Note: The following contains spoilers for A Perfect Getaway.

Writer-director David Twohy had a hand in creating an incredible number of Hollywood genre pics from the early ’90s, including writing credits on Critters 2, Terminal Velocity, and even Harrison Ford‘s stone-cold action classic The Fugitive. He made a name for himself as a director, though, with the sleeper sci-fi/horror film Pitch Black, which also happened to help put star Vin Diesel on the map. Twohy’s gritty, vibes- and action-first franchise yielded two sequels: The Chronicles of Riddick and, later, Riddick.

His single foray into pure suspense filmmaking came with 2009’s A Perfect Getaway, and he proved as adept as any Hollywood craftsman at selling both physical danger and psychological complexity, armed with a cast of greats that included a young Timothy Olyphant. A Perfect Getaway is a simple sell: Two couples on a tropical vacation realize they’re being stalked by killers. Twohy, and the cast, inject the premise with remarkable life, though, through sheer sturdy filmmaking and charismatic acting, with Olyphant proving himself early on as a compelling leading man — and genre veteran Steve Zahn showing that he’s capable of surprising the audience.

‘A Perfect Getaway’ Is a Perfect Late-Night Thriller

Image via Universal Pictures

A Perfect Getaway begins with a perfect bait-and-switch that the audience can likely already sense — as in, it’s too “perfect.” Zahn’s Cliff and Milla Jovovich‘s Cydney, alleged newlyweds, head to a tropical honeymoon, making cute videos and heading for the hills with a trail leading to a secluded beach. Twohy cuts in handheld shots from their wedding, showing groomsmen wishing them well and immediately establishing Cliff as an aspiring filmmaker. The warmth is there from the beginning; Zahn’s dorky, well-meaning character pulls a lot of weight as the couple has an unnerving encounter with a pair of hitchhikers (one of whom is a young Chris Hemsworth), before they befriend Nick (Olyphant) and Gina (Kiele Sanchez), attempting the same trail they’re hiking

Twohy derives a considerable amount of tension from the clearly on-location photography, emphasizing these characters’ isolation in every high-angle shot, and the whole thing has a fun and tense, colorful vibe that continues even when things get bloody. And things get bloody indeed, once the foursome receive word of a double-murder, allegedly committed by a man and a woman. By this point, the audience is likely already on board with both couples and scouting for dangers just outside the frame, but Twohy shoots everything impassively until the film takes its crucial turn, with Zahn and Jovovich’s characters revealed as a psychotic, meth-fueled killer couple looking to steal the identities of Nick and Gina.

From then on, Twohy doesn’t shy away from subjective, muddy close-ups and hand-held shots, as well as frank views of gory injuries. The film starts to sing, in a way that will remind fans of Sam Raimi’s recent Send Help.

Even in 2009, Timothy Olyphant Was an Underrated Leading Man

Relatively early in his career, Olyphant already radiates a criminal amount of charm in what could have been a stock role. With his southern drawl, warmly needling relationship with his girlfriend, and gentle prodding of Zahn and Jovovich’s villains, Olyphant’s former military protagonist injects a real warmth and sense of stakes into an increasingly dangerous vacation. He evinces the credibility and magnetism of a young Kurt Russell or Harrison Ford, even as most audiences likely only knew him as Sheriff Seth Bullock on HBO’s gone-too-soon masterpiece of a revisionist Western, Deadwood.

Early on, Olyphant earnestly asks Zahn’s undercover psycho about his supposed work in the film industry before the film’s big turn, even musing that if a film were to be made about his life, he’d like to be played by Nicolas Cage. It’s well-written stuff, performed realistically by Olyphant. And when Nick’s apparent special forces training comes out, and Twohy fills the frame with Olyphant’s sweaty, bloodied face, ragged clothes, and cut physique in the film’s latter half, it’s clear there’s an action star in the making.

Twohy’s thriller will likely end up a footnote in his otherwise sci-fi-centric filmography, alongside his unsung contributions to modern action cinema at large, but it remains the kind of three-star classic it would be a sin to miss when streaming. The film itself is refreshingly unfussy and unpretentious, loaded with juicy performances, beautiful location work, and rough violence. And the forgotten tropical thrill ride is streaming today on YouTube and Prime Video.

