By TeeJay Small
| Published 24 seconds ago

Sometimes an actor does such an incredible job in a landmark role that it becomes impossible to picture anyone else taking on the mantle. Characters like Batman or the Joker are almost designed to be passed down for each new generation, but others are defined by a single performance.

JK Simmons’ J. Jonah Jameson, for instance, is so fundamental that the MCU didn’t even attempt to recast the newspaper editor once they took control of the Spider-Man IP. Now, thanks to a report in Variety, we know that Lord Voldemort actor Ralph Fiennes is ready to officially hand the villain of the wizarding world off to one of his esteemed colleagues.

Voldemort Lobbies To Gender Swap Himself

Specifically, Fiennes has pointed at Tilda Swinton as the perfect Voldemort, expressing “I think she would be amazing.” Fiennes famously portrayed he who shall not be named during the original run of the Harry Potter film franchise, reprising the role a total of five times from 2005 through 2011.

With a new HBO reboot series on the way, fans have been cautiously optimistic for casting news. Several names, including Tilda Swinton and Oppenheimer‘s Cillian Murphy have circulated, though none have been confirmed at the time of this writing.

Why Ray Fiennes Can’t Return As Harry Potter’s Villain

Performers that have been confirmed to appear in the new Harry Potter series include Nick Frost, John Lithgow, and newcomer Dominic McLaughlin. Fiennes claims that he would have loved to return for a time, but “that ship has sailed” now that so much time has passed. It makes sense that decorated actors like Tilda Swinton and Cillian Murphy would top the list for fan castings, since they both offer uniquely intense performances, impressive range, and slender, pale frames, similar to the build you’d expect from Hogwarts’ Dark Lord.

Casting Voldemort may turn out to be a make-or-break decision for the success of the Harry Potter show, since the series already has so many cards stacked against it. Promo images have been released for the inaugural season, though the style and design were torn apart by social media users. Likewise, the project has been viewed as radioactive to some fans, due to J.K. Rowling‘s polarizing online presence, particularly in regard to her outspoken stance against the transgender community.

The Politics Of It All

Casting a woman who self-identifies as queer in the pivotal role could be a lifeline for fans who disagree with Rowling’s views on transgender ideology, but it also runs the risk of offending her supporters. Any way you slice it, it’s a complete tightrope walk for the producers of the series.

That’s why it’s important to absolutely nail it by selecting someone as talented and capable as Swinton. As we’ve seen in the past, fans can move past casting choices quickly when the performances are truly undeniable. In 2026, nobody is complaining about Samuel L. Jackson’s turn as Nick Fury, or even Chris Pratt‘s straightforward delivery as Mario.

The Harry Potter series is due for a Christmas premiere later this year. As that date draws near, we’re bound to keep getting casting updates.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 31 seconds ago

Normally, I’m not one to gush over vampire movies, but I’m a “never say never” kind of guy when it comes to my media consumption. While I admit that I had my reservations about checking out 2022’s Day Shift after punishing myself with 2005’s infamously terrible BloodRayne, I’m a fan of Jamie Foxx in most applications, having thoroughly enjoyed White House Down (2013) and They Cloned Tyrone (2023). Both films technically function in the buddy comedy wheelhouse, and the humor lands exceptionally well thanks to Foxx’s ability to play the straight man in increasingly ridiculous situations.

Day Shift brings that energy into the world of vampire hunting, where there’s payroll, union rules, and a code of conduct that needs to be followed for the whole machine to work in the shadows without too much collateral damage. With that dynamic in mind, Day Shift gets its laughs from constantly breaking those rules as an ancient, undead evil threatens the world as we know it.

Stuck On The Day Shift

When we’re introduced to Jamie Foxx’s unfortunately named Bud Jablonski, we quickly learn just how unfortunate every other aspect of his life is. Separated from his wife Jocelyn (Meagan Good), he does everything he can to provide for his daughter Paige (Zion Broadnax). Posing as a contract pool cleaner, Bud moonlights as a rogue vampire killer, collecting their teeth so he can pawn them off for extra cash. Facing mounting financial pressure because Jocelyn is threatening to sell the house and move out of town, Bud realizes what he has to do: rejoin the vampire hunting union.

