Jenna Johnson is shedding some light on why her Dancing With the Stars partner Harry Shum Jr. punctuated their “Viral Hits Night” routine with a dramatic scream.

“The scream that was heard around the world,” pro dancer Jenna 32, joked via Instagram on Wednesday, September 23. “The scream! The controversy!”

The duo may have made the biggest impression on viewers during “Viral Hits Night” on Tuesday, September 22, with their Viennese waltz set to “Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls. In a climactic moment, Harry, 44, broke away from the dance to scream directly into the camera before Jenna pulled him back into their routine.

“Let me tell you why [that happened],” Jenna teased. “Obviously there were still 14 couples in the competition so our [intro video] packages were so short. Harry and I had discussed this beautiful meaning behind the piece. Unfortunately, there was just no time to show everything that we discussed throughout the week.”

Jenna explained that the dance was meant to be “so emotional” and showcase “so much yearning” between the pair.

“We had talked about both of our anxiety, how that makes us feel, this constant doubt, this pressure that we have on ourselves, not feeling like you belong,” she noted. “We just dove into the emotion of it all — what does it feel like when you’re about to break?”

The pro dancer told Harry that in moments of high anxiety that she often “just wants to scream.”

“Scream into a pillow. Scream in my car. When you’re at that point when everything is in your chest, the best way to release it is just breathing out and yelling,” she said.

In the rehearsal room, Jenna asked Harry if he’d be willing to “go crazy” with how they expressed anxiety throughout their Viennese waltz.

“He said, ‘Yeah, we should always go crazy,’” the pro recalled. “I just want to say, I’m so grateful for a partner who is down to do crazy things with me and that supports my ideas, my art and my creativity. [He] is willing to go there — the full visceral experience of his full-body scream was just, honestly, I think my favorite part.”

She added, “You either loved it or you hated it. Totally fine. But that was our art. That was our expression. Art is so subjective. It’s personal and it’s totally fine if you didn’t resonate with that. I hope that people who felt that emotion did [resonate with the scream].”

Jenna acknowledged that their video package “didn’t really explain the emotion” behind the scream because there simply was not enough time.

The couple’s Viennese waltz was a modest hit with judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli, who scored the routine 18 out of 30 total points.

Derek, 41, called the dance “beautiful” while Bruno, 70, felt it was a “great performance.” Carrie, 58, was less impressed, receiving boos from the studio audience for her harsher critique.

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“The parts when you let go, you let go so far and you’re so amazing, and then when you’re back in hold you’re a little timid and you seem uncertain,” she told Harry. “If you can try to bridge that gap a little bit, I think that is what’s going to make it great.”

Dancing With the Stars airs on Disney+ and ABC Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Every ‘It’ girl has go-to beauty staples that stand the test of time, delivering flawless coverage, anti-aging benefits, and real results. The only issue? Some of these top-tier picks stem from luxury brands that are priced higher than we’d like to admit. But as shopping editors, we don’t give up that easily. We scoured the internet for drugstore dupes and found so many popular finds hiding at CVS.

Whether you’re looking for hard-working makeup or skincare, we found some of the best picks at affordable prices at CVS. After all, we’ve covered everything from beauty launches to steeply discounted picks, so you can say we’ve seen it all. Oh, and of course, we’ve had our fair share of real-world testing, too!

Our favorite beauty dupes below work just as well as the high-end stuff but won’t cost you an arm and a leg to buy them. Bonus: Some of our favorites are loved by celebrities and used by Us Weekly editors, so you know you’re in good hands. Prices start as low as $7, so snap them up before these beauty buys are out of stock.

Luxury Beauty Dupes Available at CVS, From $7

1. Our Favorite: With over 6,800 five-star ratings, shoppers are obsessed with E.l.f. 16hr Camo Concealer. Beauty gurus swear it’s a drugstore version of Tarte’s bestselling concealer, but we don’t mind since this pick provides up to 16 hours of coverage and gives skin a hydrating boost. One CVS reviewer even said it “even lasts during sweat.”

2. Going Viral: L’Oreal’s Lash Paradise Mascara is one makeup essential that cool girls and celebrities stand by. In fact, Beyoncé has reportedly worn this exact mascara, and if it’s good enough for Queen Bey, it’s certainly good enough for Us. One reviewer who has “no lashes at all” wrote, “When I apply this mascara, it makes my lashes look very long and stays applied.”

3. Year-Round Staple: If you’re a La Mer girly but can’t justify the price, do what other beauty lovers do and snap up the Nivea Creme instead. Formulated with Provitamin B5, the cream hydrates your face, hands and body for only $9. A reviewer wrote, “When my best friend purchased this for me many years ago, she likened it to Creme de la Mer. I thought she was nuts. I was so wrong! This stuff is fantastic.”

4. Editor-Approved: I have both the Clinique Black Honey lipstick and this CoverGirl tinted balm, and honestly, I use them interchangeably. This drugstore dupe gives me that pigmented, wine-stained look I’m going for with each hydrating swipe. “I bought this because I heard it was a dupe of the ultra-classic Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick, and it actually lived up to this,” wrote one CVS reviewer. “The color is an almost identical match for Black Honey. It goes on very smooth and stays smooth.”