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Release Date

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August 7, 2009

Runtime

98 minutes

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Director

David Twohy

Writers

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David Twohy

Producers

Camille Brown, Ken Halsband, Mark Canton, Robbie Brenner, Tucker Tooley, Ryan Kavanaugh

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Science fiction and horror have always been a natural combination, particularly when filmmakers use the isolation of space to trap characters with something they don’t understand. Alien remains the obvious benchmark, but sometimes when the plot goes in a more supernatural direction, it’s worth paying attention to. That’s what happened in this film, and now you can watch it again as Paramount+ is bringing one of the 1990s’ most notorious sci-fi horror movies back to a major platform.

Seven years earlier, the pioneering research spacecraft Event Horizon mysteriously vanished without a trace on its maiden voyage. But then, in the darkness of deep space, a persistent signal prompts a rescue crew to wing its way through the galaxy on a bold rescue mission. What they uncover is an unimaginable interstellar horror that will test the entire team’s sanity and souls.

The cast is led by Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix) as Captain Miller, alongside Sam Neill (Jurassic Park) as Dr. William Weir, Kathleen Quinlan (Apollo 13) as Peters, Joely Richardson (Nip/Tuck) as Starck, Richard T. Jones (The Rookie) as Cooper, Jack Noseworthy (Breakdown) as Justin, Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) as D.J., and Sean Pertwee (Gotham) as Smith. Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson (Resident Evil), the 1997 movie failed to find an audience in theaters but has since become a cult favorite.

Was ‘Event Horizon’ a Success?

Event Horizon wasn’t well received when it arrived in theaters and currently holds a 37% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. Its reputation has changed considerably over the years, with the movie developing a loyal following among horror fans and becoming widely regarded as a cult classic. The movie was also a major box office disappointment, earning approximately $42 million worldwide against a reported $60 million production budget. Its success on home video helped give Event Horizon a second life, with its combination of science fiction and supernatural horror finding an audience that it couldn’t attract during its original theatrical run.

The legendary critic Roger Ebert stated that Event Horizon starts off feeling like a proper sci-fi classic in the making — sleek ships, eerie sound design, and that slow, creeping sense of dread that pulls you right in — but that’s all surface level. The atmosphere does a lot of heavy lifting early on, with the cold, empty ship and strange signs of life setting up something genuinely unsettling.

Event Horizon is streaming now on Paramount+.

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Release Date

August 15, 1997

Runtime

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95 minutes

Director

Paul W. S. Anderson

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Writers

Andrew Kevin Walker, Philip Eisner

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Producers

Jeremy Bolt, Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin

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The O.C. alum Ben McKenzie isn’t necessarily shutting the door on his time as Ryan Atwood for good.

Speaking to Australia’s KIIS 1065 on Friday, September 4, McKenzie, 47, admitted he would be open to a reboot of the series.

“I don’t know that there has ever been serious talks, but I’d be up for it,” he said. “Yeah, I think so, under the right circumstances. It was a great show. We had a great time. I learned a lot. I was so young, we were all young.”

McKenzie shot to fame on the teen series, which premiered in 2003 and ran for four seasons until 2007. He starred alongside Mischa Barton, Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson.

Related: Mischa Barton Admits to ‘Tricky’ Ben McKenzie Romance on ‘The O.C.’ Set

After years of denying that things went down between Mischa Barton and Ben McKenzie on set of The O.C., the actress is changing her story about the “whole ordeal.” “It was kind of complicated for me,” Barton, 38, began on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast episode on Wednesday, February 21, when discussing her breakout role […]

Meanwhile Barton, who portrayed McKenzie’s love interest Marissa Cooper, teased that there could one day be a return on the horizon during an interview with RTL last month. (Marissa was killed off at the end of season three.)

“There might be a reunion coming up; we’ll see,” she cryptically told the outlet. After being pressed for more details, she said again, “We’ll see.”

Bilson has also expressed potential interest in reviving her character Summer Roberts.

“I would always be up for it. But it’s also this thing that people still watch and are still discovering,” the actress, 45, told Variety in June 2024. “So do you just leave that special moment as it is?”

She added, “You weigh both sides because obviously it would be fun and I love everybody and it would be awesome to go back and we need to somehow bring Marissa back to life and do the whole thing if we do it. But also leaving it for what it was and how special it kind of was, is also a positive.”

Brody, who played Seth Cohen, has been less enthusiastic about bringing back the beloved characters — suggesting it may not work as well decades after the show’s peak popularity.

“I kind of don’t think it can be done because I feel like, socially, I think we’re in a different place. And I think we’re in a more conscious place,” Brody, 46, explained on the “Welcome to The O.C., Bitches!” podcast in October 2021.

