Jennifer Holland reveals the surprising true story behind Krypto in Supergirl, explaining how her rescue dog Ozu inspired James Gunn’s lovable but chaotic Super-Dog and why that emotional connection became such an important part of Krypto’s character.
Entertainment
Controversial Director’s Extremely Graphic, Banned Movie Is Secretly A Straight-Faced Satire
By Jennifer Asencio
| Published
After facing a ban in Germany due to potentially violating hate speech laws, director Uwe Boll released his latest film, Citizen Vigilante, on social media for a limited free viewing from June 25-27, 2026. This unprecedented move has allowed people all over the world to view Boll’s message, which has polarized people between admiring it as a right-wing message and condemning it as a racist caricature.
I watched the movie, and I don’t think either of those statements is true.
Citizen Vigilante Will Not Spare You Its Savagery
Citizen Vigilante is a portrait of a man we eventually learn is named Sanders (played by the controversial Armie Hammer), who grew up wealthy, has a military background that includes some nifty tattoos, and now rents out properties in Europe that his father once owned. The movie takes place in an unspecified city that is meant to generically symbolize Europe, and despite the title, Sanders is not actually a citizen of the country, which is a source of contention regarding his rental properties: they could be seized and offered to migrants seeking refuge in the town because of their ownership.
However, Sanders also has a few hobbies, including making anonymous videos criticizing society from a far-right perspective, visiting victims of violent crimes committed by foreigners who escaped justice, and beating up or slaughtering anyone who threatens an innocent. A few revealing scenes show that Sanders does have some kind of moral compass, but that compass includes breaking the wrists of some bullying teenagers and luring a gang of abusers to their deaths.
Meanwhile, this portrait is being assembled by Interpol Regional Chief Henry (Costas Mandylor), who has been following the story with concern because the “Citizen Vigilante” is picking up fans on social media who wish someone like him would operate in their countries. Henry has been trying to track down this vigilante and bring him to justice, tapping local police in his quest to find Sanders.
This is a heavy film, and not for the faint of heart. The opening scene sees a mother suddenly stabbed in the neck (in a style reminiscent of a recent high-profile, real-life murder that became a major news event), and the violence only ramps up from there. The movie is very gritty, and Sanders is a brutal man; audiences are not spared his savagery.
Hits Different When Viewed As A Satire
The technical aspects of this film are exquisite, however. The location scouting treats viewers to an urban all-Europe, and it really is hard to tell what country the story takes place in. However, building exteriors, alleys, streets, and the cinematography that displays them are all well-chosen, feasting the eyes with the “motion” in the phrase “motion picture” by highlighting wide angles and sweeping shots. The movie is also edited masterfully, with cinematic cuts that reveal important parts of the story through imagery rather than dialogue.
The dialogue and script seem weak on the surface, with cliched lines, scenes that drag out, and a plot that seems to zig-zag all over the place. However, it is actually a tightly wrapped package filled with extremist caricatures, not in the least of which is the titular character. To some degree, even Henry is a caricature, although he is less of one than everyone else.
Sanders is a very nuanced character, though, not just a cold-blooded and racist killer. He gives a group of hoodlums repeated chances before harming them. In a scene that was puzzling to many viewers, he engages a worker in a brothel he owns, then interrupts his encounter with her to obsess about mold on the wall (it turns out he owns the building that houses the brothel). The scene seems on a trajectory to paint him as brutal to women as he is to migrant criminals, but veers into an entirely different and surprising direction.
Not that Sanders is a nice guy, though. He is very definitely the villain of the piece, with the true hero being Henry. Sanders’ vitriol is directed against certain types of people, most specifically migrants from Africa and the Middle East who have committed violent crimes. He elucidates his reasoning for his vigilantism in anonymous videos, and some of his rhetoric is quite alarming, calling out cultural and religious differences as the reason these migrants commit their crimes.
However, the film also uses ripped-from-the-headlines anecdotes to illustrate the source of Sanders’ anger. Aside from the early murder of the mother, there are gangs, judges who let truly vicious criminals off on light sentences because they are impoverished or disadvantaged, and a situation where Sanders, in his capacity as a landlord, is demanded by the local government to house migrants for free and indefinitely. These are things that have reportedly taken place throughout Europe and the United States over the past few years, thanks to policies meant to offset centuries of colonialism and inequality.
A Perspective On Protagonists And Polarization
The conflict between these two viewpoints is the central argument of the movie, not a glorification of either side. The problem with Sanders is not that he is deranged or bigoted, but that he weaponizes the truth to a murderous degree. Especially with the current events angle of the script, the arguments Sanders makes have grains of truth to them that he then exploits to their most ludicrous possible conclusions. However, those who receive his brand of justice are as extreme as he is, but in the opposite direction.
This is the main quality that makes Henry and not Sanders the hero of the film; Sanders just so happens to be the protagonist. Henry is very well aware of the injustices Sanders opposes, but is simultaneously aware that Sanders’ solution is not only not the answer but has the potential to create more vigilantes.
He represents all the rest of us who lie between Sanders and his victims; everyone who doesn’t dwell in the extremes but in between them. He represents the victims of the crimes that Sanders’ migrant criminals committed, but he also represents all the other people harmed by Sanders’ actions who were neither criminals nor complicit in criminality. Henry represents all the rest of us who haven’t been polarized by politics surrounding the inclusion of foreigners in society.
So, while both Sanders and the migrant criminals are cartoon versions of reality and the dialogue comes off as cheesy and heavy-handed, Citizen Vigilante is actually a brilliant, robust satire that laments how extreme the mainstream has become and warns us what it could become. It glorifies nobody, least of all its titular character, and condemns everybody, with only the beleaguered Henry exempting himself by looking at all the pieces, both good and bad.
