clever inversion of classic sleuth stories where Lupin solves puzzles and deduces mysteries to commit crimes rather than solve them. This makes the character a sort of foil to Sherlock Holmes (who he actually encounters in this book), and makes each of the short stories contained in Gentleman Burglar awfully entertaining and inventive.
7
‘The Maltese Falcon’ (1930)
As far as authors of hard-boiled detective books and short stories go, it doesn’t get much more important or groundbreaking than Dashiell Hammett, who pretty much invented the modern hard-boiled crime novel. His best-ever work was, without a doubt, The Maltese Falcon, the source material for the 1941 film starring Humphrey Bogart that’s regarded by some as the first true noir film in history. But as phenomenal as the movie still is over 80 years later, this is one of those common instances where the source material is even better.
The Maltese Falcon is nothing short of one of the best hard-boiled detective books of all time, originally serialized in the Black Mask magazine and later published in novelized form. It’s one of the greatest American detective tales of the 20th century, a gritty piece of elevated pulp fiction that popularized its genre for damn good reason. Told in a fully objective style, never describing the characters’ thoughts or feelings, it’s a masterpiece still worth reading today.
6
‘The Murder at the Vicarage’ (1930)
Few authors have ever re-defined the detective novel quite as much or as well as British writer Agatha Christie, and rarely did she write any books better than The Murder at the Vicarage. It was the debut novel of Miss Marple, Agatha’s second most iconic character, an amateur consulting detective that’s easily among the most popular detectives in the history of fiction. Fittingly, her very first appearance is among the best mystery books of all time.
Aside from doing a masterful job at introducing Miss Marple herself through delectable first-person prose, The Murder at the Vicarage also serves as an absolute masterclass in misdirection and mystery-building all the way until the very end. Making an elderly spinster the protagonist of a detective novel rather than an eccentric mystery-solving man was revolutionary back in 1930, and even today, The Murder at the Vicarage still feels exquisitely fresh. It’s the blueprint for the cozy mystery subgenre of mystery fiction, genius in its structure and unforgettable in its reveals.
5
‘A Study in Scarlet’ (1887)
If there’s any one character who can claim to be not only the single most iconic detective in the history of fiction, but even one of the most iconic and instantly-recognizable characters in the world in general, it’s Sir Arthur Conan Doyle‘s Sherlock Holmes. But before Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson became the most popular detective duo in all of fiction, they made their big debut in A Study in Scarlet. The first of only four full-length novels in the Sherlock Holmes canon, the book attracted very little interest from readers at the time. Today, though, it’s nothing if not an essential classic.
What a flawless way to be introduced to characters as memorable as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Doyle greatly popularized and perfected the use of scientific elements (from forensic science to general chemistry) in detective fiction, something that was mostly quite uncommon toward the end of the 19th century. By turning deduction and investigation into such a rigorous process, Doyle completely changed the game when it came to the detective genre—and things haven’t been the same since.
4
‘The Last Coyote’ (1995)
Before he was the protagonist of one of the best crime shows of the 21st century, Bosch was the protagonist of a series of crime novels penned by American author Michael Connelly. His Bosch series have set a whole new standard for the Los Angeles noir genre, and never has the genre been better than in The Last Coyote. It was the fourth novel both in the series and in Connelly’s whole bibliography, and it continues to be the highest-rated entry of the bunch on Goodreads to this day — for good reason.
The book, winner of the 1996 Dilys Award handed out by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association, is one of the most gripping mystery thrillers that 1990s literature ever delivered. It’s a masterful police procedural that intelligently balances deep character work, riveting mystery, and atmospheric world-building. Grounded and psychologically intense, it’s perfect for those looking to get into classic detective literature who would rather start with something more in tune with readers’ modern tastes and sensibilities.
3
‘The Long Goodbye’ (1953)
Robert Altman‘s 1973 film The Long Goodbye is one of the best neo-noir mystery movies ever, and it achieves that status largely by lovingly satirizing and deconstructing the work of one of the most historic detective literature authors in history, Raymond Chandler. Chandler created Philip Marlowe, yet another of the most iconic detective characters in the history of fiction, and never was he more interesting than in The Long Goodbye, which Chandler once directly called his best book.
Frankly, it’s difficult to disagree with him. As exceptional as other Marlowe novels like The Big Sleep are, Long Goodbye and its profound critique of the American Dream are simply too perfect for any fan of the genre to pass up. Winner of an Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1955, the book serves as a genius subversion and deconstruction of the hard-boiled detective genre of its time, paying less attention to clever puzzle-solving than to emotional depth and thematic work. It still reads as one of the most delectably unique mystery novels of the entire 20th century.
