Entertainment
Ed Sheeran Loses 500K Followers As Tour Fallout Deepens
For most of his career, Ed Sheeran managed something many global superstars never do, staying largely outside the political crossfire that consumes public figures.
His music appealed to broad audiences, his concerts stayed focused on songs rather than statements, and controversy rarely lingered. That changed dramatically this month.
Now, as a dispute tied to his tour continues to dominate headlines, Sheeran is discovering what happens when an artist who tried to avoid taking sides suddenly becomes the story.
Ed Sheeran’s Attempt To Please Everyone Leaves Nobody Happy
One of the stranger realities of the past week is that Ed Sheeran is facing criticism from multiple directions at the same time.
As The Blast shared, the controversy began after Macklemore made pro-Palestinian remarks during Sheeran’s New Jersey concerts. What followed was a chain reaction few could have predicted.
Macklemore exited the tour after what he described as a week of “difficult conversations” with Sheeran.
Soon afterward, Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and members of Beoga also announced departures in solidarity with Macklemore and Palestine.
As pressure mounted, the “Shape of You” singer addressed the issue publicly. During a Philadelphia show, he described Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable” while also calling Hamas’ October 7 attacks “horrific.”
Yet the statement did little to ease tensions. Instead, it intensified debate around a performer who had previously insisted he did not want politics to become part of his concerts.
Sheeran Says He Questioned Whether He Wanted To Be An Artist At All
Lost beneath the political arguments was something more personal: the effect the backlash was having on Sheeran himself.
Standing before 50,000 fans in Philadelphia, the singer said the turmoil had pushed him into genuine uncertainty.
“The last week of my life has been one of the worst weeks of my life,” he admitted.
The comment wasn’t simply about tour logistics or negative headlines. The 35-year-old went further, explaining just how dramatically the situation had shaken his confidence.
“I really didn’t know whether this tour would be carrying on. I really didn’t know whether I’d even be getting on stage again, whether I even wanted to be an artist at all. In these situations, you really find out who your friends are, and it’s been a weird week,” Sheeran said.
Ed Sheeran’s Instagram Numbers Tell The Story Of A Fan Base In Flux
While the emotional fallout played out onstage, another measure of the controversy was unfolding online.
Before Macklemore announced his departure, Sheeran’s Instagram account stood at roughly 47.6 million followers. Within days, the figure began falling sharply.
According to a Daily Mail report, nearly 150,000 followers disappeared on September 15 alone after the Grammy winner publicly addressed the controversy.
More losses followed the next day, and the decline continued throughout the week. By September 23, his audience had dropped to approximately 47.2 million followers.
At the same time, the artists connected to the dispute were experiencing the opposite trend. Reports revealed that Macklemore, Finneas, Graham, Rowe, and Beoga collectively gained about 1.6 million followers after the tour fallout became public.
More From The Blast
Charlotte Church Says Sheeran Chose ‘Capitalism’ Over Principle
Amid the fallout from the Loop Tour controversy, some of the sharpest criticism has come from fellow musicians.
Among the latest voices to weigh in is Welsh singer Charlotte Church, who used a recent concert in Cardiff to publicly call out Ed Sheeran over the handling of the Macklemore situation.
Rather than focusing on the tour logistics, Church framed the issue as a question of responsibility and influence.
Addressing the crowd, she argued that Sheeran had a rare opportunity to use his platform differently.
“Whilst he has made millions and has an enormous following, he has an enormous platform to do real good in the world,” she said, per The Guardian.
Church then delivered the line that quickly made headlines across multiple outlets. She stated, “He chose consumerism and capitalism over doing the right thing. Ed Sheeran, we’re watching you. Free Palestine.”
Ed Sheeran’s Cousin Turns The Tour Crisis Into A Family Feud
If criticism from fellow artists intensified the pressure surrounding Sheeran, some of the most surprising backlash came from much closer to home.
As reported by The Blast, Sheeran’s cousin, Jethro, better known by his stage name Alonestar and a longtime collaborator of the singer, launched an extraordinary public attack on his cousin.
In a series of posts and interviews, Jethro accused Sheeran of being far more involved in the decision than he has publicly acknowledged.
“He’s dropped Macklemore himself—I believe 100%,” Jethro said before delivering the comment that became the centerpiece of news coverage. “He’s a coward,” he said.
But the criticism didn’t stop there. Jethro also accused his cousin of being a “selfish individual with malicious, cunning ways” and claimed the public was finally seeing a different side of the Grammy winner.
In one particularly pointed message, he wrote, “Finally it’s all coming out! I’m ashamed of my Cousin Ed.”
Duke Dennis has been a trending topic over the past two weeks. Many have been giving him props after he made his runway debut in Kai Cenat’s ‘VIVET’ fashion show. He also had social media talking with the bars he dropped during AMP’s annual cipher. Now, things are taking a different turn as a nail tech is calling him out for allegedly missing his nail appointment.
RELATED: Okay! GloRilla & Duke Dennis Set Off Timelines After Linking Up For Iconic Collaboration (PHOTO + VIDEO)
Nail Tech Shows Receipts As She Calls Out Duke Dennis
On Monday (Sept. 21), a Houston nail tech started going viral after taking to TikTok with a video airing out Duke Dennis. The text on the video read, “Watch me set up for a celebrity client just for him to waste my time, money & products. Receipts at the end.”
The video included a slideshow showing the tech preparing for Duke’s appointment, including a VIP sign placed on the door for his arrival. She also included screenshots of messages exchanged between the two, showing their communication leading up to the scheduled nail appointment. In the messages, Duke appeared to confirm he planned to keep the appointment, but the nail tech says he never arrived.
In the caption, she wrote, “One part of owning a business nobody sees… going above & beyond for every client, this is what it looks like when you’ve a no call no show client @Duke Dennis #viral #foryoupage #houston #houstonnailtech.”
As the video began circulating, viewers flooded the internet with their reactions to the nail tech’s experience. “Y’all gotta stop treating these people like they’re Gods,” one person wrote, adding that regular clients do not receive the same treatment.
The nail tech responded, “Agreed, but I love all my clients.” Another viewer wrote, “Treating him like he Jesus or sum,” prompting her to joke, “Even Jesus shows up for me bruh.” Another viewer even suggested the nail tech should have required Duke to send a deposit like she would with other clients. The nail tech appeared to agree, responding, “Fr next time I will.”
Duke Dennis Takes Accountability For Missing Nail Appointment
The following day, Duke took to his Twitch platform to share his side of what went down with the nail appointment. The streamer first clarified how their conversation started, claiming the nail tech initially reached out after seeing he was in Houston. Duke then showed the full DMs from his phone, claiming the screenshots shared online left out how their conversation originally started. He shared how funny he thought the video was when he first saw it.
“When I woke up and seen that s***, I started crying laughing, and I reposted the s*** myself. I reposted it at 4 a.m. I wanted the world to see it as well. No cap.”
However, Duke took accountability for not letting the nail tech know that he would no longer make it to the appointment.
“Mind you, I will take full accountability as a grown man for not communicating,” Duke said. “It would have took me three seconds to hit her up and be like, ‘Yo, I apologize. I’m not coming.’”
