Sullivan’s Crossing has gone through some surprise cast changes — and twists — but is the hit show returning for season 4?

Based on a book series by Robyn Carr, Sullivan’s Crossing follows neurosurgeon Maggie (Morgan Kohan) as she returns to her hometown in rural Nova Scotia. She finds herself reconnecting with estranged father, Sully (Scott Patterson), newcomer Cal (Chad Michael Murray) and more members of the community.

Sullivan’s Crossing was previously renewed for a fourth season, which premiered March 22, 2026, on CTV. After airing in Canada, the hit show will follow up with April 20, 2026, on The CW and then on Netflix presumably in the summer once the show wraps up on cable.

Before its premiere, Us Weekly broke the news in March that Patterson would not be reprising his role when season 4 returns.

“Season 3 of Sullivan’s Crossing ended with Sully leaving for Ireland, beginning a new chapter in his life. Season 4 picks up the next day, with Sully still overseas,” Sullivan’s Crossing executive producer and showrunner Roma Roth exclusively told Us. “While he isn’t physically present in this season, the character remains an important part of the world with the potential to be included in future seasons should that align with the ongoing creative.”

In response, Patterson hinted at what caused his surprising departure, writing via Instagram, “The creative differences were becoming untenable and I just sadly realized that the show was not something that I could agree to continue.”

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Related: Sullivan‘s Crossing‘s Shocking Cast Exits After Scott Patterson Departure

Scott Patterson isn’t the only Sullivan’s Crossing star who has made a shocking departure from the show. Based on the book series by Robyn Carr, Sullivan’s Crossing centers around neurosurgeon Maggie (Morgan Kohan) after she moves back home to rural Nova Scotia to reconnect with her estranged father, Sully (Scott Patterson). The brief getaway turns […]

Patterson clarified it wasn’t his choice to leave Sullivan’s Crossing.

“It’s unfortunate that it is now being implied that they moved on from me/Sully when the fact is the complete opposite, and those who sadly already have spoken out are also fully aware of this fact, and yet chose to say otherwise,” he continued. “I was not intending to make any statement but the fans of the books and the show deserve to know the truth as I have always been respectful of those who support this industry by watching and loving these characters we are so dang lucky and blessed to portray and bring to life.”

Seasons 1 through 3 of Sullivan’s Crossing are currently streaming on Netflix. Season 4 premieres on The CW April 20 at 8 p.m. ET

FBI Special Agent Brittany Garcia is the one who provided the “facts” presented in the criminal complaint against Pooh Shiesty, his father Lontrell Williams Sr., rapper Big30, and six others. The doc is 31 pages long, accusing the group of conspiring to and committing kidnapping. It spares no details about what allegedly happened to at least three victims, including Gucci Mane. From a Staples pit stop to fingerprint evidence left behind, here are seven WILD criminal allegations pulled from the complaint pages!

RELATED: Prosecutors Reveal Everything Allegedly Stolen By Pooh Shiesty & His Conspirators In Gucci Mane Kidnapping Case

For context, here are the names of everyone accused: Lontrell Williams Jr. (Pooh Shiesty), Lontrell Williams Sr. (Pooh’s dad), Rodney Wright Jr. (Big30), Demarcus Glover, Damarian Gipson, Kordae Johnson, Darrion McDaniel, Terrance Rodgers and Kedarius Waters.

1. Pooh Shiesty’s Dad Allegedly Printed Contract At Staples

As previously reported, Pooh Shiesty allegedly held Gucci Mane at gunpoint, forcing him to sign and date his contractual release on January 10. About two hours before arriving at the studio to meet Gucci Mane, Pooh Shiesty and Williams Sr. stopped at a Staples in Frisco, Texas (pages 12-13). That visit is listed as probable cause in the federal government’s case.

Surveillance footage shows the dad entering the store at 1:50 p.m. after parking near the front. After entering Staples, he walked straight to the copy/printer machines. Investigators pulled a receipt that shows a transaction at 1:59 p.m. at the printer/copy section, the same time Williams Sr. was near the machines.

“Due to the close timing of this visit to Staples prior to the offense, the fact that Williams Sr. went straight to the printing area of the store, and the timing of the receipt confirming a transaction occurred while Williams Sr. was at or near these printers, investigators believe that Williams Sr. and Williams Jr. went to Staples for the purpose of printing off the contractual release that was presented to R.D. (Gucci Mane),” the criminal complaint says, page 13.

2. Pooh Allegedly Stole Gucci Mane’s Wedding Band

The kidnapping and robbery of Gucci Mane and other victims allegedly happened in two rooms: the studio control room and recording room. Shortly after entering the building at 3:43 p.m., the nine defendants split up. Pooh asked Gucci to speak privately, and those two, plus Big 30 and Williams Sr. went into the recording room while two victims and six alleged co-conspirators stayed in the control room.

