Aaron Carter’s ex-fiancée, Melanie Martin, has reached a settlement in her wrongful death lawsuit for the pop star.

According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly, a motion for a determination of good faith was filed on Tuesday, May 12.. The agreement was made in April between Martin, a mental health clinic and a psychiatrist. The group attempted mediation the month prior but did not reach an agreement at that time.

“This motion is made on the ground that the subject settlement was entered into in good faith and … in that it was the result of arms-length negotiations between the parties based on their respective and independent assessments of the probability of a favorable outcome at trial, weighed against the costs of litigation,” the docs read.

Martin, the clinic and the psychiatrist agreed to settle the lawsuit with a “confidential sum.”

Related: Aaron Carter’s Ex-Fiancee Claims His Mom Is Trying to Steal Inheritance

Aaron Carter’s former fiancée Melanie Martin is claiming that the late singer’s mother, Jane Carter, is trying to steal their 4-year-old son’s inheritance. “Hi guys, I’m just going to say it straight up: Aaron’s mother is trying to gain rights to Prince’s inheritance and his name,” Martin, 33, alleged in a Wednesday, December 3, Facebook post.  […]

The other parties involved — which includes a dentist and two additional pharmacies — have been informed of the settlement.

Us reached out to all parties for comment.

Martin initially filed the lawsuit in October 2023 on behalf of her and Carter’s son, Prince, 4. Carter and Martin got engaged in June 2020 but called things off one week after the birth of their son in November 2021. The pair had an on-and-off relationship up until Carter’s death. Prince is the only beneficiary of Carter’s estate.

After his death, Martin claimed that doctors, dentists, mental health clinics and pharmacies who had prescribed him multiple medications were responsible for his passing.

Carter, who was candid about his struggles with drug abuse, was found dead at his California home in November 2022. He was 34. His death was ruled as accidental drowning after inhaling difluoroethane and taking alprazolam.

Martin’s suit alleged that Carter was prescribed hydrocodone, oxycodone and alprazolam with no justification. The lawsuit argued that the drugs and their quantities, plus Carter’s previous mental health issues, should have served as a warning for the medical professionals.

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Related: Aaron Carter’s Mom Jane Fighting His Estate Over Late Pop Star’s Assets

Aaron Carter’s mom was involved in a recent fight with the late pop star’s estate over the value of the assets he left behind, Us Weekly can exclusively report. On January 22, Aileen Federizo, the rep for Carter’s estate, revealed details of the dispute in new court docs. Federizo claimed Carter’s mom, Jane Schneck, did […]

The medical professionals have denied Martin’s allegations and maintained that they provided the standard of care.

Earlier this year, Martin was accused by Carter’s mom, Jane Schneck, of making “illegal” withdrawals from the late singer’s accounts. In February, Schneck claimed Martin withdrew $24,530.57.

Martin denied the allegations in a statement to TMZ, saying, “Jane is uninformed on Aaron’s financials.”

Madonna, Shakira and BTS are set to headline the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show in July.

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association announced the news late Wednesday, May 13, in an Instagram post.

The 2026 World Cup final is set to take place on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

“A FIFA World Cup first, the Halftime Show supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, a landmark initiative working to raise $100 USD million to expand access to quality education and football for children around the world,” FIFA said in its Instagram post. “Throughout the tournament, USD 1 from every ticket sold to FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches will be donated to the Fund.”

Related: 10 Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows Ever, Ranked: Lady Gaga, Beyonce and More

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The first World Cup Halftime Show is curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who revealed the headliners in an Instagram video on Wednesday. The video featured Martin joined by characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets, including Elmo, Cookie Monster, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.

Shakira is already associated with the 2026 World Cup, as she and Nigerian singer Burna Boy provide the official song for the soccer tournament, “Dai Dai,” which was released last week. Shakira previously sang “Waka Waka,” the official theme song for the 2010 World Cup.

While a halftime show is first for the soccer tournament, Madonna and Shakira have both previously headlined the Super Bowl halftime show. Madonna performed during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show in 2012. Shakira coheadlined the Super Bowl LIV halftime show in 2020 with Jennifer Lopez.

