Entertainment
Kelly Osbourne’s Sister Feud Reaches Point Of No Return
Family tensions within the Osbourne clan are once again in the spotlight after Kelly Osbourne made it clear that reconciliation with her older sister, Aimee, is not on the horizon.
While the famous family built a cultural phenomenon through reality television, Aimee famously chose a different path.
Now, years after keeping her distance from the spotlight that launched her siblings to fame, the sisters’ fractured relationship appears deeper than ever, with Kelly revealing why she has permanently stepped away.
For years, questions have lingered about the relationship between the Osbourne siblings, particularly because Aimee chose a dramatically different path from the rest of her famous family.
Now, Kelly Osbourne has delivered perhaps her clearest assessment yet of where things stand.
On Paul C. Brunson’s “We Need To Talk” podcast, the singer was asked whether she believed there was still a chance of repairing her relationship with her older sister.
Her answer was immediate. “No,” Kelly responded. When Brunson pressed further, the television personality elaborated on why she believed the divide had become impossible to bridge.
“No… I respect her, I accept her, but we’re different, and that’s okay…” she said.
Kelly Felt Aimee Wanted Nothing To Do With The Family Spotlight
During the chat, Kelly Osbourne also suggested the problem went beyond simply having different personalities or lifestyles.
According to her, the relationship became emotionally draining because Aimee never made her feel accepted.
“If you’re not going to accept me for who I am, and constantly be trying to change me and say horrible things about me, and truly seem to thrive when I’m not doing well, I don’t want you in my life,” she explained.
Long before reality television transformed the Osbournes into household names, Aimee had already decided she wanted no part of it.
While Sharon, Ozzy, Kelly, and Jack opened their doors to MTV cameras, Aimee famously stepped away, choosing privacy over participation.
That decision has long fueled speculation about whether she simply disliked reality television or whether she was distancing herself from the family itself.
Kelly has previously admitted she often felt as though Aimee was embarrassed by the family and their public image. The choice not to appear on “The Osbournes” became one of the defining differences between the sisters, with Aimee pursuing a much more private life while her younger siblings became reality TV stars.
Kelly Osbourne’s Brother Jack Also Admitted The Family Rift Runs Deep
Kelly is not the only Osbourne sibling to acknowledge the distance. Before Ozzy Osbourne’s death, Jack Osbourne spoke candidly about his relationship with Aimee during an appearance on the “Disrespectfully” podcast, making it clear the estrangement extended beyond Kelly.
“I’ve never had the conversation with her, we’re not close at all,” Jack admitted, adding, “We don’t have a great relationship, she’ll be the first to tell you that, so it’s no secret.”
He also reflected on why Aimee chose not to participate in “The Osbournes,” explaining that she had very different ambitions at the time.
“Back then she really wanted to be a musician and the kind of musician she wanted to be was like a Fiona Apple, Mazzy Star, like this kind of obscure, mysterious, moody…” he said.
According to Jack, Aimee viewed reality television as incompatible with that image. He continued, “She was like, ‘I’m not going to be seen riding coat-tails,’ kind of thing, that’s how she perceived it.”
Jack believed that once the series became a massive hit, Aimee felt trapped by her earlier decision. According to him, she ultimately “dug her heels in and wanted to be relatively private and obscure.”
More From The Blast
Aimee Once Explained Why She Rejected Family Fame
The tension between Kelly Osborne and Aimee has often been discussed through the lens of their estrangement, but Aimee’s own explanation for stepping away from the family’s reality TV empire provided important context for how differently the sisters viewed fame from the beginning.
In a 2020 interview on New York’s Q1043 radio program, Aimee revealed that she never felt comfortable with the idea of growing up on television. Rather than seeing the MTV series as an opportunity, she viewed it as something that could fundamentally alter her sense of self.
Aimee made it clear that she left not because she didn’t love her family, but because she feared reality television would define her before she had a chance to define herself.
“For me, I had grown up around having a pretty well-known dad anyway, and I always really valued my privacy within that family,” she said.
Aimee added, “And for me personally, and for who I am, you know, as far as morally and also just to give myself a chance to actually develop into a human being as opposed to just being remembered for being a teenager, it didn’t really line up with what I saw my future as.”
Kelly Osbourne’s Family Reunited For Ozzy’s Farewell Despite Longstanding Tensions
One of the most striking moments in the Osbourne family’s history came when Aimee and her family temporarily set aside their differences after Ozzy’s death.
On July 30, 2025, Ozzy’s funeral procession moved through Birmingham, England, drawing thousands of grieving fans to the city streets. Kelly, Sharon, Jack, Aimee, and Ozzy’s son Louis all gathered to honor the Black Sabbath legend.
For many observers, Aimee’s appearance was noteworthy in itself. Dressed in a black veil, beret, and black suit, she appeared visibly emotional as the family stopped at the Black Sabbath Bridge to view tributes left by fans.
Kelly, meanwhile, paid tribute to her father with blue-tinted glasses reminiscent of Ozzy’s signature look.
The images quickly circulated across entertainment outlets because they presented a rare sight: the entire immediate Osbourne family united in public.
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Entertainment
Prime Video’s ‘Neagley’ Is a ‘Reacher’-Lite Spin-Off That’s Officially Worth Your Time
Reacher is one of Prime Video’s best and most popular shows, currently wrapping up its brutal fourth season and already confirmed to return for a fifth. The flagship series reintroduced audiences to Jack Reacher, played by Alan Ritchson, a self-described nomad who wanders around the U.S. solving crimes and collecting allies. One of Reacher’s few close friends is Frances Neagley (Maria Sten), a corporate security professional and PI who became an instant breakout character, stealing every scene she was in, and it didn’t take long for Prime Video to give her a show of her own.
Spin-offs are tough to crack. They need to walk a fine line between feeling like they belong in the same continuity as their predecessor and carving out a unique identity. The best — Better Call Saul, Maude, Frasier — make it look easy, but it’s actually damn hard. Neagley isn’t a carbon copy of Reacher, but it also doesn’t do nearly enough to distinguish itself from its parent series. Whether that’s a strength or a weakness depends on the viewer, but Neagley successfully delivers a compelling, intimate mystery that will satisfy those who are already Reacher-pilled.
What Is ‘Neagley’ About?
As its title suggests, Neagley centers on Frances Neagley (Sten), back in her hometown of Chicago and working as a private investigator. Solitary, independent, and damn good at her job, Neagley is also living with haphephobia, an intense aversion to physical touch that limits the relationships she can maintain. When her childhood friend, Tommy Crane (Jhaleil Swaby), dies by apparent suicide, Neagley discovers a connection to a mysterious farm named Echo Canyon that recruits people seeking a fresh start to overcome trauma. Suspecting foul play in Tommy’s death, Neagley joins forces with Detective Hudson Riley (Greyston Holt) to look into Echo Canyon, which is led by the disturbing Lawrence Cole (Damon Herriman).
Neagley‘s cast also includes Adeline Rudolph as Renee Birdwhistle, an assistant working at Neagley’s PI firm who becomes a close ally; Jasper Jones as Keno, a young homeless man whose savvy instincts aid the investigation; and Matthew Del Negro as Pierce Woodrow, the CEO of a pharmaceutical company developing a revolutionary drug. Also, as has already been confirmed, Alan Ritchson reprises his role as Reacher, so you can expect to see him pop in. Neagley hails from Reacher creator Nick Santora and Emmy-winning TV veteran Nicholas Wootton. Unlike Reacher, the protagonist of numerous books by author Lee Child, Neagley has no novel of her own (yet), meaning Season 1 is a completely original story.
