Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan in a promo shot looking straight into the camera for Dexter: ResurrectionImage via Paramount+
Once it was added to Netflix a few years ago, the Dexter franchise experienced quite the resurrection — no pun intended. Dexter had long been one of the most popular shows of the 2000s, but it’s safe to say that fans had come to terms with there not being any more content from the franchise after the ill-fated New Blood season. Dexter’s resurgence on Netflix and subsequent success on Paramount Plus forced Paramount to begin developing new Dexter shows, and the first to hit the small screen was Dexter: Original Sin. The prequel series starred Patrick Gibson (007 First Light) as a young Dexter Morgan, and despite it being renewed for Season 2, Paramount ultimately changed its mind and decided to cancel the show. This left only one Dexter series left standing, and it’s officially picking up steam for Season 2.
Last year in June, Paramount brought back Michael C. Hall to play Dexter in Dexter: Resurrection, the sequel series set after the events of the flagship Dexter show and New Blood. Paramount also recruited Uma Thurman and Peter Dinklage for key roles in Dexter: Resurrection, but only Thurman is coming back for Season 2, which is already confirmed to be released this October. As fans continue to revisit the Dexter franchise, shows like Dexter: Resurrection have surged back into the top 10 before the arrival of its new season. Even Dexter: Original Sin is having a streaming resurgence right now, as fans demand that Paramount bring the show back for another season. There was also a planned Trinity Killer spin-off starring John Lithgow, but Dexter creator Clyde Phillips confirmed that the spin-off had been put on ice, so to speak.
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Collider Exclusive · Horror Survival Quiz Which Horror Villain Do You Have the Best Chance of Surviving? Jason Voorhees · Michael Myers · Freddy Krueger · Pennywise · Chucky
Five killers. Five completely different ways to die — if you’re not smart enough, fast enough, or self-aware enough to avoid it. Only one of them is the villain your particular set of instincts gives you a fighting chance against. Eight questions will figure out which one.
🏕️Jason
🔪Michael
💤Freddy
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🎈Pennywise
🪆Chucky
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01
Something feels wrong. You can’t explain it — you just know. What do you do? First instincts are the difference between the survivor and the first act casualty.
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02
Where are you most likely to find yourself when things go wrong? Setting is everything in horror. Where you are determines which rules apply.
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03
What is your most reliable survival asset? Every survivor has a quality the villain didn’t account for. What’s yours?
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04
What kind of fear is hardest for you to fight through? Knowing your weakness is the first step to not dying because of it.
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05
You’re with a group when things start going wrong. What’s your role? Horror movies are brutally clear about who survives group situations and who doesn’t.
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06
What’s the horror movie mistake you’re most likely to make? Honest self-assessment is a survival skill. Denial is not.
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07
What’s your best weapon against something that can’t be stopped by conventional means? Every horror villain has a weakness. The survivors are always the ones who find it.
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08
It’s the final scene. You’re the last one standing. How did you make it? The final survivor always has a reason. What’s yours?
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Your Survival Odds Have Been Calculated Your Best Chance Is Against…
Your instincts, your strengths, and your particular way of thinking under pressure point to one villain you actually have a fighting chance against. Everyone else — good luck.
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Camp Crystal Lake · Friday the 13th
Jason Voorhees
Jason is relentless, but he is also predictable — and that is the gap you would exploit.
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He moves in straight lines toward his target. He doesn’t strategise, doesn’t adapt, doesn’t outsmart. He simply pursues.
Your ability to keep moving, use the environment, and resist the panic that freezes most victims gives you a genuine edge.
The Crystal Lake survivors were always the ones who stopped running in circles and started thinking about terrain, water, and distance.
You think like that. Which means Jason, for all his indestructibility, would face someone who simply refused to be where he expected.
Haddonfield, Illinois · Halloween
Michael Myers
Michael watches before he moves. He is patient, methodical, and almost impossible to detect — until it’s too late for anyone who isn’t paying close enough attention.
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But you are paying attention. You notice the shape in the window, the car parked slightly wrong, the silence where there should be sound.
Michael’s power lies in the invisibility of ordinary suburbia — the fact that nothing ever looks wrong until it already is.
Your spatial awareness and instinct to map every room, every exit, and every shadow before you need them is precisely the quality Laurie Strode had.
You are not a victim waiting to happen. You are someone who already suspects something is wrong — and acts on it.
Elm Street · A Nightmare on Elm Street
Freddy Krueger
Freddy wins by getting inside your head — using your own fears, your own memories, your own subconscious as weapons against you. That strategy requires a target who can be destabilised.
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You are harder to destabilise than most. You’ve faced uncomfortable truths about yourself and you haven’t looked away.
The survivors on Elm Street were always the ones who understood what was happening and chose to face it rather than flee from it.
Freddy’s greatest weakness is that his power evaporates in the presence of someone who refuses to give him the fear he feeds on.
Your psychological resilience — the ability to stay grounded when reality itself becomes unreliable — is exactly the quality that keeps you alive here.
Derry, Maine · It
Pennywise
Pennywise is ancient, shapeshifting, and feeds on terror — but it has one critical vulnerability: it cannot function against someone who genuinely stops being afraid of it.
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The Losers Club didn’t survive because they were braver than everyone else. They survived because they faced their fears together, and faced them honestly.
You ask the questions others avoid. You look directly at what frightens you rather than turning away.
That directness — the refusal to let fear fester in the dark — is Pennywise’s worst nightmare.
It chose the wrong target when it chose you. You are exactly the kind of person whose fear tastes like nothing at all.
Chicago · Child’s Play
Chucky
Chucky’s greatest advantage is that nobody takes him seriously until it’s already too late. He exploits the gap between how something looks and what it actually is.
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You don’t have that gap. You take threats seriously regardless of how they present — and you never make the mistake of underestimating something because of its size or appearance.
Chucky relies on surprise, on the delay between recognition and response. You close that delay faster than almost anyone.
Your instinct to treat every unfamiliar thing with appropriate scepticism — rather than dismissing it because it seems absurd — is the exact quality that keeps you breathing.
Against Chucky, not laughing is already winning. You are very good at not laughing.