There’s just one problem. Union boss Ralph Seeger (Eric Lange) doesn’t want him back because he has a long history of violating protocol. Don’t worry though, because we need Bud to rejoin the union for his movie to work, so Snoop Dogg’s Big John Elliott, a well-respected veteran vampire hunter, helps convince Seeger to allow him to work in an official capacity again.

Seeger, not exactly thrilled to let Bud back into the mix, forces him to work with Seth (Dave Franco), the most by-the-books union supervisor to ever walk on God’s green earth. Seth eats gluten-free muffins, speaks fluently in policy, and is tasked with clocking every single one of Bud’s infractions during his probationary trial before he can be fully welcomed back as a full-time member.

Right off the bat, Bud and Seth butt heads, but Seth warms up to his unconventional approach to vampire hunting when he sees the results. As their friendship forms throughout Day Shift, we learn what’s really at stake in the form of our antagonist, Audrey San Fernando (Karla Souza). Audrey has it out for Bud, who in the film’s opening sequence murdered an elderly vampire woman in her home who just so happens to be her daughter.

Stuck trying to do things his own way without getting the book thrown at him, Bud now has to worry about Audrey hunting down his family, who have no idea about his extracurricular vampire activities, for revenge.

Bloody, Buddy Cops

Not only does Day Shift offer an emotional throughline through Bud’s family dynamic, the buddy cop aspect of the film is what really sells its premise. Seth constantly getting sick to his stomach and soiling himself every time Bud and his vampire hunting friends rack up a body count becomes a recurring gag, and much of his character’s evolution comes from realizing that rules are sometimes meant to be broken when there’s a greater good at stake.

Fortunately for Bud, who’s racking up countless infractions while on probation, Seth’s knowledge of the employee handbook is so comprehensive that he knows all the loopholes they can lean on when things get dicey. Seth also learns that there are more important things in life than following protocol, like family, which is why Bud is so hellbent on getting his job back in the first place.

Bud’s heart and chaotic charm are perfectly foiled by Seth every step of the way, and as they become fast friends while facing their immortal enemies, they turn into an unstoppable force of nature, exactly what you need when an ancient evil posing as a real estate agent is trying to wipe out humanity one pre-fab housing development at a time.

While my mileage varies on most Netflix Originals, Day Shift holds its own by taking an inherently absurd premise and matching it with a tried-and-true buddy cop formula. It’s not high art, but it’s a wildly entertaining trip through a San Fernando suburb plagued with vampires and daywalkers alike.

Day Shift is a Netflix Original and can be streamed with an active subscription.

Netflix is gearing up to introduce the world to the next generation of reality stars from the fancy Los Angeles suburb in the new series “Calabasas Confidential.” While pop culture lovers are likely familiar with the city thanks to the long-running reality show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” this new crew of unscripted television stars is sure to make a splash by spilling all of their tea in season 1, coming to the streaming giant in May. But before the first batch of episodes premieres, here’s everything fans should know.

‘Calabasas Confidential’ Will Premiere On Netflix On May 29 And Showcase A Dramatic Group Of Friends, Rivals, And Exes

According to Netflix’s Tudum, their new show will follow a close-knit group of high school friends, romantic partners, and foes who recently returned to Calabasas after four years away.

The show’s description reads, “Fresh out of college, they’re plunged right back into the drama they thought they left behind. As they settle back into their families’ sprawling mansions and slip into the familiar circuit of parties, La La Land catch-ups, and beach hangs, these young adults are forced to reckon not only with who they were but also with who they’re becoming — in the town that raised them.”

Who Is Part Of Netflix’s New Series Set In Calabasas?

The entire first season of “Calabasas Confidential” will air on Netflix on May 29. The episodes will showcase the cast navigating life after college while also dealing with shifting dynamics in their hometown.

“New flames, old feuds, and unexpected secrets don’t stay hidden forever behind the gates of LA’s most envied zip code,” the show’s synopsis said.

