There has been a unique phenomenon in the horror genre in the 2020s that the industry has not seen since the ‘70s. Although horror films have always been reliable investments for studios because of their low cost and passionate fanbases, the genre has become even more popular in recent years with a series of massive financial hits and critically acclaimed works. Many of the top directors working today that can sell a film based purely on their name being involved seem to work exclusively in the horror genre, such as Jordan Peele, Ari Aster, Robert Eggers, and Zach Creggar. There’s also been franchises that have retained their popularity, as Scream and The Conjuring have proven to be generational hits that have developed multiple generations of fans.

Horror has always been “respectable,” but the empty criticism that some pundits had for the genre has begun to erode due to the undeniable artistic value. It’s not only a route for independent filmmakers to make a name for themselves and actually get a platform, but an option that can take multiple forms and see the production of completely original ideas that do not require a connection to an existing property or story. The Academy Awards have even turned around when it comes to the genre, with recent major wins going to films like The Substance and Get Out. Based on the exciting route that horror seems to be going, fans of the genre can expect to find a lot more gems within the coming years.

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‘Titane’ (2021)

Image via NEON

Titane is a bizarre and totally original work of body horror that could only have come from a singular mind like Julia Ducournau, whose startling vision for a serial killer story needs to be seen to be believed. Titane made history by winning the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, a monumental prize that had never previously been given to a film made by a female filmmaker. Past Palme d’Or winners tend to be films that it is impossible to imagine anyone else making, and there’s certainly no one but Ducournau who could have conceived of such a creative blend of sexuality and violence.

Titane features a breakthrough performance from Agathe Rousselle and impeccable technical crafts, creating a unique commentary on fluctuating sexuality and the unspoken laws of attraction. Although there is a line of inspiration that can be traced back to the cinema of David Cronenberg, Titane is so sincerely audacious and uncompromising that it never feels as if Ducournau is fishing for ideas that she has not conceptualized.

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‘Nope’ (2022)

Image via Universal Pictures

Nope is an ambitious and thought-provoking work of science fiction spectacle that strikes a very different tone compared to Peele’s previous films, even if there are some thematic parallels that can be drawn. Although Nope serves as an homage to classic sci-fi cinema, it’s also a film about the audience’s relationship with spectacle itself; Peele questions how a search for answers and seeing patterns within randomized events can spark the seeds of ambition, both for ill and poor. Nope deals with the history of television with several self-aware moments that acknowledge Peele’s own background in short-form comedy, but it’s also a sincere and loving tribute to artistry that reasserts the importance of cinemagoing as a communal experience.

It’s not hard to see why Peele is frequently compared to Steven Spielberg because of his ability to craft instantly iconic images, with the main spacecraft in Nope being one of his most memorable. Although it is easy to go down the rabbit hole analyzing the subtext of the film’s recurring motifs, Nope is also a highly entertaining summer blockbuster with a trio of charismatic performances from Keke Palmer, Daniel Kaluuya, and Steven Yeun.

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‘Talk to Me’ (2023)

Image via A24

Talk to Me is a remarkably confident directorial debut for YouTube creators Danny and Michael Philippou, who wound up sincere emotional distress within a brilliant concept reminiscent of a classic episode of The Twilight Zone. Talk to Me is as much about society’s obsession with death as it is the unhealthy fixation on grief that can transform rational people into addicts who crave danger in order to escape feelings of unattachment, and it has the type of premise that makes for ample discussion in regards to how viewers would react if placed within the same scenario as the characters. The Philippou brothers were smart in making a first feature that looks and feels much bigger than it actually is; just enough is left to the imagination for true nightmares to emerge.

Talk to Me certainly benefits from having younger filmmakers who understand the conversational way that teenagers and young people talk to one another, but the film’s unassailable story is unlikely to age because it centers on ideas that would be relevant within any period of time. It’s a film that allows the audience to see themselves in the characters without using transparent protagonists, as Sophie Wilde’s unforgettable performance is expressive and emotional in a way that makes the script even more profound than it may have been on the page.