‘Reacher’s Spin-Off ‘Neagley’ Benefits From Likable Characters
Like its parent series, Neagley gets a lot of mileage from a strong ensemble that does great work with thinly drawn characters, of which the show’s lead herself is by far the most compelling. Sten is very comfortable in the role, and she makes the most of the chance to explore the character’s haphephobia and its root. Her chemistry with everyone is on point, and the subtle, slow-building dynamic she has with Holt’s Hudson is particularly enjoyable. Her few scenes with Reacher are also very sweet, though don’t expect to see Ritchson a lot this season. He is effectively used, but this show is a proper showcase for Neagley and doesn’t feel the need to rely on Reacher too much.
Holt does a fine job with a very one-note character. Riley is a good cop: by the book, committed, and desperate to break ties with his criminal family by scoring a big win for the department. There’s nothing particularly impressive about him, but he is a solid ally for Neagley, and their emotional bond builds effectively throughout the season. Rudolph and Jones are good supporting players who actually contribute meaningfully to the investigation. Neagley builds a strong team for herself, and she’s also a capable leader, if a tad more indifferent than one would wish. (There’s also a cameo midway through the season that will probably make your 40-year-old uncle very happy.)
Reacher has never been a show that focuses on building layered antagonists; in fact, it often opts for evil in the most literal sense, with irredeemable villains absent of any humanity or relatable trait. Neagley is the same. Del Negro plays a scumbag entrepreneur, Gordon Gekko by way of Albert Wesker, while Herriman, for his part, delivers exactly what you’d expect from an actor who’s already played Charles Manson twice. He’s a cult leader to a T — silly dances, self-aggrandizing speeches, and emotional manipulation — all while giving off enough creepy vibes to fill an entire season of Mindhunter. Cole and Woodrow both work within the context of the show; they’re not memorable or particularly interesting, but they’re effective, and in a show like Neagley, that’s all that matters.
‘Neagley’ Needs to Form a Stronger Identity for Itself
The biggest issue with Neagley is that it’s a very safe expansion of the Reacher formula. It has the same structure, follows the same narrative beats, has the same visual language, and uses the same archetypes. It works, but Neagley is such an interesting character, and so different from Reacher, that her show should have been less afraid to try other things stylistically, narratively, and emotionally. So little of her personality is woven into the show’s fabric, and future seasons would greatly benefit from having more of Neagley in their DNA.
The one place where Neagley truly carves an identity of its own is in the action. Neagley isn’t a 6’3” juggernaut; she can’t just punch her way through every situation and is instead forced to rely on a more restrained approach. Her fights feel slower and more hard-hitting; every time she takes a punch, you can see it taking a toll on her. The choreography isn’t as visceral as in Reacher, nor is it as acrobatic as the average Marvel movie: here, the fights feel dirty, desperate even, one punch at a time for everyone involved. Similarly, her team is a lot less battle-hardened. Hudson is actually kind of bad in a one-on-one, which is appreciated; cops are so often depicted as all-around fighters in shows like these, so this bit of reality is a welcome change.
Visually, the direction is straightforward, not exactly flashy but far from mediocre. Blocking is rarely an issue in Reacher, and it’s not in Neagley either, largely because the small cast means there are usually no more than three people in the same shot. The editing is rather rough at times, though, with some particularly clumsy cuts during the fight scenes. The sets and staging are also uninspired, to the point where Neagley’s PI office, Hudson’s police station, and the bank the characters visit midway through the season look identical.
At the end of the day, Neagley gets the job done. It’s a show that delivers exactly what it promises, with a simple but well-executed mystery led by an incredibly intriguing lead and greatly elevated by a likable cast. There’s a lot of room for the series to grow in character work, visual identity, and narrative ambition. However, unlike Reacher, Neagley won’t be changing locations or cast, and Season 1 does a good job laying the foundation for a stronger, more confident sophomore outing.
Neagley premieres September 16 with all episodes on Prime Video.
Hollywood threw quite the party to celebrate the best of TV in the past year.
During the 2026 Emmy Awards on Monday, September 14, Mariska Hargitay took on the brave task of hosting the star-studded awards show live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
“When I was deciding to host the Emmys, I consistently got two pieces of advice. No. 1. ‘Don’t do it.’ And No. 2, ‘Whatever you do, don’t go for sincerity,’” she said during her opening monologue. “I clearly ignored the first, so please join me as I ignore the second.”
Before any trophy was handed out, the Law & Order: SVU actress expressed gratitude for the TV platform and all that it provides for the world.
Television’s biggest stars stepped into the spotlight for the 2026 Emmys, bringing plenty of personality to the red carpet. Celebrities showed their sartorial flair while posing for the cameras at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles on Monday, September 14. From bold fashion statements to timeless Hollywood looks, there was no shortage of glamour […]
“I am truly deeply moved and so incredibly grateful to be in a room full of people who have dedicated their lives to telling stories,” Hargitay shared. “Since the beginning of time, humans have all gathered around the light to tell stories. Back then, it was the fire in the cave. And now, it is the screen of your choice. But no matter how we watch, and even though we’re worlds apart, we’re all still holding a bit of that communal light.”
In case you missed the live telecast, keep reading to see the best moments — and some not so great ones — from the 2026 Emmy Awards:
Best TV Sisterhood Moment: Rhea Seehorn’s Acceptance Speech
Rhea Seehorn Kevin Winter/Getty Images
When Seehorn accepted the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, the Pluribus star gave credit to all of her fellow nominees.
“I also just want to say congratulations and thank you for the performances to my fellow nominees in my category,” she said. “All brilliant, brilliant performances.”
Seehorn later revealed Keri Russell sent every nominee in the category a “lovely gift” and a card with a quote from the late Gloria Steinem that read, “We are linked, not ranked.”
Best Surprise Appearance: Taylor Swift
Joined by her Law & Order: SVU costars, including Ice-T, Peter Scanavino, Kevin Kane and Kelli Giddish, Hargitay got into character as the iconic Olivia Benson in an effort to solve a mystery.
“The mayor’s office is breathing down my neck demanding an answer to the big question: Will Taylor Swift be at the Emmys?” Hargitay said during the skit. “Now, in order to crack a Swiftie case, you’ve got to think like a Swiftie, because the Swifties think that everything is a clue to what she’ll do next.”
Lucky for Swifties, they got the Grammy winner (and her cat) in a creative sketch taped before she attended husband Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs football game on Monday night.
Best Shout-Out to a Supportive Partner: Tom Pelphrey
Tom Pelphrey Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Pelphrey may deserve a standing ovation for the way he gave thanks to his fiancee, Kaley Cuoco, after winning Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Task.
“To my favorite actor in this room — my love, my best friend, my partner, the very pregnant Kaley Cuoco — I love you more than anything, and our family is the crown jewel of my life,” Pelphrey said as the actress tried to hold back tears. “Matilda, daddy loves you. Baby girl, daddy loves you. Thank you. God bless.”
Best Tributes: Dolly Parton, Catherine O’Hara and More
After losing so many talented actors in the past year, the 2026 Emmy Awards pulled at viewers’ heartstrings even more when Parton was honored with a performance by Reba McEntire.
“If there are truly angels on Earth, we just lost one,” presenter Sally Field said. “God bless you, Dolly Parton, my friend. I am not the only one on Earth that will love you forever and ever.”
The tears continued when Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy and Dan Levy honored the late Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek star O’Hara.
“Like a good mama, she always showed up when I asked her to,” Culkin said. “Because that was Catherine. That’s what she did. She showed up. And this is the best that we can do for her tonight.”
Noah Kahan went on to perform a special song for the In Memoriam segment, which included costume designer Bob Mackie, who died earlier in the day, and Rob Reiner.
