Cardi B and Stefon Diggs have rekindled their romance following their brief split.

“Cardi and Stefon are giving things another shot,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “She is giving him a second chance but is not fully committing to him.”

The insider adds that Cardi, 33, is “slowly letting” Diggs, 32, “back in.”

“They’ve been in closer contact lately. Things are no longer contentious,” the source says. “She still has love for Stefon, which makes it difficult to walk away.”

Related: Cardi B and Stefon Diggs Spotted Packing on PDA 3 Months After Split

Cardi B joined her ex-boyfriend Stefon Diggs at the pre-Mother’s Day celebration hosted by his nonprofit less than four months after they broke up. Cardi, 33, and Diggs, 32, were both spotted at the Diggs Deep Foundation Wellness event on Saturday, May 9, according to sports reporter Kelsey Nicole Nelson. In images from the event, […]

Us has reached out to Cardi and Diggs’ respective spokespersons for comment.

The couple’s reconciliation comes shortly after they were spotted looking cozy at the “A Moment for Moms” celebration on Saturday, May 9, hosted by the football player’s Diggs Deep Foundation. Sports reporter Kelsey Nicole Nelson shared a photo of Diggs and Cardi greeting attendees at the event. In an additional snap, Diggs wrapped his arms around the rapper’s waist as they smiled for the camera.

Cardi and Diggs were first linked last year. They welcomed their first baby together, a son, in November 2025. (Cardi shares three children with ex-husband Offset while Diggs shares two kids from previous relationships.)

“My life has always been a combination of different chapters and different seasons. My last chapter was the beginning of a new season,” Cardi wrote via Instagram after her baby’s arrival. “Starting over is never easy but it’s been so worth it! I brought new music and a new album to the world, a new baby into my world, and one more reason to be the best version of me, one more reason to love me more than anything else or anyone else so I can continue giving my babies the love and life they deserve.”

Cardi and Diggs called it quits before ahead of Super Bowl LX, when the New England Patriots faced off against the Seattle Seahawks, who ended up winning the big game. (Diggs previously played for Patriots and was released in March.)

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“They are always so up and down,” a source told Us of the pair’s split at the time. “This isn’t the first time they have broken up.”

Cardi still supported Stefon at the Super Bowl. She also danced in Bad Bunny’s halftime show alongside Karol G, Young Miko and Jessica Alba.

Rumors swirled that Cardi and Diggs were back together earlier this year when the athlete was spotted at Cardi’s concert in Washington D.C. last month. Diggs could be seen dancing to Cardi’s song “Thotiana Remix,” according to a video shared by his personal trainer Clyde Simmon.

Legendary rocker Rod Stewart seemingly referred to President Donald Trump as a “little rat bag” during a candid conversation with King Charles III.

A viral clip shared by Rebecca English, the Daily Mail’s royal editor, captured an awkward moment as the king, 77, greeted a group of celebrities — including Stewart, 81, and his Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood — backstage at the the 50th anniversary celebration of The King’s Trust charity at London’s historic Royal Albert Hall on Monday, May 11.

Stewart seemingly surprised Charles with a joke about the monarch’s recent state visit to the U.S., telling him, “May I say well done in the Americas. You were superb. Absolutely superb. You put that little rat bag in his place!”

The king appeared to chuckle at Stewart’s remark and gesture towards him before moving on to speak with Wood, 78.

Us Weekly has reached out to representatives for the White House, Buckingham Palace and Stewart for comment.

Monday’s gala was held to celebrate alumni, ambassadors, patrons and volunteers from the King’s Trust, which the monarch founded in 1976 to champion vulnerable young people across the U.K.

The event was presented by iconic British TV hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly and featured stars such as George and Amal Clooney, Rita Ora and Lily Collins on the guest list, among others.

Prior to the 2016 election, Stewart described Trump, 79, as a personal friend and his Florida neighbor but later criticized both his first and second administrations. In June 2025, he told the Radio Times that Trump no longer resembled the man he once knew.

“I’m not a great fan of Trump. I knew him very, very well. I used to go to his house,” Stewart said at the time. “I live literally half a mile away… We’re both on the beach. I used to go to his Christmas parties. He’s always been a bit of a man’s man. I liked him for that. But he didn’t, as far as I’m concerned, treat women very well. But since he became President, he became another guy. Somebody I didn’t know.”

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He went on, “I can’t [consider him a friend] any more. As long as he’s selling arms to the Israelis — and he still is. How’s that war ever gonna stop? And we [the British] should stop selling them as well.”

Related: President Donald Trump Breaks Silence on Prince Andrew’s Arrest

President Donald Trump is speaking out after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. “I think it’s a shame. I think it’s very sad,” Trump, 79, told reporters on Air Force One on Thursday, February 19. “I think it’s so bad for the royal family. It’s […]

Meanwhile, Charles and Queen Camilla held an official visit in the U.S. from April 27 to April 30 and attended a state dinner at the White House. The king became only the second member of the British royal family to address Congress on April 28 when he spoke about climate change and the recent White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting.

The king avoided any direct mention of the crimes of late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein despite his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s connection to the disgraced financier. Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on February 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public office for allegedly passing confidential information to Epstein during his time as a U.K. trade envoy. He has not entered a plea. (Epstein died by suicide at age 66 in August 2019 after being arrested on federal sex crimes charges.)