While apologizing for his lack of communication, Duke still felt that the nail tech had taken the situation too far. He then addressed how the nail tech presented the situation on her TikTok, calling the video overly dramatic. Duke then argued that missing an appointment is something many people have done before and did not believe it was unusual.
Things took a lighter turn when Duke addressed the sign she had prepared for his arrival, which included the AI-generated image and “VVIP” label. The streamer cracked up while questioning the wording on the sign and what the extra “V” was supposed to mean. “What the f*** is a VVIP? What the f*** a VVIP?” Duke asked, before joking, “Very, very important person.”
Duke also suggested the nail tech may have planned to create content around his visit and was disappointed when he never arrived. Despite everything that happened, Duke made it clear he was still willing to let the nail tech do his nails.
“I’ll still come by and let you do my nails. We can chop it up, we can laugh about it too,” he stated.
Duke ended that part of his response by calling the situation a learning experience for both of them and suggesting they keep future moments off the internet.
Social Media Reacts
Folks gathered under The Shade Room Teens as they reacted to the situation involving Duke Dennis and the nail tech. Commenters couldn’t stop laughing as they heard Duke share his side of what went down.
Instagram user @kialashawn wrote, “Wait, she offered and act like he scheduled and played! 🤣🤣🤣🤣”
Instagram user __cremedela.creme added, “Lmao he don’t ever address stuff fr. Shorty pissed him off 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂”
While Instagram user @iamkaylakeranisha wrote, “‘wtf is a vvip’ I’m screaming 😂😂😂”
Instagram user @mmariisgalleryyyy wrote, “But idk why she came to the internet just because he was famous idk man 😂😂”
Instagram user @onlykimmysworldd added, “But what materials was wasted other then that sign nobody asked for I’m lost 😂😂😂”
While Instagram user @miracle_jellyy added, “Boy go get them nails done.”
Instagram user @jamie_desno added, “VVIP is killing me. As a celeb I’d turn around too if I seen a sign with my pic on the door telling people I’m in there 😂 good intentions, bad idea. Grow from it and learn.”
While Instagram user @keygetthegirlsmad wrote, “Right, what was the point of her going to the internet? Because he’s known? That’s how you mess up future business with other known people lol.”
RELATED: Oop! Duke Dennis Responds After Viral TikTok Video Claims Content Creator Group AMP Did Not Tip At Topgolf (WATCH)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Star Trek: Legacy, the proposed spin-off of the final season of Star Trek: Picard, now seems unlikely to happen. However, if you want to follow the adventures of Seven of Nine and the USS Enterprise-G, you still can with a brand-new series from IDW. Their new flagship Star Trek series has just launched, and its second issue is warping your way soon.
In Star Trek #1, which is on shelves now, the Federation discovers a new area of the galaxy, dubbed the Epsilon Corridor. A “wagon train” of Starfleet ships is sent to explore it as a possible home for a population of displaced alien refugees. Spearheading that wagon train is the Enterprise-G, the Federation flagship that was turned over to former Borg drone Seven of Nine in the closing moments of Picard. However, it may prove to be even more hazardous than Seven’s journey through the distant Delta Quadrant during Star Trek: Voyager, as a sinister force plots to ensure Starfleet never explores the region.
In issue #2, by writer Christopher Cantwell (Halt and Catch Fire), artist Dennis Menheere (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), and letterer Jodie Troutman, the Enterprise and her companions, heavily armed Defiant-class ship the USS Lewis, and Vulcan ship the VSS Skon, have found a paradisical world that may just be the perfect new home for their cargo of refugees. But tempers soon flare as the ships descend into open conflict. Is this just the stress of the situation, or is an alien force turning them against each other? You’ll have to pre-order Star Trek #2 at your local comic shop before October 12; it will hit shelves on November 18.
Who’s on the Crew of the Enterprise-G?
In addition to Seven, the Enterprise‘s crew also includes two characters introduced in Picard: Jack Crusher, the son of Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher, and Sidney LaForge, the daughter of Geordi LaForge. The series also includes another pair of legacy characters in the form of Dr. Alexander Rohzenko, the once-wayward son of Worf who was last seen on-screen on Deep Space Nine, and Andorian communications specialist Lily Sato, a descendant of Star Trek: Enterprise linguistics expert Hoshi Sato. It also features a bevy of all-new characters whose depths will be explored in issues to come.
Star Trek #2 is on sale on November 18; pre-orders are due on October 12. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates. Get a free trial of Audible here.
- Release Date
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2020 – 2023-00-00
- Network
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CBS All Access, Paramount+
- Directors
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Jonathan Frakes, Hanelle M. Culpepper, Akiva Goldsman, Joe Menendez, Lea Thompson, Michael Weaver, Terry Matalas, Deborah Kampmeier, Dan Liu
- Writers
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Matt Okumura, Kiley Rossetter, Christopher B. Derrick
Entertainment
“A Different World” cast: Where they are now and who’s returning for the Netflix sequel
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A sequel series featuring several members of the original cast is now streaming on Netflix.
Most people know Harlan Coben as Netflix’s go-to guy for twisty European thrillers, but Lazarus, his six-episode Prime Video series from late 2025, flew under the radar in a way that’s, well, kind of criminal. The setup will feel familiar if you’ve logged enough hours in Coben’s universe. A family secret, a homecoming nobody wanted, and a dead man who left behind more questions than answers. But if you burned through Missing You and are already restless for another Coben fix, this is the one that rewards you for wandering off Netflix. Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy are both excellent, the tone starts as a generational mystery and slides into something closer to horror, and it’s weirder than anything else in Coben’s TV catalog.
‘Lazarus’ Puts a Supernatural Spin on the Harlan Coben Formula
Claflin plays Joel Lazarus, a forensic psychiatrist who heads back to his family home after his father Jonathan, played by Nighy, dies by apparent suicide. That “apparent” is doing a lot of heavy lifting, because almost nothing about the circumstances surrounding Jonathan’s death adds up, and Joel knows it. His father was a renowned psychiatrist with a roster of deeply troubled clients, a complicated legacy, and, it turns out, a trail of cold cases that nobody thought to connect while he was alive. Joel starts pulling at those threads almost immediately, and the show makes it clear pretty early that Joel doesn’t want to find what he’s looking for.
So far, standard Coben territory: buried trauma, a protagonist who can’t stop digging. What makes Lazarus different is the supernatural layer that creeps in around the edges of the first episode and takes over entirely in the back half. Joel starts seeing things, visions of dead people connected to his father’s practice — including his own sister Sutton (Eloise Little), who was murdered 25 years earlier in a case that went cold. The show never fully commits to explaining whether these are grief-induced hallucinations or something more paranormal, and that ambiguity is what keeps the whole thing from tipping too far into camp.
Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy Carry ‘Lazarus’ Through Its Darkest Turns
Claflin is good at playing a guy who thinks he’s in control long after everyone watching can see he isn’t. What makes Joel interesting is that he thinks he’s the detective in this story when he’s really the patient. He comes home to sort through his father’s death like it’s just another case, and by Episode 3, he’s unraveling, but still too stubborn to notice. Claflin really sells the gap between how Joel sees himself and how badly things are actually going for him.