2
‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ (1902)
There’s really no question as to which Sherlock Holmes novel is the best of the bunch: It has to be the third of the tetralogy, far and away the most universally acclaimed of all, The Hound of the Baskervilles. Anybody who is even slightly intrigued by Holmes and the history of the character ought to read this absolute masterpiece at least once in their lives. Originally serialized in The Strang Magazine, the novel blends the tropes of traditional detective fiction with elements of Gothic horror in ways that feel like they were far ahead of their time.
It’s one of the mystery books with the most plot twists, and that helps it to be an absolute blast from start to finish. Deeply atmospheric and as clever as any detective story ever written, The Hound of the Baskervilles is probably the most famous mystery book in history, and for good reason. The sense of isolation and dread built by Doyle is still awfully effective over 120 years later, and the brilliant structural risks taken by the author (such as essentially removing Holmes himself from the middle section of the book) have aged like fine wine.
1
‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ (1926)
It may not be the single most famous detective story in history, but it sure is high up there—and it sure is the best detective book the world has ever seen. It’s the great Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, which is probably not the most iconic book about the meticulous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, though it definitely is the best. It’s one of those mystery books that have aged like fine wine, originally serialized in the London Evening News and then widely praised as Christie’s masterpiece upon release.
Even to this day, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is still largely controversial among diehard fans of detective fiction due to its jaw-dropping twist ending. In the eyes of many, however, that ending is precisely what makes the book so genius and so re-readable. The whole thing is structured and paced brilliantly by Christie, whose absolutely flawless and carefully-worded prose makes this the most deliciously twisty detective book ever written. Even when going in knowing the twist beforehand, it’s still a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
It was less than a month ago that box office history was made by Antoine Fuqua’s musical biopic, Michael. After a strong run of $900 million in most global theaters, the film opened in Japan and finally broke the long-standing biopic barrier. In mid-July, it was confirmed that Michael had become the first-ever billion-dollar biopic in cinema history. In total, the film has generated $1.016 billion in global revenue, leaving many to wonder if the story of the King of Pop will inspire a sequel.
Despite backlash from critics, such a big box office triumph will unsurprisingly encourage higher-ups to start work on a Michael sequel (perhaps just titled “Jackson“) with Lionsgate film chief, Adam Fogelson, even saying, “We are really excited about the progress we’re making with respect to a second ‘Michael’ film. All the conversations that we’ve been having with all of the appropriate parties continue to go exceptionally well.” This box office success quickly transformed into a streaming triumph after Michael moved to PVOD platforms. However, the arrival of the year’s latest billion-dollar movie at the box office has just helped knock Michael from his perch.
At the time of writing, the newest #1 movie on the global iTunes charts is Spider-Man: No Way Home, as fans either remind themselves of what came before or binge the previous installments in preparation for the latest. This quick rise to the top of a chart usually reserved for new releases is no doubt courtesy of Spider-Man: Brand New Day‘s arrival in theaters, with millions flocking to see Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker as he faces a world that has forgotten him and a new threat with a tragic past.
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Has Smashed Box Office Records
After No Way Home became one of the decade’s highest-grossing movies so far, expectations were high for the world’s most famous webslinger’s box office return. However, no one quite expected just how well the film would perform. In just one weekend, Brand New Day has already broken multiple records, including the biggest opening for any movie in domestic history, and has become the second-fastest film to hit the $1 billion mark worldwide. Could Brand New Day become the highest-grossing movie ever? Only time will tell, but it’s certainly off to a strong start.
Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for the latest streaming stories.
- Release Date
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April 24, 2026
- Runtime
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130 minutes
- Writers
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John Logan
- Producers
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Graham King, John Branca, John McClain
Entertainment
‘Fallout’ EP’s 5-Part Sci-Fi Thriller Is Officially a Sudden Streaming Hit 10 Years Later
Back in 2011, artificial intelligence was very much the realm of science fiction, of things like Skynet and the T-800, and of Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick. It was long before artificial intelligence dominated headlines and surveillance technology became part of everyday life, yet one television show went above and beyond and successfully predicted a world where a superintelligent machine was watching everything.
When Person of Interest first made its debut on CBS, it looked like a straightforward procedural with a clever science-fiction twist, but by the time it finished five seasons later, it had evolved into one of television’s smartest and most fascinating explorations of artificial intelligence, government surveillance, and ethics. And that’s probably why, so many years later, the series is being rediscovered by viewers who are finding it shockingly prescient and relevant.
As for the plot, John Reese, a former CIA operative, is presumed dead and teams up with reclusive billionaire Finch to prevent violent crimes in New York City by initiating their own type of justice. Using Finch’s revolutionary software, which identifies people involved in future crimes, they combine Reese’s covert operations training with Finch’s software genius and unlimited wealth to avert violent crimes before they happen. The series began as a run-of-the-mill procedural that gradually turned into proper science-fiction as it explored the consequences of artificial intelligence and mass surveillance.
