Doctor Who‘s 2025 season ended with a considerable surprise, even by its twisty standards. Without preamble or explanation, the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) regenerated into a face identical to that of former companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper). Showrunner Russell T. Davies was equally tight-lipped for the next 11 months, only promising that this year’s Christmas special contained answers to viewers’ burning questions.

However, on June 10, the BBC announced their decision to cancel the annual special, separate from Davies and the Bad Wolf company, and “put” Doctor Who “out to competitive tender.” Even though the word “cancelled” strikes fear in fans’ hearts, the BBC has merely paused the franchise while they search for their next collaborators. If the stars align, this artistic rejuvenation may be exactly what the United Kingdom’s most valuable IP needs — both for Doctor Who‘s overall sake, and to ensure the TARDIS survives streaming’s precarious landscape.

Competitive Tenders Are Common Practice for the BBC

Competitive tenders are a normal part of the BBC’s “governance and regulatory” requirements, according to their Charter with the UK government. When the BBC releases a property to tender, any interested companies can pitch suggestions for its creative direction, financials, and everything in between. The BBC Board then assesses their shortlist and gives the other bidders “8-10 working days” (per Radio Times’ breakdown) to challenge their first choice. Once the results are ironed out, all parties sign on the dotted line.

The BBC’s June statement arrives nine months after the broadcaster and Disney+ dissolved their partnership. The recent press release explains the BBC is “choosing to push forward to invest in the long-term future of the show” rather than “bridge the gap with a one-off special.” Davies’ concurrent Instagram post reveals he “never wrote [a Christmas special script], and no actor was ever approached to play the next Doctor.” Given that context, the BBC utilizing one of their regular business practices is a prudent strategy.

It helps matters that Doctor Who‘s intimately familiar with major obstacles and overhauls alike. In 1989, three years after the longstanding sci-fi serial endured a rare 18-month hiatus, executives elected to quietly cancel the Classic run. The TARDIS spent 16 years in stasis before Davies and Bad Wolf’s shrewd 2005 revival catapulted Doctor Who from beloved British staple to international phenomenon. Even when the show’s active popularity cooled under Chris Chibnall‘s supervision, the BBC’s backing still secured a streamer as gargantuan as Disney+.

‘Doctor Who’ Has Pioneered Creative Flexibility Since Day One

Doctor Who has always thrived thanks to its inherent capacity for transformation and adaptability. When original lead actor William Hartnell departed three years in, the BBC recast the Doctor and invented an in-universe explanation for Hartnell’s successor. The stars aligned, and their risky swing pioneered Doctor Who‘s wholly unique tradition. Performers and writers routinely switch out, while the series’ atmosphere evolves to match each showrunner’s distinct inventions (settings, characters, lore) and the thematic material they prefer to explore.

All that said, this transition period might be trickier than usual. The streaming modus operandi frequently determines artistic opportunity, scope, and distribution access, even for network television. Davies’ last two seasons feature some of his career’s strongest individual scripts, but squeezing Doctor Who‘s 10-to-13-episode seasonal format into Disney+’s 8-episode default contributes to the seasons’ rushed arcs and shaky payoffs. Even taking the structural limitations into consideration, incorporating Piper into the current cliffhanger arguably strays from celebrating the show’s past for its landmark 60th anniversary (i.e., David Tennant, Catherine Tate, a modernized Hartnell-era villain) to over-relying on attention-seizing nostalgia.

Make no mistake — Piper’s contributions are woven into sci-fi history, and she’d make a magnificent Doctor. Likewise, Davies’ original guidance ignited an enthusiastic momentum that surpassed all expectations. Timing is the situation’s Achilles’ heel. Davies uses the same tactic twice within three years, starting with Jodie Whittaker‘s regeneration into Tennant’s secret return. Fan favorites bookend and almost overshadow the tremendous Gatwa’s too-short tenure when keeping the Doctor’s new face a mystery would’ve been a sufficient tease. For Doctor Who to flourish like it deserves, it needs new camera-facing and behind-the-scenes voices.

