With Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey now in theaters, earning enthusiastic reactions and making waves at the box office, audiences are once again embracing Homer’s timeless epic. But Nolan’s film isn’t the only modern story to explore the difficult journey home after war. FX series The Old Man hits on classics, both in film and literature, to impress upon viewers a memorable story that far outshines the action/adventure show’s first impression.

Show creator Jonathan Steinberg (Black Sails) is no stranger to creating memorable adaptations, and The Old Man comes across as better than the novel. The series converses with classical stories like Homer’s Odyssey and classic films like Apocalypse Now to create an entry in a long list of epics that deal with a personal journey home after wandering deep into unfamiliar territory. The show might initially appear to be another action series for jingoists who want to see someone who killed Soviets in a past life get his due. Still, the series stands out in its genre by resonating with a universal longing to return home.

Dan Chase’s Journey Mirrors Homer’s ‘Odyssey’

The show opens with Dan Chase, played by Jeff Bridges, living a quaint life in upstate New York with two dogs. Of course, we soon learn that he is living off the grid, forced into hiding after crossing the wrong people during the Soviet-Afghan War. He has lost his wife to Huntington’s, and he has rarely seen his daughter. His situation is akin to being stranded, much like the hero Odysseus from The Odyssey on Calypso’s island. Both stories open with a character who found returning from war was a difficult, if not impossible, task.

If you are unfamiliar, Odysseus is saved by some kindness from Zeus, who practically forces Calypso to free him. Still, he is waylaid by Poseidon as soon as he sets sail from the island, with a storm that blows him off his expected path home. Similarly, we see Chase get unstranded. He starts reconnecting with his daughter over the phone. He also goes to the doctor to take precautionary steps to prevent mental decline. Still, he is brutally reminded that he has not yet come back from war, at least not fully, when an assassin breaks into his home, forcing him to begin the long journey back to a semblance of a life he can call home.

With The Old Man, we get to see an epic unfold before our eyes and see Chase’s return home from Afghanistan through flashbacks. This evokes The Odyssey again, which largely comprises Odysseus’ narrative of how he got from Troy to Calypso’s island and the story of his final return by way of the Phaeacians. Chase’s stopover with Zoe McDonald is close in shape to Odysseus’ stop with the Phaeacians. Initially, Chase hides his true identity from Zoe, and she takes her to him and offers help. When she eventually learns his true identity, like Alcinous to Odysseus, she still wants to help him. This episode also serves the dual purpose of showing what it is Chase longs for by giving him a fleeting moment of a stable, suburban lifestyle.

You also learn that Chase’s daughter, Emily, is secretly FBI Agent Angela Adams (Alia Shawkat), one of the agents tasked with tracking down Chase. Firmly implanting her with the people who thought her father was dead and are now plotting his demise places Emily/Adams parallel to Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, who must thwart the suitors who have taken over his father’s home.

‘The Old Man’ Season 2 Deepens Its Story About Homecoming

Image via FX

Season 2 expands the series’ central journey by taking Chase and Harold Harper directly into Afghanistan as they search for Emily, whose complicated identity becomes even more central to the story. While the first season focuses on Chase being pulled out of hiding and forced to reckon with his past, the second and final season confronts him with the people, relationships, and consequences he left behind.

The journey home is no longer just about Chase finding safety or returning to the life he once knew. Like Odysseus, Chase discovers that reaching home does not necessarily mean his wandering is over. Across its completed two-season run, The Old Man continually asks whether someone shaped by war can ever truly return to the person they were before it.

‘The Old Man’ Also Draws From ‘Apocalypse Now’

The Old Man also has some similarities with the film classic Apocalypse Now, itself an Odyssean journey. In Apocalypse Now‘s opening, we see Martin Sheen‘s character of Captain Willard struggling with flashbacks and hallucinations in his hotel bedroom. We get similar insight into Dan Chase. The Old Man opens with scenes of Chase struggling to sleep, grappling with hallucinatory visions of his dead wife. Both scenes evoke a lost feeling. Both Willard and Chase know that they are not where they want to be in life, but neither knows if returning from war is even possible.

One telling moment in Apocalypse Now comes as Willard is thinking about his crew’s longing for home, and he states, “Trouble is, I’d been back there, and I knew that it just didn’t exist anymore.” Just like Willard longs for the jungle, it seems that Chase cannot put his past behind him. He still keeps two highly trained dogs and a cache of arms with him in his idyllic, upstate New York life. He cannot imagine going back to a situation that resembles his life before getting involved in the Soviet-Afghan War.

Through flashbacks, we also see that Chase served as a Colonel Kurtz-type character, portrayed by Marlon Brando. Colonel Kurtz was the man Captain Willard is tasked with assassinating for having gone rogue during the war to fight the Viet Cong with his cadre of warriors. Chase apparently also took a path of his choosing during the Soviet-Afghan War, choosing to back a militant rebel leader and funnel intelligence assets his way in the name of killing Soviet soldiers.

It is almost an alternate ending where Kurtz survives well into adulthood with Willard, his assassin, lurking behind closed doors. In this way, FBI Agent Harold Harper (John Lithgow), who was the Chief of Station during the war and is tasked with hunting down Chase, serves as a Captain Willard-type character. Just as Willard doubts whether there is any sense in killing Kurtz, Harold is unsure that his orders surrounding Chase during the war were just. As the two characters in Apocalypse Now serve as mirrors to one another, so do The Old Man‘s Agent Harper and Dan Chase.

‘The Old Man’ Is a Modern Epic Worth Revisiting

The way The Old Man delves into the depths of the incitement to journey and the universal aching for home sets it apart from other entries in the retired-veteran-that-still-kicks-butt genre. This television series transformed a decent novel with catchy characteristics into a wonderful piece of television. Across its two seasons, The Old Man created an entertaining, sometimes pulpy epic that used espionage and action to explore the lasting consequences of war. Now that Nolan’s The Odyssey has brought Homer’s story back to theaters, The Old Man deserves to be revisited as another ambitious adaptation of the themes that have made the ancient epic endure: war, wandering, family, and the painful search for home.

Rosie O’Donnell is giving fans a picture of what it would be like to see her take over daytime TV screens once more. 

