There’s no denying that crime movies are wildly entertaining, but they don’t even come close to a great crime novel. The biggest advantage these books have over the screen is that they can place readers in uncertain situations and immerse them in paranoia. A moment that might last a few seconds in a film can become an entire page of doubt. Readers don’t just watch someone solve the mystery.

They actively piece together the evidence, forming theories, and realizing how easy it is to be misled in stressful situations. In fact, crime novelists created the rules of the genre long before filmmakers brought them to life on the screen. To prove that, here are the best crime books of all time that have had a lasting impact on the genre.

10

‘The Moonstone’ (1868)

Image via Tinsley Brothers

Wilkie Collins’s The Moonstone is a defining crime novel because of how many familiar conventions it established before they became the norm. The story begins when a sacred yellow diamond is stolen during a British military campaign in India. Years later, the soldier who stole it leaves the jewel to his niece, Rachel Verinder, as a gift for her eighteenth birthday. Rachel proudly wears the diamond during a celebration at her family’s country estate, but by the following morning, it has vanished from her bedroom. The crime seems impossible, and that’s when eccentric Scotland Yard detective Sergeant Cuff enters the picture. He begins questioning and testing everyone present at the scene, and as he does, the case becomes increasingly complicated, especially when the suspicion falls on Rachel herself.

The Moonstone features a country-house crime, an inside job, incompetent local policemen and several red herrings, elements that would later become essential to detective fiction. The increasingly complex story is also told through several narrators, each offering a different version of events, so the audience never knows who to trust. The Moonstone may move more slowly than a modern crime thriller, but it created the blueprint that generations of crime writers are still following.

9

‘Red Harvest’ (1929)

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Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett follows an unnamed investigator known only as the Continental Op, who is summoned to the Montana mining town of Personville by newspaper publisher Donald Willsson. The locals call the town “Poisonville,” and the nickname fits since the police are corrupt, rival gangsters control the streets, and wealthy industrialist Elihu Willsson has helped create the very criminal empire he now wants removed. Before the Op can even meet Donald, though, his client is brutally murdered in an alley. Op solves the crime and accepts a second assignment from Elihu to clean up the city and destroy the gangs controlling it. Now, the way Op chooses to do so is by lying and leaking information and convincing the town’s criminals to turn against each other. This leads to a sharp rise in tension, where the investigator becomes responsible for almost as much chaos as the people he was hired to eliminate.

Red Harvest unfolds with an ambiguity that practically defines the thriller genre now. Instead of separating the detective from the criminal world, the story places Op directly in the corruption to show how his judgment is affected by it. There is no clear path to victory in this town where every institution has been compromised, and that’s what makes Red Harvest so intriguing till the very last page. The novel made crime fiction grittier and introduced a world where justice and violence operated as two sides of the same coin.

8

‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1988)

Image via St. Martin’s Press

Thomas Harris’ The Silence of the Lambs is one of the most influential and recognizable thriller stories of all time, and for good reason. The novel follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling, who is unexpectedly sent to interview imprisoned psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter. Jack Crawford, the head of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, hopes Lecter may have information that will help the team capture Buffalo Bill, a serial killer who kidnaps women and tortures them in unimaginable ways. Now, Lecter immediately recognises that Clarice is being used to draw information out of him, so he turns every conversation into an exchange. He offers cryptic clues about Buffalo Bill, but only when Clarice reveals something personal in return.

Their interviews become the novel’s greatest source of tension because Lecter never needs to raise his voice or leave his cell to feel dangerous. On the other hand, Clarice is inexperienced and working within an institution dominated by older men. She knows that one mistake could destroy her career. However, even then, Harris never reduces her to a helpless victim. Her intelligence, empathy, and determination allow her to recognize connections that more experienced investigators overlook. The novel shifts between all these storylines and uses the smallest of details to lay the foundation for the next big reveal. Hannibal Lecter may be the character everyone remembers, but the heart of the story belongs to Clarice till the very end.

