It’s been more than 20 years since The Princess Diaries hit theaters, but fans will never get tired of the Disney movie’s royal charm.

Released in August 2001, Anne Hathaway made her film debut as Mia Thermopolis, a San Francisco teen who discovers she is a princess of the fictional country of Genovia. Julie Andrews starred alongside Hathaway as Mia’s grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi.

The duo returned for the film’s 2004 sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, alongside fellow original stars Heather Matarazzo, Hector Elizondo and Caroline Goodall.

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Much to the delight of fans, Hathaway announced in October 2024 that she is reprising her role for the upcoming Princess Diaries 3.

“Miracles happen ✨👑 Back to Genovia with @adeleblim @disney @somewherepictures,” she teased via Instagram. “The fairy tale continues ❤️‍🔥.”

Scroll down to see where the cast of The Princess Diaries is now:

Video games are the future of storytelling, with their immersive narratives and gameplay gaining millions of fans around the world. As titles such as Grand Theft Auto VI and Resident Evil continue to push the medium forward, more and more fans share their opinions on these games, some good, and some bad. It is impossible to please everyone, but a select few games are universally beloved.

The best reception a game can get is universal acclaim with no hate, but that is nearly impossible, especially with such a polarizing fan base. However, some games achieve that feat, which is why this list will rank the ten most universally beloved video games of all time. Based on aspects such as design, gameplay, narrative, visuals, polish, influence, originality, widespread appeal, fan love, lack of hate, and overall quality, everyone loves these ten games.

10

‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ (2018)

Image via Rockstar Games

Rockstar is one of the most prolific video game studios, with their next masterpiece that could be on this list coming out in November 2026. But for now, their best game is Red Dead Redemption 2, which follows Arthur Morgan in the dying age of the Wild West. However, he goes on one last adventure to come to terms with his humanity and a last chance at redemption.

The 2018 Game of the Year winner was so controversial because Red Dead Redemption 2 didn’t win, which was, and still is, one of the most popular video games. The life-like realism of not only the visuals but also the details and minor mechanics builds an immersive Wild West experience. However, everyone loves Red Dead Redemption 2 for its award-winning narrative that has the best character arc in video game history.

9

‘Stardew Valley’ (2016)

Image via Proprietary Engine

It is extremely difficult for an indie game to get popular, but if it does, it will become a beloved classic. This is what happened with Stardew Valley. After inheriting the titular land, players are tasked with rebuilding the surrounding area by exploring caverns, managing residents and resources, and farming to build the economy.

There are many beloved indies, but that is because they only have a cult fan base. Stardew Valley, on the other hand, is an indie sensation, not only being popular but also establishing itself as a comfort classic. The addictive gameplay loop and cozy atmosphere deliver low-stress entertainment that connects perfectly with so many players.

8

‘The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’ (1998)

This list features some of the biggest video game franchises, but none are as iconic as The Legend of Zelda, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is still the best of the series. After the evil Gerudo king, Ganondorf, kidnaps Princess Zelda, a forest boy named Link must travel through the present and future in order to wake up the sages and stop Ganondorf’s plan.

When a video game is dubbed the greatest of all time, it usually means most people like it. But it also opens itself up to hate since it is the best. Despite that, Ocarina of Time still holds that legacy, proving that love outweighs hate. Every Zelda game is a masterpiece, but Ocarina of Time is another level of influential, arguably being the most important video game of all time.

7

‘Minecraft’ (2011)

Image via Mojang

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The most popular video games are popular for a reason, but some, like Fortnite, have just as much hate as love. Minecraft, on the other hand, beats those allegations. Players are given unlimited freedom as they can mine, build, craft, and explore, doing whatever they want in survival or creative mode with friends, or by themselves.

Minecraft does have some haters, but the hate those gamers feel pales in comparison to the love the fans have. Minecraft is the biggest game for a reason, and that is, fans have been playing it for years, and with new content added periodically, the game remains fresh. Some players hold a special nostalgic place in their hearts for Minecraft; others still enjoy it today, but either way, everyone loves it.

6

‘Resident Evil 4’ (2005)

Image via Capcom

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The introduction mentioned Resident Evil, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, highlighting its ninth game. However, nothing beats Resident Evil 4, which follows Leon S. Kennedy, a special operative sent to Spain in order to save the president’s daughter from an evil cult infected by a zombie-like parasite.

In a beloved video game franchise home to the greatest horror experiences in gaming history, Resident Evil 4 is the definitive entry. This game revolutionized the genre and franchise by shifting its focus to thrilling action-horror gameplay. From overly dramatic backflips to intense shootouts, this invigorating video game wormed its way into everyone’s hearts.

5

‘Fallout: New Vegas’ (2010)

Image via Bethesda Softworks

Bethesda doesn’t have a good track record anymore after a couple of misses, but at the very least, they have Fallout: New Vegas. Instead of controlling a vault dweller, players are a courier in the Mojave Desert, tasked with delivering a package to the New Vegas Strip. But things quickly spiral out of control as a turf war between two factions rages.

Players love agency, and when a game like Fallout: New Vegas gives players the complete freedom they’ve been craving, it instantly becomes a fan-favorite. With a plethora of engaging side quests and eccentric characters everywhere, this game is a worldbuilding masterclass. With so many aspects to love, it is no wonder that Fallout: New Vegas is a universally beloved video game.

