Ben Affleck‘s daughter, Violet, became the target of online trolling after she was seen not wearing her mask while out with her mother, Jennifer Garner.

The college student had been away for the past few months but recently returned home for the summer holidays. She joined her mother and younger brother, Samuel, for a casual trip to grab ice cream at a nearby creamery.

In recent years, Violet Affleck has advocated for mask-wearing and criticized those who have called for a ban on masks, leading to her getting scrutinized for her stance.

Violet Affleck made the rare decision to remove her mask during an outing with her mother, Jennifer Garner, and brother Samuel after returning home from college for the summer holidays.

However, the gesture led to her being mocked by netizens after images from the outing, obtained by the Daily Mail, hit the internet.

The negative reaction from critics online was likely a result of Violet’s pro-mask stance, especially as she has consistently spoken against calls to ban masks while demanding renewed COVID-19 protections.

In a sarcastic comment poking fun at Violet, one critic wrote, “lol any day now before it goes back on due to the ‘new’ pandemic.”

Another asked, “So someone finally got her the mental health support she needs?” while a third person said, “Oh Wow! Typical Hollywood hypocrisy!!:

Amid the trolling, some concerned folks also raised a different possibility behind why Violet was not wearing the mask.

“Could have been having a health issue that’s now resolved. Making a decision best for your mental and physical wellness is not everyone’s business,” noted an individual.

See the image of her mask-free outing here.

Why Ben Affleck’s Daughter Wears A Mask

The reason behind Violet wearing a mask is linked to her being diagnosed with a “post-viral condition” back in 2019.

Since then, she has not only preferred wearing a mask when out in public but has also advocated for others to do the same.

“I’m OK now, but I saw firsthand that medicine does not always have answers to the consequences of even minor viruses,” the young adult said during her speech for the LA County Board of Supervisors in 2024, according to a report.

In her speech, Violet also spoke against any ban on wearing masks, saying such regulations “do not keep us safer” and make “vulnerable members of our community less safe.”

The college student also added her voice to calls for increased access to “high-quality free tests and treatment” within the county.

Violet Affleck Took Her Mask Advocacy To The UN

In 2025, Violet Affleck also took her advocacy to a United Nations event, where she called for more action to address airborne diseases due to the immense risks they pose.

“It is neglect of the highest order to look children in the eyes and say, ‘We knew how to protect you, and we didn’t do it,’” Violet said at the time.

Speaking further, she criticized how many now seem to downplay the effects of COVID-19 despite the devastation it caused. In her view, she also believes that clean air should be considered just as much of a human right as clean water.

“Long COVID has surpassed asthma as the most common chronic illness in children in five years and under,” Violent added, before noting how terrified she was that some children  “will not know a world without debilitating pain and exhaustion” due to the effects Covid had on them.

Violet Affleck’s UN Speech Sparked Backlash

Violet’s UN speech at the time led to intense backlash online due to her calls for reinstated mask mandates, a highly controversial stance since the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of her most prominent critics was Meghan McCain, who lashed out at Violet on social media, writing, “Every single thing about all of this is why people hate nepo babies so much.”

As reported by The Blast, McCain argued that Violet’s appearance at the UN felt unnecessary, implying she had little idea what she was talking about.

After being branded a “nepo baby” herself, McCain further doubled down on her criticism of Violet by stating that her parents would never co-sign her speaking at a high-profile event without being well-versed on the sensitive topic that was being discussed.

“Having famous parents is a double-edged sword, and if you’re going to put yourself out there, you gotta take the heat (as I have always done),” McCain added at the time.

The 20-Year-Old Received High Praise From Her Father, Ben Affleck

Violet has repeatedly been praised by her father, with one such instance occurring during a recent interview with Access Hollywood.

At the time, he noted how she takes after her mother, adding that she is “spectacular.” The actor also spoke about his coparent arrangement with Violet’s mother and how she makes it all so easy for him

“I’m very lucky that I’ve got a great partner and we’ve got great kids. It’s the joy of my life, and I’m just very, very lucky. And it makes me happy every day,” Affleck said, per Hola.