Taylor Frankie Paul has fired back at “keyboard warriors” amid her latest falling out with The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives costar Mikayla Matthews.

“Today, I talked to a trauma specialist and my coach and it’s validating to hear from professionals rather than keyboard warriors trying to tell me what to do,” Taylor, 31, wrote via her Instagram Story on Monday, May 11. “Also to see videos of other specialists speak on my situation just from what they can see from afar.”

The Mormon Wives star shared a series of videos from content creators supporting her following her recent court battles with ex Dakota Mortensen. (Taylor temporarily lost custody of her and Dakota’s son Ever, 2, after an alleged domestic violence incident between the pair in February. Utah police ultimately declined to press charges.)

Taylor took time to thank those who have stood by her throughout upheavals in her personal and professional lives over the last few months. (In March, ABC cancelled plans to air Taylor’s season of The Bachelorette following news of her domestic violence case while production on Mormon Wives season 5 was temporarily paused.)

Related: Mormon Wives’ Mikayla Documents Her ‘Much-Needed Escape’ Amid Taylor Drama

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Mikayla Matthews is finding solace away from the group’s lingering cast drama. “After everything going on the last couple weeks, this was a very much-needed escape 🙏🏼,” Mikayla, 26, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, March 21, sharing footage of her family’s beach vacation in California. “Think I’ll stay […]

“Just another big thank you all for the astounding support,” she wrote via her Instagram Story later on Monday. “Especially authors, therapists, doctors, specialists, attorneys from all over the nation, alongside neighbors, production, family and friends.”

Taylor’s latest comments follow more drama between her and Mormon Wives costar Mikayla, 26. On May 6, Mikayla replied to a comment complaining that she wasn’t publicly supporting Taylor and Jessi Draper following their recent personal issues.

Mikayla initially replied that the comment was “interesting,” then insisted she was “fed up” when a fan asked why she was suddenly addressing the issue. Another person suggested she should focus on her marital issues with husband Jace Terry and her chronic illness.

“Gotta love a biased double standard 🙃 I’d genuinely love to see how you’d handle being in the same position we’re in,” Mikayla responded. “If you feel entitled to comment on our life, don’t be surprised when we respond. I’m not someone who switches up my opinions just to save face online.”

She expanded on her views in an Instagram Story by explaining that she’d “tried to stay as removed” as possible from Taylor’s recent legal issues with Dakota, 33.

“I have felt absolutely sick to my stomach and horrible for what everyone involved must be feeling and going through,” Mikayla wrote. “However, it is not my job to enable poor or dangerous behavior from either party, especially when children are involved.”

Mikayla insisted that she’d tried to support Taylor during past crises, but now felt that “you cannot save someone who is unwilling to participate in their own rescue.”

Taylor took issue with Mikayla’s characterization of their falling out, describing her costar as “the epitome of someone that was waiting for my downfall and not only watched it, but clearly kicking me too.”

“I rarely, if ever, cried to her for help,” Taylor wrote. “I’m fed up, but I knew she was going through her own [health] stuff, and I didn’t want to make it worse. Clearly she can’t do the same. PS: she can find her way to the door if she doesn’t want to film with me. Next.”

Mikayla later denied that she was “praying for [Taylor’s] downfall.” Taylor seemingly took aim at Mikayla once again without directly naming her in a pointed Mother’s Day post on Sunday, May 10.

“It’s Mother’s Day so I’ll say whatever I want,” Taylor wrote via Instagram. “As if it’s not already the worst time. I have [sic] STILL have ‘friends’ kicking me while I’m already down and calling it ‘setting a boundary’ and then BLAMES ME for being upset and responding. That’s called shaming and attack while I had a moment to breathe and she knew that.”

Taylor once again referenced reports that Mikayla allegedly had concerns filming with her once Hulu resumes shooting Mormon Wives season 5.

Related: Mikayla Said Taylor Was ‘Stuck’ in Dakota ‘Cycle’ Before Allegations

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Mikayla Matthews reflected on Taylor Frankie Paul and ex Dakota Mortensen’s on-again, off-again relationship before the pair’s domestic violence allegations. When the hosts of the “Comments by Celebs” podcast noted that the case seemed “more concerned with The Bachelorette of it all” than Taylor, 31, did on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season 4, […]

“What other questions did you have in the concerns while filming with me… ’Does she get paid more than us?’ Save the ‘concern for children act,’” Taylor asked. “They all know I’m good to my children. I’ve missed more events, girls nights and opportunities to stay home with my kids more than some could ever say.”

She went on, “Happy mother to all the moms out there Of course I’m spiraling… people calling me out yet I can’t respond? Exactly what I will NOT be tolerating ever again. Thank you GOD for the people you sent to help me through this with my enemies so close.”

Taylor’s Mother’s Day posts did little to settle the feud, as Mikayla doubled down on her stance via Instagram that same day.

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“Could probably write a book on everything I’ve had to say on this. Nothing I said denied that she’s experienced pain, trauma, or difficult things, there’s literally no question about that,” Matthews wrote. “Two things can be true. Someone can be hurting and still hurt people around them in the process.”

