Beyond the Gates has Kat Richardson (Colby Muhammad) and Eva Thomas Richardson (Ambyr Michelle), both with really hunky men in their lives that love them. But we might be heading for a huge couple swap because Kat’s spending a lot of time with Eva’s man Izaiah Hawthorne (David Lami Friebe) and Tomas Navarro (Alex Alegria) keeps turning to Eva.

Kat & Ava’s Issues on Beyond the Gates

Let’s get into the possibility of a man swap between these two half-sisters. So this latest twist could take their sister rivalry to a whole new level. This could be Kat getting revenge on Eva or there may be something more to it.

The underlying problem here is daddy issues because Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) never knew he had a second daughter, Eva. And that’s because Dana ‘Leslie’ Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) hid this from Ted because Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) threatened to hurt Leslie and her child if she didn’t have an abortion.

Leslie’s Chaos on Beyond the Gates

So, as far as Ted knew, Leslie had terminated the pregnancy. But in defense of Ted, he also didn’t know that Bill had made scary threats to Leslie. So, she basically went on to raise Eva on a diet of lies. Leslie told her that Ted knew about her this whole time and just rejected Eva. And then once Leslie’s husband died, she decided to go and get disruptive. She told Eva a whole bunch more lies to get her to participate in the scheme to ruin Ted and Nicole Dupree Richardson (Daphnee Duplaix)’s high society anniversary party and their marriage and their lives.

So, Leslie wanted revenge, but she also wanted to steal Ted back from Nicole. And of course, Eva was horrified when she learned that Leslie had been lying to her for years. And at that point, Ted and Nicole had welcomed Eva into their home, let her into their inner circle while she was working as Nicole’s assistant.

Kat Suspicious of Ava on BTG

Of course, Kat was on to Eva from the start. She was certain the interloper was up to something. But Kat had no idea just how bad it was going to get. And Ted, Nicole, and the others pushed back on Kat and told her, “Leave Eva alone. Give her a chance.”

And then when the big party crash happened, of course, Kat was totally vindicated, and she expected everybody to side with her and reject Eva. But instead, Ted wanted to make things right with his other daughter. He saw that it wasn’t her fault, it was Leslie’s fault. And their brother, Martin, opened up his heart and accepted Eva into his life, as did his kids.

And even Nicole forgave Eva because she knew Leslie had manipulated her whole life. But none of that mattered to Kat, who remained locked in on hating her sister, which is completely understandable, right?

Beyond the Gates: Eva & Tomas Cross Lines

Daddy drama aside, let’s talk about the romantic rivalry between Eva and Kat because it looks like things are about to pivot in a really big way. And it all kicked off when Tomas and Eva bonded over shared love of that sci-fi book series that Kat wasn’t interested in at all. And let’s be clear, Eva was flirting and making moves on Tomas back then. She was jealous of Kat and was being totally inappropriate.

But also, Tomas was crossing lines because he shouldn’t have been getting that close to Eva when he knew his girlfriend Kat did not like her sister at all. And then when Tomas had that big blow up with Kat about their lackluster love making, you know, Tomas felt like he and Kat were done. Without wasting a second, Tomas ran over and crawled into Eva’s bed.

And she reassured Tomas the problem wasn’t him because he rocked Eva’s world even though he hadn’t managed at that point to give Kat a big O yet. What was even worse was when Tomas was in bed with Eva. That was the moment Kat decided to extend an olive branch and stopped by her sister’s apartment with a gift and instead of doing sister bonding, she found out her boyfriend had slept with her sister Eva. It was so messy.

Kat Flips Out on BTG

And Kat was understandably furious. And she made sure everybody knew that Eva slept with Tomas. Plus, as soon as Kat showed up and found them together and caught them red-handed, Tomas ditched Eva and followed Kat right out the door. Whatever Eva thought they might have had, he betrayed and she felt less than when it was compared to her sister.

Again, at the time, I was actually wondering if Kat forgave Tomas because she loved him or because she just wanted to keep him away from Eva because she was so mad that once again, her terrible sister had done something really bad. And even after all that, Tomas is still friends with Eva. But to her credit, since then, she’s respected Tomas and Kat’s relationship, and she has established very firm and careful boundaries. Eva has kept Tomas in the friend zone.

Beyond the Gates: Eva Turns Things Around

We haven’t seen Eva flirting with Tomas again and also Kat and Tomas worked out their bedroom issues and for quite a while they seemed to be in a good place up until Tomas proposed in front of the entire Dupree family and Kat said no. And then again Tomas ran to Eva but she did keep him in the friend zone and said he needed to find a guy to talk to and not her. But Tomas keeps showing up.

He even brought a book over when Eva was recovering from transplant surgery. And Tomas seemed a little low-key envious that Eva has moved on with Izaiah. So, right now, Kat and Tomas are kind of at a lackluster point in their relationship.

Even though they’ve moved in together, both of them are hyper focused on work and they’re not really making time for each other or romance. Meanwhile, Eva’s fallen head over heels for Izaiah. He was right there the whole time during her medical crisis, took care of her while she recovered from liver transplant surgery.

Kat’s Surprising Behavior on BTG

But then all of a sudden, Kat starts hanging around with Izaiah and there is a flirty vibe there. And Eva wasn’t happy to see Izaiah laughing and having fun with Kat at Orphe Jeans. And I actually don’t think that this is something that Kat has staged to torment Eva because Kat didn’t know Eva would walk up and see them together. So, I don’t think it was performative.

