Avatar: The Last Airbender is a one-of-a-kind series. It’s no surprise that fans haven’t loved any of the sequels, spinoffs, or adaptations quite as much as they loved the original, from the direct sequel The Legend of Korra to the live-action adaptation, which just premiered its second season on Netflix. It can be frustrating to watch this franchise stumble forward down treacherous storytelling paths when the perfect next step is right there waiting for it. Avatar Studios has an easy win in the Chronicles of the Avatar novel series, which is practically begging to be adapted into an animated series. These books have everything fans love about the original series without any of the baggage that comes with a live-action adaptation or a sequel in an uncertain future.

It’s been a rough couple of years for Avatar Studios, which hasn’t even officially released anything since its formation in 2021. The studio will debut this fall with the movie Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, but the movie has already leaked online, softening its impact on the fandom. Many who watched the leaked movie left lackluster reviews, and the whole ordeal spawned a distracting cycle of discourse about studio politics and the ethics of media consumption. Meanwhile, Avatar Studios is charging ahead with its next sequel series, Avatar: Seven Havens — the third series in what they’re now calling the Avatar Legends franchise. None of this has helped get us back into the fictional setting we love to explore it’s amazing potential.

The ‘Avatar Legends’ Franchise Needs a Win

Image via Amulet Books

Aside from Avatar Aang, Avatar: Seven Havens is the only other project Avatar Studios has pulicly announced. It’s expected to debut next year, and it has all the talent it could need to succeed creatively — assuming it gets enough financial and marketing support from Paramount. However, some fans will inevitably feel alienated from the show since it takes place after The Legend of Korra. That series had its own ups and downs, and it changed the setting of the Avatar Legends franchise a lot in its time. It introduced advanced technology and industrialization to the Avatar world, which is too much for some fans to handle.

That’s not to say that Avatar Studios shouldn’t make sequels — Korra has some die-hard fans, and it will be exciting to see what comes next for this world. However, considering the franchise has a whole studio behind it, it’s surprising that they’re not taking the path of least resistance to draw lapsed fans back with prequels. Even without the Chronicles of the Avatar series, prequels would be a no-brainer for this franchise. Considering how great the novels are, they should definitely be adapted, as readers have been saying for years now.

‘Chronicles of the Avatar’ is The Ideal Prequel Format

Image via Nickelodeon Animation Studio

The Chronicles of the Avatar novel series kicked off in 2019 with The Rise of Kyoshi, written by F.C. Yee. As the title suggests, the novel centers around Avatar Kyoshi, the earth-bending Avatar who preceded Aang by two generations, living before Avatar Roku. Yee published a direct sequel the following year, The Shadow of Kyoshi, then wrote two more books in the series titled The Dawn of Yang Chen and The Legacy of Yang Chen. These leapt back another generation in the timeline. From there, author Randy Ribay took over for The Reckoning of Roku in 2024 and The Awakening of Roku in 2025. Ribay has signed on to write at least one more book in the series, but so far we don’t know which Avatar it will be about or when it might come out.

Each of these novels tells of a momentous adventure in the lives of one of Aang’s predecessors in the Avatar cycle. They take some time to explore the political and social climate of their times, but since they all take place before the 100-Year War, they are all pre-industrial and relatively familiar from a worldbuilding perspective. Of course, fans already know a bit about these past Avatars thanks to Aang’s interactions with them in the main series, but these novels give us a chance to learn more about them, and by extension, learn about the nature of the Avatar cycle itself.

Those who have read these books could probably rattle off ten reasons they should be adapted off the tops of their heads. There are some incredible action scenes in the prose format, and seeing them animated would be a dream come true. There are also some unforgettable characters begging to be brought to life on screen, as every Avatar had their own version of “the Gaang.”

An adaptation of the Chronicles of the Avatar novels would work well as a series of animated movies, or as an anthology TV series. The team behind the Avatar Aang movie displayed some incredible art and animation skills, and they could have done wonders with Yee and Ribay’s writing. Hopefully it’s not too late, as it seems like Avatar Studios’ best days are still ahead of it. Sadly, there’s only one chance to make a first impression, and this studio’s first impression was denied a theatrical release, then leaked unceremoniously.

If nothing else, hopefully the Avatar Legends renaissance will introduce more fans to the Chronicles of the Avatar novel series. All six installments are available now in print, digital, and audiobook formats, and at least one more is on the way. Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender will premiere on Paramount+ on October 9. The live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 premiered on Thursday, June 25 on Netflix.

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Release Date

2005 – 2008

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Network

Nickelodeon

Showrunner

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Michael Dante DiMartino

Directors

Giancarlo Volpe, Ethan Spaulding, Lauren MacMullan, Dave Filoni, Joaquim Dos Santos, Anthony Lioi

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Writers

Tim Hedrick, Elizabeth Welch Ehasz, Joshua Hamilton, James Eagan, Joann Estoesta, Nick Malis, May Chan, Katie Mattila

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Sometimes we seek out movies that are lighthearted and easy to watch. Then, there are those of us who love to get our blood pumping and adrenaline rushing. Whether through a juicy horror thriller, a high-octane action flick, or a tantalizing sci-fi film, if the film is intense, we’re happy. But what if there are trilogies that deliver tension from start to finish? Turn on the TV and prepare to be stressed!

We are here to celebrate eight film franchises that are masterclasses in tension. These films might require your blood pressure to be checked upon completion. Our list will include game-changing sci-fi action flicks, action-packed superhero stories, and sensational spy thrillers. If you spend your weekend binging these fantastic trilogies, you might need something soothing to calm your senses afterward.

1

‘Evil Dead’ Trilogy

Image via New Line Cinema

Long before Sam Raimi entertained the world with a near-perfect Spider-Man trilogy, he delighted horror fans with the cult classic Evil Dead trilogy. The trilogy chronicles the horrific and darkly comedic misadventures of Ashley “Ash” Williams (Bruce Campbell) as he battles demonic entities released from an ancient Sumerian book. Throughout the films, Ash transforms from an ordinary guy into a chainsaw-wielding, shotgun-blasting icon. The trilogy unfolds as an evolving saga of survival, madness, and time travel. In the 1981 film, five college students vacation at an isolated cabin in the woods, where they discover the inciting Book of the Dead. As the sole survivor, Evil Dead II follows Ash as he returns to the cabin with his girlfriend, Linda (Denise Bixler), only for the demon to haunt her and his own right hand, causing him to chop it off and replace it with a chainsaw. Picking up after the second film, in Army of Darkness, Ash is sucked back in time by a vortex to 1300 A.D., where he is seen as a savior who must battle the army of the undead. Though they may be stylistically different, Ash’s adventures are high-octane entertainment that doesn’t skimp on blood and gore.

