Entertainment
If You Love ‘Neuromancer,’ You Need To Read This Near-Perfect Masterpiece
We are only a few months away from Apple TV‘s Neuromancer adaptation, premiering on January 22, 2027. In the meantime, many science fiction fans have picked up the original 1984 novel by William Gibson — either for the first time, or for a much-deserved re-read. It’s a great time for fans of the cyberpunk genre, as they are exploring its roots and meeting it in the medium where it began. Looking back on cyberpunk can be enlightening, but the genre has never stopped advancing over the last five decades. Fans of Neuromancer will find many follow-up reads worth their time, but those that want to catch up on the cutting edge of cyberpunk should turn their eyes to Infomocracy by Malka Older.
Some might think it’s a stretch to refer to Infomocracy as “cyberpunk,” but it has many of the hallmarks that are most important to fans. The story is set in a futuristic world with all kinds of well-thought-out new technology, yet it’s very terrestrial, with no long space odysseys or intergalactic warfare. Instead, it explores a world that has embraced information technology so wholeheartedly that the entire globe now participates in “micro-democracy,” with areas as small as a city block voting for their own representatives. Of course, that kind of worldwide power struggle creates space for the cyberpunk staples we all want to see, from espionage and spyware to enhanced superhumans with retractable weapons hidden under their skin.
‘Infomocracy’ is a Hopeful Sci-Fi Story
The biggest difference between Neuromancer and Infomocracy — and perhaps the reason it isn’t often categorized as cyberpunk — is its comparatively hopeful tone. Neuromancer is told from the perspective of Case (Callum Turner), a young man who has suffered tremendously as a direct result of his futuristic setting, and who sees more horrors everywhere he turns. The whole book explores the ways in which each character on Case’s crew has been manipulated and hurt by the insatiable corporate plutocracy they live in, and no matter how hard they work, they can’t flip a switch and win equality for humanity — not even in the sequels.
Infomocracy has a very different tone from Neuromancer, and from many other bleak, noir-flavored cyberpunk stories. The story begins during the third-ever election cycle in this global system of micro-democracy, so the strengths and weaknesses of this relatively new form of government are still being tested. It also has various point-of-view characters, so we aren’t stuck in one headspace the way we are with Case. Infomocracy‘s Mishima is easy to compare to Neuromancer‘s Molly (Briana Middleton) since she is a spy and a fighter with weaponized augmentations, but even her perspective isn’t as dour as anything Gibson wrote.
The real tone shift comes from Ken, an idealistic young campaigner working for an underdog political party called Policy1st. He’s realistic without coming off as naive, initially hoping his work in this election will help him climb the ladder to a better position down the line. Ken is the novel’s ground-level point of view, leading us through the futuristic city streets which are plastered with ads and computer interfaces, and introducing us to the real world that micro-democracy governs. The audience is able to question the faults of this system alongside Ken without feeling out of place or breaking their immersion.
Throughout all this drama, theoretical threats loom in the background, much like the corporations and artificial superintelligences in Gibson’s work. We are constantly reminded that, despite its faults, micro-democracy has successfully maintained global peace since its introduction, and no one wants a return to war of any kind. However, corporations are not above violence in order to achieve their ends, and the centralized tech monopoly Intelligence must also be willing to get its hands dirty to keep the wheels turning. Meanwhile, Older’s background in humanitarian aid and crisis response comes through in some of the book’s most stressful moments, reminding us that sometimes decisiveness is a virtue.
‘Infomocracy’ Builds on ‘Neuromancer’
Neuromancer is credited with popularizing and codifying the cyberpunk genre, and many of the biggest cyberpunk works since then have been inspired by it. Infomocracy and its sequels take that a step further. While the series is clearly inspired by cyberpunk ideas in some ways, Older didn’t bend her story to fit into the genre. It may stick out among cyberpunk recommendations, but that’s exactly the reason it’s worth reading.
Neuromancer itself will likely be changed when it hits Apple TV. Book adaptations never feel 100% faithful, even if that’s what the producers intended, and this will be no different. If the Neuromancer TV show is a re-examination of the book’s original ideas, then newer cyberpunk books like Infomocracy should definitely be in the conversation. Infomocracy is the first book in Older’s Centenal Cycle trilogy, which also includes Null States and State Tectonics. The story is finished, and is available now in print, digital, and audiobook formats.
As for Neuromancer, the TV show premieres on Apple TV on January 22, 2027. The original novel is available in print, digital, and audiobook formats now, along with two sequels — Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive.
- Release Date
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January 22, 2027
- Network
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Apple TV+
- Showrunner
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Graham Roland
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Action movies have always been cinema’s staple. The movies in this genre have the power to entertain audiences from all around the world. The most memorable ones are those with spectacular set pieces that involve intricate action choreography, gun fights and explosions. In the mid to late 2000s, there were several influential action movies, such as Batman Begins, Casino Royale and The Bourne Ultimatum, which changed the landscape forever.
