Entertainment

Karoline Leavitt’s Kids Home With Husband Post-Maternity Leave

Published

3 hours ago

17 July 2026

Karoline Leavitt Reveals Husband Is at Home With Their Kids in 1st Briefing Since Maternity Leave

Karoline Leavitt is back at work as the White House press secretary following her maternity leave while her husband, Nicholas Riccio, holds down the fort for their two children.

“It is really good to be back with all of you,” Leavitt, 28, told reporters on Thursday, July 16, as she took the podium to brief the press for the first time since giving birth to her second baby.

When asked her “secret” to juggling motherhood and work, Leavitt confessed, “I don’t think there is a secret. You just have to show up every day and keep going.”

She then noted, “It really does take a village,” before highlighting her husband’s part in their family dynamic.

“I take the opportunity to shout out to my husband, who is home with our babies right now,” Leavitt continued. “I look forward to returning home later to be with them.”

Leavitt admitted that “It’s challenging” to have a newborn at home while she is back on the job, but added, “For me, I view this as more than a job. I view this as public service.”

Leavitt thanked the reporter for their question, concluding, “There’s nothing better than being a mother.”

Leavitt has had a big supporter in her husband, a real estate developer who runs his own company, since they met in 2022.

The pair, who have a 32-year age gap, welcomed their first child, son Niko, in July 2024. (Leavitt notoriously began working on President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign in 2024 days after giving birth.)

Karoline Leavitt Reveals Husband Is at Home With Their Kids in 1st Briefing Since Maternity Leave Inline — Nicholas Riccio and Karoline Leavitt. Al Drago/Getty Images

Leavitt and Ricco, 61, eventually tied the knot on the eve of Leavitt joining the president’s second administration in January 2025.

That December, Leavitt announced that she and Ricco were expecting their second baby together.

“The greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for — a baby girl coming in May 2026,” she shared via Instagram at the time. “My husband and I are thrilled to grow our family and can’t wait to watch our son become a big brother. My heart is overflowing with gratitude to God for the blessing of motherhood, which I truly believe is the closest thing to Heaven on Earth.”

In late April, Leavitt announced that she was starting maternity leave after conducting her “last gaggle” with the press.

“As you can see, I’m about ready to have a baby any minute, so I will see you guys very soon,” she revealed on April 24, showing off her growing baby bump.

Leavitt welcomed her daughter, Vivi, one week later on May 1.

“Our hearts instantly exploded with love. 💕,” she wrote via Instagram while announcing her baby girl’s birth, sharing a photo holding the newborn. “She is perfect and healthy, and her big brother is joyfully adjusting to life with his new baby sister. We are enjoying every moment in our blissful newborn bubble.”

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Jennifer Lopez’s ‘Maid in Manhattan’ Dress Has a $54 Lookalike

Published

10 minutes ago

17 July 2026

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 03: Jennifer Lopez attends the

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Maid in Manhattan will celebrate its 24th anniversary this December, but Jennifer Lopez is acknowledging the milestone early. In a social media carousel, she reflected on the film and her co-stars, and it’s no surprise the first slot showed the actress in that pink strapless dress. More than two decades later, we’re still obsessed with the gown, and a new arrival on Amazon confirmed that the style is forever chic.

For that wedding or special event on your calendar, the Thboeer Strapless Pleaded Dress is a modern twist on the look worn by Marisa Ventura (Lopez’s character). It has a similar strapless sweetheart neckline with horizontal bunching, and even flows into a pleated maxi that’s breezy and comfortable for all kinds of occasions.

Get the Thboeer Strapless Pleaded Dress for $54 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

We might even like the alternative better than the original because it includes a long scarf that looks incredibly elegant when draped over the back. The blush pink hue is spot-on for the Lopez’s on-screen look, but the same style also comes in 45 other colors — yes, really! — so you can nail the vibe for whatever celebration or season you’re dressing for. The $54 find is an inclusive option, too, as sizes range from 0 to 30. In fact, it would make a smart bridesmaid dress since it comes in so many colors and sizes — and looks flattering on everyone!

“Twenty-something years later and I still think about Marisa Ventura,” Lopez wrote in the Instagram caption of the 19-photo round-up. “A girl from the Bronx, playing a girl from the Bronx, who dared to dream bigger than her zip code.”

The Thboeer dress is a newer offering on Amazon, but early reviews include real-life photos that show how spot-on it is to Lopez’s version.

“It’s lightweight, comfortable, and fits true to size,” a five-star reviewer said. “The pleats flow beautifully. I felt elegant but still comfortable enough to dance the night away. Definitely a timeless piece I’ll wear again for other events!”

The next time you have a special event on the calendar, ensure you have a stunning look — with some Lopez-inspired flair! — with this all-season dress. And who knows? You might get your happily ever after, too.

Get the Thboeer Strapless Pleaded Dress for $54 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

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

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Scott Peterson: The New Evidence Docuseries: Part 1 Recap

Published

25 minutes ago

17 July 2026

NewsAdmin

Netflix and Peacock Release Dual Docs About Scott Peterson How They Compare

More than two decades after Scott Peterson was convicted of murdering his wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son, Conner, many people are not convinced that he actually committed the killings.

In light of the Los Angeles Innocence Project’s motion seeking a new trial on behalf of Scott, veteran legal analyst and defense attorney Chris Pixley investigated the case in A&E’s docuseries Scott Peterson: The New Evidence.

Keep reading to learn about the biggest bombshells revealed in part one of the docuseries, which premiered on Thursday, July 16.

