Netflix has just loaded up a Jack Nicholson classic. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

By Rick Gonzales
| Published 1 minute ago

Chinatown is often regarded as the peak of Hollywood’s film noir style and one of the greatest detective stories of all time. It stars Jack Nicholson at the peak of his powers, and it’s a must-see for anyone who likes, well, watching moving images of any type on a screen.

Jack Nicholson had already been around Hollywood for a number of years before he was offered Chinatown, a part that Towne wrote especially with him in mind. With an early career that consisted of appearances on many TV series, it wasn’t until the mid-‘60s that Nicholson began to see more time in feature films. One of his earliest successes came with the 1969 film Easy Rider. He then went on to Five Easy Pieces, Carnal Knowledge, and The Last Detail before Chinatown came knocking.

Jake Gittes Investigates

Jack Nicholson plays Jake Gittes in Chinatown, a private investigator operating in pre-war Southern California. Hired by a mysterious woman to investigate her husband’s alleged infidelity, Gittes becomes entangled in a web of deception and corruption far beyond what he initially anticipates. As he delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a labyrinth of personal and political scandals that culminate in a shocking revelation. 

Chinatown weaves a tale of intrigue and betrayal against the backdrop of a morally ambiguous society. Directed by Roman Polanski and written by Robert Towne, the film has left an unforgettable mark on cinematic history with its gripping narrative and stellar performances.

The Best Way To Watch Chinatown

Chinatown is available to stream on some of the usual algorithm-controlled culprits. You should avoid them entirely.

There’s only one right way to watch Chinatown, and that’s on Blu-ray. In 2024, with the format fading and being abandoned by most movie studios, Paramount stepped up and released a50th anniversary Blu-ray and 4K edition of Chinatown.

This version of the movie includes three new featurettes, including A State of Mind, where author Sam Wasson digs into the movie’s long-term influence; Chinatown Memories with producer Hawk Koch reflecting on the production; and The Trilogy That Never Was, which explores the failed plans for a third Jake Gittes movie after The Two Jakes.

The set also carries over the excellent Robert Towne and David Fincher commentary track along with the older Water and Power documentary, which remains one of the best extras ever produced for the film because it explains the real Los Angeles history behind the story. Paramount also bundled in the sequel, The Two Jakes, on its own Blu-ray disc, making the release feel more substantial than the average anniversary edition.

Making Chinatown

Robert Towne’s script, which won the Academy Award for Best Screenplay, is often considered, as well as the movie, as one of the greatest of all time. But the script wasn’t without its controversy. Initially, the script ran 180 pages, and Towne definitely had different ideas about how the movie would end.

Not wanting to give away the ending, we’ll just say that the two (Towne and Polanski) parted ways based on the fact that Polanski saw the ending differently. In fact, Polanski himself rewrote the ending a few days before he shot the final scene.

Chinatown Got A Sequel You Should Avoid

Chinatown was originally set to be a trilogy, following Jack Nicholson’s Gittes through his time as a private investigator. It took 16 years, but Towne and Nicholson did team up for the second part, The Two Jakes, though its lackluster box-office performance shut down the idea of a trilogy.

Watching movies, you’d think that the end of the world is the coolest thing that could happen to planet Earth.

From stylish techno-nightmares like The Matrix to the post-apocalyptic wastelands of Mad Max: Fury Road, sci-fi dystopia movies provide a certain kind of anti-escapist fantasy.

And we won’t lie: we’d love to wear leather dusters and fight evil computer programs.

Today, Watch With Us rounds up five of our favorite sci-fi dystopia movies, ranked from best to merely great.

Read on and see if any of your favorite movies made the cut.

5. ‘Wall-E’ (2008)

Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class, AKA WALL-E, is the lone trash-collecting robot left on a derelict Earth covered in mountains of trash. Still, WALL-E can find pockets of joy and beauty on the empty planet, while trying to tidy up as best he can. But after collecting garbage alone for 700 years (and not getting any further with it), WALL-E has become lonely — and so he develops an intense affection for a sleek, scanner bot named EVE. The lovesick WALL-E follows EVE all the way into space, where he finds humans residing on a giant spaceship.

