Van Der Beek’s family confirmed on Wednesday, February 11, that the actor, who portrayed the titular character on the hit ‘90s teen drama, had died following a battle with colorectal cancer.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” James’ wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, shared in a statement shared via his Instagram at the time. “There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
Van Der Beek announced his stage III colorectal cancer in November 2024. His Capeside Crew — including Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Kerr Smith and more — came together one year later in September 2025 for a one-night only Dawson’s Creek reunion to help raise money for F Cancer and Van Der Beek, performing a live reading of the show’s pilot at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City.
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“James and I were actually talking about [a reunion] back in April or May. We were doing a convention together out in, I think it was Pittsburgh, and he had mentioned that Michelle wanted to do this and put it together,” Smith, 53, exclusively told Us Weekly in September 2025 about how the reunion first came together. “So it’s Michelle’s baby, as far as I’m aware. She gets the credit. And I’m just glad she’s doing it, because it’s going to be fun to see all those guys. And when I was pitched, I’m like, ‘Of course, I’m in. This is fantastic.’ I mean, it helps, James.”
While Van Der Beek was ultimately not in attendance for the event, as he was forced to drop out last minute due to a stomach flu, Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in to read the part of Dawson in his absence. The reunion sold out in 12 minutes, with tickets priced from $199 to $1,200, raising thousands of dollars for the cause.
Dawson’s Creek ran on The WB from 1998 to 2003 and followed Van Der Beek’s Dawson Leery as he navigated the ups and downs of teenagehood alongside his on-and-off love interest Joey Potter (Holmes), best friend Pacey Witter (Jackson) and mysterious new neighbor Jen Lindley (Williams). Smith, Meredith Monroe, Busy Philipps, John Wesley Shipp and Mary-Margaret Humes also starred.
Following his death, the cast took to social media to honor the life of their longtime friend. Keep scrolling for every heartfelt tribute about Van Der Beek from the Dawson’s Creek cast:
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Michelle Williams
“I’m thinking about him and I’m thinking about his family constantly,” Michelle Williams, who played Jen Lindley on the show, said during an interview with Entertainment Tonight on March 1.
Williams also expressed her gratitude to fans who had donated to the Van Der Beek family’s GoFundMe. “I also just want to say, like, it’s been such an amazing thing as James’ friend and a friend of the family to see the response in the wake of his passing and I just really want to say thank you to each and every person who contributed to sustaining their life and their children’s lives,” she told the outlet. “It’s an incredibly meaningful thing to witness.”
Katie Holmes
“James, thank you. To share space with your imagination is sacred — breathing the same air in the land of make-believe and trusting that each other’s hearts are safe in their expression…,” Holmes, 47, shared in an emotional handwritten letter posted via Instagram on Thursday, February 12. “These are some of the memories, along with laughter, conversations about life, James Taylor songs — adventures of a unique youth…”
“Bravery. Compassion. Selflessness. Strength. An appreciation for life and the action taken to live life with the integrity that life is art — creating a beautiful marriage, six loving children — the journey of a hero,” she wrote.
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“I mourn this loss with a heart holding the reality of his absence and deep gratitude for his imprint on it,” said the actress. “To Kimberly and the children, we are here for you always. And will always be there to shower you with love and compassion,” Holmes concluded.
Kerr Smith
“I’m so grateful for being able to call James a brother,” Kerr Smith, who portrayed Jack McPhee on seasons 2 through 6 of the show, wrote via Instagram. I’ll miss him deeply. Rest easy.”
In another tribute shared via Instagram, Smith wrote, “To Kimberly and your beautiful children, James was so many things…brilliant, creative, wildly original, and completely himself in every room he walked into. Being around him meant thinking more deeply, laughing more freely, and feeling more awake to the world. He didn’t just create work. He created connection. He created laughter. He created moments that stay with you.”
He continued, “I cherish being his friend. For twenty-seven years, through different seasons of life, through different versions of ourselves. Our early years shaped me in ways I still carry, and now as adults gave that friendship even more depth and meaning. Sharing a life alongside his, in all its chapters, is something I will forever be grateful for.”
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Smith also penned a message to Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly.
“Kimberly, he loved you deeply. And to his children…your father was extraordinary not only in what he accomplished, but in who he was. His mind, his heart, his generosity,” he concluded. “Rest easy James.”