Speaking of the cast, season 1 of the show will include Alexie Olivo, Ben Favaedi, Dylan Wolf, Emilie Nelson, Emma Medrano, Hercy Miller, Jemma Durrant, Jodie Woods, Kimora Lewis, Nicole Sahebi, Preston Pippen, Raine Michaels, Sterling Retzlaff, and Suede Brooks.

‘Calabasas Confidential’ Is Part Of Netflix’s Plan To Bring Back A Certain Genre Of Reality TV

Based on some of the show’s early access press photos, it appears to have a similar feel to OG reality shows set in California, such as “Laguna Beach” and “The Hills.”

Jeff Gaspin, head of unscripted at Netflix, told Deadline that “Calabasas Confidential” is part of the streamer’s plan to bring “some of that magic back” of the original series.

“When someone in their 20s comes to visit Los Angeles, there’s two places they want to go, and it’s not Disneyland or Universal: It’s Calabasas and Erewhon,” he said in 2025. “I’m not a Calabasas native, but I moved here when I moved to L.A. in 2001. It used to be a pumpkin town and everyone would say, ‘Why are you moving all the way out there?’ But then, of course, a certain family moved in [to Hidden Hills] and put Calabasas on the map.”

Before the cast of “Calabasas Confidential” officially makes its grand entrance, another Netflix reality show, “Temptation Island,” has been the talk of the town.

According to The Blast, the show follows four couples struggling with personal issues and places them in a luxurious villa to tempt them with hot singles.

The show is dramatic, salacious, and scandalous, but for host Mark L. Walberg, it’s “real.”

“It’s real for me, and I don’t know how to detach or phone it in,” he said in a previous interview. “Having done it for years and years now, I can tell you that the people who come on [Temptation Island] really do get answers to their questions.”

Is ‘Temptation Island’ Scripted?

The over-the-top theatrics have also raised some eyebrows, prompting viewers to ask whether the show is scripted or 100% authentic.

According to Kai Stone, everything happened exactly as they were shown in the episodes.

“It’s not scripted like people think—no one’s telling you what to say—but it’s definitely engineered,” Stone said, per The Blast. “The producers know what they’re doing. You’re put in situations that are going to bring stuff out of you—good, bad, whatever’s already there.”

While the show’s cast may have been placed in uncomfortable situations, Stone said everyone has to own their actions.

“But what you say and how you react—that’s on you,” he said.

Of all the crazy things to happen on Supernatural, one of the most bizarre occurred smack in the middle of the series’ epic 15-season run. If you ever wondered if Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) was dad material, wonder no further. Season 7 was an odd one for the show, introducing the Leviathans, killing off main characters, and stripping the Winchesters of their iconic Impala for a time. But one of the weirdest additions to the show’s ever-evolving mythos was when writers Eugenie Ross-Leming and Brad Buckner gave Dean a daughter after he slept with an Amazon. Not only did the elder Winchester produce a child of his own, but that very same daughter later tried to kill him. It doesn’t get much stranger than that on Supernatural.

“The Slice Girls” Officially Gives Dean Winchester a Not-So-Little Girl of His Own

In the show’s seventh season episode, “The Slice Girls,” which takes place not long after the death of their surrogate father, Bobby Singer (Jim Beaver), the Winchesters find themselves in Seattle investigating some pretty strange murders. Each of the victims had their hands and feet cut off and bore a symbol carved into their chest, which is about right up the brothers’ alley. Additionally, each of these victims had engaged in one-night stands at a local bar, The Colbalt Room, which they only discovered after Dean first had a sexual encounter of his own with a woman named Lydia (Sara Canning). Soon after, Lydia becomes pregnant and gives birth to a young girl named Emma, who ages rapidly into a teenager in less than three days.

As Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean try to figure out their next move, they discover that Lydia is one of the Amazons, a group of warrior women (not unlike Wonder Woman) who were blessed by the Greek goddess Harmonia with the ability to conceive and give birth quickly for the sake of amassing their armed forces. As the Amazons continue to build their army, they do so by traveling from place to place every few years, only to bear more children, kill their fathers, and move on to the next town. With Seattle as their current locale, Sam and Dean put two-and-two together, recognizing that Lydia was an Amazon and that her rapidly aging daughter Emma (played later by Alexia Fast, who had previously played Missy Bender in the fan-favorite “The Benders”) is actually Dean’s offspring.