7

‘The Black Echo’ (1992)

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Michael Connelly’s The Black Echo — one of the best books of the ’90s — introduces Harry Bosch, an LAPD homicide detective and Vietnam veteran whose sincerity to his job has made him unpopular within his own department. The story begins when a body is discovered inside a drainage pipe near the Mulholland Dam. The routine overdose becomes personal when Bosch identifies the victim as Billy Meadows, a fellow “tunnel rat” who served beside him during the war. Bosch soon finds evidence connecting Meadows’ death to a major bank robbery where the criminals entered a vault through underground tunnels. Now, the case falls under federal jurisdiction, and the detective is forced to work with the FBI, particularly agent Eleanor Wish.

Their investigation moves between Los Angeles streets, veterans’ halfway houses, bank vaults, and the tunnels beneath the city, while internal affairs detectives follow Bosch and treat him with the same suspicion as the criminals. The tunnel connection adds another layer of depth to the mystery, and Bosch’s experience underground helps him understand how the robbers operate. At the same time, though, it forces him to confront memories he has spent years trying to forget. The Black Echo is complex without ever losing its momentum, and Connelly builds this world one precise detail at a time. The story’s early-1990s technology may now seem dated, but the investigation itself remains sharp because it relies on pure human instinct over anything else.

6

‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ (2005)

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The Lincoln Lawyer is another Connelly masterpiece on the list. The story follows Los Angeles criminal defence attorney Mickey Haller, an attorney who runs his practice from the back seat of a chauffeured Lincoln Town Car. His clients are usually drug dealers, gang members, prostitutes, and anyone else able to pay his fee. After working inside the justice system for years, Haller is convinced that trials are not really about truth, but about negotiation, manipulation, and finding the weakness that can break the opposing case apart. He seems to have found the perfect client when wealthy Beverly Hills real-estate agent Louis Roulet is accused of brutally attacking a woman he met at a bar. Roulet has money, no serious criminal record, and he insists that he was set up. At the same time, inconsistencies in the victim’s account give Haller several possible ways to create reasonable doubt. However, things take a turn when evidence begins connecting Roulet to an earlier crime involving one of Haller’s former clients, which forces the attorney to confront the possibility that his own legal strategy may have helped place an innocent man in prison.

This moral conflict is what essentially drives The Lincoln Lawyer and gives the audience a reason to keep turning the page. Connelly grounds the story in the practical details of criminal defence, yet the human element of the story is always at the center. The Lincoln Lawyer became the first entry in the long-running Mickey Haller series and transformed the courtroom into a psychological battle where there is no clear right answer.

5

‘The Big Sleep’ (1939)

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Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep begins with a fairly simple blackmail case that gradually expands into something much darker. The story follows private investigator Philip Marlowe, who is hired by the wealthy General Sternwood to deal with a blackmailer targeting his younger daughter, Carmen. The seemingly straightforward case quickly pulls Marlowe into a much larger web of pornography, gambling, blackmail, disappearance, and murder. Soon enough, Marlowe discovers that nearly everyone connected to the Sternwood family is hiding something. Things get even more complicated as people disappear and Marlowe has to deal with corrupt businessmen, wealthy socialites, and gangsters.

The Big Sleep doesn’t unfold like an organized puzzle, with every loose end neatly tied up. The confusion in the narrative is intentional, because it’s meant to reflect this messed-up world Marlowe has entered. The protagonist’s voice is one of the most compelling things about the novel, since his bitter humor and sharp observations are the key to uncovering what is actually happening. The plot is almost secondary to the story’s atmosphere and compelling characters. Marlowe’s real challenge is holding onto his sense of right and wrong while moving through a city where nearly everyone has compromised theirs. Humphrey Bogart eventually brings Marlowe to life in the acclaimed 1946 film.

4

‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ (1901)

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Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles is a classic crime mystery for the ages. The story begins when Dr. James Mortimer visits Sherlock Holmes with the story of an old family curse. According to legend, generations of the Baskerville family have been haunted by a monstrous supernatural hound. When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on the grounds of his Devon estate with an expression of terror on his face, Mortimer discovers enormous paw prints near the body. Now, as Sir Henry Baskerville prepares to claim the estate, he fears the curse may be ready to strike again. Holmes initially dismisses the legend as superstition, but things take a turn when Sir Henry receives an anonymous warning to stay away from the moor. That’s when Holmes and Watson have to determine whether someone is using the legend to hide a very real crime.

