Meghan McCain has announced that her older brother Douglas “Doug” McCain has died. He was 66.

“I am deeply saddened to share the news of my brother Doug McCain’s sudden passing,” Meghan, 41, wrote via X on Sunday, May 24. “He was truly a wonderful, joyful man who supported me throughout my life. He brought humor, fun and great conversation to every room. I will cherish our memories together.”

The former The View cohost added, “Our prayers are with his wife Ashley and children Caroline and Shepp.”

No official cause of death has been publicly revealed at the time of publication.

Meghan shared the same statement on Instagram, alongside a photo of her late brother and her late father, former Senator John McCain, as well as two solo pictures of her sibling. (John, who ran for president in 2008 against Barack Obama, died in 2018 at the age of 81 after a battle with cancer.)

Doug was the eldest son of John’s first wife, Carol McCain, from a previous marriage. The late senator went on to adopt Doug and his brother, Andrew, after he married Carole in 1965. They later welcomed a third child, daughter Sidney, one year before John’s plane was shot down in Vietnam and he spent nearly six years away from his family as a prisoner of war.

When he was rescued and returned to the U.S, he entered the political world, which his son Andy recalled ultimately put a strain on his first marriage.

“As dad progressed, he was gone a lot, doing a lot of international travel, and it was putting a little stress on the marriage,” he said in the 2018 HBO documentary John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls.

It was at this time, in 1979, that he ultimately met his second wife, Cindy McCain — 18 years his junior — in Hawaii.

“Cindy was very young too, and you can’t help who you fall in love with,” Sidney said in the same HBO documentary. “I truly believe that my dad is very much in love with Cindy, and I think she is very much in love with him, and I think there is something very beautiful about that. At the time it was really awful.”

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After John and Cindy wed, they welcomed four additional children to their blended family: Meghan, John “Jack” McCain, James McCain and Bridget McCain.

Related: Kennedy Family Tragedies: Most Shocking Deaths and Curse Rumors Explained

The Kennedy family has endured several tragedies throughout the years. After being in the public eye for decades through politics and the entertainment industry, the prolific family became a household name. The Kennedys haven’t just made headlines for their personal and professional lives — with the amount of young and tragic deaths surrounding the famed […]

Doug opened up about his relationship with his younger siblings in the HBO doc.

“It was just different, it took some time getting used to,” he recalled at the time. “I have a good relationship with Cindy, as do my brother and sister. And I have a good relationship with Meghan, Jack, Jimmy and Bridget. We’re not extraordinarily close, but if I ever need something, I know how to reach them.”

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 33 seconds ago

Memorial Day weekend is a showdown between the two sides of modern Hollywood. On one side, we have Disney’s big-budget Star Wars blockbuster The Mandalorian and Grogu, and on the other, the latest micro-budget horror from Blumhouse: Obsession. The two films can’t be any more different, and while Star Wars’ return to the big screen is expected to earn over $400 million at the box office, it’s Obsession that’s going to enter the history books. Not only because of its total box office, it’s going to end up over a $100 million, but it’s how it’s earned the money. It’s the first film since Shrek to earn more its second weekend than its first, without the benefit of Christmas or Thanksgiving weekends. That’s one for the history books. 

Obsession Defies Decades Of History

A second weekend drop of under 50 percent is considered a success in Hollywood. On average, movies tend to be frontloaded these days, and we’ll never again have a film like Titanic, which earned more on Valentine’s Day three months after release than it did on opening night. It was catastrophic that both Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania fell by 67 percent in their second weekends, but a franchise-saving success when Bumblebee dropped only 3 percent. Obsession has, percentage-wise, done better than all of those films, and thousands of others. 

Obsession is, as of the time of this writing, on pace for a second weekend performance of $19 million. 16 percent above its original haul of $17 million. With outstanding word of mouth, rave reviews, and countless social media reactions, sketch comedian Curry Barker’s (no relation to that other Barker) horror debut shows no signs of slowing down. If the third weekend breaks $19 million, Obsession will become one of the most successful films in modern history. 