Chad Michael Murray
“Sending love and light to your beautiful family,” Chad Michael Murray, who played Charlie during Dawson’s Creek’s college years, wrote in the comments section of James’ Instagram. “James was a giant. We’re so so so sorry for what you’re going through. His words, art and humanity inspired all of us- he inspired us to be better in all ways. God bless you guys🙏.”
Busy Philipps
Philipps, who portrayed Joey’s roommate Audrey on Dawson’s Creek, shared an emotional tribute via Instagram. “My heart is deeply hurting for all of us today…every person who knew James and loved him, anyone who loved his work or had the pleasure of meeting him, all of his dear friends and community that surrounded him as he battled this illness, especially his parents and brother and sister,” she wrote alongside throwback photos of the pair through the years. “But I am profoundly heartbroken for his incredible wife Kimberly and their six magical children. There is a go fund me for them to help out and i’ll put the link in my stories. James Van Der Beek was one in a billion and he will be forever missed and i don’t know what else to say. i am just so so sad. He was my friend and i loved him and i’m so grateful for our friendship all these years.❤️.”
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Mary-Margaret Humes
James Van Der Beek and Mary-Margaret Humes on ‘Dawson’s Creek.’Columbia TriStar Television/ Courtesy: Everett Collection
Mary-Margaret Humes, who played James’ mother on Dawson’s Creek, issued a social media tribute in honor of her late costar on February 11.
“Rarely am I at a loss for words … today would be the exception. James, my gracious warrior, you fought a hard battle against all odds with such quiet strength and dignity,” Humes wrote via Instagram. “I will always love and admire you for that. Our last conversations … merely a few days ago … are forever sitting softly in my heart for safe keeping. To our extended Dawson’s Creek family of friends, please be respectful of our silences at the moment as Beautiful Kimberly and family have asked for peaceful privacy for now.”
‘Dawson’s Creek’
The official Instagram page for Dawson’s Creek issued a tribute following James’ death at 48.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of James Van Der Beek,” the social media statement read. “His iconic portrayal of Dawson Leery helped define a generation of television for fans and continues to resonate with audiences today. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
Sasha Alexander
Sasha Alexander played Pacey Witter’s older sister, Gretchen Witter, on season 4 of Dawson’s Creek, who eventually becomes Dawson’s girlfriend. “Just heartbroken,” she wrote in the comments section of Mary-Margaret Humes’ Instagram post. “I am so sorry for all of our losses. James was a beautiful soul and kind human. Prayers for his whole family.”
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Alexander later shared an emotional tribute to Van Der Beek, uploading an Instagram post with a carousel of photos of the actor over the years, including ones from his time on Dawson’s Creek.
“It feels like yesterday that we were sitting beneath those pink Wilmington sunsets, filming during the beautiful Dawson’s Creek years. What made Dawson special was the man who played him,” she wrote. “James was a deep, thoughtful soul. He took his work seriously, not out of ego, but out of care. He cared about being a good actor. He cared about doing things well and he never took any of it for granted. But more than anything, he cared about people. He cared about his family. He cared about showing up fully.”
Alexander shared that she was “heartbroken for everyone who loved him, especially his beautiful family” and added that she was holding them in her prayers.
“I will always be grateful that I got to stand in his light for a little while. That I got to laugh with him, go to prom with Dawson and grow up alongside him. He will live on in our memories, and in the kindness he left behind,” she concluded. “Rest in Peace, my friend. 🤍”
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Hal Ozsan
Hal Ozsan appeared on the final season of Dawson’s Creek as Todd Car, a film director mentor of James Van Der Beek’s character, Dawson.
“This morning my brother, James passed in his sleep. I do not have the words to express the grief. There will be a James sized hole in my heart for the rest of my life and I will never meet his like again,” Ozsan wrote via Instagram alongside a photo of his former costar. “James… there are so many things I could say about you, brother, but the truest, is that you always lived your life heart-first in everything you did. Which is why, when the time came, you left in a home that you built, surrounded by the love you made. We should all be so lucky. What a life. What a man. What a friend. No notes, brother. No notes.”
