Too $hort
Hey Rappers, Stay Outta Politix!!!

Published
February 12, 2026
4:19 PM PST

It has been seven years since the controversial second season of HBO‘s Big Little Lies left audiences slightly underwhelmed. The show was originally marketed as a limited series, but was renewed for a second season following what can only be described as absolute viral success. However, the divisive reaction to the second season didn’t encourage HBO to get the star-studded cast back together for another round immediately, although a new season is said to be in the works. In the meantime, rival networks and streamers began producing shows in a similar vein — these were shows with peril-in-paradise premises, stacked casts, and an almost algorithmic structure. Among the latest in this long line of imitators was a show released towards the end of 2025 on Peacock, and it has now found success on the domestic PVOD charts.

Before this show’s release in November 2025, however, HBO found another blockbuster in The White Lotus, which embraced the anthology model and has since aired two further seasons with a fourth on the way. HBO also developed an alternative to True Detective with Mare of Easttown. Meanwhile, Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty‘s back-catalog was adapted into shows such as Nine Perfect Strangers and Apples Never Fall. One of Big Little Lies‘ leads, Nicole Kidman, attempted to replicate its success with the Netflix series The Perfect Couple, while Big Little Lies creator David E. Kelley went on to release the similarly gripping Presumed Innocent.

‘Big Little Lies’ Replacement Is Having a Resurgence on PVOD

However, the new Peacock series we’re talking about is All Her Fault, headlined by Succession star Sarah Snook. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for her central performance in the show, which also features Jake Lacy, Michael Peña, and Dakota Fanning. According to FlixPatrol, All Her Fault was among the most-watched shows on the domestic iTunes chart this week, ahead of Arcane and Family Guy. It also found a spot on the Prime Video leaderboard in several South American territories, and on the SkyShowtime chart in many European regions. All Her Fault holds a “Certified Fresh” 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with a consensus that reads, “A twisty thriller that underscores the societal pressures placed on working mothers, All Her Fault is an addicting watch thanks largely to Sarah Snook and Dakota Fanning’s emotionally grounded performances.” You can watch the show domestically on Peacock.

Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

2025 – 2025-00-00

Network

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Sky Atlantic

Directors

Kate Dennis, Minkie Spiro

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Writers

Phoebe Eclair-Powell, Megan Gallagher, James Smythe

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Young and the Restless expects things taking a very bad turn for Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) and his family. I think he and Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) are going to explode over this new twist that they’ve been dealt.

Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) has snatched their three biggest companies and she bested “The Great Victor Newman.” We’re going to talk about Victor and Adam both going off the rails if they can’t get the family companies back. But first, please click subscribe if you’re not following us.

Victor Gets a Shock on Young and the Restless

This week, Victor finds Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn) chloroformed and suspects that Phyllis did it. And of course, she did. Victor was worried when he didn’t hear back from Cane. And then he called Adam to come to the Cane train, too. They were wondering if Phyllis had planned all along to betray Cane.

They also figured out that Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) went over to the ranch to distract them while Phyllis was taking care of Cane. What they don’t know at that point is that Phyllis, at that same moment, is in Victor Newman’s former office taking everything from Cane and giving it to herself and her co-conspirator.

Phyllis Summers Pulls the Ultimate Heist on Newman Enterprises on Y&R

Phyllis gave Newman Enterprises to herself. She signed Newman Media over to Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) and gave Chancellor to Billy. Then, Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) showed up and was ranting at Phyllis and Billy, making threats about their kids, and stormed out.

Victoria called and told Victor what happened to Newman Enterprises and Chancellor. Victor said they’ll get it all back and more. I’m not sure what “and more” there could possibly be. Phyllis had nothing. I guess Victor can try and take Abbottcom or go after Jabot, but without the AI, it’s not going to be easy.

For now, Victor’s empire is wiped out. It’s gone. Victoria talked about using legal avenues, like with law enforcement, but Phyllis already told Billy that she can’t do that because Victor would also go down since he used the AI. I think that’s accurate.

Right now, things look bleak and I think Victor and Adam are both going to explode when they realize how thoroughly they have been bested by Phyllis. Right now, Billy’s waffling since Victoria threatened to turn the kids against him, but I still don’t think he’ll give up Chancellor.

Sally Spectra and the Future of Newman Media on Young and the Restless

What’s funny about Phyllis signing over Newman Media to Sally is that Sally used to run it with Adam. This move by Phyllis leaves him, Chelsea Lawson (Melissa Claire Egan). And all of the Newmans jobless.

The easiest company for Victor and Adam to get back, I actually think, will be Newman Media. I think Sally will be shocked and displeased to find out that it’s hers. And I don’t think she’s going to want it.

I could see her going to Adam and offering Newman Media back with a caveat. Sally may say, “Look, I’ll sign it over today. No dollars exchanging hands; for free, as long as Adam doesn’t use it to trash Abbottcom or run any smear pieces about Jabot or any of the Abbotts.”