5. Celeb-Loved: Everyone from Martha Stewart to Eva Longoria is a fan of this L’Oreal Lumi Glotion, and it’s easy to see why. The tinted moisturizer gives off an unparalleled glow for that ‘lit from within’ appearance. It’ll have you saying Flawless Filter, who? Shoppers who use it religiously say their “skin looks luminous” after using the moisturizer and that it gives off a “sun-kissed” effect.

6. Game Changer: Give the delicate skin under your eyes some TLC with the RoC Retinol Correxion cream. It’s apparently as good (maybe even better) than the Shiseido eye cream due to its high retinol content and mineral blend. The results? Smooth, bright under-eyes that’ll make you look five years younger. One fan said their dermatologist recommended this cream, and it did not disappoint. “Literally the best eye cream I have ever used, and it works,” they wrote. “I just started using their other products, and now I am using the whole line, and very happy with the results.”

Fans of Ali Hazelwood’s book The Love Hypothesis might be surprised by the amount of changes — and omissions — in the new Lili Reinhart movie.

Prime Video’s new rom-com follows Ph.D. candidate Olive (Reinhart) and professor Adam a.k.a (Tom Bateman) as they pretend to be in a relationship before real feelings begin to get in the way. Hazelwood’s novel was originally a fan fiction story about Rey and Kylo Ren from the Star Wars franchise. (Bateman’s wife, Daisy Ridley, happened to play Rey opposite Adam Driver as Kylo.)

Ahead of the movie’s debut, Reinhart and Bateman hinted that some shakeups were made in order to bring Hazelwood’s vision to life.

“That’s what the script was able to feel like for me — while still keeping the integrity of both characters and doing the book justice,” Reinhart explained at Prime Video’s Obsessed Fest in June 2026. “Obviously, the importance of the book and the source material [is something we thought about].”

She continued: “We wanted to totally respect that and I think our writer Sarah [Rothschild] absolutely did. The heart of the book is in the film.”

Bateman agreed about the onscreen differences, adding, “Every single person involved with this had such a deep love for this book and for doing it justice for everyone that loves it, for the amazing characters and the world. The intention was always, ‘We want to make this the best it can be.’ And who better to tell it than a group of people who love it so much?”

Despite the changes that were made for the big screen, the actor insisted the source material “was always front and center” for the cast and crew. “We weren’t trying to get away from it in any way,” he said. “We were just trying to do our very, very best to give everyone what they want out of this story.”

Keep scrolling for the biggest changes in Prime Video’s The Love Hypothesis:

Adam’s Crush on Olive

As book fans know, Adam and Olive originally met prior to the events in the book. Olive, however, was struggling with expired contacts and didn’t realize who she was speaking to. Adam knew — and went on to develop a crush.

The movie does include the flashback, but Adam’s yearning for Olive — which explains why he agreed to fake date her in the book — isn’t included on screen.

Holden’s Absence

The biggest loss — especially to readers — was the character of Holden Rodriguez, Adam’s best friend and the love interest of Olive’s friend Malcolm. Holden was instrumental in bringing Adam and Olive together in Hazelwood’s novel and was often the comical relief to even out Adam’s more grumpy demeanor.

Chapter 16

The Love Hypothesis fans were on the edge of their seats waiting to see how the movie adapted the famous Chapter 16 — a.k.a Adam and Olive having sex for the first time. The movie version was significantly shorter (it technically spanned across three chapters in the book) and left out some memorable moments, such as Adam’s “you can take it” line.

Changing the Breakup

Olive is the one who ended her relationship with Adam in the book after being sexually harassed by his friend Tom. Adam later found out what happened and they got back together, which the movie chose to change.

Instead, Adam ended his arrangement with Olive on screen as a way to help her focus on her career.

The movie also addressed the issue with Tom (Arty Froushan) by having Olive’s friend Anh (Rachel Marsh) be the one to fill Adam in. This was a major departure from the book, which devoted an entire scene to Olive playing audio of Tom making an advance on her, leading to a heated confrontation between the two men.

Related: ‘One Day‘ and More TV Shows Based on Popular Books

Little Fires Everywhere, Big Little Lies and You are among the best-selling books that made their way to the small screen in the form of TV adaptations. Reese Witherspoon is at the center of many of the most successful TV shows based on books, thanks to her passion for bringing fresh stories to a new […]

Olive’s Sexuality

In the source material, Hazelwood had fans read between the lines when it came to Olive’s demisexuality. The movie, however, has a whole scene devoted to her learning about the label and how it could apply to her experience.

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Anh’s Role in the Story

The fake dating plot initially as a way for Olive to convince Anh that she was no longer interested in ex Jeremy (Nicholas Duvernay). The movie turned that into Olive previously having a crush on Jeremy, which made Anh refuse to explore her own feelings for him.

Anh also wasn’t aware that Olive and Adam weren’t really dating on the page, but she figured out that it was fake in the movie.

The Ending

The final scene of Hazelwood’s book has Olive and Adam recreating their first kiss one year later. The movie features a two-year time jump that confirmed that Olive and Anh became Stanford professors with Adam.

Roomies, ‘Love Island USA’ stars Taylor Williams and Clarke Carraway aren’t done spilling tea about their breakup. After Clarke recently opened up about what led to their split, Taylor came through with a bombshell photo that seemingly hinted he’s gearing up to tell his side of the story.

