Entertainment
Bethenny Frankel Reveals Alarming Stage 2 Kidney Disease Diagnosis and Urges Fans to Not Ignore the Warning Signs
Bethenny Frankel Reveals Alarming Stage 2 Kidney Disease Diagnosis and Urges Fans to Not Ignore the Warning Signs
Bethenny Frankel is getting real — and a little raw — about a health scare she says she didn’t see coming.
The Real Housewives of New York alum revealed on TikTok that she’s been diagnosed with stage 2 chronic kidney disease, and she says she’s speaking out not for sympathy, but as a warning. “I have a medical announcement. Not because I want you to worry, but because I want you to take precautions in your own life, be mindful,” Bethenny, 55, said in her Jan. 22 video.
According to the SkinnyGirl founder, this wasn’t some random discovery. She said she’s been staying on top of her health with routine testing. “I’d been proactive about blood tests, bone density, all the things,” she explained — but repeated labs showed something was off.
“My kidney function was coming up low. That led to a referral to a kidney specialist — a visit she admittedly tried to dodge. “I didn’t want to go … I didn’t feel like going today,” she confessed. Still, she went — and the news hit hard.
“He said to me, ‘You have stage 2 chronic kidney disease,’ ” Bethenny shared, adding that doctors believe it could be autoimmune-related or tied to a near-fatal allergic reaction she suffered years ago. “It could have been caused by ‘this traumatic experience I had years ago when I almost died from an allergy attack. It could have done damage to the kidney.’ ” Stage 2 kidney disease involves a mild loss of kidney function, and doctors say it can often be managed with close monitoring and blood pressure control.
But Bethenny Frankel revealed the condition may already be affecting her daily life.
She said it’s likely behind recurring infections. “I do get UTIs, not as much anymore,” she noted. And when it comes to treatment, the advice was simple — but not easy for her. “I don’t drink a lot of water … I’m holding a bottle, but I’m not usually drinking it.” When she told her doctor she drinks kombucha instead, she said his response was blunt: “Water is your medicine. You have to drink a giant — I think he said 1.5 [gallons] — and you can put your hydration packets in it.” The doctor also gave her a long don’t list — including ibuprofen, Aleve, Advil, turmeric, and even ice cream, which she was eating during the video. “I remembered after,” she joked.
This diagnosis is just the latest in a string of health issues for Bethenny. In 2023, she was diagnosed with long COVID and the autoimmune condition POTS. Earlier this month, she also battled a bacterial infection while vacationing in St. Barth’s.
Bethenny Frankel said she decided to be transparent because this may not be temporary. “Maybe this is something I’ll have to deal with forever, but I just wanted to tell you because I think it’s important to go get all your bloodwork done.” She urged followers to stay vigilant. “Be thorough,” she said, encouraging regular testing and follow-ups.
“Then do the follow-ups for anything that seems like an outlier. And frankly, get your bloodwork done maybe six months and then six months later, because different stuff could come up and sometimes it’s an aberration and sometimes it means something.”
In her case, she said, “In this case, it was a pattern.” And in true Bethenny fashion, she ended with a mix of honesty and humor — saying she’s still trying to understand what it all means, and joking that she hopes to get clarity from “part-time doctors” on TikTok. “I don’t know exactly what it means. Many of you will, which is also why I’m sharing with you.”
Stay Connected With All About The Tea: Twitter Ι Instagram Ι YouTube Ι Facebook Ι Send Us Tips
Nancy Zhāng is an Entertainment Blogger for All About The Tea. Nancy covers hot topics, recaps and celeb news. She loves to multi-task as a writer and a private chef. She received a B.S. in Mass Communications from LSU. Nancy’s married and the proud mom of 2 German Shepherds.
Continue Reading
Gayle King is throwing her support behind Savannah Guthrie and her Today show comeback as the investigation surrounding her mother Nancy’s disappearance continues.
Speaking to Us Weekly at the Breakthrough Prize event in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 18, King, 71, said she was happy to see Savannah back on air despite the difficult circumstances she’s facing.
“Listen, we’re just glad Savannah’s back, but of course, our hearts are still aching and still breaking,” King told Us. She added, “There are no words to describe what she’s going through.”
The CBS Mornings presenter also urged anyone with information about what happened to Nancy to come forward.
Gayle King struggled to hold back tears as she addressed the news surrounding Today host Savannah Guthrie, whose mother, Nancy Guthrie, has gone missing. “We’re starting things a little differently this morning because like you, we’re all waking up this morning with very heavy hearts [and] praying for our friend and our colleague, Savannah Guthrie,” […]
“I’m still hoping that somebody will do the right thing,” King continued. “Somebody, somebody out there knows something, and it’s shocking to me after seeing Savannah open up her heart, after looking at the video that we all saw, and after the million dollars reward that there has not been some resolution in this case.”
