With Hollywood continuing to revive films decades after their original releases, more movies are getting long-awaited sequels than ever before. While some would welcome a follow-up to “Matilda,” Mara Wilson isn’t convinced the 1996 cult film should follow the trend. The actress recently shared why she has reservations about revisiting the beloved family movie.

“Matilda” was released in 1996, based on the 1988 children’s novel of the same title written by Roald Dahl. It starred Mara Wilson as the titular character and also featured Danny DeVito as her father, Rhea Perlman as her mother, Embeth Davidtz as Matilda’s kind and sweet teacher Ms. Honey, and Pam Ferris as ruthless principal Ms. Trunchbull.

At a Fanboy Expo panel, Wilson shared that she’s often asked about the possibility of a “Matilda” sequel. One of the plots often pushed is about Matilda’s daughter. However, the actress doesn’t think that would work.

Wilson said Matilda overcame adversity in the movie and “found power in educating herself,” adding, “I don’t think Matilda would raise her daughter to be in a position where she developed those powers to protect herself,” per PEOPLE.

The Actress Thinks No One Is Good Enough For Matilda To Marry

Furthermore, Wilson thinks it would be difficult to create a narrative in which Matilda is married and has a family of her own.

“This is a tricky question, but who would Matilda marry? Who’s good enough for Matilda? Matilda’s such an awesome character that I can’t imagine who she would marry and have kids with, you know,” the actress asked the audience.

She continued to say that she used to be bothered by her association with the character. The former child actress appeared in several movies, including “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” and “A Time to Heal,” but for some reason, many identify her with Matilda and even call her by her character’s name.

Wilson came to appreciate it over the years, saying, “You know, Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia, she said, ‘I feel like me and Princess Leia have kind of merged over the years.’ And I sort of feel like that too,” she said.

Danny DeVito Expressed His Desire For A Sequel

DeVito, who produced, directed, and co-starred in “Matilda,” voiced his desire to do a sequel in 2019. “I always wanted to do Matilda 2, but when the kid was still a kid,” the actor said. However, he noted that the idea was about 20 to 25 years old. “Maybe Matilda has a kid and we can do something that, I don’t know,” he said, per Comicbook.

In 2025, DeVito shared why he decided to bring Dahl’s story to the big screen. “I wanted to capture that Roald Dahl magic… that balance of dark and light, where even in the bleakest moments, there’s hope and humor,” he explained.

The actor was able to revisit “Matilda” through “Matilda in Concert,” an orchestral screening of the movie. DeVito was heavily involved in the production and said it was a way of introducing new audiences to the decades-old movie. “It brings the story to life in a way that’s both fresh and deeply nostalgic,” he told The Globe and Mail.

Mara Wilson And Danny DeVito Share A Deep Bond

Wilson has fond memories of working on “Matilda,” especially the support she received from DeVito, whom she calls her “favorite uncle.”

During the Fanboy Expo panel, the actress debunked a long-running rumor that the veteran actor legally adopted her. “Danny DeVito did not literally adopt me. That’s a myth. But he did take very good care of my family,” she shared.

Wilson was 8 years old at the time of filming, and her mother was battling breast cancer. She died before the movie’s theatrical release, and the director dedicated the film in her honor. The actress sought comfort in DeVito and Perlman, sharing that they’ve become her “lifelong friends.”

“There were hard days, but there were also days where it felt like summer camp, and I am still friends with the people that I worked on it today,” said Wilson.

‘Matilda’ Grew Into A Beloved Cult Favorite

“Matilda” was released in August 1996 and competed with other big movies such as “Mission: Impossible,” “Independence Day,” and “Twister.” The family film was not a box office success, grossing only $47 million worldwide on a budget of $36 million.

However, it found its audience through home videos and was heavily on rotation on cable TV. Over the years, “Matilda” developed a devoted cult following, with audiences embracing the heartfelt story and memorable characters. Today, it is widely regarded as one of the most beloved family films of the ’90s and continues to resonate with both longtime fans and new viewers.

General Hospital alum Kirsten Storms has issued a public statement about her daughter amid an ongoing custody battle with ex-husband Brandon Barash.

“Please remember that we are people who are divorced and have a child,” Storms, 42, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, July 19. “I appreciate the supportive comments, but now that my daughter is of the age where she will Google her name while riding the bus to school, I’m asking that the speculation on this issue please stop.”

The actress, who split from former costar Barash, 46, in 2016, attracted headlines in April after her ex filed an emergency restraining order against her, per legal documents obtained by Us at the time. The documents showed that Barash also filed for custody of their daughter, Harper Rose, 12, in December 2025. (Prior to the filing, the former couple coparented their child, relocating from California to Tennessee in 2025.)

Storms’ Instagram post also discussed the profound impact that Harper has had on her life. “I had Harper, and how I viewed every single thing in life shifted. I swear I’m not going to continue to bring up my medical situation (I’ll make jokes and it will be awkward), but until I began to understand how precious time is and how what we prioritize becomes ALL we have, there was never a thought that my life would ever change,” she continued, referencing the 2021 brain cyst, 2025 brain aneurysm and subsequent treatments she’s undergone over the years.