And to make matters worse, after Kat left, then Izaiah started gushing about what a business genius Kat is. So, it feels like Beyond the Gates is gearing up for a couple swap. Tomas isn’t happy that Kat turned down his proposal and Eva’s not happy about Izaiah vibing with Kat.

And there seems to be genuine chemistry between Izaiah and Kat. And there’s been chemistry for a while between Tomas and Eva. Of course, couple swaps are always exciting on soaps, and Beyond the Gates hasn’t really done one yet, but I feel like this time they’re headed there. In a way, Izaiah and Kat are a much better match because of their family backgrounds.

Beyond the Gates: A Swap Makes Perfect Sense

And the same goes for Tomas and Eva, who are both scrappy outsiders. So, we’ll see how it goes. But Izaiah doesn’t seem like a cheater. But if Kat picks up on the vibe that Eva is jealous of her hanging out with Izaiah, then Kat might keep doing it sort of as a revenge clapback because Eva slept with Tomas.

And if Eva gets mad, she might cross lines with Tomas. I tend to think that Eva and Tomas are more likely to do something and cross lines, maybe cheat, maybe get spotted making out something, and then Izaiah and Kat cross lines because they’re upset at what their partners have done to betray them. But we’ll see how it goes.

One upside to Izaiah couple swapping and changing sisters from Eva over to Kat is that he won’t have to deal with Leslie anymore. Tomas has already dealt with Leslie. He knows the drill. Eva’s mom is definitely unwanted baggage in any relationship.

And I’m sure Izaiah would have a lot easier time dealing with Nicole than with Leslie. And I bet his parents, Darlene and Elon Hawthorne (Malachi Malik), would much prefer that he’s dating a Richardson than somebody tied to Leslie Thomas. So, I definitely am vibing with a couple swap ahead on Beyond the Gates, but we’ll see how it goes.

Three days doesn’t sound like a long time, but you can watch so many movies in a 72-hour timeframe.

Maybe that’s why Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+ and Apple TV decided to release some of their biggest late summer/early fall releases this Labor Day weekend.

The Watch With Us crew are big nerds, which is why we’re over the Forest Moon of Endor with the streaming release of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.

We also love a good thriller, and HBO Max is now streaming one with Fuze, starring Theo James, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and a ticking time bomb in the heart of London.

We also recommend streaming the Scary Movie reboot with Anna Faris and the Apple TV spy thriller Mayday starring Ryan Reynolds.

‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’ (2026) — Disney+

The knives were out last May when Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu debuted in theaters and pleased almost no one. Critics complained it seemed like a shortened season of The Mandalorian (they’re not wrong!), while fans thought the story lacked the epic scope that’s typical of Star Wars films. But the film plays better on streaming, and it’s an enjoyable side quest that isn’t as offensively bad as, say, The Rise of Skywalker.

New Republic Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver) needs to bring in notorious crime lord Janu Coin (Jonny Coyne), but she doesn’t know where he is. That’s why she tasks Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his pint-sized partner, Grogu (Grogu), to find him. But the duo first has to do a favor that involves tracking down another elusive criminal, Rotta the Hutt (voiced by Jeremy Allen White). Jabba’s surviving son has a bad rep, so even if they find him, they might not survive long enough to gain crucial intel concerning Coine’s whereabouts.

‘Fuze’ (2026) — HBO Max

When an unexploded World War II bomb is found in the heart of London, the police call in Major Will Tranter (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his crew to defuse it. Nearby, Giorgos Karalis (Theo James) and a team of robbers drill their way into a bank, looking for valuable jewels to steal. These incidents appear to be isolated, but they’re both happening at the same time for a reason and soon all of London is embroiled in a daring criminal escapade that threatens to go off the rails — and might kill lots of innocents.

Related: 3 Great New Prime Video Movies to Watch This Labor Day Weekend

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Labor Day weekend shouldn’t be laborious, which is why it’s the perfect time to kick back, relax and watch a good movie or two. You don’t even have to bother deciding which films to watch — that’s What to Watch’s job. We’ve selected three great new Prime Video movies to stream over the long Labor […]

Fuze is a deceptively tricky crime thriller that starts simple and ends up needing a flashback to fill in the blanks of its complex story. It all makes sense, though, and credit director David Mackenzie for making sure you know who the important players are and why they’re teaming up or backstabbing each other. At a brisk 96 minutes, the film is the perfect length to generate maximum tension without any unnecessary padding.

‘Scary Movie’ (2026) — Paramount+

26 years after they survive a brutal massacre that left most of their friends dead, Cindy (Anna Faris), Brenda (Regina Hall), Shorty (Marlon Wayans) and Ray (Shawn Wayans) find themselves once again menaced by Ghostface. Now middle-aged and with teens of their own, the “core four” must reunite to protect their loved ones from a killer who knows them all too well.

Whether or not Scary Movie is a good film is beside the point – they’re all kinda bad, with over-the-top acting, a script littered with holes and some lazy sight gags. But the Scary Movies that are entertaining, like the original and the third installment, work because they have enough jokes to make the other flaws seem irrelevant. This reboot barely passes that test, with a still-game Faris and Hall willing to do anything for a laugh. Yes, it’s stupid, but 2026’s Scary Movie is also funny when it needs to be, and that’s enough.

