Science fiction video games have always been some of the most popular in the medium, and for very good reason. The worlds they bring to life and let players explore are gorgeous, intriguing, and epic. The characters within said worlds can be truly unique and great, especially when they’re characters that the player genuinely enjoys controlling. Not to mention, they can also make good movie and/or television adaptations.

Adapting a video game franchise to film or television is quite difficult and doesn’t always end up well — some may say that it’s just not possible. This has led to a very understandable stigma, with people pretty much begging film studios not to adapt more video games. However, there are some video games out there that genuinely — if done right — could make for some awesome television or movie projects.

1

‘Super Metroid’ (1994)

Image via Nintendo

When it comes to the merging of Nintendo and sci-fi, it doesn’t get much better than the likes of Super Metroid. Samus Aran is one of the most badass female video game protagonists, taking down crazy aliens with her awesome Power Suit. With Nintendo clearly investing more in films, with The Super Mario Bros. Movie franchise being a huge hit, and The Legend of Zelda flick on the way, Super Metroid feels like the next step if they want to continue to diversify their genres.

Samus Aran is a character who has more than deserved her time in the sun in the way that Mario has, and a movie would do just that — especially one based on such a great franchise. What makes Super Metroid a great game to adapt is the fact that it doesn’t have a defined story, which would give a filmmaker a great chance to have some fun with the story while still keeping the basic progression of the game. The world of the Super Metroid franchise is expansive, unique, and an all-around visual marvel, which means the film would look great as well.

2

‘NeiR: Automata’ (2017)

Image via Square Enix

The 2017 title known as NeiR: Automata is an extremely beloved modern RPG, and the discussion surrounding whether the game should ever get an adaptation is something that has been a bit controversial within the fandom. There’s a masterclass story at play here, with a world surrounding it that is visually unique and engrossing. While it has had an anime adaptation in the past, the idea of a film adaptation has not escaped the fandom.

Some fans would say that NeiR: Automata would be hard to adapt to film due to the way it relies on being an interactive game. That shouldn’t mean that it should be robbed of a good adaptation, though. Just because it’d be hard doesn’t mean it would be impossible, especially with the right director at the helm of the project. If a NeiR: Automata movie was done right, it would be game-changing.

3

‘Destiny’ (2014)

After working on the ever-popular Halo series, Bungie separated from 343 Industries — rebranded as Halo Studios recently — and went on to make an all-new franchise titled Destiny. While it had an explosive start, it did lose a lot of steam over the years due to people being pretty unhappy with the fact that everything had to be online to experience the story. This, however, doesn’t stop the story from being genuinely great.

The fact that there are many people who have never truly experienced this plot but know what Destiny is makes this game a perfect opportunity to have a great movie or television project. Destiny is a wonderful space opera that, if done right, could genuinely be the next Star Wars. They just need to find the right director and writer.

4

‘Titanfall 2’ (2016)

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Despite not getting the love it deserved at the time, 2016’s Titanfall 2 is commonly known as one of the most underrated single-player gaming experiences of all time. The emotional bond between the protagonist and their mech is one that serves as an extremely strong and emotionally resonant anchor of the story.

Titanfall 2 is a project that would adapt to film or television quite well. Everyone loves a good mecha project, and that continues to be true in the case of Titanfall 2. This project is unforgettable for anyone who has played and enjoyed it, and every reason that makes it so serves as a reason for it to be a potentially amazing movie or show.

5

‘inFamous’ (2009)

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Superhero projects are all the rage these days, and while they’ve taken over cinema and television, they have some incredible games, too. One of the best that isn’t from the big two (Marvel and DC Comics) is the one and only inFamous. Following the story of Cole MacGrath (Jason Cottle) as he explores his new superhuman powers as a Conduit, inFamous is a great journey that spawned a beloved franchise.

In 2009, people fell in love with inFamous, and they continue to enjoy it to this day. The only thing holding audiences back from fully investing in the idea of an adaptation of this series is the fact that the game’s mechanics and story have two different options: good and bad. However, the “good route” is commonly considered the true one, so it wouldn’t be hard for the adaptation to simply adapt the story from that route. With how big superhero movies and shows are, this feels like a hole in one.

6

‘Halo: Reach’ (2010)

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Halo has had some great games over the years, but none match up to the masterpiece known as Halo: Reach. Taking a step away from the iconic Master Chief (Steve Downes) and jumping into the past, Halo: Reach tells the tragedy that is the story of Noble Team, a Spartan squad that had one goal: defend the world of Reach during its fall to the Covenant (an evil alien race).

This prequel title is considered by many fans to be the best of the best that Halo has ever had to offer. The story is simply masterful, following this team as they slowly fall to… well, the fall of Reach. The characters at play are excellent and have a plethora of depth — not just being random super soldiers for the audience to watch aura farm — and would make incredible protagonists for a project outside of gaming. Plus, Halo could use a win after the conflicting feedback on their television series.