RELATED: Issa Wrap! ‘Love Island USA’ Star Clarke Carraway Announces Decision To End Relationship With Taylor Williams 

Taylor Williams Enters The Chat With A Photo That Has Fans Asking Questions

Recently, Taylor Williams posted and deleted a photo that sent ‘Love Island USA’ fans straight into detective mode. The season 7 star hopped on his Instagram Story with a pic showing him with a bloody nose and what appeared to be a bruise on his forehead. Alongside the image, Taylor wrote, “Story time soon… The truth gone come out.”

Prior to sharing his photo, Taylor dropped a message on his Story, telling fans he was tired of his DMs getting flooded amid Clarke’s claims about their breakup. He also made it clear that he plans to tells his side of the story very soon. Whew, looks like more tea is brewing! “Enough with all of the negative DM’s, she obviously didn’t tell the full story and what she did to lead up to everything. But I’mma get it all straightened out, the right way, soon.” Taylor wrote.

Clarke Breaks Down What Led To her & Taylor’s Split

Taylor’s now-viral photo comes shortly after Clarke Carraway opened up about reaching her breaking point in their relationship. While chatting with ‘Love Island USA’ season 6 star Kaylor Martin on her ‘Kaylor Is Crashing Out’ podcast, Clarke recalled a heated argument with Taylor that allegedly ended with him leaving her “stranded” at a gas station. Clarke said the situation hit even harder because Taylor was preparing to go on a family vacation that she did not receive an invite to. She explained that other couples were attending the trip, so Taylor going without her rubbed her the wrong way.

According to Clarke, she and Taylor didn’t speak about their fallout until the next day. When they talked, Clarke claimed Taylor was more focused on how their breakup would make him look rather than taking accountability for what happened. “’Don’t tell people that I left you, ’cause you asked me to pull up and leave you. So tell them the whole story,’ Clarke recalled Taylor telling her. She said his concern about his image and character ultimately made her ealize he wasn’t the person she thought he was.

“That bothered me the most cause I felt like in that moment you’re not as much worried about my well-being, but your character. And I think that’s when the switch flipped for me. Like, unfortunately, you’re just not who I thought that you were,” Clarke explained.

More About Taylor & Clarke’s Breakup

Clarke Carraway shocked fans in July when she revealed that she decided to call it quits with Taylor Williams. A source close to the reality star spoke exclusively with PEOPLE and said Clarke mentioned that the decision was “difficult,” but she still wished Taylor “the absolute best.” The breakup announcement came just over a year after Clarke and Taylor left the Fiji villa together in 2025.

“She will always be grateful for the time they shared together, and for everyone who showed them love and support from the very beginning. As she closes out this chapter, she’s looking forward to focusing on her growth and what’s ahead,” the source stated.

RELATED: ‘Love Island USA’ Viewers React As Taylor Williams Speaks Out After Clarke Carraway Reveals What Led To Their Split (VIDEOS) 

Somewhere between current ongoing anime like Dandadan and old-time classics like One Piece, there are a couple of anime that reflect the transition from the 2010s to the 2020s. During this period, stronger internet fandom culture and increased translation efforts helped connect audiences around the world, allowing anime to reach more people than ever before.

As the medium continued to grow globally, some series managed to stand out among fans of different genres and leave a lasting impression. Whether it’s a story about being in touch with your feelings in a new reality that doesn’t require you to hurt someone else, or a fan-favorite revenge story that doesn’t mind shedding more blood than it needs to, here are the most perfect anime of the last 15 years, ranked.

7

‘Kaguya-sama: Love Is War’ (2019–2023)

Image via A-1 Pictures

Love should be simple, but Miyuki Shirogane (Makoto Furukawa) and Kaguya Shinomiya (Aoi Koga) are determined to make it anything but in Kaguya-sama: Love Is War. As the top students at the elite Shuchiin Academy, the student council president and vice president are practically perfect for each other. There’s just one problem: neither is willing to confess first. Instead of admitting how they feel, they turn romance into an epic battlefield.

There’s petty, and then there’s Kaguya-sama: Love Is War. The anime takes the “will they, won’t they” scenario to an almost ridiculous extreme. What keeps it fresh is the borderline psychological warfare Miyuki and Kaguya wage against each other, from switching each other’s coffee to decaf to having one of them enter the student council covered in fake blood and wielding a knife. Yet for all their nonsensical pranks, they genuinely understand the pressures and insecurities the other carries.

6

‘Haikyu!!’ (2014–2020)

Image via Production I.G

Shoyo Hinata (Ayumu Murase) may be short, but that has never stopped him from dreaming big. Haikyu!! follows Shoyo as he sets his sights on becoming a great athlete. His first step toward that dream, however, ends in disaster when he suffers a humiliating defeat against Tobio Kageyama (Kaito Ishikawa), a volleyball prodigy who seems to have everything Hinata lacks. Determined to get his revenge, Hinata enters Karasuno High, only to discover that Kageyama is now his teammate.

But apart from the over-the-top theatrics of the sport itself, Haikyu!! is a story about what true athleticism looks like. It’s about a group of underdogs who share the same dream, even when their backgrounds, personalities, and abilities couldn’t be more different. Before they can become a team, they have to learn how to trust one another, face their weaknesses, and keep going after defeat. They can throw as many serves as they like, but to be a champ, one must think like one.

