UPDATE — 6/4/26, 1:22 p.m. ET: Tyler Baltierra is clarifying his comments about Amanda Conner and Catelynn Lowell.

“I was not comparing addiction to adoption. I was comparing society’s empathy, awareness & understanding towards addicts and birthmothers,” Baltierra, 34, wrote via his Instagram Story on Wednesday, June 3. “This was in no way to ‘shade’ Amanda AT ALL. I would never shame anyone in recovery. If you listen to the whole episode, I say it multiple times how I wish her & her family nothing but healing.”

According to the Teen Mom star, his comments were a “simple observation of societal/cultural differences when it comes to how we sympathize with addicts who are suffering vs how we sympathize with birthmothers who are suffering.”

“I’m the first one to know the affects [sic] of addiction & the struggles that come along with recovery,” he added. “I’m proud of [Amanda] for seeking help & I’m rooting for her.”

Original story below: 

Teen Mom’s Tyler Baltierra is openly wondering why fans seem to be sympathizing with Amanda Conner following her arrest for an alleged DUI, but not with his wife, Catelynn Lowell, amid the challenges of adoption.

“One thing that always shocks me though is that the comments are, ‘She’s struggling and this is part of addiction and relapse is part of recovery and she’s going through a hard time right now. Please get better,’” Baltierra, 34, shared on the May 27 episode of the “Cate & Ty Break It Down” podcast. “All of this sentimental, empathetic, sympathizing, which is great. I think we as a society have learned more about what that looks like and how it affects people. I’m glad that society is more sympathetic.”

News broke on May 24 that Conner was arrested and charged with child abuse/neglect for allegedly driving under the influence with a baby in the car. She also was charged for allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road.

Days later, Conner broke her silence on the arrest, confirming that she relapsed after three years of sobriety.

Related: Teen Mom’s Tyler Won’t Talk About Daughter Carly Despite Hearing ‘Lies’

Tyler Baltierra is standing firm in his and wife Catelynn Lowell’s vow not to speak about their daughter Carly following drama with her adoptive parents. “Listen, if I attempted to address every rumor, media misinformation or conspiracy theory about us, I would never be able to stop,” Tyler, 33, wrote via his Instagram Story on […]

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“I have let you all down and I’ve let my family down,” she said via TikTok on May 27. “Just saying that out loud, just letting it be known, it’s just so uncomfortable, it’s shameful, I’m disappointed, I feel guilty, scared. I’m not perfect.”

Conner’s bond was set for $16,000. Following her release, she was ordered not to contact the alleged child victim.

In his latest podcast episode with Lowell, 34, Baltierra couldn’t help but point out the different comments Conner received compared to the times his wife has opened up about her journey with adoption. (Baltierra and Lowell placed their daughter Carly for adoption when they were both 16. Carly is now 17 years old and has no contact with her birth parents, per Baltierra and Lowell.)

“It’s interesting that we’re talking about a woman in recovery who relapsed and during that relapse, put her child in danger and herself in danger,” Baltierra claimed. “She gets this amount of empathy and sympathy because she is struggling with this addiction problem. At the same time, my wife will make a post — who is sober, a great mom — about how hard it is that she can’t see the baby she relinquished out of desperation for her birthday. The comments of that vs. this always blows my mind.”

He continued, “It’s just a representation of how adoption is still in the shadows and mental health in general of adoption. How is it possible that a woman who endangered her children because she’s a drug addict gets more sympathy and empathy over a birth mother who relinquished out of desperation, talking about missing her on her birthday?”

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Related: Teen Mom’s Tyler Baltierra ‘Heartbroken’ After Photos of Carly Leak Online

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Teen Mom’s Tyler Baltierra is “beyond heartbroken” to see photos of daughter Carly being leaked online. “To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. It’s literally heartbreaking & sad that people are still continuing to share pictures & now videos of Carly,” Baltierra, 33, wrote via his Instagram Story on Saturday, April 5. “The same people […]

Although Conner has not publicly commented on her arrest, she admitted in a TikTok video that she is currently dealing with the “consequences’ of her actions.

“It’s not going to be polished, it’s going to be authentic, real and what happens in my life when you relapse and do stupid s***, there’s consequence,” she said. “We’re not going to give up, we’re going to fight and we’re going to get back on track. So with that said, we’re going to get ready to go meet the lawyer, so stay tuned.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Nearly a year ago, Netflix released a fantasy animation film that became a global phenomenon. Nobody expected that a movie involving K-pop and demon hunting would dominate the streaming platform to the point that it would lead to recognition in both the movie and music industries. Many months have passed since its release, and it still dominates the Top 10 charts.

Throughout Netflix’s history, many titles have broken many records for the streaming giant. For example, Wednesday Season 1 is still the most-streamed show, with over 1.7 billion viewing hours since its 2022 release. Or how all three seasons of Squid Game dominate Netflix’s Top Non-English shows of all time, with the first season generating over 2.2 billion watched hours alone. But there’s another Netflix exclusive that broke a massive milestone, a record that it holds alone.

KPop Demon Hunters, an animated fantasy musical by Sony Pictures Animation, holds the record for a 50-week streak on Netflix’s Top 10 English Movies. As of writing, it sits at #9, between Remarkably Bright Creatures and Guess Who, but has never left the Top 10 since its release on June 20, 2025. Additionally, Kpop Demon Hunters is the most-streamed movie of all time, with over 541 million viewed hours, just under Red Notice‘s 454 million watched hours.

