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With flowers (soon to be) in full bloom everywhere, we’re letting nature set the tone for our wardrobe this spring. In just a few weeks, moody winter fashion will long be gone, and in its place will be vibrant, verdant hues that are flourishing across gorgeous floral-print blouses. Yes, we’re talking about the options below.

To carry Us in full botanical style from spring to summer, we’re on the hunt for loose, lightweight floral blouses that look like they were plucked from the garden. No matter your preference — English garden, Dutch florals or bold tropical blooms — there’s a floral top ready to brighten your wardrobe at retailers like Amazon, Nordstrom and Macy’s. You’ll also love that a few big brands are on the list, too — including picks from Free People, Vince Camuto and more. Shop our 14 favorite floral options below.

14 Breezy Floral Blouses Perfect for Spring‑to‑Summer Dressing

1. Our Favorite: There’s a romantic, almost Regency feel to this lace‑adorned puff‑sleeve blouse. In addition to its lovely appearance, the clever top also has an adjustable tie‑back to tailor the fit exactly how you’d like it.

2. Florals on Repeat: We might not frequent garden parties, but we’re due for an invite now that we have this ruffle‑sleeve floral blouse in our cart. The fit is perfect and fashion forward — the only dilemma is picking just one print, since they’re all so gorgeous.

3. Designer Lookalike: Amazon customers opt for this oversized floral top when they want an Anthropologie or Free People style for less. You’ll stand out in the crowd with its punchy print and oversized collar.

4. All Seasons: If prints aren’t your style, opt for this luxe floral‑embroidered top that keeps the blooms confined to the sleeves. It’s a versatile pick that stands out in March . . . just as much as it does in May.

5. Casual to Cocktails: Should your tastes lean toward breezy tees, this floral‑embroidery blouse is just what you’re looking for. It’s a relaxed, summer-ready style with just enough detail to make it look boutique.

6. Romantic Appeal: Far from ordinary, this Free People floral top uses embroidered stitching to create a garden‑wall design that looks like it was plucked straight from a romantic storybook.

7. Vacation Ready: Bold blue, emerald green and rose pink are a few floral color palettes available in this loose fringed‑sleeve top. It’s not just you, it does radiate ‘vacation mode.’

8. Baroque Blooms: Bright pastels and pinks can be overplayed. This dark floral blouse brings a moodier, more sophisticated take on spring and summer fashion, and we’re obsessed.

9. Unmatched Style: There’s a touch of elegant Eastern influence in this tie-front floral blouse that has a punchy print, which feels inspired by the likes of Oscar de la Renta. We might even go full matchy-matchy and invest in the coordinating pants.

10. Muffin Top-Friendly: You’ll have no issue hiding extra midsection weight in this puff‑sleeve peplum top from CeCe. We’re already imagining the endless outfit options, including outfits featuring cut‑off shorts and tailored trousers.

11. Bargain Buy: We were almost certain this ruffle‑trim floral top was a Hill House Home style that found its way into Old Navy’s lineup. The romantic pattern brings a cottagecore charm that works any time of year.

12. Designer Collab: Last year, Old Navy dropped an in‑demand Anna Sui collab, and almost everything sold out in a flash. Miraculously, this breezy button‑down blouse is still hanging around, but not for long!

13. Versatility Achieved: Tile prints are still trending, which is why we can’t resist this rose‑print camp shirt that’s just as gorgeous with distressed denim as it is with your favorite wide‑leg pants.

14. Boho Style: Embrace throwback fashion with a modern twist in this boho‑bloom blouse that looks lifted straight from the flower‑power era.

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I had to do a serious double-take while scrolling through Walmart’s new arrivals — because since when are affordable sweaters this good? While everyone is busy hunting for spring dresses, there’s a whole lineup of lightweight knits quietly sitting in stock, and prices start at just $10. The vibe is easy, layerable and shockingly chic, […]

Swinging in to cure your winter blues, Prime Video’s upcoming series, The Gray House, blends a pulse-pounding espionage plot with the darkest and most dismal days of the Civil War to bring historical drama fans something completely new. Welcoming Emmy and Golden Globe winner, Mary-Louise Parker (The West Wing, Weeds), back to the episodic fold, the captivating tale of Union spies doing their best to undermine the South’s advances sets the stage for a binge-worthy arrival with all eight episodes hitting the platform on February 26. Today, as part of Collider’s Exclusive Preview event, where we’re showing off the most hotly anticipated titles to make their return in the approaching weeks, we’ve got a sneak peek of the project backed by producers Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman.