The series stars Jim Caviezel (Sound of Freedom) as John Reese, Michael Emerson (Lost) as Harold Finch, Taraji P. Henson (Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist) as Joss Carter, Kevin Chapman (City on a Hill) as Lionel Fusco, Sarah Shahi (Black Adam) as Sameen Shaw, and Amy Acker (The Watchful Eye) as Root, while the series is created by Jonathan Nolan, whose lesser known brother is a director of feature films based on Greek writings. You might have heard of him.
Is ‘Person of Interest’ Worth Watching?
The first season received solid reviews, but the critical response to the series grew rapidly as it embraced the science-fiction aspect of its storytelling, and the series finale remains one of the highest-rated television endings of the past decade. Later seasons consistently earned critical praise for their writing, performances and the ambitious way they attempted to tell a story over a long-term arc. Today, it’s widely regarded as one of the greatest network science-fiction dramas ever produced.
Person of Interest is available to stream on Peacock and Prime Video.
- Release Date
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2011 – 2016-00-00
- Showrunner
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Greg Plageman
- Directors
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Chris Fisher, Richard J. Lewis, Fred Toye, Jeffrey G. Hunt, Stephen Surjik, Kenneth Fink, Stephen Williams, Helen Shaver, Alrick Riley, Charles Beeson, Kate Woods, Kevin Bray, Stephen Semel, Jeff T. Thomas, Sylvain White, Alex Zakrzewski, Brad Anderson, Clark Johnson, Colin Bucksey, David Semel, Dennis Smith, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, James Whitmore Jr., Jeffrey Lee Gibson
- Writers
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Jonathan Nolan, Denise Thé, Greg Plageman, Amanda Segel, David Slack, Melissa Scrivner-Love, Dan Dietz, Sean Hennen, Lucas O’Connor, Patrick Harbinson, Michael Sopczynski, Nic Van Zeebroeck, Tony Camerino, Andy Callahan, Ray Utarnachitt, Sabir Pirzada, Ashley Gable, Amy Berg, Jacey Heldrich
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Even when she’s busy touring the world, Hilary Duff always appears cheerful and well-rested — and her secret is a beauty hack that’s easy to copy. For her Madison Square Garden performances, the star turned to one must-have skincare staple to keep her looking bright and energized: Rodan + Fields Redefine Eye Cream. Celebrity makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan used the cream on Duff to deeply hydrate and soften the look of fine lines, creating the perfect canvas for long-lasting, flawless makeup.
The undereye area can be finicky to treat, but this formula was made to address multiple signs of aging. It helps replenish moisture to minimize the appearance of dryness and crepiness while leaving skin looking smoother, firmer and more refreshed. Plus, well-moisturized skin is the perfect base for concealer, so makeup applies more evenly, helping Duff maintain the bright, youthful finish she’s known for.
Get the Rodan + Fields Redefine Eye Cream for $70 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
The formula features a blend of vitamin C, botanical extracts and antioxidants, which work together to brighten, nourish and protect the delicate eye area. It also works to soften the look of fine lines over time. Since the product improves the appearance of tired-looking eyes, it’s especially great for people who have long days or travel often — like Duff, who is in the midst of her Lucky Me tour.
Hilary Duff‘s glowing complexion doesn’t happen by chance. Achieving her flawless, stage-ready skin starts long before makeup. It begins with the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, a gentle exfoliant that celebrity makeup artist Taylor Healey used to create the smooth, radiant canvas that looks good under bright stage lights. By sweeping away dull, dry surface buildup, the […]
The cream strikes the perfect balance of being rich without feeling greasy, absorbing quickly into the skin for makeup-ready skin. It’s no surprise that it’s a hit with everyday Amazon shoppers, one of whom raved that it “softened the wrinkles” around the eyes. Another shopper confirmed it’s effective for “wrinkles and puffiness.”
If you’re looking to give your under-eyes a Duff-approved, hydrated, youthful-looking treatment, shop the Rodan + Fields Redefine Eye Cream now!
Get the Rodan + Fields Redefine Eye Cream for $70 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
UsNow Summer Sale Alert: These Chic Fashion Finds are over 30% off – Plus Free Shipping
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While directors will often work with a wide range of actors throughout their careers, the very best and most beloved in the industry often have one or more stars who are among their regular collaborators. Martin Scorsese most notably has Robert De Niro, Christopher Nolan has Cillian Murphy, and Wes Anderson has Bill Murray and many more. For maestro of the macabre Robert Eggers, that actor who’s on the same wavelength is undoubtedly Willem Dafoe. The pair have found success together in The Lighthouse, The Northman, and most recently, Nosferatu, and are again united on their fourth straight feature, Werwulf.