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Related: No New Friends! The O.C.’s Rachel Bilson and Adam Brody Reunite at Airport

A reunion worth celebrating! Rachel Bilson crossed paths with her former The O.C. costar Adam Brody at an airport on Tuesday, August 13. “Ran into my ol buddy from jfk to lax #californiaherewecome,” Bilson, 37, captioned a selfie on Instagram that she took with Brody, 39. The chance encounter attracted attention from Josh Schwartz, the […]

He continued, “I feel like The O.C., while it claims to be in a similar sense of Gossip Girl, while it would sort of say it’s a critique [of affluence], it’s not. It’s a celebration. It’s a celebration of affluence, in my opinion.”

Brody argued that the world is such a different place than it was in the 2000s that it would likely be hard for audiences to stomach some elements as easily as they once did.

“But I guess my point is like, for me, in a post-Donald Trump America, to go, ‘Let’s go to Orange County,’ I feel like you have to have a real reckoning politically and socially,” he continued. “And is that what people want to see with this show? I don’t know. And is there a way to do both? I mean, there is I suppose, but in my eyes, I’d probably want to torch it more than, like, the fans would want. So, I don’t know who would be happy.”

This summer of cinema has been dominated by two names: Zendaya and Tom Holland. Alongside Jon Bernthal, the pair have featured in the two biggest films of the year so far, both of which have smashed several important box office records. First came Christopher Nolan‘s ambitious adaptation of Homer‘s historical epic The Odyssey, which sailed onto global screens and earned the director’s highest-grossing film ever as well as the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, surpassing the $1.5 billion mark.

But The Odyssey would prove a mere starter for Zendaya and Holland, as the real-life married couple would then debut not just the biggest film of the year but the biggest film of the decade so far in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. After opening with the biggest first weekend in domestic box office history, Brand New Day has since obliterated a number of eye-catching box office records, currently sitting in third place on the all-time list with a total haul of $2.335 billion. For Holland, these two movies were his first of 2026, but Zendaya had already delivered one of the year’s early gems back in April.

The film in question is The Drama, which stars Zendaya opposite her Odyssey crewmate Robert Pattinson in a twisted anti-rom-com that follows a couple on the verge of getting married, whose relationship is turned upside down when one reveals a dark secret. Directed by Kristoffer Borgli, this clever, indulgent drama earned an impressive critical response and scored a strong box office haul of $105 million against a reported budget of just $28 million. Five months later, The Drama is still a hit, officially ranking as the third most-streamed movie on HBO Max in the U.S. at the time of writing.

Zendaya and Robert Pattinson Aren’t Done Yet

Just when this year couldn’t get any more remarkable for Zendaya, she’s back alongside Pattinson this December for 2026’s most exciting sci-fi release. Released on the same day as Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three, the final installment in Denis Villeneuve‘s acclaimed adaptation of Frank Herbert‘s Dune novels, will see Zendaya reprise her role as Chani alongside a typically stacked cast. This includes Pattinson as Scytale, Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, and Jason Momoa as Hayt.

The Drama is streaming on HBO Max. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for all the latest streaming stories.

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Release Date

April 3, 2026

Runtime

105 minutes

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Director

Kristoffer Borgli

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Writers

Kristoffer Borgli

Producers

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Ari Aster, Lars Knudsen, Tyler Campellone

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Real Housewives of Orange County’s Shannon Beador had a sassy reaction to news her former costar, Alexis Bellino, had her first facelift.

Speaking to E! News on Friday, September 4, Shannon, 62, was asked what she thought about Alexis, 49, going under the knife. (Alexis and Shannon had beef after Shannon’s ex, John Janssen began dating Alexis following the former couple’s split.)

“Good for her!” Shannon told the outlet, adding, “I hope the marriage stays intact because she might get sued!”

The remark was in reference to her own legal troubles with John, 63, in the past, when he sued her in an attempt to recover $75,000 he said he gave her as a loan for cosmetic procedures.

Related: Alexis Bellino Slams Shannon Beador’s Claim $60,000 Will Pay for Wedding

Alexis Bellino is clapping back at Shannon Beador after the latest episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County. During the season 19 premiere on Thursday, July 10, viewers watched Shannon, 61, discuss her outlook on life nearly one year after splitting from John Janssen. “I don’t think about John Janssen at all,” she said […]

In her interview with E!, Shannon also said she no longer has beef with the couple after their love triangle, insisting, “I’ve moved on.” Shannon added, “I don’t care.”

