If you’re looking for the best quality sports documentaries, HBO Max is the place to go.

The top streamer’s sports documentary content is easily just as good as their prestige narrative shows. The platform features fascinating stories about legends like Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods and Serena Williams.

This May, Watch With Us has added two excellent new sports docuseries to our list.

Our first pick is Born to Bowl, which chronicles the fascinating and eccentric world of professional bowling.

We also recommend The Dark Wizard, centering on the shocking physical feats of daredevil Dean Potter.

Related: One of the Best Sci-Fi Remakes Ever Made Is Leaving HBO Max Soon

At the end of January, Dredd will be leaving HBO Max, and if you love action, this is one movie you’re not going to want to miss. This is the second adaptation of the British comic book Judge Dredd, following the 1995 film starring Sylvester Stallone. The earlier film clearly had a much bigger budget […]

Advertisement

‘Born to Bowl’ (2026)

Born to Bowl follows five stars of professional bowling: Kyle Troup, Anthony Simonsen, EJ Tackett, Cameron Crowe and Jason Belmonte, who are each striving for glory and prize money while competing on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. Narrated by Liev Schreiber, the five-part series travels from event to event alongside these five bowlers, showcasing their expertise, struggles, and the many colorful personalities that come with a life enmeshed in the world of pro bowling.

Born to Bowl offers an inside glimpse at a less mainstream sport that is no less fascinating — perhaps even more so. As with any sport, there’s plenty of high-stakes drama and engaging characters, and the series does an excellent job of toeing the line between expressing genuine affection for bowling and not taking itself too seriously. Born to Bowl manages to be an excellent sports documentary for both those familiar with the subject matter and those who are totally new to it.

‘The Dark Wizard’ (2026)

Notorious thrill-seeker and extreme athlete Dean Potter had always walked a fine line between life and death through his various stunts, from free-soloing to BASE jumping and highlining — until Potter could no longer get away with cheating death, and tragically passed away in 2015 after attempting a proximity wingsuit flight. The Dark Wizard examines Potter’s life as an impossible athlete while also taking a look at his haunted interior life, plagued by complicated relationships and psychological struggles that contributed to his dangerous obsession with testing the limits of human physicality.

This compelling four-part documentary isn’t just a great sports documentary: it’s a raw, intimate portrait of mental health struggles, obsession, talent and self-destruction. The series does an excellent job exploring Potter’s motivations through his journals, archival footage and interviews with friends and fellow climbers to paint an image of a man who felt a strong and deadly compulsion to come as close to death as possible.

‘BS High’ (2023)

In August 2021, a blowout loss of 58-0 between IMG Academy and a Columbus, Ohio, high school football team called the Bishop Sycamore Centurions was televised nationally on ESPN, a loss so preposterous it led to an investigation into the so-called Bishop Sycamore High School. After a three-year investigation, it was ultimately uncovered that Bishop Sycamore High School was, in fact, a scam. The aptly named BS High chronicles this shocking scandal, with appearances from journalists, former players, school sports investigator Ben Ferree, the infamous Centurions coach Roy Johnson and Johnson’s former colleagues.

BS High is a fascinating, frustrating examination of fraud, exploitation and the people who commit it, allowing the perpetrators to speak out and lay out in explicit terms why they did what they did. The film isn’t just about sports, but about how a confident conman deluded primarily Black American men into believing that their football dreams were not yet far gone — and how even after he was caught, he hardly shows any remorse for what he did.

‘The Day Sports Stood Still’ (2021)

The Day Sports Stood Still takes a look at the unprecedented shutdown of American college and professional sports back in March 2020 and the immediate fallout. Chiefly, it examines the many high-profile athletes who became outspoken critics of the police while advocating for other social justice issues, following the multiple, highly publicized instances of racial injustice that occurred within the country over the ensuing months. Emmy-winning director Antoine Fuqua (who also helmed What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali) guides audiences through this riveting story.

This documentary captures with vivid detail the emotional, political and social upheaval that took place during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide shutdown. Fuqua does a fantastic job of centering the athletes’ perspectives, which allows for their raw insights on the pandemic and their involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement. The Day Sports Stood Still is both a gripping and necessary time capsule into a historic moment in American history.

‘LFG’ (2021)

Three months before the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, a lawsuit was leveled against the U.S. Soccer Federation by the players for pay discrimination. LFG (which stands for the US women’s soccer team’s rallying cry, “Let’s f–king go”) follows Megan Rapinoe, Jessica McDonald, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O’Hara, Christen Press, Sam Mewis and Julie Foudy as they seek to gain equal pay, while the documentary interweaves their demanding and impressive athletic careers in addition to their record-breaking 2019 World Cup victory. However, these ladies have plenty of courage and resilience in addition to physical strength, and LFG explores what it’s like for them to be at the center of radical social change.

Whether you’re a soccer fan or you aren’t, LFG is a captivating documentary about a fascinating piece of modern sports history. The movie is as charismatic as the courageous women at the center of the narrative, and while the film careens towards an unavoidably frustrating conclusion, the path to getting there is riveting and invigorating. The film features exciting sports footage, news coverage and revealing interviews with the players themselves.

‘Being Serena’ (2018)

Serena Williams is a living legend on the tennis court, having won four Olympic gold medals, 39 Grand Slam titles and the most women’s singles matches in Grand Slam history. However, the celebrity athlete had managed to keep coverage around her private life relatively low-key until she announced the pregnancy of her first child in 2017 with then-fiancé Alex Ohanian. Thus, the five-part Being Serena gives viewers an intimate look at Williams like never before, exploring her pregnancy, motherhood and marriage, which she somehow manages to balance with being a sports icon and businesswoman.

Being Serena is an engrossing and refreshingly “warts and all” portrait of a star athlete learning to find herself again in her new identity. The film features intimate footage of Williams adapting to being a wife and mother after mounting an incredible career in sports. However, Being Serena is also honest about the immense struggles that Williams faced during her traumatic pregnancy, birth and postpartum, but ultimately she defied the odds and mounted a successful comeback merely ten months after the birth of her daughter, Alexis.