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‘Mayday’ (2026) — Apple TV+

It’s 1987, which means the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union is still on. That’s why U.S. Navy pilot Lieutenant Troy Kelly (Ryan Reynolds) is so on edge after his top-secret spy plane is shot down over the Soviet Union. He survives the crash, but he might not live long enough in a country that’s hostile to anything American. Fortunately for Troy, he’s found by Nikolai (Kenneth Branagh), a reclusive outdoorsman who loves American culture, especially Top Gun. Nikolai likes his foreign friend enough to help him leave the country in one piece, but their journey to sanctuary is complicated by a determined Red Army who wants to capture Troy, dead or alive.

Reynolds hasn’t made a lot of memorable movies lately, but Mayday is a surprisingly entertaining film that’s a welcome love letter to all those buddy cop action films of the 1980s. Like Red Heat and Spies Like Us, Mayday throws together two unlikely actors, in this case Reynolds and Branagh, and lets them cook. Branagh in particular is a hoot; the normally serious British actor clearly relishes using a thick Russian accent to play a lovable Ruskie whose KGB background is useful when avoiding Soviet authorities. Mayday is so engaging to watch that you wish you could see it in a proper movie theater with others around you.

Pop culture, by definition, consists of popular ideas and trends, fashion, entertainment, including music, movies and TV shows that are ingratiated and shared by the public at a certain period of time. Very few science fiction franchises have impacted pop culture as much as Star Trek and Star Wars. While Star Trek, upon its premiere in 1966, depicted a future where humanity set aside its petty differences to explore the stars. Star Wars, on the other hand, recounts a time period where humanity, well accustomed to space and its diverse stars “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,” is caught alongside other species in an epic cosmic struggle between good and evil as heroes fight against tyrannical galactic governments in a universe bound together by a mystical energy called the Force.

While both franchises are separated by over a decade, with Star Trek premiering in 1966 and Star Wars eleven years later in 1977, both have gone on to remain incredibly relevant in the modern age while still inspiring other sci-fi creators over the years. Among sci-fi fans, Gene Roddenberry‘s vision of humanity’s spacefaring has established Star Trek as arguably the greatest space opera of all time. Since its premiere in 1966, the franchise has gone on to feature multiple spin-off series and movies ​​​​​​that have further expanded its lore. Now, sixty years later, Star Trek is celebrating its anniversary with multiple events this September and Peacock has a special package coming for its subscribers.

Having just raised subscription prices for its customers, Peacock might be able to soften the blow for those who are sci-fi and Star Trek fans, as J.J. Abrams‘ 2009 Star Trek movie and its two sequels, 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness, and 2016’s Star Trek Beyond, began streaming on the platform this past Tuesday, September 1. The release of the Star Trek reboot trilogy comes about a week before Star Trek celebrates its 60th anniversary on Star Trek Day, Sept. 8. At its release, the trilogy was billed a reboot of the franchise, it does not completely sever ties with the events of the franchise’s prime timeline with the destruction of the USS Kelvin, the federation starship James T. Kirk’s father, George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth), being the link between the prime Star Trek timeline and its splinter, the “Kelvin Timeline.” This, perhaps, is one of the great appeals of Star Trek as the franchise finds ways to constantly reinventing itself over the years​.

Who Is Behind the ‘Star Trek’ Kelvin Timeline Trilogy?

The aforementioned Abrams directed both Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness, bringing his signature heavy visual style to the fore in both titles. By the time Star Trek Beyond came around, Abrams had taken his talents across the sci-fi divide, crossing over to Star Wars and bringing that franchise back to theaters with 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens. In his stead, Justin Lin took over directorial duties, though Abrams remained on as a producer. Despite succeeding in building connections with the first two movies, Star Trek Beyond disappointed at the box office, with its opening weekend lower than its two reboot predecessors. This has ultimately resulted in a decade-long delay for a fourth movie.

The main cast of the Kelvin Timeline trilogy include Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock, Simon Pegg as Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, Karl Urban as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, Zoe Saldaña as Uhura, John Cho as Sulu, and Anton Yelchin as Chekov.

The landscape might be changing for the franchise, but Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond are currently streaming on Peacock. Stay tuned to Collider for updates.

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Release Date

May 8, 2009

Runtime

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127 Minutes

Writers

Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Gene Roddenberry

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2026 has been a bit more of a low-key year for Jason Statham. While the action icon continues to pump out pulse-pounding features that stand as audience favorites, his two movies this year, Shelter and Mutiny, haven’t exactly lit the world on fire at the box office. The former may have since found streaming success, but the Ric Roman Waugh-directed film ended just shy of $54 million globally when it needed around $100 million to turn a profit. The book isn’t closed on his Die Hard-like boat-bound flick either, but it’s off to a rocky start as well, only grossing around $23 million since its release on August 21. Still, while the box office results aren’t promising, most of his battles are won instead on the VOD market, where his mid-budget thrillers have often thrived.

