Avery Woods is teasing the first season of “SLOMW OC” and says there’s tons of drama to go around. In a new interview, the influencer-turned-reality TV star opened up about the cast and also responded to the criticism that many of the women aren’t part of the Mormon community.

Speaking with Us Weekly, Woods, 31, said “SLOMW” fans have nothing to worry about regarding the show’s drama.

“It’s reality TV, there’s going to be drama,” she said. “There’s a lot of different personalities and a lot of different beliefs and views.”

Hulu announced the spin-off series at their upfronts event earlier this year, according to The Blast. The cast includes Bobbi Althoff, YouTuber Madison Bontempo, Aspyn Ovard, Salomé Andrea, Chandler Higginson, Ashleigh Pease, McCall DaPron, and, of course, Woods.

Additionally, an original “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star, Jen Affleck, is part of the group.

Woods Addresses The Rumors That Many Of The ‘SLOMW OC’ Cast Members Are No Longer Mormon

Regarding the cast member’s affiliations with the Mormon church, Woods said that many of the women are “still active in the church,” while a few others were “raised Mormon and have left the church.”

She also said some of the cast members have never been Mormon; however, they are “very close to people that are part of the church, so we know a lot about it.”

According to Woods, the Mormon church feels like a “community” she’s very familiar with. “I was married at 21, had my first baby at 23. I met my husband at 18. That was just kind of like the culture we were raised in, but I will say it’s really cool seeing the dynamic of the girls who are still actively part of the church. And then there’s like the LA girls that are not part of the church,” she said.

Woods Said The ‘SLOMW OC’ Cast Are All Very Different From Each Other

While the cast will focus on the women’s relationships with the Mormon church and each other, Woods said they all have differences that will be showcased to the audience.

“We all could not be more different, but I think the coolest part about us all coming together is we’ve started to understand and be more open to how each one of us lives our life, because we all make different choices and different decisions, and we raise our children differently, we dress differently, we speak differently,” she said.

Woods explained that their differences have allowed them to develop a deep appreciation for each other, adding that it will be “really cool” for viewers to see that.

How Did Hulu Settle On Orange County For The Next ‘Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives’ Series?

“Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” producer Jeff Jenkins opened up about the upcoming spin-off while speaking with Variety, saying that Orange County was the perfect location for the next iteration of the franchise due to its deep ties to the Mormon Church.

“There are a handful of pockets in America that are really the home base for LDS, and one of them was Orange County,” he said. “We all wanted to present a world of LDS that was kind of at least a 90 degree pivot away from the mothership. When you’re in Utah, that’s a very specific type of culture. LDS in Southern California is a little more relaxed, a little less intense, a little more forgiving.”

According to Jenkins, viewers will be in for a treat when they tune in to the OC spin-off, and based on the reaction, more shows could be coming.

“I would say three more potential spin-offs in the pipeline right behind this one. It’s a really rich community when you have the luxury of looking all across the country,” he said.

The OG ‘Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives’ Show Will Return For Season 5, But There Will Be A Major Change

Loyal “SLOMW” fans are also waiting for the fifth season of the OG series to come back to Hulu. According to The Blast, the show will look different, though, as the cast only filmed five episodes before production was shut down. A source previously shared that the women won’t finish the season and will instead go straight into filming season 6.

While shocking, the decision came after the show’s leading lady, Taylor Frankie Paul, was involved in a series of alleged domestic disputes with her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, which led the cast to refuse to film with her.

While the details about the new batch of episodes have mainly been kept under wraps, it’ll all be on display when season 5 returns to the streaming giant later this year.

Netflix has been an ever-growing, extensive hub for fantastic action films over the years. Many were instant hits upon release, while others had only a brief stint of popularity—or none at all—before fading out of most conversations. Some of those forgotten action movies count as Netflix’s finest, delivering top-tier performances, thrilling action, and consistently entertaining storytelling.

Movies like 2021’s The Harder They Fall, which is a rather stylish modern interpretation of the western genre, and The Old Guard, a 2020 action film that masterfully balances consistent emotional storytelling with hard-hitting action, are just two on the Netflix platform that feel truly satisfying from beginning to end, but have consistently remained away from the spotlight. Compiled on this list are the perfect action films that deliver pure entertainment from start to finish, but don’t truly get the recognition they deserve.