Kevin Williamson
Kevin Williamson, who created Dawson’s Creek and served as showrunner for seasons 1 and 2 before returning to write the series finale, shared an emotional message to James Van Der Beek and his family.
“With much love, we are here for you. Your Dawson’s Creek family will always be here for you and your beautiful family,” Williamson wrote via Instagram alongside photos with Van Der Beek over the years. “To everyone, thank you for your outpouring of love. It has been felt. Several times today, from my heart, I’ve tried to form the words to express the beautiful brilliance of James and what his presence has meant to my life. But I am truly at a loss for words. I will have to trust that one day those words will come… But today, all I can think about is Kimberly and the entire Van Der Beek family. My heart is with you. K.”
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John Wesley Smith
John Wesley Smith, who played Dawson’s dad, penned a lengthy tribute via Instagram.
“I try to pause before commenting when a painful event occurs in the lives of people to whom I have been close, out of an abundance of caution not to co-opt their personal pain and make it my own,” he wrote. “I am so glad to have met James Van Der Beek’s beautiful family at his DANCING WITH THE STARS competition in LA and most recently at the spectacular event, DAWSON’S CREEK ON BROADWAY last Fall. It is to them that my heart goes out at this moment, his beautiful wife, Kimberly, and family and their families and circle of closest friends.”
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Meredith Monroe
Meredith Monroe, who played Andie McPhee, paid tribute to James Van Der Beek via a touching Instagram tribute and shared that “nothing seems right” after the actor’s death.
Explaining that she had been “flooded with fond memories” of her friendship with Van Der Beek over the years, Monroe praised the actor, listing several of his positive traits.
“Your legacy is your light. Whether 1 on 1, at a party, an event, or in your art you’ve always shared your light through: your humor & laughter, your curiosity, time & energy both in others & the world around you,” Monroe wrote alongside a carousel of throwback photos. She added, “Your ability to be completely present & make others feel welcome & comfortable, your sincerity, friendship, compassion & love.”
Actors often rely on different methods to decompress from roles that demand intense physical and mental energy.
For instance, Michael B. Jordan has spoken openly about seeking therapy to help him detach from the character Killmonger after “Black Panther.”
Others turn to music, meditation, or physical exercise to shake off heavy performances.
For Harington, however, the reset looks different. The actor says it’s his relationship with the two children he shares with Rose Leslie that keeps him grounded after difficult days on set.
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Kit Harington Turns To Dad Duty After Filming Intense Scenes
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With the fourth season of “Industry” wrapping up on March 1, Harington reflected on his emotional character arc as Henry Muck during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Among the topics he addressed were the explosive fights between his character and Marisa Abela’s Yasmin Kara-Hanani.
When asked how he comes down from filming those high-intensity scenes, Harington pointed to the proximity he has to his children.
“For me personally, the best thing is that I have my kids staying with me in Cardiff,” he said. “So, I come off set from one of those drug-taking scenes or what have you, and I have them to snap me back.”
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Harington Called One ‘Industry’ Scene His ‘Most Daunting’ Yet
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The significance of Harington’s reset routine becomes even clearer in light of a recent admission he made about filming “Industry.”
Speaking to Decider in January, the “Eternals” star identified one scene from Season 4 of “Industry” as the “most daunting” of his career so far.
Harington said he understood the scale of the challenge the moment he read the script.
“On paper, it said, ‘He enters high, and it’s embarrassing,’” he explained. “And you’re like, ‘Well, then, now I’m terrified. Like, what does that mean?’”
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Harington also said that the pressure only intensified knowing he would have to perform the vulnerable, awkward entrance in front of fellow actors he deeply respects.
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Inside Kit Harington’s Life As A Father Of Two
According to the BBC, Harington met his future wife, Leslie, in 2012 while filming Season 2 of “Game of Thrones” in Iceland.
Their on-screen romance as Jon Snow and Ygritte eventually blossomed into a real-life relationship.
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The pair later tied the knot at Rayne Parish Church in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in June 2018.
The couple welcomed their first child, a son, in early 2021. They kept his name private. Their second child, a daughter, was born in 2023.
In a previous interview with PEOPLE, the London-born actor once again spoke about the grounding effect of fatherhood.
“[When] I walk in the door, and the kids [are] there, anything dark I had to deal with during the day [is] gone,” Harington said.