Shannon and John broke up in January 2023 after four years of dating. He moved on with Alexis, who was previously married to Jim Bellino, in early 2024.

Amid Alexis’ whirlwind romance with John, she returned to RHOC and often butted heads with Shannon in season 18 in 2024. Alexis confirmed in December 2024 that she was not asked to return to the show for the following season.

In March 2024, John filed a lawsuit against Shannon, suing her for breach of oral contract and promissory fraud, claiming that she failed to repay him $75,000,  per court documents obtained by People.

According to the outlet, he claimed that his ex asked him for the money in 2022 and he gave her $40,000 via wire transfer in January the same year. John also allegedly paid her an additional $35,000 in May 2023, given by personal check. John claimed via the court docs that Shannon has failed to return the money despite agreeing to pay him back with interest.

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“Ms. Beador’s defense that Mr. Janssen paid her the $75,000 as a ‘gift’ is completely meritless, which their emails and text messages will show,” Edson K. McClellan, Rutan & Tucker LLP, told Us at the time. “Mr. Janssen is saddened that Ms. Beador’s unwillingness to repay the loans made it necessary to file this lawsuit.”

Beador also spoke out via a statement to Us at the time: “I am shocked and disappointed that John has a filed a lawsuit. My attorney has been in constant communication with his counsel. I agreed to pay John what he wanted because I knew that attorneys fees would surpass the amount sought, but more importantly to eliminate the negative emotional components that come with a lawsuit. It is important that I continue to focus on the positive aspects of my life and move forward. John declined the offer because he refused to sign a mutual non-disparagement agreement. I was hoping that if I met his baseless demand we could at least use this as an opportunity to bring complete closure to this chapter in my life.”

The pair settled the lawsuit in November 2024.

When it comes to nostalgic video game consoles, few beat the PlayStation 2. Released at the dawn of the millennium, the console signalled the next step in the video game industry, continuing the highly successful run of its predecessor while pushing the technical and performance capabilities to new and exciting heights. As part of the sixth generation of consoles, the PS2 went head-to-head with Nintendo’s GameCube and Microsoft’s Xbox, and suffice it to say, it beat those two by a considerable margin.

As expected from such a successful console, the PS2 has a strong library of games, many of which were instant successes and many others that only became appreciated with time. Many of these titles have become iconic, and a few are even in conversation for all-time best triumphs. In other words, they’re virtually perfect from beginning to end, a feat that’s particularly difficult to achieve in the video game industry. However, these PS2 titles make it look effortless.

‘Guitar Hero II’ (2006)

Image via RedOctane

Rhythm games were huge in the noughties, with most major consoles having at least one flagship title. However, the king of the genre was probably Guitar Hero, with a simple yet terribly addictive premise that made it simply irresistible. As with its predecessor, the player has a physical guitar (a cherry red Gibson SG for the PS2 version) that they use to simulate playing a real one, thus becoming a rock star for the duration of the song.

There’s really not much to Guitar Hero II: what you see is what you get, and that’s all you need. The game features an iconic soundtrack full of rock and roll staples like Guns N’ Roses‘ “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and The Police‘s “Message in a Bottle.” Guitar Hero II was the starting point for many would-be musicians, surely. For the rest of us, it was just the chance to fulfill our rock and roll fantasies, making it a perfect game to spend an afternoon with.

‘Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec’ (2001)

Image via Sony Computer Entertainment

Racing games are a staple of video games. Who doesn’t love to experience the rush of the race from the safety of one’s home? The PS2 featured multiple great racing games, from the silly and playful like Crash Tag Team Racing to a few entries in the Need for Speed series. However, the Gran Turismo series surpassed almost all of them with its third entry, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec.

Although it features far fewer vehicles, Gran Turismo 3 marked a massive step forward in terms of technical performance, graphics, and overall gameplay. Even today, with significant advancements in the way we experience video games, Gran Turismo 3 remains a spectacular effort that’s just as thrilling and immersive as it was twenty-five years ago. It perfectly translates the feeling of being behind the wheel of a racing car in a way few other games have ever even come close to.

