The best fall fashion trends are the ones we can see ourselves wearing long after the trend is ‘over’ – a classic clothing item with a trendy twist that makes it feel fresh. That’s a good way to describe the rugby-style striped tops we’ve seen absolutely everywhere lately, including on two of our favorite stylish celebs.

During a recent Call Her Daddy podcast appearance, Erin Andrews looked like the perfect mix of sporty and chic in a long-sleeved striped rugby-style polo shirt. She kept the look simple but styled with light blue jeans and a stack of dangly gold bracelets for a cute, collegiate-inspired vibe.

And she’s not the only one showing off this look — Julia Roberts was spotted in a short-sleeved version of the striped top while strolling through New York City this summer. The actress also kept hers casual with jeans and chic flats.

Get the Thopavenoir Striped Rugby Polo Shirt for $27 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change. 

Consider Us sold: the rugby-style top is clearly a fall must-have. Our favorite pick so far is the Thopavenoir Striped Rugby Polo Shirt, which has the same preppy-cool look as both Andrews and Roberts’ top. Both stars chose a striped blue combo, and this one comes in similar shades, with unexpected pops of brown and yellow that make it stand out.

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Related: Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts Love This Luxe Fall Top Look

Style icons like Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts have embraced the latest fall trend, and we’re totally on board. The two actresses have sported Rugby sweaters and tops, proving that sporty comfort can still look incredibly polished — especially when you know exactly where to shop. Retailers like Amazon, Nordstrom, Quince and Anthropologie are all […]

We also love how versatile this striped top is, especially for transitional weather. It has long sleeves and a higher collar that help keep you cozy on chillier days or mornings, but the material is lightweight enough that it doesn’t leave you sweating. You can roll up the sleeves and leave the top buttons undone for a more relaxed look, or layer it over a white tank if you need to.

We’re not the only ones who are rushing to add it to our carts. One Amazon shopper called this a “true Y2K style,” and added that it is “very soft and comfortable.” They also added, “The fit is boxy,m but that seems intentional and works with the style.”

Another reviewer noted that the shirt is “soft and it looks even better in person.” They added, “It’s very similar to a higher-priced version that I found with a better price tag.”

This rugby-style top is sure to be everywhere this fall, and this particular style isn’t going to last long. Snag this one while you can!

Get the Thopavenoir Striped Rugby Polo Shirt for $27 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change. 

Lady Gaga has spent decades living under a spotlight that rarely switches off, which is why her recent disappearance has become such a talking point. 

Since wrapping her Mayhem Ball world tour in April, the singer has largely vanished from public view, resurfacing only through a handful of grainy Polaroid photos shared online. 

As questions continue to swirl about where she has been, those closest to the pop superstar reportedly believe her silence may stem from something far more personal than a simple break from fame.

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Speculation about Lady Gaga’s whereabouts goes beyond her absence from social media or public events. 

According to a source close to the singer, friends have become increasingly convinced that she and fiancé Michael Polansky may have quietly taken the next step in their relationship.

“No one has seen her or heard from her in over a month,” the insider told the Daily Mail, adding, “Everyone in her circle thinks she eloped with Michael and is on her honeymoon now, trying to make a baby.”

While there is no confirmation that the couple secretly married, the theory aligns with goals Lady Gaga has openly discussed. Last year, she told Rolling Stone, “What I want most is to be a mother and I am sure that he will also be a great father. We are so excited about this.”

Sources say building a family has long been part of her vision for the future. “She has only one sister, Natali, and always wanted more siblings. So she wants her children to have many siblings so they can all lean on each other,” one insider explained.

Another source suggested that this stage of life was always part of the star’s long-term plan, saying, “This was her plan all along, to settle down in her forties.”

Lady Gaga And Polansky Built Their Romance Away From The Spotlight

Long before rumors of a possible secret wedding emerged, Lady Gaga and Polansky had already established themselves as one of Hollywood’s most private couples. 

The pair met in 2019 at Sean Parker’s 40th birthday party and gradually built a relationship that largely unfolded outside the usual celebrity spectacle.

Their romance became public after they were spotted together in Las Vegas and later at the Super Bowl in Miami. By 2024, the couple was engaged, with the 40-year-old debuting her diamond ring at the Venice Film Festival.

Recalling the proposal, Lady Gaga said, “We were just walking back to the room and talking. He actually – it was very Michael – asked me if he could ask me. He wanted to know if it was OK to propose before he proposed. And I was like, ‘Yes, it’s so OK!’”

