Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for The Rookie Season 8, Episode 7.Fans of The Rookie’s Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) were eating good with the latest Season 8 episode, “Baja.” Lucy and Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) take on a major undercover assignment, seeking justice for two murdered women, Jordan and Courtney, who were used as drug mules. During the best parts of the episode, Lucy reveals crucial elements of her backstory that we’ve never heard before. “Baja” marks a major turning point for Lucy as a character, providing incredible depth and context for her overall journey that ties back to the first season!

Lucy Finally Reveals Why She Became a Police Officer

Lucy Chen always featured an interesting backstory in The Rookie because becoming a police officer was not her original career path. In the first season, Lucy disclosed that she initially followed in her psychologist parents’ footsteps, majoring in psychology in college before deciding to join the police academy. However, Lucy demonstrated her commitment to law enforcement, which proved to be her calling. Lucy’s parents never approved of her decision to join the LAPD, viewing her new career as an act of rebellion. However, we never really heard about why Lucy wanted to become a police officer until now.

After Lucy and Harper set out on their undercover op across the border, Harper finally asks Lucy why she dropped out of grad school. In a candid moment, Lucy reveals that when talking to a professor about her career goals, she had a panic attack. Lucy finally realized that for her entire life, all her decisions were based on what her parents wanted and expected of her, as Lucy’s parents always assumed that she would become a psychologist as well. Lucy explains, “That panic attack made me realize I had never made a choice for myself. I was always doing what they wanted, so yeah, I bailed.”

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One of the Most Disastrous Beginnings in ‘The Rookie’ Turned Into Its Best Storyline

This character was exactly what Lucy’s storyline needed!

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Lucy’s revelation shows how she was being smothered by her parents’ expectations and needed to make her own decisions about her life. A later scene with Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) provides additional context and brings the storyline full circle. After Lucy and Harper successfully apprehend the drug dealer, Rafa (Danilo Carrera), and the women’s killer, Chase (Zach Zagoria), Lucy recalls her time as “Van Life Lucy” after dropping out of grad school, referring to it as “mostly bad” and tells Tim that the reason she joined the police academy was that she wanted to be the person she never saw around her, “Someone who cared.” After almost eight years, we finally learned why Lucy became a cop!

Lucy’s Undercover Assignment Was Deeply Personal for Her

Lucy’s undercover assignment in this episode was deeply personal. She not only fought for the assignment, but she also stood her ground with Lt. Wade Grey (Richard T. Jones), fighting on behalf of the two murdered women. O’Neil’s acting in this scene is incredible, as she showcases Lucy’s heartfelt emotions and empathy for the victims, underscoring Lucy’s values, passion, and reasoning for becoming a police officer.

Ultimately, Lucy brought justice to the victims. After Elena Flores (Michelle Núñez) and Grey communicate that Chase murdered Jordan and Courtney, Harper was eager to maintain the undercover op, believing that continuing the job with Rafa could score them a major arrest and take down the drug cartel. Thankfully, Lucy impressed upon Harper that the whole goal of their mission was to find Jordan and Courtney’s murderer and bring him to justice. This was a crucial moment as Harper, a more experienced undercover officer, had previously gotten lost in her undercover assignments, causing her first marriage to fall apart.

Lucy Comes Full Circle in Baja

Image via ABC

Lucy’s character came full circle with this episode. She fought for a major undercover assignment, advocating for two murdered women, not because she felt she earned or deserved it, but because it was the right thing to do. After originally rejecting Lucy’s request for the assignment, Lt. Grey respected her stance and approved the operation. Lucy understood that she needed to be the person to fight for justice for the two women who were killed because no one else would. “Baja” showcased more of Lucy’s character depth, shedding new light on her backstory, and she finally reveals in her own words why she became a police officer.

Considering Harper mentored and instructed Lucy about undercover work in the past, the fact that Lucy snapped Harper back to her senses before Harper became engulfed in the assignment demonstrates how far Lucy has come as a character, displaying how the student has become a master. Lucy is no longer the greenhorn rookie she was in the first season. She is now a seasoned sergeant in the LAPD and an experienced undercover officer, making “Baja” a standout character-defining episode for Lucy. It’s easily one of the best signature Lucy episodes in the show’s entire run.

Unlike some of its biggest streaming rivals, Netflix doesn’t have a back catalog of studio releases that will always pad out its roster. Sure, the service has deals in place with most studios to license their films and TV shows, but the classics will always end up exiting the lineup at one point or another. Many popular films will go through cycles on Netflix and other streamers, appearing for a few months before heading off to another service. The end of February will see one of these all-time great films leave Netflix’s lineup, and subscribers are already hoping it won’t be gone for long.

