Remakes can be terribly hit or miss, and that’s just as true in the noir genre as with anything else. Slow-burn mysteries with fast-paced dialogue are typically a great combination, especially when the film stays true to the novel it’s adapting in the first place. But in the case of one Robert Mitchum noir picture, the 1978 adaptation of The Big Sleep, it’s painfully clear that following the source material doesn’t always lead to a direct hit. More than that, it proves without a shadow of a doubt that some movies just shouldn’t be remade unless they’re guaranteed to be done right.

‘The Big Sleep’ Remake Loses What Made the Original Great

If you’ve never seen the Humphrey Bogart version of The Big Sleep, then go and do so immediately. The 1946 picture is truly the undisputed gold standard for noir detective features, and while there are several others that could claim that very title, The Big Sleep is simply enchanting. Bogart played Philip Marlowe — a character created by author Raymond Chandler in his novel of the same name — with the perfect cadence and charm befitting of an old-school private eye. His chemistry with Lauren Bacall (whom he married off-screen) is simply legendary, and the filmmakers famously rewrote the ending in order to keep her more involved in the overall plot. While Bogart’s The Big Sleep is quite faithful to the book for the first two-thirds or so, it begins to deviate considerably toward the end. Although it lands, some hard-core fans of the novel certainly might have wished for a more proper adaptation. So, when British filmmaker Michael Winner took a stab at Chandler’s stellar detective novel, he aimed to better honor the muddied themes and complicated plot of the book on the screen. In the end, it didn’t quite pan out that way.

Of course, if you’ve seen the 1978 film, then you already know that it makes two distinct changes to the material. For one, it controversially moves the plot from 1940s Los Angeles into 1970s London, which was the adaptation’s first (though not only) big mistake. By taking the film out of its LA setting, the deeply American roots of the tale are cast aside, which is a turn-off for anyone intimately familiar with the story. Secondly, the remake cast Robert Mitchum in the role as Marlowe (reprising the part from his previous work in Farewell, My Lovely, which was set in LA). Not only is Mitchum a bit too old to convincingly play Marlowe (who is meant to be in his mid-30s), but he’s a few steps down from Bogart, who was far more convincing. Nevertheless, Winner tackled The Big Sleep with the goal of bringing the rest of the story to life with more attention to detail and a greater emphasis on the criminal underbelly displayed in the novel.

In many respects, the British remake follows Chandler’s novel to a “T.” Much of the dialogue comes straight from the book, and the way that the picture emphasizes the sexual deviancy that Marlowe uncovers as he investigates Geiger’s murder is certainly truer to the book than what the original Howard Hawks film was able to show back in the ’40s. And that’s not to forget about the ending, which is ripped straight from the source material and doesn’t romanticize the climax the way that the Bogart and Bacall picture did. In fact, aside from some minor shifts and the alternate setting, there’s not much difference between the novel and the 1978 film at all. With a cast that also included James Stewart, Richard Boone, Sarah Miles, and Oliver Reed, Winner should have knocked this remake out of the park… So, what happened? Well, for one thing, the end result is quite dull, further echoing the misfire performance of its leading man.

Robert Mitchum Doesn’t Quite Nail the Role of Philip Marlowe

Image via United Artists

Although Mitchum played Marlowe twice in his career, The Big Sleep doesn’t do him any favors. For one thing, he refrains from utilizing any of Marlowe’s understated but still effective charisma, playing the part almost as if he’s too bored to take it seriously. In contrast to Bogart’s Marlowe, Mitchum’s interpretation is also far less complex, which makes him a bit more irritable to both the characters around him and even the audience. Although he recites many of the famous lines as if reading directly from Chandler, there appears to be very little subtext behind them — part of which may be a biproduct of moving the tale from Los Angeles to London. The British aesthetic simply doesn’t work for the film, and everything from the lighting to the cinematography comes off just as flat as Mitchum does.

While Bogart was already in his mid-40s when playing the character, Mitchum was 60 when The Big Sleep hit theaters. He certainly wasn’t the jaded, younger man who Chandler describes in his novel, nor does he quite fit the part on the screen either. In fact, when he meets with Stewart’s General Sternwood about the job he’s been hired for, there doesn’t appear to be much difference between them, as the stars were only a decade apart in age. The whole thing comes across as a bit insincere, and perhaps much of that is due to the strange attempt to make the whole thing British (half-handedly attempting to explain why so many Americans have migrated to London). Likewise, the chemistry between Mitchum and Charlotte Regan (Sarah Miles) is nothing compared to what we see between Bogart and Bacall in their attempt (or even what the pair were able to achieve with Ryan’s Daughter), making us wonder why anyone thought this was a good idea in the first place.