5

‘Violet Evergarden’ (2018)

Image via Kyoto Animation

Peace is supposed to mean a new beginning, but Violet Evergarden (Yui Ishikawa) has no idea what to do with it. After spending her childhood as a soldier, Violet rises from the Great War physically scarred and emotionally adrift, carrying only the memory of the final words spoken to her: “I love you.” Unable to understand their meaning, she takes a job as an Auto Memory Doll at CH Postal Company, where writing letters for others slowly exposes her to emotions.

Violet Evergarden is the calm after the storm. In a world that no longer needs her to handle firearms or engage in combat, she must find a new purpose for herself. Not everyone has experienced war, but Violet’s struggle is still profoundly relatable. Humans tend to build walls around ourselves for protection, yet tearing them down takes even more courage, especially when doing so means making room for something unfamiliar, vulnerable, and scarily beautiful.

4

‘Steins;Gate’ (2011)

Image via White Fox

Rintarou Okabe (Mamoru Miyano) from Steins;Gate has plenty of eccentricities, but calling himself a “mad scientist” might be his most harmless one. While experimenting with a modified microwave, Okabe and his friends accidentally discover they can send messages back in time. His silly, goofy experiment quickly becomes a nightmare when their meddling with history attracts the attention of SERN, a shadowy organization researching time travel. Worse, every change they make can reshape the present.

Steins;Gate treats time-traveling with the utmost seriousness, drawing on hard sci-fi concepts like the butterfly effect, black hole theory, and the many-worlds interpretation to make its time travel feel surprisingly grounded. Send one message into the past, and the future could look completely different. Every time Okabe tries to fix one problem, he risks creating another, trapping him in a cycle of self-torture as he struggles to accept that he can’t solve everything. And that’s precisely the point of the anime.

3

‘Mob Psycho 100’ (2016–2022)

Image via Bones

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Being one of the most powerful psychics alive is hardly useful in Mob Psycho 100. All Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama (Shigeo Kageyama) wants is to fit in. The quiet middle schooler spends his days trying to get through school, friendships, and the pressures of growing up, all while secretly using his supernatural abilities to deal with troublesome spirits and other psychics. But Mob’s biggest worry isn’t his enemies; it’s his growing emotions that fuel the extremity of his powers.

Mob Psycho 100 reverses the predictable “pursuit of power” plot by giving its protagonist more power than he could ever want. Mob isn’t interested in becoming the strongest person around; he simply wants to become a decent—and, if he’s lucky, likable—human being. New audiences may be hooked by the anime’s bizarre supernatural encounters, but they’ll stay for Mob’s coming-of-age story as he gradually learns that true strength isn’t measured by psychic abilities.

2

‘Hunter x Hunter’ (2011–2014)

Image via Madhouse

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Hunter x Hunter innocently begins with a classic adventure story about a boy chasing after an absent father. Twelve-year-old Gon Freecss (Megumi Han) leaves Whale Island after discovering that his father, Ging (Rikiya Koyama), is not only alive but one of the world’s most accomplished Hunters. Determined to follow in his footsteps, Gon enters the notoriously perilous Hunter Examination, setting off on a journey that will take him far beyond the simple goal of finding his father.

There’s a reason why Michael B. Jordan is a Hunter x Hunter fan. Rather than following the familiar shonen formula of an inexperienced underdog chasing an impossible goal, the anime puts its heroes through genuinely psychologically grueling ordeals. Much of this comes down to its Nen power system, which rewards characters for understanding their abilities and exploiting their opponents’ weaknesses instead of simply overpowering them. As a result, even the most lopsided fights can become unpredictable.

1

‘Attack on Titan’ (2013–2023)

In Attack on Titan, humanity has spent generations hiding behind massive walls, terrified of the Titans that roam outside. After the Colossal Titan destroys Wall Maria and Eren Yeager (Yuki Kaji) witnesses his mother’s death, he dedicates his life to destroying every Titan. Joined by childhood friends Mikasa (Yui Ishikawa) and Armin (Marina Inoue), Eren enters the Survey Corps, where their fight for humanity’s survival takes them far beyond what they ever imagined.

When it was released, Attack on Titan caught the attention of both anime fans and newcomers to the genre with the sheer gruesomeness of its violence. While the brutality can be horrendous to watch, it also leaves viewers wondering just how far the series is willing to go. Combined with its roughly $150,000-per-episode budget, the graphic violence contributes to the show’s unmistakable visual quality, complementing an unforgiving story in which one character’s pursuit of justice gradually takes a much darker turn.

Throughout history, one of the genres that has offered the largest number of tremendous masterpieces has been the psychological thriller genre. These stories, all about suspense driven by the internal emotional and psychological states of its characters, have unsurprisingly given us several of the greatest films the big screen has ever seen. From the birth of cinema as a storytelling medium until the present, this is a genre that has remained one of audiences’ favorites around the world.

From foundational classics like the French masterpiece The Wages of Fear to cornerstones of 21st-century cinema like Mulholland Drive, there may have been many an exceptional psychological thriller over the years, but only a handful of them can be said to be truly perfect. Indeed, there are eight particular movies that have gone down in history not only as some of the genre’s greatest outings, but as some of the most flawless motion pictures the world has ever been treated to.

