Susan Sarandon arrived at the 2026 Venice Film Festival looking every bit the movie legend she is, and her outfit instantly made its way onto our mood board. Rather than opting for a fancy dress or formal suit, the 79-year-old traded fussy fashion for barrel-leg pants, a.k.a. that softly rounded yet sleek silhouette that’s suddenly everywhere. She looked laid-back, relaxed and youthful, sending Us on a search for a similar budget style we could add to our wardrobes.

Sarandon has always been the epitome of cool, so it makes sense she’d show the world exactly how to rock barrel-leg pants like a pro. Styled with a white button-down, black jacket and chunky sneakers, the bottoms added a bit of playfulness without feeling over-the-top. They were also a million times more flattering than skinnies, skimming the hips and tapering just above the ankle.

Get the Egocka Barrel Ankle Pants for $35 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

The fall-friendly look works beyond important industry events, and definitely doesn’t require a stylist or a Hollywood budget to pull off. Amazon has a nearly identical pair from Egocka for $35, and the pull-on pick has a 4.4-star rating, with shoppers scooping up multiples.

Related: 13 Wide-Leg Pants That Are More Flattering Than Skinny Jeans — From $9

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It’s official: fall has arrived, and temperatures have unfortunately dropped well below shorts weather. But rather than reaching for your trusty pair of skinny jeans this year, you might want to try something different — mainly, wide-leg trousers, which are more flattering and elevated than your typical slim-fit pants. In addition to looking good, wide-leg […]

While a Sarandon-inspired black colorway is available, the same bottoms come in green, navy, coffee and more, so you can build out a whole rotation without blowing your budget. The stretchy fabric is even machine washable, saving you trips to the dry cleaners and allowing you to wear these babies on repeat.

One reviewer put it simply: “Surprisingly, I am in love with these pants. They drape perfectly and [are] very comfortable.” They noted that they bought the barrel pants in both navy and brown, and wear them everywhere from yoga to coffee runs to the casual office. Talk about versatility!

Another shopper took their pair on a two-week European vacation and called them “the real MVP,” pointing out that the pants can be styled with a T-shirt by day and a dressier top for dinner out. That’s the beauty of this shape — it reads polished with loafers and a blazer, but works just as well with sneakers and a linen tee.

Sarandon-approved, wallet-approved. . . are they in your cart yet? Add ’em now!

Get the Egocka Barrel Ankle Pants for $35 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more barrel-leg pants here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

UsNow Fall Sale Alert: These chic fashion finds are up to 60% off – plus free shipping

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Related: 17 Elevated Barrel Pants That Channel the Cool Silhouette Beyond Jeans

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Some trends stay in style much longer than we expect them to, and that’s certainly the case with barrel-leg pants. The roomy, wide-leg silhouette is the oddly flattering pants style everyone can find comfort in. And the best part? The loose shape spans beyond denim — just ask all the cool NYC girls who are […]

Sylvester Stallone is opening up about the dangerous lengths he went to while building the famously shredded physique that helped define his biggest action roles. The 80-year-old actor revealed that he struggled with bulimia and cycled steroids while preparing to play Rocky Balboa at the height of his fame. Stallone said his pursuit of physical perfection became an unhealthy “obsession” that ultimately took a “terrible toll” on him.

Sylvester Stallone Reveals His Private Bulimia Battle

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Stallone made the stunning disclosure in a New York Times profile published Saturday. While discussing the extreme physical transformations required for the “Rocky” and “Rambo” franchises, the Hollywood legend admitted that his efforts to maintain a camera-ready body eventually spiraled out of control. “Then it became an obsession,” Stallone said of sculpting his body for the blockbuster roles.

He acknowledged that his fixation became especially severe while preparing to film “Rocky III.” “Really bad. It got to the point where I became bulimic. You heard it here first,” he said. “I got down to 2.6 percent body fat when I was doing ‘Rocky III,’ and I couldn’t hold anything down. Or I didn’t want to keep it down because I became so obsessed with staying at that point of fitness, literally an obsessive body-worship kind of thing,” he told the newspaper.

Stallone said he became consumed with staying at an extreme level of fitness, even when it affected his ability or willingness to keep food down.

The Actor Says Steroids Felt ‘Mandatory’ For The Role

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Stallone also confirmed that he used steroids while preparing to portray Rocky. The actor said he completed six-week steroid cycles, which he viewed as necessary to maintain his physique over months of training and filming. “Oh, my god, you have to. But you do it in a sensitive way, six weeks on, six weeks off,” Stallone said when asked directly whether he had taken steroids. He did not identify the specific performance-enhancing drugs he used.

Stallone pushed back against the idea that actors could naturally achieve and maintain those extreme bodies while working under intense production demands. “People go, ‘Oh, you don’t get that way naturally.’ No, you don’t. But that also took a terrible toll,” he admitted.

The “Tulsa King” star said performers who were expected to stay in peak physical condition for extended periods often relied on drugs. “It isn’t as though you’re a junkie, but if you’re going to work out and try to stay in shape for six months straight, and you’re eating yogurt and pudding, it’s not happening,” he said.