Daisy Head (The Syndicate) is on a top-secret mission in our exclusive first look at The Gray House. Under the cover of night and a costume that conceals her true identity (complete with a fake mustache), her character slips into a party unnoticed and makes her way to the second floor. Upon her arrival upstairs, she finds the woman she’d been looking for but not the answers she was hoping for.

In addition to Parker and Head, Prime Video’s newest period drama also features the talents of a call sheet that includes Amethyst Davis (Happily Ever After), Ben Vereen (Jesus Christ Superstar), Keith David (The Thing), Paul Anderson (Peaky Blinders), Colin Morgan (Merlin), Ian Duff (We Own This City), Hannah James (Mercy Street), Christopher McDonald (Thelma & Louise), Robert Knepper (Prison Break), Catherine Garton (The War Between the Land and the Sea), Sam Trammell (True Blood) and more.

Meet the Creatives Behind ‘The Gray House’

Freeman will produce The Gray House under his Revelations Entertainment banner with his business partner, Lori McCreary, while Costner operates under his Territory Pictures. The title also hails from Paramount’s Republic Pictures and Leslie Greif’s Big Dreams Entertainment. Greif, who previously collaborated with Costner on Hatfields & McCoys, co-penned the Civil War-centered project alongside Darrell Fetty and John Sayles, with Roland Joffe (The Killing Fields) directing. Additionally, the soundtrack features an all-star lineup of musicians like Willie Nelson, Shania Twain, Killer Mike, Yolanda Adams, and more, adding their voices to the project, while Jon Bon Jovi holds co-writing credits for one of the title’s songs.

Check out our new look at The Gray House above and stay tuned for more to come from Collider’s Exclusive Preview event. Tune into Prime Video on February 26 to stream all eight episodes of the wartime drama.

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Release Date

February 26, 2026

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Prime Video

Directors

Roland Joffé

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  Daisy Head

  Elizabeth Van Lew

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  Paul Anderson

  Stokely Reeves

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  Amethyst Davis

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[Editor’s note: The following contains major spoilers for Vanished.]

In the MGM+ original series Vanished, Alice (Kaley Cuoco) is determined to uncover what happened to her boyfriend Tom (Sam Claflin), after he disappeared aboard a train to the south of France. The couple’s trip to spend some much-needed time together in Paris turns dark when the doctor involved in humanitarian work seemingly vanishes, leaving behind his very confused archaeologist girlfriend. Uncovering shocking secrets that put her in danger don’t stop Alice from wanting to know the truth, as she realizes the man she thought she loved, she never really knew at all.

Collider recently got the opportunity to chat one-on-one with Cuoco about how her love of true crime helped draw her to this series, what she found most interesting about Alice, the dynamic between Alice and Tom, the nightmare of having someone you love just disappear, the special bond that Alice forms with Hélène (Karin Viard), the frustration in realizing that you sometimes you really just don’t know a person no matter how well you think you do, the moment Alice has decided that she’s had enough, Cuoco’s own input into the “Dear Tom” note, and whether there could be another season. She also discussed her upcoming HBO comedy series Kansas City Star and revealed why she’s so excited about it.

As a Big True-Crime Fan, Kaley Cuoco Understands Her ‘Vanished’ Character’s Drive for Answers

“I would want to know what happened.”

Image via MGM+

Collider: The characters that I’ve talked to you about previously, in The Flight Attendant, Role Play, and Based on a True Story, have all had other things going on with them than what it seems on the surface. And with Vanished, things are happening to Alice more than they’re happening because of her. As an EP on this, were there things that you wanted this character to be and qualities you wanted her to have that you thought would make her interesting to explore?

KALEY CUOCO: Yeah. I keep thinking, actually, because some people are saying, “Well, if you love The Flight Attendant, I think you’ll love this,” with Cassie in The Flight Attendant, so much was happening to her because of her. She was an unreliable narrator. She was an absolute disaster. A disaster with a heart of gold. Things happened a lot because of her behavior. And I feel like with Alice, she’s actually a pretty grounded person. She has her life together. She’s very organized. She loves her career. Her boyfriend and her have a really specific lifestyle. They meet in these different places, they travel the world, they have no kids, they just have this really cool lifestyle. She has a great career. She’s organized as hell. And so, I think that made it even more terrifying that she was so duped by this man, even though, possibly, you can look at it like he was doing this for technically the greater good.