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Kit Harington Says Tragicomedy Is His Acting Sweet Spot
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In Season 4 of “Industry,” Harington’s character spirals through a string of personal and professional failures.
After spearheading a misguided strategy for his green energy company, Lumi, and losing a British Parliament seat, Henry sinks into deep depression and addiction.
Yet when Harington watched the season back during a group screening organized by HBO for the cast and crew, he saw a completely different side of things.
“I turned to the person next to me and said, ‘Wow, it’s really tragic, isn’t it?’” Harington said in his THR interview. “When I was playing it, I was having so much fun. Clearly, tragicomedy is a strain of acting that I enjoy.”
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Harington Set To Make His Directorial Debut
After years of bringing other directors’ visions to life, Harington is stepping behind the camera for the first time.
The “Game of Thrones” star is set to make his directorial debut with a short film titled “Psychopomp.”
According to Deadline, the film follows a man battling severe depression who hires a hitman to end his life.
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Harington teamed up with cinematographer Fabian Wagner and production agency Limehouse to bring his original script to life. The project was filmed across Yorkshire in May 2024.
“Psychopomp” is scheduled to premiere at the Manchester Film Festival in March 2026.
It’s hard to believe that The Pitt has only been on the air for just over a year, especially considering the show has already had such a wide impact on the television industry. When The Pitt first aired last year, it was viewed as quite a gamble for HBO, a production company that historically had never released a medical drama. However, with the backing of the leading star and former ER veteran Noah Wyle, paired with the revolutionary one-shift model, The Pitt has become one of the biggest television shows. The Pitt Season 2 returned almost exactly a year after the premiere of Season 1, and the show was even renewed for a third season mere days before the premiere of Season 2. HBO clearly has big plans for its new flagship medical procedural.
Fans remain optimistic thatThe Pitt Season 3 will stick to the same January release window, but both creatives and stars have yet to confidently confirm plans that it will once again adhere to this same timeline. Following a big night at the Actor Awards Sunday evening, Collider’s Maggie Lovitt had a brief chat with multi-time award-winner Noah Wyle, and she asked him if the series intended to draw inspiration from current events in the medical field for the upcoming season, alluding to the way Season 2 is tackling an ICE storyline. Wyle answered:
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“We’re just about to go back into the writing room for Season 3. The first thing we do every season is take a lot of meetings with experts on every vector of healthcare we can think of and ask them what should be on TV? And, what would be helpful to the work that they’re doing? We’re just going to begin that process in the next few weeks. From that, we’ll pull our stories and try to hit the nail on the head.”
This Is Good News for ‘The Pitt’ Season 3
While this might seem like alarming news that the writer’s room hasn’t commenced yet for Season 3, this is still a net positive update for The Pitt. HBO’s medical procedural moves fast, and it’s likely that the production on Season 3 could still begin in the next few months. The Pitt also shoots in chronological order, which also allows for a new season to premiere while the team continues work on the final episodes. Right now, there’s no reason to think The Pitt Season 3 won’t be on HBO Max next January. The next episode of The Pitt will even feature an ICE storyline, which is set to be one of the most controversial topics the show has tackled yet.
Check out the first two seasons of The Pitt on HBO Max and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of the show.
Another day, another dollar and another sexy star who’s dropped her blouses … and her trousers! Can you guess who she is?! She knows a thing or two about Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” … and she acted alongside Ben Affleck in the movie “Gone…
The X-Files is a show with many fine qualities, including inventive scripts and top-notch actors. Arguably, though, the show’s biggest strength was its ability to gross its audience out with some of the creepiest creatures to ever grace the small screen. The best example of this is the Flukeman, a horrific monster that haunts the sewers and can emerge from the toilet to kill its victims.
The episode does a wonderful job of capitalizing on its audience’s fears, and more than a few fans started taking a second glance at the toilet after watching “The Host.” After all, this episode (written by X-Files creator Chris Carter) had enough freaky details to make you sick, and many of us are still processing what we first saw all those decades ago. However, what most fans never realized is that this episode made the crew quite literally sick for a simple reason: it was partially filmed at a real sewage treatment plant!
