After 18 months of seemingly endless PR mudslinging and more than 1,400 court filings, the bitter legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni appears to finally — mercifully — be winding down. In early May, two weeks before their high-profile trial was set to start, attorneys announced they’d settled the case out of court. On June 12, Judge Lewis Liman ordered Baldoni to pay Lively’s legal fees under a California law created to shield sexual harassment victims from retaliatory defamation claims but denied her request to pursue damages.

As of press time, Judge Liman had yet to determine the amount Baldoni, 42, will need to pay Lively, 38. In the meantime, sources tell Us Weekly both stars are doing their best to move on with their lives following one of Hollywood’s ugliest and most polarizing feuds. “Justin’s focus is on his family and living in the moment,” says one source. The Jane the Virgin alum is dad to daughter Maiya, 11, and son Maxwell, 8, with his wife of nearly 13 years, Emily Baldoni. “He wants to get back to some sense of normalcy for them.” Lively, who shares daughters James, 11, Inez, 9, and Betty, 6, and son Olin, 3, with husband Ryan Reynolds, has her sights set on returning to work. “Blake is focused on rebuilding her career,” a second source says. “She’s confident she can come back from this.”

They both face the arduous task of rehabilitating their reputations. “Neither side emerged as an overall winner,” says David Johnson, CEO of Strategic Vision PR Group. “But Blake suffered the most because people viewed her as humorous, family-oriented and approachable, and the lawsuit tarnished that image.” PR expert Mark Borkowski says it’s best to let her work do the talking. “[She should be] undeniable in the work and boring everywhere else. Boring is the most underrated crisis strategy in the business.”

Baldoni’s sensitive “Man Enough” podcast host persona took a huge hit. “Recovery from a case like this depends on three factors,” says Johnson, “the absence of new controversies, continued professional achievement and time.” Adds Borkowski: “Justin’s only route back [is to] make something good and [be quiet] for two years.”

A third source says the actress was ready and willing to go to trial. “Blake was anxious, but also prepared. She had accepted that a trial was a real possibility and spent months getting herself mentally prepared.” In court documents, Lively alleged that during filming, Baldoni improvised kissing scenes, made inappropriate comments about her body and spoke openly of his past porn addiction (Baldoni has denied the claims). “Part of Blake wanted the opportunity to tell her story in court,” the source adds. “She thought she would at least win [when it came to] public opinion.”

Still, Lively is relieved she can finally move forward. “She felt confident in her position, but it was still incredibly stressful,” explains the source. “She was ready to fully focus on her family, her career and getting back to normal life instead of staying tied up in litigation for another year.”

Baldoni felt “a huge sense of relief” when Judge Liman dismissed 10 out of 13 of Lively’s allegations back in April, says the first source. While Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer, was set to proceed against the remaining claims, the actor was glad “to put an end to a drawn-out legal process.”

A public trial could’ve been disastrous for both Lively and Baldoni. “Nothing tanks public perception faster than dragging your mess into a courtroom and letting the world watch it turn into a full-blown circus,” says publicist Steven Cuoco. (Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s infamous 2022 defamation trial is proof.) Settling out of court “gives off the vibe that Blake and Justin finally chose the grown-up route,” adds Cuoco.

In a statement, Lively’s legal team told Us that Judge Liman’s decision to have her legal fees paid by Baldoni was a major triumph, noting that the actress is “gratified” by the ruling. She won the motion under Civil Code Section 47.1, a law designed by attorney Victoria Burke. “It would seem to be [a win],” Burke tells Us, noting that the exposure the law has gotten via Lively’s case is “a positive outcome. People now know these protections are available.”

Lively’s legal team notes that “Justin Baldoni and his Wayfarer collaborators have become the first plaintiffs ever to be found liable in federal court under California Civil Code Section 47.1 for unlawfully retaliating against a sexual harassment and retaliation victim through litigation.” They add that “Ms. Lively is the first person in history to successfully apply Section 47.1 in federal court and has charted the path for future victims who face abuse and harassment to do the same.”

