Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s son Knox Jolie-Pitt is embracing his wilder side with a fiery new hairstyle.

The 18-year-old was seen sporting spiked red hair with blond shaved sides as he stepped out in Los Angeles on Monday, August 10.

Knox was all smiles as he jogged through the City of Angels wearing a cream T-shirt, black shorts, white socks and Crocs, according to photos published by the Daily Mail.

The teenager looked relaxed and slightly sweaty as he enjoyed the afternoon sun on Monday, with his bold new hair color turning heads along his route.

Related: Brad Pitt ‘Isn’t Ready to Give Up on His Children’: Source

Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images Brad Pitt remains hopeful about reconnecting with his kids. “After years of legal battles, Brad still isn’t ready to give up on his children,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “But knowing his children are dropping his last name is upsetting.” The update comes on the heels of several of Pitt, […]

Knox’s style statement comes amid his family’s ongoing ups and downs with their dad, 62, following Pitt and Jolie’s highly-publicized 2016 divorce. (The former couple finalized their divorce in December 2024.)

As of August, Knox is one of the exes’ two children who have not decided to legally drop their dad’s last name from their monikers after spending much of their childhood being raised primarily by the Maleficent actress, 51.

Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh and Vivienne have all distanced themselves from their famous father over the past few years, filing to only use their mother’s last name , leaving Knox and 22-year-old Pax the actor’s only children who go by “Pitt.”

Us confirmed that Shiloh, 20, was the first to make a change, filing a motion to change her moniker on her 18th birthday in May 2024. The petition was granted three months later.

Zahara, 21, followed suit in April, filing her own petition that was processed that June.

Twenty four-year-old Maddox, who was legally adopted by Pitt after he married Jolie in 2014, filed for his name change in May.

Vivienne, Knox’s twin, has been going by Vivienne Jolie for her entertainment credits, including working as a production assistant on the Broadway show The Outsiders. Us confirmed in July that the 18-year-old officially filed to legally drop “Pitt” from her surname as well.

With every legal filing, Pitt has been feeling his family grow further apart, a source exclusively told Us earlier this year.

Related: Where Angelina Jolie Wants to Move After Her Youngest Kids Turn 18

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Angelina Jolie is ready to get out of Los Angeles when the time is right. The Maria actress, 49, revealed her plans for leaving Tinseltown after her youngest children, 16-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne, turn 18 in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on Friday, August 30. “I grew up in this town. […]

“He feels most hurt out of everything that happened with Angie that his children don’t want a public association with his last name,” the insider said in May. “It’s been very difficult.”

The Fight Club star “still does hope and keeps the door open to eventual reconciliation, hopefully with all of them, but it is their decision,” the source explained.

As each of his children become adults, the insider added that Pitt knows he “has no power and he can’t force them” to keep his last name.

Pitt, for his part, made a rare comment about his personal hardships in an interview with Esquire published on Monday.

Related: Angelina Jolie Beams With Pride Beside Son Knox in Rare Outing Together

Angelina Jolie stepped out in style during a rare public outing with her son Knox. Arriving arm-in-arm with Knox, 16, to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 15th Annual Governors Awards’ red carpet in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 17, Jolie, 49, beamed with pride. Knox, one of six children Jolie shares with […]

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“I’ve never been suicidal except for one little period. And in that one little period, I just thought — I just couldn’t — just didn’t see a way out,” the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor revealed. “The pain was so oppressive that — I wasn’t going to act on this, but I could feel — I could feel the cold steel of the bullet in my head, and it felt like relief.”

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Pitt recalled, “And I thought, ‘Oh, OK, now I understand — I understand suicide, in the sense that it’s just relief. It’s just looking for relief from the pain. But I also think we have incredible survival instincts.”

When asked whether the “oppressive” pain had anything to do with “kid stuff,” Pitt replied, “Family stuff. … We could leave it at that.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Role Model has seemingly turned months of speculation about his relationship with Dakota Johnson into music. The singer-songwriter, whose real name is Tucker Pillsbury, featured the actress on “Love I You,” a track from his third album, “Chuck Timely & The Hourglass.” Although the pair had previously been photographed together, Johnson’s cameo on the song appears to be their most direct public acknowledgment of the romance to date.

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Dakota Johnson’s cameo appears during the bridge of “Love I You,” where she shares a flirtatious conversation with Pillsbury.

“Hey, I think you’re perfect,” the musician tells her.

“You say that to everyone,” Johnson replies.

“Kay, well, is it working?” he asks, prompting her to answer, “Yeah, but don’t tell anyone.”

The exchange immediately fueled discussion among listeners who had been following the couple’s increasingly public relationship. Pillsbury admitted that he initially had reservations about asking Johnson to participate because he knew the collaboration would generate more attention around their personal lives.

Role Model Initially Wanted To Keep Their Lives Separate

During an interview with Rolling Stone, Role Model explained that producer Mason Stoops repeatedly suggested Johnson when they began considering possible voices for the bridge. “We had a list of ideas for people, and [producer] Mason [Stoops] kept bringing up, you know, ‘Why doesn’t Dakota do it?’” Pillsbury recalled.