‘Alex vs. ARod’ (2025)

The polarizing career of baseball’s Alex Rodriguez is told in this riveting, three-part documentary comprised of intimate interviews with Rodriguez himself. At only 18 years old when he was drafted, Rodriguez soon seemed poised to take over the game of baseball when he hit the majors in 1994. He signed a record-high contract to join the Texas Rangers in 2000, but turned to steroids after he joined the Yankees in 2004. When it was discovered, he was exiled — though not without trying to lie his way out first.

A self-described “recovering narcissist,” Alex vs. ARod is a very honest interrogation of Rodriguez’s drug use and public deception as opposed to a sterling celebration of his career highlights. With the needling of director Gotham Chopra, Rodriguez ultimately gets refreshingly candid about his choices and where they stemmed from. Alex vs. ARod is a fascinating and illuminating look at failure and recovery.

‘Charlie Hustle and the Matter of Pete Rose’ (2024)

Baseball player Pete Rose was banned from Major League Baseball in 1989, when it was discovered he was betting on games while he was the manager for the Cincinnati Reds. Since then, Rose has attempted to lobby against his ban but has not seemed penitent for his actions. Charlie Hustle and the Matter of Pete Rose is an illuminating look at the star and all-time hits leader’s career in the sport while it searches for Rose’s own path to redemption.

This four-part documentary includes never-before-seen interviews with the late Rose that depict him as a man who is still far too unwilling to atone for his sins even over thirty years later, and director Mark Monroe catches him in several lies, going as far as to interrogate him over his statutory rape allegation. It’s a sobering, but compelling, portrait of fame, desperation and denial.

‘What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali’ (2019)

Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day), this documentary chronicles the life and legacy of boxing star Muhammad Ali. The film charts Ali’s rise to heavyweight greatness, through the height of his career as a champion boxer and leading into his later life as an icon and social activist. Through his many challenges, clashes, victories and setbacks, Fuqua paints a portrait of a man who became a legend and ultimately a symbol of humanity and peace.

Despite being nearly three hours, the film never feels excessive. Using archival footage, Ali is allowed to tell his own story through numerous interviews, which plainly reveal the professional and personal contradictions of a man who is easy to mythologize, but was ultimately just a man — and one whose ego occasionally threatened to overtake him. Thus, his larger-than-life status is both humanized and immortalized in this engaging story of a captivating life.

‘Tiger’ (2021)

Based on the 2018 biography Tiger Woods, Tiger is a two-part miniseries that examines the iconic golfer’s rise, fall and ultimate return to the green. The documentary examines Tiger Woods’ relationship with his father and how it affected his career, as well as his 2009 cheating scandal. Tiger paints a portrait of a gifted athlete whose dedication and craft brought him untold fame and also untold excess, leading him down a dark spiral that he managed to triumphantly return from with his win at the 2019 Masters.

Instead of featuring testimony and perspective from the man himself, Tiger utilizes interviews with people in Woods’ orbit. This includes his former caddie Steve Williams, his ex-girlfriend, Bryant Gumbel, Nick Faldo, and even Rachel Uchitel — the journalist and media personality involved in Woods’ cheating scandal. Even though Tiger lacks Woods’ voice, it is no less an exceedingly in-depth and revealing look at the golf celebrity, one that reveals his flaws in a way that exposes his own humanity.

‘Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals’ (2010)

Beginning at the 1979 NCAA championship game, star athletes Magic Johnson and Larry Bird established their years-spanning rivalry. After Johnson’s team, the Michigan State Spartans, defeated Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores in 1979, Johnson got drafted to play with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Bird went to the Boston Celtics, eventually clinching the “Rookie of the Year” title. For years, the Celtics and the Lakers tossed the NBA Championship title back and forth between each other.

Ultimately, both men’s careers would be cut short by physical ailments: an HIV diagnosis for Johnson and a back injury for Bird. Magic and Bird: A Courtship of Rivals charts the two athletes’ rise to fame and competition with one another to their retirement and current status as real-life friends. The Peabody Award-winning documentary examines their heydays as well as the racial tensions that bolstered the rivalry between the Celtics and the Lakers, crafting a riveting story of two men vying for greatness, both ultimately undone by their own vices.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

‘Fists of Freedom: The Story of The ’68 Summer Games’ (1999)

This sports documentary from 1999 surrounds the 1968 Olympic Games that took place in Mexico City, one of America’s most culturally and socially important moments. With racial tensions flaring from a year that took the lives of both Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy, the games culminated with the historic “Black Power” salutes by winning athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos while on their victory stand.

Related: 15 Best Prime Video Sports Documentaries on Right Now (April 2026)

After a few quiet months in 2026, Amazon Prime Video is finally giving sports fans the big-name documentaries that they deserve. NBA fans have already flocked to Jerry West: The Logo, a retrospective about one of the greatest players to ever grace the league. Even golf fans have reason to celebrate with the recent premiere […]

Advertisement

Using rare archival footage in addition to interviews with Smith and other athletes like Lee Evans and George Foreman, plus activist Harry Edwards, Fists of Freedom: The Story of The ’68 Summer Games takes viewers back in time to a pivotal moment in the 20th century, and the events both before and afterwards. In the end, the two men were not welcomed back home after their defiant gesture, and it endures as a revealing portrait of respectability politics and civil rights issues that are still ongoing to this day.

By Jennifer Asencio
| Published 32 seconds ago

Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans made not only Survivor history but also some really great dramatic TV with its nefarious MrBeast appearance, which aired on April 29, 2026. Even the recap was an awesome mini-movie of the drama and conflict from the previous episode, in which Christian Hubicki was voted out.

