The best World War II movies of the last century typically feature heroic stories of battle and conquest, survival despite insurmountable challenges, and honorable figures fighting against injustice. And it’s no surprise that Richard Attenborough‘s 1977 war drama A Bridge Too Far stands out as one of the most realistic and ambitious World War II films ever made, and now it’s streaming on Tubi and Pluto. Upon its release, however, it was not universally lauded. In his scathing review, Roger Ebert asks, “Why make a movie about total defeat and stupidity?” And yet, that is the reason why A Bridge Too Far stands out among the rest. The film captures the scale, complexity, and failure of an operation by the Allied forces to surprise their enemies.

A Bridge Too Far did not match the success of Steven Spielberg‘s seminal classic Saving Private Ryan, but its epic storytelling, nuanced perspectives, and historical authenticity ensure its place among the greats. It’s an unapologetic tale of the triumphs and failures of war with a commitment to depicting war’s horrors. These are portrayed by a massive ensemble cast of A-list stars of its time, drawn from Europe and the United States. And now you can watch it for free on Tubi.

‘A Bridge Too Far’ Is Based on the True Story of the Allied Forces’ Botched Operation

Adapted from historian Cornelius Ryan‘s book of the same name, A Bridge Too Far is about the Allied forces’ ambitious, ill-fated Operation Market Garden, a plan designed to end World War II by capturing key bridges in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands. Executed in September 1944, the operation was the largest airborne assault in history, with 35,000 soldiers being flown from England and dropped behind enemy lines. Attenborough’s picture faithfully reconstructs this strategy through three main perspectives: the Allied forces, comprising the British, American, Dutch, and Polish paratroopers; Dutch civilians; and German soldiers. The film is an interplay of hope and chaos in war. The confidence of the military generals led by the British General Montgomery fails to align with the realities of those on the frontlines. William Goldman‘s screenplay highlights how these top soldiers ignored intelligence and underrated their opponents, leading to the total disaster that Roger Ebert terms “stupidity.”

With a star-studded ensemble cast that mirrors the film’s sprawling narrative, including Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Robert Redford, Anthony Hopkins, and Gene Hackman, A Bridge Too Far is a history class that shows that war is not only horrific for soldiers but also takes a toll on civilians as well. For instance, a moment in the movie shows a woman going about her business when she suddenly has unexpected soldiers as guests, with one telling her, “I’m awfully sorry, but I’m afraid we’re going to have to occupy your house.” Other scenes depict civilians caught in the line of fire, as well as the carnage of soldiers on the ground. It’s unflinching in its portrayal of war, with graphic images that leave an impression. Upon its release, it had to be edited in some destinations before being screened.

‘A Bridge Too Far’ Is a Cinematic Triumph Despite Its Flaws

Filmed on location in the Netherlands, A Bridge Too Far is a visual triumph that succeeds in part due to its effort at being authentic. Germans speak German, the Dutch speak Dutch, and even the Americans and the British are distinct in their speeches and accents (including Sean Connery in his Scottish accent). Attenborough’s attention to detail, like having tens of airplanes in the sky and thousands of parachutes with stuntmen dropping, makes the film breathtaking. While it has been criticized for some of its aged, bland effects, the battle sequences are gritty and immersive. In its near-three-hour length, criticized by some, it transports you to the chaos of the battlefield. This realism wasn’t lost on veterans and critics alike, many of whom praised its accurate portrayal of the operation’s scale and its complexity.

Comparable to Christopher Nolan‘s Dunkirk, the film rarely gives the impression of a central character leading the plot. A Bridge Too Far eschews traditional lead characters for ensemble storytelling that reflects the collective effort and sacrifice of war. General Montgomery, who developed the strategy, for instance, is a physically absent character in the film. Each of the many other characters seems to be fighting individual wars that only converge on the bigger war at hand. However, unlike Dunkirk, which condenses its narrative into a tense and focused runtime, A Bridge Too Far is focused on the failed operation’s epic scale. This approach, while it may not be emotionally stimulating, depicts the rawness of war itself.

Decades after its release, A Bridge Too Far demands patience but rewards viewers with an unparalleled depiction of WWII’s triumphs and tragedies. It’s a film that doesn’t glorify war but instead captures its chaos, futility, and humanity. If you are a fan of sprawling combat, this is definitely your movie.

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A Bridge Too Far

Release Date

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June 15, 1977

Runtime

175 Minutes

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Writers

William Goldman, Cornelius Ryan

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Joan Jett is canceling multiple concerts amid her recovery from back surgery.

“Following a recent injury, Joan Jett has undergone orthopedic surgery on a fractured vertebrae and will begin the necessary healing process,” read a statement shared via the rocker’s Instagram Story on Wednesday, August 5.

After speaking with her doctors, Jett, 67, will no longer be able to perform at her two September show dates: one in Costa Mesa, California, on September 5 and the other in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 24th.

“While Joan hates to disappoint fans, she will be taking this time to focus on physical therapy and healing,” the statement continued. “She’s looking forward to delivering tremendous concerts for many years to come.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, a fractured vertebrae — also known as a fractured spine — is when a break or collapse occurs in one of the 33 bones making up the spinal column. In some cases, a fractured spine can be caused by major trauma from a fall or car crash or from weakened bone density due to osteoporosis. Jett did not reveal any details about what caused her injury.

Recovery time for a spinal fracture is three months without surgery. For those who get the procedure, the recovery time is longer. It can take six weeks just to recover from the surgery plus an additional few months for the spine to heal, per the Cleveland Clinic.

Jett has been on the road since May. The rockstar recently finished up multiple shows in Europe and was gearing up to return stateside.

“Thanks for the summer love Europe, can’t wait to come back 🖤,” she wrote via Instagram on August 3 alongside a compilation of videos from her various shows.

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Earlier this year, Jett opened up about how it has been challenging to recover from touring as she’s gotten older.

