By Jennifer Asencio
| Published 43 seconds ago

Last month, Giant Freakin Robot reported that Colin Cunningham, who played King Vortigern on The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin, was nominated for a British Columbia Leo Award for his role on the show. The Leo Award is similar to the Golden Globes, in that it honors both movies and series for technical excellence in categories ranging from Best Show to Best Costuming, with a focus on Canadian talent. Cunningham has worked in the Canadian TV market, including on the series Falling Skies, making him eligible for the award.

The Pendragon Cycle is about the youth of Merlin, in the days before he was even advisor to Uther Pendragon, Arthur’s father. In fact, Colin Cunningham’s episode, “A Fatherless Child,” is the one that chronicles the two legendary men meeting as Uther’s brother, Aurelius, attempts to rally all the regional kings of Briton under one banner to fight off invading Saxons. Cunningham’s character, King Vortigern, has been working with the Saxons, much to his own detriment. Vortigern demands Merlin’s counsel but is such a tyrant that Merlin refuses to work with him. However, Vortigern is more of a tragic figure than an evil one, a king who is simultaneously trying to do the best for his people while doing absolutely the wrong thing.

A Powerhouse Performance Finally Getting Its Flowers

Cunningham’s performance was tear-jerking from beginning to end as he wrestles with the new world that has come to his doorstep, making the character a formidable opponent for Tom Sharp’s Merlin. This made it one of the most dramatic episodes in the entire series, not to mention a wonderful follow-up to a somewhat middling premiere. The entire series was excellent, and I have written reviews of nearly the entire series, rating it an average of 4.5 stars.

Despite the high production values, compelling script, and excellent performances by a mix of experienced actors like Cunningham and Steve Varnom (who played King Custennin in episodes 5 and 7) and newcomers like Sharp and Alex Laurence-Phillips, The Pendragon Cycle started its life being snubbed by critics. It also premiered on Daily Wire+, a niche streamer that is mostly conservative news and controversial personalities, which was the main reason given by many pundits who didn’t want to judge the show on its own merits.

Fortunately, the Leo Awards did judge the show on its own merits and found a way to honor it through Cunningham’s role. While Americans were shooting off fireworks for the 250^th, Cunningham was busy winning the Leo Award for Best Lead Performance in a Dramatic Series. So, while the series still, as of this writing, has no Rotten Tomatoes score, it has already racked up one award, which, if awards are being honest, should be the first of many. It also makes a stronger case for making a second season, especially given that the first season ended with a major time jump that left a lot of questions unanswered.

Congratulations to Colin Cunningham on earning this award, and to the entire production cast and crew of The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin, for hard work finally recognized. If the sword wasn’t in the stone, I’d raise it in cheers.

By TeeJay Small
| Published 1 hour ago

If you’re tuned into NBA news at all, you’ve likely already heard the announcement that LeBron James is leaving the Lakers and entering into a free agency. This news is quite shocking for basketball fans, since the 41-year-old baller has spent the last eight seasons playing for Los Angeles, and the last two playing alongside his own son. While this shakeup is bound to produce headlines for the coming months, I’m a bit more concerned about the forthcoming bidding process, since the last LeBron free agency devolved into a who’s who of celebrity cameos and absurd promises.

In case you don’t recall, LeBron James previously announced a free agency ahead of the 2010-2011 NBA season. During that time, every team in the association was chomping at the bit to poach the decorated basketball champ, whether they could afford him or not. Some truly insane offers hit the table, alongside video promotions like “Please Stay, LeBron.” The video in question featured a bevy of hyper-local Cleveland micro celebrities, spanning radio station DJs, TV personalities, and politicians, begging LeBron to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers to the tune of 1985’s “We Are The World.”

Cringe ‘Em If Ya Got ‘Em

Unfortunately for the Cavs, James ultimately wasn’t swayed, but that was far from the only promotional stunt deployed to tug at his heartstrings. A few years back, I wrote on this very website about the bizarre Sopranos reunion video in which James Gandolfini and Edie Falco beg LeBron to join the New York Knicks. The video, which was considered lost media for over a decade, surfaced on the web back in 2024, and serves as the only reprisal of Gandolfini in the Tony Soprano role since the HBO series concluded in 2007. An extended version of this video supposedly exists as well, featuring Robert De Niro, Chris Rock, Spike Lee, and others.

While LeBron James was an invaluable asset back in 2010, I have a feeling that his current superstar status will invite far more of these celebrity hostage negotiations in the coming year. Since the aforementioned videos were produced, James has won four NBA championships, nine MVP honors, and two Olympic gold medals. He also tops the league as the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, having accumulated more than 43,000 career points. He even won Worst Actor at the 42nd Golden Raspberry Awards, though that doesn’t do much to hype up his on-the-court performance.