Nevertheless, the innovation does not stop there. Since 2010, the genre has produced some remarkably polished films that combine thrilling action with great characters, sharp storytelling, inventive choreography, and confident direction. Here, we take a look at the action movies that we can call perfect, where every element works in harmony, creating a thoroughly exceptional actioner.
6
‘Rurouni Kenshin’ (2012)
Rurouni Kenshin follows Himura Kenshin (Takeru Satoh), a former legendary assassin who has vowed not to kill anymore and now wanders the country as a swordsman determined to protect people. He arrives in Tokyo, and he meets Kaoru Kamiya (Emi Takei), owner of a struggling swordsmanship school. When a ruthless businessman tries to take over the city through an opium operation and an army of fighters, Kenshin’s promise is repeatedly tested.
Rurouni Kenshin is, almost without a doubt, the best live-action anime adaptation to date. It is also a criminally underseen action masterpiece. The film translates the over-the-top swordplay of its source material into spectacular action choreography that still feels grounded and physical. Kenshin’s movement is outrageously fast but with practical effects and wirework, they never feel weightless. Kenshin’s reversed-blade sword also adds to the thrills. Its period setting and dynamic camera work are additional points in this exceptional film. The success of this film spawned four sequels, and they all keep getting better with each film.
5
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (2022)
In Top Gun: Maverick, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is curiously still a test pilot after decades of a legendary career. He is brought back to Top Gun to train an elite group of young pilots for a seemingly impossible mission. Among the pilots is Rooster (Miles Teller), the son of Maverick’s late wingman, whom Maverick feels protective about.
The 2010s and 2020s have been inundated with so many legacy sequels, yet only a few actually justified their existence. One of them is this sequel to Tony Scott‘s Top Gun. The mixture of practical effects and CGI in the aerial sequences is widely praised. However, the real hero of the story is its plot and characters. The film spends considerable time establishing relationships and giving the mission emotional stakes before unleashing its action. The film do so with so much care that you know the characters even though you may not have seen the first movie. The film’s third act is a massive payoff for all the plotlines that came before. The action is thrilling and immersive, especially when seen in IMAX. The film became one of the few post-pandemic success stories, with its box office reaching the $1 billion mark.
4
‘The Raid 2’ (2014)
Set just minutes after the first film, The Raid 2 follows Rama (Iko Uwais), who is given a new assignment to infiltrate the criminal underworld and get close to Uco (Arifin Putra), the ambitious son of a crime boss. After deliberately getting himself sent to prison, he enters the sprawling underworld of Jakarta and fights his way to finish his mission.
The Raid is an iconic action film, but The Raid 2 is a bigger and richer film. The plot of this film is more ambitious, with a boatload of characters surrounding Uwais’ Rama. Gareth Evans smartly levels up after the success of the first film. It’s a riskier film, but it still has all the elements of the first film. The fight sequences are extraordinary. With a clean presentation and minimal cuts, every fight becomes so memorable. The prison-yard sequence, the elaborate car chase, and the climactic confrontation all have completely different rhythms and visual identities. It’s a highly satisfying sequel, and it’s mind-boggling that we do not have a third film after this achievement.
3
‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ (2018)
In Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his trusted team attempt to recover lost plutonium used by a radical group called the Apostles. Now operating under the watchful CIA operative August Walker (Henry Cavill), the team has to work with shadowy figures like The White Widow (Vanessa Kirby) and their previous adversary Solomon Lane (Sean Harris) to stop The Apostles’ attack in major cities.
Often dubbed as the best entry in the eight-film Mission: Impossible franchise, the film fires on all cylinders in every aspects from production to its insane stunt design. At this point, if the film’s stunts do not endanger Tom Cruise’s life, it’s not a Mission: Impossible film. Thankfully, there are plenty of death-defying, practical stunts in this film, from the HALO jump, the Paris motorcycle chase, to the helicopter sequence in the climax. The ensemble cast that includes Cavill, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames, all play pivotal parts in this film. Add all that with the film’s efficient pacing and surprises, Fallout is one of the best action blockbusters ever made.
2
‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ (2023)
John Wick: Chapter 4 sees John Wick’s (Keanu Reeves) attempt to escape the High Table reach its final stage. Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård) is given authority to eliminate the Baba Yaga once and for all. His journey takes him from New York to Osaka, Berlin, and eventually Paris, where he must survive waves of assassins, including his friend-turned-foe Caine (Donnie Yen), before earning his chance at a fateful duel.
The first John Wick film changed the action genre when it was released in 2014. After two sequels that keep upping the ante, John Wick Chapter 4 ends the titular character’s journey with a bang. The action sequences in this film are different from one another, and that makes for an exciting action film. The Osaka Continental fight emphasizes martial arts and gunplay, the Berlin sequence is a neverending nightclub chaos, the Paris Arc de Triomphe set piece turns the iconic landmark into a dynamic battlefield, and the overhead action sequence brings a video-game-like sequence to life. At nearly three hours, the movie never feels like it is wasting time and that’s why it’s arguably the best action film of the 2020s.