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Has ‘Dexter: Resurrection’ Been Renewed for Season 3?
Paramount has yet to decide the fate of Dexter: Resurrection after Season 2, and after the other Dexter shows had the axe brought down on them, the future of the series is anything but certain. The news about Dexter: Resurrection Season 3 likely won’t be decided until the studio has had time to analyze how Season 2 performs, but Dexter fans are most certainly going to show up in droves to make sure the show isn’t canceled after two seasons. Famed for his role in Succession, Brian Cox has also joined the cast of Dexter: Resurrection Season 2.
Check out the first season of Dexter: Resurrection on Paramount Plus and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of the Dexter franchise.
Roomies, congratulations are in order! Coco Jones and Donovan Mitchell are officially husband and wife. The couple celebrated their love with a stunning wedding ceremony that has fans in their feels.
Coco Jones & Donovan Mitchell Seal Their Love In Elegant Wedding Ceremony
According to TMZ, Coco Jones and Donovan Mitchell tied the knot on Saturday, August 1, surrounded by their closest family and friends. The celebration turned into a star-studded affair with Ciara and Russell Wilson, Jaylen Brown, and Bam Adebayo popping out for their special day. Videos circulated online showing the newlyweds in all-white looks, with Coco making her grand entrance into the reception in a stunning white gown and lace veil. Donovan also came through looking sharp in a satin suit, glasses, and fresh white kicks.
The Internet Celebrates Black Love
After The Shade Room dropped the clips of Coco and Donovan, fans immediately flooded the comment section with reactions. Plenty of folks dropped heart eyes, while others said they’re happy to see their beautiful union.
Instagram user @naildiva95 wrote, “Awww! Congratulations 💝🙏🏾”
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Instagram user @naturally.joyyy wrote, “Hey @ciara & @dangerusswilson I see what y’all have done for others 🥹🥹🥹 it’s my turn now 😂”
While Instagram user @ryann41287 wrote, “Don’t play with my black Barbie!!! Congratulations guys 😍”
Then Instagram user @theblacklawyerspodcast wrote, “It’s a flex when your wife is a real singer and can sing back to you at your wedding 😍”
Another Instagram user @msblingmiami wrote, “They walked out to ‘Mo Chicken!’ Yup, they’re going to be together forever! ♥️💍”
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Instagram user @bigd0487 wrote, “Smart man, didn’t take bro too long to tie that knot lol.”
Then another Instagram user @bedrockbeauty wrote, “I LOVE LOVE!! The truly look like they married their best friend and I love that for them! 🔥❤️”
Finally, Instagram user @1blondiee wrote, “Black love is so damn beautiful ❤️❤️❤️”
Donovan & Coco’s Engagement Had All The Romantic Vibes
Fans have been waiting patiently to catch a glimpse of Donovan and Coco’s wedding, especially after he popped the question in the most romantic way. In July 2025, video footage showed Donovan getting down on one knee at a beachside house. Shortly after, a photo showed the couple sharing a breathtaking kiss under a beautiful sunset. In an exclusive statement to The Shade Room Teens’ Social Media Content Producer Kai Hughes, Coco’s rep revealed the engagement came after pivotal’s moments for the both of them.
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“After an amazing season and a sold-out tour, Donovan Mitchell and Coco Jones took a moment to recharge on vacation — which turned into a beautiful engagement. The couple has been dating for two years and look forward to building a life together.”
Paramount+ is also adding several classic films, like Risky Business with Tom Cruise and Dead Man Walking with Sean Penn.
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Keep reading to find out all of Paramount+’s new movies and shows in August 2026.
August 1
10 Cloverfield Lane A.I. Artificial Intelligence As They Made Us Babel Basic Instinct Best in Show Blade Runner 2049 Body Cam Brave the Dark Cloverfield Clue Coneheads Congo Cop Land Crawl Crawlspace Dead Man Walking Disturbia Don Jon Duplex Equilibrium Escape From Alcatraz For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada Frankie & Johnny From Dusk Till Dawn From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman’s Daughter Get Hard Gravity He’s Just Not That Into You Hustle & Flow Indecent Proposal Jack Reacher: Never Go Back Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Katy Perry The Movie: Part of Me Labor Day Machine Gun Preacher Million Dollar Baby My Boss’s Daughter On the Line Organ Trail Overlord Risky Business Sabrina School Ties Shaft She’s the Man Sliver Some Kind of Wonderful The Bodyguard The Doors The Hangover The Hangover Part II The Hangover Part III The Heartbreak Kid The Hunted The Lego Movie The Lovely Bones The Perfect Score The Saint The Sandlot The Score The Spiderwick Chronicles The Time Traveler’s Wife The Vault The Yards Vampire in Brooklyn Varsity Blues What Women Want Where The Wild Things Are Wild Wild West You’re Dating a Narcissist! You’ve Got Mail
August 2
Lioness – Season 3
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August 4
Special Ops True – Season 1 Dana White Contender Series – Seasons 1-4
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s private wedding vows reportedly gave their guests a deeply personal look at the relationship behind one of the world’s most famous couples. Maren Morris was among the approximately 1,000 people invited to the couple’s July 3 ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The country singer has now shared new details about the lengthy vows, revealing that Swift and Kelce balanced heartfelt admissions with the playful humor that defines their relationship.
5Kyle Mazza – CNP / MEGA
Morris described the couple’s exchange of vows as “beautiful” while speaking exclusively with PEOPLE. “It just felt like you really got a closer look into their love for each other and their sense of humor,” the 36-year-old singer said.
Swift and Kelce reportedly read vows that lasted approximately 20 minutes each, allowing their friends and relatives to hear the intimate details of their love story.
Morris, who is friends with Swift and has previously collaborated with her musically, said being included in such a significant moment was deeply meaningful. “Being one of 1,000 people that witnessed that, it was an honor,” Morris shared. “[The best part was] just celebrating their love for each other.”
Swift and Kelce did not surround themselves with a traditional group of bridesmaids and groomsmen. Instead, Swift’s brother, Austin, stood beside her as Man of Honor. Kelce selected his older brother, retired Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce, as his Best Man.
