Netflix has officially revealed that its upcoming reality competition series, Wonka’s The Golden Ticket, will premiere on September 23, and one of its biggest surprises is already generating plenty of discussion. The streamer has recreated the iconic voice of Gene Wilder using artificial intelligence, allowing the legendary actor’s portrayal of Willy Wonka to guide contestants throughout the series.

According to Netflix, the AI-generated voice was created in partnership with ElevenLabs and, importantly, with the full approval of Gene Wilder’s estate. The series is inspired by both the beloved 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and Roald Dahl’s classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Contestants who earn a coveted Golden Ticket will compete in a series of physical, mental, and moral challenges inside a recreation of Wonka’s magical factory.

Karen B. Wilder, speaking on behalf of the Gene Wilder estate, shared her support for the project:

“More than five decades after Gene brought Willy Wonka to life, people of all ages and backgrounds around the world continue to find joy, laughter and inspiration in his performance. Gene had a remarkable ability to bring humor, wonder and heart into people’s lives, and that connection has endured for generations. We are delighted that Wonka’s The Golden Ticket celebrates the warmth and imagination that he brought to the role, introducing that magic to a new generation while honoring the fans who have cherished it for decades.”

The series will also feature Rusty Goffe, who portrayed one of the original Oompa Loompas in the 1971 film, adding another nostalgic connection to the beloved classic. While the use of AI to recreate performances remains a controversial topic across Hollywood, Netflix’s collaboration with Wilder’s estate is likely to be a major talking point leading up to the show’s premiere.

Kelly Price isn’t having it after fans reportedly called her out for watching Brian McKnight perform during the Season of Love Part 2: R&B Edition concert on Saturday, June 27. Both singers were on hand to perform at the event in Nassau, Bahamas, and folks did not appreciate seeing Price give McKnight his flowers amid his unfortunate family drama.

RELATED: Julie McKnight & Brian McKnight Jr. Share Heartfelt Tributes On One-Year Anniversary Of Nikos Passing (PHOTOS)

Kelly Price Claps Back After Being Roasted By Fans Over Brian McKnight

Price shared footage of herself watching McKnight’s performance with her fans on Instagram, but things quickly took a turn when folks called foul. McKnight faced criticism for failing to support his son, Niko McKnight, as he was dying from cancer last year. 

The father and son were estranged when Niko died in May of 2025 at the age of 32. The ‘One Last Cry’ artist has long been canceled by many fans for his part in the family drama, and Price caught strays after she watched his performance on Saturday. LiveBitz captured the Instagram Story and shared the video on June 28.

“I just wanna say don’t come in here talkin’ garbage,” said Price. “This is my concert tonight, too…. I don’t get to be in the audience at concerts.”

Price added that she was merely supporting other artists, and she wasn’t here for the negative comments.

Things Quickly Went Left As Fans Dragged Price, Again

As TSR previously reported, Price faced her own issues with fans last year after she went off on a rant about Black women being her worst critics. Fans were quick to critique the 53-year-old singer again after she shared the video, and they did not mince words in their replies.

User @shadowofobsidian wrote, “Kelly, log off. We don’t need you either.”

@ivery2139 replied, “Y’all know she got issues too!!!🤷🏾‍♀️.”

@derwinking wondered, “well, why does she feel the strong urge to justify it?”

Other responses were a bit more…spicy.

User @peewee_450 wrote, “I gotta a shoe for you and him stfu.”

@feb4thfab echoed the sentiment. “Stfu Kelly 😂😂😂 Yo ass weird too…”

@heischarles joked, “She should be happy to get a comment!”

Brian McKnight’s Ex-Wife & Eldest Son Paid Tribute To Niko McKnight

More recently, Brian McKnight’s ex-wife, Julie, and eldest son, Brian McKnight Jr., paid tribute to Niko McKnight. As The Shade Room previously reported, May 30 marked the one-year anniversary of Niko’s passing. This, after he passed from cancer.

Furthermore, Julie and Brian Jr. both took to social media with heartfelt posts. This, while Brian McKnight continued to appear silent.

RELATED: Brian McKnight Files Lawsuit Against Julie McKnight, Brian Jr. & More Over Claims About His Relationship With Late Son Niko

By Jacob VanGundy
| Published 40 seconds ago

Netflix brought together some of Hollywood’s biggest names for the 2021 action comedy, Red Notice. Despite a tepid critical reception, the movie dominated the streaming platform’s viewership when it came out. The movie has gained a reputation as a light, fun, mindless action comedy popular enough that multiple sequels have entered development. 

Two Thieves, An FBI Agent, And A Huge Budget

Red Notice centers around a series of heists and cons as various characters try to acquire an ancient set of bejeweled eggs that belonged to Cleopatra. The movie’s three central characters are the world-famous thief, Nolan Booth, his rival Sarah Black, and an FBI profiler named John Hartley.