How ‘Kpop Demon Hunters’ Became a Global Phenomenon

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Kpop Demon Hunters follows a 3-member Kpop idol group called Huntr/x, who are also demon hunters. Tired of his plans getting thwarted, the demon king, called Gwi-Ma (Lee Byung-hun), agrees to follow Jinu’s (Ahn Hyo-seop) plan of creating a demon boyband to weaken the demon hunters. Since its release, K-pop Demon Hunters has gone viral on social media for its K-drama-inspired storyline and worldbuilding. Not to mention, the songs were catchy enough to generate millions of streams, with “Golden” the most-streamed at 1.7 billion.

Additionally, the Kpop Demon Hunters was highly praised, earning a 91% Certified Fresh Critics’ Score and a near-perfect 99% audiuence score on Rotten Tomatoes. Collider’s Jeff Ewing gave Kpop Demon Hunters an 8/10 in his review, praising the animation, musical performances, and voice acting, but thought some of the lore was underexplored due to narrative reasons.

Netflix has confirmed that a sequel to Kpop Demon Hunters has been greenlit and is scheduled to release sometime in 2029, following its streaming success and award-season wins. A plot has yet to be announced, but according to KDH’s director, Maggie Kang, one of the things she wants to address if the film were to continue is the unanswered questions the first movie left behind.

Kpop Demon Hunters is available to stream on Netflix. Follow Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

June 20, 2025

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Runtime

96 minutes

Director

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Chris Appelhans, Maggie Kang

Writers

Hannah McMechan, Chris Appelhans, Maggie Kang, Danya Jimenez

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Producers

Michelle Wong

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By Robert Scucci
| Published 4 seconds ago

There’s nothing I love more than a generic plot that lets you lean into and have fun with its characterization. I’m not even being facetious here. I think it’s a model that works for commercial filmmaking because, if we’re being real, we’re all just watching the same movies over and over again with different titles. There are expected genre conventions that allow filmmakers to bust out a quick storyboard, get some great talent involved, and let them chew the hell out of the scenery.

1989’s L.A. Bounty is just another “lone bounty hunter looking for revenge” flick, but it works because Sybil Danning is serious as a heart attack in the lead role, and then she has to face off with Wings Hauser, who seems to be having just a little too much fun acting like a murderous psychopath.

You know all the beats going into this one, but you’ll want to stick around because the exchanges that happen between those beats make the entire viewing experience worthwhile. And at the end of the day, aren’t we all just trying to be entertained?

Mayors, Mobsters, And Murder

L.A. Bounty kicks off with the kidnapping of Mike Rhodes (Robert Hanley), who’s running for mayor in the next election. A lone bounty hunter, Ruger (Sybil Danning), intervenes, allowing Mike’s wife, Kelly (Lenore Kasdorf), to escape traumatized but safe. We learn that Mike was kidnapped by psychotic drug kingpin Cavanaugh (Wings Hauser), who spends most of his time painting portraits of nude women and killing people on a whim when he’s not moving unthinkable amounts of drugs to his cohorts.

When Cavanaugh learns that Kelly is still a loose end, he sends his men to ambush her, but Ruger is already one step ahead of him, and she’s pissed. This isn’t Ruger’s first run-in with Cavanaugh, but she’s hoping it will be her last. Previously, Ruger worked as a narcotics officer trying to take down the kingpin, but she resigned from the force after he killed her partner in cold blood, giving her current protection job more personal stakes than Kelly would like to be involved with.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Chandler (Henry Darrow) works closely with Mayor Burrows (J. Christopher Sullivan), who wants to know who’s behind the kidnapping. Being this close to the election, the only thing he cares about is saving face, and he doesn’t want the public, or any of his constituents for that matter, to think he had anything to do with his rival’s kidnapping.

Sybil Is Serviceable, Hauser Is Next Level 

While L.A. Bounty didn’t boost Sybil Danning’s career like she thought it would, she’s doing everything she’s supposed to be doing here. Ruger is a woman of few words, but she knows how to hold her own in action scenes. She convincingly portrays a jaded bounty hunter with an axe to grind, while still bringing plenty of B-movie energy to the forefront. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but she was clearly hoping this flick would be her ticket to action-thriller franchise stardom, which is quite the reach if I’m being brutally honest. The film’s $2.2 million budget leaves it rough around the edges, and she performs well within those limitations, so credit where it’s due.

The real star of the show in L.A. Bounty is Wings Hauser as Cavanaugh. He’s so delightfully twisted that it borders on comical, but the contrast between his personality and Danning’s makes for some genuinely entertaining moments. Cavanaugh thinks he’s some brilliant artist, but we don’t see what he’s painting until well into the third act, which makes you want to rewind the whole thing and revisit every scene set in his lair. Early on, when he’s philosophizing and talking about his evil plans, you build up an image in your head of beautiful photorealistic portraiture or some insanely detailed abstract art. What you finally get to see recontextualizes everything that came before because he’s laughably terrible at art.

The final action sequences have their limitations, but there are a few great kills that make the juice worth the squeeze. One thing I admired, which I’ve been thinking a lot about lately, is how we need to bring back the warehouse showdown. Sometimes all you need to make a low-budget action movie really pop off is a few practical explosions, a floor littered with shell casings, and a badass bounty hunter rocking the Atomic Blonde haircut decades before Charlize Theron ever did.

As of this writing, you can stream L.A. Bounty for free on Tubi.

It’s that time of year again, when ‘Love Island’ viewers gather daily to tune in as singles search for love in the Fiji villa. Last Thursday, ‘Love Island USA’ officially revealed the official cast for Season 8. Viewers quickly began discussing the Islanders, sharing who they were shippin together and rooting for this year.  However, one Islander didn’t even get the chance to make her Season 8 debut after her time on the show was cut short. Now, she has returned to social media to address the backlash surrounding her exit.