It’s been a minute since Statham has been the face of a proper blockbuster like The Meg, though. Released back in 2018 and loosely adapting Steve Alten‘s novel of the same name, the giant shark flick thrived as a co-production between the U.S. and China, earning $529 million globally with its explosive take on the sharksploitation genre. Everyone’s favorite modern British ass-kicker played Jonas Taylor, a search-and-rescue diver who was run out of the business for his unbelievable claims of a 70-foot-long behemoth lurking in the depths of the ocean. Years later, when another mission, including his ex-wife, is trapped by what appears to be that same creature, and he’s called upon to help, he must face his fears and dive once more to confront the megalodon, save the researchers, and find redemption.

Although critics didn’t love The Meg and it’s closing in on a decade since the movie hit theaters, it’s been one of Statham’s most enduring thrillers in recent memory, getting a sequel in 2023 and continually thriving on streaming. HBO Max most recently called the film home, but September began with the blockbuster dropping from the platform’s catalog. Fortunately, that absence won’t be long. The Meg will return before the month is up on September 23, giving HBO one more heart-pounding title in time for the spooky season. With it comes a starry cast of U.S. and international stars around Statham, including Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, Winston Chao, Cliff Curtis, and more.

The Meg swims back onto HBO Max on September 23. Stay tuned here at Collider for more on all the hottest films coming to and leaving streaming throughout the year.

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Release Date

August 10, 2018

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Runtime

113 minutes

Director

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Jon Turteltaub

Writers

Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber, Dean Georgaris, Steve Alten

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Producers

Belle Avery, Colin Wilson, Lorenzo di Bonaventura

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Jennifer Aniston and boyfriend Jim Curtis are still going strong after more than a year together — but a walk down the wedding aisle isn’t on the horizon quite yet.

“They are allowing the relationship to develop at its own pace and are much stronger, more positive and more confident that their lifestyles and priorities are compatible [than they were a year ago],” an insider exclusively tells Us of the pair’s relationship. “They have had conversations about their long-term future. They are enjoying the moment. “

The couple were first spotted together in Mallorca over the 2025 4th of July weekend, with Us learning at the time that they’d been set up by mutual friends.

The source confirmed to Us that Aniston, 57, and Curtis, 50, aren’t necessarily avoiding discussing a potential engagement — it’s simply that “neither feels the need to force a timeline.” (Aniston was previously married to Brad Pitt from 2000 to 2005 and later to Justin Theroux from 2015 to 2018. Curtis shares a son with his ex-wife Rachel Napolitano.)

Related: Jennifer Aniston and Boyfriend Jim Curtis’ Relationship Timeline

Jennifer Aniston hasn’t shied away from stepping out in public with boyfriend Jim Curtis. The pair, who were first romantically linked in July 2025 after a trip to Mallorca, have captured the hearts of her fans, who just want to see the star happy. Prior to her romance with Curtis, Aniston was married to Brad […]

“One thing that they did discuss in the beginning of their relationship is that they don’t want more children together,” the insider adds. “Jen has met his son, and she thinks he’s great. They are focused on building a lasting partnership. They both do feel they found the person who understands them. It just works.”

A second source tells Us that Aniston and Curtis have definitely communicated about “what the next step looks like” for their relationship.

“Jen is open to getting married again, but they’re both on the same page about not rushing it,” they note. “She’s even open to the idea of doing something really low-key, like eloping.”

Aniston and her beau have started stepping out together more frequently this year, including the Friends star’s Q&A with Curtis to promote his new book, The Book of Possibility, at New York City’s 92nd Street Y on Wednesday, September 2.

Their onstage panel included numerous poignant moments as Curtis opened up to his girlfriend and the audience about how he dealt with a life-challenging medical diagnosis in his 20s. (Curtis experienced partial paralysis and chronic nerve damage after doctors discovered lesions on his spinal cord.)

“I’m not saying here that if the doctor tells you to do something, you should get up and leave,” Curtis shared at the event, which Us attended. “What I’m saying is you don’t have to live as the victim. You don’t have to live in your suffering. It can become your power. As soon as you accept it and love it [you can move beyond it].”

He reflected on his own journey of acceptance as he dealt with significant physical limitations.

“I would say I got into a motorcycle accident [to explain his limp]. Why would I say that?” Curtis revealed at the 92nd Street Y. “I was so shameful that I had a medical condition. [I thought] I was broken in some way. I thought the motorcycle accident was at least a little macho. It was this identity of the ‘macho, strong man’ … it didn’t come with the connotation and shame of, ‘This can get worse.’”

He later acknowledged, “It was a long journey in which I realized I could have done it quicker … There are people who are just suffering because they don’t know what the next step is or they need a little bit of inspiration,” he said. “That was an easy choice for me.”

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Related: Jennifer Aniston’s Rumored BF Jim Curtis Opens Up About Mallorca Vacation

Jennifer Aniston’s rumored boyfriend, Jim Curtis, has nothing but positive things to say about the pair’s recent trip to Mallorca, Spain. “I am back from vacation and what an experience!” Curtis, 49, wrote in a newsletter emailed out on Monday, July 14, according to Page Six. “When I was sick, sad, stuck and in pain […]

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Aside from their recent public appearance in New York City, Aniston and Curtis revisited the earliest days of their romance when they returned to Mallorca over the summer.

“They spent a lot of time on the water [and] relaxed and were with some of Jen’s closest friends,” a source told Us earlier this month. “Her friends have really embraced Jim. He’s part of the group now, and everyone gets along really well. That means a lot to Jen because her friends are such a big part of her life.”