As Sam is jumped by an Amazon elsewhere, Dean is confronted by Emma, now at the end of her rapid-aging process. Though Sam and Dean thought that Lydia would have come to kill Dean, Sam discovers that the Amazons assign their children to commit patricide as a rite of passage into their ranks. While confronting Dean, Emma pleads with her father to help get her out from under the Amazonian cult, and tries to appeal to their familial ties, but it’s all a trick. Emma had been briefed by her superiors on her father and uncle’s profession and had prepared to deceive Dean into letting his guard down. By the time Sam gets back to the motel, Dean and his daughter are engaged in a standoff, forcing Sam to be the one to ultimately pull the trigger.

Emma’s Potential on ‘Supernatural’ Was Instantly Cut Short

Image via the CW

The idea that either Sam or Dean would have children while Supernatural was in its heyday is something that the showrunners would never have allowed to happen. After all, it would drastically change the tone of the show and introduce character dynamics that wouldn’t conform naturally to the way the series had been set up. Supernatural was always meant to be a horror road show, and because of that, for the first seven and a half seasons, the Winchesters never had a base of operations or a home to call their own. While Season 8 would change that by introducing the Men of Letters and their Lebanon, Kansas-based bunker, Season 7 was still firmly set on the open road. It’s not surprising then that the rest of Supernatural essentially forgets about this moment, never mentioning Emma again after this season.

Nevertheless, “The Slice Girls” exists, and Emma is legitimately Dean’s only known biological child. That’s not something you see every day, and for a character who struggles with living under a deadbeat dad of his own (we still love you, John Winchester), the idea that Dean would have a daughter is a fascinating concept. Considering that Emma was an Amazon like her mother, it makes the concept all the more engaging, knowing that Dean’s only confirmed child isn’t even human. We have to remember that, at this point in Supernatural, Dean was rarely merciful to monsters. If anything, he would go out of his way to make sure more were put down properly. Sure, he and Sam let a few go over the years (provided they didn’t kill humans), but earlier in Season 7, Dean had been responsible for killing a monster friend of Sam’s from his childhood, one who only killed to save her own son. Sam was furious with Dean then, and his killing Emma allowed him to return the ill-gotten favor.

Related

Only 5 Fantasy Shows Are Better Than ‘Supernatural’

Carry on my Winchester brothers.

But what happened to Emma — a girl who, had she survived, we might have come to know as Emma Winchester — is a tragedy. Not only was Dean’s Amazon-born daughter brainwashed by the Harmonia-centric cult, but she also showed no remorse about killing her own father. If Dean could have saved her, if he could have convinced her to leave with him (or at least go their separate ways), it’s possible we could’ve had a very heartfelt father-daughter Supernatural story down the road, which might’ve changed the elder Winchesters’ outlook on the opposite sex. More than that, it might’ve been a more natural way to change Dean’s mind concerning monsters in general, rather than how the following season did so with his time in Purgatory.

Emma’s Story Is Tragic, but Dean’s Reaction Is Even More So

Image via the CW

There’s no denying that what happened to Emma here is a tragedy, even if it’s an understandable one. Here’s a girl who died for no reason simply because she was ordered to kill her father by a group of cultic warriors. According to Emma, she had no choice in the matter, though Dean (captain of “Team Free Will” over here), of all people, knows that everyone always has a choice. Dean’s inability to convince Emma of her own autonomy is heartbreaking, and while we’re not meant to sympathize with his psychotic Amazonian daughter, it’s not hard to see why Dean himself would want to. At the end of the episode, Sam accuses Dean of not being able to pull the trigger, which Dean adamantly denies. But the truth is, Sam, might be right. Dean saw Emma as his daughter, his only daughter, and for that reason alone, we can’t help but feel for his strange loss.