RELATED: Yikes! Social Media Reacts After Huda Mustafa Loses Huda Beauty Partnership Over Livestream Controversy (PHOTOS)

‘Love Island USA’ Removes Vasana Montgomery Before Her Season 8 Debut After Videos Allegedly Showing Her Using The N-Word Resurface.

Shortly after the cast announcement, videos of one contestant began circulating online. By Saturday, May 30, it was revealed that Vasana Montgomery’s chance to find love in Fiji had been cut short. According to TMZ, the Season 8 contestant was removed from the show after footage resurfaced that allegedly showed her singing the n-word in a song lyric. TMZ reports that the clip was allegedly a private video that had not previously been shared publicly. To note, NBC News adds that a second video showing Montgomery using a racial slur also surfaced within the past week.

As previously reported, two contestants from ‘Love Island USA’ Season 7, Yulissa Escobar and Cierra Ortega, were also removed from the show after their past use of racial slurs resurfaced online.

Vasana Montgomery Addresses The Backlash Following Her Removal From ‘Love Island USA’

Following the controversy surrounding Vasana Montgomery’s removal from the cast, she officially took to Instagram to address the backlash. In a statement shared to her Instagram Story, Vasana apologized for using a racial slur in resurfaced videos from her teen years. She took responsibility for her actions and said she has grown since then.

She wrote, “I want to address a couple videos from my teen years that have recently resurfaced. In those videos, I used a racial slur. There is no excuse for it, and I am deeply sorry. I am embarrassed and disappointed by my words.

I take full responsibility for what I said and understand why it has hurt and upset people. Since then, I have grown a lot as a person and taken the time to educate myself, listen, learn, and better understand the impact that language can have. That growth does not erase my mistake, and I am not asking anyone to excuse it.

I believe people should be held accountable for their actions, but I also believe in growth, learning, and becoming better. To anyone I hurt or disappointed, I am truly sorry.”

Social Media Reacts

Folks quickly reacted to Vasana’s statement in the comments. Some felt her removal was too extreme. They argued that she had been singing a song during her teen years. Others argued the word shouldn’t have been used at all. Furthermore, they said young actions still have consequences.

Instagram user @ therissashoww wrote, “I’ve seen this exact statement 1,000 times before 😂😂😂”

Instagram user @madithag added, “they only sorry when they get caught 😂”

While Instagram user @prettygirlll__c wrote, “They caught her before she even got on the villa, that was quick lol”

Instagram user @kash.ari26 wrote, “At least she is taking accountability for what she did cause honey if it was anybody else they wouldn’t have did it”

Instagram user @breenoelle_  added, “Yall we gotta start giving some people grace especially when they say it while singing a song .. as a black women I really don’t take offense … we’ve said plently of things in our younger self that wasn’t right. Understand people change”

While Instagram user @rains.song wrote, “Do teenagers not know right from wrong like….”

Instagram user @lavishladies_202 wrote, “I understand she was a kid right but it is well known as a racial slur. You know it wasn’t right when you used it but now you want to educate yourself about a word you already knew you shouldn’t say. Everybody should get a second chance but stop the BS. You knew it will hurt people but you said it anyways”

Instagram user @luvv.444jas added, “sorry cuz you said it or sorry cuz it resurfaced ?”

While Instagram user @lovee_niqua wrote, “She gone keep saying it. We dgaf ! NEXT. They don’t be sorry, they be sorry they get caught.”

RELATED: Cierra Ortega Breaks Her Silence Following ‘Love Island USA’ Exit Over Resurfaced Racial Slur Posts (VIDEOS)

War video games are a dime a dozen nowadays. Let’s face it: first-person shooters are absolutely everywhere, many of them lazy and subpar. A lot of consumers like this content, though, because shooters allow them to experience some of history’s deadliest battles in an immersive experience. Other times, they just want to shoot aliens, but hey, that’s fine, too.

Over the years, a lot of games have centred on war, aiming to let players feel the futility of it, control the flow of battle, or place them in the midst of the chaos, which isn’t exclusive to any one particular genre of game, either. To be honest, though, war games would never be where they are today without these masterpieces. For this list, we’re focusing only on video games that are grounded in real or plausibly real conflicts — meaning no sci-fi or fantasy elements — otherwise we’d be here all day.

10

‘Age of Empires II’ (1999)

Image via Microsoft

Age of Empires II completely changed the real-time strategy genre and offered a wide variety of choices to the player. The game is meticulously detailed and intricate, allowing players to build their civilization from the ground up via the gathering of resources, which they can then use to amass an army and wage war on rival empires. Each faction is based on a real historical empire or civilization. There are 13 in total, from Chinese, Japanese, Persian, Viking, Celtic, Teutonic, and beyond.

The game also has a whopping 30 single-player campaigns, with over 200 individual levels, all centred around various empires and their conflicts, both real and fictional. It’s a history lover’s dream, and a fantastic foray into the world of real-time strategy. The game still has an active community, and continues to generate buzz due to how monumentally impactful it was, and still is.

9

‘Medal of Honor: Allied Assault’ (2002)

Image via Electronic Arts

Medal of Honor is a pioneering first-person shooter franchise that was actually directed by Steven Spielberg himself, following the success of his 1998 World War II film Saving Private Ryan. Medal of Honor: Allied Assault is the third mainline entry in the franchise, and the first to be released for Windows. In this shooter, players take control of Mike Powell, an operator with the OSS (a precursor to the CIA), as he dives deep behind Axis lines in the Second World War.