Affleck’s comments about Garner echoed remarks he made during an appearance on “Good Morning America” in 2020, per the Daily Mail.

“When you have children with somebody, you’re connected to them forever. And I’m very lucky she [Garner] is the mother of my children,” he said. “I’m very grateful and respectful of her.”

Wade Wilson, the convicted murderer who became a viral social media fixation as the “Deadpool Killer,” is back in the spotlight after his crimes were documented in Paramount+’s Handsome Devil: Charming Killer and Netflix’s Worst Ex Ever. Wilson was found guilty in June 2024 of murdering Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz in Cape Coral, Florida, and was sentenced to death two months later.

Here’s everything to know about Wilson, his crimes and the social media fascination that surrounds him.

Inside Wade Wilson’s Crimes

Wilson killed Melton and Ruiz on the same morning of October 7, 2019, in Cape Coral, Florida, according to A&E. The night before, Wilson met Melton at a bar, where the two hit it off. Their group eventually returned to a friend’s house, and Wilson and Melton became intimate. Their encounter took a horrifying turn when Wilson strangled Melton in her bed, then stole her car and fled the scene.

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That same morning, Wilson violently assaulted his then-girlfriend, Mila Montanez, at her workplace. His rampage continued when he spotted Ruiz walking to her nearby job. Wilson asked Ruiz for directions and managed to lure her into his car, where he strangled her. He initially thought Ruiz was dead and planned to bury her body, but when he realized she was still breathing, he ran her over several times with Melton’s stolen car.

In disturbing audio featured in the docuseries trailer, Wilson can be heard describing the killings in his own words. “I choked her out so she couldn’t breathe anymore,” he said in a recorded phone call. “I was on a rampage at this point.”

Another clip captured Wilson saying, “A rage overcomes me. Just kill, kill, kill. When I get that way, I become the devil. I’m like the lion, you’re the prey. I can sense it.”

Wade Wilson’s Arrest and Confession

Wilson was ultimately turned in by his own biological father, Steven Testasecca. After the murders, he confessed the graphic details of what he had done to Testasecca during several phone calls. Testasecca contacted law enforcement, and Wilson was arrested later that evening.

Once in police custody, Wilson reportedly showed no remorse for the killings. Authorities said he told them he would commit the crimes “again” if given the chance.

In voiceover audio featured in the trailer, Wilson is heard reflecting on his approach to the women he encountered. “This is what I do with women, you know. I use my charm, my good looks,” he said.

Wade Wilson’s Trial and Death Sentence

Wilson’s case went to trial in June 2024. He was found guilty on six counts, including two counts of first-degree murder, grand theft, burglary and battery, according to A&E. In August 2024, Wilson was sentenced to death.

Before the trial began, Wilson dramatically altered his appearance by getting tattoos covering his face and neck. The new look helped transform public perception of him — and turned the case into a social media phenomenon.

Has a Date Been Set for Wade Wilson’s Execution?

An execution date has not yet been set for Wilson. His attorneys are actively appealing his death sentence, arguing that a 2023 Florida state law that allows juries to recommend a death sentence without a unanimous vote should not apply to Wilson because his crimes were committed before the law was passed, according to NJ.com.

Wade Wilson’s Rise to Social Media Notoriety

As Wilson’s mugshot circulated online, his face tattoos and good looks made him a viral figure. The media nicknamed him the “Deadpool Killer” because he shares his name with the Marvel antihero played by Ryan Reynolds.

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Public fascination quickly spilled offline. Women showed up to his court appearances in support, and entire social media accounts were dedicated to him. One commentator featured in Handsome Devil: Charming Killer noted that Wilson was “building a cult following.”

In the trailer, women from Wilson’s past recall describing him as “attractive” and “very nice” before his arrest, with some admitting they thought they could change him. The footage captures the unsettling collision of true crime and internet culture that the docuseries plans to explore.

