A week after a hugely anticipated sequel exceeded expectations in its box-office debut, another sequel achieved a similar feat, but with an entirely different target audience. Both movies fought a tight race for the number one spot this weekend, having received similarly enthusiastic reviews. The Devil Wears Prada 2 opened to nearly $80 million in its first weekend of release domestically, and has passed the $140 million mark in just 10 days. Globally, the movie is nearing the $500 million milestone, against a reported budget of $100 million. The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunites Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci two decades after the generation-defining success of the original film.

This weekend, the movie competed against Mortal Kombat II, which serves as a sequel to the sleeper-hit reboot that was released in 2021. Like most other Warner Bros. titles that year, Mortal Kombat debuted day-and-date in theaters and on the HBO Max streaming service. Despite this, it ended up grossing around $85 million worldwide against a reported budget of $55 million. It received mixed reviews, but was praised for its action choreography and loyalty to the video games. A sequel was put into motion with much of the central cast and director Simon McQuoid returning.

Here’s How Much ‘Mortal Kombat II’ Grossed at the Box Office

Mortal Kombat II features Karl Urban and Adeline Rudolph as Johnny Cage and Kitana, respectively. Returning actors include Mehcad Brooks, Jessica McNamee, Ludi Lin, Josh Lawson, Lewis Tan, and Shōgun duo Tadanobu Asano and Hiroyuki Sanada. Mortal Kombat II cost a reported $80 million to produce, and earned more positive reviews than its predecessor. It’s now sitting at a 65% critics’ score and a “Verified Hot” 90% audience score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “A self-aware slugfest that plays directly to those who know the difference between Fatalities and Babalities, Mortal Kombat II may not be a flawless victory but it’s likely the most roundly enjoyable entry in the franchise yet.” In his review, Collider’s Aidan Kelley praised the movie, but noted that the 1995 adaptation directed by Paul W.S. Anderson remains the franchise’s benchmark. That said, Mortal Kombat II delivered an excellent opening weekend haul at the box office, grossing almost $80 million worldwide in three days. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

May 8, 2026

Runtime

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116 Minutes

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The Evil Dead franchise is one of the strangest mainstream film series to exist, going from independent guerrilla filmmaking to a well-established brand name with distinct iconography. Even the poster font has become recognizable. It’s not surprising, considering all the Evil Dead movies from the original 1981 film to Evil Dead Rise have all been entertaining to various degrees. (Word isn’t out yet on Evil Dead Burn, but the teaser looked promising).

However, with the teaser for Evil Dead Burn offering hints to the vibe of the movie, it seems pretty clear that Evil Dead has officially gone in a different stylistic direction from its Three Stooges-inspired roots and gross-out carnage. Which, in turn, forces us to admit that the last great Evil Dead movie also happens to be the black sheep of the original trilogy — and that’s Army of Darkness.

What Makes an ‘Evil Dead’ Movie an ‘Evil Dead’ Movie?

It’s hard to nail down what a true Evil Dead movie is, considering the original three movies were all so tonally different from one another. They span from a low-budget haunted house movie to a medieval comedy-adventure film over the span of a single trilogy. The canon doesn’t line up, we’ve got three different Lindas (one of which has short hair), and franchise hero Ash’s personality changes from movie to movie. The first Evil Dead movie was practically a proof-of-concept by Sam Raimi that he could make a movie, the second was his creative hail mary after the failure of Crimewave, and the third is borderline a blank check movie after the success of Darkman.