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‘Heretic’ (2024)

Image via A24

Heretic marks another great villainous role for Hugh Grant, who has gone through a radical and exciting career transformation from being a charismatic heartthrob to a sinister character actor capable of playing all different types of antagonists. Grant had kicked off his career as a rom-com star who could make films that were equally silly and sincere, and Heretic is an extension of that duality because it is both genuinely terrifying and frequently hilarious. Grant plays an extreme academic obsessed with debating religious advocates, leading him to deceive two young Mormon missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) into his home as part of an elaborate trap. Although he puts them through a rigorous test that raises compelling points about the fundamentals of belief, it also includes a good deal of blueberry pie and some very unusual Star Wars references.

Heretic cuts through its discussion about religion to become an even more foundational exploration of the desire to be “right,” and how arguments can turn even the most good-natured debates into a matter of will. Although Grant’s star power adds a quirky atmosphere to Heretic, the brilliance of the film lies in its script.

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‘Weapons’ (2025)

Image via Warner Bros.

Weapons is an instant classic that weaves a complex web of competing, frustrated characters into a societal study about the responses to grief. Inspired by Creggar’s own feelings of loss, Weapons questions what people will do while under strain by compartmentalizing and contextualizing fueled interactions that are much more complicated than they first appear. Although this emphatic empathy can provide more sympathy to a scapegoated schoolteacher (Julia Garner) and a conspiracy-ridden single father (Josh Brolin), it also unveils a crisis in plain sight that has turned victims into shadows of their former selves.

Weapons is strung together by an incredible performance by Amy Madigan, which earned one of Hollywood’s most consistently underrated actresses a well-deserved Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. There aren’t many horror villains who have immediately launched themselves into the pop culture lexicon in the same way that Aunt Gladys has, especially since Weapons is aware of its own absurdity and willing to include deliberate moments of humor in order to cut the tension with a knife. What’s most refreshing about Weapons isn’t just that it is a modern film that proves itself capable of examining modern issues, but one that makes no apologies for being an unabashed work of horror that doesn’t feel the need to “elevate” itself. There’s subtext and interpretation that can be found within the knotty sociopolitical commentary that is woven throughout, but Weapons is also a joyous experience to watch because of the snappy manner in which it unfolds.

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‘Obsession’ (2026)

Image via Focus Features

Obsession is a phenomenon unlike anything that horror has ever seen before, as a micro-budget indie film that debuted at the “Midnight Madness” section of the Toronto International Film Festival somehow became a word-of-mouth sensation that grossed over $500 million and became an instant award season contender. The fact that Obsession has immediately inspired so many parodies and references is indication that Curry Barker tapped into something special with his twisted story of a wish-gone-awry and a toxic one-sided relationship. There’s just enough explanation given to take the concept to its most frightening extremes, and Barker is so comfortable in creating authentic moments of characterization that Obsession feels like a film made by a much more seasoned filmmaker.

The key to the success of Obsession is a generational performance by Inde Navarette that is expressive, tragic, and darkly funny in a way that makes the entire debate about the film’s depiction of gender roles even more loaded. There are some gnarly and depraved moments of graphic horror that turn Obsession much more upsetting when it reaches its final act, but the appeal of Nikki as a character is due the magic trick that Navarette pulls of with a performance that will be remembered for years to come.

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Obsession

Release Date

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May 15, 2026

Runtime

108 minutes

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Director

Curry Barker

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Curry Barker

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For Julia Haart and ex-husband Silvio Scaglia Haart, relationship drama doesn’t end with divorce.

Us confirmed that the Russia native filed to end her marriage on February 9, two years after she and the entrepreneur tied the knot. Days later, Page Six reported that Julia submitted a petition for a restraining order against the Fastweb founder, alleging she felt “terrified” of him.

“He has routinely berated me, calling me ‘a venomous snake,’ a ‘monster’ and a ‘liar,’ in the presence of third parties and at times, my children. One of [his] favorite epithets is to tell me to ‘go f–k yourself,’” her petition claimed. “In January 2022, I confronted [Silvio] about his abusive behavior and told him that if anyone ever heard how he acts and speaks to me, they would think he is a horrible person. In response, [he] threatened me, stating: ‘If you ever go to the press about how I treat you or the kids, I will kill you.’”