For a normal NBA all-star, the 40-something age bracket would be a career death sentence. For LeBron, it’s a shimmering green light on the horizon, letting every team in the NBA know that they could be the association that gets his final years. Most teams are already priced out of his eight-figure salary, so it stands to reason that they’ll try to entice him with more pandering content.

So, what’s next? A cover of “Not Like Us” by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu? A Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish collab? An offer to change the Chicago team’s name from the Bulls to the ‘Brons? For now, it’s anyone’s guess, but I’d recommend bracing for some gale-force cringe in the meantime.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 26 seconds ago

While your mileage may vary, I’ve always been a fan of Blaxploitation parody because of how unhinged the humor is and how willing everybody is to commit to the bit. Lee Frost’s The Thing With Two Heads (1972), Rudy Ray Moore’s Dolemite (1975), and Juel Taylor’s They Cloned Tyrone (2023) are all essential viewing if you’re looking for a solid entry point into the genre, but there’s one hidden gem that I never hear getting enough love after finally sitting down and watching it critically: 1988’s I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.

It’s Keenen Ivory Wayans’ directorial debut, and you can tell he was hungry because there must be hundreds of jokes jammed into its 89-minute runtime. It never lets up for even a second. It’s a masterclass in physical comedy, raunchy humor, and the kind of racial humor where everybody on screen is having the time of their lives trying to make the funniest movie they could possibly throw together with a $3 million budget.

The Gold Chain Epidemic And Its Subsequent Fallout

As overtly slapstick as I’m Gonna Git You Sucka may seem on the surface, it gets most of its laughs from playing everything straight-faced. The whole movie takes place in Any Ghetto, U.S.A., where we’re introduced to our hero, Jack Spade (Keenen Ivory Wayans). He learns that his brother Junebug overdosed on gold chains and is disappointed that both his mother Belle (Ja’Net DuBois) and sister-in-law Cheryl (Dawnn Lewis) don’t want him to exact revenge. Their logic is simple: they already lost Junebug, and they can’t go through the pain of losing another family member.

Taking matters into his own hands, Jack sets out to get revenge against Mr. Big (John Vernon), the crime lord responsible for the gold chain epidemic, and seeks out John Slade (Bernie Casey). Reluctant to return to his crime-fighting ways, John Slade has a change of heart and helps Jack assemble a team of vigilantes, each with their own idiosyncrasies and special skills. We’re introduced to Kung Fu Joe (Steve James), Flyguy (Antonio Fargas), Slammer (Jim Brown), and Hammer (Isaac Hayes), and together they set out to restore peace to Any Ghetto, U.S.A., though they know they’re going to have to bust out the big guns when the going gets tough.

Makes The Kind Of Gags That Don’t Announce Themselves As Gags

I’m Gonna Git You Sucka wins some serious points because it knows it’s a comedy but doesn’t patronize the audience when things push into increasingly silly territory. My favorite sequence in the entire film is when Belle gets into a fight with a bunch of aggressive patrons at a diner and goes into fully berserk mode. During this brief sequence, Ja’Net DuBois is swapped out with a white stunt double sporting a tight afro and a mustache, looking more like Gene Shalit than a middle-aged Black mother. The joke lands so well because nobody acknowledges it or mentions it again. It just happens, and then we’re onto the next gag.

Similarly, whenever Mr. Big’s hapless henchmen, Willie (Kadeem Hardison) and Leonard (Damon Wayans), step out of line, they’re escorted out of whatever building they’re occupying. They’re asked if they want to take the back door or the stairs, always choosing the latter right before they’re thrown down them. On its own, this recurring gag is funny, but the real clincher is that everybody in this universe understands what the setup means and goes along with it anyway as if there’s no other way to handle things.

Everything about I’m Gonna Git You Sucka is wildly impractical, but it’s done this way because the only thing that matters is chasing laughs. Don’t even get me started on Hammer’s suiting-up montage when a rampage is imminent, and how horribly wrong it goes when he thinks he finally has enough weapons on his person.

If you’re looking for a straight-up jokefest that isn’t afraid to go full ridiculous, look no further than I’m Gonna Git You Sucka. It may very well be my favorite thing the Wayans brothers have worked on, and it’s for good reason. They tried to make the funniest Blaxploitation film they could with the resources they had on hand, and they succeeded in every measurable way I can reasonably think of.

As of this writing, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka is streaming for free on Tubi.