4

‘Nintendogs’ (2005)

Image via Nintendo

Nintendo is known for having some of the most beloved video games because of their casual appeal and family fun, and the game that fits the bill the most is Nintendogs. Selecting from a variety of dog breeds, gamers care for their pups by playing with them, grooming them, giving them food, and simply having a good time with their digital dogs.

Fans are still praying for a new Nintendogs game on the Nintendo Switch 2, and that is because the franchise is a beloved icon. Literally no one can hate a game about caring for puppies. It has such a wholesome premise and fans form right bonds with their dogs, further cementing the joy and love while playing Nintendogs, making it universally beloved.

3

‘Elden Ring’ (2022)

Image via Bandai Namco Entertainment

Beloved video games are usually comforting and timeless titles, and while Elden Ring isn’t comforting, it is definitely timeless. After the titular object is broken into multiple pieces, the children of Aueen Marika claim them. However, the player arises as the Tarnished, sent to defeat the demigod children, claim the shards, restore the ring, and become the Elden Lord.

Combining FromSoftware’s staple dark fantasy combat and challenging, yet rewarding gameplay with George R.R. Martin’s worldbuilding and lore, Elden Ring became an instant classic. This definitive fantasy masterpiece is a new age phenomenon, boasting one of the greatest video game narratives alongside a magnificent sense of exploration, which meld into a video game unlike anything ever made.

2

‘Portal 2’ (2011)

Image via Valve

Valve unfortunately doesn’t make video games anymore, which is truly sad because gamers won’t get a sequel to Portal 2. Years after the first game, players wake up in the same scientific facility, but this time it is abandoned. Trying to escape with the help of Wheatley, players accidentally awaken GLaDOS, who wants revenge for the last time, forcing them to undergo ruthless experiments.

Portal 2 has remained without controversy for decades, and that is because there is nothing to hate about a perfectly crafted masterpiece. The witty dialogue and charming characters create an endearing narrative that complements the vibe and gameplay, working together to build a succinct experience. Portal 2 has innovative mechanics and intricate puzzles that challenge the mind, making those who hate it the ones unable to solve the puzzles.

1

‘Wii Sports’ (2006)

Image via Nintendo

Being universally beloved is no easy feat, especially in the video game industry, but one way to earn goodwill is by giving fans a video game for free. Wii Sports was a free game everyone got with a purchase of the Wii, offering a handful of sports such as golf, tennis, boxing, bowling, and baseball. With intuitive motion controls, gamers felt like they were really playing these sports.

Wii Sports is a simple game, but that is all players need to have fun. The intuitive controls made it so anyone could play, and everyone did, from grandparents to children. Wii Sports is a video game for all gamers, boasting a whimsical style and customizable Miis, which added a layer of immersion on top of the motion controls. Every game has its haters, but Wii Sports is as close as it comes to a perfect, universally beloved video game.

If you thought Jennifer Lawrence‘s cool style was only reserved for the red carpet, think again. The actress was recently spotted carrying the Cyklar Perfume Oil in Modern Patchouli on her keychain, proving you can easily touch up your scent throughout the day. At just $24, the perfume oil is an affordable way to channel a warm, sophisticated scent that feels anything but basic.

Unlike traditional patchouli fragrances that can lean heavy or overpowering, Cyklar Perfume Oil takes a fresher approach, balancing earthy patchouli with soft woody notes and subtle hints of warmth, creating an overall scent that feels clean, skin-like and super wearable. The oil features top notes of coconut water and pistachio, middle notes of mimosa and dry notes of vanilla absolute and patchouli for a well-rounded scent that yields compliments.

Get the Cyklar Perfume Oil for $24 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Because oils don’t contain alcohol, they tend to wear closer to the skin and can feel better than traditional sprays. As the perfume oil warms on the skin, the fragrance unfolds gradually, allowing different notes to emerge rather than disappearing after a few hours. The small applicator also makes it easy to target pulse points throughout the day, making it perfect when you’re heading from meeting to date night, or if you’re simply looking for a quick refresh after running errands.

Related: Even Pamela Anderson Wears the Perfume Oil Shoppers Say Lasts ‘Over 10 Hours’

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Floral perfumes for spring may be far from groundbreaking, but Pamela Anderson doesn’t mind. The affordable garden-fresh scent she loves earns her plenty of compliments, so it’s no surprise it’s become one of her signature scents. The Kai Perfume Oil is one of those rare fragrances that seems to subtly garner everyone’s attention. At least, that’s […]

Another standout feature is the travel-friendly design. The compact bottle is small enough to slip into a clutch, pocket or makeup bag, or you could make like Lawrence and carry it on your keychain so you never forget to reapply. It’s perfect for those who prefer convenience over carrying a bulky perfume bottle. Your signature scent will be within arm’s reach no matter where the day takes you.

One Amazon user called it a “smooth fragrance” that makes you “smell fresh all day.” Another shopper said it’s very “long-lasting” and “sophisticated.”

If you’re looking to upgrade your fragrance wardrobe without spending a fortune, this is a chic celebrity-approved pick worth considering. Head to Amazon and grab Cyklar Perfume Oil while it’s still just $24!

Get the Cyklar Perfume Oil for $24 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more perfume oils here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

Related: Jennifer Garner Adores This ‘Fresh and Clean’ Body Glow Oil

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Spring is the time to switch out your heavy winter products for light and airy formulas. I’m not just talking about skincare, either. The same goes for body care and fragrances — and Jennifer Garner’s favorite body oil is a springtime must-have. The actress has waxed poetic about the Kai Body Glow for how “fresh […]

Love Island USA’s Bryce Alakai Dettloff got a compliment on his penis size from Zach Georgiou following a surprise “girth check.”