Releasing on December 25, Werwulf will see Dafoe playing a hunter taking aim at a monstrous beast stalking the lands of 13th-century England. Aaron Taylor-Johnson leads the film as a cursed farmer who is just trying to protect his family when myths of lycanthropy turn into horrifying reality, setting the stage for a gothic horror monster movie unfolding across the foggy countryside. Eggers has developed a certain folk-tinged style that Dafoe has gotten to see take shape and improve over the past eight years, and yet he never ceases to amaze the veteran actor. In an interview with Collider’s Aidan Kelley for his new films Late Fame and The Birthday Party, he opened up about what he appreciates most about working with Eggers and how that applies in his latest chilling effort.
Dafoe has seen just about everything in his career at this point, earning four Oscar nominations, starring as the Green Goblin in Sam Raimi‘s Spider-Man, standing out in classics like To Live and Die in LA and Platoon, and taking part in arthouse films like At Eternity’s Gate. Part of what impresses him about Eggers is that, to put it simply, “he’s a world maker.” He appreciates the effort the director puts into every aspect of making his fictional realities and testing his actors.
“He gets better and better. He’s just very committed. He’s smart. He knows his passions. He knows his limitations. He knows what he loves, and he knows actors. He was an actor. I love working with him because he gives me fun things to do, and he knows how to punch my buttons, and he’s a world maker, you know? And that’s what you want from a director. You want him to make the world, so when you enter that world, the world speaks to you. And if a great part of acting is reacting, that world tells you what to do, and you do it. It’s always in the doing — the quality of the doing, the authenticity of the doing, and as we know, he’s a nut about research and all that. It’s an ideal situation. I really love working with him.”
Dafoe Shares Why He First Wanted to Work With Eggers After ‘The Witch’
Dafoe went one step further, calling Eggers a “demanding” director who truly lives in the worlds he creates. He points to the research Eggers puts in as both a writer and a filmmaker as critical to getting actors to join him in those realities, whether that be by drawing from the Smalls Lighthouse Tragedy for The Lighthouse or referencing a multitude of Old Norse sagas and historical experts for The Northman. Even before working together, it was seeing his feature debut, The Witch, that spurred Dafoe to first reach out and learn about his process.
“But one thing that he does, that is the reason why I sought him out: I saw The Witch, and then I asked for a meeting with him, and then I’ve worked with him, I guess, four times now. A lot of particular period movies or elevated movies that aren’t naturalistic family drama, these sorts of things, he makes it so easy to enter the world because he doesn’t show. Like a good actor, he inhabits it. He creates things, not to tell you where you are, but because he wants to be there. He has such love for the material and gives you beautiful research that really makes you learn things and puts you in another head. So, that really makes a space. Once you learn those things, you want to pursue them, and that’s the road to inhabiting something. Because once you learn something, you become a different person, and that different person then becomes available to pretend to be this character. So, it’s a growth process. It’s a game.”
More than anything, Dafoe finds Eggers “fun to work with, and just committed and strong,” finding admiration for how totally he gives himself to his work. “He has collaborators that become extensions of him,” the actor continued. Perhaps what most impresses him is how in-tune the filmmaker is with all the people involved in bringing his projects to life from the bottom to the top. “There’s such understanding and such complicity that he doesn’t delegate anything. He’s everywhere, but he’s everywhere with the collaboration of a team. It’s a beautiful thing to work with him. Not always easy. It’s not a character thing. He just doesn’t sign things; he experiences them.”
Everything that makes Eggers such a special collaborator is translated into Werwulf, according to Dafoe. “For example, in the case of Werwulf, we’ve got a very, very full-on movie, and I think it’s going to be very beautiful,” he shared. “I haven’t seen it yet completely, but I have done some ADR, and just some of the visuals and some of the short little clips that I saw are just stunning. Stunning. Otherworldly.” He’s built up so much confidence in the director that he doesn’t have to see the finished project to believe it’ll be something worthy of the same acclaim that The Lighthouse and Nosferatu earned before it. It’s become genuinely hard for him not to root for such a kindred creative spirit. “I’m a cheerleader. What can I say?” he concluded with a laugh.
Dafoe Is Kicking Off August With Two New Films
Before the beloved actor scours the English countryside, he has two new movies releasing in theaters this month, starting with Late Fame on Friday, August 7. Directed by Kent Jones and penned by May December and Coyote v. Acme scribe Samy Burch, based on a posthumously published novella by famed author Arthur Schnitzler, the story casts Dafoe as an author who, years after his poetry collection is released, suddenly finds himself the subject of newfound attention and adoration by fellow artists. He feels his own passion rejuvenated, pulling him back into the creative world and into the path of Gloria (Greta Lee), a captivating actress who has taken an interest in him. Critics were impressed upon its debut at the Venice International Film Festival, giving it a strong 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, with high marks for Dafoe’s performance in particular.