The musician initially resisted because he believed maintaining some separation between the relationship and his work might be the safer decision. “And I was always like, ‘Well, I don’t … I think keeping those things separate is probably good,’ and blah, blah, blah,” he said.

Stoops eventually persuaded Johnson to give the part a try, and Pillsbury immediately recognized that her voice suited the track. “And then one day he convinced her and I was just like, ‘Yeah, let’s try it,’ and it was amazing,” the singer explained. “Like, her voice was perfect on it. Obviously, yeah, you know that that’s going to lead to discussions online, but also, it made the song really special to me, and what a cool cameo to have, too.”

Fans Suspected Dakota Johnson Was On The Song Before Its Release

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Rumors about Dakota Johnson’s musical involvement began circulating before “Chuck Timely & The Hourglass” arrived. In July, speculation emerged that the pair had filmed a music video together. Role Model then debuted “Love I You” during a Chicago performance a few weeks later.

Fans who heard the unreleased track noticed that the woman participating in its flirtatious bridge sounded like Johnson, though it was not confirmed at the time.

Tucker Pillsbury Previously Wrote About Emma Chamberlain Split

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Before Johnson, Pillsbury was in a public relationship with Emma Chamberlain for more than three years. His previous album, “Kansas Anymore,” largely explored the aftermath of their breakup.

Some listeners have speculated that “Stain,” a track from his newest record, may also reference Chamberlain and her subsequent split from Peter McPoland. Pillsbury has not confirmed that interpretation.

His romantic history seemingly contributed to his initial hesitation about including Johnson on “Love I You.” After releasing an album centered heavily on one breakup, bringing a new partner into the recording carried the potential to shift attention away from the music. However, Pillsbury said Johnson’s performance made the track “really special” to him, providing a personal reason to accept the additional scrutiny.

Dakota Johnson And Role Model First Sparked Romance Rumors In December

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Johnson and Pillsbury were first romantically linked in December after they were photographed appearing close during a dinner with friends. The sighting came months after Johnson’s reported June 2025 split from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.

Their relationship appeared to become increasingly difficult to hide around New Year’s Eve. Johnson was reportedly seen kissing Pillsbury during her party, where the pair were said to have remained close throughout the evening. “They were kissing, dancing and holding onto each other. They looked incredibly happy, cute, and sweet together,” a source told Entertainment Tonight at the time.

On March 28, Johnson and Pillsbury attended Paul McCartney’s concert at the Fonda Theatre. The two were photographed the following month again, reportedly kissing in a Los Feliz parking lot after a date night.

Morning Show star Bel Powley, who is set to appear in HBO Max’s upcoming Harry Potter series, is speaking out in opposition of J.K. Rowling’s anti-trans beliefs.

“I strongly disagree with J.K. Rowling’s views on gender,” Powley, 34, told The Telegraph in an interview published on Monday, August 10. “I think that the trans community deserves safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance.”

The actress continued, “But I love Harry Potter. I grew up with the books. I am from that first generation of readers and, again, I love magic and spookiness.”

Us has reached out to Rowling, 61, for comment.

Related: Tom Felton: J.K. Rowling’s Views Didn’t Affect ‘Harry Potter’ Return

Harry Potter star Tom Felton is weighing in on his return to the franchise amid author J.K. Rowling’s controversial views on transgender rights. Felton, 37, is set to reprise his role as Draco Malfoy, which he originated in the film series released between 2001 and 2011, on Broadway in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. […]

Over the years, Rowling — the author of the best-selling Harry Potter books — has made headlines for her comments targeting the trans community, including her public support of anti-trans laws banning trans women from competing in women’s sports.

“‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” Rowling wrote via X in June 2020 while sharing an opinion article titled “Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.”

Five years later, the author praised the U.K. Supreme Court’s ruling that womanhood is legally defined by biological sex.

The author has denied being transphobic, claiming her views are simply “pro-feminist” and in defense of women.

“I refuse to bow down to a movement that I believe is doing demonstrable harm in seeking to erode ‘woman’ as a political and biological class and offering cover to predators like few before it,” she wrote in a June 2020 essay. “I stand alongside the brave women and men, gay, straight and trans, who’re standing up for freedom of speech and thought, and for the rights and safety of some of the most vulnerable in our society: young gay kids, fragile teenagers, and women who’re reliant on and wish to retain their single sex spaces.”

Her essay prompted Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Eddie Redmayne, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson — among countless others — to speak out in defense of trans people and their rights.

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Related: J.K. Rowling‘s Most Controversial Moments Through the Years

J.K. Rowling is considered one of the most successful authors of all time for writing the fictional Harry Potter series, but her real-life opinions have stirred controversy. The author first came under fire in 2007 shortly after the series’ final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was published. Rowling revealed to fans at Carnegie […]

Powley is hopeful viewers of the upcoming Harry Potter TV series will once again be transformed into a world of awe and wonder that so many fell in love with when the books were first released in the late ‘90s — despite the author’s anti-trans views.