Despite Sticking to the Source Material, ‘The Big Sleep’ Is Not a Worthwhile Endeavor

Although the film was not afraid to dive into the same controversial topics as the original, it’s significantly less effective as a motion picture. The 1978 version features stars who don’t seem terribly enthusiastic about being there, with dry performances, uninspired lighting unbecoming of a noir, and an overreliance on sex to sell. It’s no wonder that Winner’s take on The Big Sleep was ultimately panned by the likes of Roger Ebert, Gene Siskel, and other notable critics of the day, with audience scores that fall even lower when you consider IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. Frankly, their response is entirely understandable. Everything that made the original 1946 picture an instant classic is absent from this shoddy attempt, proving that simply following the source material does not always make a good movie.

Compared to all the other Philip Marlowe adaptations, there’s so little about The Big Sleep worth revisiting that you’re much better off just watching both versions of the Bogart version (the 1945 original cut and the 1946 theatrical), which will not only be more satisfying, but far more enjoyable. Yes, Winner and Mitchum’s The Big Sleep is arguably the more faithful adaptation, despite the clear departures, but that simply isn’t enough to consider it the best take on the double-crossing detective tale. An adaptation ought to also capture the spirit of the work it’s based on, bringing to the surface the same feelings of suspense, dread, doubt, and excitement as you watch Philip Marlowe turn over every loose end and bring the case to a close. If that’s the type of flick you’re hoping for, you’ll only find it in Bogart’s unashamedly American take on The Big Sleep. Mitchum should’ve stuck to making noir Westerns instead…

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The Big Sleep

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Release Date

April 7, 1978

Runtime

99 Minutes

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Director

Michael Winner

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Saturday Night Live UK zinged President Donald Trump with a joke about his age while reacting to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting.

“For all those in attendance it was an undeniably terrifying event,” Weekend Update cohost Ania Magliano began on Saturday, May 2 (via Deadline). “President Trump s*** himself. Minutes later the shots rang out.”

Us Weekly has reached out to the White House for comment.

The latest SNL UK episode — hosted by The White Lotus’ Aimee Lou Wood and featuring music from MEEK — opened with another Trump joke as part of a sketch where King Charles III (Larry Dean) and Queen Camilla (Emma Sidi) congratulated themselves on a successful state visit to the U.S.

Related: White House Official Calls Jimmy Kimmel ‘S*** Human Being’ Amid Trump Drama

A White House official is standing by Donald Trump’s side amid the president’s feud with Jimmy Kimmel. “Jimmy Kimmel is a s*** human being for: #1. Making a disgusting joke about assassinating the President,” assistant to the president and White House director of communications Steven Cheung wrote via X on Tuesday, April 28. “#2. Doubling […]

“There’s no way Donald Trump will do anything weird or bad ever again,” the Queen quipped.

SNL UK’s Weekend Update joke about Trump’s age follows on the heels of Jimmy Kimmel facing controversy for a joke he told on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on April 23. As part of a faux-White House Correspondents’ Dinner roast, Kimmel said that first lady Melania Trump had a “glow like an expectant widow.”

Two days later, Cole Tomas Allen allegedly opened fire at the Washington Hilton’s security checkpoint while the Trumps, Vice President JD Vance and other officials were attending the White House Correspondents’ Dinner inside the main ballroom. A Secret Service officer was struck in his protective vest and transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Allen, 31, was apprehended during the incident and subsequently charged with one count of attempting to assassinate the President of the United States, transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, per the Justice Department. He has not yet entered a plea.

On Monday, April 27, both Melania, 56, and Donald, 79, released separate statements calling for Kimmel to be fired by ABC for the “expectant widow” joke he told two days before the shooting.

“Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country,” Melania tweeted. “His monologue about my family isn’t comedy — his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America. People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”

Kimmel addressed the calls for his firing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that same night, insisting that he’d been joking about Donald’s age, not making “a call to assassination.”

“This [joke] was Thursday. There was no big reaction to it, until this morning, when I greeted the day facing yet another Twitter vomit storm and a call to fire me from our first lady, Melania Trump, saying I should be fired because of a joke I made, again, five nights ago. It was a pretend roast,” he told viewers on Monday.

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The comedian went on, “It obviously was a joke about their age difference and the look of joy we see on her face every time they’re together. It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am. It was not, by any stretch of the definition, a call to assassination, and they know that. I’ve been very vocal for many years, speaking out against gun violence, but I understand that the first lady had a stressful experience over the weekend, and probably every weekend is pretty stressful in that house.”

The president has kept up his calls for ABC to cancel Jimmy Kimmel Live! while the late-night host has received unlikely support from Republican Senator Ted Cruz and conservative commentator Candace Owens. Kimmel has since pointed out that Trump made a joke about his old age during the royal state visit this week.

Saturday Night Live UK continues on Sky 1 in the U.K. Saturday, May 9, with host Hannah Waddingham and music from Myles Smith. New episodes can be streamed on Peacock in the U.S.

