A few months back, I found myself trawling Netflix for a good movie to put on for a group of friends. After sifting through a digital bargain bin of poorly-promoted original content, I eventually landed on a modern classic: American Hustle. I had distinct memories of catching this one in the theater back in 2013, but it hits even harder today, since political corruption seems to be a 24/7 news story in the year of our lord 2026. Unfortunately, when I went to search it back up last night for a home movie viewing, I was dismayed to see that American Hustle is no longer on Netflix at all. In fact, it’s been shelved from all streaming libraries, relegating its availability to on-demand rentals and purchases.
For those not in the know, American Hustle is a true story crime comedy written and directed by controversial filmmaker David O. Russell. The film adapts the story of an FBI sting operation that took place in New Jersey circa 1978. In bringing this bizarre investigation to life, we’re treated to an A-list cast including Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Robert De Niro, Jeremy Renner, and Jennifer Lawrence, in possibly her best role.
A Classic Caper Stacked With An A-List Cast
The narrative of American Hustle kicks off by introducing us to con artist Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale). Irving is a sleazy scam artist with a quick mouth and a hairline that’s hanging on for dear life. He works alongside a scammer named Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), to swindle art collectors and other debutants out of their inheritance money. The two are also engaged in a tawdry love affair, while Irving’s unstable wife spends her days neglected and slowly losing her marbles back home.
Right at the start of the film, FBI rising star Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) catches the dynamic duo in the midst of a rug pull, and offers them immunity in exchange for a larger arrest. Irving and Sydney agree, and begin working with Richie to entrap American politicians in a foreign investment gambit. From there, things spiral out of control, leading to a fake Arab sheikh, a chilling mafia investment, and a sting operation that lands multiple elected officials in the slammer. The whole thing is extremely baroque, even by FBI standards, especially when you know that it all really happened.
A Modern Classic That’s Been Snubbed
I won’t spoil the ending here, but suffice is to say, American Hustle is a straight up classic for a reason. The film was an instant success with critics and audiences alike, taking in $251 million at the worldwide box office on an estimated production budget of just $40 million. That’s why it’s so confusing that the film is currently unavailable to stream on any of the major outlets. You’d think HBO Max, Disney+, or Netflix would be chomping at the bit to get their hands on this thing.
American Hustle also received nearly a dozen Academy Awards, though it was ultimately snubbed in every category, so maybe this lack of streaming access is just the next logical step for an overlooked classic. In any case, you should be sure to seek this one out if you haven’t already seen it. For the time being, that means renting it on digital retailers like YouTube, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, or heading to your local brick and mortar to find a Blu-ray. Just be prepared to laugh, shed a few tears, and shake your fists in fury at the capitalist machine.
Warner Bros.’ hopes for another trip to Barbie Land appear to be facing a costly setback. Talks with Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and the original creative team have yet to produce a deal as a key rights deadline approaches.
Plans for a second “Barbie” movie have reportedly stalled as Warner Bros. Discovery struggles to secure new deals with Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and the film’s creative team.
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According to The New York Times, CEO David Zaslav has resisted offering Robbie and Gosling lucrative contracts that include profit participation. Gosling, who earned an Oscar nomination for playing Ken, is reportedly seeking a salary increase to $20 million.
The studio did not lock the cast into sequel agreements before the original film because the stars signed one-picture contracts as part of the deal to bring Greta Gerwig aboard as director. That means every major participant is now free to renegotiate following the movie’s $1.4 billion box-office run.
Warner Bros. co-chairs Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca said the studio has made several “big offers” but has yet to reach an agreement. A spokesperson also denied that an approved deal framework had later been withdrawn.
Greta Gerwig Reportedly Keeping ‘Barbie 2’ Under Wraps
Beyond the money, another supposed big sticking point in the “Barbie 2” negotiations is the story itself. Gerwig and her husband and longtime writing partner, Noah Baumbach, are said to have already settled on a concept for the sequel and are ready to begin writing.
However, the pair reportedly won’t reveal a single plot detail to Warner Bros. until their contracts are finalized, giving them an unusual advantage in the ongoing talks.
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The strategy marks a notable shift from Gerwig’s earlier stance. After “Barbie” became the highest-grossing film of 2023, she repeatedly insisted a sequel would only happen if she discovered another story worth telling. “If I find the undertow, then we get it. If I don’t find an undertow, there’s no more,” she said while accepting TIME’s Women of the Year honor in 2024.
Reports that Gerwig and Baumbach had cracked that story first surfaced late that same year, though Warner Bros. and representatives for the filmmakers publicly disputed that development at the time.
Why ‘Barbie’ Could Be Forced To Start Over From Scratch
Warner Bros. faces a December deadline to begin developing the sequel. If the studio fails to strike a deal before then, the “Barbie” franchise would effectively revert the sequel rights to Mattel, giving the toy giant full control of the property once again. But the company wouldn’t inherit the foundation Warner Bros. has spent years building.
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The NY Times report says Mattel would have to redevelop the franchise from scratch, meaning it could not take the existing story elements or the filmmakers and stars attached to the current project to another studio.
That would leave Gerwig’s reported sequel idea on the shelf unless a new agreement is eventually reached. It would also put the future of Robbie, Gosling, and the rest of the original creative team in serious doubt.
Warner Bros. might have to make a decision pretty soon on just how much it wants Gerwig to write and direct a “Barbie” sequel, given just how packed her slate already is.
The Oscar-nominated filmmaker is currently focused on “Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew,” her ambitious adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ beloved fantasy novel for Netflix. Gerwig wrote, directed and produced the film, which stars Daniel Craig, Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep.
The project is scheduled for a global theatrical release on Feb. 12, 2027, before debuting on Netflix on April 2.
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The Cast Has Always Been Cautious About ‘Barbie 2’
The cast of “Barbie” has often been reluctant to promise fans a return to Barbie Land.
Speaking to TIME after the film’s record-breaking run, Robbie said discussions about the franchise had taken place but stressed that nothing had been decided. “It could go a million different directions from this point,” she said, adding that filmmakers can fall into “a bit of a trap” by trying to plan sequels while making the first movie.
Ryan Gosling has been just as guarded. During a fan Q&A at London’s BFI Southbank, the actor dismissed questions about a follow-up, saying, “I’m not going anywhere near that. We really know nothing.”
Still, Gosling couldn’t resist having a little fun with the idea. After insisting he had no inside information, he joked about Ken’s possible next evolution. “Can it be a Husky Ken? Can I play Husky Ken… like Sandwich Ken?” he asked, per Variety.
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I’ve always had a habit of helping people find their dream dresses for every occasion. I mean, I did grow up working in a bridal boutique. After the brides, I adored the shoppers who came in looking for wedding guest dresses. These women loved to play around with color and different silhouettes. And funnily enough, when I look at the wedding guest dresses that are popular today, not much has changed.