What makes this trilogy unique is how they evolve. The first film is pure horror. The second moves into slapstick horror, utilizing the franchise’s signature dark, chaotic humor. By the third film, it’s fully evolved into a fantasy-comedy adventure. The Evil Dead trilogy is a wildly entertaining ride defined by its iconic protagonist. From scared college student to a chainsaw-wielding, one-liner-spouting badass, Ash anchors the film. His adventures are full-throttle and unrelenting. Through Raimi’s dizzying camera work, he simulates the presence of the demonic entity. He uses the famous shaky cam and low-angle propulsive tracking shots to depict the monster itself. With aggressive direction, Raimi keeps the audience in a place of unnerving restlessness. He even masters the balance of claustrophobic quiet and explosive, chaotic violence. The terror is practical and tactical. The jump scares are active. From start to finish, no matter the genre, the Evil Dead trilogy is an escalation in tension.

2

‘Fear Street’ Trilogy

Image via Netflix

If there is any trilogy that properly depicts the true evolution of horror, it’s Netflix’s Fear Street trilogy. Based on R.L. Stine’s book series of the same name, it follows a group of teenagers in the cursed town of Shadyside, who must uncover the centuries-old secrets of a legendary witch to stop a recurring cycle of mass murders. Set across three distinct times—Part One: 1994, Part Two: 1978, and Part Three: 1666—Fear Street’s eras pay homage to different styles of horror cinema while delivering the spooks and scares from start to finish. Fear Street successfully blends nostalgic 90s slasher thrills with a deep, serialized curse mythology by tackling a multi-generational curse in reverse. Rather than a collection of random kills, the story of Shadyside and its rivalry with affluent Sunnyvale is a captivating, overarching mystery with a satisfying payoff.

The films evolve in tone, shifting from the Scream-inspired, high-energy terror of 1994 to the gritty Friday the 13th camp aesthetic of 1978, and finally ending with a dark period piece set in 1666. Though the frights are at the forefront, the trilogy is anchored by strong interpersonal relationships. From the central queer romance between Deena Johnson (Kiana Madeira) and Sam Fraser (Olivia Scott Welch) to the complex sibling bond of Nick (Ashley Zukerman) and Will Goode (Matthew Zuk), the characters drive the action. You care for the characters, so when you’re met with the relentless dread of classic slashers with deep, generational lore, the franchise sustains nail-biting suspense across 300 years of history. Knowing that the stakes are cyclical and that plot armor proves no one is safe, the audience’s foreknowledge of who survives makes the immediate chase sequences terrifying. Fear Street keeps you on your toes. Just be sure to watch in release order, please.

3

‘Planet of the Apes’ Reboot Trilogy

Image via 20th Century Studios

Depending on your vantage of the original iteration of Planet of the Apes, you might find it hokey. But it was an important part of the evolution of science fiction cinema. Then, when Tim Burton’s version arrived, it played by the same playbook, yet became even more unintentionally comical. Then, one last reboot came in 2011, and finally, the masterpiece was born. Beginning with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the franchise chronicles the fall of humanity and the concurrent rise of an intelligent ape civilization. Centering on Caesar (Andy Serkis), a hyper-intelligent chimpanzee, as he breaks free from captivity and is tested in order to liberate his fellow apes. In Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Caesar leads a thriving, peaceful colony of evolved apes hidden in the redwood forests, only to fall into a devastating war against extremist humans and apes. In the conclusion, War for the Planet of the Apes, the apes are locked in an intense, grueling conflict with a ruthless human military faction known as Alpha-Omega. Caesar battles his own darker instincts to exact revenge on the human leader (Woody Harrelson).

Elevating a classic sci-fi premise into a deeply emotional, character-driven epic, the reboot enhanced the story through incredible advanced CGI that gave the apes genuine emotions, with their faces showcasing them all. By making the apes less human and more life-like, the narrative earns stronger stakes. You have an emotional attachment to both humans and animals because you can emotionally relate to their hurt, pain, and joy. This is not a good vs. evil story; the reboot presented a morally grey area driven by survival, fear, and prejudice in which empathy arrives on both sides. With such brilliant stories that ultimately tie together, the Planet of the Apes trilogy is not only highly entertaining but also extraordinary in its action. All built around core emotions. The trilogy proved that science fiction action thrillers can evolve into something genially profound.

4

The Bourne Trilogy

Image via Universal Pictures

If the premise of the first film doesn’t stress you out, I’m not quite sure what will. Based on the character created by Robert Ludlum, the Bourne trilogy revolves around Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), an amnesic super-assassin trying to uncover his identity and survive rogue intelligence programs hunting him. Across the first three films in the broader franchise, a celebrated, cohesive arc follows Bourne on an unrelenting run around the world. Comprised of The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum, Bourne is an unconventional anti-hero played by the non-traditional action star, and yet, it was a match made in heaven. Bourne operates as an empathetic, tortured individual on an emotional journey to discover the truth to keep himself alive. The Bourne trilogy redefined the espionage genre, swapping out moments of fantastical camp for grounded, gritty realism.

A major factor in the film’s success is the intense stunts. Whether it was action-packed hand-to-hand combat or epic car chases with real-world vehicles, the action heightened the tension throughout the film. But none of that would have resonated had it not been for the smart storytelling with its paranoiac direction. With fast-paced editing and flawless shaky-cam cinematography, the techniques immersed its viewers in the street-level action. It’s a frantic, chaotic experience that allows the audience to feel as if they’re on the run with the titular character. And yet, the controlled chaos gave the story the legs to stand on. Unlike many spy thrillers, the Bourne trilogy opts for sound over score. Every boom and pow can be heard, almost as if you can feel it without the music-filled underscoring taking focus. The films escalate brilliantly. After Bourne regains his past through a journey of literal self-discovery, the sequels elevate the narrative into an unrelenting global manhunt, bringing the story to full closure.

5

The Dark Knight Trilogy

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Often, we think that superhero film adaptations should have an aura of a comic book to them. At least that’s what we were led to believe in the late ’80s and ’90s with the Batman films. They were dark enough, but still had a hint of comic campiness. Then, Christopher Nolan arrived and stripped that all away with his masterpiece The Dark Knight trilogy. In a gritty, real-world take, billionaire Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) transforms from a traumatized, vengeful orphan into Gotham’s greatest protector, fighting systemic corruption, pure chaos, and ultimate destruction to save his city. Set in a hyperrealistic Gotham City, the Dark Knight trilogy showcases a man with no superpowers fighting a cavalcade of iconic villains with true grit, tactical intellect, and cutting-edge technology. Comprised of Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises, there may not be a greater superhero trilogy in history.

The Dark Knight trilogy moves beyond the standard superhero tropes. Nolan taps into complex themes of justice, corruption, sacrifice, and the toll that vigilantism takes on the human psyche. By giving audiences an emotional journey to watch, the Caped Crusader takes on a whole new cinematic identity. There are certainly extraordinary physical brawls within the three films, but it’s the psychological battles that triumph. Especially in the case of Heath Ledger‘s award-winning take on the Joker. The second film is almost stripped of large-scale action to make way for a mega clash of ideology. Watching the brilliant Batman nearly taken down by a sinister mastermind is tension at its finest. Gotham City was always under attack, but not as threatened as it is in this trilogy. The threat of anarchy led viewers to believe that the city was not only impenetrable but also nearly overrun by the bad guys for good. Nolan’s direction not only reshaped the DC IP but the entire superhero genre for good.