WALL-E was an ambitious experiment for Disney and Pixar at the time: a children’s film that features no dialogue for the first 45 minutes. But WALL-E beat the odds and became another classic in Pixar’s roster of hits, a sweet and poignant exploration of the humanity found in dark times. The film does a terrific job of conveying deep emotion not just through a lack of words, but through a lack of expression. Despite its outlook on Earth’s future, WALL-E is unflinchingly optimistic and a rare feel-good dystopian film in the sub-genre.

4. ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

In the ravaged wastelands following the collapse of civilization, loner Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) does whatever it takes to survive. When Max is captured by cronies of the tyrannical despot Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), he manages to escape and sneak onto Joe’s armored war rig set out to retrieve more oil and ammunition. But the war rig’s driver, Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), has other plans: she’s going to make a daring dash to freedom, with Joe’s enslaved wives in tow. Thus begins a madcap chase across the desert as Max allies with Furiosa to free not just themselves, but all of Joe’s oppressed people.

While Mad Max: Fury Road is actually the fourth installment of a franchise that began all the way back in the ’70s, widespread feeling is that Fury Road is handily the best. The Mad Max movies started with George Miller directing Mel Gibson as Max in 1979, yet Miller seems to have only cultivated even more directorial zeal and spirit in his older age. Fury Road is a nonstop, high-octane thrill ride from start to finish, with practical car stunts that will blow your mind. But it’s not all just meathead action — Theron and Hardy sustain the film’s solid emotional crux.

3. ‘Children of Men’ (2006)

In the far-off year of (gulp) 2027, two decades of human infertility render the world on the brink of collapse. War, depression and oppressive police states plague the planet, and a disillusioned bureaucrat named Theo Faron (Clive Owen) is kidnapped by a militant group led by his estranged ex-wife Julian (Julianne Moore). Julian offers Theo money in exchange for the safe passage of a young refugee woman named Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey). When Theo discovers that the woman is pregnant, he understands he has to do whatever it takes to secure her safety and that of the human race.

Children of Men is a riveting science fiction drama, a moving portrait of faith in the face of despair and a flat-out exhilarating political thriller. Alfonso Cuarón adapts P. D. James’ novel into a tour de force of visual complexity and technical masterwork (the one-shot car ambush scene is iconic; you’ll know it when you see it). The brilliance of Cuarón’s dystopia is that it’s utterly ordinary, yet totally bereft — and still, it ends on a glimmer of hope.

2. ‘Blade Runner’ (1982)

Threatened by his old boss to go back to work, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) resumes his job as a blade runner, a person who tracks down and “kills” bioengineered humanoids known as replicants. Deckard must hunt for four replicants who have illegally escaped to Earth: Leon (Brion James), Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer), Pris (Daryl Hannah) and Zhora (Joanna Cassidy). The replicants have returned to Earth in search of their creator, longing for their short life spans to be lengthened. In the meantime, Deckard finds himself falling for a beautiful replicant assistant named Rachael (Sean Young).

Blade Runner is one of those movies whose cultural cache is so strong, you’d be forgiven if you had no idea that it was a major flop upon release. Now, it is regarded widely as one of the best science fiction films ever made, resulting in the 2017 sequel Blade Runner 2049. The film nimbly fuses neo-noir mystery with sci-fi action, in a world made strikingly rich due to detailed production design, immersive sound and practical sets and miniatures. Blade Runner has influenced countless sci-fi films in its wake, such as Ex Machina, The Matrix and Ghost in the Shell (1995).