Inside Scott Peterson’s Arrest

After Laci was last seen on December 24, 2002, Conner’s body was found in the San Francisco Bay on April 13, 2003, and Laci’s body was found nearby on April 14, 2003. Scott was then arrested for their murders on April 18, 2003, and he was convicted on November 12, 2004.

Scott was originally sentenced to death, but was resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2021 because potential jurors were improperly dismissed. He remains behind bars at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, California.

The Los Angeles Innocence Project’s Arguments for Scott Peterson’s Appeal

“Scott Peterson always maintained his innocence. And now the Los Angeles Innocence Project is arguing to the federal court that the constitutional basis of his conviction is not viable and that he was wrongfully prosecuted and convicted. First they’re arguing that new fetal biometric science suggests that Laci Peterson likely didn’t die on December 24, 2002. That she may not have died for many days or even weeks later,” Pixley explained in the docuseries. “If they’re right, that means that Scott Peterson is innocent.”

The LAIP’s second argument is that “new computational hydrodynamic modeling suggests that if Laci Peterson’s body had been placed in the bay in the location where Scott Peterson was fishing, her body and Connor’s body would not have been recovered where they were.”

Additionally, the organization is “challenging the integrity of the investigation.”

Visiting Scott Peterson and Laci Peterson’s Home

During the docuseries, Pixley and retired officer Ninette Toosbuy went to the Peterson’s house to understand the scene of the alleged crime. They noted that the area was very “open,” which would have made it hard for Scott to place Laci’s body into the trunk of his pickup truck without being seen by a neighbor. However, that is what police claimed he did.

Police Argued That Scott Peterson Dumped Laci Peterson’s Body During a Boat Ride

The Modesto Police Department initially argued that Scott killed Laci at their home, put her body in his car and drove her to a marina so he could drop her body in the water during a boat ride.

“The boat is problematic in a number of ways. First of all, if Peterson drove this shallow bottom boat from his warehouse to the Berkeley Marina with his wife’s body in the back, the state’s theory requires Scott to have used a boat cover to conceal Laci’s body. But the physical evidence doesn’t support that argument,” Pixley said. “The LAIP says that the boat straps show no real sign of wear and tear.”

Pixley added that it was visible at the time of day that Scott went out on the boat, making it likely he would have been seen with the body if he had it with him.

Pixley and Toosbuy both agreed that police quickly determined detectives believed Scott committed the murders because he didn’t follow all of their orders and he acted differently than Laci’s other loved ones.

However, the LAIC argued that police were “focused with tunnel vision on Scott Peterson right out of the gate.”

Scott’s former attorney, Mark Geragos, agreed and said, “They had tunnel vision that it was Scott to any logical, rational explanation otherwise.”

Inside Scott Peterson’s Interrogations

Scott was interrogated the same day that Laci went missing and the tape was released to the public. The state argued that Scott did not appear to be grieving or concerned during the interrogation, and he even took a phone call during it.

“What the public hasn’t been made aware of was that that phone call was coming in from Laci’s sister, Amy,” Pixley said.

Toosbuy said that police likely already knew they believed he was the suspect during his first interrogation.

Pixley added that Scott’s “cooperation with the police was significant,” noting that “he agreed to multiple interviews on the day of her disappearance.”

“Peterson also agreed to turn over to them all of his devices … he agreed to give them a lie detector test,” Pixley continued, noting that he never took a lie detector test because his father felt uneasy about it.

Scott Peterson Was Having an Affair Before Laci Peterson’s Death

Scott initially didn’t tell police he was having an affair with Amber Frey at the time Laci disappeared. However, Pixley argued that Scott being a cheater didn’t make him a killer.

“The fact that Scott Peterson cooperated with the police, extensively on the day of his wife’s disappearance and the days that followed, lays groundwork for a previous argument that this guy was doing everything he could to find his wife,” Pixley said.

Police Claimed That Scott Peterson Kept the Purchase of His Boat a Secret

Geragos said the theory that Scott took out the boat to get rid of Laci’s body “never made any sense.”

Prosecutors argued that Scott bought the boat with the “purpose of murdering his wife and using the boat to deposit her body in the San Francisco Bay.” However, Scott claimed he bought it for his father-in-law as a Christmas gift and he allegedly took it out on the day of Laci’s disappearance to test it out.

In 2024, the LAIC found handwritten notes in the Peterson’s home about the boat that were allegedly written by Laci and were never given to the defense team.

“If true, that means that not only was she aware of the boat, but that she participated in the purchase of accessories for the boat. And if she knew about Scott’s boat, the whole argument at the time of the trial that he premeditated her murder and purchased the boat in order to carry out the disposal of her body is false,” Pixley said.

Pixley recruited the help of an independent handwriting examiner, who confirmed the note was likely written by Laci.

Scott Peterson Was Accused of Dropping Laci Peterson’s Body in the Water

Pixley further reflected on the police’s theory that Scott dropped Laci’s body in the water during a boat ride. He explained that new science “challenges” the police’s arguments that the bodies washed up in a place that made sense for where Scott would have allegedly dropped them.

“The Los Angeles Innocence Project makes the argument that the new tidal science changes this case and undermines the reliability of the verdict here,” he said, noting that new tidal science “places the bodies being inserted in the bay from a shallow water location, like the Albany Bulb.”

Pixley went on to note that there’s “no suggestion Scott Peterson was at the Albany Bulb” and there’s “no suggestion that he drove his car out in that direction” at the time of Laci’s disappearance.

Laci Peterson’s Disappearance Was Considered a ‘Timeline Case’

Pixley said that Laci’s disappearance was considered a “timeline case.”