The TV personality is actively plotting her comeback to full-time daytime television, with her team already pitching concepts to network executives.

This comes shortly after O’Donnell shut down rumors of an impending return to late-night TV hosting, noting that the rumors were “completely untrue.” 

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During a candid discussion on the “Tangle” podcast, O’Donnell shared that her representatives are actively holding discussions to secure her a permanent spot back on air.

Reflecting on her vision, she explained that a future project would draw heavy inspiration from her original talk show rather than modern Hollywood-driven formats.

“It would look a lot like my old show, to tell you the truth. I think America wants nostalgia. I think what they don’t want is celebrity culture. I think celebrity culture is dead in America,” she stated, as seen in a clip shared on social media.  

Instead of following standard promotional circuits, O’Donnell intends to prioritize positive human-interest features, live theatrical performances, and lighthearted interactive games to offer viewers a sense of relief. 

She added that her goal is to “bring back hope” and “bring back an hour of peaceful joy.”

Given the current shift away from broadcast syndication, she noted an openness to partnering with a streaming service. However, she emphasized that any official debut will wait until Donald Trump leaves office, because that’s when she would like the “healing” to begin. 

Rosie O’Donnell Previously Addressed Speculation Surrounding Late-Night Hosting Rumors

O’Donnell’s revelation on her return to daytime TV came shortly after she addressed widespread reports regarding her future in late-night broadcasting.

The rumors began circulating after network announcements confirmed that she will take on a hosting role on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in August. However, she used social media to clarify her plans, dismissing claims that she is being set up for a permanent role on the late-night program. 

O’Donnell labeled the speculation “funny and completely untrue,” explaining that her personal schedule makes a full-time late-night commitment unfeasible. She also revealed that her current priority is relocating overseas to Ireland, where her youngest child is scheduled to begin eighth grade. 

The Blast further confirmed that although she made it clear that she wasn’t interested in late-night hosting, she expressed interest in the prospect of daytime TV hosting. 

Rosie O’Donnell Decided To Quit Her Talk Show After Hitting A Financial Milestone

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O’Donnell’s prospective plans for a daytime comeback come as a welcome announcement to fans, who had to say goodbye to her during her departure from “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” over two decades ago. 

According to The Blast, the 64-year-old recently reflected on ending her program in 2002 after six successful seasons. She revealed that discovering her personal fortune had hit nine figures was the exact moment she chose to step away. 

“When I heard that [number], I thought, ‘OK, now I’m done,’” O’Donnell recalled, sharing that reaching $100 million satisfied all of her financial needs. Once she realized her wealth was sufficient to support her family, philanthropic endeavors, and personal causes, continuing the daily grind of television hosting lost its appeal.

Rosie O’Donnell Confessed To Rewatching Her Infamous Clash With Elisabeth Hasselbeck

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Building on her reflections about returning to daytime television, O’Donnell has also revisited some of her most talked-about moments from her previous network runs. 

The former daytime host recalled a tense argument with Elisabeth Hasselbeck that captivated viewers nearly two decades ago, admitting that she still occasionally revisits the clash to connect with how she felt in the moment.

O’Donnell named Hasselbeck as her most “problematic” co-host, pointing to their 2007 argument on “The View” over the Iraq War as a defining rift, as reported by The Blast.

Despite the explosive ending played out live on national television, she noted that she and Hasselbeck maintained a good rapport right up until that final broadcast. She then admitted that she still watches the viral clip occasionally to recall her mindset during the confrontation.

The Former TV Host Opened Up About Using GLP-1s For Weight Loss

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In addition to discussing her television career, O’Donnell has been candid about her personal health journey and lifestyle management.

She recently shared details regarding her weight loss experience using GLP-1 medications, crediting a deliberate approach for her success, per The Blast. 

By prioritizing a slow, step-by-step transition, she was able to achieve her long-term wellness goals while steering clear of the uncomfortable physical symptoms that frequently accompany the treatments.

While common side effects of these popular weight-loss drugs can include severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and appetite loss, O’Donnell shared that she completely avoided these adverse reactions by being intentional about her dosing schedule. She also paced her treatment and paired it with healthier eating habits.

When you put action and comedy together, it’s entertainment magic for a TV show. You get a nice mix of intensity with high-flying fight and car chase scenes combined with funny moments to lighten the mood. It’s a delicate balance that not every show gets right.

The best action comedy shows of all time, including one series that dates back to the ’80s and plenty of others from the 21st century, toe the line between the two genres wonderfully. They keep you engaged without feeling exhausted after watching only fight scenes with no reprieve. A healthy dose of laughter goes a long way to break up the intensity.

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‘The Tick’ (2016–2019)

Image via Prime Video

The second live-action series based on the comic-book character, alongside the 2001 series, The Tick is one of the Prime Video shows fans felt were canceled too soon. The superhero comedy follows the invulnerable superhero, played by Peter Serafinowicz, as he fights crime in his city alongside his nervous sidekick Arthur (Griffin Newman).

The buddy dynamic between these two men and the challenges they face trying to take down the supervillain The Terror (Jackie Early Haley) keeps things exciting. The Tick received rave reviews, praised for both the high-octane action and the tongue-in-cheek humor. It’s a great balance for a show that didn’t get enough viewers to keep going, even inspiring a fan campaign to bring it back after cancellation.

Image via Peacock

When you have a show where one of the main villains is a maniacal clown named Sweet Tooth voiced by Will Arnett (played by Joe Seanoa) and another (in Season 1) is Thomas Haden Church playing a former mall cop turned power-tripping agent, how could it not be funny? Twisted Metal leans heavily into humor through its story set in a post-apocalyptic world. John Doe (Anthony Mackie) is a delivery driver using his trusty car to travel through dangerous terrain and transport items back and forth among communities. When he meets Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz) and community leader Raven (Neve Campbell) gives him a highly dangerous assignment with the promise of entry into her community if he succeeds, the challenge is too tempting to pass up.

Twisted Metal, one of the most underrated comedy shows of the 2020s so far, takes you on a wild ride, literally, though high-speed car chases and epic fight scenes among an eclectic mix of eccentric characters. With the addition of Anthony Carrigan as the villain Calypso in Season 2, it ups the ante to more dangerous, terrifying, and comical levels. The series, based on the Sony Interactive Entertainment vehicular combat video game franchise, wonderfully blends action with comedy.