1
‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)
In Mad Max: Fury Road, drifter Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) is captured by warlord Immortan Joe’s (Hugh Keays-Byrne) fanatical minions and is kept alive as a blood bag. At the same time, Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) rebels against Immortan by escaping with his five wives to find the fabled Green Place. Max becomes an unwilling participant in this conflict and eventually fights alongside Furiosa against the tyrants of the wasteland.
Director George Miller returns to the world he created in 1979, and it feels like he left. The film’s deceptively simple premise packs an advanced level of filmmaking and control. The geography of each sequence is exceptionally clear, so even during the most chaotic moments, we understand what’s happening. The seamless mix of practical effects and CGI gives the film a tactile quality that modern blockbusters often struggle to replicate, and its effective editing enhances its pacing. More importantly, the action is inseparable from the characters, especially with Furiosa, who immediately becomes an icon. The film’s greatness is evidenced by its massive haul at the Oscars, winning seven trophies in the ceremony.
Mad Max: Fury Road
- Release Date
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May 15, 2015
- Runtime
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121 minutes
- Director
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George Miller
- Writers
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Brendan McCarthy, George Miller, Nico Lathouris
Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) was one of the original members of the Major Case Response Team on NCIS, but he departed the team (and the series) back in 2016. Now, he’s headed back to the long-running procedural for a season-long arc, but what’s brought him back to the MCRT? We finally know the answer. Wisecracking ex-cop DiNozzo was the senior field agent for the MCRT under head honcho Leroy Gibbs (Mark Harmon) for thirteen seasons. For much of that time, he found himself romantically entangled with former Mossad agent Ziva David (Cote de Pablo); the two had a tempestuous relationship, much-beloved by the show’s fanbase, that seemingly ended with her death.
However, it eventually emerged that Ziva had faked their death and concealed that she’d had a daughter with DiNozzo; DiNozzo left the team to care for his newfound child. DiNozzo and David were reunited on the Paramount+-exclusive spin-off series, NCIS: Tony and Ziva, in 2025; it was cancelled after a single season.
CBS has now revealed the synopsis for NCIS‘ season 24 premiere, “Warward Son,” which will bring DiNozzo back into the fold; it will also wrap up the explosive cliffhanger from season 23’s finale, which saw Mateo Garcia (Patrick Keleher), the son of NCIS second-in command Timoth McGee (Sean Murray), get shot by a mystery assailant: “While dealing with the fallout from the shooting involving McGee’s son, the team investigates a mysterious new threat to the Secretary of the Navy and receives help from an unexpected source: Tony DiNozzo, newly arrived in D.C. to open a satellite office of his private security firm.” “Wayward Son” will premiere on CBS on Tuesday, October 6, and will stream on Paramount+ the next day.
Will Ziva Also Appear in Season 24 of ‘NCIS’?
Fans hoping for another Tony and Ziva reunion will be disappointed. While Tony and Ziva haven’t broken up, de Pablo won’t be joining Weatherly on the show this season. NCIS showrunner Steven D. Binder explains that their daughter, Tali, is attending boarding school elsewhere in the United States, and Ziva is living closer to her. That’ll separate her from MCRT’s home base in Washington, D.C., for the season.
Season 24 of NCIS will premiere on Tuesday, October 6. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
- Release Date
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September 23, 2003
- Showrunner
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Donald P. Bellisario
- Directors
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Dennis Smith, Terrence O’Hara, Tony Wharmby, James Whitmore Jr., Thomas J. Wright, Michael Zinberg, Arvin Brown, Rocky Carroll, Diana Valentine, Leslie Libman, Tawnia McKiernan, Colin Bucksey, William Webb, Bethany Rooney, Alrick Riley, Jeff Woolnough, Alan J. Levi, Lionel Coleman, Martha Mitchell, Peter Ellis, Michael Weatherly, Edward Ornelas, Stephen Cragg, Tom Wright
- Writers
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George Schenck, Frank Cardea, Jesse Stern, John C. Kelley, Jennifer Corbett, Christopher Silber, Reed Steiner, Nicole Mirante-Matthews, Jack Bernstein, Scott J. Jarrett, Matthew R. Jarrett, Kimberly-Rose Wolter, Don McGill, Gil Grant, Frank Military, Nell Scovell, Steven Kriozere, Brian Dietzen, Kate Torgovnick May, Jeff Vlaming, Sydney Mitchel, Katie White, Richard C. Arthur, Laurence Walsh
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Sean Murray
Timothy McGee
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david mccallum
Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard
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If there’s one dress shape I come back to season after season, it’s the wrap dress. I love how it creates an hourglass effect. This flattering style defines my waist, then drapes freely over my stomach and hips.