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She also revealed, “He had the ring in his backpack, so it was so super cute. But you know what? I’m a modern lady. I like what he did.”

Lady Gaga Has Quietly Created A New Life In Marin County

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While fans have been wondering where Lady Gaga disappeared to, Marin County residents say she has been quietly settling into her new surroundings. 

The “Bad Romance” singer and her man have reportedly been spending time in Ross, an affluent Northern California community known for its privacy.

“There are tons of Lady Gaga sightings all over Marin and everyone loves her, she has become a local,”one resident said.

Locals have spotted her at several neighborhood hotspots, including the Corner Bar in Mill Valley, where one diner recalled, “I sat next to her at the Corner Bar in mid June.”

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The resident added that Gaga was drinking French red wine, appeared friendly, and seemed to be enjoying herself.

Another local shared, “‘She is very sweet and seems to really like Marin. When I saw her at the dive bar 2AM Club in Mill Valley, she said she had relocated to Ross from Southern California this summer and was thrilled about it.’”

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Lady Gaga’s Beauty Video Becomes Surprise Fan Talking Point

The conversation around Lady Gaga’s private life may have dominated headlines recently, but the singer unexpectedly gave fans something entirely different to focus on when she resurfaced online with a rare, stripped-down video. 

After months of staying largely out of the spotlight, Lady Gaga appeared on Instagram on September 3 without her signature glam, offering followers a glimpse into her everyday beauty routine. 

The video opened with the singer removing a pink sheet mask while wearing a simple white T-shirt, a far cry from the elaborate looks that have helped define her career. 

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She then demonstrated what she called her “holy trinity” of beauty products, applying concealer, contour, and lip liner in a routine that lasted roughly a minute. “My holy trinity in 1 min. Concealer, Contour, Lipliner,” she wrote alongside the clip. 

Lady Gaga’s Haus Labs Continues Growing During Her Time Away

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Even though Lady Gaga has spent much of the year out of the public eye, one part of her empire has kept moving at full speed. 

Her beauty brand, Haus Labs, has remained highly active, proving that her influence extends well beyond music and touring. 

In recent weeks, Haus Labs has generated fresh attention through new campaigns and product promotions. 

Vogue recently highlighted actress Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu as the face of the brand’s “We Love Concealer” campaign, a major push centered around the Triclone Skin Tech Concealer collection. 

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Industry observers have also pointed to the brand’s continued momentum since its Sephora relaunch. 

Haus Labs underwent a major transformation after moving away from its original Amazon-exclusive model, with reports noting significant revenue growth and a stronger connection with consumers following the relaunch.

The wait to discover who will be the next James Bond is now nearing its end!

Since Daniel Craig stepped away from the iconic role, speculation has continued over which star will take over as the legendary secret agent.

Idris Elba was among the names frequently linked to the franchise, but he has since addressed and dismissed those reports. Now, Gary Oldman has added fresh fuel to the mystery, revealing that the official announcement could be coming soon.

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The “Slow Horses” actor confirmed that Craig’s replacement has already been chosen and all that is left is for the big public reveal. As for the chosen actor, Oldman said he hopes his co-star, Jack Lowden, bagged the role. 

“It’s been rumored that he’s on the shortlist,’ Oldman said while appearing on Canada’s The Morning Show. “We’re going to find out pretty soon, aren’t we? Because they have picked him.”

While the Oscar winner is rooting for Lowden, Richard Osman recently suggested on “The Rest Is Entertainment” podcast that he has heard the Scottish star is among the leading contenders.

“It is definitely not a ‘he’s definitely got it’ thing,” Osman clarified, according to the Daily Mail. “He is definitely being strongly considered. I think he’d be amazing!”

Osman’s co-host, Marina Hyde, agreed, noting that Lowden’s age makes him an ideal fit, since the franchise typically seeks someone who can carry multiple films over an extended period. 

George Clooney Is Backing A Different Contender

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While Oldman and Osman continue to fuel speculation around Lowden, George Clooney believes Callum Turner would be the perfect choice to step into Bond’s shoes.

According to The Blast, Clooney, who worked alongside Turner on “The Boys in the Boat,” publicly championed the British star, saying he has everything needed to carry the franchise forward.

The Oscar-winning filmmaker argued that Turner has stood out in Hollywood without relying on excessive hype.