She’s a step ahead of everybody. Cassie was always a step behind, and Alice is a step ahead. I think that’s even more terrifying when you’ve got your shit together, and you still have this big moment of betrayal. How do you move forward? How do you trust again? Is your curiosity so intense that you have to figure out what happened? I asked myself this through the whole process. I kept thinking, “God, if this happened to me, would I crumble and just get a flight home? Would I just run home?” But I’m so obsessed with true crime and answers that I think I would probably stay. I wouldn’t almost get myself killed, but I would want to know what happened. God forbid, what if something really did happen to him? How would you forgive yourself? There was a lot of push and pull that I thought was an interesting self-reflection on what I would do if I was in this situation.

To jump right into spoilers, Tom feels like a tricky character because this is a guy who’s been with Alice for years and she’s never suspected anything. So, what made Sam Claflin the right actor for Tom?

CUOCO: Well, two parts [to that]. Because of their lifestyle, they were really never together for long periods of time. They’ve been together for years and years. We know that they both have very global jobs, or careers. They meet up in these amazing countries. They have these two-week whirlwinds, and they separate again. It was believable that maybe he could be doing something totally different than what he’s telling her. What’s so lovely about Sam is that he’s so charming and endearing and authentic and just lovely. And then, he can play the, “Wait a minute, is there something else going on here?”

I like, with the flashbacks, that they start out with such rose-colored glasses and, as time goes on, they start to shift for her where she’s like, “Wait a minute, maybe I’m not remembering this the way that [it happened].” We’ve all done that. We’ve all romanticized so many different things and realized, “Oh, God, maybe that’s not exactly what it was.” So, he was perfect for this because he’s so lovable, and you believe that he wants to be with this woman, and he’s in this relationship. But there’s an edge there, and maybe he is lying. And how is he getting away with this? You see why maybe she never suspected anything, because he’s really innocent on the surface, and he’s doing all this good, saving children and [being] this global ambassador. You want to believe that that’s this wonderful trait that this man has.

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I thought it was really interesting to have him disappear on a train while he’s taking a phone call while they’re in between stations. It makes a situation that already seems unbelievable that much more difficult to understand and explain. Do you feel like that really helped add to the feeling of desperation and panic since she’s essentially trapped on this train? She can’t even go out and look for him.

CUOCO: It’s literally my worst nightmare. This is my favorite part of the show, to literally wake up from a nap on the train, you look over, and your boyfriend’s gone. Okay, maybe he’s in the bathroom. Okay, maybe he’s walking around. You’re on a train, [which is] a moving vehicle. Where did this man go? It’s terrifying. Unless he magically disappeared, how the hell did he get off this train? It’s a terrifying thought. She’s in a country she doesn’t know, and he’s literally gone. That’s horrifying. She innocently goes to the police, and then they start to look at her weirdly. Who can she trust? Now she’s thinking, “Oh, my God, what if they blame me for something?” They know, deep down, she’s not a part of this, but is she getting framed? She has no one there to protect her. It’s terrifying.

And I think with this much true crime as I watch, and with as many podcasts and documentaries as I’ve seen of people making absolutely insane decisions, that’s why this intrigued me. I was like, “Hell, yeah, this could happen. This could happen.” Would you stay? Would you try and figure it out? Would you go back? When I was reading the end, for a moment, I was like, “Oh, my God, are they really writing this, that she’s going to get back with him?” And then, obviously, she doesn’t. It was like, “I don’t think I could ever trust this man again.” There’s no way, even if he’s like, “I had to do this.” It’s like, “You couldn’t have told me anything? Maybe something small? Come on!”

Kaley Cuoco Sees the Friendship Between Alice and Hélène As the Real Love Story of ‘Vanished’

“That friendship was very special.”

Image via MGM+

In the first episode, Alice meets Hélène, who offers to help her. By episode two, we learn somehow she knows more than she’s let on. They’re also a lot more alike than either one of them realized. What was it like to figure that relationship out? What did you most enjoy about exploring that dynamic? I thought it was such an interesting pairing that we don’t really get to see.