The mystery itself is compelling, but the atmosphere is what makes the novel unforgettable. Most of the story takes place around Baskerville Hall and the isolated moors of Devon, where thick fog, dangerous marshes, distant howling, and empty landscapes make the supernatural explanation feel extremely possible. Even though Holmes trusts logic, Doyle places the reader in an environment where things don’t always make sense. The novel also makes excellent use of Dr. Watson since he spends much of the case investigating alone. Readers discover the mystery beside him, never knowing whether to trust reason or fear. The Hound of the Baskervilles was the third of Arthur Conan Doyle’s four Sherlock Holmes novels and remains one of Holmes’ most compelling cases to this day.

3

‘In the Woods’ (2007)

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In the Woods by Tana French begins in 1984, when three children enter the woods near the Irish town of Knocknaree, but only one returns. Adam Ryan is found covered in blood and unable to remember what happened to his two friends. Twenty years later, Adam calls himself Rob and has become a detective in Dublin’s Murder Squad. When a young girl is found dead in those same woods, Rob is assigned to the case alongside his partner and closest friend, Cassie Maddox. The connection between the two incidents instantly makes the investigation feel personal, and the story gradually explores what the case does to Rob. He has spent most of his life distancing himself from his childhood and burying the memories he cannot understand. Returning to Knocknaree begins to weaken that carefully constructed identity.

What makes things really interesting is that Rob is an extremely unreliable narrator. His memory has lapses, and his judgement becomes increasingly emotional as he tries to hide his connection to the woods from his superiors and Cassie. In the Woods really explores how childhood fears shape people, and everything in Knocknaree turns into a symbol of Rob’s past. In the Woods is a memorable crime-mystery book because it doesn’t just focus on two heinous crimes, but also the very man at the center of it all.

2

‘The Maltese Falcon’ (1930)

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The Maltese Falcon is another Hammett title that deserves to be on this list. The story begins when a mysterious woman hires private detective Sam Spade and his partner to follow a man she claims has run away with her sister. However, the next morning, Spade’s partner is found dead, and so is the man they were following. That prompts the police to suspect that Spade may be involved in the case. The detective then realizes that his client has lied about almost everything and that several dangerous people are searching for a valuable black statuette known as the Maltese Falcon. This sets up a pretty entertaining mystery, but the novel’s real tension comes from trying to understand Spade as a person.

The readers judge Spade in the same way the other characters do. He constantly negotiates with criminals, withholds information from the police, and appears willing to work for whoever offers him the best deal. Even when he seems to have chosen a side, his next decision can completely change the power dynamics. Spade’s unpredictability makes him one of crime fiction’s defining antiheroes. He may lie and manipulate, but there are certain lines even he refuses to cross, and the novel gradually reveals those limits as the story progresses. The Maltese Falcon helped popularise hard-boiled detective fiction and established the model for the morally ambiguous private investigator who would later become a staple for the genre.

1

‘The Long Goodbye’ (1953)

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The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler follows private investigator Philip Marlowe, who meets Terry Lennox, a troubled man with a scarred face, a wealthy but unhappy wife, and a serious drinking problem. Marlowe helps him without asking for anything in return, and the two develop an unusual friendship over occasional drinks. When Lennox later appears at Marlowe’s home asking for a ride to Mexico, Marlowe agrees, even though he suspects his friend is running from something serious. Soon afterward, Lennox’s wife is found dead, and Lennox is blamed for the crime. The case is closed almost immediately, but Marlowe just cannot accept the convenient explanation. His investigation eventually connects him to Roger Wade, a successful novelist whose career and marriage are being destroyed by alcoholism. Although the two cases initially appear separate, Chandler gradually brings them together without allowing the mystery to overpower the characters.

The Long Goodbye feels a lot more personal compared to Chandler’s earlier novels. The connection between Marlowe and Lennox lays the foundation for the narrative, and this loyalty also humanizes Marlowe more than ever before. The author uses the investigation to criticise how money and power can control popular opinion, which adds another layer of nuance to the already intriguing mystery. The neo-noir adaptation of The Long Goodbye is worth watching for readers who enjoyed the 1953 novek.