She added, “[My silence] was about no longer wanting to publicly participate in or normalize a cycle that was affecting everyone around it, especially where children and repeated violence were involved.”

If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.

Yaya Mayweather has been very open and vocal these past few months about co-parenting with rapper NBA YoungBoy. At times, things appeared rocky. Yaya has publicly apologized to the rapper for things she previously said, only to later blast him online. While entering a new space, Yaya also opened up about healing and searching for love again. She recently announced plans to enter her streamer era, looking for love on e-date stream.

RELATED: Bieber Fever! Yaya Mayweather Sparks Reactions After Sharing THIS Tweet About Justin Bieber (PHOTOS)

Yaya Mayweather Goes Off Following Rumors About NBA YoungBoy In Paris

On Sunday (May 10), rumors shared by Align With Nae claimed that NBA YoungBoy took a woman named Jada Marie and her daughter to Disneyland Paris. The post the young woman shared said, “Happy Mother’s Day,” and many fans began speculating that the rapper might also have been in attendance.

Amid the rumors, Yaya Mayweather paused her Mother’s Day celebrations to get a few things off her chest. Seemingly calling out NBA YoungBoy, the father of her son Kentrell Jr., over the circulating rumors, she tweeted, “Once again you playing step daddy flying a groupie h** and her child to Paris, but your son hasn’t seen you since you’ve been in Paris and even months before that… mind you he’s been in Paris for months.” 

She later added, “This the sh*** I have to deal with on mother’s day you sorry a*** b****.”

In more tweets, Yaya vented about not understanding how someone could be around another person’s child while not showing up for their own. She also made it clear that she did not care what day it was and would always speak up behind her child.

In a reportedly deleted tweet, she also wrote, “You haven’t even known this girl a whole year you then bought this b*tch a house in Utah & taking care of this h*e & her kid… but don’t even show up for your own child mentally, physically, emotionally, or financially. That’s the part that will never make sense to me.”

Social Media Raacts 

Many gathered under The Shade Room Teens to react to Yaya Mayweather. While some were fed up with hearing her rant again, others argued that she should be given grace. Some felt like Yaya knew what she was getting into, while other commenters said she’s not wrong for how she feels.

Instagram user @jay_truth95 wrote, “Sorry I don’t feel bad for her at all.. She knew that he had several children whose lives he wasn’t active in before she decided to have one.🤷🏾‍♀️”

Instagram user @itsaneyah wrote, “Last time she did this she came back and apologized”

While Instagram user @shnook_ wrote. “Idgaf. She not wrong.”

Instagram user @chweescake wrote, “Yall youngboy fans think he can do no wrong 😂 shit sad”

Instagram user @lyУУУууd_94 added. “Ya’ll begged her to get a clue lmao, now ya’ll yelling bc she got one”

While Instagram user @alaya_lay23 wrote, “YB all u had to do was text her Happy Mother’s Day 😭😭😭😭😩”

Instagram user @_poraaofficial wrote, “I don’t even think it’s about the child atp … damn if he do damn if he don’t with this situation”

Instagram user @solivagantseoul added, “mind yall this not about HER, this is about the CHILD, kids deserve both of their parents love and attention!!! okay yeah it’s mother’s day and it’s about her but that baby made her a mother so it’s really about the child as well”

What Has NBA YoungBoy Been Up To Following The ‘MASA’ Tour And His Break From Social Media?

While NBA YoungBoy’s current whereabouts have not been publicly confirmed, he’s been pretty lowkey since the end of his ‘MASA Tour.’ Back in March, the rapper did pop out during Paris Fashion Week. YB rocked black with wife Jazlyn Mychelle after the couple welcomed their third child together.

He later deactivated his social media accounts amid ongoing issues involving the mothers of his children. Since then, he’s mainly kept supporters fed through his ‘American YoungBoy’ theater releases. The screenings gave fans a behind the scenes look at how he balanced life as a rapper, father, and performer. Some theaters even turned into full celebrations, with supporters singing and dancing to his songs word for word.

The rapper was also scheduled to headline Rolling Loud on Sunday, May 10. However, before the festival date arrived, he released a statement explaining that he needed time away from traveling and performing.

A message shared on his team’s Instagram account read, “Lil Top, To my Rolling Loud family, I won’t be making it this time. I just need some time away from traveling and performing right now. Love to everybody supporting me, I’ll forever appreciate y’all!”

Ultimately, Rolling Loud tapped rapper Ken Carson to step in as a replacement headliner.

RELATED: NBA YoungBoy’s Sister Weighs In After Yaya Mayweather & Arcola Call Him Out For Allegedly Neglecting His Sons (PHOTOS)

NBC has pulled the plug on several fan-favorite shows — including a Law & Order spinoff and several daytime shows.

The network initially shocked audiences in May 2025 when they pulled the plug on Lopez vs. Lopez, Night Court, Found, The Irrational and Suits LA. NBC later renewed The Hunting Party and Brilliant Minds, but those were the only freshman shows that survived — with Grosse Pointe Garden Society not surviving after being on the bubble.

NBC’s harsh cuts come after the network signed an 11-year deal with the NBA. This agreement, which is worth nearly $2.5 billion per year, meant NBC will air up to 100 regular-season games, which affected the amount of original programming headed our way in the fall.