Pulp Fiction, the 1994 film that made Quentin Tarantino a household name, will no longer be available to stream on Netflix in just a couple of weeks’ time. Sadly, Pulp Fiction is one of the movies that has been handed the dreaded “Leaving Soon” banner by Netflix, meaning that users don’t have much longer to stream it on the service.

‘Pulp Fiction’ Leaving Netflix Soon

Image via Miramax Films

Pulp Fiction has been available to stream on Netflix for some time, but Tarantino’s instant classic is going to disappear from the lineup at the end of this month. Netflix hasn’t released its newsletter for March just yet, but the service has started marking the films set to exit on March 1st, meaning that the final day to watch them will be on February 28th. The game-changing film, which won Tarantino his first Academy Award, isn’t the only great movie exiting Netflix’s lineup when February comes to a close.

February 28th is going to be a big day for Netflix exits, with several awesome movies set to leave the streamer at the same time. Some of the major departures at the end of the month include A League of Their Own, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Amazing Spider-Man, As Good As it Gets, Bottoms, Boyz n the Hood, Braveheart, Dante’s Peak, Double Team, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Snatch, Stand By Me, Stripes, This Is the End, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, and The Wolf of Wall Street.

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Streaming ‘Pulp Fiction’ After Netflix

Image via Miramax Films

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Despite leaving Netflix’s lineup at the end of the month, Pulp Fiction is still set to be readily available across the streaming landscape. In fact, the film can be found on both subscription and free services, giving movie lovers a few different options if they want to check it out.

Of those streaming homes, only Paramount+ is going to cost money. Pulp Fiction is currently streaming on Paramount’s service and there has been no indication that will change once the month of March rolls around. There’s always a chance we could see rivals like Peacock or HBO Max add Pulp Fiction once it leaves Netflix, but we won’t know if that’s the case until the various streamers release their newsletters for March.

For those looking to watch Pulp Fiction without paying for streaming subscriptions, Tarantino’s hit is currently on two different free services — both of which can be accessed through most public libraries. Streamers Hoopla and Kanopy are both free-to-use services that allow folks to sign up with their library cards and receive a certain number of rental credits each month. Those credits are used to “check out” movies and TV titles that you can stream without experiencing any ads.

Of course, there’s always the option to simply buy a copy of Pulp Fiction, which is easily the best bet if you’re a fan of the movie. By owning your own copy, you never have to worry about where something is streaming, and you don’t have to pay for new services or rentals in order to watch it.

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Release Date

September 10, 1994

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Runtime

154 minutes

Producers

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Bob Weinstein, Danny DeVito, Harvey Weinstein, Lawrence Bender, Michael Shamberg, Richard N. Gladstein

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A shooting during a Rhode Island youth hockey game on Monday night left three people dead, including the shooter. Authorities revealed, per the Associated Press, that three more people were in the hospital in critical condition.

RELATED: Sean Grayson Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For The Murder Of Sonya Massey 

More Details About Rhode Island Hockey Game Shooting

Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves told reporters that someone helped bring a swift end to the violent scene Monday afternoon by intervening and trying to subdue the shooter. Goncalves identified the shooter as Robert Dorgan, born in 1969. Dorgan, the chief said, also went by the name Roberta Esposito.

JUST IN: Police confirm the suspect in the Rhode Island hockey game shooting has been identified as Robert, also known as “Roberta.”

This tragic act highlights a deeper issue — untreated mental instability and access to violence.

Instead of politicizing identity, we should be… pic.twitter.com/WvbcQlGW9Y

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— Manni (@ThadhaniManish_) February 17, 2026

The shooter was reportedly at an arena to watch a family member’s hockey game and died from an apparent self-inflicted gun wound, Goncalves said. She added that authorities are still investigating the incident. 

“It appears that this was a targeted event, that it may be a family dispute,” she said.

The police chief did not provide further details about the shooter or the victims, except for saying it appeared that both victims who died were adults.

“My father was the shooter.”
Outside the Pawtucket Police Department a woman said the man who opened fire during a high school hockey game was her father and that he was “very sick.” MORE: https://t.co/VNvOTYtJWS #Pawtucket #hockey #shooting #RhodeIsland pic.twitter.com/KWqPg12J5Y

— WCVB-TV Boston (@WCVB) February 16, 2026

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What Evidence Are Police Looking Into? 