“Somehow Callum has weaved his way through all of the noise and found a place where people look at him and go, ‘There’s something with this young man,’” the “Ocean’s Eleven” star said. 

Emile Hirsch Teased He Was Offered The Role

With Amazon MGM yet to reveal its choice for the next 007, Emile Hirsch found a way to have some fun with the ongoing mystery.

 As The Blast reported, the actor recently shared a fake official letter that appeared to offer him the coveted part.

The statement was supposedly from Eon Productions, the company behind the franchise, and it praised Hirsch for possessing the qualities needed for the assignment.

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One passage claimed Hirsch’s height made him the perfect candidate for a fictional crossover where James Bond would travel to the Shire and go undercover to track down “terrorist hobbits.”

Hirsch leaned into the joke, expressing his surprise at the supposed offer in the caption.

Idris Elba Clarified He Was Not In The Option For The Film

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Hirsch may have joked about landing the iconic part, but Idris Elba has already made it clear he is not in contention, despite years of speculation linking him to the franchise.

In June, the “Hijack” star dismissed the claims, saying they were simply rumors. Elba explained that he had always viewed the expectation as unrealistic because of cultural differences across global audiences.

“I think, in realistic terms, some markets just don’t go for that,” Elba explained, according to The Blast. “Bond is big all over the world. And [audiences] won’t [all go for a Black male, and African male, playing Bond. That’s not what they like in their culture. Period.”

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Elba’s statement echoed his earlier remarks that he was never seriously considered for the part, noting that producers wanted someone younger. However, he wished the team the best as they move forward with the next chapter.

Production Wants A Younger Actor To Lead The Next Installment 

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Although the official announcement has yet to be made, producers have already offered insight into the qualities they want in the next Bond.

As The Blast reported, casting director Nina Gold said the team is looking for someone young enough to carry the franchise for years to come,

In addition, Gold revealed that the character must “ooze s-x appeal” while also possessing the acting talent needed to bring the iconic spy to life.

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Maisie Williams has offered a rare glimpse into her personal life, revealing that she is in a happy new relationship. The actress also suggested that romance feels different this time as she embraces a lighter chapter in her life.

Her romantic history has included long-term relationships with Reuben Selby and Ollie Jackson, as well as a rumored earlier connection with YouTuber Caspar Lee.

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Maisie Williams is happily in love, although she isn’t ready to reveal exactly who has captured her heart. The “Game of Thrones” alum opened up about her dating life during a new interview with The Guardian, confirming that she is currently seeing someone and is “so happy.”

When asked whether she had been playing the field, Williams quickly shut down the idea. “No! I’m in love,” the 29-year-old actress declared, before making it clear that she wouldn’t be sharing much more about her mystery partner.

Williams did, however, reveal that the relationship feels different from previous times she has been in love. “There’s lots of laughter,” she said.

Williams Previously Dated Fashion Creative Reuben Selby

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Williams’ last publicly known relationship was with fashion creative Reuben Selby, whom she dated for several years before they split in 2023.

The former couple were linked as early as 2019 and became fixtures on the fashion circuit, regularly stepping out together at events including Paris Fashion Week. Their relationship also overlapped with their creative careers, with Selby contributing to Williams’ fashion projects and previously working as communications director for her Daisie app.

The pair even collaborated beyond fashion, including a 2022 climate initiative.

As PEOPLE reported at the time, Williams announced their breakup in February 2023, describing it as the “end of an era.” Selby also addressed the breakup publicly, asking fans not to be sad and joking that they should instead “appreciate the fits,” a nod to the matching looks that had become one of the couple’s signatures.

Maisie Williams’ Dating History Includes A Former Classmate

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Before Selby, Williams dated Ollie Jackson, a former classmate she reportedly began seeing in 2015. The pair largely kept their romance away from the spotlight at first. They eventually made public appearances together, including attending the “Game of Thrones” Season 7 premiere in 2017.

Williams offered a rare insight into their relationship during a 2018 interview with ELLE UK. At the time, she praised Jackson for giving her the combination of friendship and romance she wanted in a partner. “Everyone just wants to have someone they can hang out with who is a friend and a boyfriend, and Ollie is that,” she said.

Williams was also previously linked to YouTuber Caspar Lee after appearing in several of his videos. However, despite years of fan speculation, neither Williams nor Lee ever confirmed they were romantically involved.