Bill Nighy is the secret weapon here. His scenes are all flashbacks and visions, so you’re watching a dead man be fatherly and reassuring while the present-day storyline is slowly revealing he was anything but. Lazarus needs you to buy Jonathan as a good man before it pulls the rug, and Nighy makes that easy — too easy, honestly.
Alexandra Roach rounds out the family as Jenna, Joel’s sister, and the dynamic between the three Lazarus siblings (living and dead) is where the show finds most of its emotional weight. Kate Ashfield also turns up as the local detective working the cold cases, and the way her investigation mirrors and eventually collides with Joel’s gives the middle episodes a propulsive push right when the show needs it.
‘Lazarus’ Quickly Gets Under Your Skin
One of the smartest things Lazarus does is stay short. Six episodes, each hovering around 45 minutes, and the pacing reflects a show that knows it doesn’t have room to waste. The back half, in particular, goes to places that feel genuinely new for a Coben adaptation. Without giving anything away, the final two episodes reframe everything you thought you understood about Jonathan Lazarus and what his psychiatric practice was actually for. It’s a rare thriller ending that’s bleak without feeling cheap about it.
All six episodes of Lazarus are streaming now on Prime Video. Critics were split when it premiered in October 2025, but the audience response has been warmer, and it’s the kind of show that benefits from going in with low expectations and coming out rattled. If you’ve already worked your way through Coben’s Netflix catalog and assumed you’d seen every version of what he does, Lazarus is proof he has at least one more trick worth watching.
Looksmaxxing influencer Braden Peters — better known online as Clavicular — has been at the center of several controversies.
Peters gained a substantial internet following after joining the “looksmaxxing” community, described as a group of men who “obsess over physical self-improvement in the hope that it’ll improve their dating odds,” according to a February 2026 GQ story.
In April 2026, Peters went viral when he abruptly ended and walked off the set of a sit-down with 60 Minutes Australia correspondent Adam Hegarty. Days later, Us Weekly confirmed that Peters had “suffered a suspected overdose” and had “since been hospitalized.”
The looksmaxxing influencer faced legal trouble in September 2026 when he was reportedly charged with rape and drugging a person for sex. He appeared to deny the accusations by tweeting: “Happens to all successful young men, people try to come for your money. Greed is evil.”
Scroll down to see his biggest controversies:
Clavicular Hospitalized After Suspected Overdose
One day after his hospitalization, Peters posted a selfie to X with blood visible on his face.
“Just got home, that was brutal. All of the substances are just a cope trying to feel neurotypical while being in public, but obviously that isn’t a real solution,” he wrote. “The worst part of tonight was my face descending from the life support mask.”
Hours later, Clavicular shared that he would be appearing at the grand opening of the Bacara nightclub in Miami, Florida.
“Hey guys, I’m all good. Bacara Club grand opening is still tonight, so I will see you guys at 12 [a.m.],” Clavicular said via his Instagram Story at the time.
Following the incident, Us confirmed that Clavicular’s rep quit.
“Clavicular’s PR person Mitchell Jackson has quit working with the streamer until he agrees to get treatment for his addiction,” journalist Taylor Lorenz reported via X in April 2026. “Clavicular recently left the hospital against medical advice after an OD incident.”
Aleksandra Vasilevna Mendoza Sues Clavicular
According to court documents obtained by Us, influencer Aleksandra Vasilevna Mendoza filed a lawsuit against Peters for fraud, battery and causing emotional distress. Mendoza alleged that Peters wanted her to serve as the female face of looksmaxxing, and she said the two met when she was 16.
Court documents alleged that Peters had sex with Mendoza “while she was knowingly intoxicated, to the point where she was unable to give consent” and that he referred to these encounters as a “pump and dump.”
The filing further alleged that Peters wanted to inject Mendoza’s face with a product to “melt fat on her cheeks,” during which he “stated or implied that he was acting with medical authority, including by referring to himself as a doctor or otherwise holding himself out as qualified to perform the injection.” Mendoza’s attorneys argued that Peters was not authorized to inject their client in November 2026. The alleged session was livestreamed.
“Peters intentionally injected Mendoza with an unapproved drug without consent, causing physical and psychological injuries to her,” the documents stated. “Under Florida law, these acts constitute battery.”
Peters’ attorney, Steve Kramer, denied the allegations in a statement to Us. “We are aware of the complaint recently filed against Mr. Peters,” Kramer said. “These are allegations only and remain unproven. Mr. Peters denies the claims and disputes the characterization of events. He will respond through the appropriate legal channels and intends to vigorously defend himself.”
Clavicular Arrested for Misdemeanor Battery
In March 2026, Peters was arrested in Fort Lauderdale and charged with misdemeanor battery. The bond was set at $1,000. (Us reached out to Peters’ rep for comment at the time.)
Us learned that there was a fight between Peters’ girlfriend, Violet Marie Lentz, and Jenny Popach — who previously went viral for breaking into the Hype House in June 2020. Peters was present for the incident.
Clavicular Avoided Jail Time After Shooting Allegedly Dead Alligator
Hours prior to his arrest in March 2026, Peters shot an already-dead alligator in the Florida Everglades during a livestream. Us understands that the alligator was dead when the influencer received permission from the boat’s driver to shoot it.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was made aware of the incident and issued a statement. “The FWC is aware of a video depicting individuals in the Everglades on an airboat who appear to be discharging firearms at an alligator,” the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a statement on X.
In May 2026, Peters was sentenced to six months of probation. He pleaded no contest to the charge of unlawfully discharging a firearm in public and avoided jail time as part of the plea agreement. The influencer must complete 20 hours of community service — which could not be livestreamed — and take a firearms safety course, per the New York Times.
If Peters follows the terms of the plea deal, the charge will be removed from his record. His lawyer, Jeffrey Neiman, said in a statement that the influencer “accepted responsibility for his conduct and reached a resolution that appropriately reflects the circumstances of this incident.”
“No individual was injured, and the alligator involved was already deceased prior to the events at issue,” he added.
Clavicular’s YouTube Channels Get Shut Down
In April 2026, Peters confirmed that two of his YouTube channels were shut down. In emails allegedly from YouTube shared by Peters, the channels were removed following “severe or repeated violations” of the website’s Community Guidelines.
“Very sad news this morning. My YouTube channels @ LiveWithClav & @ ClavLooksmax were terminated this morning with no warning or explanation,” he wrote via X at the time. “The channels consisted of livestream VODs and free courses created by me to help empower young men to be the best versions of themselves.”
“Me and my team worked hard to ensure we followed YouTube’s TOS very strictly, blurring out all inapproriate [sic] language and sensitive topics,” Clavicular’s social media post continued, tagging YouTube. “Could you please help in recovering my accounts?”
YouTube confirmed the termination in a separate statement. “We terminated the creator’s original channel back in November 2025,” a spokesperson for the platform told The Hollywood Reporter. “We removed these additional channels under our terms of service, which prohibit creating new channels after a termination.”
Clavicular Walks Off ‘’60 Minutes Australia’
In an interview that aired in April 2026, 60 Minutes Australia correspondent Hegarty asked Peters whether he identifies as an incel.
“How could you ask me that question as a follow-up after you asked me about my relationships to women? I mean, that’s quite literally the worst sequence of questions I think I’ve ever heard,” Peters said.