Chief Goncalves said investigators were trying to piece together what happened and have spoken with scores of witnesses who were there inside Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket. The venue is a few miles outside Providence, Rhode Island.

Investigators are also reviewing hockey game footage. Meanwhile, unverified footage circulating on social media shows players diving for cover and fans fleeing their seats after popping sounds are heard.

Closer footage of the shooting in Pawtucket RI pic.twitter.com/OfzZbqjQZ3

— a man has no name (@theironcoin) February 16, 2026

Outside the arena, footage and photos showed tearful families and high school hockey players still in uniform, hugging before they boarded a bus to leave the area.

Incident Follows Shooting At Brown University

Monday’s shooting came nearly two months after Rhode Island was rocked by a gun violence tragedy at Brown University. There, a gunman killed two students and wounded nine others. That shooter went on to also fatally shoot a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor. Authorities later found Claudio Neves Valente, 48, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a New Hampshire storage facility.

“The fortunate thing is that the two incidents are not related, but it is very tragic,” Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien said. “These are high school kids. They were doing an event, they were playing with their families watching, a fun time, and it turned into this.”

Pawtucket is nestled just north of Providence and right under the Massachusetts state border. A city of just under 80,000, Pawtucket had, until recently, been known as the home of Hasbro’s headquarters.

Associated Press writers Kimberlee Kruesi and Becky Bohrer contributed to this report via AP Newsroom. 

The world of sci-fi has given movie lovers a plethora of brilliant cinematic moments. From galaxies far away to a near-distant future where robots rule the world, the genre has pushed our minds to see where storytelling can lead. With advancements in movie technology, sci-fi films now look sleeker than ever, making the genre even more in demand.

If you’ve got the itch to watch a sci-fi film but have no idea where to turn, you’re in luck. We’re here to help. The Prime Video catalog is stacked with some worthy titles. Some are modern classics from brilliant filmmakers. Others are underrated titles that deserve to be heard. Wherever your science fiction journey takes you, these movies are a perfect watch tonight.

4

‘Melancholia’ (2011)

Image courtesy via Magnolia Pictures

Who says you can’t have a juicy romance right before the apocalypse? Such is the case for Lars von Trier‘s Melancholia. The second film in the “Depression Trilogy,” preceded by Antichrist and followed by Nymphomaniac, the 2011 film tells the story of two sisters, Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and Justine (Kirsten Dunst), who marries Michael (Alexander Skarsgård), just prior to a rogue planet named Melancholia threatening to collide with Earth. Exploring the contrasting reactions to the end of the world, the film tackles themes of mental illness, emotional detachment, and cosmic indifference.

While Justine finds a strange calm and acceptance, it stands in stark contrast to the rational Claire’s brazen panic. Von Trier uses Claire to explore how depression can offer a form of emotional preparedness for ultimate destruction and catastrophe. A pre-apocalyptic story, Melancholia is a deeply rich character story within a beautifully pristine film. He’s a wonderful storyteller, bringing originality to the forefront. Melancholia served as a strong vehicle for Dunst, who began to careen in a new dramatic direction as an actress. From a post-COVID-19 mindset, Melancholia provides a new perspective on how we view the end. Plus, if you’ve just witnessed Skarsgård in Pillion, this is a romance in quite stark contrast!

3

‘Mickey 17’ (2025)

Image via Warner Bros.

If you’ve been stuck in the mindset that Robert Pattinson is nothing more than Edward Cullen in the Twilight Saga, you’ve certainly not kept up with his career. He’s shone in films like Water for Elephants, The Lighthouse, and The Batman, but the latest movie that has proven his growth is the brilliant Mickey 17. Directed by Bong Joon Ho, the film is based on Edward Ashton‘s novel. Set in 2054, the film follows a man who joins a space colony as an “Expendable,” a disposable worker cloned every time he is killed. When Mickey 17 seemingly dies, the colony prints Mickey 18, only for the predecessor to return. With two identical Mickeys vying for existence, they battle class struggles, corporate control, and alien threats. The dynamic film brings themes of identity, death, and survival to the forefront in mesmerizing fashion.

Set on a harsh, hostile ice planet called Nifheim, a place where humans struggle for survival and clash with its native species, Mickey 17 looks and feels like a typical science fiction film, but there’s much more to it. There is a wonderful sense of humanity infused into the story. From a directorial standpoint, the film integrates an array of styles, including slapstick comedy and absurdism, with a tinge of horror tossed in for good measure. A strong exploration of the dehumanization of our potential future, Mickey 17 is elaborate in scale and fantastical in scope. If you’ve been counting Pattinson out, this film will start you down the rabbit hole of your new acting obsession.