‘Cop Land’ Helped Free Him From His Body Obsession

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Stallone said the 1997 crime drama “Cop Land” allowed him to begin relaxing the extreme standards he had placed on his body. The film marked a departure from the muscular action heroes that had become his trademark.

Stallone portrayed Freddy Heflin, a partially deaf New Jersey sheriff, and altered his appearance to fit the less glamorous character. The actor described the role as “somewhat liberated,” suggesting it let him focus less on maintaining the rigid physique audiences had come to expect.

However, the professional aftermath was not entirely positive. Stallone said his career went “sideways” following the film and that he “fell out of grace with Hollywood.”

Sylvester Stallone Found New Success On Television

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Stallone has been quieter on the blockbuster movie front in recent years. His last major franchise appearance came in 2023’s “Expendables 4.” That same year, Netflix released “Sly,” a biographical documentary exploring Stallone’s life and lengthy Hollywood career.

The veteran actor later appeared in the 2024 action thriller “Armor” and the 2025 crime thriller “Alarum.” Much of Stallone’s recent success has come from television through his leading role on Paramount+’s “Tulsa King.” The series stars Stallone as a Mafia boss and has given him another prominent character after decades of being associated with Rocky and Rambo.

The Action Star Was Surprised By His Trump Appointment

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Stallone also addressed President Donald Trump naming him a special Hollywood ambassador alongside Mel Gibson and Jon Voight. The actor claimed he had no advance knowledge that Trump planned to announce him for the position.

“Well, it just happened,” Stallone explained. “I was watching TV one night, and they go, ‘So Stallone and Mel Gibson and Jon Voight will be …’ And I went, ‘What?’ I said, ‘Excuse me? Really?’ Because if they had asked me in the beginning, I would have said, ‘This is not possible.’”

Stallone expressed skepticism about whether three actors could meaningfully influence Hollywood’s major studios. “Hollywood, I guess it’s like feudal states. They have their little kingdoms. You don’t go in and tell six studios how to do things. And Mel Gibson and Jon Voight, we’re kind of do-our-own-thing people. No, it won’t work,” he said.

Sandra Bullock is opening herself up to romance again three years after losing her longtime partner, Bryan Randall.

After spending years focused on healing and her family, the actress is said to be warming to the possibility of having someone new in her life.

However, Sandra Bullock is also taking things slowly, but those close to her say dating finally feels exciting again rather than something she would avoid.

Sandra Bullock’s Famous Friends Step In To Help Her Find Love Again

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Bullock has some well-known matchmakers ready to help as she takes her first steps back into dating. Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Aniston, George Clooney, and Keanu Reeves are all said to be keeping an eye out for someone who could be right for their longtime friend.

According to a source who spoke to Star Magazine, the celebrity friends have “all offered to help find someone that’s worthy of her. They’re on the case.”

Aniston may be particularly familiar with Bullock’s taste, as the two actresses both dated actor Tate Donovan in previous years.

Their matchmaking efforts will likely not require much work. “There are already some very eligible guys showing interest in Sandra,” the insider revealed. “It’s not like her friends are starting from scratch.”

Bullock has not been publicly linked to anyone since Randall died in August 2023 following his private battle with ALS. After eight years together, moving forward was understandably difficult. However, the source said she has reached a stage where meeting someone new sounds appealing again.

The Actress’s Daughter Encourages Her To Take Another Chance At Love, But She’s Not In ‘Any Sort Of Rush’

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Bullock’s friends are not the only people hoping she will give romance another chance. Her daughter, Laila, has also been encouraging her mother to put herself back out there.

During a September 3 appearance on Kylie Kelce’s “Not Gonna Lie” podcast, Bullock revealed that Laila already has some ideas about the type of man she should consider. Her daughter suggested that she try dating “a rapper” or even “a basketball player.”

The encouragement comes as Bullock gradually becomes more comfortable with the prospect of another relationship. Still, she is not treating finding a new partner as something that needs to happen immediately.

“She’s not in any sort of rush, though,” the source explained. Instead, Bullock is approaching dating with “curiosity and fun.”

Sandra Bullock Reveals She Began Grieving Randall Years Before His Death

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Although Bullock is now considering another chapter in her personal life, her grieving process began long before Randall died.

During an appearance on the “SmartLess” podcast, the actress spoke about how his ALS diagnosis changed their life together.

“I started grieving Bryan four years before he passed,” Bullock revealed, per People Magazine, explaining that Randall “was ill for half of our relationship.”

The actress described the diagnosis as a tremendous burden that the family had to navigate privately because Randall did not want his condition made public.

The Actress Revealed She Struggled Carrying Bryan Randall’s Request For Privacy

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Bullock honored Randall’s wishes, but carrying the secret was difficult. “I wasn’t allowed to speak about it. That was the request, and I tried — I honored it,” she told the podcast.

She eventually confided in a small group of trusted people, including Jennifer Aniston and Amanda Anka.

The emotional loss also began before Randall was physically gone. “My person left a lot earlier than the body left,” Bullock explained.

She admitted she did not fully process what she had experienced until after his death because she had been focused on managing his illness and helping their children through it.

After Randall’s passing, Bullock stepped away and devoted time to healing at home before feeling ready to move forward.

