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Entertainment

Criminal Minds’ Paget Brewster Apologizes for Slamming Show Critic

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‘Criminal Minds’ Cast: Then and Now

Criminal Minds star Paget Brewster issued an apology after receiving backlash for publicly slamming a show critic.

“Hi guys, I was mean to Shealyn Scott last night and I profoundly regret it. Shame on me for insulting a human being for doing their job. I’m very sorry, Shealyn,” Brewster, 57, wrote via X on Sunday, June 21. “And I’m sorry to those who follow me that you saw me behave like that. Turns out, last night, I sucked.”

The actress initially shocked social media users when she took to X on Saturday, June 20, to call out an article Scott wrote for ScreenRant.

“Hello critic Shealynn Scott. You’re young. You don’t know that bad pics and bad reviews can lead to 350 people losing their jobs,” Brewster wrote in the since-deleted post. “Sell vintage. Work at a shelter. Do something better than what you do now. Because right now you suck.”

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Fellow journalists and Criminal Minds fans came to Scott’s defense, with many pointing out that the article praised the show despite Brewster alleging it was a bad review.(The opinion piece also made the argument that there should be more than 10 episodes a season for the hit Paramount+ series.)

Scott, for her part, clarified on her own social media that she received a private apology from Brewster following the TV star’s public message.

Brewster currently leads Criminal Minds in the role of Emily Prentiss, which she has played since 2006.

Earlier this year, Brewster recalled her brief exit from the show. (Emily was initially killed off in season 7 before it was revealed to be a fake-out. Brewster, however, was not on the show for two seasons, returning as a guest star for two more before officially being main cast again in season 12.)

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During an April episode of the “Are You a Charlotte” podcast, Brewster claimed a backdoor pilot for a potential spinoff show was filmed before former CBS president Les Moonves axed the idea. According to Brewster, she decided to leave the show after season 7 because she was “so mad” at CBS despite being offered to keep her full-time role.

‘Criminal Minds’ Cast: Then and Now


Related: ‘Criminal Minds’ Cast: Then and Now

Criminal Minds is back with a revival on Paramount+ — but fans have watched the cast change on and off screen since the procedural first debuted. In 2005, viewers were introduced to a group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral Analysis Unit. The crime drama, which was created by […]

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“I really did hold on to that anger for too long,” she shared on the podcast. “It was an unhealthy thing to hold onto. Because A.J. and I were like, ‘We were early, we knew our lines, we never got into fights.’ We were really angry. I held onto the anger for too long, and after four years, I finally thought, ‘Why am I not [on the show]? I love everyone there. I just don’t like Les Moonves, and I never have to see him because he doesn’t care about this show.’”

Brewster ended up returning for season 12 after Thomas Gibson‘s exit. She claimed she had to fight to get her “episodic fee close to what the men were making” because she and the other women “were always paid less.”

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“I was like, ‘Well, I kind of have them over a barrel. They need me more than I need this show.’ So, I got my episode fee way up from what it was,” she continued. “Then, when the other female cast members, their contracts were up, so I said, ‘This is what I got. Go get more.’ So then, they went in and they got big raises.”

Criminal Minds: Evolution airs Thursdays on Paramount+.

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What The ‘Real Housewives’ Have Learned After 20 Years

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Porsha Williams at the 2021 Peoples Choice Awards

20 years ago, Bravo aired a show following five women living their best lives in Orange County, California. Today, that series has expanded into several cities across the United States and has featured over 100 women. To celebrate the milestone, Bravo is airing a new season of “The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip,” starring seven veteran cast members who will travel to different cities to meet up with past and present cast members to reminisce about franchise-defining moments. In a new interview, the cast of “RHUGT: Roaring 20th” opened up about the special project, living their lives in front of the cameras for years, and what they’ve learned after two decades in the spotlight.

The “Roaring 20th” special will air on Bravo on August 9 and will be available to stream on Peacock the next day.

Speaking with PEOPLE, the show’s cast, which includes Vicki Gunvalson, Porsha Williams, Kyle Richards, Lisa Barlow, Luann de Lesseps, Teresa Giudice, and Gizelle Bryant, reflects on the upcoming season and also takes a trip down memory lane.

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When asked what being part of the series has taught them, they all shared moving statements, letting fans know just how they’ve grown since their first seasons.

“I became much more resilient to the conflicts in life, and I realized it will pass,” Gunvalson said, while Giudice said being part of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” only confirmed what she already knew to be true. “I only know how to be one way; it’s being real. I’m not calculated. Everyone actually saw the last 20 years of my life,” she stated.

Bryant And Williams Open Up About The Lessons ‘The Real Housewives’ Franchise Has Taught Them

Porsha Williams at the 2021 Peoples Choice Awards
OConnor/AFF-USA.com / MEGA

Bryant, star of “The Real Housewives of Potomac,” said that being part of the Maryland ensemble has allowed her to challenge her thinking, noting that in the past she cared only about her perspective.

“I realized that’s not okay. That’s not okay for me to go through life not caring, not giving a d-mn. So I’m here for the conversations. I’m here for conflict. I had to learn to listen and I think I’m a better person because of it,” she said.

For Williams, a “Real Housewives of Atlanta” veteran, she’s learned the power of reinvention and taking control of your own narrative.

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“[My first season], I used to see myself one way, as a wife through my husband’s eyes. And [after my divorce] being so young at 30, I went right into how the audience saw me. And over the years when you just release all of that, then you realize, ‘Wait, I get one damn experience. It’s mine, and I can do with it what I want. I’m in the driver’s seat.’”

What Did The Cast Of ‘Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip’ Think When They Were Presented With The Opportunity?

Gizelle Bryant posing on the red carpet.
MEGA

According to a previous report from The Blast, the upcoming season of “RHUGT” will follow “a group of beloved Housewives from across the years embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, making their way through some of the most memorable locations in the franchise’s history.”

To be chosen as one of the principal cast out of 100+ women is something special—at least that’s what Williams said.

“I was just glad to be picked. When I’m around these ladies, it’s therapeutic,” she said, while Bryant said she had fun filming with the ladies because they are “authentic,” unlike some of the women on her show.

Richards, meanwhile, admitted she was hesitant to sign on the dotted line, telling PEOPLE that when she got the call, she told the network she’d have to think it over.

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“But then when I knew it was the OGs and the 20-year anniversary I’m like, ‘I cannot not be a part of that.’ It was an honor to be asked. When we started this, people were like, ‘Is reality television even going to be around for long?’ And look at this! How could we not want to celebrate that?” she said.