It’s unfortunate that more people didn’t examine this movie the way Henry did Sanders and the world around him, because it is not the movie it is being painted as. For all its simplicity, it is much deeper than it is being credited for. Unfortunately, the people it must most urgently reach are the same people who will decry it the loudest.
Citizen Vigilante is available to watch on X until 10:00 am EST on June 27, 2026.
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It really is no kind of overstatement to say that the film industry is fundamentally changing right now. There are a lot of metrics for this, but perhaps none more so than the recent box office from the weekend of May 29, which saw low-budget indie horror films from directors in their 20s, Backrooms and Obsession, tower over Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu in its second window. This was shocking to most observers, and also a thing of hope and excitement for many. The pandemic left something like a permanent mark on the entertainment business and how we watch movies. Even with outliers like Top Gun: Maverick, the Barbenheimer phenomenon, A Minecraft Movie and some significant Disney wins over the last half-decade, it’s been a constant struggle to bring audiences back to theaters. This recent surge of enthusiasm, particularly for fresh, edgy filmmaking over the familiar, is invigorating.
The last six months have seen highs and lows at movie theaters, but this time window has been a triumph for fresh and daring films across all genres. There have been some disappointments and bombs, but if there’s a uniting theme in looking at the very best movies released so far this year, it’s originality and freshness. From a dark comedy that sees major movie stars at their edgiest, to horror pictures so successful they’ve shaken the industry, to a British mystery with talking animals, to a crowd-pleasing hard sci-fi blockbuster, these pictures simply gave audiences something different. These are the greatest movies of 2026 so far.
10
‘The Drama’
Cleverly marketed in a shroud of mystery, which was the only way to market this pitch-black dramedy that rides on a shocking twist, Kristoffer Borgli‘s The Drama stars Robert Pattinson and Zendaya as a newly engaged couple whose upcoming nuptials are rocked by a revelation from the past. Alana Haim, Hailey Gates and Mamoudou Athie round out the supporting cast of a movie whose thematic risk pays off.
The Drama is sometimes edited and strung together in a way that feels like it’s unsure of itself, but commendable and kind of shocking this movie got made, much less with A-listers, and it’s even more shocking that it’s this good. Zendaya and Pattinson fully embody their characters; their work here is in the top tier of their respective and formidable careers, revelatory in the way you’d hope a smaller film with big stars would always be. The movie has some rough edges and isn’t perfect, but it’s a genuine must-see with a surprising range of emotion. Truly, how many movies manage to be disturbing, hilarious and romantic all at the same time?
9
‘I Love Boosters’
An ensemble cast of Keke Palmer, Naomie Ackie, Taylour Paige, LaKeith Stanfield, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, Will Poulter, Don Cheadle and Demi Moore star in Boots Riley‘s maximalist absurdist satire about a gang of shoplifters at war with a billionaire fashion mogul. An uncompromising financial satire of the horrible realities of present day, the first two acts here are close to perfect, and hilarious throughout thanks to a commitment to Looney Tunes logic from the cast and filmmaker.
I Love Boosters doesn’t land with the same punch as the director’s 2018 breakthrough Sorry to Bother You (not many modern satires have), and it simply loses its way and its stakes in the third act, but it earns its spot here on the strength of its vision. The production design is pretty astounding, and it’s all in service of what might possibly be the funniest film of 2026 so far.
8
’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’
Whether you loved it or hated it, it’s a real shame that last year’s 28 Years Later proved to be so divisive. Surely that response is what led Nia DaCosta‘s superior, highly acclaimed follow-up to bomb disastrously at the box office. A considerably higher audience score on Rotten Tomatoes for this latest entry certainly implies those who’ve actually seen it admire it. It’s a bona fide horror cult classic in the making.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is easily the strongest film in the quadrilogy since it began with 2003’s 28 Days Later, continuing the grisly misadventures of an effectively orphaned Spike (Alfie Williams). It’s a mood piece with philosophical ambitions that doesn’t forget we’re watching it for gruesome thrills. Jack O’Connell is unnerving as a cult leader, but an electrifying go-for-broke Ralph Fiennes steals the show. DaCosta also deserves a ton of praise for staging better set pieces here than veteran director Danny Boyle managed with the predecessor. The only sequel on this list earns its spot with a blend of innovation and good old-fashioned muscular craft.
7
‘Leviticus’
Buzzy since its Sundance premiere, Australian writer/director Adrian Chiarella‘s supernatural thriller stars Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen as teenage lovers whose fanatically religious community summon an entity to combat their homosexual desires, an entity that alternately takes the form of the boys themselves.
Certain corners of the internet have cynically and lazily branded Leviticus as “the gay It Follows,” which really betrays what an affectingly somber affair this slow-burn really is. This isn’t the scariest horror movie you’ll see this year, but it’s often genuinely eerie, occasionally even shocking. It’s perhaps most commendable for the way it weaves together its dramatic and genre elements. Bird and Clausen are terrific, delivering touching, tragic performances that bridge the gap between the horror and coming-of-age genres.
6
‘Blue Film’
Elliot Tuttle‘s microbudgeted queer indie plays out like a black box theater two-hander, with Boots star Kieron Moore starring as Aaron Eagle, an aggressive and mysterious camboy escort whose latest client (Reed Birney) reveals himself to be Aaron’s former English teacher, with whom he shares a sordid past. This is almost exactly 80 minutes of two people engaged in piercing dialogue that’s uncomfortable, disturbing, and deeply sad in an empathetic way.