This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.

Bruce Springsteen apparently had no time for former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at his Brooklyn concert.

Video shared via X by journalist Mike Ryan showcased an awkward moment during Springsteen and the E Street Band’s Barclays Center show on Thursday, May 14.

As “The Boss,” walked through the crowd to shake hands with fans, Christie, 63, stuck out his own hand — and was seemingly ignored when Springsteen, 76, walked past him. Christie immediately pulled back his hand, shrugged and resumed clapping along with the music.

Us Weekly has reached out to Christie and Springsteen’s representatives for comment.

Springsteen and Christie have a somewhat contentious history. The former governor is a self-professed Springsteen super-fan who has boasted of attending more than 100 of the rocker’s concerts over the years.

“No one is beyond the reach of Bruce,” he once told The Atlantic.

Former President Barack Obama connected the two for the first time in November 2012 while Springsteen was riding on Air Force One. During a phone call about Hurricane Sandy, Obama told Christie that Springsteen wanted to speak to him and they had a brief conversation, per Variety.

That same month, Springsteen and Christie greeted one another backstage at a Hurricane Sandy benefit concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

“We hugged,” Christie told reporters of his in-person meeting with his musical idol. “He told me it’s official: we’re friends. I told the president today, actually, that the hug was great and when we got home, there was a lot of weeping because of the hug. And the president asked why. I said, ‘Well, to be honest, I was the one doing the weeping.’”

However, Springsteen later poked fun at Christie during the 2013 “Bridgegate” scandal. (Christie’s staff was accused of deliberately causing traffic jams near Fort Lee, New Jersey, by ordering the closure of a toll plaza. This political maneuvering was seen as retribution for Fort Lee’s Mayor Mark Sokolich opposing Christie’s administration.)

Christie was not criminally charged over the “Bridgegate” scandal, though many pundits suggested that the controversy eroded support for his ill-fated presidential campaign in 2016.

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At the height of the controversy, Springsteen joined Jimmy Fallon on his Late Night show in 2014 to sing a parody version of “Born to Run” about “Bridgegate.”

“Baby this Bridgegate was just payback / It’s a bitch slap to the state Democrats,” Fallon, 51, and Springsteen sang. “We got to get out while we can / We’re stuck in Governor Chris Christie’s Fort Lee-New Jersey traffic jam!”

More recently, Springsteen offered an olive branch to President Donald Trump amid a years-long public feud. During an Austin, Texas concert on April 26, Springsteen lled his audience in a prayer after the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting.

“We begin tonight with a prayer for our men and women in service overseas, we pray for their safe return,” Springsteen told fans. “We also send out a prayer of thanks that our president, nor anyone in the administration, nor anyone attending, was injured at last night’s incident at the [White House] press correspondents’ dinner.”

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He went on, “We can disagree. We can be critical of those in power, and we can peacefully fight for our beliefs. But there is no place in any way, shape, or form for political violence of any kind in our beloved United States.”

Suspected shooter Cole Tomas Allen allegedly opened fire at the Washington Hilton on April 25 while President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other officials from their administration were attending the dinner.

Allen, 31, was apprehended after injuring a Secret Service agent. He later pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate the president of the United States, transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.

RELATED: Yung Miami Issues Apology After Going Viral For Publicly Telling A DJ He Was Putting Her & Other Clubgoers To Sleep (VIDEOS)

Yung Miami Shows Off New Smile In Viral Clip

In a new video obtained by Live Bitez, Yung Miami is seen confidently showing off her bright new set of teeth while moving the camera around her face, giving fans a full look at her updated smile. The rapper keeps it casual yet polished, rocking a middle-part low ponytail, diamond earrings, and a pink, orange, and black jumpsuit while sitting in what appears to be a room with a dry erase board in the background. The compliments quickly rolled in under the clip, with one comment reading, “the new teeth are amazingggg,” to which Yung Miami responded, “I loveeee,” clearly co-signing the fan love for her refreshed look.