When Hegarty rephrased the question and pointed out that the “looksmaxxing” term originated in the incel community and asked about the associated, Peters replied, “I’m not linked to that group in any way.”
He continued, “Looksmaxxing is self improvement, right? So it’s about potentially even ascending out of that category. So that would be kind of one of the goals is to disassociate from being an incel and overcome that. So that doesn’t make sense.”
After Hegarty asked about his associations with controversial figures like Andrew Tate, Peters walked off and had his mic removed. A spokesperson for Peters told People: “When the journalist pressed him on a topic that isn’t of his expertise, Clavicular shut him down.”
Clavicular Placed Under Citizen’s Arrest in Shocking Video
On July 24, 2026, Clavicular’s friend and fellow influencer, Drago, posted a 5-minute video showing him involved in a scuffle with a security worker or bodyguard outside Miami’s City Hall over an apparent disagreement in a nearby club. In the footage, Clavicular is quickly wrestled to the asphalt and held in a headlock for close to three minutes.
Shortly after Clavicular complained that he couldn’t breathe, police arrived to separate the two parties. The video showed Clavicular later sitting in the backseat of a squad car while speaking to an officer, though there is no record that he was arrested.
Us reached out to the Miami-Dade Police Department for comment.
Following the incident, Clavicular paid tribute to Drago for documenting the incident, writing via X, “Drago is my right hand man, absolute legend. W Drago.”
Clavicular Was Charged With Rape and Drugging a Minor in 2026
In September 2026, The Bulwark reported that Clavicular was facing three criminal charges in Massachusetts, including rape and drugging a person for sex. The accusations were made by a minor accuser over an alleged incident that took place in Cape Cod in May 2025.
Clavicular seemingly responded to the accusations by sharing an alleged personal letter of thanks from the accuser and multiple private videos.
“Trying to get my attention in anyway [SIC] possible, a lawsuit? Seriously… really petty of you,” he tweeted.
A spokesperson for the influencer told The Hollywood Reporter, “Clavicular has not been physically served. As usual, the Bulwark is exaggerating the status of a case to boost traffic.”
The details of this criminal case are similar to those made in a lawsuit filed by teenage influencer Aleksandra Vasilevna Mendoza earlier this year, though it was not immediately clear whether they were connected.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
When it comes to writing long, epic fantasy sagas, it can be hard to maintain consistency. Just look at Robert Jordan‘s The Wheel of Time, for example. At 15 novels long, many fans consider books seven through 10 to be a major downturn in quality. Not that the books are bad; it’s just that they certainly don’t live up to the quality of the rest of the series.
Every so often, though, an author is able to hit the ground running and keep their pace until they hit the finish line. This rare breed of fantasy novel often winds up becoming a piece of literary history, skyrocketing in popularity to attract millions of fans. Though it’s not super common, it’s not impossible. These are the best fantasy book series in which every installment is a masterpiece, rare achievements in literature that somehow get more impressive with each passing day.
‘Malazan: Book of the Fallen’ (1999-2011)
Steven Erikson‘s broader Malazan universe is actually still ongoing, with numerous spin-offs and prequels coming out, some of which are even written by other authors. However, the main sequence of events, Malazan: Book of the Fallen, is very much over, and is widely considered the strong point of the entire series. This epic fantasy series is a massive anthology of 10 whopping volumes, all following a complex and dark narrative.
The story is set in the Malazan Empire, a realm that has expanded to cover the entirety of a continent. Now, the oppressive regime sets its sights on a continent across the sea, seeking to expand its borders through conquest. The Malazan series received critical acclaim, with each volume getting stellar reviews, some of them from other prestigious fantasy authors. Ten books is kind of a tall order when it comes to consistency, since it can be hard for a writer to maintain that momentum for over a decade, yet Erikson pulls it off flawlessly. The Malazan series is considered one of the greatest modern fantasy series, one that every fan should know.
The ‘Earthsea’ Cycle (1968-2018)
The Earthsea Cycle consists of six mainline novels, which came out between 1968 and 2001. This is a long time to wait between each book, of course, but at least it shows that Ursula K. Le Guin spent time and care on her beloved series. In any event, that’s not all the series has to offer: there are also several short stories to check out. The story is set on the titular planet of Earthsea, a flooded world that is mostly ocean, dotted only by a few island realms. Dragons roam the skies, and there is conflict between the human islands on the planet’s surface.
Earthsea is considered one of the most classic and quintessential fantasy series ever written, mostly because it feels so realistic. Even though it’s fiction, the empires and politics of Earthsea feel so real, almost like they could actually exist. Le Guin did very well fleshing out her cultures and her history, ensuring this series never gets boring. It’s perpetually fascinating, so much so that it wouldn’t be wrong to say that every single book in the series is a masterpiece of its own.
‘The Broken Empire’ Trilogy (2011-2013)
The Broken Empire Trilogy isn’t very long, but that only ensures it doesn’t overstay its welcome. Written by Mark Lawrence, the story is set in the eponymous Broken Empire, a shattered collection of realms encompassing Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia following a nuclear apocalypse. With the remnants of humanity reverted to the Dark Ages centuries after the bombs detonated, society has devolved into perpetual conflict. In what is today the Rhineland region, a young prince named Jorg Ancrath denies his father’s legacy and begins leading his own band of mercenaries across the wetlands of the Rhine.
Jorg is a self-described sociopath, cruel and callous, seeing his fellow mercenaries as nothing more than disposable pawns in a massive political game of chess. He commits horrific acts of violence just for fun and doesn’t seem at all capable of forming genuine friendships. While this makes him a morally reprehensible protagonist, it also makes him a fascinating read. As magical forces and strange beasts emerge from the wastelands, Jorg is only concerned with one thing: attaining as much power as humanly possible. This trilogy is the first in a broader universe that Lawrence created, which extends to some of his other books. However, this series is also his most consistent. Every single one of the books in the trilogy is so brilliantly written that it feels like a character study into the mind of a deeply disturbed and traumatized individual. It doesn’t glorify violence; rather, it explains why violence happens and paints a harrowing picture of how the search for power can often end in disaster.
The ‘Mistborn’ Saga (2006-)
Brandon Sanderson is known for his shared literary universe known as the Cosmere. The basic premise of the universe is that each series or stand-alone story is set on its own planet in the same galaxy, each one with a unique and highly complex magic system. Some of these series, like The Stormlight Archive, for example, are kind of up and down. While none of them are by any means bad, their quality can ebb and flow a bit. Mistborn, however, is not one of those series.
Mistborn is sort of the “main” sequence of the Cosmere, which is set to be one massive series comprised of four or five distinct eras. The first era is a Medieval urban fantasy set in the city of Luthadel, concerning the attempt to overthrow the Lord Ruler’s oppressive regime and prevent the coming end of the world. The second era is a steampunk story with a Western twist, which is mainly about stopping wars and putting criminals to justice. So far, there are two short stories, one novella, and seven mainline novels. Of the novels, all of them are masterpieces. Each era has its own distinct charm, sense of humour, and lovable cast of characters. The quality in this one is just top-notch at all times. It’ll be exciting to see what the remaining eras bring to the series.
‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy (1954-1955)
J. R. R. Tolkien‘s The Lord of the Rings trilogy became famous for a reason. Tolkien was known to have developed a sprawling extended universe and mythology, creating entire languages, thousands of years of history, and highly detailed maps, all centred on his fictitious world commonly known as Middle-Earth. The Lord of the Rings is but a small part of this impressive legendarium. The trilogy, as many already know thanks to the incredible films that came out in the early 2000s, is about a quest to destroy a magical ring to stop the spreading influence of the Dark Lord Sauron.
Each book in the trilogy is split into two parts: one following the hobbits on their quest to destroy the Ring, and another featuring Aragorn as he wages war against Sauron, in an effort to divert his attention away from the hobbits. Contained within these pages are cinematic battle sequences, heroic tales of love and sacrifice, and the fight for the greater good. There’s moral wisdom to be found, and a plethora of inspiring moments, which is why fantasy fans keep coming back to them over and over again. To call this trilogy a masterpiece would honestly be kind of an understatement.
Arguably, the biggest challenge that Avengers: Doomsday presents for the Russo Brothers is finding screen time for the entire roster of Marvel Comics’ superheroes across both the MCU and the 20th Century Fox era. Of course, that pales in comparison to the headache that would have accompanied the inclusion of the 80,000+ characters that are peppered throughout the long history of Marvel’s comic books.
Not that anyone’s complaining: the lineup as it stands, a healthy cross-section of heroes both well-known and, at least at one point in time, obscure (we’re looking at you, Guardians of the Galaxy) is still enough to make us nerds of the world drool. Still, there are a number of Marvel heroes who are deserving of the big screen, and if not for the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars, then at least in Phase 7 of the MCU. Here are the ten that should be at the top of the list, in no particular order.
10
Howard the Duck
Wait, wasn’t there already a Howard the Duck movie? Why yes, yes there was. And it sucked. For that reason alone, the cynical, short-tempered anthropomorphic duck deserves another shot. Plus, his cameos in the Guardian of the Galaxy movies and Marvel’s What If…? series were well-received, teasing a potential future in the MCU that has yet to manifest. Just make it happen, Kevin Feige.
9
Alpha Flight
Everyone knows Wolverine as a member of the X-Men, but his roots lie north of Lake Ontario in the Great White North, Canada, and superhero team Alpha Flight. Overseen by the Canadian military and answering directly to the Canadian Prime Minister, Alpha Flight is, for all intents and purposes, the Canadian Avengers. Founded by scientist James Hudson (who, along with his wife Heather, found Wolverine in the wild after the Weapon X program and nursed him back to health), the team consisted of Wolverine; Hudson, whose exosuit gave him powers as Guardian; twin mutants Jean-Paul and Jeanne-Marie Beaubier, known respectively as Northstar and Aurora, with powers of super-speed and light generation; Walter Langkowski, aka the giant fur-covered Hulk-like beast Sasquatch; First Nations medicine man Michael Twoyoungmen, aka Shaman; and Snowbird, an Inuk demi-goddess.
Their ties to the very popular Wolverine are well-documented, and with the X-Men poised to center the MCU’s Phase 7, it certainly wouldn’t be difficult to bring in Alpha Flight. Like Captain Britain, it adds an international element, albeit much closer to home, that would be a welcome element. And they’d certainly be much more polite.
8
Squirrel Girl
Canadian Doreen Green learned that she could communicate with squirrels at the age of 10, along with other squirrel-like abilities and a prehensile tail, the result of an unknown modification in her genes (but not a mutant). In her first appearance in 1991, Doreen, now 14, finds Iron Man in a forest and works hard to convince him that she should be his sidekick. Her and her pet squirrel Monkey Joe, that is. Doreen makes a solid case for it by rescuing Iron Man from Doctor Doom (!) with the help of a horde of squirrels (which she would also use to take out Maelstrom later on). He still declines her request, but does offer to put in a good word for her to the Avengers when she’s older. Years later, now living in New York City, Squirrel Girl joins the Great Lakes Avengers, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Squirrel Girl is a fun, fun character and deceptively powerful in her own right (did we mention she took out Doctor Doom?), and she’s already been tossed around as a possible addition to the MCU, with Anna Kendrick attached to the role. And if the Great Lakes Avengers does become a thing as hoped, then BOOM. Done. But why should I convince you of Squirrel Girl’s awesomeness when Collider already has?
7
Captain Britain
Captain Britain was created as an exclusive British character to serve as the flagship title of Marvel UK, debuting in the pages of Captain Britain #1 in October 1976, and while three people have held the title, the name most commonly associated with the character is also the first: Brian Braddock. Hailing from the town of Maldon in Essex, Brian left his home after the loss of his parents (believed to be due to a lab accident before later revealed as murder) to study at the Thames University in London. He also spent downtime working at the Darkmoor Nuclear Research Facility, which unfortunately timed with it being attacked by the Reaver. Brian escaped and tried to get help, but the Reaver ran his motorcycle off the road and down a cliff.
Brian lay fatally wounded, but was woken by Merlyn, the magician, and his daughter, Roma. They offered him the chance to save his life by selecting either the Amulet of Right or the Sword of Might. Brian chose the amulet, transforming into Captain Britain and defeating the Reaver. From that point on, whenever needed, all Brian had to do was touch the amulet and become Captain Britain. The character has a strong connection with the X-Men, given his twin sister Betsy, who also held the mantle of Captain Britain, is on the team of mutants as Psylocke, so it would be an easy progression in Phase 7. It would also give the MCU an international element that is largely missing.
6
Nova
A film centered on Nova is reportedly already in the pipeline (and teased to a degree with the Nova Corps’ prominent role in Guardians of the Galaxy), as well it should be. As the story goes, the last surviving member of Xandar’s elite Nova Corps, Rhomann Dey, selects New York high school student Richard Rider to replace him. As a Nova Centurion, Rider has the uniform and powers that come with the role, derived from the Nova Force, giving him powers of flight, superhuman strength, speed, and the ability to redirect energy used against him as gravimetric pulses and beams. But without instructions, Rider has a steep learning curve ahead of him.
Nova has elements of Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, The Greatest American Hero and DC’s Green Lantern Corps all rolled into one, so it’s not all that surprising the character would be on the radar for his own feature. It’s probably more surprising that it hasn’t happened already.
5
Spider-Woman
Reportedly created to fast-track the copyright on the name “Spider-Woman,” the character, introduced in 1977, found success quickly. Her origin, retconned in 2006, saw Jessica Drew gain her powers in her infancy, the result of experiments performed on her by her father that added the genome of a spider to her own. It gave her great strength and agility, the power to generate venom blasts, wall-crawling and the ability to release disruptive pheromones, but also led to her being in a coma state for years. When she was revived, Hydra manipulated her into becoming an agent, but Jessica soon realized their criminal intent and turned to fighting crime as the vigilante Spider-Woman, and as a private investigator in her Jessica Drew persona.
Spider-Woman should have her own film, and as of this writing, there are 2.4 billion plus reasons why. The phenomenal success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day has thrown the doors open for expanding on its success, and a Spider-Woman movie would definitely fit the bill. The private investigator angle, plus the variances in her comparable abilities, are also positives, setting her aside just enough so that a storyline doesn’t, or at least shouldn’t, feel repetitive and less opportunistic.