The Actress Says Her Early 20s Were ‘Just Hell’

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Williams’ current happier outlook stems from a reportedly difficult stretch that coincided with the end of “Game of Thrones.”

“The first half of my 20s was just hell,” the actress told The Guardian, although she acknowledged that the experience might not be unusual for people that age.

Williams partly attributed that period to the HBO hit wrapping in 2019. After spending much of her childhood and teenage years playing Arya Stark, she suddenly found herself unsure about what should come next. “I didn’t know what I was going to do next, and I just needed a break,” she explained.

Maisie Williams Has Long-Valued Friendship In Romance

A good drugstore beauty find is already hard to resist, but a secret sale makes stocking up even more tempting. Jennifer Garner has long been a Neutrogena fan, and right now, some of the brand’s most useful skincare staples are quietly marked down at CVS.

Garner has worked with Neutrogena for years, making the affordable brand a natural place to look when we want to take a cue from the star’s famously fresh-faced beauty routine. CVS’ under-the-radar sale includes $4 in savings when you buy two eligible Neutrogena cleansing wipes, plus $3 off one eligible acne or liquid cleansing product. Now’s the time to refresh your skincare routine for a new season!

Get the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes for $7 at CVS! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Makeup wipes are one of those staples that you’re always restocking, so that’s a great place to start. The pre-moistened wipes make quick work of removing makeup, dirt and oil, and they’re super convenient for travel, gym bags or nights when a lengthy skincare routine just isn’t happening. Better still, they are made for sensitive skin and don’t cause breakouts.

Among the acne and liquid cleanser products included in this quiet sale are Neutrogena’s Ultra Thin Blemish Patches and the Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel, both of which are made to help you achieve clearer skin. The cleanser is formulated for normal, dry, oily and combination skin.

Shoppers are famously loyal to the brand’s cleansing products. “I don’t wear makeup but I use these every day,” wrote one CVS reviewer of the cleansing towelettes. “I use them to refresh my face without drying it out.”

The Hydro Boost cleanser is earning similarly enthusiastic praise. “I am TOTALLY in love with this cleanser and it smells amazing!” wrote another CVS reviewer. “It’s the first gel cleanser ever that does not strip my skin!”

If your skincare cabinet could use a refresh, consider this little-known CVS sale your excuse to stock up.

Get the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes for $7 at CVS! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Jimmy Kimmel returned from his summer hiatus with plenty to say about Donald Trump, but one topic was noticeably absent from his milestone broadcast. 

Hours after reports surfaced claiming his long-running ABC tenure could be nearing its end, the late-night veteran stepped onto the stage for the 4,000th episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and delivered a blistering political monologue instead. 

While speculation about his future continued to swirl, Kimmel focused on the White House and left viewers waiting for answers about his next chapter.

A major television milestone quickly took a back seat to questions about what comes next for Jimmy Kimmel.

The comedian returned Tuesday night for his first show in three months, celebrating the 4,000th episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” amid fresh reports that his television run could end in 2027. Despite the growing speculation, Kimmel never addressed the claims on air.

Instead, he opened with a joke that immediately signaled where his focus would be. “Donald Trump and I have one thing in common,” the host told the audience, per the Daily Mail. “We both accomplished nothing all summer long.”

Kimmel then launched into a lengthy rundown of political developments that unfolded during his break, telling viewers that when he left in June, the “country was a mess.” 

He referenced the war with Iran, inflation concerns, rising fuel costs, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who Kimmel joked “was either alive or dead, nobody seemed to have any idea which.”

By the time the monologue was over, Kimmel had spent nearly 15 minutes discussing Trump and current events while carefully avoiding the reports surrounding his own future.

Kimmel Turns Trump’s Reflecting Pool Troubles Into Punchline

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One of Jimmy Kimmel’s biggest targets was Trump’s controversial $20 million Reflecting Pool renovation project.

Using photos displayed behind him, the 58-year-old mocked the landmark’s condition after storms reportedly left the area littered with debris, damaged fencing, muddy water, and fallen trees.

“Now, only three months later, I’m so pleased to report that thanks to your favorite president, DJ Jazzy Donald, every one of those problems has been solved, we made America great again!” Kimmel said sarcastically before showing images of the troubled site.

He later branded the project a “big green slop hole” and questioned how such an expensive renovation could encounter so many setbacks.

“The president had three months, spent 20 million dollars and couldn’t even get a pool cleaned,” he stated. The comedian followed with another jab, adding, “I thought he was supposed to drain the swamp, he turned it into gravy instead.”