Bryce flashed Zach during the Friday, June 19, episode of the show. Later that day, Zach brought it up, saying, “That f**king snake you got down there.”

After Bryce asked for Zach’s opinion on his anatomy, his friend called it “long.”

“It is nearly my f**king boner, that was. I am not going to lie,” Zach added. “That was good s***.”

Love Island USA follows a group of singles who must pair off in order to stay in the show’s luxury villa. The contestants — referred to as Islanders — live in isolation in a villa under constant video surveillance. They must be coupled up to remain on the show and earn a shot at the $100,000 prize.

While the islanders are filming nonstop for weeks, viewers are watching daily episodes and casting votes that affect the couples and the fate of the contestants.

While the Islanders paired off during Day 1, it didn’t take long for those bonds to shift. There was also the arrival of bombshells, who tempted several Islanders to reconsider their connections.

Before viewers tuned in, Peacock issued a message to remind the audience to be kind.

“The Villa runs on good vibes, and so does this community. We love seeing your reactions, opinions, and debates, but everyone deserves to feel safe and respected,” read their statement. “This is a space for fun, not negativity – so keep it kind, keep it positive, and remember: this is LOVE Island!”

Host Ariana Madix has also had to previously issue a message for those Love Island USA viewers who are taking things too far when expressing their frustrations with the show.

“I do want to say something to some of those people who are online,” she said during a June 2025 episode of Aftersun. “Don’t be contacting people’s families. Don’t be doxxing people.”

Ariana questioned the behavior she saw on social media.

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“Don’t be going on islanders’ pages and saying rude things. You still have time to delete all of that because the islanders don’t have their phones,” she noted. “So we are giving you a chance because this is a fun, amazing and beautiful show. We should be thanking each one of these islanders every single day for giving us themselves.”

New episodes of Love Island USA are released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.

Join Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv in our first-ever Love Island USA fantasy league! This is your chance to predict who you think will win Season 8 and rank the Islanders weekly based on how confident you are that they will survive the next elimination. You will be playing against our editors, get access to exclusive content and have the chance to win fun prizes. Sign up for free today!

Bryson Bryant, the son of Real Housewives of Atlanta alum NeNe Leakes, has been arrested after reportedly violating his probation.

According to jail records obtained by Us Weekly on Friday, June 19, Bryant has been held in a Georgia jail since May 1 after being booked for allegedly failing to meet the terms of his probation,  failing to pay child support and “failing to appear”. (TMZ was the first to report the news.)

The probation violation is in relation to his July 2023 arrest, when he was found with fentanyl in his possession.

According to documents obtained by Us Weekly at the time, Bryant was booked on multiple charges in Lawrenceville, Georgia, including violating probation, possession of a schedule II controlled substance, loitering/prowling and giving a false name to a law enforcement officer after he allegedly told police he was his younger half-brother, Brentt Leakes.

Bryant’s drug charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement. However, he was sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay a $500 fine, complete 40 hours of community service and submit to random drug testing.

According to court documents obtained, Bryant failed to fulfill any of the conditions of his probation.

Us Weekly has reached out to Leakes’ representative for comment.

Leakes previously spoke about her son’s legal troubles during a July 2023 episode of podcast, “Reality With the King.”

In the episode, Leakes, 58, told podcast host Carlos King that Bryant “needs rehabilitation” and “a lot of counseling,”

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“He has an addiction. He’s been struggling with it for years,” she explained, adding that her son has been to rehab and relapsed multiple times. “As a mom, just to watch it is — my hands are tied. You know, he’s 31 years old, he’s an adult. He has three children, three beautiful children who I adore. He has a wife. [There’s] not much that I can do.”

Leakes also stressed that recovery ultimately comes down to the individual struggling with addiction, noting that no family member or loved one can make that decision for them.

“I have spent so much money to get Bryson where he needs to be, but every time I sent him off, I said, ‘You are giving your ass up and we are sending you off.’ But I learned through counseling myself that he has to say, ‘I am ready to go,’ not me making him go,” she continued. “So until Bryson is ready to make a change, there’s nothing I can do.”

The Love Island USA girls were accused by the guys of “slut-shaming” Gabriel Vasconcelos after a controversial elimination.

During the Friday, June 19, episode of the Peacock show, the men in the villa questioned why the women sent Gabriel home — despite him having a connection with Jen Terry. Their reasoning didn’t clear up their decision and led to more fighting between the group.

“They are basically just saying, ‘We think Gabe is a f***boy,” Zach Georgiou told the rest of the guys.

Bryce Alakai Dettloff agreed with that assessment, saying, “Just because he is promiscuous doesn’t mean he is not capable of loving somebody. That is the most slut-shaming s*** I have ever seen in my life.”

Gabriel’s elimination was met with backlash off screen following a group vote. Host Ariana Madix had to speak out after viewers claimed the voting process is rigged.

The host, 40, replied to an Instagram comment after Caleb McDaniel and Sol Dean were not announced as a top couple during the Thursday, June 18, episode of the show — despite an online campaign for the season 8 bombshells.