Inside the private room, Pooh Shiesty allegedly forced Gucci Mane to sign and date his release form at gunpoint. Meanwhile, Big 30 recorded a video of Gucci announcing the “release” on a cellphone. After he got his contract signed, Pooh Shiesty then robbed Gucci Mane of his wedding ring, watch, earrings, and cash.

RELATED: From Co-Signs To Controversy: A Look Back On Pooh Shiesty And Gucci Mane’s Business Relationship (VIDEOS)

3. Co-Conspirators Watched TV With The Victims Before Robbery

As mentioned, six alleged co-conspirators and two victims, M.M. and B.P., were in the studio control room during the contract signing. They were all chilling, watching football together. B.P. offered the alleged conspirators liquor purchased earlier that day. At least two of them poured up in red Solo cups. M.M. peeped the tense scene in the recording room and texted Gucci’s head of security. However, it seemingly didn’t lead to immediate action.

“M.M. and B.P. could see inside the recording room and initially believed R.D. and Williams Jr. to be discussing business, but as M.M. saw the conversation intensifying, he texted C.W. (who was still in the music studio’s lobby),” per the criminal complaint (page 6).

4. Pooh Shiesty Allegedly Held A Gun To A Victim’s Head

After the forced contract signing, Gucci Mane, Pooh, Pooh’s dad and Big30 left the recording room and joined the others. That’s when Demarcus Glover, Damarian Gipson, Kordae Johnson, Darrion McDaniel, Terrance Rodgers and Kedarius Waters allegedly pulled out “handguns or AR/AK style pistols” on M.M. and B.P.

B.P. was robbed of his wallet, chain and 1017 necklace. Also, Darrion McDaniel allegedly threatened to shoot him for moving, but Pooh Shiesty told him not to, per complaint pages 7-8.

Speaking of Pooh Shiesty, we know he allegedly pointed a gun at Gucci Mane. However, he also “placed the barrel of a firearm to the back of B.P.’s head and ordered him and [Gucci] to leave the control room and the studio through the west entrance of the office building,” per page 9. Gucci responded by asking his two security guards, who had forced their way in but were outnumbered, to escort them to his vehicle.

5. Alleged Co-Conspirators Left Fingerprints At The Crime Scene

As said, two alleged conspirators accepted B.P.’s offer to drink liquor in the control room. Those Solo cups later helped investigators place two men at the crime scene. On Jan. 16, 2026, a Forensic Fingerprint Expert ran latent prints from the scene through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). The results came back the same day. Damarian Gipson left his left ring finger on a Solo cup, while Terrance Rodgers left his right thumb on another Solo cup, per complaint page 18. In addition to surveillance footage, the latent prints put both men at the crime scene.

6. Pooh Had His Shiesty On During The Kidnapping & Robbery

During this alleged kidnapping and robbery, Pooh Shiesty stayed true to his stage name! In the criminal complaint (page 19), Gucci Mane, M.M. and B.P., who all identified Pooh by his legal and stage name, described what he was wearing during the offense. He allegedly wore “a black Nike brand ‘shiesty’ mask, black hooded shirt, and black pants.” 

7. Alleged Conspirators Flexed Stolen Goods On Social Media

Surveillance footage from the studio building allegedly shows Terrance Rodgers exiting with M.M.’s stolen Louis Vuitton bag. A few days later, on January 15, Rodgers allegedly posted a video on the Instagram account @_Damfool375, wearing a “Batman” Rolex that looked similar to the one M.M. reported stolen and provided proof of purchase and photo evidence of.

Additionally, M.M. identified Demarcus Glover‘s Instagram account as @_twinncmo_. The morning after the kidnapping and robbery, Glover shared an Instagram Stories post flexing “a large amount of cash and a Rolex visually similar to the one stolen from M.M.” Also, he tagged his location in the post as Dallas, Texas, per complaint page 23. Later that same day, Glover and Damarian Gipson appeared in a video “flashing large amounts of money and a watch,” per complaint pages 23-24.

Several days later, on January 17, another IG Stories post showed Glover “with a Rolex that appears identical to the one stolen from M.M.” In the post, he claimed he “got a new rope.” Two days after that, on January 19, Glover posted videos “wearing a necklace with a ‘1017’ pendant that appears identical to the one stolen from B.P.,” per complaint page 24.

RELATED: Surveillance Images Show Key Moments From Gucci Mane Kidnapping As Pooh Shiesty’s Lawyer Speaks Out (PHOTOS)

Former “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Jen Shah is getting candid about how her reported crimes had a major impact on her two sons, Sharrieff Jr. and Omar.