The network added several new shows for the 2025-2026 TV season but there were still big cuts — starting with Law & Order: Organized Crime. Chris Meloni originally reprised the role of Elliot Stabler in the spinoff after exiting Law & Order: SVU.

Related: Which TV Shows Are Canceled in 2026-2027?

2026 has been brutal when it comes to our favorite shows getting canceled. Netflix cut ties with Boots two months after the show premiered. Based on Greg Cope White‘s memoir, the scripted series followed Cameron (Miles Heizer) as he joined the U.S. Marine Corps alongside his best friend Ray (Liam Oh) during the 1990s, the […]

Law & Order: Organized Crime, which premiered in 2021, went through quite a few shakeups with Matt Olmstead originally taking on the role of showrunner but ultimately stepping down later that year. He was replaced by Ilene Chaiken, who remained on the show for one season before Barry O’Brien took over.

Bryan Goluboff became the showrunner for season 3 but left after three months. He was replaced by Sean Jablonski, who left due to “creative differences” and David Graziano took over for the final episodes of the season.

NBC renewed the series for a fourth season with John Shiban as showrunner. He later departed during production of the fifth season, which marked the sixth change in showrunners over the show’s five seasons. NBC confirmed in April 2026 that the series had been canceled.

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Related: Which CBS Shows Have Recently Gone Through Surprising Showrunner Changes?

Fire Country isn’t the only CBS show currently going through a surprising showrunner change. News broke in January 2026 that showrunner Tia Napolitano was leaving after multiple onscreen departures. “Tia has been instrumental in helping both build and steer Fire Country, which not only became a top series, but is also the foundation of a […]

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Access Daily and Access Hollywood: Canceled after 30 years
Brilliant Minds: Canceled after season 2

The Hunting Party: On the bubble
Karamo: Canceled after season 4
The Kelly Clarkson Show: Canceled after season 7
Law & Order: Organized Crime: Canceled after season 5
The Steve Wilkos Show: Canceled after season 19
Stumble: Canceled after season 1

Hayden Panettiere is opening up about a deeply personal decision she had to make several years ago. While promoting her memoir, she reflected on the challenges she has faced throughout her life, including her choice to give up custody of her only child. Despite public criticism, the actress stands by her decision and shares the reasons and circumstances that led her to make it.

In an episode of the “On Purpose” podcast with host Jay Shetty, Hayden Panettiere talked about giving up full custody of her only daughter, Kaya, to her ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, who lives in Ukraine.

The actress made the custody agreement official in 2018, and it made the rounds on news outlets. Many criticized the actress, accusing her of abandoning her child despite knowing that Panettiere struggled with addiction and postpartum depression.

In the podcast, the 36-year-old actress said it was “heartbreaking” knowing that some people believed she gave up her daughter so easily. Panettiere also cleared the speculation that she was “forced” into treatment, sharing that it was her decision to seek help. “I desperately needed help,” she acknowledged.

The Actress Made The Difficult Decision For Her Daughter’s Sake

Panettiere described herself as a “mother lion” and said she would do anything for her daughter. She gave birth to Kaya in December 2014 and separated from Klitschko in August 2018. The ex-partners remained on good terms following the split, and Klitschko filed for full custody of their daughter, knowing that it was what was best for their daughter at that time.

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Panettiere was heading into treatment and signed the documents. However, she said the decision was “incredibly difficult” to make, but she had to get better first in order to be her best self for her daughter. “It became this horrible cycle for years of battling depression, anxiety, alcoholism, and substance abuse and me just trying to find my way out of this darkness,” she explained.

In an interview with Us Weekly, the actress said that the decision was a “living nightmare,” but she ultimately made the “best” choice for her daughter at that time, and that was to stay with Klitschko, whom she described as an “incredible father.”

Hayden Panettiere’s Postpartum Depression

In 2023, the actress opened up about postpartum depression, saying that she didn’t immediately know she was affected by it. It’s quite common for new mothers to experience mood swings and anxiety days after giving birth, but in some cases, mothers have postpartum depression, a more severe case of the “baby blues” that can last months, per the Mayo Clinic.

Symptoms may include mood swings, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, and difficulty connecting with the child, which may affect the mother’s ability to provide proper care to the infant. “I wish I knew about postpartum depression. I wish I knew to look out for it,” Panettiere said, sharing that she drowned her feelings in alcohol, which she admitted was a temporary fix that made things worse later on.

The Actress Hit Rock Bottom And Sought Treatment

Panettiere sought help several times throughout the years, and in 2022, she openly talked about her addiction to alcohol and opioids, on top of her PPD. “I was on top of the world and I ruined it. I think I hit rock bottom, but then there’s that trap door that opens,” the actress told PEOPLE.

The “Nashville” actress voluntarily checked into an inpatient treatment program and underwent trauma therapy and said she “put a lot of work” into herself. “This hasn’t been easy and there were a lot of ups and downs, but I don’t regret even the ugliest things that have happened to me,” Panettiere said, adding that she’s grateful to have a second chance at life.

