Science fiction is a genre known for pushing boundaries. It’s in these stories that we are transported to other worlds, meet new lifeforms, and see what would happen if our perception were expanded. Released by Netflix in 2023, They Cloned Tyrone sits at a lofty 95% on Rotten Tomatoes for that reason — it takes our expectations of a sci-fi movie, and goes in a different direction.

With an incredible cast led by John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris, director Juel Taylor’s film remains a favorite with streaming fans after its release. A revisit makes its appeal obvious.

Why They Cloned Tyrone Is One of Netflix’s Best Sci-Fi Movies

They Cloned Tyrone is set in a suburban neighborhood called the Glen, where a drug dealer named Fontaine (Boyega) visits one of his customers, a pimp named Slick Charles (Foxx), for money he is owed. After the transaction, Fontaine is killed by a rival drug dealer in front of Slick. The next day, however, Fontaine arrives alive and unharmed, with no memory of the night before. Confused, Slick takes Fontaine and his associate Yo-Yo (Parris) on an investigation that uncovers a shocking secret: that Black residents of the Glen are being controlled through everyday products such as fried chicken, music, and hair products, in a racially motivated government experiment.

Creating a labyrinth of mystery that never forgets to be entertaining, the movie is a terrific satire of systemic racism, social engineering, and cultural stereotypes. Amid the intelligence of the concept is a rapid-fire comedy provided by the excellent duo of Foxx and Parris, which becomes a highlight of the film, as they play two people entirely unprepared to be saviors of their community.

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Image via Netflix

What makes the film so compelling is its ability to mix multiple genres into one vibrant adventure. The film incorporates elements of 1970s blaxploitation movies in the form of the characters’ clothing, slang, and even their names. However, the references become critiques as we learn the depth of the main trio, exposing the reductive nature that the genre can have on Black identity.

There is also a kind of horror to the system of control they try to destroy, one that commodifies aspects of their lives in order to limit their progress. The film has been compared favorably to hits like Get Out and Sorry To Bother You in the way that it introduces a concept that allows us to reflect on society, with the most unsettling feeling coming from the realization that the story is tethered to real life.

Finally, there are aspects of the conspiracy thriller, particularly through the appearance of Nixon (Kiefer Sutherland) as an operative behind the conspiracy, who reveals what’s truly going on and what they are up against. All these elements come together to make a multi-faceted story that is not content with relying on clichés.

Why John Boyega Is the Heart of They Cloned Tyrone

It’s likely most people will be familiar with star Boyega as Finn, the courageous former Stormtrooper who featured in all three of the Star Wars sequel movies. Leaving one of the biggest franchises of all time can be a difficult path for any actor, but the British star pivoted by returning to the genre that launched him.

As Fontaine, he remains the film’s emotional anchor, a character who remains focused and stoic while chaos reigns around him. Parris and Foxx’s effective comedy allows him to provide the drama, something that every high-concept movie needs in order not to spiral out of control as the story goes on. He is of the world that Taylor creates, but he also feels individual, more than a clone of what came before.

There’s a pleasing parallel with Moses, the character he played in his 2011 breakthrough Attack the Block, about a teenage gang defending their council estate from alien invasion. The satirical absurdity and social commentary resemble the themes in They Cloned Tyrone, and just like that film, Moses is the strong grounding the movie needs to succeed. It’s a full-circle moment that brings the actor back to what brought him to the audiences’ attention.

Destined to become a cult classic, They Cloned Tyrone continues a trend in science fiction where the outlandish is used to explain issues in reality. Strong performances, wicked humor, and a thoughtful message combine to make a movie that is more intentional than its chaotic exterior would have you believe. If you haven’t seen it, now’s the time to seek it out.

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Release Date

July 21, 2023

Runtime

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119 Minutes

Director

Juel Taylor

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Writers

Tony Rettenmaier, Juel Taylor

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Things got a little too real on live TV, but Nikki Glaser handled it like a pro. The comedian made an appearance on “Live with Kelly and Mark” on April 22, where a minor wardrobe mishap quickly turned into a hilarious on-air moment thanks to her quick wit.

As soon as Glaser sat down in a baby blue sleeveless minidress featuring rosette details, co-host Kelly Ripa didn’t hesitate to point out what viewers may have already noticed. “So chic! I love this,” Ripa said. “Oh wait, you can see your underpants.”

