August 5 can’t come soon enough for those who love heartfelt sentiments wrapped in sports packaging, as the iconic Apple TV series Ted Lasso is set to return for an upcoming fourth season after a three-year hiatus. Ted (Jason Sudeikis) left AFC Richmond at the end of Season 3, following in Dorothy’s footsteps and returning to Kansas. But now he is back, supported, of course, by Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt), to become the coach of the women’s team, the Lady Greyhounds. As for the men’s team, they will hunt for glory under the tutelage of Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein).
Ted Lasso Season 4 is sure to be one of the biggest streaming hits of August, if not of the whole year. This is thanks to the huge fanbase the show has cultivated this decade, with its optimistic outlook and consistent, simple philosophy. If you’re looking to fill that need for sports-based hope and heart as you wait for Ted Lasso‘s return, then Disney+ has you covered. For a shot of nostalgia and a beaming smile across your face, the 1993 classic The Sandlot is always a sure bet, and right now, subscribers can’t get enough.
At the time of writing, the very best childhood baseball movie is one of the ten most-streamed titles on Disney+ in the U.S., ranking in sixth place in a list topped by Avatar: Fire and Ash. Scotty Smalls’ (Tom Guiry) hunt for friends in the San Fernando Valley has long been a favorite of a certain generation, and now it seems younger viewers are discovering its cozy genius. The film earned $35 million during its relatively small theatrical run, with its status as a pop culture phenomenon coming after its time in theaters.
Although two direct-to-video sequels followed the original, The Sandlot has never been truly followed by anything worthy of the original. But that might all be about to change, with it recently confirmed that Patrick Renna, who played Hamilton “Ham” Porter, is co-creating a new comedy series titled Dugout Dads with Kyle Howard. Renna is set to star in the series, alongside the likes of Chauncey Leopardi, Marty York, Brandon Quintin Adams, Victor DiMattia, Shane Obedzinski, Grant Gelt, and Will Horneff, with Guiry even set to step up to the plate and make an appearance.
The Sandlot is on Disney+ now. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for more stories.
April 7, 1993
101 minutes
David Mickey Evans
Robert Gunter, David Mickey Evans
Dale De La Torre, William S. Gilmore
Mike Vitar
Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez
One of Netflix‘s biggest shows of the decade is coming to a close, but not without a little bit of drama. Heartstopper originally followed the blossoming relationship between two high school students, Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke), and over the course of three seasons, viewers have watched their love grow, as well as their own understanding of who they are. Two years after the last season aired, the show will be wrapping up with a feature-length finale, Heartstopper Forever. Many shows have stumbled at the final hurdle, so does this sweet and sensitive YA drama give fans the ending they’ve hoped for?
Heartstopper Forever opens with Nick affectionately watching Charlie make his pitch to become head boy at his school, delivering the speech that will win him the election. This new responsibility allows him to try to make a difference for younger children, particularly LGBTQ+ kids, but enacting real change is proving harder than he thought. Meanwhile, rugby-loving Nick is facing his final year at school and preparing to leave for a university that will take him hours away from the one he loves.
Nick and Charlie’s respective fears of the future pile up, resulting in a lack of communication that threatens to tear them apart. With first loves rarely lasting, can theirs be the exception? The film is written by Alice Oseman, the author of the original graphic novels, and is based on the sixth and final volume in the series, as well as aspects of the 2015 novella Nick & Charlie. While a fourth season had been planned to finish the series, viewing figures and contractual obligations reportedly pushed Netflix to truncate this last chapter into a movie.
Heartstopper‘s feature-length ending is 114 minutes, which, when considering the show’s average runtime, equals around three and a half episodes. Given that the first three seasons had eight episodes apiece, it leaves Heartstopper Forever feeling rushed to wrap things up. This mainly comes at the expense of the supporting cast, who are all present but don’t earn much of an arc. Elle (Yasmin Finney) and Tao (William Gao) struggle with a relationship that has more downs than ups, but their journey hums in the background of Nick and Charlie’s story, rather than getting its own spotlight.
Equally, Isaac (Tobie Henderson) seems at peace with his asexual identity, but mostly supports his fellow characters rather than evolving himself. It is undoubtedly nice to see these returning faces, and they keep the warmth around the friendship group alive, but you can’t shake the feeling that the finale’s format leads to them being pushed aside. Eddie Marsan also returns from Season 3 as Charlie’s therapist, although again more as a brief cameo than anything substantial. Meanwhile, Nick’s mother, Sarah, is now played by Anna Maxwell Martin (replacing original actor Olivia Colman), who appears in a brief but loving couple of scenes that reflect the support in his life.
The supporting ensemble’s sacrifice is not in vain, however, as Nick and Charlie ultimately get the send-off they deserve in Heartstopper Forever with a beautiful portrayal of two people struggling to accept that they deserve happiness, as well as grappling with the fear that the upcoming life changes will ruin what they have. That desperately awkward phase of life, where you leave childhood but aren’t quite ready to be an adult, is pitched perfectly, albeit to the backdrop of impossibly glamorous house parties and a gentle soundtrack. It’s a tender evolution of a bond that has grown from innocent flushes of romance to a serious adult relationship. If you’ve been with these characters from the start, there are plenty of callbacks to the moments that made their journey so special, and while Heartstopper itself could never be accused of being edgy, their respective traumas are treated with sincerity.
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via NetflixThere was a time in media when very few LGBTQ+ characters existed in shows, and the few that did make it to the screen rarely earned the same happy endings as their straight counterparts. Heartstopper may never have the shocking impact of something like Tip Toe or the raunchiness of Heated Rivalry, but it stands out by giving queer joy and struggle equal weight. The growing issue of transphobia in society is addressed beautifully through a vulnerable speech from Finney, while the scenes set during a Pride parade showcase the importance of community even in dark times. It’s an acknowledgment that while this may be a fairytale-like exploration of the LGBTQ+ experience, the obstacles that face the community, both young and old, can’t be ignored. In one rather gorgeous scene, which features a cameo from acting legend Derek Jacobi, it also suggests that being who you are is always worth fighting for.