The audience erupted when he suggested Trump might be filling the pool with Diet Coke rather than water.

Jimmy Kimmel Expands His Criticism Beyond The Reflecting Pool

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After taking aim at the renovation project, Kimmel widened his focus to Trump’s approval ratings, foreign policy challenges, and the president’s inner circle.

“Trump’s poll numbers and pool numbers are at all-time lows. Only 33 percent,” Kimmel claimed while discussing recent polling. He argued that the administration was looking ahead to the midterm elections while facing mounting public frustration.

The television personality also referenced the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz and rising fuel costs.

“On Friday, fuel prices hit an all-time high. The Strait of Hormuz is still closed… at this point, Blockbuster Video has a better chance of reopening than the Strait of Hormuz,” he joked.

Kimmel then shifted to Natalie Harp, one of Trump’s closest aides, after reports about her handwritten letters to the president surfaced publicly.

“Would a president with historically low popularity number play golf instead of working over the weekend?” he asked before delivering another punchline about Harp driving a golf cart in heels.

Wrapping up the segment, Kimmel mocked Trump’s characterization of the Iran conflict as “small potatoes,” firing back with one final joke, “No one knows more about small potatoes than a man who is built like a sack of wet tater tots.”

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Kimmel Publicly Backs Jelly Roll After MAGA Backlash

Jimmy Kimmel’s return also came amid another controversy tied directly to his show: the fallout surrounding guest host Jelly Roll.

The country star drew intense criticism from some Trump supporters after making jokes about the president during his August guest-hosting stint. 

The backlash quickly spread across social media, with some fans threatening boycotts and others accusing him of abandoning conservative supporters. 

One Mar-a-Lago event organized by Blue Lives Matter even dropped him from its lineup. 

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Rather than distance himself from the controversy, Kimmel appeared to support the singer publicly. 

Shortly after the backlash intensified, he shared an Instagram photo featuring himself and Jelly Roll during a fishing trip at his Montana ranch. Many observers interpreted the post as a clear sign that Kimmel was standing by his guest host. 

Jimmy Kimmel Wins Second Consecutive Emmy

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Kimmel’s public support for Jelly Roll was not the only reason his name remained in the spotlight this month. 

Just days before the guest-host controversy continued generating headlines, the longtime ABC star added another major achievement to his résumé at the 2026 Creative Arts Emmys.

As PEOPLE reported, Kimmel won Outstanding Host for a Game Show for “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?,” marking his second straight victory in the category. 

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He won at the September 5 ceremony in Los Angeles, further cementing his success beyond the late-night world. 

The ABC personality beat a competitive field that included Steve Harvey (Celebrity Family Feud), Ken Jennings (Jeopardy!), Colin Jost (Pop Culture Jeopardy!), and Martin Short (Match Game). 

Kimmel has hosted “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” since 2020, helping revive the iconic game show.

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Katie Thurston has revealed she has undergone chin liposuction amid her ongoing breast cancer journey.

“After so many required medical surgeries, I decided to do one for myself,” the Bachelorette star, 35, wrote over an Instagram Story that showed her head wrapped in a compression bandage. “I’m all about transparency. Never had Botox. Never had filler. But today I did in fact have chin lipo.”

The image captured Thurston, who revealed her breast cancer diagnosis in February 2025, seated on a couch alongside her mixed-breed rescue dog, Charlie. The reality TV star had positioned herself cocooned in pillows as she held an iced beverage.

A subsequent Instagram Story offered fans a closer look of Charlie lying in his mom’s arms. “My healer,” she captioned the cozy snap before sharing a standalone text Instagram Story that read, “I’ll answer all your questions when I can, but for now, I’m down for the count.”

Weeks after Thurston publicly shared her diagnosis, she revealed that it was reclassified as stage 4 after the cancer had spread to her liver. Shunning chemotherapy for various treatments, including hormone-suppression shots and endocrine therapies, she revealed one year into her treatment plan that her breast tumor has shrunk by almost half its size.

Subsequent scans have shown that her liver did not show signs of cancer, but she did undergo a double mastectomy in April. Thurston told fans in June that she was taking a break from her ongoing medications in order to focus on her mental health.

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Thurston’s husband, comedian Jeff Arcuri, spoke to Us exclusively last month about the couple’s plans to start a family after Thurston dedicated two weeks to starting IVF before her cancer treatments initially commenced. At the time, the pair successfully froze two variable embryos.