Best Celebration: Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox Kevin Winter/Getty Images
The Back to the Future star was worthy of all the praise when he accepted the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award in recognition of his contributions to Parkinson’s disease research and advocacy through his Michael J. Fox Foundation.
“Initially, I kept my Parkinson’s diagnosis a secret. I worried it would affect my work and relationships with audiences,” Fox recalled. “Would they laugh if they knew I was sick? I was stunned by the support from all of you, so uplifted and I hadn’t lost what I do. They couldn’t take it away from me. And it’s because you stood up for me.”
Worst Use of Bleeping: John Mulaney
John Mulaney Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Of course, there are rules and guidelines of what you can’t say on live TV. But when Mulaney presented the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, some of Us were bummed to hear part of his joke was bleeped.
“I believe it was DJ Khaled who said, ‘Real men don’t go down on their wives,’” Mulaney quipped at the awards show. “But these nominees know that that is B.S. They know there’s often less pressure on them if they do that first.”
Worst Opening Number: Mariska Hargitay
Mariska Hartigay Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Don’t get Us wrong. We clapped when Hargitay invited New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson to be part of her pretaped opening number.
The actress also deserved credit for showcasing her singing skills by performing a unique rendition of Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll” with appearances by Jennifer Coolidge and Jean Smart.
But it’s hard not to remember past awards show hosts, like Nikki Glaser and Ricky Gervais, who aren’t afraid to poke fun at celebrities in the audience — and keep them on their toes.
Worst Acceptance Speech Habit: Pre-Written Messages
Vince Gilligan Kevin Winter/Getty Images
During the three-hour telecast, several winners spoke from their hearts — and off the cuff — seconds after receiving their new Emmy trophy. Others, like Vince Gilligan, Widow’s Bay writer Katie Dippold and Pluribus star Seehorn, conveniently had a piece of paper with plenty of people to thank.
While live TV has to be tough, so many of Us enjoy the spontaneous — and unscripted — moments at awards shows.
Mariska Hargitay made the 2026 Emmy Awards a night to remember — beginning with a slightly familiar opening monologue. “I am truly deeply moved and so incredibly grateful to be in a room full of people who have dedicated their lives to telling stories,” Hargitay, 62, said at the beginning of the Monday, September 14, […]
Worst Bit in Between Awards: Nick Offerman’s 1st Job
During the show, Hargitay had the opportunity to ask some actors and actresses to share their first jobs.
After Colman Domingo shared his start as a McDonald’s worker, Offerman revealed he was an “erotic painter.”
“I would strip down and dump a can of paint over my head and then roll my nude male body around the house’s exterior,” he explained. “Doors and trim were extra. Roofs were not pleasant, but a buck is a buck.”
Maybe it was just Us, but the segment wasn’t a pretty picture.
When it comes to TV, it’s not exactly uncommon for a show’s first season to be its best. Especially when it comes to sci-fi series, the first season is where the characters and settings are introduced, and where the mechanisms and plot points begin to take place. That was especially the case for Westworld, an HBO series that first premiered in 2016 and blew viewers’ minds with its first installment.
With that said, however, the next three seasons of the show that followed famously lost track of what made Season 1 so compelling. With increasingly complicated plot mechanics and a world that was ever-expanding, Westworld de-prioritized the emotional depth and character development that made Season 1 such a standout. The show was then canceled after Season 4. But as fans of the series still mourn the ending, and how the storyline panned out over the seasons, one Netflix series could be the perfect replacement. Pantheon, which premiered on September 1, 2022, is a must-watch for Westworld fans.
What Is ‘Pantheon’ About?
Pantheon centers around a lonely, heavily bullied teenager named Maddie Kim (Katie Chang), who is going through a journey with grief after losing her father, David (Daniel Dae Kim), two years prior. The series kicks off when, after receiving mysterious messages online and getting worried that she’s been hacked, Maddie realizes that the person trying to contact her is her deceased father — well, sort of. As it turns out, David, once a brilliant software engineer, had his mind uploaded to a computer before his death and lives on through technology.
By doing so, David became a UI, or uploaded intelligence: an AI variant referring to digitized human consciousness. In Pantheon, a person’s mind can be scanned and uploaded onto a computer network, allowing it to live on digitally—interacting with other UIs or even shaping the physical world through technology. When Maddie and David reunite, he discovers that his reality has completely changed. He has missed two years of his daughter’s life; she’s grown and evolved, and he’s missed it all. Moreover, his daughter and wife have had the chance to mourn him and now have to readjust their entire lives to his return to existence.
In addition to Maddie and her family’s storyline, the series also follows Caspian (Paul Dano), who seems like a typical teenager obsessed with his computer and dealing with a rough situation at home with his mother and an abusive father. Things are not as they seem, and the little family might be closely tied to these large tech companies and the technology they use. Eventually, Maddie and Caspian’s paths cross, and we start on a journey questioning what humanity is, whether an uploaded brain is ethical, whether the uploaded person is human or just code, and all the other questions that come with this kind of technological advance. The cast of the series also includes Rosemarie DeWitt, William Hurt in one of his final performances, Taylor Schilling, Aaron Eckhart, Raza Jaffrey, Scoot McNairy, Ron Livingston, Maude Apatow, and Anika Noni Rose.
‘Pantheon’ Is a Satisfying and Emotionally Grounded ‘Westworld’ Replacement
With the synopsis of Pantheon alone, it’s clear that both the animated series and Westworld are adding to the ongoing discussion about AI, the rise of technology and the existential questions of what it means to be human. While Delos in Westworld is all about manufacturing physical robotic bodies who, with time, began gaining their own consciousness, Logorhythms in Pantheon does it the other way round, using Uploaded Intelligence to bring human thinking and emotion into computers as the next step in human evolution.
Most importantly, Pantheon delivers on its premise in a way that doesn’t falter or disappoint like Westworld ultimately did to its viewers. Throughout its two seasons, the series expands on its ideas and on Logorhythms’ mission to take over the world, all while keeping the emotional story surprisingly intimate. So, while Westworld had the bigger budget and the flashy robot bodies, Netflix’s animated series takes similar (if not, the same) questions and makes them feel much more personal and emotionally grounded. Westworld’s biggest mistake was becoming more interested in its puzzle than its people. Pantheon makes sure that the same mistake doesn’t happen, and that people and their relationships are at the forefront at all times.
Ultimately, while both series question the idea of robots gaining consciousness, and what that could mean for the future of society, both series approached its stories in different ways. While Westworld inevitably expanded its world looking for “gotcha” moments and twists, Pantheon took that idea and delivered a concise, emotional story, one that was consistent and entertaining all throughout.
- Release Date
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2022 – 2023-00-00
- Network
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Prime Video, AMC+, HIDIVE
- Directors
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Melchior Zwyer, Ed Tadem, Micah Gunnell, David Dwooman Woo, Mari Yang
- Writers
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Michael Taylor, Scott Gunnison Miller
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I always love hearing what beauty products celebrities can’t live without. Sarah Jessica Parker’s answer will probably surprise you: It’s lip gloss! But not just any lip gloss — her all-time fave is an iconic drugstore formula.
In an interview with AirMail, Parker revealed she can’t go without CoverGirl Clean Fresh Yummy Plumper Gloss in shade Blingtastic, an early 2000s-coded rose gold shimmer. You can take the girl out of Sex and the City, but you can’t take the Sex and the City out of the girl.
Get the CoverGirl Clean Fresh Yummy Plumper Gloss for $13 at CVS! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
With early aughts makeup trends coming back into style, it’s only a matter of time before you see people rocking this frosty lip gloss. It does have a lot more going for it than its shimmery color, though. Unlike the sticky glosses that ruled the early 2000s, this formula feels soft and nourishing on lips because it’s infused with hyaluronic acid, acai and gogi-berry extract.