Jen Shah was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison in 2022 after pleading guilty to her role in a telemarketing fraud scheme that left a number of elderly and vulnerable victims emotionally scarred.

Why Jen Shah Had Her Two Sons Write Impact Letters To Her While She Was In Prison

Speaking with PEOPLE in her first interview since being released from custody, Shah, 52, stated that she took many steps to fully understand how her reported crimes affected more than just her.

To start, the former Bravo star said that she asked her family, Sharrieff Shah, and their two sons to write impact letters to her, detailing how her reported actions made them feel.

“I needed to know how I hurt them,” Shah said. “I needed them to be honest with me and tell me everything. I needed to hear that raw feedback, because that’s the only way you grow and heal. You can’t get better if you don’t know what you did.”

Jen Shah Said Her Children Were Apprehensive About Writing Impact Letters To Her

Shah explained that her sons, who were showcased in the first three seasons of “RHOSLC,” didn’t feel comfortable telling their mother about how she hurt them.

“They were like, ‘Dad, I don’t want to hurt mom’s feelings,’” Shah said, later revealing that she had second thoughts about what she was asking of them.

However, Shah’s husband, known as “Coach” to Bravo viewers, told their children that being honest about their feelings was for the best.

“And Coach told the boys, ‘You’re doing this for Mommy,’” she said.

Jen Shah Cried Many ‘Tears’ After Hearing What Her Sons Had To Say To Her

Fans are sending Gabrielle Union love and prayers as she confirmed her father, Sylvester “Cully” Union Jr.’s passing. The actress shared the heartbreaking news in an emotional post on social media.

RELATED: Still THAT Couple! Gabrielle Union & Dwyane Wade 11th Years Of Marriage, Leaving Us In Our Feelings (VIDEO)

Gabrielle Union Shares Heartfelt Tribute Amid Her Father’s Passing

Late on Saturday night, Gabrielle Union shared the sad news of her father, Sylvester “Cully” Union Jr.’s passing on Instagram. She posted a video showing throwback moments with him, along with photos of him spending time with her daughter, Kaavia James Union Wade, and her husband, Dwyane Wade. In her caption, she told fans he passed away on Friday, April 3 after struggling with dementia. She said nothing prepared her for the loss and explained how the disease kept her holding onto hope that the man she once knew would return.

“First it’s repeating words or forgetting little things here or there, then BOOM, he can’t swallow or walk. The them that you know gets smaller and smaller. You hold out hope for sustained eye contact or a smile; even a hand squeeze can make you feel like they could come back to you “normal” at any second. It’s brutal and it’s what he experienced, but it wasn’t who he was,” Union wrote.

Union Reflects On Her Dad’s Legacy

Gabrielle Union went on to praise her father, sharing that he made friends everywhere he went and always brought life to any room. She highlighted his strong work ethic and reflected on the many lessons he taught her over the years.

“Through every step of his life, my Dad was surrounded by love and support from his ever-growing village. I swear he never met a stranger, just friends he hadn’t met yet. A lifelong, die-hard Nebraska fan, he taught me the values of teamwork, a fierce work ethic, and that you are only as strong as your weakest link, so tend to them first,” Gabrielle continued.

She also called her sisters heroes for their unwavering support and thanked the medical teams for giving him the best care. Union also said she will miss her father but knows his love for her is eternal. “I know I’m not the first or last Daddy’s girl to go through this, and I’m sending love and healing to anyone suffering the loss of a parent. I know his love is eternal and will find me in every realm.”

Social Media Sends Gabrielle Love & Prayers

After Gabrielle Union shared the news of her father’s passing, fans flooded The Shade Room’s comment section with reactions. Many offered condolences, while others shared their own experiences of losing loved ones to dementia.

Instagram user @thegiftofkay wrote, “Wow you truly never know what battles people are carrying.” 

Instagram user @aprnbeauty wrote, “Sending condolences this is sad 😢” 

While Instagram user @simplyjonettad wrote, “The joy he must have given you, the smiles are demonstrated all over your face. Sending my condolences 🕊️” 

Then Instagram user @createdbydarby wrote, “With Dementia, you lose the person twice. Praying for anyone else’s family that’s been impacted by this horrible disease.” 

Another Instagram user @amazingly_jenjen wrote, “It’s brutal 😢😢I’m dealing with that with my mom and I cry everyday 🙏🏾💔” 

Instagram user @tasha_s_sayless wrote, “Dementia is brutal 😞 Hope there’s a cure someday.”