“Taylor & Travis did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen. Instead, her brother, Austin Swift, served as Taylor’s Man of Honor, and Jason Kelce was Travis’ Best Man. The ceremony joined both families together and was officiated by friend Adam Sandler,” Swift’s representative confirmed in a statement.
The reception included performances from some of the biggest names in music. Paul McCartney performed The Beatles’ classic “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” while Stevie Nicks was also included in the evening’s entertainment lineup.
Morris admitted that she was overwhelmed by the number of recognizable people gathered inside Madison Square Garden. “I feel like my neck hurt by the end of the night because I just kept turning my head around seeing people I never thought I’d see before in person,” she said with a laugh.
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The wedding also allowed Morris to meet new people and reunite with longtime friends she “hadn’t seen in a long time.”
Maren Morris Left The Wedding Feeling Hopeful About Love
Beyond the celebrity sightings and elaborate details, Morris said the couple’s relationship was what made the strongest impression on her. “It’s always an honor, and it’s inspiring when you go to a wedding and you feel this huge dose of hope for love. I think we all felt it that night for them,” the mother of one shared. “It was really fun.”
Although Morris has experienced her own major personal changes in recent years, witnessing Swift and Kelce’s commitment appeared to leave her feeling optimistic about romance.
Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce Wore Custom Designer Looks
Swift and Kelce’s ceremony outfits were created by Christian Dior Haute Couture and designed by Jonathan Anderson, the creative director of Dior Women’s, Men’s and Haute Couture Collections.
Anderson reportedly collaborated closely with both the bride and groom to create looks suited to the scale and style of their Madison Square Garden ceremony.
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Their shoes were custom-designed by Christian Louboutin, while Swift completed her bridal ensemble with Cartier jewelry.
Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’Image via Sony
The tables turned this weekend, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day getting the Marvel Cinematic Universe back on track after an uneven last few years. Still the highest-grossing film franchise of all time, the MCU delivered its first few bombs recently, after seemingly being infallible for the better part of 15 years. The Marvels grossed just around $200 million worldwide, while Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania fell short of both its predecessors. Even the hotly marketed The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Thunderbolts* underperformed in relation to their budgets. But Spider-Man: Brand New Day not only broke the opening-weekend box office records of its predecessor,Spider-Man: No Way Home, but it nearly delivered the biggest debut of all time.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and headlined by Tom Holland, the movie broke Avengers: Endgame‘s opening-day record at the domestic box office, grossing $168 million. By comparison, Avengers: Endgame grossed $157 million in its first day of release in 2019. The superhero team-up, directed by the Russo Brothers, ultimately made $357 million domestically and around $1.2 billion worldwide in its debut frame, setting incredible records that seemed almost impossible to break. Remember, it was only in 2002 that Sam Raimi‘s original Spider-Man hit became the first film in history to gross more than $100 million in its domestic debut weekend. Holland’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, on the other hand, grossed $260 million in its domestic debut in 2021. This record has now been broken by Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
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Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz Which MCU Hero Are You? Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap
Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory?
🕷️Spider-Man
😈Daredevil
🤖Iron Man
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💀Punisher
⚡Thor
🛡️Cap
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01
What drives you to do what’s right? Choose the answer that feels most like you.
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02
It’s 2 AM. Where are you? Your answer says more about you than you’d think.
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03
How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice? Every hero has a method. What’s yours?
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04
How do you feel about keeping a secret identity? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.
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05
You’ve lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that? Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it.
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06
What’s your role when working with a team? Who you are under pressure is who you actually are.
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07
Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge? The answer defines what kind of hero you really are.
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08
When you’re not saving the world, what does life look like? The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story.
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09
What keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
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10
The battle is lost. You’re outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do? This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.
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Your Hero Has Been Identified Your MCU Hero Is…
Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed.
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Queens, New York
🕷️ Spider-Man
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You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing.
You do the right thing not because it’s easy, but because no one else will.
You understand that responsibility isn’t a burden you choose — it’s one that finds you.
Whether it’s a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up.
Peter Parker’s lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn’t a slogan to you. It’s the code you live by, even when it costs you everything.
Hell’s Kitchen, New York
😈 Daredevil
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You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free.
You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks.
You’ve looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy.
Matt Murdock’s duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own.
Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you.
Stark Industries, Malibu
🤖 Iron Man
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Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem.
You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic.
You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility.
Tony Stark’s arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too.
You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you’re willing to give everything. Because in the end, you’re Iron Man.
New York City
💀 The Punisher
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You’ve been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What’s left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief.
You don’t ask for forgiveness, and you don’t expect gratitude.
You see a corrupt, broken world and you’ve decided to do something about it, consequences be damned.
Frank Castle’s war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours.
Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute.
Asgard · Protector of the Nine Realms
⚡ Thor
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Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry.
You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth.
You’re larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on.
Thor’s story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector.
You bring the storm when it’s needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much.
Brooklyn, New York · The Avengers
🛡️ Captain America
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You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will.
You don’t bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard.
Steve Rogers didn’t become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you.
Your strength isn’t in your fists; it’s in your refusal to compromise what’s right, no matter the cost.
In a world full of people taking the easy road, you’re the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time.
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Here’s How Much ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Has Grossed at the Box Office
Positioned as the start of a new trilogy, the movie grossed $355 million domestically and $875 million worldwide in its first frame. This puts it at the number-two spots on the all-time lists, trailing Avengers: Endgame on both. Spider-Man: Brand New Day also features Jon Bernthal as the Punisher, with Zendaya and Jacob Batalon returning from previous installments as M.J. and Ned, respectively. Produced on a reported budget of $225 million, the new movie opened to near-unanimous praise. It now holds a “Certified Fresh” 90% critics’ score and “Verified Hot” 98% audience score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “Spinning a web of spectacular set pieces together with mature emotional stakes and Tom Holland’s soulful performance, Brand New Day is a promising reset that portends Spidey will remain sticky on the big screen for years to come.” With this opening weekend haul, the movie has overtaken the lifetime global grosses of past superhero movies such as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Thor: Ragnarok. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
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Release Date
July 31, 2026
Runtime
145 Minutes
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Director
Destin Daniel Cretton
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Writers
Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Steve Ditko, Stan Lee
Producers
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Amy Pascal, Kevin Feige, Rachel O’Connor, Avi Arad
With the upcoming eleventh and final installment of the Fast and Furious franchise currently in the ‘Vin Dieselshares updates on Instagram’ stage of production, director Louis Leterrier‘s schedule has cleared up considerably in the last couple of years. He made the most of his time. While Universal was clearly negotiating the return of dozens of stars for the final chapter of the Fast saga, which will probably turn out to be one of the most expensive movies ever made, Leterrier directed two feature films. The Apple TV original film Liminal, starring Vanessa Kirby and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, began filming in May. But Leterrier’s first new film since Fast X is just around the corner.