To make matters worse, the Amazons get away in the end. As far as we know, Emma’s mother, Lydia, was with them, likely furious at the fact that her daughter didn’t return from her mission. But, because Supernatural never acknowledged this episode beyond a brief reference in the very next episode, “Plucky Pennywhistle’s Magical Menagerie,” Lydia is left in the wind. Though the show treats it as a standard monster-of-the-week story, it feels much more than that, and given how other episodes this season would be followed up on in the future, Supernatural‘s decision to ignore the Amazon story seems like an oversight. It’s unlikely that Lydia wouldn’t want to avenge her daughter’s death, just as it’s strange that the Amazons wouldn’t attempt to kill the Winchesters after Sam first killed two of their own. Instead, this is just yet another one of Supernatural‘s many loose threads.

This Isn’t the First Time ‘Supernatural’ Teased Dean Winchester’s Offspring

Of course, this isn’t the first or only time that Supernatural teased the idea of Dean being a father. As early as the show’s third season, Lisa Braeden (Cindy Sampson) and her son Ben (Nicholas Elia) were introduced in “The Kids Are Alright,” and immediately the show made us believe that Ben was the result of a hook-up between Dean and Lisa years earlier. Though Lisa denied it, Ben’s aesthetic, choice of music, speech patterns, and physical appearance made many believe otherwise. After Sam was trapped in Hell at the end of Season 5, Dean went to live with the Braedens and became Ben’s surrogate father. By the end of Season 6, Dean had Castiel (Misha Collins) erase Ben and Lisa’s memories after the pair were nearly killed by a demon, but not before that demon revealed Ben was indeed Dean’s son.

Naturally, Dean (and Supernatural itself) framed this as just another lie the demon was trying to tell, and so Dean left his makeshift family behind forever. This all took place just before Season 7, when Dean had his encounter with Emma, making her not the first, but the second child of his that he’s walked out on (or worse, in Emma’s case). It wouldn’t be until the show’s final few years that Dean would have one more chance to redeem himself as a surrogate father figure with Jack Klein (Alexander Calvert), the estranged son of Lucifer (Mark Pellegrino). Dean, Sam, and Castiel helped raise Jack (who is a Nephilim) into a stand-up young man, one who ended up being vital in saving the world. While things between Dean and his only confirmed biological child might have turned sour, the elder Winchester proved himself to be worthy dad material by the end. No wonder Sam later named his own child after his brother.

Supernatural is available for streaming on Netflix.

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Release Date

2005 – 2020

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Network

The WB, The CW

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Showrunner

Eric Kripke

Directors

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Philip Sgriccia, John F. Showalter, Kim Manners, Thomas J. Wright, Charles Beeson, Guy Norman Bee, Richard Speight Jr., Mike Rohl, John Badham, Steve Boyum, Amyn Kaderali, Jensen Ackles, Tim Andrew, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeannot Szwarc, P.J. Pesce, Nina Lopez-Corrado, James L. Conway, amanda tapping, J. Miller Tobin, Stefan Pleszczynski, John MacCarthy, Jerry Wanek, Ben Edlund

Writers

Meredith Glynn, Davy Perez, Raelle Tucker, Cathryn Humphris, Brett Matthews, Nancy Won, John Bring, Ben Acker, Daniel Knauf, David Ehrman, James Krieg, Trey Callaway

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On this episode of ‘Stepping Into The Shade Room,’ Akon sits down to discuss his legendary career, his headline-making polyamorous lifestyle, why T-Pain would win against him in a Verzuz, and much more! From revealing his real name to breaking down why polygamy works for him, Akon gets super candid during his conversation with host Thembi.

Akon Speaks On Polygamy & Faithfulness V. Commitment

During the conversation, Akon shared his thoughts on faithfulness versus commitment, and the ability of men to do either.  Ultimately, he explained that he believes men can be faithful to the woman, or women, they love. But he finds that men are not wired to be committed.

“How many men do you know will fight for that one because of the mistake that they made with someone that didn’t matter to them? That’s faithfulness, that’s creating that energy to fight for it,” he said. “We’re going to be with multiple women, that’s who we are… otherwise, it wouldn’t be a coincidence that every single woman on this planet, if they have a problem with their spouse, it’s over another woman. Think about it! Every woman that has a problem with they man, it’s over another chick.”