The CoverGirl lip gloss also provides a slight plumping effect that doesn’t sting. You’ll experience a refreshing cooling sensation that’s much more enjoyable to wear. The lip glosses of the early 2000s could never!
SJP is far from the only fan of the gloss, either. CVS shoppers say this multi-tasker is essentially “glass lips” in a tube. “I’m on my second tube now, and I love it,” one customer wrote. “It gives glassy lips, a subtle plump, and feels like a minty ice cube on my lips. It feels so different from other plumpers. I’ve tried Maybelline’s plumper and that felt like pain. These can be a little shocking at first, but then they just feel so cool and refreshing, like a sip of mint lemonade on a hot summer’s day.”
Even lip gloss haters will fall in love with CoverGirl Clean Fresh Yummy Plumper Gloss, and at its affordable price, it’s really tough to beat. Thank SJP for the recommendation!
Get the CoverGirl Clean Fresh Yummy Plumper Gloss for $13 at CVS! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more from CoverGirl here and more lip-plumping gloss here!
I often forget that Julianne Moore is in her 60s. The actress seems to have somehow stopped the clock, and I feel like I need to copy her beauty routine so I can age like her. Thankfully, not everything she uses is a splurge. She even opts for a drugstore cleanser that’s ridiculously affordable. Moore […]
Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz reunited at the Emmys, giving “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” fans a nostalgic moment. The reunion came after Hulu scrapped plans for a “Buffy” reboot that had been in development, with the actress set to appear. While the former co-stars looked back on their characters in the hit series, Gellar made a subtle remark that appeared to shade the streaming platform.
It has been more than two decades since Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz shared the screen together as Buffy and Angel in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” and fans were delighted to see the two stars reunite at the Primetime Emmy Awards.
Before they presented the award for Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, they looked back at their hit show and acknowledged its upcoming 30th anniversary. “When you think about it, it’s kind of crazy, right? A teenage girl chosen by fate to fight vampires and demons, the forces of darkness, and then she falls in love with a vampire with a soul, carrying around a couple 100 years of regret,” Boreanaz said, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Buffy and Angel were tragic love interests in the first few seasons of the series due to a supernatural curse, and the former was forced to let go of the vampire slayer.
Boreanaz’s character left the series after Season 3, only returning for a few appearances in later seasons. The actor then starred in the spin-off series, “Angel.”
The Actress Subtly References The Canceled Reboot
Boreanaz went on to tell Gellar what he thought about the fate of their characters. “You know, Sarah, I always thought that Buffy and Angel would end up together,” he said. With a small shrug, Gellar replied, “Well, I guess we won’t find out,” which got a laugh from the audience.
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” aired for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003. In early 2025, a report confirmed that Hulu ordered a pilot for the reboot, titled “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale.” “Hamnet” director Chloé Zhao was tapped to helm the series, and Gellar would reprise her role in a recurring capacity. Ryan Kiera Armstrong was announced as the series’ lead.
In March 2026, however, Gellar revealed that Hulu ultimately decided to axe the project, much to the detriment of fans who were looking forward to the series.
The ‘Buffy’ Stars And Crew Experienced A Few Losses
While on stage, Gellar also addressed the deaths of some “Buffy” stars. “David and I would like to acknowledge that it has been a tough to years for our beloved cast and crew, and we feel very lucky to have worked with such amazing people,” she said.
Michelle Trachtenberg, who played Buffy’s sister Dawn, passed away in February 2025 due to diabetes complications. In March, Nicholas Brendon, who portrayed Xander Harris in the series, died in his sleep due to a heart disease. In June, Anthony Head, who played Buffy’s mentor Giles, passed away following complications from pneumonia.
Sarah Michelle Gellar Revealed A Hulu Executive Canceled The Reboot
Gellar took to Instagram in March to share the unfortunate news that the “Buffy” reboot was not moving forward. At that time, the actress revealed that they had already shot a pilot episode, and the news was unexpected.
Gellar shed more light on the situation and said it was one Hulu executive who ultimately decided to axe the reboot. “We had an executive on our show who was not only not a fan of the original, but was proud to constantly remind us that he had never seen the entirety of the series and it wasn’t for him,” the actress said, per The Blast.
Later comments from Gellar and Zhao suggest that Hulu executives felt the show was intended for the wrong demographic.
Could The ‘Buffy’ Reboot Still Happen?
Following Hulu’s cancellation, Gellar said the “chapter is closed,” referring to the possibility of a reboot. The series could not simply be picked up by another streaming service because of complexities surrounding its intellectual property rights and ownership.
With the project no lonnger moving foward, fans are left wondering whether the franchise could eventually find another path back to the screen. For now, however, there are no plans to revive the project.
Meanwhile, Gellar will be back in the supernatural realm in the romance movie “Thud,” where she will take on the role of the Grim Reaper.
Michael J. Fox has spent more than three decades turning one of the most difficult moments of his life into a mission that has helped millions.
However, at the 2026 Emmy Awards, the actor reminded viewers that the path from fear to advocacy was anything but easy.
As he accepted The Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, Fox delivered an emotional speech that left many in the audience visibly moved, revealing the private doubts he carried after his Parkinson’s diagnosis and the support that ultimately changed everything.
Long before he became one of the world’s most recognizable advocates for Parkinson’s research, Michael J. Fox was a young actor grappling with a devastating reality behind the scenes.
During his acceptance speech, Fox reflected on the uncertainty that followed his diagnosis at age 29. While his career was still thriving, he admitted he wasn’t sure how audiences would react if they learned he was living with the neurological disorder.
“Initially I kept my Parkinson’s diagnosis a secret. I worried it would affect my work and relationships with audiences,” the icon shared per the Daily Mail.
The concern wasn’t just about Hollywood executives or future projects. Fox revealed that he questioned whether the very people who had supported his career would see him differently.
He admitted to wondering if fans would “laugh if they knew I was sick?” Instead, the response he received became one of the most important turning points of his life.
“I was stunned by the support from all of you, so uplifted and I hadn’t lost what I do,” Fox shared.
That acceptance helped reshape his perspective. Rather than letting the disease define him, the 65-year-old realized he could use his platform to make a difference while continuing the work he loved.
“They couldn’t take it away from me. And it’s because you stood up for me. I appreciate it,” he noted.
Fox Credits An Unlikely Inspiration For His Life’s Mission
While much of the attention focused on Michael J. Fox’s comments about Parkinson’s, he began his speech by talking about the humanitarian legacy behind the award itself.
The “Back to the Future” actor explained that Bob Hope was a larger-than-life figure in his household as he grew up. To Fox’s parents, Hope represented far more than entertainment.
“To them, Bob was more than an entertainer. He was a selfless champion of soldiers and military families like mine for decades,” he revealed.
Fox described how Hope repeatedly spent holidays away from home, traveling to visit troops stationed around the world.
For the Hollywood star, those examples of service and commitment took on new meaning years later when he found himself facing a challenge he never expected.
According to Fox, “I couldn’t have known how these lessons would resonate in my own life, until my late 20s, when my life handed me a role I wasn’t looking for.”
Michael J. Fox Honors Family And Foundation During Emotional Emmy Moment
As the speech continued, Fox shifted focus from the diagnosis itself to the work that followed.
He spoke passionately about building a movement dedicated to improving life for Parkinson’s patients and funding research to find better treatments.
“I understood that accepting Parkinson’s didn’t mean I had to surrender to it. It just meant I had to do everything I could for everyone living with this disease,” she remarked.
The star became emotional as he recalled the effort required to launch and grow the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
After collecting himself, Fox highlighted the progress researchers and advocates have made through the foundation’s work.