Lopez later criticized the NFL’s decision to have two coheadliners for the 2020 event.

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Major League Soccer is officially back, and the league’s hottest players are ready to score. As soccer fans head to stadiums across the country on Saturday, February 21, to celebrate opening day of the 2026 MLS season, several athletes are sure to grab the attention of attendees with their talents. “If you’re an average sports […]

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“We have six f***ing minutes. We have 30 seconds of a song, and if we take a minute, that’s it, we’ve got five left. But there’s got to be certain songs that we sing, though. We have to have our singing moments. It’s not going to be a dance f***ing revue,” Lopez said in her 2022 documentary Halftime. “We have to sing our message. … This is the worst idea in the world to have two people do the Super Bowl. It was the worst idea in the world.”

“Typically, you have one headliner at a Super Bowl. That headliner constructs a show, and, should they choose to have other guests, that’s their choice,” Lopez’s longtime manager, Benny Medina, said in the doc. “It was an insult to say you needed two Latinas to do the job that one artist historically has done.”

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday, June 11.

Lala Kent is feeling “nostalgic” about the drama over Summer House costars Amanda Batula and West Wilson’s new relationship.

“I love it,” Lala, 35, beamed during a Wednesday, May 13, appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. “Who would have thought we’d get to relive [‘Scandoval’]? Like, we get to do it twice.”

She likened the social media furore over Amanda and West’s budding romance to the “Scandoval” drama that erupted on Vanderpump Rules in 2023 when Tom Sandoval’s shocking affair with Rachel ‘Raquel’ Leviss was publicly disclosed. (Tom was in a relationship with Ariana Madix at the time but they subsequently split. Earlier this month, Tom and Ariana finally sold their L.A. home three years after breaking up.)

“We’re so lucky,” Lala joked. “I had Lindsay [Hubbard] on the podcast today and obviously she couldn’t reveal everything [about the upcoming reunion]. But she was like, ‘Just wait!’”

Related: Winter House’s Jordan Emanuel Sounds Off on Amanda and West’s Romance

Even Bravo’s biggest reality stars are shocked by the drama surrounding the cast of Summer House. The internet lit up when Amanda Batula confirmed her romance with BFF and costar Ciara Miller’s ex-boyfriend West Wilson. “Given the complicated relationship dynamics involved and the scrutiny that comes with being on a reality show, we needed a […]

Amanda and West, 34 and 31 respectively, stunned the Bravoverse on March 31 when they revealed they were pursuing a “connection” after repeatedly denying they were dating in the past. (The revelation came mere months after Amanda and estranged husband Kyle Cooke announced their separation in January.)

“We’ve seen the growing online speculation, so while this is still very new, we wanted to provide some clarity,” Amanda and West said in a joint statement in March. “It was never our intention to purposely hide anything. Given the complicated relationship dynamics involved and the scrutiny that comes with being on a reality show, we needed a little space to process things privately before speaking on it.”

They went on, “We’ve shown up for each other as friends over the years, through all the highs and lows, and what’s developed recently was the last thing either of us expected,” they continued. “Our connection grew out of a genuine, longstanding friendship, which made it especially important for us to approach this with care.”

“As our feelings evolved, we wanted to take time to understand exactly what we were feeling. We also recognize that this has had an impact beyond just us and never wanted our actions to cause any hurt or be perceived as careless.,” their statement concluded. “We truly appreciate the understanding and respect as we navigate this.”

In the weeks since the bombshell announcement, questions have emerged over the exact timeline of Amanda and West getting together — as well as bombshell allegations from West’s ex-girlfriend Ciara Miller that he may have also slept with married Real Housewives of New Jersey star Jenn Fessler. (Jenn has repeatedly denied ever hooking up with West and seemingly has threatened legal action against Ciara. The RHONJ alum has been married to her husband, Jeffrey Fessler, since 1999 and they share two children, son Zachary and daughter Rachel.)