He Gets Real About Gender Roles

Before the conversation concluded, the pair touched on gender roles. Akon shared that here in America, he believes the women “want to be men.” Then, in Africa, the women there live “the most amazing life” and only have a hard time when it comes to pregnancy.

“I think when it comes to women, there’s a certain level of respect that should be given to a man. The same way that a man should have a certain level of respect that he should give to a woman,” Akon explained.

Scroll above to watch the episode in full.

RELATED: Raven-Symoné Opens Up About Former Castmates, Marriage & Body Image | SITSR (Exclusive)

Taylor Frankie Paul recently scored a tremendous legal victory when the Salt Lake City District Attorney’s Office declined to press charges against her due to a previous altercation with ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen.

Although “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star can breathe a sigh of relief regarding potential jail time, more details and evidence about the altercation continue to be revealed — and this time it’s courtesy of disturbing text messages. 

Text Messages Reveal Dakota Mortensen Asked Taylor Frankie Paul For Sex After Domestic Violence Incident Left Her Bloodied

In text messages obtained by TMZ on Thursday, April 16, Mortensen asked Paul if she wanted to have sex with him after the two were involved in a physical altercation, a request which she firmly declined.

“You don’t wanna f-ck?,” Mortensen texted Paul on February 22. She responded with a clown emoji and replied “F-ck? My nose won’t stop sushing blood. The f-ck is wrong with you.”

Mortensen then responded to her rejection saying that she previously mentioned sex in a prior phone call. However, she corrected his recollection of events, “I said talk the f-ck.” 

Mortensen replied with a series of angry texts, culminating with him writing to Paul, “GOODBYE. F-ck your abuse,” to which she replied “F-ck YOURS.” Mortensen then added, “See ya in court.”

Paul Was Recently Granted A Temporary Restraining Order Against Mortensen

On April 8, Paul was granted a temporary restraining order against her ex, Mortensen, alleging that he was physically abusive toward her, which is the same claim he made when filing the same protective order against her that was also granted by a judge.

According to the court documents, Mortensen is not allowed within 100 yards of Paul until their next court hearing later this month.

The documents also reveal that Mortensen cannot email, text, call, or otherwise communicate with Paul. During the upcoming court hearing, the court will determine if a permanent restraining order should be put in effect against either of them.

The MomTok Founder Previously Spoke Out After The Salt Lake City DA Declined To Press Charges Against Her

Per Us Weekly, on Tuesday, April 14, Paul took to her Instagram Stories to respond to the news that local Salt Lake City prosecutors decided not to press charges against her in a pair of incidents involving Mortensen.

“Cried when I got the call. THANK YOU to those that have stood with me,” she wrote in a post that featured a floral arrangement and a card.

As of now, Paul is the only “Mormon Wives” cast member to publicly comment on her avoiding charges. Additionally, neither Hulu nor ABC/Disney has offered any commentary either.

Prosecutors Explained Reasoning Why The ‘Mormon Wives’ Star Wasn’t Charged

The office of Salt Lake City district attorney Sim Gill released a statement confirming that no charges against Paul would be filed, citing a lack of evidence and the statute of limitations as the reasons.

“After reviewing reports and evidence submitted to the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has declined to file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul,” the statement read, per Deadline.

“The complainant in these cases reported several incidents – some of which occurred more than three years ago,” the statement read. “Any incidents of misdemeanor offenses which are alleged to have occurred more than two years ago are barred by the statute of limitations. Incidents which are alleged to have occurred within the statute of limitations have also been reviewed.”

The statement continued, “Several incidents that were submitted do not rise to the level of criminal offenses. The remaining incidents lack sufficient evidence to support filing criminal charges where the State must be able to prove such allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. Such incidents lack specificity as to when and what actually occurred or corroboration.”

‘Mormon Wives’ Could Resume Production Following Paul’s Legal Victory

According to TMZ, after weeks of paused filming for season five, the cast of the hit Hulu reality series is reportedly ready to get back to work.

After multiple cast members initially appeared to distance themselves from Paul as her drama took center stage, things have apparently settled between them, and they are all ready to resume filming, including Paul.

Hulu has yet to confirm or deny that season five has resumed production.