“I’m proud of the progress we’ve made to benefit Parkinson’s patients and families,” he said, adding, “We move closer to eradicating this disease forever.”
The evening’s most touching moment arrived near the end, when Fox turned his attention to the people who supported him throughout the journey. He thanked his wife of 38 years, Tracy Pollan, their four children, and other family members who stood by him through decades of challenges.
He praised them “for their sacrifices, for their patience, and for their love. You have no idea.”
More From The Blast
The Actor And Ford Turn Friendship Into Parkinson’s Awareness Campaign
If Michael J. Fox’s Emmy speech showed how deeply his Parkinson’s journey has resonated with audiences, his latest project with Harrison Ford shows his advocacy work continues far beyond the awards stage.
Just days before Fox received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, The Michael J. Fox Foundation launched a new awareness campaign titled “So… Your Friend Has Parkinson’s,” featuring Fox and his “Shrinking” co-star Harrison Ford.
Rather than focusing on medical jargon or fundraising statistics, the campaign tackles a simpler question: how should people respond when someone they care about reveals they have Parkinson’s?
Created in partnership with Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort production company, the campaign uses the natural chemistry between the two actors to make a difficult conversation feel approachable.
Fox and Ford discuss common mistakes people make when trying to help, while also highlighting the emotional realities many Parkinson’s patients face, including isolation and the feeling that others no longer know how to interact with them.
Foundation CEO Debi Brooks said, “The world has taken notice of the special relationship between Michael and Harrison. Our brand campaign combines humor and compassion to highlight the very serious purpose behind our work.”
Ford also explained why the project mattered to him, noting, “Parkinson’s affects millions of people, and sometimes the best thing you can do is simply be there. I’m glad we can use this campaign to help people feel a little more comfortable having those conversations.”
Michael J. Fox Receives Prestigious Lasker Honor For Decades Of Advocacy
The latest television honor was only one of two major recognitions Fox received this month. The actor was also named the recipient of the 2026 Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award, one of the most respected honors in American medicine and public health.
Often referred to as part of “America’s Nobels,” the award recognizes individuals whose work has significantly advanced public health and medical progress.
The Lasker Foundation honored Fox for “empowering patients’ voices and accelerating research to find improved therapies and a cure for Parkinson’s disease.”
The recognition reflects more than two decades of work through The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which he launched in 2000.
Since then, the organization has committed more than $3 billion to Parkinson’s research, helping fund studies, clinical trials, data-sharing initiatives, and scientific collaborations around the world.
The Lasker Foundation also pointed out Fox’s role in changing public perception of Parkinson’s. Beyond raising money, he has testified before lawmakers, pushed for increased federal funding, advocated for stem-cell research, and played a key role in efforts that helped pass the National Plan to End Parkinson’s in 2024.
The biggest names in entertainment celebrated excellence in television during the 2026 Emmys.
Mariska Hargitay hosted a star-studded 78th annual ceremony — featuring cameos from newlywed Taylor Swift and New York Knicks MVP Jalen Brunson — but some of the most exciting moments happened while the cameras were not rolling.
From Harrison Ford tearing up during Michael J. Fox’s Bob Hope Humanitarian Award acceptance speech to a heartfelt tribute for the late Catherine O’Hara bringing the house down, Us staff were in attendance at the Peacock Theater to witness it all.
One particularly dramatic moment occurred during a powwow between controversial NFL star Aaron Rodgers’ exes Shailene Woodley and Olivia Munn while Kaley Cuoco shared a sweet kiss with fiancé Tom Pelphrey following his Emmy win for Task. Guillermo Rodriguez even had time to campaign for some Dancing With the Stars votes from Us while attending the industry gala.
Television’s biggest stars stepped into the spotlight for the 2026 Emmys, bringing plenty of personality to the red carpet. Celebrities showed their sartorial flair while posing for the cameras at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles on Monday, September 14. From bold fashion statements to timeless Hollywood looks, there was no shortage of glamour […]
Keep scrolling to learn what Us saw firsthand while inside at the 2026 Emmys:
A Meeting of Aaron Rodgers’ Exes
One of the most unexpected off-camera moments took place when two of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers’ exes, Shailene Woodley and Olivia Munn, seemingly had a deep conversation.
Fresh off Rodgers’ controversial comments about Woodley, the Paradise actress was seen shaking her head during her and Munn’s deep conversation. Munn showed support by holding Woodley’s hand.
There is no telling exactly what the two ladies were discussing, but it has certainly been an eventful week to be one of Rodgers’ exes.
Later in the evening, Shailene walked over to join Munn and her partner John Mulaney as they chatted with Jason Segel and his fiancée Kayla Radomski. Woodley hugged Munn, before telling Segel and his fiancée, “Oh, a wedding! Congrats, when and where?! I’ll be there!”
Jimmy Kimmel and Shailene Woodley attend the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards. Getty Images / Patrick T. Fallon / AFP
Kaley Cuoco Beamed As Fiance Tom Pelphrey Accepted His Emmy
No one was happier for Task star Tom Pelphrey than his pregnant fiancée Kaley Cuoco when he won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. The Big Bang Theory actress jumped out of her seat to share a kiss with Pelphrey before he headed towards the stage to accept his award.
Cuoco was visibly emotional — even tearing up at times — as her beau called their family “the crown jewel of [his] life” during his acceptance speech.
The happy couple seemed to be thrilled when they were introduced to Shailene Woodley later in the night. Woodley offered her congratulations to Pelphrey on his big win.
The ‘Pluribus’ Cast Showed Rhea Seehorn Lots of Love
The former Better Call Saul actress was greeted with huge cheers from her Pluribus cast and crew when she won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Rhea Seehorn returned the love on the Emmy stage during her acceptance speech, as she thanked her “dear beloved cast” as well as the “whole crew, my producers, my writers, the incredible background artists on the show.”
Us witnessed Seehorn looking like she was on cloud nine as she celebrated her first Emmy win after three previous nominations.
Keri Russell was seated nearby and later congratulated Seehorn on her big moment, telling her it was “so f***ing nice what [she] said” in her acceptance speech. The two chatted and posed for a photo together.
The Emmys Bar Was Jam Packed
The backstage bar was a madhouse with celebrities nearly packed wall-to-wall while they refreshed themselves in between televised segments. Nobody Wants This’ Adam Brody hung out with costars Timothy Simons and Jackie Tohn, making sure to hydrate with water and chowing down on popcorn.
Guillermo Rodriguez Campaigned for ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Votes
The Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick was outgoing as he greeted fans, taking time to pose for photos and have a few brief conversations.
With the DWTS premiere mere hours away, Guillermo Rodriguez made sure to canvas Us for votes. (He is paired with professional partner Witney Carson on DWTS season 35, which airs a two-night premiere on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16.)
‘The Bear’ Costars Took a Breather
Ayo Edebiri and Abby Elliott — who play Sydney and Natalie on The Bear — were spotted walking back into the Peacock Theater after taking a breather. The two were locked in conversation as Abby held a beverage in her hand.
The Bear’s single Emmy win this year was particularly emotional as the award went to the late Rob Reiner for his guest appearance on the dramedy.
Brooks Nader Was Quite the Attraction
Sports Illustrated cover model Brooks Nader took pictures with people throughout the night as she joined Baywatch costars Noah Beck, Jessica Belkin, Thaddeus LaGrone and Hassie Harrison at the gala.
Nader also delighted in some of the refreshments at her table, chomping down on handfuls of chips.
During a bathroom break, Brooks touched up sister Sarah Jane Nader’s makeup as she relayed a story about someone telling her, “You think you’re all that and a bag of chips.” The two joked about their excitement to change into more comfy clothes after the show ended.