The subject matter here might be radioactive for many, but Blue Film is one of the most beautifully written and powerfully acted movies of 2026, eschewing salaciousness in lieu of a kind of exorcism, a need to make peace. Moore and Birney are flat-out superb, and the script reveals stunning emotional and psychological depth within a tight running time. It’s also evocatively shot in a way that masks its low budget while registering as an unshakable dream for the viewer.
5
‘The Furious’
Not to be confused with The Fast and the Furious, though this coincidentally is also an action film that’s sort of about family, The Furious is the action movie to beat in 2026. Seriously, it’s all but unfathomable that any action picture released over the next six months will top this. Kenji Tanagaki’s exhilarating masterclass in escalation stars Xie Miao as a mute handyman whose daughter (Yang Enyou) is kidnapped by child traffickers. It’s a simple, familiar, all-too-effective inciting incident for a blood-soaked Hong Kong action film that deserves a far wider release than its gotten. The Furious is perhaps the best film of its kind since The Raid, and it will find its audience over time.
It certainly isn’t perfect. The dialogue is clunky as hell, with many observers theorizing AI dubbing was utilized for the North American release (though, to be clear, this hasn’t been confirmed). The cheesiness really doesn’t really matter though, when what we’re here for is so perfectly executed and relentlessly fun. There’s a symphonic distribution and variation in the action sequences here, and the emotional impetus is irresistible. What the hell’s not to like?
4
‘Backrooms’
Frankly, it’s a little surprising that many observers are still drawing a lot of attention to the fact that “YouTubers” are stacking such wins at the movies. This has been the case for years now, and it isn’t a trend. Still, Backrooms stands out as a particularly enormous event film. At 20, Kane Parsons became the youngest director to open a film atop the North American box office, with a staggering $118 million that broke A24’s all-time record. Oscar nominees Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renata Reinsve star as an alcoholic furniture store owner and his therapist, respectively, who discover seemingly endless, ominous liminal spaces in the store’s basement.
There are even greater surreal horror movies out there, but the interdimensional vision of Backrooms is astonishing and impressively cohesive even without taking the helmer’s tender age into account. Parsons’ technical, even mathematical filmmaking strengths and voice have been on display for years, and Backrooms is a successful marriage with a feature narrative thanks to a minimalist but effective script by Will Soodik. The two lead actors are haunting as people who choose to cope with traumatic pasts in very different, hardly equal ways.
3
‘The Sheep Detectives’
By far the year’s best family-friendly interspecies murder mystery, The Sheep Detectives is an increasingly rare kind of bird, a mid-budget film made with A-list talent that offers something for audiences of all ages. Craig Mazin adapts Leonie Swann‘s novel Three Bags Full, about a herd of Irish sheep attempting to solve the murder of their shepherd. The ensemble cast includes Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Galitzine, Nicholas Braun and Emma Thompson, with the vocal talents of Bryan Cranston, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris O’Dowd and Regina Hall.
The visual effects here were make-or-break for the final product, and they’re Oscar-worthy. It really isn’t overhyping Sheep Detectives to say Mazin deserves to be considered for this adapted script, too. Ultimately, the film is much less frothy and far deeper than you’d expect a movie called The Sheep Detectives to be.
2
‘Obsession’
The success of Backrooms, and especially its mad opening weekend, can be attributed in part to great marketing. The phenomenon of Obsession can be attributed entirely to word of mouth. All but overnight, Curry Barker is the hottest name in horror cinema, thanks to this shoestring-budgeted fantasy fable about a monkey paw wish with horrifying consequences. A $750,000 budget looks like far more thanks to clever filmmaking across the board, from unnerving and darkly atmospheric cinematography and art direction, admirably silence-heavy sound design to Barker’s own taut editing. Michael Johnston and breakout star Inde Navarrette also deserve a lot of credit for a perfect tone that constantly leaves you unsure if you should be screaming, laughing, or maybe crying in despair.
Obsession is a rare breed, delivering freakouts that are already plastered all over the internet on top of a narrative that’s more provocative and disturbing, even grandly tragic, the more you think about it. It’s full of timely observations of modern dating, and it’s also a fundamental morality play, where the villain isn’t really the villain. We’re only six months in, but this is your horror movie of the year, in a historic year for horror, and it will end its box-office run as one of the most profitable films ever made.
1
‘Project Hail Mary’
Project Hail Mary is by far the most tactile blockbuster film in recent memory, at a time when so many pictures with big budgets feel oddly airy and disposable. It’s stunningly shot for IMAX and full of practical effects of varying scale, and Daniel Pemberton‘s hopecore original score is perhaps the year’s most inventive. This tactility is all in service of a winning hard sci-fi story with tons of heart and just the right amount of imaginative leaps. Ryan Gosling stars in Chris Lord and Phil Miller‘s adaptation of Andy Weir‘s novel about a washed-up middle school science teacher who wakes up in deep space with no memory of how he got there.
The nature of the premise lends itself to a non-linear narrative, and Drew Goddard‘s excellent script builds a formidable emotional potency over a near-three-hour runtime that never feels its length. The journey is the destination, and Project Hail Mary‘s surprises are best experienced going in completely cold if you haven’t read the novel. Everything in this blockbuster rides on the back of a grounding, physical, funny and soulful performance from Gosling that’s frankly on an entirely different scale from anything he’s ever done. Project Hail Mary is made with timelessness in mind, but it’s also the right movie at the right time.
Project Hail Mary
- Release Date
-
March 15, 2026
- Runtime
-
157 minutes
- Director
-
Christopher Miller, Phil Lord
- Writers
-
Drew Goddard, Andy Weir
Nothing in this world is perfect, or at least that is what everyone says, but there are a select few anime that most fans agree are flawless masterpieces. Titles such as Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and One Piece are known to be revolutionary anime with great writing, but they also contain a handful of issues and flaws. But what makes an anime flawless?