Admittedly, it’s possible the show’s immediate future is more dire than the press release indicates. The tender bidding could also yield no harmonious matches. If the worst-case scenario unfolds, the 2005 relaunch proves there’s no such thing as a definitive nail in Doctor Who‘s coffin. Its enduring renown doesn’t arise from blockbuster visuals. Doctor Who soars whenever it channels the same experimental vision, starry-eyed imagination, and dependable, resilient, thoroughly sincere heart that overcame its humble budget in 1963 and 2005. After running for 21 uninterrupted years, the BBC is taking the time to reconsider its trajectory and invite fresh perspectives to the table, which speaks to the care they hold for their most cherished mainstay.

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Doctor Who

Release Date

2005 – 2021-00-00

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Network

BBC

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Directors

Graeme Harper, Euros Lyn, Douglas Mackinnon, Jamie Magnus Stone, Charles Palmer, Rachel Talalay, Joe Ahearne, James Strong, Jamie Childs, Saul Metzstein, Toby Haynes, Wayne Che Yip, Nick Hurran, Richard Clark, James Hawes, Daniel Nettheim, Colin Teague, Keith Boak, Azhur Saleem, Adam Smith, Andrew Gunn, Nida Manzoor, Lawrence Gough, Paul Murphy

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Fresh speculation suggests that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may be under increasing financial pressure, which could eventually lead them to reconsider their luxurious Montecito lifestyle.

Commentators have claimed the couple’s ability to monetize their royal connection is weakening, prompting rumors of a possible downsizing and even a return to acting for Meghan.

Since stepping back from royal duties, they’ve relied on media deals, speaking engagements, and Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand while raising their children privately in California.

Harry and Meghan may eventually scale back their lifestyle in California if financial pressures continue to mount, a new report claims.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex purchased their sprawling Montecito property for around $14 million in 2020 after stepping away from their roles as senior members of the British royal family.

The estate has since served as the family’s home, where they live with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

However, commentator and columnist Maureen Callahan recently claimed that rumors are circulating about the couple’s ability to comfortably sustain the costs associated with the luxury property.

Speaking on “The Royals Uncensored” podcast, Callahan suggested that Harry and Meghan have found it increasingly difficult to generate income from the public fascination surrounding their royal connections.

“They are having a lot of trouble monetizing what they used to monetize, which is their connection to the royal family, which was secrets of the royal family,” the expert noted, per The Express.

According to Callahan, much of the interest that initially fueled their commercial ventures was tied to revelations about royal life, but that source of attention may now be fading. As a result, she said there is growing speculation that the Sussexes could eventually consider moving to a less expensive home.

“The information supply has been choked off. So the stories are that they may need to downsize from that $14m Montecito mansion,” Callahan added.

The Duchess Faces Scrutiny Over Career Shift And Luxury Brand Pricing Debate

Callahan also referenced reports indicating that Meghan may be exploring a return to acting, a profession she left behind before marrying Harry in 2018.

The expert described the move as a notable shift from the direction Meghan appeared to be pursuing in recent years.

Since relocating to the United States, Harry and Meghan have signed major media deals, including partnerships with Netflix and Spotify, while also launching podcasts and participating in high-profile speaking engagements. More recently, Meghan has focused much of her attention on her lifestyle company, As Ever.

The brand, which offers products ranging from preserves and candles to decorative food items, has attracted both interest and criticism. A resurfaced 2016 interview recently reignited debate online after Meghan’s earlier comments about avoiding expensive products on her former lifestyle platform, “The Tig.”

At the time, Meghan emphasized creating content and recommendations that felt attainable rather than exclusive. Critics later pointed to premium-priced items sold through As Ever, including candle gift sets costing over $100, arguing that the approach appears at odds with her previous messaging.

Prince Harry And Meghan Might Be Making A UK Return With Their Kids In July

Speculations about Harry and Meghan’s financial troubles come amid a BBC report that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to make a major return to the UK with their kids this July.

The trip will mark the first time in four years that Harry will have his wife and kids with him in the country.

The last time Meghan and her kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, were in the UK with Harry was to attend the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

However, since then, the children, especially, have remained in California, likely due to Harry’s security concerns after his and Meghan’s royal protections were stripped due to them no longer being working royals.

Meghan Markle Shared A Heartfelt Birthday Tribute For Princess Lilibet’s Fifth Birthday

Separately, Meghan recently marked a personal milestone by celebrating her daughter Princess Lilibet’s fifth birthday with a heartfelt Instagram post shared on June 4.