The Next Big Name In Horror

With a total budget of under a million dollars, Obsession cost less than the catering budget for The Mandalorian and Grogu. The tight story, with a total runtime of barely over 100 minutes, has been able to capture the audience’s imagination in a way few horror films have before, already earning the film comparisons to The Ring, The Blair Witch Project, and Paranormal Activity. The One Wish Willow that allows Bear (Michael Johnston) to wish for his crush, Nikki (Inde Navarrette) to love him more than anyone is already being talked about as the subject of a second film, or an anthology, with multiple One Wish Willow’s going very, very badly for the wisher.

Low-budget horror has become a staple of cinema over the last few decades in particular, and Curry Barker is set to follow up his current hit next year with Anything but Ghosts starring Aaron Paul and Bryce Dallas Howard (with an estimated budget of $5 million) and in 2027, a new take on an old classic: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It’ll be a tough bar to clear the success of Obsession, which might break even more records before its run comes to an end, but given the reaction to his small-scale Monkey’s Paw story, Barker is going to become one of the hottest directors in Hollywood. 

Comedian Eddie Griffin isn’t holding back when it comes to Drake. During the latest episode of his “NNN” show, the actor roasted the Canadian rapper over his most recent album, “ICEMAN,” and called him too “sensitive.” His critique of the “Degrassi” alum’s album comes after the latter took shots at several celebrities on the project, including NBA champion LeBron James.

Griffin, known for his sitcom “Malcolm & Eddie,” spoke about Drake’s May 15 album on the most recent episode of his YouTube show. As he was speaking about it, Griffin made it clear that he wasn’t a fan of the “One Dance” rapper, calling him too “sensitive.”

In the video, which now has over 114,000 views, Griffin told his listeners that he hadn’t planned on listening to Drake’s latest body of work, saying he “refuses to buy garbage.” During his rant, he also seemed to take issue with some of Drake’s songs, particularly one where he takes a clear shot at Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.

“… the ice-melting man is said to have a song clowning LeBron James because he took a picture on the sidelines with Kendrick Lamar after taking a picture with Drake,” Griffin said. “He took a picture with your enemy? I didn’t know y’all were dating.”

Griffin didn’t stop there, though. He went even further, saying Drake “sounds like a b-tch to me.” He added, “It’s over. Just take your owl a** and travel in the dark quietly because owls, they move quietly.”

Drake Calls Out LeBron James In ‘1 Am In Albany’

According to a previous report from The Blast, Drake stirred up a bit of chaos on the night of May 14, 2026, when songs from his trio of albums were leaked online. In one song, “1 AM in Albany,” Drake makes it clear that he’s no longer in a good place with his former friend, James.

“I shouldn’t even be shocked to see you in that arena, because you always made your career off of switching teams up,” Drake raps over the beat. “Please stop asking what’s going on with 23 & me, I’m a real n****, and he’s not, it’s in my DNA.”

Drake’s lyrics about the Cleveland Cavaliers alum come over a year after James was spotted singing along to Kendrick Lamar‘s diss track about the “God’s Plan” rapper, “Not Like Us.”

Drake And James Had A Close Relationship With One Another

Prior to their falling out, Drake and James had a well-documented friendship. Not only did the “Hotline Bling” rapper have a portrait of James tattooed on his body, but he also revealed in 2011 that he used to text James before every game.

“I always let him know that it’s his night,” Drake said, according to The Blast. “Let’s get it, let’s go out there with a clear mind and forget all the other stuff going on and just stay focused on the task. That ring. Tonight, I told him it was his night. And it was his night tonight.”

In 2025, James opened up about his strained relationship with Drake in an interview with Speedy Morman, admitting that things between them had soured.

“Always wish him the best. Obviously, um, different places right now, currently. He’s doing his thing, I’m doing mine. But it’s always love, for sure,” the father of three said.

Drizzy Was Saddened By James’ Behavior

Prior to speaking about his issues with James on his album, Drake made it clear that he had issues with those who’d wronged him, releasing a statement during a 2024 speech showing love to his “real friends” who had stood by him.

Continuing, Drake said that he’s had to find the strength to move forward after being hurt by those close to him.