‘Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas’ (2004)

Image via Rockstar Games

Continuing with the racing genre, it’s time we talk about Grand Theft Auto. The venerable franchise is one of the pillars of modern gaming, and arguably its best entry is Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The seventh entry into this beloved series centers on Carl “CJ” Johnson, a gangster who attempts to rebuild his old gang while dealing with corrupt criminals and new foes. He’s also investigating the truth behind his mother’s death, so there’s that.

San Andreas is a genuine institution in the gaming industry and perhaps the biggest icon of the sixth generation of consoles. Its standing alone makes it one of those titles that you’ve probably played at some point in your gaming journey, but the actual gameplay sure lives up to its reputation. It also spawned countless memes, which is a good indicator of its legacy, whether we like it or not. San Andreas is still actively played today, with fans and modders still contributing to it, thus leading to its overall perfection. Here’s hoping the upcoming GTA VI will live up to the franchise’s standards.

‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3’ (2001)

Image via Activision

Sports games are a major part of gaming. In the 2000s, when skateboarding culture was at its peak, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series was one of the most successful across multiple consoles, although its best versions came on the PS. The third entry in the series, appropriately titled Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, sees players performing complex combos in a two-minute frame, earning scores for their efforts.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 was one of the first major games to feature online capabilities, which made it an outright sensation at the time. There’s also an elegance to its simplicity, echoing back to the arcade games that saw the genre explode in popularity. You don’t play to beat challenging bosses or solve complex narratives: much like skateboarding itself, this game is all about the vibes and the feeling, enjoying oneself by passing the time doing impressive, often gravity-defying feats that still look incredibly cool.

‘Shadow of the Colossus’ (2005)

Image via Sony Computer Entertainment

Shadow of the Colossus is one of the most emotionally layered and challenging video games ever made. You play as Wander, a young man who makes a deal with a demon to kill all the Colossi spread across the Forbidden Land, hoping to revive the love of his life, a girl named Momo. As Wander battles the Colossi, he realizes they aren’t really enemies, and he might be condemning himself to a worse fate.

Featuring one of the bleakest endings in gaming history, Shadow of the Colossus is a somber but worthwhile experience, and a great example of the narrative and emotional peaks a video game can achieve. The mood is oppressive and haunting throughout, and each time you slay a Colossi you have the sense that you might’ve just deprived this land of something ancient and primal. The graphics are also incredible for a game that came out over twenty years ago. A fun time this game is not, but Shadow of the Colossus remains a masterpiece of the medium that was only further perfected with a stellar 2018 remake.

‘Silent Hill 2’ (2001)

Image via Konami

In the pantheon of horror games, one reigns supreme, and that’s Silent Hill 2. The survival game follows James Sunderland, a man grieving the loss of his wife three years earlier, who receives a letter from her compelling him to travel to the town of Silent Hill. There, James will encounter all sorts of monstrous and supernatural creatures, including the now-iconic and seemingly unkillable Pyramid Head.

Silent Hill 2 is a genuine masterpiece, plain and simple. More affecting, disturbing, and ultimately unforgettable than most major thriller or horror movies, the game presents a nuanced and rather intelligent depiction of grief and sorrow that makes it as thought-provoking as it’s eerie. It seamlessly balances these profound themes with sheer terror, introducing some of the most terrifying creatures in horror gaming. With six incredible endings and a legacy that speaks on its own, Silent Hill 2 is as close to perfection as any game will ever get.

‘Resident Evil 4’ (2005)

Image via Capcom

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Speaking of survival games, no list about PS2 titles would be complete without Resident Evil 4. Set in Spain, the game introduces us to special agent Leon S. Kennedy, sent to a remote farmhouse to rescue the president’s daughter, Ashley Graham, from a religious cult. Joined by mercenary Ada Wong, Leon must fight through endless hordes of enemies infected by a mind-controlling parasite.

Perfection, your name is Resident Evil 4. Featuring the perfect mix of action, thrills, and horror, the game is widely celebrated for its dynamic camera, which outright revolutionized shooter video games. The then-novel approach made the setting all the more immersive and thus, the scares all the more effective. The voice acting is also on point, particularly Paul Mercier as the now-iconic Leon. Resident Evil 4 is the crowning jewel of the franchise, a truly riveting and absorbing experience that still plays incredibly well. The remake is also amazing, but there’s something special about playing the original.

Few science-fiction franchises have had the cultural impact of Star Wars. Since the original film was released in 1977, it has become one of the most recognizable franchises in popular culture. It influences everything from filmmaking and CGI technology to toys and merchandising. The franchise grew even larger after Disney acquired Lucasfilm and opened the floodgates to more Star Wars stories. But cultural impact and sheer popularity do not automatically make something the best, especially if you look at the franchise as a whole.