The three engage in a series of temporary alliances, double-crosses, and deceptions with each other as they each try to acquire the eggs. 

The cast is what makes Red Notice noteworthy, with its three leads each being played by an A-list actor. Nolan Booth is played by Ryan Reynolds, Sarah Black by Gal Gadot, and John Hartley by Dwayne Johnson. Seeing these mega-stars acting together is the movie’s main draw. 

Released in 2021, Red Notice was originally planned as a Universal movie but was acquired by Netflix, receiving a limited theatrical release. It dominated the streaming platform, becoming the most-watched debut weekend in Netflix history.

It was the 5th most-watched movie on Netflix in 2021, making it a huge hit for the company as an exclusive film. Due to the unusual way the movie came to Netflix, it has a much higher budget than most Netflix-exclusive movies. Costing $200 million, Red Notice was the most expensive Netflix movie at the time, though it was later unseated by The Gray Man in 2022. This budget is reflected in the cast and explosive action sequences. 

Critics Didn’t Like It

In addition to its huge budget the production of Red Notice is noteworthy because it was produced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic created major problems for the movie, which was filmed in both Atlanta, Georgia and Rome.

Production was halted completely for some time and the portion filmed in Italy was significantly delayed. 

Despite its popularity on Netflix, Red Notice was a huge flop among critics. The film has a 36 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with the writing being the most heavily criticized element, particularly the movie’s unbelievable plot. Despite overall poor reviews, the performances, action sequences, and comedy were fairly well received and often praised even in negative reviews. 

Red Notice’s success has prompted the greenlighting of two sequels, being made back-to-back. These sequels are currently in the writing stage, with one script finished and the other still being written. It’s been claimed that these sequels will add more stars to make the franchise a growing ensemble venture. 

Due to its time of release and the fact that it was a Netflix original movie, Red Notice became one of the standout movies of the pandemic. While some of its success is likely a result of those circumstances, the chemistry and skill of its all-star cast may have made it a hit under any circumstances.

Red Notice is a fun, star-studded, action comedy mega-hit, that is still available on Netflix.

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy would have no problem hiring Dianna Russini after the fallout surrounding her alleged relationship with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. 

“No-brainer, if she wanted to work here, we’d do it,” Portnoy, 49, exclusively told Us Weekly while promoting his memoir, Cancel Me If You Can, which was released Tuesday, June 30.

Russini, 43, resigned from her job as The Athletic’s senior NFL insider in April after photos emerged of her and Vrabel, 50, together at an Arizona resort. Russini and Vrabel were seen in subsequently published photos and videos dating back as far as March 2020, when they were photographed kissing at a New York City bar. 

Vrabel has been married to his wife, Jen, since 1999. Russini married her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt, in September 2020. 

While Portnoy acknowledged the optics of Russini’s relationship with Vrabel are “bad,” he also argued “an affair is not like a murder.”

Russini has never publicly admitted to having anything other than a professional relationship with Vrabel. Similarly, Vrabel has also never explicitly confirmed they had an affair.

“She’ll land somewhere, and you know, if people who have affairs are never allowed to work again in this country, you’re gonna lose a significant amount of the workforce,” Portnoy added. “It is obviously really sad, but at the same time, that’s not like a capital offense that should end somebody’s professional career.”

The New York Times reported on June 24 that Russini called herself “a former reporter” when texted about a potential interview. “This has had a significant impact on my life, both professionally and personally,” she told the Times. 

An investigation into Russini’s professional conduct by her former employer remains ongoing. 

“It’s going to take a few more weeks,” senior editor Steven Ginsberg told staff members on June 7, according to Page Six. “There’s just a lot to go through, and we obviously want to take our time and be careful doing that. We will update everybody when we get to the end of that. We’ve also said that if we find anything that needs to be corrected, we will correct it along the way.”

The Athletic launched their investigation on April 11, four days after the first photos of Russini and Vrabel were published. 

In her resignation letter, Russini said she had “covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career.”

“Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete,” she wrote. “It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.”

Russini added, “Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”

Related: Mike Vrabel Poses With Wife Jen as Their Son Tyler Announces His Engagement

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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and his wife, Jen, posed together in celebration of their son Tyler’s engagement, in the shadow of the head coach’s scandal involving NFL reporter Dianna Russini.  “The most perfect engagement surrounded by the people I love most,” Tyler’s fiancée, Mariah Romano, shared via Instagram on Sunday, June 7.  […]

When it comes to Portnoy’s latest career move, he told Us that the idea for his book was born out of something very specific.