The pair were joined on their Mediterranean getaway by some of Aniston’s longtime pals, including her Horrible Bosses and Office Christmas Party costar Jason Bateman, model Christian Hogue and stylist Jamie Mizrahi.

Every decade has its own unique brand of action movie. The 70s were gritty and cynical, the 80s were bombastic and musclebound. The 2000s started with martial arts and bullet time and ended with a more grounded realism that led directly into the brutal and bloody 2010s. Of course, there are plenty of action movie exceptions that prove the rule for each decade, but the trends are indisputable.

There are a lot of labels that could be applied to the action movies of the 90s. They continued some of the trends of the 80s and carried over influence from some major filmmakers. The concepts got higher and the budgets got bigger, with CGI paving the way for even more outrageous scenarios. Satirical, over-the-top, old fashioned, hard boiled, action-packed and out of this world are all terms that can be applied to some of the best action movies of the 90s, but a better descriptor would be fun. These are the eight most fun action movies of the 90s, ranked.

8

‘Last Action Hero’ (1993)

Image via Columbia Pictures

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s action star developed over time. He started with monosyllabic barbarians and cybernetic organisms that relied more on his physicality. Then he branched out with badasses who spoke mostly in one-liners. Finally, directors began to harness his natural charisma and his star reached nuclear fusion. In the 90s, he bid a bloody farewell to his ultraviolent past with Total Recall, brought a bit of his action persona to the family comedy Kindergarten Cop and upgraded his ultimate villain to the ultimate hero in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Great action movies all of them, but he had the most fun as the Last Action Hero.

Reteaming with Predator director John McTiernan, Schwarzenegger took a swing at parody by poking fun at the action movie tropes he had helped establish in the 80s. Last Action Hero features the Austrian Oak playing himself as fictional movie cop Jack Slater, who gets teamed up with a kid sidekick when he’s magically transported into the movie world. Last Action Hero isn’t as sharp of a satire as it should be, and its PG-13 rating didn’t appeal to many viewers who had grown up with Schwarzenegger’s R-rated filmography. The movie bombed hard at the box office, and Schwarzenegger would return to strictly adult fare with his subsequent action movies. Over time, Last Action Hero has gained a cult following for its self-aware approach, and it still stands out in Schwarzenegger’s career.

7

‘Demolition Man’ (1993)

Image via Warner Bros Discovery

The same year Schwarzenegger was trying on satire, so was his biggest action movie rival, Sylvester Stallone. The Italian Stallion’s film, Demolition Man, was a much bigger success, likely because it kept the R-rating and instead of taking aim at action movies, it set its sights on political correctness. The film’s depiction of an overly sanitized “utopian” future, where all language is policed and the police themselves have all become non-violent, is certainly a mixed bag when it comes to its prescience. Some bits are very incisive, while others look downright comical in comparison to the reality of 2026. The movie isn’t meant to be taken seriously, though, and it’s really just a big, fun action comedy that’s got just a little bit more on its mind than the average Stallone movie.

Stallone plays 90s cop John Spartan, known for his destructive methods, who is blamed for the deaths of hostages while apprehending the violent criminal Simon Phoenix, played by Wesley Snipes, and sent to a cryogenic prison. After Phoenix is woken up in the future, where he shocks the overly polite society with his penchants for ultra-violence, Spartan is unfrozen to take him down. Demolition Man is filled with fun gags, from Taco Bell being the only remaining restaurant chain to the three seashells (if you know, you know), and Stallone and Snipes are having a ton of fun in their roles. Of all Stallone’s action movies, Demolition Man still ranks highly, and it’s a blast to the future.

6

‘Face/Off’ (1997)

Image via Paramount Pictures

John Woo made a major impact on Hollywood action movies in the 90s. The influence of his stylish gun-fu action was apparent in films throughout the decade, while Woo himself made his entrance into the studio system. After bidding farewell to his Heroic Bloodshed genre with Hard Boiled, he teamed up with Jean Claud Van Damme for his American debut Hard Target. That movie is a lot of slick, silly fun, moreso than Woo’s follow-up Broken Arrow, which saw him collaborate with John Travolta for the first time. Those two would team up once again for Woo’s best American action movie, Face/Off. In addition to Travolta, the film brought on Nicolas Cage, who himself was having a lot of fun with action in the 90s with movies like The Rock and Con Air.

The beauty of the convoluted set-up of Face/Off, where Travolta plays an FBI agent who swaps faces with Cage’s terrorist in order to impersonate him, is that it allows both actors to compete in a contest of who can go more over-the-top. There isn’t a piece of scenery that is unchewed by the end of it, and Woo complements the performances with his slow-motion action stylings, complete with white doves. Face/Off is an outrageous action movie in everything from its premise to its acting to its gunfights. Cage and Travolta are dialed in, and Woo’s sincere approach to the dramatic material makes it all the more ridiculous and fun.

5

‘The Mummy’ (1999)

Image via Universal Pictures

With a good dose of old-fashioned adventure, Stephen Sommers turned the Universal Monster horror classic The Mummy into an Indiana Jones-style supernatural action movie. The genre switch-up worked, and the movie was a massive blockbuster, spawning several sequels and spin-offs. The film’s success is due to its light tone, which is handled superbly by its perfect cast, and Sommers relative restraint in using CGI, which would swallow up all the action movies he would make after it. Of all the movies inspired by Indiana Jones, The Mummy is often ranked as the best, and it nails the vibes, humor and memorable set pieces.