8

‘The Wages of Fear’ (1953)

Image via Cinédis

French cinema has given the world several of the greatest films of all time, including a few incredible psychological thrillers. Before auteurs like Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut rebelled against the classical school of French filmmaking and thus gave birth to the French New Wave, came the many old-school masterpieces whose foundations they wanted to subvert. The peak of pre-New Wave French cinema is arguably Henri-Georges Clouzot‘s The Wages of Fear, one of the best movie classics from 1953.

Exceptional though its 1977 Hollywood remake Sorcerer may be, Wages of Fear is a masterpiece without equal. By tying the physical elements of its high-octane, airtight plot to existential dread, the fragility of the human psyche, and pure human desperation, Clouzot crafted a psychological thriller that was far ahead of its time. Watching Wages of Fear today, it still feels about as modern as any psychological thriller tour-de-force being made nowadays.

7

‘Woman in the Dunes’ (1964)

Image via Toho

One of the most effective and historied forms of psychological thrillers is the erotic thriller, and as far as those go, it doesn’t get much better than Hiroshi Teshigahara‘s Woman in the Dunes. This cornerstone of 20th-century Japanese cinema was based on screenwriter Kōbō Abe‘s own novel of the same name, and after its remarkable critical and commercial success internationally back in 1964, it has stood the test of time as one of the greatest films ever to have come out of the Japanese New Wave movement.

Though Woman in the Dunes may be called one of the most amazing yet forgotten Japanese movies in history, that only means that it’s one of the most underrated dramas and psychological thrillers out there. It’s a sweaty, sandy, psychologically engrossing erotic thriller that’s both fascinatingly existential and visually gorgeous. Watching it, there is virtually nothing at all to complain about to this day.

6

‘Cure’ (1997)

Image via Daiei Film

Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa (no relation to Akira Kurosawa), Cure is still widely remembered as one of the greatest international horror movies perhaps not just of the ’90s, but of all time. This psychological horror thriller is one of those thrillers that are an absolute masterclass in suspense; a perfectly directed, perfectly written, and perfectly performed piece of J-Horror that has since been praised as one of the most influential horror gems ever to have come out of the Japanese scene.

People who prefer more lighthearted horror movies or psychological thrillers are definitely better off looking elsewhere, because Cure is purely cruel and gleefully so. It’s the type of horror film that operates not through jump scares or overt supernatural threats, but through the pure psychological horror of the very real evil that has plagued humanity since times immemorial. It’s atmospheric, it’s potently slow-burning, and it’s a must-see for fans of any of its genres.

5

‘Vertigo’ (1958)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Alfred Hitchcock is still known as the Master of Suspense, and that’s for good reason. He laid many of the foundations that the modern thriller genre still continues to build on top of to this day, and continues to be one of the most massively influential filmmakers in history. As such, it’s no shocker that he directed many of the greatest thrillers in film history, including a few exceptional psychological thrillers—the most perfect of which is arguably Vertigo.

Everyone may point to a different Hitchcock outing as his most flawless psychological thriller, and that’s okay; but throughout history, Vertigo has remained one of the most universally acclaimed movies of Hollywood’s Golden Age. It’s one of the most genius mystery movies of all time, a visually striking and brilliantly meta study on themes of romantic delusion and psychological obsession. No self-proclaimed fan of the genre can be a true fan if they haven’t watched Vertigo at least once.

4

‘Memento’ (2000)

Today, he’s widely seen as one of the undisputed kings of the box office and one of the leading voices in modern Hollywood filmmaking, but back in the day, Christopher Nolan was an up-and-coming indie filmmaker like any other. It was the massive success of his sophomore directorial effort, Memento, that earned him international acclaim and put his name on the map. To this day, many would confidently say that it’s still his magnum opus.

Brilliantly structured in reverse chronological order in a way that invites multiple re-watches, but is never hard enough to follow to make the film frustrating, Memento is easily one of the best mystery movies released since 2000. Anchored by Guy Pearce‘s exceptionally underrated lead performance and what’s far and away the boldest, most daring script in Nolan’s whole filmography, it’s one of the most timeless psychological thrillers of the 2000s.

3

‘Mulholland Drive’ (2001)

Image via Universal Pictures

Throughout the latter decades of the 20th century, David Lynch kept further cementing himself not just as one of the most fascinating arthouse filmmakers of his generation, but as one of the most important and influential surrealist auteurs in the history of cinema. However, not even his biggest fans could have predicted the level of quality of what would soon come to be hailed as the crown jewel of his filmography: Mulholland Drive, one of the most beloved thrillers of the 21st century.

An absolute head-scratcher through and through, Mulholland Drive is perhaps not the most accessible introduction to surrealist cinema for those unfamiliar; but for those who enjoy mind-bending extravaganzas like this, it should prove to be a hell of an unforgettable trip. Simultaneously a powerful critique of the dark side of the Hollywood Dream and a deeply humanist study of identity, duality, and sexuality, it’s a must-see gem for those who prefer their psychological thrillers thought-provoking.