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The actress also took the opportunity to comment on her current relationship with Barash. “I will briefly acknowledge that there is an ongoing situation with Brandon that will be getting sorted out (soon hopefully),” Storms wrote. “I would appreciate (and encourage) for people … not to worry about me, or think there is something larger going on, other than 2 ex-spouses dealing with a “disagreement” that WILL be resolved.”

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Storms and Barash tied the knot in 2013 after falling in love while working together on General Hospital — Storms portrayed Maxie Jones while Barash played Johnny Zacchara.

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General Hospital star Kirsten Storms‘ ex-husband, Brandon Barash, was granted a restraining order amid concerns for her mental health. Barash, 46, recently filed for an emergency restraining order, according to TMZ. The request was approved after Barash claimed that his ex-wife is exhibiting concerning behavior and he fears for their 12-year-old daughter’s well-being. In his […]

After welcoming their daughter the following year, Barash told Soap Opera Digest in April 2016 that the pair’s marriage was over. “We are splitting due to the cliché irreconcilable differences, but we’re splitting amicably,” the actor said at the time. “We have every intention of remaining a family through this and coparenting our kid and retaining a friendship in the efforts of raising her in a healthy environment.”

In Barash’s recent legal filing, he requested a change to his and Storms’ initial agreement due to multiple issues that had risen since their cross country move.

Anne Hathaway confirmed her return as Mia Thermopolis in October 2024, and since then, fans have eagerly been awaiting more details about “Princess Diaries 3.” The film’s lengthy development stems from years of reworking the story, assembling the right team, and ensuring the movie meets fans’ expectations before moving into production.

Now, Hathaway is sharing a promising development that may signal the long-awaited sequel is finally moving forward.

It has been more than two decades since “The Princess Diaries” introduced audiences to Mia Thermopolis, an awkward teenager who discovers she is heir to the throne of Genovia. The franchise returned with “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” in 2004, leaving fans wondering what happened after Mia embraced her royal destiny.

Many changes have happened in the development of the third movie, and while details are scarce, Anne Hathaway shared that the current script may be the one they are moving forward with.

The actress sat down with Andy Cohen on “Radio Andy” and said, “I can say I think we had a story breakthrough. I think we are moving in the right direction,” noted Hathaway, adding that the previous script had to be scrapped and writers started over.

“We all feel really good that this is gonna be the one,” she said.

Adele Lim Teased The Direction The Third Film Is Going

Blake Lively is not letting her latest legal battle with Justin Baldoni get in the way of a good time.

The Gossip Girl alum, 38, attended the 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium with three of her friends on Sunday, July 19, sharing a glimpse of their sun-soaked day via her Instagram Stories.

Posing for a selfie just steps away from the pitch prior to the game commencing, Lively beamed for the camera while wearing jeans and a white T-shirt beneath a printed open shirt. She paired her summery ensemble with a chunky statement necklace and sunglasses.

While her husband, Ryan Reynolds, was not in the snap, the actor, 49, also showed his love for the sport at the FIFA World Cup’s Fanatics Fest over in Manhattan on Sunday, sharing photos from a panel appearance via his Instagram Stories that day. (Reynolds is the co-owner of the professional Welsh football club Wrexham A.F.C.)

Related: Blake Lively Requests Damages After Justin Baldoni Settlement

Blake Lively requested financial damages after her shocking settlement with Justin Baldoni over their It Ends With Us legal dispute. Lively, 38, filed a notice of settlement, in which she requested damages to cover her  attorneys’ fees and costs, as well as compensatory and punitive damages, according to court documents obtained by Us Weekly on Thursday, […]

Lively’s public outing comes days after Baldoni, 42, announced via his lawyers that he is fighting the actress’ request for him to pay approximately $8 million in legal fees following their recent settlement after a 17-month legal battle sparked by Lively’s sexual harassment complaint against him in December 2024.

Baldoni, who directed and starred alongside Lively in It Ends With Us, vehemently denied Lively’s accusations, which also included him orchestrating an alleged smear campaign against her, and countersued — though his lawsuit was thrown out of court in June 2025.

One month after the pair’s May settlement, which was announced just weeks ahead of a scheduled trial, Lively requested that Baldoni be held responsible for $8,035,040.88 in her attorneys’ fees and other costs.

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In a court filing obtained by Us on July 13, Baldoni’s lawyers Ellyn S. Garofalo and Bryan Freedman argued that Lively’s motion should be denied. “Lively fails to meet her burden to present credible evidence showing that the fees and costs she seeks to recover are reasonable and, accordingly, her fee motion should be denied in its entirety,” the pair stated in the filing.

The legal representatives also compared Lively’s request to that of the New York Times seeking $181,622.70 in attorneys’ fees “to dismiss precisely the same defamation claim,” referring to Baldoni’s defamation case against the newspaper. (Baldoni had unsuccessfully sued the outlet for $250 million over accusations that he engaged in a smear campaign against Lively.)