2

‘Ready Player One’ (2018)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

There are many brilliant directors who have changed the world of cinema. Lots of them remained in one genre, honing their craft in that realm. But then there are some, like Steven Spielberg, who have tapped into so many genres, making him one of the greatest, if not the greatest, filmmakers of all time. Spielberg is likely responsible for your entryway into sci-fi. Maybe it was Close Encounters of the Third Kind in the ’70s or E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in the ’80s. In the ’90s, it most certainly was Jurassic Park. If you thought that’s where it ended, you’d be mistaken. Spielberg gave us the nostalgia-filled masterpiece Ready Player One in the 21st century. An underrated film on his resume, the film was set in a dystopian 2045, as the planet is on the brink of chaos and collapse. To find solace, they find salvation in the OASIS, an expansive virtual reality universe created by the eccentric James Halliday (Mark Rylance). After he dies, he promises his immense fortune to the first person who discovers a digital Easter egg hidden deep within the Oasis. When young Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) joins in on the contest, he finds himself becoming an unlikely hero in a reality-blending treasure hunt through a fantastical world of mystery, discovery, and danger.

Spielberg tackles a range of topics, including the dangers of escapism and corporate greed, while keeping you entertained throughout. Tapping into the nostalgia that will forever be associated with the director, Ready Player One encapsulates Spielberg’s cinematic prowess as he adapts to the changing landscape of film technology. A relentless thrill ride, the film keeps the stakes high thanks to its non-stop action. If you’re a fan of finding hidden Easter eggs in a film, Spielberg layers them in. But spoiler alert, don’t expect to see his IP anywhere — instead, other beloved ’80s pop culture becomes a significant part of the film. At the end of the day, you may walk away from Ready Player One with the thought that Spielberg nearly predicted the virtual reality Metaverse that has since been unleashed.

1

‘Timestalker’ (2024)

Image via Ludo Roberts

There is a very strong chance that Timestalker is not a film you were familiar with prior to reading this list. And that’s OK, because that’s what we’re here for. Written, directed, and starring Alice Lowe, Timestalker is a historical science fiction romantic comedy. While those may seem like a lot of random descriptors combined into one, believe me, it makes sense. The film tells the story of Agnes as she falls in love with the wrong man, just to die a grim death. She then gets reincarnated, only to fall in love with him over and over again, traveling through the ages, spanning the 1680s in western Scotland, rural England in the 1790s, Manhattan in the 1980s, and a post-apocalyptic 22nd century. As she seeks to avoid repeat mistakes, Agnes is dead-set on finally breaking the cycle. A visually beautiful film that masterfully captures each time Agnes falls into, Timestalker is a profoundly humorous comedy that explores love and fate through the lens of second chances.

In addition to Lowe, the ensemble includes Nick Frost and Jacob Anderson. Lowe infuses the tale with a comedic, violent tone, making it a surrealistic masterpiece. Delving into the idea of killing for love, Agnes has a desperate determination to break the pattern while still holding onto an unhealthy, idealized relationship. For those of us who have been stuck on who we believe is the one, only to hinder others’ potential, Timestalker resonates. Though you may not think that a sci-fi film would be a great romantic option, Timestalker defies that. It’s an excellent watch, and it may help you move on from your toxic past.

Although it might seem impossible, some movies are the closest thing to perfection that a cinematic effort can get. To most people, this impression is subjective, including the directors who make them. These creators are also avid movie fans, and most of their work is an homage to something they grew up loving and admiring. Over the last five years, there have been movies that have moved the boundaries of what’s been seen so far and have even given some big stars their well-deserved comebacks.

The beauty of film lies in the fact that movies are all in different genres and make people of different ages and sensibilities happy. The flawless movies on this list were released in the last five years and come in various genres and lengths, but serve the same purpose: they show why cinema is so great, so relatable, and so eternally inspiring to people all over the world.

15

‘Godzilla Minus One’ (2023)

Image via Toho

It might be surprising that a kaiju movie is on the list, since the Godzilla franchise in the U.S. has turned into a bit of an IP and doesn’t always get the highest quality adaptations and features. However, the first Japanese Godzilla movie since Shin Godzilla of 2016, Godzilla Minus One, was one of the most talked-about movies in 2023. Praised for brilliant and captivating performances, clever and grounded writing, and fantastic visual effects that surpassed most movies that year, Godzilla Minus One really is a perfect movie in every way. It was, as critics said, the first Godzilla movie where you cheer for the people and not the monster.