Artificial intelligence is one of those science fiction tropes that’s been used for so many years that, by this point, you’re almost surprised when you watch a film and it isn’t a malevolent threat. It’s gone from science-fiction fantasy to everyday reality in remarkably little time and, at a time when our lives are affected by AI almost every second, audiences are rediscovering one film that explored its possibilities long before the conversation became mainstream.

Ex Machina was one of the most unsettling movies about the prospects of artificial intelligence when it was released in 2015, and it follows the young programmer Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson), who wins the chance to spend a week with his company’s brilliant but reclusive CEO, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac). There, things start to get weird, as the synopsis offers:

“Upon his arrival, Caleb learns that Nathan has chosen him to be the human component in a Turing Test—charging him with evaluating the capabilities, and ultimately the consciousness, of Nathan’s latest experiment in artificial intelligence. That experiment is Ava (Alicia Vikander), a breathtaking A.I. whose emotional intelligence proves more sophisticated––and more deceptive––than the two men could have imagined.”

Written and directed by Alex Garland in his directorial debut, the film also features Sonoya Mizuno (House of the Dragon) as Kyoko, and Corey Johnson (The Righteous Gemstones) as Jay.

Was ‘Ex Machina’ a Success?

Ex Machina ended up being a modest breakout success, but given that A24 was just starting to become a major player in Hollywood, it became one of their biggest hits before it found an even bigger and more substantial audience on streaming and on home media. As for critical response, though, it’s one of the most highly acclaimed science fiction movies of the century.

Critics adored the film, and it boasts a superb 92% critics score and 86% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. It also won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, famously defeating Mad Max: Fury Road, while earning a nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Now, it’s widely considered one of the defining AI movies in modern cinema and some may argue that it will end up being Garland’s magnum opus when all is said and done.

Ex Machina is available to purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV and more.

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Release Date

April 24, 2015

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Runtime

108 minutes

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Alex Garland

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Alex Garland

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Allon Reich, Andrew Macdonald

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepped out on a date night to attend a star-studded fundraiser in Canada.

The Duchess of Sussex, 45, offered a peek behind the scenes via Instagram at the royal couple’s attendance at the 40th anniversary celebrations for composer David Foster’s charitable foundation in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, on Friday, August 8.

Meghan simply captioned her look back at the gala with emojis of a Canadian flag and a red heart.

Per People, Meghan wore a black Greta Constantin gown, paired with her late mother-in-law Princess Diana’s diamond and sapphire earrings. Prince Harry, 41, opted for a chic black and white tuxedo, complete with a traditional bowtie.

Alongside a selfie shot at the event, Meghan shared behind-the-scenes video footage of the pair making their royal entrance. The footage showed Harry and Meghan stopping to speak with members of a bagpipe and drum band who were playing at the gala before heading into the ballroom.

Once inside, Meghan and Harry potentially hobnobbed with A-list guests including Foster, 76, and his wife Katharine McPhee, Bill Gates, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger, among others. The Times Colonist reported that there were four separate donations of $1 million each during the event, as well as several more of at least $100,000. (Per the outlet, more than $14.5 million was earned during the fundraiser.)

In March, the David Foster Foundation announced it was hosting a 40th anniversary weekend of events in August to “bring together friends, supporters, artists, and families for an extraordinary celebration of four decades of life-changing impact.”

“From elegant gala experiences and unforgettable musical performances to the beauty of the iconic Inner Harbour, every moment has been thoughtfully designed to celebrate the legacy we have built together — and the countless lives forever changed because of it,” Foster announced via the group’s website.

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The singer-songwriter created the David Foster Foundation in 1986 to provide financial support for children in need of life-saving organ transplants.

Meghan and Harry are fresh off the prince’s homecoming trip to the U.K. in July where their family visited Althorp House, the Spencer family estate where Princess Diana grew up.

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Buckingham Palace also confirmed to The Times of London on July 10 that King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted Harry and his family for lunch at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, England. This was the first in-person visit Charles had with Harry and Meghan’s children — Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5— in four years.

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The Duke of Sussex capped off a whirlwind return to the U.K. with an event to celebrate the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, England.