Earlier this month, Baldoni and his wife, Emily, broke their silence over his legal battle with Lively, taking to Instagram to share a joint video. “We have not done this in a while, so we have not spoken publicly for the better part of the last two years and it’s not because we haven’t had anything to say,” Baldoni said in the July 8 clip before Emily, 41, jumped in. “There is so much to say and it makes it hard to speak, it makes it hard to figure out what is right for us for this specific moment. But what does feel important is that we can genuinely say that we are sitting here today feeling immense gratitude for so many things and so many people and so many people that have happened to us.”

Spice Girls singer Melanie Chisholm is officially off the market after saying “I do” to fiancé Chris Dingwall.

“I love weddings [and] when I go to other people’s I always have good craic, but I wasn’t a girl who grew up dreaming about her dress,” Chisholm, 52, told British Vogue in a Sunday, July 19, profile, announcing her nuptials.  I was always just focused on my career. I think even relationships took a backseat for me because I’ve been so driven to do what I love, which is performing.”

She continued, “I’d gotten to the point in my life where I just didn’t think it was going to be a part of my story.”

Chisholm, mom to 17-year-old daughter Scarlett whom she welcomed during a previous relationship, changed her tune once she met Dingwall in 2024 via celebrity dating app Raya.

“The spark was immediate. I was 49 when I met Chris and I was in a really good place,” the singer recalled to the outlet. “We had a date in Australia, and it’s been difficult to separate us ever since. He’s been such a beautiful addition to mine and my daughter’s life.”

Chisholm gushed that it’s been “a beautiful dynamic” welcoming Dingwall into her family.

“I’m a single mum. My daughter is 17, and we’re pretty resilient, the two of us, we’re a team,” she stated. “For anybody coming into our world, it was going to be tough, and he just fits perfectly.”

Dingwall ultimately popped the question during the couple’s July 2025 Mallorca, Spain, vacation. The pair wed in a simple legal ceremony in Australia, followed by a relaxing celebration in Cumbria this summer.

“I didn’t feel like a big traditional wedding was right for me,” Chisholm acknowledged, revealing that she picked out a bridal gown from former bandmate Victoria Beckham’s eponymous label.

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“I was actually having dinner with Melanie and asked her what she was up to. She very casually told me she was leaving for Australia in two days and getting married!” Beckham, 52, told Vogue. “When I asked what she was wearing, she mentioned she had actually ordered one of my dresses but that it didn’t quite fit, and she didn’t have time to get it altered before leaving. I happened to have that exact dress in my own wardrobe and offered to lend it to her.”

Chisholm wore Beckham’s Lace Cami Dress to her Australian ceremony and the fashion designer also offered to make a bespoke creation for her friend’s lavish party in England.

“Victoria wanted to make it much more personal to me. She found some gorgeous vintage lace, and everything was really delicately dyed to the perfect shade,” the bride gushed. “It’s very flattering, open at the back.”

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 31 seconds ago

As a huge genre nerd, I have complex feelings about television reboots. Specifically, I think it’s a waste of time trying to reboot something truly great because the new show is likely to be a huge disappointment compared to the earlier one. Honestly, that’s why I was happy the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot got canceled; that depressing sixth season notwithstanding, the original show was nearly perfect, and trying to improve on that would be inevitably disappointing. Instead, it’s better to reboot a disappointing show that had potential, like Ronald D. Moore did with Battlestar Galactica.

With that in mind, there has never been a genre show more in need of a reboot than Sliders. The show had an absolutely perfect concept, and it explored how fun the multiverse can be way before Marvel ran this idea into the ground. But after a couple of seasons of awesome storytelling, Sliders transformed into a schlock action show that ripped off almost everything and started bleeding cast members until the series was almost completely unrecognizable. The result is a decent show that should have been a great show, and a reboot may be the only way for Sliders to achieve its full potential.

Playing Slide-And-Seek

The plot of Sliders is that Quinn Mallory (Jerry O’Connell) develops the technology to “slide” to different parallel realities, and he takes three companions (including a professor played by John Rhys-Davies) on a visit to a new universe. Unfortunately, the device they use to slide soon loses the ability to track the coordinates of their home dimension. Now, they are forced to travel to random worlds, hoping to eventually get back to their original reality. But there’s a timelock: they must travel to a new dimension when the countdown timer reaches zero. Otherwise, they’ll be stuck in an alternate reality for decades!

It’s a great concept, and the series is basically the lovechild of The Twilight Zone and Quantum Leap. As in the Twilight Zone, different dimensions are used to explore one fantastic scenario after another, including a world where America lost the Revolutionary War and worlds where time flows backwards. But much like Quantum Leap, our heroes typically spend their time in each reality trying to improve as many lives as possible. The result is a surprisingly heartwarming show in which our characters navigate prickly moral dilemmas while wearing their hearts firmly on their sleeves. 