“It has so much more weight to it now because we have the presence of — not death, but something very dark happening — and then, on the other end of that, we’re talking about creating life. So there is a beauty to the contrast of that, I think, and I like to focus on that, on the positives, on what we’re going to be doing,” Arcuri, 38, said.

He added at the time that his wife would make an incredible mom one day. “She’s such a natural mama bear to everybody that she meets and I’m excited to see her be a mom. I’m incredibly excited for that,” he told Us.

Gerard Butler has given us some amazing movies across genres; be it a fantasy war, gangster drama, action, or drama, audiences know they are in for a ride with his movies. The actor has had a successful run revisiting his previous roles, like the live-action remake of How To Train Your Dragon, where he transitioned from voicing Stoick to playing him on the big screen. He also revived the iconic Den of Thieves franchise with another installment, which fans widely appreciated, and returned with Ric Roman Waugh’s Greenland 2: Migration, which didn’t draw audiences to theaters but has become a streaming favorite.

The streaming landscape has given fans access to his wider filmography along with new releases. Among those films is the Zack Snyder-directed 300, which made Butler a household name worldwide. The epic historical fantasy war film is adapted from the 1998 graphic novel of the same name by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley. It is a highly stylized, fictional retelling of the real-world Battle of Thermopylae with Butler leading as King Leonidas.

Set in 480 BC, the Persian God-King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) sends a massive invading army of over 300,000 soldiers to conquer Greece. Standing against them is Spartan King Leonidas and his elite personal bodyguard of 300 fierce Spartan warriors, who meet the Persians at the narrow canyon pass of Thermopylae. The movie makes up for a thin plot with groundbreaking visual aesthetics, seamless blending of live-action and CGI backgrounds, and iconic action set-pieces that Snyder is known for.

Butler shouldered the movie with a highly theatrical, hyper-masculine performance. He seamlessly oscillates between a bloodthirsty warrior king on the battlefield to a strategic military leader. His one-liners, like “This is Sparta,” have found a permanent place in pop culture since. 300 became a massive commercial blockbuster, earning $456.1 million worldwide, and one of the biggest box office surprises of its era. The movie divided critics and audiences, though, as seen in its Rotten Tomatoes score: 61% by critics and 89% by audiences.

‘300’ Fights Its Way Up Streaming Charts

About 20 years later, fans’ love still outweighs the critical consensus, as 300 rises to the sixth spot on Paramount+’s domestic top 10 list, according to FlixPatrol. The feature stands tall among titles like Passenger, Scary Movie, The Hangover, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, and more.

Check out 300 on Paramount+ and stay tuned to Collider for more such updates.

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Release Date

March 7, 2007

Runtime

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117 minutes

Director

Zack Synder

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Writers

Kurt Johnstad

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Producers

Bernie Goldmann, Frank Miller, Gianni Nunnari, Jeffrey Silver, Scott Mednick, William Fay, Ben Waisbren, Craig J. Flores, Deborah Snyder

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To say that the Netflix catalog is a hit-or-miss situation is hardly controversial nowadays. As a matter of fact, the same statement can be made about almost all of our giant, non-curated streaming services. It isn’t that rare for amazing movies and TV shows to pop up on these platforms, but quite often they tend to get buried under piles of titles that range from okay at best to horrifyingly bad. If you’re a horror fan, for instance, you might have missed one of the coolest, scariest, most disturbing films to hit Netflix in quite some time, arguably one of the best to hit our screens this year. After all, to finally come across Luis Javier Henaine’s Disappear Completely, one has to dig deep — almost as deep as the movie’s main character in his search for a cure to the curse that threatens to turn him into a kind of living corpse, a karmic punishment for his own misdeeds as a photojournalist specialized in crime scenes.

After premiering in 2022 at Austin’s Fantastic Fest, Disappear Completely debuted on Netflix in April 2024. And while it made its way to the streamer’s Top 10 in its native Mexico, it has struggled to find an audience in other countries where it is readily available. It’s a pity: Henaine’s film has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it is indeed a gem that deserves to be seen. Why it has not conquered audiences worldwide is hard to say. Perhaps Netflix hasn’t marketed it enough, or maybe it’s something to do with that pesky one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles. After all, it isn’t rare for international films — particularly genre films — to be overlooked only to be, years later, included in lists of underrated projects.