Less than one week after returning to the U.S., Harry wore a sleek black suit during a rare solo red carpet appearance to attend the TIME100 Most Influential People in Sports gala in New York City on July 16. He was honored during the ceremony for his work with the Invictus Games.

A Golden Age masterpiece starring two of the most popular male actors of the era is about to leave HBO Max, leaving fans of Pre-Code classics with very little time to check it out. The movie has had a deep and lasting influence on the gangster genre, and it’s safe to say that Martin Scorsese would have been a different filmmaker were it not for his fascination with films of this kind. In fact, in a 1990 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Scorsese said, “everything from this genre properly comes from the inspiration” of two movies, the one we’re talking about, and The Public Enemy.

Incidentally, both movies were released in the same year, 1931, which makes them 95 years old. Public Enemy was headlined by arguably the greatest star of the gangster genre, James Cagney. Scorsese deconstructed these early Warner Bros. gangster movies in his own films, such as Goodfellas and Mean Streets, not to mention the relatively recent The Irishman. The movie that’s currently streaming on HBO Max, on the other hand, starred Edward G. Robinson and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. It was produced during the Great Depression and tells a classic story of a street-level thug who climbs to the top of a crime syndicate.

Here’s How Long You Have Left to Watch the Crime Classic on HBO Max

We’re talking, of course, about Little Caesar. The movie was directed by Mervyn LeRoy and released in January 1931. It entered the public domain in January this year, meaning that even if you aren’t able to catch it on HBO Max in time, you can legally watch it for free wherever it’s available. This includes Wikipedia. Little Caesar grossed more than $750,000 at the box office and is now regarded as a classic. It holds a 96% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “Little Caesar achieves epic stature thanks to Edward G. Robinson’s volcanic charisma, forging a template for the big-screen mobster archetype that’s yet to be surpassed.”

Watch Little Caesar before it leaves HBO Max at the end of August. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

January 25, 1931

Runtime

79 Minutes

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Director

Mervyn LeRoy

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• 

  Edward G. Robinson

  Caesar Enrico ‘Rico’ Bandello aka ‘Little Caesar’

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  Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

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  Joe Massara

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  Glenda Farrell

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  William Collier Jr.

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Keith Urban is reportedly not heartbroken over Nicole Kidman’s apparent new romance following the end of their 19-year marriage. Although reports suggested the country singer was “devastated” after Kidman was linked to millionaire private equity businessman Michael Reinstein, insiders now claim her decision to move on has brought Urban a sense of relief. According to a source, Keith Urban had been unhappy for some time and was ultimately the person who chose to end the marriage.

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Kidman and Urban would have celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in June. Instead, the former couple entered the milestone year separately after ending their relationship in late 2025. Kidman was later photographed in Portofino, Italy, with Reinstein. The pair reportedly met at a pre-Oscars party earlier this year, months after Kidman and Urban finalized their divorce.

Despite speculation that seeing his former wife with another man had been difficult for Urban, a source told the Daily Mail that he had already grown tired of the high-profile lifestyle surrounding their marriage.

“Keith’s been unhappy for a long time,” the insider claimed. “He didn’t want to be on another red carpet or have a staff full of people and be forced to wear designer [clothes]. He doesn’t care about any of that. That’s not who he is, and he’s been dealing with it for a long time.”

The source continued, “He just wants to make music and play music. The rest was all very complicated and outside of his comfort zone.”

Nicole Kidman Previously Admitted Her Husband Needed Space

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Urban’s reported desire for a quieter life was not entirely hidden during the marriage. The musician occasionally avoided high-profile appearances, including skipping the red carpet at the Country Music Association Awards last year.

Kidman also acknowledged his need for solitude during a 2020 interview with Marie Claire. “At times, he just needs to escape with his guitar,” she told the publication. “Sometimes I’ll find him in his closet playing guitar. That’s when I know we really need to give him space.”

Kidman’s work as an actress and producer created an especially demanding schedule. Over the past three years, she appeared in 12 television and film productions while producing nine. Urban, meanwhile, released one album, completed a Las Vegas residency and spent much of 2025 touring internationally.