Adam and Chelsea would probably agree to that because they didn’t want to do that stuff anyway. But Victor might be so inflamed by what Phyllis did that he won’t compromise to get Newman Media back. Victor may think that he can get it back himself without making any sort of deal with Sally.

Victor Newman’s Broken Promises to Lily Winters on Young and the Restless

Another problem that’s going to leave Victor angry is that he’s going to have to face Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) when she’s back in Genoa City in a few weeks. I do think Adam is right and Victor promised Lily that she can have Chancellor if she played the kidnap game with him on Young and the Restless.

Unless something changes, Billy is still going to have Chancellor when Lily gets back to Genoa City. Christel Khalil is back taping after her maternity leave, so Lily’s only gone a few more weeks. Then Victor is going to have to explain, “Oh yeah, by the way, I screwed you out of Chancellor again.”

Honestly, if Lily expected Victor to keep his word, that’s kind of on her. But maybe Lily got something in writing, which would be interesting, but also would be worthless since Victor doesn’t own Chancellor anymore.

Nikki Newman and the Potential End of the Newman Marriage

I’m sure Lily’s return means Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) and the rest of the family are going to find out what Victor promised to get her to fake being kidnapped. Victoria already said if Victor promised Chancellor to Lily behind Nikki’s back, it could end their marriage.

Nikki was over at Jack Abbott’s (Peter Bergman) saying she doesn’t know how much she can take if Victor goes further. This is definitely further. Victor may try and say, “Well, it doesn’t matter since Phyllis stole it.” But yeah, it still does matter if he went behind everybody’s back and made the deal, even if it didn’t come to fruition.

Victor may try and say he was lying to Lily, but that’s not a good look either. I think Nikki may turn around and explode on Victor because all of this, in the end, is entirely his fault. Even what Phyllis is doing now is all Victor’s fault.

Phyllis Summers Claims Revenge for the Marco Annicelli Trauma

Phyllis sitting on Victor’s throne could completely destroy him. His kids are really worried that he’ll have a health crisis over this. But Phyllis getting revenge on Victor has been a long time coming.

What he did to Phyllis with Jack Abbott’s doppelganger, Marco Annicelli (Peter Bergman), was horrific. Having him rape her day after day in her bed while pretending to be her husband—that truly broke Phyllis.

Phyllis has always been Phyllis, but the Marco thing was really bad for her mental health. Victor has been owed major payback on that for years. Seeing Phyllis in his CEO seat is something I think Victor deserves, at least for a while.

Cane Ashby and the Abbott Family React to the Newman Downfall on Y&R

As for Cane, he may think this is all kind of funny. Once he wakes up from the chloroform, he will find out that Victor was bluffing about Lily and the twins. Phyllis taking everything while Cane was knocked out may just make him laugh because he gets to watch Victor and Adam burn while Phyllis gets the last laugh.

Cane is just a spectator on the sidelines enjoying the show. Finding out that Lily conspired with Victor may push Cane to give up on Lily once and for all. Cane may tell Lily that he’s glad Billy got Chancellor and not her.

You never know, Cane might actually end up running Newman Enterprises with Phyllis. I could see Cane going over and apologizing once he realizes that Phyllis was right and Victor was lying to him. Phyllis would likely take Cane back because she always wants a partner in crime. And she has been hot for Cane for quite some time.

Jack, Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor), and Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters) would all have a really good laugh right in Victor’s face about Phyllis beating him. Diane might even send Phyllis some flowers and champagne to congratulate her on being the new Newman CEO. Diane will be thrilled to find out Nikki lost Chancellor because she loathes Nikki right now.

I’ve seen fan comments on soap social media. And one overriding theme is that they hope Victor is left to suffer for a while without his company. Fans do not want Victor to get it back from Phyllis too fast because everybody’s been irritated with the writing for Victor being so monstrous lately. Fans want to see Victor roast a bit before things get better. And I think that is going to happen.

Days of Our Lives suggests Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) was really taken aback when Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) wormed her way into moving into his new apartment with him and their daughter, Rachel Black (Alice Halsey). But is Kristen going to try one of her old schemes to get Brady into bed while she’s staying in his place?

And we know that Kristen is a clever woman because she already convinced Brady that it’s best for Rachel if they all move in together at his new apartment. I suspect this is another of Kristen’s schemes. And I think it’s about getting rid of Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey).

Kristen DiMera’s Master Plan for a United Front on Days of Our Lives

So, we all saw how badly Brady, Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall), and Belle Black (Martha Madison) reacted when they heard Kristen signed Rachel out of Bayview for good. Belle warned her that Rachel could wind up in juvie instead of getting the help she needs because of Kristen’s stunt. Belle said this could affect the criminal case.