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“[I’ve been touring] every year of my life since I’ve been in a band,” she said in a June interview with The Telegraph. “So the touring I don’t mind. It’s the traveling that’s an ass-kicker, I’ll tell you. As I get older, it’s not easy to recuperate as when I was in my 20s.”

Jett added that connecting with fans has been a main reason why she keeps performing.

“Especially these days, [when] we need it more than ever … We can all finally be one for a moment, as clichéd as that sounds. But it’s true,” she reflected. “When you can lose yourself in that moment… it’s not about thinking about what’s going to happen. You just do it. You just be it.”

The book-to-television pipeline is very much alive. From the steamy hockey sensation Heated Rivalry to the recent heist hit Lucky, many of today’s hit TV shows wouldn’t exist without the books that became their foundations. The same is true for fantasy, a genre that has long been a goldmine for some of television’s biggest successes.

George R. R. Martin‘s world continues to come alive with House of the Dragon, while J. R. R. Tolkien‘s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is still going strong. But those are far from the only fantasy stories making the jump to the small screen. From a trip through academic hell to a deadly, video game-inspired dungeon crawl, here are the fantasy books to read before their TV adaptations arrive.

‘Katabasis’ (2025)

Image via Harper Voyager

Grad school’s a living hell, and it’s even worse when the devil’s got your doctorate. Katabasis follows Alice Law, a Cambridge postgraduate who practices a dangerous form of magic. After a botched spell seemingly kills her adviser, Professor Jacob Grimes, and sends his soul to Hell, Alice sacrifices half her remaining lifespan to journey into the underworld and bring him back—all while hoping to secure the recommendation letter she desperately needs. Things only get more complicated when her academic rival, Peter Murdoch, insists on tagging along for the same reason.

Academia is one tough avenue, but it’s especially exhausting in graduate school. For those trying to make it in academia, people know all too well the validation required from senior researchers and professors that could make or break your name in an already competitive department. Katabasis, then, is a critique of these intellectual institutions. There is a glorification of giving your all to intellectual pursuits, but when the pursuit of knowledge isn’t paired with soul or ethos, that endeavor only eats you alive. As of now, Katabasis is currently in development at Amazon MGM Studios, with The Walking Dead showrunner Angela Kang attached as the project’s showrunner and writer.

‘The Dark Tower’ series (1982–2012)

Image via Donald M. Grant, Publisher

Often described as Stephen King‘s answer to The Lord of the Rings, The Dark Tower saga follows the legendary gunslinger Roland Deschain as he journeys across the magical realm of Mid-World in search of the mysterious Dark Tower, the structure said to hold the multiverse together. In this reality, time is non-linear, and it’s the reason why nations vanish without a trace. Running across eight novels, it’s arguably one of King’s most experimental works — a cornucopia of fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and American Old West elements. The Dark Tower would ultimately serve as a foundation that connects other works in the Kingverse, including Salem’s Lot, Cujo, and IT.

After years of failed attempts to bring The Dark Tower to television, Mike Flanagan‘s adaptation is finally picking up steam. Earlier versions from J. J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and later Prime Video with The Walking Dead‘s Glen Mazzara all fell through, but Flanagan explained that the project is “moving,” that “We’ve got a lot of scripts done for it,” and that it’s now “a priority.” That’s especially exciting because The Dark Tower is the one series that truly ties everything together. Those who want to understand the world of King can read The Dark Tower series as a starting point into the author’s already intimidatingly massive writing portfolio.

‘The Atlas Six’ (2020)

Image via Tor Books

The first in the BookTok dark academia trilogy, The Atlas Six follows six exceptionally gifted magicians, handpicked by Atlas Blakely, to compete for a place in the Alexandrian Society, the world’s most prestigious secret organization. Reminiscent of The Umbrella Academy, they live together in a secluded London estate for a year, studying lost magical knowledge and the mysteries of space, time, and consciousness while proving they deserve initiation. However, the candidates soon discover a shocking truth: only five of them can join the Society, meaning one must be eliminated. While that’s happening, a rival faction called the Forum is determined to make the Society’s closely guarded knowledge available to the world.

The competitive nature of The Atlas Six turns the story into a ticking pressure cooker where everyone is trying to prove they’re the best of the best. While each magician has incredible powers, those abilities aren’t the only weapons in their arsenal. Every conversation is loaded with hidden agendas, mind games, and shifting alliances, making it hard to tell who can actually be trusted. But beneath all that rivalry is a group of people who were gifted—or maybe cursed—with extraordinary abilities, and the one thing they all crave is genuine human connection. Instead, their powers only push them further apart. On top of that, the book keeps you wondering whether the Alexandrian Society really wants to help these magicians reach their full potential or if it only sees them as tools to further its own elitist intellectual agenda.

‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ (2020)

Image via Ace Books

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Nothing screams fantasy more than Dungeon Crawler Carl, which completely revolutionizes the modern literary format in the age of video games. The self-published work follows former Coast Guard veteran Carl and Princess Donut, his ex-girlfriend’s pampered cat, after Earth is destroyed by a powerful interstellar corporation. As two of the few survivors, they are forced into the World Dungeon, an eighteen-level death game akin to The Hunger Games or Squid Game, where every battle is livestreamed across the galaxy for entertainment. Along the way, the pair fight monsters, bosses, and even gods while leveling up, collecting loot, and completing quests.

There’s much to boast about with Dungeon Crawler Carl. For starters, the book series popularized LitRPG, a literary genre that incorporates traditional storytelling with video game mechanics like experience points, level progression, inventory systems, and quest logs. Even if audiences aren’t fans of video games, anyone can relate to the main character’s struggle as he is trapped in a sick system that feeds off human suffering as someone else’s entertainment. The only way to rebel is by showing compassion, which is exactly what Carl does for the other survivors he meets along the way. Set for adaptation under the guidance of Seth MacFarlane, and having amassed 14 million readers, it wouldn’t be surprising if Dungeon Crawler Carl would be a massive TV hit.