To celebrate Lilibet turning five, the Duchess of Sussex posted a series of family photos that offered a rare glimpse into their private life. One image captured Harry holding his daughter while Meghan looked on with a smile, while another showed the young princess strolling barefoot through the gardens of the family’s California home.

In both photos, Lilibet wore a light embroidered sundress, and her distinctive red hair flowed freely, a feature she inherited from her father, Prince Harry. “Our dream girl. Happy 5th birthday, Lili,” Meghan wrote in the caption accompanying the post.

Harry and Meghan welcomed their first child, Prince Archie, in May 2019 while living in the United Kingdom. Since relocating to California, the couple has largely kept their children out of the public eye, though Meghan has occasionally shared family moments through her personal Instagram account, which she launched in 2025.

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Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Share Rare Glimpses Of Family Life In California

Among those recent glimpses was a family trip to Disneyland, where they reportedly celebrated the children’s birthdays together.

Lilibet also made a brief appearance on Meghan’s social media in May when the Duchess posted a photo while preparing for a trip to Switzerland. Referring to her daughter as “Mama’s little helper,” Meghan shared a sweet moment that highlighted their close bond.

Balancing family life with their various charitable and business ventures, Harry and Meghan have continued to prioritize raising Archie and Lilibet away from intense public scrutiny.

Speaking about her family in a previous interview, Meghan explained that despite their unique circumstances, she hopes people see them as parents striving to give their children a normal and grounded upbringing.

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By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 24 seconds ago

Here’s something that will get me thrown out of the nearest airlock on a Star Destroyer: I really love The Last Jedi. It’s a flawed film, but I will always give it credit for being the only movie in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy to actually take some creative risks. On paper, I understand what fans disliked: Rey being a nobody, Luke being a defeated crank who dies at the end, the entirety of the Canto Bight storyline, and so on. Still, this movie was effectively the beginning of the end for the franchise, which is a big indication of just how much fans hated it. 

Accordingly, I’ve spent years wondering where it all went wrong. I still enjoy The Last Jedi, but I can’t help but ponder why it turned so many fans off completely. Today, I believe I’ve discovered the answer. It’s common knowledge that George Lucas created Star Wars as a kind of modern mythology, one that built off the popular epics of yesteryear. Rian Johnson tried to do the same thing with his hated Star Wars sequel. But based on old interviews, it seems there was a very fundamental difference. Lucas was writing myths for children, and Johnson was writing myths for adults, creating a tonal whiplash throughout our favorite galaxy far, far away.

The Hero’s Journey Comes To An End

Back in 2018, Rian Johnson gave an interview to The Hollywood Reporter about The Last Jedi. One of the topics they covered was what the fans and even Mark Hamill hated most about the movie: the portrayal of Luke Skywalker as a depressed and beaten old man who throws his own lightsaber away and disses the Jedi of the Old Republic. On this subject, Johnson evoked the idea of “the classic hero’s myth” that Star Wars is based on. Notably, George Lucas was heavily influenced by Joseph Campbell, who famously wrote about how all famous literary epics were chronicling the same stages of the same heroic journey.

Johnson implied that earlier Star Wars films followed the earlier parts of a hero’s journey, like King Arthur pulling the sword from the stone and uniting the kingdoms. But “when it deals with the hero’s life as they get into middle age and beyond, it always starts to get into darker places. And there’s a reason for that: It’s because myths are not made to sell action figures,” he said. “Myths are made to reflect the most difficult transitions we go through in life.” Therefore, The Last Jedi is showing Luke at the end of his journey, and his dark, brooding personality is a reflection of his inner struggle.

Right About Myths, Wrong About Star Wars

Incidentally, Rian Johnson is right about this. The hero’s journeys of ancient myths really do take their heroes to dark places, and what Luke Skywalker is going through certainly reflects his own depressing journey. Based on Johnson’s quote, it seems like he wanted Luke to resonate with the audiences that grew up watching Star Wars. That is, now that we are middle-aged (or older), we’re all dealing with our own inner struggles and would like to see those struggles reflected in our favorite hero. Unfortunately, this represents a catastrophic misunderstanding of why fans love these movies and how myth actually works in Star Wars.