With Mark Consuelos jokingly covering his eyes using a cue card, Glaser leaned forward to fix her dress, but not before delivering a perfectly timed comeback. “It’s just for you,” she joked.

Rather than shy away from the moment, Glaser fully embraced it, continuing to joke that the reveal was “right down the barrel” before adding a quick, “Sorry, guys.”

Ripa played along with the bit, saying, “I don’t mind at all,” which only fueled Glaser’s humor even more. “I’ll send you a picture later,” she responded.

See the video here.

Beyond the viral moment, Glaser also shared details about heading back to her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, where she filmed her upcoming stand-up special “Good Girl.” She joked about the unexpected mix of familiar faces who showed up to support her at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, turning the crowd into a full-circle moment from her past.

“It was lots of people from high school, you know, people from my pilates class, my self-tan lady from the strip mall,” she said. “But it was fun. It’s fine, I guess, that my childhood dentist knows about my sex life now. I guess that’s appropriate.”

While some viewers found the moment entertaining, others were far more critical, taking to social media to share their thoughts. One user wrote, “Show some class.”

Another added, “She’s trying anything and everything to become relevant; she’s not funny, never has been. She comes off as trying too hard to mimic being one of the guys, but still a woman. Doesn’t work; she comes off as crude and obnoxious.”

A third commented, “No class, no talented hack.” Meanwhile, another user chimed in, “Dressed like a teenager, give me a break.”

Glaser Roasts Star-Studded Crowd At Time100 Gala

Glaser brought edge to the Time100 Gala, and the A-list crowd was front and center for it. The comedian, who was also honored on Time’s prestigious list, took the stage in New York City on April 23 in front of a room packed with stars like Hilary Duff and Dakota Johnson, alongside influential figures from across industries.

Wasting no time, Glaser leaned into her bold humor, referencing the Epstein files and poking fun at the event itself. “Welcome to the Time100, the one list you actually want to be on this year,” she said.

She also joked that the gala was the “only ceremony of the year where the girls from ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ aren’t singing ‘Golden,’” setting the tone for a night filled with her trademark, no-filter comedy.

Glaser didn’t stop there. She quickly zeroed in on guest Gayle King, using her recent headline-making moment as comedic fuel. Referencing King’s 2025 trip aboard Blue Origin, Glaser delivered one of the night’s most talked-about punchlines. “You had the courage to do something that so many people wouldn’t have the guts to do: Spend 12 minutes alone with Katy Perry,” she told King.

Nikki Glaser Gets Candid About Open Relationship Dynamic

Glaser isn’t shying away from personal topics, either. During a recent appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, the comedian opened up about her unconventional relationship with longtime boyfriend Chris Convy, revealing she’s comfortable with him seeing other people.

“He probably wouldn’t appreciate me elaborating on that, but there’s been interesting things that have been really fun for me to hear about,” she said. “He’s 45 and I’m like, ‘Get out there, get some, know that you’re a sexual being again.’ Sometimes I’m too busy to be really sexy, so I’m like, ‘Go out and get some attention.’”

Her latest stand-up special, “Nikki Glaser: Good Girl,” is now streaming on Hulu.

Chicago Fire is going through another change with showrunner Andrea Newman exiting after more than a decade.

Newman, who has worked on the NBC series for its entire 14-season run, is leaving and co-executive producer Victor Teran is taking over the role. Newman joined Chicago Fire after the pilot as co-executive producer before being promoted to executive producer then co-showrunner before becoming sole showrunner in 2023.

“Working at Chicago Fire, with the absolute best cast and crew in the business, has been the highlight of my career,” Newman said in a statement. “Like so many others, I was inspired to get into TV writing because of Dick, so what a thrill it’s been to work with him and the amazing Wolf team of Peter Jankowski, Rebecca McGill and Anastasia Puglisi. I’m so grateful to them, Derek Haas and the NBC and Universal execs who have been so supportive of the show all along the way. After 14 years, you really do become a family and working with this group will always feel like home.”

Jankowski, meanwhile, released a separate statement, which read, “We’re sad to say goodbye to Andrea. She’s been at the center of the heart and soul of Chicago Fire since the beginning and the show thrived under her watch. We’re grateful for her commitment to the development of the next generation and know the show will be in great hands with Victor taking the reins.”