‘Fourth Wing’ (2023)

Image via Red Tower Books

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An 18-week New York Times bestseller, Fourth Wing is a must-read for fans of House of the Dragon. The story follows Violet Sorrengail, a frail 20-year-old who has spent her life training to become a scribe until her tough mother orders her to join Basgiath War College’s deadly Riders Quadrant instead. Surrounded by cadets who see her as an easy target, Violet has to rely on her wit to stay alive. Against all odds, she bonds with not one but two dragons, unlocking incredible powers. But as she discovers long-buried secrets about her kingdom, Violet must question everything she thought she knew before war changes her world forever.

In true Hunger Games fashion, Violet and the cadets of Basgiath War College are thrown into a brutal, win-or-die environment. But while she lacks physical strength, she more than makes up for it with her intelligence and quick thinking. With Prime Video officially adapting Fourth Wing into a series, produced by Michael B. Jordan‘s Outlier Society, there’s never been a better time to dive in. Jordan has already promised fans that they’re “making sure that this is going to be an exciting show that delivers on all of the things the fans want and some of the things that they won’t be expecting either.”

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Fourth Wing

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Network

Prime Video

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Showrunner

Meredith Averill

Directors

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Lisa Joy

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Dua Lipa doesn’t just eat well when she travels. She builds entire trips around where she’s going to eat.

“Everything is based around food,” Lipa told the Dish Podcast in 2024. “I think about the trip, and then I think about the food and I start putting it in the diary.”

She’s also not interested in keeping her best food spots to herself. “I’m not gatekeeping,” she added. “I’m sharing, I’m tagging the restaurant.”

That openness led to a partnership between her media platform Service95 and Google Maps earlier this year. The result was a curated list of her favorite places to eat around the world, spanning international snacks, late-night food runs and destination-worthy dining across three continents.

Here’s a closer look at every spot on Lipa’s global food list.

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Dua Lipa’s Best Restaurants and Late-Night Snacks in Europe

Lipa’s European picks lean toward long-running local institutions and late-night cravings. Several of her best food spots on the continent are tied to a specific time of day, whether that’s a long lunch in Barcelona or churros after midnight in Madrid.

• Cañete, Barcelona: An old-school tapas restaurant known for Iberian ham, white anchovies and cold drinks. Lipa recommends it for a leisurely lunch.
• Beigel Bake, London: A 24-hour Brick Lane staple open since 1974. Her order is the salt beef beigel, ideally around 2 a.m.
• Can Gourmet Eivissa, Ibiza: A local shop stocked with cheese, cured meats and bread for picnics or late-night snacking. Lipa describes it as the quieter, more authentic side of Ibiza.
• Proper Pizza, Prishtina: A lively pizza spot with quality crust, good toppings and a dining room full of energy.
• Chocolatería San Ginés, Madrid: A historic churrería serving customers since 1894. Lipa calls its churros with hot chocolate one of the world’s great food rituals, best enjoyed after midnight.
• Julius Ernst, Berlin: A relaxed brunch spot known for strong coffee and beautiful pastries. Lipa says it’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve earned your morning.

What connects these picks is character. Every restaurant has a clear identity and a specialty worth traveling for. They also reveal that Lipa’s food recommendations aren’t just about what to eat but when to eat it.

Dua Lipa’s Favorite Food Spots in the U.S.

Lipa’s two American selections skip the polished celebrity dining rooms in favor of classic Americana. Both are the kind of places where you can show up late and stay as long as you want.

• Dino’s Bar & Grill, Nashville: A classic dive bar with cold beer, a jukebox and the kind of atmosphere that keeps you around all night.
• Montague Diner, New York: An unpretentious late-night spot that delivers nostalgic New York comfort food at any hour.

These picks say a lot about what Lipa values in the best restaurants she visits. Neither is flashy. Both feel deeply tied to their cities. Dino’s captures Nashville’s late-night music energy while Montague Diner delivers the around-the-clock spirit New York is known for.

Dua Lipa’s Must-Try International Foods in Tokyo, Singapore and Bangkok

Lipa’s Asian picks are some of the most memorable on her list. They range from a no-menu bar in Tokyo to a Michelin-recognized street food legend in Bangkok, and they show her love of global food at its most adventurous.

• Narukiyo, Tokyo: A no-menu restaurant where the owner speaks with each table and begins serving dishes diners didn’t order. Lipa says the unpredictability is the entire point and that you have to surrender to it completely.
• Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore: A celebrated hawker center Lipa calls “a true Singaporean haven.” The variety of stalls makes it a destination unto itself.
• Raan Jay Fai, Bangkok: A Michelin-recognized street food restaurant where chef Jay Fai cooks over charcoal in ski goggles. It stays open until the food runs out. Lipa says the crab omelette is not to be missed.
• Haawm, Bangkok: A restaurant centered on grilled meats, sticky rice and bold sauces. Lipa describes it as the kind of meal you’re still thinking about on the flight home.

Bangkok is the only city that appears twice on the list, which speaks to how deeply Lipa connects with its food scene. Together, these picks prove that her best restaurants aren’t defined by price or prestige but by flavor and experience.

Dua Lipa’s Love of Food Goes Beyond Restaurant Lists

Lipa’s enthusiasm extends well past tagging restaurants on Instagram. She’s also known for championing unexpected flavor combinations.

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“I get vanilla ice cream, and I put olive oil on it and sea salt,” she told BBC Radio 1 in 2023. “So many people that I’ve shown it to, I’ve brought to the dark side.”

Her food interests have crossed into her music career too. She celebrated the end of her Radical Optimism Tour in 2025 with a temporary taco shop in Mexico City called Taquería La Dua. The pop-up featured specialty tacos inspired by her songs, including a pork rind Houdini Taco and a cheesy beef Radical Optimism Taco.

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From international snacks discovered on tour to late-night comfort meals in New York, Dua Lipa’s approach to eating mirrors her approach to sharing: generous, curious and never gatekept. Her Service95 list isn’t just a collection of food recommendations. It’s a window into how one of pop’s biggest stars experiences the world, one meal at a time.