The original game sees Powell assist Allied operations in Norway, Algeria, and France, using a variety of weapons at his disposal. Two expansion packs also came out, which take players to the Battle of Berlin, the Battle of the Bulge, Tunisia, and Italy. The gameplay is pretty simplistic, but that’s what makes it so brilliant. There isn’t much to be said in the way of story here; it just excels in how fun it is, besides the fact that it’s an early FPS that completely changed the genre. It might not be as good as some of the other games on this list, but it definitely deserves a spot.

8

‘Company of Heroes’ (2006)

Image via THQ

Company of Heroes is a real-time strategy video game that is widely seen as one of the best in the entire genre. It is set during World War II, specifically during the D-Day landings in Normandy. Two expansion packs were also released for the game, both of which take place at other points on the Western Front in the final months of the war, from the Battle of Chambois to Operation Market Garden.

The campaigns aren’t the only area it excels in, though–the game still has an active multiplayer community, which is very popular in the RTS fandom. Perhaps it’s the way that sacrifice is depicted in this game, or maybe it’s the red and blue line, allowing players to actually see the front being pushed back in real time, but it feels really immersive and tactical, as strategy games should. It won countless awards and even received a (admittedly terrible) movie adaptation. It’s absolutely a masterpiece, not just in its genre, but in the medium as a whole.

7

‘Valiant Hearts: The Great War’ (2014)

Image via Ubisoft

Valiant Hearts: The Great War was released to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the onset of World War I. Only, this game isn’t a shooter or an RTS. It’s a charming side-scrolling adventure/puzzle game following various characters. The primary focus of the game is Emile, a French farmer whose son-in-law, Karl, is deported from France when the war begins due to Karl being born in Germany. Karl is forced to enlist in the war, so Emile volunteers for the French Army to find Karl.

While the game’s controls are simplistic, the collectibles serve as interesting tidbits of history with a surprising amount of accuracy. Its visuals are a little cartoony, but it’s still able to accurately depict how horrific the First World War really was. Throughout the game, players will have to storm the trenches, avoid chlorine gas attacks, and save wounded civilians all across the Western Front of the war. What really makes Valiant Hearts: The Great War worthwhile is its emotional narrative, which hits with a swift gut punch of an ending. It’s a narrative masterpiece in all regards, which has no problem making grown men cry.

6

‘Rome: Total War’ (2004)

Image via Activision

Rome: Total War is the third entry in the Total War series of real-time strategy games. It also happens to be the best one. Total War has seen a few lackluster entries, but early on, they were really knocking it out of the park. As the name implies, the game sees players take control of a Roman Legion through various points in history, from the time of the Roman Republic to the age of the Roman Empire. ‘

Players will fight real historical battles against a variety of foes. Expansion packs even let players go up against Alexander the Great himself. Rome: Total War is another game that won a lot of awards, and rightfully so; it’s how a real-time strategy game should be, made even better by the fact that it puts the player in control of the famous Roman Legion, one of the most disciplined and tactical military forces of the Ancient World. It is one of the greatest war video games ever made, and one of the best RTS games, too.

5

‘Call of Duty: Black Ops’ (2010)

Image via Treyarch

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A lot of the early Call of Duty games could be considered masterpieces, but in terms of sheer narrative and technicality, the best has to go to Call of Duty: Black Ops. It’s one of the most complex stories the franchise has woven, with a huge and iconic plot twist that many still remember and reference to this day. It is set during the Cold War, following CIA operatives as they try to take down Soviet operatives during the 1960s. However, it also has levels set during the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Vietnam War, which defined the era.

It’s Call of Duty, so of course the gameplay is pretty basic: run around and shoot things, and the same is true for the multiplayer. However, the cinematic scale of the campaign is pretty awesome, whether it’s running across the rooftops of Kowloon Walled City, base jumping off the Ural Mountains, or escaping Soviet gulags. Most importantly, it expertly captures the deep-seated paranoia that was rampant during the peak of the Cold War, and the espionage that was constantly going on between the global superpowers. President John F. Kennedy even makes an appearance in this game. It’s the best Call of Duty game by far, and definitely earns a spot on this list.

4

‘Spec Ops: The Line’ (2012)

Image via Darkside Game Studios

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When the trailers for Spec Ops: The Line first came out, everyone kind of assumed it would be another bland third-person shooter with very little substance; they couldn’t have been any more wrong. Set during the ongoing Middle East Crisis, the entire game is set in Dubai, which has been mostly abandoned after being hit with a catastrophic series of sandstorms. American military commander John Konrad, returning from Afghanistan, volunteers his force to help with relief efforts, but his PTSD only makes things worse. He declares martial law in Dubai and begins committing horrific crimes against the survivors still trapped in the city, turning the place into a war zone. Sent in to stop Konrad is Delta Force operator Martin Walker and his team.

The game is actually based on the classic book Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (note the name similarity), which also served as the basis for the film Apocalypse Now. Thus, it has a distinct and clear anti-war message. As the game progresses, Martin begins experiencing telltale symptoms of PTSD and is forced to make horrifying choices. The white phosphorus scene in this game became infamous for its brutality, forcing players to confront their morality. Gradually, the game’s hints devolve from run-of-the-mill tooltips to messages like “Do you feel like a hero yet?” It pulls no punches, and though it’s based on a fake event, the backdrop is a very real crisis, and its anti-war subtext clearly places it into the war genre.