There he goes again! One of the most prominent actors in the industry, Jacob Elordi‘s fame has been rising to new heights (pun intended) after his groundbreaking performances in movies such as Frankenstein and Wuthering Heights this past few months. With his sublime acting skills, Elordi has proven time and again that, with the right amount of growth and hard work, the industry begins taking your work more seriously.

Furthermore, general audiences have also begun to take notice of Elordi’s grand versatility as an actor, more so than when he first soared to fame through his current role as bad boy Nate Jacobs in HBO’s Euphoria. He was even nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Frankenstein, but lost it to Sean Penn from One Battle To Another. Furthermore, Collider has analyzed his best roles in the films he has acted in, to share our thoughts on them with fans. Without further ado, from Kissing Booth to Wuthering Heights, let’s take a deep dive into Elordi’s greatest movies.

10

‘The Mortuary Collection’ (2019)

Image via Dimension Home Video

Elordi’s first approach to horror anthology films! The Mortuary Collection is a very underrated movie, but it easily stays ingrained in our minds. The FX effects, the aesthetic, and plot lines of each story told in the movie are well-done. For someone who can’t stand horror movies at all, this is between being too scary and very funny, so it’s a two-way street in my opinion. This movie reminded me a lot of films such as Monster House or Scary Stories to Tell In The Dark.

Elordi actually did quite an adequate job here, honestly. His role is Jake Matthews, a womanizer from the 1960s…basically a prick, if you look closely. By the end of his story, you’ll be glad he, erm, got the ending he did. However, Elordi nailed this role very well, and it showcases his potential as a young actor at the time, since he was around 20 to 21 years old when he filmed this movie.

9

‘The Kissing Booth’ (2018)

Image via Netflix

Ah, how everyone fell in love with Elordi in the first place (no, it wasn’t Euphoria). Before he became one of the most hated bad boys on TV in the HBO record-breaking series, Elordi broke out in the film industry with his acting in Netflix’s (negatively) famous romantic-comedy The Kissing Booth, based on the books written by Beth Reekles. Elordi has criticized this movie lots of times when asked by interviewers, and it always reminds me of when Robert Pattinson is asked what he thinks about Twilight. At the end of the day, this was a story written on Wattpad before being released as an actual book, so it’s not surprising that not lots of people like it.

Additionally, The Kissing Booth is something that fans still think of very comedically, because, yes, it’s the role that made everyone obsessed with him, but it does have some of the cringest lines ever heard on TV. Here, Elordi portrays bad boy jock, Noah Flynn, who is troubled yet very protective of the main female lead, Elle (Joey King), and brother of Lee Flynn (Joel Courtney). His performance here is somewhat acceptable. I was obsessed with it when it was released back in 2018, but as I grew up and rewatched it a couple more times, it’s understandable that Elordi was still considered just a pretty guy here till his groundbreaking role in Euphoria. But if you are into a bad storyline, cringe-Wattpad-like one-liners, and an insufferable female lead, then this movie is for you.

8

‘2 Hearts’ (2020)

Image via Freestyle Releasing

One of Elordi’s cutest yet most emotional roles to date. 2 Hearts is a romance drama film that tugs at your heartstrings, yet makes you cry like there is no tomorrow. This movie is based on a real story about two tear-jerking love stories that happen between different generations, different timelines, yet they get intertwined at the same time. 2 Hearts is a film that makes you rethink life, and that you have to appreciate it more. That’s what it did to me, at least.

Elordi’s performance here was very competent, to say the truth, but emotional at the same time. He makes everyone swoon in his romantic scenes, as his beauty doesn’t go unnoticed. He portrays a 19-year-old student, Chris Gregory, who doesn’t get accepted to the college of his dreams, but his brother does. He is witty, fun, and manages to fall in love with his classmate, Sam (Tiera Skovbye), but suddenly has a brain aneurysm. Simply heartbreaking!

7

‘Deep Water’ (2022)

Image via Hulu

Elordi’s tentative approach to psychological thriller movies is such a bold move, but it doesn’t go unseen. Deep Water tells the story of a seemingly perfect couple, portrayed by Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas, respectively. This movie’s effects and action scenes? Not too bad. However, as a lover of this genre, this movie didn’t give a Criminal Minds level of anxiety. So it was somewhat watchable.

Elordi’s performance is actually passable here. For his first time taking on a role like this, he ensures that his charm and charisma nail the point of what the script tells him to do. His character, Charlie De Lisle, is one of Melinda Van Allen’s (Armas) lovers, fueling the psychosexual rage of Affleck’s character. Don’t fret: Elordi’s screen time in the movie is short-lived but not without giving good results!

6

‘He Went That Way’ (2023)

Image via Vertical Entertainment

A secondary approach to the thriller-crime genre for Elordi, He Went That Way is the film in which he is given one of the main lead roles this time. This movie is based on the true story from 1964 of a serial killer, Larry Lee Ranes, who needs a lift and encounters Dave Pitts, an animal trainer. He Went That Way nails the comedic bits that show how the two personalities of the main leads clash.