Brendan Fraser is his own kind of action hero, distinct from Harrison Ford’s fedora-wearing archaeologist. Rick O’Connell is a bit of a himbo, but he’s got charm to spare, which he used on the equally disarming Evelyn, played by Rachel Weisz. Their chemistry is as hot as the Sahara Desert, where they unwittingly unleash the vengeful mummy Imhotep, played by Arnold Vosloo. The plot is as full of holes as Imhotep’s desiccated corpse, but this is not a movie designed for deep thoughts. It’s two-fisted pulp fun with a side of haunted house (or pyramid) frights. The Mummy is fun, funny, charming and the only time Hollywood successfully packed action into the classic movie monster template.

4

‘The Last Boy Scout’ (1991)

Image via Warner Bros.

Tango & Cash is often considered the last true 80s action movie, but it’s only representative of the roided-out muscle mass slaughter fests. There was another brand of action that was prevalent in the 80s, personified by bantering buddies and often featuring a heavy noir influence. 48 Hrs., Lethal Weapon, Running Scared, and Midnight Run were this brand’s best. The buddy action movie would continue well through the 90s, and the perfect pivot point between that decade and the 80s is hinged on The Last Boy Scout. Starring Bruce Willis, directed by Tony Scott, produced by Joel Silver and written by Shane Black, the movie is a murderer’s row of 80s and 90s action power players, and it lives up to that pedigree.

Willis plays a Shane Black special, a washed-up private detective. He teams up with a washed-up NFL player, played by Damon Wayans, to find out why a woman they both knew was killed and uncover a sports world conspiracy in the process. Willis was in the middle of his action run, and he’s never been more delightfully disheveled than in this role. Scott’s directorial style, which he honed in the 80s on Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop II, basically defined the 90s action aesthetic, and Black’s script is his most arch of the era. The clashing egos of these action titans apparently made the film’s production a nightmare, but the result is a sleazy, indulgent, ridiculous action ride.

3

‘Police Story 3: Supercop’ (1992)

Image via Miramax

Jackie Chan finally broke into Hollywood in the 90s, after several false starts in the prior decade. He found success in North America with films like Rumble in the Bronx and Rush Hour, but his most fun film of the decade was the action comedy threequel Police Story 3: Supercop. Chan teamed up with Michelle Yeoh for the third installment, which only doubled the amount of incredible stunts and fight sequences. The film was an international success, and remains one of Chan’s best. Supercop is supersized entertainment that could only have come from a unique action star like Chan.

Returning to his role of Inspector Ka-Kui, Chan joins forces with Yeoh as an Interpol agent to take down a dangerous drug smuggler. That plot provides more than enoguh of a framework to build some spectacular action scenes around. Chan dangles from helicopter while Yeoh jumps a motorcycle on to a moving train. It’s the kind of action that puts Hollywood stars to shame, with martial artists putting their bodies on the line for the sake of entertainment. Thankfully, they both survived, and the movie is fast-paced fun.

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‘Speed’ (1994)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Keanu Reeves would become a bona fide action star in the 90s thanks to three seminal films. He began the decade with Kathryn Bigelow’s wild surfer heist thriller Point Break, and he would end it with the kung fu cyberpunk sci-fi classic The Matrix. In between those two, he would make what is often the best movie to be inspired by Die Hard. Speed combines the propulsive thrills of Runaway Train with the hero-villain antagonism of the Bruce Willis classic. It’s Reeves’ most normal action hero he ever played, but he still has lots to play off of with an incredible supporting cast that includes Sandra Bullock, Dennis Hopper and Jeff Daniels.

Reeves plays bomb disposal expert Jack Traven, who outwits a mad bomber, played by Hopper, in the film’s intense opening sequence on an elevator. That causes the madman to take revenge by planting a bomb on a city bus that will explode if it drops below 50 mph. That perfect premise gives the movie a relentless pace that director Jan de Bont, who was the cinematographer on Die Hard, never lets wane. Speed was a massive success that solidified Reeves as an action star and led to a ridiculous sequel set on a cruise ship, but most of all it is perfect 90s action popcorn entertainment.

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‘Men in Black’ (1997)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

Despite being a huge blockbuster that spawned an entire franchise, the action sci-fi comedy Men in Black still seems slightly underrated. It’s never given its full due in retrospectives covering any of the three genres it occupies, but it succeeds in all of them. The movie elevates the buddy cop formula to an intergalactic level, with director Barry Sonnenfeld adapting the Malibu Comics series with his energetic visual style. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones make for an unexpectedly perfect duo, the supporting cast is stellar, and the film is filled with a solid mix of digital and practical effects. It’s everything you could possibly want out of a crowdpleasing action blockbuster.

Smith gets to play the wisecracking rookie to Jones’ salty veteran, as the newest recruit into the alien policing Men in Black. They’re faced with a big, bad buggy threat that wears the skin of a farmer, played by Vincent D’Onofrio, who gives an Oscar-worthy performance. Add in Linda Fiorentino and a talking pug, and it’s impossible not to watch Men in Black without cracking a wide smile. Its combination of genres makes it stand out against its action contemporaries; the script by Ed Solomon is far more clever than it has any right to be; and the alien designs by Rick Baker are fun and unique. Men in Black is the ideal blockbuster, but somehow it hasn’t become the standard for Hollywood to follow.