Sandra Bullock Is Also Ready To Make A Comeback To Hollywood

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Bullock’s willingness to embrace change is not limited to her personal life. After spending several years concentrating on her family, the Oscar winner is also making a significant return to Hollywood with the help of some familiar faces.

“Sandra is in the midst of mounting yet another comeback after years focused on her family,” a source told Star Magazine.

One of her biggest projects reunited her with Kidman for the long-awaited “Practical Magic” sequel, with the pair returning as the Owens sisters. Kidman has already spoken enthusiastically about working with Bullock again, saying, “We’re just having the best time together.”

Bullock is also set to reunite with her former “Speed” costar Reeves in a romantic thriller written by Noah Oppenheim.

She has additionally signed on for another movie that will bring her back together with “The Lost City” writer Dana Fox. Rather than navigating this return alone, Bullock is leaning more on colleagues and longtime friends as she chooses her next projects.

Ella Langley issued a very public response after a fan asked her out on a date — amid her quiet yet serious relationship with fellow country singer Tucker Wetmore.

“Ella, how many likes to take you on a date?” influencer @TikiBeen1 shouted at the “Choosin’ Texas” singer, 27, in a Friday, September 25, TikTok video from opposite sides of a fence.

Langley, who was standing with a crowd of people, succinctly replied to Tiki’s question.

“Not enough in the world,” she quipped.

Related: Tucker Wetmore and Ella Langley Have Been ‘Quietly Dating’ for Months

Tucker Wetmore finally found himself a “Brunette.” Wetmore and fellow country singer Ella Langley are seeing each other — and have been for a while, a source exclusively tells Us. “Tucker and Ella have been quietly dating for more than six months but less than a year,” the insider shares. While Wetmore, 26, grew up […]

Langley’s staunch denial comes shortly after Us confirmed her romance with Wetmore, 26.

“Tucker and Ella have been quietly dating for more than six months but less than a year,” a source exclusively told Us earlier this month. “They run in the same circles, so they met naturally through mutual connections.”

Per the insider, Wetmore and Langley’s connection began “casually” before gradually heating up.

“It started casually, so they kept it on the DL at first, but they’re more serious now,” the source added. “They’ve met some of each other’s family and friends. It’s going really well.”

The source further noted how Langley “has been grateful” for Wetmore’s “support and guidance” as her career has soared to new heights. Langley’s breakthrough single, “Choosin’ Texas,” recently broke the record for the longest-running No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

“I’m genuinely trying to find the words to help explain what’s going on in my brain,” she said in a Tuesday, September 22, Instagram video of the song’s milestone. “What? I don’t know. Thank you so much, thank you for loving this song, for listening to it. I feel like I don’t even know what to say at this point. I’m running out of hyperboles to describe how I feel.”

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Langley continued, “Thank you so much, it’s changing my life [and] it’s changing the lives of the writers of this song. It’s changing the lives of my family and it is truly growing an atmosphere for something I’m going to be able to do the rest of my life.”

Still, Langley has found that the record didn’t “feel like a real thing” just yet.

“It feels fake, and someone’s gonna come in like, ‘Ha ha, we’re kidding,’” she joked. “I’m gonna go out and celebrate tonight, and I’m really excited to just experience a moment like this in my life. I don’t know how else to say it, just thank you so much. Wow, ‘Choosin’ T?’ That’s the one.”

It looks like Jon Watts is heading back to a galaxy far, far away! The “Wolfs” filmmaker is probably best known for directing three films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: 2017’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” 2019’s “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” and 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” He is now set to direct the next film in the “Star Wars” franchise after the release of 2027’s “Star Wars: Starfighter,” directed by Shawn Levy.

The Next ‘Star Wars’ Film Seems To Already Have A Director

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Fans who have been looking forward to the next entry in the Skywalker Saga finally have a reason to rejoice! The Hollywood Reporter published a report on Saturday, September 26, saying Jon Watts will direct the first installment of the trilogy Simon Kinberg is currently writing. This would not be Watts’ first adventure into a galaxy far, far away, as he co-created the Disney+ series “Skeleton Crew” in 2024.

Although Kinberg has been working on the project since late 2024, little is known about the project right now. However, it is widely believed to be the next installment of the Skywalker Saga, consisting of Episodes X through XII. Lucasfilm has not commented at this time.

Insiders revealed that the project is still in development and has not yet received an official greenlight, which immediately made many fans think of the disappointing news surrounding “The Hunt for Ben Solo.”

Fans Have Been Wishing For Adam Driver’s Return Since ‘The Hunt For Ben Solo’ Was Canceled

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If this new installment is indeed the next chapter of the Skywalker Saga, many fans are hopeful that Adam Driver will return in some capacity. The actor played Kylo Ren/Ben Solo in the sequel trilogy. The troubled son of Han Solo and Leia Organa passed away at the end of 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker” to save Rey (Daisy Ridley) after defeating Emperor Palpatine for what seems to be the last time.

However, in October 2025, Driver shocked the world when he told the Associated Press that he had been working on a “Star Wars” film with director Steven Soderbergh for years. The film received support from Kennedy, Lucasfilm vice president Cary Beck, and then-Lucasfilm chief creative officer Dave Filoni, now Lucasfilm co-president.