Elordi’s character is the serial killer, who has been fictionally named Bobby Falls. His micro-expressions and comedic delivery showcase the eccentric self of the killer and are very well done by him. However, this is not a role that is memorable enough in Elordi’s career. Give it a few years, and he could actually become a pioneer of this genre, as we saw a glimpse of that perfect amount of darkness in his role of Nate Jacobs in Euphoria.

5

‘On Swift Horses’ (2025)

Image via Sony Pictures Classics

Now, onto On Swift Horses. This movie is a wild one, as it gives the audience wonderful clothing and scenarios, leaning perfectly into the aesthetic of living in the chaotic gambling life. Additionally, the emotional and erotic focus in this movie is what makes it a ride that you will get lost in. The whirlwind of secrets and the forbidden love between the secondary male lead and the main female lead is enthralling and quite well-written.

So, let’s focus on the plot of the movie itself. On Swift Horses follows the story of two newlyweds, Muriel (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Lee (Will Poulter), as their lives dramatically change with the arrival of Lee’s brother, the charismatic and troublemaker Julius (Jacob Elordi). This causes Muriel to begin gambling on race horse races and begin a spur-of-the-moment romance with Julius, consequently cheating on her husband at the same time. Elordi’s performance was simply breathtaking here; it kept me on my toes. Those eyes…and tempting micro-expressions of his would just keep you enthralled by every project he stars in. And this one is no exception.

4

‘Priscilla’ (2023)

Image via A24

The same thing mentioned in the previous entry goes for Elordi’s performance in this movie. The talent of Elordi in Priscilla is truly unmatched. It’s a rawer, psychologically challenging version of the famous singer Elvis Presley. It’s better than whatever Austin Butler was trying to portray in the other biopic he starred in. Here, things are seen more from the point of view of Priscilla (Cailee Spaeny), Presley’s wife, so we can see the darker side of things in their relationship. And Elordi showcases that excellently!

In this movie, the story follows what we all know about the relationship between Presley and Priscilla, but from a woman’s perspective. Sofia Coppola focuses on how Priscilla felt boxed in a cage after her marriage to Elvis, and it shows how slowly Presley becomes more controlling and dominating, in which Elordi shines spectacularly well (gives Euphoria vibes), especially because of Priscilla’s young age. Elordi creates a spine-chilling side of Presley that makes the audience wonder why he became so big and well-known in the world of music in the first place. ​​​

3

‘Wuthering Heights’ (2026)

Image via Warner Bros.

Elordi’s first-ever period-like drama…truly memorable. One of the most controversial movies of 2026, Wuthering Heights is an adaptation of the famous Emily Brontë book, directed by Emerald Fennell. This was the second project on which Fennell and Elordi worked together, and the messiest one, surely. Not because of the different casting per se, but, according to fans of the original material, because of the too-much erotic portrayal and grand lack of depth to the book’s story.

Now, I believe that Elordi and Margot Robbie did an outstanding job in this movie. Despite what critics and the general audience think, Elordi, thanks to his performance in Wuthering Heights, has the potential to be cast as a future Mr. Darcy, if the industry ever considers doing another version of the movie (without counting the Netflix series releasing this fall). Add the romantic value and depth of Elordi’s acting…and you’ve got a great chance of winning an Oscar, just saying! This movie’s aesthetic, scenery, and clothing were phenomenal, which added to the beauty of Elordi and Robbie’s portrayal. An unforgettable film indeed.

2

‘Saltburn’ (2023)

Image via Amazon MGM Studios

Another wonderful performance of Elordi is Saltburn, directed by Fennell, which marks the first time that she and Elordi have worked together, creating a dark and twisted thriller that is somewhat disturbing yet so varied, taking you on one hell of a ride. The main lead, Barry Keoghan, genuinely gives the creeps with his outstanding performance here, simply terrifying. This movie tells the story of Oliver Quick (Keoghan), a student who won a scholarship to Oxford University, and (intentionally) meets Felix Catton (Elordi). There, Oliver becomes utterly obsessed with Felix, especially his wealth, to the point of insanity.

Additionally, Elordi’s portrayal in Saltburn is completely charming yet deeply emotional. Here, Elordi is a carefree, rich, spoiled young man who goes to stay for the summer at his Saltburn mansion just to have a great time. Elordi’s playful side shines in this role, making it so endearing yet fascinating, even in the most shocking parts, to the point that you will be sad about his tragic ending.

1

‘Frankenstein’ (2025)

Image via Netflix

And finally…to Elordi’s greatest performance (movie-wise), none other than Netflix’s ground-breaking film Frankenstein, which gave him his first-ever Oscar nomination. Frankenstein is based on the renowned novel written by Mary Shelley, which tells the story of a monstrous creature created by an egotistical yet very brilliant scientist.