7

‘Dead Space’ (2008)

Image via EA Redwood Shores

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Combining genres is always fun when making content, because it allows the creatives behind said projects to really get experimenting with how to execute their stories and worlds. One of the best examples in gaming is the one and only Dead Space, a 2008 horror sci-fi game from Electronic Arts (EA).

Dead Space became a very popular franchise because of how well it blends these two genres, using the wacky, out-of-this-world style that comes with sci-fi to craft unique horror elements for players. While there have been some gigantic hits over the years, like the Alien franchise, the world could definitely use some more sci-fi horror, and the perfect place to find it is in the world of Dead Space.

8

‘Mass Effect 2’ (2010)

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The Mass Effect franchise is one of the most popular sci-fi game franchises of all time, and for very good reason. The stories present in these games are exceptionally well-written, with some of the best characterization out there. Yes, the plot is amazing, but these characters are so great in almost every way, and there’s no Mass Effect game where this is more true than the sequel, Mass Effect 2.

What makes this sequel the best is that it decides not to go into a full-force space opera — intergalactic battles with massive spectacle — and rather opts to give players a far more intimate and grounded story. This makes the story beyond emotionally compelling and honestly perfect for a film or series adaptation.

9

‘Portal 2’ (2011)

Image via Valve

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Portal 2 is known worldwide as simply one of the best video games ever made. People everywhere adore this game. While there was an adaptation announced back in 2013, it’s been in “development hell” ever since. So, until there’s any true confirmation that something is actually moving forward, there may as well not be one in production.

Portal 2 has become a genuine pillar of gaming, and people want to see a Portal film. Recently, Backrooms director Kane Parsons said he would love to do one, and that has people begging for it. Parsons would do an incredible job, and his directing prowess combined with the Portal 2 story would be pretty much the perfect combination.

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Backrooms

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Release Date

May 27, 2026

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110 minutes

Director

Kane Parsons

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Writers

Will Soodik

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Melissa Barrera has compared the reaction to Macklemore being dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour for taking a pro-Palestinian stance to her own firing from Scream 7.

“It made me emotional, you know,” Barrera, 36, told The Associated Press in an interview on Wednesday, September 16. “I didn’t get that when it happened to me. I didn’t have any of that happen. It was too soon. People were too scared. But it’s good to see that almost three years later, at least things have changed.”

Barrera was reportedly dismissed from the cast from Scream 7 in 2023 for taking a vocal pro-Palestinian stance in the wake of the October 7 terror attacks and subsequent Israeli military operation in Gaza. (She “condemn[ed] anti-semitism and Islamophobia” in a statement issued at the time.)

Scream’s production company Spyglass denied that Barrera’s support for Palestinians was behind her departure from the franchise, though a statement from the organization said it had “zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”

Related: Ed Sheeran’s Tour Ticket Prices Drop, More Seats Available Amid Controversy

Shortly after Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour concert for his unapologetic support of Palestine, ticket prices for the singer’s upcoming Philadelphia show have dropped by at least 50 percent. According to recent TickPick data, the get-in ticket price for Sheeran’s Saturday, September 19, show at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia has plummeted, […]

In May, Barrera was asked whether she’d compare costars who ultimately returned for Scream 7 to scabs crossing a picket line during a strike.

“Oh, one hundred percent,” she told Variety. “I think they all are. And they have to live with that.”

Scream 7 star Matthew Lillard said this month that he regretted taking part in the film, adding that Barrera is “on the right side of history” for her humanitarian stance.

As for Macklemore’s situation, the “Same Love” rapper, 43, was kicked off Sheeran’s Loop Tour as a support act after shouting “Free Palestine” at two concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month.

Sheeran, 35, allegedly received pressure from promoters and venue owners — including Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft — that they would not move forward with Loop Tour shows unless Macklemore was dropped. The “Shape of You” singer’s management officially dismissed Macklemore as an opener on Monday, September 14.

Other scheduled Loop Tour openers — such as Finneas and Lukas Graham — quit in solidarity with Macklemore, causing drastic changes to the start time and format of future concert dates. Sheeran later released a statement in which he denied personally removing Macklemore as a support act.

“Ed Sheeran and his team have made the decision to remove me from the Loop Tour. I am not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim,” Macklemore wrote in his own statement on Monday. “We have careers, money, opportunities, safety and audiences around the world. Whatever consequences any of us face for what we say, we get to go home to our families.”

He continued, “[Ed] told me that the words ‘Free Palestine’ and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to a lot of people he spoke with. I hope this isn’t the end of my relationship with Ed. Thirteen years of friendship doesn’t disappear because of one painful disagreement. I hope we both continue listening, studying what is happening in Palestine and wrestling with what neutrality means in a moment like this. My door will always be open to continuing that conversation.”

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Speaking this week, Barrera argued that Sheeran should have stood firm behind Macklemore to silence critics of free speech.