Rick Devens, under fire after his and Christian’s fake idol antics, made an alliance with Emily Flippen, who is Kaos Kass 2.0 (referring to Kass McQuillen of Survivor: Cagayun and Survivor: Cambodia). What kind of craziness will ensue from a pairing like that? He also came clean to the tribe about the fake idol he used to bluff votes away from him and toward Christy and Coach at the pairs Tribal. This impressed Joe Hunter, who admitted out loud that was a good move.

Return Of The Survivor Auction

Then it’s time for an event, but it’s not a competition. It’s auction time! The show put a new twist on this classic Survivor challenge by making its theme Comfort or Chaos. That meant that some of the “winning” bids would lead to chaotic challenges that harken back to the days of eating gross foods like bugs and worms. Aubry Bracco, whose tagline this season has been “I’m a psycho!”, asked Jeff how many things were going up to auction, causing Jeff to quip, “Since when am I the giver of information?”

The first few items were comfort foods like French fries and milkshakes, but finally, Jeff put two items up, with the caveat that there was a catch to it. Comfort or chaos? Psycho Aubry lived up to her name by winning the bid. She practically enjoyed the grub she had to eat. It won her and Rizo Velovic chocolate chip cookies and milk to kill the taste of those yucky, meaty worms. Jonathan also had to eat a sea slug, and the shocked and disgusted look on his face upon the first bite was priceless, but he did it and won Ozzy fried chicken and mashed potatoes. He made up for it with a PBJ while poor Cirie Fields couldn’t hold her stomach.

Finally, at the end of the auction, came the momentous MrBeast appearance. He actually acted sort of like a person and less like Pinocchio before the Blue Fairy got hold of him; unleashing the fateful Beware advantage without telling anyone what it was. Suddenly, there was no more auction; it became an immunity challenge.

The Immunity Challenge On Not Crossbows

There were crossbows… wait, they were not crossbows, they were those curved rockers with the ball on top. Balance the ball on the rocker, and you win. The banter referred to “Survivor’s favorite news anchor, Rick Devens” as he tried to keep his balance in the challenge (Rizo: “Take that, Savannah Louie.” Well, she’s an ex-newscaster, so it’s okay, she’s still a Survivor favorite.). Jonathan Young did a ballerina dance when he fell off. Powerhouse Tiffany Ervin won.

Tiffany has been a sleeper with not many confessionals, but I think that is more because her domination has been in her athleticism and interactions with others, rather than in her private thoughts. People have complained Tiffany hasn’t gotten a lot of edits, and she was nearly invisible early game, but only because she has been flying under the radar until the Kamila vote, quietly attacking challenges with gusto and forging relationships that have kept the target off of her, even while her allies have been made Public Enemy Number One.

Chaos At Camp

Right now, though, Ozzy Lusth seemed like Public Enemy Number One. Jonathan tried to leverage him out with negotiations around camp, but told Devens, who told Emily. We all know how that can go already, but multiply it by the impish pair being a secret alliance. As they said, “We should not be allowed to play this game… Certainly not together!”

Stephenie got pushy in her part in it, and then transferred the attention to Cirie, since Ozzy has an idol. While this worked in Devens’ favor after his antics with the fake immunity idol, it was still chaotic as no plan survived the field of battle. And, oh yeah, did we forget that Aubry, the Psycho, is also aligned with Crazy Devens and Kaos Emily? Is this the Insanity Alliance?

Tribal Council Explodes In Accusations

Discussion during Tribal Council was explosive. Doing his best Emily imitation, Devens revealed that Steph had a steal-a-vote.

Truth bombs blew up in Tribal as Jonathan and Steph were called out for targeting Ozzy. Rizo showed off how smart and analytical he is, both reasons he got so far in both 49 and 50, by demanding of Steph that she own her actions when she denied having dropped people’s names, because it’s Survivor, and if you aren’t dropping a name to vote out, you’re not playing the game. This all took place with almost 30 minutes left to the episode, heralding the events that would follow and how complicated the game was about to become.

MrBeast Reveals His Beware Advantage

MrBeast returned and explained his Beware advantage: a coin flip, where heads would provide an immunity idol and double the jackpot while tails would send the “advantage holder” home. Crazy Devens took a big swing and took the challenge.

Once again, Pinocchio acted like a real boy as MrBeast was even more excited, having been a long-time fan. He came up with this challenge, and it made for some momentous television, especially since Devens knows how to make great TV from his off-Survivor career as a news anchor (“Take that, Savannah Louie.”).

Rick Devens Flips A Coin And Wins Big

Even the jury (Benjamin “Coach” Wade, Chrissy Hofbeck, Dee Valaderes, and Christian Hubicki) was eating popcorn like Michael Jackson watching Thriller, and to top it off, the coin took a suspenseful roll before it landed: heads. Devens wins. The entire competition has now doubled. As Rizo would say, “Cinema.”

To top it off, a Survivor fan shared an old tweet from Devens:

Well, Jack, MrBeast is about to change your life. Congratulations on a lifelong dream fulfilled.

The End Of Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick’s Survivor Run

With the stakes of the game now doubled for everyone and Devens in possession of a real immunity idol, Tribal Council immediately turned live as everyone scrambled to decide who to vote for. Stephenie’s name started blowing up as no one believed Jonathan had campaigned for Ozzy (despite him talking to all of them), so she played her steal-a-vote on Devens. Rizo even admitted that he had nothing to say when writing his vote, which, coming from this constant talker, only proves how shocking the coin flip was for the tribe.

The votes fell against Stephenie, with Aubry as the only other person to receive any, which was somewhat out of left field given the episode’s events and the targets of debate. In fact, the only votes that weren’t for Steph were from her own steal-a-vote.

MrBeast Delivered Big For Survivor

There was a lot of skepticism about the MrBeast episode. He is a personality that most people either love or hate, and I admit I’m in the latter camp. So when I say that this episode was not only compelling television thanks to his twist, that is a huge concession on my part.