“We presented the script to Lucasfilm. They loved the idea. They totally understood our angle and why we were doing it,” Driver said at the time. “We took it to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, and they said no. They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that.”

Dave Filoni Addresses Adam Driver’s Possible Return

The scrapped film prompted a fan campaign, but it remains to be seen if Lucasfilm will actually bring Driver back into the franchise. At the Disney D23 event in August 2026, Filoni was asked if they had reconsidered the fate of “The Hunt for Ben Solo.”

“We’re not making that picture right now. That’s all I can say,” he said with a Jedi hand wave.

Later that same day, Deadline asked Filoni a similar question. “It’s not here. You won’t find it here,” Filoni said when asked about Driver’s fate in the “Star Wars” franchise. “The Force is not with us in that regard. I love the love you feel for it.”

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However, it appears that Driver is still on good terms with Disney, as the actor revealed that he will be joining the new “X-Men” reboot in a sinister role.

What Kathleen Kennedy Had To Say About Simon Kinberg’s Trilogy

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During her exit interview with Deadline in January 2026, outgoing Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy said that Simon Kinberg was “working” on the new trilogy.

“He wrote something that we read in August, and it was very good, but not there. We’ve pretty much upended the story, and then spent a great deal of time on the treatment, which he finished literally about four weeks ago,” she said at the time. “And it’s a very detailed treatment, like 70 pages. And so he is expected to give us something in March.”

She went on to discuss future “Star Wars” projects. Interestingly enough, she described Steven Soderbergh’s “The Hunt for Ben Solo” as “on the back burner,” when Driver had said in October 2025 that the project was scrapped.

Kennedy Claimed Steven Soderbergh’s Film Is ‘On The Back Burner’

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“We’ve talked about this new trilogy and then the things that you’ve mentioned. Mangold’s is really on the back burner as is Soderbergh’s. I think the ones by Taika and Donald are still somewhat alive. That’s going to really be up to the new team to figure out,” she said.

“Dave, I know that Dave and Lynwen are very much on board with what Simon’s doing, and that would be a new trilogy,” she continued. “In the timeline of things, that takes you well into 2030 plus. So that’s really what’s up next.”

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Fortunately, fans won’t have to wait long to head to theaters to see a new “Star Wars” movie, as “Starfighter,” starring Ryan Gosling, will be released in May 2027.

One of HBO’s biggest and soapiest costume dramas is headed back to the channel in a little over a month. It’s been more than a year since the series last graced HBO and its streaming service, HBO Max, but this season promises to be bigger and grander than those that came before it. Plus, there’s another project coming from the show’s illustrious cast that may brighten your holiday season.

The Gilded Age stars Morgan Spector and Carrie Coon as George and Bertha Russell, a robber baron and his socialite wife, as they make their way up and down the social ladder of 1880s New York City. The new money Russells are contrasted with their neighbors, “old money” dowager sisters Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Forte (Cynthia Nixon), who have taken in their orphaned niece, Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson). The series is set to return to HBO for Season 4 on November 1.

However, that’s not the only Gilded Age project coming your way this fall. Playbill reports that the cast of the series has recorded a holiday album, Voices of the Gilded Age: The Christmas Album. While the series has yet to spring a musical episode on its viewers, it’s no great surprise that the cast of the series have great pipes, as many of them are Broadway veterans. It is produced by Grammy-winner Desmond Child, and will feature both traditional Christmas tunes and new compositions. It will be released by Concord Theatricals Recordings on November 6, five days after The Gilded Age‘s season premiere, and can be pre-ordered on digital, CD, or vinyl here.

Who Will Be Featured on ‘Voices of the Gilded Age: The Christmas Album’?

Coon and Spector will be on the album, reciting the classic poem “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” while Baranski will provide her rendition of “We Need a Little Christmas.” Also featured on the album are Denée Benton dueting with Jordan Donica; a trio performance from Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, and Kelli O’Hara; plus Laura Benanti, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Taylor Richardson, Taylor Trensch, and Adrienne Warren.

Voices of the Gilded Age: The Christmas Album will be released on digital, CD, and vinyl on November 6. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.

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Release Date

January 24, 2022

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Network

HBO Max

Directors

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Deborah Kampmeier, Salli Richardson-Whitfield

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• 
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  Morgan Spector

  George Russell

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Horror literature has had a powerful grip on the popular consciousness for literally centuries. From their origins as cheap popular fiction to the greatest heights of literary renown that they enjoy today, horror books have come a long way, giving us some truly terrifying nightmares in the process. But though horror is a massively successful genre that gives rise to countless new works every year, only a handful of horror books are truly perfect.

With flawless execution from the first page to the last, these perfect horror novels are unmatched masterpieces that have had a huge impact on popular culture, shaping the evolution of the genre as a whole. They may not all be equally famous, but they are all masterworks of fear and tension that you simply must read. Without further ado, here’s a look at our selection of horror books that are perfect from start to finish.