Related: Ms. Rachel Vows to Match Macklemore’s $1M Donation to Palestinian Charity

Children’s entertainer Ms. Rachel has vowed to donate $1 million to charity in the wake of Macklemore being dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour over his public support for Palestinians. “I will match Macklemore’s donation and I invite every white celebrity to match and speak out against the genocide in Gaza,” Ms. Rachel, 43, announced […]

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“I wish that the people that have power understood the power that they have,” she told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “ I think that the problem is that there’s a lot of people that actually have a lot of power; they think that they don’t, and they’re operating out of fear, and it’s just a shame because, you know, we just saw what happened — the support that rallied behind Macklemore — and I think that’s a big step. I think that what we’re seeing, what we’re witnessing, is going to inspire real change, and I’m very hopeful about that.”

Sheeran will bring the Loop Tour to the Kraft-owned Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Friday, September 25, and Saturday, September 26.

Few stars are having as successful a year as Jon Bernthal, who has headlined some of the biggest movies and TV shows on streaming and in theaters. Bernthal began 2026 by teaming up with Tessa Thompson for the Netflix original series, His & Hers, which earned millions of views during its initial period on streaming. He then reprised his role as Frank Castle in The Punisher: One Last Kill before returning to the role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has grossed well over $2 billion at the global box office. The fourth MCU Spider-Man movie wasn’t the first box office hit of the summer for Bernthal, though. Two weeks before its premiere, he made his debut in a Christopher Nolan movie by starring as Menelaus in The Odyssey, which is set to arrive on digital platforms in November.

Jon Bernthal has been one of the biggest actors in the world for a while now, but that doesn’t mean every project he’s been in was a smash hit. Back in 2021, Bernthal starred as Johnny Soprano in the polarizing prequel film, The Many Saints of Newark, which is set around 30 years before the events of the famous Sopranos TV series. The Many Saints of Newark cost around $50 million to make, but the film was released in theaters during a tough time in the business, where many fans didn’t have access to screens due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This led to it grossing only $13 million at the global box office, but it’s since found a new life on streaming, where it’s become one of the most popular movies in the world.

Here’s How To Watch ‘The Many Saints of Newark’ on Streaming

The Many Saints of Newark is not available to watch on streaming at the time of writing, but that hasn’t stopped fans from revisiting the movie all these years later. Sopranos fans around the world are renting and purchasing The Many Saints of Newark at such a high clip on VOD platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV that the film has resurfaced in the top 10 in several countries around the world. The official synopsis for The Many Saints of Newark, which was directed by Alan Taylor, reads as follows:

“Young Anthony Soprano is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark’s history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters begin to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family’s hold over the increasingly race-torn city. Caught up in the changing times is the uncle he idolizes, Dickie Moltisanti, who struggles to manage both his professional and personal responsibilities — and whose influence over his impressionable nephew will help make the teenager into the all-powerful mob boss we’ll later come to know: Tony Soprano.”

Check out The Many Saints of Newark on VOD platforms like Prime Video and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Jon Bernthal’s future projects.

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Release Date

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September 22, 2021

Runtime

120 minutes

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Director

Alan Taylor

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Lawrence Konner, David Chase

Producers

David Chase, Lawrence Konner, Nicole Lambert

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Three seasons can be a strange amount of television. It is long enough for a show to establish clear stakes and get the audience attached to its characters, but short enough for every single episode to matter. HBO seems to have mastered the art of the three-season format because the network has proven, time and again, that a show does not need endless time on air to remain memorable.

These shows know exactly what kind of story they are telling, even if that story changes dramatically along the way, which is why they never feel restricted or incomplete. The HBO shows on this list may differ in tone and scale, but they all know how to make three seasons feel like just enough.

5

‘His Dark Materials’ (2019–2022)

Image via HBO

His Dark Materials had a difficult job from the beginning because adapting Philip Pullman’s work that features parallel worlds, talking armored bears, soul-like animal companions, and some very heavy ideas about religion and free will is no easy feat. The series handles all of that surprisingly well, though. The story follows Lyra Belacqua (Dafne Keen), a young girl living at Jordan College who discovers that children in the town are mysteriously disappearing. Her search eventually leads her to Mrs. Coulter (Ruth Wilson), a powerful and deeply unsettling woman with ties to the Magisterium and knowledge about Dust, a mysterious substance that the authorities are desperate to understand and control. As the story expands, Lyra discovers that her world is only one of many. She eventually meets Will Parry (Amir Wilson), who becomes the bearer of the Subtle Knife, a weapon capable of cutting openings between realities. From there, His Dark Materials grows into a much larger conflict involving angels, witches, armies, and Lord Asriel (James McAvoy), whose war against the Authority begins to reshape the fate of every world.

The great thing about His Dark Materials is that it never lets all this mythology overwhelm Lyra and Will’s personal stories. The show gradually expands its scale, but the emotional core remains intimate till the very end. His Dark Materials goes bigger every season without ever getting lost in its own world, and that is the true mark of great storytelling.