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“I never really thought about books, but for some reason the thought — and it’s probably due to my age — but the thought of walking in an airport and seeing my book on a window or my book in a little bookstore appealed to me,” he explained. “I don’t think I knew how much work it would end up being, and I probably wouldn’t have agreed to do it again if I had to start over.”

He continued, “I’m glad I did it. It’s a pretty good memoir of a pretty crazy story, but yeah, I really think the end product appealed to me. It’s something we’ve never done. We’ve done a lot of other things, but books? Never. For whatever reason it captured my attention when it was brought to me.”

Cancel Me If You Can is available now wherever books are sold.

On 90 Day Fiance, Paula Barbosa can’t manifest what she needs from Thomas Dintino and confides to neighbors she doesn’t want to live like a refugee. Edward Miguel Gomez learns the hard way that appearances matter to Marissa Rubinetti. Rasit and Mallorie share an emotional moment. And Shea McGuire’s daughter throws him under the bus. Let’s break it all down in this recap of Season 12, Episode 8: “Love Is A Work In Progress.”

90 Day Fiance: Paula Just Wants to Feel at Home

Paula Barbosa gets emotional looking at her miniature cooking set. Thomas Dintino doesn’t share her sentiment. He considers her hobby a waste of money. Paula used the credit card he gave her to purchase several things online, including a miniature sofa that she hopes to manifest a full-size one for the apartment. She leaves the apartment in frustration to visit her neighbors Felix and Anderson. Paula Barbosa is stunned by their furnished space.

She loves the decor of the place and the fact that there’s an actual kitchen table. She explains her frustrations with Thomas Dintino’s lack of empathy and furniture. The guys agree that Thomas can be a little “challenging.” Paula Barbosa confides that she just wants to feel welcome and cared for. And if things don’t change she will return to Brazil. She’s tired of eating on her knees at a camping table and doesn’t feel Thomas is giving enough.

Later on 90 Day Fiance, Paula Barbosa and Thomas Dintino rollerblade. They stop for a sorbet break and discuss the lack of closet space he provided. Thomas seems tone deaf to Paula’s needs, suggesting the small closet is enough for her. Paula gets upset and reveals she is considering going back to Brazil. Thomas is surprised and pulls her close, suggesting this is an overreaction. But Paula Barbosa is clearly fed up.

90 Day Fiance: Edward Gets Schooled in Suburban Life

Edward Miguel Gomez is trying his best to fit in to Marissa Rubinetti’s world. The 90 Day Fiance couple come from vastly different worlds. And since he really can’t work yet, he’s doing some work around the house. Tasked to fix a fence, he does a good job, but then he confiscates some molding from the living room. He renders the fence unable to open. And Marissa is upset and scolds Edward for his handyman fail.

Edward protests that he doesn’t care what other people think. But Marissa certainly does, especially in her well-manicured suburban neighborhood. Marissa has doubts about their future if Edward can’t step up. She feels like he’s another kid to her. His feelings are hurt by the accusation. So, she plans a trip to New York City for them so he can experience the Big Apple and they can have some fun.

90 Day Fiance: Rasit and Mallorie Revisit Her Car Accident

Rasit scrubs dishes in the sink on 90 Day Fiance. He is irritated that Mallorie didn’t wash them the night before. Cleaning has become an issue for the couple. Rasit is used to living in a household where cleaning is pretty constant, while Mallorie takes a more laid-back approach. On the subject of cleanliness, the couple are about to shop for a bidet, since it’s important to Rasit for them both to have good hygiene.

On the way to bidet shopping, Mallorie eats a breakfast sandwich and Rasit grabs it for a taste, not realizing there was bacon on it. Rasit is Muslim and doesn’t eat pork. He spits it out and Mallorie finds it dramatic but funny. Mallorie mentions that they aren’t far from the scene of her accident. Rasit wants to see where it happened. They are both emotional and he admits if he had lost her there isn’t anybody he would want to marry.

On 90 Day Fiance, shopping for bidets proves entertaining and expensive. Rasit thinks Mallorie should drop a grand for a high-end bidet. But Mallorie resists, suggesting it’s not a priority. He wants her to dip into the settlement money she got from the accident. But she explains she invested it so it’s not easy to access. Rasit insists the bidet is a necessity and that she should listen to him. But she’s not budging.

90 Day Fiance: Shea Has Some Secrets in His Shed

Annabelle Chua has been pretty forgiving of Shea McGuire’s party lifestyle and flirty ways. She’s also got him on a health plan. She prepares a fresh smoothie for his breakfast. And he admits he’s enjoying the frozen fruity concoction. He’s doing less hanging out with the boys downing beers and admits he feels slimmer already. But Annabelle suggests he’s got a long way to go. They jump in the truck to go meet his daughter Allison at the grocery store.