“They might try to move funny with you. They might stab you in the back. They might do a lot of things to you. You’ll come to that realization, wherever you’re at in life. You’ve probably been there and you’ll be there again. That’s how life is. Sometimes it’s you and you alone by yourself,” he said.

The Rapper Stars In A New Commercial With Another NBA Champion

Although Drake’s relationship with James has deteriorated, that hasn’t stopped other NBA icons from teaming up with the “Hold On, We’re Going Home” rapper.

Recently, Drake starred in a new Nike commercial alongside NBA champion Kevin Durant to promote his new sneaker, the KD19.

“Normalize glazing the bros @easymoneysniper 19th sneaker available on nike.com and SNKRs 6.17,” the two stars captioned the Instagram post.

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Although he’s still a popular name, the recent run of movies for Mark Wahlberg has been wince-inducing. 2024’s Arthur the King aside, Wahlberg has not had a performance rank more than 48% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes in eight long years. From his team-up with director Mel Gibson in the action thriller Flight Risk and the disappointing Prime Video original heist thriller Play Dirty, to the action sequel, The Family Plan 2, and the disastrous recent soccer comedy Balls Up, it’s a tough time to be a Wahlberg fan.

It feels like a long time since Wahlberg earned either of his Academy Award nominations or any of his 9 Primetime Emmy nominations, but the former Marky Mark still boasts an impressive filmography. After making a name for himself in gritty, intense movies, Wahlberg’s career took a sharp comedic turn in 2010 when he teamed up with Hollywood’s resident funnyman Will Ferrell in the brilliant buddy cop satire The Other Guys, which earned plenty of praise upon arrival.

Also starring Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson, albeit for less time than you might imagine, The Other Guys couldn’t return a strong box office haul during the second half of 2010. Against a bloated budget of $100 million, the movie only earned $170 million worldwide, split between a domestic haul of $119 million and a further $51 million from overseas markets. 16 years later, and perfect for those looking for a break from disappointing recent Wahlberg comedies, The Other Guys is officially joining a new streamer. Starting June 1, you can watch the hilarious buddy cop comedy on Starz in the U.S.

What Can You See Mark Wahlberg in Next?

After such a poor run of movies, Wahlberg will be hoping to break the trend with his next project, the historical crime thriller By Any Means. “A notorious mafia hitman and a young Black FBI agent team up to investigate the murders of civil rights leaders in Mississippi in 1966,” reads the logline for the film, which stars Wahlberg alongside Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Giancarlo Esposito, Nicole Beharie, David Strathairn, Josh Lucas, and Ethan Embry. As it stands, the Paramount project is scheduled for release in theaters on Labor Day (September 4, 2026).

The Other Guys will be streaming on Starz starting June 1, 2026. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.

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Release Date

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August 6, 2010

Runtime

107 minutes

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Director

Adam McKay

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Chile, Lizzo is once again setting the internet on fire, and this time it’s got folks talking, double-tapping, and scrolling back for a closer look. Whenever she steps into her unapologetic energy, you already know it’s going to be a moment—but this latest drop has the internet doing a whole lot of reacting as she leans all the way into confidence, curves, and not holding anything back.

RELATED: Hold On, Big Mama! Lizzo Weighs In After Latto Seemingly Teases Retirement Plans (VIDEO)

Lizzo Turns Heads With Unapologetic Mirror Moment

In a post shared to her X account, Lizzo showed off what her mama gave her while speaking directly to the thick girlies. With her caption, “Not enough big girls w they whole stomach out fa meeee,” she made it clear she’s not here for the body rules—she’s here to rewrite them. She also shared two mirror selfies taken in front of what appears to be a vintage-style mirror with a vase of soft pink flowers sitting in front of it.

Lizzo rocked a magenta bikini with a matching necklace and bracelet, mini hoop earrings, and a blue satin (or silk) scarf as her dark hair peeks out just slightly. The whole look ties together effortlessly as she serves full confidence and her unmistakable “that girl” energy.