First off, at the risk of stating the obvious, nobody comes to a Star Wars movie because they want to see something dark and depressing. If we wanted to be bummed out, we wouldn’t drive to the theater; we’d just doomscroll on our phones! Second, and more importantly, Johnson is wrong about how myths have historically functioned in Star Wars. In a 2020 interview with GQ, The Mandalorian showrunner Jon Favreau revealed advice he had gotten from George Lucas: “the real audience for all stories and all myths is the kids that are coming of age.”

Star Wars, Like Wu-Tang, Is For The Children

This is where the disconnect comes in. Lucas deliberately aimed his Star Wars films at children, which is why the prequels had fart jokes and slapstick Jar-Jar Binks humor. The director basically gambled that this approach would work on everyone: the actual children who wanted to be like Luke Skywalker and the young at heart who could remember what it was like to be young. These groups enjoyed seeing Luke enact the early days of King Arthur (he gets a magic sword from a wizard, storms a castle, saves a princess, etc.) because the would-be Jedi is reenacting the coolest and most exciting part of the myth.

Johnson thought that Star Wars fans who had grown older would enjoy seeing Luke Skywalker’s Arthur-like decline. In mythology, Arthur gets betrayed by his friend, his wife, and his illegitimate kid. The Last Jedi even shows Luke dying like Arthur did, succumbing to death after a battle with a hotheaded upstart. But fans rejected this movie because they didn’t want to see the depressing end of the hero’s journey. They wanted to see more of what made them fall in love with Star Wars in the first place: heroes overcoming great odds and saving the entire galaxy from evil.

Is There A New Hope?

Again, Rian Johnson wasn’t wrong about how myths reflect different stages of life and the different struggles we all experience. But he was wrong about what audiences actually wanted from their favorite sci-fi franchise. Sure, the hero’s journey almost always ends in tragedy, but we don’t want too much tragedy from our goofy pew-pew laser movie. We certainly don’t want to see old, depressed people; we get enough of that in the mirror every morning! He tried to cater to our inner struggles instead of our inner child, and it was all downhill from there.

Now, for better or for worse, the fate of Star Wars is in the hands of Dave Filoni, the new head honcho of Lucasfilm. Filoni studied directly under George Lucas, so he may be able to avoid some of the rookie mistakes Rian Johnson made when it came to creating modern myths. Based on the performance of The Mandalorian and Grogu, though, it may be too late. Now, all of us might be watching Star Wars experience the last stage of its own heroic journey: the part where it dies.

Elegant, yet wearable pieces are a given in Kelly Rutherford’s closet. The actress’ latest look included a shockingly cute pair of light blue H-strap sandals. Though her specific style has a designer price tag, we found a nearly identical pair that won’t break the bank if you want to channel her chic style this summer.

As shared on Instagram, Rutherford posed for a mirror selfie wearing light blue Hermès slides. Her relaxed shoe style featured wide cutout straps and flat soles, proving to be a chic yet practical shoe choice for warm summer days. Similarly, the Lookyno light blue slip-on sandals on Amazon feature an open, geometric silhouette and a square, flat base. Best of all, they only cost $30!

Get the Lookyno Flat Sandals for $30 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Rutherford wore her pastel-hued slip-ons with a beige linen Helmstedt blouse and a matching midi skirt, each covered in a multicolored floral pattern. The actress’ chic shoe style instantly picked up the similar light blue tones of her lightweight set, creating a streamlined appearance. Her look was complete with a warm tan Hermès Kelly handbag, dark brown sunglasses and a thick silver cuff bracelet.

Related: Kelly Rutherford’s Midi Dress Gives NYC Rich Mom Vibes — Steal the Look

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It’s no secret that Kelly Rutherford has mastered luxe dressing with approachable, fashion-forward pieces that we constantly use for inspiration. Just in time for summer, her latest look included a dreamy white dress that’s at the top of our wish lists, and it’s one we found a surprisingly similar version of for under $40. The […]

Like Rutherford, we can’t help but add a pair of open cutout slides to our summer shoe rotation. The sandals’ smooth texture creates an elevated appearance, while a slip-on shape with flat soles allows for comfortable, easy wear.