Burke previously said she worried Lively was using 47.1 as a weaponized PR tool. She tells Us Lively’s lawyers talked to her about expanding the law nationally, “but I had already moved the bill successfully into four states and introduced it in 15 states. I was concerned because I had seen [Blake’s] appearance at the Met Gala… and then here’s this plan for moving the bill without consideration that it’s already started [and] part of the nationwide movement is underway. So I was like, ‘I’m not understanding what’s happening here. Is this being used for PR?’ That was one of my concerns, because the bill is so important for survivors.” [Lively made a surprise appearance at the May 4 Met Gala, walking the carpet in a Versace gown just hours after settling with Baldoni.] Burke tells Us she ultimately remained “neutral” about the case, adding, “Any of my statements were always regarding the bill, not in favor of Blake or Justin.”

Related: Blake Lively Seeking Millions in Justin Baldoni Lawsuit, Citing #MeToo Law

Blake Lively is requesting a ruling that would force Justin Baldoni to pay millions of dollars for filing a defamation suit against her. In a motion obtained by Us Weekly on Tuesday, September 9, Lively’s attorneys argued the actress is entitled to “reasonable attorney’s fees and costs for successfully defending [herself] in the litigation.” (Variety […]

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The first source says some perceive that Lively “put everyone through hell and then settled” and is now “trying to find new pathways because she doesn’t feel vindicated.” A source close to Lively tells Us that “only after Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties were finally willing to admit that Ms. Lively did not fabricate her claims, and that her claims ‘deserved to be heard,’ she was willing and able to reach an agreement.” The source adds, “there is only one side that lost their entire lawsuit, and that was Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties, whose $400 million was dismissed in its entirety.”

However, the first source sees it differently, telling Us, “Blake’s team asked to settle. The settlement was a mutual decision to move forward. There was no admission of wrongdoing by any defendant. The parties simply agreed that Blake had the right to share her perspective and have it heard. That’s as far as it went.”

Attorney Lisa Bloom notes that Lively and Baldoni’s settlement contained “a specific carveout” that allowed Lively to retain the right to ask the court to award her money under 47.1. “This is a straightforward case of a sexual harassment plaintiff being countersued for defamation — [and that’s] exactly what this law is designed to prohibit,” she says.

As attorney Tre Lovell points out, the legal fees Baldoni will be forced to pay are those incurred while Lively’s team worked on getting his countersuit dismissed, which are separate from the rest of the case. Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman — who released the settlement publicly on June 16 — tells Us that The New York Times spent $180,000 in legal fees when Baldoni sued the outlet for defamation and estimates the amount Baldoni will have to pay Lively could “be in the neighborhood of that amount.” Says the first source: “The expectation is attorney’s fees should be a drop in the bucket compared to the millions Blake was seeking.”

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Related: Justin Baldoni’s Attorney Reflects on Blake Lively Legal Battle: ‘We Fought’

Justin Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, is speaking out after a judge ruled Blake Lively is entitled to legal fees. “We fought and won against a coordinated effort built on allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation and a smear campaign that never happened,” Freedman said in a statement to Us Weekly on Friday, June 12. “Ms. Lively […]

It’s hard to point to a clear winner in the case. “Baldoni lost his countersuit and now faces a fee award to Lively,” says attorney Joe Meadows, partner at Fox Rothschild LLP. “On the other side, most of Lively’s claims were dismissed, and no damages were awarded. The outcome seems genuinely mixed.” Adds Bloom: “In reality, the only true winners here were the lawyers.”

Baldoni is producing the upcoming film Dinner with Audrey, starring Thomasin McKenzie as Audrey Hepburn and Ansel Elgort as Hubert de Givenchy. But the first source says he’s not looking to direct or act again right now. “He’s not worried about work. He feels like when he’s ready, it will work out. He’s been patient and let the process play out. That was important to him.” Baldoni is thinking of writing a book. “[It would be] about his experience and the impact it’s had on him. But nothing is solid, and he’s in no rush,” the source adds. “He’s still processing and healing.” Freedman tells Us he believes Baldoni will tell his side of the story at some point. “I think we will hear from him,” he says, adding, “Justin’s looking forward to going back to work and having the opportunity to do what he loves to do.”

He and Emily relocated to Nashville in late 2025. “It’s been a difficult time for his family, and he wanted to create some privacy,” the source says. “It’s been a really welcoming community, and he’s living as much of a normal life as he can.” Emily, 41, has been his rock. “This brought them closer. She’s a grounding force. He’s been very lucky to have an incredible support system around him.”