A Cast Driven Away By Bad Writing

Sliders had two seasons of nearly perfect storytelling, and if it had been canceled after that, genre fans would speak of it with the same reverence that we speak about Firefly. Unfortunately, the show went on for two more seasons, and it began to go seriously downhill in Season 3. That’s because the Fox network demanded that the show transition from thought-provoking sci-fi stories to action schlock. In an interview with Digital Spy, Rhys-Davies noted how Sliders “could’ve been the best show on television” but that the network interfered and turned most of the scripts into “incomprehensible gibberish.” This is one of the reasons he exited the show.

Rhys-Davies has been hilariously blunt in describing what went wrong with Season 3. When he was interviewed at the Toulouse Game Show, he discussed how the writers just started ripping off others’ ideas. “We did an episode like Tremors, one like Twister, one like The Night of the Living Dead, and even one like The Island of Doctor Moreau, using the film’s original masks!” Continuing, he said, “The breaking point for me was when I walked in and saw the writers sitting around looking at a DVD of Species, which had just been released, and saying: ‘Look, we could take a bit of that scene there and a bit of that scene there.’

Does Whatever A Slider-Man Can

Conveniently enough, the Raiders of the Lost Ark actor has summed up exactly why Sliders needs a reboot. A new series that never tries to do crappy ripoffs of other movies and shows could take its time exploring all of the practical, ethical, and moral conundrums involved with interdimensional travel. This would reduce the risk of core actors abandoning the show; like, by the end of the original series, only one member of the original cast (Cleavant Derricks) was still there! But a Sliders with a consistent cast and a perfect premise for episodic adventures? That’s a reboot that would be utterly unstoppable.

However, a reboot of this show seems less likely than ever before. Previously, Jerry O’Connell and John Rhys-Davies discussed a possible reboot with Sliders creator Tracy Tormé, who was working on reviving the franchise as recently as 2021. Sadly, he died in 2024, meaning we might have to slide into a new universe to see what a reboot looks like. Fortunately, fans can still experience the original show in its entirety at the click of a button. Sliders is currently streaming for free on Tubi. Just be sure to keep the remote handy; Season 2 is a countdown, and once it hits zero, you’ll want to slide your TV over to a better show!!

Gisele Bündchen is soaking up the summer with her husband, Joaquim Valente, and her children.

In a Saturday, July 18, Instagram post, Bündchen, 46, uploaded an image featuring the model in an all-white bikini and holding the hand of the pair’s son as they stepped into the water in Tahiti.

In other rare family pics, Bündchen shared snaps of her and ex-husband Tom Brady’s two children: Benjamin, 16, and Vivian, 13. (Brady, 48, is also the father of son Jack, 18, whom he shares with ex Bridget Moynahan.)

The model also smiled as she danced with Valente, 38, and their son as musicians played in the background of the image. In another pic, Valente could also be seen holding their son above water as a stingray seemingly swam past in the water.

“What a special place!☀️✨,” Bündchen captioned the series of images.

Bündchen began dating Valente in 2023, one year after her divorce from Brady was finalized. The pair welcomed their son, whose name has not been publicly shared, in February 2025. That December, Us Weekly confirmed that the couple tied the knot.

“This is the first time I am seeing someone that was a friend of mine first,” she said in a 2024 interview with the New York Times. “It’s very different. It is very honest, and it’s very transparent.”

Despite speculation that she had an affair with the jiu jitsu instructor before her split from Brady, Bündchen denied the idea.

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“That is a lie. This is something that happens to a lot of women who get blamed when they have the courage to leave an unhealthy relationship and are labeled as being unfaithful,” she reflected. “They have to deal with their communities. They have to deal with their family. Of course for me, it just happens to be a little bit amplified.”

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Earlier this year, Bündchen shared her gratitude for Valente while celebrating Father’s Day and sharing several rare images with her husband and little one.

“Happy Father’s Day @joaquimvalente!” she wrote via Instagram in June 2025. “Thank you for leading by example, and for the values you embody, love, humility, integrity, discipline, kindness and consistency.”

She continued, “You are an incredible role model. We are all so grateful for you, and we love you so much. And dad, thank you for your unconditional love, wisdom, and support through every stage of my life. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. ❤️.”

Vice President JD Vance’s journey to the White House wouldn’t be complete without his wife, second lady Usha Vance.

Long before being chosen as President Donald Trump’s 2024 running mate, JD developed a unique love story with Usha when they were both in law school.

Their relationship, however, took on the spotlight even more when the Vance family entered the White House on January 30, 2025.

In November 2025, the couple faced headlines when Usha was spotted without her wedding ring while visiting military training facility Camp Lejeune in North Carolina with first lady Melanie Trump.

Related: Barack Obama and Michelle Obama: A Timeline of Their Relationship

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A spokesperson for Usha later released a statement to People that read, “[She is] a mother of three young children, who does a lot of dishes, gives lots of baths, and forgets her ring sometimes.”

A few months later, in January 2026, Usha and JD announced that they’re expecting their fourth baby together.
The pair welcomed son Alec Vance in July 2026.

Keep reading to learn more about JD and Usha’s relationship timeline:

2010

When JD and Usha were both students at Yale Law School, the pair met when they joined a discussion group on “social decline in white America.”