The Nader sisters were later seen exiting the venue arm-in-arm.
Stephen Colbert poses at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards. Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Stephen Colbert Had a Late-Night Reunion
The Emmys almost turned into an episode of the beloved “Strike Force Five” podcast when the final season of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert won Outstanding Variety Series. Fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and John Oliver were among the first to congratulate Stephen Colbert, with the trio hugging before Colbert made his way to the stage.
Colbert delivered a stirring acceptance speech, defending late-night TV as a vital proving ground for young entertainment professionals. He made a quick exit as the ceremony concluded, yet he still stopped to take photos with fans in the lobby.
Lisa Rinna Strutted Her Stuff
The RHOBH alum was seated in the first row with husband Harry Hamlin alongside TV legend Jane Seymour and the casts of Widow’s Bay and Abbott Elementary.
At one point, Lisa Rinna got up to stretch her legs with a little dance to entertain Hamlin.
Jason Segel Was Living His Best Life
It seemed to Us like nobody had more fun at the Emmys this year than Jason Segel. When he wasn’t chatting with Olivia Munn and John Mulaney, he mingled with celebs like Sterling K. Brown during commercial breaks.
The Shrinking actor seemed to take his Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series loss in stride as he soaked in the evening with fiancée Kayla Radomski. (Matthew Rhys won the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series award for Widow’s Bay.)
Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy, and Dan Levy pay tribute to Catherine O’Hara. Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Schitt Creek’s and ‘Home Alone’ Stars Honored the Late Catherine O’Hara
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when three of the late Catherine O’Hara’s onscreen kids — Home Alone’s Macaulay Culkin as well as Schitt’s Creek duo Dan Levy and Annie Murphy — honored her immense legacy.
Lisa Rinna cheered from the audience when Levy mentioned in his speech that O’Hara told him she’d “always say yes” to any character over 60 wearing a miniskirt and a wig. Later in the night, Levy and Murphy relished their reunion as they chatted away at their table.
Casual Exits
Us observed a relatively calm scene when the stars started exiting the Peacock Theater at the end of the night. Shrinking’s Lukita Maxwell gave costar Luke Tennie a peck on the cheek as they parted ways.
Dance Mom’s Abby Lee Miller was vibrant as ever in bright blue sparkling sneakers as she left the event while Colman Domingo had a few friendly interactions with fans.
There were selfies galore as Emmy winner Jean Smart, Baywatch’s Noah Beck and Stephen Colbert all took time to pose for photos for fans as they headed to the after-parties.
Lady Gaga has spent much of her career turning her personal life into performance art, transforming heartbreak, ambition, and reinvention into chart-topping music.
Yet the biggest change of her life appears to have happened almost entirely offstage. While fans spent months wondering why the superstar had seemingly vanished after wrapping her world tour, those closest to her now claim she wasn’t retreating from fame at all.
Instead, she was embracing something she had wanted for years: motherhood.
For months, Lady Gaga’s absence became a story in itself. The singer, who normally dominates headlines whenever she steps into the public eye, largely disappeared from public view after concluding her Mayhem Ball tour in April.
Her social media activity slowed dramatically, with most posts focused on promoting Haus Labs rather than offering fans glimpses into her personal life.
That silence fueled endless speculation. Some fans wondered whether she had secretly married fiancé Michael Polansky. Others questioned whether she was simply taking a break after years of nonstop work.
According to insiders, however, the answer was far more life-changing. “The baby is a few months old and she has been a mom for a while, she just kept the baby news quiet,” a source told the Daily Mail.
The insider said Lady Gaga maintained that privacy because she spent most of her time at her secluded Marin County property, far removed from the paparazzi culture that often surrounds celebrity pregnancies and births.
Lady Gaga Is Reportedly Living The Future She Once Described
Long before reports of her baby surfaced, Gaga openly spoke about the future she hoped to build. “What I really want is to be a mom. That’s my next starring role,” she told Stephen Colbert last year.
Friends now say that dream has become the defining focus of her life. “She has been in full nesting mode and has never been happier in her life because being a mother was a very large goal, even more than becoming a successful musician,” an insider said. “This is a dream for her, she is in heaven and relishing every moment.”
That happiness appears to have completely reshaped her priorities. Rather than rushing back into public appearances, Gaga has reportedly devoted herself to creating a stable environment for her child.
Recent photos offered a glimpse of that balance. In one moment, she looked every bit the global superstar as she stepped off a private jet carrying her baby.
In another, she was spotted in Northern California dressed casually with her child tucked into a front sling.
Lady Gaga’s Inner Circle Says Family Is Now Her Entire Focus
The most revealing details coming from Lady Gaga’s camp have little to do with celebrity and everything to do with family.
“She never leaves the baby, only if she runs out for a quick errand. She is there in the nursery all the time because she doesn’t want to miss a moment,” the source said. “She holds the baby all the time because she wants to bond.”
Insiders also say motherhood has deepened her relationship with Polansky, whom she became engaged to in 2024 after years together.
“She is also more in love with Michael than ever. He has been so wonderful, he has done everything to make her happy and feel safe. She feels like she won the lottery with him,” the source explained. “She says he is the perfect man in every way.”
More From The Blast
The Singer’s Family Reportedly Played A Major Role In Keeping Her Baby News Private
If Lady Gaga’s fans are still stunned that she became a mother without the world knowing, those closest to the singer may deserve some of the credit.
After months spent shielding her newborn from public attention, new reports suggest that Lady Gaga’s inner circle worked carefully to preserve the privacy she desperately wanted during one of the most important periods of her life.
According to PEOPLE, the 40-year-old’s family and trusted confidants helped create a protective bubble around her as she prepared for motherhood and adjusted to life with her baby.
A source told the outlet that motherhood had been a long-term goal for the singer, explaining, “She always wanted to be a mom. This was something very important to her.” The insider added, “She sounds very happy.”
The insider also revealed that Gaga had been preparing for this shift long before the public knew anything about it.
“She was ready to slow down after her tour,” the insider said, referring to the end of her Mayhem Ball run earlier this year. Rather than jump immediately into another major project, Gaga reportedly chose to focus on her growing family.
Lady Gaga’s Difficult Road To Motherhood Comes Into Focus
While Lady Gaga’s newfound happiness as a mother has become the dominant story surrounding her private life, those close to the star revealed the road to get there was far more difficult than anyone realized.
As The Blast explained, sources shared that Lady Gaga endured a deeply emotional journey as she pursued the dream she had spoken about for years.
According to the report, the path to motherhood included both optimism and heartbreak. One insider described it as a process filled with “moments of joy and moments of despair.”
Friends reportedly pointed to several factors that made the experience especially challenging.
The songwriter had long dealt with significant health struggles, including fibromyalgia, the chronic pain condition she has openly discussed for years, as well as lingering physical issues stemming from the hip injury that ultimately required surgery in 2013.
Sources said those health concerns made the process “a hard road to travel physically.”
It may blow your mind that movies have been made for more than a century. That’s a lot of incredible films! With such a rich history and evolution, part of the joy we cinephiles have is comparing films of yore with modern classics. And when it comes to psychological thrillers, though the stories have changed, the core elements have stayed the same.
With hundreds of excellent films over the last 90 years, ten titles stand out as the greatest. From films that literally invented filmmaking devices to movies that reshaped award-show conversations, these movies remain brilliantly influential and timeless. While many films could be swapped in, these ten represent a strong history of the genre.
10
‘Gone Girl’ (2014)
Bringing one of the juiciest thrillers from page to screen takes a genius director who knows their way around a crime thriller. Thankfully, David Fincher masterfully adapted Gillian Flynn’s psychological thriller, Gone Girl. The story follows Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck), who discovers his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) missing, setting off a media frenzy and a dark psychological game of deception. A twisted series of mind games, Gone Girl takes a typical missing person story and flips the script in glorious fashion. Gone Girl is a wonderfully enthralling thriller that showcases the depths individuals will go to in a toxic relationship.