2

‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)

Image via Orion Pictures

Jonathan Demme‘s The Silence of the Lambs is a psychological thriller so terrifyingly bleak and violent that it’s typically also labeled as psychological horror; and with that, it’s the only horror film ever to have won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Based on the book by Thomas Harris, it introduced the big screen to Anthony Hopkins‘ Hannibal Lecter, far and away one of the best movie villains of all time.

On top of Hopkins and Jodie Foster‘s career-defining and Oscar-winning performances, The Silence of the Lambs continues to shine over three decades after its release as one of the scariest, most suspenseful, and most impeccably made thrillers in film history. Rarely have cat-and-mouse games been this psychologically intense on the big screen, and rarely will a psychological thriller ever reach this level of incredible quality.

1

‘Se7en’ (1995)

Image via New Line Cinema

David Fincher has repeatedly established himself as one of the greatest thriller filmmakers working today, one of the directors most deserving of carrying Hitchcock’s torch as today’s Masters of Suspense. However, after the failure that was his directing debut, Alien 3, he desperately needed a hit to show the world what he was capable of. In came his sophomore effort, Se7en, still remembered as one of the most suspenseful mystery movies of all time.

Never has a darker, crueler, or more nihilistic Hollywood film ever made over $300 million dollars at the box office internationally. It’s precisely that bleak tone that makes Se7en so special, though, serving as the scaffolding for its hard-hitting sense of oppressive moral decay and existential helplessness. It’s the closest that a psychological thriller has ever come to true flawlessness, with some of the greatest directing, best performances, tightest writing, and most impeccably production values that the genre has ever seen or will ever see.

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Se7en

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Release Date

September 22, 1995

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Runtime

127 minutes

Writers

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Andrew Kevin Walker

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Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for Neagley Season 1

Reacher‘s first-ever spin-off, Neagley, hit Prime Video this month, marking a new era for the franchise. The new series breaks from Reacher‘s established formula, with Frances Neagley (Maria Sten) putting down roots in her hometown of Chicago and launching a new private investigation firm. Most notably, the first season also wraps up with Neagley building her very own team of allies, including a character who serves as a narrative replacement for Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) and carries huge implications for Prime Video’s entire saga.

Neagley Builds a New Team in ‘Reacher’s First-Ever Spin-Off

A major part of each season of Reacher involves the eponymous hero establishing a tight-knit group of allies as the plot progresses. Neagley herself served as an integral member of Reacher’s teams throughout the first three seasons of the flagship series. However, Reacher leaving town at the end of each storyline requires a reset of the show’s supporting cast. By the end of Neagley‘s first season, the titular lead has recruited her own team — not just to help her unravel a greater conspiracy, but to investigate new mysteries.

Since Neagley isn’t a nomad who constantly prefers to travel the country as Reacher does, she opts to stay in Chicago, becoming the boss of her own detective agency. While Reacher parts ways with his allies once a season is complete, there’s a stronger sense of stability and consistency within Neagley’s team. Her new employees consist of Gerry York’s (Joel Keller) former assistant, Renee Birdwhistle (Adeline Rudolph), and the street hustler with a heart of gold, Keno (Jasper Jones), both of whom play a crucial role in bringing down Echo Canyon Farm. Detective Hudson Riley (Greyston Holt) also proves to be a loyal sidekick, saving Neagley’s life after she is drugged in Episode 5, “Trip,” but Season 1 suggests that Riley could become something more than an ally and investigative partner.

Neagley Has a New Relationship Outside of Jack Reacher

Neagley’s previous appearances in Reacher have established her haphephobia, or fear of being touched, and in Season 2, she tells Karla Dixon (Serinda Swan) that she’s “not attracted to anybody.” Neagley’s spin-off reveals that her haphephobia is the result of a traumatic event in her childhood, when she witnessed her father killing a man, and has prevented her from ever having a meaningful romantic relationship. At one point, Neagley tearfully confesses to her father, Calvin (Tyrone Benskin), “I’ve never danced with anyone. I’ve never had a first kiss with anyone. A guy reached toward me last night — a guy I really like, and I screamed at him!”

Unveiling the root cause of Neagley’s haphephobia — as well as her romantic interest in Riley — is a major development both for the character and the entire Reacher saga, as author Lee Child previously avoided divulging her backstory in his novels. Before Neagley, it always seemed like romance was never on the table, but it’s exciting that the writers are tackling this subplot head-on. Although Reacher and Neagley have always been close, their relationship is strictly platonic, and Riley and Neagley’s relationship offers a unique dynamic now that the character is leading her own series.

Will Neagley and Riley Get Together in Season 2?

Image via Prime Video

The Season 1 finale, “Touched,” reveals that Riley reciprocates Neagley’s feelings, even asking at one point if it would be okay to kiss her when they’re alone. Unfortunately, Neagley isn’t ready for that, as she’s still processing her haphephobia and the trauma of her childhood. Yet the season’s final scene does show Neagley meeting with a therapist, and it looks like she’s finally taking steps to deal with her long-standing phobia.

Riley is no Jack Reacher, but he proves himself as a man of integrity and an equal to Neagley, and their potential romance raises the emotional stakes for next season. Sten and Holt have remarkable onscreen chemistry that will benefit the series if their characters’ relationship continues to develop in the future. It will be interesting to see whether Neagley and Riley’s mutual attraction develops into a full-blown relationship, which would be a monumental event that allows Reacher fans to finally have someone they can romantically ship Neagley with.