Then another Instagram user @kimmymar wrote, “Losing a Parent is devastating 😢. Some take theirs for granted !! Love on them while you have them 🙏🏽” 

Finally, Instagram user @w1ll1am_m05l3y wrote, “Very sorry to hear about your Father’s passing. I send my deepest condolences and please know that your family is in my prayers 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾” 

RELATED: Still That Gworl! Social Media Goes WILD Over Gabrielle Union’s Flawless Unfiltered Selfie (PHOTO) 

Blake Lively appeared nervous in a resurfaced interview clip where she was asked about her chemistry with Justin Baldoni on the set of “It Ends With Us,” and how she was “sometimes the intimacy coordinator” in certain scenes they shared together.

It comes after a judge dismissed most of the actress’s claims against her former co-star, including the sexual harassment charges she leveled against him.

Sources say Blake Lively plans to fight till the end, but there are concerns that the aftermath of the case may negatively impact her Hollywood career.

Blake Lively Was Asked To Weigh In On How She Acted As An Intimacy Coordinator

An unearthed interview clip has seemingly revealed the awkward moment Blake Lively got visibly nervous and uncomfortable when she was asked about her on-screen bond with Justin Baldoni.

The former co-stars have been at loggerheads since 2024, when the 38-year-old actress filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him and also accused him of launching a smear campaign to tarnish her image.

In the clip, Lively sat down beside “It Ends With Us” creator Colleen Hoover and co-star Brandon Sklenar, and was asked to weigh in on her chemistry with Baldoni and how she seemed to have been the coordinator of some of their intimate scenes.

“Talk to me about how sometimes you were even the intimacy coordinator in some of those sexier scenes,” an Access Hollywood journalist asked.

“That shouldn’t be happening, by the way, I just want to be clear,” Lively replied, per the Daily Mail. “You should not be the intimacy coordinator, and you should definitely hire intimacy coordinators, which we did have, thank goodness.”

The Actress Looked ‘Flustered’ In The Resurfaced Clip Discussing Intimate Scenes With Justin Baldoni

After Lively’s response about hiring intimacy coordinators, the interviewer doubled down on her question, telling the actress she was teaching Justin “how to pull” her in.

However, the “Gossip Girl” star became “flustered” and asked the interviewer where she had seen such a scene play out, putting up an awkward laugh while toying with a strand of her hair.

The book author, Hoover, then added, “I actually saw that too, that was on Instagram yesterday.”

“Yeah, I mean, I think romance is really important,” Lively replied before going on a short rant about how, as actors, they’re supposed to tell the story well and make people “feel,” but they’re supposed to do it in a way that’s “safe and respectful for all.”

A Judge Dismissed Most Of Blake Lively’s Claims

Four months after the awkward interview, Lively accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her on the set of the film, which he denied and countersued her.

However, her case suffered a blow recently after Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 of the 13 charges she filed against him, including the sexual harassment charge.

The judge ruled that she could not pursue certain sexual harassment claims under federal law because she was technically an independent contractor rather than an employee during the production.

He also explained that the claims didn’t hold water under California laws because the filming where the actor allegedly sexually harassed her was carried out in New Jersey.

“None of these acts or occurrences provides the ‘substantial connection’ to California needed to sustain Lively’s sexual harassment claims,” Judge Liman wrote in his 152-page opinion.

That leaves the actress with three charges to pursue, namely breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation, which will all proceed to a civil trial in New York on 18 May.

The Actress Is Not Backing Down Despite Legal Setback

Meanwhile, sources close to the “A Simple Favor” actress have shared that she’s not backing down and plans to fight till the end.

A member of her legal team, Sigrid McCawley, recently stated that the case “has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy” Lively’s reputation.

Explaining that Lively plans to testify during the trial and would continue “to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation,” McCawley noted that the reason the sexual harassment charge was dropped was “not because the defendants did nothing wrong,” but because of some technicality in the case.

Lively herself also spoke out on the loss, stating, “The last thing I wanted in my life was a lawsuit, but I brought this case because of the pervasive RETALIATION I faced, and continue to, for privately and professionally asking for a safe working environment for myself and others.”

She continued in her statement, “I hope the Court’s decision shows others that, as unfathomably painful as it is, you can speak up.”

“I will never stop doing my part in fighting to expose the systems and people who seek to harm, shame, silence, and retaliate against victims,” the actress added.

Justin Baldoni’s Lawyers Revealed They Are ‘Very Pleased’ With The Recent Development Amid Their Legal Battle With Blake Lively

Baldoni’s lawyers have also expressed their satisfaction with the recent development while restating their commitment to seeing the case through in court.

“We’re very pleased the court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel,” lawyers Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach told the Daily Mail.

“These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the court for its careful review of the facts, law, and voluminous evidence that was provided,” they continued.

The lawyers added, “What’s left is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court.”