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Hayden Panettiere Has A Good Relationship With Her Daughter

By the time she was in a better mental state, the actress said it would have been “unfair and selfish” of her to disrupt the life her daughter had gotten used to. Now, despite their distance, Panettiere said she has an “incredible” relationship with Kaya, talking to her often on FaceTime and visiting her when she can.

She gushed about her daughter, sharing how Kaya speaks several languages and loves horseback riding. Panettiere said her daughter has two loving and supportive parents, and she’s sure Kaya is “happy and healthy mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually” and “no way feels abandoned.”

Over the years, a number of TV shows have accomplished the impressive feat of earning a 100% “Certified Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes. Among them is the first season of Only Murders in the Building, the second season fo Fleabag, the first season of The Bear, the third season of The Americans. But while most of these TV shows are also household names and went on to become streaming hits, one sci-fi series earned a 100% score from critics, but is still under the radar.

The Netflix original series Better Than Us, which released in 2018, has been underseen by the general public, but is still one of the best sci-fi shows ever made on the platform. The Russian series, which tackles a not-so-distant future where humanoid robots threaten society (think Westworld and Ex Machina) is a true must-watch.

What Is ‘Better Than Us’ About?

Image via C1R & Start

Set in the near future of 2029 in Moscow, Russia, Better Than Us follows a new society in which humanoid robots, shortened to just “bots,” are fully integrated into society as domestic helpers, security personnel, drivers, companions, and much more. But while most of these jobs seem inofensive, one advanced robot named Arisa (Paulina Andreeva) was built differently. Unlike her fellow bots, Arisa was designed to have empathy, an impressive IQ, and a disregard for the First Law of Robots: To not injure human beings.

Those features all put together, however, land Arisa in hot water in the first episode. After a violent incident with a warehouse worker at CRONOS, the company led by Victor Toropov (Aleksandr Ustyugov) that recently purchased Arisa, she kills him mercilessly and flees the scene. That’s when her fate intertwines with Georgy Safronov (Kirill Kyaro), a down-on-his-luck medical examanier who welcomes her into to his family, including his sweet young daughter Sonya (Vitaliya Kornienko). As the family bonds with Arisa and takes her in, she becomes the number one target of some very powerful people, including Victor himself.

Also important to the series is the anti-robot group called the “Liquidators.” At its core, the radical and extremist group is against the spread of robots, fearing that machines will take over society, by taking their jobs, relationships, and even identities. With the slogan of “Save Humanity,” the group will go to lengths to make their fears heard, including kidnappings, arson, and murder. As for Arisa, she’s exactly who the “Liquidators” are against: a robot who might not only take over their jobs, but begin to blur the line between human and humanoid. The series, which was created by Alexander Kessel, also stars Kirill Käro, Olga Lomonosova, Eldar Kalimulin, Vera Kincheva, and Alexander Kuznetsov.

‘Better Than Us’ Is a Netflix Must-Watch

Image via Netflix

From its synopsis, fans of humanoid robot shows like Westworld are likely already tuning in, but what sets the series apart is that beyond Arisa and the threat robots can have in society, Better Than Us has a family who’s going through a crisis of their own at its heart. Recently divorced from his ex-wife Alla (Olga Lomonosova), Georgy is close to hitting rock bottom when the series kicks off. His ex-wife is not only remarried and has custody of their two kids, but she’s planning a permanent move to the other side of the world. Georgy is at a loss, and Arisa’s strength and support becomes integral for him and his family not to fall apart. “[Better Than Us] offers a more hopeful view of a society where robots augment and supplement humanity, rather than simply coming in conflict with or replacing it,” reads one Rotten Tomatoes review.

Plus, while stories about robots infiltrating themselves into society isn’t exactly a novelty on TV, Better Than Us takes a stand about the future, and gives the rise of technology a new lens. “”It uses a police procedural format, plus a look at a detective’s troubled family, to tell a tale of corruption and greed that is about humanity as much as it’s about robots,” writes another review.

With all that said, while Better Than Us‘ impressive critics score on Rotten Tomatoes says it all, the series is certainly a must-watch on Netflix. With an interesting premise, impressive production design, and compelling performances all throughout, the series has a unique perspective on the not-so-near-future that might have viewers not only reflecting on major issues, but feeling hopeful for it too.

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Release Date

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2018 – 2019-00-00

Network

Channel One

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Directors

Andrey Dzhunkovskiy

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Writers

Alexandr Kessel

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• 
• 

  Kirill Käro

  Georgy Safronov

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There’s a lot that goes into creating a proper and successful climax. It’s where all the hard work of the set-up of the film is supposed to pay off in a narratively satisfying way. They can be happy, sad or exciting, offering catharsis for the characters and the audience. When it comes to science fiction, the best film climaxes have offered everything from epic battles to intimate character revelations. They’re vast and varied, but they all payoff their movies perfectly.

Sci-fi cinema offers up endless possibilities for climaxes, since they, with the proper budget, can realize all kinds of interstellar or futuristic circumstances to properly peak with. The best sci-fi movie climaxes aren’t always the biggest. Some are much smaller, but no less impactful or appropriate than those that bring the noise. From the biggest to smallest, across space and time, these are the best sci-fi movie climaxes, ranked.