Lively knows she has work to do on revamping her image. “She is rebuilding right now and looking at projects that would be the best fit for her,” explains the source. “She wants to get back to work but is being intentional about it. She’d love to work on more female-driven projects moving forward. This experience reinforced how important it is for her to feel safe and supported.” Reynolds, 49, hasn’t left her side. “This took a huge toll on Blake’s mental health, and there were days she couldn’t get out of bed,” reveals the source. “At times, her kids and Ryan were the only reason she could push forward. They are a strong family unit.” Now, the Lively source says the actress wants to move on, “but not at the expense of seeing justice done.”

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Freedman predicts motions will be filed over the fee amount until Judge Liman comes to a ruling. “And that should end the matter involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni,” he says. “It’s interesting that the film is called It Ends With Us [because] this never seemed to end. It should be over.”

For more on Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.

With additional reporting by Brody Brown, Paola Leva and Whitney Vasquez 

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 21 seconds ago

Imagine a doomsday virus has been unleashed that kills off 80 percent of the world’s population. The only hope for humanity is a United States warship in the middle of the ocean, blissfully unaware of what’s happened. That’s the basic plot of the TNT series, The Last Ship, that’s now available for streaming on Netflix where it debuted in the top ten. It’s taken on new meaning in a post-Covid world, but the post-apocalyptic sci-fi series has enough twists and turns to overcome any real world trauma. 

The Last Ship Is Humanity’s Last Hope

The Last Ship stars Eric Dane as Commander Tom Chandler and Adam Baldwin as Commander Mike Slattery, though both men wind up in different positions by the end of the show’s fifth season. It starts out simple enough, the U.S.S. Nathan James picks up a pair of scientists, learns about the viral outbreak, and the choice is made to keep sailing so the researchers can work on a vaccine. If only it really was that simple. 

The Nathan James is a massive warship but it still needs to come to port for supplies. You’ll quickly learn that every time they make port, the crew is attacked by civilians, Russians, or those with a natural immunity to the virus who have formed a cult believing they should inherit the planet. As it turns out, the 2014 series accurately predicted in the face of a global pandemic, humanity won’t unite, it will fracture, adding a layer of global politics on top of the military action and race against time for a cure. 

The Story Was Too Complex For The Average Viewer

Released at the tail end of TNT’s foray into original series, The Last Ship was a huge success during its first season. Over 5 million tuned in for the show’s premiere, and amazingly, it held at over 4 million for the entire first season. After Season 3, following a shift in tone, scope, and the mission of the Nathan Jones crew, viewers tuned out by the millions. Which is unfortunate, as the show rose to the occasion and finished strong. 

In a brilliant move, The Last Ship has the crew develop a vaccine fairly early in the series, but that then raises the question of how do they get it to the population, why should other countries trust them, and hold on a minute, how did the virus ravage the planet in the first place? Thankfully, every question is answered by the finale, and to get there, you’ll also get to enjoy multiple action setpieces each season that have the budget and cinematography of a major movie behind them. 

The Last Ship adapts the 1988 novel of the same name, and for anyone who read the book, while the series does have a dark ending, it’s not the same. Considering the Cold War origins of the novel, it does make sense that the Russians become the primary villain for the crew of the Nathan Jones. Don’t let that stop you from checking out the series on Netflix. Few shows dive into the realities of the post-apocalypse like The Last Ship, and if nothing else, you get to experience Eric Dane’s best performance.

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 17 seconds ago

Some of the best shows in history were around for only a few episodes, from Star Trek: The Original Series to Firefly, but they left a lasting impression on everyone who watched them. The Pirates of Dark Water is one of those shows, as it only aired 21 episodes, but to a certain generation, it’s a fondly remembered classic that still holds up over 30 years later. The Hanna-Barbara series may have come and gone, but it lived on in syndication for years and marked a turning point in American animation.

The Pirates Of Dark Water Is An All-Time Classic

The Pirates of Dark Water was created by David Kirschner, then the president of Hanna-Barbara, which explains why it was so good (Kirschner wrote Hocus Pocus and An American Tail, among many other hits) and why it became the most expensive cartoon in the legendary company’s history.

In 1991, the first five episodes cost half a million dollars each and featured more frames of animation than most Saturday morning cartoon series. All of the expense and effort behind the scenes shows up on screen as viewers become immersed in the weird and wonderful world of Mer.