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George Kraychyk / ©Hulu / Courtesy: Everett Collection Chances are if your favorite show felt different over the years, a showrunner shift occurred at some point behind the scenes. Law & Order: Organized Crime attempted to solidify itself as a successful spinoff of Law & Order: SVU but instead it has continued to make headlines […]

One Chicago fans are no strangers to seeing shakeups within Chicago Fire, Chicago Med and Chicago P.D. over the years. After there were some questions about the franchise’s revolving door of cast members, NBC’s president of program planning Jeff Bader explained why he wasn’t concerned.

“Cast comes in, cast goes out,” Bader told TVLine in an interview published in July 2024. “It’s interesting. Because every year there are cast changes, and every year someone asks the same question about what’s going on within the One Chicago universe. But [those shows] just keep going on.”

Bader pointed out that each of the Chicago shows have continued to find success, adding, “We’re thrilled with how the Chicagos do on Wednesday. We have no plans on changing anything on that night.”

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It is never easy to unexpectedly say goodbye to your favorite characters — and 2026 has featured an influx of shocking departures on our TV screens from Grey’s Anatomy to Virgin River. Virgin River fans were surprised when showrunner Patrick Sean Smith confirmed multiple characters were written off the show after season 7. Marco Grazzini addressed […]

Newman, meanwhile, teased onscreen shifts ahead of the next season.

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“We’re going to have a lot of turnover,” Newman told TVLine in May 2025. “And a lot craziness going on in the CFD from the top, where people are being cut and moved, and everything’s going to get shaken up next season. There will be hellos, and there will be goodbyes. I’ll say that. That’s for sure.”

Newman also made it clear that nothing is guaranteed.

“There’s nobody safe in this shakeup,” Newman explained to TV Insider that same month. “So next season is going to be about how the s*** really hits the fan once that mandate comes down and how things get shaken up and how our team can hold together as a family while all this craziness is happening around them.”

Tom Cruise has spent most of the millennium in the action blockbuster space, developing elaborate stunts in the Mission: Impossible series and flying real F/A-18s for the massive hit Top Gun: Maverick (with a Top Gun 3 in the works). But the detours of his career suggest he could be a very different kind of performer. His cameo in 2008’s Tropic Thunder as ruthless executive Les Grossman (who has threatened to get a spin-off of his own) made waves, but one of his boldest roles was as a washed-up rock star in the 2012 adaptation of Broadway musical Rock of Ages.

Tom Cruise Is Easily the Best Part of ‘Rock of Ages’

Even in 2025, Cruise was still claiming that at the top of his movie bucket list was “musicals,” according to Rolling Stone. If anyone remembers Rock of Ages, they remember Stacee Jaxx (Cruise), the lost soul whose recklessness has led to the breakup of his hair metal band. Introduced singing the goofy bad boy anthem “Wanted Dead or Alive,” this is Tom Cruise at maximum charisma. Rock of Ages failed to find an audience, leading to a decade-plus of increasingly safe Cruise movies and performances. However, it suggests he could have been a musical star.

Part of the problem with Rock of Ages is that for as large as Stacee looms, he is not that big a part of it. More time is spent on the cliché-ridden story of Sherrie (Jullianne Hough), the small-town girl who follows her musical dreams to Los Angeles, ultimately falling in love with Drew (Diego Boneta). Still, even with its admirable sincerity and slick staging, the movie largely falls asleep when Stacee Jaxx is offscreen. Amusing turns from Alec Baldwin and Bryan Cranston aside, the comedy largely rests on Cruise’s shoulders, which leads to some of his best work in one of his worst movies.

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Despite famously performing in his high school production of Guys and Dolls, Tom Cruise spent his early film career in every genre but musical comedy. From teen dramas like The Outsiders to legacy sequels like The Color of Money to sports movies like Days of Thunder, he made his name as a serious, engaged, and charming actor in prestigious productions before moving largely into the action genre. But rumors spread that he wanted to tackle the musical, with much of the pre-release chatter around the movie centering around Cruise’s desires, even though nobody knew if he could sing. As if to refute the premature critiques, Cruise developed the character with his signature intensity, with director Adam Shankman claiming to E! News that the actor was training to develop a voice like “Axl Rose, Keith Richards, and Jim Morrison.”