Meanwhile, Lala also touched on where she stands with some of her former Vanderpump Rules costars three years after the “Scandoval” drama. She told host Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live on Wednesday that she hasn’t spoken to former close friends James Kennedy and Ariana in a few years.

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Related: What’s Next for ‘Summer House’ and Its Cast After ‘Torturous’ Reunion

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It was the audio leak heard around the world: On April 23, shortly after the cast of Summer House filmed their highly anticipated reunion special in New York City, unauthorized recordings from the set went viral. In the clips, emotions ran high as castmates appeared to press Amanda Batula and West Wilson on their shocking […]

“I haven’t spoken to anybody since that reunion,” she revealed. “Yeah, that’s true.”

Of course, Lala is still in touch with former Vanderpump Rules costars Brittany Cartwright, Tom Schwartz and Kristen Doute because they all appear on Bravo’s VPR spinoff The Valley.

Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen airs on Bravo Sundays through Thursdays.

Taylor Swift is preparing to officially join the Kelce family, but insiders say her relationship with future sister-in-law Kylie Kelce is far different from what fans imagine behind the scenes. 

While the two women reportedly care deeply about each other, sources claim they are simply living in completely different worlds. 

As Swift and Travis Kelce move closer to their highly anticipated summer wedding, the spotlight surrounding the family dynamic has only intensified, especially as Kylie continues trying to balance motherhood with sudden celebrity attention.

Taylor Swift and Kylie may publicly support each other, but insiders insist the two women are not especially close behind closed doors. 

According to sources, the singer and Jason Kelce’s wife simply operate in entirely different stages of life.

“They’re the same age but they just live such different lives. Kylie is four babies in. All of [Taylor’s] friends are rich and famous and Kylie’s juggling mom duties, like, ‘I just need to go change a diaper,’” one insider told the Daily Mail. 

A second source echoed similar sentiments while insisting there is no bad blood between them. “They’re in different phases in life,” the insider shared before adding that the “love between them is legit,” they noted.

Despite endless speculation online, multiple sources reportedly shut down rumors of any feud between the women. Instead, insiders pointed to personality differences.

“Kylie’s just not that warm so people think she’s standoffish,” one source claimed, adding, “She’s very much like Donna Kelce. Taylor is nothing like Donna.”

Swift Entered A Very Different Family Dynamic

Long before Taylor Swift entered the Kelce family orbit, Kylie was living a relatively quiet life in Pennsylvania. 

The podcast host grew up in Narberth, Pennsylvania, before attending community college and later transferring to Cabrini University, where she studied communications and played field hockey.

Like many millennials, Kylie eventually turned to Tinder, where she met Jason during his Philadelphia Eagles career. 

While Jason has always maintained it was love at first sight, Kylie reportedly needed more convincing after he fell asleep during their first date after drinking too many beers. 

The couple married in 2018 and now share four daughters, Wyatt, Elliotte, Bennett, and Finnley.

On the other hand, Swift’s upbringing looked dramatically different. Born in nearby West Reading, Pennsylvania, the Grammy winner’s future in entertainment appeared obvious from a young age. 

She once revealed her mother chose her name because “she wanted me to be a business person in a business world.” By age 11, Swift was traveling to Nashville meeting music executives. 

At 14, she signed with Sony, and by 16 she had already left school behind while climbing the country music charts.

Taylor Swift Only Met Kylie In 2024

Despite Swift dating Travis publicly for months, she did not actually meet Kylie until January 2024 during a Chiefs playoff game against the Buffalo Bills.

That delay fueled online rumors that Kylie and Jason disliked the singer, but Kylie later shut those theories down herself.

“People are deeply disturbed by this,” Kylie joked during an episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast while addressing the speculation, adding, “There was all of this stuff leading up to it about, ‘Why haven’t they met? They’re avoiding each other.’”

She continued, “I’m not avoiding anyone, I’m more than happy to meet someone, especially someone that Travis is dating.”

Since then, the women have reportedly spent limited time together publicly, including a double date hosted at Swift’s home while Kylie was eight weeks pregnant.