4

‘The Deuce’ (2017–2019)

Image via HBO

The Deuce is one of HBO’s most underrated gems. The show, created by David Simon and George Pelecanos, begins in 1971, when sex work, organized crime, bars, and the emerging adult film industry all overlap around 42nd Street, Manhattan. The story centers on bartender Vincent Martino (James Franco), who gets pulled deeper into the neighborhood’s nightlife while also dealing with the messes created by his reckless twin brother Frankie (also Franco). The show also follows sex worker Eileen “Candy” Merrell (Maggie Gyllenhaal), who gradually sees filmmaking as a way to gain more control over her own life.

What makes The Deuce especially interesting is how much the world changes between seasons. Season 2 jumps ahead to 1977, when pornography had taken a much more commercial turn, and shows Candy as she begins directing films herself. Season 3 then moves forward again to 1985, when Times Square is starting to transform, AIDS has changed the community, and the city is becoming increasingly determined to clean up the neighborhood that these characters helped build their lives around. The show is essentially an entire history lesson. However, instead of following one rise-and-fall story, it shows the transformation of an entire ecosystem. The series can be compared to the likes of The Wire in terms of its scope and patient storytelling that gives bartenders, sex workers, cops, pimps, and every other major player enough space to feel like the same complex world.

3

‘Deadwood’ (2004–2006)

Image via HBO

Deadwood deserves a lot more recognition because it goes beyond just the gunfights and violence to tell a story that truly matters. The series, created by David Milch, is set in the lawless mining camp of Deadwood, South Dakota, in the 1870s. The story largely revolves around Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant), a former marshal who comes to Deadwood to open a hardware store, and Al Swearengen (Ian McShane), the ruthless owner of the Gem Saloon who already has a firm grip on much of the town.

Deadwood begins with the rivalry between the two men but gradually expands beyond that as prospectors, businessmen, criminals, and drifters all arrive hoping to make something of themselves before the town is fully brought under government control. The series doesn’t behave like a conventional Western show because its most important battles are psychological as the camp begins transforming into an actual town with laws, offices, and institutions while the locals are still stuck in their old ways. That narrative about civilization being built in real time is what makes the series feel much bigger than a simple story about the Old West.

2

‘Somebody Somewhere’ (2022–2024)

Image via HBO

Somebody Somewhere proves that an HBO show does not need a massive high-concept mystery or political stakes to be completely absorbing. The series, created by Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen, follows Sam (Bridget Everett), who has returned to her hometown of Manhattan, Kansas, and is still struggling with the death of her sister Holly. Sam feels completely disconnected from both her family and the town she grew up in until she befriends Joel (Jeff Hiller), an upbeat coworker who introduces her to a group of outsiders who have created their own little community in a place where none of them completely fit in.

Somebody Somewhere keeps its story refreshingly small. The audience follows Sam as she tries to reconnect with her love of singing, deals with her complicated relationship with her sister Tricia (Mary Catherine Garrison), and slowly becomes more comfortable letting other people into her life. Most episodes of the show are built around dinners, awkward conversations, and people spending time together, and that simplicity is its greatest strength. Across just three seasons, Somebody Somewhere becomes less about Sam finding a grand purpose and more about realizing that a meaningful life can be built from much smaller things. It is definitely one of HBO’s less intense shows, but that also one that feels more relatable than any other.

1

‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)

Image via HBO

The Leftovers isn’t the breeziest show to watch, but its ambition is what makes it stand out. The series, created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta, begins three years after the Sudden Departure, an unexplained event where 2% of the world’s population vanished without any explanation. Now, most shows would focus on that mystery and uncover what really happened, but The Leftovers chooses to focus on those who were left behind and the different ways they try to make sense of this new world they are in. The Leftovers Season 1 follows police chief Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux), who is desperately trying to hold his family together while his wife Laurie (Amy Brenneman) has abandoned them to join the Guilty Remnant, a silent cult dedicated to remembering the old world.

The show also follows Nora Durst (Carrie Coon), whose husband and two children disappeared in the Sudden Departure. Now, Season 2 is when The Leftovers really picks up because it relocates its characters to a town where nobody disappeared. The first installment of the show is deliberately bleak and unsettling, but the show becomes increasingly confident as it progresses. It expands beyond Mapleton while taking bigger creative risks with its structure, tone, and mythology. By The Leftovers Season 3, the show has covered everything from grief to humor, religion, and even the supernatural without overstaying its welcome.

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The Leftovers

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2014 – 2017-00-00

Showrunner

Damon Lindelof

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Writers

Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta

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Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour looked very different from what fans may have expected when the singer-songwriter took to the stage in Philadelphia.

On Saturday, September 19, multiple fan accounts revealed the staging for that night’s gig at Lincoln Financial Field would not include a B-stage.