“Unfortunately, they were not in the top 4,” Ariana wrote in response to a message that read, “They @loveislandusa messing up the show.” Ariana also “liked” a comment which stated that “legally” production “can’t tamper with results” despite the speculation on social media.

This isn’t the first time Ariana has had to step in to debunk rumors. In June 2025, Ariana slammed the insinuation that the show was “rigged,” telling The Wrap, “You can have whatever opinions you want to have about the show itself, but I will tell you: Don’t you start making up conspiracies.”

She continued: “I’m not a conspiracy theorist, so I’m the debunker.”

At the time, Ariana also denied that any Islanders were coming into the villa with a plan on how to win.

“As much as someone might try to gamify the show for themselves while they’re in there as an Islander, you cannot for 24 hours a day,” she added. “It’s nearly impossible to really be able to fully keep that mask on at all times.”

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Ariana encouraged viewers to show their enthusiasm by voting, saying, “If America does feel a certain way about certain Islanders, they do get their say. So if someone is trying to super gamify everything, and if they find out that they’re in the bottom, they’ll be like, ‘Wait, oh.’”

New episodes of Love Island USA are released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.

Join Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv in our first-ever Love Island USA fantasy league! This is your chance to predict who you think will win Season 8 and rank the Islanders weekly based on how confident you are that they will survive the next elimination. You will be playing against our editors, get access to exclusive content and have the chance to win fun prizes. Sign up for free today!

Apple TV has become known for prestige hits like Severance, Slow Horses, and Silo, but not every ambitious series has found the same audience. Suspicion was one of the streamer’s first original productions, featuring a star-studded cast and an interesting concept, and it was full of all the elements of a nail-biting conspiracy thriller, but just as quickly as it came, it disappeared.

The eight episodes featured a diverse cast, including Uma Thurman, Kunal Nayyar, Georgina Campbell, Elizabeth Henstridge, Elyes Gabel, and Noah Emmerich. Although it received mixed reviews, it was ultimately canceled after just one season. Many critics blamed the mystery’s increasingly convoluted nature for their frustration with the show’s pace. However, four years later, Suspicion can be appreciated for what it is: a fun, binge-worthy ride that features plenty of twists, many secrets, and sufficient paranoia throughout the series to keep viewers on the edge of their seats until the very end of each episode.

What Is Apple TV’s ‘Suspicion’ About?

Image via Robert Viglasky / ©Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection

Suspicion begins with a striking setup. Leo Newman (Gerran Howell), the son of Communications executive Katherine Newman (Thurman), was abducted from a hotel in New York City by assailants wearing masks of British Royal Family members. When the security camera footage of the kidnapping goes viral, investigators narrow their search to five British guests who were at the hotel.

None of these British guests seems to have anything in common. Natalie Thompson (Campbell) is getting ready for her wedding, Aadesh Chopra (Nayyar) is a frustrated cybersecurity expert stuck working for his family, Tara McAllister (Henstridge) is an Oxford academic juggling professional and personal problems, Eddie Walker (Tom Rhys Harries) is a wealthy university student, and Sean Tilson (Gabel) may be hiding way more secrets than anyone. While authorities in the USA and the UK try to solve the case, the five suspects are becoming ensnared in a web of increasingly complex lies, misleading information, and hidden agendas.

From the premise alone, Suspicion was reminiscent of some 80s conspiracy-type thrillers that were based on a lack of trust and constant changing alliances. The premise naturally invited comparisons to Homeland, especially given that both series originated from Israeli productions developed by Keshet, and despite Suspicion never reaching those heights, it always had enough momentum to keep the story moving.

Why Did Apple TV Cancel ‘Suspicion’?

Image via Zach Dilgard / ©Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection

Despite its promising setup, Suspicion struggled to generate much enthusiasm among critics. Reviewers frequently praised the cast and slick production values, but many felt the mystery became too convoluted and that some of its biggest stars, particularly Thurman, were underused.

Weekly releases may not have helped either. The series depended heavily on cliffhangers and steadily unfolding revelations, which meant viewers often spent more time waiting for answers than receiving them. By the time major pieces of the puzzle fell into place, some audiences had already checked out.

Apple officially canceled the series in 2023, ending any hopes for a second season. The decision wasn’t particularly surprising. Streaming services have become increasingly selective about which shows receive additional seasons, and Suspicion never developed the kind of cultural momentum enjoyed by some of Apple TV’s biggest successes. Still, cancellation doesn’t necessarily mean a show has nothing to offer.

‘Suspicion’ Works Better as a Binge Than It Did as a Weekly Series

Image via Robert Viglasky /©Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection

Watching Suspicion four years later reveals something many viewers may have missed during its original run. The series functions far better when consumed over a few days rather than over two months. Without weeklong gaps between episodes, the increasingly tangled story becomes easier to follow, and plot twists feel less frustrating because the answers arrive quickly. Even some of the show’s more outrageous developments become part of the fun. That’s especially true for viewers who simply want an old-fashioned thriller. Suspicion doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it embraces many of its most enjoyable elements. There are double crosses, secret identities, international intrigue, corrupt institutions, and enough unexpected turns to make every episode end with the urge to immediately start the next one.

At times, the mystery becomes too complicated to follow, and those who might be looking forward to a star-studded performance by Thurman might be disappointed when they see very little of her in the series. Some twists are more satisfying than others, and although the series evokes the classics of its genre, it never quite reaches its artistic heights.