Their schedules sometimes kept them apart during significant family moments. Kidman was reportedly unable to attend Urban’s father’s funeral in 2015 because she was filming in England. Urban had attended her father’s memorial the previous year and performed “Amazing Grace.”

Keith Urban’s Interviews Sparked Questions Before The Split

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Shortly after that appearance, several of Urban’s interviews attracted attention because of his reactions to questions involving Kidman. In fact, he abruptly left a remote radio interview after being asked about Kidman filming intimate scenes in “A Family Affair” with Zac Efron.

“What does Keith Urban think when he sees his beautiful wife with beautiful younger men like Zac Efron having these beautiful love scenes on TV and radio?” a host asked during a “Wall of Truth” segment on “Hayley & Max in the Morning.”

Following a period of silence, a producer confirmed that Urban had disconnected from the Zoom interview. “I think his team hung up on us because they didn’t want us to ask that question,” the producer said. “I knew that would happen. He doesn’t like talking about his wife.”

Nicole Kidman’s New Romance Is Reportedly A ‘Relief’ For Her Ex

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A Daily Mail insider claimed Kidman has privately been the angrier party since the marriage ended. According to the source, her relationship with Reinstein may “be a relief for [Urban]” because she could now “ease up a little.”

The insider also alleged that disagreements over access to their daughters had been especially difficult. As of a few months ago, the source claimed Kidman was “holding the kids over his head.”

“She’s the one that’s mad at him. He is not getting to see his kids as much as he wants,” the insider alleged. “It’s basically an ‘if you want to see them come back home’ kinda thing.”

Under their reported parenting arrangement, Kidman has daughters Sunday and Faith for 306 days of the year. Urban is scheduled to spend every other weekend and alternating holidays with them.

Keith Urban Reportedly Could Not Picture Nicole Kidman In His Future

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Despite Kidman’s enormous impact on Urban’s life, the source claimed his decision to leave came after he was encouraged to imagine his future. “He left her,” the insider said. “His decision came after he was asked, ‘When you see yourself in ten years do you see Nicole in that picture?’ And he clearly didn’t.”

According to the source, Urban ultimately wanted a life far removed from red carpets, extensive staff and Hollywood obligations. “He’s a simple guy that just wants a house in Nashville and a house on the beach,” the insider concluded.

Neither Kidman nor Urban has responded directly to the latest claims.

Highlander star Christopher Lambert reportedly suffered a medical emergency while attending a Pennsylvania convention.

The organizers of Steel City Con in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, announced on Saturday, August 8, that “Christopher Lambert had to leave the event due to a personal issue.” As a result, his photo opportunity session for Saturday was canceled and it was unclear whether he’d return to the convention later in the weekend.

TMZ reported that Lambert, 69, was signing autographs for fans when he suddenly collapsed and was eventually taken away in an ambulance.

Fans in attendance at Steel City Con were understandably concerned about the condition of the legendary action movie star following the alarming incident.

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“Oh no, saying a prayer his way,” one attendee replied via Steel City Con Facebook’s post.

Another Steel City Con visitor revealed, “We met him earlier. I knew he wasn’t feeling well and had a cold. Prayers he is ok.”

“Sending prayers for speedy recovery, healing. First responders, staff, security, constables did an excellent job at handling the medical emergency,” another fan in attendance shared.

Lambert’s spokesperson has since assured TMZ that the actor is “perfectly OK” and that the medical emergency was likely caused by a drop in blood sugar due to a lack of sleep and food.

While Lambert was released from medical care to rest at his hotel, his management team said it was not yet clear whether he’d be able to return to Steel City Con on Sunday, August 9.

However, his team suggested that Lambert would have plenty of time to recover so he can make his scheduled Fan Expo Chicago appearance at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, from August 14 through August 16.

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Lambert previously suffered a health scare in early 2025 when he fell down a flight of stairs at a hotel, thereby injuring his back. The injury was so severe that Lambert had to drop out of a March 2025 appearance at Swedish festival SciFiWorld to allow more time to recover.

“As an actor, filming and promoting his films are an absolute priority and has always been, and while he has the highest respect for people organizing events and fans who attend; unfortunately this time he will not be able to attend the comic con,” his representatives said at the time.