Comment Section Erupts Over Lizzo’s Bold Post

Folks immediately ran to The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section once the post started circulating, and the reactions were all over the place. Some users were hyping Lizzo up, saying she looked good and praising her confidence, while others pushed back by reminding people that “normal” bodies of all shapes deserve celebration too. Then, of course, there were the messy takes, with a few commenters snapping back at the criticism and saying things like “y’all mommas are built like fridges, so not too much on Lizzo.”

One Instagram user @attractifff commented “I think she looks good idk“

This Instagram user @mahogany________ said, “I like her confidence ❤️ definitely when surgery bodies are being promoted as the normal. Lizzo Keep doing you boo“

And, Instagram user @missmariethegoddess wrote, “Not yall mad she loves being a bbw and expresses it every chance she get ! YAAAAAAAAS LIZZO 😍😍!”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @j.annak added, “Yall wayyy too comfortable body shaming her in the comments😂when most of yall momma built sloppy 😮”

While Instagram user @donniecoupe claimed, “Big girls be scared to take full body pics. This is 🔥 Lizzo.“

Finally, Instagram user @trevcomedy asked, “Where da problem?? 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾”

Lizzo Stays Outside Stunting On Everybody

Lizzo isn’t new to having the internet gasping for air with how hard she serves, and once again she locks folks in on her glow-up energy. The ‘Truth Hurts’ songstress had the timeline buzzing back in January after stepping out with what many are calling a major transformation moment, leaving fans double-tapping and giving her props for looking practically unrecognizable in the best way. She shut the red carpet down in a pink mini dress that hugged every curve just right, paired with strappy sandals that sealed the entire serve, and honestly… the slay was undeniable.

RELATED: Who’s That Lady? Lizzo Leaves Social Media SHOOK After Looking Unrecognizable At Recent Red Carpet Appearance (PHOTO + VIDEO)

By TeeJay Small
| Published 31 seconds ago

I don’t think any actor has ever gotten a bigger career bump from a television finale than Bryan Cranston. Once Breaking Bad wrapped in 2013, Cranston began popping up all over the place in movies, TV shows, television ads, and Broadway plays. While many of his post-Heisenberg roles are excellent, my favorite underrated Cranston performance has to be the leading role in 2016’s The Infiltrator. The movie made a small splash at the box office and ultimately failed to make back its budget, but it stands up really well on a rewatch now that it’s streaming on Hulu.

As a massive Breaking Bad fan, I distinctly recall catching The Infiltrator in theaters and gasping as I discovered the premise. The film is a biographical crime drama based on the true story of the men who went undercover to take down infamous drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. Cranston leads the cast as United States Customs Service Special Agent Robert Mazur, based on the real-life Mazur’s recollection of events. Diane Kruger, John Leguizamo, Yul Vazquez, and The Office‘s Amy Ryan round out the cast.

In case it doesn’t immediately leap out to you, I found this movie hilarious for the mere fact that Cranston was flipping the script on his Breaking Bad persona. On the hit AMC TV show, he portrayed a timid, mild-mannered suburbanite who led a double life as a violent drug lord. In The Infiltrator, Cranston is a rough-around-the-edges badass who weasels his way into Escobar’s crew in order to bust him and take down the entire operation. For fans of the show, this is like Walter White and Hank Schrader merging into a single mustachioed individual.

Even if you’ve never seen Breaking Bad, there’s plenty to enjoy about The Infiltrator. The story is quite gripping, the performances are top-notch, and the cinematography leaves your head spinning. I distinctly recall walking out of the theater back in 2016 thinking it was going to be a hit, so you can imagine my surprise when nobody was talking about it at the water cooler the following week. The Infiltrator currently touts a middling 72 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes as well, so I might just have very niche taste.

If I had to guess why The Infiltrator underperformed, I’d say it’s probably because it tells a similar story to the Netflix series Narcos, if a bit more condensed. Narcos is also about taking down Escobar, though the series focuses more on the life of the kingpin and his ultimate demise, giving viewers a much fuller picture of events. The movie, by contrast, concludes when Escobar is caught and arraigned in the late 1980s, as that’s when Robert Mazur’s work concluded. History buffs will note that Escobar ultimately managed to escape from prison during the early 1990s, and live the rest of his life on the run.