The upcoming film is headlined by Past Lives breakout Greta Lee and recent Oscar nominee Wagner Moura. They play a couple who are trapped in their house with their children, unable to escape while a mysterious threat looms outside. It’s like The Squid and the Whale meets The Mist, but for a Netflix audience. Leterrier previously worked with Netflix on the stop-motion fantasy series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, the blockbuster heist series Lupin, and the action comedy The Takedown. He is slated to return as the director of the final Fast and Furious movie, which Diesel recently confirmed has a finished script.
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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
🌧️Blade Runner
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🏜️Dune
🚀Star Wars
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01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
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02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
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03
What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
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04
How do you deal with authority you don’t trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
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05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
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06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
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07
Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.
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08
What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
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Your Fate Has Been Calculated You’d Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
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The Resistance, Zion
The Matrix
You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.
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You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.
The Wasteland
Mad Max
The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.
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You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
Los Angeles, 2049
Blade Runner
You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
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You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.
Arrakis
Dune
Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
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Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.
A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Star Wars
The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
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You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
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Here’s When You Can Watch Greta Lee and Wagner Moura’s Sci-Fi Movie on Netflix
Leterrier’s new sci-fi movie with Lee and Moura is titled The Last House. It’ll be released on Netflix on August 7. After breaking out with the Oscar-nominated Past Lives, Lee appeared in the box-office underperformer Tron: Ares and the critically acclaimed Apple TV comedy series The Studio. She also voiced the antagonist in the recently released Pixar movie Toy Story 5, which has grossed over $1 billion at the worldwide box office. Moura, of course, broke out with Netflix’s Narcos over a decade ago. In 2025, he starred in the critically acclaimed Brazilian film The Secret Agent, which received a Best Picture nod at the Oscars in addition to earning Moura his first Best Actor nomination. Earlier this year, he voiced a character in the Disney+ animated series Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Warner Bros.’ hopes for another trip to Barbie Land appear to be facing a costly setback. Talks with Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and the original creative team have yet to produce a deal as a key rights deadline approaches.
Plans for a second “Barbie” movie have reportedly stalled as Warner Bros. Discovery struggles to secure new deals with Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and the film’s creative team.
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According to The New York Times, CEO David Zaslav has resisted offering Robbie and Gosling lucrative contracts that include profit participation. Gosling, who earned an Oscar nomination for playing Ken, is reportedly seeking a salary increase to $20 million.
The studio did not lock the cast into sequel agreements before the original film because the stars signed one-picture contracts as part of the deal to bring Greta Gerwig aboard as director. That means every major participant is now free to renegotiate following the movie’s $1.4 billion box-office run.
Warner Bros. co-chairs Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca said the studio has made several “big offers” but has yet to reach an agreement. A spokesperson also denied that an approved deal framework had later been withdrawn.
Greta Gerwig Reportedly Keeping ‘Barbie 2’ Under Wraps
Beyond the money, another supposed big sticking point in the “Barbie 2” negotiations is the story itself. Gerwig and her husband and longtime writing partner, Noah Baumbach, are said to have already settled on a concept for the sequel and are ready to begin writing.
However, the pair reportedly won’t reveal a single plot detail to Warner Bros. until their contracts are finalized, giving them an unusual advantage in the ongoing talks.
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The strategy marks a notable shift from Gerwig’s earlier stance. After “Barbie” became the highest-grossing film of 2023, she repeatedly insisted a sequel would only happen if she discovered another story worth telling. “If I find the undertow, then we get it. If I don’t find an undertow, there’s no more,” she said while accepting TIME’s Women of the Year honor in 2024.
Reports that Gerwig and Baumbach had cracked that story first surfaced late that same year, though Warner Bros. and representatives for the filmmakers publicly disputed that development at the time.
Why ‘Barbie’ Could Be Forced To Start Over From Scratch
Warner Bros. faces a December deadline to begin developing the sequel. If the studio fails to strike a deal before then, the “Barbie” franchise would effectively revert the sequel rights to Mattel, giving the toy giant full control of the property once again. But the company wouldn’t inherit the foundation Warner Bros. has spent years building.
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The NY Times report says Mattel would have to redevelop the franchise from scratch, meaning it could not take the existing story elements or the filmmakers and stars attached to the current project to another studio.
That would leave Gerwig’s reported sequel idea on the shelf unless a new agreement is eventually reached. It would also put the future of Robbie, Gosling, and the rest of the original creative team in serious doubt.
Warner Bros. might have to make a decision pretty soon on just how much it wants Gerwig to write and direct a “Barbie” sequel, given just how packed her slate already is.
The Oscar-nominated filmmaker is currently focused on “Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew,” her ambitious adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ beloved fantasy novel for Netflix. Gerwig wrote, directed and produced the film, which stars Daniel Craig, Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep.
The project is scheduled for a global theatrical release on Feb. 12, 2027, before debuting on Netflix on April 2.
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The Cast Has Always Been Cautious About ‘Barbie 2’
The cast of “Barbie” has often been reluctant to promise fans a return to Barbie Land.
Speaking to TIME after the film’s record-breaking run, Robbie said discussions about the franchise had taken place but stressed that nothing had been decided. “It could go a million different directions from this point,” she said, adding that filmmakers can fall into “a bit of a trap” by trying to plan sequels while making the first movie.
Ryan Gosling has been just as guarded. During a fan Q&A at London’s BFI Southbank, the actor dismissed questions about a follow-up, saying, “I’m not going anywhere near that. We really know nothing.”