Godzilla Minus One shows the protagonist, a kamikaze pilot, Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), landing on the island of Odo for repairs on his plane. While there, he and the mechanics are attacked by a giant deep-sea monster resembling a dinosaur, which the locals dubbed Godzilla. Shikishima soon advances to Tokyo and settles there with a woman and child he finds homeless. As Godzilla advances toward Tokyo, Shikishima joins the experts fighting against the monster to stop it from destroying the entire city. It’s an amazing movie, no doubt about it, and a great testament to Japan’s enduring dedication to making Godzilla the scariest kaiju ever conceived.

14

‘No Other Choice’ (2025)

Image via NEON

No Other Choice is the most recent Park Chan-wook feature film, starring Lee Byung-hun. Park and Lee have reunited after 25 years to make another future classic, backed up by Neon and widely praised by filmmakers and critics from all over the world. No Other Choice was based on the novel The Ax by Donald Westlake, and was inspired by the novel’s first adaptation, Costa-Gavras‘ French feature, The Axe; in fact, as the end credits roll on No Other Choice, a dedication “to Costa-Gavras” is shown on the screen. Just before the American premiere of the film, Park issued an invitation to all Fortune 500 CEOs to come and watch this film, as it was “dedicated to them.” Notably, No Other Choice was heavily snubbed with zero Oscar nominations.

No Other Choice follows a longtime employee of a paper company, Yoo Man-su (Lee), and he lives a comfortable life with his wife and two kids. One day, Man-su is fired along with several other middle-aged employees, with the higher-ups saying, “There was no other choice.” Man-su struggles to find work within his expertise, but when an opening comes up, he realizes that the only way to get the job is if he eliminates the competition. No Other Choice is a dark comedy/satire/thriller, and it’s a beautiful, uniquely South Korean feature. The impressive performances and the amount of humor infused into the characters’ desperation make it one of those movies that will make you cry and laugh. Lee stands out as this is one of his funniest roles to date, and Park considers No Other Choice a “lifetime project.”

13

‘Conclave’ (2024)

Image via Focus Features

Conclave garnered a lot of attention in 2025, as people were rewatching it amid the death of Pope Francis. However, even when it first came out, the adoration for it was, just like the movie, quietly powerful. People were cheering for Ralph Fiennes to finally get his long-deserved golden statue at the 2025 Oscars, but alas, just like the Cardinals coveting the title of the Pope, Fiennes was robbed of the victory. Conclave is a thrilling movie without an ounce of action, and one of the best movies of the past five years. It can very easily be considered perfect from start to finish; yes, even the ending is.

Conclave follows the Cardinals in the Vatican, who seal themselves off from the world in the process of selecting the new Pope after the death of the most recent one. The protagonist is Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes), a man who tries to maintain fairness and nobility in the selection, though he’s often sabotaged in his attempts by other, more power-hungry Cardinals. It’s like Gossip Girl meets the Vatican, in truly the best way possible. Conclave is also incredibly visually beautiful, with stunning photography and camerawork.

12

‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ (2022)

Image via Searchlight Pictures

Though Martin McDonagh had no effect on the stunning landscapes of Ireland, his choice of location can be deemed perfect by itself; the beautiful Aran Islands in Galway County made the ideal backdrop for a story about friendship. The Banshees of Inisherin is a black comedy-drama about two lifelong friends, Padraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson), set in a fictional village called Inisherin. After reaching a breaking point, Colm decides to end his friendship with Padraic, who can’t come to terms with that. As Padraic insistently pursues Colm for an explanation, the latter retreats further, resorting to strict measures.

Farrell does such a wonderful job as Padraic that, in moments, viewers’ hearts could genuinely break for him. On the other hand, Gleeson’s stubborn and stoic portrayal of Colm may sometimes feel heartless through understated but powerful acting. The story explores the loneliness of life on a poor and barely populated island, but more than that, it shows how anger, honesty, and pride can be double-edged swords, even among lifelong friends. The soundtrack by Carter Burwell, McDonagh’s punchy script, and the genuinely fabulous performances from the entire cast make The Banshees of Inisherin one of the perfect movies of the last five years.