‘Rock of Ages’ Failure Pushed Tom Cruise Into Action Movies

For a movie that marketed itself on Cruise’s performance, Rock of Ages flopped at the global box office, making under $60 million on a $75 million budget per Box Office Mojo. The actor’s trips out of action movie territory seemed to thud, with Rock of Ages seemingly putting the nail on the coffin of his own musical ambitions. The action movie audience had little interest in seeing him in a musical, and the musical crowd that loved 2010’s Burlesque didn’t care for this one’s goofy machismo. Cruise soon poured his energy into his familiar action mode, but it’s hard not to wonder what could have been if it had succeeded.

Rock of Ages came about at a time when Cruise had figured out his mode to an extent that could feel rote and repetitive if the movies themselves weren’t great. With 2011’s Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol, he had finally turned his passion project into a real series and embarked on a substantial creative partnership with writer Christopher McQuarrie, who had written 2008’s World War II thriller Valkyrie for Cruise and would also direct him in 2012’s rock-solid Jack Reacher (as well as the next four Mission films). But with the Mission: Impossible series having allegedly wrapped up, McQuarrie has claimed that next on the agenda is a musical designed to showcase the actor’s talents, per Deadline. Should it happen, we can only hope it’s not a one-off.

An influencer who went viral after sharing her budget-friendly wedding has died after welcoming her first child.

According to her obituary, Kiara Janae Brokenbrough died as she welcomed a son with her husband Joel Brokenbrough on March 30. She was 32.

A GoFundMe launched by Joel’s mother Shaneka Greene shared that Kiara died “unexpectedly” and “went to her Heavenly home while Baby Jonah entered his earthly home.”

The GoFundMe page also shared an update on baby Jonah’s condition after he was born prematurely. (He was originally due in June.)

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“He is in NICU and has begun his long journey to grow stronger and healthier each day,” the description read. “Jonah is a cutie and a fighter and by God’s grace and POWER we know he will astound the doctors with his daily progress.”

Kiara’s obituary also detailed Jonah’s progress in the neonatal intensive care unit.

“Jonah, like his parents, is a fighter,” the obituary read. “He is inspiring his family members and NICU hospital staff with his remarkable improvement.”

The GoFundMe description also described the impact Kiara’s death has had on her husband Joel.

“Understandably, this tragedy has taken a devastating toll on Joel,” the description continued. “He will need support (physically, mentally, spiritually, and monetarily) from his family and friends and the kindness of strangers.”

It further added, “As Joel begins this unimaginable next chapter as an only parent, to a premie in the NICU and having to deal with the heartache of losing his beloved wife (whom he loves so much) he needs all the support he can get as he tries to navigate through life without her.”

As of Friday, April 24, the GoFundMe has raised more than $104,000 of its $150,000 goal.

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Kiara and Joel had been married for four years, after tying the knot in a wedding that had a budget of $500. Kiara’s wedding dress cost $47 and she went viral after she detailed how she pulled off the low-cost but still stylish nuptials.

“We knew that it would not be wise for us to go into debt over a wedding or to spend a lot of money just to have a wedding,” Kiara told the Los Angeles Times in April 2022.

She said, “I just seen how, culturally, how we’ve gotten so far away from how weddings were something so simple as bride and groom coming together, bowing to God to stay together, and vowing to each other to stay together and in front of witnesses.”

From Baz Luhrmann‘s Moulin Rouge! to everyone’s favorite Paddington, Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman has been part of some beloved big-screen projects. Earlier this year, Kidman delivered yet another hit with Scarpetta, a Prime Video hit based on the bestselling book series by Patricia Cornwell, which currently places third on the streamer’s U.S. charts. She has followed this up with another streaming smash that currently tops the Apple TV charts: Margo’s Got Money Troubles.

However, beyond these two new small-screen favorites, Kidman will be returning to theaters later this year with the long-awaited follow-up to a fantasy cult classic. On September 11, Practical Magic 2 will make its theatrical debut, with Kidman and Sandra Bullock reprising their roles as Gillian and Sally Owens, sisters descended from a long line of witches. With Susanne Bier taking over directing duties from Griffin Dune, the sequel features a blend of new and returning faces. Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest reprise their roles from the original, with Joey King, Maisie Williams, Solly McLeod, Xolo Maridueña, and Lee Pace added to the ensemble.