“The state established their entire timeline on the basis of the testimony of one person, Karen Servas, the Petersons’ neighbor. But was Karen Servas’ testimony as critical as prosecutors made it out to be?” Pixley asked.

Servas found the Petersons’ dog, McKenzie, unattended with her leash attached on the front yard on the morning of December 24. She placed the dog in the Petersons’ backyard before she went on errands.

The state argued that Laci must have been dead on the morning of December 24, which was why she didn’t take McKenzie out on her morning walk. “The state never addressed how McKenzie got a leash on in the first place, why she was out in the front yard or any alternative timeline that would’ve involved Laci preparing to go for a walk and being called back into the house,” Pixley said.

Chris Pixley Questions the Modesto Police Department’s Investigation

Pixley argued that the Modesto Police Department wasn’t qualified to handle the case because murder was uncommon in the area.

He also said that they didn’t follow up with many witnesses. “Fifteen witnesses came forward with eyewitness sightings of Laci. The sheer number of eyewitnesses, that’s compelling,” Pixley said. “The witnesses placed Laci Peterson walking her dog in her neighborhood after the time that Scott Peterson would’ve left for his warehouse and for the Berkeley Marina. The majority of the witnesses contradict Scott’s and the state’s timeline of events.”

“That’s not something you can dismiss, but it was actively being dismissed by the investigators,” Pixley said, adding that the findings “challenge” if it was a “thorough investigation” because witness testimonies were dismissed.

Pixley went on to speak to several of the witnesses, who corroborated that police never followed up to discuss their version of events when they saw Laci walking McKenzie on the day of her disappearance.

The case will continue to be broken down when part 2 of Scott Peterson: The New Evidence airs on A&E on Friday, July 17, at 8 p.m. ET.

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Why BiP’s Joe Amabile Is Having Serious Brain Surgery

Published

38 minutes ago

17 July 2026

NewsAdmin

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Bachelor in Paradise’s Joe Amabile is sharing why he opted to say yes to a potentially dangerous surgery after doctors found what appears to be a brain tumor.

Speaking to his wife, Serena Pitt, on the Thursday, July 16, episode of the “Not Married to This” podcast, Joe, 40, opened up about the tough health decisions he was unexpectedly faced with.

“I mean, there’s something in my brain. Like there’s no other way around it. Like there’s something there and that’s… you don’t want anything in your brain,” Joe said.

After sharing on Instagram earlier this week that doctors had discovered a “blueberry size lesion” on his brain, Joe is now planning surgery to remove it and have it tested.

“So, basically, it was, we’ll never know what this is by just monitoring it. We will only know by taking it out or or biopsying it,” Joe explained on the podcast. “And from my understanding, they only do biopsies in the brain if removing it is very dangerous. But where mine is located, it seems like it’s a less dangerous scale to remove it. I mean, the surgery is very dangerous.”

He continued, “Craniotomy, which is scary. It’s a serious surgery.”

Joe shared that he wanted to nip the situation in the bud after catching the potential tumor early rather than gamble with his health.

“I was pretty much like, okay to me, monitoring something that we don’t know what it is… it could potentially get worse very fast. I was kind of like, ‘I’m going to do the surgery,” he said of making the call to move forward.

Despite the seriousness of the medical procedure, Joe said he was hopeful for a positive outcome. “Hopefully they get 100% of it or at least 99.4,” he added.

Serena, 28, added that before Joe agreed to the surgery, the couple spoke with the medical experts to get their opinions.

“We did ask the neuro-oncologist and neurosurgeon separately, ‘If this was you, if you had this scan in your brain, what would you do?’ And they both without hesitation said, ‘I would take this out,’” she shared. “They said the likelihood that this is something even though it’s slow growing, it’s going to grow into something aggressive or problematic is very high.”

When Joe first shared his health news with his Instagram followers on Monday, July 13, he noted that the surgery will take place in the next two weeks.

In the social media post, Joe described experiencing “a wild couple weeks” after finding out the news.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting this,” he divulged. “I think it’s one of those things where you’re like, ‘Oh, something like this will never happen to me.’ And here I am.”

Joe gave a shout-out to New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the caption of the post.

“This past month has been a lot of ups and downs to say the least. After multiple scans and MRIs I have what looks to be an early stage brain tumor. In two weeks I’ll be undergoing a craniotomy to have it removed — yeah brain surgery — @memorialsloankettering,” he wrote. “I’m doing my best to stay positive during this time and am lucky to have a lot of support from family and friends ❤️.”

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3 Movie Masterpieces To Watch on Netflix This Weekend (July 18-19)

Published

51 minutes ago

17 July 2026

NewsAdmin

The past couple of weeks have been difficult for the box office. The likes of James Gunn and Peter Safran‘s Supergirl, Illumination‘s Minions & Monsters, and the live-action Moana movie all struggled in their theatrical debuts, showing yet again that audiences are hungry for fresh ideas. This weekend, there is almost no doubt that the biggest new arrival will be far from a disappointment, as Christopher Nolan‘s most ambitious film yet, The Odyssey, sails onto global screens. Aside from what’s going on at the box office, what else should you be watching this weekend? Here’s a list of three movies you should stream this weekend on Netflix.

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.

1

‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 64% | IMDb: 6.6/10

Based on Suzanne Collins‘ books of the same name, The Hunger Games is one of the biggest movie franchises of the past two decades. In 2023, a prequel to the hugely successful original, set 64 years before Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteered as tribute, arrived in the form of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which follows an unlikely, complicated, blossoming romance during the 10th Hunger Games.