When it comes to the fantasy genre, The Lord of the Rings reigns supreme. In both the cinematic and literary worlds, the saga about the Hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and his quest to destroy the One Ring is widely considered the pinnacle of fantasy storytelling, thanks to its memorable characters, jaw-droppingly immersive world-building, and a story that has not only introduced but also perfected many of the tropes commonly associated with the genre. Very few fantasy movies surpass The Lord of the Rings, at least when it comes to sheer scope, ambition, and execution.

Another key aspect behind the trilogy’s success is how epic they are. Middle-earth is vast and expansive, full of wonder and danger in equal measure. The books and the movies make this story truly feel larger-than-life, creating a captivating world that often threatens to overwhelm because of its sheer scope. “Epic” even feels like an understatement to describe these exemplary movies, all three of which have truly become the standard for modern blockbuster cinema. Yet, there are at least three movies that feel more epic than The Lord of the Rings. Perhaps they feel grander in their storytelling, perhaps they offer more enveloping and cinematic executions, or maybe they just feel far more grandiose. Whatever the case, the three movies on this list feel more epic than Peter Jackson‘s undeniably stellar trilogy. To keep things fair, we’ll only include movies with elements of adventure and action, as well as similar thematic concerns to The Lord of the Rings.

‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962)

Image via Columbia Pictures

No director has ever mastered the epic genre quite as well as David Lean. From The Bridge on the River Kwai to Doctor Zhivago, the iconic director helmed some of cinema’s all-time greatest epics. His magnum opus is undeniably Lawrence of Arabia, starring Peter O’Toole in the role that made him a legend. Set during World War I, the film sees British Lieutenant T.E. Lawrence (O’Toole) traveling to seek Prince Faisal (Alec Guinness) and act as a liaison between the Arabs and the British in their fight against the Turks. Soon, Lawrence goes rogue and, aided by the native Sharif Ali (Omar Sharif), sets out on a desert journey to strike at the Turks when they least expect it.

Lawrence of Arabia is now considered a cinematic institution, and for good reason. This ambitious picture revolutionized filmmaking, pioneering editing techniques that marked a true before-and-after in the craft. In the acting department, O’Toole delivers one of the best performances ever captured on film, a larger-than-life and nearly overwhelming depiction of ambition and an identity in conflict with itself that further elevates this tale. Visually, Lean beautifully captures the vastness of the desert, turning the sands of the Arabian Peninsula into a hypnotizing, nearly otherworldly landscape that threatens to consume us. Thematically, Lawrence of Arabia is all about how legends are born. Watching Lawrence’s legacy being born before our eyes gives the film a timeless, haunting nature that makes the whole thing seem far more grandiose. The Lord of the Rings makes Middle-earth seem epic, but Lawrence of Arabia makes something far more impressive: it makes our world seem fantastical and almost mythical.

‘Ran’ (1985)

Many would say Akira Kurosawa is the greatest filmmaker in film history, and the claim would not be an overstatement. The legendary director left behind a rich cinematic legacy, including outright masterpieces like Seven Samurai, Ikiru, and Yojimbo. However, perhaps his greatest epic is his last, 1985’s Ran, an adaptation of Shakespeare‘s King Lear. Tatsuya Nakadai stars as Hidetora Ichimonji, a seventy-year-old warlord in the Sengoku period who decides to abdicate his throne and divide his territory between his three sons. However, his youngest refuses to pledge loyalty to his eldest, leading to an extended conflict that will destroy everyone.

The Bard’s stories are always an excellent source material for updating, and Kurosawa does it expertly in Ran. Translating the action to feudal Japan allows him to explore themes of honor, legacy, and the burden of power, resulting in a deeply psychological and insightful interpretation of a well-known story. Kurosawa complements this approach with some of the largest and most riveting battles ever depicted on the silver screen. Ran‘s depiction of warfare is majestic and unforgiving, yet also sumptuous and strikingly beautiful. The use of vibrant color and vast, natural landscapes makes the whole thing a sensory feast, demanding every bit of the audience’s attention but rewarding them with one of the most exhilarating tragedies in the medium. In pretty much every way that counts, Ran is the perfect representation of what a cinematic epic should be. Thematically poignant and visually glorious, the film is spectacle in its purest form, a film of such magnitude that one can’t help but feel humbled at witnessing it.