I’M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA SCORE

Severance‘s Adam Scott is desperate to find his missing son in the serial killer thriller The Whisper Man. He’s in a race against time to find out how his son’s disappearance is linked to the crimes of a long-imprisoned serial killer, and it may already be too late. You can dive into the mystery in the first trailer for The Whisper Man, which will premiere on Netflix this summer.

In the trailer, Scott plays Tom Kennedy, a widowed crime writer whose life is shattered when his eight-year-old son disappears. He’s forced to turn to a man he hasn’t spoken to in years: his father, Pete Willis (Robert De Niro), a retired police detective. Together, they piece together that the boy’s disappearance may be connected to a serial killer, the titular Whisper Man, who’s been imprisoned for decades. But if the Whisper Man is in jail, who has Tom’s son? Can he be saved before it’s too late? You’ll have to find out when The Whisper Man premieres on August 28.

Who Are the Creatives Behind ‘The Whisper Man’?

In addition to Scott and De Niro, The Whisper Man also stars Michelle Monaghan (True Detective), Michael Keaton (Batman), John Carroll Lynch (Zodiac), and Hamish Linklater (Widow’s Bay). It is directed by New Zealand’s James Ashcroft, who sent shivers up spines with the psychological thriller The Rule of Jenny Pen last year, and is set to helm the Emilia Clarke chiller When Darkness Loves Us for next year. The script is by horror veterans Ben Jacoby (The First Omen) and Chase Palmer (It).

The Whisper Man is based on the 2019 novel of the same name by Alex North. It is produced by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, Angela Russo-Otstot, Michael Disco, and Kassee Whiting, and executive produced by Marcus Viscidi, Tim Connors, and Alex Leb.

The Whisper Man will premiere on Netflix on August 28. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.

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The Whisper Man

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Release Date

August 28, 2026

Runtime

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106 minutes

Director

James Ashcroft

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Writers

Ben Jacoby, Chase Palmer, Alex North

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Tommie Lee was arrested at the FIFA World Cup in Miami on Saturday, July 11. Lee was arrested for allegedly entering the Hard Rock Stadium without a ticket, according to CBS News.

RELATED: Whew, Chile! Victoria “BroRilla” Woods Goes OFF After Tommie Lee Reacts To Her Rockin’ A 30-Inch Wig: “This Gettin Weird!”

Tommie Lee Arrested At The FIFA World Cup

Tommie was allegedly able to enter the stadium via an unauthorized area, according to NBC Miami. The former ‘Love & Hip Hop Atlanta’ star then reportedly made her way to the 100-level seats. The 100-level seating area is considered premium seating because it is closest to the field. Ultimately, Lee was arrested.

Lee, whose real name is Atasha Chizaah Jefferson, was reportedly taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. She was charged with interference with a sporting or entertainment event — a third-degree felony under Florida law.

Lee reportedly posted $1,000 bail on July 12.

Fans React To Tommie Lee’s Arrest

Fans reacted to Lee’s arrest after the news was shared on TSR‘s Instagram page. Several noted her previous rendezvous with Miami’s finest, while others made predictions in the comment section.

User @615kee wrote, “The mugshot told me she will do it again😂.”

Additionally, @theylovequanquan replied, “They might as well give her the key to the jail at this point.”

User @theylovequanquan also chimed in. “They could make a yearbook out her mugshots.”

In addition, @nijahhchoo noted, “I think her side hobby is going to jail cause what?????”

User @saintxjay added, “D*mn a felony for that I know she heated af 😂😂😂.”

@quillyquillz joked, “Her wrap sheet is longer than Rapunzel’s hair😂.”

@marissafarrow wrote, “The most Tommy thing Tommy could do 😂.”

@raydabrratt joked, “Them tickets high asf she ain’t wrong!”

Tommie Lee Speaks Out

After the reports surfaced, Lee took to social media and addressed what she says is a “false narrative.” Ultimately, the reality star seemingly asked the public to give her privacy.

She Was Also Arrested In 2024

Notably, she reportedly poked a man in the face and threatened to kill him after trying to hand him something.

Furthermore, she became aggressive when he ignored her. Ultimately, she was later arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery.

RELATED: Whew! Tommie Lee Breaks Her Silence After Videos Show Her Kissing & Flirting With Solange’s Son Julez Smith (WATCH)

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 16 seconds ago

Even before AI made things worse, the true scourge of the internet was fake news. You’d see announcements for things like upcoming films or games and get all excited, only to find out that none of it was really happening. That’s always disappointing, but every now and then, it happens in reverse. That is, you hear some depressing-sounding fake news and joyfully discover that you have nothing to worry about. Case in point: social media has been flooded lately with breathless announcements that Star Trek: The Next Generation icon Patrick Stewart will be retiring from acting after appearing in Avengers: Doomsday. 