Here, we take a look at the select franchises that are better than Star Wars. It may sound impossible, but these franchises excel in areas where Star Wars has sometimes struggled, from storytelling expansion to tackling more sophisticated ideas. What’s interesting about these franchises is that there are some mutual names involved, and they either created these franchises or energized them for the new generation. Star Wars may remain the king of sci-fi, but these are the franchises that can legitimately challenge its throne.

1

‘Blade Runner’ (1982–Present)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Directed by Ridley Scott, Blade Runner follows Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a weary blade runner tasked with hunting down escaped replicants in a dystopian future. Denis Villeneuve followed it up decades later with Blade Runner 2049. The sequel expands that universe, now following replicant officer K (Ryan Gosling) as he uncovers a secret that could change the relationship between humans and artificial beings.

Across both films, the franchise has built one of science fiction’s richest visions of the future, and also one of the most influential. The Blade Runner franchise may be small compared with Star Wars, but what it lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in ambition and consistency. It combines noir detective fiction, breathtaking production design, and deeply philosophical storytelling. Blade Runner 2049 is particularly impressive because it manages to expand the mythology while preserving the mood and intellectual seriousness of the original, something Star Wars has struggled to maintain across its increasingly sprawling canon, especially after Disney’s acquisition. The true test of the franchise will be its first series, Blade Runner 2099, led by Hunter Schafer.

2

‘Avatar’ (2009–Present)

Image via Disney

James Cameron‘s Avatar franchise began in 2009 with Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a former Marine who travels to Pandora and operates an artificially grown Na’vi body as part of a scientific expedition. Also working to gather intelligence for a corporation seeking Pandora’s resources, Jake gradually becomes immersed in Na’vi society and falls in love with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). He becomes a key figure in the tribe and has a big family, as seen in the sequels.

Star Wars was revolutionary for its technological advancements. However, those advancements seemed to slow down after the prequel series. The franchise adopted a retro look to replicate the original trilogy that became a standard for the subsequent entries. Avatar, however, is simply breathtaking in its world-building and pioneering new tech, such as motion capture and CGI. Cameron created an ecosystem in which the geography, animals, plants, and cultures of Pandora all feel interconnected. The films also use their spectacular visuals to reinforce their themes of environmental exploitation, colonialism, and humanity’s relationship with nature. Cameron’s commitment to pushing visual-effects technology has also allowed the franchise to repeatedly redefine what audiences consider possible in blockbuster filmmaking.

3

‘Alien’ (1979–Present)

Image via 20th Century Studios

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The Alien franchise began as a horror film in which the crew of the spaceship fights for survival as a deadly alien is loose aboard their vessel. The sequel amps up the action while still focusing on Ripley (Sigourney Weaver). The recent films vary from horror space-adventure to survival horror, with the most recent one, Alien: Romulus, taking on a smaller-scale approach but still delivering the usual thrills of the franchise.

Alien is almost as old as Star Wars, but the fact that this franchise can reinvent itself without losing its identity edges out the franchise set in a galaxy far, far away. Alien, Aliens, and even Alien 3 are radically different films, yet all feel unmistakably part of the same universe. Prometheus injects a new thematic core to the franchise. While the result may be mixed, it is a brave step. Its first series, Alien: Earth, expands the franchise’s storytelling scope. At its best, the franchise combines groundbreaking creature design, atmosphere, practical effects, memorable characters, and genuinely mature science-fiction ideas.

4

‘The Matrix’ (1999–2021)

Image via Warner Bros.

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The Matrix follows Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves), a computer programmer and hacker known as Neo, who discovers that the world he knows is actually a simulated reality created by machines that have enslaved humanity. Guided by Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), Neo joins the resistance and fulfills the prophecy as The One. The Matrix Resurrections revisits Neo’s story but also subverts expectations by delivering a critique of nostalgia.

In some respects, The Matrix is an obvious franchise on this list to argue that it is better than Star Wars. Its central concept remains extraordinarily focused, and it’s always pushing the limits of filmmaking. Its central premise is undeniably ambitious and cerebral, questioning reality, identity, and control. The original film, in particular, is almost perfectly constructed as a blockbuster, and the sequels go even bigger. Even the animated spin-off, The Animatrix, is a respectable entry that captures the spirit and themes of the movies. Its influence on popular culture and action filmmaking is simply enormous. Star Wars may have the larger universe and greater longevity, but The Matrix arguably has the stronger philosophical foundation and themes.