This list will highlight ten anime series that don’t have any flaws based on writing, animation, originality, influence, critical acclaim, consistency, lack of flaws, pacing, and overall quality. Some of these shows might have one or two things wrong with them, or viewers will have personal grievances, but for the most part, these ten anime series are flawless sensations that deserve recognition.
‘Steins;Gate’ (2011)
In order to be flawless, an anime must be consistently good, and Steins;Gate did it better than most. When a self-proclaimed mad scientist accidentally creates a machine that can send texts into the past, he tears holes in reality, threatening to change the events of history. Now he and his friends must fix it before the world becomes irreversibly screwed.
Some fans complain that the beginning is too slow and boring, but that was necessary in order to set up the events throughout the rest of the story. Steins;Gate is a meticulous anime that paces its story deliberately, and when things kick off, it kicks off. Time travel is a hard subject to write about, but this series somehow wraps everything up nicely, where there aren’t any plot holes, truly making its writing flawless.
‘Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju’ (2016-2017)
All the anime on this list are well-known masterpieces, but perhaps the most unknown show is also the best written: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju. When a young yakuza member gets out of prison, he wants a fresh start, and inspired by what he saw inside, he wants to pursue a career in rakugo, a form of traditional comedic storytelling.
Speaking of well-written anime, Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju features some of the greatest dialogue and story progression in the medium. By telling the narrative through the past and future, it shows the audience how the tradition evolved, not to mention the way the characters perform their routine tells fans more about their grief than the writing does.
‘Vinland Saga’ (2019-present)
Historical anime series are getting increasingly popular, and that all started with Vinland Saga, one of the most acclaimed anime of recent years. After the Vikings kill his father, Thorfinn joins their crew in order to enact his revenge, but first, he needs to be strong enough to kill them. However, after spending years with the Vikings, he slowly loses his purpose, now needing to realize what is actually important to him.
Everyone knows and loves Vinland Saga because it is a deconstruction of the revenge trope. What starts as a typical revenge story with some philosophical themes evolves into a character study of how anyone can change for the better. Its themes of pacifism, revenge, guilt, and redemption are incredibly profound and well-handled, proving Vinland Saga is a masterful anime.
‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998-1999)
Shinichiro Watanabe is a legendary anime director known for some of the greatest anime series, including his magnum opus, Cowboy Bebop. Spike Spiegel and his group of bounty hunters travel the galaxy and clean up the planets from filth. However, when his dark past resurfaces, he must face it head-on or risk putting himself and his friends in danger.
Cowboy Bebop is one of the most unique anime series of all time, and it achieves this through its blend of sci-fi, neo-noir, jazz, and 1980s action. This anime is a stylish combination of unrelated aspects to create a succinct experience that is more than just cool. The episodic structure plays into the themes of the story, and with each episode entertaining in itself, paired with the overall connection, Cowboy Bebop is a brilliant anime.
‘FLFL’ (2000-2001)
The avant-garde genre isn’t as popular as it used to be, but it still contains a handful of perfect gems, including FLCL. With his brother gone, a young boy takes it upon himself to do everything, not giving himself the chance to be a kid. But when a vespa-riding woman hits him in the head with a guitar, his world flips upside down, even if she is using him to summon her interdimensional lover.
It may only be six episodes, but that just means it has a better chance of being perfect, which it is. The later seasons are awful, but the first season of FLCL is a wacky adventure with coming-of-age themes and bizarre sci-fi madness. Outside of having the best music in anime, FLCL also uses its chaotic and surreal animation alongside its aggressive storytelling to tell a relatable story to masterfully convey the simple difficulties of life.
‘Monster’ (2004-2005)
Naoki Urasawa is a prolific manga author responsible for the greatest mystery stories ever, including his most well-known masterpiece, Monster. Tenma is a doctor, and when he chooses to save the life of a child over the mayor, that same child grows up to be a serial killer. Tenma now takes it upon himself to kill Johan before he does anything worse, but will he be able to do it after seeing Johan’s dark past?
Monster starts off as a slow-burning that tumbles into a domino effect of plot points and shocking moments until the final arc, which is the ultimate conclusion. Despite being on the longer side, Monster maintains its perfect pace and handles its characters well, knowing what to do with them and when. Ultimately, there isn’t a better anime mystery that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
‘Haikyuu!!’ (2014-present)
This list features a couple of sports anime, and while the genre is filled with riveting series, one of the best and most popular is Haikyuu!! Hinata may be undersized, but he has big dreams of becoming an ace striker on his high school volleyball team. However, he will need to learn to work together with an arrogant rookie setter if he wants the team to succeed and make it to nationals.
Haikyuu is a beloved anime because of its underdog story that made it easy to root for every character, even the antagonists. With personal stories, growth, new things to learn, and consistent improvement, this anime kept viewers emotionally invested. Haikyuu achieved everything it aimed to accomplish, creating an exhilarating anime in the meantime.
‘Mob Psycho 100’ (2016-2022)
Having an overpowered protagonist limits the story a lot, but one of the best ways to handle it is the way Mob Psycho 100 deals with the issue. Shigeo is the world’s strongest psychic, but he only wants a normal school life, which is difficult with his powers. Because he suppresses his emotions, his abilities burst out of control, making life challenging for him, his friends, and his enemies.
Mob Psycho 100 does have some tame moments where it takes focus off the main narrative, but that was to simply showcase the daily life Mob strived for. Excelling with animation, art, and creativity, this anime was an explosion of innovation that can be seen in the action, style, and narrative. Mob Psycho 100 is an emotionally complex series with some of the best characters in the medium.