The fantasy genre as a whole is often associated with feel-good, magical adventures that can be experienced by audiences of all ages. Even the films that veer into more widely-appealing blockbuster filmmaking like The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter have inherent strengths to younger audiences. However, while many of the most popular fantasy movies may be for audiences of all ages, that hasn’t stopped filmmakers from creating some striking fantasy experiences tailor-made for adult audiences.

Whether it be through overwhelming blood content, overt sexual content, or difficult and uncomfortable themes, these fantasy films bring the magic of the genre to its brink in bringing to life films that are the complete tonal opposite of their family-friendly brothers. These films have managed to be celebrated as masterpieces of the genre through their blending of high-concept fantasy elements with a more mature execution that is required of filmmaking that can’t be appreciated by kids.

10

‘The Northman’ (2022)

Image via Focus Features

While not a horror film like his other cinematic masterpieces, Robert Eggers‘s The Northman is still one of the most ruthless and blood-soaked fantasy films to have ever been released. The film follows the young prince of a Nordic kingdom having his path to glory cut short after his uncle betrays his family, murdering his father and kidnapping his mother. After escaping and spending years honing his craft as a Viking warrior, the prince returns on a path of vengeance against his uncle.

The magnitude and scale of this Viking epic helps make it one of the most explosive fantasy action films out there, feeling both grounded in its style and visuals while also bombastic in its execution. The film also doesn’t hold back in terms of the gruesome nature of Vikings as a whole, with the first act pillaging scene especially going all out, not just in terms of ruthless action, but top-notch violence and gore. This entertaining Viking film has cemented its status as the go-to cinematic outing of the historical fantasy icons.

9

‘Mind Game’ (2004)

Image via Asmik Ace Entertainment

Japanese animation has been a source of exceptional family-oriented fantasy masterpieces for generations now, with the likes of Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro being among the most acclaimed animated fantasy movies of all time. Conversely, Mind Game is a premier example of how Japanese anime is also capable of creating wild, unrestrained adult stories within the fantasy genre. However, the film’s adult content never gets in the way of the overwhelming fantastical energy that it overwhelms the audience with.

The film follows an awkward loser who, after an encounter with the Japanese mafia, ends up losing his life in the most embarrassing way possible. However, this only proves to send him on a journey to heaven in back, unexpectedly having a second lease on life that he decides to live to the absolute fullest, not held back by any sense of danger or embarrassment. It makes the absolute most out of the creativity of the fantasy genre while also filling itself to the brim with lots of violence and sexual content.

8

‘Flesh + Blood’ (1985)

Image via Orion Pictures

While Paul Verhoeven is often celebrated for his various sci-fi masterpieces with the likes of directing Robocop, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers, Flesh + Blood predates all of these films as a wildly underrated 80s fantasy film. The film follows a band of medieval mercenaries taking revenge upon a Lord by kidnapping the woman his son is engaged to. As plague and warfare are laying waste to the kingdom, the mercenaries decide to bunker down in a castle and await the impending counterattack from the Lord.

Flesh + Blood goes all out in terms of showing off the brutality and gruesome nature of the fantasy medieval period, not sugar-coating the ruthless nature of its mercenary characters or their actions. While Verhoeven’s signature sense of wild spirituality and satire makes the film a fun watch, this doesn’t take away from the deeply mature nature of its content, including an overwhelming amount of gore and sexual violence.

7

‘All of Us Strangers’ (2023)

Image via Searchlight Pictures

While many of the most adult-oriented fantasy films will go about their adult content with an overwhelming amount of gore or sexual content, All of Us Strangers is more squarely focused on grounded, mature themes and symbolism designed for an adult audience. The fantasy drama follows a lonesome man who, after a chance encounter with his mysterious neighbor, finds the rhythm of his everyday life forever altered. As he takes a visit to his childhood home to recollect his mind, he ends up making an unlikely connection with his parents despite them dying when he was a child.

While the fantasy elements are certainly more subdued compared to the types of wild, high-concept fantasy worlds that normally find success in the genre, they are present enough to amplify the emotional weight and thematic resonance of the film as a whole. All of Us Strangers certainly has its fair share of sex scenes and on-screen drug use that make it not worth watching for kids, but young audiences wouldn’t connect with the film’s more philosophical filmmaking anyway.

6

‘Excalibur’ (1981)

Image via Warner Bros.

Standing as the gold standard for many R-rated fantasy masterpieces for generations, Excalibur has the exact right mixture of classic fantasy storytelling with wild, R-rated action and violence that made the film a massive hit and an icon of 80s fantasy. The film chronicles the life and death of King Arthur (Nigel Terry), following his quest to bring together the Knights of the Round Table and various other quests across the medieval era.

