Pom Poko is an animated fantasy film from 1994 written and directed by Isao Takahata (Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday). The English dub of the film refers to the animals as raccoons, but they’re actually based on Japanese raccoon dogs, also known as tanuki. The tanuki are popular in Japanese folklore and are believed to be magical creatures with shape-shifting abilities, able to pass themselves off as just about any inanimate object, any other animal, or even human beings. The Tanooki suit in Super Mario Bros. 3 boasts a similar concept.
In Search Of A New Home
The film follows a group of raccoons (I watched the dub, so we’ll still call them raccoons from here on out) as they try to save their home in Tama Hills from deforestation and housing construction with the intent of a new suburban community meant to house up to 300,000. Up to that point, the raccoons had still lived near humans, but not to feast on their scraps. They had access to farm animals, crops, and other various forms of food that weren’t readily available in the city. They lived in an abandoned farmhouse in the country for a year, until it was demolished, and construction began on what is now referred to as New Tama.
The raccoons hunt and search for a new home, but all of the territories are already occupied by other raccoons. So naturally, they battle over who gets to stay. The raccoons have three forms in the film: the normal, most realistic version that just looks like a normal raccoon, a more caricatured version that walks on two legs and speaks, and a final, minimally detailed version that isn’t seen as often and also resembles rubber hose animation. The raccoons hide the fact that they can walk on two legs, speak, and shape-shift into humans. Their final form is reminiscent of the T-1000’s chrome form in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, when it’s between forms. It’s like it only comes out when they’re overstimulated; a combination of that and someone who tried to draw The Berenstain Bears from memory.
A Big Bag Of Tricks
While the raccoons in the film are based on Japanese raccoon dogs and Japanese folklore, why their testicles are featured so prominently isn’t really explained. Even when the raccoons transform into something with clothes that isn’t human (a lot of the raccoons wear samurai-like attire in battle), the males still have their balls hanging out. Halfway into the film, a 103-year-old raccoon named Osho asks all the male raccoons to meet up in the garden.
Once gathered, he’s all like, “Isn’t this red blanket we’re all sitting on so soft and nice? Just kidding, it’s my raccoon scrote.” They refer to it as a “raccoon pouch” in the film, but this thing is 150 sq ft and somebody (or a team of somebodies. Can you imagine if there was like a “coon junk animation team” in the credits?) had to animate this giant red blanket turning back into a massive, wrinkled gray-ish brown elder scrotum that reverts back to normal size.
Raccoon nutsack physics get more intricate as the film bounces on. Its first form may be stretched into a blanket, but the pouches eventually evolve into becoming a huge bullfrog, a hot air balloon, a parachute, an Indiana Jones-sized boulder, and a ship chock full of treasure. To be fair, the last one involves a 999-year-old raccoon that goes senile, and transforms his ballsack into a big enough boat to house a bunch of fake treasure (these are all illusions powered by magic scrotums; nutsack ghosts, if you will) and dozens of raccoons sailing off to their deaths.
Song, Dance, And Sack-Driven Logic
Pom Poko has this crazy sack-driven concept that makes it seem as if raccoons should rule the forest and anything they set their eyes on. But the film is quick to point out how lazy they are and that they don’t take anything seriously. After every small accomplishment, they want to throw a party. Even if one of them is passionate about getting revenge on the humans destroying their homes, they’re quick to drop it at the thought of tempura or any other delicious food.
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They’re also distracted by this particular song about raccoons. If someone sings it at them, they have to finish it. The Pom Poko title comes from the sound it makes when they drum on their bellies. Every Spring, they have to fight the urge to screw themselves stupid and make a hundred babies. For a film that prioritizes the prominent showcasing of raccoon balls, it may mention sex and being frisky in spring, but it never shows anything graphic. There’s suddenly a raccoon with nipples hanging out in the last half hour, though, which is crazy to think about.
The original plan in the film involves the raccoons researching humans over the next five years. This involves scrounging up a working TV from the dump to monitor humans, which the raccoons drop all forms of productivity in order to watch TV all day, and reviving the ancient raccoon art of transformation. There are elder transformation masters located far away that the raccoons have to search for in the film to teach the raccoons of Tama Hills, specifically the ones who know nothing about altering their form or how to transform.
Transformations Take A Toll
The way the film addresses transformation and holding forms is intriguing, as well. Chameleons may be able to change color, but in this world, foxes, raccoons (and some cats) are the only ones who can physically transform. I feel like Pom Poko wants to introduce the idea that some of the humans that walk among us may actually be raccoons, and that’s cool to think about, not so much that someone we know may actually be a raccoon. But some of the people we see every day aren’t what they present themselves to be. Maybe some are hiding this extravagant other life with magical creatures we can only dream about.
It takes a lot of energy to maintain transformations for a long time. Multiple raccoons often have to take the same human form and switch out when they get tired if they’re out in public. The bags under their eyes are symbols of their fatigue, and things like energy drinks are hinted at being invented because so many raccoons are out there pretending to be human and getting exhausted, so there’s this crazy demand for them.
What’s wild is that the war between raccoons and humans starts as mild vandalism and escalates into full-blown insanity. At one point, the raccoons force vehicles off the road and end up killing three people. Back at Tama Hills, they all want to celebrate but are convinced to have a moment of silence. The eulogy and gathering last maybe two sentences before the raccoons laugh about death and start partying.