Who Can Fans Expect To See On ‘RHUGT’?

NeNe Leakes
MEGA

“RHUGT: Roaring 20th” will also include over 80 All-Star housewives from the past and present to celebrate two decades of the series.

Joining the principal cast throughout the episodes will be franchise staples such as Melissa Gorga, Alexia Nepola, Dorinda Medley, and NeNe Leakes.

Leakes’ appearance will be her first on Bravo in over 4 years. “People are very happy about it. Listen, we are going to be celebrating 20 years of Housewives, and it would be hard not to without her, and so I’m happy about it,” Andy Cohen said about her return.

Leakes also commented on her comeback on Instagram, saying, “This has been a really long, long journey, and gosh, I’m happy, overjoyed to say that I will be returning to Bravo. I almost can’t believe the words that are coming out of my mouth. I’m so happy. I’m excited to see all of you girls. It’s going to be a time. Yes! B-tches, I am back. Now pick your faces off the floor. OK!? See you on Bravo. Love you.”

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What Do The Bravo Executives Think About The Show Lasting 20 Years?

In addition to the upcoming “RHUGT” special, Bravo just began airing season 20 of “The Real Housewives of Orange County.” Per The Blast, Bravo executive Frances Berwick said she’s extremely grateful that viewers have enjoyed the series for as long as they have.

“Just feels incredibly gratifying and fun and joyous,” she said. “The fact that it’s still making people really happy to watch the show, that they love being part of this Real Housewives community, it just makes you feel good.”

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Why Viral Life Hacker Chelsea Anderson Is Every Parent’s Secret Weapon

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Pirate's Booty

Chelsea Anderson has built a massive following on Instagram by turning everyday parenting challenges into clever solutions. Known as a professional life hacker and the “Michael Jordan of babysitting,” the social media influencer shares tips, tricks, and time-saving hacks that help families simplify life while keeping the fun intact.

Through her recent partnership with Pirate’s Booty, Anderson is helping to spark imaginative play this summer with Captain Bob’s Summer Quest. 

Chelsea Anderson sat down with The Blast to speak exclusively about the partnership, share some babysitting stories, and where the nickname “Michael Jordan of babysitters” came from. 

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When asked how she knew that sharing life hacks online was what she was meant to do, Anderson told The Blast that she feels it was “fate.” 

“My very first video that I posted was just about a hack to help get your kids to bed, which was a pj fashion show,” she said. “Where instead of telling them it’s time for bed, go put your pjs on, you say, ‘We’re going to have a fashion show, and we have to get our teeth so sparkly for the fashion show.”

This approach, Anderson said, brings play into focus and makes bedtime so much more fun. She added that “it just shows you how adding a little bit of play to those moments could become core memories and it doesn’t require some elaborate setup.” 

Chelsea Anderson Is The ‘Michael Jordan Of Babysitting’

Anderson’s self-appointed title, the “Michael Jordan of babysitting,” came from all the positive feedback she has received from her “tiny clients” from the past two decades.

“I think I’ve always deeply related to kids and loved kids,” she told The Blast. “We have similar hobbies and similar dislikes, like going to bed and sometimes eating vegetables, so I deeply empathize with them.” 

She also shared that she’s “always surprised and inspired by them.” 

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Partnering With Pirate’s Booty

For Anderson, partnering with Pirate’s Booty to help spark imaginative play this summer with Captain Bob’s Summer Quest, was a perfect fit. 

“My channel is all about helping parents realize that play is probably easier to access than they might think by giving them specific jumping off points, specific ideas, not just saying ‘make it fun’ but showing them how,” she told The Blast. “When I talk to parents about this campaign, it just feels like such an extension of what I love to do – show parents or caregivers in general simple activities that don’t require a ton of prep, that don’t require a ton of supplies, and that you can do this afternoon.” 

Chelsea Anderson Said Not Having Kids Gives Her A Different Perspective

Anderson also shared why not having her own kids helps her to give her a unique perspective on how she sees parenting.

“I think of parenting as this, like two jobs – front of house, kid facing, and back of house, not kid facing,” she shared. “I don’t have any of the stresses of the back of the house, so I’ve had this brain space to think about activities. I have years of experience of doing it across hundreds of kids, so I kind of know the pattern of what tends to work and it’s honestly such a joy to be able to deliver that to parents who I know are very busy.” 

She also wanted to reiterate that the Pirate’s Booty guide is free and has ideas that can be implemented immediately with any age child. 

“Parents are under a lot of pressure, and you don’t want to set up three activities if you have three kids that are different ages,” she added. “So I would say check this out even if you have slightly older kids.”

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Kids Are ‘Such Experts’

Pirate's Booty
Pirate’s Booty

While discussing fun babysitting moments, Anderson recalled one that sticks out for her.

“I was babysitting this little boy and he was really excited to tell me about something he’d learned about dinosaurs. But first he asked me, ‘do you know about dinosaurs?’ And I’m like, ‘yeah, I know about dinosaurs.’ He’s about to go on and goes, ‘how much do you know about dinosaurs?’ He’s trying to decide where he should start with me,” she shared with a laugh. “And the reason that I love it so much is because kids, even though they’re young, they’re such experts in the things that they’re passionate about.”

She added that parents can download the Pirate’s Booty Captain Bob’s Summer Quest guide and do some of the fun activities with their kids.

“You might be shocked that it’s the kids running the show and not you,” she said. “I always encourage parents to hand over that control whenever you can because your kid has some expertise and probably some stuff you could learn from them.”

For more information about Pirate’s Booty Captain Bob’s Summer Quest, visit the website.

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FKA Twigs Slams Shia LaBeouf’s Ruined Reputation Claim

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FKA Twigs at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards

FKA Twigs is refusing to let Shia LaBeouf rewrite the narrative.

A fresh court argument has sparked renewed debate over accountability, public perception, and who should bear responsibility for the fallout from the years-long case. The filing suggests neither side is ready to let the matter rest.

As the legal fight takes another unexpected turn, FKA Twigs is making it clear she does not agree with LaBeouf’s latest attempt to frame the lasting impact of the case.

FKA Twigs at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards
Newscom/ MEGA

FKA Twigs is pushing back against LaBeouf’s claim that public statements made after their legal settlement harmed his reputation. In a new court filing, the singer argued that any damage to the actor’s public image stemmed from his own actions rather than anything she said after the case concluded.