Pleats, florals, rich colors and even halter necklines are still standard today. I scoured the internet to find the best wedding guest dresses that stand the test of time. One thing’s for sure: if you pick one of the dresses below, you’ll be able to wear it to countless weddings for years.
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13 Wedding Guest Dresses That Never Go Out of Style
1. My Favorite: The best part of this tiered ruffle dress is that it looks incredible on every body type. The design disguises your midsection and the proportions are slimming. Slip into it, and you’ll feel like your best self!
2. Draped to Perfection: Dresses made with haute couture-inspired draping and ruching — like this chic satin design — sneakily help hide lumps and bumps. The stunning, classic design will help you strut into any wedding feeling your best.
3. Slip Into It: Satin slip dresses have proven longevity — not even the silhouette styles have changed much since I worked at the bridal store. With the right care, this shiny draped design will last you for decades.
4. Pleats Forever: For outdoor summer weddings, pleated dresses create a subtly elegant vibe that matches the relaxed warm weather energy. My suggestions: opt for this pick in a vibrant color, like purple or green.
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5. Ruffles Galore: Ruffles have proven to have staying power through the seasons. My aunt even said she saw versions of this strapless tiered ruffle dress back when she first opened her store in 1998. Talk about never going out of style!
6. Endless Options: Convertible straps are undoubtedly the best. Why? Well, you end up getting five different dresses in one. This mesh Abercrombie dress is a steal considering how many different ways you can wear it.
7. Criss Cross: I always remember women falling in love with a halter neck wedding guest dress like this one. The neckline has a slimming ability that lengthens your entire body.
8. Totally Timeless: Strapless dresses are a time-tested silhouette, and this one, with its asymmetrical drop waist and uneven hem, looks like something straight out of a rom com.
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9. Endless Colors: One of the best parts about wedding guest dress shopping? You can pretty much choose any color (except white, of course). This ruched one-shoulder stunner comes in 12 hues so you can find one that complements you perfectly.
10. Black Tie Ready: Shopping for a black tie wedding can be intimidating, but one of the best silhouettes is a long, straight gown with an open back. Simply stunning!
11. Flower Fields: When it came to spring and summer weddings, I always saw an uptick in floral dress requests. This strapless pick is memorable thanks to the removable scarf.
12. Princess Vibes: Even though someone else’s wedding isn’t your special day, you can still feel like a princess with this billowing off-the-shoulder dress. It’s a serious compliment getter.
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13. Let the Snow Fall: Winter weddings can feel challenging to dress for, but you can never go wrong with velvet. The deep colors this velvet dress comes in, including burgundy and green, will have you looking regal.
Welcome to summer with our biggest sale of the year. This summer’s chicest dresses, tops and swimsuits are all over 30% + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.
With The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day taking the summer box office to record-breaking heights, let’s not forget the contribution of Obsession and Backrooms earlier this year. The impact of those horror blockbusters will probably be felt for years to come, but for now, it can be quantified to the tune of around $800 million combined at the global box office. With Obsession and Backrooms dominating the discourse about horror this year, a handful of acclaimed hits slipped under the radar. Havoc, the gleefully creepy haunted house movie starring Adam Scott, found an audience on the PVOD market, and now, a terrifyingly tender new horror film is following in its footsteps.
The movie in question hails from Australia, and it follows two teenage boys whose sexual coming-of-age takes them into dark territory. They discover that falling for someone turns the person they love into a monster that’s out to kill them. The curse, as it is presented, serves as an allegory of queer love, with overbearing parents vowing to rid their children of it by sending them to reform schools and menacing pastors. Directed by Adrian Chiarella and headlined by Joe Bird and Stacy Klausen, the movie premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival before being released theatrically by Neon in June. It grossed around $8.5 million worldwide against a reported budget of $3.5 million — nowhere near the monster $450 million-plus generated by Obsession.
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Collider Exclusive · Horror Survival Quiz Which Horror Villain Do You Have the Best Chance of Surviving? Jason Voorhees · Michael Myers · Freddy Krueger · Pennywise · Chucky
Five killers. Five completely different ways to die — if you’re not smart enough, fast enough, or self-aware enough to avoid it. Only one of them is the villain your particular set of instincts gives you a fighting chance against. Eight questions will figure out which one.
🏕️Jason
🔪Michael
💤Freddy
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🎈Pennywise
🪆Chucky
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01
Something feels wrong. You can’t explain it — you just know. What do you do? First instincts are the difference between the survivor and the first act casualty.
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02
Where are you most likely to find yourself when things go wrong? Setting is everything in horror. Where you are determines which rules apply.
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03
What is your most reliable survival asset? Every survivor has a quality the villain didn’t account for. What’s yours?
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04
What kind of fear is hardest for you to fight through? Knowing your weakness is the first step to not dying because of it.
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05
You’re with a group when things start going wrong. What’s your role? Horror movies are brutally clear about who survives group situations and who doesn’t.
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06
What’s the horror movie mistake you’re most likely to make? Honest self-assessment is a survival skill. Denial is not.
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07
What’s your best weapon against something that can’t be stopped by conventional means? Every horror villain has a weakness. The survivors are always the ones who find it.
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08
It’s the final scene. You’re the last one standing. How did you make it? The final survivor always has a reason. What’s yours?
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Your Survival Odds Have Been Calculated Your Best Chance Is Against…
Your instincts, your strengths, and your particular way of thinking under pressure point to one villain you actually have a fighting chance against. Everyone else — good luck.
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Camp Crystal Lake · Friday the 13th
Jason Voorhees
Jason is relentless, but he is also predictable — and that is the gap you would exploit.
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He moves in straight lines toward his target. He doesn’t strategise, doesn’t adapt, doesn’t outsmart. He simply pursues.
Your ability to keep moving, use the environment, and resist the panic that freezes most victims gives you a genuine edge.
The Crystal Lake survivors were always the ones who stopped running in circles and started thinking about terrain, water, and distance.
You think like that. Which means Jason, for all his indestructibility, would face someone who simply refused to be where he expected.
Haddonfield, Illinois · Halloween
Michael Myers
Michael watches before he moves. He is patient, methodical, and almost impossible to detect — until it’s too late for anyone who isn’t paying close enough attention.
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But you are paying attention. You notice the shape in the window, the car parked slightly wrong, the silence where there should be sound.
Michael’s power lies in the invisibility of ordinary suburbia — the fact that nothing ever looks wrong until it already is.
Your spatial awareness and instinct to map every room, every exit, and every shadow before you need them is precisely the quality Laurie Strode had.
You are not a victim waiting to happen. You are someone who already suspects something is wrong — and acts on it.
Elm Street · A Nightmare on Elm Street
Freddy Krueger
Freddy wins by getting inside your head — using your own fears, your own memories, your own subconscious as weapons against you. That strategy requires a target who can be destabilised.
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You are harder to destabilise than most. You’ve faced uncomfortable truths about yourself and you haven’t looked away.