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‘Ash vs Evil Dead’ (2015–2018)

Image via Starz

Decades after the Evil Dead franchise movies, Bruce Campbell returns to reprise his role as Ash Williams in Ash vs Evil Dead. The story takes place 30 years after the events of 1992’s Army of Darkness, Bruce is now working as a stock boy in a convenience store. His life has taken a turn as he’s broke and alone. But he has the chance to be a hero again when the Evil Dead rises, and it’s up to him to save humanity…again.

Ash vs Evil Dead is a horror comedy, but there’s plenty of action to mix things up amidst the funny and scary moments. The series lasted for three seasons, and it was filled with nostalgia for fans of the franchise, earning an almost perfect Rotten Tomatoes critics score. Campbell is a horror icon, and having him return as an older, messier version of himself alongside quirky new friends reminds you of why the films were so good in the first place. Another level of fun is added to the series with the use of old-school practical effects instead of computer graphics.

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‘MacGyver’ (1985–1992)

Image via ABC

MacGyver is one of those action adventure series that is unintentionally funny in many ways. The title character, played by Richard Dean Anderson, is a secret agent who can fashion just about anything into a weapon or a tool to solve a problem. This is thanks to his vast scientific knowledge. But what he does at times is so far-fetched, it’s no wonder the concept became fodder for a Saturday Night Live sketch called “MacGruber,” which ended up turning into movies and a parody show as well.

Falling more into campy than traditional comedy territory, MacGyver made you laugh because it took itself seriously when some of the things MacGyver did were far from believable. You had no choice but to suspend belief and just go with it. A man using a Swiss Army knife, duct tape, and absurd science can’t possibly be taken seriously. But was it entertaining? Absolutely.

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‘Peacemaker’ (2022–2025)

John Cena went from pro wrestling to acting, and his track record in the latter has been pretty good so far. But arguably no project is as big as Peacemaker, where he plays the title character from the DC Extended Universe, a vigilante who ironically believes that the only way to achieve peace is through violence.

He’s obnoxious and aggressive, showrunner James Gunn referring to him bluntly as a “piece of s**t” and the “world’s biggest douchebag.” Cena knows how to play the heel, so to speak, and he does it so well in this superhero series, bringing a comedic flare to even the most violent scenes. Ending after two seasons, Peacemaker is a superhero show even non-superhero fans can get behind.

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‘Barry’ (2018–2023)

Image via HBO

Bill Hader proved his comedic chops in Saturday Night Live, and he carried that talent over to Barry, a tragicomedy crime series that combines heavy subject matter with intentional humor. He’s the title character, a depressed former marine and veteran who works as a hitman but yearns for more from life. He stumbles upon an acting class and finds a hidden passion. Despite finally finding a sense of purpose, however, Barry’s other job is catching up to him. And keeping his past a secret from his new friends isn’t going to be easy.

The very premise of Barry, one of the funniest HBO shows of all time, is hilarious. A hitman travels to Los Angeles to take out a target and ends up in a class of misfits hoping to fulfill their dreams of becoming an actor? It sounds so ludicrous, yet it works. There’s a softness and vulnerability to the character that’s juxtaposed by the violent things he does. As Barry interacts with others outside his usual realm, the messiness of life combined with the innocence of others he meets clash in the best possible way.

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‘Chuck’ (2007–2012)

Image via NBC

The show that made Zachary Levi a star. He plays Chuck Bartowski in Chuck, a computer service expert at a consumer electronics chain store who took this low-level job after being expelled from Stanford on false charges. He’s stagnant in his life until his former roommate Bryce (Matthew Bomer), who now works as a CIA agent, steals the CIA and NSA database and the only remaining copy accidentally gets downloaded to Chuck’s brain via subliminal encoding. Suddenly, Chuck becomes a crucial asset, and the beautiful CIA officer Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) is sent to investigate and use him to thwart attacks.

Chuck possesses the formula for a great action comedy with an unwitting protagonist thrust into the world of espionage and danger that’s unlike anything else he’s ever seen. This chain store IT guy is now fighting terrorists while being plagued with flashes of information that he can’t control. You get it all with Chuck, which aired for five seasons and earned glowing reviews throughout its entire run. It’s a modern-day spy comedy that’s perfectly tailored to geek culture.

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‘Cobra Kai’ (2018–2025)

Image via Netflix

Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) is the comedic gem of Cobra Kai, a 30-year sequel to The Karate Kid that reunites him with his former teenage karate rival Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) as they train a new generation of kids in rival dojos. You can’t help but laugh heartily throughout the show, though it also has some dark and emotional moments too, especially in the final season.

Of course, as a martial arts comedy drama and one of the greatest action shows on Netflix, there are tons of fantastically choreographed fight scenes, from one on one battles on the mat to huge house parties that break into fights. The story is heartwarming, too, not to mention filled with nostalgia. While Cobra Kai is a little campy, it’s beautifully written from start to finish.

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‘Fallout’ (2024–Present)

Image via Prime Video

I watched the first two seasons of Fallout to date without any prior knowledge of the video game franchise on which it’s based. I was surprised by how charming, witty, and funny it is, especially in Season 1. The post-apocalyptic drama follows Lucy (Ella Purnell), a naïve young woman who leaves her underground bunker for the first time to venture out into the desolate wasteland above in search of her kidnapped father. She meets all sorts of dangerous people along the way, including the terrifying bounty hunter The Ghoul (Walton Goggins), who she eventually teams up with to achieve their mutual goals.

There’s lots of violence in Fallout as the characters fight enemies, from humans in mechanical Power Armor to mutated cockroaches known as Radroaches. Lucy’s infectious optimism juxtaposed by The Ghoul’s hardened, no-care attitude make for plenty of laughs. But there’s comic relief at every turn thanks to other characters, too, like Thaddeus (Johnny Pemberton), a squire who is turning into a ghoul and dealing with it as best he can, and Annabel O’Hagan‘s over-the-top performance as the villainous Stephanie.