As a long-time Survivor fan who hasn’t decided yet who my favorite player is in this gripping season, to have the stakes raised for some of the greatest returning personalities to be put together for the show since Heroes versus Villains only elevates this season for me. Sure, the advantages have been excessive and weird, and I am still never going to forgive Jimmy Fallon for his role in Christian’s elimination, but for drama and gameplay, this season has delivered on the promise that Survivor made to its fans when it introduced its first cutthroat season.

Catch up on all the action on Paramount Plus, which has every episode of every season of Survivor, and join the battle over the title of Sole Survivor on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. EST.

“Epistolary” refers to a work of fiction told through documents, primarily letters, diary entries, emails, or newspaper clippings. When handled well, this structure can add a lot to a book. There’s an immediacy and an intimacy to it, a sense that you’re reading private thoughts never meant for you, piecing together truth from incomplete perspectives.

Epistolary books thrive on subjectivity: unreliable voices, shifting timelines, broken memories, and gaps in the record that force us to read between the lines. In this unique sense, the best epistolary novels simulate the act of remembering, with all the messiness and bias that entails.

10

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ (1985)

Image via Anchor Books

Advertisement

“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.” The Handmaid’s Tale presents itself as a reconstructed narrative, pieced together from tapes and partial records of a woman’s life under the totalitarian regime of Gilead. Offred, stripped of her identity and reduced to her reproductive function, recounts her existence in a society built on surveillance and control. She’s leaving behind her story for someone to find in the future.

Gaps in her story become as important as what is revealed, forcing the reader to draw some of their own conclusions. Plus, because everything is filtered through Offred’s perspective, the reader is drawn into her interior life in a way that feels confessional. Finally, the novel’s “Historical Notes” section reframes Offred’s account as a recovered document. That shift highlights one of the book’s central concerns: how stories survive, and how they are interpreted once they’re removed from the context in which they were created.

9

‘The Sufferings of Young Werther’ (1774)

Image via Random House

Advertisement

“What is the human heart!” This one’s a classic by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German literature’s preeminent figure. The Sufferings of Young Werther unfolds entirely through letters written by the title character, a young man consumed by unrequited love. Addressed to his friend Wilhelm, the letters trace his emotional descent, really capturing the intensity of his feelings. His despair eventually becomes overwhelming, and the epistolary format is crucial to conveying it.

There’s no external perspective or calm counterbalance, only Werther’s voice, growing increasingly unstable. His perception becomes reality, his emotions shaping the narrative itself. As his situation worsens, the letters begin to feel less like correspondence and more like a private outlet, an attempt to impose order on feelings that are slipping beyond his control. This structure was revolutionary in its time, and hugely influenced practically every epistolary book that has followed.

8

‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ (1999)

Image via MTV Books

Advertisement

“I feel infinite.” The Perks of Being a Wallflower started as a novel, published more than a decade before writer Stephen Chbosky adapted it into a movie. In it, Charlie, an introverted high school student, writes to an anonymous recipient, documenting his experiences with friendship, love, trauma, and self-discovery. His observations are direct, often naive, but gradually deepen as he becomes more aware of himself and the world around him.

Key aspects of Charlie’s past emerge slowly, often indirectly, allowing the reader to piece together the truth alongside him. This format also gives us a front-row seat into the character’s personality quirks, thought processes, and interests; he brings up references to other coming-of-age stories like This Side of Paradise and Catcher in the Rye. On top of being a solid character study, the book also makes for an interesting snapshot of the early ’90s.

7

‘The Color Purple’ (1982)

Image via Penguin Books

Advertisement

“Dear God.” Told through letters written by Celie, first to God and later to her sister, The Color Purple traces the protagonist’s journey from abuse and silence to self-assertion and connection. The epistolary form allows Celie’s voice to evolve over time. Early letters are fragmented, tentative, reflecting her limited sense of self. The writing is simple, sometimes almost broken. But as the narrative progresses, her language becomes more confident and expressive.

The act of writing becomes a way for Celie to reclaim her voice, to define herself outside of the constraints imposed on her. In other words, the letters aren’t just a narrative device but a key part of the character’s survival. In the second half, the dual correspondence between Celie and Nettie expands the scope of the story further, touching on larger historical and cultural forces.

6

‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ (2003)

Image via Serpent’s Tail

Advertisement

“I used to think I preferred the quiet of my own company.” Another powerful book that served as the basis for a strong film. We Need to Talk About Kevin unfolds through a series of letters written by Eva to her absent husband, attempting to make sense of their son Kevin’s actions. As we read on, it becomes clear that Kevin has committed a horrific act, and Eva is left to reconstruct the path that led there.

Indeed, the main themes here are guilt and the possibility of redemption. The epistolary format creates a sense of unease. Eva’s account is detailed, reflective, yet clearly shaped by guilt and self-justification. The reader is constantly questioning her perspective, trying to discern truth from interpretation. Each letter adds a new layer, gradually reshaping the reader’s understanding of Kevin and his relationship with his mother.

5

‘What We Can Know’ (2025)

Image via Jonathan Cape

Advertisement

“I am writing this down so that it cannot disappear.” While the epistolary elements in this one are more limited than those of the other books on this list, this new novel from Atonement‘s Ian McEwan is just so good that it deserves a shout-out. The story takes place in the year 2119 in a UK that has been partially flooded due to rising sea levels. It’s presented as the academic research of a scholar searching for a missing poem that was once recited at a dinner party back in 2014.

While the narrator writes from the future, the focus is really on the present. The book is a sharp portrait of the 2010s and 2020s, touching on everything from climate change and political polarization to A.I. and even nuclear war. Along the way, the mysterious poem becomes a potent symbol for cultural loss.

4

‘House of Leaves’ (2000)

Image via Pantheon

Advertisement

“This is not for you.” House of Leaves pushes the epistolary form to its absolute limits. Structurally, it’s one of the most ambitious horror stories ever. Presented as a collection of manuscripts, footnotes, transcripts, and annotations, the novel follows the story of a house that is larger on the inside than it is on the outside, a space that defies logic and grows increasingly dangerous. Layers of narration overlap and contradict one another, creating a sense of instability that mirrors the building itself.