Sheeran, 35, has traditionally performed fan requests on this secondary stage during a portion of his Loop Tour concerts. (No song requests were taken in Philadelphia, as of publication.)

It has unquestionably been a tumultuous week for Sheeran in the wake of the controversy over Macklemore being dropped as a Loop Tour support act.

Related: Ms. Rachel Vows to Match Macklemore’s $1M Donation to Palestinian Charity

Children’s entertainer Ms. Rachel has vowed to donate $1 million to charity in the wake of Macklemore being dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour over his public support for Palestinians. “I will match Macklemore’s donation and I invite every white celebrity to match and speak out against the genocide in Gaza,” Ms. Rachel, 43, announced […]

The “Same Love” rapper, 43, ignited controversy while opening for Sheeran at two concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month when he declared “Free Palestine” during a performance of his protest track “Hind’s Hall.”

Sheeran allegedly faced pressure from tour promoters and venue owners — including Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft — over allowing Macklemore to continue performing at upcoming shows. Macklemore was ultimately dismissed as one of Sheeran’s openers on Monday, September 14.

“Ed Sheeran and his team have made the decision to remove me from the Loop Tour. I am not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim,” Macklemore wrote in a statement on Monday. “We have careers, money, opportunities, safety and audiences around the world. Whatever consequences any of us face for what we say, we get to go home to our families.”

The hip-hop star added, “[Ed] told me that the words ‘Free Palestine’ and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to a lot of people he spoke with. I hope this isn’t the end of my relationship with Ed. Thirteen years of friendship doesn’t disappear because of one painful disagreement. I hope we both continue listening, studying what is happening in Palestine and wrestling with what neutrality means in a moment like this. My door will always be open to continuing that conversation.”

Sheeran broke his silence over the brewing scandal on Tuesday, September 15, denying that he’d personally decided to remove Macklemore from eight scheduled concerts.

“I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge. … I have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately, was unable to do so,” Sheeran wrote in a statement. “I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.”

Macklemore has continued his advocacy by donating his $1 million Loop Tour salary to Palestinian organizations. He challenged Kraft, 85, to do the same — with the New England Patriots owner later confirming he’d matched Sheeran’s own $2 million donation to support humanitarian aid.

Ahead of Saturday’s Loop Tour stop in Philadelphia, fans were advised that the show would start at 8 p.m. ET, rather than the traditional showtime of 5:30 p.m. The change was likely caused by support acts Finneas and Lukas Graham dropping out of the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.

Ticket prices on the resale market also seemingly took a hit prior to the Philly gig, as seats that were listed at $100 on Tuesday dropped to as low as $42 on Saturday.

For his part, Sheeran opened up the Philadelphia show with a lengthy statement about the events of the past week.

“This week, the criticism was about something much more important, and I’ve had to take [it in] and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so so sorry,” he told fans.

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Sheeran said he’d been placed “in the middle of an important, passionate argument” — before condemning both the “horrific” violence unleashed on October 7, 2023, as well as the “catastrophic and unjustifiable” loss of life in Gaza. (The United Nations issued a report in June stating that 20,000 children have been killed and more than 44,000 have been injured in the region since hostilities escalated on October 7, 2023.)

“I’m listening and learning. I do not know enough [about the conflict],” he acknowledged.

Sheeran is next scheduled to play at the Kraft-owned Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Friday, September 25, and Saturday, September 26.

It seems everyone with even the slightest association with the MCU is joining the team for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. However, one name is still missing from the official lineup: Ryan Reynolds. Although it has been heavily teased by the man himself and reports from different outlets offer conflicting stories, there is not yet any official word about Deadpool’s involvement following the huge billion-dollar success of Deadpool & Wolverine.

Will Reynolds join Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Florence Pugh, Pedro Pascal, and more in Doomsday? That remains to be seen, but there are plenty of other Reynolds movies to keep us entertained as we wait to find out. One such film is The Hitman’s Bodyguard, a 2017 actioner starring Reynolds as the man in charge of protecting Samuel L. Jackson‘s Darius Kincaid, one of the world’s deadliest assassins. Described as a “Hail Mary” by Reynolds in a previous interview, the film proved a success, scoring a global box office haul of almost $200 million against a budget of just $30 million.

It might’ve earned mixed reviews from critics, but a positive audience reception and impressive theatrical run earned The Hitman’s Bodyguard a sequel, inventively titled Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, which was released in 2021. Both films were directed by Patrick Hughes, who previously worked with Jason Statham on the 2014 threequel, The Expendables 3. If some bonkers action-comedy from Reynolds and one of Hollywood’s biggest names sounds like your cup of tea, then you’ll have to hurry, as The Hitman’s Bodyguard is officially leaving Netflix next month.

Could Another Ryan Reynolds Gem Make a Surprise Comeback?