As the seasons change, I hunted down the best under-$50 wrap dresses. I kept both style and silhouette in mind while curating these 13 picks below. Shop expensive-looking prints, fall-ready colors and wedding guest-worthy maxis, each with details that help visually define my waist.
13 Under-$50 Wrap Dresses Tha![]()
t Visually Cinch the Waist![]()
1. My Favorite: If I want my waist to look instantly more defined, I reach for this floral wrap midi dress. The adjustable tie pulls everything in, while the flutter sleeves and swishy ruffled hem make the silhouette feel extra feminine.
2. Figure Flatterer: I’m sold on this ruffled V-neck midi for its waist-defining tie and floaty A-line skirt. Plus, it has more than 10,700 five-star ratings, with one shopper calling it “forgiving, slimming, and flattering.”
3. Instant Hourglass: I love the contrast between the fitted middle and floaty skirt on this belted black mini. The wrap design lets me cinch the waist to my liking, while the V-neck and ruffled hem help create a balanced hourglass shape.
4. No Shapewear Needed: I’d choose this flowy Swiss dot dress when I want a flattering shape without squeezing myself into something bodycon. The tie creates a defined waist, while the textured fabric and ruffled skirt skim rather than cling.
5. Transitional Pick: This waist-defining floral maxi is exactly the kind of dress I want in my closet when the seasons start changing. I love that I can adjust the wrap to flatter my waist, while the darker floral print makes it easy to style well into fall.
6. Flirty Find: I’d wear this sage green ruffled dress for everything from brunch to date night. The V-neck and flutter sleeves balance out the cinched wrap waist, while the flouncy skirt keeps the overall fit breezy rather than body-hugging.
7. Optical Illusion: The vertical stripes on this breezy wrap maxi create a lengthening effect, while the crossover waist visually cinches the middle for even more shape.
8. Polka-Dot Pick: I love how this polka-dot maxi dress makes a statement without feeling overly trendy. The wrap front and tie belt pull in my waist, while the long, floaty skirt skims over everything below it.
9. Waist Wow: The contrast between the bold pattern and defined middle of this graphic-print maxi immediately caught my attention. It emphasizes the waist before flowing into a long, loose skirt that doesn’t hug my stomach.
10. Ruching Rules: I’m all about strategic ruching, and this army green midi puts it exactly where I want it. The wide, gathered waistband visually pulls in the middle, while the loose A-line skirt flows away from my stomach and hips.
11. Legs for Days: I’d reach for this long-sleeve mini when I want to balance a little extra coverage up top with plenty of leg. The wrap front pulls attention toward the waist, while the ruffled hem adds movement without clinging to my hips.
12. Belly Camouflage: I’m reaching for this flowy printed maxi on days when I don’t want anything highlighting my stomach. The bold pattern helps disguise the midsection.
13. Flattering Floral: The tiny print on this belted red maxi is exactly the kind of floral I can wear well beyond summer. I especially love how the defined waist breaks up the long silhouette and gives shape through the middle.
UsNow Fall Sale Alert: These chic fashion finds are up to 60% off – plus free shipping
Welcome to fall with our biggest sale of the season. Our favorite dresses, tops, handbags, and shoes are all on sale + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.
Horror fans are currently enjoying one of the most exciting years for the genre in recent memory. New filmmakers have been making their mark on the genre throughout 2026, starting with Mark “Markiplier” Fischbach‘s surprise hit Iron Lung in January, followed by fellow YouTubers Curry Barker and Kane Parsons in spring with cinematic breakthroughs Obsession and Backrooms that took theaters by storm. At the same time, favorites of the macabre, like Sam Raimi and up-and-comer Damian McCarthy, also returned with their new projects, Send Help and Hokum, and long-running franchises have been graced with new entries, from 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple to Insidious: Out of the Further. With so much to watch, there will be plenty to catch up on or revisit when spooky season begins next month.
Paramount+ is already preparing for the occasion with the return of its annual Peak Screaming collection. This year, the streaming service isn’t waiting until the leaves turn, announcing today all the terrifying titles that will be available throughout September and October for subscribers looking for a scare. It’s already the home to some major horror staples, including the Scream, A Quiet Place, Paranormal Activity, Pet Sematary, and Scary Movie franchises, but the event will also feature other goodies throughout the season. Kicking things off today is the arrival of the recent Scary Movie revival and its extended cut, bringing back the Wayans Brothers with new horror parodies from Sinners to Ma and Weapons.
Peak Screaming’s return also coincides with the return of serial killer Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) for Dexter: Resurrection Season 2. Premiering in October, the series will see Dexter picking up where he left off after dispatching with Prater’s (Peter Dinklage) murder club. He’s not just caught between two terrifying serial killers, but also his own midlife crisis, all while his son, Harrison (Jack Alcott), continues his own campaign of justice. For this chapter, Hall will be joined by some big new names, including Dan Stevens, Brian Cox, Nona Parker Johnson, and Bokeem Woodbine, as well as some prominent returning ones like Uma Thurman and Krysten Ritter as Lady Vengeance.