Julia alleged that she “experienced severe emotional distress” throughout her relationship and because of Silvio’s supposed verbal abuse. Her daughter Miriam, whom she shares with ex-husband Yosef Hendler, provided a statement of her own, claiming that she once found her mom “crying hysterically” in their home.

“I was afraid for her safety and I seriously considered calling the police,” Miriam alleged, per Page Six. “I was terrified that he was hurting her … I ran into the room and found my mother on the bathroom floor, naked, curled up on the floor and sobbing.”

Along with Miriam, the My Unorthodox Life star shares Batsheva, Shlomo and Aron with Hendler. The former couple wed when Julia was 19, calling it quits as she left their strict Jewish community. In her petition, Julia alleged that Silvio insulted her youngest son over his religious beliefs.

“Recently, on January 23, 2022, [Silvio] came into the bathroom while I was bathing, purple in the face and screaming, ‘I hate your children and I hate this place. … I hate Shabbos [the Sabbath] and I don’t want it in my house.’”

The fashion mogul continued: “I have become an emotional wreck for fear of him returning to my home at any time of the day or night. Recently, he summarily and without cause dismissed me from our jointly owned business, cut off my credit cards and made baseless allegations against me.”

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Ahead of the pair’s split, Julia was made the CEO of Silvio’s model and talent agency, Elite World Group, joking to The New York Times that she was “horrible” to him while they worked together.

“But I had a lot of respect for him,” Julia told the outlet in July 2021. “As sheltered as my life had been, his life had been the diametric opposite. He’d been everywhere. He’d seen everything. And when I yelled at him, he took it like a man. That made me happy.”

Scroll down for everything to know about the duo’s messy divorce:

Mean Girls debuted in theaters on April 30, 2004 — but the teen film is celebrated annually on October 3, thanks to one of the movie’s most memorable scenes.

The film is responsible for creating iconic lines including, “On Wednesdays, we wear pink” and “Is butter a carb?” But when Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett) innocently asked Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan), “What day is it?” and she replied, “It’s October 3,” no one could have predicted it would become the movie’s unofficial holiday.

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“And as I sat there on October 3rd, I realized no one else on the planet will ever understand how weird it is to be me today,” Bennett wrote via Instagram in October 2021, sharing a clip of himself at the airport.

That same day, Bennett teamed up with his Hallmark costar Robert Buckley to playfully recreate his Mean Girls scene. “I’m a little rusty,” Bennett joked after saying the wrong date on camera. “@robertearlbuckley looks sexy with his hair pushed back?” he added, quoting another iconic line from the rom-com.

Scroll down to see what the cast of Mean Girls has been doing since 2004:

A 10-year-old Tennessee girl escaped a man who allegedly tore out her bedroom window’s air conditioning unit and kidnapped her into the woods, where police said he tied her to a tree and threatened to sexually assault her.

The accused kidnapper, Steven Devonte Harris, was arrested the evening of Wednesday, September 23, in connection with the abduction earlier that morning, according to a news release shared the next day by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Harris, 30, of Newbern, is charged with two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated assault, aggravated burglary and attempted rape of a child.

According to authorities, Harris forcibly abducted the 10-year-old girl from her Newbern home, threatened and assaulted her.

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The child’s mother, Crystal Brown, said in a social media post that a man tore her daughter’s AC window unit out, then abducted her by dragging her out of the home, per WMC-TV.

“He ripped out the window AC to her bedroom window & drug her out of the house into the woods!!!!!!!,” Brown wrote in a Facebook post, which was edited to note her child was ultimately safe.

A police report obtained by the TV station states that in the woods, the man used a belt to tie the 10-year-old to a tree, held a knife at her throat and threatened he’d rape her.

The girl eventually found a way to escape and went to a neighbor, seeking help, before Harris “caught up with her again,” according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The neighbor’s “quick actions helped save her life,” the agency’s news release said.