Image via Lionsgate

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As one door closes, another might be opening for Reynolds fans. Back in June, during a panel hosted by Collider’s Maggie Lovitt at the Indiana Comic Convention, Amy Smart delivered a hopeful sequel update for the hugely underrated Just Friends, a comedy gem released in 2005 that co-starred Smart and Reynolds. “I hope that we do a Just Friends 2. I just want that one,” Smart said, adding that she thinks “Chris and Jamie got married, I think they have kids, but I don’t know what kind of drama ensues.”

The Hitman’s Bodyguard is leaving Netflix in October 2026. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for the latest streaming stories.

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Release Date

August 18, 2017

Runtime

118 minutes

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Director

Patrick Hughes

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James Cameron‘s The Terminator is immensely influential on movie-making as a whole, but do you know which other film has left an even bigger stamp on cinema over the years? We’re talking about a 1963 Italian-language classic that has inspired everyone from Woody Allen to Ridley Scott, and became one of Martin Scorsese‘s all-time favorites. It inspired a movie that served as Daniel Day-Lewis‘ follow-up to his Oscar-winning performance in There Will Be Blood, and was paid homage to in a sex spoof film about the inner workings of the porn industry. As you can tell, the classic’s impact was felt far and wide. It’s currently streaming on HBO Max in the United States, but only for a little while longer.

Directed by Federico Fellini, the film starred the iconic Marcello Mastroianni as a filmmaker riddled with self-doubt. The movie was an instant classic, emerging as both a critical and cultural hit. It won the Academy Award in the category formerly known as Best Foreign Language Film, and has since cemented itself as one of the greatest movies ever made. In the Sight & Sound poll published every 10 years, it ranked fourth on the list selected by filmmakers from around the world, including Scorsese. In his citation, the Taxi Driver director described the movie in question as “a touchstone for me, in so many ways—the freedom, the sense of invention, the underlying rigor and the deep core of longing, the bewitching, physical pull of the camera movements and the compositions… But it also offers an uncanny portrait of being the artist of the moment, trying to tune out all the pressure and the criticism and the adulation and the requests and the advice, and find the space and the calm to simply listen to oneself.”

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

Image via Colombia Pictures

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We’re talking, of course, about Fellini’s metafictional classic 8½, which inspired everything from All That Jazz to Nine. The movie now holds a “Certified Fresh” 97% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “Inventive, thought-provoking, and funny, 8½ represents the arguable peak of Federico Fellini’s many towering feats of cinema.” You can watch the film on HBO Max until September 30, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

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February 14, 1963

Runtime

139 minutes

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Director

Federico Fellini

Writers

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Brunello Rondi, Ennio Flaiano, Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli

Producers

Angelo Rizzoli

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• 

  Marcello Mastroianni

  Guido Anselmi

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  Anouk Aimée

  Luisa Anselmi

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Ed Sheeran returned to his Loop Tour after opening act Macklemore was dropped from the lineup for making pro-Palestinian remarks onstage.

“Before I play some songs tonight, I hope it’s okay if I say a few words about this last week,” Sheeran, 35, told fans during the Saturday, September 19, concert at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, per widely-circulated videos via social media. “I’m used to my music being criticized, and I’m always happy to take that because I’m lucky. A lot of you like my stuff, and to be honest, I’m surprised. I’m not surprised that I’ve even done it. You know, it’s normal.”

He went on to say, “This week, the criticism was about something much more important, and I’ve had to take [it in] and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so so sorry.”

The singer-songwriter explained that he never wanted to “disappoint fans,” adding that he never intended to “be an activist.”

Related: Finneas and More Acts Exit Ed Sheeran’s Tour After Macklemore Is Dropped

Finneas and other musical acts are showing their support for Macklemore — and the Palestinian people — by exiting Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour amid the controversial decision to drop the Seattle rapper from the show. “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” Finneas, 29, wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, September […]

“This has put me in the middle of an important, passionate argument about freedom of speech on the most complex issue on the planet,” Sheeran noted. “[My music] has always been a safe space for everyone. That matters hugely to me.”

He added, “Honoring my commitment to my fans is also completely essential to who I am. That is why I’m here tonight — on my own — continuing my own tour.”

Sheeran addressed promoters who allegedly threatened to cancel his concerts if he’d kept Macklemore on the bill for his Loop Tour, saying he was “deeply worried” about interference in freedom of speech matters.

“It should never happen in the free world,” Sheeran insisted.

Admitting that he’s never wanted to be “a political commentator of any kind,” the four-time Grammy Award winner said he wanted his shows to be about “unity, not division” and “humanity, not politics.”

“But this is a humanitarian issue [in Palestine] and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore,” he told fans. “What happened in Israel on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable — and disproportionate. … The systemic injustice we see unfolding in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.”

A report issued by the United Nations in June stated that 20,000 children have been killed and more than 44,000 have been injured in the region since hostilities escalated on October 7, 2023.

“I’m listening and learning. I do not know enough [about the conflict],” Sheeran said from the stage on Saturday.

As he seemingly broke down, Sheeran told fans, “I’m honestly so grateful that you’re here tonight with me.”