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

1. ‘The Matrix’ (1999)

Ordinary computer programmer Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) moonlights as a hacker named Neo and digs into a mystery surrounding the “Matrix.” His research catches the attention of a hacker named Trinity (Carrie-Ann Moss), who informs Neo that a mysterious figure named Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) can answer all his questions. Neo learns the unfortunate truth — that the world he knows is a simulation, and that AI took over the real world, using artificially conceived humans to power it. Morpheus increasingly believes Neo to be humanity’s messiah, but first Neo has to prove himself, master the Matrix and defeat an evil program known as Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving).

If you’ve never seen The Matrix, one viewing is all it takes to understand why the movie has maintained such a chokehold on pop culture through the years. With an easily accessible narrative, the Wachowskis blend exciting action, a thrilling adventure atmosphere, state-of-the-art special effects and a particularly romantic love story into a film experience that is basically everything you could want out of a well-made blockbuster. The movie probed tech anxieties of the time while burdening us with a lasting question: Do we really live in the Matrix?

Robin Hood is usually remembered through adventure. Sword fights, daring escapes, stolen riches, and heroic speeches tend to define most versions of the iconic character that have been portrayed on screen by names like Cary Elwes (Robin Hood: Men in Tights), Errol Flynn (The Adventures of Robin Hood), Russell Crowe (Robin Hood), and more. The actual reality of living as an outlaw for years would probably look much more brutal than previous takes on the legend.

That harsher perspective is central to The Death of Robin Hood, director Michael Sarnoski’s upcoming reimagining of the legendary figure. As part of Collider’s Summer Preview Event, we’re thrilled to exclusively reveal a new image from the movie featuring Hugh Jackman as the outlaw holding one of his arrows. Rather than focusing on Robin Hood at the height of his legend, the movie reportedly explores the final chapter of his life as he grapples with the violence, trauma, and consequences left behind by years spent surviving outside the law.

A24’s ‘The Death of Robin Hood’ Takes a Much Darker Approach to the Legend

Directed by Pig and A Quiet Place: Day One filmmaker Sarnoski, The Death of Robin Hood stars Jackman alongside Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård, Murray Bartlett, and Noah Jupe in a more brutal and grounded interpretation of the classic myth. Recent footage from the movie has already emphasized a darker tone, with Jackman narrating a featurette that strips away the romanticized fantasy surrounding Robin Hood in favor of something much harsher and more historically raw.

That approach already makes The Death of Robin Hood feel very different from most adaptations of the legend. Instead of focusing on peak Robin, the movie picks up after years of violence have already taken their toll, leaving him wounded, isolated, and far removed from the romanticized outlaw audiences usually picture. It also feels like material that plays directly into Sarnoski’s strengths as a filmmaker. Both Pig and A Quiet Place: Day One featured themes of grief and loneliness, with emotionally exhausted characters trying to survive situations that had already broken pieces of them. Jackman also feels like an especially strong fit for that version of Robin Hood, as some of his best dramatic performances over the last decade have centered on men who’ve been worn down by the lives they’ve lived.

The Death of Robin Hood releases in theaters on June 19, 2026. Stay tuned to Collider throughout the week as our Summer Preview Event continues with exclusive looks at some of the biggest upcoming movies of the season.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

June 19, 2026

Runtime

123 Minutes

Advertisement

Director

Michael Sarnoski

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Dispatches from Elsewhere is a series unlike any other, blending sincerity, comedic moments, and themes of uncertainty. The show aired on AMC in 2020 and was canceled after one season. It was quietly released in the middle of a worldwide pandemic and soon afterward disappeared, which is a shame because, underneath all the scavenger hunts, cryptic flyers, performance-art chaos, and talking fish, is one of the most emotionally honest shows Netflix has picked up in years.

According to reports, however, Dispatches from Elsewhere exits Netflix on June 4, which gives viewers a pretty short window to discover a series that feels like somebody turned loneliness, quarter-life panic, and urban mythology into television.