Ahead of the release of a second prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, this November, remind yourself of the twisting drama and dark romance of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes this weekend. Starring the likes of Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, and Viola Davis, this gripping story is led by an outstanding cast packed with talent, all working at their best.

2

‘Apollo 13’ (1995)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 7.7/10

Right now, Tom Hanks is treating theatergoing audiences to acclaimed family fun in Toy Story 5. If you can’t get enough of one of Hollywood’s best, then why not catch his ambitious sci-fi gem this weekend on Netflix? Based on the book Lost Moon by Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger, two-time Academy Award winner Ron Howard‘s Apollo 13 follows NASA’s attempts to return the damaged ship safely to Earth.

As grand in its scope and sentiment as it is detailed in its character drama, Apollo 13 might be one of the most underrated sci-fi movies of the ’90s. Boasting one of Hanks’ best performances, alongside Bill Paxton, Top Gun: Maverick‘s Ed Harris, Gary Sinise, and Kevin Bacon, this box office smash is just as breathtaking today as it was three decades ago when it earned a global haul of $335 million against a $65 million budget.

3

‘High Fidelity’ (2000)

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 7.4/10

We might watch movies for visual pleasure, but the art of curating a great soundtrack is also worth celebrating. With that in mind, why not indulge in one of the very best this weekend — featuring the likes of Elton John, The Velvet Underground, Queen, Elvis Costello, and more — in High Fidelity, Stephen Frears’ 2000 romantic comedy based on Nick Hornby’s 1995 novel of the same name.

The film stars John Cusack as Rob Gordon, the owner of a failing record store who believes in the traditional consumption and selling of music. After his girlfriend, Laura (Iben Hjejle), walks out on him, Rob is forced to examine what went wrong. An undeniable modern cult classic, this brilliantly funny and surprisingly touching rom-com is a must-watch for anyone with even a slight taste in music.

Release Date: March 31, 2000
Runtime: Advertisement

113 minutes

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11 Years Before ‘Memento,’ Christopher Nolan Directed a Film Almost No One Has Seen

Published

1 hour ago

17 July 2026

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Jonathan Nolan in Christopher Nolan's short 'Tarantella'

Even the most ambitious filmmakers have to start at the bottom — and that was surely the case for Christopher Nolan. The Oscar-winning director, whose adaptation of The Odyssey has been a highly anticipated summer blockbuster, has the brand power of a major movie star or established piece of IP today. But back in the ’80s, he began his legendary career by making micro-budget mystery noirs with a crew of friends in the United Kingdom.

Back then, even though he still had a long way to go, Nolan constructed the prototype for his signature style in his early short Doodlebug and his debut feature film, Following. However, another, earlier short, Tarantella, shows Nolan at his rawest and most amateurish. Channeling the surrealist nightmares of David Lynch, Nolan’s 1989 short is difficult to track down online, making it all the more alluring to every die-hard fan.

Christopher Nolan’s ‘Tarantella’ is a Surrealistic Experiment

Considering that Nolan has comfortably earned legend status in the world of film-making, everything he’s ever worked on will surely be preserved and remastered to survive the rest of time. For now, though, Tarantella, co-directed by Roko Belic, is more or less impossible to watch in high-quality form; it periodically turns up on fan-run message boards, where it then inevitably gets taken down for copyright purposes.

It stars the director himself in his lone on-screen performance, along with his brother and recurring collaborator, Jonathan Nolan, playing, respectively, a tortured young man in black and a young man in white. While Nolan would become synonymous with dynamic, time-bending narrative structures, Tarantella is devoid of any plot, as the short is a collection of feverish images consisting of spiders and demons that have haunted the two young men. It is an experimental voyage into the subconscious without the spectacle (and certainly budget) of Inception.

Watching this amateurish manipulation of the form will recall the early work of the late David Lynch, whose name became synonymous with these kinds of inscrutable explorations of dreams and distorted realities. It’s not as polished or formative to Nolan’s own filmography as Eraserhead was for Lynch, but Nolan’s interest in deconstructing film language was evident from the start.

The Early Signs of Christopher Nolan’s Style in ‘Tarantella’

Shot on 16 mm color film and devoid of dialogue, Tarantella features various Nolan hallmarks, including the manipulation of time and reality, fragmented editing, and characters absorbed by their own minds. Despite its fantastical imagery, all the surrealist shots of spiders and other non-sequitur dreamlike images feel quite tactile, akin to Nolan’s steadfast commitment to using practical effects over CGI and grounding outlandish scenarios like space travel and comic book universes. Nolan is not a director who operates on a frugal budget, but it’s impressive to see how far he could stretch a dollar in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

There is one element present that never turned up in any of his future work: the director himself on screen. Seeing Nolan appear on camera in one of his movies — something he’s never done since, even in cameo form — is quite jarring. Indeed, there was a time when he couldn’t rely on Christian Bale or Matt Damon to be his leading men, and had to get the job done himself.

Beyond just serving as a curio in Christopher Nolan’s monumental career, Tarantella serves as a reminder that the Odyssey director is overdue to make his foray into the horror genre. From each Joker (Heath Ledger) monologue in The Dark Knight to the church speech scene in Oppenheimer, Nolan has long specialized in crafting nerve-wracking scenes with minimal touches. His control of uncanny moods and unsettling auras is distilled to its most essential in his early short.

Like most early shorts by great auteurs, Tarantella is not as much a clear-cut blueprint for Nolan’s future masterpieces, but rather, a charming expression of a young filmmaker working out his creative muscles. Rarely do we see Nolan this raw and loose, as he’s made a career off of clinical and calculating mystery thrillers, sci-fi epics, and expansive biopics. He may not always be in complete control of the frame, but his palpable effort and theatrical flair behind and in front of the camera in Tarantella unlocks a vulnerability that would be harder to decrypt in his features.