Not every canceled program is misunderstood or a work of art, but there is still merit in watching a series given a second chance. Sometimes a series just shows up at the wrong time, or its story requires viewers to invest fully before it can be fully understood. After four years on the platform, Suspicion continues to be an excellent thriller filled with twists, and it is precisely what conspiracy fans are looking for, and it can give you satisfaction and require less of your time than solving the mystery does.

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Release Date

2022 – 2022-00-00

Network

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Apple TV+

Directors

Stefan Schwartz

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Writers

Terry Cafolla, Megan Gallagher

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  Rupert Procter

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  David (Cottage Neighbour)

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  Kunal Nayyar

  Aadesh Chopra

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  Charlie Carter

  Taxi driver

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  Georgina Campbell

  Natalie Thompson

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Ivanka Trump is embracing her post-White House chapter by giving a rare glimpse of her bikini body.

After stepping away from politics, Ivanka, 44, showed followers a peek into her sun-soaked lifestyle via Instagram on Friday, June 19, sharing a carousel of photos that showcased everything from tropical scenery to her vacation wardrobe.

“A strong finish to spring,” she captioned her post. “Summer, we’re ready for you!”

In one snap, Ivanka posed against a palm tree while showing off her toned midriff in a black bikini layered beneath a navy mesh crop top with flared sleeves. She completed the beach-ready look with coordinating mesh pants, black sunglasses and a delicate necklace.

Related: Trump Family’s Next Generation: Cutest Kid Photos Over the Years

The next generation! Donald Trump and ex-wife Ivana Trump’s three children — Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump — maintain busy business and political careers while raising kids at home. “If I’m working on a big deal and need to be in the office, I’m in the office. If [my daughter] Arabella needs me, I better […]

Another photo captured Ivanka attending the wedding of Bettina Anderson and Donald Trump Jr. in the Bahamas last month.

For the occasion, she wore a silk mini dress by Donde Esteban, which featured a leg-baring hemline that highlighted her toned figure. The designer piece retails for $695.

There were also photos of her dad, President Donald Trump, celebrating his 80th birthday with her 14–year–old daughter Arabella and images of her sons Joseph, 12, and Theodore, 10, whom she shares with husband Jared Kushner.

Years before her father first became President in 2016, Ivanka and Kushner tied the knot at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey in October 2009.

The pair first met in 2007 after being introduced by a mutual friend during a business lunch.

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“They very innocently set us up thinking that our only interest in one another would be transactional,” Ivanka recalled in an interview with Vogue in 2015. “Whenever we see them, we’re like, ‘The best deal we ever made!’”

Reflecting on their relationship, Ivanka praised her husband’s calm demeanor and unwavering support.

“His own dreams are bold, and I love that in someone, but he’s incredibly relaxed and calm,” she told Vogue at the time. “The world could be collapsing around him, and nothing fazes him. He’s very solution oriented. Plus, it was nice finding someone who is a genuinely good person. I don’t take that for granted.”

One lucky “Titanic” fan is now the owner of a script from the 1997 blockbuster after it was signed by the lead star, Leonardo DiCaprio, and sold at a recent auction.

The piece of memorabilia fetched £620 (approximately $820) at Clevedon Salerooms in South West England last week and included autographs from several members of the film’s main cast.

Over the years, a variety of items connected to the doomed ocean liner itself have gone under the hammer, including a life jacket, a watch, and even a dinner menu.

Many pieces of “Titanic” memorabilia have been sold at auctions over the years, but the latest item has nothing to do with the doomed vessel itself. Instead, it is tied to the iconic film made about it.

Last week at Clevedon Salerooms in North Somerset, England, a script from the 1997 romantic tragedy was sold to a lucky fan after an intense bidding war among him and two others, per the BBC.

Despite the competition, it went for just over $820, a surprisingly low price compared to actual memorabilia from the ship, which has previously fetched several thousand dollars.

The script also comes with the added appeal of signatures from the main cast, including DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, who played the lead roles of Jack and Rose.

Other signatures on the piece include Billy Zane, who played Cal Hockley; Kathy Bates, who portrayed Molly Brown; Gloria Stuart, who starred as old Rose; and veteran director James Cameron.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s ‘Titanic’ Script Labeled The ‘Perfect’ Find

Having the cast’s autographs on the script gives it a higher personal worth, according to valuer and auctioneer Henry Michallat.

In describing the purchase, Michallat also told the outlet that it was “a physical connection to one of the greatest films ever made.”

He then noted the fan’s good fortune in owning the piece, highlighting how other real Titanic items often sell for prices out of reach for the average film enthusiast.

“[Scripts] don’t come to auction that often compared to other Titanic memorabilia – pieces of furniture, ceramics, clothing – which usually fetch very high prices,” Michallat further remarked. “So, this was a really perfect, affordable piece for a fan.”

Actual Titanic Life Jacket Sold For $885,000

Two months ago, another piece of Titanic memorabilia sold for a whopping $885,000 at an auction held by Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire.

The item in question was an actual life jacket worn by Laura Mabel Francatelli, one of the survivors of the Titanic shipwreck in April 1912.

Francatelli and several of her fellow survivors had previously signed the piece, which seemingly added to its value, as it sold for more than its earlier estimated price.

Speaking about the purchase, auctioneer Andrew Aldridge claimed that it “reflects the ongoing interest and passion for the story of the Titanic, and its passengers and crew.”

He also once noted that it was “the only lifejacket from a survivor to emerge at auction in 114 years, so it is literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors.”