Considering that the esteemed actor is 85 years old and has spent a lifetime on the screen and stage, he certainly deserves to retire. Selfishly, though, we fans always want more performances from the captain, whether he’s running the CIA in American Dad! or putting Starfleet in its place in Star Trek. Fortunately for everyone who loves this actor, the fake news is, well, fake! In a recent interview, Stewart hit back at the rumors with a bombshell announcement that he is never going to retire!

TFW They Say You’re Retiring

Recently, Star Trek legend Patrick Stewart offered an interview to TV Insider. They discussed many things, including how surreal it is that The Next Generation is about to celebrate its 40th anniversary. They also discussed how interesting it has been watching other actors become iconic Trek captains in the years since Picard first said “make it so” aboard the Enterprise-D. Eventually, however, the interviewer broached a topic that has had so many of Stewart’s fans on edge. Namely, when this beloved actor was planning to retire.

This began with a joking comparison to the late Leonard Nimoy, whom the interviewer noted was considered “the busiest retired man on the planet.” He then pointed out that Stewart has kept quite busy lately with everything from Avengers: Doomsday to voiceovers to an exciting Shakespeare sonnets project. At this point, the interviewer asked point-blank if the actor was retired or getting ready to retire. Stewart replied that because he keeps getting “interesting offers” and loves “being challenged by new work,” he “can’t imagine ever officially ‘retiring.’” In Picard-like fashion, he summed up his thoughts in a simple, eloquent way: “I’ll always and forever be an actor.”

Picard Returns To Shakespeare

Aside from Doomsday, where can we expect to see Patrick Stewart in the near future? In that same interview, he mentioned that he’ll be “voicing a pig’s head in Riz Ahmed’s brilliant new series Bait.” Additionally, he’ll be starring in the upcoming television series Barbaric, which features a barbarian cursed to do the right thing who must team up with a talking axe. Plus, thanks to a previous four-year renewal, American Dad! will be giving us new episodes until at least 2029, so we can expect to hear more of Stewart voicing Deputy Director Avery Bullock.

If you need more of Patrick Stewart’s dulcet tones, you can also download Patrick Stewart Performs the Complete Sonnets of William Shakespeare, an audiobook where he reads all of the immortal bard’s most famous poems. Straight from the captain’s mouth, this actor is never retiring, and we can look forward to many more years of amazing performances. So, now you know not to believe any fake news about this Star Trek icon leaving show business. If anyone tells you otherwise, just show them this article and do your best Stewart impersonation: “The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth!”

Country singer Jelly Roll is getting candid about his recent struggles with eating amid his massive 275-pound weight-loss journey. During a vulnerable conversation with influencer Salvatore Reedus, Jelly Roll, born Jason DeFord, admitted he could go on a five-day food bender if he had even a single cheat meal.

Jelly Roll laid it all out there during his conversation with Reedus on his YouTube page, admitting he’d been “overeating” for the last several days. The country singer called it “stress-eating” before saying that his actions caused him to revert to old habits.

According to the 41-year-old, his recent bender followed his consumption of a dairy-free skillet cookie at a concert. He noted that he usually avoids unhealthy foods at this point in his journey because he’s unable to control himself afterward.

“I don’t eat nothing like that. I’m like a drug addict. You can’t eat that ‘cause if I ate one, I’ll eat two. I’ll eat four. So later that night, I’m at the taco truck getting a peanut butter fluff. Next thing I know, we’re at the rest stop, I’m looking for a chocolate bar,” he said.

Why Jelly Roll Said He Can’t Have Even A Single Cheat Meal

Jelly Roll said that when he does find himself eating unhealthy foods, he can’t stop himself, likening it to “the taste of blood.” He added, “Now it’s going to take me a whole another week to get that [taste] completely out of my mouth.”

Later, Jelly Roll told Reedus that he’s unable to have a single cheat meal like some other people he knows. “I can’t have anything,” he said, adding that he’s the same with alcohol and hard drugs.

“I’ve never had a shot. I’ve never done a line of cocaine. I’ve never smoked a joint. You know what I mean? Either we’re smoking all day, we’re drinking all night, we’re doing coke. That’s how it’s working for me,” he admitted.

Jelly Roll Is Learning To Give Himself Grace During The Challenging Moments

Despite his recent challenges, Jelly Roll said he’s learning to give himself grace on days he falls off the wagon, noting that he’ll likely still eat sweets or other unhealthy foods at some point in the future.

“… those are the days you got to give yourself grace. The problem is it starts compounding in the days,” he said. “It’s okay to have a bad meal. It’s okay to have a bad day. Don’t beat yourself up about it … don’t punish yourself for it.”