“I believe that energy doesn’t disappear. The world doesn’t get lighter if someone dies, does it?” she said. “The energy shifts into the trees and the grass and the sky and I find that quite comforting.”

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone premieres on HBO Christmas 2026 and will be available to stream exclusively on HBO Max where it’s available.

More than 40 years after The Breakfast Club first brought five very different teenagers together for a Saturday detention, Anthony Michael Hall has revealed that director John Hughes once envisioned bringing the group back together as adults.

Hall, who played Brian Johnson, “the brain,” in the beloved 1985 film, recently recalled one of his final conversations with Hughes. During that conversation, the filmmaker reportedly discussed an idea for a sequel that would reunite Brian, Claire, Bender, Allison and Andrew years after their unforgettable day at Shermer High School.

According to Hall, Hughes imagined catching up with the characters when they were in their 30s and had entered the working world.

“He was talking about the idea of doing a sequel and having us all be in our 30s and in the workplace,” Hall recalled.

The concept would have offered a fascinating continuation of the original film. The Breakfast Club centered on five students from completely different social circles who slowly discovered that the labels placed on them did not tell the full story of who they were.

Hall starred alongside Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Emilio Estevez, portraying the brain, princess, criminal, basket case and athlete respectively.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Rather than simply repeating the detention setup, Hughes’ proposed sequel could have explored how those same characters changed as they entered adulthood. The pressures of popularity, parents and high school expectations could have been replaced by careers, relationships and the realities of adult life.

Unfortunately, the movie never materialized.

Hall said the conversation took place around 1988 and also included John Candy, another frequent Hughes collaborator. It remains unclear how far Hughes ever developed the idea or whether a completed screenplay exists.

The revelation is particularly interesting because talk of another Breakfast Club movie has surfaced several times over the years. Molly Ringwald previously suggested she had heard that Hughes had written some form of follow-up, while other reports have claimed the filmmaker considered different ways of revisiting the characters.

Hughes died in 2009 at the age of 59, leaving any potential continuation without the filmmaker who created the original.

Despite never receiving a sequel, The Breakfast Club has maintained an enormous cultural presence since its release on February 15, 1985. Made for roughly $1 million, the movie earned more than $50 million worldwide and became one of the defining coming-of-age films of the 1980s.

The Breakfast Club [universal pictures]

The five principal cast members also reunited publicly in 2025 for the movie’s 40th anniversary at C2E2 in Chicago, marking the first time Hall, Ringwald, Nelson, Sheedy and Estevez had all appeared together at the same convention.

Whether Hollywood would ever attempt a modern continuation remains unknown. There is currently no officially announced Breakfast Club sequel in development.

Still, Hall’s story offers fans a glimpse at what might have been. Instead of leaving Brian, Claire, Bender, Allison and Andrew behind in that library, Hughes apparently wondered the same thing audiences have wondered for decades:

What happened to the Breakfast Club after detention ended?

There’s a certain kind of chaos that only makes sense if you’ve lived it — kids underfoot, chickens in the yard, a four-wheeler idling in the driveway, and a phone propped up on the pergola swing recording it all before the sun’s even fully up. That’s just a normal Tuesday for Alyssa Rae – also known as The Country Hotwife – the stay-at-home mom, wife, and content creator who’s built a devoted following by doing something refreshingly simple: showing up as exactly who she is.

Part homesteader, part gun-toting outdoorswoman, part homeschool mom, and part social media entrepreneur, Alyssa has carved out a corner of the internet where hustle culture meets front-porch living — and it’s resonating.

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Alyssa’s day doesn’t ease in — it launches. She’s up before the rest of the house, carving out one quiet hour to work on content, often outside on the pergola swing she and her husband built themselves, weather permitting. “It’s the only hour that’s really mine,” she says of the ritual, before the day pivots hard into breakfast, dishes, and a gym run where she spends 90 minutes lifting weights while the kids play in daycare down the hall.

Back home, it’s lunch, meal prep, and homeschooling — a couple of focused hours before the afternoon opens up into whatever the day actually needs from her: gardening, grocery runs, tending chickens, baking bread, tackling a house project, or squeezing in content between chores. “The list goes on,” she laughs, and she’s not exaggerating. Structure gets the morning; the rest of the day belongs to the land, the animals, and whatever pops up.

A Mom Who Carries — and Can Shoot Straight

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Alyssa’s outdoor résumé reads less like a hobby list and more like a homestead survival guide. Archery is a genuine passion — she’s quick to say she’s no expert, just someone who genuinely enjoys the sport, and the family has their own target practice setup right on the property.

Then there’s the range. Alyssa and her husband make regular trips to shoot, she with her 9mm Taurus, he with his revolver — just two of several firearms the family keeps and trains with. It’s a detail she doesn’t shy away from: she’s a mom who carries, plain and simple, part protector and part practitioner in a household where self-reliance isn’t a buzzword, it’s a lifestyle.