A neighbor who spoke with WBBJ-TV said she awoke to the sound of screaming around 12:50 a.m. on Wednesday and that the girl fled to her aunt’s home near the child’s mother’s residence. The neighbor also said the alleged kidnapper ran after the girl’s aunt went outside holding a spiked bat.

“We arrived on the scene shortly after that,” Newbern Police Department Chief Greg Barr said, per the TV station. “The child was taken to the hospital just to be checked out, but she appeared to be fine. And again, that’s a blessing. We thank God that child was not seriously hurt or injured.”

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Harris was identified as the suspect after evidence related to the abduction was tested for DNA, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Rapid DNA processing confirmed his identity, leading to his arrest.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether Harris had retained legal counsel.

Harris was detained at the Dyer County Jail, according to authorities.

Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton are looking well and truly loved-up in the City of Love.

Posting via her Instagram on Friday, September 25, Kardashian, 45, shared a carousel of photos and footage which show the pair enjoying a trip to Paris.

In one sizzling snap, the Skims founder and the Formula 1 star, 41, are seen locking lips underneath the iconic Eiffel Tower in the French capital.

Another intimate image shows the duo casually lying in bed next to one another as they take a selfie.

Related: Kim Kardashian Cuddles Up to Boyfriend Lewis Hamilton in New Selfies

Kim Kardashian is flaunting her romance with Formula 1 racer Lewis Hamilton. Cuddling up to her boyfriend, 41, in a string of PDA-filled selfies shared via Instagram on Sunday, August 9, Kardashian, 45, gripped the athlete’s arm and waist in two frames while other photos showed him with his arms wrapped around her. Another snap, […]

In other photos, Kardashian posed in a figure-hugging gold gown with a low-cut neckline, including in an image where she cozied up to Hamilton. The reality TV star also posed in the number while taking photos with the Eiffel Tower as the backdrop, while the structure was lit up at night in a similar hue.

It appears Kardashian and Hamilton even had time to squeeze in romantic date nights, as other photos featured a table set for two and adorned with candles and flowers. Another snap showed two VIP passes to Celine Dion’s “A Night to Remember” residency performance.

Kardashian’s followers couldn’t wait to give the couple’s Paris trip their stamp of approval in the comments section.

One social media user dubbed the post, “Perfection in Paris” while others gushed over how beautiful and happy Kardashian appeared. One enthusiastic follower even begged, “Plz get married, I love this for u.”

Kardashian and Hamilton’s display of affection comes after a source told Us last month that their relationship had continued to develop as the pair keep falling harder and harder for one another.

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Related: Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton Pack on the PDA, Makeout in Ocean

Kim Kardashian and Formula 1 racer Lewis Hamilton are showing their romance. The pair were spotted packing on the PDA in Malibu, California, on Monday, April 20, while swimming in the ocean. Kardashian, 45, rolled down her wetsuit to reveal a bikini top while Hamilton, 41, sported a black T-shirt and black shorts. While on […]

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“Kim and Lewis are still very serious and committed to their relationship,” the insider told Us on August 14. “It is the real deal for Kim and something she hasn’t experienced in a long time. They had a whirlwind summer together, and both are extremely busy with work right now.

Us confirmed in February that Kardashian and Hamilton’s longtime friendship had evolved into something more. After they were spotted enjoying time together during multiple public outings, including Super Bowl LX, an insider told Us that Hamilton was also enjoying time with Kardashian’s children. (Kardashian shares daughter North, 13, son Saint, 10, daughter Chicago, 8, and son Psalm, 7, with her ex-husband Kanye West.)

“Lewis loves kids, so it’s been fun for him,” the insider told Us at the time. “The kids think Lewis is really cool, especially Chicago and Saint, who are completely fascinated by the fact that he drives race cars for a living.”

Hannah Einbinder will not be silenced after being detained at a New York City protest, continuing a pattern of using her public platform to address issues she feels strongly about.

This incident doesn’t seem to be new to the “Hacks” star, as it is not her first time taking on people and speaking about the conflict.

Her recent comments about Ed Sheeran and her earlier remarks at the Emmy Awards show that she has continued to make her views known, even when they attract criticism.