CUOCO: Yeah, it was. I actually think that was the love story of this story, this friendship. When she’s on the train and Hélène actually starts interpreting for her, Alice grasps onto her because she’s the only person that’s helping. She’s the only person that’s getting in the middle. Then, she sees her again, and it’s like, “Okay, it’s familiar. This woman’s trying to help me.” But now, you’re thinking, “Is she overstepping? This is now feeling weird.” And then, she runs into her again, and it’s a little suspect, but she has no one else to turn to and this woman seems to have information. She’s also extremely chaotic, so she’s like, “How do I trust her?” But I actually love their friendship. And obviously, as time goes on, Alice doesn’t have anyone else but this woman, and she has to put her trust in her. She has to be like, “Okay, this is the only person I have here. I’m totally screwed.” And they end up forming this really interesting, really sweet relationship where they truly help each other out. I love how they become friends in the end. I truly think that was actually the love story that we really wanted to happen. That friendship was very special.

There’s that moment when Alice finally catches up with Tom, and he’s just so cold to her and says, “Sorry, but we’re over.” At that point, why do you think she didn’t just completely lay into him? Did you have conversations about what that reaction would be?

CUOCO: Yes, we did. There were parts of me that [were], just like you said, “How do you not completely lose your absolute mind in that moment? How are you not attacking him and screaming at him?” Remember, she knows that there are people watching her and there are police that are actually still following her. They’ve had their eyes on her, whether they’re framing her or not. If she starts to lose her mind in this public place, it’s going to be done for. She has to be very careful. I also think a betrayal of that deep, you go one of two ways. You go crazy and absolutely lose your mind, or you’re literally speechless and you’re caught off guard so poorly that you can’t even cry. It’s such a shock. You almost seem like you’re in a dream and it’s not real.

So, it was, “Okay, she’s not going to lose her mind in front of all these people.” There are police there. They’re eyeing her. She already was running through the whole city, which is not a big place, by the way. She’s starting to already get known in this place. She had to keep her cool for a second because, even later, she kept thinking, “That’s not him. Something is going on. Something isn’t right.” And her gut was correct. It wasn’t just someone cheating on her or someone who’s left. It’s like, “This isn’t the person that I knew. This is a totally different person. What happened?”

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We learn that he isn’t the villain that we’re thinking he could be and that he’s actually Interpol, even though he has done some things that he probably shouldn’t have done. Do you think that at least helps Alice feel like her internal judge of character wasn’t as broken as she thought it was?

CUOCO: Yes, I think that would comfort anyone to know, “Oh, my God, he didn’t just leave me,” and there was a reason. At the same time, it’s too big. You can’t come back from this. I just don’t think you can come back from this at all. It’s too large. It’s too intense. Also, he didn’t just leave her on vacation. She almost dies multiple times. She’s getting kidnaped. She’s getting beat up. She’s fighting people. She doesn’t even know what she’s doing, and she’s totally left to fend for herself. If he was as high up as he said, couldn’t he have sent someone? Couldn’t he do anything to make sure she was okay? He really left her. And to me, there’s no going back from there.

That’s why it’s so interesting to me that there is that moment of the two of them being together. They have sex again one last time before she leaves. Do you think she went into that knowing she was going to leave, or do you think she made that decision after that moment?

CUOCO: I went back and forth with what I thought about that. There are parts of me that like thinking she planned it all along, and she was like, “I’m going to totally mess with him, and I’m leaving him and that’s it.” Another part of me understands the emotional turmoil. Maybe there was a part of her that thought, “Oh, my God, he does love me. I can get past this.” And then, they have this moment together, and she’s like, “No, I can’t get past this,” and it was more of a decision later.

I understand both. The amount of true crime I’ve watched and watched the decisions people have made in these dire situations going, “I don’t know why they did that.” Stress and this horrible circumstance make you do some wild stuff, so I can believe either way. I think she loved him tremendously, and she was holding onto this hope that maybe she could get past this, but she realized very quickly that she couldn’t.

Kaley Cuoco Left Her Own Mark on the “Dear Tom” Letter Alice Writes in the Finale of ‘Vanished’

“He could have made any better decision that would have made this easier on her, and he didn’t.

I love the little dig of her leaving behind this note for him that says, “Dear Tom, at least I had the good manners to leave you a fucking note.” That was really a particularly perfect touch. Was that something that was always there? Was it always in the script? Was it always part of the character? Was that something that got added later?

CUOCO: The note was always there. I added the “fucking.” I added that part in because it’s so simple. It’s like, “You could have done that for me. You could have done anything to make me know, ‘Okay, there’s a reason for this,’ instead of leaving me, literally, ready to die.” He could have done anything. He could have made any better decision that would have made this easier on her, and he didn’t. To me, that’s not true love.