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‘The Boys’ (2019–2026)

Image via Prime Video

Arguably, no show captures the blend of action and comedy as well as The Boys, though it comes with a healthy dose of vulgarity, profanity, and gore as well. The satirical superhero show depicts a modern-day world where Supes with special powers are run by megacorporation Vought International. The company is out for its own interests and expanding its power, however, and not interested in having the superheroes be actual heroes. But not everyone realizes that.

The Boys is as much political satire as it is a parody of superhero stories, so there’s a lot of thought-provoking commentary behind its stories and themes. The action is heightened since it involves people being able to fly, run faster than the speed of light, shoot lasers from their eyes, even rip out someone’s guts with tentacles from their stomachs. It’s easy to see how this ties into a level of humor as well. The 10/10 Prime Video show isn’t for everyone. But if you don’t have a weak stomach and can appreciate the political commentary (it’s not subtle), the five seasons will be worth your while.

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The Boys

Release Date

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2019 – 2026-00-00

Showrunner

Eric Kripke

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Writers

Eric Kripke

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Brittney Griner is calling it quits on her marriage just weeks after a reportedly loving social media dump. The WNBA player filed her divorce petition on Thursday (July 30) in Fulton County, Georgia. Cherelle Griner has not reacted to the filing on her social media as of early Friday afternoon.

RELATED: Whew! Jelly Roll’s Daughter Says Internet Will “Crumble” The Day She Shares Reason For Her Dad & Bunnie XO’s Divorce

Brittney Griner Says Marriage To Cherelle Is “Broken” 

Documents reportedly obtained by PEOPLE say that Brittney Griner and Cherelle have been separated since July 24. Page Six reports that they first met while attending Baylor University in Texas and got married in June 2018.

The report doesn’t detail what exactly went down in the marriage, but Brittney listed it as “irretrievably broken.” Also, Brittney Griner’s petition mentions their two-year-old son, Bash Raymond Griner, who was conceived through IVF and carried to term by Cherelle. The WNBA star wants joint legal custody of him. Griner has not opened up on social media or made any public statements about the divorce. 

Remember When Cherelle Griner Fought For Brittney’s Release?

Back in 2022, Cherelle Griner had a fanbase riding behind her as she advocated for Brittney’s release. She was detained after attempting to enter Russia with cannabis oil vape cartridges in her luggage in February 2022. Officials locked her up on a drug smuggling charge, and six months later sentenced her to a nine-year prison sentence. It took another four months before Brittney was released from the Russian prison and back in Texas with her wife in December 2022.

During her time imprisoned, Brittney’s wife kept the public informed of her mental health and what the time in jail was costing them. She advocated to President Biden. Also, she made media appearances on programs like CBS Mornings and Good Morning America, calling for her wife’s release. In July 2024, they welcomed their first child together, Bash.

Cuteness Overload! Brittney Griner & Wife Cherelle Share The First Look At Their Son (PHOTOS)

Brittney’s Been Divorced Before

Cherelle Griner was not Brittney’s first wife. Her first marriage to WNBA player Glory Johnson ended with Griner filing for an annulment 28 days after getting married in May 2015. It was finalized a year later in June 2016. Brittney and Glory also had children during their marriage, welcoming twins Ava and Solei through IVF.

RELATED: Cuteness Overload! Brittney Griner & Wife Cherelle Share The First Look At Their Son (PHOTOS)

Christian influencer and former reality TV star Sadie Robertson is opening up about her and her husband’s decision to forego a physical relationship before getting married. During a new episode of her “WHOA That’s Good” podcast, the former “Duck Dynasty” star said that she and her husband, Christian Huff, decided together to live differently than they had in the past to honor God.

Robertson, 29, said that when she first got together with her husband, they decided together to pursue purity. She explained that they also got really candid with each other about what physical boundaries they were setting.

“Honestly, we kind of went a different route than just having like…if you’re talking about physical boundaries, which we can talk about other boundaries too,” she said. “I guess there’s a lot of different boundaries, but physically speaking, we didn’t say like we’re not going to do this, this and this, and we are going to do this, this and this. Like, here’s the boundary.”

Sadie Robertson Wanted To Follow ‘God’s Plan’

According to Robertson, it was important to clarify what they were doing and why because if they didn’t, she felt it would be easy for them to go right up to the boundary line before crossing it.

Robertson, a mother of three, said that she and Huff were adamant about following “God’s plan” for their lives. “God’s plan is purity and God’s plan is one-man and one-woman for marriage,” she said. “And I will say, that wasn’t what our past looked like. But we had an opportunity when we came together for our future to look different than people we dated in the past.”

Robertson went on to say that she and Huff both wanted the best for each other and wanted to follow God’s will.

“We wanted to pursue that. And so together we made a decision, ‘Hey, we’re going to do that.’ And that looks like purity and that looks like this,” she preached.

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Sadie Robertson Got Engaged To Huff In 2019

Robertson and Huff got engaged in 2019 on her family’s farm in Louisiana. Huff popped the big question after nine months of dating, and according to Robertson, it was a total surprise. “I did not know it was coming. It was the most perfect thing ever,” she said, per PEOPLE.

Prior to the engagement, Robertson and Huff were planning a joint birthday bash with their closest family and friends. According to Robertson, after Huff got down on one knee, it made their night together that much better.

“From that moment, it was just like the most special engagement ever. He had letters from all of my family and all of his family and my Bronco waiting on me. And so when I got in the car, there were all these letters everywhere and our favorite song was on,” she said.

Another Christian Influencer Opened Up About Pursuing Purity After Living A ‘Double Life’

According to a previous report from The Blast, Madison Prewett, known for her Christian-themed podcast and season of “The Bachelor,” also opened up about pursuing purity after living a “double life.”

She previously told “Full House” star Candace Cameron Bure that she had become addicted to pornography at a young age by a friend and that it eventually consumed her. “And on the outside, it looked like everything was fine. But behind closed doors I was living this double life of living in constant secret sexual sin and not confessing it to anybody,” she said.

The reality star said that it wasn’t until college that she opened up about her struggles with someone else and was able to get “free” from it.

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Prewett Is Learning To Not Be So Hard On Herself

Prewett went on to say that she learned after that moment that she had to not only be honest with herself, but with God.

“That was really what that journey was like for me,” she said. “Even to this day, having moments of shame popping back up, immediately just confess it and get it into the light and share it with a friend.”