6

‘The Matrix’ Trilogy

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Very few films have the power to recalibrate an entire genre of cinema, but anything seemed possible when the Wachowskis gave the world the chance to enter The Matrix. The cyberpunk sci-fi action thriller franchise follows a hacker named Neo (Keanu Reeves) who soon discovers that humanity’s reality is a complex computer simulation called the Matrix. Built by intelligent machines, the simulation keeps humanity pacified while using their bodies as a power source. Neo joins a rebellion led by Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) to free humanity and stop the machines. The epic story, made up of The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, and The Matrix Revolutions, blends action with deep philosophical themes that build across the films.

The Matrix is a masterclass of tension: while the Wachowskis entertain you with groundbreaking cinematic innovations, it’s the philosophical idea that our lives might be merely a simulation this whole time. There is an innate claustrophobic, life-or-death peril. There is constant dread within the Matrix, from rogue agents in the simulation to an all-out rage against the machines. The action is unrelenting, especially as the rules constantly shift. The Wachowskis keep viewers on their toes as the rules of the simulation constantly change, causing Neo to continually adapt to his surroundings. What’s worse than a rapidly multiplying Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving)? Perhaps the most intense element of The Matrix is the weight of choice. We watch characters become nearly paralyzed by moral dilemmas— namely, the decision of personal sacrifice for the greater good and questioning the illusion of free will. As much as the bullet time bent our minds, The Matrix is much bigger than it.

7

The Millennium Trilogy

Image via Nordisk Film

One of the most highly anticipated page-to-screen adaptations in America was Stieg Larsson‘s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. But wouldn’t you know it, the American version is not the first version. In fact, the Swedish version arrived first, alongside The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest. The highly successful Millennium movie trilogy centers on Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist), an investigative journalist, and Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace), a brilliant but antisocial computer hacker, as they unravel dark conspiracies, corruptions, and serial murders. The interconnecting films tackle a range of themes, including corporate greed, abuse of power, systemic misogyny, and justice. With a raw, unflinching tone, the film’s portrayal of the unparalleled alliance of the iconic protagonists delivers a heart-pounding blend of intimate mystery and sprawling political thriller.

There is nothing sleek about these Swedish films. And that’s a good thing. Rather than rely on polish you might find in a Hollywood drama, the trilogy relies on a stark, oppressive Scandinavian atmosphere. It allows the ground-level themes to resonate more practically. The films works wonderfully as a compelling arc that builds upon itself. The first film operates as a tight, isolated family mystery. The second and third films then shift into an expansive espionage and legal-conspiracy thriller that brings closure to Lisbeth’s traumatic past introduced in the first film. The high-stakes threats are a ticking clock of abuse. The series revolves around the “men who hate women” overarching theme, presented in an exceptional manner. Directed by Daniel Alfredson and Niels Arden, the Millennium trilogy is rightly suffocating. No offense to David Fincher for his interpretation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but he was outmatched.

8

Vengeance Trilogy

Image via Show East

If you’re still pressed about the American remake of Oldboy, now’s the perfect time to revisit the original Vengeance trilogy to remind yourself why it was a futile attempt at capturing greatness. Directed by Park Chan-wook, the South Korean film trilogy is thematically linked by revenge, ethics, violence, and salvation. Comprising Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, and Lady Vengeance, the films may not be linked by plot, but they are linked by the consuming, cyclical, and morally devastating nature of their shared themes. In Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, a deaf-mute factory worker kidnaps his former boss’s daughter to pay for his sister’s life-saving kidney transplant, but a tragic accident sets off an escalating, vicious, and senseless cycle of retaliation. In Oldboy, a man who is mysteriously imprisoned in a hotel room for 15 years is given five days to uncover who orchestrated his imprisonment and why. Finally, in Lady Vengeance, a woman wrongfully imprisoned for 13 years for the kidnapping and murder of a child is released, setting out to exact brutal justice and revenge on the true culprit.

Celebrated for Park’s vision, the Vengeance trilogy deconstructs the traditional revenge narratives for an enthralling, visually stunning journey of unrelenting action. The plots give way to an intense set of stories, but what sets these films apart is their intricate visual storytelling. With a bold color palette and meticulously crafted action, the stylistic approach enhances the gruesome subject into pure art that matches the chaotic nature of the central characters. Now, don’t call them heroes, as moral ambiguity reigns supreme. There are no clear-cut heroes or villains as the characters are deeply flawed yet sympathetic, driven by desperation and grief. The Vengeance trilogy begs the audience to question whom to root for as the violence enters an endless cycle. The tension is turned up to full through the concept of an inescapable predetermined fate. Park uses extreme structural symmetry in each film to remind the audience that, no matter the story, every step digs the central character into an inescapable hole they might never pull themselves out of. The technical execution of the films perfectly mirror the psychological and emotional toll of the journey. The Vengeance trilogy is characterized by unpredictability, which makes it a worthy watch.

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Oldboy

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Release Date

November 21, 2003

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Runtime

120 minutes

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Blue Ivy has spent much of her life making history, but her next ambition could be her biggest yet. 

After winning awards, starring alongside Beyoncé, and building an entertainment résumé before even finishing school, the teenager is now reportedly setting her sights on filmmaking. 

While her famous parents are fully supportive, insiders say they’re also keeping a careful eye on how she enters Hollywood, determined to ensure she develops her own creative voice instead of simply relying on the Carter family name.

Blue Ivy’s Hollywood ambitions are said to be shifting beyond music and acting, with insiders claiming the 14-year-old is eager to develop films centered on young girls navigating everyday life. 

After voicing Princess Kiara in “Mufasa: The Lion King” in 2023, the young star reportedly became even more inspired to tell stories of her own.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, one source claimed Blue Ivy has taken inspiration from Sasha Obama and hopes to produce projects herself. 

According to the insider, “Blue is interested in following in Sasha Obama’s footsteps and wants to produce her own movies. She loves movies like Eve’s Bayou and The Cheetah Girls and wants to create coming of age movies for girls her age.”

The source also alleged that Obama has promised to help Blue Ivy develop those ideas if she chooses to pursue them, while adding that the teenager is already quietly developing a movie without pressure to complete it anytime soon.

Blue Ivy’s Parents Want School To Come Before Stardom

Despite her growing list of entertainment achievements, Beyoncé and Jay-Z are reportedly determined not to rush their daughter’s career.

Insiders say the superstar couple encourages Blue Ivy’s creative interests but continues to prioritize education, allowing her to observe the business while ensuring she remains focused on school.

“They are big on traditional schoolwork as well as her creative work and they include her in some meetings so she can get a good eye on how the business works,” one source explained.

The insider added that the power couple understands their daughter is destined for success but wants her to gain life experience before fully stepping into the industry. 