Memento

Release Date: October 11, 2000
Runtime: 113 minutes
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‘Gundam’ Meets ‘Godzilla’ in Idris Elba’s Sci-Fi Epic Quietly Crushing the Competition

Published

1 hour ago

17 July 2026

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An installment of one of the biggest science fiction franchises has returned to the streaming charts. This film, in particular, was directed by Guillermo del Toro and features the talents of Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, and Ron Perlman. 13 years after its release, it has found a brand-new audience.

Del Toro has worked on a variety of projects throughout his career. While most of his works fall under fantasy, such as Pinocchio, Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, and Pan’s Labyrinth, he has also dabbled in science fiction, with his most recent work being 2025’s Frankenstein. But in 2013, del Toro directed a science fiction feature that not only performed well at the box office but also spawned its own franchise.

Pacific Rim is a 2013 film in which giant mecha robots, controlled by at least two people, fight alien Kaiju monsters that emerge from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Since its release, the film has grossed over $411 million worldwide at the box office and has led to a sequel titled Pacific Rim: Uprising, a TV series called Pacific Rim: The Black, and an upcoming untitled prequel. Recently, Pacific Rim landed at #10 on Vudu’s Top 10 Movies in the United States, just below Project Hail Mary, proving that 2026 has been a strong year for the science fiction genre.

Is ‘Pacific Rim’ Worth Watching?

Since its release, Pacific Rim received mostly positive reviews, earning a 72% critics’ score and a 77% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Meanwhile, on Letterboxd, it has a 3.5 rating from viewers. According to critics, Pacific Rim feels like a Transformers movie mixed with plots from Godzilla or Independence Day. However, some praised Pacific Rim, saying it was able to make monster movies fun and that it was able to build its own “language and mythology.”

Collider’s Matt Goldberg gave Pacific Rim a “B” rating in his review, stating that it’s “pure action bliss” and that watching the movie felt exhilarating. He also makes the Transformers comparison, as other critics do, but claims that Pacific Rim made those fight scenes feel “puny by comparison.” However, he does have some issues with the characters, stating that Charlie Hunnam as Raleigh Becket almost became “one of the most forgettable heroes in years.”

Pacific Rim is available to stream on Vudu. Follow Collider for more updates.

Release Date: July 12, 2013
Runtime: Advertisement

131 minutes
Producers: Jon Jashni, Mary Parent
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Netflix Has Quietly Released the Most Spellbinding Fantasy Epic of 2026

Published

1 hour ago

17 July 2026

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Kim Ji-won and Son Suk-ku standing in a field and embracing in My Liberation Notes

Comedies, soaring romances, political epics — a quality historical drama never gets old. The best variations on this long-standing staple of Korean television flourish thanks to the sub-genre’s reliable and flexible structure. All that traditional costume drama appeal — the visual splendor of a bygone period — pairs perfectly with time travel whimsy, forbidden love, and the scheming, backstabbing web of political corruption lying coiled underneath the glamour.

The East Palace puts a supernatural horror spin on court drama intrigue. The Netflix original arrives surrounded by a torrent of anticipatory buzz. Its three primary leads are some of the reigning best in the business, and director Choi Jung-kyu (The Devil Judge) and screenwriters Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won (Bulgasal: Immortal Souls) have ample experience with acclaimed, eminently watchable dark fantasy thrillers. The East Palace is no exception. Netflix and the Imaginus production company — last year’s Tempest and the recent hit Can This Love Be Translated? — have delivered the first K-Drama blockbuster of 2026.

What Is ‘The East Palace’ About?

Something has cursed the royal family — or someone. Nearly all the King’s (Cho Seung-woo) heirs have perished under incomprehensible circumstances. Desperate to drive out the demonic force before his youngest son suffers the same fate, the King kidnaps Gu-cheon (Nam Joo-hyuk), a preternatural expert on all things spiritual. A childhood near-death experience has granted Gu-cheon the ability to both see the spirits who reside in the mortal realm and to (painfully) travel into their hellscape, a crimson-tinted dimension called the Realm of Gwi. Some spirits are mythical innocuous irritants, and others are nefarious human souls determined to punish those who inflicted profound injustices upon them before their deaths. These lingering tempests of fury can’t pass into a peaceful afterlife until they heal from their resentment. If Gu-cheon’s words can’t reach them, then his sword usually does the job.

It’s precisely because of his traumatizing past and his “I see dead people” predicament that Gu-cheon would prefer to sleep his days away in an inebriated haze. Unfortunately, if he doesn’t banish the ghostly murderer with all expediency, the King will personally sever Gu-cheon’s head from his shoulders. Together with Saeng-gang (Roh Yoon-seo), a noblewoman who hears phantasmal whispers and conceals a separate agenda, Gu-cheon investigates the palace’s history. To no one’s surprise, there are too many sordid proverbial skeletons in the royal closet to count. Who is the real enemy? Can anyone be trusted?

‘The East Palace’s Production Value Is a Feast for the Eyes

From Episode 1 to the finale’s last frame, The East Palace is beautiful to watch. No aspect of the production design feels compromised by budget allocation, be it the sunlit outdoor scenery filmed on location in Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, the exterior and interior castle architecture, or the eye-catching costumes with their precise, woven detailing. The simplest sight, like Gu-cheon descending into the lake at night, carries a pervasive sense of heaviness as the navy-blue water gradates into shadows and the moonlight splinters over the surface.