Allison is feeling a little left out on 90 Day Fiance. While she likes Annabelle, she feels like she takes up a lot of her dad’s time and energy. So she stirs the pot a little. She brings up Shea’s ex-wife Nicole and the fact that her things are still in the shed in Shea’s backyard. Annabelle is furious, demanding that Shea tell Nicole to get her things ASAP. Shea takes Allison aside and suggests she quit throwing him under the bus.

Later, Shea McGuire shows Annabelle Chua the contents of the shed. It’s mostly furniture. Shea calls Nicole to come get it. But she asks that he sell it for her. This angers Annabelle and she seeks answers from Allison, who admits that for the last four years while her dad was engaged to Annabelle, he hung out with Nicole and even tells her he loves her. Although she never saw them kiss or hold hands. This is quite a blow to Annabelle. And now she’s not sure if she wants to marry Shea.

90 Day Fiance: Catie Makes a Fool of Josh

At Catie Norboe’s birthday party, Josh Atkins confronts her and Ryan about their betrayal on 90 Day Fiance. Ryan actually apologizes for being inappropriate with Catie and feels bad for hurting Josh. Catie continues to joke around about making out with others. But Josh Atkins is giving her slack. She tries to kiss Ryan and other male friends. They discourage her behavior and tell her she’s in a relationship now and shouldn’t act crazy.

Josh Atkins has had enough and goes outside. Catie’s pal Mark heads out to talk to him. He thinks Josh is going too easy on Catie and suggests he demand she stops with the inappropriate behavior. Of course Catie Norboe is sloppy drunk and continues trying to kiss other men. So Josh finally takes a stance. She questions what she’s even doing wrong. It’s clear he’s had enough and demands they leave the party, accusing her of messing up.

90 Day Fiance: Ashia Montgomery Stands Her Ground

On 90 Day Fiance, things are tense in Nigeria after Ashia Montgomery revealed her plans for a glow-up for Maxwell Okeke. It seems his mama thinks he’s just fine and doesn’t appreciate Ashia’s plans to change her son’s appearance. Of course Ashia is standing her ground and fighting back a little on all of Maxwell’s demands, including dressing modestly and addressing his parents as sir and madam instead of mom and dad.

It makes for tension at the breakfast table, and mama Maxwell stares down Ashia Montgomery. Maxwell Okeke takes Ashia out for the day and they do some shopping but end up arguing about his family’s approval. And Ashia is taken aback when he starts questioning the marriage. Back at the apartment, Maxwell’s parents express their concerns to Ashia’s mom. And it gets pretty personal when it comes to Ashia’s age and her childbearing potential. Till next time!

Serena Williams‘ highly anticipated Wimbledon return appears to have come with a few challenges for the highly decorated athlete.    

The tennis legend recently expressed deep frustration with the strict drug-testing rules she must follow as she prepares for her highly anticipated singles return. Before officially launching her latest competitive comeback, she had to re-enter the sport’s formal testing program to comply with the regulations.

Williams officially returned to competitive play after being inspired to make an iconic comeback by her close friends and family.  

The iconic tennis star openly criticized the sport’s anti-doping rules before her upcoming match, calling the current setup both unprofessional and unreasonable.  

“It’s grueling. They changed the rules now. I didn’t know some of the rules. So apparently if you miss a test outside of your window, it still counts as missed,” the mother of two explained, as reported by ESPN.

Williams made it clear that while she believes drug testing is important, the current restrictions make everyday life feel impossible. 

“It’s unprofessional. I hate it. I think it’s necessary, but I think a lot of the stuff, if I want to go places outside of my window, I should be able to go without having it count as a missed test.”

The rules require players to give their exact location every day for surprise tests, which she feels ignores how packed her schedule is. She also noted that these strict rules initially discouraged her from returning because she runs a “busy” life while trying to manage her business and her family at the same time. 

In response, the International Tennis Integrity Agency stated that the rules have actually been the same for a long time. They clarified that a missed test only counts as a penalty strike if a tester cannot find a player during their specifically chosen one-hour window, not outside of it.

Serena Williams Was Unsure About Returning To Competitive Play

In addition to feeling frustrated with the anti-doping system, Williams also faced some internal struggle before agreeing to step back on the court. Knowing the rigid requirements of the sport, she spent a lot of time wrestling with self-doubt on whether she was truly ready to put herself through the grind of professional competition again.

“I thought I should really take this opportunity. Who knows if I’ll ever make it here again. This could be it,” she said, acknowledging that she was being handed a rare chance.

At the end of the day, the athlete realized she needed to embrace the experience, noting that people spend their whole lives wishing for a chance like this, per The Blast. 