Life on the Property: Ponds, Gators, and a John Deere

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The Rae property is its own ecosystem. There’s a sizable pond with a gazebo where the family fishes when the mood strikes, and it comes with its own cast of characters — including a small gator the kids named Ally, who’s visited a few times and been left alone simply because, in Alyssa’s words, “he wasn’t big enough” to bother. Less welcome are the nutria rats, an invasive nuisance the family is actively working to clear out before the rodents do real damage to the pond.

Keeping the land looking good is practically a part-time job of its own — trimming trees, mowing on the John Deere, and Alyssa’s ongoing, good-natured battle to keep her flowers alive. When storms roll through (and where they live, hurricanes hit hard), downed trees get cut up and hauled to the burn pile, especially if they’re blocking a trail. It’s unglamorous work, but it’s the kind she films anyway, because it’s real.

And when the chores are done, there’s still fun to be had — mudding on the four-wheeler, or pulling the kids around the property in a bucket tied to a rope, which Alyssa reports is exactly as fun as it sounds.

From Meat Grinders to Nail Pullers: The Homestead Skills Keep Coming

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If there’s a thread running through Alyssa’s content, it’s a quiet commitment to doing things the harder, healthier, more hands-on way. She grinds her own chicken instead of buying it pre-packaged and keeps the family stocked on country eggs. One recent project — grinding meat with a cheap hand-crank grinder — turned into a viral-worthy moment of problem-solving when the process proved painfully slow, until her husband rigged up a drill attachment that got the job done in a fraction of the time. “It worked like a charm,” she says.

She’s also become the unofficial demolition specialist of the household — self-appointed “official nail puller-outer” whenever they’re repurposing old wood — and has quietly turned into a caulking pro along the way. The couple is currently mid-build on an enclosed garden for fruits and vegetables, and Alyssa periodically teaches herself a new indoor homestead skill, from rendering tallow to baking her own sandwich bread from scratch.

Even their travel leans into the theme: when work takes the family somewhere new, they make a point to get outside and explore, often hiking mountains rather than sticking to hotel pools.

Home Improvement, One Lowe’s Run at a Time

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No homestead is ever really finished, and the Rae household is proof. Between renovations, the family makes frequent trips to Lowe’s — currently deep in decisions on a new toilet, flooring, and paint color for a bathroom overhaul. It’s the kind of mundane-but-relatable content that makes Alyssa’s audience feel like they’re renovating right alongside her.

Me-Time, Southern Edition

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Amid the noise of kids, chores, and content deadlines, Alyssa has found her own version of self-care: an outdoor tub tucked along the trail beside the pond. It’s there, away from the house, where she goes to unwind. “It’s pretty relaxing out there when I want some me time,” she says — a small, still moment carved out of an otherwise nonstop life.

Come One, Come All

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If there’s one thing that defines the Rae household, it’s that it’s never truly quiet. “Things pop up all the time and you never know what it’s going to be,” Alyssa says. Her husband might casually mention his brother is stopping by, and suddenly there’s a full cookout underway, beer flowing, or a crew cleaning and cooking whatever they just pulled from the pond. Alyssa’s role in all of it? Happily playing host — especially on poker nights in the game room, where she keeps the drinks coming and the guys fed.

It’s this blend — grit and softness, firearms and flower beds, homeschool lesson plans and hand-cranked meat grinders — that makes Alyssa Rae’s content feel less like a curated feed and more like an open door into a genuinely full life. She’s not selling a fantasy. She’s just letting people watch a country life get lived, one chaotic, chicken-raising, content-creating day at a time.

A new contender has taken the number one spot in Prime Video’s TV rankings this week: Megan Park’s Sterling Point. Starring Ella Rubin, Missi Pyle, Jay Duplass, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and more, the coming-of-age drama series follows Annie Jacobson (Rubin), who finds a totally unexpected new life for herself when she inherits an island in Canada. Highly acclaimed by critics and clearly beloved by viewers, the series has been performing well ever since it premiered on the streaming service last week. But in case that’s not quite what you’re looking for right now, there’s still a lot more to explore on the platform. So, without further ado, here’s a look at three great shows that we think you should binge this week.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Prime Video.

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‘12 Monkeys’ (2015–2018)

Loosely inspired by the 1995 film, 12 Monkeys is a sci-fi mystery drama series created by Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett. The show unfolds a complicated time-travel conspiracy, following James Cole (Aaron Stanford) and Dr. Cassandra “Cassie” Railly (Amanda Schull), two strangers who must work together to prevent the mysterious “Army of the 12 Monkeys” from destroying the world. Besides Stanford and Schull, the series also stars Kirk Acevedo, Noah Bean, Todd Stashwick, Emily Hampshire, Barbara Sukowa, and more in notable roles.

12 Monkeys isn’t an easy show to get into, even for fans of the movie, and its first season has plenty of off-putting flaws. However, it’s worth sticking with it, as the show significantly improves as it progresses, eventually evolving into a genuinely thrilling time-travel series with deeply philosophical themes. An underrated cult classic, the show ended its four-season run with high acclaim and earned several accolades during its original broadcast, including awards for its cinematography from both the American and Canadian Societies of Cinematographers.