Another Titanic Item Sold For Over $400,000

At the same auction, another piece of memorabilia was sold for just over half the price of the life jacket.

The item was a seat cushion from one of the lifeboats that rescued the 700 passengers who survived the shipwreck.

Before being put up for sale, the cushion was first owned by a friend of London tea importer Richard William Smith. Smith himself died on the ship during the tragic incident, and his body was never identified.

The cushion is now housed in the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and Branson, Missouri, which purchased it at the time.

Watches, Menus, And Letters Have Also Sold

Several other Titanic items have made it to the auction table in recent years. A pocket watch belonging to postal clerk Oscar Scott Woody is one example, with the time frozen at the moment he drowned in the cold waters of the North Atlantic.

A first-class menu featuring “plover on toast” and a list of first-class passengers owned by a gambler have also been sold.

Other items include an ornate dessert plate, a section of a column from the à la carte restaurant, a fur coat owned by a first-class stewardess, and a letter from one of the passengers, Oscar Holverson.

All of these items sold for tens of thousands of dollars at the time to collectors.

Thirty years on, Eraser is one of those fantastic 1990s action thrillers that feels like it could only have been made in that period of time. During the heyday of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the film took the action icon and threw him into a world of corporate conspiracy, witness protection, alligators, parachutes, and sci-fi weapons that wouldn’t look out of place in a video game like Halo. Yet it works because of how much the film commits to the bit. Eraser was helmed with precision by veteran director Chuck Russell. I spoke with Russell to celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary as part of our retrospective series Collider Rewind. Together, we took a stroll down memory lane as he discussed pushing the action as far as it could go, giving Schwarzenegger a more grounded performance and, interestingly, why those sci-fi railguns were more real than you’d have thought.

During our conversation, he also discussed working with Schwarzenegger at a fascinating point in his career, surrounding him with actors like James Caan, Vanessa Williams, and James Coburn, and finding the balance between spectacle and story before CGI took over. Across the conversation, Russell also looked back on his wider career, from betting on Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz in The Mask to helping launch Dwayne Johnson as a leading man in The Scorpion King, and making horror audiences feel unsafe with The Blob and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. But when it comes to Eraser, one thing becomes very clear: Russell knew he was taking it to the limit. You can read our full conversation below.

Chuck Russell Wanted To Bring Out a More Grounded Side of Arnold Schwarzenegger

COLLIDER: First and foremost, I watched the movie last night for the first time in, I want to say, 20 years. I was far too young to watch it when it first came out, but then it was one of those video store movies I would always see the cover of and think, “I want to watch that,” and I was never allowed to because I was too young. I adore ‘90s action movies, and it’s got the alligators, the witness protection, railguns, and everything. Was there a moment when you were filming it that you thought, “Even I’m finding this insane right now?”

CHUCK RUSSELL: Oh, no. I knew I was taking it to the limit. There are moments in that film where I’m like, “How can I top him jumping out of an airplane to catch a parachute? Oh, if Jimmy [Caan] makes the pilot turn the plane around and take him out of the parachute, how can I top that? What if Arnold just has the balls to pull out a gun and shoot the cockpit?” So, I kept upping the stakes, and I always assumed in post we can see where I went too far, but we kept everything. The audience got a kick out of it.

Arnold was an icon by this point, but until he starts shooting the cockpit, it kind of feels like a more grounded role for him than we were used to. Was there anything you wanted to bring out of him in that performance that audiences hadn’t quite seen?

RUSSELL: Yes. You have to understand, it was after True Lies, which I’m a big fan of. I needed to do something a little different with Arnold, even if it’s subtly different, because I want to improve his brand, if anything, and that was to surround him with more grounded actors, Jimmy Caan being one of the best examples, and Vanessa Williams, and James Coburn, who is his own action icon from the previous era. Vanessa’s charm and intelligence, and the fact that she could handle a gun and take care of herself, were refreshing in the ‘90s at that point, and not making it a traditional action romance was something I wanted to do.

So, I think we upped Arnold’s game and performance, and I’m very pleased you mentioned it felt a little more grounded because I tried to keep the government story grounded, and the real guns are actually real technology. They were unknown at the time, but they’re more commonly known now. Guns that can look through walls and see a cat were science fiction then, but I kind of knew we had them already. So, I enjoyed taking the action as far as I could, but keeping the story grounded. When you have a big studio show like that, as a director, one of the most important things is [to] keep the micro focus on [the] cast, on the performance, on storytelling. Don’t let it all get swept away with large set pieces. So, you try to keep a balance there, and I think we achieved it. I think Arnold, as the protector, was unique in that role.

Chuck Russell Says Modern Action Can Lose Suspense When Anything Is Possible

What I liked about it, as well, was that you have the element of science fiction to it with the futuristic weapons and whatnot, but there’s never really any point where it feels like, “Oh, I’m watching a movie that’s set 50 or 60 years in the future.” It feels almost like an alternative reality, just with technology caught up ever so slightly. Did you have much discussion in terms of the weapons that were used, like making them feel futuristic, but they still have to feel physical enough, because it’s an Arnold movie?

RUSSELL: Correct. We did unending designs on that gun, and my production team was very patient with me until we found what we all considered the right thing. I was obsessed with, “It has to have a battery pack, or I don’t believe how powerful it is.” We were downsizing from guns that only appeared as cannons on battleships at the time, and so we wanted to keep some real tech, but it had to be fun, or what’s the point? It’s really meant to be a big entertainment more than anything else. So, I allowed myself a little fantasy, a little near-future sci-fi, wrapped around a great action story. That was the recipe.