The survivors on Elm Street were always the ones who understood what was happening and chose to face it rather than flee from it.
Freddy’s greatest weakness is that his power evaporates in the presence of someone who refuses to give him the fear he feeds on.
Your psychological resilience — the ability to stay grounded when reality itself becomes unreliable — is exactly the quality that keeps you alive here.
Derry, Maine · It
Pennywise
Pennywise is ancient, shapeshifting, and feeds on terror — but it has one critical vulnerability: it cannot function against someone who genuinely stops being afraid of it.
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The Losers Club didn’t survive because they were braver than everyone else. They survived because they faced their fears together, and faced them honestly.
You ask the questions others avoid. You look directly at what frightens you rather than turning away.
That directness — the refusal to let fear fester in the dark — is Pennywise’s worst nightmare.
It chose the wrong target when it chose you. You are exactly the kind of person whose fear tastes like nothing at all.
Chicago · Child’s Play
Chucky
Chucky’s greatest advantage is that nobody takes him seriously until it’s already too late. He exploits the gap between how something looks and what it actually is.
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You don’t have that gap. You take threats seriously regardless of how they present — and you never make the mistake of underestimating something because of its size or appearance.
Chucky relies on surprise, on the delay between recognition and response. You close that delay faster than almost anyone.
Your instinct to treat every unfamiliar thing with appropriate scepticism — rather than dismissing it because it seems absurd — is the exact quality that keeps you breathing.
Against Chucky, not laughing is already winning. You are very good at not laughing.
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‘Obsession’ Meets ‘It Follows’ in the Year’s Most Overlooked Horror Movie
The movie recently debuted on the PVOD market, and according to FlixPatrol, has already found a spot on the iTunes and Google Play charts. We’re talking, of course, about Leviticus. The film currently holds a “Certified Fresh” 92% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “Merging an emotionally-involving queer relationship with its clever monster concept, Leviticus executes its intriguing hook with eerie aplomb.” Meanwhile, both Obsession and Backrooms are charting on the same lists, and their respective directors — Curry Barker and Kane Parsons — are being courted by practically every studio in Hollywood. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
While Zendaya has emerged as one of the year’s biggest faces thanks to a series of box-office hits — don’t be surprised if she’s named among Time’s 100 most influential people of 2026 — another actor has had an equally magnificent run on streaming. Zendaya began the year by reprising her role as Rue in the long-delayed third season of HBO’s Euphoria; she then starred in the sleeper hit The Drama, which grossed over $130 million worldwide. Zendaya followed it up with roles in the back-to-back blockbusters The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will potentially gross a combined total of at least $3 billion worldwide. She’ll conclude her year with the sure-fire hit Dune: Part Three, which is slated for release in December. The streaming industry is a whole different beast, and it has seemingly crownedAlan Ritchson as its biggest star.
Ritchson became a household name after the release of Prime Video’s Reacher in 2022. His towering performance quickly scored him roles in major movies such as Fast X and Guy Ritchie‘s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Ritchson further established his dominance on Prime Video with the buddy comedy Playdate, which debuted on the platform in November 2025. Two months later, in January 2026, Ritchson made his Netflix debut with the sci-fi action movie War Machine. And what a debut it was; War Machine has since emerged as one of Netflix’s biggest-ever original movies, with a sequel having already been green-lit. He will also lead another original Netflix action movie, which was announced not long after War Machine‘s success.
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Collider Exclusive · Action Hero Quiz Which Action Hero Would Be Your Perfect Partner? Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt
Five legends. Five completely different ways of getting out alive — with style, with muscle, with charm, with luck, or with a plan so intricate it probably shouldn’t work. Ten questions will reveal which action hero was built to have your back.
🎖️Rambo
🍸James Bond
🏺Indiana Jones
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🔧John McClane
🎭Ethan Hunt
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01
You’re dropped into a dangerous situation with no warning. What do you need most from a partner? The first few seconds tell you everything about who belongs beside you.
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02
You have to get somewhere dangerous, fast. How do you travel? How you get there is half the mission.
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03
You’re pinned down and outnumbered. What does your ideal partner do? This is when you find out what someone is really made of.
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04
The mission is paused. You have one evening to decompress. What does your partner suggest? Who someone is when the pressure drops is who they actually are.
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05
How do you prefer your partner to communicate mid-mission? Good communication is the difference between partners and a liability.
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06
Your enemy is powerful, well-resourced, and has the upper hand. How should your partner approach them? The approach to the enemy defines the partnership.
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07
Things go badly wrong and you’re captured. What do you trust your partner to do? Who someone is when you need them most is the only thing that matters.
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08
What does your ideal partner bring to the table that you couldn’t replace? A great partner fills the gap you didn’t know you had.
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09
Every partnership has a cost. Which of these can you live with? No one comes without baggage. The question is whether you can carry it together.
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10
It’s the final moment. Everything is on the line. What do you need from your partner right now? The last question is the most honest one.
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Your Partner Has Been Assigned Your Perfect Partner Is…
Your answers have pointed to one action hero above all others. This is the person built to have your back — for better or considerably, spectacularly worse.
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Rambo
Your partner doesn’t talk much, doesn’t need to, and will have assessed every threat in your immediate environment before you’ve finished your first sentence. John Rambo is not a man of plans or politics — he is a force of nature shaped by survival, loyalty, and a capacity for endurance that goes beyond anything training can produce. He will not leave you behind. He has never left anyone behind who deserved to come home. What you get with Rambo is the most capable, most quietly ferocious partner imaginable — one who has been through things that would have broken anyone else, and who chose to keep going anyway. You’ll never need to ask if he has your back. You’ll just know.
James Bond
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Your partner will arrive perfectly dressed, perfectly briefed, and with a cover story so convincing it’ll take you a moment to remember what’s actually true. James Bond is the most professionally dangerous person in any room he enters — and the most disarmingly charming, which is the point. He operates in a world of layers, where nothing is what it appears and every advantage is used without apology. You’ll never be bored. You’ll occasionally be furious. But when it matters — when the mission is genuinely on the line and the margin for error has collapsed to nothing — Bond is exactly the partner you want. He has survived things that have no business being survivable. He does it with style. That is not nothing.
Indiana Jones
Your partner will know the history, the language, the cultural context, and exactly why the thing everyone else is ignoring is actually the most important thing in the room. Indiana Jones is brilliant, reckless, and occasionally impossible — but he is also one of the most resourceful, most genuinely knowledgeable partners you could find yourself beside. He approaches every situation with a scholar’s eye and a brawler’s instinct, which is an unusual combination and a remarkably effective one. He hates snakes and gets personally attached to objects of historical significance, both of which will slow you down at least once. It doesn’t matter. What Indy brings is irreplaceable — and the adventures you’ll have together will be the kind people write books about. Assuming you survive them.