The filing comes after LaBeouf accused Twigs of violating the terms of their 2025 settlement by discussing him during an interview in which she said she no longer felt “safe” as a woman in the entertainment industry and spoke about supporting other survivors. Twigs maintains those comments did not breach the agreement.

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Twigs also argued that LaBeouf cannot blame her for setbacks in his career, pointing instead to his own history of arrests, alleged violent behavior, erratic conduct, and past homophobic remarks. According to the filing, those actions, not her public comments, are what affected his reputation and career prospects, per TMZ.

The Singer Says Settlement Did Not End The Emotional Impact

Shia LaBeouf at 'Megalopolis' Premiere Cannes 2024
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

The latest court battle arrives months after Twigs publicized her settlement with LaBeouf and said the agreement failed to make up for the emotional turmoil of the years-long litigation. The case never made it to trial, though the singer admitted it’s been a slow process so far to move on.

In an interview after the settlement, Twigs said she still didn’t feel safe even though she had settled the lawsuit. The musician didn’t dwell on what had happened in the past, but instead said she had moved on to assisting groups to support survivors and to rebuilding her life with music and art.

The Blast reported that she described looking ahead as more important than revisiting the painful chapter. The comments offered a rare glimpse into how the settlement affected Twigs personally, even as she tried to close one of the most difficult periods of her life.

FKA Twigs Reflected On Why Speaking Out Mattered

FKA Twigs at the 40th Brit Awards Red Carpet arrivals
Keith Mayhew/Landmark Media
WWW.LMKMEDIA.COM/ MEGA

Twigs filed a lawsuit against LaBeouf in 2020, alleging sexual battery, assault and emotional distress in the wake of their breakup. In the complaint, she alleged that he had been psychologically manipulating her and that she had been subjected to other forms of abuse. Still, the case was settled privately years later.

The legal battle did not go to court, though, and the settlement had polarizing online reactions. Some felt that the dismissal was in favor of LaBeouf; others hoped the agreement would give Twigs a chance to heal and recover.

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Despite the case being behind her, the singer has made it clear that it is important to be able to speak openly about her experience. The message has shaped public discussion on the lawsuit and the arguments now being presented by the former couple in court.

The Former Couple’s Settlement Sparked Mixed Reactions From the Public

Shia LaBeouf at 23rd Annual Hollywood Film Awards
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA

The settlement of the lawsuit before trial sparked mixed feelings amongst the public and among fans about its impact on both Twigs and LaBeouf. The case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning the singer can’t reopen the case against the actor.

Following the settlement, attorneys for both sides released a joint statement confirming they had reached a private agreement while wishing each other “personal happiness, professional success, and peace in the future.”

The Blast reported that the outcome quickly fueled debate online, with some users supporting the dismissal. In contrast, others expressed hope that Twigs could finally find healing after years of litigation.

The settlement also closed one of Hollywood’s most closely watched legal disputes, but it did little to end public discussion surrounding the allegations and their lasting impact on both parties.

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FKA Twigs Said Speaking Out Was Bigger Than The Lawsuit

FKA Twigs at NME Awards 2020
Keith Mayhew/Landmark Media / Landmark Media/Newscom/ MEGA

Long before the latest court filings and settlement dispute, FKA Twigs said the decision to accuse LaBeouf of abuse publicly was driven by a desire to protect others. After filing her 2020 lawsuit, the singer explained that remaining silent was never an option if it meant someone else could experience similar harm.

During an interview with GQ, Twigs said she chose to speak out because she did not want anyone else to get hurt, even if doing so invited criticism or further emotional pain.

She also revealed that thoughts of her future children gave her the courage to tell her story, saying she wanted them to know she stood up for herself despite how difficult the process became. It was reported that the singer viewed speaking out as one of the achievements she was most proud of.

LaBeouf has consistently denied the allegations through his legal team, although he previously acknowledged having a history of hurting people close to him while expressing remorse for his past behavior.

As the former couple’s legal dispute continues to resurface in new ways, will FKA Twigs finally be able to put this painful chapter behind her?

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Marvel’s Wolverine “Ain’t No Hero” Trailer Officially Reveals Lady Deathstrike : Coastal House Media

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Marvel's Wolverine "Ain't No Hero" Trailer Officially Reveals Lady Deathstrike : Coastal House Media

Tom Holland has offered a mysterious new tease about Spider-Man: Brand New Day, revealing that the true meaning behind the film’s title may not become clear until its final shot.

Speaking in the new Disney+ documentary Generations: The Evolution of Spider-Man, Holland suggested that the “brand new day” referenced in the title is not where Peter Parker’s latest story begins.

“The ‘Brand New Day’ of this movie, it isn’t the beginning,” Holland said. “It’s the last frame of this movie.”

The cryptic comment has immediately sparked theories about how the upcoming Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures film could end. While the title initially appeared to reference Peter beginning a new life following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Holland’s statement suggests the movie may instead conclude with a major transformation or new beginning for the character.

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At the end of No Way Home, Doctor Strange’s spell caused the entire world to forget Peter Parker. Peter was left completely alone, separated from MJ and Ned while continuing to protect New York City as Spider-Man.

Some fans believe the final frame could show Peter finally accepting his new life and moving forward from everything he lost. Others think the ending may reveal that the physical changes and evolving powers teased in the film are permanent, creating a dramatically different version of Spider-Man moving forward.

A more extreme theory connects Holland’s comments to unconfirmed rumors involving the symbiote and Peter potentially being brought back from the dead. Other fans have suggested the “brand new day” could introduce another Spider-Man, including the long-awaited arrival of Miles Morales in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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None of those theories have been confirmed, and Holland’s carefully worded tease could ultimately point toward a more emotional conclusion rather than a massive franchise changing twist.

The comment does make one thing clear. Whatever happens during the final moments of Spider-Man: Brand New Dayappears likely to establish the next chapter of Peter Parker’s journey in the MCU.

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Spider-Man: Brand New Day stars Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Mark Ruffalo, Jon Bernthal and Sadie Sink.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives in theaters on July 31, 2026.

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‘SLOMW’ Cast Mass Unfollows Taylor Frankie Paul

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Taylor Frankie Paul at the 58th Annual CMA Awards

The cast of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” isn’t playing nice any longer! According to a new report, a handful of them have unfollowed the show’s leading lady, Taylor Frankie Paul, after months of drama and internal conflict. The mass unfollowing also comes days after Paul clashed with Whitney Leavitt, who unfollowed her former MomTok colleague earlier in the week.