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The ‘Liar’ Singer Opened Up About Losing His Way Earlier This Year

Jelly Roll has been open about his struggles with consistency in the past. In a previous YouTube video, the “Save Me” singer said he “lost his way” after indulging in “big” holiday meals in 2025.

To make matters worse, Jelly Roll broke his collarbone just before Christmas, forcing him to put exercise on the back burner while he recovered.

“I said all that to say that I have to some degree lost my way,” he confessed before revealing he still had more weight he hoped to lose in the future.

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“I want to get these last 40 or 50 pounds off, and then I eventually want to cut my skin and I eventually want to be on the cover of something crazy like GQ or Rolling Stone or Vanity Fair or Forbes or Time with my shirt off. I know this is getting real silly now, but I don’t know. I just believe there’s this story that a guy can go from 560 pounds to a shirt off picture. It’s absurd,” he shared.

Jelly Roll Said He Battled With ‘Food Addiction’ For Years Before Finally Changing His Ways

During a previous interview with PEOPLE, Jelly Roll, who recently filed for divorce from his wife Bunnie Xo, said working to overcome his battle with “food addiction” was the driving force behind his new look.

“I’ve never had a healthy relationship with food, so that was the hard part. But once you get into that discipline and commitment, it’s like an avalanche. Once that little snowball started rolling, it was on its way,” he said.

Late Lilo & Stitch star Daveigh Chase left behind an estate worth $400,000 despite reportedly living on the streets in Los Angeles prior to her death at age 35.

Probate documents obtained by Us Weekly show that Daveigh’s mother, Cathy Chase, asked a Los Angeles Superior Court to appoint her administrator of her late daughter’s estate on Wednesday, July 8. Cathy specified that Daveigh left behind $400,000 in personal property but “no real property.” (TMZ was the first to report the news.)

Cathy asked to become the administrator of her daughter’s estate because Daveigh was never married and had no children. The legal motion listed Daveigh’s father, John Schwallier, as a potential “estate descendant.” (Cathy clarified that John “keeps properties in Las Vegas” but she thought he currently resided at an unknown address in the Philippines.)

Us obtained a second motion filed before the court that put restrictions on how money from Daveigh’s estate can be spent. (This document was signed by Cathy on Tuesday, July 7.)

Related: How Did ‘The Ring’ Child Star Daveigh Chase Die? What to Know So Far

Former child star Daveigh Chase, the voice behind Disney’s beloved Lilo in Lilo & Stitch and the haunting Samara in The Ring, has died at 35. Chase’s boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, confirmed the news to TMZ on June 17, 2026, revealing that the late actress had been battling meningitis and a serious blood infection prior to […]

‘There are many other restrictions on your authority to deal with estate property. You should not spend any of the estate’s money unless you have received permission from the court or have been advised to do so by an attorney,” the instructions read. “You may reimburse yourself for official court costs paid by you to the county clerk and for the premium on your bond.”

The instructions went on, “Without prior order of the court, you may not pay fees to yourself or to your attorney, if you have one. If you do not obtain the court’s permission when it is required, you may be removed as personal representative or you may be required to reimburse the estate from your own personal funds, or both. You should consult with an attorney concerning the legal requirements affecting sales, leases, mortgages, and investments of estate property.”

A probate hearing has been set for August 12 at a Los Angeles County Superior Court. Ahead of the upcoming hearing, Cathy asked the court to approve a $400,000 bond.

Daveigh’s boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, confirmed her death to TMZ on June 17, saying at the time that the Big Love alum was battling meningitis and an infection in her blood that led to sepsis before her death.

However, a Los Angeles medical examiner’s report obtained by Us on June 29 listed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) as Daveigh’s primary cause of death. The medical examiner determined it was a natural death while noting that chronic polysubstance use was a contributing factor. (The Cleveland Clinic defines polysubstance use as using more than one drug or substance at the same time or in close proximity.)

Once an in-demand actress, Daveigh virtually disappeared from the spotlight in the mid-2010s, with worried fans occasionally sharing footage of her on Skid Row in Los Angeles in recent years.

A source who was once close to Daveigh exclusively revealed to Us that mutual friends reached out to the actress to offer help over the years but she was not receptive.

“People really loved her and cared about her and offered her help,” the source says. “If you talked to anyone, everyone asked about her and worried about her and cared about her.”

The insider added, “If I ever met anyone on the street, I would ask about her and if they knew her and no one ever did.”