Paramount+ Reveals All the Movies Streaming in Time for Halloween
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Image via Paramount Pictures -
Image via Paramount+ -
Image via Sony Pictures Animation -
Image via Bertrand Calmeau/CBS
The beginning of September already brought a wealth of horror titles to Paramount+, including the aforementioned Pet Sematary films, several Stephen King titles, and other classics like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Event Horizon, and Seven. October, however, has a few more heavy hitters for all ages coming at the beginning of the month. Mike Flanagan‘s acclaimed King adaptation and The Shining follow-up, Doctor Sleep, will join the streamer’s library, alongside the modern classic It Follows, David Cronenberg‘s body horror hit Crimes of the Future, and Bong Joon-Ho‘s historic Best Picture winner, Parasite, among others. For younger audiences, the first two Hotel Transylvania films will also be available to get in on the spooky fun.
Finally, on the more comedic end, CBS will have not one, but two more spooky contributions to the Paramount+ lineup with the new Ghosts two-part Halloween special and the premiere of Eternally Yours from the creators behind the paranormal hit comedy. While the former is shifting mostly to mid-season for Season 6, the return to Woodstone Manor for the spooky holiday on October 29 will pick up from Season 5’s cliffhanger that saw Pete (Richie Moriarty) fully disappear after a mission across the pond to save the bed and breakfast. Eternally Yours will help fill the gap on Thursdays starting on October 8, centering on couple Charles (Ed Weeks) and Liz (Allegra Edwards), the heads of a coven of vampires who are struggling to accept their daughter’s new human boyfriend while wrestling with the loss of passion in their own relationship after over 500 years together.
Paramount+’s Peak Screaming collection is now available and will have plenty more spooky titles to add once the calendar flips over to October. Stay tuned here at Collider for more on everything coming to the streamer throughout the season.
- Release Date
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June 5, 2026
- Runtime
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95 Minutes
- Director
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Michael Tiddes
Paul Skenes goes all out for Olivia Dunne!
The Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, 24, doesn’t think “good morning texts” are enough to woo his influencer girlfriend, 23.
In a TikTok video, Dunne documented how Skenes surprised her with a rented out movie theatre early in the morning. The clip started by showing the baseball star, who wore a white cap, blue sweater, and black shorts, holding a tray filled with their snacks and beverage. As he walked into the movie theatre, the retired gymnast showed the empty seats, proving that they had the place all to themselves. Seated next to each other, Dunne, wearing an all-black outfit, showed her self while giving a thumbs up.
She wrote over the video: “Apparently good morning texts weren’t enough so here we are at a rented out movie theatre at 8am.”
Meanwhile, in the caption, Dunne revealed that they’re watching a new Christopher Nolan film, writing, “The Odyssey with a side of breakfast.”
Fans React To The Video
The TikTok share racked up over a million views and received an upward of 72,000 likes. A follower commented, “Living the dream! Even at 8am,” while fan noted, “They always do amazing things together. Made for each other.”
With Dunne’s and Skenes’ fortune in mind, one TikTok user remarked, “I’m honestly shocked you guys don’t have a movie theater like this in your own home.”
According to reports, the couple has a combined net worth of $11 million, with Dunne at $6 million and Skenes at around $5 million.
How Olivia Dunne And Paul Skenes Make Time For Each Other
Dunne and Skenes both have busy schedules, but despite that, they always find ways to make their relationship work. During an interview with PEOPLE, the former LSU Tiger opened up about how they combat long distance.
“Honestly, I don’t think we have any rules,” Dunne shared. “I just think being super present with one another while you’re together, while you have that time together, is super important.”
She continued, “I mean, he makes time to come to my events. I make time to go watch him pitch. I try to make every start I can.”
Being Supportive Of Each Other
Ever since confirming their relationship in August 2023, Dunne and Skenes have been supportive of each other’s careers.
“We both are so busy that we understand if one another can’t be there for everything,” Dunne told the magazine. “But I think just really valuing the time you spend together and being super present in every moment.”
College Sweethearts
In 2025, Dunne discussed what else works for their relationship.
“We don’t restrict each other from doing things,” she told PEOPLE. “I’ve been in relationships in the past like that — where it’s almost like you have a leash on you, you can’t do anything.”
Dunne met Skenes while attending Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2023. She was part of LSU’s gymnastics team from 2020 to 2025, but has since retired from the sport. As for Skenes, he made his MLB debut in 2024.
“I would kind of see him around, and I was like, ‘Who is this tall guy — this tall mysterious man,’” Dunne recalled on Flau’jae Johnson’s “Best of Both Worlds” podcast in 2024. “I literally had no clue who he was, but I would just see him around.”