The reader is constantly navigating between voices, trying to determine what is real. The physical layout of the text becomes part of the experience, with pages shifting in form and direction, forcing the reader to engage with the story in a non-linear way. Ultimately, while the book is strange and challenging, it rewards those who get on its wavelength.

3

‘Frankenstein’ (1818)

Image via Penguin Classics

Advertisement

“I am malicious because I am miserable.” Frankenstein is world-famous for its simple, striking premise: a scientist creates life, only to be horrified by it. However, the structure was also very bold and innovative in its day. The book unfolds through nested narratives: letters from an explorer, Victor Frankenstein’s account, and the creature’s own perspective. This nesting of perspectives turns the book into a chain of testimonies, each one shaped by its teller.

The creature’s voice, in particular, adds depth, transforming him from a simple antagonist into something far more complex. The epistolary form resists simple answers, allowing each account to challenge the others. Is Victor a tragic overreacher or a reckless creator? Is the Creature a monster or a victim of abandonment? This structure also complements the themes around the limits of knowledge and the responsibilities that come with it.

2

‘Carrie’ (1974)

Image via Doubleday

Advertisement

“They’re all going to laugh at you!” Stephen King‘s debut horror novel is lean and punchy, clocking in at just 199 pages. Carrie White, a socially isolated teenager with telekinetic abilities, becomes the center of a story that escalates from bullying to catastrophe. Structurally, Carrie combines traditional narrative with a collage of documents, including news reports, interviews, and excerpts from books about a high school tragedy.

The epistolary elements were added later, as the original version of the manuscript was too short, but they create an interesting tension, as we know that something awful will happen; we’re just not yet sure what. They also reinforce the novel’s themes of misunderstanding and marginalization. Carrie is never fully understood by the people around her, and even after the fact, the documents struggle to capture the reality of her experience.

1

‘Dracula’ (1897)

Image via Constable & Robinson Ltd.

Advertisement

“The blood is the life.” Dracula is perhaps the definitive epistolary novel. The plot follows Count Dracula’s attempt to spread his influence beyond Transylvania, and the group of individuals who come together to stop him. Bram Stoker constructs this dark tale from multiple viewpoints, cobbled together from letters (particularly those by Jonathan Harker and Mina), diary entries, ship logs, and newspaper clippings. Early entries hint at danger without fully revealing it; later ones confirm fears and escalate the stakes.

This structure significantly adds to the realism, too. By presenting the story through “documents,” Stoker creates the illusion that these events have been recorded and preserved. The inclusion of mundane details like dates, locations, and daily routines grounds the supernatural elements in a recognizable world. This approach is perfect for a story about the clash between modernity and the shadowy past.

Whew, chile! It looks like there’s no bad blood left between ‘Baddies’ stars Big Lex and Tavii Babii. The two castmates were recently seen celebrating Tavii’s birthday following their explosive physical altercation on her birthday one year prior.

Related: No More Big 3? ‘Baddies’ Star Big Lex Seemingly Closes The Chapter With Summer None Other & Bad Dolly

Big Lex And Tavii Babii Celebrate Together In Birthday Post

On Saturday, May 2, fans were caught off guard after Big Lex took to Instagram to publicly wish her co-star Tavii Babii a happy birthday. In the video, the two reality stars were seen partying together at a club, appearing happy and in good spirits. At one point, Lex turned the camera toward Tavii, offering her birthday wishes, as both women smiled and hugged. In the caption, Big Lex wrote, “Happy Birthday 🫶🏽💕,” followed by, “came a long way 🤣🎂,” hinting at their rocky history.

Previous Birthday Fight on ‘Baddies Africa’ Sparked Feud

Just one year ago, the two were far from friendly, which is why their recent link-up has surprised many fans. During the 2025 season of ‘Baddies Africa,’ tensions between Big Lex and Tavii Babii escalated, ultimately leading to a physical fight, which notably took place on Tavii’s birthday. The moment quickly became one of the season’s most talked-about incidents. Following the altercation, Big Lex addressed the situation in a confessional, saying, “F your birthday,” a quote that circulated widely online and fueled ongoing fan discourse about their feud.

Social Media Reacts

Social media users quickly flooded The Shade Room Teens’ comment section with reactions:

Instagram user @inamamadina wrote, “Oh so she don’t get punched for her birthday this year? Love to see it fr 😭💯”

Another Instagram user @notbriannamyaaa wrote, “No shade if you give me a black eye on my birthday I’ll be damned if I’m buddy buddy with you on the next one 😂😂😂😂”

While Instagram user @thedollx___ wrote, “That’s hilarious last year on her bday she got done up by Lex 😂”

Instagram user @msjassmariee wrote, “Tavii been wanting to be Lex friend tho fr Lex was holding the beef fr tavii be wanting to be a girls girl with everyone fr idk”

Another Instagram user @iamyanidadon wrote, “GROWTH! Their beef wasn’t even that deep anyways 🤷🏽‍♀️”

While Instagram user @aysishx wrote, “Tavi just need friends so bad cause girl please”

Instagram user @doitlikeday_ wrote, “if you can’t beat em friend em huh 😭”

Another Instagram user @_n.ukiyoz wrote, “A year ago since she got beat on her birthday huh”

While Instagram user @tharlnae wrote, “Lex the birthday, Tavi the piñata 😂”

Related: Jaidyn Alexis Clowns ‘Baddies’ Chain After Natalie Nunn Calls Her The “Biggest Disappointment” In The Series (WATCH)

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are turning up the heat ahead of the Met Gala 2026, and it’s starting before the red carpet even rolls out. The power couple is reportedly taking their Met Gala involvement to the next level by hosting a private, invite-only pre-party in the days leading up to fashion’s biggest night.

According to reports, invitations have already been sent out for the ultra-exclusive event, though key details, including the guest list and location, are being kept tightly under wraps. That secrecy is only adding to the intrigue, with insiders already buzzing about what could become one of the most talked-about gatherings of the weekend.