Kristen is adamant that her daughter is better off at home, living a normal tween life, back in school, and all that. She hopes that the judge is going to see that Rachel has been reformed. Later, Kristen told Brady she thinks the best route for their family is to present a united front, live under the same roof. And that it’ll work out. Then Kristen promised joint custody in return on Days of our Lives.

After threatening to take her to court, Brady did cave, but he also insisted that Kristen can only stay at his place for a month. He said they have to sit down with Rachel and make it clear just because Kristen’s going to be living there with her and Brady, they are not reuniting romantically.

Now, we all know that Kristen cannot stand the fact that Brady is dating Sarah, the woman who kidnapped Rachel as a toddler. Kristen has zero tolerance for Brady dating anybody but her. I think that is a more accurate statement.

The Battle Over Rachel Black’s Loyalty and Sarah Horton on DOOL

Rachel used to like Sarah until she figured out Brady was interested in her. Then she found out about the kidnapping. Rachel tried to hurt Sarah with the pistachios. Dr. Gregory specifically advised Brady that he cannot allow Rachel to interfere in his romantic and dating life. But now we’re going to have Kristen doing it.

Of course, I’ll admit Rachel wasn’t getting optimal therapy at Bayview, at least not at first, because she got mixed up with Sophia Choi (Rachel Boyd) and all of her shenanigans. That’s one reason that Kristen and Brady both had second thoughts about Bayview and considered moving Rachel to a different facility. But there wasn’t anything as close as Bayview.

So Brady left Rachel there. But told Dr. Gregory to keep a closer eye and keep her away from Sophia. That’s one positive of Rachel living with her parents—she is away from Sophia’s influence. But Rachel may wind up back in Bayview after the judge makes a ruling in the shooting case. For the time being, Rachel is going to be with her mom and dad.

Is Kristen Following the DiMera Legacy of Fixation on Days?

Kristen feels like this is a big win because, of course, she cannot get over her fixation on Brady. But the problem is she’s only got four weeks to pull something off. As much as Kristen griped about Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo) and the DiMeras and people being wicked and EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) being terrible, let’s be real: Kristen is just as fixated on Brady as Stefano was on Marlena or that EJ was on Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney).

I’m worried Kristen already has something diabolical in mind for when she moves in with Brady. If you recall the winter promo, Kristen and Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) were toasting to going after what they want. That toast may come soon because this week Gwen gets Xander Cook (Paul Telfer) in her bed and Kristen got Brady to agree to cohabitate with her. Gwen and Kristen may be clinking their glasses this week.

If you remember, Brady initially fell really hard for Kristen. But then all her evil deeds sent him packing. Their original split was back, I think 2013 or 2014, because Brady couldn’t deal with Kristen’s extreme deceptions and her crimes that were tied to a revenge plot against his dad, John Black (Drake Hogestyn), and stepmom, Marlena.

A Dark History: From Stolen Embryos to Identity Theft on Days of Our Lives

The whole family was also horrified when Kristen pretended to be Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker) and drugged and sexually assaulted Eric Brady (Greg Vaughan) back when he was a priest. And don’t forget, in 2015, Kristen stole Tate Black (Leo Howard) as an embryo out of Theresa Donovan’s (Emily O’Brien) womb and carried him herself. Kristen couldn’t stand the fact that Theresa was carrying Brady’s baby. Thankfully, Tate was finally returned to Theresa.

Years later, Kristen wore a Nicole Walker lookalike mask to trick Brady into sleeping with her. That’s how Kristen got pregnant with Rachel back in 2020. Kristen had gone and gotten infertility treatments from Dr. Wilhelm Rolf (Richard Wharton) to make it happen and then used the mask. The bottom line is, Brady wouldn’t have engaged with any of that without the mask. Rachel wouldn’t even be around.

Obviously, from Kristen’s history, she’s not opposed to playing dirty, using deception. And really using any means necessary when it comes to getting Brady back. As Marlena reminded Brady, you give Kristen an inch, she will take a mile. Brady better watch his back, his front, and the lock on his bedroom door.

Will Kristen Use the Sarah Horton Mask to Trick Brady on DOOL?

Don’t forget, we know that Kristen has a Sarah Horton mask already. Kristen wore it when she broke up with Xander and then shoved Sarah into a trunk and kidnapped her off to DiMera Island where she kept her drugged. Brady needs to be on the lookout for any sort of shenanigan.

Kristen could also try drugging Brady to get him into the sack like she did with his brother Eric. The bottom line is Sarah is not safe with Kristen plotting. And Brady really isn’t safe either. He needs to watch out. I wouldn’t put it past Kristen to kidnap Sarah to keep her from Brady.

Back in December, our leaker told us that Sarah was going to be kidnapped and that Kristen was there as well. When the crypt crew kidnappings happened, we assumed that was what it meant, but it turned out not to include Sarah. We get these leaks 6 to 9 months before we see the episodes on air, so sometimes the timing is off or the events don’t happen in the exact sequence that we get them from the leaker.