It makes sense why crime thriller shows have been so popular this summer. Everyone needs a bit of an escape, and there’s no better way to do that than diving into an exciting world filled with murder and mayhem. Apple TV has been leading the charge already, with shows like Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed and Cape Fear hooking viewers the past few months due to their gasp-inducing action and fantastic casts, but another show in the streamer’s library is more than worth a binge if you aren’t one of the millions of people who are already watching weekly.

What Is ‘Lucky’ About?

Lucky debuted on Apple TV on July 15, and has very quickly earned many devoted fans. The crime thriller, based on the 2021 novel of the same name by Marissa Stapley, follows a woman named Luciana “Lucky” Armstrong (Anya Taylor-Joy), who was raised by a con artist named John (Timothy Olyphant). Lucky decides to set out on her own with her husband, Cary Masterson (Drew Starkey), and the pair plan a multi-million dollar heist. The logistics are a little sticky though, since they’d actually be stealing from Lucky’s mother-in-law, mob boss Priscilla (Annette Bening).

In the first episode, Lucky and Cary are celebrating their successful heist and living it up in Las Vegas, but things take a turn for the worse when Lucky wakes up the next morning in their hotel room, and both Cary and the money have vanished. Lucky doesn’t have time to dwell on the huge betrayal that’s just occurred, because the FBI, led by Agent Billie Rand (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), is hot on her trail. Things kick off in a heart-racing way as Lucky uses her criminal skills, as well as her wily intelligence, to run from both law enforcement and the ruthless Priscilla.

As Lucky goes on the lam, she gets into one major scuffle after another and barely survives each mishap, but the reason the show itself is so exciting to watch is because there’s danger coming at her from every angle. As viewers learn more about Priscilla and her even more terrifying boss, Wayne Whittaker (William Fichtner), it seems very possible that Lucky’s worst fate isn’t actually ending up behind bars; it’s ending up in Priscilla’s clutches. With plenty of high-speed car chases and energetic fight sequences, there’s never a dull moment. Even in quieter scenes, Lucky’s ability to talk her way out of any situation is every bit as captivating to watch.

‘Lucky’s Action-Packed Plot Will Have You on the Edge of Your Seat

It’s possible that Lucky could have just been an average crime thriller, but the series is completely captivating from the very first frame thanks to its ensemble. Taylor-Joy is perfectly cast as the enigmatic, feisty Lucky, and her scenes with each one of her co-stars carry the necessary intensity. She’s been a star in so many roles before this, but Lucky really allows her to tap into the magnetic, ethereal quality of her gift. Ellis-Taylor is also spot-on as the tough-as-nails, determined FBI agent who’s dead-set on catching Lucky, even if it’s the last thing she does.

No mention of Lucky‘s cast, however, would be sufficient without highlighting Bening. Her career used to revolve around playing the protagonist, but now she’s entered her villain era with similar power-hungry roles in Captain Marvel and Dutton Ranch. Her immense talent means Priscilla isn’t merely a heartless boss; she’s also a woman who deeply regrets some of her choices, particularly being misled by the men in her life. Bening infuses her scenes with a glamorous exterior and a crumbling inner pain.

With captivating twists and turns in the storytelling and an authentic cast that makes these characters feel three-dimensional, Lucky is the perfect show for any fan of high-stakes crime thrillers. There are currently five episodes out, and two more on the way, so it’s easy to catch up if you haven’t already, especially since you’ll be glued to the screen, desperate to find out Lucky’s fate.

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Lucky

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Release Date

2026 – 2026-00-00

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Network

Apple TV

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Showrunner

Jonathan Tropper, Cassie Pappas, Jonathan van Tulleken

Directors

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Greg Yaitanes

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By their very nature, miniseries tend to leave audiences wanting more. That being said, there is a clear distinction between a fantastic limited series that uses its brief run to deliver a sharp and concise narrative arc, and a canceled or cut-short series that only manages to tease the initial spark of its idea before being resolved.

Ranging from some of the defining cult classics of small-screen entertainment that had their intended runs cut short after just one season, to miniseries that present fascinating and compelling story ideas but lack the screen time to truly bring them to fruition, these miniseries are all truly deserving of far more episodes than they received. Consisting of everything from animated fantasy to supernatural horror, teenage drama, and even sci-fi adventure, these TV titles are undeniably binge-worthy, but their all-too-short runtimes also tend to leave viewers wondering ‘what could have been?’

10

‘Freaks and Geeks’ (1999–2000)

Image via NBC

After suffering from a botched and woefully mishandled release strategy that saw weekly air times change sporadically and, after its cancellation, three of its episodes not receive an initial release at all, Freaks and Geeks has come to be revered as one of the best teen dramedies television has ever seen. Unfortunately, this wave of retrospective appreciation wasn’t able to save the show from an abrupt Season 1 axing, but it has seen it endure as a bona fide cult classic with a substantial fan following.

Set in the early ‘80s, it explores the turmoil of teenage life as it follows Lindsay (Linda Cardellini), a straight-A student who discovers a rebellious urge when she starts hanging out with pot-smoking slackers, and her little brother Sam (John Francis Daley), who, along with his unpopular friends, struggles to navigate the social hierarchy of the first year of high school. Attentive, poignant, often cringe-worthy with its accuracy, and yet always hilarious and heartfelt, Freaks and Geeks is a masterful realization of adolescent angst that, even with its 18-episode stretch, would have been a joy to watch evolve over multiple follow-up seasons.

9

‘High Fidelity’ (2020)

Image via Hulu

In recent years, television has become almost as bad as feature film when it comes to producing uninspired remakes of old gems. High Fidelity, however, was not an example of this. Instead, it brilliantly spins the endearing story of self-discovery and music into a timely tale of pop-culture influence as it follows Robyn Brooks (Zoë Kravitz), a young record store owner with an obsession for “Top Five” lists, who revisits her past relationships through song and cultural trends.