Still, sources claim Travis and Swift’s upcoming wedding has slowly brought the future sisters-in-law closer. “Now that it’s official that [Travis and Swift] are getting married, they’re starting to [get closer],” a source revealed.

Swift has also reportedly made a strong effort to bond with the Kelce family overall. The singer even “cooked [the Kelce family] Thanksgiving last year,” according to insiders.

Swift Fame Changed Kylie’s Life Overnight

Kylie has openly admitted that sudden fame is not exactly comfortable for her. Back in November 2023, as Travis and Taylor Swift’s relationship exploded into global headlines, Kylie confessed the spotlight was “not” her cup of tea.

At nearly the same time, Jason’s Prime Video documentary introduced Kylie to a much wider audience. 

“The exact same moment Travis and Taylor announce they were dating; Jason’s movie came out and Kylie looked really good in it, and that was sort of the beginning of a transformation,” one insider explained.

Eventually, Kylie leaned into the attention by launching her own podcast because “people wanted to hear from her.” Still, sources say she remains far more reserved than Swift.

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Unlike the Grammy winner, Kylie has not fully embraced celebrity culture or integrated herself into Swift’s famous inner circle, which has included stars like Selena Gomez, Ice Spice, Jack Antonoff, Blake Lively, and Karlie Kloss over the years.

Taylor Swift’s Inner Circle Still Feels Separate From Kylie 

Although Kylie Kelce’s public profile has skyrocketed over the past year, insiders say she still maintains distance from the Hollywood-style fame surrounding Swift.

One of the few celebrities Kylie reportedly connected with closely is comedian Jerrod Carmichael. That friendship came into the spotlight again this week when Carmichael introduced Kylie while presenting her with the Webby Award for Podcaster of the Year.

“She’s been incredible,” Carmichael said during his speech. “I guess my problem with the word authenticity is that even liars can say it. Like, anyone can use the word and not live it and not live up to it,” he added.

He continued, “I felt that just being with you, being around you, listening to you – you’re absolutely incredible. You make me feel like family.”

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Still, insiders say Kylie could easily step away from the frenzy if she truly wanted a quieter existence again.

“People aren’t obsessed with Taylor’s brother,” one source pointed out, adding, “If you really want to be a normal person then be a normal person.”

If you’ve been trying to make your casual outfits look more expensive, Margot Robbie just handed Us the easiest solution Her sleek designer sneakers show how one strategic shoe choice can completely transform everyday staples. And yes, you can get her luxe look for less.

While in full off-duty mode, Robbie wore leggings, knee-high socks, an oversized sweatshirt, a baseball cap and a structured Chanel shoulder bag. She completed the look with sleek Loewe sneakers, which retail for around $890. Luckily, you don’t need her actress budget to get the look; this $38 version looks almost no different.

Get the Lucky Step Trendy Low Top Retro Sneakers for $38 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need a luxury budget to tap into the same energy. The Lucky Step Trendy Low Top Retro Sneakers deliver a strikingly similar look — capturing that same contrasted, designer-inspired silhouette that makes Robbie’s pair feel so elevated.

The appeal is in the details. A nylon-and-suede-style upper gives these sneakers that textured, expensive-looking finish, while the low-top, retro shape reads more “fashion sneaker” than gym shoe. They come in easy neutrals that go with everything, plus a few bolder options if you want your shoes to stand out. Either way, they hit that sweet spot between stylish and sporty — exactly what makes Robbie’s version work.

And shoppers have been generous with their reviews. One buyer called them a “great” lookalike for the designer version, noting that the quality makes them look “much more expensive” than the price tag suggests. Another raved about the “cushioned footbed,” calling them “ideal for long walks” and travel days.

At the end of the day, Robbie’s off-duty style works because it’s balanced. Comfortable, but never careless — casual, but still polished. And with a $38 style that delivers the same vibe, recreating that effortless, expensive-looking formula suddenly feels a whole lot more attainable.