1

‘The Haunting of Hill House’ (1959)

Image via Penguin Classics

Written by Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House is a Gothic horror novel that’s easily one of the most influential haunted house stories of modern literature. The story follows a paranormal investigator who rents the titular mansion for the summer and invites guests who have a history with the supernatural. As eerie events begin to take place at the mansion, the visitors find themselves pushed to the limits of their sanity.

The Haunting of Hill House was highly acclaimed in its day, becoming a finalist for the National Book Award. Widely regarded as one of the finest horror books of all time, it’s a masterfully executed haunted house story that’s a landmark of 20th-century psychological Gothic horror. The story derives its terrors not just from external elements but from within its characters, walking the line between supernatural horror and psychological mystery. The novel cemented Jackson’s reputation as a horror master, and it has since been an inspiration for films, plays, radio shows, and Mike Flanagan’s acclaimed streaming series.

2

‘The Shining’ (1977)

Image via Vintage

Written by Stephen King, The Shining is an iconic horror novel that follows Jack Torrance, a struggling writer and recovering alcoholic, who gets a job as the off-season caretaker at an isolated hotel in the Colorado Rockies. He moves in with his wife, Wendy, and their son, Danny, hoping to reconnect with his family and get over his creative block. But what Jack and Wendy don’t know is that Danny has a rare psychic ability that allows him to see the horrifying evil infecting the hotel, which soon takes possession of Jack’s mind.

Easily one of the most famous horror novels of all time, The Shining is a critically acclaimed bestseller that went on to become a massive literary and cultural landmark. Partially inspired by King’s personal experiences, the novel explores abuse, addiction, and psychological collapse through the vehicle of an enigmatic horror that’s part haunted house, part Lovecraftian force. Widely acknowledged as one of King’s greatest horror masterpieces, The Shining established the prolific author’s reputation as a master of the genre and has inspired multiple adaptations, most famously the 1980 film by Stanley Kubrick.

3

‘Dracula’ (1897)

Image via Archibald Constable and Company

Bram Stoker’s Dracula is easily the most famous vampire story of all time, across all media. The novel, presented in an epistolary format, follows a number of characters whose paths cross with that of the titular Transylvanian Count, leading to horrific outcomes. It primarily follows English solicitor Jonathan Harker, who visits Count Dracula’s castle for business and first discovers his true nature. Later, when the Count arrives in England, he terrorizes Harker’s fiancée, Mina, drawing the attention of Dutch occultist Abraham Van Helsing.

A literary landmark that has haunted readers’ minds for centuries, Dracula has played a greater part than any other novel in creating the modern conception of a vampire, defining the trope for generations to come. The book has been studied both as a literary triumph and a key artifact of Victorian history that reveals much about the racial, religious, and social perceptions of the era. Scholarly interests aside, the novel is also highly entertaining, with a terrifying narrative that uses an effective balance of gore and psychological corruption, inspiring numerous adaptations.

4

‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1988)

Image via St. Martin’s Press

Thomas Harris’s 1988 sequel to his first Hannibal Lecter novel, Red Dragon, The Silence of the Lambs is a horror-crime thriller that continues the story of Harris’s iconic cannibal/psychiatrist. The sequel sees Lecter match his wits against FBI trainee Clarice Starling, who’s hoping to use his insights to catch a new serial killer known as “Buffalo Bill.” The investigation is further complicated by the actions of Lecter’s self-styled nemesis Dr. Frederick Chilton, who runs the asylum where Lecter is imprisoned.

Easily the most famous installment of Harris’s Hannibal Lecter series, The Silence of the Lambs was an acclaimed bestseller in its day, even though it also attracted controversy for its alleged transphobic themes. Whether the controversy is valid or not is highly debatable, but it doesn’t change the fact that the novel is a thoroughly gripping masterpiece with impeccable psychological thrills. The book achieved even greater heights of popularity after the film adaptation by Jonathan Demme was released in 1991, which holds the distinction of being the only horror film to win the Oscar for Best Picture and the third and last movie to sweep all the “Big Five” Oscars.

5

‘House of Leaves’ (2000)

Image via Pantheon Books

The debut novel of author Mark Z. Danielewski, House of Leaves is an experimental book that uses a mix of epistolary fiction and metafiction to create a truly unique reading experience that defies usual conventions of book design. The plot, such as it is, follows the narrator, Johnny Truant, as he attempts to transcribe a monograph, which in turn describes a fictional documentary film about a family who discovers a labyrinthine house that’s bigger on the inside. The novel also includes academic-style exhibits, appendices, an index, and numerous footnotes, all of which are fictional and part of the overall narrative experience.

The strange and experimental nature of the book makes House of Leaves rather hard to pin down in terms of genre, though it’s most commonly described as a horror and/or romance story. Published in 2000, the book has received critical acclaim and has had massive sales, with a recent resurgence of interest in horror circles online. It’s arguably the most influential horror novel of the 21st century and a book that’s sure to be remembered as a classic in the decades to come.

6

‘Mexican Gothic’ (2020)

Image via Del Rey

Written by Mexican Canadian author Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Mexican Gothic is a gothic horror novel that follows a young woman in 1950s Mexico. When her cousin Catalina claims that her English husband, Virgil Doyle, is trying to kill her, wealthy socialite Noemí Taboada visits her to investigate. But when she arrives at the Doyles’ mountain home, Noemí discovers a far darker conspiracy than she could ever have imagined, as well as an unexpected romance that could prove her doom.