Some movies have a lot of promise, but shoot themselves in the foot by taking themselves too seriously. They get dark and dour where they should have stayed lighthearted, straining for profundity when simply being entertaining would have sufficed. This problem is particularly acute when it comes to many recent superhero and blockbuster movies.

The titles below are object lessons in the opposite approach. They are great precisely because they remain fun (and perhaps a little goofy) the whole way through. These movies never feel like they’re trying to prove anything beyond fulfilling their entertainment quota, which is why we love them even more. It doesn’t make them meaningless or unimportant; it just makes them enjoyable.

‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ (2005)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

“Who taught you math?” This crime comedy was Shane Black‘s directorial debut, and it remains delightful more than two decades since it came out. In it, small-time thief Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) accidentally lands a Hollywood screen test before becoming entangled in a murder investigation alongside sarcastic private investigator Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer) and aspiring actress Harmony Lane (Michelle Monaghan). The increasingly convoluted mystery serves as the perfect playground for Black’s razor-sharp dialogue and relentless self-awareness.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang strikes a great balance between mocking the conventions of noir thrillers while also being suspenseful and compelling. Crucially, every joke feels like part of the narrative rather than a distraction from it. Not to mention, the easy chemistry between the leads does a lot of heavy lifting, taking moments from simply funny to outright hilarious. Fast, stylish, and endlessly quotable.

‘Big Trouble in Little China’ (1986)

Image via 20th Century Studios

“It’s all in the reflexes.” Although a box office flop, Big Trouble in Little China was charming enough to have a second life on home video, eventually establishing itself as a cult classic. Frequent John Carpenter collaborator Kurt Russell takes on a different kind of role here as truck driver Jack Burton, a swaggering hero who is also frequently confused, frequently outmatched, and frequently rescued by more capable people around him.

When his friend Wang Chi’s fiancée is kidnapped by an ancient sorcerer beneath San Francisco’s Chinatown, Jack stumbles into a world filled with martial arts masters, monsters, magic, and centuries-old conspiracies. It’s all very ridiculous, but Carpenter embraces that. The fight scenes are impossible, characters fly around ridiculously, and the madness relentlessly escalates. Every outrageous beat is delivered with complete confidence, ensuring we come along for the ride.

‘Hot Fuzz’ (2007)

Image via Rogue Pictures

“The greater good.” The entire Cornetto Trilogy is an example of a cast and crew turning lack of seriousness into high art. Hot Fuzz, in particular, begins as a fish-out-of-water comedy before exploding into one of the funniest action films ever. London’s most accomplished police officer, Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg), is reassigned to the seemingly idyllic village of Sandford after making his colleagues look bad. However, this sleepy hamlet quickly becomes an unlikely battleground after a series of mysterious murders.

The visual gags and physical comedy are off the charts here, producing countless iconic moments, like the chanting hooded conspirators, the runaway swan, the sea mine, the church steeple impalement, and “Ever fired two guns whilst jumping through the air?” As with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, this is a movie that celebrates its genre while also poking fun at its excesses, and it radiates pure joy from beginning to end.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014)

Image via Marvel Studios

“We are Groot.” Just as the DCU was getting a little too grim and gritty, Marvel pivoted in the opposite direction with Guardians of the Galaxy, proving once again that superhero movies can embrace complete absurdity without sacrificing any emotional punch. Here, a thief (Chris Pratt), an assassin (Zoe Saldaña), a genetically enhanced raccoon (Bradley Cooper), a walking tree (Vin Diesel), and a revenge-obsessed warrior (Dave Bautista) reluctantly join forces after becoming caught in an intergalactic struggle over an immensely powerful artifact.

The setup sounds like the start of a bad joke, but James Gunn turns it into one of the most charming blockbusters of the 2010s. The constant jokes never diminish the genuine relationships developing between the characters and, perhaps most important of all, the soundtrack plays a crucial role in establishing the film’s playful personality. This recipe resonated, carrying Guardians to a $773m box office haul.

‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)

Image via 20th Century Studios

“As you wish.” Boasting one of the finest scripts of all time, The Princess Bride immerses us in a fairytale world of adventure, love, wit, danger, sword fights, and killer one-liners. Buttercup’s (Robin Wright) romance with the farmhand Westley (Cary Elwes) quickly evolves into an extraordinary journey involving pirates, revenge, kidnappings, miracle workers, giants, and one of cinema’s most colorful collections of supporting characters.

Practically every scene is iconic and practically every conversation is quotable, whether it’s Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) confronting his enemies or Vizzini (Wallace Shawn) repeatedly declaring situations “inconceivable.” Quirkiness aside, the movie is deeply in love with storytelling itself, and that shines through from the first scene to the last. Although it’s clever, meta, and weirdly postmodern, The Princess Bride ultimately places heart over artifice. It’s no mere empty exercise in style or pastiche.

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)

Image via Paramount Pictures

“It’s not the years, honey. It’s the mileage.” With Raiders, Spielberg made cinematic alchemy out of the boys’ adventure serials that had charmed a previous generation. Harrison Ford turns in his most beloved performance as the whip-wielding archaeologist racing against the Nazis to recover the legendary Ark of the Covenant, traveling from South America to Nepal, Cairo, and beyond. These are world-hanging-in-the-balance stakes, yet the movie never becomes self-important.

The feeling of fun is inexhaustible, with the movie serving up one marvelous set piece after another, from the opening temple escape to the truck chase across the desert. While these sequences are grand and intense, Indy himself is no invincible superhero; instead, he’s someone who continually improvises his way through disasters with equal parts courage, luck, and sheer determination. His frequent mistakes make him feel wonderfully human.

‘The Big Lebowski’ (1998)

Image via Gramercy Pictures

“The Dude abides.” The Big Lebowski is one of the greatest stoner noirs, spinning a quotable comedy around a bizarro mystery and the most laid-back protagonist imaginable. Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) is mistaken for a millionaire sharing his surname and becomes unwillingly entangled in a kidnapping plot involving nihilists, pornography, artists, bowling tournaments, and increasingly surreal misunderstandings. Rather than solving the situation through brilliant deduction, the Dude mostly stumbles from one strange encounter to another, somehow surviving through sheer persistence.