10

‘Ghostbusters’ (1984)

Image via Columbia Pictures

Ghostbusters isn’t often identified with the sci-fi genre, even though half of the fun of the film is the scientific mumbo-jumbo explanations of the supernatural that are breathlessly delivered by Dan Aykroyd and deadpanned by Harold Ramis as Bill Murray looks on exasperated. The film is, first and foremost, a comedy, though, and its climax is the most perfect marriage of the two genres. There may be more profound or exhilarating sci-fi climaxes than the one in Ghostbusters, but they don’t have a marshmallow kaiju stomping around New York City.

In a moment that would be repeated to lesser effect in later films in the franchise, the ghostbusters are asked to choose the form of their adversary by the villainous Gozer during their rooftop confrontation. All the busters are able to clear their minds except for Ayroyd’s sweet, innocent Ray, who conjures a ten-story tall Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. It’s an instantly iconic image, one which the first sequel tried to recreate with the Statue of Liberty and the 2016 reboot replaced it with a giant version of the no-ghost logo of the franchise come to life/death. The original is still the best, and the climactic roasting of the monster, and subsequent rain of his gooey marshmallow remains is something every kid who came up with this movie in rotation remembers fondly.

9

‘Logan’ (2017)

Image via 20th Century Studios

The vast majority of superhero movies could be considered sci-fi films, and that goes double for the X-Men franchise. Marvel’s favorite mutants have had some solid climaxes throughout their cinematic run. The original used the Statue of Liberty as the setting for a solid action scene, X2 set the stage for a Phoenix Saga that never properly paid off, and X-Men: Days of Future Past featured a battle across two timelines. Those, and many other superhero climaxes, are effective, but they can’t beat the best from Logan. Even though Jackman came back to play the character for the feature-length fan-service masquerading as a film event, Deadpool and Wolverine, his climactic sacrifice in Logan was the perfect swan song.

As a far more grounded and gritty action film than any of the previous X-Men or solo Wolverine movies, Logan’s neo-Western aesthetic means its final action scene is suitably less explosive. Logan faces off against government mercenaries, protecting a group of mutant children, including his own daughter. He also must confront a clone of himself, stripped entirely of his humanity and reduced to the single emotion of rage. It’s a dynamic sequence that offers the perfect summation of the film’s themes, makes good use of the film’s R-rating, pays off a prophecy set up in the prior film, and gives Jackman a climax deserving of the character he defined on the big screen.

8

‘Akira’ (1988)

Image via Funimation

An influence on many superhero films and the action and sci-fi genres in general, Akira is Katsuhiro Otomo’s cyberpunk animated masterpiece, adapted from his own manga, and it has an explosive, body-horror-filled climax. Set in the future city Neo-Tokyo, the movie revolves around the central relationship between biker gang leader Kaneda, and his childhood best friend Tetsuo, who discovers he has telekinetic abilities and becomes a superpowered threat to the entire city. That threat, and their relationship, comes to a head in a destructive action sequence set in the Olympic Stadium.

As Kaneda and Tetsuo face off, the latter uses his immense powers to mutate into a massive fleshy monstrosity. It’s a grotesque animation, but one which perfectly illustrates the character’s desire to feel powerful, totally consuming him and turning him into something devoid of humanity. It’s only through the re-emergence of the titular Akira, a missing boy with similarly endless powers, who creates a singularity to draw Tetsuo in, and in doing so gives Kaneda a psychic window into his friend’s memories. It’s an emotionally potent and visually spectacular climax.

7

‘The Prestige’ (2006)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The climax of Christopher Nolan’s stealth sci-fi film The Prestige comes in the form of a twist. Appropriately, for a film about dueling magicians, the climax feels the cinematic equivalent of a magic trick. It’s something that’s been right in front of the audience’s face the entire time, but which Nolan is able to gracefully misdirect from until the final reveal. It’s vastly different from the more haunting, supernatural and horror-focused ending of the novel, but which works perfectly for the film.

In the film, the rivalry between Hugh Jackman’s Robert Angier and Christian Bale’s Alfred Borden leads both men to develop similar tricks of supposed teleportation. Angier’s is accomplished through a machine built by Nikola Tesla that creates a clone of him every time with the original dying in order to maintain the integrity of the trick. The death of one such clone sees Borden framed for murder and put to death, until he returns to confront Angier, revealing that Borden was a set of twins who lived a single life. It’s a mind-bending climax that puts into stark terms the depths of obsession that both men have sunk into, and it’s the best trick Nolan has ever pulled.

6

‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ (1977)

Though it’s been subject to a re-edit, and reconsideration for its larger character implications by many viewers, Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind remains a wondrous sci-fi fable, and its climactic scene of first contact is visually and aurally spectacular. Set, and partially shot, at the Devil’s Tower in Wyoming, the climax features all the majesty and emotion viewers have been primed for throughout the film’s runtime. The musical call and response between the humans and the aliens as a form of universal communication is one of the most indelible moments in all sci-fi history and, paired with the gorgeous visual effects, make it one of the iconic sci-fi climaxes.

The climax is also an emotional one for the protagonist, Roy, played by Richard Dreyfuss, who has become obsessed with the aliens after having a close encounter with a UFO. Roy has his faith validated when he is invited on board the alien mothership and leaves with the alien. It’s the moment some have taken issue with, given that Roy leaves his wife and child behind, and which Spielberg himself has said he would have written differently if he’d had children at the time. Even if that robs the character of any empathy one might feel toward him, the climax is so overwhelming at that point, visually, aurally and emotionally, that, like Roy, it’s hard to care about anything else.