According to the source, they hope she becomes “an educated and well-rounded person” before branching out after high school or college.

The careful approach comes after the young actress described her “Mufasa” experience as unforgettable. During an interview with “Good Morning America,” she said she was “really happy for girls that look like me all around the world… to watch this movie and hear and see themselves in it.”

Blue Ivy Has Already Built An Entertainment Résumé Most Adults Would Envy

Although she’s still a teenager, Blue Ivy has spent years quietly building an impressive career. Dubbed “the most famous baby in the world” shortly after her birth in 2012, she appeared on Jay-Z’s song “Glory” before she was even two weeks old. 

She later received a credit on Beyoncé’s song “Blue” and continued to add accomplishments throughout her childhood. 

She performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” on “Homecoming: The Live Album,” became the youngest female artist to chart on the Hot 100 after appearing on “Brown Skin Girl,” and earned both a Grammy Award and a Guinness World Record.

Blue Ivy also appeared in “Black Is King,” several of Beyoncé’s music videos, and eventually landed her role in “Mufasa,” where director Barry Jenkins reportedly believed she “crushed” the performance.

According to one insider, music isn’t her primary focus anymore. “She’s a really innovative kid,” the source said, adding that while she continues recording music, “her passion really is TV, film and creative direction.”

Blue Ivy Is Working To Escape The ‘Nepo Baby’ Label

Even with two of the biggest names in entertainment as parents, insiders claim Blue Ivy wants to build her own reputation through hard work rather than family connections.

One source said she has already begun surrounding herself with her own advisers as she seeks to establish independence.

“She seems intent on building her own network of guidance along the way,” the insider explained, adding that Blue Ivy wants to push past “those ‘nepo’ labels by establishing her own foundation and earning opportunities through actual effort and hard work rather than relying solely on her family name.”

One of the people reportedly helping guide her is veteran entertainment executive Andrea Nelson Meigs, a longtime Beyoncé collaborator credited with helping broker films including “Dreamgirls” and “Cadillac Records.”

An insider added that Beyoncé is particularly careful about who gains access to her eldest daughter, saying simply, “She runs a tight ship.”

Blue Ivy Continues Navigating Fame While Comparisons Grow

Even as Beyoncé and Jay-Z work to protect their children’s privacy, Blue Ivy’s public profile continues to expand.

Beyoncé previously told GQ in 2024 that one of her biggest priorities was making sure her children experienced as much “normalcy and privacy as possible” while preventing her personal life from becoming a brand.

Still, Blue Ivy has increasingly found herself in the spotlight, from joining Beyoncé during the Renaissance Tour to facing online scrutiny over her performances.

Insiders also believe comparisons with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s daughter, North West, will only intensify.

“A rivalry has already been created in the public’s mind, and it’s only likely to grow as they get older and become more active whether they like it or not,” one source claimed.

The insider added that many people see Blue Ivy’s career following a more traditional Hollywood path, while North’s public image has become associated with viral headlines and constant media attention. 

According to the source, the comparisons may be inevitable, but both families appear to have very different plans for how their daughters will navigate fame.

Yellowstone‘s Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser finally broke their silence after their Dutton Ranch spinoff went through a shocking showrunner shakeup.

“Showrunners change all the time,” Hauser, 51, recently told The Hollywood Reporter in a joint interview. “This business is about adapting.”

He continued: “We’ve been doing this for a long time. Things change. People move on.”

Reilly, 48, had a similar outlook, adding, ” We finished [season one] with Chad beautifully. We finished this season together. It was a really difficult but really satisfying show to make. And so was Yellowstone.”

Looking ahead, the actress wanted to focus on the positive. “So is anything worth making,” she concluded. “We’re all creative minds and we all work together and I’m so proud of that.”

Shortly before the show premiered in June, Chad Feehan was in charge of the Yellowstone spinoff.

Us Weekly later confirmed that Feehan would not return as showrunner after an April report that the producer who created Lawmen: Bass Reeves with creator Taylor Sheridan stepped away from Dutton Ranch after alleged friction with series stars Hauser and Reilly, among others.

Sheridan and his producing partner David Glasser, along with the two leads, were allegedly more unhappy with how Feehan ran the production than with the scripts.

Executive producer Christina Voros broke her silence about Feehan’s reported firing, telling ScreenRant in May that he did “an exceptional job building a world of adversaries for Rip and Beth” in the Yellowstone spinoff.

Voros noted that when it came to “dynamics behind his departure,” she didn’t have much to add. She went on to say that Dutton Ranch had at that point not “come out into the world yet” so a future without Feehan was “beyond” her knowledge on the subject.

The director expressed gratitude to Feehan and his team for “creating a world for these characters to move into.”

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Paramount+ later renewed Dutton Ranch for season 2 — but there hasn’t been a showrunner update yet.

Dutton Ranch isn’t the only Sheridan show to go through showrunner changes. Lioness, Tulsa King and Frisco King have also experienced shifts — and not every show had a showrunner season to season.

Dutton Ranch airs on Paramount+ Fridays.

For a long time, I assumed action thrillers would be the easiest genre to get tired of. This was when I had just started rolling through Hollywood’s catalog. After all, there are only so many car chases, explosions, and shootouts a movie can throw at you before all of those films start looking the same. That happened to me with a lot of action movies. I always mixed up their names and action sequences because most of the time they all looked the same to me.

The movies on this list, however, even then, never had that problem. You can watch them multiple times, year after year, and still won’t get tired because the adrenaline rush will be the same as if you’re watching it for the first time. Let’s have a look at eight such exciting thrillers.

8

‘Speed’ (1994)

Image via 20th Century Studios

In Speed, Officer Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) discovers that a city bus has been rigged with a bomb that will explode if the vehicle drops below 50 miles per hour. This simple idea becomes ridiculous almost immediately because Los Angeles is not exactly designed for a bus that doesn’t slow down. Passengers panic, traffic keeps getting in the way, and Annie Porter (Sandra Bullock) suddenly finds herself driving dozens of strangers through a situation she barely understands herself.

The movie becomes more fun because their problems keep changing. At one point, the bus is running out of road. Later, Jack has to climb underneath it while it is moving. Even the passengers become part of the tension because they start doing absurd things out of fear. The film spends two hours showing multiple disasters can happen on one bus before everything finally goes wrong, and somehow it keeps finding new answers.

7

‘The Fugitive’ (1993)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

In The Fugitive, Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) is convicted of murdering his wife, though he knows somebody else committed the crime. Before he can begin proving it, the prison transport carrying him crashes, sending inmates and guards into chaos. Kimble escapes and disappears, which immediately turns him into the target of Deputy U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) and an entire manhunt stretching across Chicago. Every step forward in the investigation creates another risk because Kimble cannot go to the police without being arrested.

The film is a lot different from other chase thrillers. Kimble sneaks into hospitals, studies medical records, and follows leads connected to the mysterious one-armed man he saw the night his wife died. Meanwhile, Gerard is never portrayed as incompetent. He keeps getting closer because he is good at his job. That balance makes every encounter dangerous and thrilling because both men are smart enough to stay one step ahead of almost everyone else.