Bezos and Sánchez aren’t just throwing parties, but they’re playing a major role in the 2026 event itself. The duo is serving as lead sponsors and honorary co-chairs, placing them at the center of both the glamour and the growing controversy surrounding this year’s Met Gala. Much of the criticism centers around the couple’s roles, with some questioning how much influence they may have over one of fashion’s most influential fundraisers.

Bezos’ Met Gala Ties Spark Backlash As Protest Posters Call Out Amazon’s Alleged Practices

Adding to the tension are Amazon’s broader political and business ties, including reported connections to Donald Trump’s administration, a point that has sparked debate within both the fashion world and beyond.

In the weeks leading up to the event, protest posters have appeared across New York City calling for a boycott of the gala. The messaging references allegations about working conditions in Amazon fulfillment centers and claims about the company’s relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), allegations Amazon has denied.

“The Bezos Met Gala: Brought to you by worker exploitation,” one poster read, while another claimed the 2026 event was “brought to you by the firm that powers ICE.”

NYC Mayor Skips Met Gala 2026 Amid Jeff Bezos Backlash, Cites Focus On Affordability

The controversy surrounding Bezos and Sánchez’ involvement in the Met Gala 2026 is even spilling into local politics. Zohran Mamdani revealed he plans to skip this year’s event altogether, citing a desire to focus on more pressing issues affecting New Yorkers. “That’s what I’m looking to spend a lot of my time focused on,” he said, referring to affordability concerns in the city.

According to reports, Mamdani emphasized that his priority remains tackling the rising cost of living, rather than attending one of the most exclusive nights in fashion.

Zendaya To Skip Met Gala 2026

Zendaya will reportedly sit out the Met Gala 2026, marking a noticeable absence from one of fashion’s most high-profile nights. According to reports, the decision is tied to her packed schedule and a desire to step back from constant public appearances during an especially busy stretch in her career.

The Met Gala, hosted annually by The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, has long been a major moment on the global fashion calendar, making her absence all the more notable. Still, her decision hasn’t stopped speculation. Some online chatter has suggested her absence could be linked to the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeff Bezos’ involvement in this year’s event, though there has been no confirmation of that connection.

Meryl Streep Also Reportedly Skipping Met Gala 2026

Meryl Streep is another major name rumored to be sitting out the Met Gala 2026, though her absence may not come as a surprise. A representative for the “Mamma Mia!” star said, “Meryl has been invited to the Met Gala for many years but has never attended. While she appreciates Vogue, Anna, and her incredible imagination and stamina, it has never quite been her scene.”

The statement comes amid speculation that Streep was invited to take on a larger role this year, with reports suggesting she was asked to co-chair the event but declined. Some have linked that decision to the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeff Bezos’ involvement, though that has not been confirmed.

The 2026 Met Gala takes place on Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Some of the most popular actors of all time are action stars, such as Tom Cruise and Arnold Schawrzaneggar, and these icons feature in some of the most universally beloved films ever, such as Mission: Impossible and The Terminator. However, among the modern-day action legends, Jason Statham stands out as a definitive actor with some of the most entertaining action movies under his belt. Delivering hard-hitting, gritty action with a pinch of witty remarks, fans can never get enough Statham.

Statham has an extensive filmography with many beloved classics, mostly action movies that get the adrenaline pumping. Despite being an incredible actor, not everyone is a fan of every single movie of his, which is why this list will rank his seven most universally beloved films. Based on entertainment value, pacing, broad appeal, comedy, originality, acting, directing, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality, these films are masterpieces that almost everyone can agree are fantastic movies.

7

‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw’ (2019)

The Fast & Furious franchise is one of the highest-grossing cinematic universes ever, and while Statham isn’t a main character, he has appeared in a handful, including Furious 7, which was left out of this list, and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw. Shaw (Statham) is a rogue operative, but he must work with lawman Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) when a new threat arises, a cybernetically advanced anarchist who has access to one of the most powerful weapons in the world.

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw may not be the most Statham-esque film, but its broad appeal makes it much more widely appreciated than his other films. By reaching into a new demographic, this movie introduced a whole new side of Statham while maintaining his grizzled action star style and dry humor. The buddy cop dynamic between Statham and Johnson is electrifying, which sets up this popcorn blockbuster perfectly. With over-the-top set pieces and adrenaline-fueled action, watching these two heavyweights on screen with each other is an absolute delight.

6

‘The Beekeeper’ (2024)

Image via MGM

Advertisement

Most of Statham’s defining works are from the 2000s, but he has a handful of modern hits that are sure to get the blood pumping, including the newest entry on this list, The Beekeeper. Statham plays Adam Clay, a simple man working as a beekeeper. But when he learns that his neighbor killed themselves because of a scummy fraudster, he suits up to get revenge. Revealing his identity as a former special operative, he becomes a one-man army hellbent on taking down this phishing scam and paying them back tenfold.

It hasn’t had as much time as his other iconic films to make a name for itself, but this modern action sensation was the sleeper hit of the decade, providing a surprisingly entertaining and engaging action film. Action movies are full of CGI nowadays, which makes The Beekeeper a fresh change of pace that keeps Statham’s grim determination and unrelenting presence. This cathartic action movie is an explosion of drama and thrilling fight scenes, which helped it be one of Statham’s biggest box office successes, so much so that The Beekeeper 2 is planned for 2027.

5

‘The Bank Job’ (2008)

Image via Lionsgate

Advertisement

After the success of The Italian Job, which isn’t featured on this list, Statham returns in The Bank Job, which isn’t a sequel, but delivers the same feeling, but bigger and better. Based on the real-life robbery of 1971 Baker Street, a struggling car dealer gets his chance to strike it rich with a heist. However, he realizes he hasn’t just stolen millions of dollars, but scandalous secrets of powerful figures that underground organizations and the Royal British Family would kill to retrieve.