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Related: Daveigh Chase’s Former Manager Skeptical of Boyfriend’s GoFundMe

Daveigh Chase’s former manager is casting doubts on the legitimacy of the GoFundMe page set up by her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, in the wake of the actress’ death. “A man claiming to be Daveigh’s boyfriend has launched a GoFundMe page purportedly on behalf of Daveigh and her family. Neither her family nor her close friends […]

Daveigh’s childhood friend Amy Castle expressed her belief that “things absolutely could have been different” if the star was willing to confide in others.

“Whenever I speak to people about it, they go, ‘It’s so sad, it’s so tragic,’ and I say it is sad, and it is tragic, but also it didn’t have to be this way,” Castle told Us on Wednesday, July 8 “I knew her from [age] 9 to 16, and I can tell you with certainty the friend that I knew would never have wanted her life to go the way it went. No way. I don’t have a shadow of a doubt in my life.”

Castle suggested that Daveigh simply “did not have the support” she needed in the final years of her life.

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“I believe that a lot of the time if a person does not have the support needed to process … that a very understandable coping mechanism can be to compartmentalize or to self-soothe, a lot of times with drugs, [it] can be with food, with sex, with anything that’s going to give your brain dopamine and take you out of what you don’t understand,” she noted.

Daveigh first found fame as a child star with live-action roles in Donnie Darko and The Ring, before landing lead voice roles in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch and the Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away. Her final film roles came in 2016 with the horror movie Jack Goes Home and thriller American Romance.

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

Once declared unprofitable and dead, the romantic comedy genre has made a remarkable comeback. When cinematic universe and superhero movies thrived in late 2000s and early 2010s, romantic comedy became a niche offering. The genre used to rule the box office charts with movies like Pretty Woman, The Proposal and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. However, they have recently found new life as streaming platforms rise and they embrace fresh storytelling and perspectives.

This list takes a look at some of the best romantic comedies released in the past decades. Most of them may still lean to the proven and tested formula, but these movies add more spice that make it more appealing to modern audiences. The movies on this list range from bestselling book adaptations to original stories, proving that the genre still has a lot to give. One thing for sure, we will be seeing more and more romantic comedies in the years to come.

10

‘Upgraded’ (2024)

Image via Prime Video

Upgraded follows Ana Santos (Camilla Mendes), an ambitious art gallery intern who is accompanying her demanding boss on a business trip to London. While she is initially set up to fly coach on a different flight by her sly colleagues, she is unexpectedly upgraded to business class and meets the charming William (Archie Renaux). However, Ana claims that she’s the CEO of the company and has to keep up appearances with William’s family, while also doing her actual job.

In this modern take on Cinderella, the film’s romance surprisingly takes a backseat and focuses on Ana’s character. It refreshingly puts her ambitions and career intuitions at the forefront, showing that she actually has what it takes to earn the position (unlike, say, Emily in Paris). The romance itself is quite charming. Camilla Mendes leads the film with confidence and ease, making it enjoyable throughout. It might follow a familiar formula, but it understands what the movie needs, which are likable characters, plenty of romantic tension, and believable stakes. It’s one of many solid romantic picks on Prime Video.

9

‘Anyone But You’ (2023)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

Anyone But You centers on Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell), whose perfect meet cute and first date ends in disaster, leaving them convinced they can barely tolerate each other. Months later, they are both invited to a destination wedding in Australia, where they have to play nice with one another and even pretend they’re a happy couple for the benefit of friends and family.

Drawing from Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, the film works because it fully embraces the timeless appeal of the enemies-to-lovers formula while giving it a modern energy. Its biggest strength lies in the electric chemistry between Sweeney and Powell. Right from the opening scene, they are simply irresistible to watch together. Their insane on-screen connection even sparked real-life romance rumors. The film marked the return of rom-coms in theaters when it became a sleeper hit when it was released in the usually crowded Christmas release date.

8

‘People We Meet on Vacation’ (2026)

Image via Netflix

Based on the bestselling novel by Emily Henry, People We Meet on Vacation centers on longtime best friends Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Blyth), who have spent a decade taking annual summer trips together despite having completely opposite personalities. Their trips eventually come to a stop after a falling out. When Alex’s brother is getting married, they have to face their storied past and open up a new chapter for them.

The friends-to-lovers trope has been the backbone of so many romance movies, and in this film it is once again put to work effectively. Anchored by exciting and unforgettable performances by Emily Bader as the free-spirited Poppy and the more restrained Tom Blyth, it is easy for audiences to also fall in love with them and their adventures. While the title is slightly misleading (they did not meet on a vacation!), the emotion and chemistry of the two characters are palpable. Despite resorting to the usual rom-com formula, the final act resolution is somehow more modern and refreshing. Thanks to this success, there will definitely be more Emily Henry adaptations.