Nick and Charlie also battle their respective demons, but it never feels as though their suffering is being wielded for entertainment. Connor, especially, plays Nick as someone at odds with who he is, both in terms of his past and his present. Nick’s inability to express his fears feels authentic without reveling in his pain, while Charlie’s issues surrounding disordered eating and self-harm are also handled with remarkable sensitivity. Rather than being reduced to shock value, these aspects of the characters foster empathy, thanks to a well-written script and performances from actors who know these roles very well. It would have been nice if their conclusion had been given more breathing room, but this finale makes sure you’re with them every step of the way.
While it does feel rushed at times, Heartstopper Forever ensures that the Netflix series concludes in the style it is known and loved for. Glossy, dramatic, but always big-hearted, it is the kind of teen drama that offers an idealized glimpse of the future for queer youth at a time when that is sorely needed. It may not be especially revelatory, but it serves as a feel-good conclusion for a beloved show that will no doubt be many people’s comfort watch for years to come.
Heartstopper Forever is now streaming on Netflix.
July 16, 2026
111 minutes
Wash Westmoreland
Alice Oseman
Brett Thomas
Lana Del Rey opted to attend a fan’s birthday celebration rather than join the long list of high-profile stars at Taylor Swift‘s wedding.
The high-profile event coincided with YouTuber Oli Abbas’ birthday, and Del Rey chose to celebrate with the content creator, whom she has been friends with for years. Abbas later shared photos and videos from the gathering online, along with a heartfelt message thanking the singer for making the occasion even more special.
While some of the biggest names in film and music gathered at Madison Square Garden to celebrate Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated marriage to Travis Kelce, Lana Del Rey opted for a more intimate setting, spending the day with Abbas instead.
The YouTuber later shared several videos of himself with the “Summertime Sadness” singer on social media, including one alongside a heartfelt message thanking her for being part of his special day.
“My birthday was such an amazing day surrounded by my favorite people,” he shared on his Instagram page. “So thankful for @mrsremiashten for hosting and [Del Rey and Grant] for having us as well.”
In one of the videos shared online, Lana Del Rey was seen sitting beside Abbas as everyone sang “Happy Birthday” before he blew out the candles on his cake.
Seeing the close bond between the YouTuber and the singer left many fans in awe of their friendship.
“Lana Del Rey casually sitting next to him like it’s a regular birthday party,” one person wrote, while another commented, “Lana being at the party is soooo iconic.”
“You being friends with Lana is so f-cking crazy, but I love that for you,” another fan added.
Elsewhere online, fans also praised Del Rey for choosing to show up for Abbas rather than attend Taylor Swift’s wedding.
“The fact that she missed Taylor’s wedding to stay in LA for her friend’s birthday speaks volumes about how holy flipping amazing she is,” one fan wrote.
Del Rey first met Abbas at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards, where she surprised him by revealing that she watched his YouTube channel every day.
During her acceptance speech, she also gave Abbas a special shoutout, saying he was one of the vloggers who helped her through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abbas later took to Instagram to tell his followers he was left speechless after meeting the singer, whom he had admired for years.
“You guys, I can’t believe I met my favorite artist in the world @honeymoon, and she watches my vlogs,” he wrote. “I always thought of a speech I’d say if I was so lucky to cross paths, but I couldn’t even say anything because I was so shocked! Thank you for your poise, beauty and ethereal grace.”
Abbas later reflected on the encounter during an appearance on the “Pretty Basic” podcast, making up for being too overwhelmed to tell Del Rey everything he had wanted to say.
He called her his “number one favorite artist” and explained that her music had helped him through some of the darkest periods of his life. Abbas also praised every aspect of her artistry, from her songwriting to her cinematography, describing the opportunity to meet her as a surreal experience.
According to Abbas, Del Rey’s decision to publicly acknowledge him during one of the biggest moments of her career made him feel “seen” and “validated.” He added that it reflected her genuine appreciation for both her fans and fellow creators.
More than a year after that first meeting, Del Rey and Abbas’ friendship has continued to grow, as evidenced by her appearance at his recent birthday celebration.
In 2025, the pair also attended the wedding of Remi Ashten, a vlogger Del Rey mentioned in her Billboard Women in Music acceptance speech and a close friend of Abbas.
Del Rey was photographed spending time with Abbas and other members of the YouTube friendship circle during the Santa Barbara celebration. She later shared photos from the wedding and reportedly described it as one of the most enjoyable gatherings she had attended in a long time.
Bella Hadid appears to be embracing a quieter chapter in her personal life following the reported end of her romance with cowboy and professional equestrian Adan Banuelos.
While the supermodel has kept any new relationship firmly under wraps, recent sightings have fueled fresh speculation about the man now spending time by her side.
What has surprised many, however, isn’t just his identity, but the background he comes from and the low-key approach Hadid seems determined to maintain.
Bella Hadid isn’t rushing to define her love life, but that hasn’t stopped speculation from growing.
Months after her reported breakup with Banuelos, the model has been linked to Nathan Lacy, a Colorado native whose identity remained a mystery when the pair were first spotted together in Milan in February.
Photos of the supermodel walking alongside a man in a Stetson hat immediately caught fans’ attention, but only recently was he identified as the 38-year-old project manager with a passion for horses.
Insiders say Lacy comes from a family that has long been established in Crested Butte, Colorado. His relatives reportedly own a construction business that has served the area for generations and also maintain property in Texas.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, one source described the family as “very Catholic, very conservative and very red,” a background that stands in contrast to Hadid’s public support for causes including Palestinian rights and the transgender community.
Those close to Bella Hadid say she has no interest in diving headfirst into another serious relationship.