Most fans love Statham because of his intense action movies featuring roundhouse kicks and exhilarating car chases, but The Bank Job remains a beloved movie despite lacking those aspects. With good ratings across the board, fans and critics can agree that this story gave Statham time to flex his dramatic acting chops, proving he is a versatile actor who can do action, drama, and comedy. Statham plays a vulnerable protagonist in this heist thriller, making The Bank Job a fun departure from his typical films.

4

‘Crank’ (2006)

Image via Lionsgate

Advertisement

Out of all the movies on this list, The Bank Job and Crank are two of his lesser-known masterpieces, but they are still defining works that are important to his career. Chev (Statham) is a hitman who wakes up to learn that he has been injected with a poison that will immediately kill him if his heart rate drops below a certain level. Needing to keep moving and the adrenaline pumping, Chev sets out on a fast-paced quest for revenge, taking his rampage all throughout Los Angeles.

Crank has been forgotten by many, but diehard fans universally agree that this is one of Statham’s best movies, featuring high-adrenaline action. It doesn’t get more exhilarating than this, providing non-stop high-octane action with a relentless pace of drama, absurdity, and chaos. As opposed to his gritty and grounded films, Crank is unapologetically crazy, using its B-movie premise to the fullest with an execution that can only be achieved by Statham.

3

‘Spy’ (2015)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Advertisement

A lot of these movies feel like a Statham film, but one of his most unique departures is Spy, where he gives up the leading role to Melissa McCarthy to play the charming side character. After a top CIA agent is compromised, an unassuming desk worker volunteers to go deep undercover. However, getting in her way is Rick Ford (Statham), an overly arrogant and incompetent rogue agent who wants to do everything his way.

This departure from his typical style is another welcome experience, creating his funniest movie with excellent chemistry with McCarthy. Spy is also his highest-rated movie, so critics seem to think that it is his most universally beloved film. A mainstream audience can finally experience Statham’s charm and wit in full force, parodying his own tough-guy persona, which creates a hilarious spy comedy that is perfect from start to finish.

2

‘Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels’ (1998)

Images via Gramercy Pictures

Advertisement

Guy Ritchie and Statham are an undefeated duo, with the top two movies on this list being from the pair, starting with Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. After a group of friends loses a bunch of money to a high-ranking crime boss in a high-stakes game of poker, they only have one week to collect 500,000 GBP. Their plan is to rob a ruthless gang of thieves, which will only get them into more trouble.

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is what kick-started Statham’s career, and watching his first defining work is truly a spectacle to see how far he has evolved. Still, this film is a staple of his filmography and a beloved picture by all of his fans. He wasn’t always an invincible, gritty action hero, and this movie shows that his rapid-fire wit and charming style are just as entertaining. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is a gritty and raw gangster thriller that is a cult classic among Statham fans.

1

‘Snatch’ (2000)

Image via Columbia Pictures

Advertisement

Ritchie and Statham have collaborated five times, but their best was with Snatch. On one side of the story, there is the search for a stolen 86-carat diamond, and on the other is a boxing promoter, Turkish (Statham), who must find a new boxer after his prized fighter was knocked out before his match. Chaos ensues when these two stories collide, pitting a star-studded cast against each other that features Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro, Steven Graham, and Vinnie Jones.

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch could be interchangeable, as both are early, yet unforgettable performances from Statham. But the latter wins out because more fans seem to appreciate the dynamics of some of the greatest actors alive. Universally beloved for its kinetic directing style and Statham’s dry narration, this chaotic crime film is a great thriller and comedy. Snatch is Statham’s most important film, and that legacy has made it a revered classic that defines his filmography.

Advertisement

Snatch

Advertisement

Release Date

January 19, 2001

Runtime

Advertisement

102 minutes

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The Met Gala is known for its jaw-dropping fashion and A-list guest list, but what many don’t realize is that the rules go far beyond the red carpet. Even the menu is carefully controlled. And yes, there’s actually a blacklist of foods that won’t make it anywhere near the event.

Anna Wintour Bans Garlic, Onions And Chives From Met Gala Menu To Keep Things ‘Low-Risk’

According to past reports, Anna Wintour has banned three specific ingredients from being served at the Met Gala: chives, onions, and garlic.

The reasoning is surprisingly simple, and very on-brand for fashion’s most exclusive night. All three are known for causing bad breath, something that’s less than ideal when you’re sitting inches away from celebrities, designers, and industry power players all evening. But there’s also a personal touch behind the decision. “Well, those are three things I’m not particularly fond of,” Wintour previously said.

The Met Gala isn’t just a dinner. It’s a highly curated experience where every detail is considered, including what guests eat. With couture gowns, tailored suits, and millions of dollars’ worth of fashion in one room, the last thing anyone wants is a messy dish, a lingering smell, or a wardrobe disaster. That’s why menus are designed to be clean, elegant, and low-risk, ensuring guests can mingle comfortably without worrying about spills or strong odors.

Wintour’s Strict Met Gala Rule Aims To Keep The Night Offline

The food rules go hand-in-hand with another strict policy: no phones inside the gala. Wintour has long enforced the rule to encourage real interaction over social media moments. “It’s often wonderful to hear, after dinner, people say, ‘Oh we had the most wonderful conversations,’” she explained. “So that’s the idea, that life can exist without a picture on your cell phone.” Of course, that hasn’t stopped the occasional rule-breaker, with bathroom selfies becoming a rebellious Met Gala tradition, but the intention remains the same.

Because of the no-phone policy, fans only get a glimpse of the night through official photos and red carpet coverage. That means everything from the menu to the conversations remains largely behind closed doors, adding to the mystery and exclusivity of the event.

For the 2025 Met Gala, the food was just as carefully curated as the couture on the carpet. Kwame Onwuachi, a James Beard Award–winning chef, was tapped to design the menu, bringing a deeply personal and cultural approach to the night’s dining experience.

“I was inspired by Black dandyism and the Black experience in fashion. It’s pulled from so many different avenues and routes of the diaspora,” he told Vogue at the time. “I wanted to encapsulate all of that, from the hors d’oeuvres to plated dinner at the gala.”