7

‘Always Be My Maybe’ (2019)

Image via Netflix

Always Be My Maybe is about childhood best friends Sasha Tran (Ali Wong) and Marcus Kim (Randall Park). Their friendship came to an end after awkward sex during their late teens. Sixteen years later, Sasha has become a world-famous celebrity chef while Marcus remains in San Francisco, living a quieter life. When Sasha returns home to open a new restaurant, the two reconnect.

As one of Netflix’s best rom-coms, Always Be My Maybe is such a standout because of its ability to make familiar material feel deeply personal. The film is a more mature rom-com so it has a deeper emotional maturity as well as a distinct cultural identity courtesy of its two leads. Ali Wong and Randall Park are incredible comedic actors and both of them collaborate so well, and, as the kids say today, maximize their joint slay. Everything just felt natural between them, from the awkward moments to the romantic gestures. To add the cherry on top, the film also has a killer cameo from Keanu Reeves that should not be missed.

6

‘Set It Up’ (2018)

Image via Netflix
 

Set It Up follows two overworked assistants, Harper (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie (Glen Powell), who try to set up their extremely demanding bosses, Kirsten (Lucy Liu) and Rick (Taye Diggs), so that they can find some time off. As they execute their matchmaking scheme, Harper and Charlie develop a close friendship that soon blossoms into romance.

Set It Up was one of the strongest romantic comedies to come out after the genre fizzled out. With the strong main cast, the film boasts not one but two entertaining love stories. Deutch and Powell are simply very lovable presences on screen, and their relationship’s progression is very natural and believable. This results in seemingly simple scenes turning out to be very moving and memorable, such as the now famous pizza scene. With sharp dialogue and energetic pace, the film revives the genre for streaming glory. It is one of the best rom-coms to come out in the 2010s.

5

‘Long Shot’ (2019)

Image via Lionsgate

Long Shot sees the unlikely pairing of Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron), the U.S. Secretary of State, and journalist Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen). They reunite after so many years when Charlotte used to babysit Fred. Now, the outspoken Fred is recruited to be her speechwriter as she gears up for a presidential campaign.

Long Shot is one of the most unique rom-coms to ever be released. It combines romance, raunchy comedy and even political satire into one film. The central relationship between Charlotte and Fred is very well-balanced and doesn’t feel like a total romantic wish fulfillment. Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen are incredibly hilarious in this film but also can be vulnerable when the story calls for it. The film also has a fun supporting cast and cameos which includes Alexander Skarsgård and Andy Serkis. It’s a refreshing and very welcome twist on the romantic comedy formula.

4

‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ (2018)

Image via Netflix

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before follows Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor), a shy high school student whose private love letters are accidentally mailed to every boy she has ever had feelings for. As all the boys question her letters, she gets into a fake relationship with one of the recipients, Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), to convince another crush that she no longer has feelings for him while Peter agrees to this to make her ex jealous.

Based on a bestselling book by Jenny Han, the film was a phenomenon when it was released on Netflix. It uses the tried-and-true fake relationship trope while also being sincere and heartfelt to teenage emotions and drama. Lara Jean is a well-rounded and relatable protagonist whose insecurities make her easy to root for, while Peter, initially cold, evolves into a thoughtful person as their relationship progresses. Lana Condor and Noah Centineo are simply lovable as their characters. The movie also has warm family dynamics and comforting atmosphere that add to its qualities. The film is followed by two sequels and a spin-off series, but this first film is a lightning in a bottle.

3

‘Palm Springs’ (2020)

Image via Hulu

Palm Springs follows wedding guests Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Cristin Milioti) as they are trapped in a mysterious time loop where they endlessly relive the same day. Embracing the freedom, the pair indulge in reckless adventures before confronting the emptiness that accompanies endless repetition. They begin questioning not just how to escape the loop, but also wonder if they could have a proper relationship in the future.

The time loop is a premise that has been used in virtually every genre ever since Groundhog Day popularized it. However, Palm Springs utilizes it to explore its emotional themes instead of using it as a cheap gimmick. The themes of loneliness and personal growth resonate strongly as the film hits the comedic beats. The chemistry between Samberg and Milioti feels so effortless that the high-concept premise flows without any obstacle. The film is also supported by a strong ensemble that includes J.K. Simmons, Camila Mendes and June Squibb. Released during the pandemic, it is one of the best films of 2020.

2

‘Crazy Rich Asians’ (2018)

Image via Warner Bros.

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Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) travels to Singapore with her boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), expecting a simple trip to meet his family in Crazy Rich Asians. Instead, she discovers that Nick is part of the wealthiest and most influential families in Asia. Rachel is scrutinized by Nick’s family and friends who question whether their world is the right place for her.

