Whenever people talk about prestige television shows, they usually focus on long-running, network landmarks like Grey’s Anatomy or cultural phenomena like Breaking Bad. What are generally overlooked are the shorter shows that are often better than the multi-season hits that dominate pop culture. Several miniseries of the 21st century have proven that sometimes less is more and redefined how we look at television shows.

In their limited runtime, well-made miniseries work like well-written short stories with tight pacing, assured conclusions (or intriguing cliffhangers), and no filler episodes. From TV classics like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to acclaimed modern gems like Ripley, these series are easily some of the greatest television shows of all time, and they’re all utterly satisfying despite being just a few episodes long. With that in mind, here’s our selection of some of the greatest series available to stream with eight episodes or fewer.

1

‘Chernobyl’ (2019)

Image via HBO

Craig Mazin’s critically acclaimed television drama Chernobyl dramatizes the titular nuclear disaster in Ukraine in 1986, which destroyed the entire industrial town and has affected human and natural life in the area for generations. The HBO series focuses on the events leading up to the disaster, the people who were involved, and how the first responders dealt with the aftermath. Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson, Paul Ritter, Jessie Buckley, and Barry Keoghan portray various real-life personalities associated with the incident.

Released in 2019, Chernobyl was a very unique show at the time with its tightly paced five-episode narrative, standing out among multi-season hits. While the lines between facts and fiction often get blurred, the narrative successfully translates scientific realities and brutal tragedy into atmospheric horror and psychological dread. Through its powerful performances, architectural accuracy, and masterful cinematography, the historical miniseries masterpiece captures the intensity and graveness of the decades-old tragedy in its limited runtime like no other.

2

‘Generation Kill’ (2008)

Image via HBO

A classic war TV series created by David Simon and Ed Burns, based on war journalist Evan Wright’s non-fiction book, Generation Kill dramatizes Wright’s experiences as a reporter during the 2003 U.S. Invasion of Iraq. The series sees Wright, portrayed by Lee Tergesen, becoming an embedded reporter in the United States Marine Corps 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, facing various challenges alongside the Marines on their way to Baghdad in the first phase of the war. Other real-life figures are played by Alexander Skarsgård, James Ransone, Jon Huertas, Marc Menchaca, and Stark Sands.

Gripping and tense, Generation Kill is a clever deconstruction of the chaotic reality that unfolded during the invasion and is considered to be one of the most accurate depictions of the war. At the time of its release, the series was one of those rare shows without any genre or TV clichés, lauded for its raw realism, which leaves a lasting impression on the viewer. Generation Kill has since become a genre landmark like Band of Brothers and ranks among the greatest war shows made in the 2000s.

3

‘Pluto’ (2023)

Image via Netflix

Directed by Toshio Kawaguchi, Pluto is an anime series adaptation of Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki’s manga, Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka, in turn inspired by the legendary manga series, Astro Boy. Set in a neo-futuristic world where humans and robots cohabit on a delicate balance of existence, the show follows a string of gruesome murders, with robot detective Gesicht of Europol investigating and finding himself entangled in a mind-boggling, sinister conspiracy that could forever destroy the world of humans and robots. The Japanese voice cast features Shinshū Fuji, Hiroki Yasumoto, Koichi Yamadera, Yoko Hikasa, and Minori Suzuki as main characters.

The original manga successfully expands the iconic universe of Astro Boy to greater heights, and Netflix’s series adaptation of Pluto breathes life into that masterful world-building. With its complex themes and remarkable character evolution, the anime series raises critical questions about human beings and the unique experience of being human. Exceptionally thoughtful and beautifully designed, Pluto thrills, intrigues, and delights with stunning art and haunting music that captivates you in every minute of its eight episodes.

4

‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’ (1979)

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Among all of John le Carré’s novels adapted for television, the BBC’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy remains one of the finest. Directed by John Irvin, the series follows MI6 spymaster George Smiley, played by Alec Guinness, who is brought back from retirement to run an internal investigation inside the British Secret Service to identify a Russian double agent among the high-ranking senior agents. The series also stars Michael Jayston, Anthony Bate, George Sewell, Ian Bannen, and Patrick Stewart.