5

‘Arrival’ (2016)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Arrival is similarly driven by the need to communicate with aliens, with the crux of its plot revolving around humanity’s interpretation of their language. That task is given to linguist Louise Banks, played by Amy Adams, who has been haunted throughout the film by apparent memories of her deceased daughter. In the film’s climax, Louise is able to save humanity from itself by solving the alien language, which is also the alien’s greatest weapon. Understanding the alien language allows humans to perceive time non-linearly.

This perception is what gives the film its emotional climax. Louise is able to see her own future, and the daughter she will subsequently have and later lose to disease. It’s a heartbreaking realization that drives the rest of the film until it’s equally emotional ending, where Louise decides not to try and alter her future and face the joy and tragedy it will inevitably deliver her. Arrival is a sci-fi film grounded in human experience, and its climax isn’t one of visual spectacle but emotional.

4

‘Aliens’ (1986)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Reconciling the confluence of loss and love is a great climax, but so is a woman using a power loader to bitchslap the mother of all monsters. James Cameron’s Aliens took the claustrophobic horror of Alien and supercharged it with some superior firepower, making an action sci-fi horror sequel that’s been just as influential as its predecessor. The climactic battle between Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley and the Queen Alien is an all-time sci-fi fight, combining a variety of practical effects seamlessly in a way that holds up against most modern sci-fi movies.

Every sci-fi fan loves the iconic moment when Ripley confronts the Queen as she terrorizes the young Newt, played by Carrie Henn, and defiantly delivers her iconic line telling the bitch to get away from her, but what makes that moment, and subsequent fight, so powerful is how it succinctly defines Ripley’s character arc. For all the action and acid-blood spilling, Aliens is a story of motherhood at its core. Ripley has lost everything when she meets young Newt, and their surrogate bond is the heart of the film. It’s cool to watch Ripley kick some alien ass, but it’s even more satisfying because she’s doing it to save her daughter.

3

‘Blade Runner’ (1982)

Image via Warner Bros.

Blade Runner is one of the most influential sci-fi films ever made, not only for its noirish cyberpunk visuals that determined the measure by which all future cinematic dystopic cities would be judged, but also for its simple exploration of what it means to be human. That theme is best exemplified in the film’s climax, where Harrison Ford’s Rick Deckard faces off against Rutger Hauer’s replicant Roy Batty. It’s a one-sided physical confrontation that ends with a haunting and beautiful monologue from Hauer.

Deckard has been chasing Batty the entire film, intent on retiring him as he does for all rogue replicants. Batty has been driven by his desire for more life, a privilege denied to all replicants who have a built-in limited lifespan. These two antagonists share a final moment in the rain together, as Batty saves Deckard from falling and then delivers his death soliloquy, lamenting that all his memories will be lost. It’s the most emotional moment in a movie that is often more technically impressive than it is emotionally stirring, which makes it an even more affecting climax and solidifies Blade Runner as a sci-fi masterpiece.

2

‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ (1968)

Image via MGM

2001: A Space Odyssey is another film often associated as being more cerebral and visually engaging than emotionally, but that has never prevented its surreal Star Gate sequence from being one of the most enthralling in the totality of sci-fi cinema. It’s as dynamic a sequence as director Stanley Kubrick has ever created, and which filmmakers as talented as James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, and Brian De Palma have attempted to recapture the effect of to varying degrees of success, but it has never been bettered. It’s the kind of climax that can only be accomplished in film and science fiction.

The narrative of the film is driven by the discovery of alien monoliths, which have been shown to have some form of influence over human evolution. In the climax of the film, astronaut Dave Bowman, played by Keir Dullea, comes into contact with one of these monoliths orbiting Jupiter. It takes Dave through a Star Gate in a psychedelic sequence of visuals suggesting he has entered into a liminal space and time. The sequence culminates with Dave watching his own body rapidly age, in a setting Kubrick once described as a kind of human zoo, and becoming reborn as the Star Child. It’s a staggering wordless sequence that allows the audience to viscerally experience it rather than try to plainly explain itself.

1

‘The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)

Image via Lucasfilm

People have puzzled and pondered over the subjective climax of 2001: A Space Odyssey for decades and how it engaged with them cerebrally, but it still ranks second to one of the most consequential moments in sci-fi film history that comes as an absolute emotional gut punch. The Empire Strikes Back is a superior film to its predecessor in every way, and while the climactic destruction of the Death Star is as crowd-pleasing as film moments get, there’s something far more powerful in the lightsaber duel between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker and the revelation that ends it.

There have been more elaborate lightsaber fights and better choreographed ones, but few instill the fear that one feels watching Mark Hamill as Luke take on an opponent with abilities far beyond his own. The entire fight feels as though Vader is toying with Luke, for reasons that aren’t readily apparent other than the movie needs a climactic fight. When all pretenses are dropped, and Luke is at his most vulnerable, Vader reveals he is Luke’s father. That single moment sent reverberations through pop culture and fandoms worldwide. The franchise since hasn’t come close to matching that climax and sci-fi films everywhere defer to its supremacy.