Still, Gosling couldn’t resist having a little fun with the idea. After insisting he had no inside information, he joked about Ken’s possible next evolution. “Can it be a Husky Ken? Can I play Husky Ken… like Sandwich Ken?” he asked, per Variety.
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I’ve always had a habit of helping people find their dream dresses for every occasion. I mean, I did grow up working in a bridal boutique. After the brides, I adored the shoppers who came in looking for wedding guest dresses. These women loved to play around with color and different silhouettes. And funnily enough, when I look at the wedding guest dresses that are popular today, not much has changed.
Pleats, florals, rich colors and even halter necklines are still standard today. I scoured the internet to find the best wedding guest dresses that stand the test of time. One thing’s for sure: if you pick one of the dresses below, you’ll be able to wear it to countless weddings for years.
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13 Wedding Guest Dresses That Never Go Out of Style
1. My Favorite: The best part of this tiered ruffle dress is that it looks incredible on every body type. The design disguises your midsection and the proportions are slimming. Slip into it, and you’ll feel like your best self!
2. Draped to Perfection: Dresses made with haute couture-inspired draping and ruching — like this chic satin design — sneakily help hide lumps and bumps. The stunning, classic design will help you strut into any wedding feeling your best.
3. Slip Into It: Satin slip dresses have proven longevity — not even the silhouette styles have changed much since I worked at the bridal store. With the right care, this shiny draped design will last you for decades.
4. Pleats Forever: For outdoor summer weddings, pleated dresses create a subtly elegant vibe that matches the relaxed warm weather energy. My suggestions: opt for this pick in a vibrant color, like purple or green.
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5. Ruffles Galore: Ruffles have proven to have staying power through the seasons. My aunt even said she saw versions of this strapless tiered ruffle dress back when she first opened her store in 1998. Talk about never going out of style!
6. Endless Options: Convertible straps are undoubtedly the best. Why? Well, you end up getting five different dresses in one. This mesh Abercrombie dress is a steal considering how many different ways you can wear it.
7. Criss Cross: I always remember women falling in love with a halter neck wedding guest dress like this one. The neckline has a slimming ability that lengthens your entire body.
8. Totally Timeless: Strapless dresses are a time-tested silhouette, and this one, with its asymmetrical drop waist and uneven hem, looks like something straight out of a rom com.
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9. Endless Colors: One of the best parts about wedding guest dress shopping? You can pretty much choose any color (except white, of course). This ruched one-shoulder stunner comes in 12 hues so you can find one that complements you perfectly.
10. Black Tie Ready: Shopping for a black tie wedding can be intimidating, but one of the best silhouettes is a long, straight gown with an open back. Simply stunning!
11. Flower Fields: When it came to spring and summer weddings, I always saw an uptick in floral dress requests. This strapless pick is memorable thanks to the removable scarf.
12. Princess Vibes: Even though someone else’s wedding isn’t your special day, you can still feel like a princess with this billowing off-the-shoulder dress. It’s a serious compliment getter.
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13. Let the Snow Fall: Winter weddings can feel challenging to dress for, but you can never go wrong with velvet. The deep colors this velvet dress comes in, including burgundy and green, will have you looking regal.
Welcome to summer with our biggest sale of the year. This summer’s chicest dresses, tops and swimsuits are all over 30% + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.
With The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day taking the summer box office to record-breaking heights, let’s not forget the contribution of Obsession and Backrooms earlier this year. The impact of those horror blockbusters will probably be felt for years to come, but for now, it can be quantified to the tune of around $800 million combined at the global box office. With Obsession and Backrooms dominating the discourse about horror this year, a handful of acclaimed hits slipped under the radar. Havoc, the gleefully creepy haunted house movie starring Adam Scott, found an audience on the PVOD market, and now, a terrifyingly tender new horror film is following in its footsteps.
The movie in question hails from Australia, and it follows two teenage boys whose sexual coming-of-age takes them into dark territory. They discover that falling for someone turns the person they love into a monster that’s out to kill them. The curse, as it is presented, serves as an allegory of queer love, with overbearing parents vowing to rid their children of it by sending them to reform schools and menacing pastors. Directed by Adrian Chiarella and headlined by Joe Bird and Stacy Klausen, the movie premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival before being released theatrically by Neon in June. It grossed around $8.5 million worldwide against a reported budget of $3.5 million — nowhere near the monster $450 million-plus generated by Obsession.
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Collider Exclusive · Horror Survival Quiz Which Horror Villain Do You Have the Best Chance of Surviving? Jason Voorhees · Michael Myers · Freddy Krueger · Pennywise · Chucky
Five killers. Five completely different ways to die — if you’re not smart enough, fast enough, or self-aware enough to avoid it. Only one of them is the villain your particular set of instincts gives you a fighting chance against. Eight questions will figure out which one.
🏕️Jason
🔪Michael
💤Freddy
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🎈Pennywise
🪆Chucky
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01
Something feels wrong. You can’t explain it — you just know. What do you do? First instincts are the difference between the survivor and the first act casualty.
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02
Where are you most likely to find yourself when things go wrong? Setting is everything in horror. Where you are determines which rules apply.
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03
What is your most reliable survival asset? Every survivor has a quality the villain didn’t account for. What’s yours?
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04
What kind of fear is hardest for you to fight through? Knowing your weakness is the first step to not dying because of it.
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05
You’re with a group when things start going wrong. What’s your role? Horror movies are brutally clear about who survives group situations and who doesn’t.
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06
What’s the horror movie mistake you’re most likely to make? Honest self-assessment is a survival skill. Denial is not.
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07
What’s your best weapon against something that can’t be stopped by conventional means? Every horror villain has a weakness. The survivors are always the ones who find it.
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08
It’s the final scene. You’re the last one standing. How did you make it? The final survivor always has a reason. What’s yours?
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Your Survival Odds Have Been Calculated Your Best Chance Is Against…
Your instincts, your strengths, and your particular way of thinking under pressure point to one villain you actually have a fighting chance against. Everyone else — good luck.
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Camp Crystal Lake · Friday the 13th
Jason Voorhees
Jason is relentless, but he is also predictable — and that is the gap you would exploit.