The Smell Is Out There
The plot of “The Host” is that FBI Agent Fox Mulder (who is stuck on dead-end cases because the X-Files has been shut down) is assigned to investigate the death of a Russian whose body washed up in Newark, New Jersey. After pounding the pavement and visiting a sewage treatment plant, Mulder discovers the horrifying truth: the Russian was killed by a human-sized flukeworm. He captures this Flukeman, but after it escapes custody, Mulder ends up cutting the creature in half with a sewer overflow pipe, preventing it from escaping into the ocean and creating more of its kind.
“The Host” is considered the gold standard for “monster of the week” episodes, and The X-Files crew did a great job bringing this terrifying tale to life. They really went the extra mile, including creating a sprawling sewer set that even included real tanks and running water. However, other shots required even more verisimilitude, and that meant getting down and dirty by filming in an actual sewage plant.
Nobody Was Ready For The Smell
As you might imagine, this location stunk to high heaven. Making matters worse, this X-Files episode was being filmed on a hot summer’s day, so the producers offered crew members an option: they could either take the day off or wear special rebreathers (which cost the show a small fortune to acquire) to help ward off the smell. In a stunning show of solidarity, nobody took the day off, and the breathing equipment helped ward off the awful smell long enough for them to finish shooting the episode.
However, there was just one problem with this plan to manage the stench: the location of the catering truck. The truck for the crew was located outside, upwind, and as far away from the sewage treatment plant as the producers could manage. On paper, this would allow the crew to grab some much-needed lunch without having to worry about the horrific smell of the plant.
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Unfortunately, the catering truck wasn’t as far upwind as it needed to be, and the results were instantaneous: several production staff members who had ditched their breathing equipment to grab a bite got violently ill. They all gathered at a fence on the outside perimeter of the sewage treatment plant, and they all shared the same purpose. Namely, to empty out their stomachs, vomiting until there was absolutely nothing left!
Trust No One (Especially Your Nose)
Still, the crew got back to work and finished shooting one of the best episodes of The X-Files to ever grace the small screen. It wasn’t easy, though, and production staffer Al Campbell (as reported in X Marks the Spot (On Location with The X-Files)) later reported his trick for whenever he felt queasy: “I’d visit the primary sedimentation tank – the place where the raw, untreated sewage came in.” He reported that after “a couple of minutes of that, and I’d go back to whatever I was doing, feeling relieved and grateful that nothing else was as bad as where I’d just been.”
The X-Files remains one of the most captivating shows in television history, and this story proves that the cast was never afraid to get down and dirty to provide us with one killer episode after another. “The Host” literally made the crew working on it sick, but this didn’t keep them from creating the ultimate monster of the week episode. Forget blood, sweat, and tears: it turns out that puke is the real secret ingredient of the creepiest TV show ever made!
Kelly Osbourne Sparks Public Concern With Appearance At 2026 BRIT Awards
According to Fox News, the 2026 BRIT Awards went down at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, on Saturday, February 28. Per the outlet, Kelly appeared on stage alongside her mother, Sharon Osbourne, to accept the Lifetime Achievement on behalf of her father, the late Ozzy Osbourne.
Watch the clip of their acceptance appearance below.
“ozzy’s heart never left England” 🥹 we couldn’t be happier that we got to honour the incredible Ozzy Osbourne on home soil with his Lifetime Achievement Award
TikTok user @The Yellow Door Gallery Cork wrote, “Poor Kelly!!!”
TikTok user @chas wrote “lets not be be unkind grief takes people in difftent ways be well ladies”
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Kelly Osbourne Speaks Out As Social Media Weighs In
According to Fox News, Kelly Osbourne apparently noticed the public concern and took to her Instagram Story on Sunday, March 1, to address it.
“There is a special kind of cruelty in harming someone who is clearly going through something, kicking me while I’m down, doubting my pain, spreading my struggles as gossip, and turning your back when I need support and love most,” she wrote. “None of it proves strength; it only reveals a profound absence of compassion and character. I’m currently going through the hardest time of my life. I should not even have to defend myself. But I won’t sit here and allow myself to be dehumanized in such a way!”
See her response and photos shared of her from the BRITs red carpet by swiping below.
To note, amid Kelly’s message, social media users continued to share their concerns in TSR’s comment section.