While it isn’t immune to the occasional misstep, High Fidelity’s 10-episode stretch offers an easily enjoyed foray into romantic comedy anchored by Kravitz’s absorbing performance and bolstered by its slick referential charm. Despite positive reviews, the series was canceled after just one season, a decision that drew criticism from Kravitz. While no official reason was ever given, the impact of COVID-19 and its mixed release strategy (which saw the series shift from Disney+ to Hulu) may be reasons why its planned follow-up seasons never came to fruition.

8

‘Scavengers Reign’ (2023)

Image via HBO Max

Perfecting the art of sci-fi world-building while delivering enthralling characters that develop and evolve, and being armed with utterly sublime animated beauty, Scavengers Reign is both an underrated gem of science-fiction television and a criminally under-explored story of survival and wonder. Across 12 episodes that hover around 25 minutes in runtime, it follows the crew of an interstellar cargo ship who find themselves stranded on the planet Vesta when their vessel is damaged. Left to explore the alien planet, they unearth both its effervescent appeal and its underlying dangers while being forced to adapt and react to the ever-changing environment.

HBO Max acquired the distribution rights and released the series in 2023, but soon canceled their involvement with it before Netflix bought the rights, only to then decide against renewing it. The complex ownership and eventual discontinuation of the series is a tragedy for lovers of sci-fi and animation, as Scavengers Reign is still deserving of many more episodes to re-immerse viewers in its atmospheric display of visual beauty and rich storytelling.

7

‘Wonderfalls’ (2004)

Image via Fox

Delightfully offbeat and endearing with all its quirks and eccentricities, Wonderfalls should have become a defining cult gem of 2000s television that marries playful absurdity with feel-good fantasy laughs. Unfortunately, the Canadian series was canceled just four episodes into its run, with Fox not even airing the entirety of the 13-episode season, which would later be shown on VisionTV before the DVD release in 2005. It is nothing short of an egregious mishandling of what is a hidden treat of television drama.

Jaye Tyler (Caroline Dhavernas) is a misguided university graduate working a dead-end job as a clerk at a Niagara Falls gift shop. While she is initially dismayed when animal figurines start talking to her, she soon learns their hazy instructions can allow her to help people in need. Combining deadpan witticisms with off-kilter yet endearing lunacy, Wonderfalls could have easily stretched out its premise well beyond its botched 13-episode run.

6

‘Dracula’ (2020)

Image via BBC

One of the most frustrating miniseries of the streaming age, Netflix’s Dracula is littered with pacing flaws, inconsistent tonal shifts, and a jolting 123-year time jump, but it is undeniably captivating and binge-worthy thanks to its energized sense of spectacle and the brilliance of the performances. Created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat—the minds behind BBC’s Sherlock and several seasons of Doctor Who—the three-part limited series has a transfixing allure, especially in its first episode, which exudes a thrilling, foreboding dread as it focuses on Jonathan Harker’s (John Heffernan) visit to Count Dracula’s (Claes Bang) castle in Transylvania.

Even the second episode, tracking Dracula’s voyage to England aboard the Demeter, has its intriguing qualities, but the leap to the modern day in the third episode robs the series of much of its momentum and leaves viewers more confused than compelled. It certainly isn’t a terrible spin on Bram Stoker’s iconic horror novel, but it is one that feels it would have benefited greatly from a more gradual transition rather than one abrupt leap between episodes.

5

‘The Society’ (2019)

Image via Netflix

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Young adult thrills were something of a trend across all forms of entertainment throughout the 2010s. Television was quick to capitalize on the phenomenon, with series like The 100 and The Shannara Chronicles emerging as hit series, particularly in the first half of the decade. Perhaps it was a little late to the party, but Netflix’s The Society had both the mystery intrigue and the character depth to sustain a run far longer than its 10-episode tenure. In fact, it was even initially renewed for a second season before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down production and led Netflix to eventually abandon it altogether.

The cancellation is incredibly frustrating given the strengths of the first season, which follows high school students as they return from a canceled camping trip to find the town’s adults have vanished and their connection with the outside world has been cut off. The lingering questions as to what happened mix beautifully with the teenagers’ wayward social rules they put in place to maintain order and safety. Seeing how character journeys evolved and how the mystery was explained in succeeding seasons would have been a delight, but unfortunately, it never eventuated.

4

‘River’ (2015)

Image via BBC

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A criminally underrated gem of British crime television, River runs with a reasonably familiar mystery plot structure, but it finds a striking point of difference in its unique approach. It focuses on aging detective John River (Stellan Skarsgård), an officer whose brilliant though fragile mind allows him to crack unsolvable cases, but also condemns him to live with the intimate secrets and memories of those whose murders he investigates. His complex and delicate psyche is pushed beyond its limit when he tries to solve the murder of his partner.

Always intended to be a miniseries, River’s six-episode arc delivers a razor-sharp story of mystery and intrigue, but one of debilitating emotional grief and rich psychological drama as well. Supported by an incredible lead performance from Skarsgård, River is undeniably a masterpiece of miniseries crime drama, but there is a feeling it could have dug even deeper, or even invested more in its central mystery as well as its character drama, with a longer run.

3

‘My So-Called Life’ (1994–1995)

Image via ABC

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Tackling adolescent angst with a realism and rawness that many other teenage dramas tend to avoid, My So-Called Life is a forgotten gem of mid-’90s television that was quite surprisingly canceled even after Claire Danes won a Golden Globe for her lead performance. She stars as Angela, a 15-year-old high school student living with her family in Pittsburgh and navigating the monotony of teen life, from schoolyard crushes to conflict with her parents, but also far more serious cultural issues like alcoholism and drug use, child abuse, homophobia, and homelessness.