3

‘Battlefield 1’ (2016)

Image via EA

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Battlefield 1 is set during the First World War, and is pretty near perfect on all levels. Like the rest of the games in the franchise, players can take on a ground infantry role, but can also drive land vehicles, fly planes, and sail in warships in massive multiplayer matches of dozens of players. The cinematic scale of this game is absolutely unreal, with maps ranging from the Western Front to the Middle-Eastern Theatre of the war, and even including a DLC set during the Russian Revolution.

The campaign does a pretty good job, too, following five distinct individuals from five different parts of the war. Here, players will drive a tank through the muck of the Hundred Days Offensive, scale the slopes of Monte Grappa, storm the beaches of Gallipoli, and ride with Lawrence of Arabia as he ambushes the Ottoman forces. Everything about this game is so intoxicating because it’s fun, unique, and visually stunning. There are very few players who don’t stop to watch a flaming zeppelin come crashing down in the middle of a match. Battlefield 1 is everything that a first-person shooter should be, and should aspire to replicate. It’s also the only shooter of its kind set in the First World War.

2

‘Ghost of Tsushima’ (2020)

Image via Sony Interactive Entertainment

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Ghost of Tsushima is an action role-playing game set during the First Mongol Invasion of Japan in 1274. Players take on the role of Jin Sakai, a samurai who is on the front line of the Mongol landing on the Northern Japanese island of Tsushima. The sole survivor of a great battle, Jin must abandon his honor and his samurai code to retaliate against the Mongols, often striking from the shadows during the night.

While it isn’t a typical genre for a war game, the fact that a war is the main backdrop of the story, and that it’s so prevalent, definitely makes it qualify for this list. The open world is huge, gorgeous, and there are plenty of side quests and activities to keep players entertained. Better yet, nothing fantastical happens in the story. Yes, some characters are made up, and some historical details are exaggerated, but the content otherwise remains firmly grounded in reality. It is one of the best open-world games to come out in recent years, with people still praising it to this day. That movie adaptation can’t come soon enough.

1

‘This War of Mine’ (2014)

Image via 11 bit studios

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This War of Mine is by far the single most depressing video game of all time. In this side-scrolling survival story, you’re not an elite soldier on the front lines, and you’re not an officer commanding their troops; you’re an ordinary civilian, struggling to survive in a besieged city. Though the setting is fictional, it’s based on the Bosnian War and the Siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s. The final cut of this game is by far the best version. There’s the typical survival mode, but there are also three story episodes to… well, perhaps “enjoy” isn’t quite the best word.

The game is based on survivors’ testimonies, so it really bears some impressive emotional weight. Sometimes, players are left with no choice but to do objectively awful things — it’s hard to help the starving child that comes to your door when you don’t have any food yourself. This game definitely makes players feel the desperation, to the point that they may need to make some really terrible choices, such as stealing from an elderly couple just to get some medicine to heal your dying ally. As good as this game is, it’s absolutely devastating with its anti-war message, but it’s arguably what makes it the best war video game masterpiece of all time.

It’s a truly difficult thing for a movie to approach perfection, which makes the most perfect thrillers the world has been treated to since 1986 all the more admirable. This is a genre all about suspense, nail-biting stakes, and adrenaline-pumping excitement, and over the course of the last 40 years, it’s a genre that has produced some of the greatest films of the period.

Whether it’s a horror thriller like The Silence of the Lambs or an action thriller like The Dark Knight, these are films that show just how close the genre can come to flawlessness. As tense as they are entertaining and as well-paced as they are atmospheric, these enthralling masterpieces are the peak of what the genre has had to offer throughout the last four decades.

10

‘Cure’ (1997)

Image via Daiei Film

Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Cure is one of the greatest horror movie masterpieces of the 1990s. Psychologically fascinating and overwhelmingly bleak and atmospheric, it’s one of the most chilling portraits of the nature of evil that cinema has ever seen. Every movement, sound, and detail in the frame and outside of it feels like a nightmarish, almost demonic omen.

It’s a mean-spirited movie through and through, but one so impeccably made in every sense—from its striking visuals to its unshakeable ending—that it’s impossible to ever look away. It’s a masterclass in making a police procedural as scary and suspenseful as possible, a deliberately-paced and intricately complex work of art.

9

‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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Christopher Nolan has been one of Hollywood’s kings of blockbusters for many years, and the film that really cemented him as a commercial juggernaut was The Dark Knight. To this day, it’s still widely regarded as the greatest superhero movie ever made, largely thanks to its having one of the best screenplays of any comic book movie.

Phenomenal writing isn’t all that this action thriller has going for it, though. It’s the definitive live-action interpretation of Batman, bolstered by Heath Ledger delivering one of the greatest villain performances in movie history in his Oscar-winning portrayal of the Joker. Tense, action-packed, and epic-feeling in every way that matters, The Dark Knight is some of the best stuff that action thrillers have had to offer at any point during this century.

8

‘Se7en’ (1995)

Image via New Line Cinema

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David Fincher is one of the greatest filmmakers working in Hollywood thrillers today, but what many would consider his magnum opus came out in the mid-’90s: It’s Se7en, easily one of the darkest and most violently pessimistic movies ever to gross over $300 million dollars at the box office. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s undoubtedly a must-see for fans of thriller cinema.

With the exceptional work of its cast, Fincher’s oppressively atmospheric direction, and one of the most suspenseful movie climaxes ever, Se7en is a thriller so grim that some may even consider it a horror movie. It’s a remarkable twist-filled procedural that doesn’t let up for a single second of its runtime, and as horrifying as its conclusion may be, it should still be considered essential viewing for all movie fans.