The Birthday Party, meanwhile, bows on August 14 and sees Dafoe instead playing a gloomy Greek billionaire trying to host the perfect 25th birthday for his daughter on his private island. That is, until unforeseen events occur and the day spirals out of his control, shaking the very foundations of his life and power. Miguel Ángel Jiménez directed the feature, which is based on Panos Karnezis‘ acclaimed 2007 novel and features a starry multinational cast including Vic Carmen Sonne, Joe Cole, Emma Suárez, and Christos Stergioglou. Its release comes a full year after it debuted at the Locarno Film Festival.
Werwulf tears into theaters on Christmas Day. Stay tuned here at Collider for more on Eggers’ latest gothic horror as it nears.
The best shows are the ones that are unpredictable, as nothing beats the experience of getting a shocking reveal. Television is a medium that requires consistent engagement, and most great shows have to change up their premise in order to keep feeling fresh; what prestige genre fare from derivative procedures is that they are willing to challenge, subvert, and ignore audience expectations in order to tell a story that has lasting power.
There are only so many ways that the stakes can be raised without authenticity being compromised, and having a cast of morally ambiguous characters is the best way to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The best part of watching these thriller shows as they air is being engaged within a culture that witnesses each twist and turn while it happens; experiencing these collective moments of shock is exactly what “prestige television” is all about. Fans learn not to fully trust anyone in these twisty thriller series.
10
‘Succession’ (2018–2023)
Succession is one of the greatest dramas in HBO history because it explored the modern media ecosystem, alluding to the familial conflict of the Sacklers and the Murdochs, by interweaving it within a tragic epic story reminiscent of William Shakespeare and King Lear. The power plays in Succession are precisely what keep the show driving towards its riveting conclusion; although Logan Roy (Brian Cox) seems to be considering passing along his empire to one of his children, Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Roman (Kieran Culkin), Shiv (Sarah Snook), and Connor (Alan Ruck) continuously prove that they aren’t up for the task.
The revelation of Logan’s true heir is what makes Season 4 of Succession one of the most powerful stretches of drama television ever, as the series was somehow able to evoke sympathy for characters who were completely unlikeable and grossly wealthy. With every alliance built on self-interest and every promise vulnerable to betrayal, Succession makes it impossible to trust anyone for long.
9
‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)
Breaking Bad pulled off one of the most impressive tasks of any crime thriller because it pulled a complete reversal in how to view the protagonist. The five seasons of Breaking Bad correspond to the five acts of a Shakespeare play, as they steadily tell the story of how the mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston) becomes the drug kingpin “Heisenberg.”
Recognizing that Walter is the villain of Breaking Bad makes all of the other characters’ activities up for debate, given that Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) suffers a tremendous amount for trusting his former teacher, and Skyler (Anna Gunn) eventually becomes complicit in her husband’s crimes. As Walter’s lies multiply, even his closest relationships become unstable, leaving every character unsure of when loyalty will give way to betrayal. There were so many great characters in Breaking Bad that Vince Gilligan was able to expand the universe with the prequel series Better Call Saul, one of the rare television spinoffs that was just as good as the original.
8
‘The Shield’ (2002–2008)
The Shield was a crime show ahead of its time because it presented a grounded, unsanitized look at law enforcement that didn’t lionize the efforts of cops in the same way that most network procedurals had at the time. The Shield focused on the Los Angeles Police Department detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), a corrupt but effective tool of justice who is wielded to take down the city’s criminals.
The Shield worked brilliantly to create an atmosphere of hostility and insecurity because Vic was faced with issues on many fronts; he was trying to protect his family, show loyalty to his fellow cops, keep himself protected from any internal affairs investigations, and genuinely strike against the criminals of Los Angeles that threaten civilian life. Because Vic constantly balances competing loyalties while concealing his own crimes, every alliance in The Shield feels temporary, and every act of trust carries the risk of betrayal. The show was unpredictable until its very ending, with “Family Meeting” being an all-time great series finale.
7
‘Mr. Robot’ (2015–2019)
Mr. Robot is an inventive and highly twisty thrill ride because creator Sam Esmail was influenced by many cinematic classics, including Fight Club, The Matrix, and Taxi Driver. No one can be trusted in Mr. Robot because reality is always in question; the protagonist, Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), suffers from severe mental health issues involving paranoia and anxiety, and has such a genius-level mind that he sees things that aren’t there.
Mr. Robot paints a dark portrayal of the underground world of cyberhacking, which involves world governments, anti-authoritarian groups, terrorist sects, and independent, “Robin Hood”-esque figures like Elliot who aim to expose the corruption in power. It’s a show that is best watched in its entirety without knowing much of anything beforehand, as every single season of Mr. Robot includes a few shocking misdirections that completely invert what the story is actually about.