The Imaginative World Of Mer

A strange planet unlike Earth, Mer is filled with oceans and appears to be in a state of constant turmoil, with islands rising out of nowhere, floating rocks shooting into the sky, and the existence of the strange and alien Dark Water.

Slowly consuming everything in its path, it’s up to the orphan Ren and his friends, Tula the necromancer, Ioz the pirate, and Niddler the monkey-bird, to find the thirteen Treasures of Rule and restore the planet. Ren is, of course, actually the Prince of the fallen kingdom Octopon, which is why the fate of the planet rests with him.

The Villains

Opposing the heroes are a host of villains, but none like the pirate captain Bloth, who wants to collect the Treasures of Rule to control Dark Water. Bloth and his crew might sound familiar, as The Pirates of Dark Water rounded some major names for what would be otherwise throw-away parts. Bloth is voiced by Star Trek’s Brock Peters, while Mantus, his second-in-command, is played by Peter Cullen, famous for being Optimus Prime.

Of course, if Prime is involved, so too must be Megatron, and Frank Welker lends his evil voice to the Dark Dweller. Konk, not the sharpest knife, provides a bit of comic relief with his bluster and a lot of enjoyment for everyone who recognizes Tim Curry’s voice.

Never Found An Audience

With a fun setting, an overarching serialized story, a talented cast of voice actors, and gorgeous animation, The Pirates of Dark Water was set up for success. The only problem is that, during its initial run, the audience wasn’t there. While the show had its fans, Hanna-Barbara wanted a smash hit of a series, as they already had licensing deals and a multi-media plan of attack in place.

Unfortunately, while now it’s easy to recognize the animation work, character development, and dark storyline as things to be praised, back then, it simply couldn’t compete with the likes of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Pirates of Dark Water ended suddenly, without finishing the story, with 21 episodes aired, and despite rumors of more episodes that were made, that was never the case and simply a playground rumor.

Why You Think It Was More Successful

The Pirates of Dark Water leaves behind an amazing run, short as it is, and while Nibbler can get a little annoying, he’s still not as bad as the similar phoenix Needler from one of the show’s contemporaries, Conan the Adventurer. With action figures, two video games that, as was the custom of the time, were in two separate genres depending on if you played the SNES (a beat’em up) or Genesis (platformer) versions, and even a role-playing game, you’re forgiven if you think the show was bigger than it was.

When I went back to watch The Pirates of Dark Water, I was shocked at how quickly it went by, even if I sadly remembered that it lacked an ending. I can’t remember my parents’ phone numbers, but I can picture Dark Water eating people and Octopon’s appearance when the lighthouse keeper who raised Ren explains his parentage. Relive your childhood, or learn why this is a cult classic for a reason by checking out the series through by streaming both seasons of The Pirates of Dark Water for free on Tubi today.

THE PIRATES OF DARK WATER SCORE

By TeeJay Small
| Published 30 seconds ago

Vince Vaughn is primarily known for his fast-paced comedic roles in films such as Wedding Crashers, The Internship, and Dodgeball, though he has been known to appear in a handful of serious dramatic roles as well. While not all of his dramatic outings have been winners, such as 1998’s Psycho or his turn in the second season of True Detective, one 2017 film perfectly utilized Vaughn to spectacular results. The film, titled Brawl in Cell Block 99, is an explosively violent thriller, which will completely change your perception of the hilarious comedic actor.

Vince Vaughn’s Reverse Redemption Arc

Brawl in Cell Block 99 is currently available to across multiple platforms, for those who haven’t yet had the chance to see Vince Vaughn take on the incredible leading performance. The film was written and directed by Bone Tomahawk filmmaker S. Craig Zahler, and stars Vaughn alongside Don Johnson, Udo Kier, Marc Blucas, Tom Guiry, Barry‘s Fred Melamed, and Dexter‘s Jennifer Carpenter. In order to take on the imposing lead role of this film, Vaughn gained 15 pounds of pure muscle, and trained as a fighter for several months, which shines through in his ultra-violent performance.

The plot of Brawl in Cell Block 99 centers on a reformed drug trafficker named Bradley Thomas, who falls on hard times after being laid off from his above-board auto repair job. To make matters worse, he discovers that his wife is having an affair, causing him to launch into a violent outburst that sees him completely destroying her car. After cracking up under the stress, Thomas returns to the high-risk, high-reward world of drug smuggling, and quickly comes to enjoy the spoils of his criminal lifestyle.