7

‘Perfect Blue’ (1997)

Image via Rex Entertainment

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It’s not just live-action that has provided some of the most perfect thrillers of the last four decades. Case in point: Perfect Blue, the greatest masterpiece of legendary anime auteur Satoshi Kon. It’s the quintessential film about artistic obsession, having inspired filmmakers of the stature of Nicolas Winding Refn and Darren Aronofsky.

It’s one of those classic animated movies that have aged like fine wine, a psychological thriller with some of the most masterful visuals, direction, and writing that the animated medium has ever seen. From its enveloping atmosphere to the enthralling complexity of its protagonist, there’s virtually nothing to complain about with this perfect ’90s thriller.

6

‘The Handmaiden’ (2016)

Image via CJ Entertainment

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No one makes thrillers quite like South Korean filmmakers, and few films demonstrate that better than Park Chan-wook‘s The Handmaiden. It’s one of the most perfect thrillers of the 21st century, an erotic drama as steamy as it is suspenseful and full of twists. Impeccably acted and directed with sumptuous gusto by Park, it’s the erotic thriller genre at its very best.

The film is based on Sarah Waters‘ period novel set during the Victorian era, but the way Park takes that material and makes it entirely his own is something worthy of the utmost admiration. Stylish, intrepidly paced, and delectably character-driven, it’s a film that’s absolutely flawless both technically and narratively. The genre truly doesn’t get much better than this.

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‘Memories of Murder’ (2003)

As if further proof were needed that South Korean thrillers don’t really have an equal, there’s also Bong Joon Ho‘s Memories of Murder, one of the greatest police procedurals that cinema has delivered during the 21st century. It’s one of those mystery movies that keep you hooked from start to finish, based on the real hunt for the serial killer of the city of Hwaseong during the late ’80s and early ’90s.

What really makes the film’s bleak tone work as well as it does, and what makes its fourth-wall-breaking finale all the more impactful, is that this was an investigation that was actually still unsolved in 2003. It wouldn’t be until 2019 that Lee Choon-jae would reveal himself as the Hwaseong murderer. And yet, Bong still finds all sorts of opportunities to sprinkle in some surprisingly effective dark humor and even some elements inspired by his personal life, making for one of the most adventurous artistic achievements that the thriller genre has ever given us.

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‘Oldboy’ (2003)

Image via Show East

Yet another masterful film by Park Chan-wook, this one generally agreed to be his magnum opus, Oldboy is one of the most intense thrillers of the last 25 years. Though it’s loosely based on the manga by Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi, this is another film that feels entirely and purely like the product of the deliciously twisted imagination of the brilliant Park Chan-wook.

Oldboy, easily one of the most disturbing and shocking thrillers to still be considered mainstream classics, is definitely not for the faint of heart. It is, however, a must-see nonetheless. Impeccably made, masterfully directed, and cleverly written, it’s a visceral revenge story that leads all the way to one of the most shocking third acts in the history of movies.

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‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)

Image via Orion Pictures

The latest winner of the Big Five Academy Awards (Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay), Jonathan Demme‘s The Silence of the Lambs also happens to be the only horror film that’s ever on the Best Picture Oscar. It’s simply that good of a movie. It is, in fact, one of the best horror thrillers of all time, anchored by Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins‘ flawless performances.

Its two leads aren’t the only elements that are perfect about The Silence of the Lambs, however. Tautly written and psychologically complex to an admirable degree, it’s a consistently shocking yet universally appealing masterpiece that has unsurprisingly remained a timeless classic for over three decades. It’s not just one of the most perfect films of the ’90s, but arguably of all time.

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‘Memento’ (2000)

Image via Newmarket Films

As Christopher Nolan’s blockbusters keep growing bigger and more impressive, it’s fun to look back at the days when he was still an up-and-coming indie filmmaker. These were the days when he released what’s arguably still his best film, and is almost undeniably one of the most meticulously constructed thrillers ever made: Memento.

The way Nolan structures the story in reverse chronological order isn’t a cheap gimmick, it’s a uniquely creative decision that generates a sense of tension and suspense unlike anything you get with any other thriller. Boosted by Guy Pearce‘s criminally underrated lead performance and the most perfect script Nolan has ever written, it was a phenomenal way of closing off the thriller genre’s 20th-century run.

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‘Parasite’ (2019)

Image via NEON

It had to be Bong Joon Ho, and it had to be Parasite. Every movie fan remembers where they were when they heard this thriller masterpiece become the first foreign-language film ever to win the Best Picture Oscar, and how they reacted to the reveal. Six years have gone by since then, and this is still widely remembered as one of the most entertaining movies of the 2010s.

It’s not just entertaining: Parasite is also impeccably made in virtually every single way, from the incredible performances delivered by every member of its underappreciated cast to the jaw-droppingly flawless way in which Bong juggles several different genres throughout the runtime. Parasite‘s metaphor for class inequalities may not be particularly subtle, but Bong Joon Ho has never been a director who cares particularly deeply about understated themes. Parasite is still impossible to not admire for just how close it comes to true flawlessness.

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Parasite

Release Date

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May 30, 2019

Runtime

133 minutes

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• 
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  Lee Sun-kyun

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  Park Dong-ik

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Kelly Cutrone is unleashing strong comments about Jay Manuel following the release of Netflix’s “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model” in February. The publicist, who appeared in the latter seasons of the reality competition show, called the documentary “disgusting” and an attack against Tyra Banks.

Cutrone called out Manuel for his comments in the documentary and his debut novel, which she alleges was about the host.