Excalibur continues to have a substantial legacy in the decades following its release, often being considered one of the first true examples of a great R-rated fantasy film and one of the go-to adaptations of the quests of King Arthur. While the Arthurian tales have been adapted to more family-oriented experiences over the years, Excalibur has a sense of brutality and weight to its action and setpieces that do justice to the dark, medieval energy of the film.

5

‘The Witch’ (2016)

Image via A24

One of the absolute simplest yet most effective ways to create a striking, memorable fantasy movie experience that shouldn’t be viewed by children is to mix the fantasy elements with the horror genre. In terms of sheer craft and execution of utilizing fantasy and magical elements to create a bone-chilling horror experience, nothing comes close to the masterfully woven brilliance of Robert Eggers’ debut film, The Witch. A film that helped catapult the very notions of elevated horror that persist in modern horror, The Witch is a masterclass of tension and slow-creeping dread.

The film is as much about the haunting witchcraft elements looming over the family as it is about the aggressive infighting and distrust that breaks the family apart in the wake of pain, loss, and overall confusion as to how and why these things are occurring to them. It proves to be one of the most grounded and gritty takes on a witchcraft story to date, tactfully utilizing its fantasy elements for maximum emotional impact.

4

‘The Green Knight’ (2021)

Image via A24

While it may seem a bit backward to tell a gritty, adult take on a classic Arthurian tale that is often taught to young children, The Green Knight massively excels thanks to its evolution and growth of this tried-and-true classic fantasy story to the modern era. The film largely follows the classic tales of Sir Gawain (Dev Patel) most notably his daring quest and game against the Green Knight, with his looming fate being held over him for the majority of the film.

It would be one thing for the film to simply retell the original Arthurian stories exactly as they were originally told, yet with a mixture of dynamic visuals and storytelling craft from director David Lowery, this medival classic becomes a modern-day fantasy masterpiece. A major part of this upgrade comes in its adoption of more adult themes and visuals, most notably in more visceral violence and sexually charged moments. It’s also probably the only medieval film to feature literal ejaculate on-screen, so that has to count for something.

3

‘Evil Dead II’ (1987)

Image via De Laurentiis Entertainment Group

In terms of fantasy horror filmmaking that holds nothing back in terms of not only gore content but electrifying screen-presence and entertainment, Sam Raimi is in an absolute league of his own, with no singular film exemplifying this quite like Evil Dead II. It builds and improves upon the original film in just about every conceivable way, not only in terms of technical craft but in terms of overall filmmaking and stylish execution. It’s one of the most bombastic horror comedies ever made, reveling in its madness and blood-soaked glory every step of the way.

While Evil Dead II may ironically have the same wild, goofy nature of a cartoon that children would absolutely love to watch, the overwhelming abundance of gore and violence easily makes this a difficult watch for any child. Still it’s this frankly over-the-top usage of blood that has made the Evil Dead franchise as a whole so iconic among horror fantasy films, with this initial sequel still being the absolute height of the franchise.

2

‘Being John Malkovich’ (1999)

Image via USA Films

One of many strange and otherworldly concepts brought to life by legendary screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, Being John Malkovich takes its fantasy premise to its absolute extremes in terms of psychological examination and reflection upon human nature as a whole. The film follows the consequences of the discovery of a mysterious portal that allows people to enter the mind of acclaimed actor John Malkovich, as people find themselves becoming obsessed with experiencing the world through Malkovich’s eyes.

The initial fantasy premise is already wild enough as is, yet the film takes so many strange twists and turns that it becomes an intricate work of art, with each moving piece building off of each other to create a striking and highly memorable portrait. It’s already well too complicated for many children to experience, and that’s before considering the fair amount of sex scenes featured in the film. This perfectly written fantasy movie continues to be some of the absolute best that the genre has to offer in a contemporary setting.

1

‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

No singular filmmaker has so distinctly cemented himself as one of the head visionaries of gothic, dark fantasy filmmaking made for adults like Guillermo del Toro. It would be incredibly easy to fill this entire list with masterful adult-oriented fantasy films that the visionary has directed, yet for the purposes of this list, nothing comes close to his timeless dark fantasy masterpiece, Pan’s Labyrinth. It stands as the absolute pinnacle of what an adult-oriented fantasy film can be, unrestrained by having to appeal to young children and creating a stylish, otherworldly exploration of madness and thematic perfection.

Pan’s Labyrinth has grown to be so beloved and acclaimed in the two decades since its release that it is often considered the definitive height of dark fantasy as a subgenre of traditional fantasy storytelling. The visuals still hold up tremendously to this day, as its beautiful original world building is second-to-none and exemplifies the very best that fantasy filmmaking is capable of.