Through it all, the Coen brothers delight in treating absurd situations with complete sincerity. Indeed, the film itself is as easygoing as its central character, which is why it works so well. The Big Lebowski is so totally committed to its oddball wavelength that it somehow succeeds against all odds, and it’s now one of the most enduring movies of the 1990s.

‘Back to the Future’ (1985)

Image via Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

“Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” Back to the Future is a masterclass in fusing high-concept sci-fi with infectious humor. Teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is accidentally transported from 1985 to 1955, where he must ensure that his parents fall in love while finding a way to return home before he accidentally erases his own existence.

Crucially, unlike most time-travel stories, the movie never gets bogged down in scientific explanations, instead focusing on memorable characters and stellar comedic timing. Sure, the mechanics of the time-travel don’t really make sense, but when the script is so cleverly constructed and the performances are so lovable, who cares? Not to mention, there’s an irresistible optimism to Back to the Future, making it a feel-good gem to return to again and again. Like the DeLorean, it transports us back to a simpler time.

‘Burn After Reading’ (2008)

Image via Focus Features

“What did we learn?” The Coen brothers strike again. Although not as druggy and hazy as The Big Lebowski, Burn After Reading is arguably more unhinged in its own way. When a disc containing supposedly classified information falls into the hands of two dim-witted gym employees (Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand), they attempt to blackmail its owner (John Malkovich), triggering a chain reaction of misunderstandings involving intelligence agencies, paranoid ex-spouses, cosmetic surgery, and increasingly catastrophic decisions.

Here, the Coens derive enormous comedy from the gap between the characters’ confidence and their actual intelligence. Nearly everyone believes they are participating in an elaborate conspiracy when, in reality, they’re just… not. In addition to the phenomenal writing, the stacked cast gives us wonderful performances, from Pitt’s dim-witted cheerfulness to McDormand’s delusional entitlement to Malkovich’s volcanic frustration.

‘In Bruges’ (2008)

Image via Focus Features

“You’re an inanimate f—ing object!” Finally, we have In Bruges, which might still be Martin McDonagh‘s masterpiece. After a botched hit leaves him emotionally shattered, young hitman Ray (Colin Farrell) is ordered to lie low in the picturesque Belgian city of Bruges alongside his older partner Ken (Brendan Gleeson). But Ray grows increasingly restless, and their temporary exile spirals toward tragedy, absurdity, and violence.

In Bruges is a remarkable balancing act between humor and darkness, depth and ridiculousness. Somehow, even when touching on genuinely powerful ideas, it still feels light and nimble. The stars practically sing McDonagh’s colorful dialogue (it’s like Tarantino, had he been born in Ireland and read too much existentialism), and Ralph Fiennes nearly steals the film with his explosively funny supporting performance as mob boss Harry. What a classic.

Inside “The Vortex,” the secluded Malibu estate that was chasing energy, wellness, and connection two decades before the real estate industry gave it a name.

The status symbol just changed, and nobody built a car for it

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For years, the ultra-wealthy signaled arrival with horsepower and square footage. That math is breaking down. Demand for wellness-focused real estate has more than doubled over the last five years, and buyers are now paying a real premium, 10 to 25 percent above standard luxury pricing, for homes designed around how they make you feel rather than how they photograph. Longevity, recovery, and a sense of place have become the new bragging rights.

Which is what makes one secluded property on the western edge of Malibu feel less like a coincidence and more like it was waiting for the rest of the market to catch up.

A house that picked up nicknames instead of an address

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Locals and past guests never really called it 9980 Houston Road. Over the years it’s been The Vortex, The Music Mansion, The Sun House, depending on who was standing in it and what they were there to do. None of the names tell the whole story on their own. Together they start to.

Before sound bowls had a name

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The design phase started back in 2000, years before wellness retreats, sound bath ceremonies or a global pandemic reshaped what people wanted from a home. Architect Raul Roggero wasn’t working off a trend report. He was chasing a feeling he described as a “radical creative state,” a space built around freedom, honesty and an unfiltered connection to nature, with the architecture and the art meant to fuse into one thing rather than compete for attention.

At the time, some of the celebrities who’d eventually walk through the house were still kids. Airbnb wasn’t a company yet. Sound bowls and electronic music hadn’t become the cultural moments they are now. Roggero couldn’t have designed for healing retreats, yoga groups, or musicians using the place to max out their creative limits, because none of that existed in a mainstream way yet. He built for a feeling instead, and the uses found the house later.

Architecture designed around the horizon

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Completed in 2007, the estate spans roughly 5,932 square feet on nearly an acre of elevated coastline, hidden above Deer Creek Road with uninterrupted views running from the Santa Monica Mountains out across the Pacific. The lines of the house stay deliberately understated. Floor-to-ceiling glass dissolves the wall between indoors and out, so the landscape does most of the talking. Mahogany flooring runs beneath soaring ceilings, giving the main living spaces a sense of volume that works as well for a full house of guests as it does for a single person sitting in silence.

Chef’s kitchen

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The kitchen sits at the center of the home, outfitted with Viking Professional appliances, positioned to look out over both the entertaining spaces and the ocean beyond. Even the most functional room in the house doesn’t turn its back on the view.

Resort living, elevated

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Outside is where the property really shows its hand. The infinity edge pool appears to spill straight into the Pacific, one of those details that photographs well but hits differently in person. Multiple terraces wrap the grounds, each catching a different slice of light depending on the hour, with lounge areas, alfresco dining and dual outdoor kitchens that pull every gathering outside almost by default.

Evenings on Houston Road

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The house changes character at night. Architectural lighting reflects off the water, the coastline fades out, and what’s left is stars overhead and the glow of the ocean stretching to the horizon. It’s the kind of setting that explains why sound bowl circles and quiet retreats found their way here long before the property had a market category to sit in.

Privacy as the ultimate luxury

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Set beyond Neptune’s Net and wrapped in protected hillside, this stretch of Malibu doesn’t put its luxury on display the way the beachfront addresses do. There are no visible neighbors, no through traffic, nothing pulling attention away from the house itself. Guests get immediate access to some of Malibu’s most celebrated hiking and equestrian trails while staying just minutes from Pacific Coast Highway, an unusual balance of being close to everything and reachable by almost no one.