Days of Our Lives Spoilers: The Future for Brady and Sarah

Even though Kristen’s kidnapping happened separately, we could still see Sarah kidnapped. Brady did what Dr. Gregory advised and made it clear to Kristen they’re not getting back together. Kristen acted all offended and insisted that’s the last thing on her mind, saying she didn’t even want to be with him.

We all know she’s lying. We also know from our leaker that Brady and Sarah do start a relationship and Brady proposes to Sarah. That’s when she decides to take a step back. And from there we’re told that Xander and Sarah do get on the road to reconciliation.

In the meantime, Brady has now been essentially blackmailed into agreeing to let Kristen live with him and Rachel. Marlena already warned him, “Give her an inch, she’ll take a mile.” Kristen’s got a whole bedroom in his new apartment. She may take more than a mile.

This is a really bad move. He and Sarah are getting closer. And we all know Kristen is going to interfere. Knowing she only has four weeks to do it, obviously, one of the fastest ways for Kristen to get what she wants is to slither her way into Brady’s bed one way or another.

With the likes of James Gunn‘s Superman, Paul Thomas Anderson‘s genius One Battle After Another, and Ryan Coogler’s beloved vampire drama Sinners dominating film discourse, it was easy for plenty of gems to fall under the radar in 2025. Taron Egerton delivered career-best work in the action thriller She Rides Shotgun; 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple director Nia DaCosta‘s Hedda sparkled; Tim Key and Tom Basden‘s The Ballad of Wallis Island brought audiences to tears, and much more.

Another movie released in 2025 deserving of much more attention, despite facing a limited theatrical run that peaked at just 700 locations, is John-Michael Powell’s Violent Ends. The movie stars Into the Woods‘ Billy Magnussen, who also featured in Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch and Kogonada’s A Big Bold Beautiful Journey last year. Elsewhere in a talented ensemble were the likes of James Badge Dale (Iron Man 3), Alexandra Shipp (X-Men), and Bosch: Legacy‘s Kate Burton​​​​​​. Violent Ends debuted on October 31, 2025, and immediately went neglected in favor of the bigger releases at the time, despite being set in the Ozark mountains and seeming like the perfect next watch for Ozark fans.

Thankfully, that seems to be changing, as, a few months on, the movie is finding its fanbase on streaming. At the time of writing, Violent Ends is one of the ten most-streamed titles on AMC+ in the U.S., joining the likes of The Lost World: Jurassic Park, The Mummy, and Peaky Blinders replacement Gangs of London. A synopsis for the movie reads:

“Set in the Ozark Mountains, Lucas Frost is an honest man brought up in a crime family whose only legacy is violence. As Lucas tries to make a peaceful life of his own with his fiancée, Emma, he is suddenly pulled back into the family business when his cousin, Eli, perpetrates an armed robbery with brutal consequences.”

‘Violent Ends’ Earned a Positive Response From Critics

It might have flown under the radar of audiences, but critics didn’t let Violent Ends pass without offering praise. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the movie earned a solid 67% score, with the consensus on the site reading, “A bleak, trope-laden crime thriller, Violent Ends is elevated by a strong atmosphere and a captivating performance from Billy Magnussen, with brief flashes of directorial promise cutting through its familiar fatalism.”

Violent Ends is one of the most-streamed titles on AMC+. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for all the latest streaming stories.

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Director

John-Michael Powell

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Writers

John-Michael Powell

Producers

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Vincent Sieber

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As the founder of Predator Poachers, Alex Rosen has set out to make the world a safer place for kids both online and offline. Rosen spoke to investigative journalist Kristin Thorne about the group’s initiative during the latest episode of Us Weekly’s Uncovered, revealing how they find pedophiles online.

“So you guys essentially pose as a minor online, and then do you go out and try to find people? Or do you wait till they come to you?” Thorne asked Rosen during the new episode.

Rosen responded by saying that finding pedophiles online is “not hard.” He shared, “I bet you could find probably 100 pedophiles online in a week, and that’s being conservative about it.”

“Finding them is not hard. The hard part is the logistics, selling that you’re a real kid, the tediousness of it,” he continued. “As for just, you know, identifying yourself as an underage kid online, you’re going to find a lot of pedos. Just the follow through is the tricky part.”

Related: New Jersey Police Arrest 12 Child Predators as Part of ‘Operation Bad Santa’

Police in New Jersey claim they have arrested a dozen child predators as part of a multi-agency undercover operation designed to catch people who were allegedly trying to lure children using social media and different online messaging applications. Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said that “Operation Bad Santa” was a success, nabbing the suspects — […]

Predator Poachers is a Houston-based organization that conducts sting operations on adults who connect with minors online with the intention of participating in sexual activities.