Published in 2020, Mexican Gothic earned widespread acclaim and landed on multiple bestseller lists. A haunting Gothic mystery with elements of sci-fi horror, post-colonial criticism, and dark romance, it’s an engaging and layered story that’s perfect for fans of writers like Daphne du Maurier and Shirley Jackson. The novel also received numerous accolades, including the Locus Award for Best Horror Novel and the British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel, and was shortlisted for a Bram Stoker Award, a Nebula Award, and a Shirley Jackson Award.

7

‘Frankenstein’ (1818)

Image via Castlesync

The legendary debut novel of Mary Shelley, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, better known as just Frankenstein, is a landmark book that’s considered the first true science fiction horror novel. The book follows the story of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, an obsessive young scientist whose unconventional experiments lead to the creation of new life from the body parts of the dead. This creation, however, horrifies its creator, leading to tragic and shocking consequences.

Part Gothic, part Romantic, and utterly original, Frankenstein is widely regarded as a cornerstone of horror literature and a book that has had a profound impact on the popular consciousness. Its story may be intimately familiar to most readers today, but it’s still a thoroughly fascinating read, exploring the cost of unbridled ambition in a timeless narrative that feels eternally relevant. Since its publication, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus has had a transformative impact on the horror genre, inspiring many adaptations, parodies, and homages across media.

8

‘The Exorcist’ (1971)

You certainly know the movie, even if you didn’t realize it was based on a book! William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist is a 1971 horror novel allegedly inspired by a real-life incident. The book follows the story of 12-year-old Regan, the daughter of a famous actress, who gets possessed by a demon. Two Roman Catholic priests attempt to exorcise the evil power, but it takes a terrible toll on their minds, bodies, and souls. Blatty later earned an Academy Award for his screenplay, adapting the novel as the supernatural horror thriller film directed by William Friedkin.

The Exorcist’s publication was quite a moment in the pop culture of the time, earning critical acclaim and utterly terrifying the reading public. It received greater attention with the release of the film, another horror landmark, which then inspired multiple sequels, but the original novel is arguably where the story is at its most potent. Combining deep psychological realism and grounded subjects like theological controversies and human grief with paranormal terror, the novel is an absolute masterpiece of demonic horror.

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Release Date

December 26, 1973

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Runtime

122 minutes

Writers

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William Peter Blatty

Producers

Noel Marshall

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2019’s The Rise of Skywalker may not have been the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga, after all. The nine-film Star Wars epic now looks like it’s going up to twelve, as Lucasfilm and parent company Disney prepare a new trilogy of movies. And while the company’s future plans have largely been cloaked in shadow, it now looks like they’re one step closer to yelling “Action!”

The new trilogy will be penned by Simon Kinberg, who was first attached to the project in 2024. Kinberg has penned a number of X-Men movies, co-created the animated series Star Wars: Rebels, and also served as a creative consultant on the first movie of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, The Force Awakens. Very little has been revealed about the upcoming films, but they will apparently continue the story that concluded in Rise of Skywalker. It is expected that Rey Skywalker (Daisy Ridley), the heroine of the previous trilogy, will appear in the new films; whether any of her cohorts will return as well remains to be seen.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jon Watts is now attached to direct the first film of the proposed trilogy. Watts, who made his directorial debut with the horror feature Clown, is no stranger to blockbuster filmmaking: he helmed three Spider-Man movies for Sony and Disney, all of which dominated the box office. He’s also no stranger to Star Wars: he wrote, produced, and directed the Disney+ series Skeleton Crew, which premiered in 2024. His most recent directorial effort was the Brad Pitt–George Clooney comedy thriller Wolfs.

What’s Next For ‘Star Wars’ on the Big Screen?

Next year, with Star Wars celebrating fifty years since its 1977 debut, the silver screen will be full of stars. February 19, 2027, will see the original Star Wars movie, A New Hope, return to the big screen for the first time in thirty years; it will be presented in an all-new restoration of the film’s original theatrical cut. And later in the year, Star Wars: Starfighter, an all-new Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, will premiere on May 28, 2027. Both films will be released not just in standard theaters, but in super-sized IMAX screens, as well.

A new Star Wars trilogy is in development. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.

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Release Date

December 16, 2019

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Runtime

142 minutes

Writers

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Chris Terrio, J.J. Abrams, Derek Connolly, Colin Trevorrow

Producers

Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, J.J. Abrams

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The reason J.K. Rowling‘s Harry Potter franchise is still so culturally significant is that readers never really wanted to leave its world. Hogwarts is still this magical, comfortable place that feels like it actually exists. The lessons, rivalries, traditions, hidden rooms, and so many other small details made the world feel lived-in instead of just simply invented for the plot.

That is an incredibly difficult feeling for another fantasy series to recreate, but a handful of modern books have managed to capture the same level of wonder in completely different ways. These modern fantasy books and series may not be Harry Potter, but they understand exactly why readers fell in love with it in the first place.