11

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (2022)

Image via Paramount Pictures

With so many sequels, prequels, and spin-offs overtaking Hollywood over the past five to ten years, the fact that a legacy sequel like Top Gun: Maverick was going to be one of the best movies of that year hadn’t occurred to anyone. Except, well, maybe director Joseph Kosinski, leading man Tom Cruise, and the studio heads who approved it. Maverick isn’t only great, but it can be very well argued that it’s one of 2022’s movies that is perfect from start to finish. Real airborne stunts and performances, brilliant action choreographies and directing, and some cheesy, but lovable characters really made Maverick the action masterpiece that Cruise and the crew can be proud of.

Top Gun: Maverick follows the previous movie’s protagonist, Maverick (Cruise), aka Pete Mitchell, as he returns to the Top Gun training school as a teacher. There, he sees the son of his deceased flying partner Goose Bradshaw, Rooster Bradshaw (Miles Teller). Rooster dislikes Maverick, but the two bond over their time at the Top Gun academy. Their relationship, however, is secondary to the exciting main plot, which is training Top Gun pilots to drop bombs on an unsanctioned uranium enrichment plant before any enemy countries get their hands on it. With some great ensemble moments and intense flying scenes, Maverick turns into an incredibly fun and exciting movie that will keep you glued to the screen.

10

‘Aftersun’ (2022)

Image via A24

The loss of someone close can feel like the ground’s been swept away from one’s feet. Aftersun takes viewers through a father-daughter story while slowly, with some hints but just enough not to notice, pulling the ground away from them. Charlotte Wells‘ tribute to her father is so beautifully depicted that the only way to describe the movie’s impact is through the famous line, “Life imitates art.” This coming-of-age drama follows 11-year-old Sophie (Frankie Corio) on a holiday in Turkey with her dad, Calum (Paul Mescal). Sophie records most of the vacation with her camera and uses the footage as a grownup to rewatch and reminisce.

Sophie’s dad, Calum, tries his best to be open with her but exhibits signs of mental anguish that she (unsuccessfully) attempts to fix. In Aftersun, Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio’s dynamics and chemistry are natural; Mescal hasn’t been in a lot since his debut in Normal People, but Aftersun will surely be one of his best-remembered movies. Charlotte Wells’ directorial debut is one of the best movies of the decade and a beautiful way to capture a relationship that will, to her, remain eternal.

9

‘Past Lives’ (2023)

Image via A24

The concept called inyeon is an idea that a current relationship between two lovers is impacted by the relationships they had in over a thousand past lives. This is the driving force behind Celine Song’s devastatingly emotional debut, Past Lives, starring Greta Lee and Teo Yoo. They portray Nora and Hae-sung, two childhood friends from Korea who become separated after Nora’s family moves to the US. They find each other online after twelve years and rekindle the relationship, but life and fate separate them once again for another twelve years.

In the present time, Nora is married to Arthur (John Magaro), and their relationship seems to be stable and well. When Hae-sung reaches out to Nora again, they agree for him to visit her in the US. Arthur notices a shift in Nora’s behavior while she’s forced to navigate her feelings for him and Hae-sung. The pressure of what could have been is a haunting idea for many, often wondering “what if” about someone, trying to understand if what they have now could or should be different. In a heartbreaking final scene, Past Lives concludes a beautiful but sad story about the multitudes of love.

8

‘Anora’ (2024)

Custom Image by Federico Napoli

The character posters for Anora featured all the characters announcing the movie in a different genre. For example, the poster with Mikey Madison says Anora is a “Cinderella story,” while Karren Karagulian‘s poster says it’s a drama, and Yuri Borisov‘s says it’s a tragedy. It’s a brilliant detail in an already pretty elaborate and layered drama that still depicts a very classic story. Anora won Best Picture, Sean Baker won Best Director, and Madison won Best Actress for Anora at the 2025 Oscars, and though the sweep was surprising, it was very well-deserved. Just the final five minutes of the movie are a film in themselves, showing a completely different yet anticipated side of our fierce and feisty protagonist, Anora.

Anora follows the eponymous Anora, a stripper in an NYC club who prefers to go by Ani. Ani has Russian heritage, and when a young heir to a business mogul, Ivan (Mark Eydelstein), requests a girl who speaks Russian, his and Ani’s paths cross, and the two start spending time together. Ani falls for Ivan, but when he hears his parents might be coming to the US, he vanishes, and Ani’s left to look for him with his goons. It’s a thriller, a drama, a comedy, a tragedy in many ways, and a modern fairytale depending on who you ask; the layers of Anora are worth examining in several rewatches.