‘Dispatches from Elsewhere’ Starts Like a Conspiracy Thriller

Image via AMC

Peter (Jason Segel) is stuck in the kind of life that feels less miserable than numb. He works a forgettable job at a music streaming company, drifts through the same routine every day, and looks permanently exhausted in the way people do when they’ve quietly given up on being surprised by life. Then he notices a strange flyer, which leads him to the Jejune Institute, a bizarre organization run by the hypnotically theatrical Octavio Coleman (Richard E. Grant), with the exact energy of a man who may either enlighten you spiritually or rob you blind. Soon, Peter is caught up in an alternate reality game that spans the city and features secret societies, hidden clues, missing artists, and a lady named Clara who may or may not exist.

During this adventure, Peter meets three other players: Simone (Eve Lindley), an artist attempting to escape her feelings of isolation; Fredwynn (André 3000), a conspiracy theorist whose brain is much faster than his social skills; and Janice (Sally Field), a lonely empty nester searching for something new to do in her life. The show follows all the characters as the game begins to bleed into reality, or maybe reality starts bleeding into the game.

The Cast Is What Makes ‘Dispatches from Elsewhere’ Work

Image via Disney+

Advertisement

At times, Dispatches From Elsewhere comes dangerously close to being utterly bizarre. There are parts where it seems as though the creator of this show had an emotional meltdown after spending one weekend watching Pushing Daisies, Twin Peaks, and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. In some instances, it is brilliantly executed, but in other respects, Dispatches is almost too eager to demonstrate its whimsy; the cast keeps everything level, however

Lindley is easily the standout. Simone could’ve become the kind of “mysterious free spirit” character audiences have seen a thousand times before, but Lindley gives her a guardedness that keeps the performance from floating away into cliché. There’s real exhaustion underneath her charm. Meanwhile, André 3000 turns Fredwynn into something unexpectedly sad. He plays him as if he has been analyzing human behavior his whole life without ever actually connecting with anyone. As always, Field effortlessly conveys deep sadness through her performances. Finally, Grant has an uncanny ability to exude warmth and comfort while also giving off an eerily unsettling demeanor.

Jason Segel Made a Mystery Show That’s Really About Loneliness

Image via AMC

Advertisement

What separates Dispatches from Elsewhere from many puzzle-box mystery shows is that it eventually stops caring about the puzzle.

There are clues hidden everywhere, secret messages tucked into random conversations, entire sequences built around deciphering nonsense, but the actual point of the series becomes pretty clear halfway through. These are people who feel disconnected from the world around them. Peter feels invisible; Simone keeps people at arm’s length because she’s tired of getting hurt; Janice built her entire identity around taking care of other people and suddenly has no idea who she is anymore; and Fredwynn hides inside theories and patterns because they make more sense to him than human relationships do. The game forces them to find one another.

The show is best watched as a binge; if you only watch one episode per week, it is likely frustratingly abstract, since you don’t have any emotional connection to the character while you’re waiting a week to see them again. By watching the entire series in one sitting, you quickly form an emotional connection to the journey.

Once you complete the series and arrive at the strange and very meta ending, it no longer feels like a sci-fi mystery; rather, it feels much more like a story about creativity, regret, human connection, and the almost desperate need we humans have to believe there is always some magic hidden in the mundane everyday activities of our lives.

Taylor Swift‘s wedding day is set to be one for the books, and a major aspect of the upcoming event that has her fans excited is the singer’s wedding gown.

While the pop star is doing everything she can to keep her plans tightly under wraps, fashion experts have weighed in on what her dress could look like.

This comes after it was alleged that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce might tie the knot in early July, in New York City.

Swift is arguably one of the most influential celebrities right now, and her impact can be seen in how easily she sets trends due to her clothing and jewelry choices.

Back in August 2025, when her beau Kelce popped the question with a stunning old mine diamond engagement ring, it spurred a whole new trend of rings sporting engraved bands and antique stones.

Now, her wedding gown is likely going to cause a similar effect in the bridal industry, with Kleinfeld’s Bridal Director of Merchandising, Dorothy Silver, revealing what the dress might look like and why it is about to make history.