I find myself, when I’m writing, using this expression more and more often, but they don’t make them like this anymore, and I got that feeling with Eraser, as well. Do you think a movie like this can be made the same way today, or with the machinery around action filmmaking — the emphasis on “everything has to be stunts, everything has to be CG” — do you think that would be too important in the background?

RUSSELL: I would still make it roughly this way. Some of the franchises need to outdo themselves, beyond Michael Bay elements. There’s an old saying by one of the original science fiction writers of all, which is H.G. Wells, who said, “When anything is possible, nothing is interesting.” So, if you keep topping your stunts to the point where it’s just ridiculous, because you could do it in CGI or now AI, you can go too far and sort of lose suspense. If there’s no suspense, action movies are kind of fun to watch, but they’re not really driving entertainment, in my opinion, anyway.

So, there was kind of a reboot of Eraser. I didn’t see it. I saw part of it. It didn’t seem like they nailed what they wanted to with it, but the heart of that film is having a strong core story and then progressively taking the action to an extent that matches the tone of the movie. So it’s still suspenseful. I want the audience to think, “What would I do?” We see Vanessa’s character stuck in a zoo with really bad things happening. I want the audience to relate. “What would my move be?” So, I try to keep pace and a tone in that neck of the woods. Anyway, thank you for enjoying the film. I rediscovered it myself. I hadn’t seen it in years, and I liked it. It was really cool.

Oh, it’s great to find these movies again, because the last time I watched, I would’ve been a teenager, and you watch these movies with your new eyes when you’re older. You can appreciate the filmmaking and the performances. I went through a stint in my teenage years where I was watching Arnold movies because it’s Arnold being Arnold, but now I can watch it and appreciate that he’s a really good actor, and I don’t think that’s appreciated as much because we see him as an action hero.

RUSSELL: Look, I tried to up his game on that particular show, and I think we succeeded, and Arnold became more and more focused on his performance, I think, ever since. Look, action is character. I think critics underrate that Shakespeare had sword fights in most of his plays. I mean, it is really no greater height of drama than one man trying to destroy another, or one woman trying to destroy another, as long as the story supports it.

So, the skills that people like Arnold and Dwayne Johnson have are rare, to convincingly be athletic enough to do a physical fight, but in the face… Bruce Lee was the first one I noticed as a kid when he would kill an adversary; the performance was amazing. His face would shake, and the hands would fist, and he’d have that yell. It was a remarkable performance, not just action. So, I still believe part of that performance is [to] kill your adversary with your heart. Why is your heart into this? What has he done to you that you have to destroy him if we’re at that point in a fight scene, or something bigger, like an airplane scene?

Chuck Russell Knew Dwayne Johnson Could Become a Movie Star

You mentioned Dwayne Johnson there. I was and remain, but especially when I was younger, an insanely big WWF, WWE fan, and so I was at The Scorpion King on day one.

RUSSELL: Oh, great.

Because to me, this was my Arnold Schwarzenegger here. When you’re directing him in his first leading role, did you see something in that performance, and when you were with him, that you thought, “This guy can go all the way. There’s something special here?”

RUSSELL: Oh, I knew that just meeting him for the first time. He was very passionate about doing a great job. Dwayne is a real champ. He’s a sweetheart. Everyone will tell you that. Even at this point in his career, he has big heart. I can’t say enough good things. Also about Arnold. Arnold’s more naturally competitive. [Laughs] It’s true. Look at his documentaries and things: that’s Arnold. Dwayne is an incredibly passionate actor and performer. He’s got a very good heart. He always has time for everybody on a set.

So, we were doing rehearsals, Dwayne and I, just in a conference room, “What will it be like when red ants are coming at you?” He would literally do these crazy improvs with me. I just wanted to warm him up, and “This is what we’re doing.” The truth is, what he was doing for WWE, or WWF at the time, was so dramatically performative — his monologues were mind-blowing — so I knew he was capable. And the fact that he had a desire to be a good actor and a good lead actor in a movie, I was very confident in him, and he lived up to it 100%.

Chuck Russell “Bet the Farm” on Jim Carrey in ‘The Mask’

Image via New Line Cinema

I wanted to touch on another ‘90s film, which I adore. I lost my mother a few months ago, and when we were clearing her house out, I found pictures of myself as a child, and one of them was me at Halloween, when I must have been five or six, and I was dressed as The Mask.

RUSSELL: Oh, wonderful. That’s a nice touch. And I’m sorry to hear about your mom. I’m sorry to hear that.

Thank you very much. It was a really nice surprise to find that photo. I had the fedora on with the feather and everything. She’d clearly gone to a lot of trouble to make sure it worked. It was one of my favorite films growing up, and I feel like it’s one of those lightning-in-a-bottle, a-movie-star-is-born movies with Jim [Carrey]. Did you know that while you were shooting it? I read that you’d seen him at a comedy club.

RUSSELL: Yeah. So I’m at The Comedy Store, and I realized what he’d been doing in In Living Color, that I’d also been watching, was [what] he could do live. I talked to him about it while we were filming The Mask, and he said, “If I can imagine it, Chuck, I can physically do it. It’s wild.” He is a Charlie Chaplin. I knew, “This guy’s a comedy genius,” literally. I bet the farm on Jim Carrey being a great movie star, and New Line finally agreed.