After the Predator Poachers meet predators online, they make plans to meet up in person and ultimately confront the pedophiles. Not only have they caught many pedophiles in the act of trying to meet with minors, but the Predator Poachers have also helped police officers make arrests.

Rosen also opened up to Thorne about his goal for the Predator Poachers. “My hope is that, you know, criminals are put away and the laws actually enforce how it should be,” he told Thorne. “For example, in Texas, online solicitation of a minor, basically them going after a fake decoy account, is up to 20 years in prison.”

He went on to note that he and the Predator Poachers have caught “some people” who were only “sentenced to probation” for trying to meet up with minors.

He then criticized some of the lax sentences that predators have been given. “I got more time for going 100 miles per hour in Virginia. I got 10 days in jail for that,” Rosen said. “I got more time for that than some pedophiles get for having child pornography on their phones, trying to rape a kid.”

Related: Ex–Red Sox Pitcher Austin Maddox Arrested in Anti–Child Predator Sting

Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Austin Maddox has been arrested as part of a major child predator sting in Jacksonville, Florida.  Maddox, 33, was taken into custody on April 28 by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after interacting with an individual claiming to be an underage girl online. In reality, Maddox was speaking with undercover detectives […]

Rosen said he has heard that many “laws need to change,” though he believes that the “number one thing” to do in order to stop pedophiles is to enforce the existing laws.

He said that “enforcing and penalizing them” will hopefully hold pedophiles accountable and will influence them to stop targeting minors.

“There’s some place in Texas that goes so hard on them, and I appreciate it,” he said, reiterating that other states only give “probation” to adults soliciting sex from minors.

Thorne also reminded parents that they should be aware of who their kids are communicating with on their phones. “Parents, you also have a role in this. If this is a phone or device that you have paid for for your child, you should be on there looking at what they’re doing,” she said. “Who are they talking to? Go into their messages. Make sure you know the passcode for their devices.”

If you’re looking for your next true crime obsession, Watch With Us has the perfect docuseries to watch this February.

Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter premiered on Netflix back in 2024 and told the story of Cathy Terkanian, a woman who embarked on a relentless journey to find out what happened to her missing biological daughter.

Produced by Charlize Theron, the documentary went on to receive raves from both critics and audiences for its fascinating real story, sensitive approach and searing commentary.

Read on to see why we agree that Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter will blow you away.

Related: 13 Best True Crime Documentaries to Watch on Netflix and More (January 2026)

No matter what kind of true crime fan you are, streaming platforms have something for you right now. Whether it’s serial killers, cult leaders, criminal influencers or a scamming Tinder user, you can find it all on streamers like Netflix, HBO Max and more. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Please enter a […]

It’s a Riveting True Crime Narrative

The two-part story of Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter surrounds Cathy Terkanian, who discovers that, after giving birth as a teenager to a baby that she ultimately placed up for adoption three decades ago, her child has been missing for 21 years. While this premise might seem like the plot of a compelling mystery novel, that’s the true subject matter of this documentary. Cathy’s quest to find her biological daughter, Aundria Bowman, is a passionate and dogged search fueled by what can only be described as a motherly instinct that can’t just be evaporated by distance and time.

Despite never wanting to give her daughter up, Cathy’s mother persuaded her to, and so Cathy lived with the hope that they’d connect years later. That never happened, and instead, Cathy received a letter from the adoption agency in 2010 informing her that Aundria had gone missing in 1989, when she was fourteen. Since this letter, Cathy became committed to her investigation, recruiting her husband, online sleuths and Aundria’s real-life friends to search for the answers. What she finds is unsettling history about the family that adopted Aundria.

‘Into the Fire’ Avoids Exploiting Its Tragic Source Material

Rather than focus primarily on the lurid details of the crime, Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter instead takes pains to emphasize a mother’s search for her missing daughter, and thus centers the narrative on the victims of the crime rather than on the crime itself. The documentary showcases Cathy’s determination in her investigation, her refusal to be beaten down or take no for an answer and how sometimes, intuition is an almost supernatural gift. It’s an all-around fascinating exploration of family, sacrifice and the strength of parental bond.

Still, the film manages to keep itself from becoming an overly reverential portrait of motherly instinct because the details of the crime are so horrific that they require restraint and a steady hand. And Cathy’s climactic gut instinct that she chalks up to her undying mother-daughter bond instead comes across like the unfortunate knowledge that comes with living in a world where monstrous men feel entitled to do whatever they want. By leaning into Cathy — and Aundria’s — story and highlighting the way they were failed, Into the Fire becomes more than just pulpy voyeurism.