“Taylor is a megastar. Much like when Selena Gomez or Hailey Bieber got married, I think brides will want to come in and emulate her style,” Silver said in a chat with Page Six, noting that she and her team believe the star plans to go “classic, but still be fashionable” with her wedding gown.

“When she walks down the aisle, it’s going to be something that is an amazing, timeless gown,” Silver added.

The Pop Star Wore A White Wedding Gown In A Music Video That Hints At The Kind Of Look She Would Go For On Her Big Day

Swift is most certainly not new to the game of ball gowns and bridal outfits, as she once donned an elaborate floral wedding dress for one of her music videos, which had a red version also worn in the video.

Regarding this, Klienfeld bridal stylist, Morgan McCullough, told the news outlet, “I always think back to her ‘I Bet You Think About Me’ music video where she wore one of our Kleinfeld designers, Nicole + Felicia.”

She continued, “They made two dresses with a cascading floral design: a white wedding gown and a version in red.”

According to McCullough, the dresses in the music video are a huge indicator of what route Swift might take on her wedding day.

“I think about that dress a lot for Taylor in her bridal era — something soft and whimsical, feminine, but very classic as well. I really think that’s what she’ll do,” she noted.

Advertisement

Taylor Swift Would Likely Skip Obvious ‘Easter Eggs’ When It Comes To Her Wedding Gown

Throughout Swift’s career, she has made her fans feel very engaged in her creative process by dropping Easter eggs about her songs, videos, and upcoming projects.

However, during an appearance on her fiancé Travis Kelce’s podcast, the singer made it clear that she never sets an Easter egg that links back to her personal life, as that’s off-limits, stressing that they are created for “professional projects” only.

According to McCullough, this would likely apply to Swift’s wedding dress: “That’s something that I actually really love about her — there is professional Taylor, the performer, and then there’s Taylor, the person.”

“I think there may be something sentimental that only she and Travis know about, something that we may see but never really know what it means,” the bridal stylist added. “Maybe it could be something passed down from her family, such as a piece from her mom or grandmother’s veil, or an item like that which can be sewn inside her dress. Or special initials embroidered inside her gown.”

The Singer’s Wedding Gown Will Be As Romantic As Her Love Songs, Expert Claims

According to experts, a major theme to expect to see featured in Swift’s wedding dress is love and romance.

McCullough notes that since the pop star began her music career, she has made sure to include themes of love in most of her songs, so it’s no surprise that the tradition will continue into the special gown she decides to wear for her walk down the aisle to say “I do.”

Advertisement

“Since Taylor started making music, she has always included themes about love,” the expert noted, adding, “for her to finally have this beautiful moment is something that’s massive for her, and I’m sure it’s something that she has had planned out since she was a child.”

Taylor Swift Might Not Have ‘Too Many Outfit Changes’ On During Her Nuptials

A recent trend among brides, especially famous ones, is to wear multiple designer gowns on their wedding day, which they switch into at different moments.

Examples include Jennifer Lopez and Swift’s close pal, Selena Gomez, who are said to have commissioned three dresses from Ralph Lauren for the wedding ceremony.

However, while Swift may also join the trend and have multiple gowns, bridal stylist McCullough noted that the singer would most likely keep it simple at her nuptials.

“The Eras Tour showed us that Taylor is the master of quick changes. She’s got it down to a science,” the expert told Page Six.

Advertisement

She added, “However, she’s also the type of person that seems she would want to be very present at her wedding, so she may not have too many outfit changes.”

While there has been no official date announced yet, reports claim Swift and Kelce will tie the knot in New York City on July 3, surrounded by their friends and family.