Its endeavor to showcase adolescence as being a challenging and confronting experience rather than a procession of awkward yet hilarious misadventures is every bit as refreshing today as it was in 1994, especially as it is complemented by the philosophical depth and poignant relatability of Angela’s narration. The 19-episode first season gives viewers plenty to enjoy, but there is so much more the series could have explored had it been given follow-up seasons.

2

‘Over the Garden Wall’ (2014)

Image via Cartoon Network

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Unlike many other series on this list, Over the Garden Wall never had annexed plans for future seasons, nor was its story cut short by episode restrictions within its miniseries release. In fact, the Cartoon Network production is a perfectly told story of fantasy wonder, imaginative exploration, and brotherly love as it follows two young boys in their ventures through a magical woodland lost in time, and the friends they make as they search for a way home.

Even with just 10 11-minute episodes, Over the Garden Wall paces and explores its story brilliantly; the only issue is it feels like there is so much more to discover in the Unknown. Whether the brothers returned for a new adventure or different characters had their own voyages through the enchanted forest, the miniseries conjures a world of majesty, charm, and unbridled wonder that feels as though it only gets started at examining its depth and magic. It is undoubtedly a good thing to leave viewers wanting more, and Over the Garden Wall’s cult status is found in its narrative control as much as in its spellbinding fantasy allure, but expansions on the limited series to further delve into its beautiful story world would have been welcomed by many around the world.

1

‘Firefly’ (2002)

Image via FOX

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The most famous “what could have been” in television history, Firefly today stands as a revered cult classic of sci-fi television, but its 14-episode run should have been far more substantial. Following a ragtag group of outlaws in the wake of an intergalactic civil war in the distant future, the series excels at meshing spaghetti Western grit with space opera excitement, and it is easy to see how creator Joss Whedon envisioned a far more expansive journey for his story and its characters.

Unfortunately, Firefly was maligned on release by a horrifically mismanaged release strategy that killed any hope of it generating momentum and fanfare, and led to it being canceled just 11 episodes into its run. While the outcry from the fan following did eventually lead to the production of the film Serenity as a way to give the story a resolution, Firefly still stands as one of the biggest missed opportunities in television history. With the charming grit of its characters, the atmospheric allure of its sci-fi Western setting, and the imaginative awe of its world-building, Firefly should have had many more seasons.

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Firefly

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Release Date

2002 – 2003-00-00

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Network

FOX

Showrunner

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Joss Whedon

Directors

Allan Kroeker, David Solomon, James A. Contner, Marita Grabiak, Michael Grossman, Tim Minear, Vern Gillum

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The late Michael Jackson‘s nephew, TJ Jackson, said he is “praying” for Perez Hilton’s recovery despite past tension between the blogger and the Jackson family.

“Everybody is talking about this Perez Hilton video. I haven’t seen it but from what I’ve heard it’s horrible,” TJ, 48, tweeted on Wednesday, August 5. “One thing I’ll say…He hasn’t been nice to many celebs including my family. Nevertheless I never want to see anyone broken and in such a dark place. I am praying for his healing and his health.”

The youngest son of Michael’s brother Tito Jackson spoke out following a traumatic TikTok livestream on Tuesday, August 4, where Hilton appeared to perform dangerous acts of self-harm. Miami-Dade police confirmed to Us that law enforcement officials received calls “regarding an individual who was live-streaming acts of self-harm on social media” and were then sent to Hilton’s Florida home for what they suspected was a “possible suicide” attempt.

Hilton was eventually hospitalized. His family confirmed on Wednesday that Hilton was “able to communicate” during his stay in the hospital, which they took as a “hopeful” sign for his recovery.

Related: Perez Hilton’s TikTok Account Banned After Disturbing Livestream, 911 Call

Perez Hilton’s TikTok account has been banned following his disturbing livestream and subsequent hospitalization, Us can confirm. A U.S. spokesperson for TikTok told Us on Wednesday, August 5, that the social media platform’s automated moderation system flagged Hilton’s account within minutes of his troubling Tuesday, August 4, livestream, flagging it to the platform’s human moderation […]

The celebrity blogger has a long history of tension with the Jackson family dating back to Michael’s death at age 50 in June 2009. When news broke that Michael suffered a medical emergency, Hilton speculated that the King of Pop was pulling a publicity stunt to get out of performing his 50 planned This Is It concerts in London.

“Get your money back,” he advised This Is It ticket holders at the time.

Hilton received a wave of backlash when Michael died and he later publicly apologized, saying in a statement that he was “genuinely feeling sorry that [Michael] died and sorry for his kids.”

In the wake of Hilton’s hospitalization, TJ expressed hope that the alarming situation would serve as a wake-up call for the blogger.

“And hopefully one day he will find his way and inspire others who make a living negative talking/slandering others to choose a different route and be better themselves, to lean into LOVE more. That’s the way to really live life to the fullest,” he tweeted.

When a fan suggested that “the underlying cause is the lack of love,” TJ agreed, replying, “Very true.”

There have been strong reactions to Hilton’s disturbing livestream and subsequent hospitalization from many of those he mocked on his website over the years.

Alec Baldwin‘s daughter Ireland Baldwin described Hilton as “a despicable human being” for allegedly disparaging her famous family in the past, even as she offered support for his recovery.

“Perez Hilton has publicaly [sic] humiliated my family for years, sexualized me from a young age, commented on my weight and body [as a child], made unforgivable comments about people in my family, drew j!zz coming out of my mom’s and friend’s mouths, and has always been a despicable human being,” Ireland, 30, wrote via her Instagram Story on Wednesday.

She went on, “But his children deserve better and a healthy father and I am so sad for all of them. I hope he gets the help he needs and heals.”

Former America’s Next Top Model winner Adrianne Curry said in a vlog on Thursday, August 6, that she forgave Hilton for “bullying” her during his “peak years” of fame.

“I also want him to see me saying that his life has value and that I wish him peace, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to him,” Curry, 44, told her Instagram followers. “I think sometimes that’s what it takes. Not your friends rallying round you, but people who should hate you saying, ‘Hey, your life has value, don’t do this.’ At least that’s what it used to be like for me because I’ve been in some dark places.”