Get the Lucky Step Trendy Low Top Retro Sneakers for $38 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more from Lucky Step here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

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Related: Love Reese Witherspoon’s Designer Sneakers? Recreate the Look for $37

Now that the weather has taken a turn (for the better), we’re all going to be spending more time outdoors. Reese Witherspoon reminded Us to make sure we have the proper footwear for getting those steps in this spring. Although The Morning Show actress was spotted in designer sneakers, the style is easy enough to […]

Off Campus is returning for a second season — without one of the main characters.

Creator Louisa Levy confirmed on Wednesday, May 13, that Justin (Josh Heuston) wouldn’t appear in season 2, telling TV Guide, “Not next season, but I love Josh and I would not write him off if I can find a way to bring Justin back at some point.”

She continued: “We never got a chance to meet Stella, who is the person he ends up with in the book. So maybe we’ll find a way to fold him into a future season.”

Levy noted that it wasn’t always the plan for Justin to be absent. “We don’t have him [available] next season, but never say never,” she added.

Related: Which ‘Off Campus’ Couples End Up Together? Book Order Explained

Prime Video’s Off Campus follows different love stories at Briar U — but which couples end up together in the books? Based on the Off Campus book series by Elle Kennedy, the show follows an elite ice hockey team — and the women in their lives — as they “grapple with love, heartbreak, and self-discovery […]

Based on the Off Campus book series by Elle Kennedy, the show, which premiered Wednesday, follows an elite ice hockey team — and the women in their lives — as they “grapple with love, heartbreak, and self-discovery — forging deep friendships and enduring bonds while navigating the complexities that come with transitioning into adulthood,” read the official synopsis.

Season 1 is centered around the “sexy and fun ‘opposites attract’ romance between quiet songwriter, Hannah, and Briar University’s all-star hockey athlete, Garrett.” (The show introduces characters played by Mika Abdalla, Antonio Cipriano, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Josh Heuston and Stephen Kalyn as well.)

Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli have since confirmed to Us Weekly that they would return for future seasons.

“I totally understand your concern,” Cameli, 28, exclusively told Us about each season of the Prime Video show being focused on a different fictional couple. “We will be along for the ride the whole time.”

Related: A Guide to Prime Video’s New Steamy Rom-Coms, Shows — And Book Adaptations

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Prime Video is investing in love with a wide variety of steamy rom-coms, star-studded TV shows coming this year— and a fan event to celebrate the upcoming YA titles. The streaming service announced on Thursday, April 30, that Prime Video was branching out with Obsessed Fest, which is described as “an inaugural summer tentpole event […]

Bright, 19, confirmed the plan is for them to be “sticking” around before Cameli added, “We’re excited to see what season 2 holds for [us].”

For Bright and Cameli, the experience of introducing the Off Campus universe was made easier because of their quick offscreen friendship.

“Doing a job like this would be so miserable if you didn’t like your costar,” Cameli shared. “We are so lucky. Ella and I are really, really good friends. We get along so well and we spend a ton of time together on set.”

Bright was just as grateful to have Cameli as her onscreen partner in crime.

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“Honestly, we just have so much fun. It’s so cool to be able to go on this journey with everybody who just cares so much about this show and these characters,” she gushed to Us. “Everyone is here for the same reason. It definitely loosens the pressure a lot, because you’re sharing it with all these really great and talented people.”

Cameli pointed out that he and Bright have a seamless bond. “We just told you, that our faces literally hurt right now. We just sat here unmoving and laughing all day,” he noted.

Off Campus is streaming on Prime Video.

The film industry changed forever after Steven Spielberg released Jaws into the world. Typically regarded as the very first true blockbuster in history, this creature feature gave way to the creation of big-budget films aimed at mass markets, usually designed to generate tremendous box office returns. Ever since 1975, several of the world’s greatest movies have fallen into the blockbuster category.

A good, emotionally effective climax is essential to virtually any kind of movie, but it’s particularly important for blockbusters. Unsurprisingly, it’s precisely the kinds of blockbusters that have received the most critical acclaim and have had the most financial success over the years that tend to have the most exciting climaxes. Whether they’re action-packed, suspenseful, emotionally stirring, or all of that and more at the same time, they’re a masterclass in how to execute a third act with staying power.