You Already Know The Internet Can’t Stop Talking

Roommates ran straight to the Live Bitez comment section after the clip dropped. Everybody had something to say about Yung Miami’s new smile. Some users admitted they didn’t even recognize her at first, while others praised the look, saying the new set of teeth actually enhances her facial features. A few commenters, though, were more curious than anything, questioning why she keeps changing her veneers and what the motivation behind the switch-ups is.

One Instagram user @nolathegreatx added, “The new teeth gave a her a baby face. 😍”

This Instagram user @187_scorpian claimed, “They do look cute.. better than before 😍”

And, Instagram user @prettyricannisha asked, “Who done em“

Meanwhile, Instagram user @teas_baby_ said, “I think her old set was one of the best… i dont like these“

While Instagram user @snuggslilsis wrote, “Idk … I damn near didn’t know who this was“

Lastly, Instagram user @the_humble_showoff shared, “I actually like hers 👍🏾”

Yung Miami Smiles Through Viral DJ Drama Fallout

Roommates, Yung Miami is back outside smiling and glowing after recently making headlines for a viral club moment that had social media in a frenzy just days ago. The rapper was previously captured on video at a club event telling the DJ the music was “trash” and even joking that she was about to take over the set herself, a clip that quickly spread online and sparked mixed reactions. Afterward, she returned to Instagram Stories to issue a public apology to DJ Sean Mac, explaining she was just trying to “turn up and have a good time,” but now she’s back out and seemingly in good spirits, all smiles despite the recent chatter.

RELATED: Yung Miami Speaks On Diddy & Why She Wrote Character Letter Supporting Him Despite Footage Of Him Assaulting Cassie (WATCH)

Martin Short is opening up about one of the most painful periods of his life with devastating honesty.

Years after losing his wife, Nancy Dolman, the beloved comedian is now grieving another unimaginable tragedy following the death of his daughter, Katherine.

While reflecting on both losses, Short revealed the emotional connection between their final words and why he believes mental illness deserves to be treated like any other disease.

The “Only Murders in the Building” star recently spoke to The New York Times while discussing his Netflix documentary “Marty, Life Is Short.”

During the emotional conversation, Short looked back on the final days of his wife, Nancy Dolman, who died from ovarian cancer in 2010 at age 58.

As he reflected on losing Dolman after nearly 30 years of marriage, Short revealed the heartbreaking final message she shared with him.

“Martin, let me go,” Short recalled her saying.

The actor explained that hearing similar emotions years later, after the death of his daughter, Katherine, forced him to think about grief and illness in a completely different way.

Short and Dolman first met in 1972 before marrying in 1980. Together, they raised three children: Katherine, Oliver, and Henry.

Over the years, Short frequently described Dolman as the emotional center of their family, making her loss especially difficult for him and their children.

Martin Short Drew Painful Connection To Daughter Katherine

While speaking with The New York Times, Short revealed that the death of his daughter Katherine earlier this year reopened emotions he had carried since losing his wife.

Katherine died by suicide in February at age 42, according to the Los Angeles coroner’s office.

As Short reflected on her death, he explained that he heard echoes of Dolman’s final plea in what he imagined his daughter may have been trying to express during her own struggle.

“Katherine was saying: Dad, let me go,” he said.

Short then shared his belief that mental illness deserves to be viewed with the same seriousness as physical diseases.

“I don’t see any difference between mental illness as a disease and cancer as a disease,” he explained. “In some cases, both are terminal. And in some cases, both are survivable.”

The actor admitted that losing a child brought a different level of pain than anything he had experienced before.

“This is your child,” Short said. “I am trying to head toward the light.”

Short Speaks Openly About Mental Health

Martin Short also addressed the tragedy during a May 10 appearance on “CBS News Sunday Morning,” where he described Katherine’s death as “a nightmare for the family.”

During the interview, the actor spoke candidly about his daughter’s years-long mental health battle and the challenges she faced privately.