If we’re trying to define what makes an Evil Dead movie, it’s probably best to say they are movies that blend dark humor with violent gross-out gags and legitimate horror threats in the form of the Deadites, who enjoy tormenting their victims just for the love of the game. The Deadites are out for blood, and they enjoy manipulating their victims. But they also don’t have any gravitas. When the possessed Henrietta gets her head cut off in Evil Dead 2, she yells in vain at Ash by saying, “Hey! I’ll swallow your soul, I’ll swallow your soul!” There’s no hubris in them, they’re just bullies. The gore of the movies is also important. While the original film had disturbing moments, most famously the pencil in the achilles tendon and “that” scene with the trees, the violence would later become so over-the-top that it inadvertently turns comical. Think Raimi’s predilection for blood fountains and the Evil Dead 2 gag of one of Henrietta’s eyes popping out and landing in Bobby Joe’s (Kassie DePaiva) mouth. It’s excessive in a goofy way, rather than leaning towards torture porn. To quote Bane in The Dark Knight Rises: “That comes later.”

Bruce Campbell’s Ash Leads the Charge

Arguably the most important aspect of the movies that make them true Evil Dead movies is Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams. Even though Ash’s personality changes between movies, his involvement still has that authoritative seal that gives them that added layer of entertainment, and Army of Darkness is where the character became a legend. Ash is the Scream King, and, interestingly, he’s one of the only protagonists in the horror genre who’s the star of the movie rather than the monster, which is often the case for franchises. Similar to the Ghostbusters franchise, while the premise itself is what gets carried on in the series, it’s the performance and writing of the lead character (or characters) that made the originals memorable. This is where the lines diverge between Evil Dead movies and movies branded with the title.

Army of Darkness is the last film in the series that had the union of Campbell’s charisma and Raimi’s creativity. Sure, the horror pretext is almost entirely omitted, but stylistically, the movie still has that connecting tissue of Raimi’s direction and sense of humor to make it feel like it’s the natural next chapter in the story after Evil Dead 2‘s cliffhanger ending. If he made a goofy sequel to A Simple Plan, that would be a drastic shift. Making a goofy sequel to Evil Dead 2 isn’t the most outlandish thing in the world, considering that the film’s second-best character is a hand with a mind of its own.

When you watch the post-Army of Darkness entries in the series, from 2013’s Evil Dead, through Evil Dead Rise, and up to the footage of Evil Dead Burn, they all have a similar aesthetic and there’s a consistency in tone and style that wasn’t present in the originals. They’re seedy and atmospheric, and the violence is genuinely disturbing. It’s a stark contrast from Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness, which are stylistically made to be cartoon-like and colorful. It’s ironic how the originals were all made by the same filmmaker and are all so tonally different, while the new movies were made by different directors to give their own takes on the material but feel more stylistically connected.

While the post-Raimi Evil Dead movies are entertaining in their own right, they feel more like standalone possession films with a few loose connections and references to keep them tied to the source material. Without that connecting tissue of Bruce Campbell as Ash, or the direction and writing of Sam Raimi, the movies just don’t feel ingrained in the franchise the same way the original films were. Army of Darkness was the last time that the series took a major creative risk, and in doing so, it made it the most distinct entry in the Evil Dead franchise and a favorite for die-hard fans.

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Release Date

February 19, 1993

Runtime

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81 minutes

Prequel(s)

The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II

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President Donald Trump’s 18-year-old granddaughter Kai Trump shared her school spirit in a lavish way.

Kai — whose parents are Donald Trump Jr. and his ex-wife Vanessa Trump — celebrated her impending enrollment at the University of Miami by filling her bedroom full of merch from the school for a series of Instagram photos on Tuesday, May 5. (Kai confirmed she gave a verbal commitment to join Miami’s golf team in August 2024.)

The influencer took advantage of the popular TikTok “bed party” trend, where incoming freshmen decorate their rooms with their school colors to show their commitment to the university.

In a carousel of photos from her bed party, Kai posed with her mom Vanessa and many of her friends, all while repping Miami in its signature colors of orange, white and green.

Kai also shared a brand new vlog on Saturday, May 9, documenting her final days of high school. In the vlog, Kai brings fans along for her graduation rehearsals and hangs out with some fellow college-bound friends.