It Emphasizes Systemic Failures Towards Women’s Safety

If there’s a lasting takeaway from Into the Fire, it’s that stories like Aundria’s have happened too many times. Men have been able to abuse, mistreat and even kill women, while women’s cries for help are ignored. Into the Fire places emphasis on a system that doesn’t value the lives of women. Aundria received far from the better life Cathy had been told she’d receive through adoption. Instead, she was viciously mistreated and abused by her adoptive father, Dennis Bowman, and when she confided in her school, her church and the police, what happened? Nothing.

Aundria likely could have been saved if only one person in authority had given her the decency to listen to her and believe her story. Instead, she was dismissed, and she met her tragic fate because of that. Of course, Into the Fire isn’t the only true crime documentary to comment on the way women’s safety isn’t taken seriously, and when considered together, a devastating and infuriating pattern emerges in which the system is rigged in favor of white men and against everyone else.

Stream Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter on Netflix.

1995 was a bit of a crossroads for movie-making. It was a year where old Hollywood craft, serious ’70s-style filmmaking, and a newly confident independent cinema all overlapped. Studios were still willing to bankroll challenging mid-budget films aimed at adults, while quirky auteur voices were being absorbed into the mainstream rather than pushed to the margins.

The result was a very varied collection of bangers. Philosophical sci-fi sat next to romantic minimalism, violent crime epics alongside family films that refused to talk down to children. Here are the most enduring of them.

10

‘Crimson Tide’ (1995)

Image via Buena Vista Pictures

“We’re here to preserve democracy, not to practice it.” Crimson Tide is a tightly wound thriller set almost entirely aboard a U.S. nuclear submarine. The crux of the story is a confrontation between the commanding officer (Gene Hackman) and his executive officer (Denzel Washington) after an incomplete message raises the question of whether to launch nuclear missiles. The plot is deceptively simple, but the stakes are apocalyptic.

This could easily have been mid-tier genre fare, but Crimson Tide stands out because it refuses to frame the conflict as good versus evil. Both men are intelligent, principled, and terrifyingly convinced they are right. Through them, the movie asks some genuinely thoughtful questions around bureaucracy and duty. It helps that both stars are great in their roles. On the directing side, Tony Scott keeps the film claustrophobic and relentless throughout, using the submarine setting to amplify every raised voice and pause. The action is largely verbal, but the tension never slackens.

9

‘Dead Man’ (1995)

Image via Miramax Films

“Do you have any tobacco?” Dead Man is an acid Western by the great Jim Jarmusch, and it plays like a funeral dirge for the genre itself. The movie strips the Western of heroism, replacing it with fatalism, surreal encounters, and quiet existential dread. At its heart is William Blake (Johnny Depp), an accountant who travels west for work and instead finds himself wounded, drifting through the frontier toward death. His story unfolds like a dream (or a death vision) where cause and effect matter less than atmosphere and spiritual reckoning. Here, the American frontier is not a place of opportunity, but of exploitation and annihilation.

Not everyone will get on board with the movie’s slow pace, monochrome cinematography, and psychedelic vibe, but those who do will find it rewarding. Fundamentally, Dead Man engages with deep themes, particularly around the scars left by industrial progress and the nation’s inheritance of brutality and intolerance. One of the most unique Westerns in the canon.

8

‘Babe’ (1995)

Image via Universal Pictures

“That’ll do, pig. That’ll do.” Whereas Dead Man took years to be embraced, Babe was a big hit back in 1995 both critically and commercially, even getting a Best Picture nomination. It’s not hard to see why. It’s both entertaining and touching, and boasts fantastic special effects that still hold up today. The plot follows the titular pig (voiced by Christine Cavanaugh) as he navigates life on a farm where animals are assigned rigid roles: some valued, some disposable.

On the surface, it’s a gentle, quirky story about a pig who learns to herd sheep. Yet beneath that simplicity lies a surprisingly thoughtful meditation on kindness, identity, and chosen purpose. The movie treats compassion as a strength and curiosity as a virtue, all while never mocking or talking down to its audience. Basically, this is family entertainment done right, with an important message tucked inside an engaging, compelling plot.

7

‘Heat’ (1995)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

“Don’t let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in thirty seconds flat.” Heat is the definitive ’90s crime epic. It features Robert De Niro and Al Pacino at the height of their powers, playing a master thief and a relentless detective whose lives mirror one another as they move toward an inevitable collision. Both characters are defined by what they give up to remain excellent at what they do. Love, family, and stability are all treated as liabilities.

Heat practically towers over most gangster movies of its era with its scope and seriousness. The action sequences, especially the famous downtown shootout, are staged with brutal realism (the crew closely researched real robberies and armed showdowns). That said, the quiet moments arguably hit harder. All in all, Heat isn’t just a great thriller, but a smart film about identity and isolation, anchored by brilliant performances.

6

‘12 Monkeys’ (1995)

Image via Universal Pictures

“The future is already written.” 12 Monkeys is one of the strangest and most entertaining time-travel movies ever made. Bruce Willis leads the cast as James Cole, a prisoner living in the year 2035 sent back in time to prevent a global pandemic, only to find himself trapped in a web of memory, madness, and inevitability. The story resists clean explanations, forcing viewers to question whether its protagonist is a savior, a pawn, or simply insane.