If you were one of the lucky few who caught this film in theaters ten years ago, why not give it another spin today? Alternatively, this might be the perfect time for a first-time viewer to sit down and catch The Infiltrator on Hulu.

Yellowstone fans are in for some onscreen surprises when it comes to Rip and Beth’s Dutton Ranch spinoff.

Natalie Alyn Lind exclusively spoke to Us Weekly about what to expect, saying, “What I loved about the original Yellowstone so much is the family dynamics. I think that family relationships can be the absolute messiest because your family can hurt you more than anyone.”

Lind, who plays Oreana, teased what is to come.

“Both families will fight for each other and seeing this integration of the two families come together … it gets messy,” she shared. “It gets really messy. In the best way. It gets so juicy. I’m so excited.”

Related: Meet the Star-Studded Cast of Yellowstone’s Spinoff ‘Dutton Ranch’

Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser have made the move from Yellowstone to their own show — but who else makes up the cast of Dutton Ranch? The Paramount Network show, which premiered in 2018, introduced viewers to the fictional Dutton family. Yellowstone came to an end in 2024, expanding its universe with Luke Grimes‘ CBS […]

Yellowstone, which premiered in 2018, introduced viewers to the fictional Dutton family. The Paramount Network show came to an end in 2024, expanding its universe with Luke Grimes‘ CBS show Marshals and Dutton Ranch, which premiered in May.

“As Beth and Rip fight to build a future together — far from the ghosts of Yellowstone — they collide with brutal new realities and a ruthless rival ranch that will stop at nothing to protect its empire,” the show’s synopsis reads. “In South Texas, blood runs deeper, forgiveness is fleeting, and the cost of survival might just be your soul.”

Dutton Ranch will introduce some new characters played by Annette Bening and Ed Harris. Other newcomers include Jai Courtney, Lind, Marc Menchaca, Juan Pablo Raba and J. R. Villarreal.

“My arc is heading in a direction that I am not going to be specific about but she starts off the season and ends it a completely different person,” Lind told Us. “There’s things that happen that change her life forever.”

Dutton Ranch expands Rip and Beth’s world as they meet many new people — including the powerful Jackson family made up of matriarch Beulah (Bening), who owns the 10 Petal Ranch. She runs her affluent business with sons Joaquin (Raba), a.k.a the fixer in the family and Rob-Will (Courtney), who is the reckless member of the family that sets off a chain reaction in the pilot episode.

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Rob-Will has a daughter — Beulah’s granddaughter — Oreana (Lind) who is destined to inherit the ranch but instead finds herself pushing back against expectation … and finding love with Carter.

“Everybody knows the Duttons so well and there’s this deep history. For the Jacksons coming into this new franchise, we wanted it to feel like it was a family that was deep rooted so when you get to know them, it feels authentic,” Lind shared with Us.

Dutton Ranch airs Fridays on Paramount+.

Chris Brown can officially add “doctor” to his resume. On Saturday, May 23, 2026, the “Gimme That” singer revealed that he received an honorary doctorate degree in Visual & Performing Arts from Harvest Christian University. The father of four posted pictures of the special moment online, boasting about his latest accomplishment. However, some social media users weren’t as ecstatic about the A-lister, as a few have flooded various social forums to blast the 37-year-old.

Brown received an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Visual & Performing Arts from Harvest Christian University in May 2026.

The singer posted photos of himself in his academic regalia online, captioning the flicks, “I DID A THING!”

Other images gave his followers a closer look at the certificate, which acknowledges that Brown has met the requirements for the honor.

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According to ABS-CBN, Harvest Christian University issues honorary doctoral degrees to those who’ve “made significant impacts in their fields, particularly in music, entertainment, and humanitarian work.”

Per the institution, honorary degrees recognize a person’s accomplishments and “influence beyond the classroom, honoring those whose life’s work embodies the values and mission of the university.”

Chris Brown Has Been In The Game Since The Early 2000s

Brown rose to fame in the early 2000s with his self-titled album, “Chris Brown,” which featured the singles “Run It!,” “Say Goodbye,” and “Poppin.” The project reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and, as of today, has sold over 4 million copies.