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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Mad Max: Fury Road is the greatest action movie of the 21st century, and it’s not even particularly close. Balancing genres, themes, and approaches, George Miller‘s ambitious saga is basically one long car chase throughout the desert. Tom Hardy takes over the role of Max Rockatansky from Mel Gibson in this story set in a dystopian world where the Earth has been transformed into a wasteland and society has descended into chaos, reduced to their primal instincts. The loner Max soon finds himself allying with Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), a warrior and rebel aiding the five wives of a despot escape to a haven known as the Green Place.

To put it simply, Mad Max: Fury Road is the ultimate representation of epic cinematic action, the perfect encapsulation of everything that makes the genre thrive on the big screen. Exhilarating to a fault, explosive (literally), and offering arguably the greatest action sequences in the medium’s history, the film represents an exciting breakthrough in genre filmmaking. Yet, it never sacrifices the story’s emotional or thematic core for mere spectacle. Even with all its impressive set pieces, it still offers plenty of food for thought, full of clever commentary about totalitarianism, rebellion, and especially feminism. Charlize Theron’s Furiosa is undoubtedly the best female action hero since Linda Hamilton‘s Sarah Connor, becoming the embodiment of the film’s themes. Mad Max: Fury Road is unrelenting, a non-stop and adrenaline-pumping saga covered in sweat and oil. Witnessing it on the big screen is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the greatest testament to the power of the theater experience.

Newly released texts between Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen show her shutting down his request for sex after their alleged altercation.

An unsealed police report from the Draper City Police Department showed photos submitted for evidence from both Paul, 31, and Mortensen, 33, regarding their recent domestic disputes. Along with photos of Paul and Mortensen’s injuries from two separate incidents, text messages exchanged between the former couple were submitted.

On February 22, Mortensen seemed to ask Paul how her therapy session went, but hours later, Paul replied claiming her “nose is broken” and “gushing blood.”

Mortensen replied: “You don’t want to f***?” In the screenshot, Paul questioned Mortensen’s reaction, adding, “Fk? My nose won ’t stop [gushing] blood. The fk is wrong with you?”

Related: Mormon Wives’ Taylor Frankie Paul, Dakota Mortensen‘s Relationship Timeline

Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen‘s complicated romance was thrust into the spotlight on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives — and their relationship status remains unclear. Before the show premiered on Hulu in September 2024, Taylor and Dakota started dating following her divorce from husband Tate Paul in the wake of a high-profile “soft […]

As the argument escalated, Mortensen appeared to reply, “Goodbye. F*** your abuse.”

“F**k YOURS,” Paul wrote, to which Mortensen fired back, “See ya in court.”

News broke in March that an alleged domestic violence incident between the pair caused filming to be paused on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Paul’s season of The Bachelorette was later pulled by ABC after footage from a prior domestic incident between her and Mortensen was resurfaced.

Mortensen and Paul have since filed temporary restraining orders against each other. Mortensen was granted temporary full custody of their 2-year-old son, Ever, with Paul receiving supervised visits for at least six hours per week until their protective hearing on April 30, when a judge will reevaluate the arrangement.

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Related: How Long Were Mormon Wives‘ Taylor and Dakota Together Between Breakups?

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul’s relationship timeline with Dakota Mortensen isn’t easy to pin down after numerous breakups — but how long were they actually together in between their public splits? Taylor and Dakota started dating before the show premiered on Hulu in September 2024. Dakota was Taylor’s first public […]

Us Weekly confirmed on Tuesday, April 14, that Paul would not be charged as a result of the alleged dispute between her and Mortensen.

“After reviewing reports and evidence submitted to the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has declined to file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul,” District Attorney Sim Gill’s office said in a statement obtained by Us on at the time.

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The reality star — who also shares daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, with ex-husband Tate Paul — later broke her silence on the decision.

“Cried when I got the call 🙏 THANK YOU to those that have stood with me,” she captioned a blurry photo of a vase filled with flowers and a card shared via her Instagram Story.

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