Hannah Einbinder Speaks Out After Being Detained In New York

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Einbinder doesn’t appear to be capable of not speaking what she believes in, as her latest comments came after she and Susan Sarandon were detained during a mass sit-in outside the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan.

Entertainment Weekly reported that more than 100 protesters were reportedly taken into custody, although the NYPD did not confirm specific arrests to the outlet.

The demonstration took place as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly.

Elliot Page, Cynthia Nixon, Sarah Sherman, Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker and comedian Caleb Hearon were also among the celebrities photographed at the protest, although Page and Nixon were not detained.

After being released, the “Hacks” star returned to Instagram with a statement about why she participated in the demonstration. She said that if footage of her and her friends being detained brought attention to anything, she wanted it to draw attention to what she described as the devastating war being waged against Palestinians and the situation in Southern Lebanon.

She also criticized both major U.S. political parties for what she described as their support for Netanyahu. Einbinder concluded her statement by saying, “Let us not mistake the spectacle for the story: genocide is the headline, and it is time for it to end.”

Hannah Einbinder Has Been Increasingly Vocal About Palestine

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The detention did not appear to mark the beginning of Einbinder’s public advocacy. Instead, it came after months of increasingly direct comments about Palestine, politics, and the entertainment industry.

As Entertainment Weekly previously reported, Einbinder has been vocal about her support for Palestinians. During the 2025 Emmy Awards, after winning Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for “Hacks,” she ended her acceptance speech with, “Go Birds, f-ck ICE, and free Palestine.”

She later explained why speaking about the conflict was important to her. Einbinder said she had friends in Gaza working as frontline workers and doctors and described the issue as one that was “very dear to my heart.”

She also spoke about separating Jewish identity from the actions of the Israeli government, explaining that she felt an obligation to make that distinction because of her own Jewish background.

Hannah Einbinder Previously Spoke Out Against Spencer Pratt

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Einbinder’s willingness to speak about politics has also extended beyond the conflict in the Middle East. Earlier this year, she publicly addressed Spencer Pratt’s bid for Los Angeles mayor.

As The Blast reported, Einbinder said she would not vote for the former “The Hills” star and criticized his political campaign after he received an endorsement from Donald Trump.

Speaking at the Critics’ Choice Association’s Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television, she said, “It’s important to resist that.”

Einbinder also described her decision as “pragmatic” and said there were no perfect candidates. She subsequently referenced Lisa Rinna, joking that she agreed with Rinna’s opposition to Pratt’s candidacy.

Hannah Einbinder Also Took Aim At Ed Sheeran

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Just days before the New York protest, Einbinder was once again at the center of a political conversation after criticizing Ed Sheeran amid controversy surrounding Macklemore.

Per The Blast, Einbinder directed a pointed message at Sheeran after Macklemore was removed from the remaining dates of Sheeran’s “Loop” Tour.

Macklemore had made pro-Palestinian statements during performances, including saying “Free Palestine,” before being dropped from the tour.

Einbinder responded with a sarcastic message aimed at Sheeran, writing, “Ed Sheeran, I say this as a ginger. I hope you get a REALLY bad sunburn,” before sharing a poem by Guatemalan activist Otto René Castillo.

Sheeran subsequently said the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the promoter rather than by him.

The English singer also said that while he has personal views about the conflict, he chooses not to discuss them publicly and described his concerts as spaces for “unity, joy, escapism, love, and a place for everyone to feel welcome.” 

Hannah Einbinder’s Protest Comes As Susan Sarandon Faces Career Questions

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Sarandon, who was also detained alongside Einbinder, has also been known to be outspoken about Palestine.

The timing is notable because the “Thelma & Louise” actress recently discussed the professional consequences she believes she has experienced after speaking publicly about Palestine.

As The Blast previously reported, Sarandon confessed her career had not fully recovered from comments she made at a pro-Palestinian rally in 2023. She said she continued losing movie opportunities, claiming that some agencies were still telling people not to hire her.

Sarandon also apologized for her 2023 remarks while maintaining her support for the pro-Palestinian movement.