She added, “So I am just here wishing her well and cheering. I’m glad that she’s back.”
Savannah, 54, returned to Today on April 6 after two months away dealing with the disappearance of her mother Nancy, who was reported missing in Arizona on February 1.
“Good morning, welcome to Today on this Monday morning. We are so glad you started your week with us, and it is good to be home,” she told viewers during her first episode back.
Savannah and Nancy Guthrie. Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBC)
Savannah took a step back from the show at the time, traveling from New York to Arizona amid the police investigation into her mother’s disappearance. During Savannah’s absence from Today, Hoda Kotb filled in for her.
Savannah and her siblings Annie Guthrie and Camron Guthrie have pleaded for the public’s help in finding their mother since she disappeared, offering a $1 million reward for information leading to her recovery.
Savannah Guthrie will share more insight into the disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, in a new interview more than 50 days after the 84-year-old went missing. During the Wednesday, March 25, episode of the Today show, host Craig Melvin introduced a clip from Savannah’s upcoming sit-down with Hoda Kotb, marking her first interview about […]
In one video released by Savannah, Annie and Camron via social media, they begged for Nancy’s safe return.
“We received your message and we understand,” Savannah said in a video shared on February 7, while flanked by and holding the hands of her siblings. “We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us and we will pay.”
On February 10, the FBI released photos and video footage of a masked individual at Nancy’s home. However, no suspects have been officially identified since her disappearance.
Entertainment
Rebecca Ferguson’s Forgotten 115-Minute Sci-Fi Sequel Is Quietly Climbing Global Streaming Charts
Men in Black: International is one of those franchise reboots people more or less decided on immediately, which meant it never got much room to become anything else. But streaming is often kinder to movies that arrive with baggage, and that seems to be happening here. Earlier this year, the film started drawing renewed attention on Starz in the U.S., while overseas streaming charts have also shown it popping up in places like France. That doesn’t make it a full-scale global juggernaut, but it does mean the movie is finding a broader second life than its original reputation might suggest.
Men in Black: International stars Chris Hemsworth as Agent H, Tessa Thompson as Agent M, Liam Neeson as High T, Emma Thompson as Agent O, Rebecca Ferguson as Riza Stavros, Kumail Nanjiani as Pawny, and Rafe Spall as Agent C. On paper, that’s a really appealing sci-fi comedy ensemble, especially with Hemsworth and Thompson reuniting after the Thor movies.
Is ‘Men in Black: International’ Worth Watching?
Collider’s review stated that Men in Black: International really came down to the sheer appeal of its two stars. The dynamic helps carry the movie through action scenes and story beats that might otherwise feel pretty flat. The review also pointed out that touches like the broader world-building, some fun support from Pawny, and the natural pull of the central duo gave the film a sense of missed opportunity. It may not fully come together, but there’s still enough there to make it an entertaining watch.
“As Agent H, Hemsworth is basically ramping up the most dick-ish of Thor Odinson’s personality quirks, but weaponizing well-timed smirks or winks—or, let’s be honest, an unbuttoned button—to make us still like him. Thompson has the harder role; Agent M is extremely competent and a bit of a fangirl for the Men in Black at the same time. Thompson combines those two qualities into pure, crackling energy. That’s the funny part, really. Thanks to the combination of Hemsworth + Thompson + the world-building, I’d watch the hell out of a sequel to this movie despite feeling cold about it overall.”
Men in Black: International is currently streaming.
- Release Date
-
June 12, 2019
- Runtime
-
115 minutes
- Director
-
F. Gary Gray
Aaron Eckhart fans are currently gearing up for a turbulent flight, as The Dark Knight star’s next project opens in theaters on May 1. An action-packed survival thriller from Deep Blue Sea director Renny Harlin, Deep Water follows a flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai that, while coasting over the middle of the Pacific, enters a terrifying storm that sends everyone on board into the cold ocean below. Just when things couldn’t get worse, along come the sharks. Alongside Eckhart, the movie also stars the likes of Ben Kingsley (Iron Man 3), Angus Sampson (Insidious), Lucy Barrett (Charmed), Kelly Gale (Plane), Richard Crouchley (Evil Dead Rise), and more.
In anticipation of Eckhart’s latest release, fans have been flocking to one of his lesser-spotted recent projects. Thieves Highway, a 2025 neo-Western that made very little impact upon arrival, is perhaps one of the more underrated entries in Eckhart’s impressive catalog, thanks simply to it falling so far under most radars. Directed by Jesse V. Jackson, who also worked with Eckhart on the 2024 conspiracy thriller Chief of Station, Thieves Highway also featured performances from the likes of Devon Sawa, Brooke Langton, and Lochlyn Munroe.