A series shaped around Korean folklore and shamanism, and therefore heavily reliant on computer-generated visual effects, needs the proper visual heft. If the CGI falls short, the suspension of disbelief shatters. The East Palace has plenty of room to creatively play with the Realm of Gwi’s visual identity and the various monsters’ otherworldly designs. The former excels with color-coding, starkly contrasting the human world and Gwi’s (yes, the ears of KPop Demon Hunters fans will perk up at “gwi-ma”) infernal mirror. As for the latter, the easiest immediate comparisons might be All of Us Are Dead or Sweet Home, but The East Palace‘s gruesome threats evoke the series’ folklore inspirations. The action sequences’ ambitious choreography and sleek accompanying cinematography practically steal the show.

A Tremendous Cast Grounds ‘The East Palace’s Twisty Mysteries and Grim Fantasy Action

The King, Gu-cheon, and Saeng-gang standing in a row with different backgrounds behind them in The East Palace

Another contender for the show-stealing award must go to the cast’s captivating performances. With almost 30 award wins and a sublime track record (Stranger, Sisyphus: The Myth) under his belt, the highly regarded Cho has proved he can play any archetype under the sun with a measured nuance that invites studying. It’s no surprise that one of Korea’s finest current working actors is magnificent here; he glides from cunning, imposing, smug, livid, and a man harboring slivers of untapped affection and anguish on an effortless-seeming dime. The East Palace marks his first time on the small screen since 2023 and his first time joining a streaming-exclusive series, and he’s worth the figurative price of admission.

Roh, the most newcomer-adjacent of the main trio, continues riding the fame wave after her breakout roles in Crash Course in Romance and Hear Me: Our Summer each secured her a prestigious award. This is the kind of phenomenal star turn that would propel her into the limelight if she wasn’t already commanding it — a wronged woman who’s a crack shot with a bow and arrow, fearsome, composed, pragmatic, prone to losing her temper, yet always a heat-seeking revenge missile aimed at the architect of Saeng-gang’s tragic loss. The demeanor she presents to the world is, of course, a shield born from that very same trauma. The more tragedies that strike her wounded heart, the more her living spirit unravels.

Nam also rejoins the K-Drama world after three years. Given his reputation as a versatile and charismatic romantic lead in contemporary series (Twenty-Five Twenty-One, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo), it’s fantastic to see him tackle a historical action protagonist. He hits just the right notes of exasperated wisecracks, resigned determination, and tormented world-weariness. Gu-cheon holds his internal haunting at bay, but only just; like his round trips to the spirit realm, his pain and guilt always resurface. As for The East Palace‘s narrative foils and partners in ghost hunting, Gu-cheon and Saeng-gang’s gently blossoming chemistry flourishes their journey from spine-bristling dislike and combative bickering into a trusted companionship. The romance crowd will detect the undercurrents of a little something more than friendship, but above all, Saeng-gang is Gu-cheon’s equal and guardian. They protect and rescue each other. Overall, the series’ best moments aren’t the monster-slaying bloodshed but the familial beats — where old reopened wounds and fresh betrayals cut equally deep.

A few scenes do fall prey to television’s low-lighting trend. The East Palace‘s dialogue can also be a little too on the nose at times. Since it balances a plethora of concepts, rules, and revelations, this series is a case where overclarification or overt statements can be forgiven. The momentum driving its intriguing start doesn’t waver, but the mix of bloodthirsty scheming, supernatural horror, and royal family drama truly kicks off like a rocket launch at the halfway point. I value my sleep, but once the sinuous twists struck like cascading dominoes, I stayed up until the wee hours to finish all eight episodes. If The East Palace sounds like your kind of rollercoaster ride through elegant production, polished action, and epic period fantasy, you’ll likely do the same.

The East Palace premieres July 17 on Netflix.

Release Date: July 17, 2026
Network: Netflix
Directors: Advertisement

Choi Jung-kyu
Writers: Kwon So-ra, Seo Jae-won
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Cast

Pros & Cons

The main trio’s riveting performances are worth the watch alone.
The production design is excellent all around.
The action and camera choreography work together to create pulse-pounding scenes.

Some of the exposition-heavy dialogue isn’t as organic as it could be.

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Entertainment

College Dispels Rumors After Softball Player Found Dead at 19

Published

2 hours ago

17 July 2026

NewsAdmin

Livingstone College has addressed speculation after Gabrielle Muñoz, a softball player at the school, died on July 9. She was 19.

“As we continue to honor Gabriella’s life, we are aware of inaccurate reports circulating online regarding the circumstances of her passing,” the school, located in North Carolina, posted via Facebook on Sunday, July 12. “To ensure the accuracy of information shared with our community, we wish to clarify that Gabriella did not pass away on the Livingstone College campus. She passed away while in Texas, away from campus. Any reports stating or implying otherwise are false.”

The cause and manner of Muñoz’s death are still pending, according to Houston’s KHOU.

Livingstone president Anthony J. Davis said it was “difficult to understand the insensitive actions that some will take during this time of our campus community grieving.”

“Our focus remains on honoring Gabriella’s life, celebrating her many contributions to our campus community, and supporting all who are mourning this tremendous loss,” he added. “We respectfully ask our community and the public to refrain from sharing unverified information or engaging in speculation that may cause additional pain to those who are grieving. We extend our continued prayers and deepest condolences to Gabriella’s family, loved ones, teammates, coaches, and all who knew her.”

The school has not specifically stated what kind of rumors have been perpetuated after Muñoz’s death.