A Fight On The Inside

Over a year later, Thomas and his wife have patched things up and are expecting a child, when Thomas and his associates go out on a mission that goes horribly awry. After facing a shoot-out with the police, Thomas lands himself in prison, where he refuses to name any of his drug-pushing cohorts for a lighter sentence. As the plot of Brawl in Cell Block 99 carries on, Thomas’ boss begins sending him orders to carry out mob slayings from inside prison, threatening his pregnant wife if he does not comply.

In order to get close to his target, Thomas initiates fights with several guards, causing him to get transferred to an incredibly dangerous maximum security location. As Brawl in Cell Block 99 builds to a thrilling conclusion, the film takes a number of disturbing twists and turns that are sure to leave audiences stunned.

Artistic Accolades Despite Low Box Office Returns

Brawl in Cell Block 99 received massive critical acclaim upon release, resulting in a 90 percent certified fresh critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately, the film failed to make money at the box office, taking in under a million dollars against an estimated production budget of over $4 million. Still, the film has earned numerous artistic accolades, and has been inducted into the permanent selection at the Museum of Modern Art.

The film offers Vince Vaughn’s most intense and gripping performance to date, making it an instant classic for fans of comedy and violent crime films alike. If you haven’t seen Brawl in Cell Block 99 yet, the movie can be streamed with an active Hulu subscription, or free with ads through Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Philo, and Plex.

The concept of a cult film is often a highly ambiguous one. After all, just about any kind of film can attain a following so passionate, niche, and hugely dedicated that it can be deemed cult-like. Cult cinema is all about how audiences consume and interact with movies, and one genre that lends itself particularly well to cult receptions is horror. With the transgression, taboo, and midnight movie vibe that often characterizes horror cinema, it’s no wonder why several of the greatest cult classics in history are horror movies.

This list isn’t necessarily about the best horror cult classics, however, but rather about the ones that have had the biggest impact and influence on the cult film movement over the years. From exceptional Hollywood classics like The Blair Witch Project to so-bad-they’re-good gems like Plan 9 from Outer Space, these horror classics illuminate what cult cinema is all about, making them essential viewing for all those interested in the topic.

10

‘Suspiria’ (1977)

Image via Produzioni Atlas Consorziate

The 1970s were perhaps the greatest decade for cinema in history, producing several of the greatest horror movies the world has ever seen. Many of these movies came from outside Hollywood, including Dario Argento‘s Italian masterpiece Suspiria. It’s definitely the kind of film that favors style over substance, but it’s also a perfect example of a movie where the style is the substance.

What follows one of the best opening scenes of any supernatural thriller is a surrealist, visually hypnotic, viscerally violent artistic triumph through and through. An obsession with unconventional aesthetics is one of the main driving forces of cult cinema as a whole, and few horror films demonstrate that better than Suspiria. Another factor that tends to contribute to a movie becoming a cult classic is scarcity, and with Argento’s masterpiece having been notoriously hard to track down on home video for many years, it’s no wonder why this became one of the biggest international cult films of the ’70s.

9

‘The Blair Witch Project’ (1999)

Image via Artisan Entertainment

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The Blair Witch Project is a phenomenal horror film, a pioneer of the found footage subgenre complete with one of the scariest final shots of any movie. But what really allowed it to become as much of a cult classic as it did, and what allowed it to become one of the most profitable independent movies in history, was its revolutionary Internet-based marketing strategy.

Using groundbreaking tactics that blurred the line between fact and fiction, the team behind The Blair Witch Project pretty much guaranteed its cult reception. With that viral marketing campaign, the appeal of the found footage format, and the massively effective air of psychological terror that surrounds the whole movie, it’s no wonder why it became the very first cult classic of the Internet era.

8

‘Ichi the Killer’ (2001)

Image via Media Blasters

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Takashi Miike is one of the most important voices in the history of Japanese cult cinema. His 1999 psychological horror film Audition is not only the film that made him internationally famous, but also one of the most groundbreaking horror cult classics of the ’90s; but as far as “essential” viewing goes, it doesn’t get much more notorious than Ichi the Killer, the defining outing of the “Asia Extreme” movement.