Blake Lively’s courtroom war with Justin Baldoni may officially be settled, but the legal drama surrounding “It Ends With Us” is far from over. 

Just days after both sides reached a surprise agreement, the actress was hit with another setback when a judge rejected her latest request tied to legal fees and damages. 

The ruling comes as tensions continue to boil between the two camps, with Baldoni’s attorneys celebrating the settlement as a major win while Lively’s team insists the actress succeeded in exposing retaliation tactics against her.

Blake Lively suffered another courtroom disappointment on Monday after a judge denied her request to submit additional briefs and evidence connected to her legal fees fight with Justin Baldoni.

According to TMZ, the actress had hoped to provide further arguments before the court finalized any ruling tied to damages or attorney costs following the pair’s recent settlement.

The legal development arrived only days after Lively and Baldoni ended their nearly two-year battle connected to “It Ends With Us.”

Despite the settlement, Lively is still aggressively pursuing compensation tied to Baldoni’s failed $400 million defamation lawsuit against her.

The actress claims she should be awarded legal fees because Baldoni’s countersuit was retaliatory and ultimately dismissed. 

Lively is also requesting “compensatory damages tripled, and punitive damages,” according to court filings.

Her legal team had already filed motions earlier in the case but wanted permission to present even more supporting material before the judge shut the request down. The filing itself landed in New York court just three days after the settlement agreement became official.

Lively Continues Pushing For Legal Fees From Baldoni

Blake Lively’s attorneys have remained firm in arguing that the “It Ends With Us” director should face financial penalties for filing the defamation suit against her.

Michael Gottlieb, one of the Hollywood star’s lawyers, argued the court should impose “severe and mandatory penalties against any party who files unsuccessful retaliatory defamation actions against sexual harassment and retaliation complainants.”

He also argued that Lively’s original allegations were protected under California law because they were made through the California Civil Rights Department.

Judge Lewis Liman, who handled both cases, previously sided with Lively on that argument and dismissed Baldoni’s defamation suit last year.

Gottlieb pointed specifically to California Civil Code Section 47.1, saying the law exists to ensure people can “share their experiences with courts, agencies, the press, and others without fear of suit.”

The attorney also requested permission to submit a five-page brief explaining exactly how Lively should receive the money she seeks.

The legislation itself was passed in 2023 following the MeToo movement and remains relatively new within the court system. Meanwhile, Baldoni’s lawyers strongly rejected the idea that their client should pay Lively anything extra.

Blake Lively And Justin Baldoni Continue Trading Public Shots

Even after settling, Lively and Baldoni’s camps are still publicly attacking each other over who truly won the case.

Baldoni’s attorneys called the “Gossip Girl” actress’s effort to recover legal fees “draconian” and argued the director had every right to defend himself in court.

They also accused Lively of attempting to make herself “immune from any culpability for her wrongful acts.” Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, described the settlement as a “win and total victory” for his side.

“The court had already dismissed 10 of Ms Lively’s 13 claims, including every sexual harassment claim, every defamation claim, and all claims against the individual defendants,” Freedman said per the Daily Mail, adding, “Ms Lively voluntarily dismissed the rest.”

He also claimed the actress settled because she feared losing at trial, noting, “In our view, they settled because they knew they were going to lose in court.”

Freedman added that the only remaining issue involves “a pending request for fees based on a very narrow issue.”

Lively’s Team Calls Settlement A ‘Resounding Victory’

Despite the fierce statements from Justin Baldoni’s side, Blake Lively’s attorneys painted a very different picture of the outcome. 

As reported by The Blast, her lawyers insisted the settlement represented a major success for the actress and her wider mission.

In a statement, her attorneys called the agreement a “resounding victory” for Lively. “By agreeing to this settlement, and waiving their right to appeal, Justin Baldoni and every individual defendant now face personal liability for abusing the legal system to silence and intimidate Ms Lively,” the statement said.

The legal team also argued the settlement destroyed claims that Lively fabricated her allegations, stating, “And by admitting that Ms Lively’s concerns ‘deserved to be heard’ the defendants have ended once and for all the fiction that Ms Lively ‘fabricated’ claims of sexual harassment and retaliation.”

The statement continued, emphasizing Lively’s broader goal throughout the legal war. “From day one Blake Lively’s mission was clear: expose and hold accountable those who weaponize smear campaigns and retaliatory lawsuits to intimidate and silence survivors. That mission continues,” it read.

Blake Lively Walks Away Without Financial Settlement

One of the biggest surprises surrounding the settlement is that Lively reportedly received no direct financial payout.

Earlier this week, reports revealed that no money changed hands despite Lively previously claiming the controversy had devastated both her reputation and business ventures.

The actress alleged in court filings that she lost as much as $40.5 million after being labeled a “mean girl” and a “bully.” 

She also claimed she missed out on up to $87.8 million in acting and endorsement opportunities.

According to filings, another $143.5 million was allegedly lost due to reduced profits from her haircare and alcohol brands.

Justin Baldoni’s legal team dismissed those numbers as “pie in the sky” estimates and argued Lively’s damaged reputation stemmed from her own actions.