Similarly to Rutherford, pairing your own light blue slip-ons with pieces in a blue shade—especially on the lighter side of the color spectrum—will create an effortlessly put-together outfit, even if you simply slide them on before stepping out the door. A printed blouse or T-shirt with light blue jeans creates a leg-lengthening effect, though they look just as sharp with darker denim as well. The shoe style can also easily complement a lightweight linen skirt, pants, or a flowing white dress to create a breezy summer outfit, perfect for daytime errands, cocktail hour, or sunny lunches outside.

Rutherford’s sandal style is popular among Amazon shoppers, too. One customer shared that the $30 sandals are “so cute and go with everything,” noting how “comfortable” they feel. Another fan said the “true to size” style makes it “a fantastic and comfortable sandal.”

Whether you’re slipping this cutout sandal style on with an elegant summer dress or more casual denim, they’ll instantly elevate any outfit this season. The easy-to-wear slides look far more expensive than their $30 price tag. Add them to your cart when planning your next summer looks!

Get the Lookyno Flat Sandals for $30 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

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

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Related: Bethenny Frankel’s $900 ‘Rich Girl’ Sandals Have a $26 Lookalike

Bethenny Frankel knows how to make a simple summer outfit look expensive. From breezy dresses to designer accessories, the entrepreneur has mastered the art of looking effortlessly put together even in extreme heat. Her latest warm weather outfit is no exception — and one particular accessory immediately caught our attention. In a recent Instagram Story, […]

Months of friendship drama, public accusations, and emotional social media posts left fans wondering whether the relationship between Mikayla Matthews and Taylor Frankie Paul could ever recover.

After weeks of headlines surrounding their falling out, Matthews is finally addressing where things stand today.

While the wounds from the feud remain fresh, she says the situation has reached a more peaceful place.

After their highly publicized clash online, Mikayla Matthews says she and her fellow “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star have reached a better place.

Speaking to Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” while promoting her partnership with Snackish, Matthews revealed that she no longer feels the need to continue the public back-and-forth.

“We’re good. I feel like I’ve said, not all that I’ve wanted to say, but all that was needed to say,” she explained.

Although she stood by her previous statements, Matthews indicated that her priority is now protecting her own well-being rather than revisiting old arguments.

“This is what I need to do to protect myself and my relationships and my mental health,” she said.

She also acknowledged that public attention inevitably brings criticism and debate.

“There’s still always going to be opinions and comments, that’s just kind of the name of the game. Control what you can control. That’s where I’m kind of at right now.”

The comments marked the clearest indication yet that Matthews is attempting to move beyond the conflict that dominated social media discussions among fans of the reality series.

How The Public Fallout Began

The dispute first erupted when Mikayla Matthews shared an Instagram Story discussing the importance of maintaining healthy boundaries.

At the time, she explained that she wanted to remain “as removed as possible” from Taylor Frankie Paul’s legal issues involving her former partner, Dakota Mortensen.

Matthews also argued that it was not her responsibility to support or excuse behavior she viewed as harmful.

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According to her, it was not her “job to enable poor or dangerous behavior from either party.”

She further stated that she had supported Paul through difficult periods, including moments when the reality star had hit “rock bottom,” despite dealing with her own personal challenges and health concerns.

The comments quickly drew attention and set the stage for a public disagreement between two women who had once appeared to share a close friendship.

Taylor Frankie Paul Fires Back

Paul did not remain silent for long. Without directly naming Mikayla Matthews, she posted a lengthy response that many interpreted as being aimed at her co-star.

“I STILL have ‘friends’ kicking me while I’m already down and calling it ‘setting a boundary’ and then BLAMES ME for being upset and responding. That’s called shaming and attack while I had a moment to breathe and she knew that,” Paul wrote.

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Her frustration became even more apparent as she continued.

“What a snake friend just did to me in the public eye after everything she just witnessed…the lack of empathy and silence was loud enough,” she said.

Paul also challenged Matthews’ claim that she was remaining neutral during the ongoing legal battle involving Mortensen.

“Your trauma doesn’t give you a pass to kick me while down and cover it with ‘a boundary’ months later after the fact… she is right to state her “boundary” sure …but go ahead tell them the truth,” Paul added.

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The exchange quickly became one of the most talked-about reality television feuds online.