In an interview with NBC News in 2017, Usha said she and JD took all of their classes together and were friends before they started dating.

When they were assigned to work on a brief together, Usha became even more impressed by his diligence.

“I’ve never seen anybody so starstruck,” their law school professor, Amy Chua, said of JD in an interview with NBC News. “It was love at first sight.”

2014

In 2014, the couple got married and held both Christian and Hindu ceremonies. (JD later converted to Catholicism in 2019.)

“There are a lot of things that we just agree on, I think, especially when it comes to family life, how to raise our kids,” Usha told Fox News in June about her interfaith marriage. “I think the answer really is that we just talk a lot.”

2016

JD released his bestselling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy. The book detailed his childhood in the working-class United States Rust Belt. It later became a 2020 movie directed by Ron Howard.

At one point in the book, JD recalled the time he “fell hard” for Usha at Yale. He described her as a “genetic anomaly” because she possessed so many ideal qualities.

He also admitted that he “violated every rule of modern dating” by telling her he was in love after one date.

2017

Vance and Usha welcomed their first child, son Ewan, in June 2017. The couple later welcomed their second son, Vivek, in February 2020, before welcoming daughter Mirabel in December 2021.

“We were blessed with an early Christmas present this year,” JD wrote via Instagram after Mirabel’s birth. “Everyone please meet Mirabel Rose Vance, our first girl. Mama and baby both doing great, and we’re feeling very grateful this Christmas season.”

August 2024

Amid the 2024 presidential race, Usha sat down with Fox News for her first solo interview.

During the chat, the future second lady was asked about her husband’s 2021 remark about the United States being run by “childless cat ladies.”

“The reality is, JD … made a quip in service of making a point that he wanted to make that was substantive,” she said. “What he was really saying is that it can be really hard to be a parent in this country, and sometimes our policies are designed in a way that make it even harder.”

January 2025

JD and Usha celebrated their new home in the White House with a familiar tradition.

“The inaugural balls are a beautiful, time-honored tradition of the Presidency,” JD wrote via Instagram at the time. “Usha and I were honored to join President Trump in celebrating the beginning of the new golden age of America. Now let’s get to work 🇺🇸.”

Related: Meghan Markle and More Stars Voting on Election Day Through the Years

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October 2025

Despite living in the White House, both JD and Usha wanted to give their kids a relatively normal Halloween by dressing up as a family.

“We hope you had a spooktacular Halloween!” Usha wrote via Instagram with photos from their celebration in Washington, D.C.

November 2025

Usha sparked divorce rumors after she was spotted without her wedding ring during a November 2025 visit to Camp Lejeune. A spokesperson for the Vances explained that Usha is “a mother of three young children, who does a lot of dishes, gives lots of baths, and forgets her ring sometimes.”

The occasion came weeks after Erika Kirk embraced JD Vance during a public speaking event and noted that the Vice President shares “similarities” with her late husband.

December 2025

The Vice President addressed rumors of marital discord during a December 2025 interview with NBC News. He insisted that the pair’s relationship is “as strong as it’s ever been” and said of the rumors, “I think that we kind of get a kick out of it.”

“With anything in life, you take the good with the bad,” he also said. “You accept that there are some sacrifices and there are some very good things that come along with it, too. But our marriage is as strong as it’s ever been, and I think Usha’s really taken to it, and it’s been kind of cool to see how she’s developed and evolved in this new role.”

January 2026

Usha and JD announced via Instagram that they’re expecting baby No. 4.

“We’re very excited to share the news that Usha is pregnant with our fourth child, a boy,” read a statement joint shared via Usha’s Instagram. “Usha and the baby are doing well, and we are all looking forward to welcoming him in late July.”

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The statement continued, “During this exciting and hectic time, we are particularly grateful for the military doctors who take excellent care of our family and for the staff members who do so much to ensure that we can serve the country while enjoying a wonderful life with our children.”

July 2026

The couple announced that they welcomed their fourth child in a statement shared via social media, which read, “We are excited to announce that our baby boy, Alec Neel Vance, was born this morning. Usha and the baby are happy and healthy, and our kids are overjoyed to meet their little brother.”

“The incredible military doctors and staff members of Walter Reed Medical Center and the White House Medical Unit have been a blessing,” the announcement continued. “We are deeply thankful for all they have done for our family.”

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 14 seconds ago

Right now, Ghost in the Shell has a new anime series, one that blends top-notch animation with heady stories set in a kind of cyberpunk dystopia. The new show is great, but it put me in the mood to go back to the original source code for this seminal animated franchise. Back in 1995, the original Ghost in the Shell movie premiered, and it blew everyone’s minds in every possible way. Like, this was the kind of movie you’d show skeptics who thought that anime was nothing but lowbrow fight scenes. Forget Dragon Ball Z, y’all; Ghost in the Shell is art, full stop!