6

‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ (2007)

Image via Universal Pictures

The Bourne Ultimatum starts with Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) still trying to understand who turned him into an assassin and why. A newspaper reporter begins investigating Treadstone, which draws Bourne back into the story he has been trying to piece together for years. CIA officials scramble to contain the damage, while Bourne moves across Europe following fragments of information that might finally lead him to the truth about his past.

Some of the film’s most exciting scenes involve people simply talking into phones. At Waterloo Station, Bourne guides a journalist through crowds while secretly watching CIA agents close in from every direction. Later, he manages to stay ahead of entire surveillance teams by predicting their movements before they happen. The action scenes are excellent, though what really makes Bourne interesting is how quickly he processes information. Every room becomes something to analyze, every exit becomes a plan, and his every mistake could get somebody killed but still he maneuvers his way through everything. While watching The Bourne Ultimatum you are just glued to your seats.

5

‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ (2018)

Image via Paramount Pictures

In Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) loses control of plutonium that could be used in a devastating terrorist attack. The mission quickly spirals into a race across multiple countries as Ethan, Luther (Ving Rhames), Benji (Simon Pegg), and Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) try to prevent a group known as the Apostles from carrying out a catastrophic plan. The problem becomes even messier once CIA operative August Walker (Henry Cavill) enters the picture.

The film constantly places Ethan in situations where completing the mission and saving lives are not the same thing. He always has to choose one over the other. Early on, he chooses to protect a teammate instead of securing the plutonium, which creates the entire crisis. The most exhilarating scee of the movie was the helicopter chase through the mountains, where Ethan is hanging from the aircraft, crashing through terrain, and trying to stop multiple nuclear detonations at the same time. The scale, the pressure and the thrill is what makes it a must-watch.

4

‘Die Hard’ (1988)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Die Hard begins with New York police officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) arriving in Los Angeles to visit his estranged wife during a company Christmas party. Before he can repair his marriage, a group of heavily armed criminals led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) takes over Nakatomi Plaza and traps everyone inside. McClane escapes detection almost by accident, leaving him alone in a skyscraper filled with men who have far more weapons and manpower than he does.

Unlike many action heroes, McClane gets noticeably worse at his job as the night goes on. He becomes exhausted, bloody, and increasingly desperate. By the middle of the film, he is pulling glass from his feet and wondering whether he will survive long enough to see his wife again. The action sequences of the film are still memorable, though the vulnerability is what keeps the tension alive.

3

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

In Mad Max: Fury Road, Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) drives a war rig away from the Citadel while secretly helping Immortan Joe’s wives escape. Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) becomes involved almost by accident after being captured and used as a living blood bag by Joe’s army. Once Furiosa changes course, the entire wasteland seems to come after them, turning the story into a massive pursuit across deserts, canyons, and sandstorms.

What I find most interesting is that the movie eventually realizes the destination does not exist anymore. Furiosa spends years dreaming about returning to the Green Place, only to discover it has disappeared. Suddenly the entire journey has to be reconsidered. Instead of continuing forward, the characters decide their best option is to turn around and drive directly back through the army chasing them. That decision changes everything that follows.

2

‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

Image via Warner Bros.

The Dark Knight starts with Gotham’s criminal underworld struggling to adapt after Batman (Christian Bale) begins disrupting its operations. Into that chaos steps the Joker (Heath Ledger), a criminal who seems less interested in money than in creating disorder wherever he goes. His attacks become increasingly unpredictable, drawing Batman, Lieutenant Gordon (Gary Oldman), and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) into a conflict that keeps expanding beyond ordinary crime.

The Joker spends most of the movie attacking people’s assumptions rather than their physical safety and immediately becomes the favorite character. Heath has performed it with immaculate versatility. He targets Harvey because Gotham views him as its future. He targets Batman because Gotham believes heroes can solve problems. Two groups of strangers are handed the power to destroy each other, and the Joker expects both sides to choose themselves. The film is a treat to watch nonetheless.

1

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)

Image via Paramount Pictures

In Raiders of the Lost Ark, archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is recruited to locate the Ark of the Covenant before Nazi forces can get their hands on it. The search takes him from jungles to deserts to ancient excavation sites as he races against rival archaeologist Belloq (Paul Freeman), who keeps appearing at exactly the wrong moment. Every major discovery seems to create a new obstacle, usually involving snakes, traps, armed soldiers, or all three.

One reason the movie remains so entertaining is that Indy spends surprisingly little time in control of the situation. He finds the Ark, then loses it. He steals it back, then loses it again. Even the famous truck sequence begins because he is desperately trying to recover something that has already been taken from him. The film keeps throwing him into trouble and forcing him to improvise his way out which creates the sense of thrill. That unpredictability makes the movie a wholesome thriller.

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Raiders of the Lost Ark

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Release Date

June 12, 1981

Runtime

115 minutes

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Writers

Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas, Philip Kaufman

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Elon Musk seeimingly supported Armie Hammer’s attempt at resurrecting his film career by sharing a link to his new movie via X.

Musk, 55, shared a streaming link to Citizen Vigilante, a German film starring Hammer, 39, that was banned in its home country, on Friday, June 26. According to Variety, the link was ”active for 48 hours” before going dark.

The film, which was released in the U.S. on June 19, provided Hammer which his first big-screen role after an alleged sexual abuse scandal that saw the actor’s career crumble in 2021. Per reporting by The Telegraph, Citizen Vigilante was banned in Germany as a result of its extremely violent “migrant-killing” subject matter.

Musk, who bought Twitter in 2022 and rebranded the social media platform as X the following year, deciding to share a streaming link to the film meant anybody could watch it for free. It also led to reposts by X users. The film’s director, Uwe Boll, also shared a link via his own X account.

Related: Armie Hammer’s Most Controversial Moments Over the Years

Armie Hammer is no stranger to controversy and backlash, having raised eyebrows for his questionable behavior and comments as far back as the early days of his career. The actor came under fire in January 2021 after multiple women took to social media to share screenshots of graphic direct messages that he had allegedly sent […]

Per Variety, Citizen Vigilante sees Hammer return to the big screen as “an American abroad in Europe on a blood-soaked mission to eliminate all criminal migrants.” The outlet also offered a review of the film that painted it as “so astonishingly bad” that it felt like “deliberately sabotaging” Hammer’s attempted comeback.

In 2021, Hammer was accused of sending text messages to various women that detailed sexual fantasies of rape, mutilation and cannibalism. The Social Network star was also accused of raping a woman in 2017, but he denied all allegations made against him.

The Los Angeles Police Department declined to file charges against Hammer due to insufficient evidence after conducting a 2023 investigation.