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He moves in straight lines toward his target. He doesn’t strategise, doesn’t adapt, doesn’t outsmart. He simply pursues.
Your ability to keep moving, use the environment, and resist the panic that freezes most victims gives you a genuine edge.
The Crystal Lake survivors were always the ones who stopped running in circles and started thinking about terrain, water, and distance.
You think like that. Which means Jason, for all his indestructibility, would face someone who simply refused to be where he expected.
Haddonfield, Illinois · Halloween
Michael Myers
Michael watches before he moves. He is patient, methodical, and almost impossible to detect — until it’s too late for anyone who isn’t paying close enough attention.
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But you are paying attention. You notice the shape in the window, the car parked slightly wrong, the silence where there should be sound.
Michael’s power lies in the invisibility of ordinary suburbia — the fact that nothing ever looks wrong until it already is.
Your spatial awareness and instinct to map every room, every exit, and every shadow before you need them is precisely the quality Laurie Strode had.
You are not a victim waiting to happen. You are someone who already suspects something is wrong — and acts on it.
Elm Street · A Nightmare on Elm Street
Freddy Krueger
Freddy wins by getting inside your head — using your own fears, your own memories, your own subconscious as weapons against you. That strategy requires a target who can be destabilised.
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You are harder to destabilise than most. You’ve faced uncomfortable truths about yourself and you haven’t looked away.
The survivors on Elm Street were always the ones who understood what was happening and chose to face it rather than flee from it.
Freddy’s greatest weakness is that his power evaporates in the presence of someone who refuses to give him the fear he feeds on.
Your psychological resilience — the ability to stay grounded when reality itself becomes unreliable — is exactly the quality that keeps you alive here.
Derry, Maine · It
Pennywise
Pennywise is ancient, shapeshifting, and feeds on terror — but it has one critical vulnerability: it cannot function against someone who genuinely stops being afraid of it.
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The Losers Club didn’t survive because they were braver than everyone else. They survived because they faced their fears together, and faced them honestly.
You ask the questions others avoid. You look directly at what frightens you rather than turning away.
That directness — the refusal to let fear fester in the dark — is Pennywise’s worst nightmare.
It chose the wrong target when it chose you. You are exactly the kind of person whose fear tastes like nothing at all.
Chicago · Child’s Play
Chucky
Chucky’s greatest advantage is that nobody takes him seriously until it’s already too late. He exploits the gap between how something looks and what it actually is.
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You don’t have that gap. You take threats seriously regardless of how they present — and you never make the mistake of underestimating something because of its size or appearance.
Chucky relies on surprise, on the delay between recognition and response. You close that delay faster than almost anyone.
Your instinct to treat every unfamiliar thing with appropriate scepticism — rather than dismissing it because it seems absurd — is the exact quality that keeps you breathing.
Against Chucky, not laughing is already winning. You are very good at not laughing.
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‘Obsession’ Meets ‘It Follows’ in the Year’s Most Overlooked Horror Movie
The movie recently debuted on the PVOD market, and according to FlixPatrol, has already found a spot on the iTunes and Google Play charts. We’re talking, of course, about Leviticus. The film currently holds a “Certified Fresh” 92% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “Merging an emotionally-involving queer relationship with its clever monster concept, Leviticus executes its intriguing hook with eerie aplomb.” Meanwhile, both Obsession and Backrooms are charting on the same lists, and their respective directors — Curry Barker and Kane Parsons — are being courted by practically every studio in Hollywood. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
While Zendaya has emerged as one of the year’s biggest faces thanks to a series of box-office hits — don’t be surprised if she’s named among Time’s 100 most influential people of 2026 — another actor has had an equally magnificent run on streaming. Zendaya began the year by reprising her role as Rue in the long-delayed third season of HBO’s Euphoria; she then starred in the sleeper hit The Drama, which grossed over $130 million worldwide. Zendaya followed it up with roles in the back-to-back blockbusters The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will potentially gross a combined total of at least $3 billion worldwide. She’ll conclude her year with the sure-fire hit Dune: Part Three, which is slated for release in December. The streaming industry is a whole different beast, and it has seemingly crownedAlan Ritchson as its biggest star.
Ritchson became a household name after the release of Prime Video’s Reacher in 2022. His towering performance quickly scored him roles in major movies such as Fast X and Guy Ritchie‘s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Ritchson further established his dominance on Prime Video with the buddy comedy Playdate, which debuted on the platform in November 2025. Two months later, in January 2026, Ritchson made his Netflix debut with the sci-fi action movie War Machine. And what a debut it was; War Machine has since emerged as one of Netflix’s biggest-ever original movies, with a sequel having already been green-lit. He will also lead another original Netflix action movie, which was announced not long after War Machine‘s success.
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Collider Exclusive · Action Hero Quiz Which Action Hero Would Be Your Perfect Partner? Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt
Five legends. Five completely different ways of getting out alive — with style, with muscle, with charm, with luck, or with a plan so intricate it probably shouldn’t work. Ten questions will reveal which action hero was built to have your back.
🎖️Rambo
🍸James Bond
🏺Indiana Jones
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🔧John McClane
🎭Ethan Hunt
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01
You’re dropped into a dangerous situation with no warning. What do you need most from a partner? The first few seconds tell you everything about who belongs beside you.
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02
You have to get somewhere dangerous, fast. How do you travel? How you get there is half the mission.
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03
You’re pinned down and outnumbered. What does your ideal partner do? This is when you find out what someone is really made of.
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04
The mission is paused. You have one evening to decompress. What does your partner suggest? Who someone is when the pressure drops is who they actually are.
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05
How do you prefer your partner to communicate mid-mission? Good communication is the difference between partners and a liability.
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06
Your enemy is powerful, well-resourced, and has the upper hand. How should your partner approach them? The approach to the enemy defines the partnership.
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07
Things go badly wrong and you’re captured. What do you trust your partner to do? Who someone is when you need them most is the only thing that matters.
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08
What does your ideal partner bring to the table that you couldn’t replace? A great partner fills the gap you didn’t know you had.
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09
Every partnership has a cost. Which of these can you live with? No one comes without baggage. The question is whether you can carry it together.