Although rumors circulated earlier this year that she and Banuelos were attempting to reconcile after they were seen together, insiders now claim the 29-year-old has instead been spending time in Crested Butte, where Lacy lives.
Even so, sources insist the relationship is still in its early stages.
“She does have someone she’s hanging out with, but he’s just someone she’s getting to know,” one insider explained, adding, “So don’t get too excited about it. I think she’s just trying to have a companion, she’s not trying to get married, she’s not trying to make this more than it is.”
According to the same source, Hadid was deeply affected by the end of her relationship with Banuelos and had even told friends she planned to avoid dating for at least a year after the breakup.
“The Adan thing took a lot out of her, she really loved him, he loved her, it didn’t work. She was hurt and it took some time for her to get past it,” the insider added.
Despite the growing attention surrounding Lacy, insiders say Hadid is refusing to get carried away.
“He makes her happy for now, but she’s not talking about him every minute,” one source noted, further adding, “She’s not acting like this is anything more than a very good friend who she is getting to know.”
Even with a new companion in the picture, insiders say the fashion model’s priorities haven’t changed.
According to one source, Hadid still gravitates toward men who live the same rugged lifestyle she has embraced since moving to Texas.
“She does have a type – the rugged handsome cowboy, outdoors, not impressed with fashion or style. Just a guy,” the insider said, adding, “That’s what she always says, ‘I want a guy.’ She wants someone who seems blue collar. She wants him to look the part and to have a strong work ethic.”
Although Bella Hadid fully embraced the cowboy lifestyle during her relationship with Banuelos, insiders claim the former couple ultimately discovered that sharing a love of horses wasn’t enough to overcome their very different worlds.
According to Page Six, Banuelos struggled to adapt to the demands that came with dating one of fashion’s biggest stars.
“She tried to put him in her life and it’s all cute, but he is in a very insular world of rodeos. He tried, but it’s too much,” one source said.
The insider also pointed to their vastly different upbringings, noting, “She’s the daughter of Mohamed and Yolanda Hadid. It’s such a different way of growing up.”
They added that Hadid’s frequent travel, including flying on private jets because of her chronic Lyme disease, was very different from Banuelos’ quieter rodeo-centered lifestyle.
Despite their emotional connection and shared passion for horses, sources claimed those differences eventually became impossible to ignore.
While Hadid’s love life has generated plenty of headlines in recent months, her reported romance wasn’t the only deeply personal chapter she shared with fans this year.
In June, the star made headlines when she revealed she was battling another painful Lyme disease flare-up, offering a heartbreaking glimpse into the health struggles she has faced for more than a decade.
Posting a tearful selfie on her Instagram Stories, Hadid wrote per The Blast, “Haven’t been able to shake off this flare up. Slept 11 hours. Again… Took every protocol from any and every doctor I’ve ever seen. Still nothing helping.”
She later explained just how debilitating the episode had become, adding, “And no I didn’t go on a walk because I was out of breath walking to the kitchen,” before celebrating the small victory of managing to shower without fainting.
Despite the setback, Hadid reassured followers that she remained hopeful while continuing treatment for her chronic illness.
The Western genre continues to prove popular across many of the top streaming platforms. On Netflix, viewers can’t get enough of Little House on the Prairie, showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine‘s (The Housemaid) new adaptation, based on the popular work of the same name by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Being whisked away on a heartfelt trip to a farm in late 19th-century Midwestern America has been the order of the past week for Netflix subscribers, but what should you watch now? To help you decide, here’s a list of three shows you should binge-watch on Netflix.
For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Netflix.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
We are now just a couple of weeks away from the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Netflix has an unlikely yet perfect option to help get you in the mood. Based on the comic book of the same name, and originally airing on Fox between 2001 and 2002, The Tick stars Patrick Warburton as the 7-foot, 400-pound superhero, as he uses super strength, speed, and satire to fight all manner of evil.
Warburton’s Tick, alongside David Burke as his trusty sidekick Arthur, makes for a neat realization of this clever original comic book, sprinkling a strange sense of reality into a wild and otherworldly story. Sadly, just nine episodes are available in this series, although that does make it perfect for a one-weekend binge-watch. If you’re looking for a more up-to-date version of this story, a 2016 reboot starring Peter Serafinowicz has also recently arrived on Netflix.
Following in the recent footsteps of Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore 2 and Jason Sudeikis‘ Ted Lasso, Will Ferrell‘s first TV comedy as creator, executive producer, and star sees him walk into the often hilarious and uplifting world of sport. In The Hawk, Ferrell portrays Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins, a former world No. 1 golfer who peaked in 2004. Convinced he has one more shot at glory, is he delusional, a genius, or both?
Of course, any chance to work on a Ferrell comedy should be snapped up, with The Hawk boasting an impressive cast that includes Molly Shannon, Jimmy Tatro, Fortune Feimster, Luke Wilson, and Chris Parnell. Co-created by Ferrell, Harper Steele, and Chris Henchy, this big-budget, easy-to-watch comedy is a perfect antidote to the high stress from this year’s summer of sports.
From a tick, to a hawk, and now a rabbit. One of the most underrated miniseries currently on Netflix, Black Rabbit, created by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, stars Jason Bateman and Jude Law as a restaurant owner and his troubled brother who become wrapped up in a world of chaos in New York City.
Also starring the likes of Abbey Lee (Mad Max: Fury Road), Cleopatra Coleman, Amaka Okafor, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, and Troy Kotsur, it is Bateman who stands out most in Black Rabbit, with the Arrested Development star recently surprising many by earning himself an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Add this award success to a strong critical reception and a gripping central story, and you have a perfect weekend binge.
2025 – 2025
Netflix
Sarah Gubbins
Kim Kardashian is responding to fans after receiving backlash for posting a bikini lake picture with her sister, Khloé Kardashian, after her grandmother’s death. In the comment section of the latest Instagram post, social media users questioned the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star, asking her whether it was appropriate to share the carousel of images while her family was grieving, to which she replied, clearing the air.