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‘Death Note’ (2006–2007)

Based on the manga series by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, Death Note is a dark fantasy anime series animated by Madhouse. The story follows high school student Light Yagami, who discovers a supernatural book that kills anyone whose name is written in it and decides to use it to rid the world of evil, coming into conflict with an enigmatic detective committed to bringing him down. Directed by Tetsurō Araki, the show stars Mamoru Miyano, Kappei Yamaguchi, Nakamura Shidō II, Aya Hirano, Noriko Hidaka, and Nozomu Sasaki in key voice roles.

Easily one of the most iconic anime series of all time, Death Note is a beloved show that commands legions of fans around the world. While its final episodes are a bit of a disappointment, the majority of the show is an extremely well-written mystery thriller that’s sure to excite and engage genre fans. The series is also a great entry point for viewers who may be new to anime, with mature storytelling and compelling characters.

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‘Desperate Housewives’ (2004–2012)

A 2000s TV landmark, Desperate Housewives is a mystery comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry. Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, and Eva Longoria star as four close-knit housewives living in a seemingly perfect neighborhood who navigate crimes, mysteries, and dark secrets after the suicide of their friend and neighbor (Brenda Strong). The show also stars Nicollette Sheridan, Dana Delany, and Vanessa Williams in key supporting roles.

Over the course of 180 episodes across eight seasons, Desperate Housewives became a true pop culture phenomenon of its time, building a massive international following. Earning near-universal acclaim for its narrative, dialogue, and performances, it’s a gorgeously produced show with engaging characters and storylines, not to mention some iconic characters brought to life through the stellar talents of its lead cast. The series bagged several accolades during its run, including seven Emmys, three Golden Globes, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a spiritual sequel, Wisteria Lane, is currently in development.

Like dead bodies, classic detective novels didn’t just pop out of nowhere. With its earliest origins in Edgar Allan Poe‘s tales of ratiocination (logical reasoning) in the mid-1800s, the genre steadily gained popularity throughout the 19th century before exploding into the mainstream. From there, classic detective fiction flourished into the Golden Age of detective writing in the 1920s.

While these novels remained rooted in logical deduction and the pursuit of truth, they also explored the complexities of human nature, reflecting the tumultuous effects of industrialization and the chaos of the Great Wars. From an author who broke the rules of mystery writing to the writer who laid the foundation for noir fiction, here are the classic detective books that are perfect from the first page to the last.

‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ (1926)

Image via William Collins, Sons

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is not for the gullible. After the sudden suicide of a wealthy widow, respected country doctor James Sheppard is drawn into a disturbing mystery when her close friend, Roger Ackroyd, is found murdered only hours after revealing he had learned a devastating secret. With the victim’s stepson missing and several family members, guests, and servants hiding personal motives, suspicion spreads throughout the serene village of King’s Abbot. At the request of Ackroyd’s niece, the recently retired detective Hercule Poirot reluctantly takes on the case. As he interviews suspects and reconstructs the night’s events, Poirot finds critical inconsistencies that challenge every assumption surrounding Ackroyd’s murder.

Suspicion is nothing new in the classic detective genre, but back in 1926, Agatha Christie delivered a plot twist that many considered literary blasphemy. Readers will have to pay extra attention not just to how the mystery unfurls, but to how the case is written and described. The clues aren’t just hidden in the suspects’ alibis or the physical evidence—they’re literally tucked between the lines. By the time readers reach the final page, they’ll realize just how thoroughly Christie has bamboozled them with her cunning tricks. Some will feel cheated by the author, while others will admire her sheer ingenuity.

‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ (1902)

Image via George Newnes Ltd

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote many Sherlock Holmes novels, but out of the four main novels, The Hound of the Baskervilles remains the most favored. A monstrous hound has haunted the Baskervilles for generations, claiming the lives of those who inherit the family’s vast estate. When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead under mysterious circumstances, fears of the curse intensify as his heir, Sir Henry Baskerville, arrives from Canada to take possession of Baskerville Hall. While Sherlock Holmes remains in London to crack the case from afar, Dr. John Watson travels to the eerie Devonshire moor, where escaped convicts, suspicious neighbors, and unsettling encounters complicate the investigation.

Holmes is the last person to sacrifice logic for the mystical, but The Hound of the Baskervilles makes it surprisingly difficult to separate folklore from cold, hard fact. The novel cleverly toys with readers, making it seem as though something genuinely supernatural may be behind the mysterious deaths. With the atmosphere of a classic Gothic tale and the slightest echoes of Poe’s works, readers are drawn into a creeping sense of paranoia through the bleak, fog-covered Dartmoor and the isolated Baskerville Hall. It’s also one of the few Holmes novels where Dr. Watson proves he’s far more than the detective’s sidekick—he’s a capable investigator in his own right.