Saying that it’s one of the most intense movies of the 2000s would be the understatement of the century. More accurately, Ichi the Killer is a piece of splatter horror so uncompromisingly hyper-violent that it almost feels surreal. The 21st century has allowed cult auteurs to make far more transgressive and taboo-defying horror films than they ever could have during the 20th century, and Ichi the Killer is crucial to understanding that slow transition.

7

‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ (1974)

Image via Vortex Inc.

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With its shoestring indie budget, its on-location shoot, and its reliance on mostly unknown actors, Tobe Hooper‘s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre completely re-defined Hollywood horror during the ’70s. One of the biggest badges of honor that a cult film can possibly hold is being banned around the world, and even though its depiction of on-screen gore is shockingly limited, Texas Chain Saw did indeed get banned in several countries.

Those bans, combined with the tremendous moral panic that the film caused around the world, contributed to the “forbidden” and “underground” aura that still permeates it to this day—and that kind of aura pretty much guarantees a film’s cult status. Combine that with the film’s gritty, almost documentary-like sense of realism and its direct commentary on the countercultural values of the era, and you get one of the most unsurprising (yet most essential) horror cult masterpieces in history.

6

‘Plan 9 from Outer Space’ (1959)

It’s not just great movies that become cult classic, and there’s no better proof of that than the entire filmography of Ed Wood. A filmmaker so often regarded as the worst filmmaker in history that he even made himself worthy of a biopic directed by Tim Burton, Wood made several of the best so-bad-they’re-good classics of all time, the most iconic of which is undoubtedly Plan 9 from Outer Space.

Part alien invasion sci-fi, part horror, Plan 9 spent years in relative B-movie obscurity, until authors Harry and Michael Medved labeled it “the worst film ever made” in their book The Golden Turkey Awards in 1980. This began the movie’s cult reception journey, pioneering the so-bad-it’s-good niche of the cult cinema space. With its cult status further cemented by Mystery Science Theater 3000 and the mere presence of Bela Lugosi, Plan 9 is the most essential cult classic that also happens to be a bafflingly incompetent piece of filmmaking.

5

‘Bride of Frankenstein’ (1935)

Image via Universal Pictures

Queerness is a huge element of the cult cinema space, and it’s one of the big reasons why James Whale, one of Hollywood’s first openly gay filmmakers, is remembered as a cult figure himself. His work was a master of pre-Code subversive themes and Gothic camp, and nowhere are those qualities better illustrated than in Bride of Frankenstein, one of the best Frankenstein adaptations of all time.

The film is loaded with so much queer subtext and theatrical camp that it’s no wonder why the movie became one of the very first true horror cult classics ever, starting when it began airing on television between the 1950s and 1960s. It’s a groundbreaking monster film unlike any other, and all those interested in both queer cult cinema and cult auteurship ought to check it out at least once.

4

‘Night of the Living Dead’ (1968)

Image via Continental Distributing

If there were a Mount Rushmore of zombie movie directors, George A. Romero would have to be right up there, seeing as he’s the mind behind some of the best zombie movie masterpieces of all time. Chief among them is almost undebatably Night of the Living Dead, because even though the monsters in the film are referred to as ghouls, cinephiles and film historians tend to agree that this is the first mainstream depiction of what we now understand as zombies.

The film was revolutionary for having a heroic Black lead (Duane Jones) and some of the sharpest sociopolitical commentary of any horror film from the ’60s. But what really allowed it to explode as a foundational horror cult classic was actually a copyright oversight, wherein the original distributor failed to include a copyright notice on the prints before releasing them. As a result, the movie was immediately thrust into the public domain, leading TV stations and local indie theaters to turn it into one of the very first midnight movie cult classics ever.

3

‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ (1975)

Image via 20th Century Studios

As important as Night of the Living Dead was to the midnight film niche of the cult cinema space, conversation on midnight movies can never possibly end without an in-depth conversation about The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It’s the quintessential midnight cult classic, a musical comedy that originally flopped when it released. But of course, as any fan of cult cinema knows full-well, commercial failure is rarely the death of a motion picture, particularly one as fit for a cult reception as this.

Loaded with camp, queerness, catchy tunes, and eccentric production values, Rocky Horror is one of the best horror masterpieces of the ’70s. It was after the film tanked in its initial theatrical run that a 20th Century Studios exec pushed for a late-night-only, no-advertising run of screenings in New York City, and that kickstarted the cult reception of the biggest participatory cult classic in history. Organic fan traditions began to form over the lines, and now, watching a midnight screening of Rocky Horror in a packed theater has become something that every cinephile should try at least once.