Indeed, the plot repeatedly circles itself (all while serving up twist after juicy twist), reinforcing the idea that knowledge does not equal control. In the process, the speculative elements become tools to explore around surveillance, destiny, and institutional collapse. For instance, the movie frames the future as authoritarian and grotesque, while the past is unstable and unreliable. In short, 12 Monkeys is a wild, endlessly creative film; Terry Gilliam at his best.

5

‘The Usual Suspects’ (1995)

Image via Gramercy Pictures

“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” This talky, twisty crime gem is iconic at this point, its twists and revelations well-known, but, on release, it was bold, inventive stuff. The dialogue and structure were especially boundary-pushing. The plot unfolds using an interrogation as its framing device, as a small-time criminal (Kevin Spacey) recounts how a group of crooks were drawn into a disastrous job involving a legendary underworld figure.

Flashbacks and narration seem to slowly piece it all together, only to misdirect the audience the whole way through. The mysteries are carefully constructed, and the clues are hidden in plain sight, all building up to that big final twist. The reveal might have been a little hard to believe with a lesser actor at the helm, but Spacey’s performance is terrific here. Thanks to him, we totally buy that the meek Verbal Kint could truly be the enigmatic Keyser Söze.

4

‘Before Sunrise’ (1995)

Image via Columbia Pictures

“I feel like this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.” Before Sunrise is the first entry in Richard Linklater‘s brilliant trilogy. It introduces us to Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy), two young strangers who meet on a train and spend a single night walking through Vienna, talking about life, love, and uncertainty. There is no traditional plot, no external conflict, and no dramatic climax. Instead, there’s just conversation that feels real. Linklater allows moments to breathe, letting awkwardness, curiosity, and vulnerability coexist.

In the process, Before Sunrise captures a fleeting moment when possibility feels infinite, even as reality looms. It taps into something universal. The romance is fragile and beautiful precisely because it’s unforced. The performers rise to the challenge, turning in layered, moving performances that they would build on perfectly in the subsequent installments. All this adds up to one of the very best romance movies of all time, a modern classic.

3

‘Se7en’ (1995)

Image via New Line Cinema

“Ernest Hemingway once wrote, ‘The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.’ I agree with the second part.” Se7en is police procedural meets philosophical horror. Two detectives (Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman) hunt a serial killer whose murders are structured around the seven deadly sins. While some of the plot mechanics had been done before, the movie’s worldview is much more serious and cynical than your typical thriller. Here, evil is pervasive, fed by apathy, cruelty, and self-righteousness.

All this darkness culminates in a truly harrowing ending, one of the bleakest of the decade. David Fincher makes sure that the visual world the characters inhabit is as dark as the plot itself. The aesthetic is one of grey skies and decay. The city is a moral wasteland. For all these reasons, in the decades since, Se7en has become a defining text for modern thrillers, influencing tone, pacing, and thematic ambition.

2

‘Toy Story’ (1995)

Image via Pixar Animation Studios

“To infinity… and beyond!” Toy Story crushed the box office, launched a decade of Pixar dominance and, in several ways, reshaped animation itself. The premise is straightforward but colorful, spinning a tale of toys that come to life into a brisk, engaging adventure. However, alongside the humor and entertaining set pieces, Toy Story also has a lot to say about obsolescence, jealousy, and the fear of being replaced. The characters may be toys, but they are real emotional beings grappling with purpose and self-worth.

Toy Story was also groundbreaking on a technical level. Its use of computer animation was unprecedented, paving the way for so many animated classics that would follow in its wake. Fundamentally, John Lasseter and his team had both a compelling new vision and the skills to realize it. In the process, Toy Story broke open new possibilities for the medium, and its influence today can be seen in countless kids’ shows and movies.

1

‘Casino’ (1995)

Image via Universal Pictures

“Here’s the truth about the truth.” Ranking among Scorsese‘s very best movies, Casino is a sprawling autopsy of power, greed, and institutional rot. The story charts the rise and fall of a mob-run Las Vegas casino, seen through the eyes of a meticulous operator (Robert De Niro), his volatile enforcer (Joe Pesci), and a self-destructive hustler (Sharon Stone). Through these characters, the movie depicts Las Vegas as both spectacle and machine, dazzling on the surface while quietly corroding everyone involved. What makes Casino a classic is its density.

In this world, every relationship is transactional and every loyalty conditional. In this regard, the film is less romantic than Goodfellas, more bitter in its outlook. The result is a ruthless portrait of capitalism and crime merging seamlessly. While Casino wasn’t as warmly received on release as some of Marty’s other movies, its reputation has grown over the years, and it’s now widely considered to be one of his crowning achievements.