Beyond its glamorous world and cultural specificity, the film succeeds in resonating with a global audience. The core story about Rachel’s journey to prove herself to Nick’s family is very compelling and relatable. Director Jon M. Chu is able to translate the cultural customs and traditions for a broad audience, which contributed to the film’s box office success. The movie also marked a significant cultural milestone by featuring a predominantly Asian cast in a major Hollywood romantic comedy. With strong performances from Constance Wu, Michelle Yeoh and Gemma Chan, the film proved that classic romantic comedies can still thrive when paired with fresh perspectives like this.

1

‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’ (2022)

Image via Apple TV+

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Cha Cha Real Smooth follows Andrew (Cooper Raiff), a recent college graduate who finds himself uncertain about his future while working as a party host for bar and bat mitzvahs. During one of these parties, he meets Domino (Dakota Johnson), a young mother navigating her own complicated life while raising her autistic daughter. They form a friendship at first but then their relationship becomes deeper.

Combining coming-of-age and romance themes, Cha Cha Real Smooth breaks away from the traditional structure of a rom-com. Instead, it focuses on the messy realities of growing up as well as being an adult with responsibilities. The dialogue is very intimate, which adds to the authenticity of it all. The performances by writer-director Raiff and Johnson further strengthen the film. This film features arguably the best Dakota Johnson performance so far. Its romance feels bittersweet because it recognizes that genuine connections do not always lead to conventional happy endings. The film was a Sundance darling when it premiered, earning the festival’s Audience Award in 2022.

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Cha Cha Real Smooth

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Release Date

January 23, 2022

Runtime

107 minutes

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Director

Cooper Raiff

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Writers

Cooper Raiff

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Ariana Grande continued to tease fans about her relationship status with ex-boyfriend Ricky Alvarez during her Eternal Sunshine Tour.

Viral video footage shot during opening night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Monday, July 13, once again showed Grande, 33, make an intriguing lyrical change to her 2018 single “Thank U, Next.”

On the original track, Grande referenced her year-long romance with Alvarez, 34, while name-checking numerous exes, reminiscing, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh.”

However, Grande changed the lyrics live on stage on Monday, with the live crowd erupting with cheers as she sang, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back.”

Related: Ariana Grande Cries on Stage After ‘Overwhelming’ Performance

Ariana Grande got very emotional during a performance in Los Angeles. “Thank you so much, oh, my God. L.A., thank you so much,” Grande, 32, said in footage from the second of four performances at Crypto.com Arena for her Eternal Sunshine Tour. “Are you kidding? What the hell? I’ve never in my life experienced a […]

The Wicked star initially surprised fans with a “Thank U, Next” lyrical change during her show in Austin, Texas, on June 26, when she belted out the revised line, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / Know he still got my back.”

Alvarez was reportedly on hand to witness the June 26 shoutout, with fans sharing viral footage of him smiling directly after Ariana altered the lyric.

A source exclusively revealed to Us Weekly on July 7 that Grande and Alvarez “always shared a close bond” after they were spotted at a Whole Foods in Boca Raton, Florida, over the July 4 holiday weekend.

“There was a period in time where they weren’t close — while she was with Ethan [Slater] — so she is happy to reconnect with him again,” the insider said.

The source added, “Ariana is grateful to have him in her life right now, and he’s been a huge source of support.”

Us reached out to reps for Grande and Alvarez for comment at the time.

The pair originally dated between 2015 and 2016.

In a 2019 interview, Grande told the Zach Sang Show that Alvarez frequently kidded her about the lyrical name-drop in “Thank U, Next.”

“Ricky loved it. He was proud. But Ricky was like, ‘Why did I get the worst line?’ And I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ He was like, ‘Everyone else’s line is so nice, and mine is like, ‘Man, f*** him, he’s trash.’ I was like I could have said that,” Grande quipped. “I could’ve said, ‘Wrote some songs about Ricky, never mind he’s trash.’ … But I didn’t. I said, ‘Now I listen and laugh.’”

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Related: Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s Relationship Timeline

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s romance isn’t defying gravity, but it has turned heads from the start. Us Weekly confirmed in July 2023 that Wicked costars Grande and Slater were in a “fairly new” relationship following their respective breakups. News broke that same month that Grande and Dalton Gomez called it quits after two years […]

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Grande reconnected with Alvarez on the heels of her split from Wicked costar Slater, 34, in June after two years of dating.

“It’s amicable. They gave lots of time and careful consideration and decided to go their separate ways,” an insider told Us about Grande and Slater’s split at the time. “They are still friends and very supportive of one another. They have been quietly broken up for several months.”

Grande is in the middle of a five-night Eternal Sunshine concert residency at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn before moving on to Boston’s TD Garden on July 23.