Kim shared a series of snaps yesterday, July 16, featuring her and her sister, Khloé, looking stunning in bikinis while on the lake.
Other pics in the slideshow showed Kim appearing to take a shot of alcohol, wakeboarding, riding dirt bikes, and eating.
The post came at a peculiar time, though, given that news of her grandmother, Mary Jo ‘MJ’ Shannon’s death had just been shared publicly.
“Kim there’s people that are dying,” someone wrote, while another said, “Didn’t your grandmother just pass? This couldn’t wait [until] the weekend?”
Another wrote, “Didn’t MJ just die and you’re posting this? WOW,” and a fourth added, “Girl, what about your grandma!?”
It didn’t take long for Kim, mother of four, to respond to the backlash, clarifying what actually happened. According to the “All’s Fair” actress, the slideshow of pictures was actually a prescheduled post and was not meant to overshadow the news about her grandmother.
“This post was scheduled a few days ago before we lost MJ, so its timing came right alongside her passing. I’ve been by my mom and grandma’s side this past week, and my heart is completely with my family right now. We love and miss her so deeply, and in the days ahead, we’ll be focusing on celebrating her beautiful life,” she wrote.
The comment has garnered over 120,000 likes and more than 700 replies.
This isn’t the first time that netizens have blasted the Kardashian family for social media blunders. According to Paper Magazine, Khloé faced heat of her own in April 2022 when she revealed that she took her daughter, True, to Disneyland for the “first time.”
Loyal Kardashian followers, though, called her out and pointed to a 2021 Instagram post from Kim that showed her daughter, Chicago, with True at Disney. Fans at the time suggested that True appeared to have been photoshopped into the pictures, and following Khloé’s April post, it was confirmed.
“Welllppp I f-cked this one up,” Khloé wrote on X. “Anyways….. let’s focus on something else. Our show airs in a few days.”
An hour after her lake post, Kim posted a heartfelt tribute to her late grandmother, who died at age 91.
“My sweet Grandma MJ, my best friend, my gossip buddy, my forever twin…” Kim captioned the slideshow of images. “You taught all of us the importance of family, and those values are something we’ll carry with us forever!!!!! You were the woman who showed me what it meant to be a hardworking businesswoman.”
Kim, 45, continued, “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. You always believed in me, championed me, and were my safe place. You truly were the matriarch of our family, and your love is woven into all of us. I know you’re at peace now.”
Kris also posted her own tribute for her late mother, who died less than two weeks before her 92nd birthday.
“There are no words that could ever capture what she has meant to me or the heartbreak of having to say goodbye. My mom was the heart of our family. She taught me everything that truly matters … to love your family fiercely, to be kind, to show up for the people you love, and to never take a single moment together for granted. She taught us that family is everything,” Kris wrote.
She went on to say that MJ, who appeared on “KUWTK” and Hulu’s “The Kardashians” several times over the years, modeled “unconditional” love for their entire family and showed them how to find happiness in every moment.
“Our hearts are broken, but we find comfort knowing that love like yours never truly leaves us. Your love will live on in our family, in our traditions, in every moment we are together, and in every life you touched,” she added.
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Following the news that production on Amazon’s God of War series had come to a halt due to Ryan Hurst suffering a torn bicep, it’s now been reported that Prime Video will recast the role of Kratos so that production can resume quicker.
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Meghan Trainor has nothing but praise for Hilary Duff and the “best people” in their mom group.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, July 16, Trainor, 32, shared a carousel of photos featuring the friendship group who were out in force as Duff, 38, performed on The Lucky Me Tour this month.
“@hilaryduff thank u for the best concert with the best people💗,” Trainor gushed in the post’s caption.
The photos and video were captured at night two of the Los Angeles leg of the tour. Mom group member, What’s Gaby Cooking author Gaby Dalkin, also shared posts of the night out earlier this month.
Meghan Trainor is reacting once again after being pulled into the “toxic” mom group drama sweeping the internet. In a Monday, January 12, TikTok video, Trainor filmed herself lip-synching along to an audio clip from Stranger Things season 5, in which young Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) tries to convince her peers that their pal Mr. […]
“Stage mom-ing so hard!!!” Dalkin captioned a group photo of Duff’s longtime mom crew via her Instagram Story on July 9. “We love you @hilaryduff.”
The group snap featured Trainor, Dalkin, Mandy Moore, hairstylist Barb Thompson, artist Amanda (Kaplan) Lillywhite, Muu by Better Babies, Inc. founder Janice Gott, makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan Fisher and beauty and skincare guru Whitney Wagner Hartley.
The mom group’s outing comes after a spotlight was placed on Trainor and Duff’s respective friendship dynamics in January when Ashley Tisdale French wrote a personal essay for The Cut as well as a Substack post.
In the piece, the High School Musical star, 41, blasted a “toxic” mom group she was forced to walk away from after feeling ostracized.
While she didn’t name any of the other moms involved in the group, many of her fans believed it to be the group she shared with other celebrity moms, such as Trainor, Duff and Moore. (Tisdale French’s representative denied this at the time.)
“I remember being left out of a couple of group hangs, and I knew about them because Instagram made sure it fed me every single photo and Instagram Story,” Tisdale French wrote. “I was starting to feel frozen out of the group, noticing every way that they seemed to exclude me. … I told myself it was all in my head, and it wasn’t a big deal. And yet, I could sense a growing distance between me and the other members of the group, who seemed to not even care that I wasn’t around much.”
Tisdale French described texting the group and telling them she was leaving because the group felt “too high school for me, and I don’t want to take part in it anymore.”
Duff weighed in the following month during an appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast.
The Lizzie McGuire alum claimed people didn’t have to “connect very many dots” to figure out which mom group Tisdale French was referring to.
“I felt really sad. I honestly felt really sad. I was pretty, pretty taken aback and felt just sad,” Duff, said of Tisdale French’s comments. “I have so many groups of friends. I’m so lucky.”