Roseanne Barr has unleashed on her former television son Michael Fishman after he renewed his support for ABC’s decision to cancel the “Roseanne” revival in 2018. The comedian attacked Fishman during an appearance on the “Can’t Be Censored” podcast, calling him several names and warning him to stop publicly discussing her.

Roseanne Barr Launches Profanity-Filled Attack On Michael Fishman

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Barr did not hold back when the podcast host raised Fishman’s recent comments about the controversy that ended the “Roseanne” revival. According to TMZ, Barr called her former co-star a “bigot,” an “ignoramus,” and a “little f-cking worm.”

She then told him to “go and f-ck yourself and stay f-cked till the day you die.” Barr also claimed Fishman has “no f-cking idea” what she was discussing in the 2018 post and accused him of having “no geopolitical context whatsoever.”

Fishman played D.J. Conner, the son of Barr’s character, throughout the original sitcom and its 2018 revival. During her podcast appearance, Barr claimed Fishman returned for the revival only because she fought to be included. She alleged that producers originally wanted to remove him from the project.

Barr finished her message to Fishman with another blunt warning: “Don’t f-cking put my name in your f-cking mouth.”

Michael Fishman Said The Revival Was ‘Rightfully Canceled’

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Barr’s outburst came after Fishman addressed years of criticism surrounding his response to the controversy. In an Instagram video, the former child actor said he continued receiving “ignorant and inaccurate” comments claiming Barr was unfairly targeted for being an edgy comedian.

“So, I guess the world failed to learn the lesson,” Fishman said. “So I’m going to point out. We are perpetuating a lie, and people are using a political smokescreen to justify the indefensible.”

Fishman argued that dehumanizing rhetoric can carry real-world consequences beyond the original statement. “Those justifications, they’re leading to real consequences. Real crimes,” he said.

The actor ultimately defended ABC’s response, declaring, “Dehumanizing people is never a joke. In this case, there was no joke. And the show was rightfully canceled.”

Despite his criticism, Fishman also said he still loves Barr and believes good people can make mistakes. He maintained that caring about his former co-star did not require him to defend her conduct.

ABC Canceled ‘Roseanne’ Hours After The Controversial Post

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The controversy began in May 2018 when Barr posted a since-deleted message comparing Valerie Jarrett, a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, to the Muslim Brotherhood and “Planet of the Apes.”

Barr deleted the post and apologized, but ABC canceled the highly rated revival within hours. The network said the statement was inconsistent with its values. Other platforms and television channels also removed reruns of the original series from their schedules.

Barr later argued the post was political rather than racial. During a 2018 interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, she said the message was “about asking for accountability from the previous administration about the Iran deal, which Valerie Jarrett is the author of, and that was what was in my head.”

She also said her reaction to the backlash “was shock that they were saying it was racial, when it was political.” Fishman has rejected the argument that political context made the post defensible.

Roseanne Barr’s Son Previously Accused The Cast Of ‘Selling’ Her Out

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Before Barr’s latest attack, her son, Jake Pentland, publicly criticized Fishman for supporting the cancellation. Pentland acknowledged that his mother’s post caused harm, but argued that other cast members continued benefiting from a franchise she created after she was removed from it. He claimed members of the cast took the post out of context and “conspired” to take the revival away from Barr without first asking her “what she meant.”

Pentland also alleged that the cast “prevented her from publicly defending herself.” “I wish him good luck in finding work one day. Hopefully selling the woman responsible for his career out was worth it for him,” Pentland told TMZ.

His frustration centered heavily on the creation of “The Conners,” which allowed much of the cast and crew to continue working without Barr.

Following the cancellation, ABC launched the spinoff with John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Lecy Goranson and Fishman reprising their roles. Barr’s character was killed off before the new show began.

‘The Conners’ Continued Without Roseanne Barr For Seven Seasons

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Fishman remained with “The Conners” for its first four seasons before confirming in 2022 that he would not return as a regular for Season 5. Reports at the time said the door remained open for a possible future appearance. The sitcom continued for another three seasons without him and concluded in April 2025 after more than 100 episodes.

Executive producers said the team chose to end the series while it remained ABC’s most-watched comedy, rather than extending it beyond what they believed was the appropriate ending point. The six-episode final season focused on providing closure for the Conner family after decades on television.

For almost 14 years, Chicago Fire has kept its promise, as anyone who enters Firehouse 51 will find the house welcoming as home. However, that promise is becoming harder to keep. As NBC‘s series approaches its 15th season, it faces a new wave of cast exits, a new showrunner, and a firehouse very different from what viewers saw in 2012.

Joe Miñoso, who portrays firefighter Joe Cruz, will leave the series after a few episodes of the 15th season. Dermot Mulroney is also on his way out as Battalion Chief Dom Pascal, returning for one episode to wrap up his character’s story. Behind the camera, Andrea Newman is stepping down as showrunner, with executive producer Victor Teran taking over. After years of losing familiar faces, 51 is once again preparing to welcome a new crop of firefighters.

Joe Cruz’s ‘Chicago Fire’ Exit Is the End of an Era

Image via NBC

Miñoso’s departure will probably hit longtime viewers hardest. Cruz is one of the last remaining links to the show’s earliest days. He has been part of 51 since the beginning, evolving from a firefighter who spent much of the early series worrying about his younger brother into a veteran member of Squad 3, a husband, and eventually a father.