“This is very sad guys,” she tearfully explained ahead of her final week as a high school senior. “I’ve had a great time in high school. I’ve met a great group of people. Great class and school and everything like that. Now, it’s on to the next chapter. … It’s scary but it’s exciting but it’s sad. It’s like all the emotions in one.”

Kai admitted, “I feel like I’m going back into ninth grade, freshman year. I’d rather start over. … It’s just really sad, and happy! But sad as well.”

The golfer has a promising athletic career ahead of her, as she previously debuted as an amateur on the LPGA Tour in November 2025. (Kai was sponsored as an amateur at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge tournament in Belleair, Florida.)

Earlier this year, Kai opened up on Logan Paul’s “Impaulsive” podcast about how having Secret Service protection has impacted her high school experience, including dating.

“To be honest with you, it’s really awkward when you’re sitting and going on a date with a guy and they’re two tables behind you,” she revealed in January. “It’s a little weird. I try my best not to let it bother me. Especially the past year, since he’s become President, I’ve had to learn that, yes, they’re following me, but also to focus on pretending that they’re not there.”

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Kai added, “Obviously, they are there. But if you can try to not really focus on that and enjoy your time with your friends, your family or whatever it is, it makes it easier.”

Related: Kai Trump Blasted for Sharing Video Shopping at Erewhon With Secret Service

Kai Trump is facing social media backlash as followers feel the up-and-coming golf star bogeyed her latest YouTube video. Trump, 18, posted a 19-minute video titled “I Brought My Secret Service to Erewhon” on Sunday, March 8, showing her shopping at the Los Angeles-based high-end, organic grocery store chain known to be one of the […]

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She acknowledged that it definitely took some time to adjust to having the Secret Service trailing her on a daily basis.

“For the first few months, it was tough,” she said. “It was not easy having someone following you all the time. But once I was like, ‘Their only job is to protect me. I’m going to focus on my stuff and have them do their job.’ It made it so much easier.”

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have continued fueling wedding speculation while enjoying a series of stylish outings in London.

The couple recently stepped out for multiple date nights, with the pop star turning heads in a lacy look as reports surrounding her and Kelce’s rumored July wedding continue to intensify.

As of now, insiders claim Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are planning a lavish New York City ceremony featuring celebrity guests, strict privacy measures, and extravagant pre-wedding celebrations.

Taylor Swift Turns Heads In Chic Black Ensemble During London Night Out With Travis Kelce

Swift traded traditional bridal-inspired fashion for a bold all-black look during her latest night out with Travis Kelce in London.

The singer stepped out in a sleek lace-trimmed slip dress layered beneath a long black coat as the couple headed to Gordon Ramsay’s newly opened restaurant, Lucky Cat, in the upscale Bishopsgate area.

She completed the look with black heels, her signature red lipstick, and an elegant updo that kept her hair swept away from her face. Kelce complemented her style in a coordinated outfit featuring a brown matching set, plaid loafers, and dark sunglasses.

Swift and her fiancé, Kelce, have been making the most of their time in London, with several public appearances throughout the week. Just a day earlier, they were spotted leaving the popular Indian restaurant Gymkhana hand in hand after another date night in the city.

See Swift’s stunning Lacy ensemble here.

Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce’s Rumored Wedding Details Include A New York Venue

Their public outings come as rumors surrounding their upcoming wedding continue to intensify. Reports claim Swift and Kelce are planning to marry on July 3, nearly three years after they first started dating.

According to Us Weekly insiders, the timeline is reportedly being planned around Kelce’s NFL offseason schedule.

While early speculation pointed to a Rhode Island ceremony, newer reports suggest the couple has chosen New York City for the event.

The exact venue has not been disclosed, though insiders have described it as an “arena or museum-like” location capable of hosting a lavish celebration.

Sources say the ceremony itself is expected to embrace traditions, with Swift’s father reportedly set to walk her down the aisle. There would also be customary father-daughter and mother-son dances.