“Gabriella represented the very best of Livingstone College” the school said in a statement. “While her athletic abilities made her a valuable competitor, it was her bubbly personality, gentle spirit, and genuine kindness that truly distinguished her. Beyond the softball field, Gabriella exemplified the highest standards of academic excellence.”

Muñoz’s obituary also highlighted her passions outside of the softball diamond.

“Her creativity knew no bounds, often expressed through her love for crafts,” the obituary reads. “Gabi had a zest for life that was evident in her love for hiking, beach trips with her sister and friends, and her fondness for country music. She was an avid reader and cherished spending time with her friends and family, creating memories that will be treasured forever.”

The remembrance added, “Gabi’s faith was the cornerstone of her life. An active member of her church’s youth group ministries, she found joy in studying her bible and living by her faith in God. Her strong beliefs guided her actions and interactions, leaving a lasting impact on those around her.”

Muñoz is survived by her parents, Brandon and Jennifer, brother Noah, and sister Isabella.

A celebration of life will be held in Katy, Texas on Friday, July 17.

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Taylor Frankie Paul’s Team Reacts to Parenting Concerns

Published

2 hours ago

17 July 2026

NewsAdmin

Taylor Frankie Paul Exs Legal Move Is a Losing Battle

Taylor Frankie Paul’s legal team has responded after child welfare officials raised concerns about the wellbeing of her three children.

According to legal documents published by TMZ on Wednesday, July 15, Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services filed a petition asking a juvenile court to find that her three children are “abused, neglected or dependent.”

The filing also asked the judge to order protective supervision services, appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the children and issue any additional orders deemed to be in their best interests.

Per the outlet, the Utah Attorney General’s Office filed the petition this week and requested an expedited hearing.

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, 32, shares son Ever, 2, with Dakota Mortensen as well as two children — daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 6 — with her ex, Tate Paul.

In response to the news of the filing, the reality TV star’s legal team shared a statement with Us Weekly on Thursday, July 16.

“It was recently decided that the ongoing custody actions would be best suited for juvenile court, a common step for families engaged in highly contentious, complex custody matters,” Paul’s legal representatives said via the statement. “Taylor is not deterred by this transition; she welcomes the added structure and oversight it provides and looks forward to continuing her progress toward normalizing custody and becoming the healthiest version of herself.”

GettyImages-2213703383Taylor-Frankie-Paul-Lawyers-React-to-Family-Services-Parenting-Concerns.jpg — Taylor Frankie Paul (Photo by JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images)

The statement continued: “Taylor remains fully committed to doing whatever is necessary to reach that goal and will not be swayed from it. Taylor appreciates the professionalism of DCFS and its representatives.”

Last week, Paul shared a cryptic post via social media amid her contentious legal and custody issues.

“Today was extremely difficult, meanwhile, there has been at least 12+ people throughout this trying to make it harder,” Paul captioned an Instagram Story on July 8. “Thank you God for revealing them all want to be nothing like them.”

She added, “They bully, I defend myself. not the same. Pay attention how this plays out. I trust.”

It’s unclear exactly who Paul was referring to in her social media post. However, the cryptic message came hours after she appeared in court amid the ongoing custody battle over Ever with Mortensen. Both Paul and Mortensen secured wins on July 8.

The judge ruled that Paul will receive more unsupervised time with Ever, expanding her weekend visitation. The win came despite claims from Mortensen’s legal team that Paul has taken “less than half” of her allocated parenting time. Mortensen was also granted longer weekends with Ever on July 8. (Mortensen was initially granted temporary custody of Ever in March.)

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Who Is Elizabeth Siders? Ohio House of Horrors Mom of 16’s Arrest

Published

2 hours ago

17 July 2026

NewsAdmin

Arkansas Mother Killed Herself, 6-Year-Old Twins After Estranged Husband Was Granted Joint Custody

Elizabeth Siders has become one of the most talked-about names in the country after the Ohio mother was arrested alongside her husband and in-laws in a shocking child endangerment case that authorities have described as almost unimaginable.

Siders, her husband Gary Siders Jr. and his parents, Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders, were taken into custody on June 30, 2026, after officials discovered 16 children living in what has since been dubbed an Ohio “house of horrors.” Each of the four adults was charged with 16 counts of child endangerment, and all have pleaded not guilty. Their bonds were initially set at $300,000 each.

Here is everything to know about Elizabeth and the disturbing case that has captured national attention.

Elizabeth Siders’ Arrest and the Discovery of 16 Children

Authorities in Hamden, Ohio, first learned of the situation on June 30, 2026, when officers responded to the home for an unrelated investigation. Once inside, they discovered 16 children ranging in age from 18 months to 18 years old.

Seven of the children were rushed to hospitals, with investigators saying one child was in critical condition. Child welfare officials have taken all 16 children into temporary custody. Authorities said the children were confined to a small room that contained human feces, none of them were enrolled in school and the oldest — an 18-year-old whom investigators believe has developmental disabilities — is unable to spell her own name.

Elizabeth, 33, and Gary Jr. were identified as the children’s parents. Gary Sr. and Christina were identified as their grandparents. According to investigators, the family reportedly moved around southern Ohio over the past two decades and lived a transient lifestyle in an apparent attempt to avoid creating any medical or governmental paper trail.

“These folks were pretty good at hiding these kids,” Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said on July 1, 2026, per CBS News, adding that the children “looked like almost feral animals” and calling the situation “terrible.”
Elizabeth Siders’ Attorney Says She ‘Doesn’t Come Across as Evil’

Just over a week after the arrests, Elizabeth’s attorney, J. Tommy Stolly made a striking public defense of his client on the July 9, 2026, episode of NewsNation’s CUOMO.