In February, Netflix released the three-part documentary series “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model,” which examined the controversies, cultural impact, and legacy of the Tyra Banks-hosted modelling competition that aired from 2003 to 2018. Banks, along with other “ANTM” personalities, including Jay Manuel, Nigel Barker, and Miss J, participated in the documentary.

Banks received a wave of public backlash following the release, with many claiming the former supermodel did not take accountability for going “too far” with the contestants.

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In an episode of the “Chris vs. The People” podcast, notorious fashion publicist Kelly Cutrone shared her opinion about the documentary. “I just think that the whole thing was disgusting… She got done dirty on that f-cking documentary… There were a lot of tricks that the people that made that show pulled on her,” Cutrone said, referring to Banks.

The Publicist Had Some Harsh Words For Jay Manuel

Cutrone appeared as a judge on “ANTM” from Cycles 18 to 22. Although she was repeatedly asked to participate in the documentary, she firmly denied the opportunity, saying, “No f-cking way.”

“I was the publicist, I already knew, like, ‘What the f-ck am I doing here? Going on this thing for free because I’m trying to sell a book like Jay Manuel?” Cutrone added. She took her dig at the “ANTM” creative director further by adding, “Please, dude, you were a f-cking makeup artist at a MAC counter in f-cking Toronto.”

Cutrone claimed that Banks was responsible for bringing Manuel into “ANTM” and he repaid the host by speaking negatively about her in the documentary. She also claimed Manuel’s intention was to get back at Banks after he was fired from the show.

Kelly Cutrone Bashed Jay Manuel’s Book

Cutrone said that she has known Banks since the model was 16 years old, and while they didn’t have a close relationship, she loves her and “ANTM” producer Ken Mok. “I always stand behind the truth,” the publicist said, adding that she can only speak of her own experience on the show.

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Cutrone also bashed Manuel for his debut novel, released in 2020, titled “The Wig, The B-tch & The Meltdown,” which focuses on the character Pablo Michaels, an overworked creative director on the fictional reality series “Model Muse,” hosted by a tyrannical supermodel named Keisha Kash.

Readers assumed that the book was a fictionalized tell-all of Manuel’s relationship with Banks, but the former has repeatedly denied the assumptions.

Cutrone, however, feels otherwise. “She smiled on you and waved her wand. How do you repay her? You write a fictionalized book where you make yourself look like Karl Lagerfeld. That chick f-cking fed you, took care of you, raised you, and this is how you say thank you? F-ck off,” Cutrone said.

Kelly Cutrone Sheds Light On Tyra Banks Not Visiting Miss J

In the “ANTM” documentary, Miss J revealed that he suffered a stroke in 2022 that left him in a comatose state for several weeks. While Manuel and Barker visited him at the hospital, Banks did not. Banks faced flak over that fact, especially since viewers knew that Miss J and Banks had a close relationship even before “ANTM.”

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Cutrone shed light on the situation following Miss J’s stroke, telling the outlet that Banks and Mok had intended to visit. At that time, Banks was on the West Coast, and they asked Cutrone, who was in New York, to check in on Miss J. “They were worried,” Cutrone said, showing text messages Banks and Mok sent her three days after Miss J’s medical emergency.

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Cutrone got details about Miss J’s condition, but she was also told that he was in the hospital under an alias and claimed his niece didn’t want visitors at that time. The publicist further explained that all she knows is that Banks and Mok were both concerned over Miss J’s well-being.

The ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Controversy

“America’s Next Top Model” contestants were divided over the show. While some have come forward to criticize aspects of production and how they were treated, others praised Banks and the show for opening doors, providing opportunities, and launching careers in the fashion industry.

Ultimately, the conversation only reinforces “ANTM” as one of reality TV’s most talked-about and divisive series.

Elon Musk’s estranged daughter, Vivian Wilson, has made headlines after cutting a prominent red carpet appearance short to avoid discussing her famous father. 

The high-profile model chose to immediately walk away from a media interaction rather than comment on the controversial billionaire entrepreneur. 

This decisive action has served as a viral reminder of the deeply strained relationship and ongoing family division between the two individuals.

Wilson abruptly walked away from a red carpet interview after being asked a direct question about her billionaire father, Musk.

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The 22-year-old model was actively speaking with a media reporter at a Desigual Vintage fashion event in Ibiza, Spain, when the red carpet conversation suddenly turned toward the Tesla chief executive officer. 

The media interviewer caught the young woman off guard by asking if her father was the absolute “best. “Appearing confused by the unexpected inquiry, Wilson initially asked the reporter to clarify who and what they were talking about. 

When the journalist simply repeated the phrasing to emphasize her father, she coldly responded “Ok,” before immediately shutting down the conversation and storming off from the press line, according to widely shared social media footage. 

The tense media exchange serves as the latest public reminder of the severe, years-long personal rift that has persisted between the young adult and the technology entrepreneur.

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The fashion model, who came out publicly as transgender back in 2020, has completely dropped the famous Musk surname from her legal name, per Page Six.

Supportive Fans Strongly Defend Vivian Wilson’s Decisive Red Carpet Exit

Following Wilson’s abrupt departure from the red carpet interview, internet users immediately rushed online to share their thoughts regarding how the young model handled the situation.

Many fans passionately defended her actions, praising her for showcasing incredible class by choosing to simply walk away from the awkward exchange rather than engaging with the reporter. 

“That’s class. Just walk away. Her mother is classy too,” one fan wrote. 

Other sympathetic observers expressed immense heartbreak over the deep familial divide, acknowledging that navigating life without the emotional support of a father must be incredibly painful. 