4
Blue Marvel
Created by Kevin Grevioux and Mat Broome, Adam Brashear was a former fullback at Cornell before enrolling in the Marines to serve in the Korean War. Following the war, Brashear turned to science, and headed an initiative to harness anti-matter from the Negative Zone as a source of power. Only the reactor for the project became unstable, raining radiation on Brashear and turning him into a superpowered “antimatter reactor”: Blue Marvel. Super strength, stamina, speed, capable of manipulating energy, light, and anti-matter thanks to the accident, in addition to his hand-to-hand combat skills, Blue Marvel is powerful… and Black.
It’s the latter that makes Blue Marvel a strong candidate for a film. A Black superhero forced to retire in the 1960s after his secret identity is revealed, sparking outrage from the public that their hero wasn’t white, speaks to a racism that is as prevalent today as it ever was. And with news surrounding Michael B. Jordan‘s Black Superman project, Val Zod, scarce, having a movie about a Black man who is, for all intents and purposes, Superman-like, would certainly fill that void.
3
The Great Lakes Avengers
In the pages of West Coast Avengers #46 (July 1989), Craig Hollis is left for dead after being shot by thieves, only he doesn’t die. In fact, he can’t die: Craig Hollis learns the hard way that he’s immortal. So he decides to become Mr. Immortal, crime-fighter, only the art of simply not dying isn’t entirely feasible for working alone. To that end, he places an ad in a local Milwaukee newspaper, looking for others like himself. Answering the call are Dinah Soar, a humanoid pterosaur with flight and sonic scream abilities; Ashley Crawford, aka Big Bertha, who can alter size and mass; Flatman (Dr. Val Ventura), who is, well, flat; and DeMarr Davis, aka Doorman, who can teleport people and/or objects through solid matter by using his own body.
Together, they form the Great Lakes Avengers… no, the Lightning Rods. Nope. S.W.O.R.D. The Great Lakes X-Men? The Great Lakes Champions? No, it circled back to the Great Lakes Avengers. As you can gather, they’re more comedic in nature, satirical misfits in the vein of Mystery Men. Like that cult classic, there’s potential to have a lot of fun with the Great Lakes Avengers, and a film in the MCU that exists solely as a goofy comedy would bring something refreshing to the table.
2
Beta Ray Bill
What do you get when you cross Thor and Mr. Ed? Korbinite warrior Beta Ray Bill, a character created by Walt Simonson for The Mighty Thor #337 in 1983. He was the assigned protector of a ship filled with Korbinite refugees, left homeless after Surtur destroys their home planet, and when Thor approaches the ship, Beta Ray Bill assumes the worst, given his powers are similar to Surtur’s, and attacks. They fight, with Beta Ray Bill coming out on top and claiming Mjölnir for himself, the first time anyone outside Asgard was deemed worthy to do so. So worthy that Odin orders the dwarves of Svartalfheim to build a new hammer for Beta Ray Bill from the same metal as Mjölnir: Stormbreaker.
His unique equine look is purposeful, with Simonson saying, “I designed Bill deliberately as a monster, because I knew that people would look at it and go, ‘Oh my God, it’s this evil guy.’ I deliberately wrote them so you weren’t sure in the beginning if he was a good guy or a bad guy.” It worked fabulously, with Beta Ray Bill quickly becoming a fan favorite as a staunch, honorable ally of Thor’s over the years. He’s a character fans would love to see come alive on screen, and certainly in a bigger manner than the passing “cameo” he was given in Thor: Ragnarok. As his history would suggest, he’s certainly worthy.
1
Ka-Zar
The first Ka-Zar, David Rand, appeared in the pulp magazine Ka-Zar #1 in October 1936 from Manvis Publishing before moving over to Timely Comics, which would eventually become Marvel Comics, meaning Ka-Zar is, technically, Marvel’s first comic book hero. He was also more brazenly a Tarzan wannabe, whose last appearance was in Marvel Mystery Comics #27 in 1942. He would find new life in 1965, recreated by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby for The X-Men #10 as Kevin Reginald, Lord Plunder, the son of an English nobleman. His father is the one who discovered the Savage Land, a region hidden in Antarctica populated by dinosaurs, and was killed soon after. Luckily, a saber-toothed cat named Zabu of near-human intelligence, found and raised him.
He would grow to become the unofficial protector of the Savage Land, which is where his encounters with the larger Marvel universe stem from. He’s fought alongside the X-Men, the Avengers, Daredevil and the Hulk against the likes of Terminus, Kraven the Hunter, and even Thanos, who he beat in hand-to-hand combat in 1998’s Ka-Zar #11. Oh, and he also happened to be a herald of Galactus between 2021 and 2023. Long story short, Ka-Zar has crossed paths with a lot of other heroes and villains, most of which are already in, or about to be, in the MCU, so there is a natural connection there, and seeing the Savage Land — and Shanna the She-Devil — on film would be pretty sweet. Besides, at 90-years-old and counting, Ka-Zar’s put in his time.
Taylor Sheridan gained a reputation for bringing the Western back to TV, most notably through Yellowstone and its fleet of spinoffs. However, he did produce another Western that follows a real-life figure in Lawmen: Bass Reeves. Starring David Oyelowo in the title role, Lawmen: Bass Reeves chronicles Reeves’ career as a deputy U.S. Marshal who holds a staggering record of 3,000 arrests. It’s one of Sheridan’s more underrated projects, but worth a watch for Western fans and history buffs alike. Later this year, Netflix is bringing a wildly different take on Bass Reeves’s story to life with a new anime series.
The series, titled Bass X Machina, stars Brian Tyree Henry (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) as Reeves, and will also cover his career as a lawman. However, that’s where the similarities end, since Bass X Machina is taking a sci-fi approach to Reeves’ story, according to its official logline.
“In a lawless Steampunk West overrun by brutal outlaws, machines, and supernatural terrors, a father is forced to become judge, jury, and executioner — knowing that every act of justice meant to protect his family may ultimately cost him the very people he’s fighting to save.”
In addition to facing off against massive steam-powered robots and fighting on floating trains, Bass X Machina also features Reeves packing a cybernetic arm with a collection of guns built into it. Bass X Machina might be an unorthodox approach to such a legendary figure, but it definitely stands out from what Oyelowo and Sheridan brought to the table.
A Legendary Animation Studio Is Bringing ‘Bass X Machina’ to Life
Based on the exclusive sneak peekNetflix shared with Collider, Bass X Machina is going to be a gorgeous-looking anime. Everything from Reeves’ movements to the mechanical monstrosities he fights immediately draws the eye, thanks to fluid motion and a unique design that keeps the Western aesthetic intact. Studio Mir handles the animation for Bass X Machina; if that name sounds familiar, it’s because this studio has produced some of the biggest hits in modern animation. Studio Mir rose to prominence with Avatar: The Last Airbender and has continued to work on other projects like X-Men ’97 and My Adventures with Superman. It’s also maintained a steady relationship with Netflix after animating Devil May Cry, which features the same over-the-top elements as Bass X Machina.