The Couple’s A-List Guests Have Reportedly Signed NDAs

Guests who have allegedly confirmed attendance are said to have signed non-disclosure agreements, keeping the invite list tightly guarded.

Even so, several names linked to Swift and Kelce continue to circulate as potential wedding guests.

Friends reportedly expected to attend include Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, Emma Stone, the Haim sisters, and Zoë Kravitz, while Kelce’s guest list is rumored to include Patrick Mahomes and actor Miles Teller.

There is also speculation surrounding the music for the big day. Swift previously joked that longtime friend Ed Sheeran would likely end up performing if there was a stage involved, noting that he is frequently asked to sing at weddings.

“He knows what people want, and he wants to give people what they want,” she said.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Rumored Wedding Plans Reportedly Include a $10 Million Budget

Fashion details for the couple’s wedding have also become a major topic of discussion.

Reports claim Swift is drawing inspiration from Elizabeth Taylor’s vintage bridal looks, particularly the actress’s 1950 wedding gown to Conrad Hilton Jr.

Sources say Swift admired the gown’s fitted waist and lace detailing, and there is even speculation she may attempt to borrow one of Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry pieces for the ceremony if permission can be secured from the estate.

Meanwhile, pre-wedding celebrations are reportedly already in motion. Insiders claim Kelce and his friends are planning a Bahamas getaway focused on golf and partying, while Gomez and Hadid are allegedly organizing an extravagant bachelorette celebration for Swift.

According to Closer Online, Swift has intentionally stayed out of most of the planning details for the pre-wedding parties, aside from agreeing on a budget with Kelce.

Sources claim the pair has set aside as much as $10 million for the festivities, with private jets, luxury villas, and full private staff services expected to be part of the celebrations.

Travis Kelce Says ‘I Can’t Wait’ After Rory McIlroy References His Future Wedding With Taylor Swift

Meanwhile, Kelce appears to be already looking ahead to his future wedding with Swift.

During the May 6 episode of the “New Heights” podcast, the Chiefs star reacted enthusiastically when golf champion Rory McIlroy compared the atmosphere of the Masters Champions Dinner to a wedding celebration.

McIlroy, who recently secured another Masters victory, reflected on the emotional experience of bringing together people from different stages of life in one room. While discussing the annual dinner tradition, he told Kelce that he would likely experience a similar feeling on his wedding day.

“Travis, you’ll feel this this year whenever you’re sitting at your wedding,” McIlroy said, adding, “you have all the people in a room … it’s amazing to have all these people in the same room from your childhood … and it’s surreal. It’s unbelievable.”

The comment appeared to catch Kelce’s attention immediately, as the NFL star grinned before replying, “I can’t wait.”

Actor and musician Billy Bob Thornton has been open about his Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder diagnosis, and recently, he candidly shared how the condition intensely affected him in the past by sharing an amusingly gross anecdote. The actor also discussed his overall mental health journey and restrictive diet, sharing his newfound love for grapes, oddly paired with a condiment.

In an episode of the podcast “Howie Mandel Does Stuff,” 70-year-old Billy Bob Thornton opened up about his mental health, particularly his Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which host Howie Mandel is also diagnosed with.

While speaking with Mandel and his co-host, daughter Jackelyn Shultz, Thornton remembered a moment from the late ’80s that highlighted his obsessive-compulsive thoughts. “You wanna hear a funny, but creepy, gross funny one?” he asked, before telling his story.

Thornton shared that he was in the market pavilions in West Hollywood, waiting in line behind an older gentleman, who had a “leathery, wrinkly neck” with “200 blackheads.” There was a particularly large one that Thornton compared to a pin head. “You popped it?” Shultz asked, to which the actor replied, “No. It wasn’t that bad, but it’s close.”