6
‘Fargo’ (2014–2024)
Fargo is among the most inventive and surprisingly great television thrillers of recent years because it surpassed every expectation that it was presented with. While rebooting a film as beloved as the original 1996 Fargo, which is among the most acclaimed of all of the Coen brothers’ work, seemed like it would only end in disappointment, creator Noah Hawley created original stories for each season that alluded to the themes of the classic masterpiece without ever directly adapting them.
Fargo is unpredictable because each season has its own independent story, meaning that there is no guarantee that anyone is returning or that they are who they claim to be. That uncertainty extends to its characters, whose hidden motives and carefully constructed identities make trust a dangerous gamble in every season. Although there are a few surprising moments when continuity between the seasons is confirmed (including a particularly emotional connection between the first two), it’s also possible to watch any season of Fargo and treat it as a miniseries.
5
‘Twin Peaks’ (1990–2017)
Twin Peaks is the gold standard against which all “prestige television” is built, and it’s been an influence on nearly every contemporary showrunner who recognized the brilliance of David Lynch. The show challenged the format of procedurals by exploring one defining mystery over the course of the entire series and using it as a MacGuffin to examine the secrets poured out by a small, seemingly idealistic town as they express their grief. The death of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) is a riveting event that leads to some of the most powerful and unpredictable reveals in all of television.
Twin Peaks has many untrustworthy characters because it tapped into the surrealist psychodrama of Lynch, and used Laura’s death as a cornerstone within an ancient battle between good and evil that had been waged ever since the dropping of the atomic bomb at the end of World War II.
4
‘House of Cards’ (2013–2018)
House of Cards was the first major breakthrough for Netflix as a streaming service and single-handedly proved the merit of binge-watching because of its serialized approach. Based on both a novel and a British miniseries that had come before, House of Cards delved into the unpleasant, seedy world of American federal politics by showing how the Presidency is fought over ruthlessly using tools of political manipulation and legitimate conspiratorial forces. In a world where every relationship is transactional and every ally can become a rival, House of Cards treats trust as a weakness that ambitious politicians exploit without hesitation.
House of Cards was unique among political thriller shows because it did not present the rosy, optimistic perspective of a show like The West Wing, and successfully reflected the distrust of Washington, D.C. that was brewing at the time that it was on the air. Perhaps the most shocking aspect of House of Cards is that real life found a way of being more unbelievable than anything that the show’s writers could have come up with.
3
‘The Americans’ (2013–2018)
The Americans is one of television’s all-time great thrillers because it took a grounded and emotional look at the double-crossing and betrayals involved in spycraft, and grounded them within an era that offered the genre’s greatest influences. The Americans is set in the middle of the Cold War in the 1980s, and follows the Soviet Union spies Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) as they go undercover to pretend to be an American couple.
The motivations of the characters are constantly in question, as Philip and Elizabeth begin to develop an actual romance that goes beyond the guises that they created; at the same time, they have left both their children and their newfound friends in America in the dark about what their actual motivations are. The point at which they both must choose their loyalties is when The Americans kicks into another gear.
2
‘Andor’ (2022–2025)
Andor is the best Star Wars television show of all time because it wasn’t interested in the Skywalkers, the Force, the Jedi, or anything else relating to fan service, and instead told a gritty story about the origin of the Rebel Alliance during the early days of the Galactic Civil War where the Empire ruled the galaxy with an iron fist. Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) is established as an independent spy who is radicalized by the Rebel agent Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård), who secretly works with Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) to provide funds to the freedom fighters who can expose Imperial plans.
Andor reveals that the Rebel Alliance came together in a much darker and more complex way than what the original Star Wars trilogy may have led some to believe, but that it was completely necessary in order to expose the genocidal Imperial regime. Because the rebellion depends on spies and compartmentalized cells, even those fighting for the same cause can rarely afford to trust one another completely.
1
‘Hannibal’ (2013–2015)
Hannibal was hardly the first adaptation of Thomas Harris’ famous series of serial killer novels, but it perfectly realized the characters in a new medium and brought them together for one of the most satisfying finales in the history of television. Unlike Manhunter and The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal takes place when Dr. Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) has not yet been exposed as a serial killer, and he is an ally to the FBI Agents Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) as they track down other dangerous psychopaths.
Hannibal constantly questions the sanity and morality of its characters as they are each faced with ethical choices, and the relationship between Will and Hannibal grows even more complex as the series continues. Because Hannibal manipulates everyone around him while concealing his true nature, every act of trust becomes another opportunity for control. It is one of the most stylized, unique, and experimental shows to ever air on network television.