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Casino

Release Date

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November 22, 1995

Runtime

179 minutes

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The record-breaking A24 hit Marty Supreme has won praise from moviegoers and awards voters alike. Josh Safdie’s tale of an ambitious ping pong player (Timothée Chalamet) chasing the American dream at all costs has captivated all who have seen it, but even those who have attended multiple viewings may not have spotted an audio cameo from a very famous caped crusader. The Batman star Robert Pattinson can be heard (but not seen) as an umpire during one table tennis sequence, where Marty can be seen competing at a tournament in the UK. The appearance was not advertised as part of the film’s promotion, nor was it spotted by movie fans. Instead, it was Safdie himself who let the cat out of the bag and explained how it came about.

Robert Pattinson Continues His Association With the Safdies

During an appearance at the British Film Institute in London, reported by Variety, Josh Safdie revealed the hidden cameo. After showing the relevant clips, he said: “No one knows this, but that voice — the commentator, the umpire — is Pattinson. It’s like a little Easter egg. Nobody knows about that. … He came and watched some stuff, and I was like, I don’t know any British people. So, he’s the umpire.”

It marks another collaboration between the two, after Pattinson worked with Josh and Benny Safdie on the 2017 crime drama Good Time. In it, the star plays a manipulative small-time crook who uses every trick in the book to try to free his brother (Benny Safdie) from custody after a robbery gone wrong, while also trying to avoid being caught by the police himself. Coming just five years after the end of the Twilight franchise, it was a key part of the actor’s reinvention. Keen to move away from the world of franchise filmmaking, he would choose darker projects with visionary filmmakers, such as Cosmopolis with David Cronenberg, or The Childhood of a Leader with Brady Corbet.

All challenged the public perception of the actor, but none more so than Connie, Good Time’s fast-talking antihero. Fitting in perfectly with the frenetic, chaotic filmmaking style of the Safdies, it would be one of the actor’s signature performances on his way back to big studio films.

‘Good Time’ Was The True Reinvention of Robert Pattinson

Image via A24

While the actor had worked on challenging films prior to this, Good Time was proof that this wasn’t a temporary diversion, and marked the type of career Robert Pattinson wanted from this point forward. Still outrunning the label of “that guy from Twilight,” Connie allowed him to dive into a character unlike any he had played before. Performances such as the one in Cosmopolis are dark and brooding, but Connie is a manipulative, chaotic, selfish person who challenges the viewer to come along with him for the ride, even though it is clear that he is not the hero of his own story.

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It also allowed him to be framed through the lens of The Safdie Brothers, entering a morally gray world and interacting with characters who were out for themselves. Just as the directors brought out something strikingly different from Adam Sandler in 2019’s Uncut Gems, so too did everybody watching Good Time leave with a different impression of Pattinson. When he was announced as the new Batman, anyone doubting whether he had the intensity or grit to play The Dark Knight needed only to watch this performance. As big as Twilight was for the first stage of his career, so too Good Time could be seen as a launchpad for the next steps.

‘Marty Supreme’ is Also a Breakout Hit For Josh Safdie

The award-winning drama is also a test of sorts for Josh Safdie, going it alone after breaking through as part of a directing team. His brother Benny made his own solo effort in October with The Smashing Machine, another story of sporting obsession starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. That project proved unsuccessful in many ways, becoming a box-office disappointment and receiving middling reviews. However, Josh’s first time going it alone since 2008’s The Pleasure of Being Robbed has been a success, proving he has a compelling voice as a storyteller.

What makes his vision so compelling is the attention to detail, inviting us into a meticulously crafted period film where every aspect has been considered (including, as he revealed, the voices of the umpires). The story of Marty isn’t just the story of one man’s ambition, but the environment in which that drive could be propelled to succeed. As he did in previous films, he also perfectly cast his character, with Chalamet’s unrelenting optimism sweeping other characters, and money lovers, off their feet. When Marty remarks, “Everything in my life’s falling apart, but I’m going to figure it out,” you believe him, and whatever strange twist or turn comes along the way, Safdie’s script ensures you’re willing him to overcome it.

While intended as a fun bit of trivia to entice people back to watch the movie, Robert Pattinson and Josh Safdie’s brief collaboration on Marty Supreme finds both men at interesting points in their careers. For Pattinson, it’s the chance to acknowledge the artist that established him as one of Hollywood’s most interesting stars. For Safdie, it’s a reminder of where he came from, as he looks to build in a new direction.

Marty Supreme is now available to rent or buy on VOD services in the U.S.

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Release Date

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December 19, 2025

Runtime

150 minutes

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Director

Josh Safdie

Producers

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Anthony Katagas, Ronald Bronstein, Timothée Chalamet, Eli Bush, Joe Guest, Jennifer Venditti, John Paul Lopez-Ali, Maiko Endo

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