Clearly, he only needed one sentence. That one sentence conveyed everything.

CUOCO: That’s it! He could have written it. I know! There are so many things he could have done that he didn’t. I liked that little stamp on the end, and her going home and being like, “Okay, I can leave now knowing I did everything I could and this is it.”

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Would you like to play this character again? Do you think it would be challenging to figure out where to take her story next, or do you think there’s a way you could have her team up with Hélène and stop bad guys all over the world? Because I would watch that.

CUOCO: Anything can happen. I think this is definitely, probably tied up in a bow. It was always meant to just be this. But TV is weird, man. Different things get picked up later. Who knows? I loved the experience, I loved the character, and I loved the people I worked with. So, you just really never know what can happen.

Even though Alice leaves Tom behind, do you think that or do you at least hope that she stayed in touch with Hélène?

CUOCO: Yes. If I could see their future, they are lifers. They are lifelong friends. I think they laugh. I think they talk all the time. I think they’ve become really, really close. I like where their story ended up.

Kaley Cuoco Is Excited To Start Shooting Her Upcoming HBO Comedy Series, ‘Kansas City Star’

“We’re hoping to start shooting that by the end of this year, if not the beginning of ’27.”

Image via Prime Video

It seems like you’re having so much fun with the characters that you’re playing and the stories that you’re telling. You’re getting to do so much. They’re all mixed genre. Do you know what you’re going to be shooting next? You already have something lined up? Are you thinking about what you could create for yourself next?

CUOCO: Definitely next, and I’m really looking forward to it, I have a show with the Hacks team, called Kansas City Star, with HBO, and we’re hoping to start shooting that hopefully by the end of this year, if not the beginning of ‘27. It definitely takes me back to my roots of just pure, ridiculous, make-fun-of-myself comedy with an amazing comedic team, with Paul [W. Downs], Lucia [Aniello], and Jen [Statsky], the trifecta of brilliance behind Hacks. The storyline for Kansas City Star happened from something that happened to me, which was a jumping off point. Eventually, I’ll get to talk about it. That’s going to bring me back to all the stuff that I love, just pure, simple, don’t-take-yourself-too-seriously comedy.

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Release Date

February 1, 2026

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Prime Video

Directors

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Barnaby Thompson

Writers

David Hilton, Preston Thompson

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Vanished is available to stream on MGM+.

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Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman and his wife, Chelsea, are expecting their fourth child via surrogate.

The baseballer, 36, and Chelsea, 34, shared a joint Instagram post on Sunday, February 22, that confirmed the exciting news. “Worth the wait. Baby #4 is on the way and our hearts are already so full,” the post read. “We are incredibly grateful for the amazing woman helping bring our baby into our lives, and we’re choosing to honor her privacy as we walk this chapter.”

The couple, who share three sons, Charlie, born in 2016, Brandon, born in 2020, and Maximus, born in 2021, then playfully asked their social media fans, “What do you think… brother or sister?” The caption accompanied a family photo that saw one of their sons holding up a black-and-white sonogram image.

The news comes after Chelsea spoke to Us Weekly last year about the frightening health emergency that rocked the couple’s family. After Maximus was rushed to hospital in July 2024 as a result of being unable to sit, stand or walk, he was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder: Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the nerves.

Related: Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman and Wife Chelsea’s Romance Timeline

Gilbert Flores/Golden Globes 2024/Getty Images Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman and wife Chelsea Freeman’s relationship has been a well-documented home run. Freddie and Chelsea got married in November 2014 and have since welcomed three sons: Charlie, Brandon and Maximus.  The whole family made the move to California when Freddie signed a six-year, $162 million […]

Chelsea, who described the situation as the most “terrifying thing” she had been through, told Us in March 2025, “He’s been so resilient. It’s been amazing to see. He’s still in [physical therapy] two times a week. It will be a full one-year recovery before he’s back to complete normal.”

She added that the family have looked for a silver lining amid the health scare. “It obviously taught us that health is everything. It was awful. He was fully paralyzed on a ventilator. Seeing him able to play outside, it’s really a miracle for how sick he was,” she explained at the time.

The couple’s fourth child is not the first carried via surrogacy. In 2021, ESPN reported that the Freemans “explored fertility options” after trying to fall pregnant following the birth of their eldest son. After a surrogate was arranged to carry their second child, Chelsea also became pregnant “nearly simultaneously,” per the outlet.