Lambert is best known for playing the immortal Scottish swordsman Connor MacLeod in the Highlander film and TV series as well as Raiden in 1995’s Mortal Kombat. Some of his other notable projects include his breakthrough in 1984 adventure movie Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, plus his leading role in cult classic mob drama The Sicilian and portraying terrorist The Corsican on The Blacklist.

Hailey Bieber is no longer simply viewed as the woman married to one of the world’s biggest models. Following Rhode’s blockbuster $1 billion sale to e.l.f. Beauty industry insiders claim that, for beauty, Hailey has become the more sought-after Bieber in certain Hollywood and corporate circles. The dramatic shift does not mean there is trouble in Hailey and Justin Bieber’s marriage. However, industry observers believe her rapidly expanding influence has fundamentally changed how Hollywood views the famous couple.

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Hailey’s growing business power came into sharper focus after e.l.f. Beauty reported a 36% increase in quarterly sales, reaching $479.4 million. Executives credited much of that growth to Rhode, the skincare company Hailey founded before selling it to the cosmetics giant in a deal valued at $1 billion last year. The transaction did not mark the end of Hailey’s involvement with the brand. She remained with e.l.f. as Rhode’s chief creative officer and head of innovation, allowing her to continue shaping its products and overall direction.

According to a beauty industry executive who spoke to the Daily Mail, the acquisition changed how corporate decision-makers perceive the model and entrepreneur. “The Rhode acquisition wasn’t the finish line,” the executive said. “It was her introduction. She became someone executives wanted in the room when real business decisions were being made.”

Her visibility has also continued outside the boardroom. Hailey frequently attracts attention through her fashion, beauty campaigns, and social media presence, including recent photographs taken aboard a luxury yacht in Europe.

Hollywood Insider Claims There Has Been A ‘Complete Reversal’

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For much of their relationship, Justin was unquestionably the more famous half of the couple. His career brought global hits, arena and stadium tours, and an enormous international fan base.

Hailey, meanwhile, was frequently identified through her connection to the singer despite already having a successful modeling career of her own. Industry sources now believe the dynamic has shifted. “There has been a complete reversal,” a veteran studio executive told the Daily Mail. “Five years ago every conversation started with Justin. Today the first question is, ‘Can we get Hailey?’”

An A-list publicist offered a similarly direct assessment of Hailey’s evolution. “Brands aren’t calling because she’s married to Justin anymore,” the publicist said. “They’re calling because she built something investors wish they’d backed sooner. That’s a completely different level of celebrity.”

The comments do not diminish Justin’s musical accomplishments. Instead, they reflect how Hailey has established an independent commercial identity capable of generating major corporate interest.

Justin Bieber’s Return To Performing Has Faced Scrutiny

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Hailey’s business momentum arrives as Justin works to rebuild his presence as a live performer. The singer previously stepped away from touring after being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which temporarily paralyzed part of his face in 2022.

Although his return to the stage has attracted enormous attention, it has also produced divided reactions. His halftime performance during the World Cup Final received mixed responses from viewers, while some of his public appearances have prompted speculation about his well-being.

Neither those reactions nor Hailey’s business success establishes that the couple is experiencing marital problems.

The Daily Mail reporter who conducted the analysis explicitly stated that sources continued to describe Justin and Hailey as devoted parents who remain committed to one another and to their marriage. However, the reporter argued that Hollywood couples can face additional pressure when the balance of fame, opportunity and influence changes significantly between them.

Jessica Simpson And Nick Lachey Faced A Similar Celebrity Shift

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To explain the potential challenges created by changing levels of fame, the Daily Mail reporter pointed to Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. The journalist previously worked as Simpson’s publicist and was present during the defining period of her early career and the end of her marriage. The reporter also wrote the statement announcing the couple’s separation.

When “Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica” premiered on MTV in 2003, Lachey was the more established celebrity due to his success with 98 Degrees. That changed as Simpson became the show’s breakout star.

Her endorsements increased, her entertainment career expanded, and her fashion business eventually grew into a billion-dollar brand. “You could actually feel the oxygen leave the room,” the studio executive recalled of being around Simpson and Lachey during that period. “Nick walked into meetings where people were really waiting for her.”