While the 2011 film adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is more popular among modern-day fans, the 1979 miniseries is a masterpiece of spy television. The series has been praised for its utmost faithfulness to the original novel and Guinness’s perfect portrayal of the grizzled British spy. The seven-episode BBC show is also notable for reflecting its contemporary realities and authentic sentiments during the height of the Cold War, bringing more artistic depth and psychological weight to the narrative.

5

‘Devs’ (2020)

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In his first television project, Alex Garland brings his sci-fi storytelling mastery to Devs, a thriller miniseries centered on an experimental quantum computing company called Amaya, where Lily, a software engineer, investigates the sudden death of her boyfriend. As Lily dives into the inner workings of the company and its CEO, Forest, she discovers a game-changing technology that raises life-altering questions of morality, ethics, and existentialism. Sonoya Mizuno stars as Lily and Nick Offerman as Forest, with Allison Pill, Zach Greiner, Carl Glusman, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and more in supporting roles.

An intellectual, ambitious, and visually distinct show, Devs was a stand-out sci-fi show of its time. Though it ran alongside similar high-concept shows like Westworld and Dark, Devs became unique with its niche concept, which brilliantly merges themes of quantum physics, determinism, and tech cultism in a tight narrative without ever missing out on any element. Mind-bending and inventive, Devs moves like a dream, despite its deliberate pace, captivating the audience in its imaginative story and hypnotic visuals.

6

‘Ripley’ (2024)

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Steven Zaillian’s second-ever television show (after The Night Of), Netflix’s Ripley is a neo-noir psychological thriller miniseries adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s popular crime novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley. It tells the story of the titular conman, Tom Ripley, who travels from New York to Italy to convince wealthy heir Dickie Greenleaf to return home to America. But when Tom meets Dickie, he develops a dangerous psychosexual obsession with him, with deadly consequences. Andrew Scott leads the cast as Tom Ripley, with Johnny Flynn, Dakota Fanning, Eliot Sumner, Margherita Buy, and Maurizio Lombardi playing other main characters.

Presented through rich black-and-white cinematography, with Hitchcockian motifs and elements of Giallo cinema, Ripley is a visual feast that delights in every frame. Zaillian puts a very stylish spin on Highsmith’s popular antagonist and turns the vintage crime fiction into an opulent contemporary masterpiece. Driven by invested performances by its main cast, headlined by Andrew Scott’s chilling antagonist, Ripley is undoubtedly one of the most perfect shows Netflix has ever produced.

7

‘Angels in America’ (2003)

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Created by Mike Nichols and based on Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, Angels in America revolves around various characters living in 1985 New York City, whose lives and stories intersect through common themes of mental health, emotional struggles, and AIDs. Featuring a mix of fictional and historical characters and powerful symbolism, the six-episode series centers on Prior Walter (Justin Kirk), a gay man suffering from AIDS who is visited by an angel. The series also stars Meryl Streep, Patrick Wilson, Mary-Louise Parker, Emma Thompson, Jeffrey Wright, and more, with Al Pacino in his first major TV role.

Originally released as a TV movie, Angels in America became the most-watched cable film of its time and has since remained an HBO landmark, every episode of which is masterfully made. Set against the backdrop of the radically changing American social and political landscape of the ’80s, the series explores grave themes in the most artistic and aesthetic way possible, delivered through remarkable A-list performances. The series has since been critically praised for its depiction of AIDS, and it became the first of only three programs in Emmy history to sweep every major eligible category and all four acting categories.

8

‘A Very English Scandal’ (2018)

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Created and written by Russell T. Davies and based on John Preston’s non-fiction crime novel, A Very English Scandal is a three-part British historical drama series fictionalizing the infamous Thorpe Affair of 1976-1979, in which Member of Parliament and Leader of the Liberal Party Jeremy Thorpe was accused of conspiring to murder his alleged former lover, Norman Josiffe aka Norman Scott. The BBC series follows 18 years of events leading up to the affair becoming a public scandal. Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw star as Thorpe and Norman, respectively, with Alex Jennings, Patricia Hodge, Monica Dolan, Paul Hilton, and Jonathan Hyde in notable roles.