Additionally, all the cast does a very great job at portraying their roles in this movie. But let’s be truthful here: Elordi proves here that his acting range has now fully reached its top potential, as his portrayal is exceptional and simply riveting. Elordi masterfully showcases the vulnerability of The Creature, as it feels like you are reading the story all over again. Very popular opinion, but he should have won that Oscar.

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Release Date

October 17, 2025

Runtime

149 Minutes

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Meryl Streep is looking back on one of the most nerve-wracking moments of her career. While revisiting her time filming “Out of Africa,” the Oscar-winning actress recalled how a peaceful day on set quickly turned dangerous when a hippopotamus charged toward the crew, forcing everyone to retreat in a hurry.

The unexpected scare is just one of several candid revelations Streep has made recently, as she also opened up about past tensions with Goldie Hawn and a bold salary demand that once led her to walk away from an early version of “The Devil Wears Prada.”

Streep couldn’t help but gush as she looked back on her time working with the late Robert Redford.

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During a recent career retrospective with Vanity Fair, the Oscar winner revisited her experience filming Out of Africa and reflected on one of its most memorable scenes.

Watching the moment where Redford’s Denys Hatton washes her hair by the river while reciting lines from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” Streep described the actor in glowing terms.

“He was the most divine man in the world,” she said, before clarifying that the scene wasn’t meant to be provocative. “It’s not a sex scene. It’s a love scene… He was really amazing.”

Streep admitted she didn’t want the moment to end, recalling how natural and intimate it felt while filming.

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Streep Recounts Run-in With Charging Hippo

Streep also recalled the real danger that unfolded while filming “Out of Africa.” She explained that the river scene had to be shot multiple times, even as hippos lingered nearby.

At one point, the situation escalated when a wild hippo suddenly charged toward the crew with its mouth wide open, forcing them to immediately stop filming and retreat to safety.

Despite the scare, Streep has long spoken fondly about her scene with Redford, as she previously recounted it at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, per Variety.

“It’s a sex scene in a way, because it’s so intimate,” she said at the time. “We’ve seen so many scenes of people f-cking, but we don’t see that loving touch, that care.”

Meryl Streep Previously Weighed In On The Scene

At the time, Streep also opened up about the daunting nature of filming the scene, particularly because of the wild animals nearby.

“We had lions, but they were imported from California, and they were supposedly fine — tame. They were not,” she said, per Metro.

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“And the second thing we were told is the animal that kills the most people in Africa is the hippopotamus, if you get between the hippopotamus and the water,” Streep added. “So, we were shooting in the river, and the hippopotamuses were right above it. I don’t know if they show that in the movie, I can’t remember, but I was aware of it!”

Streep Reveals ‘Beef’ With Goldie Hawn

Elsewhere in her interview with Vanity Fair, Streep revealed that she once “had a beef” with Hawn while filming the 1992 film “Death Becomes Her.” According to her, Hawn had a character that she found off-putting while they filmed together.

“Goldie, she was always late to set,” Streep recalled of Hawn. “But she was so adorable. And I’m always on time, you know, and annoying. But she’s late. And she had a red convertible, I remember, and she’d drive herself to set. So that was probably the problem.”

Meryl Streep Turned Down ‘Devil Wears Prada’ For More Money

Streep revealed she nearly walked away from one of her most iconic roles, all over money.

Speaking on the TODAY show alongside Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, the actress shared that she initially turned down The Devil Wears Prada because the offer didn’t meet her expectations.

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“I knew it was going to be a hit,” she said, explaining that she believed the script had massive potential from the start.

Streep decided to test her leverage, rejecting the initial offer and doubling her asking price. Reflecting on the moment, the actress admitted it was a turning point in how she valued herself in the industry.

“I’m 56. It took me this long to understand that I could do that,” she said. “They needed me, I felt.”

Two decades later, she’s back as Miranda Priestly in the newly released sequel.

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Rapper Lil Jon encouraged his fans to “love your people hard” while looking back on the final father-son trip he took before his son DJ Young Slade’s death at 27.

“To anyone reading this — don’t put your family off,” Lil Jon (real name Jonathan H. Smith) wrote via Instagram on Saturday, May 2. “Don’t say ‘I’ll see them later’ or ‘We can do that later.’ Don’t skip the long hugs dont be frugal. Make long lasting memories when you can. We all think we have time… but we don’t know Allah’s plan.”

Lil Jon, 55, confirmed in a statement to Us Weekly on February 6 that his son Nathan Smith (a.k.a. DJ Young Slade) was found dead three days after going missing in Georgia. An autopsy revealed that Nathan died from an accidental drowning in the setting of psilocybin use. (Psilocybin is an alternative name for magic mushrooms, which can elicit hallucinogenic effects due to a psychoactive compound.)

In Saturday’s post, Lil Jon reflected on how much it meant to bond with Nathan during a birthday trip to Japan in 2024.

“Two years ago, I asked Slade what he wanted to do for his birthday. He said, ‘go to Japan,’” he recalled. “I had no idea that trip would become our final father-and-son trip… or his favorite one ever.”