She added, “It sucks to read something that’s not true, and it sucks on behalf of six women and all of their lives.”
Meanwhile, Trainor distanced herself from the drama, insisting on social media she wasn’t involved.
In April, the singer exclusively told Us Weekly that there was no bad blood between her and Tisdale French after the saga made headlines.
“I felt bad for Ashley,” Trainor told Us at the time. “I felt bad that she was ever that sad, and I think it was just a lot of miscommunication and confusion. I don’t know what happened, but I wish them all the best.”
The Grammy winner also detailed the text exchange between her and Tisdale French after the drama blew up.
“I texted all of them,” Trainor recalled to Us. “Ashley texted me like, ‘I’m sorry, your name got dragged in.’ And I was like, ‘It’s all right, girl, like, the world’s a silly, crazy place, and they just want something to talk about.’”
Before sitting down to watch The Odyssey, moviegoers started streaming this two-decade-old historical fantasy film in preparation to go back to the era of gods and warriors. Zack Snyder directed the film in question, and it was one of his early works, 10 years before he entered the DCU, plus it features the talents of Gerard Butler, who played an iconic Greek historical figure.
The film in question is 300, which first premiered in 2006 but entered U.S. theaters in 2007. Based on the 1998 graphic novel of the same name, it recounts the Battle of Thermopylae, in which King Leonidas (Butler) led an army of 300 men against Persian King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro). 300 was a box office success, generating over $468 million worldwide and becoming the 10th-highest-grossing film of 2007. It won Best Action, Adventure, or Thriller Film and Best Director at the Saturn Awards. Two decades later, the feature found a new audience as they prepare to return to Ancient Greece once more for Christopher Nolan‘s upcoming adaptation of Homer‘s Odyssey.
Recently, 300 landed at #5 on Vudu’s Top 10 Movies in the United States, sitting between Cast Away and Jurassic Park. Since its release, 300 has been praised by fans and critics alike, earning a 61% critics’ score and an 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 3.4 score on Letterboxd. Critics described 300 as a “muscle fantasy”; some called it boring, and one called it “Greek Myth meets Looney Tunes“. Meanwhile, audiences claimed it was “empowering” and filled with adrenaline.
If you’re excited to watch The Odyssey, have finished streaming 300, and want to watch other content based on Greek mythology, there are other titles worth watching that will bring you back to that era. The first that comes to mind is Percy Jackson and the Olympians, both the Disney+ series and the films. Based on Rick Riordan‘s book series of the same name, this is a modern telling of Greek myths, as it follows Percy Jackson, who discovers he’s not just a demigod but also a forbidden child, as he’s the son of Poseidon. Each film/season has Percy and his friends embarking on a brand-new quest, and the Disney+ series will release Season 3 this year.
There’s also Disney’s Hercules, the 1997 animated musical fantasy starring Tate Donovan as the strong demigod, Hercules, Danny DeVito as Philoctetes, James Woods as Hades, and Susan Egan as Megara. The film is loosely based on the Greek mythology of Hercules, a god known for his superhuman strength, who completed a series of tasks called the Twelve Labors.
But if you are after something close to The Odyssey, then 2004’s Troy is worth watching, and features a star-studded cast, like Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, and Brian Cox, to name a few. The feature is based on Homer’s Greek epic, the Iliad, which tells the story of the Trojan War.
300 is available to stream on Vudu. Follow Collider for more updates.
March 9, 2007
117 minutes
Zack Snyder
Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad, Michael B. Gordon
Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for the Season 1 finale of Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed
Summary
The finale of Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is very much in line with the rest of the season in that it is completely unexpected. David J. Rosen‘s comedic thriller, which follows Tatiana Maslany‘s Paula, a newly single mom in the middle of a custody battle who also gets sucked into a deadly blackmail plot, is an Apple TV hidden gem. For 10 episodes, the electric series navigates annoying coworkers, online sex workers, and, of course, murder. But within that chaos is another form of chaos: a custody battle.
Serving as its own story within the broader narrative is Paula’s relationship with her ex Karl, played by Jake Johnson. Karl is inherently positioned as the antagonist in the series simply because he is the ex of the lead we are all rooting for. However, from his perspective, he’s really not doing anything wrong. He just wants what’s best for his daughter, Hazel (Nola Wallace), which he happens to think means moving to Boise with his new wife, Mallory (Jessy Hodges).
During this 1-on-1 interview with Collider, Jake Johnson dissects why he was surprised that Karl lost the custody battle in the finale, why Karl and Paula’s marriage collapsed, and how unfairly positioned Karl is in the story. Plus, he digs into The Dink, his upcoming Apple TV movie about pickleball, set for a July 24 release that was designed to be a joke-filled blast bursting with cameos.
COLLIDER: The last time we spoke, we talked about how this show is all about perspective, and I feel bad for Karl just because I really don’t think he’s doing anything wrong.
JAKE JOHNSON: You are part of the 1%, Emily. [Laughs]
Because I was really analyzing all of his actions and, especially in the finale, I was like, he really doesn’t do anything to be a jerk. (For the most part.) He’s really just trying to be a good dad.
JOHNSON: It’s funny you say that. The reaction from the audience has been really interesting for me. Obviously, I’m not any of the characters I play, so I don’t get my feelings involved, but I do find it intellectually interesting because I don’t think Karl’s doing anything wrong. If you look at Paula’s behavior from Karl’s point of view, he doesn’t watch the show. [Laughs] He doesn’t see everything. She’s probably murdered Caleb in Portland. She was involved in another murder. That’s all he knows. He has a child. [Laughs]
He just wants her to go skiing in Boise.
JOHNSON: [Laughs] Yeah! He’s willing to bring his ex who murdered a man.
So what has been the overwhelming response? Anti-Karl?