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John McClane
Your partner was not supposed to be here. He does not have the right equipment, the right information, or anything approaching the right odds. He has a sarcastic remark and an absolute refusal to accept that the situation is as bad as it looks. John McClane is the greatest accidental hero in the history of action cinema — a man whose superpower is stubbornness, whose contingency plan is improvisation, and whose capacity to absorb punishment and keep moving would be alarming if it weren’t so useful. He will complain the entire time. He will make it significantly more chaotic than it needed to be. And he will absolutely, unconditionally, without question come through when it counts. Yippee-ki-yay.
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Ethan Hunt
Your partner has already run seventeen scenarios by the time you’ve finished reading the briefing, and the plan he’s settled on involves at least two things that should be physically impossible. Ethan Hunt operates at the absolute edge of human capability — technically, physically, and intellectually — and he brings the same relentless precision to protecting his partners that he brings to dismantling organisations that shouldn’t exist. He is not easy to know and he will never fully tell you everything. But he will carry the weight of the mission so completely, so absolutely, that your job is simply to trust him — and the remarkable thing is that trusting him always turns out to be the right call. The mission will be impossible. He will complete it anyway.
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Here’s When Alan Ritchson Will Return as Reacher on Prime Video
According to Netflix’s latest viewership report, Ritchson had two movies in the global top 10 simultaneously, War Machine and the sleeper hit drama Ordinary Angels. This month, the action star will reprise his most popular role in the fourth season of Reacher. Ritchson is also expected to appear as the hulking character, previously played by Tom Cruise in two movies, in the spin-off series Neagley. The spin-off will premiere on Prime Video in September, immediately after the fourth season of Reacher, which premieres on August 12. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
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Release Date
February 3, 2022
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Network
Prime Video
Showrunner
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Nick Santora
Directors
Omar Madha, Carol Banker, Julian Holmes, Lin Oeding, M.J. Bassett, Norberto Barba, Stephen Surjik, Thomas Vincent
After hearing the devastating news that PlayStation will be removing its physical library in the future, resorting only to digital games and, most likely, digital-only consoles, fans are reminded of what used to be. While the Nintendo Switch is closing the gap with console sales because of games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the best-selling video game console is still the PlayStation 2.
With around 160 million units sold worldwide, this gaming sensation was essential in the early 2000s. However, while the console was great, everyone bought it for the games, and that is because this console was home to some of the greatest games ever. That is why this list will rank the ten greatest PS2 video games of all time based on how iconic they were, influence, originality, popularity, critical acclaim, gameplay, design, visuals, narrative, and overall quality. This list will include any PS2 games, not just exclusives.
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10
‘Kingdom Hearts II’ (2005)
Riku, Sora, and Mickey Mouse all pointing their keyblades to the left in Kingdom Hearts II.Image via Square Enix
Disney is a family-friendly franchise, and while they aren’t particularly known for their video games, the Kingdom Hearts franchise is incredible, specifically Kingdom Hearts II. After a year-long slumber, Sora, Donald, and Goofy reawaken to pick up their fight against a mysterious organization that wants to bring Disney and the original worlds to an end.
Kingdom Hearts II is an incredible-looking game for the PS2, highlighting the best graphics of the franchise. It tightened the gameplay of the first while introducing new captivating mechanics and improvements such as cinematic reaction commands and incredible boss fight choreography. The PS2 has many fantastic games, but Kingdom Hearts II was a must-play on the console.
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9
‘Okami’ (2006)
okami amaterasu the white wolf in ‘okami’Image via Capcom
The PS2 had some visually striking video games, and one of the most gorgeous in terms of art style and uniqueness was Okami. The player controls Amaterasu, the sun goddess of Japan, who takes on the form of a White Wolf. When a dark curse is launched on the land of Nippon by an ancient demon, Amaterasu must cleanse the land or risk the country falling into ruin.
Okami’s art style resembles a traditional Japanese sumi-e ink wash painting, which features thick brushstrokes and vibrant splashes of color. This aesthetic makes the game feel like a painting come to life, truly being the closest thing a video game can come to being art. The brush mechanic was innovative and thematically relevant, further showcasing this visually stunning video game in all of its beauty.
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8
‘Gran Turismo 4’ (2005)
Two cars racing each other in Gran Turismo 4Image via Sony
Each of the three major gaming companies has its own racing franchise, and Gran Turismo is the staple of PlayStation, specifically Gran Turismo 4 on the PS2. Starting as a novice driver with a cheap car, players work their way up through a plethora of races, getting more advanced cars so they can conquer the tracks even better.
The first Gran Turismo is a legendary game and one of the most influential, but Gran Turismo 4 reinvented the formula and ironed it out to be the definitive racing experience. It achieved technical perfection not seen before, pushing the PS2 to the limit with over 700 cars to choose from. The progression system is rewarding, and the gameplay is satisfying, making it the best of its franchise.
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7
‘God of War II’ (2007)
Kratos in the God of War gamesImage via Santa Monica Studio
The God of War franchise is one of the most acclaimed out there, especially in the modern-day after the 2018 version redefined the narrative and gameplay. However, back on the PS2, the best of the franchise is still God of War II. After Zeus betrays and kills Kratos, the Titan Gaia revives him, giving him the chance to travel through time and fight through the underworld to rewrite his fate and kill the King of the Gods.
God of War II came out on both the PS2 and PS3, but it was an exclusive on the former for about two years, making it a staple of the best-selling console. By delivering an unbridled sense of anger and exhilaration, this game becomes a digital cathartic experience that is freeing to play. God of War II is an action masterclass with polished combat and fluid gameplay, which made it a nice send-off late in the PS2’s lifespan.
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6
‘Final Fantasy X’ (2001)
Auron adjusting his mask in Final Fantasy XImage via Square Enix
After years of being exclusive games on Nintendo consoles, Final Fantasy switched to PlayStation with Final Fantasy VII. But this list is about the PS2, and Final Fantasy X is woven into the fabric of that console. When Tidus is transported from his highly-advanced world to a fantasy realm, he teams up with a mage to go on an adventure and take down the one who summoned him here.
This was the PS2’s first and best Final Fantasy game, being the first to fully integrate voice acting and 3D environments. It was a massive technological leap that marked a milestone in the franchise. The strategic combat system made gameplay even more engaging, and when paired with a gorgeous soundtrack and emotional finale, Final Fantasy X became a staple of the console.
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5
‘Silent Hill 2’ (2001)
silent-hill-2-pyramid-head-1Image via Konami
The PS2 was home to some of the greatest horror games of all time, including what many consider to be the best: Silent Hill 2. The game follows James Sunderland, who travels to the titular town in order to learn the mystery behind a letter he got from his deceased wife. Desperate for answers, he continuously searches the decaying town while avoiding its monstrous inhabitants.