‘The Night Comes for Us’ (2018)

Image via Netflix

This extremely chaos-driven Netflix action movie is one that truly embraces its brutality and pure anarchy. The Night Comes for Us follows triad enforcer, Ito (Joe Taslim), who finally snaps during a massacre and saves young Reina (Asha Kenyeri Bermudez) instead of finishing the job, which turns him into a target for his own syndicate.

The Night Comes for Us is an unbelievably violent survival story filled with emotional desperation, relentless fight choreography, and some of the most intense action sequences ever produced in cinema. The Indonesian action thriller may be extremely violent, but throughout its entire runtime, it balances that unrestrained brutality with themes of loyalty, survival, and betrayal. What marks The Night Comes for Us as a truly perfect watch, despite its widely forgotten status, is its sheer intensity and extremely creative aspects, especially when it comes to heated bouts of action. The movie is perfection incarnate that genuinely feels as relentless, visceral, and physically exhausting as it is extraordinarily captivating.

‘Athena’ (2022)

Image via Netflix

Despite being a fantastic example of one of Netflix’s finest action films, Athena stands as a pretty heinously forgotten drama. The film centers around the lives of Abdel (Dali Benssalah), Karim (Sami Slimane), and Moktar (Anthony Bajon), who are completely shattered in different ways after the unexplained death of their youngest brother. The film tracks the three as their responses to grief clash, increasingly throwing them into a realm of complete chaos.

Athena is actually one of Netflix’s boldest movies. It’s an action film that has been quite frequently lauded for its sheer cinematic force in both staging and directing. Athena is also pretty underrated, having faded rather quickly from mainstream conversations shortly after its release. The movie is a quality Netflix watch that does entertain its audience with thrills and action, but eventually exposes itself as a family tragedy disguised as actual urban war cinema. With extraordinary, emotionally intense storytelling and true technical brilliance, Athena stands as one of Netflix’s most ambitious action films that is genuinely perfect from beginning to end.

‘The Harder They Fall’ (2021)

This Netflix film brilliantly revitalizes the Western genre through energy, style, and a truly memorable cast of characters. The Harder They Fall is a thrilling action movie that focuses on Nat Love (Jonathan Majors), who grows up marked by the murder of his parents at the hands of Rufus Buck (Idris Elba), and his strenuous path of revenge.

With a blend of sharp dialogue, extraordinary visual confidence, and stylish action with captivating revenge storytelling, The Harder They Fall stands as one of Netflix’s most original watches. The movie is pretty consistent in its brilliance, delivering kinetic pacing, charismatic performances, and visually stylish direction from start to finish. The Harder They Fall readily embraces all that makes it different from other westerns that tend to lean heavily into restraint and realism, resulting in a wildly entertaining action drama that leaves its mark. The movie may be one of the streaming platform’s most forgotten works of fiction, but it stands as a stylishly complete action film— a modernized Western that is genuinely the perfect action watch for anyone who desires a consistent high-quality thrill ride.

‘The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf’ (2021)

Image via Netflix

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The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf is an underrated action fantasy. The enchanting animated film follows Vesemir (Theo James), who may have built his reputation as a swaggering monster hunter, but whose confidence gradually yields far more information about who he truly is at his core, tying deeply into the origins of the witchers.

What makes The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf the perfect action watch is the 83 minutes of consistency that doesn’t stray off the path to indulge in meaningless side quests. The movie actually expands the Witcher universe, giving beloved characters a real arc, stages dynamic creature combat, and lands a melancholy finish. Most Netflix subscribers, unfortunately, don’t even know that the animated film sits quietly on their shelves, awaiting its next lover of action films. Few films in recent years have delivered such a perfect balance of emotional storytelling and thrilling action as effectively as Nightmare of the Wolf. It may not be as well-known as it deserves to be, but the movie is the perfect bout of action-bound chaos that stands as one of Netflix’s best.

‘Space Sweepers’ (2021)

Image via Netflix

This sci-fi work of cinematic art is consistently overlooked, but it remains one of Netflix’s most thrilling action-adventure movies. Set in 2092, Space Sweepers centers around Tae-ho (Song Joong-ki), Captain Jang (Kim Tae-ri), Tiger Park (Jin Seon-kyu), and Bubs (Yoo Hae-jin), a group surviving by hauling space junk aboard the Victory, only for their lives to take a turn when they discover a child believed to be a dangerous humanoid weapon.