Sheeran headlined two concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month, where Macklemore, 43, was one of three opening acts alongside BIIRD and Lukas Graham, respectively. During both of the “Thrift Shop” rapper’s sets, he chanted “Free Palestine” and played his 2024 protest song “Hind’s Hall.”

After alleged pressure from stadiums hosting Loop Tour concerts this fall, Sheeran’s tour promoter dismissed Macklemore from the lineup ahead of his remaining eight scheduled gigs.

“Ed Sheeran and his team have made the decision to remove me from the Loop Tour. I am not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim,” Macklemore wrote in a social media statement shared Monday, September 14. “We have careers, money, opportunities, safety and audiences around the world. Whatever consequences any of us face for what we say, we get to go home to our families.”

Describing Sheeran as “my friend” that he’s known for 13 years, Macklemore claimed that they had “difficult conversations” about the tour’s future.

“He told me that the words ‘Free Palestine’ and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to a lot of people he spoke with,” Mackelmore alleged. “I hope this isn’t the end of my relationship with Ed. Thirteen years of friendship doesn’t disappear because of one painful disagreement. I hope we both continue listening, studying what is happening in Palestine and wrestling with what neutrality means in a moment like this. My door will always be open to continuing that conversation.”

The “Thinking Out Loud” artist issued a statement the next day, decreeing that he still respects Macklemore and denied the responsibility of dropping his pal from the Loop Tour roster.

Related: Pink Addresses Reposting Criticism of Macklemore’s Pro-Palestine Speech

Pink has broken her silence regarding the backlash she faced for reposting criticism of Macklemore’s pro‑Palestinian remarks at Ed Sheeran’s MetLife Stadium shows. “I’ve been quiet in my own words for a week, which you know isn’t like me. So here they are,” Pink, 47, began in an Instagram statement on Friday, September 11. The […]

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“After Macklemore’s performances at my New Jersey shows, venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting,” Sheeran wrote in his Tuesday, September 15, statement. “I was informed that this stance was based on how Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance, rather than on everything that was said. I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge.”

The British singer-songwriter further stressed that he hopes to use his platform and music “to bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together.”

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“Those who have been to one of my shows will know that they are about unity, joy, escapism, love and a place for everyone to feel welcome,” he added at the time. “I have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately, was unable to do so. I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.”

Days later, Sheeran’s fellow Loop Tour openers Graham, 34, and Finneas, as well as guest band Beoga left the concerts in solidarity with Macklemore.

The “Can’t Hold Us” rap star has since remained committed to sharing his message, announcing on Wednesday, September 16, that he would donate his $1 million Loop Tour salary to Palestinian organizations. After challenging Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft to do the same, Kraft, 85, announced that Sheeran pledged $2 million to provide humanitarian aid that the businessman matched.

Kevin Costner has reportedly been playing the field since his divorce drama, spending time with an Arizona lifestyle influencer, McKenna Wesley, while being linked to two other women.

The 71-year-old actor and Wesley, 39, have been seen together on several occasions, including a lunch outing in Santa Barbara this summer.

The reported relationship adds another chapter to Kevin Costner’s post-divorce love life, which has drawn attention since his split from Christine Baumgartner.

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According to sources cited by Page Six, Costner’s love life is at an interesting and complex state as he’s linked romantically to multiple women.

The actor recently sparked relationship buzz after he was seen being “extremely affectionate” with Jennifer Milburn, a lifestyle coach more than 30 years his junior.

Prior to that, Costner was rumored to be in a casual relationship with 47-year-old socialite Kelly Noonan Gores, the ex-wife of billionaire Alec Gores. Insiders last year even described their connection as incredibly “grounding” for him.

Now, it’s been revealed that the Oscar winner has also been spending time with influencer McKenna Wesley, whom he met in Scottsdale, Arizona, about a year ago. The city is Wesley’s hometown, and the pair reportedly connected through their shared interest in golf.

“They met in Scottsdale about a year ago. They both love to golf,” a source told the news outlet.

The first public sighting came in October 2025, when they were photographed together at a screening of Costner’s “Field of Dreams” at Scottsdale Stadium.

Costner hosted the event after the sixth annual Western Wiffle Ball Classic tournament. The appearance did not initially establish a romantic relationship, but the pair have reportedly remained in contact since then.

“She has been his guest on multiple occasions at his Santa Barbara and Aspen properties,” another source noted about the pair.

Kevin Costner’s Relationship With McKenna Wesley Has Stayed Private

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The duo’s growing connection has largely unfolded away from the spotlight. According to Page Six, Costner and Wesley have been seen together more than once, but neither has publicly confirmed that they are dating.

They were reportedly spotted having lunch together in Santa Barbara in August, a moment that was captured by a local resident and shared on Instagram.

The sighting added to the indications that their connection had continued beyond their initial Scottsdale appearance.