In the years that followed, Brown released chart-topping albums, including “FAME” and “Fortune,” and received two Grammys for Best R&B Album in 2012 and 2025. Adding to it, Brown has also become one of the highest-grossing touring artists of all time, with his latest tour grossing nearly $300 million.

While impressive, Brown’s career has also been clouded by controversy since 2009, when Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault after a reported domestic violence dispute between him and his then-girlfriend, Rihanna.

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Additionally, Brown has reportedly been involved in several physical altercations with his peers, including Drake and Frank Ocean, and was arrested in 2013 after punching a man in the face outside of a DC hotel.

While Brown has still experienced success despite his legal woes and other disputes, his personal issues have certainly hung over his head since the mid-2000s. It appears to be one of the reasons why some are furious with Harvest Christian University for honoring the singer with such a prestigious title.

“LOL imagine giving an honorary doctorate to a convicted criminal, images of whose crime – a battered woman – are all over the internet to find,” someone wrote about the moment on Reddit. “Seems very Christ like.”

Another user wrote, “Disgusting,” and a third said, “An abuser and an honorary degree = no one cares.”

On Instagram, the reaction was much of the same, considering one user wrote, “Defund Honorary Degrees!”

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Someone else added, “Good for him, but I’m not calling him Dr. Chris Brown. Much love and respect to our Black scholars who have truly earned their doctorates and are pursuing theirs.”

Brown’s Latest Album Received A Low Score From A Music Review Publication

According to a previous report from The Blast, Brown was recently in the headlines after dragging Pitchfork, a respected music publication, for giving his latest album, “Brown,” a 1.3/10 rating.

The outlet’s review quickly went viral, likely because the senior writer who penned the piece called the 27-track project a “real piece of sh-t.”

Brown fired back, saying, “F-ck that! We kickin’ they a-s, goddamnit. We ain’t lettin’ up. I’mma keep my foot on they neck, and we ain’t stoppin’. You heard me?”

Brown Shaded Another Singer In The Process

In his statement, Brown told critics he wasn’t concerned with their opinions of his music. “If you not my fan, I don’t want you to listen to my sh-t. Go listen to motherf-ckin’ Zara Larsson or somebody.”

Larsson has been vocal about her disdain toward Brown for years, according to The Blast. Earlier this year, she revealed he was one of the artists she had blocked on Spotify.

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“There are so many artists I have blocked on Spotify, and all of them are, like, abusers,” the “Pretty Ugly” singer said. “You certainly wouldn’t find, like, a Chris Brown song.”

There is no bigger spy movie character than James Bond. Based on the novels by Ian Fleming, 007 made his big screen debut in 1962, with Sean Connery donning the tuxedo in Dr. No. Over the last six decades, Bond has also been played by George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. There have been some great Bond movies, like Goldfinger, GoldenEye, Casino Royale, and Skyfall, but as thrilling as they are, there are six spy movies that are even better.

1

‘North by Northwest’ (1959)

Image via MGM

We’ll start with Alfred Hitchcock‘s North by Northwest. Cary Grant plays Roger Thornhill, an ad exec from New York who is mistaken for a spy and chased across the country by corrupt secret agents, led by Phillip Vandamm (James Mason), out to stop him. Along the way, he meets Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) and falls madly in love with her. Is she a friend or foe?

It’s easy to see that North by Northwest inspired what was to come with James Bond and Mission: Impossible. It takes a lighter tone at times, going for more fun than serious, like the early, playful Bond films. Hitchcock’s action thriller is a masterpiece in suspense, with one twist after another, and truly mesmerizing shots, such as when Thornhill is hanging off the side of Mount Rushmore, or when he’s chased by a crop duster plane through an open field.

2

‘The Manchurian Candidate’ (1962)

Image via United Artists

While the 2004 Denzel Washington-led reboot of The Manchurian Candidate is pretty good, it can’t hold a candle to the 1962 original. Directed by John Frankenheimer and based on Richard Condon‘s 1959 novel, the film stars Laurence Harvey as Sergeant Raymond Shaw, a brainwashed sleeper agent activated to do something diabolical. He’s accompanied by a phenomenal performance by Angela Lansbury as Shaw’s mother, Eleanor, and crooner Frank Sinatra as Major Bennett Marco, the only man who knows the truth and can stop Shaw before it’s too late.