The Harrigans have faced the most violent and explosive threats already. And it’s only been one season. MobLand turned Tom Hardy loose in the criminal underworld during its first season before expanding the family’s problems even further for Season 2, which hasn’t even premiered yet. But following speculation over the show’s future, particularly relating to Hardy, the path forward has just become clear.
Paramount+ has officially renewed MobLand for Season 3, with Hardy, Pierce Brosnan (GoldenEye), and Helen Mirren (1923) all confirmed to return. The surprisingly early renewal arrives more than two weeks before Season 2 premieres on September 18, so that’s a major vote of confidence before audiences have seen what comes next for the Harrigans.
Hardy will return as Harry Da Souza, the one man army who has found himself caught in the middle of the family’s increasingly dangerous problems, while Brosnan and Mirren will also reprise their roles as the demented Conrad and Maeve Harrigan, the patriarch and matriarch at the center of the criminal empire.
In season two, the Harrigans struggle to show a unified front as rising rivals threaten their fractured criminal empire – and Harry, their street-smart and formidable ‘fixer,’ must walk a dangerous tightrope when tensions within the family intensify. As violence spills into every corner of their lives, loyalties snap, safety proves temporary, and the battle for power leaves no room for mercy.
Who Stars in ‘MobLand’?
The second season will also bring back Paddy Considine (House of the Dragon), Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey), Lara Pulver (Sherlock), Anson Boon (Pistol), Mandeep Dhillon (After Life), Jasmine Jobson (Top Boy), Teddie Allen, and Emmett J. Scanlan (Peaky Blinders). Johnny Flynn, Ophelia Lovibond, Janet McTeer, and Toby Jones are also among the ensemble.
MobLand is commissioned by Paramount+ and produced in association with Paramount Television Studios and 101 Studios. Hardy also serves as an executive producer alongside Guy Ritchie (The Gentlemen), David C. Glasser, Jez Butterworth, Ivan Atkinson, Dean Baker, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, and Keith Cox.
The early renewal means Paramount+ won’t have to leave viewers wondering about the show’s future as Season 2 unfolds. More importantly, with Hardy, Brosnan, and Mirren already locked in to return, whatever happens during the upcoming 10 episodes won’t mark the end of the Harrigans’ bloody fight for power.
MobLand Season 2 premieres September 18 on Paramount+, with Season 3 officially on the way.
- Release Date
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March 30, 2025
- Network
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Paramount+
- Directors
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Daniel Syrkin
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Pierce Brosnan
Conrad Harrigan
New details have emerged about the death of One Day at a Time and Coach alum Shelley Fabares.
Fabares died at age 82 on August 22, with her immediate cause of death listed as acute respiratory disease, reported People on Wednesday, September 2, citing the star’s death certificate.
The death certificate also listed primary pneumonia as a condition that resulted in her death, reported the outlet. The report noted that Fabares was diagnosed with pneumonia in the weeks before her death and later diagnosed with acute respiratory disease in the days before she died, per People.
Fabares’ family previously told People that the actress had died of pneumonia.
Hollywood mourned the deaths of some of its most legendary stars in 2026. In June, legendary music executive Clive Davis also died at age 94 following a hospitalization for an upper respiratory infection. The following month, G.R.L. member Lauren Bennett died at age 37, while Bonnie Tyler died at 75. Emergency!‘s Randolph Mantooth and Police […]
The actress and singer was reportedly cremated on August 28.
“To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter, and comfort,” her family said in a statement announcing her death last month. “She was a devoted wife, cherished stepmother, daughter, sister, niece, aunt, family member, and loyal friend whose warmth, generosity, humor, and grace made an enduring difference in the lives of everyone who knew her. She had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcomed, valued, and cared for.”
“For millions, Shelley was a beloved actress whose work became part of the fabric of American television and film,” the statement continued. “From her memorable role as Mary Stone on The Donna Reed Show, where she also launched a successful recording career with her number one hit, ‘Johnny Angel,’ to her appearances opposite Elvis Presley in three films, her beloved role on Coach, and her many other television and film performances, she brought talent, intelligence, and warmth to every performance. But to those closest to her, her greatest legacy was personal: the love she gave so freely, the friendships she treasured, and the family bonds she held dear.”
The statement added, “We will remember Shelley for her kindness, loyalty, wit, courage, and beautiful spirit. We will miss her deeply — not only as a celebrated performer, but as the loving and extraordinary person she was in our everyday lives.”
Get a rundown of Us‘ top stories making headlines in celebrity news, sports and entertainment on September 2, 2026. Here are the key takeaways: • Tim Curry‘s cause of death was coronary artery disease, according to Los Angeles County Department of Public Health records obtained by Us. The Rocky Horror Picture Show star’s records also […]
Fabares’ Coach costar, Craig T. Nelson, remembered working alongside the actress in a statement to Entertainment Weekly in August, describing her as “just an extraordinary woman.”