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Men in Black

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Release Date

July 2, 1997

Runtime

98 minutes

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Writers

Ed Solomon, Lowell Cunningham

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For more than two decades, Bobby Ross Avila has helped to shape the sound of Usher’s biggest moments. What started out from Usher’s “Confessions” era has taken them to the Super Bowl stage, and now to one of the most ambitious R&B stadium tours with Chris Brown.

As the musical director, producer, and multi-instrumentalist helps to transform Usher’s catalog into a three-hour stage spectacular, Avila is doing it all, from arranging songs to crafting transitions, and helping two global superstars share one stage without either of them losing what makes each unique. Unlike much of the creative team working behind the scenes, Avila can also be found in the spotlight performing nightly with Usher’s band, as well as also stepping out for his own solo moment. 

Bobby Ross Avila sat down with The Blast for an exclusive chat ahead of Usher and Chris Brown’s tour stop in Las Vegas. He shared what people can expect from the show, how he got started in the music industry, and what’s next after the tour ends. 

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Avila began his musical journey at a very young age. He told The Blast that he “didn’t find music, music kind of found me.” 

“I started playing when I was 3 years old and I still remember where I was at and what I was doing. Gradually, throughout the years, getting older, my dad had bands and he was kind of like in the top 40 club circuit, so it’s kind of like how DJs are now,” he said.

“I was surrounded by musicians. My dad would take me and my brother to the clubs he would be playing at and we’d play on their downtime when they ended a set, so that kind of got us used to playing and being in front of people, and that just gradually led to me diving into writing and learning. I was just so intrigued.” 

Getting Signed To A Record Deal At Age 12

Eventually, his father decided it was time to stop doing the club circuit and put all his energy into helping Avila build his talent more. 

“He kind of vicariously lived through me and I just found myself in the studio,” he told The Blast. “Next thing you know, I’m singing and have a demo, and then there’s a bidding war between RCA and Motown Records. I signed with RCA Records at 12 years old.” 

From that point, Avila went on to be the opening act for New Kids on the Block’s “Hangin’ Tough” tour. That’s when the journey really kicked into high gear. 

From Working With Usher On ‘Confessions’ To Producing The R&B Tour

When Avila started working with Usher, he didn’t likely realize just what a long collaboration journey this would take him on. He said the music industry constantly makes you “reinvent yourself,” so he went from being an artist to working behind the scenes so he could ensure his career would be a long one. 

“That led me to getting on this journey as a producer, songwriter, learning the game from marketing, and all that kind of stuff,” Avila told The Blast. “I started working with Ice-T, producing him, and worked with Spice 1, Luniz, and Black Moon.”

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At that point in his career, he and his brother, IZ Avila, ended up joining forces as the production duo, The Avila Brothers. That led them to partnering with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The two brothers went on quite the journey, working with some big names, including Usher. 

“We got this call, ‘Hey, Usher’s going to be coming down,’ and so we met with him,” he said. “The rest is history. We ended up writing and producing about six songs together on ‘Confessions’ and that started our journey together.”

Avila got the opportunity to be with Usher during his Caesars Palace residency in Vegas in 2021, which ultimately led him to the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

What Fans Can Expect From Usher & Chris Brown’s Tour

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For fans heading to the Usher and Chris Brown show either in Las Vegas this weekend or another city later in the tour, Avila said be ready for a “unique” experience. 

“Terry Lewis said it best to me. It’s once in a lifetime. When the show is over that night, it’s never going to be the same. And I just think the energy and the camaraderie between fans and the music, and the visual experience is so unique,” he shared. “You don’t realize that you’re either standing or sitting or getting drinks for three-and-a-half hours and it feels like it’s not long enough. That’s how great the show is.”

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What’s Next For Bobby Ross Avila?

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When asked what’s next after Usher and Chris Brown’s tour ends, Avila said he’s “looking forward to seeing where music’s going to take me, what God has for me.” 

He also has an album coming out called “Return of the Gentleman.” 

“The first single is called ‘Lucky Fella,’ and for me, being in this position where I an be an artist, I can also be a producer and a creative, it allows me to be expressive in so many different ways,” he said. “And I think the single says it best. I’m a lucky fella, and I just feel really blessed.”

You can follow along on Bobby Ross Avila’s epic musical journey on his Instagram page.

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Inde Navarrette is continuing her rapid rise in Hollywood, signing on to both star in and executive produce Apple Original Films’ upcoming sci-fi thriller The Waffle House Index.

Apple has acquired the project, which will come from Apple Studios with Plan B Entertainment producing. Louis Paxtonis set to direct from a screenplay written by Andrew Nunnelly.

For Navarrette, the project represents another major step forward following the massive success of Obsession, while also giving the actress a significant role behind the camera as an executive producer.

A Waffle House, Killer Crocodiles and Aliens

Despite its unusual title, The Waffle House Index appears ready to take audiences on an even stranger ride than its name suggests.

The film centers on a Waffle House waitress whose already difficult night takes a dangerous turn when an armed stranger arrives during her shift.