Noah Cyrus is all about freeing the nip.
Cyrus, 26, took to Instagram on Thursday, August 6, to show off her curves while wearing a barely-there outfit. Her look featured sheer stockings and a high-neck bodysuit featuring massive cutouts over her sides. She showed some skin by moving the bodysuit to one side and revealing her chest, which she covered with her hand.
The singer made sure her fans saw every angle of her steamy ensemble by turning around and revealing the thong back. Cyrus tied her ensemble together with black heels.
She showed off her natural beauty by going makeup-free and wore her brunette hair, which was parted down the middle and styled in beachy curls, down.
“For the day is spent and the night is on 🛡️⚔️,” she captioned the post. Her friends and followers were quick to compliment her in the comments section.
Influencer Larsen Thompson gushed, “Gorg ❤️,” while a fan added, “She came, she ATE, she conquered 😍🔥.” Another one of her followers commented, “Gorgeous 😍🔥🔥I love it.”
This isn’t the first time Cyrus has shown some skin. In April 2025, she commanded attention in a sheer Dilara Findikoglu dress while performing at Coachella. Her look featured a high-neck with a ruffled hem, a sheer silhouette that revealed her nipples, lace detailing on her sleeves and a flowy skirt that blew in the wind.
Underneath, Cyrus went braless and wore high-cut cheeky underwear.
For glam, she donned a full beat including filled-in eyebrows, smokey eyeshadow, black eyeliner in her waterline, mascara, rosy cheeks and glossy, lined lips.
Cyrus wore another racy ensemble while taking the stage that same month at Stagecoach. She stunned in a sequin naked dress featuring a mesh body adorned with flecks of glitter. The piece was finished with a plunging neckline and a thigh-high slit. She styled the glamorous frock with clear heels and a bombshell blowout.
Stranger Things costars David Harbour and Millie Bobby Brown will continue their on-screen father-daughter relationship in a new project.
“I think the guys did a terrific job on season 5, but I just don’t think you could pay off that relationship in the way that people wanted it to pay off. I just don’t think there’s a way,” Harbour, 51, told Deadline in an interview published on Thursday, August 6, referring to how Stranger Things creators Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer wrapped up the storyline between his character, Jim Hopper, and Brown’s character, Eleven, when the show ended in December 2025.
Harbour added that he and Brown, 22, wanted to give fans the same “chemistry” their characters had in Stranger Things with their upcoming Netflix show, a yet-to-be-titled spy drama.
“It will surprise you,” Harbour said of the show, calling it a “wild and rich” project with “deep emotion.”
Stranger Things costars Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour have a long and complicated relationship. The two have worked closely on the show in their roles as Eleven and her adoptive father, Jim Hopper, respectively, for a decade, starting when Brown was 11 years old. Now, Brown and Harbour’s offscreen relationship is being dissected following […]
He further gushed about Brown, “I’m really excited to be back with her. I love working with her.”
The upcoming project, helmed by Adolescence cocreator Jack Thorne, will see Harbour portray disgraced FBI agent Matt Wolfe, who now works as a security expert. He finds himself pulled back into his old life when his estranged FBI agent daughter, Rebecca, disappears.
Brown teased her collaboration with Harbour during her appearance on the June 24 live episode of the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast.
“Father-daughter is where we live, but Netflix will always be our home,” she teased. “The David Harbour project is sooner than expected, and it’s David’s idea, so kudos to him.”
The project comes nine months after a report alleged that Brown accused Harbour of harassment and bullying in a complaint to Netflix. Despite the claims, the costars continued to support each other publicly while promoting the final season of Stranger Things.
Harbour eventually addressed the alleged complaint while speaking to Variety in June.
“It’s a show that went on for 10 years. We worked together for 10 years during her formative teenage years, playing father and daughter,” he told the outlet. “I don’t know if people have families and friends that you spend a lot of time with for 10 years — you occasionally get in arguments, disagreements.”
Millie Bobby Brown is speaking out about her dynamic with David Harbour after reports surfaced that she filed a complaint against her Stranger Things costar for bullying and harassment during the filming of season 5. “We love this show with everything, and we value our friendship more than anything,” Brown, 21, told The Hollywood Reporter in […]
Harbour added that the situation “came out in a weird way.” He also called his rift with Brown a “simple rupture-and-repair thing.”
“The problem with a billion-dollar show is that there’s just hundreds of people who want to get involved,” he continued. “Everyone nowadays is very scared of talking about things. People are very scared of being human. It’s unfortunate, because I don’t know how to navigate this weird media world. But it was completely normal, and we adore each other and always have.”
While Brown has not directly addressed the bullying claim, she stated shortly after the report surfaced that she “felt safe” working with Harbour on Stranger Things.