A Very English Scandal is a gripping political drama that gives a shocking look into British politics and society of the time and engrosses the audience with its clever writing and cruel humor. Hugh Grant delivers a refreshing performance as the deeply conflicted politician, as does Ben Whishaw as his unstable ex-lover. A sophisticated and stylish satire, the BBC series has earned critical acclaim for revisiting the dark real-life case with sharp writing and masterful acting.

Influencer Jen Hamilton celebrated her “Jendependence” by throwing some serious shade over her estranged husband Brian Hamilton’s alleged “double life” with an older woman.

“August 4 was going to be a really hard day for me. It was going to be my 14th wedding anniversary. The first one after finding out about my husband’s diabolical betrayal,” Jen, 35, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, August 8. “So I threw a party for all my work friends. So many people showed up! They loved on me so hard and I told them EVERYTHING.”

Jen announced her split from Brian after nearly 14 years of marriage in June and later accused him of living “a double life with a woman who was 56 years old.” (Brian has not responded to Jen’s accusations.)

On Saturday, the Birth Vibes: Stories and Strategies for an Empowered Birth author shared photos from a “Jendependence” party on what would have been her 14th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, August 4. In one photo, Jen flips the double middle finger to a blazing fire that is burning her former bedsheets.

Related: Jen Hamilton Seemingly Shares Text Exchange With Estranged Husband Brian

Influencer Jen Hamilton seemingly shared a glimpse of a text conversation with estranged husband Brian Hamilton following their split. “I truly hope you take advantage of every resource that has been given to you,” Jen, 35, appeared to write to Brian, as seen in a screenshot she shared in an Instagram video on Wednesday, July […]

“I burned the bedsheets which held years of my own personal repression and the lies he told. He cannot hurt me anymore,” she insisted. “Boooo to cheating on your loving and faithful wife with a grandma. No offense to grandmas. She just is one.”

Jen mentioned that she is discovering new ways of reframing what has been a very traumatic few months.

“I am getting to the point now that I’m grateful for what this has brought me,” she concluded Saturday’s post. “Because now I get to create my own future instead of living in the knowing that things would never get better for me. I’m so grateful for my friends. And for that night. Happy Jendependence to me.”

Late last month, Jen admitted that there may still be aspects of Brian’s alleged “double life” that she’s not aware of.

“Me, now? Me, big, strong girl. Okay? Me, independent girl. Me, ‘don’t need no man’ girl. Me, ‘get out of bad relationship’ girl. But I feel like I need to get out ahead of something,” Jen joked on July 29. “If anything comes out about other things this guy’s done in my marriage, just listen. Me, now? Me, big, strong girl. Me, independent girl. Me, back then? Me, insecure girl. Me, desperate girl.”

She added, “Yes, he had a double life with a woman who was 56 years old. Yes, I should have left him way earlier — giving myself grace. I am so fortunate to have the means and resources to leave a bad relationship. There are so many women who are unable to do so, whether from finances, resources, etc.”

Jen previously expressed hope that something positive would come out of such a difficult period in her life. She therefore launched the Sisterhood of Solidarity fashion line — featuring clothing and apparel with empowering slogans such as “We Rise Together,” “Keep Going,” and “G.Y.A.U. (Get Your Ass Up)” — to raise money to help women get out of troubled relationships.

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Related: Jen Hamilton Stuns in Sheer Revenge Top and Jeans for Night Out Amid Divorce

Influencer Jen Hamilton is in her carefree era amid her divorce from husband Brian Hamilton. Jen, 37, took to Instagram on Sunday, July 26, to share a mirror selfie in which she showed off her sexy ensemble for a night out: a certifiable black high-neck “revenge” top with sheer patterned sleeves, paired with high-waisted jeans, […]

“One thing that I love to do is take something terrible that is happening and turn it into something good for other people,” Jen explained to her followers on July 23. “What I recognized through this process is that I am so fortunate to be able to get out of a situation that I didn’t need to be in because I have the resources to do so. So many women do not have that.”

As she gets started on her second book, Jen has vowed not to give up Hamilton as her last name because it has become so synonymous with her brand.