Morality is out the window as there is no genuine “villain” in the classic sense. Both Nick and Amy are deceitful. It only comes to light when it’s revealed that Amy is alive and meticulously framing Nick for her murder out of revenge. Neither character tells the absolute truth, forcing viewers to question who the real villain is and who the victim is. Fincher also targets the 24-hour news cycle by depicting how quickly the public turns a complex human tragedy into a media circus. Gone Girl exposes the dark side of relationships and why extreme personal grievances have lethal consequences.
9
‘Misery’ (1990)
While The Shining easily could earn this spot, since Stephen King was unhappy with the execution, we’ll give it to a movie adaptation he praised: Misery. The hit thriller tells the tale of famous author Paul Sheldon (James Caan), who suffers broken legs following a severe car crash in a blizzard. Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), a former nurse and his “number-one fan,” rescues him, only to hold him captive in exchange for a new manuscript that brings her favorite character back to life. A battle of wits, Misery turns a thrilling two-hander into a masterclass of claustrophobic tension and human terror.
Directed by Rob Reiner, Misery thrives thanks to its petrifying premise and career-defining performances. The film dives deep into the unhealthy extremes of obsession and control for a perfect power play. Mostly confined to a single setting, Misery amplifies the terror by forcing its protagonist to be at the whims of an unhinged individual. With Annie being the surrogate for unpredictability, viewers are left questioning what might happen next. Bates’ exceptional performance as she switches from a seemingly sweet nurse to an unstable monster. Misery is a masterpiece of psychological dread.
8
‘Psycho’ (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock and Psycho forever changed the future of movies. Adapted from Robert Bloch’s novel, Psycho follows a secretary named Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) who is on the run after stealing $40,000. She checks into the Bates Motel, where she meets the shy owner, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), who says he lives with his overbearing mother in the house up the hill. When Marion goes missing, a search begins as Norman’s twisted truth is revealed. Psycho redefined fear by shifting the image of a horror monster while proving that no one is safe— especially your top-line star.
Psycho reminded audiences that anything can happen in movies. A brilliant bait-and-switch, by killing off Leigh’s character within the first act, Hitchcock kept the audience on edge as to what might happen next. Then, making Norman, a seemingly normal appearing man, the killer proved even the scariest may be lurking right around the corner. With a shrieking score by Bernard Herrmann and masterful direction from Hitchcock, the film’s execution is sublime. It’s a haunting treat that set the tone for years to come. Psycho became the blueprint for the modern horror and psychological thriller.
7
‘Gaslight’ (1944)
If you’re curious where the term we use often came from, you’re in luck. A movie had a major factor in it. Directed by George Cukor, Gaslight tells the story of Paula Alquist (Ingrid Bergman), a young woman, who marries the charming musician Gregory Anton (Charles Boyer) after a whirlwind romance. Gregory convinces Paula to move back into her London childhood home, where he slowly begins to isolate her while driving her to insanity by telling her the dimming and flickering of the gaslights are merely a hallucination. Both a literal and figurative popularization of the term, the film brilliantly depicted how a person can be slowly driven to doubt their own sanity through calculated mental abuse.
Gaslight builds its suspense not by making you wonder whether Gregory is the source of the action, but by watching Paula break down under the abuse. Gregory hides items, accuses her of losing things, isolates her from friends, and intentionally dims the gaslights, showcasing the dark lengths he’ll go to drive his wife to the brink. Director George Cukor uses dark shadows, claustrophobic Victorian sets, and shifting lighting to make the audience feel as trapped as Paula. Bergman earned an Academy Award for her work, balancing a woman teetering on the edge. A highly influential work, Gaslight is the epitome of a psychological thriller.
6
‘Se7en’ (1995)
The ultimate cop-versus-killer mind game comes in the mind-blowing Se7en. Directed by David Fincher, the thriller follows two homicide detectives, William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) and David Mills (Brad Pitt), as they hunt a sadistic serial killer (Kevin Spacey) whose murders are inspired by the seven deadly sins. As the hunters dive further into the mystery, Se7en paints a terrifying portrait of human morality. Se7en builds suspense through a dark, claustrophobic atmosphere in a gritty, unnamed city where dread and hopelessness are the moral of the story.
Fincher builds a world where a dreary color palette, constant rain, and a claustrophobic locale evoke the mood revolving around the protagonists. It’s an unsettling atmosphere to work under, but the crimes they’re pursuing are graphic in nature and completely demoralizing. We don’t get to see the crimes, so filling in the blanks becomes a horrifying game. Spacey’s John Doe is a calculated mastermind whose compelling final act wrapped up the story perfectly. The film’s epic finale remains one of the greatest in cinema history. The final confrontation is a devastating trap that subverts traditional Hollywood resolutions with a bleak, emotional gut-punch.
5
‘Vertigo’ (1958)
Alfred Hitchcock invented a new way of filming that will forever be tied to his masterpiece, Vertigo. The titillating thriller follows retired detective John “Scottie” Ferguson (James Stewart), whose fear of heights is triggered when he becomes dangerously obsessed with Madeleine (Kim Novak), a woman he was hired to follow at the request of her husband, Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore). Scottie trails Madeleine, falling in love in the process, only for a shocking twist to reveal the truth about Gavin and Madeleine. Vertigo transforms a standard mystery into a deeply haunting exploration of human obsession, guilt, and the toxic nature of romantic illusion.
Vertigo taps into fears many viewers share. But the film’s influence on filmmaking is much bigger. Hitchcock’s innovation from the film is the “vertigo effect,” better known as the dolly zoom. The effect simultaneously zooms in while dollying out. This allowed Hitchcock to drop the audience inside Scottie’s terrifying experience of acrophobia. Hitchcock uses intense, expressive lighting and recurring color motifs for Scottie to navigate through. Vertigo doesn’t hide the twist for too long, allowing the story to shift to Scottie’s psychological breakdown as he tries to forcefully recreate a dead woman out of a living one. There are many sensational Hitchcock films; this is the very best.
4
‘Parasite’ (2019)
It’s a battle of the social classes in Bong Joon-ho’s game-changing dark comedy thriller Parasite. The Oscar-winning film centers on the Kim family, a struggling, poor family, who infiltrates the lives of the wealthy Park family. While enjoying the perks of the Park’s home, the family eventually discovers a dark secret hidden in the basement that threatens their scam, turning it into a violent nightmare. Showcasing the discrepancy of the rich and the poor, Parasite highlights how the wealthy rely entirely on the labor of the poor while remaining wistfully unaware of their everyday strife. Parasite uses biting commentary to describe how a competitive economic system forces desperate people to fight one another just to survive.
Parasite blends a believable, high-stakes con game with a harrowing exploration of class struggle and the human desperation that comes with it. What begins as a witty dark-comedy heist swiftly becomes a tense thriller with a bloody finale. Bong swiftly shifts the mood effortlessly, proving that the descent into chaos can come when least expected. It represents those at the bottom of the food chain who desperately try to claw themselves out, only to face more hurdles in their path. The film is grounded in realism, as this could be any ordinary family at both ends of the class spectrum. There are no heroes or villains; only individuals stuck in a pressure cooker. Parasite proudly brought foreign language films into the mainstream, changing the genre forever.