The greatest anime of all time is an endless debate, but the closest series to that crown is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. When brothers Edward and Alphonse lose parts or all of their bodies in a taboo alchemical experiment, they set out on a quest to find the philosopher’s stone. However, all they uncover is a government conspiracy that threatens to engulf the world if they don’t do something.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has incredible worldbuilding, lore, drama, action, comedy, animation, characters, writing — the list of its many strengths goes on. This show has a little bit of everything for everyone, and despite achieving all of it, it doesn’t spread itself too thin, still retaining a balanced scope. The buildup is slow, but everything that comes after is perfect from start to finish.
‘Ping Pong the Animation’ (2014)
Table tennis isn’t the most exciting sport, but Ping Pong the Animation will change viewers’ minds. Smile and Peco have played the sport together for as long as they can remember, but everything goes wrong when they decide to go pro. Smile doesn’t find the joy in playing competitively, and Peco struggles to keep up with the competition.
As mentioned, avant-garde anime don’t get proper recognition, even when the series are as good as Ping Pong the Animation. The art style is messy, but not flawed, using its rough aesthetic to portray the mental state of the characters. Everyone has an arc and a purpose, and through the sport of table tennis, they discover themselves in unique and satisfying ways. Ping Pong the Animation is simultaneously thought-provoking and entertaining, leaving no room for any flaws to ruin this masterpiece.
It’s become incredibly difficult for shows to last for more than three seasons given the constraints put on them by the industry. Streaming services tend not to let shows go on for too long because they might lose viewership over time, and studios don’t want to renew shows when the required wages for writers and crew members increase after the third season. Although it is an unfortunate reality, it’s something that television creators have to contend with in a changing media landscape.
It’s impressive when a show can make economical choices to tell its story in a short amount of time without feeling like any characters or storylines are slighted. When considering how many shows have lost their essence over time due to an endless number of seasons, it can be preferable to cap off a finale after just three installments, offering a tight and conclusive ending that satisfies everyone.
10
‘Legion’ (2017–2019)
Legion is one of the best comic book shows ever made because it embraces the surrealist, psychedelic side of Marvel’s source material and offers a fresh perspective on the experiences of being a mutant. Although it is inspired by a more obscure run of X-Men comics, Legion doesn’t have anything to do with any of the live-action installments in the franchise; in fact, its creative and emotionally charged approach to the mythology might resonate with those that have otherwise dealt with “superhero fatigue.”
Legion created a compelling protagonist in David Haller, played by Dan Stevens in one of his greatest performances, who is a mutant who struggles to determine whether he is a hero or villain. While the outlandish comedy and musical sequences make Legion feel like an avant-garde approach to the genre, it ends up being a surprisingly emotional series based on how profoundly David’s story ends.
9
‘The Comeback’ (2005–2026)
The Comeback is one of the most unique sitcoms on HBO because it had three seasons that were released over the course of two decades, allowing it to examine how rapidly the entertainment system had evolved in the time since. Lisa Kudrow’s performance as a vain, struggling former sitcom star is not only a self-referential role, but one she uses to explore how the excess of celebrity has made Hollywood even more challenging.
The Comeback is a ruthless satire of how decisions are made in entertainment, but it’s also completely hilarious, and manages to say something about the rights of artists. The third and final season was particularly noteworthy for how it examined the destructive capabilities of artificial intelligence, which was a bold move during a time in which many studios have proven that they will bend over backwards to cut out humans from the process.
8
‘Daredevil’ (2015–2018)
Daredevil was a game-changing comic book adaptation that served as the first series from Marvel Studios to debut on Netflix, where it was allowed to be much darker and grittier than anything that had been seen in the live-action films. Although many fans were highly disappointed by the 2003 film about the character, Daredevil found a smart way to do the origin story and found the perfect casting of Charlie Cox, who has completely embodied the role of Matt Murdock.
Daredevil also featured an all-time great comic book villain in Wilson Fisk, played brilliantly by Vincent D’Onofrio in a completely terrifying, complex performance. Although the show was sadly canceled as part of the expiration of Disney’s deal with Netflix, the rebooted series Daredevil: Born Again debuted on Disney+ and reunited many of the leads from the original run of episodes.
7
‘American Crime Story’ (2016–2021)
American Crime Story is the best show that Ryan Murphy has ever made, and has done the anthology approach to exploring real incidents in American history much better than Monster. The three seasons focused on different historical cases that were significant within popular culture, including the arrest and trial of O.J. Simpson, the death of fashion mogul Gianni Versace, and the impeachment of United States President Bill Clinton.
American Crime Story featured brilliant performances from A-list actors throughout, and was able to look at all different angles to these cases in order to explore the social, political, and legal repercussions. Even if there were liberties taken with how these stories were told, they do serve as conversation starters because they were willing to look beyond the headlines to show the complex machinations involved with highly combustible and complicated media circuses.
6
‘I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson’ (2019–2023)
I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson is one of the funniest sketch shows of all-time, and is more than a suitable replacement for those who have felt that Saturday Night Live has lost its momentum in recent years. Tim Robinson is a remarkable performer and writer who was able to completely reboot what sketch comedy looked like by taking humorous situations and pushing them beyond normal limits to be weirder, more uncomfortable, and increasingly surreal than they would be in the hands of any other creator or showrunner.
Many of the sketches from I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson have subsequently gone viral, but there are so many hidden gems within every single installment that it is worth revisiting all three seasons to experience the full extent of Robinson’s radically inventive, hilariously genius sense of humor.
5
‘The Office’ (2001–2003)
The Office is one of the most groundbreaking sitcoms of all-time and an early achievement in the mockumentary genre that set a template for other shows to follow. While the American remake did become quite popular and served as a “comfort watch” for many fans, the original British version of The Office is even more incisive and brilliant, and managed to accomplish even more in just three seasons.