Silent Hill 2 wasn’t a PS2 exclusive, but it was the only way to play the game for a few months, which is why they are often paired with each other. With one of the most brilliant narratives in horror history, the entire environment and monsters were all manifestations of the protagonist’s guilt and despair. This was a renowned twist and masterful narrative connection that helped Silent Hill 2 become the scariest video game.
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4
‘Resident Evil 4’ (2005)
Leon in Resident Evil 4Image via Capcom
Resident Evil is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, and it has been a fantastic year, but the pinnacle of the franchise is still Resident Evil 4. After the president’s daughter is kidnapped in Spain, Leon Kennedy embarks on an adventure to rescue her. However, he discovers that the ones who have her captive have been taken over by mind-controlling parasites.
Resident Evil 4 innovated in so many ways, from the over-the-shoulder camera angle to the adjustable inventory, which redefined how third-person shooters were handled. Some fans didn’t appreciate the shift into an action-centric focus, but it still maintained a horror feel that felt true to the original. Resident Evil 4 is a best-selling video game that would be higher on this list if it were a PS2 exclusive, even if that is the definitive way to play.
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3
‘Shadow of the Colossus’ (2005)
Fumito Ueda is a legendary game designer who has a couple of masterpieces on the PS2, including his magnum opus, Shadow of the Colossus. After their lover dies, the protagonist makes a deal with a supernatural entity where he must kill 16 Colossi beasts in order to bring her back to life. The player must travel around the world and defeat these towering creatures in the name of love.
Shadow of the Colossus is one of the few genuine PlayStation exclusives on this list, only being playable on other consoles with the remake. That makes it perfect for this list, as it was a defining video game of this era and for the console. This game is all about boss fights, which are essentially gigantic puzzles that build up some of the most intense gaming moments. Shadow of the Colossus is a melancholic experience that highlights its innovative gameplay through the operatic battles and a depressing, yet perfect ending.
Solid Snake and Raiden both aiming firearms off-screen in ‘Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty’Image via Konami
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Hideo Kojima is a prolific game designer who has spawned countless masterpieces, like the PS2 classic Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. After a failed mission, Solid Snake is presumed dead, and years later, an agent known as Raiden is sent to infiltrate a facility and save the president. However, he learns that this is a staged mission, and all part of a test for a device that can control human behavior.
For its time,Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was one of the most ambitious narratives in the gaming scene, using its bait-and-switch protagonist to deconstruct player expectations. Aging like a fine wine, this game gets more relevant and perfect by the day, and it is best experienced on the PS2. Narrative aside, Metal Gear Solid 2 polishes the stealth mechanics to create a remarkable gameplay experience.
1
‘Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas’ (2004)
Grand Theft Auto’s Carl ‘CJ’ Johnson dapping up with his friend Big Smoke in San AndreasImage via Rockstar Games
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Grand Theft Auto is one of the biggest gaming franchises in the world, and PlayStation has always been the best way to play them, including Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. CJ returns to his city after his mother passes away, but when he gets back, he is framed for her murder. In order to clear his name, he must travel across the state, save his family, and take back the streets.
It feels weird for GTA: San Andreas to beat out PS2 exclusive games like Metal Gear Solid 2 and Shadow of the Colossus since it was released on other consoles. However, the PS2 and GTA: San Andreas are essentially synonymous, easily being the most compatible and essential way to play. Plus, this game is regarded as one of the greatest of all time, with most of the players agreeing it belongs on the PS2. GTA: San Andreas pushed the bounds of creativity and technical prowess, resulting in a seamless open-world sandbox that remains a cultural landmark of gaming.
The drama between Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright is far from over. The exes, who are in the middle of a bitter divorce battle, continue to trade public accusations, the latest of which came from Taylor, who accused Cartwright of sabotaging his life and career. His latest remarks come on the heels of a fake brand partnership that he initially believed was legitimate, which his estranged wife discussed on her podcast.
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“Vanderpump Rules” alum Jax Taylor is speaking out against his ex, Brittany Cartwright, accusing her of making the effort to embarrass him publicly. The latter filed for divorce in 2024, and they are still in the middle of legal proceedings.
At the end of July, Taylor posted an ad for Smartwater on his social media, which was later determined to be a fake brand deal. His ex mocked him in an episode of her podcast, “When Reality Hits,” saying that Taylor faked a brand deal to fix his image of “being a horrible human being.”
Taylor is calling out Cartwright for discussing matters on her podcast instead of privately reaching out to him. “Yesterday was just another example of Brittany going out of her way to publicly embarrass and humiliate me,” Taylor told Us Weekly, adding that the behavior has “become a pattern.”
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“It’s just another example of her ongoing attempts to damage my reputation, interfere with my ability to work and earn a living, and make it as difficult as possible for me to move forward and rebuild my life,” Taylor claimed.
Brittany Cartwright Said Smartwater Reached Out To Her
Talking to Tom Schwartz on the podcast, Cartwright said she received a direct message from Smartwater, telling her that the company didn’t authorize Taylor’s post, nor was he approached for a brand deal.
“This is why I don’t believe anything that he says,” Cartwright said, adding that when other people sent her the post, she did not believe the brand would choose his ex to promote the product, and she got confirmation it was fake when they messaged her.
“That is embarrassing,” she continued, to which Schwartz replied, “I’m ashamed for him.”
Jax Taylor Addressed The Fake Brand Deal
On July 31, Taylor posted a statement on social media addressing the fake partnership with Smartwater. He was reportedly offered a campaign opportunity from a “third party influencer platform” and didn’t think twice about accepting the offer.
“As soon as I was notified that the campaign was unauthorized, I removed the content immediately. I have never and would never intentionally misrepresent a partnership,” Taylor wrote, adding that it was an “honest mistake.” He also included a screenshot of the offer he received.
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Furthermore, he called out Cartwright for discussing the matter on her podcast to “mock” and “embarrass” him.
The TV Personality Claims His Ex Is Messing With Work Opportunities
Taylor said he’s remained silent about Cartwright out of respect for the mother of his child. In his post, however, he alleged that his ex has been making moves to prevent him from earning.
“Brittany has directly contacted networks and brands in an effort to stop me from working and to prevent me from getting opportunities affecting my ability to earn a living,” he wrote.
He told Us Weekly that he was supposed to appear in the TV series “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” and had completed paperwork, but the offer was rescinded. “I came to find out that Brittany contacted them and once again interfered with an amazing job opportunity that would have helped me move forward,” he claimed.
Jax Taylor And Brittany Cartwright Exchange Accusations In Court
Taylor and Cartwright married in 2019, and they have one child together, a son born in 2021. The latter filed for divorce in 2024, citing irreconcilable differences.
The divorce is taking a long time due to back-and-forth accusations from both camps and unresolved division of assets. Taylor claimed that at their last court session, they spent eight hours attempting to resolve differences to no avail.
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In April, per The Blast, Cartwright shared an update about their relationship, saying that while co-parenting wasn’t easy, they’re trying to make it work for the sake of their son.