‘Gaudy Night’ (1935)

Image via HarperTorch

No other classic detective setup is more salacious than academia, as in Gaudy Night. Returning to her alma mater for a reunion celebration, mystery writer Harriet Vane hopes to reconnect with the more peaceful days of academic life. Instead, she finds Oxford’s Shrewsbury College plagued by anonymous threats, malicious graffiti, and increasingly disturbing acts of vandalism. Because the college wants to avoid a public scandal, Harriet agrees to investigate discreetly, drawing on her own experience as the target of public suspicion. Of course, the faculty and students aren’t too pleased with the sudden intrusion. If the mystery isn’t bad enough, there are also the personal grudges everyone carries within the college community.

Unlike your typical classic detective novel, Gaudy Night doesn’t begin with a dead body. Instead, the mystery revolves around finding a saboteur, which proves just as tricky. Part of the novel’s genius lies in its academic setting. Readers naturally assume that these highly intellectual individuals also possess strong-willed integrity, but that isn’t necessarily the case. As Harriet interrogates the academics one by one, Sayers demystifies the air of superiority surrounding them, offering insightful reflections that you wouldn’t typically get from solving a conventional murder case. Rather than focusing solely on who committed the crime, Gaudy Night explores ethics, truth, and the responsibilities that come with scholarship and human relationships.

‘The Daughter of Time’ (1951)

Image via Scribner

Boredom does the craziest things to detectives in The Daughter of Time. Confined to a hospital bed with a broken leg, Scotland Yard Inspector Alan Grant is desperate for something to occupy his mind. An actress friend challenges him to investigate a historical mystery instead of a present crime, sparking Grant’s fascination with the notorious reputation of King Richard III. Unconvinced that the king’s portrait matches the villain described in history books, Grant begins reexamining the centuries-old case of the Princes in the Tower. With the help of historical records and a young researcher from the British Museum, Grant approaches the mystery like any criminal investigation.

The Daughter of Time is innovative to its core. They say the best way to solve a case is to retrace the past, but this novel takes that idea one step further by reopening a centuries-old mystery instead. There are no living suspects to interview, no crime scene to investigate, and the alleged criminal has long been dead. The only resources Inspector Alan Grant has are historical records, and that’s precisely the novel’s central premise. The Daughter of Time reminds readers that history isn’t nearly as objective as it often appears. Rather than simply asking what happened, it challenges us to consider who gets to write history, whose version survives, and what narrative is ultimately passed down to future generations.

‘The Maltese Falcon’ (1930)

Image via Alfred A. Knopf

If you like the neo-noir detective series Bosch, you’ll appreciate its old-school hard-boiled roots in The Maltese Falcon. Private detective Sam Spade’s latest case begins when a woman calling herself Miss Wonderly hires him to follow a man she claims has run off with her sister. Before long, Spade’s partner is murdered, the man they were tailing is found dead, and the police begin treating Spade as a prime suspect. As more strangers enter the picture—including the smooth-talking Joel Cairo and the enigmatic Casper Gutman—Spade discovers they’re all searching for the legendary Maltese Falcon, a priceless artifact with a long and mysterious history.

Unlike Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, who investigate primarily through facts and deduction, Sam Spade relies on instinct. Much like the modern-day Detective Bosch, he has a knack for reading. He was one of the earliest detectives to be portrayed not as an untouchable hero, but as someone cynical and disillusioned by a world consumed by greed and self-interest. For grounded readers, The Maltese Falcon functions as much as a commentary on human nature as it does a detective story. Even the police force isn’t portrayed as entirely innocent, making The Maltese Falcon a perfect read for those who enjoy a classic mystery but aren’t easily swept up in the glorification of detectives.

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The Maltese Falcon

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Release Date

October 18, 1941

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Runtime

100 minutes

Writers

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John Huston

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  Humphrey Bogart

  Samuel Spade

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  Mary Astor

  Brigid O’Shaughnessy

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Amid talks about Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper’s relationship status, the model appears to have made a telling move, showing her close bond with members of the actor’s family. 

A week ago, the Vogue cover star and the actor set tongues wagging when they were seen wearing matching rings. 

While neither Hadid nor Cooper has publicly addressed the rumors, the model’s latest outing has only added to the conversation.

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Over the weekend, Hadid was seen enjoying a day out in Paris with Cooper’s mother, Gloria, and his daughter, Lea, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Irina Shayk.

The trio was seen strolling along the sidewalk together, spending quality time. 

For the occasion, the 31-year-old runway star kept it casual, rocking a sleeveless white shirt paired with yellow wide-leg pants. She completed her look with a tan-colored bag and flip-flops, as seen in photos obtained by the Daily Mail.

Although the TV personality and her 51-year-old boyfriend are said to be in the French capital, where he is currently filming an “Oceans Eleven” prequel, sources claimed that they got married a month earlier before coming to the country. 

“There was a dinner celebration with Bradley and Gigi in New York last week, and there’s a lot of talk that it was to do with a wedding,” the informant shared. “Now they have been seen out with wedding bands on; it seems like they quietly got married. They make a lovely couple.”

How Gigi Hadid And Bradley Cooper Sparked Wedding Speculation

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As The Blast reported, earlier this month the couple was photographed walking down the streets of Paris holding hands. 