From there, things escalate dramatically.

Inde Navarrette for Schön!

The story reportedly involves a massive flood, killer crocodiles, a nuclear explosion, a mysterious bunker beneath the Waffle House and even aliens, combining elements of disaster movies, survival thrillers and science fiction into one ambitious story.

The title itself is inspired by the real-world “Waffle House Index,” an informal method of measuring the severity of a natural disaster based on whether local Waffle House restaurants are able to remain operational.

The concept generally uses three levels. Green indicates a restaurant is operating normally, yellow signals limited service or supplies, while red means the restaurant has closed entirely and conditions in the surrounding area could be severe.

That real-world concept appears to serve as the jumping-off point for a movie that quickly ventures into much bigger sci-fi territory.

Navarrette’s Breakout Run Continues

The Waffle House Index arrives as Navarrette continues what has become a breakout period in her career.

She currently stars as Nikki Freeman in Obsession, the horror thriller that became a major theatrical success after earning strong attention following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Navarrette’s performance has also generated awards attention, with Focus Features reportedly preparing a Best Actress Oscar campaign for the actress.

Her career is expanding well beyond Obsession.

Navarrette has also landed the role of Rogue in Marvel’s upcoming X-Men film and is attached to the upcoming horror project Invertigo.

Before her recent run of major film roles, Navarrette appeared as Estela de la Cruz in 13 Reasons Why and played Sarah Cushing on Superman & Lois. Her other credits include Trap House and Wander Darkly.

Now, The Waffle House Index gives Navarrette the opportunity to take another major step in her career by serving as both the film’s leading star and an executive producer.

Apple has not yet announced a release date for The Waffle House Index.

Big Brother week 9 Head of Household results are in after LaTrice “Lala” Verrett‘s eviction after Rick Devens‘s stunning Blockbuster win. Dee, Angela and Devens don’t think they should face the block under the new HOH, but he’s gonna stun them.

Also, there were clips of the Nashville watch party with Rachel Reilly with Cameron Hardin and between them were Jimmy Heagarty and BB28‘s Mallory Aurichio. They were watching the BB Blockbuster and Jimmy and Mallory were screaming for Taylor Brown.

They thought she was going to win it and then Devens sank that fourth ball. Rachel and the room screamed and cheered for Devens. But Mallory and Jimmy looked totally ticked. The only angry faces in a crowd of cheering people.

Big Brother: Melody’s Causing Mayhem

Right after the eviction, Melody Morris started some stuff. She and Angela Murray voted to evict Taylor. And Angela was honest about her vote. But Melody was not. I guess after losing Mallory and dealing with Drew drama, Melody chose chaos.

She’s actively lying and said she voted to evict Lala. Everyone believes her so now they’re turning on each other. Devens asked Dee Valladares twice if she voted to evict Taylor and she blew up. Dee’s so mad she told Angela she’ll nominate Devens and Drew Campbell if she wins HOH.

Others think that Dee threw that vote on Taylor. And Yash Patel is also a top suspect. But Melody’s in the clear and just basking in the chaos. Also, Drew tried to sneak a kiss on Melody in the kitchen but she dodged.

Big Brother 28: Barrett Takes HOH

Now, let’s talk Head of Household. First, Angela asked them to throw the comp to her so she can see photos of her grandkids. Devens was unsympathetic. And it looks like Devens came in second in the comp.

But that’s likely because Yash threw it in a big way, not even subtle. There were balls rolled of various colors – and Yash was flinging. The important thing is that Barrett Pfeiffer won it. And he gets to celebrate his birthday in the HOH room. He’ll turn 28 on Sept 9th wearing the HOH robe and key.

Big Brother: Who’s Safe?

By the way, the new HOH calls himself Spicy Barrett on his reality TV podcast. And here’s hoping for a spicy HOH. Melody and Dee are Have-Nots and people are ticked that Yash is not because it was his turn and he should’ve volunteered. But he didn’t.

And by the way, Drew’s still walking around eating his bananas the weird slimy-hand way even though he’s been taught better by now. Okay now the nomination plans.

After winning the HOH comp, Barrett celebrated with Devens and Drew with both feeling totally safe. Once it was just Barrett and Drew, he confirmed that Melody and Drew are safe this week but Barrett warned him what he does might “make him uncomfortable”.

And Barrett realized that he’s got to put all three up – Devens, Dee and Angela – even though he’d like to just nominate two of them alongside Yash. Barrett said he’s okay with a vet or Yash going.

Barrett knows if he doesn’t put up all three, the icon not on the block could win Power of Veto, take down a vet and they’d both be safe. Then, Barrett would have to renom someone he’s closer to.

And if the vet on the block wins Blockbuster, then his HOH is pointless. Dee said if Barrett tries to pull a fast one she’ll spill tea. Then she did anyway. Dee decided to tell Barrett about her bribe.

Big Brother 28: Is a Win Deserved?

It’s a strategy, but not sure Dee revealing she bought safety for her and the icons from Yash will help her. Because, that bribe hurt Barrett’s game. It kept Yash off the block on Dee’s HOH and she put Mallory up instead and Barrett’s bestie was evicted.

Basically, what we have is Dee, Devens and Angela thinking they shouldn’t even be options for the block. It’s icon entitlement. But that won’t keep them safe.