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Hilton’s family released a new statement on Thursday, in which they acknowledged that “the events of the past several days have been nearly unbearable for our family.” They confirmed that “Perez’s [three] children, niece, and sister were inside the home” moments before his livestream started, though they “immediately fled to protect the children from witnessing any further trauma.”

“Our highest priority right now is helping the children begin to heal from what they experienced,” his family said. “An important part of that process is allowing them to safely return home and begin rebuilding a sense of security and normalcy.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

For the past two seasons of the beloved Netflix show My Life With the Walter Boys, Ashby Gentry has been navigating an onscreen love triangle with costars Nikki Rodriguez and Noah LaLonde. Now his character, Alex, has found himself in another tricky dynamic — this time, with a different love interest.

“He’s love triangle hopping, love triangle maxing to put it in 2026 vernacular,” Gentry, 27, exclusively quipped to Us ahead of the Thursday, August 6, season 3 premiere on Netflix.

Warning: Spoilers below for season 3 of My Life With the Walter Boys.

In season 3, Alex moved on from Jackie (Rodriguez) amid her on-again, off-again romance with his brother and brooding bad boy Cole (LaLonde) and wound up catching feelings for longtime best friend Kiley (Mya Lowe). One problem? She is currently in a relationship with Dylan (Kolton Stewart), who ultimately asks Alex to take a step back from his friendship with Kylie. Alex, however, attempted to confess his feelings to Kylie but was met by an unreceptive Dylan, who literally — and figuratively — shut the door in his face.

“It’s funny because I watched that scene and I was like, ‘Oof!’ And then I thought, ‘Well, that’s what you get,’” Gentry admitted to Us. “Like the scene beforehand, he says, ‘Yes, I will stay away from your girlfriend.’ And then five seconds later, ‘Knock knock knock.’ I’m like ‘Alex, what are you doing?’ I would slam it in his fingers too. So I can’t fault Dylan there.”

From Gentry’s perspective, Alex would be counting his lucky stars if he could move forward with Kylie after that interaction.

“What do I see for their future?” he said. “I have no idea. I mean, he’s lucky if they have one after that.”

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While juggling a love triangle (now twice!), Alex also found himself balancing school and his rodeo crew at Hartford. He ultimately decided to quit the crew amid tension with his teammates. Alex’s growth, according to Gentry, was inevitable.

Related: Team Cole or Alex? My Life With the Walter Boys’ Love Triangle Timeline

My Life With the Walter Boys’ messy love triangle between a girl and two brothers may feel familiar — and that’s exactly how it was designed. The series, which is based on Ali Novak’s 2014 novel of the same name, follows Manhattanite Jackie Howard (Nikki Rodriguez) as she moves in with family friends following the […]

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“I think people are changed more so than they change and I guess Alex has a lot happen to him,” he explained. “He’s put into a new environment with the rodeo crew at Hartford’s and I think it forces growth. … He’s just trying to survive and stay alive, so to speak, in this new world that he’s found himself in. I do think he changes, but it was sort of a natural progression.”

My Life With the Walter Boys season 3 is streaming on Netflix now.

Sydney Sweeney set out to help families impacted by devastating wildfires in her hometown, but instead found herself pulled back into a controversy many believed had already run its course. 

The actress spent the day serving meals to displaced residents in Spokane, Washington, yet online conversation quickly shifted from disaster relief to accusations that the appearance was a calculated image-repair campaign. 

Even so, many fans argued the focus should remain on the people receiving help rather than the motives being assigned to the Hollywood star.

Rather than making a brief ceremonial appearance, Sydney Sweeney spent time working alongside volunteers in Spokane, Washington, where wildfires have displaced residents and strained local resources. 

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Partnering with the World Central Kitchen and Women and Children’s Free Restaurant, the 28-year-old helped distribute meals to those affected by the disaster.

Sweeney was joined by her boyfriend, Scooter Braun, as the pair greeted residents waiting in line for assistance. Videos circulating online showed the actress walking from car to car with bags of food, personally handing meals to families instead of remaining behind the scenes. 

Her involvement appeared hands-on throughout the event, with the visit centered on supporting the relief organizations working on the ground.

However, while the humanitarian effort generated positive attention locally, the conversation on social media quickly veered in a very different direction.

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Sweeney’s Charity Work Reignites Debate Over ‘Great Jeans’ Campaign

LOVE THIS: Sydney Sweeney is currently handing out FREE Meals to people who LOST everything in the massive Spokane Washington wildfires

She didn’t want any recognition for it

She just came out to help. AMEN 🙏 pic.twitter.com/NSdLixxPBq

— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) August 6, 2026

As footage of Sydney Sweeney volunteering spread online, many critics revisited the backlash surrounding her American Eagle advertising campaign from last year. 

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As The Blast reported, the campaign’s “good jeans” slogan, which also played on the phrase “good genes,” drew widespread criticism from some viewers who accused it of invoking themes of “white supremacy,” “eugenics,” and even “Nazism.”

For those critics, the wildfire relief effort became another chapter in that controversy rather than a separate event. Some questioned whether the timing of the “Euphoria” actress’s appearance was intended to reshape public perception.

“This is her way to absolve herself from her incredibly xenophobic jeans ad. What a way to ‘win’ over MAGA,” one commenter wrote per the Daily Mail.

Another added, “That just means she listened to her PR manager for once.” Others remained equally skeptical, with one person posting, “No, this doesn’t change my opinion of her,” while another joked, “Only if you’re in the same ‘great jeans’ right?” 

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A separate commenter dismissed the appearance altogether, writing, “What a great PR opportunity for her.”

Sydney Sweeney’s Supporters Say The Focus Should Be On Helping Families

Not everyone was willing to view the relief effort through a cynical lens. Many supporters argued that whatever critics believed about Sweeney’s intentions, the outcome was the same: wildfire victims received meals and support during a difficult time.