“You naturally just… you know, you’ve been doing it for so long. We also play father and daughter so naturally, we have a closer bond than the rest because we have had some really intense scenes together, especially in season 2,” she added. “David and I have a great relationship.”
Demi Schweers is sharing a heartbreaking update on her battle with multiple sclerosis after a troll claimed her health struggles are “fake.”
“Sharing this update with this vile comment as a glimpse of [what] having a most[ly] invisible illness is like,” Schweers, 32, wrote via a TikTok caption on Thursday, August 7, alongside a screengrab of the social media user’s comment that read, “What happened to Demi’s fake MS journey?”
The influencer — who has been vocal about her battle with the autoimmune disease and polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) — then revealed that she got some “really s***ty news” after having an MRI a few weeks prior.
“Since 2020 I have been completely stable MS wise, no new lesions,” Schweers explained in the heartfelt video. “But I just got the news that I have a new lesion, so that really sucks.”
Selma Blair shared an update on her battle with multiple sclerosis (MS), more than seven years after revealing her diagnosis. Speaking to Stellar on Saturday, November 22, Blair, 53, confirmed she had been relapse-free for a “couple of years” and shared her gratitude that her condition was not worsening. “That, of course, means the world […]
As her new reality sunk in, Schweers started to get tears in her eyes.
“F***. I don’t even know what to say,” she confessed. “I just hope that insurance approves this new medication and I’m able to get stable again and everything stays the same. OK, I need to process this.”
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the brain and spinal cord where the body’s immune system “attacks the protective cover of nerve cells,” according to Mayo Clinic. The illness can lead to scars or lesions and blocked signals from the brain can create issues with movement, vision and balance.
Demi, who shares two children with husband Tom Schweers, expanded upon her health issues in the TikTok caption, calling out the troll who claimed she was making it all up.
Demi Schweers giving MS update on TikTok. Courtesy of Demi Schweers/Instagram
“I’ve been really in my head the past few days and trying to stay as positive as possible,” she wrote, noting once again that she was diagnosed with MS in 2020.
Demi recalled that at her “worst” she couldn’t walk, lost her vision in her right eye and had “chronic fatigue and brain fog.”
The content creator explained that since 2021, she’s been “stable” and found a medication that was “working” and made her feel “good” during her back-to-back pregnancies. (Demi welcomed daughter Nora in May 2023 and son Theodore in June 2024.)
“That all changed this past Sunday. I had an MRI two and a half weeks ago and as this has become standard for me I wasn’t too worried about my results,” Demi shared. “I logged and and saw the words ‘NEW LESION: present, upper vertical cord’ & ‘T1characteristics: T1 hypointensity.’”
Former Try Guys YouTuber Ned Fulmer has been facing a private health battle for more than a decade — and has now decided to share his story. “I have MS,” Fulmer, 38, exclusively told Us Weekly before the release of his Sunday, November 23, YouTube video, where he revealed his diagnosis with multiple sclerosis. “I […]
She recalled feeling “upset, numb, sad, scared” and countless other emotions while trying to process the news.
Demi revealed that she later received a message from a neurologist she’d “never spoken to before,” which upped her anxiety about the new lesion.
After a few days, Demi was told she needed another MRI on her brain, cervical spine and thoracic spine but all tests are being scheduled out at least four to five months in advance.
Tom Schweers and Demi Schweers. Courtesy of Demi Schweers/Instagram
“I’m hoping that with this new finding I’m able to get in sooner,” she added. “As of right now, I don’t really know what this means for me in my health and I’m honestly a little bit scared.”
The Iris Nutrition founder noted, “The only thing I can do right now is wait to find out when my MRI will be scheduled and go from there. I’m gonna continue to live my life as normally as I can without getting in my head.”
She concluded by saying that she chose to share her story so that “someone else in their health journey feels less alone.”
“Having chronic illness and one that’s typically invisible is so difficult — but we’re in this journey together. 🧡 #multiplesclerosis #ms #update,” Demi wrote.
Christina Applegate, Selma Blair, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Jack Osbourne and many other celebrities have opened up about dealing with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease. Applegate revealed in August 2021 that she was diagnosed with the condition. “Hi friends. A few months ago, I was diagnosed with MS,” the Married … With Children alum wrote via X […]
Despite the one hater claiming Demi was “faking” her illness for years, the majority of the comments on her TikTok were full of hope and support.
“I found your page when I was diagnosed and you have been such a light in my life,” one social media user wrote in the comments section. “I call my lesions brain glitter. You just got new glitter. ✨ I hope that helps 💕.”
Another person replied, “Demi I’m so sorry to hear things have flared up again. It’s so messed up someone would comment this.”
Demi’s husband, 37, also commented on the clip, writing, “I love you.”
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