One of the ways we can tell Ghost in the Shell is art is that it inspired some of our greatest filmmakers to experiment with different kinds of stories. Without this early cyberpunk adventure, the Wachowskis would never have made The Matrix, and James Cameron would never have made Avatar. For that matter, Steven Spielberg would never have made A.I.: Artificial Intelligence. Just what is it about this legendary anime that has inspired so many creators, and where can you see its influence on the big screen? No need to scour the ‘net with your artificial body; just keep scrolling to fill your cyberbrain with all the knowledge fit to download.

Hack The World

The plot of Ghost in the Shell is that Motoko Kusanagi, who works for Public Security Section 9, must investigate a mysterious villain known as the Puppet Master. This Big Bad has the ability to hack into the brains of just about anyone, making him hard to find, much less to stop. Kusanagi and her team may be the only ones who can eliminate this threat for good. Along the way, however, she will learn some uncomfortable truths about her own government, all while tackling crunchy questions about consciousness, autonomy, and what it means to be truly alive in an increasingly postmodern world. 

Ghost in the Shell is one of the most influential anime movies ever created, one that has inspired a growing number of sequels, TV shows, and even a fairly forgettable live-action movie. But what most fans of this film don’t realize is how much of an influence it had on other creators and their works. Perhaps the greatest example is The Matrix: the Wachowskis were inspired to create their own world where human consciousness could be digitally uploaded, forcing a protagonist to question the nature of both reality and consciousness. How deeply does the anime influence the later film? Get this: even the green Matrix code is inspired by prominent green text from Ghost in the Shell!

The Most Influential Anime

It pretty much doesn’t get more blatant than The Matrix, which the Wachowskis pitched by handing the Ghost in the Shell script to Joel Silver and saying “we want to do this for real.” Many years later, the anime inspired James Cameron to create Avatar, though his film involved transferring a human mind into an organic alien body rather than a ghost shell. While that’s a fairly big difference, Cameron explored similarly existential concepts as Ghost in the Shell. This includes how much of our identity is tied to our physical selves and how much our perspective changes when we look at the world through (quite literally) new eyes.

Even Steven Spielberg, Hollywood’s greatest director, was inspired by Ghost in the Shell. It directly inspired A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, a movie in which the lead character deals with the major philosophical question of the earlier anime: does an artificial being still possess a soul? The fantastic technology of Ghost in the Shell also inspired the future tech of Minority Report, where (as in the anime film) it is misused by nefarious agents. How much did Spielberg love this animated film? For better or for worse, he spearheaded the effort to buy the live-action rights so that DreamWorks, his own company, could bring the film to life.

A Genuine Work Of Art

This brings us back to why Ghost in the Shell is art. Certainly, it fits the more conventional definitions of the term: the movie is jaw-dropping beautiful and perfectly written. But it also meets the more comprehensive definition of art because it became a foundational text to the entirety of the sci-fi and cyberpunk genres. Just as we wouldn’t have Star Wars without earlier films like The Hidden Fortress, we wouldn’t have The Matrix without Ghost in the Shell. When you think about just how insanely influential that Keanu Reeves movie was, you get a better idea of how big this anime’s cultural footprint really is.

Care to experience what is possibly the most influential sci-fi movie of all time? Do you want to ponder philosophical questions about mind, body, and soul, or maybe explore the fractured nature of human consciousness? Or (and no judgments here), maybe you just want to see the hottest protagonist in anime history wandering around Japan like an unstoppable, one-woman army? No matter the itch, you’re just a click away from scratching it: Ghost in the Shell is currently streaming for free on Tubi!

Apple TV might not have the biggest streaming library, but it’s definitely become one of the best places to find high-quality television. In fact, the platform houses some of the best original series of modern times and has steadily built an impressive track record of releasing shows that take creative risks rather than play it safe.

Of course, committing to a new series isn’t always easy, especially when they have been without a clear ending in sight. Fortunately, the brilliant Apple TV shows on this list have five seasons or fewer that deliver some of the best storytelling the medium has to offer.

10

‘Presumed Innocent’ (2024–Present)

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Presumed Innocent technically tells the oldest story in the book, but manages to make it feel completely fresh. The legal thriller is based on the bestselling novel by Scott Turow and follows chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal), whose life unravels after his colleague and former lover Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve) is brutally murdered. Rusty is initially assigned to help prosecute the case, but once his affair with Carolyn comes to light, he quickly becomes the prime suspect. The evidence keeps piling up, and Rusty has to fight to prove his innocence as his family and career fall apart under the weight of it all.

Now, Presumed Innocent could have easily been a standard courtroom thriller, but it never treats the murder as the only mystery worth solving. Every episode digs deeper into Rusty’s relationships to expose new motives, hidden resentments, and uncomfortable truths that make almost every major character feel like a believable suspect. Gyllenhaal delivers one of the strongest performances of his career and consistently leaves the audience unsure whether Rusty is an innocent man trapped by circumstances or someone truly capable of dark deeds. The series builds its suspense through this moral ambiguity, where almost everyone feels innocent and guilty at the same time.