Still, he kept one key goal in mind: “We can be poetic as we want, but it has to be good at the end of the day.”

During cocktail hour, guests were treated to elevated takes on comfort food, with servers passing around bites like hoecakes with crispy chicken, mini chopped cheeses, cornbread topped with caviar, and curry chicken patties, a nod to Onwuachi’s signature dishes.

The 2025 Met Gala menu continued to impress with a lineup that celebrated flavors from across the diaspora. The first course featured a papaya piri-piri salad, highlighting the bold South African spice, paired with cucumbers coated in a vibrant Caribbean green-seasoning marinade.

For the main course, guests were served Creole roasted chicken with lemon emulsion, alongside rice and peas and a fresh hot sauce that brought an extra kick. Sides included BBQ collard greens with bacon and cornbread topped with honey-curry butter, blending comfort food with elevated presentation.

Dessert was just as memorable, with a Bodega Special Cosmic Brownie paired with powdered-sugar-donut mousse, as well as a golden cake served with honey sweet cream and blistered gooseberry. “All throughout the meal, there are different aspects of Blackness throughout the world represented at the highest level,” he said.

As for the Met Gala 2026, the official menu remains under wraps, but if history is any indication, it won’t disappoint. With each year bringing a carefully curated dining experience that reflects the theme, fans can expect a menu that’s just as thoughtful and artistic as the looks on the carpet.

And of course, with Anna Wintour still calling the shots, one thing is guaranteed: it’ll be elegant, intentional, and yes, completely free of garlic, onions, and chives.

While Ridley Scott has mastered the historical epic with films like Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and Napoleon, his 2021 medieval film The Last Duel didn’t click with audiences. Even with an all-star cast reuniting Matt Damon and Ben Affleck (who co-wrote the screenplay with Nicole Holofcener), the movie was a box office bomb, making just over $30 million globally according to Box Office Mojo. Not only was this a poor reception to an excellent film (one of Scott’s best in recent years), it was a harsh rejection of the movie’s grim subject matter as well as the movie to which it bears the strongest resemblance: Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon.

Rashomon is perhaps the most retold story in all of cinema. It’s most famous for its unusual structure in which an event is presented multiple times with multiple differences — some subtle and some obvious — and everybody remembers things differently. Most characters present self-serving versions of the story, in which they come off as heroic, or at least not foolish. Like Rashomon, Scott’s film covers a legal case in a centuries-old society, examining timeless questions of honor, ethics, justice, and cruelty. Even more significantly, it deals with a sexual assault, and the ramifications of taking allegations seriously versus diminishing the victim. But there is a key difference from how Rashomon treats the nature of its story.

‘Rashomon’ and ‘The Last Duel’ Are Essentially Courtroom Drama Period Pieces

Both Rashomon and The Last Duel are adapted from previous works. In the former case, Akira Kurosawa drew from a decades-old short story, “In A Grove” by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, while Ridley Scott’s film came out of Eric Jager’s nonfiction book of the same name. Rashomon’s adaptability to a variety of scenarios comes out of its almost pure, mythic narrative sensibility. There are just a handful of sets and as few characters, and they are defined by their roles and class. Where Kurosawa often found incredible kinetic movement in feudal epics like Seven Samurai, Rashomon is remarkably restrained. The movie’s central crime is abstracted through multiple narrative layers: unrelated characters are discussing the court case, and the court scenes flash back to the central characters’ recollections. There are a samurai (Masayuki Mori), his wife (Machiko Kyō), and the bandit (Kurosawa’s muse Toshiro Mifune), who assaulted her and possibly killed her husband.

The Last Duel, true to its nonfiction roots, requires more specificity. Dealing with the real story of a famous medieval French trial by combat in 1386, it follows Jean de Carrouges (Damon), his wife Marguerite (Jodie Comer), and the striving squire Jacques le Gris (Adam Driver) who is accused of raping her. As opposed to Scott’s previous and future historical epics like 1492: Conquest of Paradise or his 2010 misbegotten take on Robin Hood, the movie practically blitzes past its big battle sequences in favor of digging into the characters’ psychological ache, leaning more into the grim ambiguity of what Kurosawa’s movie offered than giving viewers clear heroes and villains. As well, it lets its characters reflect on their versions of events, breaking down Jean’s insecurity and how Jacques’ entry into the aristocracy calcified his morality. But it differs in a key point from Rashomon: it offers something like objective truth.

‘Rashomon’ Emphasized Ambiguity, but ‘The Last Duel’ Sought Truth

Films that have followed in the Rashomon tradition tend to keep the multiple retellings but usually nix the movie’s moving coda, where even the objective voice of reason turns out to be concealing aspects of the truth for personal gain. The movie’s emphasis on patriarchal violence, playing out in the mundane light of day, only adds to its ambivalent storytelling. Even The Last Duel, one of the few Rashomon descendants to follow in its darkness, gives viewers one of Ridley Scott’s best gritty action scenes with its titular trial by combat. (Kurosawa offers no such catharsis.) By the end of Rashomon, all of the lies have been revealed and even the samurai’s wife, a victim, has failed to disclose her role in her husband’s death; after her rape, she effectively encouraged a trial by combat of her own.

The most fascinating thing about The Last Duel is its portrayal of characters’ different recollections. Each of its three chapters is called “The Truth According to (x character),” setting up who is recalling what. For Jacques le Gris, the assault on Marguerite is essentially an awkward seduction, complete with chasing around the bedroom and giggles, while she remembers it traumatically. In the court system of medieval France, the accusation against him is really an accusation against Jean for allowing this to happen. Even in a situation where the woman is the victim, the movie suggests, her status as the property of a nobleman means her own truth goes untold. But we see it, and in one of the movie’s great touches, the chapter dealing with her own story is simply called “The Truth.” While Kurosawa kept it just out of reach, The Last Duel’s relationship with the truth gives the movie its stark power and social commentary.