Space Sweepers is extremely entertaining as it delivers futuristic world-building and chaotic space battles, while also offering audiences a deeply human story about connection and survival. The sci-fi epic feels truly emotionally engaging-a lovable watch that succeeds through its grounded storytelling and memorable crew dynamic. Space Sweepers, as an international film, is mostly “forgotten” in English-language discussions, but not necessarily globally. It’s a movie that delivers in sentiment, scale, and tactile world-building throughout its entirety, making it a fantastic addition to this list of action Netflix greats.

‘Army of Thieves’ (2021)

Image via Netflix

Army of Thieves is the prequel film to Netflix’s Army of the Dead, and it is honestly one of the best, effortlessly fun, and quirkily charismatic films on the streaming platform. The movie centers around safecracking nobody, Sebastian Schlencht-Wöhnert, later Ludwig Dieter (Matthias Schweighöfer), who is recruited by Gwendoline (Nathalie Emmanuel) into a multinational heist crew including Korina (Ruby O. Fee), Rolph (Guz Khan), and Brad Cage (Stuart Martin).

Army of Thieves is definitely one of those quiet favorites. While Army of the Dead seemed to get most of the attention, the prequel film lingered in the background, simply becoming what most people file away as “that prequel” and silently became one of Netflix’s most entertaining action-comedy surprises. Army of Thieves is extraordinarily playful, romantic, and surprisingly elegant in its pacing, a truly likable watch that may not be as memorable to mainstream audiences but is a genuinely good time from beginning to end.

‘The Old Guard’ (2020)

Image via Netflix

This underrated action hit was actually pretty quick in establishing itself as one of Netflix’s strongest action films. The Old Guard follows the exhausted leader of a covert group of immortal mercenaries, Andy (Charlize Theron), who has spent centuries saving lives, fighting wars, and watching the world endlessly repeat the same cycles of violence.

Beginning to end, The Old Guard remains consistent in its high quality. From fantastic hand-to-hand combat choreography to a very real focus on the heartbreaking isolation and pure exhaustion some characters face, The Old Guard does an all-around fantastic job. Sure, the film may not be some kind of revolutionary reinvention of the action genre, but it is one of Netflix’s clearest examples of how effective straightforward blockbuster storytelling can be when grounded in emotional seriousness and outstanding performances. The Old Guard may not be the streaming platform’s most iconic action movie that is constantly discussed, but it is an incredible balance of large-scale spectacle and genuine emotional weight that definitely deserves a place on this list.

‘Troll’ (2022)

Image via Netflix

Troll is one of Netflix’s most well met surprises. The Norwegian movie follows paleontologist Nora Tidemann (Ine Marie Wilmann), who is thrust into crisis mode when a gargantuan creature from Norwegian folklore is awakened and starts destroying everything in its path.

Troll came to screens in 2022, and the film instantly stood as a pleasant surprise, growing into one of the most unexpectedly entertaining monster movies thanks to its Nordic mythology influences, thrilling destruction sequences, and sincere sense of adventure. The action fantasy film delivers massive creature chaos, military action, and disaster-movie suspense throughout its entire runtime, keeping fans thoroughly engaged. Troll’s concept is pretty clean, and its escalation works rather well. The movie definitely does its part to be genuinely appealing with its understanding of monster-movie fundamentals at a level that many bigger franchises have trouble reaching. Troll is an absurdly great movie, yet somehow it never seems to be in mainstream conversations, marking it as an ideal pick for this list of fantastic cinematic watches on Netflix that have been thoroughly forgotten.

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Troll

Release Date

December 1, 2022

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Runtime

101 minutes

Director

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Roar Uthaug

Writers

Espen Aukan, Roar Uthaug

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The summer of 2026 began with a baffling animated adaptation of the classic English class novel Animal Farm, George Orwell‘s critique of totalitarianism.

Why distributor Angel Studios thought today’s children would be interested in a creepy-looking CGI animal movie about proletariat rebellion is a true mystery (they could just watch Chicken Run, after all), and across-the-board negative reviews quickly put that sickly Animal to sleep.

One positive result from that film’s disastrous release is that it got Watch With Us thinking about some of the weirdest children’s movies of all time.