Why the industry is finally speaking the house’s language

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What reads today as a wellness real estate case study was, in 2000, just a feeling Roggero was chasing. The market has spent the last several years building vocabulary for exactly that instinct. The Global Wellness Institute’s 2026 real estate research describes buyers seeking homes that actively support recovery and nervous system regulation as part of daily life, not as a weeklong escape but as a permanent condition of where they live. Sotheby’s puts it more bluntly: forget the sports car, the new status symbol is a longer, healthier life, and increasingly people are trying to buy a home that supports that.

That’s precisely the appeal that turned this Malibu property into an unofficial gathering place for meditation and yoga retreats, sound bowl ceremonies, and the kind of celebrity guests who wanted somewhere private enough to actually unwind rather than perform. It’s also what made it work as “The Sun House,” a beloved short-term rental for years before wellness residences had a category of their own on Sotheby’s balance sheet.

Twenty-five years later, the Vortex is still running

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The deer were already showing up on the property before the house existed. The friendships that would define its guest list were still forming. The desire for freedom, creativity and connection that Roggero built the place around didn’t have a market report behind it yet, just a sense that this particular stretch of Malibu held something worth protecting.

Real estate trends tend to catch up to instinct eventually. This one just took twenty-five years.

The listing is held by Tai Savet of Agents of LA.

A community is mourning after an autistic teen, Adonis Jarvis tragically died. Now, prosecutors have charged his mother, Geneva Jarvis, and grandmother, Denise Jarvis, with murder after Adonis allegedly starved to death.

RELATED: Prayers Up! 1-Year-Old Reportedly Dies After 14-Year-Old Mom Allegedly Crashes While Driving Under The Influence

Investigation Leads To Murder Charges Against Mother & Grandmother

The NYPD arrested 62-year-old Denise Jarvis and 36-year-old Geneva Jarvis in connection with the March death of 16-year-old Adonis Jarvis. Officers rushed to Lincoln Hospital on the night of March 19 after receiving a report of a “suspicious death.” When they arrived, they found Adonis’ body showing signs of severe malnourishment. The city’s Chief Medical Examiner later ruled his death a homicide. Authorities said Adonis weighed about 60 pounds when he died. His twin brother, who also has autism, arrived at the same hospital under similar circumstances and reportedly barely survived.

What’s Next For Denise & Geneva Jarvis?

On Thursday, July 30, police charged Geneva Jarvis and Denise Jarvis with murder in connection with Adonis’ death. The two women also reportedly face assault and other charges tied to the treatment of his surviving twin brother. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said in a statement that women failed the twins, who allegedly had sore covering their legs and bodies. “These two women failed in their duty and responsibility to care for these boys. One child has died. The other faces a lengthy recovery,” Clark said. The New York Post later shared footage of NYPD officers taking Denise and Geneva into custody. When asked why they allegedly failed to feed the boys, neither woman responded.

The Internet Shares Heartbreak & Outrage Following Adonis Jarvis’ Tragic Death

Instagram user @ford_kann wrote, “This is truly heartbreaking 😢💔 Someone who was supposed to love and protect this poor baby!!!” 

Instagram user @haziniya wrote, “The 2 ppl who should’ve protected him the most sad💐💜🫶🏽😔” 

While Instagram user @education_useonly wrote, “RIP my condolences 💐” 

Then Instagram user @itzjustquiiii wrote, “Hits different when u actually know these twins smh.” 

Another Instagram user @jazzy2757 wrote, “If he was in school, why didn’t anyone report it?” 

Instagram user @whosthedj wrote, “It is so sad at the age of 16 they have starved him wow.” 

Then another Instagram user @michelletubbs2019 wrote, “SICKENING 😡😡”

Finally, Instagram user @juliazeth wrote, “Poor kid… these people shouldn’t be having babies if they can’t take care of them!!!!” 

RELATED: Florida Teacher Arrested & Charged For Allegedly Putting Autistic 3-Year-Old In A Chokehold

Chrisean Rock is tired of being tied to rumors surrounding the death of her ex-boyfriend, Ronny Doe. She recently went off on social media while addressing suggestions she might’ve been involved. Rock didn’t hold back, admitting that she didn’t feel anything when he died. Ronny previously claimed that Rock’s son, Chrisean Jesus, was his. Blueface has made the same paternity claims online, including in recent weeks.

RELATED: Claressa Shields Appears To Advise Chrisean Rock To Stay Away From Blueface After They Link Up For Boxing Training (VIDEO)

Chrisean Rock Asks To Be Left Out Of Ronny Doe Conversations

In a livestream, Chrisean Rock talked for at least two minutes about why Ronny Doe’s death has nothing to do with her. She said an open investigation doesn’t mean she’s connected. Rock alleged that Ronny was linked to her because he made his life about her. She accused him of being desperate and “high” at the time on Percocets, Molly, Lean, and alcohol. “Nobody was holding Karon accountable, falsely claiming my son,” Chrisean Rock said, using Ronny’s real name, Karon Cann. She added that no one was trying to save her ex before he died, before making drug trafficking allegations. It’s unclear who exactly her message is targeting, people close to Ronny or local law enforcement.

“Y’all keep trying to put this narrative out and I’ve then I keep being quiet because I lowkey loved Karon and I got respect for his family,” Chrisean Rock said. She claims police told her, “We know you didn’t do it, we got his phone.”

RELATED: Chrisean Rock Reflects On Memories Of Ex-Boyfriend Ronny Doe With Heartfelt Throwback Moments (VIDEOS)

She added that the conversation with law enforcement was recorded. Additionally, she emphasized that Ronny Doe is dead and at the time he passed she had already stopped loving him. She said she had no feelings in her body when he passed because he was trying to “kill” her before he died.

“He really was. He was trying to diminish my character, my image. He was trying to clout chase off of my son that I love the most. People be doing stuff and don’t know what be actually the after effort. All of y’all sound dumb…and that’s what I’m saying bro. There’s a lot of evil attack me at one time and I don’t f**k with it.”