The Office offered a definitive perspective on the mundanity of cubical work that spoke to anyone who has ever hated their job or been irritated by an obnoxious coworker or employer. Although Ricky Gervais is an actor and comedian who can be very polarizing, he unquestionably tapped into genius with his portrayal of David Brent, a character who belongs in the hall of fame when discussing the funniest characters in the entire history of television.
4
‘Hannibal’ (2013–2015)
Hannibal was a surprising new twist on the iconic Thomas Harris source material that justified its existence by offering a different perspective on the events covered in films like Manhunter and The Silence of the Lambs. Although Mads Mikkelsen’s performance as Dr. Hannibal Lecter was worthy of all the other great actors who had occupied the role, credit must also be given to Hugh Laurie for his performance as Will Graham because of how well the show works as a cat-and-mouse chase.
Hannibal is the rare show that has a completely perfect finale that resolved all the series’ mysteries, and solidified Bryan Fuller as one of the best showrunners working in television today. Although there have been constant rumors about a potential continuation that would introduce Clarice Starling, it’s hard to imagine that any new installments would be able to live up to the incredible legacy of Hannibal.
3
‘Deadwood’ (2004–2006)
Deadwood is the greatest Western in the history of television because it is based on more than just the tropes of the genre. The real history of America’s frontier era was much more fraught than it’s often depicted as being in films and shows, and Deadwood explored the process in which a territory becomes an official town within the Union in an exciting way that featured dialogue worthy of Shakespeare.
Deadwood was one of the first examples of what HBO could do when it committed to a specific genre and aesthetic, as David Milch’s exacting vision for the series ensured that every character and storyline was fascinating in its own right. Deadwood may have been cancelled after the end of its third season, but Milch returned 13 years later to direct the standalone HBO film Deadwood: The Movie, which served as a proper finale.
2
‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)
The Leftovers is a major achievement in television because it expanded beyond being a strict adaptation of an acclaimed novel to become a rich, mythic odyssey about the quest for answers that captured a shockingly poignant depiction of how humanity would react to a global tragedy.
The Leftovers is a show that only could have existed on HBO, as it asked viewers to buy into some truly strange tonal shifts and ambiguity, as Damon Lindelof has never been the type of showrunner who gives viewers the answers to all of their questions at once. Although Lindelof’s process of mystery-baiting proved to be controversial during the highly divisive ending of Lost, The Leftovers didn’t suffer the same backlash because its finale “The Book of Nora” offered a completely satisfying emotional conclusion to the beautiful romance that the series had built over the course of three seasons.
1
‘Twin Peaks’ (1990–2017)
Twin Peaks is one of the most foundational works in television history because David Lynch revamped what a serialized mystery could look like by creating a series that had a “watercooler effect,” in which fans gathered to unpack the mysteries between weeks.
Twin Peaks dared to be more than just a procedural because it explored the complex aftermath of the death of the high school prom queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), and how it leads to secrets being revealed about her entire town. Twin Peaks was sadly cancelled by ABC in its second season after the network had forced Lynch to solve the murder, which resulted in a crashing of ratings. Although Lynch directed the prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me to unpack the show’s events from Laura’s perspective, he would finally make a Season 3, subtitled Twin Peaks: The Return, which aired on Showtime in 2017.
Twin Peaks
- Release Date
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1990 – 1991-00-00
- Directors
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Lesli Linka Glatter, Caleb Deschanel, Duwayne Dunham, Tim Hunter, Todd Holland, Tina Rathborne, Diane Keaton, Graeme Clifford, James Foley, Jonathan Sanger, Mark Frost, Stephen Gyllenhaal
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With a baby on the way, Anne Hathaway has to prioritize comfy summer fashion. It inevitably leads her to the ugly-cute sandals trend, and since we’re talking about Hathaway, hers lean mega chic. We found the equally practical and stylish look on sale for just $25!
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Her exact sandals are probably wildly expensive, but these Coutgo Platform Sandals nail the aesthetic. You get the same double-strap design, chunky platform and beige tone that goes with absolutely everything in your closet, from linen sundresses to wide-leg jeans. Shiny gold hardware is a welcome upgrade.
Better yet, the straps are hook-and-loop, making these summery wonders easy to get on and off. And unlike flat sandals, the padded footbed means you can wander through the farmers’ market with happy feet. One Amazon shopper shared, “You can dress them up or down and they are so comfortable! I walked in these for hours and had no issues.”
Another five-star reviewer wrote, “Have seen the exact shoe in higher-priced brands. These shoes have been through hiking, water, mud, sand and hills, and they have held up.”
Hathaway wasn’t hiking uphill, but she probably could in this sandal style. Her Saint-Tropez moment proves that real elegance is being comfortable enough to actually enjoy yourself, so skip the blisters, elevate your summer wardrobe, and let your feet thank you later.
Get the Coutgo Platform Sandals for $25 (was $33) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more comfy sandals here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
Rich moms live in sandals during the summer, but that doesn’t mean they sacrifice comfort. They seek out equally comfy and chic styles — and we found 17 on-sale pairs that look expensive, yet start at just $9, courtesy of Amazon Prime Day. Prime Day runs from June 23 through June 26, but we don’t […]
Entertainment
Eric André says “Little Brother ”director 'wasn't thrilled' by his antics in sex scene with elderly actors
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“We were making Matt [Spicer] pull his hair out that night.”
Dutton Ranch‘s Finn Little is warning viewers to be “very worried” about the season 1 finale of the Yellowstone spinoff.