What Is ‘Disappear Completely’ About?

Image via Mantícora Distribución

As it is so new in the world of streaming, Disappear Completely still has a chance of being recognized in its time. The film, which relies more on psychological horror than on traditional jumpscares, is a character study surrounding a man’s relationship with his profession, and his family. The premise is creative and terrifying from the get-go: Santiago (Harold Torres), a photojournalist who sells pictures of crimes and accidents to tabloids, falls victim to a curse after shooting a particularly gruesome scene featuring a still living, but completely unresponsive politician partly devoured by rats. Unbeknownst to him, Santiago’s camera has captured the presence of a demonic entity that traps him in the same web as the senator (Juan Sahagun) he just photographed. Little by little, Santiago starts to lose all of his five senses.

As Santiago races against time to find a cure for his predicament, going from doctors to shamans to the very demon that has hexed him, his girlfriend, Marce (Tete Espinoza), faces troubles of her own. Pregnant with Santiago’s child, she wishes to have the baby and build a happy family. However, Santiago claims that they are not ready to have a child, and pressures her to have an abortion. This relationship with Marce and his unborn baby ends up being essential to how Santiago deals with his curse, being completely responsible for sealing his fate. By the end of the movie, just as he is about to lose the eyesight that is so dear to him, Santiago refuses to deliver his child’s life to the demon in exchange for everything he has lost and therefore becomes forever locked in a tomb made of his own flesh.

Mixing an urban vibe with folk horror, Disappear Completely is a movie that dabbles in witchcraft, superstition, and politics, with the cursed senator having been victimized by a political rival. However, the focus of the plot is Santiago himself. The movie asks us to place ourselves in his shoes, forcing us to wonder what it would feel like to be in such a terrifying predicament. The final scenes make this invitation to identify with the main character all the more obvious: as Santiago is losing his sense of hearing, we can barely understand the sounds around him. Eventually, in the blink of an eye, the whole movie goes quiet. As he loses his sight, the image becomes blurry, until it… disappears completely. Seven long, despair-inducing seconds of dark screen stand between the last image of Marce calling Santiago’s name and the film’s end credits.

‘Disappear Completely’s Director Was Intentional About Creating a Personal Film

Image via Mantícora Distribución

Director Luis Javier Henaine was intentional in creating an immersive, realistic experience for the audience while filming Disappear Completely, as he shared during an interview with Eye For Film. Rather than relying on jump scares or musical cues, he aimed to “make a more personal film with more down to earth issues,” while still balancing the element of witchcraft and folk horror. He said:

“Here in Mexico, witchcraft is something that people take very seriously and something very, very real for the majority of our population. And I like to reflect that in a way. So, all the time, I was trying to say, ‘Okay, this has to look real, this has to feel real, this has to be very realistic.’ And that’s how I tried to go throughout the whole film, with the production design and with the cinematography and with everything. Our references were real things, how people behave in these environments. . . ”

Placing the audience in Santiago’s shoes is one of the reasons Disappear Completely is so unnerving – it feels personal. At the heart of the film is Santiago’s struggles with being a potential father and a supportive partner for Marce. When reading the script, Henaine envisioned “a very immersive filmmaking style,” one that would make the audience active participants rather than passive observers of Santiago’s slow descent into a tomb of his own flesh. “I thought it would be great to just when, when he starts losing his sense of hearing, just play slowly with the whole film as well, make it subjective, put the audience in the character’s mind,” Henaine explained.

‘Disappear Completely’ Presents Photography as the Ultimate Horror

Disappear Completely presents us with a kind of horror that would be disturbing no matter who it befell. Still, when we take into consideration Santiago’s profession, the film gains additional layers. At the same time that Henaine and his fellow screenwriter Ricardo Aguado-Fentanes ask us to identify with Santiago in his plight, they also make it pretty clear that he is someone we should despise. Santiago is not a tabloid photographer because that’s the only job he can find. On the contrary, he seems to enjoy taking pictures of mangled bodies and even attempts to make it into a form of high art. The movie shows us that he has fun creating tasteless titles for the stories that will accompany his pictures, and right in the beginning we learn that he is trying to sell some of his photos to art galleries. This is, in itself, terrifying: in a way, the biggest horror in Disappear Completely is becoming the subject of one of Santiago’s photographs.