The ‘Nevermoor’ Series (2017–2025)

Image via Orion Children’s Books

Jessica Townsend‘s Nevermoor series is bound to give readers that same cozy feeling that Harry Potter is known for. The fantasy books follow Morrigan Crow, a girl born on an unlucky day and blamed for practically every misfortune that happens around her. What’s worse is that she is expected to die on her eleventh birthday. However, the eccentric Jupiter North appears, rescues her at the last possible moment, and takes her to Nevermoor — a hidden city filled with impossible hotels, strange creatures, secret societies, and magic that seems to operate by its own rules. Morrigan soon gets the chance to compete for a place in the prestigious Wundrous Society, although passing its trials means proving she possesses a talent nobody seems able to identify.

That setup naturally invites comparisons to Harry Potter, but Nevermore creates its own magical world that feels entirely distinct. The later books are especially important in proving that, as Morrigan begins to fully explore the dangerous abilities she has spent most of her life being taught to fear. Every book pushes the mythology further, and that progression is what makes the Nevermore series feel much bigger than its initially familiar premise. There’s no denying that Townsend captured the very same sentiment that Rowling did with Harry Potter, but Nevermore eventually developed enough imagination, mystery, and personality to carve out a space of its own in the genre.

The ‘Legacy of Orïsha’ Trilogy (2018–2024)

Image via Macmillan

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi opens the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy in a world where magic has already been taken away. The story begins with Zélie Adebola, who remembers when the maji of Orïsha could command everything from fire and water to life and death, but King Saran’s violent campaign against them wiped out an entire generation, including Zélie’s mother. Years later, a chance encounter with runaway princess Amari allows Zélie to restore that magic. This sends the two across Orïsha while Crown Prince Inan hunts them down. The first book works especially well because Adeyemi directly ties this world’s magic to ancestry, identity, and power. Zélie’s fight is about reclaiming something that was violently taken from her family and her people, which roots all the fantasy and spectacle in something that feels real.

The series continues with Children of Virtue and Vengeance and Children of Anguish and Anarchy, which expand the conflict and explore what happens after magic returns to Orïsha. Across all three books, Adeyemi keeps building on the same world instead of simply repeating the first novel’s formula. The author creates a world with its own rich history, social divisions, and rules that keep getting more complicated as the characters grow. Adeyemi always leaves another corner of the world to uncover, while West African mythology and Yoruba-inspired culture give the series a distinct identity.

The ‘Supernatural Investigations’ Series (2021–2026)

Image via Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins

B.B. Alston‘s Supernatural Investigations series begins with Amari and the Night Brothers, where thirteen-year-old Amari Peters tries to understand the disappearance of her older brother, Quinton. Her search leads her to a hidden briefcase, and eventually the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, an organization responsible for everything from magicians and mermaids to creatures most people do not even know exist. Amari joins its summer training program hoping to find answers about Quinton, but she immediately stands out for all the wrong reasons when her supernatural ability is revealed to be something the Bureau considers dangerous. The series keeps expanding in the most interesting directions from there. Amari and the Great Game places the protagonist in the middle of a much larger conflict over the future of magicians, while Amari and the Despicable Wonders turns that tension into open war.

The fourth book, Amari and the Metalwork Menace, pushes the story forward again with a new threat that begins turning people into machines. Supernatural Investigations never gets boring because the Bureau is full of strange departments, hidden rules, rival students, magical creatures, and corners of the supernatural world that Amari is discovering at the same time as the reader. That keeps the world from ever feeling simple, especially since Amari is navigating all this while also being judged for the way she is. Alston’s work is at its best when Amari’s status as a magician turns the Bureau from a place of wonder into something she has to constantly challenge, especially as she realizes its rules were never built with people like her in mind.

The ‘School for Good and Evil’ Series (2013–2023)

Image via HarperCollins

Soman Chainani‘s The School for Good and Evil follows best friends Sophie and Agatha, who are taken from their village to a mysterious school where children are trained to become the heroes and villains of future fairy tales. Sophie has spent her whole life believing she belongs in the School for Good, while Agatha seems like an obvious fit for Evil. Naturally, they are placed in the opposite schools. That becomes the foundation for the entire story, as both girls try to prove they have been put in the wrong place while slowly realizing that the labels of “good” and “evil” are much less reliable than they expected. The school itself is packed with strange classes, magical trials, rival students, and fairy-tale traditions that make it easy to understand why readers get so invested in the world.

What gives the series real staying power, though, is how far it pushes that original idea. Chainani keeps changing the rules of the world. The story expands way beyond the school and into the territories its students are eventually meant to enter. At the same time, Sophie and Agatha’s friendship becomes increasingly complicated as both discover that being good or evil has much more to do with choices than appearances. That gives the books a sharper edge than the whimsical setup initially suggests. The School for Good and Evil has the same kind of addictive appeal as Harry Potter because readers get to immerse themselves in a fascinating magical institution, but the real hook is watching all its rules slowly fall apart.