At the time of writing, and seemingly against the odds, Thieves Highway has risen to the very top of the Hulu movie streaming charts in the U.S., outperforming the likes of Gaten Matarazzo‘s new comedy Pizza Movie, the original The Devil Wears Prada, and Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice. A synopsis for Thieves Highway reads:
“Lawman Frank Bennett uncovers a massive smuggling operation after a deadly confrontation. Cut off from cell service and without his truck, he’s forced to take on a dangerous gang led by a deranged ex-military commander.”
What Did Critics Say About ‘Thieves Highway’?
So under-seen that it doesn’t even have a rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, those who did catch Thieves Highway in 2025 responded with mixed reviews. Whilst some praised the movie’s gripping lead performance, saying, “Eckhart anchors the film with a world-weary, classic sense of morality,” others were not so impressed with the project as a whole, saying, “Johnson and Mills do some fun maneuvering with their characters and Eckhart is a sturdy enough lead. But the storytelling takes too many shortcuts and the overall lack of suspense keeps us one step ahead.”
Thieves Highway is streaming on Hulu. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates, and check out Eckhart’s next movie, Deep Water, in theaters on May 1.
- Release Date
-
May 1, 2026
- Runtime
-
106 minutes
- Director
-
Renny Harlin
The Golden State Warriors’ future is looking murky after the team’s loss in the NBA play-in tournament, and head coach Steve Kerr seems to know it.
“I don’t know what’s gonna happen next,” said Kerr to players Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in a huddle on the sideline. “But I love you guys to death. Thank you.”
The heartfelt moment — picked up by a TV microphone — came in the waning seconds of a 111-96 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday, April 17, ending the Warriors’ season.
The final buzzer marked the end of Kerr’s contract with the Warriors, and the 60-year-old said after the game that he’s going to take a few weeks to mull over his future.
Stephen Curry added another major milestone to his Hall of Fame career on Thursday, March 12, when he connected on his 4,000th career three-pointer in his Golden State Warriors’ 130-104 win over the Sacramento Kings. Curry, who turns 37 on Friday, is the first player in NBA history to reach the milestone. “It’s a clear […]
“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Kerr said to reporters. “I still love coaching, but I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. There is a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas.”
He continued, “I don’t want to walk away from Steph. I’m definitely not going and coaching somewhere else next year in the NBA. I would never walk away from Steph. But all this stuff has to be aligned and right. Those are all discussions that will be had.”
Head coach Steve Kerr, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green hug during the final moments of an NBA play-in tournament game Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Curry, 38, joined the Warriors in 2009. Green, 36, was drafted by the team in 2012. Kerr took over as head coach in 2014, and together the three helped build one of the most dominant dynasties in NBA history.
In the 12 seasons since Kerr joined Curry and Green in Golden State, the Warriors have won four NBA titles (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022). They’ve reached the playoffs eight times and played in six NBA Finals.
“If [my time is done], then I will be nothing but grateful for the most amazing opportunity any person could have to coach this franchise in front of our fans and to coach Steph Curry, [Draymond Green], the whole group,” Kerr said. “It may still go on. It may not. I don’t know at this point. But we all need to step away a little bit and then reconvene.”
Both Curry and Green have expressed interest in continuing to play for the Warriors. While Curry still has one more season on his contract, Green has the option to opt out of his contract with his player option for next season.
Despite the option, Green reiterated after Friday’s game that he wants to remain in Golden State.
“Hopefully I’ve done enough to still be here,” Green said.
Summer House star Kyle Cooke has seen his estranged wife, Amanda Batula, kissing West Wilson — which might have been a bridge too far.
“Was not prepared to see that,” Cooke, 43, wrote via Threads on Saturday, April 18, responding to the Summer House chain. “And that. And that 🤢.”
Cooke’s costar Mia Calabrese replied, “Kyle, I left you for 1 hour….”
The Bravo show’s thread had been abuzz since Batula, 34, and Wilson, 31, were spotted at the New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals baseball game on Friday, April 17. The duo even packed on the PDA when the stadium’s Kiss Cam panned to their seats.
Batula and Cooke were married for four years, announcing in January that they had separated. She confirmed her romance with Wilson just three months later.
“We’ve seen the growing online speculation, so while this is still very new, we wanted to provide some clarity. It was never our intention to purposely hide anything,” West and Batula wrote in a joint statement last month. “Given the complicated relationship dynamics involved and the scrutiny that comes with being on a reality show, we needed a little space to process things privately before speaking on it.”