“But the understanding that mental health and cancer, like my wife [had], are both diseases,” Short explained. “Sometimes with diseases, they are terminal. My daughter fought for a long time with extreme mental health, borderline personality disorder, other things, and did the best she could until she couldn’t.”

He again reflected on the emotional connection between Dolman’s final words and his daughter’s death.

“So Nan’s last words to me were, ‘Martin, let me go.’ And what she was saying was, ‘Dad, let me go.’”

The comedian also explained why he became involved with Bring Change to Mind, an organization focused on mental health awareness and ending stigma surrounding mental illness.

“So I hold a deep desire. And that’s why I’m involved in this organization, Bring Change to Mind … taking mental health out of the shadows, not being ashamed of it, not hiding from the word ‘suicide,’ but accepting that this could be the last stage of an illness,” he said.

Katherine Dedicated Her Life To Helping Others

Although Katherine largely stayed out of the public spotlight, she devoted much of her career to helping people struggling with mental health challenges.

She worked as a licensed clinical social worker in private practice while also serving part-time at Amae Health. According to reports, her responsibilities included psychotherapy, peer support, family support groups, and community outreach.

Friends and loved ones remembered Katherine as deeply compassionate and committed to supporting others through difficult moments.

Following her death, the Short family released a statement describing her as someone who brought warmth and happiness to everyone around her.

They said Katherine was “beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.”

Despite the pain surrounding the tragedy, Martin Short has continued speaking publicly in hopes that discussing grief and mental illness openly may help other families feel less isolated.

Martin Short Wants Families To Stop Suffering In Silence

Elsewhere during his “CBS News Sunday Morning” interview, Short explained why he felt it was important not to hide from conversations about suicide and mental illness.

“If I said to the audience, any audience I was in, ‘How many have lost anyone from suicide?’ you’d be stunned by the hands that would go [up],” he said. “‘How many have mental health in their family?’ You’d be stunned by the hands that would go up.”

The actor believes many families quietly carry similar pain but avoid speaking openly about it because of shame or fear.

“So why pretend that this is your own pain? Maybe by sharing your pain it will help other people’s pain,” Short added.

For Short, turning grief into conversation now appears to be part of the healing process as he continues trying to move forward after two devastating losses that forever changed his life.

Sometimes, when you hear the plot of a movie, you think the executives behind it must have done a double-take when they read it. Or maybe it was a dare, and they didn’t realize, so they greenlit it for fear of being accused of “missing the point”. A murder mystery solved by sheep is absolutely one of them. Look at it on paper, though. Talking animals, a quality voice cast, Wolverine himself getting offed, and fuzzy creatures going Poirot, it could either become a surprise hit or leave everyone involved quietly pretending the sheep were never their idea, but now, thanks to financial filings, we have a clearer sense of just how big that swing really is.

From the looks of the numbers game, The Sheep Detectives reportedly needs to gross at least $128.6 million worldwide to break even, based on a rough 50-50 split between theaters and the studio. Now, the important thing is that those numbers are based on fact: via Forbes, the minimum cost was revealed through U.K. financial filings, with the production’s original cost reduced after a hefty U.K. tax break. Those filings put the movie’s cost at a minimum of $64.3 million after relief, which is where the break-even mathematics begin.

Based on Leonie Swann’s novel Three Bags Full, the film follows a flock of sheep who try to solve the murder of their beloved shepherd. The setup is basically Knives Out by way of Babe, which is utter nonsense, but the kind you’d want to watch. In fact, it sounds like the kind of movie Rian Johnson wishes he’d made. Maybe we’ll get Benoit Blanc on a farm next time. The project has also been a long time coming, with the book spending years in development before finally becoming a big-screen project. And critics have loved it so far, which is great. Reviews have said the weird premise, charm, and emotional weight of the film all hit.

Who Stars in ‘The Sheep Detectives’?