Mikayla Matthews Defends Her Position

As speculation intensified, Matthews responded again in the comments section of an Instagram fan account discussing the drama.

“Could probably write a book on everything I’ve had to say on this. Nothing I said denied that she’s experienced pain, trauma, or difficult things, there’s literally no question about that,” she wrote.

Matthews argued that empathy and accountability could exist at the same time.

She continued, “Two things can be true. Someone can be hurting and still hurt people around them in the process. My statement was never about wanting [Taylor] to fail, suffer, or be canceled.”

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She further explained her reasoning, writing, “It was about no longer wanting to publicly participate in or normalize a cycle that was affecting everyone around it, especially where children and repeated violence were involved.”

The reality star also maintained her concerns regarding Paul’s past domestic violence incidents and said she could not support what she viewed as destructive behavior patterns.

Mikayla Matthews Calls For Healing Amid Ongoing Drama

Several days later, Matthews acknowledged that parts of the online dispute had escalated further than she intended.

She admitted she had “definitely got out of hand commenting,” but maintained that her overall message remained unchanged.

“I can’t stress enough that this is not about ‘sides’ or ‘teams.’ I genuinely want to see everyone healed and happy, including myself,” she wrote.

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Matthews also made it clear that she would continue defending herself against behavior she found unacceptable.

“At the same time, I’m not going to quietly accept loud disrespect, manipulation or fear tactics used to intimidate any woman who set boundaries or chooses not to support destructive behavior. And I definitely won’t tolerate people downplaying the trauma I’ve endured and continue to work through to this day,” she said.

She later described social media as “so dangerous” and revealed she would be “blocking anyone who is not serving [her] end goal.”

The feud unfolded against the backdrop of Paul’s ongoing legal and custody disputes involving Mortensen. In March, Paul temporarily lost custody of her young son amid mutual allegations of abuse between the former couple. Their court battle remains ongoing.

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Musicals get judged unfairly. And that’s mainly because my personal experience sometimes perceives the songs like interruptions. But one close look at the finest musicals out there and you understand that the finest ones use music as the place where characters finally say the thing they were too scared, too proud, too broken, or too young to say plainly.

The ten films below deserve a bigger spotlight because each one understands that musical numbers can carry loneliness, desire, grief, rebellion, absurdity, identity, and pure cinematic joy. Some are strange. Some are messy. Some are tiny compared to the obvious classics. All ten have that rare feeling where the music seems to unlock the movie’s soul. Go figure.

‘God Help the Girl’ (2014)

Image via Metrodome

God Help the Girl follows Eve (Emily Browning), a fragile and imaginative young woman in Glasgow, as she leaves treatment for mental health struggles and starts making music with James (Olly Alexander) and Cassie (Hannah Murray). The plot is small on purpose. A band forms, feelings shift, friends wander through cafés, parks, bedrooms, and practice spaces, and every song feels like someone trying to build a version of themselves they can survive inside.

That is the charm people underrate. The movie has the softness of an old indie-pop record, but Eve’s pain keeps the sweetness from floating away. Browning makes her feel dreamy without turning her into a cute sadness object. James has his own awkward sincerity, while Cassie gives the group a brighter, sharper pulse. The songs sound light, yet they keep brushing against recovery, loneliness, romance, and the strange relief of finding people who understand your rhythm before your life is fixed.

‘The Lure’ (2015)

Image via Kino Świat

A Polish mermaid horror musical set in a nightclub should sound too strange to be this emotionally sharp. The Lure follows two siren sisters, Golden (Michalina Olszańska) and Silver (Marta Mazurek), who are pulled into the human world of 1980s Warsaw nightlife, where they sing, seduce, perform, and try to understand desire inside a place that wants to sell their bodies as spectacle. One sister leans toward hunger and instinct. The other starts chasing love with a human man who has no idea what that love will cost her.

The movie is wild, bloody, glittery, and weirdly heartbreaking in the same breath. The music has that cold synth-pop nightclub pulse, and the performances make the sisters feel magical without smoothing over how dangerous they are. Their tails are gorgeous and grotesque. Their voices are hypnotic. Their bond is the real emotional anchor, especially as romance starts threatening the thing that made them powerful together. The Lure deserves masterpiece status because it turns a fairy tale into body horror, pop fantasy, sister tragedy, and coming-of-age nightmare all at once.