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During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, published on June 19, Hammer reflected on how grateful he was to have landed a role in Citizen Vigilante. “I’m pretty sure I cried. It was just this moment where I was, like, ‘I’m going to get to do the thing that I love more than anything, other than my children,’” he said at the time. “I would have done a f***ing cat food commercial. I just wanted to work again.” (Hammer shares daughter Harper, 11, and son Ford, 9, with ex-wife Elizabeth Chambers.)

Related: Armie Hammer Says He Wanted to ‘Get Caught’ Amid Cannibalism Allegations

Armie Hammer is looking back at the cannibalism allegations that effectively ended his Hollywood career four years ago. In early 2021, the Call Me by Your Name actor was accused of rape by an ex, and various unverified direct messages detailing vivid sexual fantasies were attributed to him. Hammer vehemently denied the rape allegations and […]

He continued, “I was scared s***less until the moment Uwe said action for the first time. And then I was like, ‘Wait. I do know how to do this.’ There’s a reason I had the success I had.”

Boll spoke exclusively to Us Weekly in February about why he cast Hammer in the role, reiterating the actor’s star quality. “I’ve worked with some big actors like Ben Kingsley, and Oscar-winning actors like J.K. Simmons, but they don’t have that star thing where you dominate the screen, like a Tom Cruise. [Armie] can do this,” the director told Us at the time. “I felt like after four years, it was time to give him another chance. He’s a great actor, he’s so talented, and it was so much fun to work with him.”

Former President Joe Biden criticized Donald Trump on the back of failed attempts to restore the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

“What a loser,” Biden, 83, told the crowd at the Maryland Democratic Party’s inaugural Back & Win Summit and Gala on Saturday, June 27. “It’s not just his vanity projects. Tearing down the East Wing of the White House. Making room for his ballroom. Putting his name on the Kennedy Center. Building an arch in his own honor. Even hiring his own pool guy to fix the Reflecting Pool.”

Biden’s audience erupted in applause over his summation, per social media footage shared by CBS News that captured the moment.

He continued, “Look, folks, it’s not just that. The Reflecting Pool reflects something even worse than the narcissism and incompetence at the core of this administration. It’s the corruption.”

Related: Trump Administration Sued for Changing Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

The Cultural Landscape Foundation and the nonprofit’s founder, Charles A. Birnbaum, have sued the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service for changing the appearance of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool without allegedly following “Congressional mandatory procedures.” According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly on Tuesday, May 12, the plaintiffs allege that […]

President Trump, 80, recently addressed the deterioration of the Reflecting Pool that occurred after ordering an estimated $15 million renovation of the famed body of water between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

“We’ve cleaned, renovated, and beautified over 45 Monuments and Memorials, 28 Statues, and 22 Fountains in Washington, D.C.,” the president wrote via his social media platform Truth Social on June 19. “However, we’ve had some real problems with vandalism at the beautiful Reflecting Pool. Just like three days ago, they destroyed the grass outside of the Pool, they’ve also done everything possible to hurt the inside surface that was just installed.”

The renovation had originally been ordered to improve the pool’s appearance, turning it “American flag blue” in time for the country’s 250th birthday celebration. According to The New York Times, the pool appeared to have been “rejecting” the renovation, with the outlet claiming that the bottom of the pool was peeling amid “chunks of coating.”

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Related: Donald Trump Shares AI-Generated Shirtless Photo With Bikini-Clad Woman

President Donald Trump shared an eyebrow-raising, AI-generated photo featuring the commander-in-chief shirtless alongside members of his cabinet and an unidentified, bikini-clad woman. On Friday, May 1, Trump, 79, went on another social media spree, sharing several posts to his social media platform, Truth Social. One post featured an AI-generated photo of Trump, sans a shirt, […]

The outlet also noted that the peeling was a result of renovation attempts tackling an algae issue that turned what should be clear water into an acid-green shade.

In addition to referencing the pool, Biden’s speech also referenced how a Kennedy Center official revealed earlier this month that all references to the President have been removed from the venue, per reporting by NBC News.

All references to the President had been removed “inside, outside and online” in compliance with a court order that was issued “six months after a board handpicked by the President voted to rebrand the iconic performing arts venue by adding his name to it,” per the outlet.

If you’ve seen enough movies, it becomes surprisingly easy to predict where a story is going to go. MacGuffins become more apparent. You begin to automatically suspect the overly nice side character. And the moment you see a locked drawer or a gun hanging on the wall, you already know it’s coming into play before the credits roll, because that’s how Chekhov’s gun works.

This is precisely why the films on this list stand out. These movies use your own movie literacy against you, carefully setting up the obvious payoff you’re sure is coming before taking the story in a completely different direction. Here are the 10 greatest thrillers ranked by just how subversive they are.

10

‘Knives Out’ (2019)

Image via Lionsgate

Rian Johnson‘s Knives Out opens like a classic Agatha Christie whodunit. Crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead the morning after his 85th birthday party. His extended family is full of obvious suspects, and famed detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) shows up to sort out who did it.

Then, right after the first act, Johnson just tells you exactly what happened and how Harlan died, and the movie goes from a whodunit to a high-stakes crime thriller where you are forced to root for the murderer to evade the detective. And then, right at the end, Johnson once again subverts your expectations with yet another phenomenal plot twist that completely reframes everything you’d seen before.

9

‘Speak No Evil’ (2022)

Image Via Nordisk Film

Christian Tafdrup‘s Speak No Evil follows Bjørn (Morten Burian) and Louise (Sidsel Siem Koch), a couple who meet a Dutch family on vacation and later accept an invitation to spend a weekend at their countryside home. The setup plays like a slow-burning social thriller. The kind where the dread keeps building until the visiting family finally wises up and makes a run for it in the third act.

But Tafdrup subverts the genre’s most basic promise, that the people we’re following will eventually fight back and escape. That escape never comes, and the film ends in tragedy with zero catharsis. Speak No Evil holds a certified fresh 83% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s a much bleaker watch than its 2024 Hollywood remake.

8

‘No Country for Old Men’ (2007)

Image via Miramax Films

The Coen Brothers‘ adaptation of Cormac McCarthy‘s novel follows Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), a welder who stumbles onto a satchel of drug money and instantly becomes the target of Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), a psychopathic hitman who begins tracking him across West Texas. This is a movie that throws almost every screenwriting rule out of the window. Moss is set up as the protagonist, but the expected cat-and-mouse climax between the hero and the villain never happens. Instead, Moss is killed unceremoniously off-screen by minor characters.

The film also operates entirely without a background soundtrack. Woody Harrelson shows up as a bounty hunter in a sharp white suit and hat, looking every bit like the competent hero who’s about to save the day, only to get shot dead a few scenes later. And Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) simply retires in defeat, confused by a modern, senseless world. Chigurh never gets caught, and evil just gets to walk away.

7

‘The Nice Guys’ (2016)

Image via Warner Bros.

Shane Black‘s buddy comedy thriller pairs private eye Holland March (Ryan Gosling) with enforcer Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) as they dig into a missing girl case tangled up with a porn star’s death in 1970s Los Angeles. Black masterfully subverts Hollywood cliches for comedic effect throughout the movie. At one point, March is chasing a lead and runs into a locked door, so he wraps his hand in a cloth to punch through the window the way every movie detective before him has done it. But he ends up slicing his hand open and lands in the hospital, and we never find out what was behind that door.