Fans quickly noticed them wearing similar golden bands on their fingers, leading to speculation about what they might symbolize.

When the duo was spotted again that day in different outfits, they were still wearing the rings. However, some fans were quick to point out that identical accessories are not proof of a secret marriage, especially since Cooper had been seen without a ring just two days earlier.

Insiders Debunked Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper’s Wedding Rumors 

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Despite the mounting chatter about Hadid and the “Guardians of the Galaxy” actor, those close to them have set the record straight about where the pair stand and their future together.

 According to The Blast, an insider claimed that the couple has had the jewelry for a while and it was promise rings. They added that while the couple is serious about being together, saying “I do” is not part of their immediate plans. 

“Neither of them wants to get married or have a traditional wedding, but they are very serious and committed to one another,” the source said. 

A Look At Gigi Hadid And The ‘American Sniper’ Star’s Relationship 

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Although the wedding speculation may have been dismissed, there is no denying the strength of Hadid and Cooper’s relationship.

Their romance first made headlines in October 2023 when they were spotted leaving a dinner date together in New York City.

What initially appeared to be a casual connection quickly grew into something more, with the pair enjoying low-key dates, weekend getaways, and bonding over their shared experiences as parents.

Interestingly, their exes seemed to give their stamp of approval. Per Elle, Shayk was reportedly unbothered with Hadid dating Cooper and was even said to have originally connected them through their mutual friend groups.

Hadid’s former partner, Zayn Malik, whom she shares a daughter with, was said to be focused on moving forward and prioritizing their child.

The former One Direction member was romantically linked with Hadid in 2015  before finally calling it quits between 2018 and 2019.

Gigi Hadid’s Ex Zayn Malik Made A Shocking Confession About Their Time Together 

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Following Malik and Hadid’s split, the “Pillow Talk” singer has since reflected on their romance, making revelations about the bond they shared. 

As The Blast reported, earlier in February, Malik confessed during an appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast about the feelings he had for Hadid. 

“I will always love Gigi, because she’s the reason my child is on this Earth, and I have the utmost respect for her,” the singer shared. However, at the time they were dating, he did not believe he was truly in love with her.

Anne Hathaway is addressing online speculation her pregnant belly is fake after the actress walked a recent red carpet in a stomach-baring crop top.

“Fake hair, real bump 😘 ✌️🦖🔥☀️🦕😅,” the pregnant actress, 43, wrote via Instagram alongside a video of herself getting ready for and attending the premiere of her new movie The End of Oak Street in California on Sunday, August 9. “Enjoy The @endofoakstreet Block Party chaos with me as my outfit literally melts in the heat!!”

Hathaway showed off her baby bump in a powder-blue high-neck crop top with a long train. She paired the elegant shirt with baggy jeans and red heels to match the top’s interior.

As photos of Hathaway’s look circulated via social media, some users claimed her belly looked like a prosthetic.

Related: Anne Hathaway Stuns in Red as She Shows Baby Bump in New Photo

Anne Hathaway is showing off her pregnancy street style. Hathaway, 43, was all smiles as she arrived for The Odyssey press junket in New York City on Tuesday, June 30, with her growing stomach on full display. The actress stunned in a red look, completing her outfit with red heels and a pair of sunglasses, […]

“Nothing screams real pregnancy like a bump so perfectly round and photo ready it looks straight off the Amazon ‘silicone baby bump  6 8 months’ listing. Hollywood’s props department really outdid themselves this time,” one person wrote via X.

Others jumped to Hathaway’s defense.

“Pregnancy bumps aren’t supposed to look identical, she looks amazing, so I really don’t understand why everyone is making such a big deal out of it,” another user wrote.

Hathaway announced in June that she’s expecting her third baby with husband Adam Shulman. (Hathaway and Shulman, 45, are already parents to sons Jonathan, 10, and Jack, 6.)

“x Baby I’m yours,” the Devil Wears Prada star wrote via Instagram alongside a video of herself walking into the frame and cradling her baby bump.

“We knew what we were doing, but … we were so shocked it went this way,” she said on Late Night With Seth Meyers in July, adding that she and Shulman were “calling this one our buzzer-beater,” referring to a basketball shot that succeeds right before the final buzzer.

Related: Anne Hathaway’s Most Stylish Baby Bump Moments During Pregnancy at 43

Pregnant Anne Hathaway’s chic red carpet style has been front and center as she prepares to welcome her and husband Adam Shulman’s third baby. The Oscar winner announced her pregnancy at 43 in June, after previously giving birth to sons Jonathan and Jack in 2016 and 2019, respectively. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to […]

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Hathaway’s maternity style previously made headlines last month when she wore a red jumpsuit backwards. The Oscar winner reacted to the mistake via social media.

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“I did?” she asked after sharing reports from multiple outlets about the wardrobe malfunction. Hathaway then shrugged and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I did,” she whispered while cringing.

Hathaway has been candid about her motherhood journey over the years. Back in 2024, she opened up about suffering a miscarriage 10 years prior.