The cast includes Hugh Jackman (Logan, The Greatest Showman) as George, the shepherd whose death sends the story into motion — spoiler alert, sorry, but it is the plot after all — with voice performances from Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep, Seinfeld), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad, Malcolm in the Middle), Regina Hall (Girls Trip, Support the Girls), Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Logan), Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso, Shrinking), Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility, Nanny McPhee), and Nicholas Braun (Succession, Cat Person).

The Sheep Detectives is now playing in theaters.

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Release Date

May 8, 2026

Runtime

109 Minutes

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Director

Kyle Balda

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When you think of a spy show, you imagine glamorous locations, fancy suits, high-tech gadgets, and the most handsome people in the world. Not this one. It’s about broken-down intelligence officers, terrible offices, worse hygiene, and one of the greatest actors in history farting all the time. That has always been part of the appeal. The show doesn’t need glossy Bond-style fantasy to work, for in its place it has insults, horrible buildings, betrayal, and a group of rejected spies who somehow keep becoming extremely useful.

Slow Horses has, since 2022, become one of Apple TV’s best and most consistent dramas, but it has cost a lot to get it to this point, as via Forbes, newly revealed U.K. financial statements have shown that Apple has spent more than half a billion dollars on the spy series, with the production benefiting from the U.K. government’s Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit, which provides reimbursement on qualifying production spend.

What Is ‘Slow Horses’ About?

The series is based on the Slough House (which is where the name Slow Horses comes from) novels by Mick Herron and follows a group of MI5 rejects exiled to Slough House, where careers go to die under the aggressively unpleasant and flatulent supervision of Jackson Lamb. The team is continually underestimated, and yet somehow finds a way to succeed despite their horrible offices.

The cast includes Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) as Jackson Lamb, Jack Lowden (Dunkirk, Fighting With My Family) as River Cartwright, Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient, Darkest Hour) as Diana Taverner, Saskia Reeves (Luther, Wolf Hall) as Catherine Standish, Rosalind Eleazar (The Personal History of David Copperfield, Harlots) as Louisa Guy, Christopher Chung (Waterloo Road, Silk) as Roddy Ho, Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes, Brazil) as David Cartwright, and Aimee-Ffion Edwards (Peaky Blinders, Detectorists) as Shirley Dander.

Slow Horses is streaming on Apple TV.

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Release Date

April 1, 2022

Network

Apple TV+

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Showrunner

Douglas Urbanski

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Directors

Adam Randall, James Hawes, Jeremy Lovering, Saul Metzstein

Writers

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Mark Denton, Jonny Stockwood

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By Robert Scucci
| Published 25 seconds ago

Christopher Nolan has spent the last 30 years going bigger and better, and I’m starting to wonder how much further he can push the medium of filmmaking. Having followed his career from Memento (2000) all the way through 2023’s Oppenheimer, there’s one pattern that’s become crystal clear: each production has to outdo the last. His first film, 1998’s Following, was produced for a modest $6,000, and it shows on screen. Meanwhile, his upcoming adaptation of The Odyssey tops out at $250 million.

Knowing how Christopher Nolan makes films, it’s safe to say not a single cent is wasted. When he wants to go epic, he goes epic. He’s so committed to scale and scope that I’m surprised he didn’t actually shoot Matthew McConaughey into space on an unsanctioned mission in order to prepare him for Interstellar (2014).

What goes up must come down, though, and I wonder how much bigger Christopher Nolan can realistically make another Christopher Nolan film. Like every privately owned company that demands to see a consistent increase in revenue and shareholder value quarter after quarter, Nolan keeps upping the ante. Most people would probably say the logical next step is to continue pushing the envelope and going even bigger.

Maybe after The Odyssey, Nolan decides he wants to make a film about Old Faithful and will only consider his vision fully realized once he causes the geyser to erupt prematurely, ushering in a new ice age. Or maybe, and feel free to call me crazy here, Nolan could go back to his roots, take a breather, and belt out another generation-defining thriller like Memento or Insomnia.