The entire film also appears to be building toward Gosling finally overcoming his alcoholism, only to end with Crowe’s character taking up drinking again in the end. It pulls a similar trick with an ankle holster introduced early in the story. Audiences naturally expect it to contain a gun that will become crucial later on, but when it’s finally needed, it’s empty. It works like an anti-Chekhov’s Gun and ends up being one of the film’s funniest scenes.

6

‘Inglourious Basterds’ (2009)

Image via The Weinstein Company

Quentin Tarantino‘s epic war movie follows two plots running side by side. The Basterds are a group of Jewish American soldiers led by Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), hunting Nazis behind enemy lines. Meanwhile, Shosanna (Mélanie Laurent) is a Jewish theater owner hiding her identity and planning her own revenge against the Nazi high command at a film premiere. Both plans eventually converge on the same night, with Hitler himself in attendance.

Anyone watching with even a basic grasp of history knows this assassination attempt should fail, because Hitler obviously didn’t die in a Paris cinema in 1944. So, you’re watching, just waiting for something to go wrong at the last possible second. Maybe a gun jams. Maybe a bomb doesn’t go off. But… nothing happens. Tarantino just lets the plan work, gleefully rewriting history and burning the entire Nazi leadership alive in a movie theater.

5

‘Parasite’ (2019)

Image via NEON

Bong Joon-ho’s South Korean masterpiece Parasite made history as the first non-English film to win the Oscar for Best Picture, and it definitely earned it. The movie opens as a dark comedy heist thriller, with the broke Kim family sneaking their way into the wealthy Park household by posing as unrelated workers. Then, about two-thirds of the way in, Bong pulls the rug out and delivers one of the greatest plot twists in modern cinema.

In one single scene, it goes from dark comedy to a full-blown horror movie. And it’s the kind of twist that completely changes the way you view everything that came before it. Throwaway lines take on new meaning. Ordinary background details suddenly become extremely unsettling. From that point on, the film just keeps getting darker and darker, building toward a crescendo until everything finally snaps in a gut-wrenching finale.

4

‘Get Out’ (2017)

Image via Universal Pictures

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Jordan Peele‘s Get Out follows an African American photographer named Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), who is meeting his white girlfriend’s family for the first time at their secluded estate. The setup plays with familiar horror imagery: the isolated house, the unsettling staff, the creeping sense that something is deeply wrong. But Peele swaps out the genre’s usual creepy house full of backwards racists for a far more nuanced kind of danger. The family is actually full of educated white liberals who see themselves as progressive and constantly insist they aren’t racist.

But perhaps the biggest subversion comes in the final few minutes. Chris finally escapes the house, and he’s choking his girlfriend on the street, only for police lights to appear behind him. Naturally, you think he’s about to be arrested or worse, which would also drive home everything the movie had been saying about race in America. But it ends up being his friend instead of a cop, and Chris gets to walk away.

3

‘Gone Girl’ (2014)

Image via 20th Century Studios

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Gone Girl opens like a straightforward missing persons thriller. Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) reports his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) missing on their fifth wedding anniversary, and as the investigation goes on, Amy’s diary entries paint a picture of a marriage curdling into fear and even violence. And Nick ends up looking more and more like the obvious suspect.

Then, around the 1-hour mark, Amy is revealed to be alive. The diary was a meticulously staged fabrication, and she framed her own husband as part of an elaborate revenge plot. From that point on, Gone Girl stops being a missing persons mystery and becomes a psychological chess match between two people who are both far more cunning and dangerous than they let on, and the film never lets you fully root for either one of them again.

2

‘Barbarian’ (2022)

Image via 20th Century Studios

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Barbarian follows a woman who rents out an Airbnb, but when she gets there, another guy is already staying on the property. With nowhere else to go, she reluctantly agrees to share the place with him for the night. From the start, Zach Cregger leans into all the usual horror tropes and makes you feel like you know exactly what kind of movie this is going to be. Then, just when you think you’ve figured it out, the film takes a hard left turn and turns into a very different kind of horror movie.

Right after that plot twist, the movie cuts to black, sits there for a moment, and then picks up with a whole new character in a completely different part of the story. If you feel like all the recent movies feel predictable and blend together, watch Barbarian. It is one of the most inventive, most unpredictable horror thrillers in recent years, and it is what turned Cregger into an overnight success story.

1

‘Psycho’ (1960)

Image via Paramount Pictures

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Alfred Hitchcock‘s Psycho starts with Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) stealing $40,000 from her employer and checking into the secluded Bates Motel to avoid the authorities. Then, about 40 minutes into the movie, Marion is stabbed to death in the shower, and the movie’s focus shifts entirely to her killer, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). Hitchcock broke nearly every rule a thriller was supposed to follow. Leigh was the biggest star in the cast, and audiences expected the lead actress to survive to the end of the movie. Killing her off less than halfway through was unthinkable at the time.

The film also pushed past what was considered acceptable under the Hays Code. The now-iconic shower scene left audiences stunned because mainstream Hollywood movies simply didn’t depict violence with that level of intensity. Viewers weren’t prepared for it. Reports from the time described moviegoers screaming, covering their eyes, and even fainting in theaters.

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Psycho

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Release Date

September 8, 1960

Runtime

109 minutes

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Writers

Joseph Stefano, Robert Bloch

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Christina Ricci thought the painful chapter of her divorce was finally behind her. However, years after ending her marriage to James Heerdegen, the actress has once again found herself dragged into a bitter legal dispute over their son, Freddie. 

As fresh custody claims thrust her past struggles with addiction back into the spotlight, insiders say Ricci is determined to fight back, insisting the latest accusations are an unfair attempt to weaponize battles she has long worked to overcome.

Christina Ricci is once again locked in a custody dispute with her ex-husband, James Heerdegen, after he requested an emergency custody hearing involving their 11-year-old son, Freddie. 

According to court filings, Heerdegen claimed Freddie told him Ricci had been drinking while they traveled to Canada together on June 16.

The latest filing comes nearly four years after the former couple finalized their divorce following an explosive split marked by domestic violence allegations and legal battles. 

Insiders close to Ricci believe the newest claims are less about concern for Freddie and more about reopening old wounds.

One source told the Daily Mail that Ricci believes Heerdegen is attempting to use her well-documented history with substance abuse “as a way to gain leverage with custody.” 

The insider described the filing as “a calculated move,” adding that the actress is frustrated her personal recovery is once again being used against her after years of hard work rebuilding her life.

Ricci Says She Has Moved On Despite Lingering Legal Drama

According to insiders, Christina Ricci has little interest in continuing conflict with her former husband and simply wants to focus on her family and future.

“Christina wants as little interaction with James as possible at this stage of her life,” one source explained, adding, “She is tired of being pulled into disputes and having to respond to what she considers assumptions and accusations about her character and parenting.”