A Susan Sontag quote that opens the movie gives us the key to interpreting the story in this sense. “Photography converts the whole world into a cemetery. Photographers, wittingly or unwittingly, are the angels of death.” In Disappear Completely, a still picture is not just a tomb in a graveyard because it depicts someone who might already be dead, but because having your picture taken is already a kind of death. You become unmoving, unfeeling, blind, and deaf, all at once. You might say something, of course, in the sense that all works of art say something, but you will never again respond to any stimuli.

When he is cursed, Santiago is doomed to become one of his own photographs. His fate is, in a way, an ironic punishment: he has condemned so many dead people to a living death that he will, himself, become a tomb in the cemetery that is the entire world. Disappear Completely is definitely a movie with something to say, and it turns its eyes specifically to the art of creating images. To an extent, it is even fitting to watch Santiago’s downfall happen in a movie instead of, say, reading about it in a book, for the image is essential for us to understand what is happening to him. As we gaze at Santiago, we wonder if what is happening to him might one day happen to us as well. After all, in the age of smart phones and social media platforms where privacy goes to die, haven’t we all produced our own fair share of images that trap people in a single, unchangeable moment?

‘Disappear Completely’ Also Focuses on Santiago’s Relationship with His Unborn Child

Image via Mantícora Distribución

But while photography, particularly Santiago’s kind of predatory photojournalism, and its meanings are at the center of Disappear Completely, Henaine and Aguado-Fentanes also go beyond the professional aspect of their protagonist. Well, in a way. Santiago’s relationship with Marce and their unborn child is marked by his career: it is because he hasn’t yet succeeded as a serious photographer that he believes it isn’t yet time for them to have a baby. When confronted with the opportunity to preserve the one sense that he needs for working in exchange for his child, though, Santiago chooses to let himself disappear completely.

Santiago sacrifices himself for his unborn child and, by extension, for the sake of Marce’s happiness. After all, she is the one who wants to have a child. But will Marce still want that baby now that her life has been upended so completely, now that she doesn’t have Santiago by her side anymore? What he does is completely remove himself from Marce’s life, thus leaving her alone to make a decision about her pregnancy and deal with the consequences. It is a selfish choice, but the reality is that there is no decision that Santiago could make that would not be selfish, as trading his baby’s life for his senses would prove tragic for both him and Marce. Either way, the demon forces Santiago to wallow in the selfishness that has ruined his life.

Disappear Completely ultimately wraps up with a fitting conclusion for Santiago. In his infinite suffering, he decides that the world would be a better place without him, for there is no answer that would satisfyingly end his suffering. He has already done too much to be forgiven. He’s already drowned in hubris, having been a man who mocked the death of others and who refused the happiness of the woman who lived with him. He turns the world into a cemetery and thus deserves to be buried alive. Is it a sad conclusion? You bet it is. But, quite often, the best horror stories have a tinge of tragedy to them.

‘Disappear Completely’ Is One of the Best Horror Movies to Hit Our Screens in 2024

Image via Mantícora Distribución

With all of that in mind, it is no stretch to call Disappear Completely one of the best horror movies of 2024, despite having started its festival run all the way back in 2022. After all, what counts is when a movie is made available to general audiences, and, even in Mexico, Disappear Completely only managed to get itself a proper theatrical release in February of this year. And, well, considering how divisive the year has been for its horror releases, to watch a movie that isn’t particularly revolutionary, but that does the basics so well can feel like a breath of fresh air. Sure, movies like Longlegs and The Substance have won over hearts and minds all around the world, but they have garnered equally large legions of detractors. As for Disappear Completely; well, it’s not the kind of film that will change your conceptions about what horror can be, but it will definitely scare you and make you think about the themes being laid out on screen.

This should by no means be construed as negative criticism of the film. Simple and straightforward doesn’t mean mediocre. You don’t have to purport to change the genre to create something truly sublime. Sure, a The Bear-like meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant might be life-changing, but a good, old bowl of mac ‘n cheese can be just as tasty and satisfying. From Huesera: The Bone Woman to When Evil Lurks, Latin America has been producing some incredible horror films over this past decade, many of which are available on Prime Video, Netflix, and other streaming services. Thus, why stop at one amazing work of art? After you finish this beautiful, tragic, and terrifying film, take a few days to expand your spooky horizons. Results may vary, of course, but you certainly won’t regret such a rich meal.

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Release Date

February 29, 2024

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Runtime

106 Minutes

Director

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Luis Javier Henaine

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