The athlete told the outlet at the time that the pair hoped their story would provide motivation for other hopeful parents. “Every pregnancy and fertility journey is a little bit different for everyone … I think it’s an inspirational story that we have,” he said. “We tried for a couple of years, and it didn’t happen. We were talking with doctors, and they suggested surrogacy. We jumped at that, because we wanted to be blessed with more kids.”

Chelsea added that she had hoped for a large family soon after meeting Freddie. “As long as I’ve known him, he said that since he was a little boy, he always knew he wanted to be a dad,” she told the outlet. “As important as being a baseball player to him is, I think being a dad is even more important.”

Related: Freddie Freeman’s Son Attends 1st Dodgers Game Since Health Scare

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Freddie Freeman had one of his biggest fans cheering him on during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ latest game. “Good to have you back, Max! 💙,” the team’s official Instagram page captioned a sweet snap of Freeman’s wife, Chelsea, and their sons — Charlie, 7, Brandon, and Maximus, 3 — on Sunday, September 8. The Dodgers’ […]

Of her own motherhood aspirations, she said, “It was always my dream to have three kids by the time I was 30. When my 29th birthday came around and I still wasn’t pregnant, I never thought it would be possible. I think our story is definitely a story that God always has a bigger plan. Whether a family is looking towards fostering, adoption or surrogacy, children … no matter which way they come, [children] are truly a blessing for any family.”

The Fifty Shades series, beginning with Fifty Shades of Grey, was one of the most widely mocked of the 2010s, consisting of three films released between 2015 and 2018, based on three books all published in 2011 and 2012. The novels were considered guilty pleasures by some readers and bafflingly awful by others, though it could well have been the case of there being no such thing as bad publicity, given the notoriety got people talking.

As such, a trashy trilogy of erotic novels became a cultural phenomenon, and then the movie adaptations proved similarly successful (at least when it comes to the box office; neither the book nor the film series did well critically). Whether they’d like to admit it or not, some people are undeniably interested in finding other movies like Fifty Shades of Grey. Movies like the Fifty Shades trilogy are likely to provide more silly romantic drama and thrills, though there are also quality movies based around erotic/sexual themes that more or less show the right way for such things to be handled in film. For fans of Fifty Shades of Grey, or anyone wanting comparable films (because of similar themes, smuttiness, or to scratch a so-bad-it’s-good itch), the following movies may well be worth cautiously recommending.

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‘In the Realm of the Senses’ (1976)

Image via Argos Films

You know you’re doing something right as a provocative/challenging filmmaker if you direct something in 1976 and, nearly 50 years later, it’s still quite shocking, not to mention worthy of an NC-17 rating. This is the case for In the Realm of the Senses, which could be called an erotic drama in the sense that sex plays a big part in the narrative, but as for whether it’s titillating… well…

In the Realm of the Senses is probably more disturbing than anything else, but one’s mileage may vary. It explores a sexual relationship that begins intensely and only grows more so as the film progresses, with things gradually getting more and more violent, not to mention psychologically harrowing. It’s a lot to take in and then sit with, once the film’s over, but you do have to admire the confidence and commitment found in something like this.

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‘Summer with Monika’ (1953)

Image via Criterion

Causing a stir in 1953, but being relatively tame by today’s standards, Summer with Monika is still worth mentioning as a significant film within the category of movies that can be described as “erotic.” It was an early Ingmar Bergman film, and far from one of his best, but nonetheless contains compelling qualities, telling the story of a young man and woman pressured into living together after the latter becomes pregnant.

What was initially just a “Summer” begins to look like a lifetime, which naturally causes drama and emotional turmoil for the two main characters. Summer with Monika was daring for its time and still feels pretty effective as a drama about societal pressures and the fragility of love, especially as the latter relates to young people who might still be trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives.

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‘Room in Rome’ (2010)

Image via Paramount Spain

If it had been made more recently, Room in Rome probably would’ve caused more of a stir and been more controversial. As it stands, it came out in 2010, and wasn’t seen by very many people either… so, hey, maybe it would’ve come and gone had it been made in 2025, too. As for the plot? There really isn’t any plot. It’s kind of like Before Sunrise, but with gratuitous nudity.

The two lead characters are attractive women who meet in a hotel room and spend a lot of time naked and/or having sex. It’s directed by a man, and that – if not criticized in 2010 – would’ve made Room in Rome open to lots of criticism if made in more recent times. Defenders might call it a purely sensual film, while others might say it’s too close to being a feature-length excuse to show lots of sex and nudity. Does the truth lie somewhere in between? Does anyone care?