The other person that I really saw ahead of time was Cameron Diaz, who had never acted before at all. So, the studio took quite a risk with me, and my encouragement on, first of all, letting that be a comedy instead of a horror film, which was originally how they conceived it, and letting me make it a vehicle for Jim and Cameron. It was kind of risk-reward. We made a movie that was unlike anything that had been seen prior. I wanted to make a literally joyful movie. I’d lost my father not long before I got to make The Mask, and I just said, “I’m going to have a good time, and I’m going to make sure the audiences have a good time. Let’s get this movie made with Jim Carrey.”

What you said about Cameron Diaz, that’s also one of the great first-time movie star entrances, her coming into the bank. I think the casting for that film was one of the strengths of it, and it’s funny how, even maybe not as quite a big name, Peter Greene is one of those villains I’ll always remember because he just has that nasty face about him in that movie. It’s so effective.

RUSSELL: He was an edgy guy. He passed away not long ago. But I knew The Mask was going to float away in fantasy and comedy if I didn’t have a great villain, so Peter Greene had been in an independent film where he was so frigging scary as a murderer, and I thought, “It’s like a chemistry set. What’s going to happen if I toss this guy into the mix with Jim and Cameron?” And the result we got was a good amount of suspense for a comedy. You have to be careful the comedy doesn’t just float away, but you want to put the lead characters in jeopardy so the audience cares for them, and Peter did a fantastic job. He was really fun to work with, too.

How ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ Led to ‘The Blob’

One of my colleagues at Collider is a huge horror fan, and he said The Blob is one of the nastiest and meanest movies he’s ever seen, and that’s why he loves it. This character should be untouchable in any movie. They get blobbed left and right. Was there any pushback from the studio on all the characters getting blobbled left, right, and center?

RUSSELL: Everyone kept asking me, “Who’s going to play Steve McQueen in your remake of The Blob?” So I realized while we were writing the script, the first thing I’m going to do is kill the Steve McQueen character. [Laughs] I literally saw Kevin Dillon for the first time in years just yesterday, by coincidence, and we were telling fantastic stories about the fun we had making that movie.

Look, I am a horror fan, and I wanted to go all the way with the horror. I really did. And we had characters you can love that survived, but my intention was to make sure the audience didn’t trust the filmmaker. I wanted to kill important people early. Hitchcock did this in Psycho. Famously, he killed Janet Leigh, who was the biggest star at the time, in the first 20 minutes of his film, in “the scariest movie ever made,” because the audience said, “Well, if you’re going to kill the lead lady, every one of these characters is in jeopardy.” So, it’s a device that some of us have used, and I found very effective in The Blob.

But the studio, we funded it independently, and it was TriStar, but no one was really complaining because I’d already done Elm Street 3, and it was the biggest independently-made hit at the time. So, they backed me. People that first watched it were a little shocked, and I felt, “Have I gone too far? Well, it’s too late. The movie’s done.” But it worked out. It worked out well.

Did you think that the co-writing Dreamscape, which also had a knife-fingered, dream-invading villain, had anything to do with you being hired for that?

RUSSELL: I think it definitely did. It very specifically did. Bob Shaye liked it a lot. At the time, it was a first-time directing gig for me, so I got The Blob rights in order to get the right to direct it, and I brought that to New Line. New Line said, “Well, we don’t really want to make The Blob, but we need to do Elm Street 3,” and the second Elm Street hadn’t done that well. They weren’t sure they were going to carry on with the series, and they said if [Frank] Darabont and I could fix the script, they would let me direct the movie. So, The Blob brought me Elm Street, and then I finished Elm Street and returned to The Blob.

Chuck Russell on the Actors Who Surprised Him Most

Image via Warner Bros.

It’s a great run, and it’s great fun for you to have, just horrifying audiences. It’s the best way to go about things. I’d like to finish with one question. I’ll bring it back to Arnold, as well. This involves Arnold and a few others. You’ve obviously had the chance to work with some of the biggest action and comedy stars in the world. I know that you worked with Bruce Willis on one of his last films, as well. Having directed these actors at various stages of their careers, who surprised you the most when the camera started rolling?

RUSSELL: When the cameras started rolling? Look, I come from theater, so I have a great love of actors. As a young man, I was acting, so I was always debating in my early 20s, did I want to act or did I want to direct? And I enjoy directing more. So I have a great love, and they all thrill me.

I think Jim’s energy, there was always something surprising that was happening that was better than what we were writing. On the other hand, Dwayne Johnson surprised me when he cried watching his brother die because he went all the way, and he was basically a wrestler. He really broke his heart. And then John Travolta surprised me because he’s one of the greatest pros I ever worked with. I did two movies with John. He’s just a fabulous pro, and I enjoy directing him, but I also enjoy watching him work. He’s very good.

So, different actors at different times. Patricia Arquette, on Elm Street, hadn’t really acted before, I don’t think, but she’s from an acting family, and she carries that movie. If you look back at it to this day, she’s just wonderful, and she has this ethereal performance. She’s very vulnerable on camera. So frankly, they all surprise me, but for different reasons and in different ways.

Eraser 30th Anniversary Edition is available to purchase now on 4K UHD and Blu-ray. You can watch our full interview with Russell above.

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Release Date

June 21, 1996

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Runtime

115 Minutes

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