The shift did not prove why their marriage ended. However, the reporter described it as an example of how the professional balance inside a celebrity relationship can change as one partner’s career accelerates. “Everyone around the couple notices it months before they do,” a veteran Hollywood manager told the Daily Mail. “All of a sudden, one calendar matters more. One career starts dictating the other.”

Hailey Bieber Is Now An Entertainment Power Player In Her Own Right

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Hailey’s continued leadership role at Rhode suggests she intends to remain actively involved in the company rather than treating its sale as an exit. Her position also distinguishes Rhode’s success from a traditional celebrity endorsement. Hailey founded the company, developed its public identity, and retained a role in its future after negotiating a billion-dollar acquisition.

Justin, meanwhile, remains one of the defining pop stars of his generation.

Charleston White is responding after Latto came for his “scrawny” self over comments related to her relationship with 21 Savage. He claims he didn’t mean any harm, but will Big Mama and 21 accept the explanation? So far, no word.

RELATED: That’s Wifey! 21 Savage Seemingly Reacts After Charleston White Calls Out The Double Standard Between Latto & Claressa Shields (PHOTO + VIDEOS)

Charleston White Responds To Latto & 21 Savage With THESE Posts

White took to Instagram on Saturday (August 8) to address Latto going in on him after he previously compared her and Claressa Shields. First, he seemed to bask in the fact that Big Mama even responded in the first place, claiming he’s “the voice” now. He said:

“When you got Latto responding with your motherf**king breast milk titties leaking, trying to breastfeed that baby…When I speak everybody listens. Now I control the algorithm and I just needed to get Claressa Shields in the algorithm so we can talk colorism.”

Charleston White said his approach is called “provoking thoughts and evoking emotion.” He also said he can never be beaten at this because he’s the “master” of it.

RELATED: Fans Warn Claressa Shields About Baby Plans With Papoose And Putting Boxing On Hold (VIDEO)

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has sent a memo to teams that addresses ongoing discussions around transgender athletes in women’s basketball.

“I know many of you have received questions in recent weeks regarding transgender athlete participation in women’s basketball, and I expect this topic will continue to receive significant attention,” Engelbert wrote in the memo, which was sent Friday afternoon and obtained by The Associated Press. “I wanted to reach out to share how we are approaching these conversations at the league office and to thank those of you who have responded to questions from the media with thoughtfulness and professionalism.”

The memo said the topic will be discussed further by a task force of team presidents and general managers at a previously scheduled meeting next week.
In an ESPN article published last month, Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham voiced support for barring transgender girls and women from girls’ and women’s sports. Cunningham’s comments sparked small rallies and protests in Seattle and Portland when the Fever were on the road last week.
There was a lone protester at the Fever’s home game against Las Vegas on Thursday night. Indiana visits Chicago on Saturday. Members of two conservative groups are planning a rally in support of Cunningham ahead of that game.
The league hasn’t made any public comments on the issue.
Engelbert wrote that the league will “always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league. Second, our player eligibility rules, unlike the eligibility rules of some other leagues and governing bodies, are collectively bargained. Lastly, preserving the integrity of our game and ensuring fair competition will always remain among the league’s highest priorities.”
The league’s collective bargaining agreement states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,” but it does not include any more specific language about gender identity or sex assigned at birth. On Friday, two former NBA players, Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, saying they identify as women.
“We recognize that this is a complex and nuanced topic, and we will continue to have important conversations with all of you and the Players Association in the weeks and months ahead,” Engelbert said in the memo. “We also plan to convene additional discussions and offer listening sessions for any team leaders who would like to participate. Your perspectives and feedback are invaluable, and I appreciate those who have already reached out to share their thoughts.”
The WNBA players’ association released a statement on social media Friday that emphasized diversity and inclusion while saying the group “will not be used as political pawns.”
“We embrace justice equity, diversity, and inclusion,” the statement read. “Those are the values that unite this Union and allow it to protect women’s sports while creating transformational change. Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm. We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns.”
Some WNBA players and coaches have come out in support of transgender athletes, including Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson and Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve.
“We need to protect trans kids,” Reeve said on Aug. 1. “To me, it’s a human rights issue. Every kid has a right to sports.”

Associated Press Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.