5

‘Dune’ (2021–Present)

Image via Warner Bros.

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Frank Herbert‘s Dune has always been one of science fiction’s most ambitious stories. The book is a dense, sprawling story of politics, religion, and power. After several ambitious adaptations, Denis Villeneuve‘s Dune films finally demonstrated what the material could accomplish. The story follows Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet), whose family is given control of the desert planet Arrakis. After the family’s downfall, he follows the path laid for him as Lisan Al-Gaib.

It is no secret now that Star Wars borrows heavily from Dune. It’s just unfortunate that Dune wasn’t adapted first into a film. While David Lynch’s version has its supporters, Villeneuve’s films have put the title back on the map. The film’s success has won new devoted viewers. The films are huge in scale, and they are also ambitious in their storytelling. Star Wars remains more accessible and arguably more fun, but Dune offers a more sophisticated look at power and heroism. With its star-studded cast, the films are simply unmissable and have even spurred a respectable spin-off series, Dune: Prophecy. The end of the saga, Dune: Part Three, will arrive this December.

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Dune

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Release Date

September 15, 2021

Runtime

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155 minutes

Director

Denis Villeneuve

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Writers

Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth, Jon Spaihts, Frank Herbert

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Fantasy readers know the feeling of picking up a new book because the premise sounds incredible, only to discover that you’ve just signed yourself up for six more installments, three prequels, and an encyclopedia’s worth of lore. Although there is much to be enjoyed in the lengthy fantasy series, there are some times when readers would prefer a story that fulfills all of its promises by the end of the volume. Fortunately, there are many fantasy novels that do just that.

If you are looking for innovative stories, interesting characters, and magic without being bound to a series, these five novels will be perfect. The stories here can vary from weird and gloomy to heartwarming and terrifying, and they are all told in stand-alone volumes.

Piranesi

Image via Bloomsbury Publishing

Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi drops its protagonist into one of the strangest fantasy settings imaginable: a seemingly infinite structure known simply as the House. The great halls of the House contain numerous sculptures, while clouds drift in the upper areas and water waves in the lower areas, periodically sending ripples through its walls. Piranesi’s life is spent exploring the House, discovering its secrets, and tending the corpses. He believes there are only 15 people in existence, although he regularly meets one living person, the mysterious Other, who is searching the House for something called the Great and Secret Knowledge. Then Piranesi begins finding evidence that his own memories can’t explain.

Part of what makes Piranesi such a satisfying standalone is how completely Clarke commits to its central mystery. The book doesn’t need a sprawling mythology or multiple sequels to explain every corner of the House; its unanswered questions are part of what makes the world so compelling. As Piranesi pieces together the truth about his identity and how he came to be trapped there, the story shifts from an eerie exploration of an impossible world into something much more personal. It’s an especially good pick for readers who want fantasy that feels unusual and literary rather than familiar, and at roughly 250 pages, it’s also a relatively painless commitment.

This Is How You Lose the Time War

Image via Saga Press

Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone authored This Is How You Lose the Time War, which is a short novel full of stories. The characters, named Red and Blue, are agents of two opposing nations who are competing for victory in the ongoing war. Red and Blue are enemy agents fighting for rival empires in a war that spans multiple timelines and realities. Their missions involve traveling through history and changing events so their respective sides can win, but their rivalry takes an unexpected turn when they begin leaving messages for one another.

At less than 200 pages, this book is an ideal choice for those who enjoy fantasy but are short on time. Many novels fail to tell a complete story in a short volume; this is not the case for El-Mohtar and Gladstone’s story. The authors kept their plot simple and focused on the love story of Red and Blue, avoiding the need to complicate matters for readers by explaining other aspects of their Time War in detail. The result is romantic, strange, and remarkably dense, with a story that feels much larger than its page count.

The Night Circus

Image via Doubleday

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is a great option for those looking for a short fantasy novel. Le Cirque des Rêves is a magical show that pops up out of nowhere, opens its doors only at night, and disappears as suddenly as it appears in the morning. The core of the show is the competition between two young magicians, Celia Bowen and Marco Alisdair, taught by their respective mentors from childhood. Although they do not know one another’s identities from the very beginning, they are meant to compete until one of them gives up. However, once they discover their rival’s identity, their relationship becomes more complex as they realize they are in love with each other.