Prior to all the drama, Ricci and Heerdegen had a beautiful relationship. They first met while working on the television series “Pan Am” in 2011. They became engaged the following year, married in October 2013, and welcomed Freddie in 2014.

However, their relationship unraveled dramatically in 2020. After police responded to a domestic battery call at their Woodland Hills home, Ricci obtained a protective order against Heerdegen before filing for divorce weeks later. 

She claimed she was escaping a marriage marked by severe physical and emotional abuse. The divorce quickly spiraled into mutual accusations. 

Heerdegen unsuccessfully sought his own restraining order, alleging the “Addams Family” star became intoxicated in front of him and their son. 

Court filings included photographs he claimed showed Ricci “in a state of severe intoxication” and accusations that he checked Freddie’s baby bottles for alcohol-contaminated breast milk.

Ricci’s attorney, Samantha Spector, dismissed the allegations as “nothing more than a transparently abusive attempt to silence my client,” adding that her client would not be intimidated and remained focused on protecting her family.

Christina Ricci Won Primary Custody But New Claims Quickly Fell Apart

Although the former couple initially battled for full custody, they eventually reached an agreement that granted Ricci primary physical custody while giving Heerdegen visitation rights. She also retained authority over Freddie’s educational and medical decisions.

Their financial settlement allowed Ricci to keep her Los Angeles home and future acting royalties, while Heerdegen received a vehicle, a one-time payment of $189,687, and part of the proceeds from selling a New York property.

Fifteen months after filing for divorce, the 46-year-old married hairstylist Mark Hampton, with whom she shares daughter Cleopatra.

Now, insiders say Ricci has no plans to retreat from the latest accusations. One source claimed she intends to “vigorously challenge these allegations” because she believes they are part of a broader effort to create doubt where none exists.

“She is prepared to fight the accusations head-on and is determined not to let her past be used against her in a way she feels is misleading or opportunistic,” the source continued.

Ricci Scores Court Victory As Judge Rejects Emergency Request

Despite Heerdegen’s latest filing, Christina Ricci secured an important legal victory when the judge denied his request for emergency custody as well as his demand that she undergo alcohol testing.

The court also sided with Ricci’s request to seal Freddie’s text messages, agreeing public access could expose the child to bullying and negatively affect his mental health.

According to court filings, Freddie later told his own legal counsel that he had “overreacted” in the messages he sent to his father. 

The documents further state his description of his mother’s behavior was “not as he had described it to his father,” and that he expressed “no fear” about remaining in her primary physical custody.

Meanwhile, another insider praised Ricci both personally and professionally while expressing disbelief over the accusations.

“What she’s being accused of is seriously hard to believe,” the source said, adding, “She’s so nice, always friendly to everyone on set and great with kids. She makes them all feel so special when she’s around. She’s a great mom.”

Christina Ricci Has Never Hidden Her Battle With Addiction

Long before the latest custody dispute, Ricci had openly acknowledged battling drugs and alcohol during her teenage years in Hollywood.

After becoming famous at just 10 years old in “Mermaids,” followed by “The Addams Family” and “Casper,” the Hollywood star later admitted she turned to substance abuse while struggling with childhood fame.

Speaking with Demi Lovato in her 2024 documentary “Child Star,” Ricci confessed, “I don’t remember feeling like there was any other way to be happy.”

She has also revealed that she secretly brought alcohol onto movie sets inside soda cans and signaled to assistants she wanted alcohol by asking for “a warming Diet Coke.”

Last year, Ricci reflected on the years between ages 16 and 21, describing herself as “a bit of a party animal.” She admitted she “went through a period of time when I was like a feral creature,” while crediting her longtime publicist for keeping many of those moments out of tabloids.

Brittany Mahomes is living the dream while enjoying a summer vacation with husband Patrick Mahomes and their three children.

“We’ve been having the time of our lives,” Brittany, 30, captioned an Instagram carousel that showed the former soccer star posing in matching brown-and-white striped swimwear with Patrick, also 30, daughter Sterling, 5, and son, Bronze, 3. (The couple also share daughter Golden, 18 months.)

While one snap showed the foursome huddling up for a happy pic on a green lawn beside a swimming pool, another photo captured Brittany inside a coastal-inspired home with Bronze and Sterling, who struck an adorable pose of her own where she lifting an arm high in the air.

Patrick, who is scheduled to return as starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs in September after suffering season-ending injuries last year, showed his love for the post by commenting with three brown heart emojis. His mom, Randi Mahomes, also ‘liked’ her daughter-in-law’s post.

Related: Brittany Mahomes Shares Glimpse of ‘Angel’ Son Bronze on Family Getaway

Brittany Mahomes is having some fun under the sun with her family. The former soccer player, 28, took to her Instagram Story on Thursday, March 7, to share fun snaps with her husband, Patrick Mahomes, and their kids while on vacation in Los Cabos, Mexico. (The couple share daughter Sterling, 3, and son Bronze, 15 […]

Additional photos captured the Mahomes enjoying their time at a playground, with Golden playing on a swing, and visiting an animal park as the entire clan smiled at the camera in front of giraffes.

The final image in the carousel showed Brittany holding Golden with one arm while placing her other on the flipper of a sea lion who leaned up against a panel of glass for the incredible shot.

Brittany recently spoke to Yahoo Entertainment about adjusting to motherhood while in the spotlight and the impact it’s had on her.

Related: Patrick and Brittany Mahomes Take Family Vacation to Portugal

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Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Mahomes are making the most of the NFL offseason, vacationing all over the world with their children, Sterling and Patrick III (better known as “Bronze”). Their latest stop? Portugal. Brittany shared a series of photos via Instagram of the happy family taking in all the sea, sand and sunny golf courses […]

“Being a mom changed so many things in my life and changed how I looked at so many things,” Brittany said in an article published on Wednesday, June 24. “It really reshaped and redefined a lot of things in my life.”

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She further explained, “It’s made me more intentional, more purposeful and, honestly, more motivated to keep going and keep showing my kids that there are no boundaries in front of you. You can achieve anything. You can be a part of anything that you want to. You need to dream big and understand that you have to work hard and do the hard things to do the fun things.”

Related: Patrick and Brittany Mahomes’ Tropical Vacay Included Golfing With the Kids

The football season is over for Patrick Mahomes, but sports were still on the menu when it came to his recent family vacation. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, 28, enjoyed a tropical getaway earlier this month with his wife, Brittany Mahomes, and their two children, Sterling, 3, and Bronze, 15 months. According to Brittany’s Instagram […]

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Just days prior to the article going live, Brittany shared an Instagram video that celebrated Patrick as a father, too.

“To the dad that sacrifices so much for this family, Happy Fathers Day! The hours of sleep you give up to be with us, the advice you give these kiddos, the calmness you bring to this family, nothing is ever taken for granted,” she captioned the sweet clip. “We are so beyond blessed to have you. We Love you!!!!”