Instagram user @gee2srt wrote, “Kelly Osbourne?? The one that use to have the lavender hair?? nahhh that’s a crazy🙁 hope she’s okay”
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While Instagram user @tessybeee added, “It’s almost scary actually..”
Instagram user @yowebb_ wrote, “Grieving the loss of a parent is one of the hardest journeys a person can walk. That kind of grief doesn’t just touch your heart, it can change your appearance, your mental health, and even your physical well-being. Give her grace. Hopefully she will get help for whatever is going on.”
While Instagram user @donshel_felece added, “If a name wasn’t attached, i truly wouldn’t know who this was. Wow, I hope she overcomes whatever she’s going through”
Instagram user @nickicirami wrote, “Even if it’s grief it’s still something that needs medical attention— it’s not a bad thing to need medical care”
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While Instagram user @aaowes added, “YOU PEOPLE ARE MEAN. she just lost her father. STOP BEING RUDE.”
More On The Recent Passing Of Her Dad, Ozzy Osbourne
As The Shade Room previously reported, Kelly Osbourne’s father, heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, passed away in July 2025. Furthermore, his passing reportedly arrived almost six years after he revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis to the world.
Later that month, Kelly opened up about losing her father via a message she shared on her Instagram Story, per The Shade Room.
By the end of the month, Kelly’s family came together to honor her dad at his funeral procession, per The Shade Room.
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According to Fox News, after Ozzy’s passing, Sharon defended her daughter against critics of her appearance while on ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored.’ At the time, Sharon noted that Kelly was “not happy,” and said she “can’t eat right now.”
Scream 7 is now out in theaters, marking the 30th anniversary of the original film, which came out December 20, 1996. We’ve seen many Ghostfaces since the originals because the movie spawned so many sequels. Whoever dons the Ghostface mask should really review the success rate when they start their murder sprees because their odds of survival are very low, and Sidney (Neve Campbell) typically makes them scream before ending this round’s killers. The franchise was aware of all this as early as 1997, in Scream 2.
This first sequel sees the survivors of the first movie now in college, with wise-cracking movie buff Randy (Jamie Kennedy) in a film class discussing sequels with his classmates, Cici (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Mickey (Timothy Olyphant) among them. During this self-aware metacommentary, Randy states that “Sequels, by definition, suck.”
This starts a class discussion in which various sequels are nominated as violating this rule. The problem with this discussion is the fact that the movies they bring up are fundamentally different kinds of movies, not sequels in the truest sense.
Aliens Is Bigger, Badder, And Not A Slasher
“Get away from her, you bitch” is an iconic line from Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) in Aliens. This is the first movie that is brought up in that classroom discussion. Aliens is a very different kind of movie compared to Alien, which is at its core a slasher movie: a very claustrophobic film where the survivors have no escape from the killer, and a vastly more innocent Ripley.
Aliens may share an IP with the Alien characters and the universe in which they live, but the content and tone is fundamentally different. Aliens is action and horror with a greater focus on the badassness of the Marines and Ripley. The scope of the film is pulled back: Alien was shot in close angles, sharing that claustrophobic atmosphere of the Nostromo interior, while Aliens gives us a sprawling colony before taking us into its inner workings.
It would also be unfair to call Aliens a better movie than Alien because the motivations of the characters are distinct. The Marines go looking for a fight, not running from it like the Nostromo crew, trying to survive a singular killer. They’re heavily armed soldiers being overwhelmed by hundreds of biological weapons, not unprepared space truckers who don’t know what they’re getting into.
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Terminator’s Transition From Sci-Fi Horror To Action Blockbuster
In the Scream 2 classroom, Cici accuses Mickey of having “a hard on for Cameron,” so naturally that means the next films discussed were Terminator and its continuation. Once again, though, the scope of the two movies are so diametrically opposed that to compare the movies side-by-side does both a great disservice.
The first movie is about a young woman named Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) who is being pursued by an enemy that does not need to eat, to sleep, to stop, or to rest. The Terminator could follow her no matter where she ran. At this point in her life, she is an aggressively average young woman with no special skills or talents, a victim who has had her life ruined by something she may or may not even do in the future.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day, with its dramatic opening score and intense imagery, instantly alters the scope of Sarah’s universe. It’s more than just a young woman staying one step ahead of an unstoppable killing machine. We see the broken lives that the first Terminator left behind in its destruction. A company that will ensure SkyNet lives again. A son torn from his mother, fueling his delinquency as he moved from foster family to foster family.