Billy Bob Thornton Boinked A Stranger’s Blackhead

Thornton said that upon seeing that giant blackhead, he had an obsessive thought that just wouldn’t go away, and he had to touch it. “You’re saying you want to touch it?” Mandel asked. Thornton explained that he didn’t want to touch it, but his obsessive-compulsive thoughts made him think he needed to do it.

He decided to use a magazine rack near him and the man as a ruse. Thornton said, “I went ‘boink’ and then reached to People magazine and got it.” When the man turned around, he apologized, saying that he was just reaching for a magazine. “So anyway, I got to touch the blackhead and get out of it, you know.”

Mandel and Schultz roared with laughter, seemingly grossed out and amused at the same time. “Did you say boink?” Schultz asked. “That’s hysterical,” Mandel added. “I got over that a long time ago. I went to blackhead therapy,” Thornton joked.

The Actor Shares How ‘Exhausting’ OCD Is

Thornton shared his OCD diagnosis publicly in 2004 during an interview with Ann Curry. The actor talked about his physically and emotionally abusive father and said his upbringing might have triggered his OCD. “It exhausts you… You’re constantly doing mathematics in your head,” he told Curry. Thornton shared the same sentiment in the podcast with Mandel, saying, “It’s so emotionally and mentally exhausting that that’s one of the things that people don’t really say much.”

His symptoms manifested at a young age, and he remembers counting down with the clock while waiting for his father to come home. “I would hear the car pull in the driveway around 4 o’clock usually, and I would, in my head, I would say if I can count to a hundred five times before I hear the car come in the driveway, everything’s going to be okay,” he said.

Thornton shared that he does things similar to that despite knowing that it’s “silly,” but he isn’t able to control the compulsion.

Howie Mandel Expressed Gratitute To The Actor

Mandel has been open about his own OCD diagnosis, but it wasn’t always that way. During an appearance on “The Howard Stern Show” in 1998, his diagnosis was accidentally revealed. Mandel, who is a germophobe and is widely known for not shaking hands, had an anxiety attack when he couldn’t get out of the studio, as he didn’t want to touch the doorknob.

Thinking it was a bit, the crew jokingly prevented him from leaving, which heightened his anxiety. He then told Stern that he sees a psychiatrist for OCD, and his panic attack was real, not knowing the show was still broadcasting live.

During the podcast, Mandel revealed that Thornton reached out to him, telling him that they had a lot in common, referring to their OCD. “It was beautiful to be open with somebody about humanity and about struggling,” Mandel said. Later on in the interview, Thornton circled back, saying it was so rare to find someone in the business who didn’t talk about work or projects, and they agreed it was therapeutic to talk about their shared condition.

Billy Bob Thornton’s Restrictive Diet And Odd Food Combinations

Jason Statham fans have a lot to look forward to. Not only will he be returning to the role of Adam Clay in The Beekeeper 2, although this time under the directorial eye of Timo Tjahjanto instead of David Ayer, but Statham is also set to feature in a hugely enticing David Leitch film called Jason Statham Stole My Bike, which Leitch described to Collider as “a chance for Jason and I to do something we’ve been wanting to do for a long time.”

However, the most exciting upcoming Statham project sees him reunite with the man who gave him his big break in cinema, Guy Ritchie, almost 30 years since they first collaborated on Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Four more collaborations later, and the duo will be teaming up on their sixth project, Viva La Madness, a new action-thriller based on J.J. Connolly’s 2011 novel and the follow-up to Layer Cake. The only frustrating thing all these upcoming movies have in common is that we won’t be seeing them for some time yet, with The Beekeeper 2 scheduled for a January 2027 release date.

Thankfully, Statham fans are being kept well entertained on streaming, as many of his best and most underrated movies continue to circulate. At the time of writing, 2016’s Mechanic: Resurrection is one of the ten most-streamed movies on Netflix in the world. Directed by Dennis Gansel, the film marked the sequel to 2011’s The Mechanic, which itself was a remake of the 1972 film of the same name starring Charles Bronson. Mechanic: Resurrection stars Statham alongside an eye-catching cast including Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones, Michelle Yeoh, Sam Hazeldine, Rhatha Phongam, and John Cenatiempo.