JOHNSON: As an actor, you only get to play the parts that are offered to you, so it’s nice to play somebody like Karl, who’s pretty “off type” for me. But those opportunities just don’t come very often. It’s been really funny to hear people’s responses and getting so angry at somebody who — when I read the scripts and I play him, I get why Paula doesn’t like him — but the anger from the audience has been interesting. They’re on Paula’s ride. It’s her show, so I get that, but I don’t think what he’s doing is all that bad. I think he’s doing what he thinks is best for his child.
And I feel like he does try to loosen the rope with Paula.
JOHNSON: I think he’s trying. I think he thinks she’s really irrational and really crazy.
How did you feel about his arc from the first episode to the finale? Did your relationship with Karl change at all? Did you see him differently by the end?
JOHNSON: Yeah, I felt like he was pretty sure-footed in all his decisions and who he was, and then somewhere in the middle, obviously, Karl and Mallory’s arc is quieter from Episode 6 to 8, around there. But it felt like all of a sudden it was shifting and Mallory was driving the train more. He kind of got lost in the sauce of making the decisions. By the end, Karl really was just trying to win, but he had stopped making all the decisions himself.
Do you think he was surprised at Mallory’s behavior? Because as soon as she switched out the files —
JOHNSON: Yes. I think from Karl’s point of view, he thinks he should have won by merit, and he’s not looking to fuck over his ex-wife and destroy his family. He does think she’s a great mom. I think he started to realize that his new partner was playing by a different set of rules. Where Karl, in my opinion, becomes more of a bad guy is that he didn’t know how to handle it when things went sideways. What he’s doing for his daughter, I think, is what he believes is in her best interest. But the decisions they make as a couple and what happens during the court case in trial… I think that all got away from Karl.
Do you think that after Paula gives that powerful speech that he changed his mind at all about anything?
JOHNSON: No. I think everything he said about Hazel is true. But they could also do that in Boise. [Laughs] It doesn’t mean she’s less of a mom. She’s part of you. She could be part of you elsewhere, too, in a more stable situation without murderers chasing you around. [Laughs]
Now I want a Karl spin-off. What’s his day-to-day like?
JOHNSON: Boring. Boring. It’s not a good TV show. He’s just a guy who’s married with kids in Boise.
A lot of potatoes, maybe.
The whole Portland storyline is really interesting to me because it really starts to weave in during that bottle episode where we get a new perspective on how their marriage fell apart. Do you have any of your own theories of what happened? Are you truly in the dark?
JOHNSON: As an actor, I always try to write a whole fake novel of backstory. I’ve gotten past that era of my acting career. I’ve aged out of it. But I still need to know at least what I think is reality. It’s why it’s easy for me to defend Karl because I’ve created what I believe to be the reality from his point of view.
If you watch those scenes from Karl’s point of view, Caleb isn’t a disgusting-looking bad guy. He’s a handsome dude with hipster tattoos who’s making a snarly face. If I’m Karl, and he’s doing this level of intensity, and the way Paula keeps looking at him, you’re like, “What’s going on here? Y’all good?” [Laughs] So, I think from Karl’s point of view, he’s pretty sure something is going on with Caleb and his wife. What that something is, he’s not sure of, but there is something happening between those two, whether it’s a relationship or whatever. But Karl’s not part of whatever’s happening between Paula and Caleb. But what’s happening between Paula and Caleb is something. But Karl, with his job and with his kid, he just doesn’t want to think about it.
Then when the car accident happens and Caleb is dead, the math isn’t mathing. And he’s like, “You were pulling into the driveway and then slammed into him?” And then Paula does what she does, where she just starts yelling. Just because you’re yelling… I’m not hearing more answers. I think deep down, he thinks, “Oh my God, she definitely killed him, probably on purpose, with my daughter in the back seat.” And, because she was drinking at the party, she is going to jail.
Then Mallory saves it for them with quick thinking decisions. I don’t think Karl was having an affair with Mallory yet. I think he goes, “This is a better decision for my daughter and for me.” So I think Portland solidified it, and there was no turning back.
I feel like him trying to piece together what’s going on with them, probably gave him more permission in his head.
JOHNSON: Yeah. And then I think that when that night occurred, he thought, “When the shit hits the fan, it’s Mallory helping me save my family, as Paula is creating the mess. What’s the best move going forward?”
Were you surprised at the verdict in the courtroom?
JOHNSON: I was.
I was really surprised.
JOHNSON: Yes. So, we obviously get the scripts first, because we have to memorize them. Couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe it. And then I was the only one. Most of the crew, everybody was like, “Yeah, asshole, Paula’s going to win.” I was floored. I kept going to David Rosen like, “What? She’s a murderer.” Then that courtroom sequence, all the actors were so good. It was such a fun thing to do, but I could not believe that Karl lost. I think it’s an injustice.
That scene when you’re giving Hazel’s bag back, the roles are completely reversed. You’re now in the mess trying to figure out your life. It’s a short scene, but how was it filming that back and forth with Tatiana? It was like an energy shift.
JOHNSON: I love acting with Tatiana. I think she is such a talented actress and she is so exciting to do scene work with.
Sometimes, truthfully, acting gets really boring and you’re working with somebody who’s not totally present and they’re thinking about the lines or they’re thinking about how it’s going to be in the end. You almost become producers in the scene together. And it’s fine. There’s a lot of ways to skin it in this game, but there’s nothing about it that’s creatively fulfilling. You’re just like, “You’re on your mark, I’m on mine, and we’re saying all the words. Who cares?”
Tatiana is the opposite. She is a live wire, and if you’re not paying attention, you’re going to get electrocuted. That scene and all the scenes, everything you prepared besides the memorization… throw it out the window, because she is going to do it differently than expected. What’s really exciting is she helps you as an actor get into character really fast because you’re now reacting to her, to Paula.
That scene for me was tricky because, even the reason Karl is mad at her in the pilot is not because she’s trying to do scheduling. It’s because a junkie called his phone and talked to his daughter and scared her. [Laughs] It’s not about the “eight minutes late.” It’s about that. Somebody called who clearly seemed to be on drugs.