During a joint interview with Natalie Alyn Lind exclusively for Us Weekly, Little, 20, poked fun at offscreen concerns, joking, “At least three people — is it three or four people that die in the finale?”
Lind, 26, for her part, remained more tight-lipped.
“I don’t want to give anything away,” she said to Us before adding, “Nobody dies. Everybody dies. .. Oh, wait, they’re all dead.”
Yellowstone initially introduced viewers to the Dutton family in 2018. The Paramount Network show came to an end in 2024, expanding its universe with Luke Grimes’ CBS show Marshals and Dutton Ranch, which premiered in May.
Earlier this month, cast member Marc Menchaca weighed in on whether the deadly twists on the show had him worried about his character Zachariah’s fate. “It’s always a possibility — and I have a pretty good track record of saying bye-bye on a show,” he told Us.
Menchaca, 50, poked fun at his bad luck on screen.
“My wife [Lena Headey] made a death reel for me for my birthday this last year. It was about 10 minutes and it didn’t even have all my deaths,” he quipped. “So I was a little bit [worried].”
He continued: “I was like, ‘They may take me out so I better get on everybody’s good side.’ Hopefully, it won’t happen but the way things are now, you get these scripts just a little bit before. Then you start going through and you’re like, ‘Is it gonna happen next scene?’ Thankfully it has not [yet].”
Juan Pablo Raba, meanwhile, recalled the moment he was worried about his future on the show.
“When I got episode 6 and I opened the page and I see Chet walking to me with a gun, my first thought was, ‘Well, it was nice while it lasted,’” he quipped to Us. “I was like, ‘God, it was so short. But why didn’t they call me? That’s rude.’”
He continued: “You hope for the best and you hope it’s going to be a long run. But you really don’t know. I really hope we can really work this for many seasons because I think there’s so much story to tell.”
Dutton Ranch airs Fridays on Paramount+.
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
John Wick changed the action film landscape so thoroughly that it became a part of our cinematic lexicon … for example, when you want to describe a movie built around big celebrities, epic fights, and intricate worldbuilding, you might say something like “Nobody is Bob Odenkirk’s John Wick.” There is currently no shortage of these movie homages, and some are inevitably better than others. One of the best such films is Gunpowder Milkshake, a John Wick clone with a girl power twist now streaming on Netflix.
A Cross Between Fire Power And Star Power
What is Gunpowder Milkshake about, exactly? This is mostly the story of a veteran hit-woman who works for a mysterious organization and can handle almost any job with ease. But when she has to protect the young girl of one of her victim’s fathers, she must reunite with her estranged mother and recruit some unexpected allies if she wants to have any hope of survival.
As with the John Wick films, a large part of Gunpowder Milkshake’s appeal is its cast of quirky actors. Karen Gillan (best known as a fan-favorite Companion Amy on Doctor Who) plays our chief hit-woman protagonist, and Lena Headey (best known as Cersei on Game of Thrones) plays her estranged mother turned professional killer. Other big names in this great cast include Paul Giamatti as a shady assassin employer, and Michelle Yeoh as a member of a very special sisterhood of warriors.
A Perfect Mix Of Violence And Charisma
While it’s not quite as good as John Wick (more on this later), Gunpowder Milkshake does a good job of emulating that film’s best characteristics. For example, the fights are well-choreographed and complex, and every single bullet fired helps to propel the narrative relentlessly forward. All of the cast has great chemistry, and the organic worldbuilding in the script is reminiscent of killer action films like Mad Max: Fury Road.
When Gunpowder Milkshake debuted on Netflix, it made a big splash, establishing itself as the most-watched film in America that week. This positive buzz was enough for a sequel to be announced in 2021, but there hasn’t been any real movement or announcements since then. Fingers crossed for more of this strange cinematic universe, but the lack of updates has me worried that this particular milkshake machine may be broken (the McDonald’s curse strikes again?).
Good, But Not Better Than The Best
Gunpowder Milkshake may have been a highly-streamed hit when it came out, but critics were a bit mixed in their opinions. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie currently has a 60 percent critical rating, meaning that it barely eked into “fresh” territory. Critics generally praised the colorful and entertaining universe and its stylish ultra-violence but noted that, like a more conventional milkshake, it might be nothing more than a sugar-filled rush of empty calories.
I think that’s a generally correct assessment, and I feel the same way about Gunpowder Milkshake. It’s not as good as John Wick, but that isn’t meant as a slam…if we’re being honest, that Keanu Reeves genre-defining classic is better than most movies. But this newer film notably manages to deliver Wick-style thrills and charismatic characters while taking some very big swings to establish its own unique cinematic identity.
GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE SCORE
Gunpowder Milkshake is ultimately a great film for anyone who likes great action scenes, and if you happen to love Gillan, Headey, and Yeoh (honestly, who doesn’t?), it’s even better. Of course, milkshakes aren’t for everyone, and you won’t know if this is your new favorite sugar bomb or just a bomb in general until you stream it on Netflix. Fair warning: if you’re a Doctor Who fan like me, you might spend half the movie singing “Amy’s got a gun” to the dulcet tones of Aerosmith.
Kim Scott, the ex-wife of rapper Eminem, is now the subject of an active arrest warrant after failing to appear in court for a hearing related to her recent DUI case. According to multiple reports, Scott missed a scheduled appearance on Wednesday in Macomb County District Court in Michigan, prompting prosecutors to request a bench warrant.
The latest legal development comes just weeks after Scott was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence following a traffic crash.
Judge Issues Arrest Warrant After Kim Scott Missed Court Appearance
Scott was expected to appear before Judge William H. Hackel III on Wednesday for pretrial proceedings tied to her DUI case. However, after she failed to appear, prosecutors requested that a bench warrant be issued and that her previously posted release bond be forfeited. The judge granted the request, issuing an active arrest warrant and setting Scott’s bond at $10,000.