“Little miss ozz already has a mischievous sparkle,” Jack, 40, wrote via Instagram alongside a darling snapshot of his baby sitting on his lap.
Ozzy Matilda is all smiles in a pink romper while her dad cradles her in his arms in the photo. The comment section on Jack’s Instagram post was filled with comparisons between little Ozzy and her late grandfather and namesake, Ozzy Osbourne.
“She’s got a twinkle,” one commenter wrote, while another added, “She has your dads smile n eyes! 😍”
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“She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s named after a legend,” another fan declared.
Jack and his wife, Aree Gearhart, announced the arrival of their newborn daughter in March — around eight months after Jack’s dad, Ozzy, died at age 76 in July 2025. (Ozzy’s death certificate clarified that he died from cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease.)
Last December, Jack confirmed to The Sun on Sunday that he and Gearhart, 35, were able to tell Ozzy he was going to be a grandfather again before his death. (Jack also shares daughters Pearl, 14, Andy, 11, and Minnie, 8, with ex-wife Lisa Stelly as well as daughter Maple, 4, with Gearhart).
Jack credited the impending arrival of his and Gearhart’s daughter with helping his family grieve the late rocker following his shocking death.
Jack Osbourne‘s wife, Aree Gearhart, is speaking out following the death of father-in-law Ozzy Osbourne. “I’m pretty sure I have the coolest father in law around, and the best papa to my kids,” she wrote via Instagram on Sunday, August 3, sharing a handful of family photos with the late musician. “The world got a […]
“It’s awesome,” Jack told The Sun at the time. “I think it’s been partly a healthy distraction, partly healing – probably in that kind of ‘full cycle’ category, in a weird way.”
He went on, “It’s very much taken energy out of the grieving side of things and parked in a bit more hopefulness. It’s been easy for me – I think it’s been a lot harder for my wife!”
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Jack added that he and Gearhart viewed the arrival of Ozzy Matilda as a moment of renewal for the Osbourne family.
“We’re super-excited [for the baby],” he said in December. “It was sort of planned, I should say. It was maybe a little earlier than expected. But it’s definitely something that we were wanting to pursue and somehow it happened, miraculously.”
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More recently, Jack fired back over speculation about his weight after competing on the jungle-based U.K. reality show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in late 2025. (His mother, Sharon Osbourne, and sister Kelly Osbourne, have also slammed the social media conversation around their weight in recent years.)
Jack Osbourne brought two of his look-alike daughters along to cap off a special night honoring his late father, Ozzy Osbourne. Jack, 40, was photographed with kids Pearl, 13, and Andy, 10, at the Universal Music Group’s Grammys afterparty on Sunday, February 1, just hours after Ozzy was commemorated at the Grammy Awards with a […]
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“I cannot believe I’m having to actually make this f***ing video. If I see one more article written about me saying how I’m ‘sick,’ I’m ‘grossly underweight’, [that I’m] ‘health crisis Jack’ … It’s f***ing insane,” he vented via Instagram in May. “I have lost no weight since I got out of the jungle doing I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! six months ago.”
“I’ve been the same f***ing weight. The only difference is I shaved my beard and opted for a creepy mustache. That’s the only f***ing difference,” he added. “I’ve been slowly but consistently losing weight for the last three and a half years. I shot up to about 220 pounds about three and a half years ago and decided that I wanted to make some changes, so I did.”
Everyone loves a good anti-hero who can blur the lines between good and evil. These characters aren’t just sympathetic villains, but individuals who lack specific heroic traits, like Link from The Legend of Zelda, yet still move the plot forward through individual goals that can sometimes be considered good. They also aren’t heroes who bend the rules sometimes, like Leon from Resident Evil.
Fans love these types of characters because they are complicated, messy, and more relatable, with everything they do shaping the good or bad inside them. That is why this list will rank the ten greatest video game anti-heroes of all time based on writing, characterization, development, moral ambiguity, flaws, relatability, and overall quality.
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10
Geralt of Rivia
‘The Witcher’ Games (2007–Present)
Geralt unyielding his sword in The Witcher III: Wild HuntImage via CD Projekt
Fantasy games take one of two approaches: either a whimsical world full of adventure, or a dark and bleak existence. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is part of the latter, meaning there are many anti-heroes, including the protagonist, Geralt of Rivia. As a Witcher, he faces constant discrimination, yet he continues to do whatever job he is paid to do, simply existing for monster hunting and coin.
However, his motives and goals evolve far beyond monster hunting and coin later in the series, with him trying to protect Ciri and needing to choose lesser evils. His personality and cynical views shaped by the bleak world can’t help but steer his decisions even if he wants to do the right thing, making him a fantastic protagonist in one of the best video games of the past century.
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9
Scorpion (Hanzo Hasashi)
‘Mortal Kombat’ Games (1992–Present)
Scorpion launching a chain in Mortal KombatImage via NetherRealm Studios
Mortal Kombat is one of the greatest fighting game franchises of all time, and any good fighting game needs a roster of engaging characters. Mortal Kombat has a lot of brutal personalities, but the one who sticks out the most is Scorpion. After his family was murdered by Sub-Zero, he spends the rest of his life and afterlife hunting him down until he can drag Sub-Zero into hell.
Scorpion used to just be a badass video game character who said “get over here,” but the modern reboot has evolved him into an anti-hero. He doesn’t give up on killing or his revenge, but it is a sort of noble vengeance that drives him. By the end of the games, he has restored his clan, come to terms with his past atrocities, and made peace with the younger version of Sub-Zero.
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8
Wario
‘Super Mario’ Games (1985–Present)
Wario angrily dancing in Wario WareImage via Nintendo
Most anti-heroes are meant to be taken seriously, as they are deeply flawed, compelling, and they work best in a mature setting. However, Wario proves that even silly characters can be anti-heroes. He doesn’t have too big of a focus on many narratives, but his greed drives every instinct in his body, whether that makes him an enemy or an ally of Mario and friends.
Maybe Wario is still villainous, but that is just because of his unwavering greed, which can also make him do good, even if he doesn’t mean it. He is the definition of a selfish video game character whose goals only lie in personal motivation. Wario is a fun parody and too stubborn to lose, proving why he is a beloved video game character.
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7
Kazuma Kiryu
‘Yakuza’ Games (2005–Present)
Kazuma Kiryu with a cigarette in his mouth walking down the street in the intro to ‘Yakuza 0’Image via SEGA
The Yakuza franchise is one of the most bizarre, but players can’t help but get sucked into its world and characters, such as the anti-hero Kazuma Kiryu. He is a yakuza enforcer who operates outside the law, which doesn’t sound too anti-hero-like until fans learn about his moral code and the fact that he doesn’t even want to be a yakuza member.
Despite surrounding himself with yakuza and a villainous life, Kiryu aims to free himself of these shackles, deconstructing the glorification of organized crime. He is a bright anomaly inside the underworld, trying his best to do the right thing when he is forced to be the bad guy, highlighting his character arc and unwavering good inside him.