I’m Not Trying To Give Christopher Nolan Advice, He’s Much Smarter Than Me

While it would be easy to frame a piece like this as “Christopher Nolan Needs To Do This One Thing To Save His Career,” that’s not what I’m trying to do here. Christopher Nolan has made a career out of being Christopher Nolan, and I have not. I’ve been a fan of his filmmaking since his second film. While I can’t in good conscience say anybody can play Batman better than Michael Keaton, his Dark Knight trilogy is still the most cohesive Batman saga we’ve gotten so far, and often cited as responsible for redefining the superhero genre. Christopher Nolan has proven himself as an auteur and filmmaker who doesn’t need advice from anyone (especially me), and he has the clout and freedom to do whatever he wants, probably for the rest of his life.

What I keep thinking about, though, is what would happen if instead of scaling up again, he scaled back. The Odyssey will go down in history as the first major studio film shot entirely on IMAX film cameras. That’s cool and impressive. You know what else is impressive? Memento, one of the greatest psychological thrillers of all time, which was made possible with a $9 million production budget. It’s a perfect movie.

Insomnia takes that same energy and adds some serious star power to the mix in the form of Al Pacino and Robin Williams. It also had five times the budget, but given the talent roster, I’d imagine a healthy chunk of that went toward securing the cast. Even if you take a quick look at his first film, Following, it’s rough around the edges, but it’s still a tight thriller that holds up today despite being made with virtually no budget while Nolan still had to work various day jobs between shoots. 

Christopher Nolan thrives in the psychological thriller space. He’s an expert at showing how troubled and conflicting personalities interact when they’re together, and how they act when they’re alone and ruminating. He also knows how to turn those character moments into tension once motives become clearer and the characters are forced to confront not only their demons, but their antagonists. He understands how to pace a man’s fall from grace as external forces beyond his control clash with the circumstances he can control. And he can do all of this for less than $50 million.

Not Asking For A Career Pivot, But Rather A Side Quest

Recently I’ve been thinking about how movie studios could benefit from putting out more titles with shorter runtimes and smaller budgets. My argument is that a movie like Zach Cregger’s Weapons (2025) cost $38 million to make and has already pulled in more than $270 million worldwide. It’s just over two hours long, and it’s a self-contained story. You don’t need to do homework or study history to enjoy what Weapons has to offer. Weapons just happens to you, and you either get it or you don’t.

Memento and Insomnia are cut from a similar cloth. They both clock in under 120 minutes and, in the grand scheme of things, didn’t cost a hell of a lot to make. Imagine the kind of film Christopher Nolan could make today with, say, $100 million. Strip the whole thing down so it’s shot through more conventional, readily available means, and use the budget to secure the appropriate A-list talent, if needed, for the project.

Meanwhile, films like 2023’s The Flash, which cost more than $200 million to produce, didn’t even break even once marketing and distribution costs were factored in.

The problem Christopher Nolan has, and it’s a good problem to have, is that he’s been in the freakin’ zone for nearly 30 years. He takes massive creative risks, and they’ve all paid off up to this point. He can literally do anything he wants. If he wanted to bring back LaserDisc for a one-off feature, he could probably secure an investor willing to make it happen. If he wanted to make a time travel flick, he could probably snap his fingers and somebody would materialize out of thin air to help him track down an entire lot of functional DeLorean DMC-12s.

I’m a dreamer, though, and I’d love nothing more than to see Christopher Nolan take everything he’s learned and perfected since bursting onto the scene, scale things back, and go smaller instead of bigger after The Odyssey. This isn’t an indictment of his filmmaking or creative direction, but rather a celebration of it. I can’t say Nolan has ever missed. What I can say is that I’d love to see him make something more reminiscent of his roots now that he’s older, wiser, and influential enough to do whatever he wants whenever he wants, and see what that kind of wisdom could do for the genre that launched his career.

And no, I’m not asking for Memento 3D. But a tight, lean, dark, gritty thriller made today with Christopher Nolan’s talent and passion for the craft would absolutely pop off if he ever decided to give it a shot. He’s already done so much more with less, so just imagine the kind of thriller he could make now with the resources currently at his disposal.