3
‘Get Out’ (2017)
Mixing a brilliant social commentary with a high-tension psychological thriller, Get Out flipped the script on traditional horror tropes. Directed by Jordan Peele, Get Out tells the story of a young Black photographer, Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya), who takes a trip to visit his white girlfriend Rose Armitage’s (Allison Williams) family’s secluded country estate. As the weekend carries on, Chris discovers a terrifying plot where wealthy white individuals have their consciousness surgically transplanted into the bodies of healthy Black bodies. He now must fight to survive.
Using psychological paranoia and gaslighting as a means to scare, Get Out traps the audience in a story where the “monster” is the performative act of well-meaning neighbors who overcompensate to prove they’re not prejudiced. Get Out showcases how microaggressions escalate before the Sunken Place is introduced as an allegory for the loss of agency. Peele builds tension through lingering and subtle moments. The world he establishes seems ordinary, only for the mask to whisk away into an uneasy environment where sinister forces lurk within the surrounding individuals.
2
‘Inception’ (2010)
There are certainly many extraordinary Christopher Nolan films, but in the world of psychological thrillers, it doesn’t get much better than Inception. The multi-layered heist thriller tells the story of professional thief Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), who is given a mission to perform inception and plant an idea into the mind of CEO Robert Fischer (Cillian Murphy) in exchange for a clean criminal record. Plagued by trauma and grief, Cobb assembles a team of specialists who go deep within dream layers to complete his mission. Inception brilliantly blends illusion and reality in a high-concept, ticking-clock thriller.
Inception showcases Nolan at his finest, marrying a brilliant concept with a tangible production. With practical effects, a stunning score by Hans Zimmer, and an all-star ensemble willing to play, Nolan presented an intellectually sound narrative that was thoroughly gripping. Even at the end, as the totem kept spinning, it left audiences debating it to this day. Inception is a beast of a film that gets better with every watch.
1
‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)
Award show victories don’t necessarily define greatness, but for The Silence of the Lambs, it was simply icing on the cake. Based on Thomas Harris‘ novel, the film tells the story of Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), a fledgling FBI trainee who seeks out the assistance of imprisoned serial killer Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) to catch another active murderer. Lecter only agrees to give clues through a quid pro quo where Clarice exchanges traumatizing personal details about her childhood. A gripping thriller that uses intense mind games to build extraordinary tension, The Silence of the Lambs is a thrilling classic.
Director Jonathan Demme brings a claustrophobic feeling to the screen through his shot framing. By using extreme close-ups on actors staring down the barrel, viewers feel as if they are just as exposed and intimately a part of the psychological mind games. The film masterfully focuses on Clarice’s journey. Not only is she forced to rehash her past, but she fights against a male-dominated world she must navigate. Foster does remarkable work, especially in her scenes with Hopkins, who embodies pure terror. Horror doesn’t get quite better than The Silence of the Lambs.
The Silence of the Lambs
- Release Date
-
February 14, 1991
- Runtime
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119 minutes
- Director
-
Jonathan Demme
- Writers
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Ted Tally, Thomas Harris
Aaron Rodgers may have intended to set the record straight about past relationships, but his latest podcast appearance has instead reignited scrutiny of one of the most talked-about romances of his life.
Years after his engagement to Shailene Woodley ended, the quarterback’s candid comments have sparked fresh debate about what really happened behind closed doors.
Now, sources close to the actress are pushing back, describing his remarks as unnecessary and reopening a chapter they thought had long been left behind.
Before the accusations, uncomfortable reactions, and competing versions of events, there was a relationship many people genuinely believed would last.
Friends who watched Rodgers and Woodley get together saw two unconventional personalities who seemed to understand each other in a way few others could.
Their relationship unfolded quickly, but to those around them, the speed wasn’t necessarily a red flag.
“They are both very much professionally amazing at what they do, but personally they are both very odd,” a source told the Daily Mail, adding, “So, when mutual friends introduced them, it almost seemed appropriate that they got together because they shared the same weirdness.”
That unusual compatibility became one of the relationship’s biggest selling points. “Their friends thought it was actually a match made in heaven,” the insider added. “They found each other and their similarities and differences attracted one another. Until they didn’t.”
Looking back, however, some believe the whirlwind nature of the romance may have masked deeper problems.
Rodgers’ Engagement May Have Become A Solution To Problems Already Brewing
One of the more revealing claims from insiders isn’t about how the relationship ended; it’s about what happened before the ending.
According to a source, the engagement itself may have represented an attempt to hold the relationship together rather than a natural next step.
While engagements are often viewed as the ultimate sign of confidence, those close to the couple now suggest the decision may have been driven by a hope that commitment would solve existing issues.
“[Rodgers] thought that because they got into the relationship fast, that getting engaged was going to save the relationship; it did the complete opposite,” one source stated.
The insider alleged that tensions were already becoming difficult to ignore. “They couldn’t handle the cracks of their relationship as they just got on each other’s nerves,” the source said.
Complicating matters further was the timing. Much of their romance unfolded during the COVID era, a period that disrupted routines, relationships, and expectations worldwide.
According to the insider, “It was around COVID, so everything wasn’t normal in the first place, so it became his way or the highway, and she didn’t know how to handle it.”
The source’s final assessment was brief but telling, revealing “It was a bad breakup.”
What has surprised many observers is not that the relationship failed, but that it has suddenly resurfaced years later.
The renewed attention stems from a series of startling claims Rodgers made last week while appearing on the “Not Just Football With Cam Heyward” podcast.
The NFL star alleged that shortly after proposing, the actress told him she needed to “go f*ck another man.”
Rodgers also claimed that despite attempts to work through their issues, Woodley eventually made it clear that she no longer wanted a future together, saying she simply “didn’t want to be with him.”
According to insiders, Woodley had little interest in revisiting a chapter she has largely left behind. That is why Rodgers’ decision to discuss the relationship publicly reportedly landed so poorly within her circle.
An insider noted that Woodley saw Rodgers’ latest comments as a “gaslighting mind game” and had no desire to participate in a public back-and-forth about a relationship that ended years ago.
“It’s so unfair of him to talk about her that way, but she is not surprised as he is a loose cannon who mouths off whenever he wants,” the source said.
More From The Blast
Woodley’s Silent Reaction Speaks Volumes After Rodgers’ Claims
If Aaron Rodgers’ comments were intended to start a conversation, Woodley made it clear she had no interest in joining it.
The 34-year-old found herself facing questions about her ex-fiancé’s bombshell podcast appearance on Sunday night while arriving at a pre-Emmys fundraiser in West Hollywood.
As TMZ revealed, a reporter called out, “Any comment about Aaron Rodgers?” Instead of offering a statement, Woodley stopped, turned toward the reporter, and laughed before continuing on her way.
Her reaction, or lack of one, became especially notable because she had just come off a career high.
The movie star recently earned her first Emmy for Hulu’s “Paradise” and arrived at the fundraiser amid celebrations surrounding that achievement.
Aaron Rodgers Turns His Attention To Former Packers Teammates
While much of the attention centered on Rodgers’ comments about Woodley, the quarterback’s podcast appearance wasn’t limited to former romances.
He also used the interview to revisit old grievances involving two former Green Bay Packers teammates. Though he did not initially identify them by name, the comments were widely understood to be directed at Greg Jennings and Jermichael Finley, both of whom have publicly criticized him in the past.
“I had two teammates who spoke out about me years ago, out of everyone I ever played with who said they didn’t have a good experience with me,” Rodgers said.
He then delivered his harshest assessment yet of the pair, explaining, “One was bitter because he went to another team and never became a player again. The other just wasn’t a smart person.”
Rodgers said the criticism from one former teammate hurt more because of how much effort he had put into helping him succeed.
The Steelers quarterback then suggested that both former teammates only become relevant when discussing him.
In his words, “Both of them, no one cares about what they have to say, which is for most people at this point in my life. No one cares what they have to say until they use my name.”
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