If you’re tired of watching Oscar nominees and blockbuster megahits, you’ve come to the right place.

Streaming services are particularly great at staying up to date on all the biggest must-see movies, but they also have plenty of features that deserve a little more love.

As the experts in all things streaming, Watch With Us has devised a guide for the best underrated movies you can find on platforms like HBO Max, Netflix and more.

Our first pick is Mistress America, a quirky indie comedy starring Greta Gerwig and Lola Kirke.

Related: 12 Best Movies on Peacock Right Now (April 2026): ‘Red Eye’ and More

This April, Peacock has added some fantastic new movies to its already great library. There are all sorts of movies from across the genre spectrum heading to Peacock. Laugh-out-loud comedies, riveting dramas, immersive sci-fi experiences and high-quality kids flicks. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Enter your email Please enter a valid […]

New college student Tracy (Lola Kirke) has trouble adjusting to her new life at Barnard in New York City, and so reaches out to her soon-to-be stepsister, Brooke (Greta Gerwig), who lives nearby. Tracy becomes beguiled by Brooke, whose freewheeling life is seen by Tracy as aspirational. As the two young women cavort through the city together, Tracy suddenly finds creative inspiration for her writing. But things go south when Brooke discovers Tracy has been using her life as fodder for literary material.

Wacky, fast-paced and warm-hearted, Mistress America is fronted by two sensational and charismatic performances from Gerwig and Kirke, carried by a typical sharp yet gentle direction from Noah Baumbach. While not quite on par with Baumbach and Gerwig’s previous collaboration, Frances Ha, Mistress America is nevertheless a fantastic melding between the two lovers and artists who co-penned the screenplay together. Baumbach brings out Gerwig’s natural charm alongside the director’s signature dark sense of humor.

While enjoying a romantic getaway at her married boyfriend Richard’s (Kevin Janssens) luxury home in the desert, Jen (Matilda Lutz) sees her excursion interrupted by the unannounced arrival of Richard’s strange friends, Stan (Vincent Colombe) and Dimitri (Guillaume Bouchède). Though the friends are there to take part in a seemingly innocent hunting trip with Richard, tensions between the foursome progressively increase until things turn deadly. It leads to a shocking act of violence that leaves Jen clinging to her life. But when she comes to, she sets out on a quest to enact revenge on her tormentors.

Before French director Coralie Fargeat helmed the Academy Award-nominated The Substance, she directed this efficient little revenge thriller that served as an impressive feature debut. Revenge subverts tropes of the exploitation and rape/revenge genres to craft a highly affecting feminist film that is taut, stylish and fearless. Led commandingly by Lutz, Revenge offers a new perspective on a male-dominated film genre.

Loosely adapted from the 2016 novel of the same name by Iain Reid, I’m Thinking of Ending Things follows a young woman (Jessie Buckley) who travels with her boyfriend, Jake (Jesse Plemons), on a snowy, stormy night to visit his parents (Toni Collette and David Thewlis) at their rural farmhouse. However, on the drive there, the woman ruminates on her misgivings towards their relationship and whether she should break things off. When the two arrive, their seemingly innocent trip becomes dark, surreal and constantly transforming.

Though I’m Thinking of Ending Things sports a deeply unconventional and even experimental narrative, the movie is eminently engaging, as mysteries pile on top of mysteries on top of inconsistencies and questions. Ultimately, the myriad of unanswered questions posed by the movie are less important than the mood and atmosphere they create, and the psychological horror that unfolds before viewers. Ultimately, I’m Thinking of Ending Things is an utterly unique experience that will leave you unsettled in the best way.

A spaceship named Covenant is on its way to the planet Origae-6 for colonization. On board are colonists and human embryos in cryogenic stasis, but when an unexpected solar flare damages the ship, several colonists are killed. Some of the crew wake up alongside an android named Walter (Michael Fassbender), and during repairs, they divert their course to an uncharted planet when they discover a human broadcast. The planet is home to the sole survivor of the disastrous Prometheus mission from years ago, David (Fassbender), but neither he nor the planet is as hospitable as they appear.

Both of Ridley Scott‘s Alien prequels are vastly underrated, but perhaps more so is Alien: Covenant, which manages to be far darker, creepier, more violent and also funnier than Prometheus. Between both movies, Scott does an excellent job of expanding the world and lore of the original Alien movies and the origins of the terrifying Xenomorph, with fantastic cinematography, production design and sense of atmospheric horror. Plus, Fassbender’s dual performance as David/Walter is a weird and erotically charged wonder.