32

‘Crash’ (1996)

Image via Alliance Communications

David Cronenberg has made his fair share of movies appropriate for sickos, with Crash feeling overall like one of his most twisted and provocative. It follows the lives of various people who have what most would consider to be an unusual fetish: that of car accidents; people who seem to become sexually aroused by either the idea of cars crashing, or actually being involved in accidents.

It’s empathetic on top of being disturbing, and there’s an unusual atmosphere present throughout Crash that’s easy to appreciate when you’re watching it, but harder to properly put into words once it’s over. It’s certainly not a film for the faint of heart, by any means, but anyone after a character-focused drama that’s unafraid to explore a darker side of sexuality might well find Crash intriguing.

31

‘Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!’ (1989)

Image via Lauren Films

Antonio Banderas has collaborated with Robert Rodriguez many times, sure, but he’s also been a favorite actor of Pedro Almodóvar. Almodóvar caused a stir with the release of Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, which was one of his first films to find some degree of international success, and it also provided a fairly early role for Banderas, who plays a disturbed young man named Ricky.

Essentially, the plot revolves around Ricky kidnapping an actress he once had sex with, and this premise somehow leads to some degree of comedy alongside being more intense/dramatic. Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! is pretty bizarre and hard to recommend to everyone, though it commits to its premise in an uncompromising and therefore somewhat admirable way, and overall feels like the kind of movie that doesn’t really care what you think. So, good for Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!

30

‘Zandalee’ (1991)

Image via Electric Pictures

If you’ve ever wanted to see Nicolas Cage take part in a movie with a similar premise to The Room (and execution that’s honestly not much better), then Zandalee is the movie for you. Cage plays a man whom one woman decides to have an affair with, as she’s gotten bored with her usual partner, which naturally leads to emotional turmoil, melodrama, and chaos.

It’s one of the best bad Nicolas Cage movies, giving the actor ample opportunities to overact while also being ridiculous across the board; not simply because of Nicolas Cage being in it. Zandalee is a mess and a largely forgotten one, at that, but those after a very specific type of overwrought 1990s cheese will likely find a great deal to appreciate here, even if such appreciation is ultimately ironic.

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‘Cat People’ (1982)

Image via Universal Pictures

A remake/reimagining of a classic gothic horror movie released exactly 40 years earlier, 1982’s Cat People is very much a different sort of beast, being sleazier, more explicitly violent, and decidedly more in your face. One’s mileage will vary on whether this was the right approach to take when updating an understated and quietly effective horror movie, but at the very least, both Cat People movies stand apart.

Narratively, this Paul Schrader-directed version centers on a woman with a dark past/secret involving large predatory cats, with such an unusual “condition” dramatically affecting her romantic life. Cat People is pretty wild stuff, and the eroticism can be laughably much, but it has a distinct style/feel it’s going for and achieves it all the way, making for a strange but somewhat engrossing viewing experience.

28

‘Killing Me Softly’ (2002)

Image via Noelle Entertainment Limited

Definitely not to be mixed up with 2012’s Killing Them Softly, 2002’s Killing Me Softly is quite the infamous title, starring Heather Graham and Joseph Fiennes at a time when they were relatively well-known… though perhaps this film didn’t help their careers going forward. It’s a 21st-century take on the erotic thriller genre, following a woman as she tries to deal with growing suspicions about her husband’s past.

He’s had a complex history with previous partners, leading to paranoia and general distrust, all of which is supposed to grow more intense and passionate… but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. Killing Me Softly is certainly one of the lesser-known erotic thrillers of its time, and has generally been forgotten to time, except by those who’ve survived watching it and have lived to tell the tale.

27

‘The Boy Next Door’ (2015)

Image via Universal Pictures

The Boy Next Door has a rather generic title, and there’s also little about the premise that inspires a great deal of excitement or anticipation of something unique. Essentially, the main plot focuses on a woman who’s going through problems with her marriage, and what happens when she begins to take an interest in a younger man who’s recently become her next-door neighbor.

Surprising absolutely no one, this man isn’t who he initially appears to be, and that’s before taking into account the fact that having the affair in the first place leads to consequences with the initial marriage. Watching The Boy Next Door, one feels a little bad for Jennifer Lopez being stuck in a leading role like this, because very few people would’ve been able to turn in a good performance with what she (and the other cast members) of the film were given.