“She was welcoming in the midst of chaos and always someone I could go to for advice and counsel, not only myself but others as well. I’ll remember you with love, Shelley Fabares,” Nelson said.
Fabares is survived by her husband, M*A*S*H actor Mike Farrell.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for the movies discussed!
Animation isn’t a genre: it’s a medium unto itself, a kind of filmmaking capable of telling unique stories in ways that no other kind of movie can imitate. It’s the perfect realm for filmmakers’ imaginations to run wild, for them to harness the medium’s virtual visual limitlessness to tell whatever narrative they want to tell in whatever way they can think of. Sometimes, though, those narratives can get gloomy — very, very gloomy.
It’s one thing for an animated movie to be dark, but it’s a whole other step up for it to be hopelessly bleak. These are movies that aren’t just dark-toned: they’re harrowing experiences that very rarely have an ending that one could reasonably call “happy” in any sense, if ever. From older classics to more modern cult gems, history’s bleakest animated films prove that animation is most definitely not just for kids.
10
‘The Plague Dogs’ (1982)
Martin Rosen hasn’t made very many films, but he’s nevertheless one of the most underappreciated animation directors of the 20th century. He made two movies based on novels by Richard Adams, the second one being The Plague Dogs. It’s about two dogs escaping from a lab and being chased as possible carriers of the bubonic plague.
Even though the film is considerably less well-known and iconic than Rosen’s other noteworthy animated film, it’s still a fantastic movie, ingeniously directed, beautifully written, and visually striking. That doesn’t mean, however, that The Plague Dogs is an enjoyable film in the traditional sense — quite the opposite, in fact. Shocking, unflinching, and a brutal experience for animal lovers, it’s a loud bark against animal abuse that refuses to go unheard.
9
‘Watership Down’ (1978)
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Martin Rosen’s better-known adaptation of a Richard Adams novel, Watership Down has for long been considered one of the saddest animated films ever created — and for good reason. Beautifully animated and intellectually stimulating (certainly much more so for adults than for children), it’s a landmark in the history of British animation. As far as the medium goes, it’s one of the best movies of the 1970s.
Watership Down is a violent, carefully paced study of authoritarianism, survival, and politics, but with rabbits. It’s a simple gimmick on paper, but it works like a charm. Nevertheless, it’s a bleak, upsetting, utterly frightening film, even if things do end on a decently happy note. Sometimes, a happy ending isn’t really enough to offset an entire two acts’ worth of nightmarish political horror seen through the eyes of cute bunny rabbits.
8
‘A Scanner Darkly’ (2006)
Richard Linklater loves experimenting with different genres and techniques. With A Scanner Darkly, he jumped into the field of animation for a second time — and the result is stunning. Arguably Keanu Reeves’ most mind-bending movie (yes, The Matrix included), it’s a faithful adaptation of a novel by legendary sci-fi author Philip K. Dick.
The film’s dazzling visual style, created through interpolated rotoscope animation (a far-too-rare technique in the industry nowadays), isn’t just an empty gimmick. Made to look like a comic book or graphic novel, A Scanner Darkly first unsettles the audience’s eyes so it can then riddle their minds with a plot built on top of drug use and political instability. There’s some humor here and there, but the chillingly pitch-black tone is constant, and the movie certainly doesn’t have audiences smiling in joy by the time the credits roll.
7
‘Padak’ (2012)
Criminally underseen, and therefore criminally underrated, Padak is a South Korean film about a mackerel from the ocean trying to escape from a restaurant aquarium tank before he’s eaten. Those who think this looks like a cutesy Finding Nemo rip-off ought to think twice: Padak is one of the most brutal animated movies they’ll ever come across.
Padak is psychological survival horror through and through, with some biting social commentary and a critique of the sadistic treatment of animals that is horrifying enough to put anyone off eating sushi for a few months. It’s not often that animated movies where the characters are cute animals end with the majority of said animals — the protagonist included — being eaten alive. Not exactly the kind of stuff you see in a Disney flick.
6
‘Perfect Blue’ (1997)
Satoshi Kon was one of the greatest anime filmmakers of all time, and his untimely passing was one of the industry’s saddest moments. Nevertheless, the legacy he left behind was four exceptional animated movies, the best of which is arguably the psychological thriller Perfect Blue. Brilliantly surrealistic and stunningly animated, it’s one of the best anime films ever made.
Perfect Blue‘s blending of fantasy and reality is perfect, successfully placing the audience inside the fragmented headscape of the perfection-obsessed protagonist. The result is a disturbing, violent, often confusing film that borders on being horror, throwing increasingly dark and unhinged scenes and character moments at the audience relentlessly.