Tom Holland is opening up about the surprising new direction behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and it sounds like Marvel and Sony are taking Peter Parker into completely uncharted territory.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Cover [credit: Empire Magazine]

Speaking with Empire, Holland revealed that he actually pitched part of the movie’s story himself, describing it as a “Spider-puberty” concept centered around Peter Parker evolving into adulthood while dealing with dramatic new changes to his powers. According to Holland, “They liked the idea,” and the film appears ready to push Spider-Man further than fans have seen before.

The comments line up with everything Marvel has teased so far about the upcoming movie. Following the emotional ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker is now completely alone in New York after Doctor Strange’s spell erased him from everyone’s memory. Marvel has repeatedly described Brand New Day as a “fresh start” for the character, with Holland himself calling it “the first movie in the next chapter.”

What makes the new film especially interesting is the reported evolution of Peter’s abilities. Early details surrounding the movie suggest his powers may begin mutating in unexpected ways, including the possibility of organic webbing similar to Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man films.

Holland also recently explained that the story is heavily focused on identity and growing up, saying the film explores “when young people really find their identity and become adults.”

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Cover [credit: Empire Magazine]

That more grounded coming-of-age direction appears to be exactly what Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige wants for the franchise moving forward. Feige has teased that the movie will deliver a more “classic” Spider-Man story after years of multiverse chaos.

The film is also set to bring in some major new faces. Jon Bernthal is expected to appear as The Punisher, creating what Holland described as a “big brother-little brother rivalry” dynamic between Frank Castle and Peter Parker.

Meanwhile, fans are already buzzing over the film’s darker tone, practical effects, and newly revealed suit design that leans closer to the classic comic book look.

With Spider-Man: Brand New Day positioned as a full reset for Holland’s version of Peter Parker, Marvel may finally be giving fans the street-level Spider-Man story they’ve wanted for years.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters July 31, 2026.

Criminal Minds appeared to hint at a possible major cast exit ahead of season 19 — but who is expected to return so far?

The official account for the hit Paramount+ series shared a photo from the set in May 2025 with the caption, “The BAU is back on the case! A new season of Criminal Minds: Evolution has officially started filming.”

In the social media post, Joe Mantegna, Aisha Tyler, Kirsten Vangsness, Adam Rodriguez, A.J. Cook, Paget Brewster and Ryan-James Hatanaka all smiled for the camera. The only main cast member missing? Zach Gilford.

The first season of Criminal Minds: Evolution (a.k.a. season 16 of the OG Criminal Minds series) introduced Voit as the main antagonist. The BAU spent the entire season hunting down the prolific killer, who they nicknamed Sicarius after linking him to 62 murders — and for being the mastermind behind setting up an online network of fellow serial killers.

Related: ‘Criminal Minds’ Cast: Then and Now

Criminal Minds is back with a revival on Paramount+ — but fans have watched the cast change on and off screen since the procedural first debuted. In 2005, viewers were introduced to a group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral Analysis Unit. The crime drama, which was created by […]

After Voit was arrested — for a single murder — he became a professional criminal consultant for the BAU. Voit’s status as the villain was left up in the air when earlier this season he had significant memory loss that caused him to no longer be labeled as a psychopath.

“This is what I love about it is his brain patterns. His brain is literally physically changed. So in theory, he is a good person and he is a normal person now. But he still has done all those things,” Gilford exclusively told Us Weekly in May 2025. “It’s a really cool concept that even though neurologically this person would never do this again — he has done it. It is just such a crazy concept that there’s no real right answer to. Ultimately I’m like, ‘Well, he did do it all … allegedly.’”

Voit’s unclear future on the show came after Josh Stewart‘s character Will was killed off. In a May 2025 episode, JJ’s (Cook) husband, Will, collapsed after experiencing a headache. The team rushed to the hospital to support JJ, only to find out that Will didn’t make it.

Paramount+ confirmed in March 2026 that Gilford is returning alongside new guest stars: Connor Storrie, Justin Kirk, Yvette Nicole Brown, Clark Gregg, Paul F. Tompkins, Cress Williams, Kofi Siriboe, Lyndon Smith, Richard Cabral, Jeri Ryan, Rob Yang, Nicholas Gonzalez, Inny Clemons, Nicole Pacent, Dash Mihok, Joseph Cross and Cara Jade Myers.