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Con artists Theresa (Debra Winger) and Robert (Richard Jenkins) have spent their time as parents training their only daughter, Old Dolio (Evan Rachel Wood), to swindle and scam her way through life while treating her more as an accomplice than as their child. After concocting a scam involving lost airplane luggage, Old Dolio and her parents meet a charming young woman named Melanie (Gina Rodriguez). Though Melanie willingly joins in on the family’s schemes, her involvement ends up changing Old Dolio’s life forever.

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Streaming subscribers are going to have a lot to watch in April, and it may take some serious time management skills to catch everything good. Netflix and Apple TV are debuting new seasons of Beef and Your Friends & Neighbors, respectively. Meanwhile, Prime Video is bringing The Boys to a conclusion after five seasons. Hulu […]

True to director Miranda July‘s signature off-kilter style, Kajillionaire is a strange but bewitching comedy-drama film that manages to be sad, funny and deeply heartfelt all at once. The film is led by a singular performance from Wood, and her monotone, deadpan characterization manages to pair beautifully with Rodriguez’s perkier, more naturalistic portrayal. Wood transcends caricature to create a character that is deeply human in a bittersweet story about the need for connection.

The Cloverfield franchise is easily one of the most puzzling, bizarre, and beloved, with a devout cult following that will explore entire alternate reality games to learn more about the lore of J.J. Abrams‘ sci-fi universe. One aspect of the IP that sets it apart is how many of its entries seemingly don’t connect except for small details or explosive final-scene reveals, as seen in 10 Cloverfield Lane and The Cloverfield Paradox.

Additionally, films that were never expected to be a part of the Cloverfield universe will be turned into entries once Abrams comes aboard, as was the case with 10 Cloverfield Lane, which started as its own standalone project. Yet, the trailer for the new film Abrams is producing, The End of Oak Street, has many wondering if history may be repeating itself, with subtle hints suggesting it could be a new addition to the Cloverfield universe that no one sees coming. The path to this being the case isn’t entirely smooth sailing, but it would certainly add a new layer of intrigue to The End of Oak Street.

‘The End of Oak Street’ Trailer Contains Several Hints That Link to the Cloverfield Universe

The End of Oak Street trailer certainly nails J.J. Abrams’ classic mystery box set-up, with the reveal that a seemingly normal American suburb has been transported to a different realm, with dinosaurs chasing the Platt family, including Ewan McGregor‘s Greg and Anne Hathaway‘s Denise. On both a narrative and a meta level, there are subtle clues that The End of Oak Street may be set in the Cloverfield universe. With Bad Robot and Abrams producing, the team behind the Cloverfield movies, the idea will likely never be far away from their minds. The title cards are incredibly similar, with both containing grayish text on a black background, conveying the unnerving and ominous tone that is synonymous with Cloverfield.

The premise of The End of Oak Street would also make sense in the context of the Cloverfield universe. In The Cloverfield Paradox, the film centers on the idea of a particle accelerator displacing the crew to another universe, with another scene noting that around five city blocks also disappear. This would explain how the Platt’s Oak Street is moved to a time and place that contains such dinosaurs. Yes, it isn’t the Cloverfield monster we all know and love, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t appear later on. Honestly, it doesn’t even have to appear, considering 10 Cloverfield Lane didn’t include the monster either.

‘The End of Oak Street’ Could Be an Unofficial Cloverfield Movie

Despite these signs that The End of Oak Street could take place in the Cloverfield universe, it may be that J.J. Abrams’ newest film is actually an unofficial Cloverfield movie that’s dealing with some roadblocks that prevent it from being an official addition. Sadly, there is a question of who owns the rights. All the Cloverfield films were produced under the Paramount banner, though The End of Oak Street is being distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, creating an issue if Abrams did want to make The End of Oak Street a spiritual sequel to Cloverfield.

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However, considering how powerful a producer Abrams is and how synonymous he is with the Cloverfield franchise, combined with Paramount’s current effort to acquire Warner Bros. Pictures, there may be some wiggle room to obtain the rights. Additionally, given the cult following Abrams enjoys for his monster franchise, it wouldn’t take much for fans to create their own canon that The End of Oak Street takes place in the Cloverfield universe, which Paramount and Abrams could easily lean into.

In the end, the possibility of The End of Oak Street being revealed to be a Cloverfield entry is certainly something that will keep momentum high for its release, which will benefit a rather small film that isn’t attached to another large IP. With Abrams attached, things that parallel the things set up in other Cloverfield movies, along with Abrams’ track record of turning films into entries for his universe, there is every possibility that fans will be given a shock reveal at some point in The End of Oak Street. Even if it doesn’t end up being connected, it will keep viewers’ eyes glued to the screen for every frame of The End of Oak Street.

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The End of Oak Street

Release Date

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August 12, 2026

Director

David Robert Mitchell

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Writers

David Robert Mitchell

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