As of Wednesday, officials confirmed Scott had not yet been taken back into custody.
DUI Arrest Followed Michigan Crash
The missed hearing stems from Scott’s arrest on May 14 in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. According to authorities, Scott allegedly crashed her vehicle into another car the night before in nearby Detroit. She was taken into custody the following morning and booked into the Macomb County Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The arrest marked yet another legal issue for Scott, who has faced several public struggles over the years.
Kim Scott Was Already Facing Charges From An Earlier Crash
The May arrest came only weeks after Scott entered a no-contest plea in a separate case connected to a February crash. According to reports, authorities alleged Scott drove her white Range Rover into a parked Dodge Ram on February 16.
Her son, Parker, and three of his friends were reportedly inside the vehicle at the time as they were heading out shopping. Investigators said the impact pushed the parked truck approximately 50 feet from where it had been sitting.
Scott was subsequently charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and failure to stop or identify after causing property damage.
Kim Scott And Eminem’s Relationship Played Out In The Public Eye
Scott and Eminem, whose legal name is Marshall Mathers III, have one of the most well-known and turbulent relationships in hip-hop history. The pair first met as teenagers in 1987 before beginning an on-again, off-again romance that lasted for decades. They married for the first time in 1999 before divorcing in 2001. The former couple reconciled several years later and remarried in 2006, but their second marriage also ended in divorce later that same year.
Throughout his career, Eminem frequently referenced Scott and their complicated relationship in his music, making her one of the most recognizable figures connected to the rapper’s personal life.
When it comes to family, Scott and Eminem welcomed their daughter, Hailie Jade, in 1995. “Bein’ a dad is definitely living a double life,” Eminem told Rolling Stone in 2004. “Even before Hailie was born, I was a firm believer in freedom of speech … But once I hit them gates where I live, that’s when I’m Dad.”
Beyond Hailie, the rapper also helped raise several other children connected to Scott’s family. He adopted Stevie Laine Scott after reuniting with Kim in the mid-2000s. Stevie was born in 2002 during one of the periods when Scott and Eminem were separated. Eminem also adopted Alaina Marie Scott, the daughter of Kim’s late twin sister, Dawn Scott, who struggled with substance abuse before she died in 2016.
The rapper has frequently spoken about the importance of family throughout his career, and all three children have remained a central part of his life.
Kim Scott Has Faced Personal Struggles Over The Years
Scott has been candid about the personal challenges she has faced over the years, including struggles with addiction and mental health. In 2015, she survived a suicide attempt after crashing her vehicle into a utility pole. She later described the incident as an intentional act and said she had been battling depression and substance abuse at the time.
Despite periods away from the public eye, Scott has periodically made headlines because of legal troubles and her longstanding connection to Eminem.
With an active arrest warrant now issued, the latest chapter in her legal case continues to unfold.
Bunnie Xo is setting the record straight on the speculation surrounding her divorce from Jelly Roll.
“I’ve seen this narrative online where people are like, ‘Bunnie was embarrassing Jelly.’ That’s why he wanted the divorce. ‘She’s not good for his PR,’” Bunnie, 46, said during the Friday, June 26, episode of her “Dumb Blonde” podcast. “I’m just like, please, it’s not me, OK. It’s not me, and that’s completely false.”
In the wake of their split, Bunnie (real name Alisa DeFord) told listeners that her DMs are open. While some podcast listeners have written in asking for advice, others have written “crazy” things.
Friday’s episode of the podcast was an “ask, tell, confess” installment, meaning listeners wrote into Bunnie. One message came from a man getting out of a “10-year bid” in prison asking for “a time” with her when he’s released.
“What I don’t like is he said, ‘Let me go out and have a time with you.’ So that’s where it’s like, OK, so you’re just expecting me to put out on this first date?” Bunnie said. “Listen, same. I just got out of a 10-year bid too, bitches, what are we talking about?”
Bunnie was laughing while telling listeners that she’s “gonna get a phone call” from Jelly (real name Jason Bradley DeFord) after that comment.
“I’m sorry, OK,” she said. “Just cutting a rug, buddy.”
Jelly submitted a petition for divorce in Tennessee on May 18. However, their split news didn’t go public until June 15.
“On Mother’s Day, we had a little bit of an argument, which I don’t think the details are necessary,” Bunnie explained on the June 18 episode of her “Dumb Blonde” podcast, detailing what led to their divorce.
“I was so fed up and so tired that I just looked at him and I said, ‘Well, then file the f***ing divorce papers,’” she claimed. “And in our relationship, that is the one cardinal thing that you don’t say. Even though my husband has said it numerous times ‘cause he’s the runner.”
Bunnie Xo is ready to shine a light on what went wrong in her nearly 10-year marriage to Jelly Roll. “My family was always so important to me, and when I said those vows with him, I really meant them,” Bunnie, 46, shared on the Thursday, June 18, episode of the “Dumb Blonde” podcast. “J […]
Jelly was apparently “so mad” that he did what she said.
“Was I blindsided? And was this divorce mutual? No, it was not mutual,” she added. “Even though I told him to file the divorce papers, I was speaking out of anger and just frustration.”
Bunnie referred to Jelly as her “best friend” despite their breakup.
“I don’t care how f***ed up our relationship was, which it wasn’t that f***ed up. I don’t care how much we didn’t communicate or how things shook out,” she said. “I was riding with this motherf***er till the wheels fell off. I didn’t care. I felt like we deserved a chance to go to therapy and figure s*** out. He didn’t feel that way and I respect it.”
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