They continued at the time, “We’ve shown up for each other as friends over the years, through all the highs and lows, and what’s developed recently was the last thing either of us expected. Our connection grew out of a genuine, longstanding friendship, which made it especially important for us to approach this with care.”
Cooke and his Summer House costars were shocked by the reveal, including Ciara Miller. The former nurse, 30, dated Wilson in 2023 and was close friends with Batula. She told Glamour in a Friday profile published before the MLB game that she found out about their decision to go public t less than one hour before the statement was shared online.
Kyle Cooke reveals he’s spoken to Ciara Miller about estranged wife Amanda Batula and West Wilson’s relationship drama — and she had “evidence” from the start. “I think she had more evidence at her disposal than I did,” Cooke, 43, told Adam Glyn in a TikTok video uploaded on Wednesday, April 1. “She was trying […]
“It’s one thing to experience hurt behind closed doors,” Miller told Glamour. “To experience it so publicly is like another layer, and then to have to see what you thought was your life still play out in season 10. It’s a major mindf***.”
As for Cooke, he was recently seen kissing The Real Housewives of Orange County alum Meghan King on Thursday, April 16.
“Kyle didn’t know Meghan prior to being at the same event last night. She had pursued him the second she saw him,” a source exclusively told Us. “It’s nothing serious, but they did hang out all night even after the event was over, and made out several times in public.”
Nicole Kidman is reflecting on the moment she was told her mother Janelle Kidman had died right before she was about to go on stage to accept an award.
Speaking to Variety on Saturday, April 18, Nicole, 58, detailed how she found out about the loss at the Venice International Film Festival as she was preparing to accept a best actress award for her role in Babygirl.
“I was about to go out on stage, and I found out that my mother had passed,” Nicole told the outlet. “I went right back to my room in Venice, was getting into bed, and I was completely devastated.”
Nicole added that as she digested the sad news at the time, she thought to herself, “‘I’m not sure how I’m going to move forward or function now.’ She was so much a part of my existence.”
Nicole Kidman spoke about missing her late mother Janelle, who died last month at age 84. “It’s been hard,” Nicole, 57, told The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday, October 23 at the Lioness season 2 premiere in Los Angeles. “It’s a hard road. I’m hanging in there.” The actress admitted it was bittersweet to be celebrating […]
In September 2024, the Big Little Lies actress left Venice early to make her way home to Australia after learning of Janelle’s death.
Speaking to Variety on Saturday, Nicole also described her “harrowing” attempt to leave Venice in the middle of the night trying to return to her home country.
“I remember getting into a boat in the canal, literally at night, trying to find my way to the airport, and then turning around going, ‘I can’t even do this,’” she said. “Then I went back to bed. And I was alone. My husband wasn’t there, my children weren’t there. I was there to win an award, which should’ve been a beautiful thing. That there is the contrast of life.” (Nicole was married to Keith Urban at the time, with whom she shares daughters Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14. Nicole and Urban finalized their divorce in January.)
Janelle and Nicole Kidman. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images)
At the time, Babygirl director Halina Reijn confirmed Janelle’s death as she read a statement on behalf of Nicole during a Venice International Film Festival panel.
“Today I arrived in Venice to find out shortly after, that my beautiful, brave mother Janelle Ann Kidman has just passed,” Reijn, 50, read on Nicole’s behalf. “I am in shock and I have to go to my family, but this award is for her, she shaped me, she guided me and she made me.”
Nicole Kidman paid tribute to her late parents in honor of her mother’s birthday. “Missing Mumma and Papa so much on what would have been her birthday today ❤️,” the actress, 57, wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, March 12, alongside a throwback pic of her mom, Janelle Ann, and dad, Antony. The photograph showed Kidman’s […]
The statement continued, “I am beyond grateful that I get to say her name to all of you through Halina, the collision of life and art is heart-breaking, and my heart is broken.”
Less than a week after their mother’s death Nicole and her sister Antonia, 55, took to Instagram to share a joint post thanking friends and fans for their condolences and well wishes.
“My sister and I along with our family want to thank you for the outpouring of love and kindness we have felt this week,” Nicole and Antonia wrote. “Every message we have received from those who loved and admired our Mother has meant more to us than we will ever be able to express. Thank you from our whole family for respecting our privacy as we take care of each other ❤️”
Entertainment
Prime Video’s Near-Perfect Action Hit Is Exactly What John Wick’s ‘Ballerina’ Should Have Been
Having clearly appealed to fans across demographics, a new Prime Video movie is proving to be a major hit for the streamer amid much bigger titles. It was released in the wake of star-driven tentpoles such as The Wrecking Crew, led by Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista, and Mercy, the sci-fi mystery starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson. Both films dominated the Prime Video streaming charts for several weeks before the all-female action movie came out of nowhere to take the number one spot. It remains one of the top 10 movies on the global Prime Video leaderboard, and recently passed a major milestone.