Did ‘Mechanic: Resurrection’ Prove Popular in Theaters?

After the first installment scored a disappointing box office haul of just $76 million, Mechanic: Resurrection had some retribution to achieve. Thankfully, Statham is a master of revenge, with this sequel proving an undeniable hit during its 2016 theatrical run. Against a reported budget of $40 million, Mechanic: Resurrection earned a global haul of $125 million, split between just $21 million in domestic revenue and a further $104 million from overseas markets.

The Jason Statham-led sequel Mechanic: Resurrection is one of the ten most-streamed movies on Netflix in the world. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for the latest streaming stories.

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Release Date

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August 26, 2016

Runtime

99 minutes

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Director

Dennis Gansel

Writers

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Philip Shelby, Tony Mosher, Brian Pittman, Rachel Long, Lewis John Carlino

Producers

David Winkler, John Thompson, William Chartoff, Robert Earl

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In the last six years, Apple TV has become the streaming industry’s premier destination for long-form sci-fi storytelling. Shows such as Severance have broken through and generated the sort of attention that is vital to a platform’s growth. More recently, the streamer hit another home run with Pluribus, Vince Gilligan‘s hugely anticipated follow-up to Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. In the years between these two shows, Apple TV has delivered acclaimed titles such as Silo, which will return with a third season this year, and Foundation, the ambitious adaptation of Isaac Asimov‘s sprawling magnum opus. However, this golden age of sci-fi programming began in 2019 with a single title that continues to draw audiences even today.

The show in question will conclude after a sixth and final season scheduled for 2027, before which a spin-off will debut on the same platform in a few weeks. While airing its fifth season, the show hit a majestic milestone on the Apple TV streaming charts. According to FlixPatrol, it’s among the top 10 most-watched series on the streamer, and has now spent more than 500 days on its viewership chart. The series premiered in 2019 as a launch title for Apple TV, along with The Morning Show, Dickinson, and a handful of other titles. It remains the longest-running Apple TV series along with the espionage drama Slow Horses.

Apple’s Longest-Running Sci-Fi Series Is Set to Expand

We’re talking, of course, about For All Mankind. The decades-spanning sci-fi drama unfolds in an alternate reality where the Space Race between the United States and Russia never ended. The first season took place in the 1970s, and the narrative has jumped forward by several years across the subsequent seasons. Co-created by Ronald D. Moore, the series has received positive reviews overall, and is currently sitting at a 91% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. The second and fourth seasons hold perfect 100% scores, while the fifth season appears to have settled at a “Certified Fresh” 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. The aggregator website’s consensus reads,

“With smart storytelling, high ambition, and enough tension to keep viewers glued to their screen, For All Mankind remains one of television’s most compelling sci-fi sagas.” You can watch For All Mankind on Apple TV, where you can also tune into the upcoming spin-off, Star City, starting May 29. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

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November 1, 1989

Runtime

80 minutes

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Director

Al Reinert

Producers

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Betsy Broyles Breier

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  Jim Lovell

  Narrator – Apollo 8, Apollo 13 (voice)

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  Russell Schweickart

  Narrator – Apollo 9 (voice)

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  Eugene Cernan

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  Narrator – Apollo 10, Apollo 17 (voice)

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  Michael Collins

  Narrator – Apollo 11 (voice)

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By the end of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has lost almost everything familiar to him. His aunt and uncle are dead, Obi-Wan Kenobi sacrificed himself aboard the Death Star, and for the young hero, the galaxy suddenly feels much larger and far more dangerous than it did back on Tatooine. Right before Luke steps fully into that uncertain future, Obi-Wan leaves him with one final reassurance:

“The Force will be with you. Always.”