26

‘American Gigolo’ (1980)

Image via Paramount Pictures

A couple of years before Cat People, Paul Schrader also directed the rather erotically charged and intense American Gigolo, a film that happened to get a 2022 TV adaptation that sort of came and went. This 1980 film was noteworthy for being one of Richard Gere’s first starring roles, and also for featuring the Blondie song “Call Me,” which nowadays might actually be more well-known than the film itself.

Narratively, American Gigolo concerns an escort whose clients are generally older women, and what happens when he finds himself the suspect in a murder he swears he had nothing to do with. Perhaps it’s somewhat of an erotic thriller, but American Gigolo also emerges as something of a crime/mystery movie as a result of this plot development; not a great one, sure, but it’s got style, and the bold early 1980s aesthetics certainly pack a punch, too.

Jennifer Lopez shared a touching tribute to her two children, twins Emme and Max Muniz, on their 18th birthdays.

Lopez, 56, who shares Emme and Max with ex-husband Marc Anthony, took to Instagram on Sunday, February 22, to celebrate the milestone through words and a video filled with photos and footage. “You were born in the middle of the night, in the midst of the biggest, most beautiful snowstorm NY had seen in years!!” Lopez began. “I remember riding in the car and looking out the window, where everything was twinkling and covered in white that night, as I held you both in my belly for the last few moments before I gave birth to you.”

The “Waiting For Tonight” singer continued, “It was as if God was making sure you would enter a world full of pure magic!! In my heart, I knew that’s how your life would always be!!”

Lopez then reflected on how her world was forever altered when Emme and Max arrived. “When I would hold you as infants, I honestly felt as if I were holding two angels sent straight from heaven above,” she wrote. “My life was changed forever. I cannot believe you are now adults … 18 years old! You are both so kind-hearted, generous, and loving.”

Related: Jennifer Lopez’s Best Moments With Twins Emme and Max Over the Years

Twin time! Jennifer Lopez has shared plenty of sweet moments with her kids, Emme and Maximilian “Max” Muñiz, over the years. The Grammy winner gave birth to her and Marc Anthony’s twins in 2008, four years after marrying the “I Need to Know” singer. (Lopez and Anthony subsequently split in 2011.) The Atlas star exclusively […]

The musician’s tribute video included photos from a professional shoot taken when the children were newborn babies, plus snaps from later photo shoots where she appeared in full glam. At-home clips included in the edit also showed her children laughing and playing with mom, cuddling up to mom and accompanying her both backstage and on-stage during performances across the globe.

“How lucky the world was on this day 18 years ago when God decided to send you here with all of your talents and spirit and heart to make this world a better place, because that is what you do for me and anyone who is lucky enough to know you both every day,” Lopez continued. “‘I love you’ could never encapsulate the depth of feeling, affection, and care that I have for you, my coconuts. It has always been the three of us!”

The tribute concluded, “We have been on this journey together. We have always had each other to hold on to and be that steady presence in the middle of any snowstorm. And I promise you, my beautiful coconuts, no matter how big you get, that’s how it will always be. Always remember, Lulu, you are my sunshine … and Max, you’re amazing just the way you are!! I love you, I love you. Happy 18th Birthday, my wonder twins!!!”

Related: Jennifer Lopez’s Best Quotes About Motherhood and Coparenting

Proud mama! Jennifer Lopez is a triple threat performer but being a mother is her favorite role to date. “Happy birthday to my beautiful, brilliant coconuts 🥥🥥,” the Marry Me actress gushed via Instagram in February 2023, celebrating kids Max and Emme’s 15th trip around the sun. “You bring so much joy and happiness to my heart and soul. […]

Ahead of Max and Emme attending college in 2026, Lopez told Entertainment Tonight in January that she felt “really good” about watching her children embark on new chapters. “I’m like, [I] can’t believe we’ve gotten here, you know, just the three of us. It’s been a journey for all three of us through this life [because] I was a single mom since they were 3 years old,” she told the outlet at the time. (Lopez and Anthony, 57, announced their split in July 2011 and the twins were born in 2008.)

Lopez added, “People have come in and out of my life, but it really has just been the three of us. To see how they’re kind of, like, thriving right now and the adults, like, young adults that they’re growing into … they’re so ready for their life. They’re so ready to get out there and I remember what that felt like [at] 18.”