The Athlete’s Return To Competitive Play Starts An Uphill Battle

Williams’ decision to push past her doubts and enter the tournament puts her face-to-face with a very challenging lineup, which has caused many to openly question her chances of winning after spending four years away. 

According to The Blast, the Grand Slam champion’s journey to capture an eighth singles title at the historic venue starts with a match against an opponent who is twenty-four years younger than her.

Williams was paired with twenty-year-old Australian rising star Maya Joint for the opening round. Notably, the match represents her first competitive solo appearance since she lost in the third round of the 2022 US Open.

Serena Williams’ Return Was Inspired By Her Family & Friends

Although Williams faces a tough ride ahead, she won’t be without the unending support of her family and friends, who played a huge role in her comeback. 

According to The Blast, she revealed that her daughter, Olympia, convinced her to team up with her sister Venus for the doubles competition. 

“Well, I think it’s going to be fun. My daughter, Olympia, told me I should play with Venus. She’s always right,” she shared.

Williams also found deep inspiration in watching her sister Venus fight hard at the US Open, noting. Witnessing her sister’s dedication, combined with watching skiing legend Lindsey Vonn and other powerful women achieve incredible things in sports, gave her the final emotional push to return to the courts once more.

Serena Williams’ Family Supported Her Big Return

The deep inspiration from Williams’ inner circle was fully visible during her very first competitive appearance in nearly four years. 

Stepping onto the courts earlier this month at the Queen’s Club Championship in London, the tennis superstar made her return while her family members cheered her on from the stands.

The Blast reported that Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, along with their two daughters, Olympia and Adira, watched as she successfully reclaimed her place in the spotlight. 

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

News broke this afternoon that the long-gestating Blade game in the works at Arkane could be on the verge of being canceled. This comes as reports indicate XBOX is soon to announce a massive wave of layoffs, which could lead to multiple studios being shut down and games being canceled.

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Release Date

August 21, 1998

Runtime

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120 Minutes

Director

Stephen Norrington

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Writers

David S. Goyer, Marv Wolfman, Gene Colan

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This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

Kristen Stewart has become the subject of a viral social media debate after footage from a recent film festival appearance prompted fans to question whether she appeared uncomfortable during an interaction onstage. The actress attended the Biarritz Film Festival in France on Thursday, where she served as president of the jury. However, it wasn’t her role at the event that captured attention online. Instead, a brief exchange with a man during an onstage appearance quickly spread across social media, leaving viewers divided over what they witnessed.

In the widely circulated clip, Stewart is seen speaking onstage before a man approaches her from behind. After turning to face him, the actress listens as he speaks while she steps backward and takes a seat on the platform behind her. As the interaction unfolds, Stewart crosses her legs and maintains a focused expression while listening.

The video was later shared on X with a caption translated from Spanish that read, “Kristen Stewart’s uncomfortable expression with this man’s closeness.”

The post quickly gained traction, racking up more than 2 million views and sparking a heated discussion among fans.

Many viewers interpreted Stewart’s body language as a sign that she was uncomfortable with how closely the man was standing. “There are people who don’t understand what personal space is,” one X user wrote while reacting to the clip.

Others, however, pushed back against that interpretation and suggested the interaction was being taken out of context. One social media user pointed out that the man appeared to be assisting Stewart during the event, writing that he was “translating” and that the actress “puts on a face of attention, not of discomfort.”

“He is her translator,” another fan explained. “He only got close to her to speak into her ear. I suppose there was a lot of noise in the environment.”

While neither Stewart nor festival organizers have publicly addressed the viral moment, the debate continues to gain attention online.

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Kristen Stewart Attended The Festival With Wife Dylan Meyer

The public appearance also marked a rare outing for Stewart and her wife, Dylan Meyer, whom she married in April 2025. The couple’s appearance comes during an exciting period in their professional lives, as Meyer prepares to make her directorial debut with “The Wrong Girls.”

The upcoming comedy stars Stewart alongside Alia Shawkat and follows two best friends whose lives are turned upside down after a case of mistaken identity. Stewart previously described the project as a “stoner girl comedy” while discussing a screenplay she and Meyer had been developing together.

Stewart Famously Came Out During Her ‘SNL’ Hosting Debut

Long before she was making headlines for viral film festival moments, Stewart sparked widespread conversation when she publicly addressed her sexuality during her hosting debut on “Saturday Night Live” in February 2017. During her opening monologue, the actress joked about Donald Trump‘s past criticism of her relationship with former “Twilight” co-star Robert Pattinson before making a statement that quickly went viral.

“I’m a little nervous to be hosting because I know the president’s probably watching, and, um, I don’t think he likes me that much,” Stewart said. “The president is not a huge fan of me, which is so OK, because Donald, if you didn’t like me then, you’re really probably not going to like me now. I’m, like, so gay, dude.”