From a deranged Wizard of Oz sequel to a Jim Henson classic, we ranked the top weirdest children’s movies of all time.

Related: 10 Greatest 1986 Movies, Ranked

There are some years, like 1939, 1967 and 1999, that are famous for the movie masterpieces that were released during those pivotal periods. 1986 isn’t one of those years, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t any classics released during that time. On the contrary, those twelve months gave the world such beloved fan-favorites as Ferris […]

4. ‘Son of the Mask’ (2005)

When family man and aspiring cartoonist Tim Avery (Jamie Kennedy) finds a mysterious mask delivered by his dog, Otis, he dons the mask at a Halloween party and finds himself developing strange powers. Meanwhile, his pregnant wife, Tonya (Traylor Howard), gives birth to a baby who is imbued with the powers of the mask. Together, dog and baby use the mask to create chaos for Tim and Tonya, who try to contain the damage being wrought. At the same time, the mask’s owner, Norse god Loki (Alan Cumming), seeks to get his artifact back, but only ends up causing more problems.

Those who were children in 2005 distinctly remember seeing TV ads for Son of the Mask and feeling deeply unsettled, despite the fact that the movie is billed as a family-friendly sequel to the Jim Carrey movie The Mask from 1994. What results is a catastrophe in just about every aspect, and one which effectively ended Kennedy’s acting career after giving him the unfair expectation of following Carrey’s performance. Cacophonous, unfunny and creepy in the worst ways, Son of the Mask is unforgettable in all the wrong ways.

3. ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ (1968)

At the request of his two young children, Jemima (Heather Ripley) and Jeremy (Adrian Hall), eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts (Dick Van Dyke) sets out to restore a broken-down race car and rename it Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. During their first trip in the car — accompanied by candy company heiress Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes) — Caractacus tells Jeremy and Jemima a fantastical story in which Chitty has magical powers, and is instrumental in battling a kid-hating Baron (Gert Fröbe) and his henchman known as the Child Catcher (Robert Helpmann).

If your parents showed you Chitty Chitty Bang Bang when you were a kid, it’s likely that you probably don’t remember the somewhat intricate plot, because you were too busy being traumatized by the Child Catcher. Helpmann’s performance as the Child Catcher is iconic, but it’s almost too good. While the movie features some unforgettable songs and a great performance by the always delightful Van Dyke, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is largely looked back on with fear by grown-up kids for the terrifying Child Catcher and his giant net.

2. ‘Labyrinth’ (1986)

In a moment of frustration, young Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) wishes that her baby half-brother Toby (Toby Froud) would be whisked away by the goblins from her book, The Labyrinth. But what Sarah doesn’t realize is that her wish carries very real consequences, and thus Toby really does disappear. The Goblin King Jareth (David Bowie) appears before Sarah, informing her that she has thirteen hours to solve his labyrinth or her little brother will be turned into a goblin forever. After Sarah accepts Jareth’s quest, she finds herself on a fantastical journey in which she meets various strange, helpful and malevolent creatures.

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Halloween is just a few weeks away, and it’s officially the spookiest time of the year. Parents who want to share their love for horror with their children don’t always have a lot of options. For example, Weapons features children, but it’s probably a bad idea to take small kids to see Weapons in theaters. […]

Labyrinth is a terrific film, but it’s also a very unnerving one, and kids’ movies that are good but also scary are necessary in building character. Directed by none other than Jim Henson and filled with creations from his Creature Shop, Labyrinth might be a little spooky and unsettling at times, but it’s a childhood classic for many who grew up with it; an enchanting, unique fantasy with gorgeous special effects and an antagonist performance that feels tailor-made for Bowie.

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1. ‘Return to Oz’ (1985)

This unofficial sequel to the 1939 Wizard of Oz classic combines elements of multiple Frank L. Baum novels to create a disturbing dark fantasy film. Return to Oz follows Dorothy Gale (Fairuza Balk) in the aftermath of her journey to Oz, and her insistence on having gone there troubles her Aunt Em (Piper Laurie) and Uncle Henry (Matt Clark). So, what do they do? They bring poor Dorothy to a sanatorium. Dorothy quickly escapes and is transported back to Oz, but it’s not all songs and sunshine anymore. The Yellow Brick Road is reduced to rubble, and the Emerald City is in ruins. It’s up to Dorothy to save Oz and her friends, who have been turned to stone.