The machines that haunt Sarah’s memories return, proving that she was not insane. It’s not just the survival of one woman based on a future act of creation: it concerns the entirety of the human race facing a monster of its own making. It falls into the same category as Aliens in that it expanded the franchise through action rather than relying on scares and that feeling of being stalked.
Its themes may have resonated strongly with audiences, but it was so divorced from the haunting terror of the T-800 in large part because the second movie turned the Terminator into an action hero and a way to defend the humans from the unstoppable force he seemed to be in the first movie, dampening the stalking element by making it too easy to fight.
House 2 Is An Unhinged Escalation
Mickey sardonically tells his Scream 2 classmates that House 2: The Second Story is his next suggestion. House and House 2 are two films that have absolutely nothing in common other than inheriting a creepy house that also just so happens to be a gate to another dimension. House tries to come off as a comedic horror movie, with casting that included sitcom stars William Katt, George Wendt, and Richard Moll. However, it is inconsistent in its application of theme and tone.
The intensity of the Vietnam flashbacks that influence the main character’s experiences with the other dimension hit on societal issues in the 1980s as America dealt with the aftermath of the war. The disappearance of his son in the pool at his aunt’s house, leading to his divorce, was also a glaringly serious theme in an otherwise comedic film. The conflict between the weight of memory and the promise of a better future underpins the theme of this movie, which contributed to how inconsistent it felt.
House 2 took out the trauma of the war. Instead, they decided to throw everything else at the script just to see what sticks. Horror is merely a consideration in this film, an excuse to have over-the-top effects.
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What happens when you add a caveman from the epoch of the dinosaurs, some Aztecs, two zombie gunslingers, an actual dinosaur, and a dog-a-pede that is now some sort of pet? Don’t know? Neither does the movie. The madcap escapades of this movie were closer to the tone the first film seemed to be chasing, so maybe in this case, Mickey had a point, even if he was both being sarcastic and secretly a serial killer.
Randy Fumbles On The Godfather
Seminal and iconic movies The Godfather Part 1 & 2 are not two movies in the distinct way the others were, but they are the final movie in the classroom discussion. These two movies are a much longer single work, segmented out of sequence, almost like a Tarantino film. The Godfather 2 doesn’t so much continue the original as much as frames it. While it would be incredibly difficult to understand the plot elements of Part 2 without seeing Part 1, this is because they are the parts of the book that were cut out to make the first movie.
Of all the examples that are brought up in the film class scene, The Godfather and The Godfather 2 are the ones least like what they are discussing. These two movies go together in a way the others cannot. They do exhibit great storytelling told over the span of decades. Both movies contain a scope that mirrors the epic poems of our collective past. This “hero’s journey” is told from the vantage of the criminal boss about themes of family, duty, loyalty, and, in their twisted world, a form of honor. But one is not the sequel of the other.
For someone who was supposed to be as knowledgeable about films as Randy from the Scream franchise, he let this one slide when it was so clearly incorrect. This is especially remarkable since he later denies the sequelhood of The Empire Strikes Back on the same grounds.
An Apples And Oranges Debate
“Name one sequel that surpasses the original” was Randy’s challenge to his class to start the discussion in Scream 2. The ones mentioned in that scene are widely considered to “be better” than the original. But other than sharing a name and setting, the movies are largely only better because they’re different from the originals and deserve to be recognized on their own merits. There are plenty of sequels that better fit the parameters of the discussion, but odds are pretty good that none rises to the challenge, except maybe some of the Scream sequels themselves.
Scream 7 is in theaters now. Does it surpass the original?
Roomies, Cori Broadus opened up her heart on Instagram this weekend. The entrepreneur and daughter of Snoop Dogg took a quiet moment to reflect on a loss that continues to shape her life and artistry. And let’s just say, her deeply personal tribute had fans reaching for the tissues.