The true magic of The Night Circus lies in the atmosphere. Morgenstern invests just as much effort in creating a thrilling circus vibe as in narrating the main contest, enriching it with mesmerizing tents, tricky illusions, and performers seemingly untouched by time. Its non-linear scheme and alternating POVs help the novel achieve broad scope, but the events remain confined to a single narrative.

Kindred

Image via Hachette

In Kindred, Octavia E. Butler uses time travel as a device to explore themes of slavery, family, and the parts of history one cannot escape. The protagonist, Dana, is a young Black woman living in Los Angeles in 1976 who is suddenly transported to Maryland in the 19th century, where she meets Rufus Weylin, the son of a white plantation owner. Dana learns that Rufus is part of her family tree and has to repeatedly go back in time to help him survive long enough to bear her child, who becomes part of Dana’s lineage.

Although Kindred incorporates science-fiction and fantasy elements, its emotional significance comes from Butler’s decision to keep the story grounded in Dana’s experience. The purpose of her travels is to connect the modern woman with her past. Although it is a very intense and, at times, ruthless piece of writing, the book is coherent and analyzes topics such as race, power, family, survival, and memory without resorting to further fiction.

Juniper & Thorn

Image via Harper Voyager

Ava Reid’s Juniper & Thorn is the choice for anyone whose definition of fantasy includes the words “deeply unsettling.” The gothic horror novel follows Marlinchen, a young witch living with her two sisters and their tyrannical wizard father in a city caught between old magic and industrial progress. The sisters are among the last true witches of Oblya, but their father keeps them isolated while exploiting their abilities. When Marlinchen sneaks into the city and meets Sevas, a ballet dancer who captures her attention, she begins imagining a life beyond the walls of her father’s home. Meanwhile, a monster is stalking the city, and Marlinchen’s increasingly dangerous circumstances force her to confront both the creature outside and the darkness within her own family.

Juniper & Thorn is a particularly good standalone for readers who want something that feels like a traditional fairy tale before taking a very sharp turn into horror. Reid reworks The Juniper Tree into a story about control, abuse, desire, hunger, and identity, creating a world that becomes increasingly disturbing as Marlinchen begins to understand the reality she’s been living in. It’s not an easy read — the novel contains extensive content warnings for subjects including eating disorders, self-harm, sexual abuse, parental abuse, gore, and body horror — but it is also intensely atmospheric and character-driven.

Christopher Nolan has tackled everything from superhero epics to science fiction, but they say all great directors have to make a great war movie at some point, don’t they? Nolan must have felt the weight of expectation because in 2017, he followed in the footsteps of Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, David Lean, Quentin Tarantino and more.

Almost a decade later, Dunkirk has officially landed on the beaches of Paramount+ after it became one of Nolan’s biggest successes critically and financially. Dunkirk opens as hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops are surrounded by enemy forces. Trapped on the beach with their backs to the sea, they face an impossible situation as the enemy closes in. The story unfolds on land, sea and air. RAF Spitfires engage the enemy in the skies above the Channel, trying to protect the defenseless men below. Meanwhile, hundreds of small boats, manned by both military personnel and civilians, are mounting a desperate rescue effort, risking their lives in a race against time to save even a fraction of their army. The story unfolds across three separate timelines in another of Nolan’s famous clock-watching ideas.

The cast is led by Fionn Whitehead (Black Mirror: Bandersnatch) as Tommy, alongside Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury Road) as Farrier, Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer) as the Shivering Soldier, Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies) as Mr. Dawson, Kenneth Branagh (Murder on the Orient Express) as Commander Bolton, Barry Keoghan (Saltburn) as George, Jack Lowden (Slow Horses) as Collins, and Harry Styles (Don’t Worry Darling) as Alex.

How Successful Was ‘Dunkirk’?

Dunkirk has remained one of Nolan’s most critically acclaimed movies, currently holding a 92% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes from 469 reviews, alongside an 81% audience score. The critical consensus has particularly praised Nolan’s command of the movie’s spectacle and its ensemble cast.

The movie was also a major commercial and awards success, grossing approximately $525 million worldwide and receiving eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Nolan’s first for Best Director. It ultimately won three Oscars for Film Editing, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing, cementing its status as one of the most decorated movies of Nolan’s career.

Dunkirk is streaming now on Paramount+.

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Release Date

July 21, 2017

Runtime

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106 minutes

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