7

‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (2022)

Image via A24

The ultimate winner of the 2023 Oscars, Everything Everywhere All at Once is a rare offbeat movie that won over mass audiences and most movie critics. It’s not a story that’s easy to retell since it tackles many important topics, from self-discovery and mental illness to disrupting tradition and finding a place to belong. Still, EEAO caused a shift, giving prestigious awards to Asian actors for leading roles, a welcome addition to the wonderful world of film and TV.

EEAO follows Evelyn Quan Wong (Michelle Yeoh), a laundromat owner whose relationships with her husband, father, and daughter are all strained in some way. When she starts becoming different versions of herself from parallel universes, she realizes it’s on her to save existence itself. There’s a genre for everyone in EEAO; Ke Huy Quan is exceptional in the stunning action portions of the sci-fi movie, though Michelle Yeoh doesn’t fall behind. Stephanie Hsu also brings a relatable character as Evelyn’s daughter, an immigrant child with set traditions and rules in place where parental love should be. A masterclass in genre-bending, Everything Everywhere All at Once is still as relevant as it was years ago.

6

‘Flow’ (2024)

Image via Baltic Content Media

Flow is a powerhouse film, most notably because of how it was made, and then because of its unique concept. This animated feature by a Latvian director and animator, Gints Zilbalodis, won the Best Animated Feature Oscar and was nominated for Best International Feature Film. Fun facts about this movie include it being entirely made in the free, open-source 3D software called Blender, not having a storyboard concept, and no deleted scenes; the animals that are introduced throughout the film were Zilbalodis’ practice of rendering and observing the animals from different perspectives, which shaped Flow into a moving story about cooperation and found family.

Flow follows a small black cat in a post-apocalyptic world where water rises occasionally and floods the entire area. The cat fights for survival by hunting and running away from other animals, before it reluctantly joins forces with a Labrador dog, a capybara, a lemur, and a secretarybird. They float around on a boat and learn how to live and work together, forming a tight-knit group of animals. Flow has no words spoken throughout its 85-minute runtime, though the sound designer’s cat did “borrow” its meows to the cat in the film; there’s also a beautifully composed original soundtrack. Flow is a visual feast and an adventure for all ages, a truly beautiful feat of animated film.

The legendary Rev. Jesse Jackson died Tuesday (Feb. 17). He was 84. Jackson was a protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and a two-time presidential candidate who led the Civil Rights Movement for decades after King’s assassination.

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What To Know About Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Death

One of his six children, Santita Jackson, confirmed that her father died at home in Chicago, surrounded by family.

“Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family said in a statement posted online. “We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family.”

He is survived by his wife, 81-year-old Jacqueline Lavinia Brown, and their other four children, Yusef DuBois, Jacqueline Lavinia Jr., Jonathan Luther and Jesse L. Jackson Jr. Rev. Jackson also had a sixth child, Ashley Jackson, whom he fathered with one of his employees at Rainbow/PUSH, Karen L. Stanford. Given his own history as a child born out of wedlock, he reportedly supported Ashley emotionally and financially.

The family has not revealed an official cause of death. However, Rev. Jesse Jackson experienced profound health challenges in his final years, including a rare neurological disorder that affected his ability to move and speak. Still, the reverend continued protesting against racial injustice into the era of Black Lives Matter.

In his final months, Rev. Jackson was receiving 24-hour care. Additionally, he had lost his ability to speak. He communicated with family and visitors by holding their hands and squeezing, per the Associated Press.

Jesse Jackson’s Health Took Several Hits Until The End

In 2017, Rev. Jesse Jackson disclosed that he had sought treatment for Parkinson’s. However, he continued to make public appearances even as the disease made it more difficult for listeners to understand him. Earlier this year doctors confirmed a diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy, a life-threatening neurological disorder. He was admitted to a hospital in November 2025.

During the coronavirus pandemic, he and his wife survived being hospitalized with COVID-19. Jackson was vaccinated early, urging Black people in particular to get protected, given their higher risks for bad outcomes.

“It’s America’s unfinished business — we’re free, but not equal,” Jackson told the AP. “There’s a reality check that has been brought by the coronavirus, that exposes the weakness and the opportunity.”

The Icon Who Fought For Black Pride

As a young organizer in Chicago, Rev. Jesse Jackson was called to meet with Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis shortly before King was killed and he publicly positioned himself thereafter as King’s successor.