The sequel will be based on Alice Hoffman’s 2021 novel, The Book of Magic, which she penned 26 years after the original. The original in question, released in 1995, spawned a 1998 movie adaptation that today holds as one of Kidman’s most underrated projects. Ahead of the sequel, you’ll likely want to catch up on the magic that came before. Alas, you’ll have to hurry, as Practical Magic is reportedly leaving HBO Max on May 1, 2026. A synopsis reads:

“Sally and Gillian Owens, born into a magical family, have mostly avoided witchcraft themselves. But when Gillian’s vicious boyfriend, Jimmy Angelov, dies unexpectedly, the Owens sisters give themselves a crash course in hard magic. With policeman Gary Hallet growing suspicious, the girls struggle to resurrect Angelov — and unwittingly inject his corpse with an evil spirit that threatens to end their family line.”

What Makes ‘Practical Magic’ a Cult Hit?

Image via Warner Bros.

For a movie to be considered a cult hit, it must have initially underperformed, most often financially, before bouncing back as an enduring favorite of a dedicated fanbase. Practical Magic certainly hits this criterion, falling to a disappointing $68 million box office haul in 1998, against a reported $60 million budget. The film was also panned by critics upon arrival, earning just 27% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. However, the movie’s 73% audience score on the same site tells the tale of a fantasy effort that received its flowers a little too late.

Practical Magic is leaving HBO Max. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.

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Release Date

October 16, 1998

Runtime

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104 minutes

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Taylor Sheridan has enjoyed finding roles for country singers on his shows — but could Luke Combs usweekly be next?

“If they just want me to play me, then great. I’m in,” Combs, 36, exclusively told Us Weekly at the Time100 Gala on Thursday, April 23.

Combs noted that he wasn’t as sure about a scripted role.

“I don’t know if I’m a TV guy. I’ve got a face for radio,” he said. “I’ve been lucky for that. But I don’t know. I just try to have time for my wife and my kids and not over commit myself to things that maybe I don’t feel like I’m great at. Or maybe I would be good at it.”

Related: Morgan Wade Isn’t the Only Country Singer Who Has Scored a Scripted TV Role

Dutton Ranch‘s Morgan Wade isn’t the only country singer to make the transition to scripted TV roles. Jelly Roll played a scene-stealing character on season 3 of Fire Country, marking his acting debut. Fire Country star — and executive producer — Max Thieriot later told Us Weekly that he “reached out first” to Jelly Roll […]

The musician is already quite booked and busy, telling Us, “I just got so much going on with the music stuff. I want to give everything I have to that because I have such a big team and so many people that depend on me to make music and play shows and go out and do things for people. From employees to fans, I want to give everything I can to that.”

Recently, more and more country singers have made the transition to scripted TV roles. After playing himself on Tulsa King, Jelly Roll played a fictional character on season 3 of Fire Country, which marked his acting debut.

“[Jelly Roll] was finishing drying his hands with a towel in the bathroom at the CMTs [in April 2024]. I ran into him in the bathroom straight up at the CMT Music Awards,” Max Thieriot told Us in 2025 about how he “reached out first” to Jelly Roll after crossing paths at the CMT Music Awards. “I said, ‘Thank you for letting us have some of your songs on the show.’ And he’s like, ‘Dude, how do I get on the show? I’ve been petitioning online and talking to my people and you got to get me on that show.’ He said Fire Country is what he really represents. … He called me the next day and it showed how sincere he was.”

Thieriot, 37, credited Jelly Roll for being so collaborative.

“We worked on coming up with a character [for him] that we all thought would be interesting, unique and special and still. It tells some of the story about second chances and what he really represents,” he noted to Us. “But [it] also feels different from who he is and how people see him day to day as a country singer.”

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He concluded, “I don’t know [if we will have more country singers]. I have to wait for the next awards show and I’m just going to set up a chair in the bathroom to start greeting them as they come in. But there’s a few that we’ve been talking with for a while now. Honestly, it would be fun to maybe see both [Kane and Jelly Roll] bring their characters back in some form.”

Over on CBS, star Riley Green joined in several episodes as a former Navy SEAL. Morgan Wade is also becoming part of the Sheridan universe when Dutton Ranch premieres in April.

Sheridan previously recruited Tim McGraw and Faith Hill to play fictional couple James and Margaret Dutton in the Yellowstone prequel series 1883, which ran from 2021 to 2022.