“The person that I met comes across as a mother who has been separated from her children, who is exhausted and who misses her children and is asking me constantly what she needs to do to see her children again, what she needs to do to ultimately be reunited with her children,” Stolly, who has met Elizabeth three times in person at that point, told host Chris Cuomo.

Stolly insisted his client “does not come across as pure evil” despite the way she has been portrayed in the media, and he pushed back on what he described as a rush to judgment.

“That does not jive with the prosecutor’s narrative. It doesn’t jive with the attorney general’s narrative,” he said. “And I think because of that language that was used so early on in this case, we are sitting here now having to defend that on television and in the media instead of in a court of law.”

The attorney acknowledged he has not seen any of the children and has not been informed of their current conditions, but he defended his read of Elizabeth after spending hours with her behind bars.

“I’ve been able to meet with my client. I’ve spoken to Elizabeth. I’m a criminal defense attorney,” Stolly said. “I sit across from people in the jail all the time. I can get a sense of what someone is thinking, what someone is feeling.”
He added, “It is very clear that Elizabeth Siders cares about these kids. In the hours and hours that I sat there in the jail, she keeps directing the conversation back to, ‘Are the kids OK?’ She’s been receiving care packages in the jail, Chris, and today, she tried to give me some of the items from her care package to give to the kids.”

Elizabeth Siders Wants to Be Reunited With Her 16 Children

While Elizabeth remains detained on her $300,000 bond, Stolly has since filed a request asking the court to allow her to leave jail under certain conditions so she can eventually reunite with her children. In the filing, he argued that Elizabeth is not a threat, citing her lack of a criminal history.

“Through conversations with Counsel, the Defendant maintains that her principal desire (is) to reunite with her children; she understands that reunification of any sort is an impossibility if she does not appear before this Court,” the court filing obtained by WOWK 13 stated.

Stolly went on to argue in the filing that Elizabeth would not pose a threat to her children, who have since been removed from her care. A judge has not yet ruled on the request.

Gary Sr. was released from jail on July 8, 2026, after being hospitalized for health issues.

Gary Sr. and Christina’s attorney, Dorian Baum, also urged the public to reserve judgment.

“We ask that the community at large, as well as anyone who might have an interest in this case, to take a deep breath, step back, and let the case play out and the facts play out,” Baum told The Associated Press.

Elizabeth Siders’ Unrecognizable 2020 Photo Resurfaces

As the case has gained national attention, a photo of Elizabeth shared six years before her arrest has resurfaced online — and she looks strikingly different from the woman seen in her recent mugshot.

In the mugshot taken on June 30, 2026, Elizabeth has dark brunette hair and appears distraught, staring deadpan into the camera. But in a snapshot her mother, Lorie Russell, shared on Facebook on August 24, 2020, Elizabeth looked far more youthful. Her hair was blonde, and she wore lip gloss and eyeliner as she smiled for the camera.

“Happy Birthday to my daughter Elizabeth it [sic] hard to believe. My younhest [sic] is 28 today love you mom and dad,” Russell wrote alongside the photo.

It is not currently clear when the picture was actually taken. At the time it was posted, Elizabeth was already a mother of nine and was one month away from giving birth to her 10th child.

Elizabeth Siders Was 15 When She Got Married

Court records viewed by People indicate that Gary Jr. and Elizabeth legally got married in Mason County, West Virginia, on March 31, 2008. She was just 15 years old at the time, and he was 18 years old.

Their marriage was officiated by then-Circuit Court Judge David Nibert, and her parents were listed as Brian Ray Russell and Lori Ann Raines.

Both Gary Jr. and Elizabeth lived in Gallia County, Ohio, at the time of their wedding. They became parents when they welcomed their first child together two months after they wed.

Elizabeth Siders Gave Birth to Conjoined Twins That Died in 2022

Elizabeth prematurely delivered conjoined twin daughters when she was 24 weeks pregnant on November 20, 2022, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, according to birth certificates viewed by WCMH.

The babies, who were named Faith Lee and Bailey Lee Siders, passed away just an hour after Elizabeth gave birth. The manner of their deaths were listed as “natural” and the cause of death was respiratory failure for both siblings.

The birth records state that the daughters were thoracopagus conjoined, which means they were joined at the chest, face-to-face and likely sharing at least one vital organ.

Elizabeth Siders Faced Prior Charges in Connection with 6 of Her Children Before 2026 Arrest

Elizabeth and Gary Jr. were charged in the Juvenile Court Division of the Gallia County Court of Common Pleas with truancy-related offenses in 2021, according to court records viewed by People.

The charges were filed on October 19, 2021, after Addaville Elementary in Gallipolis, Ohio, reported that six of their children failed to attend a single day of school.

The records state that Elizabeth and Gary Jr. were notified by Gallia County Local School District officials about their children’s absences, but they never took action.

The Gallia County Sheriff was granted the authority to serve the couple with a court summons and a copy of the six complaints on October 26, 2021, and an arraignment was set for November 15, 2021. However, the couple’s home was vacant when deputies stopped by to serve the couple.

The cases were ultimately terminated on January 7, 2022, due to the unavailability of the defendants.

What’s Next in the Ohio House of Horrors Case?

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson described the conditions inside the home as “deplorable” during a news conference on July 7, 2026.

“Conditions you cannot even imagine people being in, let alone children being in,” Wilson said. “Their medical condition was so severe that the number one concern of our law enforcement who were there at the scene was getting them medical treatment, getting them to safety, to the point where literally their lives were in danger at the time.”

The investigation remains ongoing into the case as detectives work to learn more about the situation.

This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.

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