Return to Oz might actually be too creepy for a kids’ movie, with some genuinely terrifying imagery courtesy of its dark narrative and the characterization of a creature known as the “Wheelers.” But while Return to Oz was a bit too weird to receive a rosy place in people’s childhood memories, it has gained an adult cult following. In particular, fans of the Oz books view it as a more faithful interpretation, but ultimately, Return to Oz is an incredibly unique film overall, with technical craft and filmmaking flair that finds greater appreciation in mature audiences.

Lizzo isn’t holding back. In a new video, the “Truth Hurts” singer slammed the popular social media platform, TikTok, calling the company a “hater” for failing to promote her new album, “B-TCH.” The project was released just days ago and features the lead singles, “Don’t Make Me Love U” and “B-TCH.” However, the Detroit native’s new music doesn’t seem to be making the impact she was hoping for. And this isn’t the first time Lizzo has voiced her frustrations about the rollout of her fifth studio album. Earlier this year, she blasted her music label, Atlantic Records, claiming the music leader has failed to put any effort into promoting her new batch of songs.

@lizzo

LET ME BE GREAT 🤪 MY ALBUM OUT NOW 💿 link in bio

♬ original sound – lizzo

In a TikTok shared less than 24 hours ago, Lizzo was seen jumping for joy at the release of her new album. But the excitement she had quickly faded as she blasted the social media platform, accusing it of sabotaging her record sales.

“My album is out today, and TikTok continues to be a hater,” she said, claiming that when she posts about the project on her private page, it’s suddenly “ineligible for recommendation.” According to Lizzo, when she posts random clips of herself having fun, TikTok allegedly pushes them out to the algorithm. But when she posts about her album, it’s the reverse.

Lizzo went on to say that she’s seen many videos far worse than the ones she posts that get recommended to others. “And when I want to promote my album, you don’t want to recommend it to my fans?” she asked. “Well, honey, I’m on my main page to let y’all know that my album is out TODAY. Go run it up. To all of the 26 million people who love me, go get my album; it’s out today. Woo!”

According to a previous report from The Blast, Lizzo recently faced some online mockery after she shared another TikTok of herself illuminating a billboard with information about her album on a busy street.

Commenters poked fun at the “About D-mn Time” singer, calling the album a flop and pointing to low streaming numbers on different platforms, including YouTube.

“Such a big poster for 5 sales,” one user wrote, while another posted, “I feel bad, but not bad enough to stream.”

The reaction to her TikTok above was much of the same, with one person posting, “You should’ve changed the name and the album cover. From the start, it’s not iconic. It’s a mess. But love you, though. X.”

Lizzo Has Been Candid About Feeling Like People Were Sabotaging Her New Music

Weeks before the release of “B-TCH,” Lizzo got candid with her followers about the lack of promo her new record was receiving. Sticking to tradition, Lizzo took to TikTok and urged her followers to support the music so it wouldn’t “flop.”

While she was there, she replied to a fan who asked why she wasn’t using higher-quality materials to promote her project. “Baby, I’m asking the same question because I definitely approved the billboards in the marketing meetings. I definitely approved ads, but crickets,” she said.

According to Lizzo, 38, she was “crashing out” on her record label, Atlantic, saying the company wasn’t putting any “marketing money toward my ideas.”

Lizzy Hints That There Will Be More Promo Coming In A New Social Media Post

A day ago, Lizzo posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, and opened up even more about her latest project.

“I never been a stream queen… but i ALWAYS been a HITMAKER,” she wrote. “LIZBIANS RUN THEM SONGS UP TODAYYYY.”

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She added, “THE PROMO IS JUST GETTING STARTED.”

Her Latest Album Is ‘Reclaiming’ Who She Is

Speaking with USA Today about her fifth studio album, Lizzo said the music is about “reclaiming” who she is rather than redefining it.

“I don’t think I have to redefine myself. I think this is about reclaiming who I am,” she said. “A lot of my identity has been manipulated by people outside of me, so this album is me taking that back − showing the Lizzo everybody knows and loves, letting her tell her side of the story and just letting her play again.”