The movie, directed by Vicky Jewson, features a quintet of young women as ballerinas who must defend themselves against a sinister adversary played by Uma Thurman. The five protagonists are played by Lana Condor, the star of Netflix’s To All the Boys trilogy; Iris Apatow, who played a supporting role in the Netflix series Love; Millicent Simmonds, who starred in A Quiet Place and its sequel; Maddie Ziegler, who rose to fame after appearing in a couple of Sia music videos; and Avantika, who played a supporting role in the Mean Girls remake.
Here’s the Action Movie That’s Ruling Prime Video’s Streaming Charts
The movie in question is Pretty Lethal. It premiered on Prime Video on March 25 and, according to FlixPatrol, has spent more than 20 days on the streamer’s top 10 charts. Pretty Lethal received mixed reviews and is now sitting at a 56% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The aggregator website’s consensus reads, “Starting off with a fun hook and diluting it with a plethora of clichés, Pretty Lethal doesn’t reach its full operatic potential but doles out enough balletic action to remain reasonably en pointe.” In his review, Collider’s Ross Bonaime praised the film’s action sequences and noted its similarity to other movies produced by the original John Wick‘s co-director David Leitch. He wrote, “In one particularly inspired choice, these ballerinas decide to stick a razor blade between their toes and utilize their dance moves to fight off their attackers. Many of these fights are blunt and full of big, wild moments that mostly carry the film, despite its fairly weak narrative.” Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
-
March 25, 2026
- Runtime
-
88 minutes
- Director
-
Vicky Jewson
- Writers
-
Kate Freund
- Producers
-
Kelly McCormick, Mike Karz, Piers Tempest, Bill Bindley
There was a real variety of music that came out in the 1980s, which makes it difficult to even assess what the best of that decade even was, but there’s no harm in trying. Actually, there’s a little harm in trying. People might be a bit unhappy, but there’s some personal bias here. If you want to have a semi-biased and semi-objective stab at throwing out the names of 10 albums from the 1980s that are the best, go for it.
A few of the albums below are among the most popular of all time, and deservedly so, while others are a little more underrated, or perhaps classifiable as cult classics (if that term applies to the world of music). Also, yes, like, three of these albums had songs that were prominently used in Stranger Things. Stranger Things is not the reason those albums are here. But it’s being acknowledged right out of the gate, and no more, once the intro’s over. Which it is… right about… now.
10
’16 Lovers Lane’ (1988)
The Go-Betweens
Things for The Go-Betweens were not so good, in 1988, with tensions that often seem to come about from just being in a band for more than a few years, and also some romance-related drama, particularly because members of the band were – or had been – romantically linked. It wasn’t quite as infamously messy as Fleetwood Mac around the time of Rumours, but like that album, heavy feelings may have been put into music… specifically, the music heard throughout 16 Lovers Lane.
It was the final Go-Betweens album done as a full band, and is easily the best of the bunch. 16 Lovers Lane is incredible throughout, as far as the lyrics are concerned, and then musically, everything is catchy and immediate without being overly simplistic. It feels ahead of its time, as far as alternative (or almost even indie) rock goes, and maybe that’s why it wasn’t hugely successful upon release, and needed some time before people really started to recognize how borderline-perfect it was.
9
‘Master of Puppets’ (1986)
Metallica
Resist them if you want, because Metallica are kind of to metal what U2 are to rock… well, maybe. Both bands were at their peak in the 1980s, and both became so popular that being a detractor of either is now kind of cool, especially because members of both bands are sometimes outspoken and a bit much. But… the music. It comes back to the music. And also, sorry to U2. The Joshua Tree was right on the cusp of being here, like at #11 or #12. That’s the only reason there’s been a big old U2 tangent.
You mightn’t even usually like this kind of metal or hard rock that much, but still find plenty to appreciate here.
As for Master of Puppets, it’s the best Metallica album, and there’s even an argument to be made that it’s the best metal album of all time. It certainly feels as though it could be the most approachable, because you mightn’t even usually like this kind of metal or hard rock that much, but still find plenty to appreciate here. It rocks. It’s an album that rocks. What more do you want?
8
‘Soul Mining’ (1983)
The The
There is an almost uncomfortable amount of introspection, self-doubt, and anxiety throughout Soul Mining, which was the debut album of a band somewhat frustratingly called The The. The The is sort of just Matt Johnson, though, and Soul Mining remains the greatest collection of songs he put out. But the struggles explored do have to be emphasized, since even the album’s sunniest song, “This Is the Day,” is one of those songs that’s got an energetic and possibly hopeful sound, but the lyrics get more cynical – maybe even more sarcastic – the more you think about them.