Keep scrolling for what to know about which Criminal Minds characters are coming back — and which might not:

Joe Mantegna

Mantegna is set to return in the role of Rossi, which he has played since taking over for Mandy Patinkin in the original Criminal Minds show.

A. J. Cook

Cook will return to play JJ, who is still mourning the loss of her husband.

“We definitely touch on a lot of the grief phases. And it is not like we shoot one episode and she’s gone through all of it and it’s tied up neatly with a nice bow. That’s not how grief works,” Cook told TV Insider in May 2025. “So this is going to be something that we’re going to see throughout the whole season. And then beyond that.”

She continued: “This never goes away. This now has shaped her into this new single mother, and it will continue shaping her as she now learns to work through life this way. So I’m excited to see what that looks like for her. It’s been a journey already, and it’ll continue to be a journey in Criminal Minds form.”

Kirsten Vangsness

Since Vangsness was in the photo from set, it feels safe to assume that Garcia is not going anywhere any time soon.

Aisha Tyler

Another character who appeared to be safe was Tara (Tyler) after dealing with some issues in her personal life before reuniting with girlfriend Rebecca (Nicole Pacent) in season 18.

Zach Gilford

Gilford — and the rest of the Criminal Minds cast — has acknowledged that Voit can’t remain on the show for good.

“I was supposed to leave the show a while ago and I’ve been pitching, ‘Well, I have to leave at some point. If you’re not going to kill me, we should have a spinoff,’” Gilford quipped to Us in May 2025. “It’s called Criminal Mind: Voit and it follows what Voit is doing when he is out in the world. Somehow he either escapes or he gets released and he is this white whale to the BAU. So Criminal Minds can keep going and having their [unsub] of the week — but they’ll always be like, ‘I wonder if Voit had something to do with this.’”

He is expected to return in season 19.

Ryan-James Hatanaka

While season 18 explored Tyler (Hatanaka) working with the BAU while training to officially join the team, it was revealed that he would likely have to be moved elsewhere to gain experience. Tyler seemed shocked that it could take 10 years for him to officially be part of the BAU team — but so far the show has found ways to keep him working with the rest of the team in the field.

Adam Rodriguez

Rodriguez, who is presumably returning as Luke, recently spoke to Us about how high the stakes are on the show.

“You never want to turn the page [and find out that your character was killed off]. But I will say that thanks to our boss and leader on the show, [showrunner] Erica Messer, no one would be surprised by that. You would definitely get a call long before that was going to happen,” Rodriguez told Us in May 2025. “You would be given a heads up, I can say for sure. But nobody wants to get that call.”

Rodriguez praised Criminal Minds for being a good place to work, adding, “We love being there. This is such a dream job. It is just such a wonderful place to show up and go to work every day. Nobody wants it to be over and nobody wants to leave. So hopefully we get to do the show for a long time.”

He continued: “Hopefully nobody gets sacrificed for the sake of good television and we find some other people that we can build enough merit. Will ended up serving that purpose this year. But I think it just brings something else to the show that fans can enjoy and suffer through with us.”

Paget Brewster

According to the behind the scenes photos, Prentiss is alive and well by the time season 18 will come to an end.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

Matthew Gray Gubler

Despite making a cameo in season 18, Gubler isn’t expected to keep returning consistently in future episodes. He last played Reid on the show when it was still on CBS and didn’t return for the Paramount+ revival.

“We love [Matthew] and he’s always going to be a part of the family. We would love for an opportunity to arise to get him back. And we have tried — and he has tried,” showrunner Erica Messer exclusively told Us in July 2024. “It just hasn’t worked out timing-wise. But it’s not for lack of trying.”

Gubler is currently filming his upcoming CBS series, Einstein.