Taylor Frankie Paul at the 58th Annual CMA Awards
OConnor-Arroyo/AFF-USA.com / MEGA

“SLOMW” loyalists noticed that several of the cast members have parted ways with Paul on social media, including Miranda Hope and Layla Taylor. According to TMZ, Paul actually unfollowed them first, and they followed suit. The only woman that Paul is seemingly still connected with is Jessi Draper, who voiced support for her earlier in the year amid Paul’s legal battles.

Taylor and Hope explained their reason for unfollowing Paul, with Taylor saying she decided to remove her from her Instagram after realizing Paul was no longer following her. Hope, on the other hand, said she didn’t understand why Paul unfollowed her to begin with, but said she’d no longer continue “investing in something one sided.”

Taylor Frankie Paul
LISA OConnor/AFF-USA.com / MEGA

Hope and Taylor’s actions come immediately after Leavitt unfollowed Paul on Instagram, according to The Blast.

Again, eagle-eyed fans noticed the transaction and were quick to call it out, with Paul responding, “Good.”

Paul, 32, went on to say that she was bothered by Leavitt’s actions, given that she was the only “SLOMW” who vouched for her return after she left the series more than once.

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“I bet she doesn’t even recall that. The show I gave her grace against a whole cast MULTIPLE times,” Paul wrote.

While Paul said that she was proud of Leavitt and all of her success, which includes a run on “Dancing with the Stars” and “Chicago” on Broadway, the TV personality admitted she was deeply hurt that Leavitt seemingly turned her back on her while she was at her “lowest.”

“Let’s be honest, she’s been waiting for my downfall since day one, and she still ain’t gonna get it because she could have everything and still chose not to reach a hand,” Paul added.

Taylor Frankie Paul Rubbed Mikayla Matthews The Wrong Way

Taylor Frankie Paul
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Before all of this, Paul went at it with another co-star, Mikayla Matthews, after she shared a TikTok video implying she was the reason her co-stars were experiencing success off the show.

In the video, set to the sound of Chris Brown’s “Look At Me Now,” Paul showed screenshots of messages from someone who appears to be her agent offering her lucrative opportunities, such as new TV shows and even writing a book.

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Matthews, though, wasn’t pleased with the clip and replied, informing Paul that her behavior made her look small.

“It’s honestly crazy that we’re even arguing about who created what or who’s more relevant. This show was pitched to us, by the way (me, Mayci, Whitney, and Taylor, about stay-at-home moms providing for their families and, of course, ‘MomTok,’ which we all know was started by Miranda, Camille, AND Taylor,” the mother of four commented.

Matthews added, “Constantly reposting things and repeatedly pushing the narrative of, ‘I’m the reason you have this, you only got it cause I turned it down, I’m a star and you’re not as interesting. Don’t forget it,’ seems like weaponizing and manipulating your following to keep yourself in that power position to intimidate the people around you over and over.”

Dakota Mortensen
MEGA

Amid the drama with her cast, Paul is also dealing with deeply personal legal battles. Earlier this year, a Utah court official ordered Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen, to stay away from each other for three years after they were involved in alleged domestic disputes.

Most recently, Paul was granted a temporary restraining order for “civil stalking” against Mortensen’s friend, Cru Eaton, after the latter allegedly posted a private video of Paul online.

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Prior to that, Utah police officers confirmed in March 2026 that there were open domestic violence cases against Paul and Mortensen that were being investigated.

Amid the investigation, a shocking video from years ago showing Paul striking Mortensen and throwing metal chairs at him was shared online, prompting ABC to cancel her season of “The Bachelorette” and Hulu to pause production on season 5 of “SLOMW.”

Mortensen Wants To Focus On His Son With Paul

Taylor Frankie Paul
APEX / MEGA

Mortensen released a statement after the video made its rounds, saying he was saddened by the state of his relationship with Paul and that his primary goal moving forward was to be the best father to the son he shares with her, Ever.

“I’m not perfect, and I take accountability for my part. I’m sincerely sorry to those I’ve hurt,” he wrote. “I’m closing an unhealthy chapter and moving forward with hope for better days ahead.”

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5 Best Family Movies of 2026 So Far

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Jesse peeks around a corner with other toys behind her in Toy Story 5

Seven months into 2026, and the genre of family movies has already given the world of cinema some amazing gems. This year promises to be even more spectacular, with films such as Steps, The Lost Island, Wildwood, Narnia, and Jumanji 3 still to come. With so much already happening, now is a good time to pause and recognize the kids’ and family movies released this year that have stood out among the rest.

A streaming underdog that came out of nowhere, a winning addition to an established canon, and a murder mystery with brilliant bovidae are only some of the triumphs 2026 has produced. As the year moves on and more projects will be released, it will be interesting to see which of these early bloomers will hold up, and which will be overshadowed by the newcomers in the latter half of the year. However, as of now, these five titles are exemplary and are the best family movies that have come out in 2026.

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5

‘Toy Story 5’

Jesse peeks around a corner with other toys behind her in Toy Story 5
Jesse peeks around a corner with other toys behind her in Toy Story 5
Image via Walt Disney Studios

Buzz (Tim Allen), Woody (Tom Hanks), Jesse (Joan Cusack). These names are so familiar to audiences that they feel like childhood friends. In a saga that has spanned three decades, many viewers have literally grown up watching the Toy Story franchise. In the fifth and newest installment, the toys that once belonged to Andy settle into their new roles in young Bonnie’s (Scarlett Spears) life. As if that transition weren’t significant enough, they are faced with an extremely formidable foe that they have never encountered before: technology. A poignant moment-in-time examination of what childhood is, Toy Story 5 is immediately relevant and poses several interesting theories about screen time versus play time.

As sequels of a well-loved IP tend to do, there is going to be some overlap and unavoidable comparison to earlier films. Luckily, Toy Story 5 has been a crowd-pleaser from the beginning and has outstanding reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. It is nearing the prestigious $1 billion box office mark and is expected to achieve the accolade with ease. It is difficult to continue the momentum of any movie series that goes past a trilogy, and Toy Story is doing so with flying colors.

A very interesting and major shift in Toy Story 5 is the relationship kids have with toys. With the emergence of tech, it is suggested that kids build relationships with each other via their shared interests (like toys) rather than bonding to the toys themselves. This could mark a significant change of focus for future movies in the series, and it is a fascinating observation of a change in the Zeitgeist at large.

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4

‘Minions & Monsters’

Another well-established movie franchise to get a sequel this year is Illumination’s Minions series. Part of the larger Despicable Me canon, Minions & Monsters is the seventh film to feature the adorable, gibberish-speaking yellow people. Minions & Monsters features Old Hollywood tropes, creature feature moments, and plenty of slapstick humor. There are gags about LEGOs, filmmaking Easter eggs, and more. It is a fun and self-aware flick where the characters switch from being the subject of a movie to wanting to make a movie themselves.