9

‘Shrinking’ (2023–Present)

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Shrinking is a comedy series that balances humor with genuine heart. The dramedy, created by Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel, and Brett Goldstein, follows therapist Jimmy Laird (Segel), whose life falls apart after the sudden death of his wife. That leads to a unique kind of meltdown where Jimmy throws all professional boundaries out the window and starts telling his patients exactly what he thinks instead of sticking to therapy-appropriate responses. His unconventional methods begin changing their lives in unexpected ways, but that also forces Jimmy to confront his own fractured relationship with his teenage daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell).

At the same time, his mentor, Paul Rhoades (Harrison Ford), and colleague Gaby (Jessica Williams) try to keep things from completely spiraling out. As chaotic as this premise is, Shrinking is honest with its characters’ emotional arcs. Everyone in the show is dealing with some form of grief, and the story gives them the room to make mistakes and slowly find their way forward. This balance between heartfelt drama and hilarious comedy is hard to pull off, but Shrinking makes it look effortless. Of course, the show’s brilliant ensemble deserves a lot of credit for its success, but through its touching storytelling, Shrinking is one of Apple TV’s most rewarding originals.

8

‘Pachinko’ (2022–2024)

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Pachinko is one of the most ambitious family dramas of all time. The series, based on Min Jin Lee‘s bestselling novel, spans nearly a century and follows four generations of a Korean family whose lives are shaped by sacrifice, war, and displacement. The story begins in Japanese-occupied Korea with Sunja (Yu-na Jeon, Minha Kim, and Youn Yuh-jung), whose unexpected pregnancy forces her into a life-altering decision that ultimately changes the course of her family’s future. From there, the narrative stretches across decades and moves between Korea, Osaka, and Tokyo as Sunja’s descendants struggle to build lives for themselves while facing discrimination, poverty, and the lasting consequences of their family’s past.

Pachinko is brilliant in the way it treats history through the lens of ordinary people. Rather than focusing on major historical events themselves, the series shows how those events shape families across generations. The show’s nonlinear storytelling constantly draws parallels between different eras to show how the hardships of one generation are passed down to the next. The show tells an intimate story on an epic scale, and that’s what makes it one of Apple TV’s most remarkable masterpieces.

7

‘Silo’ (2023–Present)

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The sci-fi genre is pretty crowded right now, but Silo still holds its own. The series, based on Hugh Howey‘s bestselling novels, is set in a dystopian future where the last 10,000 people on Earth live inside a massive underground silo because they believe that the outside world is too toxic for human life. The story follows engineer Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson), who begins investigating a series of suspicious deaths after the sheriff breaks one of the community’s oldest rules and willingly leaves the silo. This leads to Juliette uncovering long-buried secrets about the silo’s history, the people running it, and the lies that have kept generations living in fear.

The great thing about Silo is that it never rushes to explain its biggest mystery. Every season of the show carefully expands the world and reveals just enough information to keep the audience guessing. Juliette is the perfect guide through this world built on secrecy and control because she approaches everything with curiosity instead of the blind obedience that is expected of her. The show has a four-season plan to adapt Howey’s complete trilogy, and it’s already feeling like one of those stories that stay with the audience forever.

6

‘Pluribus’ (2025–Present)

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Pluribus is another science fiction show on Apple TV that has taken the world by storm. The series, created by Vince Gilligan, takes a familiar post-apocalyptic premise and turns it completely on its head. The story follows fantasy novelist Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn), one of the few people left untouched after a mysterious extraterrestrial virus transforms almost all of humanity into a peaceful collective consciousness known as the “Others.” Unlike most apocalypse stories, the world isn’t consumed by violence or chaos. Instead, it has become eerily calm, with the hive mind insisting that assimilation will ultimately make everyone happier. However, Carol refuses to surrender her individuality and begins searching for a way to reverse what has happened before the last remnants of humanity disappear forever.

What makes Pluribus so fascinating is that it never presents its central conflict in simple terms. The Others aren’t mindless monsters, nor are they presented as outright villains. This ambiguity makes every encounter Carol has with them feel more unsettling than a traditional sci-fi battle. Gilligan constantly raises new questions about identity, free will, and what it actually means to be human without sacrificing the momentum of the story. Pluribus currently just has one season, which means the show is extremely addictive and easy to catch up on.

5

‘Widow’s Bay’ (2026–Present)

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Widow’s Bay is one of the most original horror-comedy series to come out in years because of how hard it commits to both genres. The Apple TV series, created by Katie Dippold, follows Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys), the skeptical mayor of a struggling island town off the coast of New England that has spent generations being defined by stories of curses, ghosts, and supernatural disasters. Tom is determined to change that, though, and launches a major campaign to attract tourists so the world can see that Widow’s Bay is a charming seaside destination. Unfortunately for him, the island seems intent on proving its legends are real. When increasingly bizarre and terrifying incidents begin occurring,

Tom is forced to investigate the town’s history alongside his assistant Patricia (Kate O’Flynn), Sheriff Bechir (Kevin Carroll), and a cast of eccentric locals who have spent their entire lives accepting the curse as fact. Before they even know it, the audience is laughing and feeling truly unsettled at the same time. Every episode peels back another layer of the island’s mythology while introducing new supernatural threats that somehow feel connected to a much larger mystery. The show’s quirky humor makes the horror even more effective because the characters never feel like archetypes. Widow’s Bay is an incredibly easy binge, and by the time the credits roll on the finale, it’s hard not to immediately want another trip back to the strangest town on TV.