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6
Max Payne
‘Max Payne’ Games (2001–2012)
max-payne-socialImage via Rockstar Games
Rockstar Games is known for making morally ambiguous games with anti-hero protagonists, with a couple on this list, starting with Max Payne. After a group of junkies murders his wife and child, Max has nothing else to live for and decides to go on a killing spree. His rampage takes him through the underworld of New York City, getting back on anyone who is even remotely evil.
If “Woe Is Me” were a character, it would be Max Payne, who constantly suffers in his own grief and despair. Killing hundreds of people isn’t exactly a good thing, but at least none of them are considered good people. His suicidal mission is driven completely by revenge, grief, and depression, which results in one of the best action video games of all time.
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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Personality Quiz Which Sci-Fi Hero Are You Most Like? Paul Atreides · Captain Kirk · Princess Leia · Ellen Ripley · Max Rockatansky
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Five iconic heroes. Five completely different ways of facing an impossible universe. One of them shares your instincts, your values, and your particular way of refusing to back down. Eight questions will tell you which one.
🏜️Paul Atreides
🖖Capt. Kirk
✊Princess Leia
🔦Ellen Ripley
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🔥Max Rockatansky
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01
How do you lead when the stakes couldn’t be higher? The way you lead under pressure is the most honest thing about you.
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02
What is your greatest strength in a crisis? The quality that keeps you alive when everything else fails.
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03
What is the thing you’d sacrifice everything else for? Your deepest motivation is your truest compass.
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04
How do you relate to the people around you? Who you are to others under pressure is who you really are.
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05
You’re facing a threat that no one else believes is real. What do you do? How you respond when you’re the only one who sees it defines everything.
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06
What has your heroism cost you personally? Every hero pays. The question is what — and whether they’d pay it again.
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07
How do you feel about the rules of the world you’re in? Every hero has a relationship with the system. What’s yours?
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08
When everything is on the line, what keeps you going? The answer is the most honest thing about you.
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Your Hero Has Been Identified Your Sci-Fi Hero Is…
Your answers point to the iconic sci-fi hero who shares your instincts, your values, and your particular way of facing the impossible.
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Arrakis · Dune
Paul Atreides
You carry a weight most people would crumble under — the knowledge of what you’re capable of, and the burden of what you might have to become.
You see further ahead than others and you plan accordingly, even when the vision frightens you.
You are driven by loyalty to your people and a sense of destiny you didn’t ask for but can’t escape.
Paul Atreides is not simply a hero — he is someone who understands the cost of power and chooses to bear it anyway.
That gravity, that willingness to carry what others won’t, is exactly you.
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USS Enterprise · Star Trek
Captain Kirk
You lead with instinct, warmth, and an absolute refusal to accept a no-win scenario — because you’ve always believed there’s a third option nobody else has thought of yet.
You take the mission seriously without ever taking yourself too seriously.
Your crew would follow you anywhere, not because you demand it, but because you’ve earned it.
Kirk’s genius isn’t tactical — it’s human. He reads people, bends rules with purpose, and wills outcomes into existence through sheer conviction.
That combination of warmth, audacity, and relentless optimism is unmistakably yours.
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The Rebellion · Star Wars
Princess Leia
You are the kind of person who holds the line when everyone else is losing faith — not because you’re fearless, but because giving up simply isn’t something you’re capable of.
You lead through conviction. Your voice carries because your belief is unshakeable.
You gave up everything ordinary the moment you chose the cause, and you’ve never looked back.
Leia is not a supporting character in her own story — she is the moral centre of the entire rebellion.
That same fierce, principled, unbreakable core is what defines you.
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The Nostromo · Alien
Ellen Ripley
You are not reckless, not grandiose, and not particularly interested in being anyone’s hero — you just refuse to stop when it matters.
You see threats clearly, you document the truth even when no one listens, and when the time comes you handle it yourself.
Ripley’s heroism is earned, not performed. She doesn’t have a speech — she has a flamethrower and a plan.
You share her composure under the worst possible pressure, and her refusal to pretend the monster isn’t there.
When it counts, you don’t flinch. That’s everything.
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The Wasteland · Mad Max
Max Rockatansky
You have been through fire that would break most people — and what came out the other side is something the world underestimates at its peril.
You don’t ask for help, don’t need validation, and don’t wait for anyone to tell you the rules no longer apply.
Your loyalty, when it finally arrives, is absolute — but it’s earned in silence and tested in action, not in words.
Max is not a nihilist. He is someone who lost everything and found, against his will, that he still has something worth protecting.
That bruised, stubborn, ultimately human core is exactly yours.
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5
Booker DeWitt
‘BioShock Infinite’ (2013)
Booker and Elizabeth in ‘BioShock: Infinite’Image via 2K Games
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There aren’t many morally righteous characters in the BioShock franchise at all, and who would be with society looking like that? But it seems the best there can be is Booker DeWitt, the protagonist of BioShock Infinite. He is a disgraced agent and a veteran who sold his daughter to pay off his debts, but he takes on a job to rescue a girl named Elizabeth to free himself of his financial issues.
Booker is a definitive example of what an anti-hero should be. He drives the story through his selfish goals and features a troubled backstory where he was clearly in the wrong. Yet despite his shortcomings, he forms an authentic bond with Elizabeth and fights the true evil in this world. By the end of BioShock Infinite, Booker is a complicated character who must make the toughest sacrifice ever, completing his character arc.
4
Shadow the Hedgehog
‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Games (1991–Present)
Rogue the Bat and Sonic the Hedgehog in a cutscene from ‘Shadow Generations’.Image via SEGA
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Wario isn’t the only character on this list from a platforming franchise, as Shadow the Hedgehog is just as iconic from the Sonic the Hedgehog game series. He was created in order to be the perfect lifeform, but this gave him a cynical life view, and when the only light in his world died, he lost all goodwill. However, he slowly gains it back, switching between villain and hero depending on the game.
Shadow the Hedgehog used to be a full-fledged villain, but he is such a universally beloved character that he now adopts more of an anti-hero role. He serves as a perfect foil to Sonic, only making a noble sacrifice after remembering his past. However, since his original appearance, Shadow has worked together with Sonic for good while maintaining his dark and edgy style.
3
Joel Miller
‘The Last of Us’ Games (2013–Present)
Joel Miller and Ellie Williams hiding from Hunters in an abandoned shop in Last of Us Pt. IImage via Naughty Dog
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Some of the best anti-heroes are also part of the greatest video game narratives, including the top three characters on this list, starting with Joel Miller from The Last of Us. After watching his family die in the zombie apocalypse, he is a grizzled veteran who does whatever it takes to survive. But his paternal instincts kick back in when he must escort Ellie across the country and help find a cure.