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10
It’s the final moment. Everything is on the line. What do you need from your partner right now? The last question is the most honest one.
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Your Partner Has Been Assigned Your Perfect Partner Is…
Your answers have pointed to one action hero above all others. This is the person built to have your back — for better or considerably, spectacularly worse.
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Rambo
Your partner doesn’t talk much, doesn’t need to, and will have assessed every threat in your immediate environment before you’ve finished your first sentence. John Rambo is not a man of plans or politics — he is a force of nature shaped by survival, loyalty, and a capacity for endurance that goes beyond anything training can produce. He will not leave you behind. He has never left anyone behind who deserved to come home. What you get with Rambo is the most capable, most quietly ferocious partner imaginable — one who has been through things that would have broken anyone else, and who chose to keep going anyway. You’ll never need to ask if he has your back. You’ll just know.
James Bond
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Your partner will arrive perfectly dressed, perfectly briefed, and with a cover story so convincing it’ll take you a moment to remember what’s actually true. James Bond is the most professionally dangerous person in any room he enters — and the most disarmingly charming, which is the point. He operates in a world of layers, where nothing is what it appears and every advantage is used without apology. You’ll never be bored. You’ll occasionally be furious. But when it matters — when the mission is genuinely on the line and the margin for error has collapsed to nothing — Bond is exactly the partner you want. He has survived things that have no business being survivable. He does it with style. That is not nothing.
Indiana Jones
Your partner will know the history, the language, the cultural context, and exactly why the thing everyone else is ignoring is actually the most important thing in the room. Indiana Jones is brilliant, reckless, and occasionally impossible — but he is also one of the most resourceful, most genuinely knowledgeable partners you could find yourself beside. He approaches every situation with a scholar’s eye and a brawler’s instinct, which is an unusual combination and a remarkably effective one. He hates snakes and gets personally attached to objects of historical significance, both of which will slow you down at least once. It doesn’t matter. What Indy brings is irreplaceable — and the adventures you’ll have together will be the kind people write books about. Assuming you survive them.
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John McClane
Your partner was not supposed to be here. He does not have the right equipment, the right information, or anything approaching the right odds. He has a sarcastic remark and an absolute refusal to accept that the situation is as bad as it looks. John McClane is the greatest accidental hero in the history of action cinema — a man whose superpower is stubbornness, whose contingency plan is improvisation, and whose capacity to absorb punishment and keep moving would be alarming if it weren’t so useful. He will complain the entire time. He will make it significantly more chaotic than it needed to be. And he will absolutely, unconditionally, without question come through when it counts. Yippee-ki-yay.
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Ethan Hunt
Your partner has already run seventeen scenarios by the time you’ve finished reading the briefing, and the plan he’s settled on involves at least two things that should be physically impossible. Ethan Hunt operates at the absolute edge of human capability — technically, physically, and intellectually — and he brings the same relentless precision to protecting his partners that he brings to dismantling organisations that shouldn’t exist. He is not easy to know and he will never fully tell you everything. But he will carry the weight of the mission so completely, so absolutely, that your job is simply to trust him — and the remarkable thing is that trusting him always turns out to be the right call. The mission will be impossible. He will complete it anyway.
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Here’s When Alan Ritchson Will Return as Reacher on Prime Video
According to Netflix’s latest viewership report, Ritchson had two movies in the global top 10 simultaneously, War Machine and the sleeper hit drama Ordinary Angels. This month, the action star will reprise his most popular role in the fourth season of Reacher. Ritchson is also expected to appear as the hulking character, previously played by Tom Cruise in two movies, in the spin-off series Neagley. The spin-off will premiere on Prime Video in September, immediately after the fourth season of Reacher, which premieres on August 12. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
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Release Date
February 3, 2022
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Network
Prime Video
Showrunner
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Nick Santora
Directors
Omar Madha, Carol Banker, Julian Holmes, Lin Oeding, M.J. Bassett, Norberto Barba, Stephen Surjik, Thomas Vincent
After hearing the devastating news that PlayStation will be removing its physical library in the future, resorting only to digital games and, most likely, digital-only consoles, fans are reminded of what used to be. While the Nintendo Switch is closing the gap with console sales because of games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the best-selling video game console is still the PlayStation 2.
With around 160 million units sold worldwide, this gaming sensation was essential in the early 2000s. However, while the console was great, everyone bought it for the games, and that is because this console was home to some of the greatest games ever. That is why this list will rank the ten greatest PS2 video games of all time based on how iconic they were, influence, originality, popularity, critical acclaim, gameplay, design, visuals, narrative, and overall quality. This list will include any PS2 games, not just exclusives.
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10
‘Kingdom Hearts II’ (2005)
Riku, Sora, and Mickey Mouse all pointing their keyblades to the left in Kingdom Hearts II.Image via Square Enix
Disney is a family-friendly franchise, and while they aren’t particularly known for their video games, the Kingdom Hearts franchise is incredible, specifically Kingdom Hearts II. After a year-long slumber, Sora, Donald, and Goofy reawaken to pick up their fight against a mysterious organization that wants to bring Disney and the original worlds to an end.
Kingdom Hearts II is an incredible-looking game for the PS2, highlighting the best graphics of the franchise. It tightened the gameplay of the first while introducing new captivating mechanics and improvements such as cinematic reaction commands and incredible boss fight choreography. The PS2 has many fantastic games, but Kingdom Hearts II was a must-play on the console.
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9
‘Okami’ (2006)
okami amaterasu the white wolf in ‘okami’Image via Capcom
The PS2 had some visually striking video games, and one of the most gorgeous in terms of art style and uniqueness was Okami. The player controls Amaterasu, the sun goddess of Japan, who takes on the form of a White Wolf. When a dark curse is launched on the land of Nippon by an ancient demon, Amaterasu must cleanse the land or risk the country falling into ruin.
Okami’s art style resembles a traditional Japanese sumi-e ink wash painting, which features thick brushstrokes and vibrant splashes of color. This aesthetic makes the game feel like a painting come to life, truly being the closest thing a video game can come to being art. The brush mechanic was innovative and thematically relevant, further showcasing this visually stunning video game in all of its beauty.