There are spoilers ahead!

10

‘The Avengers’ (2012)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection

Nowadays, the Marvel Cinematic Universe needs no introduction of any sort. The franchise sparked by Iron Man back in 2008 is today the highest-grossing film franchise in history. But it all had to start somewhere, and even though it was Tony Stark that gave origin to the series, it was arguably Joss Whedon‘s The Avengers that really proved this formula for interconnected films could really work at a mass scale.

Before Infinity War proved MCU climaxes could be heartbreaking, and before Endgame went all-out with what’s perhaps the biggest climax in blockbuster history, the best MCU team-up movie practically invented the formula for MCU climaxes back in 2012. Never before had the world seen a final battle quite like this one in a film, and even as MCU climaxes have only gotten bigger and more epic, this one has nevertheless aged the best out of the bunch.

9

‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Christopher Nolan is no stranger to making films with heart-pounding climaxes, but the best of them all is arguably the one from his most acclaimed movie: The Dark Knight. Praised by most as the greatest comic book film ever made, this is far more than just a superhero blockbuster: It’s one of the greatest action thrillers of all time, a gripping crime tale that has aged like fine wine.

Another one of the reasons why The Dark Knight is so highly acclaimed is that it has one of the best climaxes of any thriller. This finale transcends typical superhero story tropes by focusing on thematic weight, psychological tension, and cathartic payoffs. First, testing Batman’s moral compass against the Joker’s sense of chaos; and then, forcing the Dark Knight to face the downfall of Harvey Dent, Nolan creates what may just be the best climax of any Batman movie ever made.

8

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Australian cinema and low-budget action cinema were never the same again after George Miller released Mad Max in 1979. The franchise led all the way to the somewhat-underwhelming Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome in 1985, and it would take a whopping three decades for Miller to finally return to the fascinating world of Max Rockatansky’s wasteland. Thankfully, not only did Mad Max: Fury Road live up to expectations, it set a new gold standard for the genre as a whole.

Indeed, this is one of the most perfectly-made action movies ever. Miller directs the endless chase of the film’s first two acts with exhilarating imagination and over-the-top energy. The movie’s only quiet moment is a turning point for the characters, who realize that salvation lies not in escape, but rather in heading back home. The adrenaline-pumping climax that cements Fury Road as a truly perfect masterpiece is a thematic subversion of everything that’s come before, and it’s as exciting as it is unexpectedly emotional.

7

‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991)

Image via Tri-Star Pictures

James Cameron is one of the greatest visionaries in the history of cinema. That said, however, not everyone is as huge of a fan of his work as most people tend to be, but if there’s one bit of praise for Cameron that’s absolutely undeniable, it’s that the man knows how to lead up to a flawless climax. Case in point: Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which has one of the best climaxes of any action movie.

Relentless action, cutting-edge special effects, thematic closure, and emotionally stirring character work are all the reasons why Terminator 2‘s thrilling final moments are as effective and timeless as they are. A story about a machine learning to be human is a fascinating enough concept on paper, but the masterful way in which Cameron executes such a concept culminates in a climax that makes it shockingly difficult not to shed at least a couple of tears.

6

‘Aliens’ (1986)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Terminator 2 has a truly irresistible climax, but Cameron arguably delivered an even stronger third act five years prior, in 1986’s Aliens. It was always going to be hard to follow up a horror sci-fi classic of a stature as legendary as that of Ridley Scott‘s Alien, but the genre switch that Cameron executed by taking the franchise in the direction of an action epic was absolutely seamless.

Aliens has one of the best climaxes of any sci-fi movie, where Ripley faces the Alien Queen in a final showdown aboard the Sulaco spacecraft to save Newt. It’s basically the Alien climax on space steroids, cementing Ripley as a mech-riding action movie icon and showing why Sigourney Weaver made it all the way to an Academy Award nomination with this performance.