Ronny Doe Previously Claimed To Be Father Of Rock’s Son

As previously reported, Ronny Doe was fatally shot in February 2025 in Severn, Maryland. Despite being transported to a nearby hospital, he passed away. Earlier this week, the Anne Arundel County PD confirmed to TMZ that the investigation into Ronny’s death “is an open and active investigation.” The agency refused to provide any additional details.

As Chrisean Rock alluded, Ronny Doe wasn’t letting up on her just months before his death. In December 2024, he accused Rock of trying to “put charges” on him to swerve a DNA test on her son. Also, he claimed he was in the room when Chrisean Jesus was born. Just before that, he confronted Chrisean Rock while she was mall shopping with her son. She asked why he was “stalking” her and angrily called her weird and responded, “That’s my f**king son.” She also warned she would call the police.

Blueface Alleges Chrisean Was Involved In Ronny’s Death

Blue has suggested a few times that Ronny Doe is the biological father of Chrisean Jesus, including at least three times this year. In March, Blueface said on X that Chrisean Jesus is not his son and that Ronny Doe is his father. “I can no longer continue the plot it doesn’t feel right as a present father in all my kids life to be discredited as a absence father to a child that is not biologically mine,” he wrote on X, adding that continuing this plot didn’t “feel right.”

Months later, in May, he doubled down on the paternity denial during an interview on ‘The Jason Lee Show.’ He said being the child’s dad was a narrative he and Rock cooked up to capitalize financially from the internet. He also accused Rock of being a “set-up” artist. He continued to deny Chrisean Jesus throughout the rest of May.

Recently, Chrisean Rock went viral for confronting Blueface about denying the child. He laughed her off. Later, he appeared to suggest that a photo shared on his account came from Chrisean Rock and not him. He also seemed to accuse her of deleting his maternity photos with his pregnant boo, Nevaeh Akira.

RELATED: Oop! Blueface Alleges Chrisean Rock Posted Message Calling Chrisean Jr. His Son As Nevaeh Akira Reacts To Their Cozy Link-Up

As House of the Dragon Season 3 gears up towards its finale, fans will no doubt be looking for a new show to fill the void the fantasy series leaves behind. While Game of Thrones could quench some of that thirst, finding something new to binge instead might be the best option. Thanks to its huge impact on the zeitgeist, there are now many fantasy and medieval-inspired shows around, but few are as good and underrated as The Last Kingdom. With five near-perfect seasons and one movie, this hidden Netflix gem adapts one of the most celebrated historical fiction book series, following protagonist Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon) as he takes part in some of the defining moments of English medieval history.

‘The Last Kingdom’ Adapts Bernard Cornwell’s Classic ‘Saxon Stories’ Book Series

As beloved as it is, the chief criticism of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon is how much it veers off from George R.R. Martin‘s source material. This was never too much of a problem for The Last Kingdom, which adapts Bernard Cornwell‘s classic book series, The Saxon Stories, a story that is guided by historical events. Each season adapts two books of the 13-entry saga; there are plenty of changes from the original story towards the end, but it’s ultimately for the best.

The story follows Uhtred, the son of a Saxon nobleman who is captured and raised by Danes during the Viking invasions. Aware of his birthright as heir to Bebbanburg in Northumbria, but also of his own affection and respect for the people who became his family, he is caught in the middle of the conflict between these two cultures and peoples — Saxon kingdoms fighting for survival and Viking armies seeking to expand. Uhtred’s internal dilemma is the plot’s emotional anchor, as he struggles to figure out his place in such turbulent and violent times.

The Last Kingdom wraps up in Season 5, but Uhtred’s story comes to an end in The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die, a movie released by Netflix in 2023 to wrap up the adaptations of Cornwell’s books. Given the timing of each release, the series was never ahead of the books in terms of story, so even with a few deviations from the book, everything was ultimately tied up neatly. Right now, The Last Kingdom holds 95% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a testament to how well developed it was.

‘The Last Kingdom’ Shares Many Similarities With ‘Game of Thrones’

Image via Netflix

While there obviously is no magic in The Last Kingdom, it’s easy to see why it really is the perfect Game of Thrones replacement. Instead of fantasy, it excels in portraying the fractured and fragile state of what is currently known as England in the Middle Ages. Simply put, it has lots of backstabbing and great battles, things that everyone loves from Westeros. The Last Kingdom‘s portrayal of Medieval England isn’t that different, as it was a time when many kings and lords often plotted against each other and sought to come out on top. Game of Thrones itself was highly inspired by the War of the Roses, so delving into medieval history might not be as outlandish as it seems.

With all of that plotting and scheming, the whole country is also under threat from the Vikings. This adds another layer of complexity to the story, as the invaders serve as a unifying factor for the multiple English kingdoms. Numerous as they may be, they still have a lot in common, including culture and religion, while the Vikings essentially mean the end of this way of life should they win. With the Vikings serving as a unifying force for the kingdoms, it is easy to draw a parallel between the Danes and the White Walker threat from Game of Thrones. But while Game of Thrones turns the White Walkers into straightforward villains, The Last Kingdom gives the Danes more depth and complexity.

Obviously, The Last Kingdom is not a one-to-one replacement for Game of Thrones. As Bernard Cornwell once pointed out, his work “is rooted in reality,” and sees similarities to Game of Thrones going only as far as both having “brutal men in chain mail and leather beating the sh*t out of each other.” George R.R. Martin, on the other hand, has been a huge fan of The Last Kingdom for a while, despite its “notable lack of dragons and magic.”

There Has Never Been a Better Time To Binge ‘The Last Kingdom’

Game of Thrones isn’t the only show in recent memory that features a frustrating ending, nor the only adaptation of a great literary series that has to deal with the uncertainty of running out of source material. In this sense, The Last Kingdom is the diametrical opposite to the HBO fantasy series. The Last Kingdom is a rare case of a series with a beginning, middle, and ending, as well as compelling characters and stories that aren’t dropped or forgotten as the story progresses season after season.

With House of the Dragon about to wrap up Season 3, it might be a while before Westeros is back on TV; Season 4 is still far away, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is just about to wrap up filming for Season 2. The Last Kingdom, however, is available via Netflix at least until the end of the year. Its similarly structured seasons and thematic parallels make for a seamless transition, and, as a whole, the series ultimately proves that history can be every bit as gripping as fantasy.

The Last Kingdom is available to watch on Netflix.