The musician went on, “I gave him options for everything, and he chose it all himself. We did everything — from museums and food tours to Michelin-star sushi spots. We even watched samurai swords being forged… and got to use them.”

The birthday trip included Lil Jon and his son taking an anime drawing class together and gaining some experience in “drift culture.”

“It was expensive, but I didn’t care — I saw how happy it made him. He told me it was the most fun he’d ever had on any trip,” he remembered. “It hits different now, knowing we won’t get to make memories like that again.”

He closed his tribute with some crucial advice for fans, writing, “Love your people hard. You never know when it’s the last hug.”

Related: Rapper Lil Poppa’s Cause of Death Revealed

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UPDATE — 2/19/26, 3:28 p.m. ET: Lil Poppa’s cause of death has been revealed. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office in Georgia told TMZ on Thursday, February 19, that the rapper died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His death was ruled a suicide. Original story below: Rapper Lil Poppa is dead at age 25. The […]

When news broke about Nathan’s death in February, Lil Jon told Us in a statement that he was “extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss” of his son.

“His mother [Nicole Smith] and I are devastated,” he said. “Nathan was the kindest human being you would ever meet. He was immensely caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate and warmhearted — he loved his family and the friends in his life to the fullest.

His statement went on, “He was an amazingly talented young man; a music producer, an artist and engineer and graduate of NYU. We loved Nathan with all of our hearts and are incredibly proud of him. He was loved and appreciated, and in our last times together, we’re comforted in knowing that we expressed that very sentiment to him.”

On February 20, Lil Jon shared that his son had been laid to rest two weeks after his death.

Related: Jackson Browne’s Son Ethan Browne’s Cause of Death Revealed 

Actor and model Ethan Browne’s cause of death has been revealed.  The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed on Tuesday, January 13, that Ethan, the son of songwriter Jackson Browne, died from the “effects of fentanyl, methamphetamine and lidocaine,” per documents obtained by Us Weekly.  The medical examiner ruled that the manner of death was […]

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“On the first day of Ramadan yesterday, We laid my only son to rest. In this holy month, I’m asking for extra du’a for him and for our family,” he wrote alongside a memorial video. “I love you, son. Life will never be the same without you. Allah, give me strength.”

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Georgia police announced on February 6 that they’d recovered Nathan’s body at Mayfield Park pond near his home. He’d reportedly run out of his home “disoriented and in need of assistance,” according to the Milton Police Department.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the Smith family during this difficult time,” police said in a statement. “The department respectfully asks the community and members of the media to honor the family’s request for privacy as they grieve and navigate this tragedy.”

Lil Jon is also a father to daughter Nahara, whom he welcomed with his girlfriend, Jamila Sozahdah, in 2024.

We all love movies that are exactly as stupid as their titles suggest, which is also part of why some of them work so well. This 2010 comedy takes a ridiculous premise and commits to it with enough confidence that the whole thing turns weirdly charming. A bunch of burned-out friends get blasted back to the 1980s through a ski-resort hot tub, and the movie spends the rest of its runtime seeing how much fun it can squeeze out of that setup. And now it’s streaming for free.

What helps is that it’s not just random chaos. Hot Tub Time Machine‘s cast all hit different comic notes, which gives the group dynamic more life than it probably has any right to have. The movie is raunchy, silly, and knowingly nostalgic, but it’s also just self-aware enough to keep itself from getting too smug. And we cannot overstate just how stupid the premise is, but as we’ve already noted, that’s a huge part of why the movie works, especially when it shouldn’t.

The cast of the movie includes John Cusack (High Fidelity, Grosse Pointe Blank) as Adam Yates, Rob Corddry (Cedar Rapids, Warm Bodies) as Lou Dorchen, Craig Robinson (This Is the End, Pineapple Express) as Nick Webber-Agnew, Clark Duke (Kick-Ass, Sex Drive) as Jacob Yates, Lizzy Caplan (Cloverfield, Mean Girls) as April, Crispin Glover (Back to the Future, River’s Edge) as Phil, and Chevy Chase (Caddyshack, National Lampoon’s Vacation) as Repairman.

Is ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ Any Good?

Roger Ebert felt that, against all odds, Hot Tub Time Machine ends up being much better than its ridiculous title suggests. It leans into a dumb premise with total confidence and turns it into a genuinely funny, raunchy buddy comedy about middle-aged guys getting the chance to revisit their youth. The movie mostly stays in familiar gross-out territory, but it does it with enough charm and self-awareness to rise above a lot of similar comedies.

Ebert highlights Corddry as the standout, with his performance as Lou giving the movie much of its comic energy. Cusack brings his usual likability, while Robinson and Duke round out the group well. The time-travel setup creates plenty of absurd situations, and the film gets a lot of mileage out of the characters trying to navigate their younger world in their older bodies.

Hot Tub Time Machine is streaming now on Pluto.