2

‘Freaks’ (1932)

Image via Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

There’s a reason why the cult cinema movement is so eager to pick up movies that have failed, been rejected, and/or been forgotten. It’s a cultural movement that’s all about embracing taboos, outcasts, and everything “odd,” which is precisely why Tod Browning‘s Freaks is one of the most essential cult classics in history. It is, without a doubt, one of those horror movie flops that are actually misunderstood masterpieces.

Many of the movie’s characters are played by real sideshow performers who had real disabilities, something that caused 1932 audiences to deem the film “too grotesque” and lead to its commercial and critical failure. After the film was screened for its 30th anniversary at the Venice Film Festival in 1962, however, a cult reappraisal began to form. Audiences became fascinated by Browning’s deeply sympathetic, never-exploitaitive approach to these characters, turning this into one of the biggest cult gems of pre-Code Hollywood.

1

‘The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari’ (1920)

Image via Decla-Film

Film historians and cult cinema experts will often point to different movies as pioneers of the cult film movement, but there’s a strong sense of agreement that the original cult film is Robert Wiene‘s silent horror masterpiece The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. It’s one of the best horror thrillers of the 20th century and one of the most defining works of the German Expressionist film movement, and there are even many film historians who refer to it as the very first true horror feature.

For as historic as it is, however, it’s astonishing just how creepy and wildly entertaining The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari still is over a century later. It was in the years following World War II that a re-evaluation of German Expressionism as a whole, and Cabinet of Dr. Caligari in particular, started to occur. With many film theorists beginning to evaluate the movie not just as a horror classic, but also as an avant-garde masterpiece and a sociological mirror of Germany’s post-WWI national mood, the cult film movement started to take shape. As a result, there is no horror cult classic that’s a bigger must-see than the original, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

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The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

Release Date

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February 27, 1920

Runtime

67 Minutes

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Director

Robert Wiene

Writers

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Carl Mayer, Hans Janowitz

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  Werner Krauss

  Dr. Caligari

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Reese Witherspoon made the world premiere of Elle a family affair!

The Oscar winner, 50, was joined by her son, Deacon Phillippe, on the red carpet Tuesday, June 23, at the New York City premiere of her new Legally Blonde prequel series.

Witherspoon, who shares son Deacon, 22, and daughter Ava, 26, with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, stunned in a pink gown with lace floral detailing. Deacon looked suave in a black suit and matched his mom with a pink tie.

Deacon has followed his mom and dad’s acting footsteps, even starring alongside Ryan, 51, in the coming-of-age drama Motorheads, which aired on Amazon Prime Video in 2025.

Related: Reese Witherspoon Twins With Daughter Ava in ‘Merry’ Holiday Photo

While Reese Witherspoon has an expansive résumé, she touts parenthood as one of her greatest achievements. The Legally Blonde star first became a mother in September 1999, welcoming daughter Ava with then-husband Ryan Phillippe. The duo — who were married between 1999 and 2006 — then welcomed son Deacon in October 2003. Thank You! You […]

“It’s so unique to be in a situation like this where you’re both working on a show with really good people,” Ryan exclusively told Us Weekly in May 2025. “It definitely wasn’t lost on either of us.”

“There were times when we would look at each other and just be like, ‘Can you believe that we’re actually doing this?’” he added.

Costar Nathalie Kelly told Us, “[Deacon is] the most charismatic, polite, thoughtful young man I have ever met.”

“I’m like, wow! If this is what the new generation of men are coming out, looking like, sounding like, acting like, then I feel more at ease about the future of our species,” she continued. “Honestly, what an incredible young man.”

“I think it was [Deacon’s] first major acting role, and super sweet to see the father-son dynamic and how proud Ryan was,” Kelley added. “Ryan was trying to navigate how much to interfere and how much to let him be in his own process. I learned a lot from having my own kids on the show, from observing Ryan as a father and just realizing, like, how beautiful that the cycle of life is.”

Witherspoon and Phillippe first began dating in 1997, before costarring in Cruel Intentions. They got married in 1999, but announced their separation in 2006. Their divorce was finalized a year later.

Despite ending things, a source exclusively told Us in April that the former couple remains close. In fact, they both attended Deacon’s graduation from New York University last month.