Although Minions & Monsters has high ratings by both critics and audiences alike, that success is failing to translate at the box office. The poor financial performance could be a timing issue with many families going to summer camps and sporting events. Or it could be that audience fatigue is starting to set in. While Minions & Monsters is undoubtedly one of the best installments to the lore, it is hard to win viewers back after they’ve been disappointed by earlier movies. Hopefully, the admiration for this fun and quirky movie will only continue to grow, and more viewers will get a chance to see what devotees love about it. It could be poised to be a massive streaming hit once its run in theaters is over.

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3

‘The Sheep Detectives’

Hugh Jackman as George the shepherd petting one of his sheep in The Sheep Detectives
Hugh Jackman as George the shepherd petting one of his sheep in The Sheep Detectives
Image via Amazon MGM Studios

After a run in theaters, The Sheep Detectives stampeded onto streaming. The murder mystery movie starring Hugh Jackman has reached the #1 spot on Prime. The plot follows a herd of sheep who attempt to solve their shepherd, George’s (Jackman), murder. Cozy murder mysteries are all the rage right now, and it was only inevitable that the winning format found its way to the family movie category.

The Sheep Detectives is stacked with voice talent. Bryan Cranston, Patrick Stewart, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bella Ramsey, and Chris O’Dowd are just some of the names on the illustrious roster. Not to mention the onscreen performances of Emma Thompson and Nicholas Braun. It has become the family movie to watch on streaming and can entertain both the young and the young at heart.

Although the movie presents as being quaint and charming, there are some morbid and bleak elements included in the plotline, like the sheep discovering their own mortality and the fact that humans chop them up for meat. There is also the inherent premise of a person murdering another in cold blood. While The Sheep Detective delivers for fans of whodunits, it may not be the best for younger children. For older kids and teens, The Sheep Detectives is a great introduction to the mystery genre.

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Collider Exclusive · Oscar Best Picture Quiz
Which Oscar Best Picture
Is Your Perfect Movie?

Parasite · Everything Everywhere · Oppenheimer · Birdman · No Country

Five Oscar Best Picture winners. Five completely different visions of what cinema can be — and what it can do to you. One of them is the film that was made for the way your mind works. Ten questions will figure out which one.

🪜Parasite

🌀Everything Everywhere

☢️Oppenheimer

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🐦Birdman

🪙No Country for Old Men

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01

What kind of film experience do you actually want?
The best movies don’t just entertain — they leave something behind.





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02

Which idea grabs you most in a film?
Great films are driven by a central obsession. What’s yours?





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03

How do you like your story told?
Form is content. The way a story is shaped changes what it means.





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04

What makes a truly great antagonist?
The opposition defines the protagonist. What kind of opposition fascinates you?





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05

What do you want from a film’s ending?
The final note is the one that lingers. What do you want it to sound like?





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06

Which setting pulls you in most?
Where a film takes place shapes everything — mood, stakes, what’s even possible.





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07

What cinematic craft impresses you most?
Every great film has a signature — a technical or artistic element that makes it unmistakable.





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08

What kind of main character do you root for?
The protagonist is the lens. Who you choose to follow says something about you.





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09

How do you feel about a film that takes its time?
Pace is a choice. Some films sprint; others let tension accumulate slowly, deliberately.





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10

What do you want to feel walking out of the cinema?
The best films leave a mark. What kind of mark do you want?





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The Academy Has Decided
Your Perfect Film Is…

Your answers have pointed to one Oscar Best Picture winner above all others. This is the film that was made for the way your mind works.

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Parasite

You are drawn to films that operate on multiple levels simultaneously — that begin in one genre and quietly, brilliantly migrate into another. Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite is a film about class, desire, and the architecture of inequality that manages to be darkly funny, deeply suspenseful, and genuinely shocking across a single extraordinary running time. Your instinct is for cinema that hides its true intentions until the moment it’s ready to reveal them. Parasite is exactly that — a film that rewards close attention and punishes assumptions, right up to its devastating final image.

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Everything Everywhere All at Once

You want it all — and this film gives you all of it. The Daniels’ Everything Everywhere All at Once is one of the most maximalist films ever made: action comedy, multiverse sci-fi, family drama, existential crisis, and a genuinely earned emotional core that sneaks up on you amid the chaos. You are someone who responds to ambition, who doesn’t want cinema to choose between being entertaining and being meaningful. This film refuses that choice entirely. It is overwhelming by design, and its overwhelming nature is precisely the point — because the feeling of being crushed by infinite possibility is exactly what it’s about.

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Oppenheimer

You are drawn to cinema on a grand scale — films that understand history not as a backdrop but as a force, and that place their characters inside that force and watch what happens. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is a film about the terrifying gap between what we can do and what we should do, told with the full weight of one of the most consequential moments in human history behind it. You want your films to feel important without feeling self-important — to earn their ambition through sheer craft and the gravity of their subject. Oppenheimer does exactly that. It is enormous, complicated, and refuses easy comfort.

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Birdman

You are drawn to films that foreground their own construction — that make the how of the filmmaking part of the what it’s about. Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman, shot to appear as a single continuous take, is cinema examining itself through the cracked mirror of a fading actor’s ego. You respond to formal daring, to the feeling that a film is doing something that probably shouldn’t be possible. Michael Keaton’s performance and Emmanuel Lubezki’s restless camera create something genuinely unlike anything else — a film that is simultaneously about creativity, relevance, self-destruction, and the impossibility of ever truly knowing if your work means anything at all.

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No Country for Old Men

You are drawn to cinema that trusts silence, that refuses to explain itself, and that treats dread as a form of meaning. The Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men is a film about the arrival of a new kind of evil — implacable, arbitrary, and utterly indifferent to the moral frameworks we use to make sense of the world. It is one of the most formally controlled films ever made, and its controlled restraint is what makes it so terrifying. You want your films to haunt you, not comfort you. You are not interested in resolution if resolution would be dishonest. No Country for Old Men is honest in a way that most cinema never dares to be.

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2

‘Hoppers’

Mabel as a robot beaver smiles next to King George, a real beaver, who is holding a stick and wearing a crown in Hoppers
Mabel as a robot beaver smiles next to King George, a real beaver, who is holding a stick and wearing a crown in Hoppers
Image via Disney

One of the best animated movies of the year, Hoppers attempts to answer the age-old question of what is going on in the minds of animals. Mabel Tanaka (Piper Curda) is an animal lover and headstrong wildlife enthusiast. When an area of land that holds sentimental value to her is under threat of industrial development, she stops at nothing to protect it.