‘Anna and the Apocalypse’ (2017)

Image via Vertigo Releasing

Anna and the Apocalypse follows Anna (Ella Hunt), a teenager in the small Scottish town of Little Haven, desperate to leave home and travel before adulthood locks her into everyone else’s expectations. Then Christmas season gets swallowed by a zombie outbreak, and her school, friends, crushes, teachers, and family problems all become part of a survival story with songs. Zombie musicals should collapse from the concept alone, so the shock here is how much heart this one has.

The fun is obvious at first: candy-colored holiday chaos, undead attacks, school corridors, weapons made from whatever is nearby, and songs that treat teen frustration like it deserves a full chorus. Then the movie starts cutting deeper. Anna’s need to escape her dad, John’s (Malcolm Cumming) quiet love for her, Steph’s (Sarah Swire) isolation, and the group’s messy loyalty make the horror hurt more than expected. “Hollywood Ending” gives the whole thing a bright teen-movie lift before the world gets uglier. The movie earns affection because it lets the singing be funny, sincere, and painful without apologizing for any of it.

‘Everyone Says I Love You’ (1996)

Image via Miramax Films

Next up, this whole film feels like a wealthy, neurotic family daydreaming its way through romance, and honestly, that is the best way to meet it. Woody Allen’s ensemble musical Everyone Says I Love You follows tangled relationships across New York, Paris, and Venice, with family members, lovers, exes, and romantic disasters slipping into classic American standards. The singing is often imperfect, which gives the movie a loose, personal quality most polished musicals would have cleaned away.

That looseness becomes the point. These people are not bursting into song because they are grand performers. They sing because love has made them foolish, hopeful, jealous, sentimental, or ridiculous. The film has a breezy charm in the way it drifts through crushes, breakups, political mismatches, and impossible romantic fantasies. Goldie Hawn floating by the Seine is the image everyone remembers, and for good reason. It feels like a private wish made visible. The movie is underrated because its lightness hides real craft. It understands romance as performance, embarrassment, and fantasy we keep choosing even after experience should have made us wiser.

‘Pennies from Heaven’ (1981)

Image via MGM

Pennies from Heaven stars Arthur Parker (Steve Martin), a sheet-music salesman during the Depression who dreams in old songs because reality gives him very little worth singing about. This is the kind of musical that smiles with its mouth and bleeds underneath. His marriage is cold, his business life is humiliating, and his affair with schoolteacher Eileen (Bernadette Peters) pulls both of them into a fantasy of glamour that their actual world refuses to support.

The lip-synced musical numbers are brilliant. They make happiness feel borrowed. Characters open their mouths and old recordings pour out, as if they can only access beauty through songs that existed before their pain. The “Pennies from Heaven” and “Let’s Misbehave” sequences glow with artificial joy, but the streets outside stay cruel, poor, and unforgiving. Peters gives Eileen a sadness that keeps deepening as her dream turns into compromise. The movie is too bitter to become a comfort musical, which may explain why it still feels under-loved. It uses fantasy to show how badly people need fantasy when life has cornered them.

‘The Commitments’ (1991)

Image via Beacon Pictures

You can feel the sweat in this one before the band even becomes good. The Commitments follows Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins), a working-class Dubliner who pulls together a group of local musicians under the wildly ambitious belief that soul music belongs to them too. They are young, broke, mouthy, restless, and convinced for at least five minutes at a time that they might become legendary. That delusion is part of the magic.

The performances have a rough, electric joy that makes the movie endlessly rewatchable. Deco Cuffe (Andrew Strong)’s voice is ridiculous in the best way, even when his ego makes him impossible to stand. The backing singers bring heat, humor, and actual personality instead of becoming decoration. Joey “The Lips” Fagan (Johnny Murphy) gives the whole project a strange mythic confidence, like every tiny gig is connected to a larger musical universe. The rehearsals, arguments, cramped stages, and explosive versions of “Try a Little Tenderness” and “Mustang Sally” are so godo and make the movie feel alive from the floor up. It is a masterpiece about a band that burns bright partly because it was never built to last.