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“She doesn’t have the support of her father. I hurt for her, but I hope she can overcome and show a lesson to all,” the user wrote. 

Additionally, critics heavily slammed the interviewer for aggressively pushing the narrative that the tech billionaire is the best.

“Good for her and f-ck the idiot calling Musk the best and not the pest,” a user penned.

Elon Musk Reaffirmed His Political Stance Sparked by The Family Rift

While the public heavily criticizes the billionaire for his lack of emotional warmth, the technology entrepreneur has openly confirmed that his political motivations are deeply tied to his child’s lifestyle choices. 

According to The Blast, the Tesla chief executive officer recently reaffirmed his stance that his transition into a right-wing supporter was directly instigated by his estranged daughter’s transition. 

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This alignment became highly visible after the young model kicked off Pride Month by posing for a prominent Savage X Fenty campaign.

Images from the fashion photoshoot quickly went viral on social media, including on the billionaire’s own platform, X. A user posted a theory claiming that without the model’s transition, the entrepreneur would have never bought Twitter or become involved in right-wing politics. 

The tech mogul then caught the public’s attention by directly replying to the post with a brief confirmation, “True.”

Elon Musk’s Daughter Is Firm About Not Wanting Him In Her Life

Wilson’s father’s continuous focus on her transition highlights why the young model chooses to remain completely detached from his public life. In a candid conversation, she provided an incredibly blunt assessment of her current relationship with Musk. 

The model explained that she has essentially made complete peace with their permanent family estrangement, recognizing that she cannot alter the reality of their situation.

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She firmly asserted that while being the tech mogul’s child is a permanent fixture of her history, it will absolutely not dictate her path moving forward, per The Blast.

Having consciously rejected that lavish lifestyle, Wilson admitted that her single absolute biggest fear is seeing how greed and a never-ending obsession with power can thoroughly corrupt human beings.

The Transgender Model Clarified Her Current Financial Standing After Disowning Her Father

Rejecting the massive corrupting influence of extreme power and greed has led the young adult to live a far more grounded lifestyle. Wilson clarified that she does not possess a vast fortune, despite the public assumptions typically associated with her immensely wealthy family background. 

The aspiring model openly admitted that she has absolutely no personal desire to become “super rich,” choosing instead to find contentment by living comfortably within her own modest financial means.

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The Blast reported that she also directly dismissed public speculation regarding her personal wealth, explicitly stating that she does not have hundreds of thousands of dollars sitting at her disposal. 

The New York Knicks are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, bringing a renewed interest to the ongoing beef between team owner James Dolan and Knicks great and Real Housewives of Atlanta husband Charles Oakley.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver was asked about tensions between Oakley, 62, and Dolan, 71, before Game 1 on Wednesday, June 3, where he admitted he recently tried to mediate the drama between the two, even turning to arguably the greatest basketball player of all-time for help.

“It is a shame, in that I tried, Michael Jordan tried too, to broker peace between Charles and Jim Dolan,” Silver, 64, said in a press conference. “Our efforts were unsuccessful. I think it’s unfortunate for the NBA that this is an ongoing situation.”

The feud between Oakley and Dolan stems from Oakley’s ejection from Madison Square Garden during a game in 2017. During the incident, Oakley allegedly yelled at Dolan repeatedly. As Oakley was being led out of the arena, video showed him shoving MSG officials as he was led away from his seat.

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Oakley subsequently sued Dolan and Madison Square Garden Entertainment for assault and defamation.

“Yes, I understand that he was a big star and a Knick, et cetera, but that doesn’t excuse people from that kind of behavior,” Dolan said in an appearance on The Michael Kay Show days after the incident, adding that Oakley’s ban isn’t “necessarily” for life.

The ongoing legal proceedings, however, have limited what the NBA could do to help the two mend fences.

“As you know, it’s currently wrapped up in litigation,” Silver added on Wednesday. “I tried my best. So I don’t really see anything else I can do at the moment.”

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When New York Knicks superfan Timothée Chalamet and his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, took their seats in Cleveland for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the power couple were noticeably removed from their usual courtside vantage point.   As it turns out, the Cleveland Cavaliers organization took preventive steps to help make sure Rocket Arena didn’t […]

Oakley, a fan favorite, played 10 seasons for the Knicks from 1988 to 1998 and was a member of New York’s 1994 NBA Finals team, the same year he was an All-Star and member of the NBA’s all-defensive team. More recently, he has appeared on the Real Housewives of Atlanta, alongside his wife, Angela, who joined the cast in 2025.

The 2026 Finals between the Knicks and San Antonio Spurs will shift to New York for Game 3 on Monday, June 8. Throughout the playoffs, Knicks legends have appeared in the stands, supporting their former team, including Patrick Ewing, Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Allan Houston and more. Oakley has been a noticeable absence.

“I think that’s one of the things that makes this league so special is this family environment that we have,” Silver said.

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NBA superstar and Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard Paul George has been suspended for 25 games, the league announced on Saturday, January 31 — but Charles Barkley isn’t buying the explanation. “It’s something fishy going on here,” the NBA Hall of Famer said on Saturday’s episode of Inside the NBA. “Now, I don’t joke around about […]

Oakley, for his part, has not backed down from his criticism of Dolan.

“I mean that guy, he’s a bully over there,” Oakley said in a Monday, June 1 appearance on The Jim Rome Show. “He running the plantation. I mean everything he do is a plantation move.”

The Knicks defeated the Spurs, 105-95, in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Game 2 will take place in San Antonio on Friday, June 5.