A representative for Wesley has addressed speculation about her and the Hollywood actor, stating that she “doesn’t wish to comment on her relationship with Mr. Costner.”

Reps for Costner have yet to respond, leaving the nature of their relationship officially unconfirmed, even as sources describe the two as having spent significant time together over the past year.

More About Kevin Costner’s Rumored Love Interest, McKenna Wesley

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Wesley is described as a lifestyle influencer and content creator who uses the social-media name @thebubblyblonde.

She has 421,000 followers on Instagram and identifies herself as an influencer and lifestyle content creator, with a focus on fashion, beauty, and luxury travel.

She is 39, making her 32 years younger than Costner. Her connection to Arizona is also significant because Scottsdale is where the pair reportedly met and where they were first publicly photographed together.

Beyond their shared interest in golf, little has been publicly established about how the relationship developed.

Neither Costner nor Wesley has offered a detailed account of their private life, and the available reporting comes primarily from sources and public sightings.

The Actor Has Also Been Romantically Linked To Hollywood Stars

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The actor, often regarded as one of Hollywood’s heartthrobs, has been married twice and has seven children from several relationships.

The recently reported relationship arrives after a turbulent period in Costner’s personal life. He divorced his second wife, Christine Baumgartner, following nearly two decades of marriage.

Baumgartner filed for divorce in May 2023, and the divorce was finalized in 2024.

The former couple shares three children: Cayden, Hayes, and Grace. Costner also has four other children from previous relationships, giving him seven children in total.

Besides his rumored romance with Wesley, Milburn and Goores, Costner has also been frequently linked to various women in Hollywood since his divorce.

Last year, he was linked to actress Sharon Stone when insiders claimed that they had a “flirty” interaction at the Governors Awards. He was then said to be getting close to singer Jennifer Lopez after they were briefly spotted together in Aspen. However, these rumors were quickly debunked.

Kevin Costner Continues To Balance His Complex Love Life With His Hollywood Career

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Costner’s reported connection with Wesley comes as he continues balancing his Hollywood career with a life spread across several properties.

He owns a large ranch in Aspen and a coastal compound in Carpinteria, California, while maintaining ties to Santa Barbara.

His homes provide a natural setting for a relationship that has so far remained private.

The Page Six source’s comments about Wesley being a guest at his Santa Barbara and Aspen properties suggest that their connection has extended beyond occasional public appearances.

Their reported history stretches back roughly a year, making the latest sightings part of a longer relationship rather than an entirely new one.

However, for now, the true state of things between the pair remains uncertain, with no confirmed announcement from either Costner or Wesley.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if a host of Angelenos stole some DVD players and, ten movies later, ended up being given the keys to the planet? Nope, nobody else did. But it worked, and it worked very well. As a result, we ended up with the weirdest, most intriguing spin-off that nobody ever asked for.

Seven years after becoming one of the biggest movies of 2019, Hobbs & Shaw has officially landed on Hulu. Directed by David Leitch (Bullet Train), the 2019 Fast & the Furious spin-off traded Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto for the unlikely partnership of Dwayne Johnson (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle) as Luke Hobbs and Jason Statham (The Beekeeper) as Deckard Shaw.

The movie follows Hobbs and Shaw as they’re forced to work together after Shaw’s MI6-agent sister, Hattie, becomes the target of Brixton Lore. However, unlike Fast and Furious, it gets a bit… sci-fi. Enhanced with technology that gives him superhuman abilities, Brixton is pursuing a deadly programmable virus that could threaten humanity if it falls into the wrong hands.

The cast is led by Johnson and Statham, alongside Idris Elba (Luther) as Brixton Lore, Vanessa Kirby (The Fantastic Four: First Steps) as Hattie Shaw, Eiza González (3 Body Problem) as Madame M, Cliff Curtis (Avatar: The Way of Water) as Jonah Hobbs, Helen Mirren (The Queen) as Magdalene Shaw, and Eddie Marsan (Ray Donovan) as Professor Andreiko.

Is David Leitch Working With Jason Statham Again?

Why yes, as a matter of fact he is. The pair is reuniting with the phenomenally titled Jason Statham Stole My Bike. Earlier this year, Collider’s Steve Weintraub spoke with Leitch about the film, and asked what we could expect from Statham in the movie. “No, he’s playing Jason Statham. He’s playing himself. I think that that’s what’s really interesting about it to me,” said Leitch. The film sees a heightened version of Statham playing himself, in the vein of Being John Malkovich, or The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Leitch says, however, that this will be somewhat different.

“I think it’s different than some of these other meta movies. We’re just really trying to capture something comedic and fun. Obviously, there are some referential things going on. There is a four-quadrant element to it. It’s fun, and it’s family, and it’s a chance for Jason and I to do something we’ve been wanting to do for a long time, and that’s, really, get together and make a story with a heart.”

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw is streaming now on Hulu.

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Release Date

August 2, 2019

Runtime

137 minutes

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