Kristen Stewart Said Sharing Her Story Felt ‘Important And Topical’

The following month, Stewart reflected on the moment during an interview with The Sunday Times, explaining that her decision to come out publicly wasn’t about confusion over her past relationships but rather about recognizing the impact her visibility could have on others.

“It just seemed important and topical,” Stewart said. “I wasn’t hiding anything. I didn’t talk about my first relationships that went public because I wanted things that are mine to be mine. I hated it that details of my life were being turned into a commodity and peddled around the world.”

She continued, “But considering I had so many eyes on me, I suddenly realized [my private life] affects a greater number of people than just me. It was an opportunity to surrender a bit of what was mine, to make even one other person feel good about themselves.”

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Jackie Chan could well be the ultimate martial arts actor of all time, since he’s had roles in such movies for decades now, has had crossover appeal in terms of appearing in Hong Kong and American films, and he’s also well known for his dedication to action scenes and stunt work. There does exist a video that suggests he hasn’t done literally 100% of all his stunts, which is a thing that gets repeated about Chan in a similar way to Tom Cruise, but still, Chan has plainly done plenty of his own stunts and been right in the middle of various high-intensity action scenes.

Anyway, Jackie Chan’s very best starring roles from his greatest martial arts movies are outlined below. He had uncredited roles in some classics, like appearing as nameless fighters in movies like Enter the Dragon, Fist of Fury, and (apparently) A Touch of Zen. These are all technically some of the best movies Chan has appeared in, but he barely appears in them… and with A Touch of Zen, you can’t even really find him. (Then again, if you can, or if you know where to find photo or video evidence of which part of the movie Jackie Chan’s in, genuinely let me know; I am interested).

10

‘Police Story 3: Super Cop’ (1992)

Image via Golden Harvest

The sentiment that sometimes gets echoed when it comes to Police Story 3: Supercop is that Michelle Yeoh outshines Jackie Chan in a series that had, up until that point, kind of been a starring vehicle for him. That’s not unreasonable to say, because Yeoh definitely makes a strong impression and has a lot by way of fighting and impressive stunts to do here, but it could be defined as a good showcase for both of them, since their dynamic drives the movie, what with it being a buddy film of sorts.

They both play cops who come from different backgrounds, and have some similarities and differences, though they do both want to take down the same drug lord. It’s typical buddy cop movie stuff, but with perhaps a little less comedy than you might expect, and also maybe just a little less broad humor than what could be found in the earlier two Police Story movies Jackie Chan starred in (more on both of those in a bit).

9

‘Armour of God’ (1986)

Image via Golden Harvest

Armour of God has some problems, so it’s not quite a perfect action/adventure movie or anything, but the parts that work do make it worthy of a watch, if you’re into martial arts cinema. And it’s fun seeing Jackie Chan a little out of his comfort zone, since Armour of God gets globe-trotting in nature and scope, with its premise involving him clashing with a cult that wants the sword – and other pieces of armor – that he came into possession of during his treasure-hunting.

Like with a good many martial arts movies, the best action is saved for the final act, so the slower parts (or the scenes focusing on inconsistent comedy) are worth getting through, for the whole climax. Otherwise, Armour of God often gets talked about because Jackie Chan endured his most serious injury, as an actor/stunt performer, while filming this one (more details can be found here, though the year of release is mistakenly mentioned as 1989).

8

‘Crime Story’ (1993)

Image via Golden Harvest

Even if the title sounds similar, and Jackie Chan plays a member of law enforcement, Crime Story is not officially part of the Police Story series. It’s a good bit darker than those films tend to be, and one of the rare Jackie Chan starring roles that doesn’t really require him to do anything comedic. For Jackie Chan, this is about as heavy-going as his movies get, albeit it’s still not one of the grimmest or grittiest martial arts films of all time or anything.

Once you adjust to the tone, Crime Story delivers quite a lot of compelling action, with a bit of hand-to-hand fighting alongside some shootouts, with this being about as close as you’re probably ever going to get to seeing Chan in either a neo-noir or heroic bloodshed sort of film. When there’s not action playing out, Crime Story can feel a bit meandering, or at least not consistent, but much can be forgiven when the action is so reliably strong.

7

‘Operation Condor’ (1991)

Image via Golden Harvest

A sequel to Armour of God, Operation Condor marks a slight improvement on that film, since there’s a bit more by way of impressive action here, it’s paced a little better, and it feels a bit more at ease being an action/adventure movie than its predecessor. As for the plot, though, things are still simple, because Chan is still playing a treasure hunter, and he’s sent after, you know, some other treasure.