Summer 2026 top fashion trends are leaning slightly feminine, and floral blouses are leading the charge. Instead of the loud, overly busy prints of years past, this season’s must-have tops feel a tad more elevated, with puff sleeves, delicate embroidery, soft color palettes and silhouettes that look straight out of an upscale boutique.

You don’t have to spend boutique prices to get the look. Amazon is packed with floral blouses that tap into this trend, from breezy cotton button-downs to romantic ruffle tops and polished office-ready styles. These 17 picks look far more expensive than their price tags suggest.

17 Boutique-Style Floral Blouses That Are Trending for Summer 2026

1. Our Favorite: This 3/4 sleeve blouse features an eye-catching lace design from shoulder to hem. The cropped arm length keeps things polished yet still breezy enough for the heat.

2. Everyday Pretty: A soft green petal print runs across Zeagoo’s flowy short-sleeved blouse. The loose cut skims instead of clings, which matters in summer humidity.

3. Office-Ready: Throw this ruffle chiffon top with black trousers on for Monday meetings. Later on, it transitions to dinner when styled with slim jeans and heeled sandals.

4. Collared Classic: A crisp collar, button-down front and long sleeves give this white floral blouse some structure. The elegant yet colorful print keeps it from feeling stuffy.

5. Palm Beach-Inspired: This Palm Beach-style blouse works well with white linen pants for a rooftop celebration. The puff sleeves and bright florals do all the talking, so there’s no need to go overboard with the accessories.

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6. Breezy Beauty: Thanks to the 100% cotton material, this blue floral blouse is actually breathable in August. The short puff sleeves and a button front amp up the relaxed cut.

7. Pretty Pastels: Soft pink and green pastel florals give this puff sleeve V-neck a gentle, romantic feel. The puff sleeves add volume, taking it well beyond basic.

8. Statement Sleeves: This ain’t your average button-down! This colorful floral blouse has bold lantern sleeves that give it real presence, and the airy silhouette moves with you in an effortless, cool-girl kind of way.

9. Timelessly Chic: Black and cream florals keep this cap sleeve blouse neutral enough for any wardrobe. The small collar and flowy cut nod to classic shirting.

10. Dressy Casual: Pull on this V-neck floral top with dark jeans for date night or rock it with white pants for a daytime shower. It handles both occasions with ease and doesn’t even need ironing.

11. Color Crush: Bright florals and short puff sleeves give this V-neck boho blouse a cheerful, vacation-ready feel. While it’s a bit dressier than a tank or tee, the relaxed cut makes it wearable enough for everyday.

12. Puff Sleeve Perfection: Aside from the pastel floral print, Dokotoo’s puff sleeve blouse has a forgiving babydoll cut that slims the midsection. The short sleeves keep things summer-light.

13. Posh Pleats: Wear this 3/4 sleeve tunic with black leggings for a casual dinner or over white pants for a luncheon. The pleats add polish, but the piece itself is throw-on-and-go.

14. Retro-Chic: Pair this puff sleeve blouse with high-waisted jeans for a coffee date or tuck it into a midi skirt for dinner. It brings pure ’70s revival energy.

15. Elegantly Embroidered: Embroidered floral detailing covers this puff sleeve blouse from the neckline through the sleeve. The added texture makes it pop compared to simpler, solid alternatives.

16. Figure-Flattering: A drawstring waist and peplum hem give this button-down blouse real shape definition. The chiffon fabric keeps it light through summer heat.

17. Romantic Ruffles: Pull this V-neck floral tunic on with white denim for an outdoor party or with black pants for a fancier dinner. The ruffles do the dressing-up.

Related: 19 Boutique-Inspired Dresses Flying Off Amazon‘s Shelves — From $10

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Some K-dramas are popular, while others are truly beloved. They are shows that go beyond demographics, language barriers, and even the passage of time, becoming cultural icons on their own merit. These are the dramas you recommend to a skeptical friend, only to have them return a week later, with dark circles under their eyes and emotionally devastated, but hooked on the K-drama world.

The following six series did more than just set ratings records or launch international careers; they captured the global imagination. Whether it’s the campy, glorious chaos of a high school romance or the subtle, mundane beauty of neighbors sharing side dishes in 1980s Seoul, each of these shows represents a different dimension of K-drama magic. These are the six most universally beloved K-dramas of all time.