In the end, she flips it on Karl because he’s saying, “Shall we get together and make a calendar?” [Laughs] I know the audience is going to cheer for Paula and say Karl really deserves it. But it’s just another example to me of like, all right, we live in upside-down world. I’m not understanding what’s happening. All he’s trying to do is say “Congratulations, you won.” He apologizes. He goes, “It was handled poorly on our end. I didn’t know what was going to happen.” And that is the truth. Karl has to deal with that mistake. That’s on him. He allowed that to happen. That’s a big fuck up.
Then he goes, “Okay, so you’re the winner. I’m the loser. How are we going to schedule our daughter’s life now?” And she goes, “Tighten your shit up.” I’m like, okay, this woman’s impossible. [Laughs] But I know Karl is a minority and the audience is going to go, “Yay, fuck him.” [Laughs] So, God bless, man.
That’s what makes him such an interesting character, because I feel like it could have easily… there could have been ways to make him come off as a jerk.
JOHNSON: I don’t think he’s a villain and I don’t care if everybody else does. As an actor playing him, I get that Paula thinks he’s a villain, but I personally think you can watch something and like a protagonist and see all sides. I might watch things differently than others. Mind you, she’s great, the show is great. For me, I’m like, “Let’s just look at the facts.” This is way more gray than black and white, guys. [Laughs]
I hope there’s a Season 2. What would you like to see explored in Karl? Where do you want his storyline to go? I want you to interact with more of the cast.
JOHNSON: I’ll be perfectly honest, for this specific job, it films in New York, and I’m LA-based. I was only out of LA for very minimal days. It’s one of the reasons why Karl’s character is small and kind of isolated. If it was an LA show, I would probably have more pitches.
But I don’t know. I love David Rosen’s writing. I love working with Jessy Hodges, who plays Mallory. I think she is so good and brought so much reality to the relationship in the world. I think she’s such a unique kind of step-mom vibe where that character for sure should have been the villain. But she never thought of herself as a villain. Even when she was doing villainous things, and I’d be like, “You’re the bad guy.” We would battle, where she’s like, “I think Karl might be the bad guy.” I’m like, “You’re the bad guy. You are for sure.” And so working with her was such a joy.
Working with Tatiana was so great. So anything for Season 2, if we got one, working with them again. But I don’t know what the storyline would be. I have no guesses. I’m not a “thriller” thinker. My spec scripts would never be thrillers. I don’t think that way. I was really sad when Dennis was killed because Murray Bartlett’s such a good actor. He’s excellent. I wish David Gordon Green did more. I liked working with him so much.
So, my big hopes for Season 2 would be David Gordon Green, more David Rosen, more Tatiana, more Jessy Hodges, and then whatever they come up with. Great writing staff.
It’s such a fun, unpredictable show right until the very last frame. Let’s talk about The Dink. Do you actually play pickleball?
JOHNSON: No. The way it actually came to me was the writer, Sean Clements. He’s an old friend and one of the funniest guys I’ve ever met. We did Allen Gregory back in 2011 together — an animated show with Jonah Hill — and he’s so funny that we just kind of kept track of each other. We were in a poker game hosted by our friend, Jeff Baena, for years.
Then he and I were getting lunch and he said, “What are you looking to do?” And my guess was — this was probably two years ago at this point — our country was going to be in a weird point. And so I was like, “You know what I’d like to do? Something big with comedic set pieces. That was just fun. That wasn’t teaching anything, that didn’t have any big lesson, that was just 90 minutes of fun.”
And he goes, “Well, what do you think about pickleball?” And I go, “Literally nothing.” And he goes, “Then I got the movie for you.” [Laughs] He pitched me the story and what hooked me was that it was loosely based off his real life, where he’s an old tennis player who got hurt, wanted to come back, but his back kept getting fucked up, so he went to a Beverly Hills pickleball court and played with three women in their 70s. Because it’s pickleball, before you get really good… it’s all angles and shots, and it’s not a lot of athleticism. He’s like, “They were beating me and my ego was getting out of control, and they were talking shit.” Then I went and played, and I got beat by like two 70-year-old Asian ladies. One of them was being so mean about it.
This subculture is so funny and the script is really great. Ben Stiller produced it, so we got to pick his brain. Josh Greenbaum, one of my favorite directors and friends, came on board, and it was just a joy from start to finish. I think the movie’s great.
There are those who love pickleball and hate pickleball, so it’s funny already. It’s so funny how many opinions people have on pickleball. [Laughs.] This is a goofy game people are playing, and the people who are playing it are loving it. Because I played with a bunch of pros, too, you’ve got to be so good to be good. It’s not an easy game. It’s so hard. If you want to get good at it, there are levels to the game. People are like, “It’s so easy.” I’m like, “Yeah, it is, if you’re playing your grandparents, you goober, but if you’re playing some pros, they’re going to kill you.” [Laughs]
I forgot it was the Ben Stiller connection, because my head went to Dodgeball.
JOHNSON: Yes. So tonally, it is very different from Dodgeball. I think people are making that comparison and that is a mistake.
[Laughs] Good to know.
JOHNSON: It’s a way sweeter, more “Apple” movie. Mary Steenburgen plays a big part. Her character and my character have a great arc in it. It’s way more about friendship and growing up, with great laughs in it and great set pieces. Then it becomes a full on sports movie. Andy Roddick’s in it. It’s just, honest to God, it’s atype of movie that I love to make and that I love that’s out there. I do think it’s important that entertainment at times is just like ’70s music, and you could just go like, “That feels nice. Throw on the Doobie Brothers.” I love Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, but that shit ain’t Yacht Rock! [Laughs] There are so many funny people from Patton Oswalt to Aaron Chen, Lennon Parham, pop in with just laughs. Then you get Ed Harris being funny. Ed Harris was so funny and watching Ed Harris be funny, I was like, “Man, this just reminds me of movies in a way that I love movies.” I really hope people check it out. I think they’re going to love it.