More than three decades later, that line still feels like the emotional thesis for all of Star Wars. Not because it sounds cool, and not because fans have repeated it endlessly over the years, but because it perfectly captures what the franchise has always been trying to say underneath the space battles and mythology. Star Wars has never really been about winning wars: it’s about holding onto hope when everything around you tells you not to.

Obi-Wan Kenobi Gives The Star Wars Franchise Its Emotional Core

Image via 20th Century Fox

A lot of iconic movie quotes survive because they are attached to spectacle. They come from explosive reveals, or triumphant victories audiences never forget. Obi-Wan Kenobi’s line works for the exact opposite reason. The moment is quiet. Alec Guinness, despite his complicated relationship with the role, delivers “The Force will be with you. Always.” with the calm certainty that defines Obi-Wan throughout the original trilogy. He is not trying to hype Luke up before battle or deliver some grand speech about destiny. If anything, the line feels deeply personal. Obi-Wan understands Luke is terrified, overwhelmed, and stepping into a future he cannot possibly comprehend yet. Instead of filling the moment with exposition or philosophy, he gives Luke something simpler: reassurance.

That simplicity is exactly what gives the quote its staying power. The Force itself has become increasingly complicated over the decades as the franchise expanded through prequels, sequels, animation, books, games, and streaming series. This line cuts through all of that. It reduces the entire concept back down to its emotional purpose. The Force is not just power. It is guidance, faith, connection, and the belief that nobody is truly alone. The word “always” is what turns the quote from comfort into conviction. Obi-Wan is not promising Luke that things will become easy. He is telling him that even after loss, fear, and failure, the Force remains.

“The Force Will Be With You. Always” Became Bigger Than Its Scene

Part of what makes the line so powerful is how naturally it carries the full weight of Obi-Wan and Luke’s relationship. Luke barely has time to understand who Obi-Wan really is before he loses him, but this quote makes their connection feel permanent. It is the kind of reassurance that outlives the person who gives it. That matters because A New Hope is filled with characters trying to keep moving after unimaginable loss. Leia (Carrie Fisher) loses Alderaan and still leads. Luke loses his family and still chooses the Rebellion. Obi-Wan loses almost everything long before the film begins, yet he still believes enough to guide someone else forward. “The Force will be with you. Always,” captures that entire emotional pattern in one sentence.

It also reflects something unique about why Star Wars has endured for so long across generations. Science fiction franchises often become consumed by lore escalation. The stakes grow larger, the mythology becomes denser, and eventually the emotional center starts getting buried underneath continuity. Star Wars survives those shifts because moments like this keep anchoring the franchise in human emotion. No matter how massive the galaxy becomes, the series always circles back to connection, and people trying to believe that light can survive long enough to be passed on.

The Quote Still Defines What ‘Star Wars’ Is Really About

Image via 20th Century Studios

Over the years, Star Wars has produced bigger speeches, darker moments, and more technically impressive scenes than Obi-Wan’s farewell to Luke. Entire generations grew up with different versions of the franchise defining what Star Wars meant to them personally. Yet Obi-Wan’s line still feels untouchable because it captures the series at its emotional purest. At its best, Star Wars has always been about people choosing hope in situations that feel hopeless. The franchise works because it understands optimism is not naive, it is difficult. Sometimes survival itself becomes an act of faith. “The Force will be with you. Always,” distills all of that into six simple words.

Thirty-three years later, the line still lands because it feels bigger than nostalgia: it feels timeless. Even after countless sequels, spin-offs, animated series, and streaming expansions, that quote remains the clearest expression of what made Star Wars matter in the first place. Somehow, in a franchise filled with lightsabers, Death Stars, and one of the greatest villains in movie history, the line that still hits hardest is simply Obi-Wan promising Luke he will never truly be alone.

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Release Date

May 25, 1977

Runtime

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121 minutes

Director

George Lucas

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Writers

George Lucas

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Producers

Gary Kurtz, Rick McCallum

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