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Release Date

March 26, 2010

Runtime

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101 minutes

Director

Steve Pink

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Writers

John Morris, Josh Heald, Sean Anders

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Producers

Grace Loh, John Cusack, Matt Moore

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Met Gala 2026 is shaping up to be as dramatic off the carpet as it is on it, with major names confirmed, surprising absences, and growing controversy surrounding this year’s event. With Anna Wintour, Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams leading as co-chairs, the Met Gala is once again poised to deliver headline-making fashion moments. But this year, the conversation isn’t just about couture.

Amazon’s reported involvement has sparked backlash, with activist group “Everyone Hates Elon” plastering New York City with “Boycott the Bezos Met Ball” messaging, and social media speculation suggesting some celebrities could face criticism simply for attending.

As buzz builds, several high-profile names are notably absent, including Zendaya, who has been a Met Gala staple for years. After seven consecutive appearances, Zendaya is reportedly sitting out this year. While some have questioned whether the decision is politically motivated, others point to her packed schedule, with multiple film projects releasing in 2026.

Lady Gaga has also yet to appear on any confirmed guest lists, adding to the speculation around who will, and won’t, show up. Meanwhile, some A-listers have long skipped the event altogether, including Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling, and Dwayne Johnson.

Meryl Streep’s Absence Raises Eyebrows

One of the most talked-about no-shows is Meryl Streep, who has never attended the Met Gala and may have passed on another invitation this year. The Oscar-winning actress, who shares a well-known friendship with Wintour, was reportedly invited to co-chair in the past and may have received another offer for 2026. However, speculation suggests Streep declined, with some pointing to her political views and possible opposition to Bezos’ involvement as a factor, though nothing has been confirmed.

Despite the controversy, fashion will still take center stage. Brand partnerships are expected to heavily influence red carpet looks, with Kidman aligned with Chanel, Zoë Kravitz tied to Saint Laurent, and Anne Hathaway representing Prada. With Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello serving as one of the event’s hosts, insiders expect the brand to dominate the carpet more than ever this year.

Dress Code Revealed: ‘Fashion Is Art’ Takes Center Stage

This year’s Met Gala 2026 isn’t just about showing up, it’s about making a statement. The official dress code, “Fashion Is Art,” ties directly into the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, “Costume Art,” encouraging attendees to blur the lines between fashion and fine art. Expect bold, conceptual looks that feel more like museum pieces than traditional red carpet gowns.

Curated by Andrew Bolton, the head curator in charge of the department, the theme is likely to inspire some of the most theatrical and talked-about fashion moments in recent years. “I wanted to focus on the centrality of the dressed body within the Museum, connecting artistic representations of the body with fashion as an embodied art form,” Bolton said.

“Rather than prioritizing fashion’s visuality, which often comes at the expense of the corporeal, ‘Costume Art’ privileges its materiality and the indivisible connection between our bodies and the clothes we wear,” he added. “The opening of the new Galleries will mark a pivotal moment for the department, one that acknowledges the critical role that fashion plays not only within art history but also within contemporary culture.”

‘Costume Art’ Exhibit Will Pair Fashion With Centuries Of Art

The Met Gala 2026 theme goes far beyond the red carpet, with the accompanying “Costume Art” exhibit offering a deeper, more conceptual look at fashion’s place in history. The exhibition will feature nearly 400 objects from The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collections, pairing garments with paintings, sculptures, and other works spanning centuries.

Rather than organizing the display chronologically, the exhibit will be divided into categories centered around different interpretations of the body, including the naked body, the classical body, the pregnant body, the aging body, the anatomical body, and the mortal body.

What Time It Starts And When Stars Hit The Carpet

Mark your calendars, the Met Gala takes place on Monday, May 4, with arrivals kicking off early in the evening. Guests are expected to begin walking the iconic steps of The Metropolitan Museum of Art around 5:30 p.m. ET, with full red carpet coverage starting at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.

That’s when the biggest names in fashion, film, music, and sports will make their grand entrances, and where the internet will inevitably crown its best (and worst) dressed of the night.

There’s something especially nasty about this film that helps it stand apart from a lot of alien invasion movies. For all of its giant-scale destruction and blockbuster spectacle, this 2005 thriller never feels triumphant or crowd-pleasing in the usual way. It feels panicked, ugly, and genuinely frightening, which is exactly why it still works so well. This is a film about ordinary people trying to survive something completely beyond their control, and it never lets that fear drift too far out of frame.

That approach gives War of the Worlds a different energy from most sci-fi tentpoles of its era. Tom Cruise plays Ray Ferrier as an imperfect father thrown into a nightmare he can’t understand, and the film gets a lot of mileage out of that uneasy perspective. Instead of chasing heroics, Steven Spielberg stays focused on confusion, terror, and the desperate instinct to keep moving. That makes the set pieces hit even harder, whether it’s the first shocking tripod attack or the smaller, more claustrophobic moments later on.