5
‘Mad God’ (2021)
Phil Tippett is, first and foremost, a visual effects supervisor and producer — one of the field’s biggest and most impactful exponents. During the ’90s, though, he started working on his directing debut, Mad God. It turned out to be a passion project that took around three decades to complete, but the effort was very much worth it. It’s a movie that’s guaranteed to become a cult classic in not too many years.
Mad God is an unhinged ride into the depths of Hell, a film that gleefully keeps pushing the limits of what audiences consider grotesque and disgusting. It’s certainly not for the faint of heart; there’s no doubt about that, but those with the stomach to not just tolerate, but enjoy a movie so bleak, jarring, and surrealistic are sure to have an unforgettable ride with Tippett’s twisted little brain child.
4
‘Where the Dead Go to Die’ (2012)
A film being bleak doesn’t necessarily imply that it’s good. Indeed, the straight-to-video cult classic Where the Dead Go to Die, a clear example of extreme cinema and exploitation horror, isn’t typically praised as a particularly high-quality movie. Nevertheless, any list of the bleakest animated films ever is incomplete without at least a mention of this ultra-mega-hyper-violent movie.
The animation is ugly and off-putting by design; the tastelessly gratuitous violence and darkness are too much to stomach for most viewers, and the senseless story isn’t exactly aided by the cheap use of lazy scares. Nevertheless, those who love über-dark animation simply have to check this one out at some point. Though it’s definitely not good, it’s so bizarre in the things it attempts that, at the very least, it’s absolutely unforgettable.
3
‘Anomalisa’ (2015)
Charlie Kaufman, best known as a screenwriter (perhaps the greatest in the industry today), has also directed a few movies here and there. His second directing effort and his first (and thus far only) animated movie was co-directed with Duke Johnson. It’s Anomalisa, a wild trip of a movie full of Kaufman’s signature blend of existential dread and absurdist surrealism.
With its distinct puppet-based stop-motion animation and one of animation’s greatest screenplays ever, Anomalisa is a profoundly thoughtful study of romance, aging, and human connections, the likes of which only an artist like Kaufman could have delivered. It’s filled to the brim with the same kind of neurotic cynicism and depressing bleakness that characterizes the writer-director’s work, but the bits and pieces of hope and humanism that he sprinkles in boost the experience tremendously.
2
‘Grave of the Fireflies’ (1988)
Studio Ghibli filmmakers create art pieces that aren’t afraid to dive into sadder bits of the human condition than the majority of animation, but never has any of them made a film more gut-wrenching than Isao Takahata‘s Grave of the Fireflies. This absolutely soul-shattering World War II drama based on a true story is enough to leave any animation fan crying on the floor for hours.
Led by two of Studio Ghibli’s best characters, the sad animated film does something that the war genre often likes to do: evaluate the nature of war as an innocence destroyer by showing it through the eyes of children. However, few anti-war films with child protagonists are as effective as this one. Stunningly animated, beautifully written and directed, and chilling to its core, Grave of the Fireflies is one of the legendary anime studio’s best outings.
1
‘Waltz With Bashir’ (2008)
Perhaps it’s because it’s a documentary. Perhaps it’s because it’s so richly constructed and made with such emotional rawness. Perhaps it’s because of how terrifyingly timely its themes feel. It’s likely because of all of that and more. The fact of the matter is that Waltz With Bashir, one of 2008’s most essential films, is the bleakest animated movie ever made.
A masterfully paced and structured examination of Israeli occupation, the value of memories, and the surreal nature of wartime violence, Waltz With Bashir is a masterpiece that shows the creative extent to which animation can be taken when placed in the right hands. It’s perhaps the most emotionally flooring experience that animation cinema has to offer, but it’s oh so worth it.
Waltz with Bashir
- Release Date
-
June 12, 2008
- Runtime
-
90 Minutes
- Director
-
Ari Folman
- Writers
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Ari Folman
Get a rundown of Us‘ top stories making headlines in celebrity news, sports and entertainment on September 2, 2026. Here are the key takeaways:
• Tim Curry‘s cause of death was coronary artery disease, according to Los Angeles County Department of Public Health records obtained by Us. The Rocky Horror Picture Show star’s records also listed a history of stroke and kidney cancer as contributing conditions. Curry was cremated on August 31, with his remains sent to the United Kingdom.
• Billy Ray Cyrus publicly backed daughter Miley Cyrus dropping her last name in an Instagram post, writing, “Family means more than ever now.” He compared Miley’s move to mononymous icons like Dolly, Cher, Elvis and Prince, calling it “a natural progression for an iconic superstar legend” ahead of her upcoming album, Bass Persuades.
• A “frantic” 911 call surfaced in the death of adult film star Christian Styles, whose legal name was Zachary Jaghab. A police report exclusively obtained by Us revealed the caller performed CPR under a dispatcher’s guidance after the OnlyFans personality was found “not conscious” and “not breathing” on August 20. A cause of death has not been determined, and an investigation is ongoing.
Edited by Samantha Benitz. Story produced with AI assistance
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