“Uncertain Smile” is also a highlight, as the centerpiece of the album (quite literally, being the fourth of seven tracks), with the piano outro being especially memorable. Elsewhere, Johnson pulls from the Bruce Springsteen circa-Born to Run playbook of having a perfect opening track and then an ideal – and epic-length – closing track, to really make a strong first and final impression (with Soul Mining, it kicks off with “I’ve Been Waitin’ for Tomorrow (All of My Life),” and ends with the appropriately named “Giant,” which runs for almost 10 minutes).
7
‘The Queen Is Dead’ (1986)
The Smiths
There were only four proper studio albums released by The Smiths during their rather short time together as a band, and of those, the third, The Queen Is Dead, is the greatest. It’s boring to say that, but the consistency here is undeniable, as is the fact that it contains so many of the band’s greatest songs (including the title track, “I Know It’s Over,” “Bigmouth Strikes Again,” and “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out”).
You also know The Queen Is Dead is good because it endures, even though Morrissey (the vocalist and lyricist of The Smiths) seems increasingly keen to be as polarizing as possible in his post-Smiths endeavors. It helps that there’s more than just Morrissey to appreciate on an album by The Smiths, and his lyrics and voice (as they were, back in the 1980s) were undeniably compelling and unique.
6
‘Hats’ (1989)
The Blue Nile
One more potentially niche album to put here alongside 16 Lovers Lane and Soul Mining, but Hats really is something special, and the way it also sounds so distinctly 1980s makes it easy to put here. It’s synth-heavy, but also a good deal more mellow than much of the full-on synth-pop that was popular throughout the 1980s, using that sort of instrumentation in a low-key and atmospheric fashion.
The Blue Nile did this, to some extent, on several other albums, but never quite as memorably as was done on Hats. Without visuals, you do feel like you’ve sat through some kind of movie through the music alone, and an album being able to create that sensation is remarkably impressive. It’s an undeniably beautiful album, and further, one that’s beautiful in a singular way, so it’s certainly worth celebrating.
5
‘Thriller’ (1982)
Michael Jackson
There is a song on Thriller called “The Girl Is Mine,” a duet with Paul McCartney, that might well be the worst song to appear on an otherwise fantastic album. It is agonizingly corny. And, sure, there are other songs on Thriller that get a bit hammy and more than a little over-the-top, but not to such an eye-rolling extent. If it wasn’t on the album, then this album would be placed even higher.
Maybe it speaks to the quality of everything else that Thriller is still right up there, and very much a classic of its decade (and of all time, really) regardless. Of its nine songs, seven were released as singles, and many of those singles are among the most recognizable songs of the 1980s, with the music videos for a bunch of them certainly helping. One of the non-single songs, though, shouldn’t be overlooked: “Baby Be Mine,” the second track on the album, which is honestly kind of a banger.
4
‘Remain in Light’ (1980)
Talking Heads
Talking Heads released their first albums in the 1970s, and they were pretty great, but the band’s best single album, Remain in Light, came out right at the start of the 1980s. For what it’s worth, the band’s most popular album, Speaking in Tongues, came out a few years later (and it does have “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)” on it, which could be the band’s very best song), but Remain in Light is still the strongest.
It’s one of those middle-ground albums you can look back on and appreciate in hindsight, being a marriage of the slightly weirder stuff Talking Heads were doing in the late 1970s with the (slightly) increased emphasis on pop/rock later in the 1980s. You’ve got a balance here, yet even then, Remain in Light doesn’t sound quite like any other Talking Heads album, which might make it more worthy of being described as a “lightning in a bottle” kind of album.
3
‘Disintegration’ (1989)
The Cure
There are earlier albums by The Cure that could be called “rock,” but Disintegration feels like the band drifting away from that genre to a greater extent than they had previously, and for the better. Not that there aren’t some more energetic songs on Disintegration, but many of them are more patiently-paced and drawn-out, which can be seen when you look at the album’s length of 72 minutes, and the fact that it houses 12 tracks… so, the average track length is about six minutes.
You really don’t mind, though, because of what is done across the length of some of these longer songs. “Pictures of You,” the second song on the album, is particularly impressive, and probably demonstrates, strongest of all, what the band’s going for with many of the songs here. It’s also an atmospherically unique and distinctly moving album, the latter so in ways that are admittedly a little difficult to put into words.