When Mabel finds out that Dr. Sam Fairfax (Kathy Najimy) has invented a realistic animal robot that allows humans to transfer their consciousness into it, she hijacks the technology, convinced she can use the Hopper program to halt construction at the important site. When Mabel goes undercover and infiltrates the animal kingdom, she learns about life from an entirely different perspective and discovers that there is often not a clear, easy solution to a problem. Hoppers is undoubtedly one of this year’s best. It is funny, thought-provoking, and refreshingly original when studios like Pixar seem to be more focused on cranking out replicas than ideating any new IPs. Hoppers is one of the best, most original Pixar movies in a long time, and it makes an ideal choice for wildlife and sci-fi fans.

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1

‘Swapped’

Ollie the Pookoo and Ivy the Javan smiling in Swapped
Ollie the Pookoo and Ivy the Javan smiling in Swapped
Image via Netflix

When it comes to being the best family movie of the year so far, there is still nothing that can touch Swapped. It is more visually pleasing than Hoppers, carries a better message than Toy Story 5, and has undeniable appeal. Unlike Minions & Monsters or The Sheep Detectives, which have more adult references than childlike ones, Swapped is a perfect movie for all ages. The story follows two animals that swap species and get to experience life from each other’s point of view. Michael B. Jordan, Juno Temple, Tracy Morgan, and Cedric The Entertainer make up the extremely talented cast, and there are several interesting plot twists along the way.

The character design in Swapped is flawless. Each species is a blend of both plant and animal, and the worldbuilding is enchanting, feeling like a place anyone would want to visit. There are adorable Pinecone Hedgehogs, majestic Dzo who seem like Ents mixed with elephants, and the misunderstood Treewolves. The textures and graphics in Swapped are stunning, and the animation is bar none.

Swapped is shaping up to be the big hit of the year that no one saw coming. Much like KPop Demon Hunters, Netflix is quietly positioning itself to totally dominate when it comes to animated kids and family movies. Swapped set a new record for viewership and clocked 38.7 million views in seven days, the highest weekly total ever for an animated movie on the channel. Swapped’s important themes of empathy, conflict resolution, collaboration, and harmony are essential and have never been more relevant. If you are not one of the 38.7 million viewers who have taken the time to enjoy this absolute triumph, now is the time. This year is not slowing down when it comes to awesome kids and family movies, and the hits will only keep coming.

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Swapped


Release Date
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May 1, 2026

Runtime

98 Minutes

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Director

Nathan Greno

Writers
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Christian Magalhaes, Robert Snow, John Whittington, Adam Karp, Nathan Greno


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Denzel Washington Was Always at His Best Working With This Misunderstood Action Filmmaker

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Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington go over procedures with their officers on board a submarine in Tony Scott's 'Crimson Tide'

When you think of Denzel Washington, recent acclaimed films like Fences, Flight, and The Equalizer series might come to mind, or his Oscar-winning performances in Glory and Training Day. No doubt, Washington has an incredible filmography that ranges across multiple genres, and he has even become an accomplished director in his own right. But while some of Washington’s other films might typically receive the highest praise, for many, the actor was always at his best when working alongside director Tony Scott.

Denzel Washington and Tony Scott Frequently Pushed Each Other to Greatness

Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington go over procedures with their officers on board a submarine in Tony Scott's 'Crimson Tide'
Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington go over procedures with their officers on board a submarine in Tony Scott’s ‘Crimson Tide’
Image via Buena Vista Pictures
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While perhaps not as well-known as his older brother, Ridley Scott, it was Tony Scott who was responsible for crowd-pleasing action flicks like the original Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop II, and Days of Thunder. But while his visionary side was responsible for critical darlings like True Romance and Enemy of the State, his collaborations with Denzel Washington have come to define the type of action they were each capable of.

Of course, Washington, like Scott, had already had an impressive career long before they met, thriving no matter the genre he tackled. Indeed, their first partnership, 1995’s Crimson Tide, was simply another slam-dunk in Washington’s string of hit ’90s thrillers, while it stands as one of Scott’s mellower dramas. There, Washington was pitted opposite Gene Hackman in a nail-biting narrative that echoed Cold War fears, though it didn’t lean so heavily into Scott’s trademark “rock ‘n’ roll” filmmaking. It would be another decade before the two collaborated in earnest — and by then, they had perfected their signature styles.

When the two reunited nine years later for Man on Fire — which may just take the cake for their best work together — Scott had reinvented himself for the 21st century, becoming increasingly more chaotic in his quick-cutting and philosophical in his character work. Tony Scott’s unique penchant for displaying hyper-kinetic energy on-screen threw his stars into fast-paced, highly erratic, action-driven pictures that keep you laser-focused until those credits rolled. Washington, meanwhile, played against his usual type at the time, embracing the lone, “one-man-army” sort of action hero he would come to exemplify later on with The Equalizer.

Scott and Washington would end up making five films together, tackling maritime thrillers, gritty revenge dramas, high-concept sci-fi, and blue-collar disaster pictures, but no matter what film they were making, they always made each other better. “What I get off on is that we challenge each other,” Scott explained to The New York Times while promoting Unstoppable. “Out of the five movies Denzel gives me a different aspect of his personality, always something different inside of him.” Even their weakest collab, The Taking of Pelham 123, is a darn-good heist flick that manages to engross the viewer for an hour and a half as Washington faces down the threat posed by John Travolta. It may ride off the heels of their far-superior film Déjà Vu — a picture that’s equal parts action-suspense and philosophical romance — but it still manages to capture the essence of what made the Washington-Scott duo superior to other action-centric actor/director partnerships in the early 2000s.

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Denzel Washington Starred in Tony Scott’s Very Last Film

It was fitting, that Washington was the leading man in Scott’s final film, Unstoppable. The vastly underrated runaway train flick positioned Washington opposite Chris Pine as Scott constructed a high-stakes disaster thriller that never slammed on the breaks. It’s a brilliant film that speaks strongly to Scott’s commercial expertise, as well as Washington’s uncanny ability to make just about any role interesting. Scott died two years after the release of Unstoppable. “Tony Scott was a great director, a genuine friend, and it is unfathomable to think that he is now gone,” Washington told E! News afterward.