The ‘Keeper of the Lost Cities’ Series (2012–2024)

Image via Aladdin

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger begins with twelve-year-old Sophie Foster, a human girl who has spent most of her life hiding the fact that she can read minds. Everything changes when she meets Fitz Vacker, another Telepath who reveals that Sophie is actually an elf and belongs in the Lost Cities, a hidden civilization she never knew existed. Sophie then leaves her human family behind, enrolls at Foxfire, and finally finds people with abilities like hers. However, fitting in does not suddenly become easy because Sophie’s powers are unusually strong, and a mysterious organization known as the Black Swan seems to know far more about who she is than she does.

The intrigue around that is what drives the story. Sophie soon discovers that her existence is connected to plans that began long before she arrived in the Lost Cities, while another organization, the Neverseen, suddenly becomes a dangerous threat. Her search for answers pulls Fitz, Biana, Dex, Keefe, and the rest of her friends into kidnappings, secret hideouts, political conflicts, and discoveries that expose uncomfortable truths about the supposedly perfect elven world. This progression of events is addictive since one mystery almost always leads to another. However, Messenger keeps that mystery running alongside the friendships and rivalries readers become attached to, so her enormous world never feels overwhelming.

The ‘Grishaverse’ Series (2012–2021)

Image via Henry Holt and Co.

Leigh Bardugo‘s Grishaverse has taken over BookTok, and it’s easy to understand why the books blew up almost overnight. The story begins in Shadow and Bone and follows orphan Alina Starkov, who is serving in Ravka’s army when she discovers that she is a Sun Summoner, the one Grisha who might actually be capable of destroying the Fold. This brings her into the world of Ravka’s magical elite and directly under the influence of the Darkling. Across Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising, that discovery grows into a much larger fight over Ravka itself, as Alina learns that becoming the person everyone expects to save the country comes with its own dangers.

What makes the Grishaverse especially impressive, though, is what happens after that story ends. Six of Crows moves two years forward and leaves Ravka behind for Ketterdam, where criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker assembles Inej, Jesper, Nina, Matthias, and Wylan for an almost impossible heist. The magic is still there, but suddenly Bardugo is using the same world to tell a crime thriller story complete with rival gangs and elaborate schemes. Then the King of Scars duology returns to Ravka through Nikolai Lantsov, Zoya Nazyalensky, and Nina Zenik and connects consequences of both earlier series while pushing the Grisha conflict into politics, war, and questions about what Ravka can become after everything it has survived. Bardugo delivers a masterclass in interconnected storytelling that makes one magical community feel enormous and layered. No single character, city, or even genre is big enough to contain the Grishaverse, and that is what makes it such a treat to read.

The ‘Scholomance’ Trilogy (2020–2022)

Image via Del Rey

Naomi Novik’s Scholomance trilogy begins with A Deadly Education. The story follows Galadriel “El” Higgins, a student trapped inside a magical school where graduating is less about passing exams and more about surviving long enough to reach the exit. The Scholomance has no teachers, almost no adult supervision, and is constantly invaded by monsters known as maleficaria that feed on young wizards. El is especially dangerous because her natural talent leans toward destructive magic, which means everyone assumes she is destined to become some kind of dark sorceress. The one person who keeps complicating that reputation is Orion Lake, a ridiculously powerful student who has made a habit of saving everyone around him.

The setup is great, but the trilogy gets so much more interesting than its deadly magic school premise when Novik starts revealing why the system works this way in the first place. Wealthy magical families live in protected enclaves and have access to resources that ordinary students can only dream of, while everyone else survives by making alliances, trading favors, and hoping they are useful enough to someone stronger. The story gradually reveals how inequality inside the Scholomance was only a smaller version of how the wider magical world operates. The Scholomance trilogy takes the familiar excitement of a magical school and asks what that world would actually look like if safety, education, and power were distributed according to wealth, much like they are in the real world. That makes the trilogy darker than Harry Potter, but it still captures the same addictive feeling of getting lost in a hidden magical society where every new rule reveals something more unsettling.

The ‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians’ Series (2005–2024)

Image via Hyperion Books

Rick Riordan‘s Percy Jackson & the Olympians begins with The Lightning Thief, where twelve-year-old Percy Jackson discovers that the Greek gods are real, and Poseidon is his father. Percy is then taken to Camp Half-Blood, a refuge for demigods where he finally meets other kids dealing with the same monsters, powers, and complicated divine parents. Soon enough, he is sent across the United States with Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood to recover Zeus’ stolen master bolt and prevent a war between the gods. That first quest opens the door to a much larger story.

Each book introduces another piece of Greek mythology while gradually building toward the return of Kronos, with Luke Castellan’s betrayal becoming one of the series’ most important threads. Percy and his friends fight everything from the Minotaur and Medusa to Titans, monsters, and gods, but Riordan ensures that the mythology remains accessible. He takes stories that are thousands of years old and drops them into modern America, where Mount Olympus sits above Manhattan, the entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles, and ancient monsters keep finding new ways to blend into everyday life. This balance between ancient mythology and modern humor is what turned Percy Jackson into such a lasting pop-culture phenomenon.

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Percy Jackson & the Olympians

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Release Date

December 19, 2023

Network

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Disney+

Showrunner

Jonathan E. Steinberg, Dan Shotz

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  Walker Scobell

  Percy Jackson

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  Leah Sava Jeffries

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  Annabeth Chase

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