4

‘Bad Sisters’ (2022–Present)

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Bad Sisters is one of the darkest comedies on television, where the audience just can’t help but root for its protagonists. The Apple TV series follows the Garvey sisters, Eva (Sharon Horgan), Grace (Anne-Marie Duff), Ursula (Eva Birthistle), Bibi (Sarah Greene), and Becka (Eve Hewson), whose lives have always revolved around protecting one another. The villain in the story is Grace’s manipulative and emotionally abusive husband, John Paul Williams (Claes Bang). When his behavior becomes increasingly worse, the sisters gradually begin entertaining the thought that if John Paul were no longer around, all of their lives would be better. The central story unfolds across two timelines.

One follows the sisters’ increasingly desperate attempts to deal with John Paul, and the other takes place after his death, when two insurance investigators begin questioning whether it was really an accident. Now, the audience knows who the victim is from the beginning, but the series builds its suspense around how he died. Every episode of Bad Sisters makes John Paul more insufferable, to the point where the audience almost understands why the ladies would want him dead. The show’s greatest strength is that it never lets its dark premise overshadow its characters. Beneath all the murder plots and twists, Bad Sisters tells a heartwarming story about family and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love.

3

‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ (2026–Present)

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Margo’s Got Money Troubles is one of the funniest and most emotionally honest dramedies Apple TV has recently released. The series is based on Rufi Thorpe‘s novel. It follows college dropout and aspiring writer Margo Millet (Elle Fanning), whose chaotic affair with her married English professor leaves her unexpectedly pregnant. Margo is determined to raise her son on her own, but quickly realizes that things aren’t going to be as easy as she thought. In a desperate moment, she makes an OnlyFans account, inspired by advice from her estranged father, Jinx (Nick Offerman), a former professional wrestler who unexpectedly reappears in her life.

From there, the show follows Margo and her dad as they try to figure life out when everything seems to be falling apart. The show thrives on the idea of radical empathy and presents every major character as a flawed person who is doing their best. Even when Margo makes questionable decisions, it’s impossible not to understand where she’s coming from and root for her as she navigates her messy family, motherhood, and ambition. The show refuses to judge its protagonist for the choices she makes. It finds humor in Margo’s increasingly chaotic life without ever undermining the genuine struggles she’s facing. The show has been renewed for Season 2, which means now is the perfect time to catch up on Margo’s messy, funny, relatable, and surprisingly inspiring life.

2

‘Severance’ (2022–Present)

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Severance is unlike anything else on TV right now. The Apple TV sci-fi thriller takes a brilliantly original premise that also happens to be a sharp corporate satire. The story follows Mark Scout (Adam Scott), an employee at the mysterious Lumon Industries, where workers voluntarily undergo a procedure known as severance that permanently separates their work memories from their personal ones, creating two completely distinct identities. Their “innie” exists only inside the office and knows nothing of the outside world, while their “outie” has no idea what actually happens during the workday. Initially, the solution appears to be the answer to a great work-life balance.

However, this carefully controlled system begins to unravel after the arrival of a rebellious new employee, Helly R. (Britt Lower), whose refusal to accept her reality forces Mark to question everything he has been told about Lumon and the true purpose of the severance program. It’s interesting how Severance builds its entire mystery around the question of what people do at work. Every answer the show delivers complicates things further and makes Lumon’s sterile office hallways feel all the more unsettling. The show explores large philosophical ideas about identity and free will but grounds itself in something almost everyone can relate to. Severance has established itself as one of the smartest and most original TV shows with just two seasons, and things are only going to get better as the mythology deepens.

1

‘Ted Lasso’ (2020–Present)

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Ted Lasso is a feel-good comedy that one just can’t dislike. The Apple TV series follows optimistic American college football coach Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis), who is unexpectedly hired to manage AFC Richmond, a struggling English Premier League club, despite knowing almost nothing about soccer. Ted quickly realizes that his appointment wasn’t based on his qualifications at all because Club owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) secretly hopes his inexperience will cause the team to fail as part of her plan to get back at her ex-husband.

However, instead of giving in to the pressure, Ted slowly wins over his skeptical players, coaching staff, and the entire club through kindness, empathy, and an unwavering belief that people can become better than they think they are. Don’t be fooled, though, because the show isn’t naive in its optimism. The narrative acknowledges anxiety, failure, and heartbreak, but does so in a positive light. Every major character in the show experiences moments of growth, and that’s what makes Ted Lasso such an uplifting and emotionally satisfying watch.

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Ted Lasso

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Release Date

August 14, 2020

Network

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Apple TV

Directors

Declan Lowney, MJ Delaney, Erica Dunton, Matt Lipsey

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