2
‘Hounds of Love’ (1985)
Kate Bush
Yes, it’s the album with “Running Up That Hill” on it, and sure, it’s probably the best song on the album, and it comes first, so you might be worried about the rest of Hounds of Love. Well, the pace and quality are maintained. The remaining 11 tracks on Kate Bush’s greatest overall album are also phenomenal, with special mention to “Cloudbusting,” since it truly deserves to be regarded and praised alongside “Running Up That Hill” and “Wuthering Heights.”
There is much more to Kate Bush than Hounds of Love, and if you like her music being a little quirkier or experimental, maybe you’d prefer something that sounds a bit less immediate and punchy. Then again, Hounds of Love has the art pop dominate the first half of the album, and then the second half does go into more experimental and out-there territory, making Hounds of Love feel a bit like listening to two amazing (albeit quite short) albums back to back.
1
‘Purple Rain’ (1984)
Prince and the Revolution
The placement of Prince over Michael Jackson on a ranking like this might lose you, but if it has, then it’s better you’ve been lost right near the end of the ranking than closer to the start. Silver lining to everything. But also, come on. It’s Purple Rain. It’s nine absolutely perfect songs that could’ve all been singles on their own (hell, a pretty impressive five of them were), and there are no weak tracks here; no corny duet with a former Beatle or anything of the sort.
And yes, Purple Rain is technically a soundtrack album, but in that case, it’s probably the best soundtrack ever. Purple Rain the movie is fine, and made a little finer because you hear the songs from Purple Rain (the album) throughout it, but the album is absolutely where it’s at. The album is Purple Rain. And Purple Rain is untouchable. It does also have to be noted that Prince was on fire throughout the whole of the 1980s, and albums like 1999 (1982) and Sign o’ the Times (1987) also deserve to be considered among the greatest of the decade. Still, nothing is as perfect as Purple Rain. In just under three-quarters of an hour, it lays out everything great about Prince, thoroughly laying bare why he was considered such a legend.
Purple Rain
- Release Date
-
July 27, 1984
- Runtime
-
111 minutes
- Director
-
Albert Magnoli
- Writers
-
Albert Magnoli, William Blinn
-
-
Apollonia Kotero
Apollonia
-
-
At a time when comedies and — more precisely, mid-budget comedies — are viewed as no longer viable in theaters, a movie from 2025 quietly delivered a solid box-office performance. The movie’s profile was no doubt boosted by a trio of popular stars and positive reviews, factors that seem to be working in its favor during its home-video run too. The film has passed a major milestone on the streaming charts, after having tripled its reported budget in theaters. The film stars an MCU alum, the co-lead of 2022’s biggest movie, and an up-and-coming actor who has often been rumored to be in the running to play James Bond.
The film was directed by David Freyne, and premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. It was given a theatrical release by A24 in the domestic market in November 2025, where it grossed $35 million against a reported budget of $12 million, before debuting on Apple TV earlier this year. The movie combines romance and fantasy for a will-they-won’t-they narrative brimming with philosophical insight and tender observations about true love. It stars Elizabeth Olsen as a recently deceased woman who is trapped in purgatory, where she must decide whom she wants to spend an eternity in the afterlife with — her husband or her first love, played by Miles Teller and Callum Turner, respectively.
The Romantic Fantasy That Audiences Are Fawning Over
The movie in question is Eternity; it debuted in theaters at around the same time as another fantasy comedy, Good Fortune, starring Keanu Reeves, Aziz Ansari, and Seth Rogen. Both movies received positive reviews from critics and audiences. Eternity now holds a “Certified Fresh” 77% critics’ score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “Marrying a clever spin on the afterlife with an infectious sweet streak, Eternity is a spiritual successor to classic romantic screwball comedies that’s worthy of their company.” But it’s the film’s “Verified Hot” 90% audience score that seems to be propelling its streaming success. According to FlixPatrol, Eternity has spent more than 40 days on the domestic Apple TV charts so far, despite competition from major titles such as F1, The Gorge, and Greyhound. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
-
November 26, 2025
- Runtime
-
114 minutes
- Director
-
David Freyne
- Writers
-
David Freyne, Pat Cunnane
- Producers
-
Tim White, Trevor White
Dylan Sprouse was involved in a scary incident after an intruder reportedly trespassed on his home he shares with wife Barbara Palvin.
According to multiple reports, Sprouse, 33, confronted the intruder on the couple’s Hollywood Hills estate in Los Angeles on Friday, April 17. (TMZ was the first to report the news.)
The Los Angeles Times reported that Sprouse tackled a man on the lawn after Palvin noticed “the creepy guy.” Palvin, 32, reportedly called 911 at 12:30 a.m., informing them that there was an attempted burglary at their home.
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody star reportedly had a gun and restrained the intruder until police arrived, per TMZ, who cited unnamed sources.
Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin have been going strong since June 2018, but their love story started out with some hesitation. “I knew I wasn’t in a good mindset at the time, and maybe deep inside I knew it could be something more,” Palvin told W Magazine during a February 2019 joint interview with Sprouse, […]
Police reportedly told The Times that the suspect was taken in on outstanding warrants and that no injuries were reported. Per the outlet, the intruder made it on to the property but not inside the couple’s house.
Us Weekly has reached out to Sprouse’s representatives for comment.
Sprouse first met Victoria’s Secret model Palvin at a party in 2017 and “clicked” but their romance got off to a slow start when she ignored his subsequent DM message for six months.
“I was very scared,” Palvin told British Vogue in February 2020. “I had this thought in the back, like, ‘Oh, but wait … are we going to get paparazzi’ed all the time?’”
Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Universal Studios Hollywood)
After making their relationship official in 2018, the couple moved in together in Brooklyn in January 2019. Their relationship soared to new heights when Sprouse proposed in September 2022.
Sprouse and Palvin spoke about their engagement in a June 2023 interview with V Magazine.
“For me, at least, marriage is a promise of kind of loving you endlessly and being your partner. I’m nervous about the event,” Sprouse told the outlet. “Frankly, it’s about the first dance. I’m nervous about a choreographed dance.”
For her part, Palvin admitted that the engagement was more nerve-racking than the marriage itself even though she knew he was The One from the beginning.
“I mean, a man has time to prepare for the proposal — Dylan kept the ring for seven months before he asked the question — but for me, it was right then and there,” she said. “I knew since we started dating that I want to marry him, but it’s a big decision.”
Dylan Sprouse and his wife, Barbara Palvin, are teaching Us how to subtly coordinate on date night. Dylan, 31, and Palvin, 30, attended a special screening of the comedy horror film Lisa Frankenstein in Los Angeles on Monday, February 5. They synchronized in all-black looks for the event. Dylan looked dapper in a black suit, […]
In an interview with Vogue published in July 2023, Palvin recalled Sprouse’s proposal, which took place during a camping trip in California.
“It was very romantic,” she told the outlet. “I was suspicious and thought he might pop the question because he packed a shirt that was too nice for camping.”
The couple ultimately tied the knot in Albertirsa, Hungary in July 2023, exchanging vows at the same church where Palvin’s parents got married more than three decades earlier.
Entertainment5 minutes ago
Gayle King Addresses Savannah Guthrie’s Today Show Return
NewsBeat8 minutes ago
Harrow synagogue ‘firebombed’ as London faces ‘terrifying daily arson attacks’
Business9 minutes ago
IMF, World Bank meetings show limits in mitigating shocks, reliance on US for solutions
-
NewsBeat6 days agoPep Guardiola and Gary Neville agree over Arsenal title problem that benefits Man City
-
Crypto World6 days agoThe SEC Conditionalises DeFi Platforms to Be Avoided for Broker Registration
-
Fashion2 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Theodora Dress
-
Politics7 days agoWorld Cup exit makes Italy enter crisis mode
-
Crypto World5 days agoSEC Signals Exemption for Crypto Interfaces From Broker Registration
-
News Videos4 days agoSecure crypto trading starts with an FIU-registered
-
Sports2 days agoNWFL Suspends Two Players Over Post-Match Clash in Ado-Ekiti
-
Crypto World5 days agoSEC Proposes Certain Crypto Interfaces Don’t Need to Register as Brokers
-
NewsBeat5 days agoTrump and Pope Leo: Behind their disagreement over Iran war
-
Politics2 days agoPalestine barred from entering Canada for FIFA Congress
-
Crypto World1 day agoRussia Pushes Bill to Criminalize Unregistered Crypto Services
-
Sports6 days agoNWFL opens Pathway for new Clubs ahead of 2026 Season
-
Crypto World6 days agoTrump whales load up ahead of Mar-a-Lago luncheon.
-
Business3 days agoCreo Medical agree sale of its manufacturing operation
-
Business6 days ago
Kering slides after Morgan Stanley downgrade, Gucci woes loom
-
Crypto World6 days agoSei Network Enters Quiet Reset Phase as On-Chain Metrics Signal a Slowdown in 2026
-
Tech6 days agoGoogle adds E2E encryption to Gmail for iOS and Android enterprise users
-
Entertainment5 days agoBrand New Day’ Footage Reveals the Devastating Impact of ‘Now Way Home’
-
Tech6 days agoApple glasses won’t go brand shopping like Meta did with Ray-Ban and Oakley
-
Entertainment5 days agoKarol G’s ‘Ultra Raunchy’ Coachella Set Gave ‘Satanic Vibes’
You must be logged in to post a comment Login