His Season 15 exit is especially significant. Cruz was among the firefighters caught in the terrifying Season 14 finale cliffhanger, when members of Truck 81, Engine 51, and Squad 3 found themselves trapped in and around a burning building. Because Miñoso is leaving shortly after that cliffhanger, the obvious question is whether Cruz survives — and, if he does, what could possibly convince him to walk away from the firehouse.

The series doesn’t necessarily need to kill him off. Chicago Fire has a long history of sending characters elsewhere when their stories have run their course. Still, Cruz’s departure will leave a sizable hole in 51; viewers can’t simply forget him, and he helped define what the firehouse became.

Dermot Mulroney Is Saying Goodbye to Dom Pascal, Too

Image via NBC

Mulroney’s exit is considerably newer, but Pascal’s departure adds another layer to the Season 15 reset. The actor joined Chicago Fire in Season 13 as the replacement for Eamonn Walker’s Wallace Boden, taking over as battalion chief of Firehouse 51. Pascal was never supposed to be Boden 2.0; his leadership style was harsher, his personality more guarded, and his history with the CFD gave him plenty of baggage to work through. Yet over two seasons, he became part of the show’s increasingly familiar ecosystem.

Mulroney confirmed at a Chicago fan convention that Pascal is being written out and that he will return for only one Season 15 episode. He described the character’s storyline as “incredible” and admitted he was sad to leave, especially because Chicago Fire has become so meaningfulto first responders and their families.

His exit also leaves Severide in an interesting position. By the end of Season 14, Kelly Kinney’s Kelly Severide had been offered a major leadership opportunity after Pascal’s departure, potentially putting one of the show’s longest-standing characters in an entirely different role.

Season 15 Is Bringing New Blood to Firehouse 51

Image via NBC

For all the talk about who is leaving, Chicago Fire is also making room for people who could become the next generation of 51. Among them is Da’Vinchi’s Marcus Burke, a new firefighter candidate described as funny, roguish, and somewhat defiant. Lyla Novak actress Jocelyn Hudon has also teased the arrival of multiple new probies, suggesting that Season 15 will have several new personalities competing for a place in the firehouse.

Chicago Fire has always used its newest firefighters to refresh the ensemble. The show has done it with Gallo, Carver, Ritter, and countless others over the years. Some became central pieces of the series; others lasted only a few seasons. Cruz’s exit follows recent departures including Daniel Kyri’s Darren Ritter, Jake Lockett’s Sam Carver and Michael Bradway’s Jack Damon. Even Pascal, who was brought in specifically to help fill the enormous leadership vacuum left by Boden, is already moving on.

The original Chicago Fire cast once included Jesse Spencer’s Matt Casey, Monica Raymund’s Gabriela Dawson, Lauren German’s Leslie Shay, Charlie Barnett’s Peter Mills, and Walker’s Boden, alongside Kinney, David Eigenberg, and Miñoso. Most of them are now gone. Even beloved supporting characters such as Otis, Sylvie Brett, Blake Gallo and Darren Ritter have moved on.

Taylor Kinney’s Severide and Eigenberg’s Herrmann remain, while Mouch and Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) are still part of the core ensemble. Yet the emotional architecture around them has changed dramatically. The people they worked beside in the early seasons are largely memories now. With Cruz leaving, Pascal departing, and Teran taking over behind the scenes, Chicago Fire is entering its 15th season with fewer familiar faces and plenty of room for new ones.

Gizmo is officially back! Warner Bros. has released the first teaser for Gremlins 3, offering fans an early glimpse of the beloved Mogwai while announcing that the long-awaited sequel has been delayed nearly a year.

The brief 11-second teaser features Gizmo peeking out of a bag, accompanied by the familiar sounds of mischievous creatures nearby. Although the footage reveals little about the upcoming film, it marks the first official look at the franchise’s return to the big screen after more than three decades.

Originally scheduled to arrive on November 19, 2027, Gremlins 3 will now hit theaters on October 6, 2028, positioning the film for a Halloween-season release. Warner Bros. has not provided a specific reason for the delay.

10.6.28. Only In Theaters. pic.twitter.com/kZVLPrNd12

— Warner Bros. (@warnerbros) September 23, 2026

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Chris Columbus, who wrote the original 1984 film, is returning to the franchise as director and producer. The screenplay has also involved Final Destination Bloodlines filmmakers Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, with Hannah Marks working on the latest draft. Steven Spielberg, who helped bring the original film to life, is returning as executive producer.

The original Gremlins, directed by Joe Dante, followed Billy Peltzer after he received an unusual Christmas gift: a lovable Mogwai named Gizmo. However, three important rules accompanied his new pet, and breaking them unleashed a wave of mischievous and dangerous creatures upon the quiet town of Kingston Falls.

The film became a box-office success and spawned the 1990 sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch, which took the franchise in a more comedic direction. The upcoming third installment will mark the series’ first theatrical release in 38 years.

While the new teaser confirms the return of Gizmo, Warner Bros. has yet to reveal the film’s full cast or plot details.

For now, fans will have to wait a little longer before the Gremlins return to theaters.