‘Sing Street’ (2016)

Image via The Weinstein Company

Sing Street follows Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo), a Dublin schoolboy in the 1980s dealing with his parents’ collapsing marriage, money problems, and a grim new school run by cruel authority. Then he sees Raphina (Lucy Boynton), claims he is in a band to impress her, and suddenly has to invent one with other boys who also need somewhere to put their hunger for escape. Few movies understand how music lets teenagers become brave before they actually feel brave.

The joy is in watching influence turn into identity. Duran Duran, The Cure, Spandau Ballet, and music-video fantasy all pass through Conor until the songs start sounding like his own life fighting back. “Drive It Like You Stole It” is pure teenage imagination taking over a miserable school hall. “Up” captures that first rush of thinking someone sees the version of you that nobody at home understands. Brendan (Jack Reynor), Conor’s older brother, gives the film its bruised wisdom because he knows what it costs to stay stuck. The movie feels small, then suddenly enormous, because a song can become the first door out.

‘Once’ (2007)

Image via Summit Entertainment

Some movie romances shout. This one barely raises its voice, and that is why it hurts so beautifully. Once follows a Dublin busker, Guy (Glen Hansard), and a Czech immigrant, Girl (Markéta Irglová), who meet through music, then begin recording songs together while carrying unfinished lives in different directions. He is still wounded by an old love. She has responsibilities, a child, and a marriage that complicates every feeling the music starts bringing to the surface.

The songs feel discovered rather than staged. “Falling Slowly” has become the obvious signature, but the whole movie has that fragile, lived-in quality where a melody can say what a conversation would ruin. Hansard and Irglová give the relationship a tenderness that never needs cheap romantic certainty. The music shop scene, the late-night piano, the studio sessions, the headphones, the small looks after each song, all of it builds a connection that feels real enough to leave unfinished. That is why Once keeps finding people. It understands that some relationships change your life without becoming your life.

‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ (2001)

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This musical does not ask for attention. Hedwig and the Angry Inch follows Hedwig (John Cameron Mitchell), an East German rock singer touring seafood restaurants and small venues while telling the story of her botched gender-affirming surgery, her escape from Berlin, and the lover who stole her songs and became famous. The stage becomes her confession booth, battlefield, and survival mechanism at the same time. It kicks the door open in heels, eyeliner, rage, glitter, and heartbreak.

The music is furious, funny, wounded, and alive in a way most screen musicals never dare to be. “Tear Me Down,” for instance, turns identity into a wall being smashed. “Wig in a Box” turns self-creation into an anthem for anyone who has ever had to invent armor before leaving the room. “Origin of Love” gives Hedwig’s longing a mythic shape, while Tommy Gnosis (Michael Pitt) keeps representing the validation she wants and the theft she cannot forgive. The film is messy in the way a real open wound is messy. Its masterpiece status comes from how completely the songs, performance, pain, jokes, and gendered self-mythology fuse into one unforgettable voice.

‘The Young Girls of Rochefort’ (1967)

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At #1, we have this pure joy that is harder to make than people admit, and this movie makes it look like the whole city woke up singing in color. The Young Girls of Rochefort follows Delphine (Catherine Deneuve) and Solange (Françoise Dorléac), twin sisters in Rochefort who dream of love, art, music, and a larger life beyond their seaside town. Around them, sailors, shopkeepers, old lovers, visiting performers, and strangers keep crossing paths as if romance has turned the streets into choreography.

The miracle is how much melancholy lives inside all that brightness. Deneuve and Dorléac give the sisters lightness, but the film never treats longing as shallow. People miss each other by seconds. Old love hovers near new possibility. Michel Legrand’s music turns every walk, glance, and turn through the square into emotional movement. Gene Kelly brings Hollywood grace into Demy’s French dream world without making it feel imported. The colors are famous, the dancing is gorgeous, and the songs are addictive, but the reason it sits at No. 1 is deeper than style. It captures the feeling that life may be full of near-misses, yet beauty keeps asking people to step back into the street.

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The Young Girls of Rochefort

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Release Date

April 11, 1968

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Runtime

126 Minutes

Director

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Jacques Demy

Writers

Jacques Demy

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  Catherine Deneuve

  Delphine Garnier

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  Françoise Dorléac

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  Solange Garnier

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