“What a fantastic role model she is for our young girls,” one supporter wrote. Another added, “Alright, Syd! Always thought she was a class act, this confirms it.”

Some fans even reclaimed the earlier controversy with humor. “Love her, the kindness is in her JEANS,” one commenter joked, while another simply wrote, “What an awesome thing to do! God bless her.”

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Several people also suggested that the debate over motivation missed the bigger picture. “Whether it’s a publicity stunt or not, at least she’s doing something for people in need,” one supporter commented. Another echoed the sentiment, adding, “She’s doing something selfless. I applaud her.”

Sweeney’s American Eagle Partnership Returns To The Spotlight

This Sydney Sweeney AD made American Eagle $400M in 24 hrs! 🥵

Sydney Sweeney Just Shook Wall Street with Denim. American Eagle launched its new “Great Jeans” campaign starring Sydney Sweeney and within hours, the internet (and investors) went into overdrive. But this wasn’t… pic.twitter.com/Da3K5NHfc7

— Tejas (@iTejasJagtap) February 14, 2026

As Sydney Sweeney continues to face criticism over her recent response while helping California wildfire victims, one of her biggest campaigns from earlier this summer is once again attracting attention.

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As The Blast shared in July, the Hollywood star reunited with American Eagle to front its “Low Rise Season” rollout, embracing the return of Y2K-inspired denim in a series of playful ads. 

Wearing everything from wide-leg and skinny jeans to boot-cut, baggy, cargo and ultra-low-rise styles, Sweeney paired the denim with simple white tanks, fitted T-shirts, denim shirts and cropped jackets while striking relaxed poses throughout the campaign. 

In one video, she confidently declared, “Denim on denim is always in,” as American Eagle leaned into the revived trend. 

The campaign also featured low-slung cargo pants styled to reveal branded underwear, reinforcing the nostalgic early-2000s aesthetic.

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Sydney Sweeney Shares Emotional Response To Controversial Jeans Ad

Months before the reunion, Sweeney opened up about the backlash from the 2025 “great jeans” ad and why she regretted staying silent for so long. 

In an emotional interview with PEOPLE, the “Madame Web” actress admitted that she was “honestly surprised” by the reaction to the ad, insisting she participated because she genuinely loved the brand and its denim. 

“I don’t support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign,” Sweeney said, adding that “many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren’t true.” 

She also acknowledged that remaining quiet only made matters worse, explaining, “I have come to realize that my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it.” 

Reaffirming where she stood, Sweeney declared, “I’m against hate and divisiveness,” while expressing hope that people would focus more on “what connects us instead of what divides us.”

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Last weekend, Tom Holland‘s return as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Brand New Day broke the record for the highest-grossing opening weekend in cinema history. In total, the film made just shy of $1 billion in just a few days, the sort of total that most blockbusters can only dream of achieving. Alongside Christopher Nolan‘s historical epic The Odyssey, which also starred Holland, Zendaya, and Jon Bernthal, the two recorded the biggest weekend haul in cinema history. With last weekend proving popular in theaters, why not let yourself indulge in some movie treats from the comfort of your own couch this weekend? With that in mind, here’s a list of three movies you should stream on Netflix.

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.

1

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes: 17% | IMDb: 5.1/10

With every new month comes a wave of fresh options hitting the Netflix library. At the start of August, horror fans were delivered a treat in the form of Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, a sequel to Blumhouse’s 2023 effort Five Nights at Freddy’s. Once again based on the lore-filled viral horror games by Scott Cawthon, this sequel follows Abby (Piper Rubio), a year on from the events at Freddy Fazbear’s, as she uncovers dark secrets behind Freddy’s origins.

Josh Hutcherson returns as Mike in this fan-favorite sequel, which fought back from critical backlash to score a huge haul at the box office. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is a simple, fright-a-minute horror flick with plenty to keep you hooked, which features a strong supporting cast including Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, Mckenna Grace, Elizabeth Lail, and Wayne Knight.

2

‘Minions’ (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes: 55% | IMDb: 6.4/10

If you’re looking to entertain the whole family this weekend, then perhaps steering away from the horror genre and into the ever-vibrant world of animated agents of chaos with the Minions is your best bet. In 2015’s Minions, a prequel to 2010’s Despicable Me, nonsense-talking mischief-makers Stuart, Kevin, and Bob are recruited by supervillain Scarlet Overkill, who, of course, has a plan to take over the world.

Minions & Monsters, the seventh entry in the Despicable Me franchise, is still in theaters right now, having earned almost $450 million. With that in mind, there’s never been a better time to head back to one of the best entries in the franchise so far, with this laugh-a-minute reminder of just how great a cinematic creation the Minions are. Minions is just 91 minutes long, making for easy, quick viewing this weekend.

3

‘In the Land of Saints and Sinners’ (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes: 83% | IMDb: 6.4/10

Who doesn’t love a neo-Western actioner to add a shot of adrenaline to their weekend? One of the most underrated of this genre in the last few years is In the Land of Saints and Sinners, which was recently added to the Netflix catalog on August 6. The movie stars Hollywood legend Liam Neeson as a retired hitman who is coaxed out of retirement when a dangerous criminal arrives in his quaint village.

Directed by Robert Lorenz and based on a screenplay by Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane, don’t let this Irish action thriller fool you into thinking it’s a simple all-guns-blazing affair — there’s just as much detailed drama in this clever feature as there is gritty action. Neeson is great in this pulse-racing, intelligent film, which also stars Star Wars: Skeleton Crew‘s Kerry Condon, Ciarán Hinds, and Desmond Eastwood.

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Release Date

March 29, 2024

Runtime

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106 minutes

Director

Robert Lorenz

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Writers

Terry Loane, Mark Michael McNally

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Producers

Bonnie Timmermann, Geraldine Hughes, Philip Lee, Terry Loane, Markus Barmettler, Hubert Toint

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