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8
‘Gran Turismo 4’ (2005)
Two cars racing each other in Gran Turismo 4Image via Sony
Each of the three major gaming companies has its own racing franchise, and Gran Turismo is the staple of PlayStation, specifically Gran Turismo 4 on the PS2. Starting as a novice driver with a cheap car, players work their way up through a plethora of races, getting more advanced cars so they can conquer the tracks even better.
The first Gran Turismo is a legendary game and one of the most influential, but Gran Turismo 4 reinvented the formula and ironed it out to be the definitive racing experience. It achieved technical perfection not seen before, pushing the PS2 to the limit with over 700 cars to choose from. The progression system is rewarding, and the gameplay is satisfying, making it the best of its franchise.
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7
‘God of War II’ (2007)
Kratos in the God of War gamesImage via Santa Monica Studio
The God of War franchise is one of the most acclaimed out there, especially in the modern-day after the 2018 version redefined the narrative and gameplay. However, back on the PS2, the best of the franchise is still God of War II. After Zeus betrays and kills Kratos, the Titan Gaia revives him, giving him the chance to travel through time and fight through the underworld to rewrite his fate and kill the King of the Gods.
God of War II came out on both the PS2 and PS3, but it was an exclusive on the former for about two years, making it a staple of the best-selling console. By delivering an unbridled sense of anger and exhilaration, this game becomes a digital cathartic experience that is freeing to play. God of War II is an action masterclass with polished combat and fluid gameplay, which made it a nice send-off late in the PS2’s lifespan.
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6
‘Final Fantasy X’ (2001)
Auron adjusting his mask in Final Fantasy XImage via Square Enix
After years of being exclusive games on Nintendo consoles, Final Fantasy switched to PlayStation with Final Fantasy VII. But this list is about the PS2, and Final Fantasy X is woven into the fabric of that console. When Tidus is transported from his highly-advanced world to a fantasy realm, he teams up with a mage to go on an adventure and take down the one who summoned him here.
This was the PS2’s first and best Final Fantasy game, being the first to fully integrate voice acting and 3D environments. It was a massive technological leap that marked a milestone in the franchise. The strategic combat system made gameplay even more engaging, and when paired with a gorgeous soundtrack and emotional finale, Final Fantasy X became a staple of the console.
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5
‘Silent Hill 2’ (2001)
silent-hill-2-pyramid-head-1Image via Konami
The PS2 was home to some of the greatest horror games of all time, including what many consider to be the best: Silent Hill 2. The game follows James Sunderland, who travels to the titular town in order to learn the mystery behind a letter he got from his deceased wife. Desperate for answers, he continuously searches the decaying town while avoiding its monstrous inhabitants.
Silent Hill 2 wasn’t a PS2 exclusive, but it was the only way to play the game for a few months, which is why they are often paired with each other. With one of the most brilliant narratives in horror history, the entire environment and monsters were all manifestations of the protagonist’s guilt and despair. This was a renowned twist and masterful narrative connection that helped Silent Hill 2 become the scariest video game.
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4
‘Resident Evil 4’ (2005)
Leon in Resident Evil 4Image via Capcom
Resident Evil is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, and it has been a fantastic year, but the pinnacle of the franchise is still Resident Evil 4. After the president’s daughter is kidnapped in Spain, Leon Kennedy embarks on an adventure to rescue her. However, he discovers that the ones who have her captive have been taken over by mind-controlling parasites.
Resident Evil 4 innovated in so many ways, from the over-the-shoulder camera angle to the adjustable inventory, which redefined how third-person shooters were handled. Some fans didn’t appreciate the shift into an action-centric focus, but it still maintained a horror feel that felt true to the original. Resident Evil 4 is a best-selling video game that would be higher on this list if it were a PS2 exclusive, even if that is the definitive way to play.
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3
‘Shadow of the Colossus’ (2005)
Fumito Ueda is a legendary game designer who has a couple of masterpieces on the PS2, including his magnum opus, Shadow of the Colossus. After their lover dies, the protagonist makes a deal with a supernatural entity where he must kill 16 Colossi beasts in order to bring her back to life. The player must travel around the world and defeat these towering creatures in the name of love.
Shadow of the Colossus is one of the few genuine PlayStation exclusives on this list, only being playable on other consoles with the remake. That makes it perfect for this list, as it was a defining video game of this era and for the console. This game is all about boss fights, which are essentially gigantic puzzles that build up some of the most intense gaming moments. Shadow of the Colossus is a melancholic experience that highlights its innovative gameplay through the operatic battles and a depressing, yet perfect ending.
Solid Snake and Raiden both aiming firearms off-screen in ‘Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty’Image via Konami
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Hideo Kojima is a prolific game designer who has spawned countless masterpieces, like the PS2 classic Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. After a failed mission, Solid Snake is presumed dead, and years later, an agent known as Raiden is sent to infiltrate a facility and save the president. However, he learns that this is a staged mission, and all part of a test for a device that can control human behavior.
For its time,Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was one of the most ambitious narratives in the gaming scene, using its bait-and-switch protagonist to deconstruct player expectations. Aging like a fine wine, this game gets more relevant and perfect by the day, and it is best experienced on the PS2. Narrative aside, Metal Gear Solid 2 polishes the stealth mechanics to create a remarkable gameplay experience.
1
‘Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas’ (2004)
Grand Theft Auto’s Carl ‘CJ’ Johnson dapping up with his friend Big Smoke in San AndreasImage via Rockstar Games
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Grand Theft Auto is one of the biggest gaming franchises in the world, and PlayStation has always been the best way to play them, including Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. CJ returns to his city after his mother passes away, but when he gets back, he is framed for her murder. In order to clear his name, he must travel across the state, save his family, and take back the streets.
It feels weird for GTA: San Andreas to beat out PS2 exclusive games like Metal Gear Solid 2 and Shadow of the Colossus since it was released on other consoles. However, the PS2 and GTA: San Andreas are essentially synonymous, easily being the most compatible and essential way to play. Plus, this game is regarded as one of the greatest of all time, with most of the players agreeing it belongs on the PS2. GTA: San Andreas pushed the bounds of creativity and technical prowess, resulting in a seamless open-world sandbox that remains a cultural landmark of gaming.
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