On Saturday, Cori shared a post featuring an ultrasound image, seemingly from when she was pregnant with her late daughter, Codi. The caption read, “Nobody could’ve prepared me for something like this. I started this song after I had her, not knowing one day I’d have to finish it after she transitioned. Happy Birthday, Codi Dreaux.” Alongside the heartfelt message, she announced that her song ‘Codi’ is available for listening, giving fans a chance to connect with her journey and the music inspired by her daughter.
Fans Flood Cori’s IG With Love
Fans quickly flooded Cori Broadus’ Instagram comment section, showing up with love and support. Many sent prayers her way, while others took a moment to wish her late daughter, Codi, a heartfelt happy birthday. A few also chimed in about her new song, calling ‘Codi’ beautiful and saying it perfectly honors her daughter’s memory.
The Instagram user @snoopdogg shared, “😢🙏🏾💔”
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This Instagram user @deyjahimani said, “🫂🫂🫂💕🥺🙏🏼LOVE YOUUU SO MUCH💐✨🤎🫂🫂🫂🫂!!”
And, Instagram user @icando.biz added, “😢😢💔 what a beautiful love song for Codi. Praying God’s comfort for you today and always🙏🏾💜”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @sarahnolanmusic wrote, “Cori this is sooooo beautiful 😭😭”
While Instagram user @brandi_f_barrett commented, “What a beautiful song and voice . Prayers to heal your heart ❤️”
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Lastly, Instagram user @kiabmuzic added, “Aww😢🙏🏾happy heavenly birthday to ur angel🤍🕊️”
Cori Is Always Reppin’ Codi Dreaux
Cori Broadus reminded everyone that no matter what, she would always be Codi’s mommy. Last month, she shared an emotional Instagram post with a series of photos showing her late daughter’s playful spirit. From her pink quarter-zip jacket and grey pants to the double up-do pigtails, butterfly necklace, and pink ring, the images felt like a celebration of Codi’s life.
The caption said it all: “Forever Codi Dreaux Mommy,” with a pink bow emoji, letting fans know that her love and devotion to Codi haven’t wavered. Even in grief, Cori’s post radiated pride and unbreakable connection, proving that a mother’s bond doesn’t end — it lives on every single day.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas in a still from The Bluff.Prime Video
Amazon seems to have set a clear tone for what it’s aiming for with original movies. Once the premier venue for director-driven arthouse fare — remember Manchester by the Sea? — the tech giant’s streaming platform, Prime Video, is now shifting much of its resources to producing mainstream genre movies featuring stars with proven appeal. Recently, Prime Video released the action movie The Wrecking Crew, headlined by Jason Momoaand Dave Bautista; before that, it released theKevin James and Alan Ritchson vehicle Playdate. The streamer’s latest offering is a big-budget swashbuckler starring two performers who’ve headlined some of its biggest titles over the years. The movie in question has been ruling the viewership charts ever since its debut last week, giving no quarter to the competition.
We’re talking, of course, about The Bluff. Directed by Frank E. Flowers, the film stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Karl Urban in the lead roles. Chopra Jonas, a Bollywood icon who made her Hollywood debut over a decade ago, previously played one of the lead roles in Prime Video’s $300 million spy series Citadel, executive produced by the Russo Brothers, who also executive produced The Bluff. Urban, on the other hand, plays one of the leads in The Boys, arguably the most popular original series on the service. In The Bluff, he stars as a villainous pirate who lands on the shores of an island where his former partner-in-crime — Chopra Jonas’ character — has been hiding out under a new identity with her husband and son. His arrival pits them against one another, and unleashes the protagonist’s long-dormant inner John Wick.
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‘The Bluff’ Opened to Mixed Reviews
The Bluffopened to mixed reviews and is currently sitting at a 69% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. The film’s success — according to FlixPatrol, it remains the number one Prime Video film globally — coincided with a viewership spike for the swashbuckling Starz show Black Sails, which ran from 2014 to 2017. The show was headlined by Toby Stephens and featured the late Ray Stevenson as the infamous pirate known as Blackbeard. The Bluff is set toward the end of the pirate era in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is eying a return following several years of inaction. Johnny Depp, who was made persona non grata because of his personal troubles over the last decade, is reportedly weighing a return to the franchise that made him one of the biggest stars in the world and earned him an Oscar nomination. You can watch The Bluff on Prime Video. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
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