Bass X Machina also features the creative talents of LeSean Thomas, who developed the series and serves as its executive producer alongside Brian Tyree Henry. If Taylor Sheridan has become synonymous with bringing Westerns to television, then Thomas is synonymous with working on anime and anime-influenced products. His prior work includes The Legend of Korra and The Boondocks, and he also created original anime like Cannon Busters for Netflix. This pedigree means that Bass X Machina will stand out among Netflix’s anime offerings.
Before ‘Bass X Machina,’ Netflix Delivered Another Anime Based on a Historical Figure
Image via Netflix
Ironically, Bass X Machina won’t be the first time that LeSean Thomas filtered a historical figure’s story through the lens of anime. In 2021, Thomas brought Yasuke to the streamer, teaming with legendary anime studio MAPPA (Attack on Titan) in the process. Like Bass X Machina, Yasuke tells the real-life story of the titular Black samurai; it also weaves supernatural elements into its narrative as Yasuke (voiced by LaKeith Stanfield) faces off against a legion of demons and steampunk warriors. Thomas’ approach to Black history may be unorthodox, but it adds real variety to the types of Black stories told on screen.
The life of Bass Reeves has inspired many forms of pop culture, including the Lone Ranger. Bass X Machina is the latest attempt, and it looks like Netflix is pulling out all the stops to make this a series worth watching.
Bass X Machina premieres on Netflix on November 3. Lawmen: Bass Reeves is currently available to stream on Paramount+.
- Release Date
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2023 – 2023-00-00
- Network
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Paramount+
There’s a specific way you sit differently when a show is actually working on you, leaning forward, phone facedown, not even reaching for a snack during a tense scene because you don’t want to miss a single second. These five all do that to me at some point, sometimes for a whole episode straight.
None of them rely purely on jump scares or gore to get that reaction either. Most of the tension here comes from not knowing who to trust, or knowing exactly what’s coming and still not being able to look away from it. These are by far the most chilling and thrilling suspenseful shows released so far.
5
‘The Night Agent’ (2023–2025)
A phone in the White House basement hasn’t rung in years, and Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso), the agent assigned to babysit it, has basically accepted his job as a dead-end nobody who no one takes seriously. Then one night it actually rings, which pulls him into a conspiracy involving a mole buried somewhere inside the White House. Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan) ends up on the run alongside him almost immediately, and the show barely slows down from there.
It’s based on a novel by Matthew Quirk, trimmed down to keep the momentum constant from episode to episode. Netflix reported it as one of the most-watched shows in the platform’s history within its first few weeks. There’s nothing groundbreaking about the plot mechanics, betrayals, twists, a countdown clock, but the paranoid momentum works because the pacing never really lets up.
4
‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ (2023)
Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood), head of a massively wealthy pharmaceutical company, watches his children die one by one, each death staged as its own twisted homage to a different Edgar Allan Poe story. Mike Flanagan built the whole show as a retelling that stitches together nearly Poe’s entire body of work into one family tragedy. Verna (Carla Gugino) shows up throughout as a strange, shape-shifting figure tied to a deal Roderick made decades earlier.
This was Flanagan’s last project for Netflix before he moved his team to Amazon, and it plays like a director cashing in every favor he’d been saving up for years. The pharmaceutical angle gives the gothic horror a sharp, contemporary edge, tying old ghost story tropes directly to real corporate greed. Each death sequence works almost like its own short film, distinct in tone from the one before it.
3
‘Severance’ (2022– )
Employees at Lumon Industries can undergo a procedure that splits their memory in half, one version exists only at work, the other lives a normal life with zero memory of the job. Mark Scout (Adam Scott) works there to escape grief he doesn’t want to carry all day. Ben Stiller directs several episodes, and the office gets shot with a sterile precision.
The mystery of what Lumon actually does moves so carefully that fan theories have filled in gaps the show hasn’t addressed yet. Every small detail in the office design matters eventually, nothing here is just background decoration. The show also finds a dark comedy buried inside the dread, corporate jargon and meaningless perks used as tools of control rather than kindness.
2
‘The Last of Us’ (2023– )
A fungal infection turns most of the population into something closer to a hive-minded monster than a traditional zombie, and Joel (Pedro Pascal) gets hired to escort a teenage girl named Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across a devastated America. Ellie turns out to be immune, which might make her the key to an actual cure. The show keeps most of the game’s emotional beats while expanding certain side characters well beyond their original scope.
Episode three, a mostly standalone story about two survivors named Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett), became one of the most talked-about hours of television that year, and it barely features either lead. The infected stay frightening throughout, but the frightening parts usually comes from other survivors willing to do horrible things just to protect what little they have left.
1
‘Squid Game’ (2021–2025)
Hundreds of deeply indebted people get recruited to play deadly children’s games for a massive cash prize, and Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) signs up out of pure desperation. The show is a direct allegory for capitalism and class inequality, and that message stays sharp without overwhelming the tension of watching people die playing tug-of-war. The bright, pastel production design makes every death feel more jarring by contrast.
It became Netflix’s most-watched show ever within weeks, turning a niche Korean production into a global phenomenon almost overnight. Each character represents a different kind of desperation, debt, addiction, loyalty, survival instinct, without feeling like a simple morality lesson. Later seasons expanded the story further, but this first outing remains the tightest, most purely tense version of the concept.
Squid Game
- Release Date
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2021 – 2025
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Directors
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Hwang Dong-hyuk
-
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Wi Ha-jun
Detective Hwang Jun-ho
Fantasy movies have a unique ability to make audiences forget about the real world for a couple of hours. They can take us to magical lands filled with fantastical beings or transport those fascinating creatures to our world. These movies are often a gamble because they’re so hard to get right, but franchises like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings have become household names and have legions of devoted fans.
In this list, you will find only enjoyable fantasy movies, ranging from beloved animated adventures to epic trilogies and wildly entertaining blockbusters. Some of them are inspired by original stories, and some are exemplary adaptations from their source materials. These movies have the power to connect with the audience and make them wish they lived and breathed the same air as the characters in their world.
‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ (2023)
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves follows Edgin (Chris Pine), who escapes from prison alongside his barbarian friend Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) and sets out to reunite with his daughter. But the wizard Sofina (Daisy Head) has taken over Neverwinter, so Edgin assembles a ragtag crew consisting of Holga, the inexperienced sorcerer Simon (Justice Smith), and the druid Doric (Sophia Lillis) to defeat the wizard and find his way back to his daughter.
Unlike the maligned 2000 movie adaptation that depicts the D&D universe as a generic fantasy world, this Dungeons & Dragons film is able to emulate the experience of playing the popular role-playing game. It has the unique elements and embraces the unpredictability of an actual tabletop adventure: plans go wrong, spells do not work as they’re intended, and characters frequently fail, or even one character is hilariously overpowered. The result is a breezy, fun and funny adventure film that is both rich and entertaining. It’s just a shame that the film did not meet the numbers it needed to reach at the box office, effectively closing the chances for a sequel.
‘Labyrinth’ (1986)
Labyrinth follows Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), a teenager who becomes frustrated with having to babysit her infant half-brother and impulsively wishes for him to be taken away. Her wish is granted by the Goblin King Jareth (David Bowie), who carries Toby into his kingdom and gives Sarah only thirteen hours to find him.