6

‘Boys Over Flowers’ (2009)

Image via KBS2

Boys Over Flowers is the original K-drama gateway, introducing a generation of international viewers to Korean television. It peaked at a staggering 35.5% viewership in Korea nationwide and became a pan-Asian phenomenon, airing in over 180 countries and catapulting Lee Min-ho to superstardom. The drama inspired multiple international remakes, an original soundtrack that still evokes nostalgia, and a fashion legacy that elevated even everyday looks and fashion across the world, inspiring a so-called flowerboy appearance. Critics may wince, but Boys Over Flowers is untouchable, serving as a cultural artifact and a rite of passage for any K-drama fan.

Boys Over Flowers follows Geum Jan-di (Koo Hye-sun), a working-class girl who saves a bullied student from the prestigious Shinhwa High School and receives a swimming scholarship there, before realizing it’s merely a viper’s nest of privilege and cruelty. There she meets the F4, four obscenely wealthy heirs who rule the school, led by the explosive Gu Jun-pyo (Lee); Jun-pyo torments Jan-di, but she defies him, and he falls hopelessly in love. What follows is a glorious, untamed melodrama featuring amnesia, kidnappings, arranged marriages, and enough longing stares to power a small city. The fashion is, by today’s terms, questionable; the hairstyles and accessories are infamous; and the plot is like a telenovela on fast-forward, but it’s all irresistible.

5

‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ (2016)

Image via SBS

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is an intriguing case study of international versus domestic love. While its Korean ratings were modest, the drama became a staggering international sensation, garnering over two billion views on China’s Youku platform and igniting a fervent global fandom that still seems very active. IU and Lee Joon-gi gave career-defining performances, with Lee’s portrayal of the tortured outcast, Prince Wang So, inspiring numerous fanfictions and art. The show’s original soundtrack was a chart-topping success in its own right, too, while tourism in filming locations increased. It’s a legendary series at this point, and it launched most, if not all, of its main cast into stardom, including Kang Ha-neul and Nam Joo-hyuk, who were arguably already very popular in South Korea.

Moon Lovers follows Go Ha-jin (IU), a modern-day woman dealing with a broken heart, when she nearly drowns during a solar eclipse and ends up in the body of Hae Soo, a Goryeo-era noblewoman. She awakens in a palace teeming with beautiful, dangerous princes (eight in total) and is immediately drawn into a dynastic power struggle. Hae Soo is torn between the gentle warmth of the 8th Prince, Wang Wook (Kang), and the wounded, outcast intensity of the 4th Prince, Wang So (Lee). The romance that comes from her chemistry with Wang So is passionate but merciless, with the K-drama ending with a finale so devastating that it prompted fan petitions for a rewrite/sequel. It’s the K-drama equivalent of a cult classic that transcended its “cult” status, showing that some love stories are universal and forever.

4

‘Descendants of the Sun’ (2016)

Image via KBS2

Descendants of the Sun has a special cultural impact; it aired simultaneously in China and South Korea, reaching a staggering 38.8% viewership in Korea nationwide and over 2.6 billion views in China. It was the most profitable show of the time, accruing revenue from viewership, sponsorships, advertising, and reruns, and it won the Grand Prize at the Baeksang Arts Awards, catapulting Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo to superstardom. Their subsequent real-life marriage and divorce only added to the show’s mythology. Fashion and beauty brands associated with the show, in particular Song Hye-kyo’s looks, saw a rise in sales, while Song Joong-ki was declared “Nation’s Husband” in China. Production-wise, this was the first highly popular K-drama that was entirely pre-recorded before airing—many of the most popular shows at the time were filmed while airing.

Descendants of the Sun follows Captain Yoo Si-jin, the leader of a South Korean special forces unit, and trauma surgeon Dr. Kang Mo-yeon, who meet in a hospital emergency room and instantly hit it off. What begins as a flirtatious push-and-pull in Seoul escalates when both are deployed to the fictional war-torn nation of Uruk. The romance that develops between them is a masterclass in old-fashioned, big-sweep melodrama, heightened by the constant threat of danger and death, making every stolen moment feel important. Descendants of the Sun is, above all, a love story about two people whose principles and careers keep getting in the way of their happiness, making it a standout in the romantic drama genre. It may not be the most complex K-drama ever produced, but its sheer euphoric reach throughout Asia and beyond solidifies its place on this list.