Various other people want the gold he’s searching for, and so it plays out as a whole chaotic race to find it. Armour of God gets compared quite often to Indiana Jones, and you can also, unsurprisingly, make that comparison when it comes to Operation Condor. It’s a fun and quite ambitious/large-scale romp, at least by Jackie Chan standards, and does indeed feel sufficiently adventurous throughout.

6

‘Police Story 2’ (1988)

Image via Golden Harvest

You sort of have to go through the Police Story movies backwards, if you’re talking about the best ones and ranking them, since Police Story 2 is a little better than Police Story 3: Supercop, and yet it’s not quite on the same level as the first Police Story. Still, being in roughly the same ballpark as the original is well and truly something, considering how good that one is, and so Police Story 2 certainly satisfies in many ways, as an action/crime/comedy movie.

Narratively, it’s a bit whatever, and doesn’t have to be much more. There’s some degree of revenge wanted by the villains of the first movie, and Jackie Chan’s character also has to deal with some other consequences of what happened near the end of that movie. The important thing is that there are ample excuses for wild action, and Police Story 2 undeniably contains some all-time great Jackie Chan stunts, including one brief sequence that involves jumping around on top of a truck and then a bus, dodging signs and then eventually flying through a window.

5

‘Project A’ (1983)

Image via Golden Harvest

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It might be a little sacrilegious to only put one movie in this ranking that features both Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, but Project A is their best collaboration. Also, a good many movies they’re both featured in have Chan in a minor role, not being much more than a cameo, in some instances. And also, some of them are hard to watch, outside the action scenes, with some really awkward (not just mildly unfunny) comedy found in quite a few of the Lucky Stars films.

Project A, though… to focus on Project A, it’s really good. Most of it holds up, it has some great stunts, and it allows Chan and Hung to play characters who fight pirates, so there is plenty to like. It also features a third legendary Hong Kong martial arts actor, Yuen Biao, so seeing them all in the one movie – and having that overall movie be as good as this – proves to be quite a treat, if you’re a fan of old-school martial arts flicks.

4

‘Miracles: The Canton Godfather’ (1989)

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Possibly the most underrated of all the classic Jackie Chan action movies, Miracles: The Canton Godfather sees him starring in and directing a gangster movie, albeit one with a bit more comedy and action than most gangster films. It is a tonal oddity, sure, since much of it’s very farcical, and then there are other moments that are played more for drama, but that’s also a way it stays unpredictable and, overall, rarely boring.

Perhaps it’s a little too all over the place for some, and the runtime being over two hours doesn’t necessarily help, as the sweet spot for Jackie Chan’s best films is more in the 90 to 100-ish minute-long range. You take the good with the not-so-good here, to some extent, yet the good stuff in Miracles: The Canton Godfather is closer to excellent than good, truth be told, and there is also more than enough here to make it worth digging out (more people need to do some digging, when it comes to this one).

3

‘Who Am I?’ (1998)

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Another Jackie Chan movie that’s kind of underrated, and one he co-directed, Who Am I? sees Chan doing a spy movie, basically. There’s a bit of comedy, and the comedy isn’t really consistent, but that can be said about most of his action comedies. You’re probably more here for the action, and the action can dependably be relied upon, though at least the premise here – with Chan playing a man with amnesia – has some novelty value.

Who am I? also feels valuable for being one of the final gonzo movies Jackie Chan starred in, since he was in his mid-40s at this point, and while he didn’t slow down entirely by the time the 21st century started, he wasn’t doing quite as many wildly dangerous stunts. So, you can view this as a bit of a last hurrah for that kind of Jackie Chan movie, even if he didn’t bid it farewell entirely… it’s more just that this feels noteworthy as a late-era Jackie Chan film where very little was seen as off-limits.

2

‘Police Story’ (1985)

If Police Story (1985) isn’t the gold standard for martial arts cinema, then it is the gold standard for this kind of martial arts movie: one that takes place in contemporary times, or at least times that were modern when the movie came out, if that makes sense. It’s contemporary in feel because firearms and 20th-century vehicles factor into the action scenes, as opposed to something set long ago, like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (not a Jackie Chan film, but a good example of that sort of martial arts film).

There is a real focus on hand-to-hand combat for the finale of Police Story, which is easily one of the best action sequences ever, and it concludes with a remarkable stunt (even by Chan’s standards), where he slides down a long pole, through all sorts of obstacles, risking electrocution and who even knows how many other forms of harm. And then the destruction at the start of the movie is also remarkable, and between the great opening and closing, you’ve got some other solid action scenes, too. It’s just fun, fast-paced, and extremely impressive on a technical/choreography front.