I love when actors come in and destroy the scene and leave.
JOHNSON: That’s exactly right. Our movie is just packed. My character is moving the story along, and then throughout it… We have Fortune Feimster and Steve Berg — Steve Berg’s from the podcast We’re Here to Help — They come in and play either lovers or twins. They just play. There’s a five-minute sequence that’s just all for laughs. We tested and everybody just laughs the whole time. Then it ends and you’re moving on. That was literally just for fun.
Was there a lot of riffing on set?
JOHNSON: Yes. Tons of improv, Josh [Greenbaum] and Sean [Clements] are also pitching stuff. Stiller’s in scenes, too, so we were able to work with him and get his take on all the comedy, too. It was just so many great, funny people. Josh would give everybody freedom and then we’d have conversations. Chloe Fineman comes in, plays the ex, one of the funniest people I’ve ever been around. It was just kind of hitter after hitter. Everybody just kind of came in, crushed, and left. We all finished being like, “I don’t know how a movie could be more fun to make than that one.”
I hope there’s a director’s cut because I’m sure there is a lot of stuff that you had to cut. Kill your darlings.
JOHNSON: To such a crazy degree. We had a whole storyline in the middle that we had to cut. Like a good 20 minute sequence where Chloe and Dan Stevens are having sex in the back of a car while I’m driving. This scene was one of the funniest scenes I’d ever been part of. It’s one of those movies.
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is on Apple TV. The Dink premieres on Apple TV July 24.
Ariana Grande has a way of dropping subtle hints that quickly send fans into detective mode, and her latest concert moment may have been her biggest clue yet.
A small but noticeable change to the lyrics of “Thank U, Next” reignited speculation that the pop star has reunited with former boyfriend Ricky Alvarez.
While concertgoers initially treated the switch as a playful surprise, new reports suggest it may have reflected a relationship that had already been quietly blossoming away from the spotlight.
As The Blast reported, fans packed into Ariana Grande’s New York City concert on Monday were caught off guard when the singer put a fresh spin on one of the most recognizable lines from “Thank U, Next.”
Instead of singing, “Wrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh,” Grande changed the lyric to, “We always find our way back.”
The unexpected alteration immediately fueled speculation that the Grammy winner had rekindled her romance with former boyfriend Ricky Alvarez, especially after the pair had recently been spotted together multiple times.
According to the Daily Mail, the lyric wasn’t simply a playful moment for the audience. Sources claimed it showed what has reportedly been happening behind the scenes.
Insiders alleged that Grande and Alvarez are “dating again” nearly ten years after ending their relationship in 2016.
Although the romance may seem sudden to fans, sources insist the pair’s reunion developed gradually.
According to insiders, Ariana Grande remained loosely connected to Alvarez even while she was dating her “Wicked” co-star, Ethan Slater, because they continued to share mutual friends.
One source emphasized that Alvarez “never crossed the line while she was with Ethan,” explaining that maintaining occasional contact felt natural given their longtime friendship.
As Grande’s relationship with Slater reportedly came to an end, that friendship slowly evolved into something more.
“As her relationship was ending with Ethan, she chose to reach out to Ricky more… then hang out with him more with mutual friends… and then they started hanging out alone,” the insider claimed.
Another source said Alvarez has welcomed the second chance, describing him as “very happy being back in her life and is looking for this second chance to be what he wanted the first time around.”
The romance rumors intensified long before Grande’s latest concert. Last month, Alvarez joined the “God Is A Woman” singer in Austin as she celebrated her birthday during the Eternal Sunshine tour.
During that performance, Grande also appeared to reference him by changing another lyric to, “I know he still got my back.”
Just weeks later, the pair were photographed leaving a Whole Foods in Boca Raton, Florida, over the Fourth of July holiday while carrying grocery bags together, further fueling speculation that they had become more than friends.
Sources close to the singer claimed those outings made it clear that the relationship had already become serious.
“Ariana and Ricky are fully back in each other’s lives and are together,” one insider alleged. According to the source, the two aren’t trying to relive their previous romance. Instead, they’re approaching it with greater honesty and maturity.
“They’re revisiting the relationship with a different perspective, openly talking about what went wrong before and making a conscious effort to avoid repeating those mistakes,” the insider said, adding that they now share “a clearer understanding of each other.”
While fans analyzed Ariana Grande’s performances for clues, sources claim Slater found out about the reported romance in a very different way.
According to one insider, the former Nickelodeon star did not personally tell her ex that she had reunited with Alvarez. Instead, mutual friends allegedly informed him that the pair were dating again.
“Ariana hasn’t told Ethan specifically, but mutual friends have told him that she is now dating Ricky again,” the source claimed.
The reported reunion has led some fans to wonder whether reconnecting with Alvarez was simply a rebound after Grande’s breakup with Slater, and online discussion has also resurfaced around her recent weight loss.
However, insiders rejected that theory, insisting the renewed romance has been years in the making.
“This doesn’t appear to be a rebound,” one source said, adding, “Ariana and Ricky have a long history and a level of familiarity. Their reconnection seems to have grown naturally rather than being an impulsive reaction to the end of her previous relationship.”
When reports of Grande and Ethan Slater’s breakup surfaced on June 8, many fans assumed the split had just happened.
However, multiple outlets revealed the former couple had actually gone their separate ways “several months” earlier.
According to PEOPLE, the split was handled privately and without public drama, with an insider describing it as a carefully considered decision rather than a sudden breakup.
“It’s amicable, they gave lots of time and careful consideration and decided to go their separate ways. They are still friends and very supportive of one another. They have been quietly broken up for several months,” the source said.
Insiders also said Grande has been focused on her Eternal Sunshine tour and upcoming album “Petal,” while remaining on good terms with Slater.
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