While Scott is perhaps best known for directing Top Gun, his work with Washington is on another level. The filmmaker pushed the star to embrace vastly different characters each time they worked together, and it’s that stretching of his acting ability that shines brightest in their shared works. Man on Fire‘s ex-CIA operative John Creasy couldn’t be further from Déjà Vu‘s ATF agent Doug Carlin, even if both have the express goal of preserving human life. No matter if Washington was playing subway dispatcher Walter Garber, Naval Lt. Ron Hunter, or railroad engineer Frank Barnes, Scott always found a way to separate the star’s most recent role from his last.

Unstoppable is available for on Tubi, The Taking of Pelham 123 and Déjà Vu are available on YouTubeTV, Man on Fire is available on Peacock, and Crimson Tide is available for streaming on Prime Video.

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unstoppable

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Unstoppable


Release Date
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November 4, 2010

Runtime

98 minutes

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Director

Tony Scott

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Raunchy, R-Rated 80s Sci-Fi On Tubi Can’t Choose A Monster, So It Uses All Of Them

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Raunchy, R-Rated 80s Sci-Fi On Tubi Can't Choose A Monster, So It Uses All Of Them

By Robert Scucci
| Published

The synopsis for 1988’s Demonwarp on Tubi reads: “After a Bigfoot-type creature attacks them in the woods, a father and daughter suspect they’ve stumbled onto a nest of aliens in a hidden spacecraft.” The synopsis for the same title on Rotten Tomatoes tells a slightly different story: “A man whose daughter was kidnapped by Bigfoot rescues topless teens from alien sacrifice in the woods.” While both of these brief rundowns are technically accurate, they’re totally underselling just how absolutely insane Demonwarp is.

Demonwarp does not have a Wikipedia page.

“So, is it about Bigfoot or aliens?” is probably the question you’re asking yourself right now, and the answer is “yes.” There’s Bigfoot, aliens, demons, human sacrifices, horny teenagers looking for one of their uncles who mysteriously vanished, and a man whose daughter was kidnapped by a cryptid at the beginning of the film who’s trying to warn everyone so they can get the hell out of dodge before it’s too late.

Every so often, a movie is so out of pocket that you can’t help but admire the audacity, and you just have to let it happen to you. Demonwarp is one of those movies, and if you only watch a couple of these every year as part of your semi-annual sanity check, make sure this one finds its way onto the list.

Demonwarp Is Total Insanity

Demonwarp

Demonwarp is totally bonkers, so let’s unpack what actually happens. One weekend while renting a cabin in Demonwoods (really), Bill (George Kennedy) is playing a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit with his daughter Julie (Jill Marin). Suddenly, Bigfoot comes out of nowhere, trashes the place, subdues Bill, and runs off with Julie. The film then smash-cuts to a bunch of sexy teens a couple of weeks later, heading to the same cabin.

The reason they’re staying at this specific cabin is because the group’s leader, Jack (David Michael O’Neill), is looking for his uncle Clem, who went missing some time ago, presumably for Sasquatch-related reasons. Jack doesn’t tell his friends, Fred (Hank Stratton), Carrie (Pamela Gilbert), Cindy (Colleen McDermott), or Tom (Billy Jacoby), the true nature of the trip, instead pretending they’re just hanging around Demonwoods to party, but he does attempt to scare them with stories about Bigfoot whenever the opportunity presents itself.

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Demonwarp

No later than the first shower scene, everything goes to hell in a handbasket. The gang has a run-in with Bill, who’s been on edge ever since his daughter went missing and isn’t afraid to get violent. All he cares about is finding Julie, and everything else in his way might as well be collateral damage. Meanwhile, two women, Tara (Shannon Kennedy) and Betsy (Michelle Bauer), are romping around looking for a supposed hidden cache of marijuana plants they’d like to harvest so they can do some partying of their own, but they end up having their own violent encounters with whatever, or whoever, is running amok in the woods.

From here on out, it’s chasing, screaming, Bigfoot, zombies, more Bigfoot, demons, aliens (because why not?), and the realization that none of this makes any sense. The only reason there’s a weird sequence involving a preacher and his horse before Demonwarp kicks off is to establish just how insane this movie is going to get, like maybe suggesting a prophecy of sorts is being fulfilled, allowing the viewer to throw all logic out the window. 

This Is What We Play For

Demonwarp

Relentlessly paced and clocking in at only 91 minutes, Demonwarp is about as unhinged as it gets when it comes to low-budget sci-fi horror. It’s Friday the 13th with Bigfoot. It’s a horde of zombies that might also be aliens. It’s a bunch of sexy teenagers with pump-action shotguns who suddenly become expert marksmen despite the fact that they’ve probably never even gone camping once in their lives. None of this is supposed to make any sense, but everything moves so quickly that you just say “screw it,” suspend all disbelief, and enjoy picking up exactly what Demonwarp is throwing down.

The knee-jerk reaction most people have to films like Demonwarp is that they’re “so bad they’re good.” I hate that phrase because I don’t think this movie was ever intended to be good. There are budgetary limitations, sure, but this doesn’t play out like somebody trying their best and failing so spectacularly that it becomes comical. Instead, it feels like the kind of passion project that came out exactly as intended, and half the fun is watching and wondering how much further Emmett Alston could escalate things before there’s nowhere left to go.

Demonwarp

Demonwarp is built differently, and it’s streaming free on Tubi as of this writing. If it’s been a while since you’ve gotten a little weird, you owe it to yourself to check this one out.


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Kim Kardashian Breaks Silence On Grandmother’s Death

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Kim Kardashian at the 2024 Met Gala

Kim Kardashian is mourning the loss of the woman she says helped shape both her family and her career.

After Kris Jenner announced that her mother, Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon, had died at age 91, Kim shared an emotional tribute remembering her grandmother as her “best friend,” biggest supporter, and one of the earliest influences on her work ethic.

The SKIMS founder reflected on the lessons MJ taught her while working at her San Diego store, crediting the family matriarch with helping mold the businesswoman she would eventually become.

Kim Kardashian at the 2024 Met Gala
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

In her tribute, Kim recalled working for MJ at her San Diego boutique, describing the experience as one of the most important foundations of her career.

“You were the woman who showed me what it meant to be a hardworking businesswoman,” Kim wrote. “You gave me my very first job at your store in San Diego and taught me lessons about work ethic, strength, and confidence that I’ve carried with me ever since.”

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The reality star added that MJ always believed in her and served as both a mentor and safe place throughout her life. “You truly were the matriarch of our family, and your love is woven into all of us,” Kim wrote.