Now that it’s streaming free on Pluto, the film has another chance to find viewers who may have written it off as just another loud 2000s blockbuster. Alongside Cruise, the movie features Dakota Fanning (Man on Fire, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) as Rachel Ferrier, Justin Chatwin (Dragonball Evolution, The Invisible) as Robbie Ferrier, Miranda Otto (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Annabelle: Creation) as Mary Ann, Tim Robbins (The Shawshank Redemption, Mystic River) as Harlan Ogilvy, and Rick Gonzalez (Coach Carter, Old School) as Vincent.

Is ‘War of the Worlds’ Any Good?

Collider’s review of the movie stated that War of the Worlds is a brutal, visually striking alien-invasion thriller that delivers incredible spectacle and tension for most of its runtime, but ultimately collapses under the weight of a famously terrible ending. Noting that the movie has some pacing issues, it’s essentially just a series of set pieces strung one after the other — although the one with the ferry is particularly affecting to this writer.

But as the review states, the ending is “pants-sh*ttingly awful.” Admittedly, the original story has a famously flat ending, but surely they could have come up with something a bit better than what they came up with. That said, the mayhem and chaos that preceded it is still worth the ride.

War of the Worlds is streaming now for free on Pluto.

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Release Date

June 29, 2005

Runtime

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116 Minutes

Writers

Josh Friedman, David Koepp, H.G. Wells

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The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, is said to be shocked that Anna Wintour and the high-profile team running this year’s Met Gala left her off the A-list invite list. According to a new source, Markle, who is married to Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, claimed that while the former “Suits” star is bothered by the snub, she’s holding out hope that she can get her hands on a last-minute pair of tickets to the industry’s most luxurious ball of the year.

According to Soap Opera Spy, Markle is allegedly feeling down about being left off this year’s Met Gala invite list, which will include major celebrities, including Nicole Kidman and Beyoncé.

The outlet stated that Markle, who married into the Royal Family in 2018, was allegedly surprised to be overlooked, given that she and Wintour, the former editor-in-chief of Vogue, bonded in 2025.

A source said the pair spent time together in Paris and that Wintor appeared to have moved past their reported beef.

Consequently, Markle is finding it hard not to view being left off the list as a “deliberate snub.”

Source Says Meghan Markle Is Hoping To Secure An Invite To This Year’s Met Gala At The Last Minute

While it appears that Markle’s chances of making it inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art this year are slim, another source said that the mother of two isn’t giving up just yet.

“Meghan’s holding out for a last-minute change,” they claimed. “But the longer it goes on, the harder it is to ignore that yet again she and Harry have not been included in the cool crowd. It’s humiliating.”

Continuing, a third source added that the Hollywood crowd appears to be “over her,” claiming the actress-turned-royal “sucks the air out of every room and makes it about herself.”

Beyoncé Said To Have An Issue With Meghan Markle’s Attempts At Getting Cozy With Her

The sources’ claims that major celebrities want to keep space between themselves and Markle could be true, according to a previous report from The Blast.

In March 2026, a source close to the “Cowboy Carter” singer claimed that she was pulling back from Markle after publicly supporting her for years.

The insider explained that Queen Bey has allegedly noticed Markle attending certain events, apparently seeking proximity to her and her mega-famous family.

“Over the last few years there has been a noticeable pattern where Meghan has shown up at events tied to Beyoncé’s world – whether that is functions celebrating Tina Knowles or gatherings where mutual friends are involved. To many observers it has looked like a conscious and a bit of a desperate effort to position herself closer to that circle,” the source claimed.

Per the insider, Beyoncé has a natural instinct to pull back from someone once she feels a shift in their energy. “Beyoncé values relationships that evolve quietly over time, so any sign of pressure or strategic networking can make her more cautious,” they added.

Met Gala Drama Doesn’t End With Markle

Markle isn’t the only celebrity reportedly bothered by the Met Gala’s choice to exclude her from the massive fundraiser set for May 4th.

According to The Blast, Broadway star Billy Porter slammed the Met in a previous interview, claiming he hasn’t been invited to the star-studded event in years.

“I haven’t been invited back since 2019. That’s the only time I’ve ever gone, and the only time I’ve ever been invited, and I was invited by Ryan Murphy that year,” Porter, who starred in “Kinky Boots,” said.

“I’m just gonna throw that out there. I’m good. It’s all good, but the reality is, when people ask me, you need to know: I was not invited. And I don’t go to places where I’m not welcome,” he added.

LeBron James Withdrew From Last Year’s Met Gala After An Unfortunate Injury

Another report from The Blast detailed NBA star LeBron James’ unfortunate exit from last year’s event after suffering a knee injury during the playoff season.

The NBA champion was part of the host committee, acting as an official ambassador for the charity event.

While the Los Angeles Lakers star couldn’t make it, his wife, Savannah James, attended in his place.

“My beautiful powerful Queen will be there holding the castle down as she always has done,” James wrote online.