“The first time it didn’t work out for me,” she told Vanity Fair. “So when it did go well for me, having been on the other side of it — where you have to have the grace to be happy for someone — I wanted to let my sisters know, ‘You don’t have to always be graceful. I see you and I’ve been you.’”

Before the slop-ification of animated cinema and its need to cater to dwindling attention spans (I’m looking at you, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie), the children’s film was more or less a gateway for kids to fall in love with the movies. For all its flaws, Minions & Monsters moderately succeeded at conveying that, though it was still a Minions sequel at the end of the day. Don’t our kids deserve more? Contrary to my bemoaning of the contemporary animated landscape, it’s in an incredible spot right now. A renaissance spurred by Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, animated cinema is (though not without its hiccups) thriving, with Pierre Perifel’s The Bad Guys being one of the best films of this new movement.

A loose adaptation of Aaron Blabey’s multipart graphic novel series of the same name, The Bad Guys, released in April 2022, reads (no pun intended) like plucking a book from the shelf. The eponymous “Bad Guys” are already an established presence of hijinks in a paradoxically grounded and stylized Los Angeles. Starring Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, and Anthony Ramos as Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Ms. Tarantula, Mr. Shark, and Mr. Piranha, The Bad Guys smashed box office expectations, charming audiences and critics alike with its bouncy verve. Such triumph was enough to warrant a sequel, released in August 2025 (alongside two shorts and a Netflix series), making The Bad Guys one of the 2020s’ essential animated franchises.

Written in a similar vein to that of a one-shot story (though far more elaborate), The Bad Guys’ en medias res approach to Blabey’s material chucks the viewer headfirst into a heightened, Bojack Horseman-esque (though far less depressing) Los Angeles where humans and animals co-exist in harmony. Disrupting that harmony, though, are the titular “Bad Guys.” Each animal—sharks, snakes, or spiders—has a notoriously bad reputation; thus, the Bad Guys exist within the box they’ve been assigned. Confined to their stereotypes, they ensue whatever (PG-appropriate) chaos they see fit: bank robberies, jewel heists, and overall miscreantic tomfoolery. The rub, however, lies with Mr. Wolf, who, enticed by the sweet smell of good behavior, leads the crew to a potential redemption arc.

When a personal heist goes horribly awry and threatens the Bad Guys with serious jail time, Mr. Wolf hatches a plan to feign integrity. To his clique, they’re in on the scheme, following their leader in hopes of escape. Mr. Wolf, though, might have ulterior motives. Encouraged by a guinea pig named Professor Marmalade and Governor Diane Foxington (you’ll never believe what kind of animal she is), Mr. Wolf actually wants to go good, much to the dismay of his friends—particularly Mr. Snake. It’s the definition of a moral conundrum, posing questions of whether the Bad Guys could ever rehabilitate into becoming “The Good Guys.” As expected, the journey to making good isn’t the most clear-cut.

The Inspirations Behind ‘The Bad Guys’

Image via Dreamworks Animation

Shifting from the books’ undisclosed metropolitan area to the sun-kissed haze of modern Los Angeles, French animator and first-time feature director Pierre Perifel drew from some of California’s finest crime flicks for a film that’s both fresh and inspired. Opening on a two-minute-and-25-second oner—a diner scene à la Pulp Fiction—before a high-octane car chase through several recognizable L.A. locales, The Bad Guys hearkens to the heist films of the late ‘90s and early 2000s. The whole “Mr. [Animal]” bit is an obvious nod to Reservoir Dogs, with the budding romance between Governor Foxington and Mr. Wolf echoing Jennifer Lopez’s and George Clooney’s relationship in Out of Sight. In short: it’s the rare kids’ film that hits all age demographics.

On top of its Tarantino and Soderbergh-esque skeleton, The Bad Guys also mirrors Michael Mann’s Heat and William Friedkin’s To Live and Die in L.A., particularly when the Bad Guys engage in their signature tomfoolery. In an interview with Animation Magazine, Pierre Perifel stated that he intended to pay homage to such films, plus television shows like Starsky and Hutch. There’s a quantifiable amount of cinematic literacy embedded within The Bad Guys’ structure, making it a great way to introduce kids to the crime film genre. It may be too early to show your seven-year-old Pulp Fiction, but it’s not too early to show them The Bad Guys. It’s a great “Film 101” movie, standing as a modern classic.

‘The Bad Guys’ is a New Classic

Image via Dreamworks Animation

A strong component of the post-Spider-Verse wave of animated cinema, The Bad Guys is one of the best animated films of the 2020s thus far. Furthermore, the film breathed new life into the creative juices at DreamWorks Animation, following up The Bad Guys with great films like Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, The Wild Robot, and Dog Man, with the upcoming Forgotten Island looking to be another gem in their increasing arsenal. I’ll happily take nine more of these opposed to another Trolls, to be honest. The possibility of a third Bad Guys film remains up in the air, though I can only assume that we’ll receive a third entry sooner than later (sooner than Spider-Verse 3, at least).

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Release Date

April 22, 2022

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Runtime

100 minutes

Director

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Pierre Perifel

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