5

‘Mission: Impossible — Fallout’ (2018)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Even with the tremendous acclaimex that it received upon release and is still showered with today, Mission: Impossible — Fallout somehow still doesn’t receive enough credit as one of the greatest action movies ever made. It’s the pinnacle of the Mission: Impossible franchise, setting Ethan Hunt and his team in their highest-stakes adventure yet.

Fallout is one of the most exciting thrillers of the 21st century, and that’s largely thanks to how immensely exciting its climax is. Ethan’s chase of Walker on a helicopter culminates in the hero and villain engaging in a brutal fistfight at the edge of a cliff, all against the clock as a nuclear weapon is mere minutes away from blowing up. The stakes are nail-bitingly high, the practical stuntwork is as life-defying as it is delightful to watch, and Tom Cruise and Henry Cavill‘s performances are top-notch. It’s 21st-century action filmmaking at its climactic best.

4

‘Titanic’ (1997)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Who else but James Cameron? Who, if not the Canadian legend, could have turned a period romance drama set aboard a doomed ship into one of the very few films ever to make more than $2 billion dollars at the box office? Titanic is one of the biggest phenomena in the history of cinema, and quite fittingly, it has one of the best climaxes of any epic movie.

Watching the Titanic sink is one of the most emotionally rousing sequences in the history of the Seventh Art. It’s gut-wrenching, tragic, romantic, technically flawless, and full of cathartic moments. While the vast majority of blockbusters have climaxes that are action-packed and largely reliant on a feeling of excitement, Titanic‘s climax sets it apart as one of the most unique blockbusters the world has ever gotten.

3

‘The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)

Image via 20th Century Studios

It’s anyone’s guess whether George Lucas had any semblance of a clue back in 1977 that what he was creating would soon become the biggest transmedia franchise in history. Star Wars as a whole is an icon of cinema, and fans and non-fans of the series alike tend to agree that the question of which film from the galaxy far, far away is the best of the bunch has an easy answer: The Empire Strikes Back.

It’s one of the best movie masterpieces of the last 50 years, concluding in a good old-fashioned Hero’s Journey climax atop Cloud City. Luke’s confrontation against Vader culminates in what’s perhaps the most iconic plot twist in movie history, paralleled by the Millennium Falcon’s crew daring escape from the claws of the Empire. What makes this whole climax all the more effective is the fact that, unusually for blockbusters of this nature, it’s full of loss and tragedy for our brave heroes.

2

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’ (2002)

Image via New Line Cinema

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers isn’t often regarded as the best installment of the trilogy, but there’s one bit of praise that virtually anyone who’s ever seen this adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien‘s work agrees on: The Two Towers has by far the best climax of the series. The Battle of Helm’s Deep is far and away the best battle of The Lord of the Rings, and even one of the best in movie history.

This entire sequence, brilliantly intercut with Frodo, Sam, and Gollum at the edge of Mordor, is cinematic excitement in its purest form. You can experience the full spectrum of human emotions by watching The Two Towers‘ climax and third act: There’s tragedy, suspense, cathartic triumph, a sprinkle of poignancy, and some of the most eye-popping action of the 2000s as the cherry on top.

1

‘Jaws’ (1975)

Image via Universal Pictures

It was Spielberg’s Jaws that fathered the concept we now understand as a summer blockbuster, and fittingly, it has what’s still the best climax of any blockbuster in history. It’s not as big as The Two Towers‘ final battle, nor as emotion-driven as the sinking at the end of Titanic, but it’s its small scale and taut nature that makes it one of the greatest third acts in the history of cinema.

Jaws is one of the most exciting movie masterpieces ever made largely because of this climax. It’s a sequence that’s pure survival horror in its most terrifying, technically faultless, and tautly-written form. The escalation of the whole sequence is relentless, from the shark beginning to destroy the boat to Quint’s tragic death. It’s a masterclass in how to pace a climax, and it’s proof of why Steven Spielberg is the most important name in the history of blockbusters.

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Jaws

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Release Date

June 20, 1975

Runtime

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124 minutes

Writers

Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb

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