The years of fighting for his life pushed him to do evil things, but it was all necessary for his survival. This is especially seen as his bond with Ellie grows over the course of the game. He softens up and begins to feel again, but this love is exactly what makes him an anti-hero. Joel acts based on selfish love, ending in a shocking plot twist that remains a staple in the community, highlighting why The Last of Us is an influential video game.
2
Arthur Morgan
‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ (2018)
Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2Image via Rockstar Games
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As mentioned, Rockstar Games loves their flawed protagonists, and their greatest one yet is Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2. He is the leader of a cowboy gang set in 1899, the dying era of the Wild West. When Arthur learns of his tuberculosis, he sets out on one final adventure across the American Frontier in search of redemption, to make up for all the bad he has done.
Arthur’s change of heart doesn’t come from some awakening, but through the bleak reality of his impending doom. He has done many bad things, but his one last mission is to leave the Earth having done something good for once: saving John Marston and his family. Unfortunately, his redemption comes too late, cementing him as a profound character in an unforgettable narrative.
1
Kratos
‘God of War’ Games (2005–Present)
Christopher Judge as Kratos in ‘God of War: Ragnarok’Image via PlayStation Studios
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Kratos is one of the greatest video game characters of all time, and while he definitely wasn’t an anti-hero in the original God of War games, the 2018 reboot made him into one. After a life of murder and killing, he was exhausted from it all and left for a Norse region where he fell in love and had a child. Unfortunately, the death of his wife and attacks by the gods bring back his old habits.
Throughout the game, Kratos tries to be a good father, but he can’t help but be harsh due to his past nature and the dire situation. He begins to let go of his old selfish reasons for killing and does it to protect Atreus. Still, his growth is earned because Kratos remains a brutal killer who tries to better himself, yet can’t fully commit, highlighting why God of War has the best character development in gaming history.
What a year it’s been for Tom Hardy, who was once again battling allegations that he could be a troublesome presence on set following the news that he had been fired from MobLand. The rumors of Hardy’s firing have since been put to bed, and it’s been confirmed that he will return as Harry Da Souza, should the show be renewed for Season 3. He will also be seen in Season 2 of the show, which begins streaming in less than two months, on September 18. Hardy is fresh off his three-time role as Eddie Brock in the Venom movies, which never quite managed to win the hearts of critics. However, this wasn’t an issue for Sony, as the studio pocketed over $1.5 billion from the franchise over the course of three movies.
We’re now more than 10 years removed from the biggest year of Tom Hardy’s career, when he starred in two of the biggest projects of his life. Hardy earned his first and only Oscar nomination for his performance as John Fitzgerald in The Revenant, the sweeping Western epic directed by Alejandro G. Iñárittu, who is soon to direct Tom Cruise in Digger. However, back in 2015, Hardy also starred in the most successful sci-fi movie of his career, Mad Max: Fury Road, which was written and directed by the great George Miller. Mad Max: Fury Road won six Oscars at the 2016 Academy Awards, including Best Film Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Hair and Makeup, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Production Design. All these years later, Mad Max: Fury Road is still a streaming super-hit, solidifying it as one of the most successful streaming movies of Tom Hardy’s career.
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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
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Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
🌧️Blade Runner
🏜️Dune
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🚀Star Wars
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01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
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02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
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03
What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
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04
How do you deal with authority you don’t trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
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05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
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06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
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07
Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.
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08
What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
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Your Fate Has Been Calculated You’d Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
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The Resistance, Zion
The Matrix
You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.
You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.
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The Wasteland
Mad Max
The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.
You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
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Los Angeles, 2049
Blade Runner
You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.
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Arrakis
Dune
Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.
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A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Star Wars
The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
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What Is ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ About?
The official synopsis for Mad Max: Fury Road reads as follows: “In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) is captured by the tyrannical Immortan Joe and forced into servitude. When rebel warrior Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) leads a daring escape with Joe’s five wives, Max joins her explosive fight for freedom. Racing across the desert in a war party of chrome and fire, they battle for survival, redemption, and a chance at a better future.” Mad Max: Fury Road earned a nearly perfect score of 97% from critics to pair with a solid 86% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. The film grossed over $380 million at the box office against a $150 million budget — it was a success, but not as much as the reviews might allude to. It was once streaming on HBO Max before being removed from the platform.
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Check out Mad Max: Fury Road on VOD platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Hardy’s future projects.
Liam Neeson had a period, a golden age if you will, where he was the King of Geriaction. Hollywood had decided, after Taken proved to be a bizarrely big hit, that Big Liam could be dropped into absolutely any dangerous situation and audiences would happily watch him fight his way out. Kidnappers, terrorists, unruly passengers, angry commuters — the opposition didn’t matter as long as Neeson punched someone. But along the way, one of the best movies from Neeson’s unexpected transformation into an action star barely resembles the films that followed it.
More than a decade after its release, Joe Carnahan’s relentlessly bleak survival thriller, The Grey, remains one of the most overlooked movies of Neeson’s career and an essential streaming watch. The Grey currently carries an impressive 81% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, and while it was a success when it arrived in 2012, the movie has become somewhat lost among the seemingly endless action thrillers Neeson subsequently made. That’s a shame, because The Grey is considerably more ambitious than its wonderfully straightforward “Liam Neeson versus wolves” reputation suggests.
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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
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Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
🌧️Blade Runner
🏜️Dune
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🚀Star Wars
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01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
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02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
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03
What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
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04
How do you deal with authority you don’t trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
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05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
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06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
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07
Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.
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08
What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
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Your Fate Has Been Calculated You’d Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
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The Resistance, Zion
The Matrix
You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.
You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.
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The Wasteland
Mad Max
The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.
You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
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Los Angeles, 2049
Blade Runner
You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.
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Arrakis
Dune
Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.
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A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Star Wars
The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
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‘The Grey’ Is Much More Than Liam Neeson Fighting Wolves
Neeson stars as John Ottway, a sharpshooter employed to protect oil workers in Alaska from wolves. When the plane carrying Ottway and several workers crashes deep in the frozen wilderness, the survivors suddenly find themselves stranded miles from civilization. The weather is trying to kill them. Their injuries are trying to kill them. And, yes, an extremely territorial pack of wolves is also trying to kill them.
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The Grey performed respectably at the box office, earning approximately $81 million worldwide against a reported $25 million production budget. Critics were particularly impressed, with its 81% Rotten Tomatoes score making it one of the best-reviewed films from Neeson’s post-Taken action run.
The Grey also stars Frank Grillo (Tulsa King) as John Diaz, Dermot Mulroney (Zodiac) as Jerome Talget, Dallas Roberts (The Walking Dead) as Pete Hendrick, Joe Anderson(Across the Universe) as Todd Flannery, Nonso Anozie (Game of Thrones) as Jackson Burke, James Badge Dale (The Departed) as Luke Lewenden, and Ben Bray (Gone Baby Gone) as Hernandez.
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