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‘Goblin’ (2016–2017)

Image via Hwa&Dam Pictures

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Goblin is undoubtedly one of the gems that redefined what a Korean drama could be. The series finale received a near-impossible 20.5% viewership on cable, setting a new record that lasted for years. This is another drama with an iconic original soundtrack that became a phenomenon in its own right, topping charts across Asia and earning platinum status. Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun‘s chemistry wowed international audiences, while Lee Dong-wook‘s grim reaper became so iconic that the actor’s career skyrocketed. The show received the Grand Prize at the Baeksang Arts Awards and dominated the year-end ceremonies, winning 26 awards in total.

Goblin follows Kim Shin (Gong), a 939-year-old man cursed with immortality and an invisible sword lodged in his chest, which can only be pulled out by a human bride who sees it, eventually granting him death. His bride appears in the form of Ji Eun-tak (Kim), a naturally upbeat senior high school student who can see the dead and claims to be the one he has been waiting for. A grim reaper with amnesia (Lee) shares Kim Shin’s large home with him, and he quickly falls for a sunny chicken shop owner with her own secrets. This dense, fantastical premise should collapse under its own weight, but instead it becomes a meditation on mortality, memory, and the unbearable pain of loving someone you are doomed to lose. It is, quite simply, the fantasy romance K-drama against which all others are now measured, and its emotional devastation is the type that audiences actively seek to experience over and over.

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‘Crash Landing on You’ (2019–2020)

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The almost immediate global response to Crash Landing on You was unprecedented; it spent 22 weeks on Netflix’s global top ten list, becoming the platform’s third most-watched non-English series at the time. It broke viewership records in Korea and Japan and sparked countless parodies, fashion guides, and even real-life travel inquiries about the Swiss village where the bittersweet finale takes place. The romance between Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin felt so genuine and electric that, when the two actors married in real-life, fans celebrated it as a collective win. Crash Landing on You received numerous Baeksang nominations and a Seoul International Drama Award, but its true legacy is simpler: it was the drama that consoled a divided world, reminding millions that love can cross any border, even if only in their imaginations.

Crash Landing on You follows Yoon Se-ri (Son), a South Korean chaebol heiress and fashion mogul who tests a paragliding suit one day and is caught in a freak tornado; she wakes up tangled in a tree in the North Korean demilitarized zone. Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun), an elite North Korean officer, discovers Se-ri and decides, against all logic, to hide her in his village near the border and help smuggle her back home. What follows is a love story so epic and seemingly impossible that it serves as a metaphor for every political, emotional, and familial barrier that separates two people. The North Korean village setting, complete with squads of goofy soldiers and gossipy ladies, brought warmth to the series and humanized one of the world’s most isolated countries. The show is also frequently credited with sparking a new Korean Wave, and we could argue that Crash Landing on You is responsible for many of the modern K-dramas of the 2020s.

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‘Reply 1988’ (2015–2016)

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Reply 1988 not only succeeded but also inspired awe. Its final episode received a 19.6% cable rating, breaking the record that was later surpassed by Goblin. More remarkably, Reply 1988 sparked an annual rewatch ritual across South Korea (and even some other countries), proving its extraordinary emotional impact. The show’s nostalgic recreation of 1980s Korea, including the Olympic spirit, the music, the food, and the fashion, sparked a retro craze (“newtro”) that increased sales of everything from tracksuits to vintage sneakers. It won the Grand Prize at the Baeksang Arts Awards and has been voted the best Korean drama of all time by countless critics. Its true achievement, however, is more profound: it shows viewers that the most epic story ever told is unfolding right here, within us.

Reply 1988 takes place on a single, unremarkable street in Seoul’s Dobong district in the late 1980s, where five families with teenage children live lives of ordinary, exquisite humanity. Reply 1988 lacks a central conflict, a supervillain, or a fateful curse, instead featuring neighbors sharing food through open doors, teenagers obsessed with cassette tapes and first loves, and parents who are equally concerned with money and each other. The plot revolves around Sung Duk-seon (Lee Hye-ri) and the four boys who grow up alongside her, one of whom will become her husband—a mystery that the show keeps until the final episode. When the finale returns to the alley for the final time with the signature voiceover, it’s laced with nostalgia and sadness that will still make you happy; the ending adds to the reasons why Reply 1988 is the best Korean drama ever made.