“It’s my name now,” she pledged via Instagram on July 27. “I made this name special and I’m gonna keep it.”

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

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

10

‘The Moonstone’ (1868)

Image via Tinsley Brothers

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

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

9

‘Red Harvest’ (1929)

Image via Alfred A. Knopf

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

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

8

‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1988)

Image via St. Martin’s Press

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

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

7

‘The Black Echo’ (1992)

Image via Little, Brown and Company

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

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

6

‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ (2005)

Image via Little, Brown/ Orion

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

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

5

‘The Big Sleep’ (1939)

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

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

4

‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ (1901)

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

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

3

‘In the Woods’ (2007)

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

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

2

‘The Maltese Falcon’ (1930)

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

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

1

‘The Long Goodbye’ (1953)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Was ‘Ex Machina’ a Success?

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

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

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

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Release Date

April 24, 2015

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Runtime

108 minutes

Director

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Alex Garland

Writers

Alex Garland

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Producers

Allon Reich, Andrew Macdonald

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If you’ve been binge-watching Ransom Canyon like Us, chances are you’ve found yourself admiring more than just the sweeping Texas scenery. Minka Kelly‘s effortlessly chic wardrobe has become a character in its own right, and one standout look — a flattering white eyelet sundress that perfectly captures the show’s romantic Western aesthetic — has fans eager to recreate her style.

Kelly’s slimming eyelet dress is actually an Amazon find (yes, really!), and it’s on sale for just $29 right now. With its breezy cotton fabric, feminine eyelet embroidery and figure-flattering silhouette, it’s the kind of timeless summer staple you’ll reach for long after the credits roll.

Get the Ebossy Eyelet-Embroidered Slip Dress for $29 (originally $40) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Whether you’re headed to a backyard barbecue, a beach getaway or an alfresco brunch, this airy maxi dress strikes the perfect balance between laid-back and elevated. Crafted from 100% cotton with a breathable lining, it features delicate crochet eyelet embroidery, a tiered skirt and a flattering V-neckline that feels effortlessly romantic.

Related: Minka Kelly’s ‘Ranch Wife’ Outfits Are So Flattering on Women Over 40

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Ransom Canyon knows how to bring the drama, but if I’m being honest, a major reason the Netflix show’s worth watching is for the fashion. Minka Kelly, who plays Quinn O’Grady on the series, has been known to rock some seriously cute country-chic fits. Still, it’s her ‘ranch wife’ dresses that are exceptionally chic and […]

Shoppers say the pick delivers on style and quality. One reviewer raved, “Beautiful dress! Perfect! Very well made,” while another couldn’t believe how luxe it looked, writing, “Looks exactly like an Isabel Marant dress. It’s insane — the fit, the material — I’m obsessed.”

The dress has a high-waisted silhouette that gently skims the body before flowing into a breezy ankle-length hem, creating the same elongated effect that made Quinn O’Grady’s (Kelly’s character) Ransom Canyon look so memorable. Spaghetti straps, a racerback design and an open-back finish add just the right amount of charm. Embroidered eyelet accents give the dress a timeless, heirloom-inspired feel, too.

Dress it up with wedges and gold jewelry or keep it casual with sandals and a woven tote. If you’re looking to channel Kelly’s effortless, ranch-meets-romance aesthetic without splurging on designer labels, this flattering Amazon dress checks every box.

Get the Ebossy Eyelet-Embroidered Slip Dress for $29 (originally $40) at Amazon!

Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more from Ebossy here and more dresses here! Don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Release Date

January 25, 1931

Runtime

79 Minutes

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Director

Mervyn LeRoy

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  Edward G. Robinson

  Caesar Enrico ‘Rico’ Bandello aka ‘Little Caesar’

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  Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

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  Joe Massara

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  Glenda Farrell

  Olga Stassoff

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  William Collier Jr.

  Tony Passa

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

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

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

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

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

Nicole Kidman Previously Admitted Her Husband Needed Space

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

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

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

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

Keith Urban’s Interviews Sparked Questions Before The Split

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Keith Urban Reportedly Could Not Picture Nicole Kidman In His Future

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

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

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