MJ’s Influence Reached Far Beyond Reality Television

Long before the Kardashian family became a global brand, MJ was running her own business and instilling those values in her daughter and grandchildren.

Over the years, members of the famous family have repeatedly credited MJ for inspiring their entrepreneurial spirit. Kris Jenner previously worked alongside her mother in retail, an experience that helped shape her own business instincts before eventually managing her children’s careers and helping build one of the most recognizable family brands in entertainment.

Kim’s tribute highlighted that legacy, emphasizing that MJ’s impact extended far beyond family gatherings and television appearances.

Kim Kardashian Asks MJ To Reunite With Family Members In Heaven

Kim Kardashian at 2023 Met Gala Celebrating Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Along with celebrating MJ’s life, Kim reflected on the loved ones who passed before her. The reality star asked her grandmother to “give Papa Harry, Aunt Karen and my dad a hug” on her behalf, referencing her late father, Robert Kardashian Sr., Kris Jenner’s sister Karen Houghton, who died in 2024, and MJ’s late husband Harry Shannon.

Kim ended her message by joking about MJ’s rumored secret social media habit. “I know you are up in heaven, looking at all of our Instagram posts of you from your sneaky finsta account you would always use lol,” she wrote.

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The Kardashians at Cosmopolitan's 50th Birthday Celebration
Lumeimages / MEGA

Kim’s emotional tribute quickly drew thousands of responses, including messages from family members, close friends, and celebrities who knew MJ over the years.

Sister Khloé Kardashian kept her response simple, commenting with a string of red heart emojis, while longtime family friend Allison Statter wrote, “ONE OF ONE. Going to miss her SO much. RIP MJ. Love you so much.”

Reality star Lala Kent added, “Love you so much, forever MJ,” while model Olivia Pierson shared a series of hearts and dove emojis in remembrance.

Others reflected on MJ’s lasting impact, including celebrity life coach Coach Alando, who described her as “A sweet soul,” and influencer Isabel Alysa, who wrote, “Loved MJ so much. Sending you so much love and light. She is now resting with the kings of all kings. Love you guys so much.”

Kris Jenner Says Goodbye To The ‘Heart Of Our Family’

Earlier in the day, Kris announced her mother’s death in a lengthy tribute of her own. “My mom was the heart of our family,” Jenner wrote, praising MJ for teaching her the importance of resilience, faith, and unconditional love.

“There is not a part of me that isn’t shaped by you,” Jenner continued. “And if I have done anything right in this world, it’s because I spent my life trying to live in a way that would make you proud.”

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While MJ Shannon’s death marks the end of an era, the values she passed down continue to shape one of pop culture’s most famous families.

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Overlooked R-Rated 2000s Crime Comedy Wants You Dead, But Just For The Money

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Overlooked R-Rated 2000s Crime Comedy Wants You Dead, But Just For The Money

By Robert Scucci
| Published

After watching 2002’s Hard Cash, the almighty algorithm guided me to other ill-fated heist movies from the early aughts, prompting me to spend 88 minutes of my life watching 2001’s Wish You Were Dead. Similar to Hard Cash, Wish You Were Dead makes you wonder what could have been, because all the moving parts are there for a great film. The heist is fun, and there’s a clear logical progression that any crime comedy thriller fan can get behind. There’s scheming and plotting, and each character has enough personality quirks to keep you interested in the premise.

The problem with Wish You Were Dead, which, unlike Hard Cash, is actually trying to be a comedy, is that the characters’ actions don’t always line up with their surroundings. The jokes and physical comedy are there, but the humor leans too lowbrow when, in my opinion, things should have been more deadpan. Wish You Were Dead is trying to capture a Very Bad Things kind of vibe, but it should have taken a page from the Naked Gun playbook.

Is It Even True Love If There’s No Insurance Fraud?

Wish You Were Dead 2001

At face value, Wish You Were Dead has a hilarious setup and some great on-screen chemistry that makes you wish it stuck the landing. We’re first introduced to Melody (Elaine Hendrix), a man-murdering hit woman who loves eating copious amounts of chocolate. Her penchant for sweets reminds me of Rutger Hauer’s Harley Stone from 1992’s Split Second, but the similarities stop there. Melody’s specialty is taking on clients with unfaithful husbands, whacking them, and then moving on to the next job.

Her next job, however, is where things become complicated.

Wish You Were Dead 2001

Melody is hired by Sally (Mary Steenburgen) and Tanya Rider (Tanya Allen), a mother-and-daughter team hatching a scheme to commit fraud against a lowly insurance adjuster named Mac (Cary Elwes), who has a million-dollar life insurance policy in his name. Sally and Tanya’s plan is simple: convince Mac that Sally is pregnant with his child so he’ll make her the beneficiary of his post-mortem payout, then hire Melody to finish him off.

Matters get even more complicated when Melody decides she’s actually in love with Mac and can’t, in good conscience, kill him. Instead, they team up with Mac’s older co-worker, Bruce (Christopher Lloyd), and hatch their own plan to evade Sally and Tanya, save Mac’s life, and run off with the money. Along the way, there are run-ins with Gene Simmons from KISS, who plays an eccentric hairdresser named Vinny, along with appearances from Billy Ray Cyrus and Robert Englund portraying a sassy preacher with Tourette syndrome.

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Should Work But Doesn’t

Wish You Were Dead 2001

Wish You Were Dead is absolutely dripping with potential, but it never feels fully realized because it’s so disjointed. I’m having trouble explaining why it’s disjointed, because the story beats are solid, and the escalating stakes ramp up naturally. Everybody you see on screen has acting chops and knows the assignment, but something about the assignment itself doesn’t work.

I may change my mind if I ever rewatch the film, because maybe I was just in a bad mood or something when I watched it, but it simply did not make me laugh. This movie has It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia levels of scheming. Elaine Hendrix’s crazy eyes when she’s mad, shooting daggers at Christopher Lloyd, should, in theory, be funny. But for some reason, it doesn’t gel. Mac is the perfect hapless victim of circumstance, caught between a murder plot and a budding romance with the person who was hired to kill him. This is all funny stuff, but it’s too quirky to be taken seriously, even as a comedy, and too overtly campy when it should have been just a little more deadpan.

Wish You Were Dead 2001

Truth be told, Wish You Were Dead confuses me enough that I want to eventually watch it again and reassess my stance. All the ingredients for a superb crime comedy are there, but as a whole, the movie feels far less than the sum of its parts.

As of this writing, you can stream Wish You Were Dead for free on Tubi.


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