Although filmed in black and white, The Manchurian Candidate is a colorful satire with a lot to say about the features of McCarthyism. Over 60 years later, its message is still so very important. It’s a film that’s more than a warning, though. It’s Shakespeare meets spy thriller, where the enemy is within, and paranoia reigns supreme. In 1962, with the Cuban Missile Crisis leaving everyone on edge, this one was just as much a horror movie as a thrilling spy flick.

3

‘Three Days of the Condor’ (1975)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Robert Redford knew a thing or two about political thrillers with important movies like All the President’s Men. For a spy movie, though, you can’t do any better than Three Days of the Condor. Based on James Grady‘s novel Six Days of the Condor and directed by Sydney Pollack, Redford plays CIA analyst Joe Turner, who goes by the name Condor. When he returns from lunch to find all of his co-workers murdered, Turner must find who is responsible before it’s too late.

Three Days of the Condor is accompanied by top-notch supporting performances. Faye Dunaway is great as Turner’s lover, photographer Kathy Hale, and Max von Sydow is riveting as the assassin Joubert. The conspiracy thriller is led by Pollack’s impeccable directing and Redford’s easy coolness. Joe Turner is low-level in the CIA, but it won’t stop him from uncovering the truth at any cost. This movie didn’t need to depend on an abundance of car chases and gunfights. Words are the real weapons.

4

‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ (2007)

Image via Universal Pictures

Matt Damon became an action hero as Jason Bourne in 2002’s The Bourne Identity. The first sequel, The Bourne Supremacy, is just as good, but the final chapter in the original trilogy, The Bourne Ultimatum, is among the best spy movies ever made. Directed by Paul Greengrass, Bourne, learning more about his mysterious past, continues to be chased by the CIA. This time, when a journalist is killed, Bourne makes it his mission to find out more about Operation Blackbriar, part of the secret Treadstone program that created him.

The Bourne Ultimatum isn’t interested in being overly flashy. It uses handheld cameras to get up close, putting the audience in the action, thus creating a raw realism. It’s a smartly written and well-plotted espionage thriller that never slows down once it gets going. Damon is great as always, playing the cool and calm hero fighting in the chaos. The movie was another huge hit for the franchise, not just at the box office but at the Academy Awards as well, where it picked up Oscars for Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing.

5

‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’ (2011)

Image via StudioCanal

Based on John le Carré‘s novel of the same name, and directed by Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy stars Gary Oldman as George Smiley, a retired spy during the 1970s Cold War who returns to track down the mole who has infiltrated the British intelligence agency known as The Circus. As he interviews everyone who could be a part of it, Smiley begins to find out that the real enemies are closer than he could ever know.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a more complicated film that the audience must give their full attention to. George Smiley is not a cool, catchphrase-spouting super spy. This isn’t James Bond, but a highly intelligent man who captures bad guys with his mind. Smiley gathers his information in what could be dull ways, whether it be reading documents or putting together bits of conversation. However, rather than boring, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a mind game built on a non-linear structure and an A-list supporting cast made up of Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

6

‘Mission: Impossible — Fallout’ (2018)

Image via Paramount Pictures

The Mission: Impossible film franchise started in 1996 with a series of hits and misses. It reached its peak in 2018 with the sixth film, Mission: Impossible — Fallout. Written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, Tom Cruise is back once more as IMF spy agent Ethan Hunt. Here, Hunt and company are tasked with stopping the Apostles, a group of terrorists planning to set off a series of nuclear attacks in Europe.

As per usual, Mission: Impossible — Fallout is filled with stunning visuals and stunts, including Cruise himself participating in a HALO jump and a stomach-dropping scene from a helicopter. At two-and-a-half hours, the movie risks being way too long. Instead, it makes the most of every minute, with a phenomenal action movie mixed with exciting intrigue and plenty of twists. James Bond is the epitome of cool, but he could never pull off what Ethan Hunt is capable of.