1

‘Drunken Master II’ (1994)

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An honorable mention should go out to the first Drunken Master, which was an early starring role for Jackie Chan, and one of his better 1970s films… but he did kind of come into his own in the 1980s, and kept the momentum going into the 1990s. So, it’s Drunken Master II that’s ultimately even better, and one of the very best action movies of its decade, too. Narratively, it’s about artifacts and different people who want them, including some who want to steal them.

They’re MacGuffins. They exist so people can fight. And fight they do. The fights here are incredible, and it stands in contrast to something like Police Story, because just about all the action here is hand-to-hand, whether the people are using their literal hands, or weapons that are handheld. The best action sequences in Drunken Master II are about as good as such action sequences have ever gotten, or will ever get, and they ensure the film is, overall, quite the classic within its genre.

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Drunken Master II

Release Date

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February 3, 1994

Runtime

102 Minutes

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Director

Chia-Liang Liu, Jackie Chan

Writers

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Edward Tang, Man-Ming Tong, Kai-Chi Yuen, Rod Dean

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• 

  Jackie Chan

  Wong Fei-hung

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Jerry O’Connell isn’t afraid of a little perspiration.

The actor candidly shared his appreciation for wife Rebecca Romijn’s body odor in an interview on the “Thanks Dad With Ego Nwodim” podcast on Monday, June 29.

Romijn, 53, came up in the conversation as O’Connell, 52, and Saturday Night Live alum Nwodim, 38, discussed antiperspirants, with the actor sharing that he prefers spray deodorants over roll-ons.

O’Connell then admitted, “I have to tell you, my wife, Rebecca Romijn, rubs crystals under her arms. And I’m here to tell everyone it doesn’t work … the crystals under the arms doesn’t work.”

Related: Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell’s Relationship Timeline

Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell‘s love story is the real deal. “We met at a Maxim Hot 100 party in Las Vegas. True story,” Romijn revealed while guest-hosting The Wendy Williams Show with O’Connell in February 2019. “It was a pool party in Las Vegas.” O’Connell added more context to the story of their 2004 […]

“Now, I don’t mind the way my wife [smells] … it doesn’t offend me,” he continued. “This is going to get a little dirty … I kind of like it when I can smell my wife’s body odor. It’s kind of like, yeah, she’s alive, we’re alive, we’re living.“

O’Connell added, “It’s like a little kicking and, like, it’s a little funky town.”

O’Connell and Romijn have been married since 2007 and share twin daughters, Charlie and Dolly, 17.

Romijn was previously married to Full House icon John Stamos. The exes began dating in 1994 and tied the knot in 1998. Romijn and Stamos separated in April 2004, and their divorce was finalized a year later.

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Jerry O’Connell and Rebecca Romijn have always tried to keep it real when discussing their marriage. Ever since saying “I do” in July 2007, the couple have been an open book about raising their two daughters and keeping their romance alive and well. “I don’t smoke myself, but listen, I live with someone who smokes […]

Earlier in June, Stamos, 62, admitted on Bobbi Althoff’s “The Really Good Podcast” that, “I didn’t want to get divorced.”

“It broke my heart,” the actor said.

“She wanted to [get divorced]. It took me a long time to get over, but I have to say that … she has a nice life, she married another guy, they have kids, they’re doing great,” Stamos added, referring to O’Connell.

Stamos also recalled bumping into O’Connell at a recent party.

Related: Jerry O’Connell Jokes Wife Rebecca Romijn Only Touches Him When High

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Jerry O’Connell is opening up about his love life with Rebecca Romijn in a blazing new confession. O’Connell, 52, joined Bill Maher on the Monday, March 16, episode of the comedian’s “Club Random” podcast and had one simple request for his host, who has a penchant for smoking marijuana in the recording studio. “I want […]

“I met him recently. It was very interesting. He was very sweet. He was very nice,” he shared. “We were at a party together and he came over and he was super nice. He couldn’t have been sweeter. He was very, very funny and very charming.”

O’Connell also dished on their conversation during an appearance on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live on June 23.

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“John Stamos was at this party and I was like, ‘I got to make a beeline for him. I gotta just like, I got to go extend my hand,’” O’Connell explained. “So I went, I saw him. His beautiful new wife was there. They have a kid. I put my hand out.”

“I hugged him and I said, ‘Why didn’t you tell me about the shopping addiction?’ I’m kidding,” O’Connell joked about Romijn. “That was a light-hearted joke I was trying to come up with.”

“I made some self-deprecating jokes. I made sure his new wife was there. You want everyone to feel included,” O’Connell continued, referring to Stamo’s wife, Caitlin McHugh, with whom Stamos shares son Billy, 8. “I whispered to him when I hugged him, ‘She says you’re bigger than me.’ … I whispered, ‘She says Greeks are better lovers.’”