The sheer imagination of Labyrinth is what makes it so satisfying. Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets and The Dark Crystal, fills nearly every corner of the film with something strange to look at. The practical creatures are a marvel in themselves to watch, yet the movie is more than a collection of memorable visuals. Jennifer Connelly delivers a breakthrough performance, while David Bowie gives an unpredictable and weird sense of fun to Jareth. The film was not a success at the box office, but it has since been reappraised and emerged as a cult classic.
‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ (1989)
Kiki’s Delivery Service follows the titular Kiki, a thirteen-year-old witch who leaves home with her black cat Jiji as part of the traditional year-long journey for young witches to become independent. She settles in the seaside city of Koriko, where she begins a delivery service using her ability to fly. While she’s excited about living on her own, she also struggles to prove that she can succeed on her own.
Unlike the other fantasy movies on this list, Kiki’s Delivery Service is smaller in scale, a slice-of-life story in a fantastical world. It turns something as simple as delivering a package into a delightful adventure. This coming-of-age film captures the excitement of being young and independent while also acknowledging that freedom can be intimidating and lonely. Kiki becomes a very relatable protagonist because her challenges are so relevant and close to us. Hayao Miyazaki‘s warm touch to everyday details makes the film engaging and heartwarming to watch.
‘The Mummy’ (1999)
The Mummy follows Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser), who joins librarian and aspiring Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) on an expedition to the ancient Egyptian city of Hamunaptra. Their search for treasure leads them to the tomb of Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), an ancient priest who was condemned to eternal punishment after attempting to resurrect his forbidden lover. When Imhotep is accidentally awakened, Rick, Evelyn and their group must find a way to stop the resurrected mummy from unleashing his wrath.
Put this in the category of “they don’t make movies like this anymore.” Stephen Sommers The Mummy is an unashamedly fun adventure film with a feel and atmosphere rarely found today, combining elements of the monster movie, romantic comedy, and supernatural horror. Fraser’s Rick O’Connell is an immediately likable action hero, Evelyn brings intelligence and enthusiasm to the adventure, and their chemistry gives the movie a surprisingly warm center. With memorable moments, like the Mummy face sandstorm and those creepy beetles, the film is an enduring fan favorite. Fans will be entertained by another adventure in the highly anticipated The Mummy 4.
‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)
The Princess Bride follows Buttercup (Robin Wright), who believes her true love Westley (Cary Elwes) has been killed, only to discover that he has returned years later as the mysterious Man in Black. After Buttercup is kidnapped by a trio consisting of the scheming Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), the enormous Fezzik (Andre the Giant), and the master swordsman Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin), Westley sets out to rescue her.
Directed by Rob Reiner, The Princess Bride is an inconceivably perfect fantasy film. It has sword fights, castles, pirates, romance, revenge, and impossible rescues, but it approaches all of them with a playful sense of humor that makes it feel breezy and light. At the same time, its comedy never completely destroys the fantasy because the characters genuinely care about what happens to one another. Audiences can never forget the eccentric trio, especially Inigo Montoya. The film is endlessly quotable and just very cozy to be revisited anytime.
‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ (2005)
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe follows siblings Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anne Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy Pevensie (Georgie Henley), who stumble into a magical world hidden inside an old wardrobe. Lucy is the first to enter Narnia, where she encounters the faun Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy), but her siblings initially doubt her story. When all four eventually enter the wardrobe, they discover a kingdom trapped in an endless winter by the White Witch (Tilda Swinton).
The first Narnia film is a Christmas classic that can also be enjoyed all year round. Its premise that there’s a magical world just behind a wardrobe is every child’s dream. The four Pevensie siblings are also great protagonists. There is something genuinely exciting about watching the world expand from Lucy’s first meeting with Mr. Tumnus into a big high-stakes conflict. Drawing from the rich C.S. Lewis novel, the film is not afraid to be serious, most notably in the final battle, which has an outstanding blend of on-location shooting, practical effects and CGI. A new generation of audiences will be treated to a new Narnia film, directed by Greta Gerwig next year.
‘How to Train Your Dragon’ (2010)
How to Train Your Dragon centers on Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), a young Viking living on the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is considered a necessary part of life. After encountering an injured Night Fury that he names Toothless, Hiccup secretly begins developing a friendship with the creature and discovers that the dragons are not the monsters his community believes them to be.
Based on a popular book series, the movie is a coming-of-age story wrapped in the pure exhilaration of a fantasy adventure. The relationship between Hiccup and Toothless gives the film its emotional center, while the flying sequences are genuinely thrilling, particularly because Toothless feels like a living creature rather than simply a fantasy being. The film also has an excellent sense of humor, a colorful world, memorable supporting characters, and just enough danger to give its emotional moments weight. How to Train Your Dragon became an acclaimed trilogy, and even has a live-action version.
‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy (2001–2003)
The Lord of the Rings trilogy follows a group of different people uniting to destroy the One Ring, which was created by the dark lord Sauron to conquer Middle-earth. At the center of it all is Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), a young hobbit who undertakes the burden of carrying the Ring all the way to Mordor.
Peter Jackson‘s Lord of the Rings trilogy was a game changer in Hollywood, shot back-to-back without any guarantee of success. The cast mostly were not household names, and the films were Jackson’s first foray into big-budget filmmaking. However, the gamble paid off. The trilogy has spectacular CGI, engrossing characters, and large-scale production that is almost unseen in current times. Each film feels like another stage of the same enormous adventure, with events and character arcs building toward genuinely satisfying payoffs. Many attempts have been made to capture the same magic, but the OG The Lord of the Rings trilogy remains untouched.
‘Shrek 2’ (2004)
Shrek 2 picks up after Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona’s (Cameron Diaz) marriage, with the newlyweds returning from their honeymoon only to be invited to meet Fiona’s parents in the kingdom of Far Far Away. The visit quickly becomes awkward when Fiona’s parents discover that their daughter has married an ogre, while Shrek feels that he does not belong in Fiona’s world. Meanwhile, the sneaky Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders) wants Fiona to marry her son, Prince Charming (Rupert Everett).
Shrek 2 might be the best animated sequel ever made. It doubles down on its premise that makes fun of the traditional fairy tale stories while also delivering a truly heartfelt story. New characters like Antonio Banderas‘ Puss in Boots, Prince Charming, and the Fairy Godmother are worthy additions to the story. Packed with smart jokes, pop culture references, and a great soundtrack (“Holding Out for a Hero” is now synonymous with this film), Shrek 2 is a truly satisfying and entertaining film for all ages and every generation.
‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’ (2003)
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl follows Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), who seeks to reclaim his stolen ship from Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush). Jack’s path crosses with Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), the daughter of a British governor, who is kidnapped by Barbossa to lift the curse that befell his crew. Blacksmith Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), who is in love with Elizabeth, joins the adventure to save her.
It must be noted that everyone thought adapting a theme park ride was a bad idea, especially a pirate-themed one. Gore Verbinski proved the world wrong with this swashbuckling fantasy adventure. Led by an eccentric yet never annoying performance by Johnny Depp, the first Pirates film is an exemplary feat of filmmaking. It boasts an iconic soundtrack, challenging CGI effects, and an all-round fun atmosphere. Most of the scenes were shot on location, with an actual Black Pearl set built. The franchise went bigger with the next two films, which many argue could be one of the best blockbuster trilogies of all time.
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Young Thug – Money On Money (feat. Future) [Official Video]
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