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“She is very close to Ryan,” the insider said. “They have been coparenting through the years, and they are friends.”

Related: Reese Witherspoon Details the Reality of Raising Kids in Hollywood

The juggle was real for Reese Witherspoon when it came to balancing her Hollywood career and family life. Taking to Instagram on Thursday, August 14, Witherspoon candidly shared what it was like to raise her three kids, Ava, 25, Deacon, 21, and Tennessee, 12, while maintaining her successful acting career. (Witherspoon shares Deacon and Ava […]

“Since her divorce from Ryan, she has been supportive of her kids going into the entertainment industry,” the source added. “Anything they want to do, they are both supportive.”

Witherspoon serves as an executive producer on Elle, which follows her Legally Blonde character, Elle Woods, during her high school years. The series is set to premiere on Prime Video on July 1.

Actor Nicolas Cage is best known for his film roles like “Con Air,” “Face/Off,” and “National Treasure.” More recently, he’s appeared in movies like “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” “Pig,” and “Longlegs.” However, he recently starred in “Spider-Noir,” a neo-noir superhero series based on the Marvel comic. Even though it surprised some of his fans to see him in a TV show, Cage admitted that he’s always been “friendly to streaming” even before it went mainstream.

While promoting “Spider-Noir,” Cage sat down with Deadline to talk about his role in the show. The publication noted that this can be considered his first major TV role, despite his decades of acting experience. When asked if he would consider more streaming roles in the future, Cage admitted that he has always been open to streaming.

“I was friendly to streaming a long time ago, before it was cool. [The media would say], ‘Oh, he’s doing straight-to-streaming movies,’ like it was unheard of, like, shame on me,” he explained. “But now, everything is going that way. It’s like when Halston went to make dresses for JCPenney, and they dumped him, and the snobs dialed him out. Now everybody does it. “

Cage Opens Up On The Benefits Of Streaming

Fans who go to a movie theater to watch a movie can only see it once before they have to pay for another ticket. With streaming, fans can watch the movie multiple times and pick up on things they may not have grasped the first time around. To Cage, this is a major benefit to streaming movies.

“It’s like I know that I discovered that if I make a movie that streams, it will become part of a collection and someone who enjoys downloading movies will be able to view it and re-view it,” he said. “And I like to do that. I always like watching things multiple times and learning something new from a movie, mainly Stanley Kubrick movies.”

He went on to say, “But anyway, I knew streaming would ultimately keep actors working and keep the work viewable. So, I navigated that, but it wasn’t cool when I started doing it.”

Nicolas Cage Is Starring In The ‘Madden’ Biopic

“Madden” is an upcoming sports biopic directed by David O. Russell. He co-wrote the film based on an earlier version created by Cambron Clark. The movie will follow the life of football coach and commentator John Madden, who will be portrayed by Cage. The biopic will also star an A-list cast of Christian Bale, Kathryn Hahn, John Mulaney, Shane Gillis, and Sienna Miller. “Madden” is scheduled to be released on Amazon Prime Video on November 26, 2026.

When speaking to Deadline about his role in “Madden,” he admitted that it was “a bit of a learning curve” and a “fast cut.”

“When you do a season of television, it’s equivalent to making four movies back-to-back. It’s a lot. So, I was talking like an old-world film noir actor for a long time and then suddenly David O. Russell is inviting me to play this famous football coach, who was also a TV personality, who had a very specific way of talking, nothing like a film noir actor,” Cage said, adding, “And frankly, nothing like me.”

Nicolas Cage Admits He Has ‘Nothing In Common’ With John Madden

Cage went on to confess that he had “nothing in common with John Madden” and found that the greatest “challenge” in accepting the role.

“But when we rehearsed, David tried to help me find the voice, and I said to him, ‘It may not be anatomically possible, OK?’” he said with a laugh. “So, I figured that maybe we’d just make a cocktail of the John Madden sound with a little of this and that, and we’ll reintroduce something of my version of his voice.”

During the interview, Cage also touched on the roles that he is most known for. He revealed that he was recently in New Orleans when a fan approached him to comment on his role in “Gone in 60 Seconds.” Otherwise, he feels that he is best recognized for his roles in “Face/Off” and the “National Treasure” franchise.

When asked about the “Pig fanboys,” Cage joked, “They’re always following me around.”