Jackson led a lifetime of crusades in the United States and abroad. He advocated for the poor and underrepresented on issues from voting rights and job opportunities to education and health care. He scored diplomatic victories with world leaders. Through his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, he channeled cries for Black pride and self-determination into corporate boardrooms, pressuring executives to make America a more open and equitable society. And when he declared, “I am Somebody,” in a poem he often repeated, he sought to reach people of all colors

“I may be poor, but I am Somebody; I may be young; but I am Somebody; I may be on welfare, but I am Somebody,” Jackson intoned.

He took the message literally and personally, having risen from the segregated South to become America’s best-known civil rights activist since Dr. King.

“Even if we win,” he told marchers in Minneapolis before the officer whose knee kept George Floyd from breathing was convicted of murder, “it’s relief, not victory. They’re still killing our people. Stop the violence, save the children. Keep hope alive.”

Jackson’s voice, infused with the stirring cadences and powerful insistence of the Black church, demanded attention. On the campaign trail and elsewhere, he used rhyming and slogans to deliver his messages. Some of his other known ones? such as: “Hope not dope” and “If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it then I can achieve it.”

Still, Rev. Jesse Jackson had his share of critics, both within and outside of the Black community. Some considered him a grandstander, too eager to seek out the spotlight. Looking back on his life and legacy, Jackson told The Associated Press in 2011 that he felt blessed to be able to continue the service of other leaders before him and to lay a foundation for those to come.

“A part of our life’s work was to tear down walls and build bridges, and in a half century of work, we’ve basically torn down walls,” Jackson said. “Sometimes when you tear down walls, you’re scarred by falling debris, but your mission is to open up holes so others behind you can run through.”

Celebs React To Rev. Jackson’s Passing (LIVE UPDATES)

Fellow civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton said his mentor “was not simply a civil rights leader; he was a movement unto himself.”

“He taught me that protest must have purpose, that faith must have feet, and that justice is not seasonal, it is daily work,” Sharpton wrote in a statement.

Sharpton added that Jackson taught “trying is as important as triumph. That you do not wait for the dream to come true; you work to make it real.”

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Associated Press writers Sophia Tareen, Amy Forliti, and Aaron Morrison, along with former writer Karen Hawkins, contributed to this report via AP Newsroom. 

Anderson Cooper Wants To Spend More Time With His Children

CBS News’ Response To Anderson Cooper’s Exit

The Journalist Reportedly Didn’t Align With New Management

Anderson Cooper Is Staying With CNN

Anderson Cooper’s Two Sons

Anderson Cooper’s time with 60 Minutes is coming to an end after nearly 20 years.

Cooper, 58, announced on Monday, February 16, that he would not be renewing his contract with the long-running CBS series.

“Being a correspondent at 60 Minutes has been one of the great honors of my career. I got to tell amazing stories, and work with some of the best producers, editors, and camera crews in the business,” he told Variety in a statement. “For nearly twenty years, I’ve been able to balance my jobs at CNN and CBS, but I have little kids now and I want to spend as much time with them as possible, while they still want to spend time with me.”

According to Variety, Cooper, who joined 60 Minutes in 2007, had been in negotiations with CBS about a potential renewal in recent weeks but ultimately chose to focus on his work with CNN as anchor on Anderson Cooper 360°, as well as the network’s annual New Year’s Eve special, which he cohosts with Bravo’s Andy Cohen. 

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Cooper is the father of two sons — Wyatt, 4, and Sebastian, 3 — whom he shares with ex Benjamin Maisani. The journalist announced during a May 2020 CNN Town Hall broadcast that he had secretly welcomed his first child via surrogate, later asking Maisani, whom he dated from 2009 to 2018, to coparent. 

“I don’t really have a family, so my friends have become my family,” he explained during a May 2020 appearance on The Howard Stern Show. “This is somebody I was involved with for 10 years. He’s a great guy. I think it’s good to have two parents if you can.”

He continued, “When I was a little kid, it was just my mom and my brother. My mom, she was not the most parental person, and I wish some adult after my dad died had stepped in and just been like, ‘You know what, I’ll take you to a ball game,’ or, ‘Let’s go out to lunch every now and then, and let’s just talk.’ No one ever did that.” 

The exes expanded their brood in February 2022 with Benjamin. Cooper previously opened up to People about how he and Maisani, who is a nightclub owner, balance careers and parenthood. 

“I work nights, and so he’s there at night,” Anderson explained to the outlet, noting that it was a very “natural” process. “And we both wake up right before they wake up, get them their milk and spend the first couple of hours of the day just us with them. And Benjamin speaks French to them. I have no idea what they’re saying. I think they’re plotting against me.”