Could Have Reached Further Into Its Bag Of Tricks
The film plays out like a mash-up of Beetlejuice and Fantastic Mr. Fox. The raccoons use their shape-shifting powers to try to scare the humans away. There’s a whole sequence where they scare a police officer while trying to be human, but they all pretend not to have a face and scare him repeatedly until he passes out. The deforestation storyline, combined with extreme measures to save their home, feels like a direct inspiration for the Wes Anderson stop-motion film because it’s so similar.
The crown jewel of shape-shifting in Pom Poko is Operation Spectre, a parade where they all turn into demons, monsters, and ghosts to try to scare the residents of New Tama away. But a lot of the creatures are famous yokai from Japanese folklore, and Totoro even makes a brief cameo. It’s an extraordinary sequence that ultimately fails its intended purpose, but it is so visually creative and memorable.
Up until these recent viewings of Pom Poko (I watched it twice for this article), I had always felt it was a lackluster effort from Studio Ghibli. I think I originally felt like they should have done more with their balls. I thought, “They bounce around on these things for two hours and do everything but their intended purpose. That’s dumb. This is dumb.” These raccoons have 101 uses for their balls. They treat their sacks like Martha Stewart does crafts. One of them jumps onto a moving vehicle and stretches their pouch across the entire windshield, causing the driver to lose control and drive off the road.
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Pom Poko is one of the more unique Studio Ghibli films, with a ton of unpredictable WTF moments without straying too far from its mostly family-friendly reputation as an animated film. Seek it out, embrace the ridiculousness, and witness a bunch of raccoons adapt to life’s hardships by folding and stretching their teabags like a master origamist.
Pom Poko (as well as 21 of the 23 core Studio Ghibli films) is currently streaming on Max.
With a trio of major titles dominating the domestic box office chart this weekend, there was room for an underdog to deliver much-needed counter-programming. Two sequels, The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Mortal Kombat II, fought a tight race for the number one spot this weekend, courting entirely different demographics. The Devil Wears Prada 2 saw a negligible second-weekend drop after exceeding expectations in its first weekend. The film’s cumulative domestic haul is now on the verge of passing the $150 million mark. Meanwhile, Mortal Kombat II came in slightly short of pre-release projections, grossing around $40 million in its debut frame. Holdover hits such as Project Hail Maryand The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, on the other hand, both dropped out of the top five list.
This left room for another new release, The Sheep Detectives, to sneak into the top five behind the Michael Jackson biopic and fellow new release Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard & Soft. Michael grossed around $35 million in its third weekend and took its running domestic haul to nearly $240 million. Eilish’s concert film, which she co-directed with James Cameron, took the number five spot with around $8 million after receiving excellent reviews. The Sheep Detectives, on the other hand, opened to critical acclaim as well.
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Collider Exclusive · The Sorting Hat Awaits Which Hogwarts House Are You? Gryffindor · Slytherin · Hufflepuff · Ravenclaw
Four houses. One destiny. The Sorting Hat has considered thousands of students — now it’s your turn. Answer honestly and discover where you truly belong at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
🦁Gryffindor
🐍Slytherin
🦡Hufflepuff
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🦅Ravenclaw
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01
What quality do you value most in yourself? Answer as honestly as you can — the Hat always knows.
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02
A friend is being treated unfairly. What do you do? How you protect others says everything about who you are.
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03
What does success look like to you? What you’re working toward defines who you’re becoming.
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04
What is your greatest fear? Fear is the most honest thing about a person.
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05
The rules say no. Your gut says go. What do you do? Every institution has rules. What you do with them is a choice.
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06
What kind of friend are you? Who you are to the people you love is who you really are.
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07
You look into the Mirror of Erised. What do you see? The mirror shows the deepest desire of your heart.
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08
The Sorting Hat pauses. It whispers: “You could do well in any house. But what matters most to you — truly?” This is your tiebreaker. The Hat always listens.
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The Sorting Hat Speaks Your House Has Been Chosen
After careful deliberation, the Sorting Hat has made its decision. This is the house your values, your instincts, and your particular way of being in the world were made for.
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Gryffindor Tower · Scarlet & Gold
🦁 Gryffindor
You have nerve. Not the reckless kind, but the deep, quiet courage that shows up even when you’re terrified — especially then.
Gryffindors don’t act because they’re fearless — they act because they understand that some things are worth being afraid for.
You stand up for people when it would be easier to look away.
You charge toward what’s right even when the odds are terrible.
Harry, Hermione, Ron — the heroes of Hogwarts’s greatest chapter — all called the tower with the scarlet and gold home. And now, so do you.
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Slytherin Dungeon · Emerald & Silver
🐍 Slytherin
You are driven, sharp, and utterly clear-eyed about what you want and how to get there.
Slytherin has long been misunderstood — painted as the house of villains when it is, at its best, the house of those who refuse to accept limits placed on them by others.
You are resourceful, strategic, and you play the long game.
You know your worth. You protect your own fiercely.
The dungeon common room with its view of the Black Lake is yours — and the ambitions that will take you further than anyone expects are yours too.
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Hufflepuff Basement · Yellow & Black
🦡 Hufflepuff
You are the kind of person that makes the world genuinely better just by being in it.
Hufflepuff is not the “safe” house or the “leftover” house — it is the house of those with the greatest heart and the most unwavering integrity.
You show up. You work hard. You don’t need glory or recognition — you do what’s right because it’s right.
Your loyalty never wavers, even when tested.
Nymphadora Tonks, Cedric Diggory, Newt Scamander — some of the wizarding world’s finest. And now you join them.
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Ravenclaw Tower · Blue & Bronze
🦅 Ravenclaw
Your mind is your greatest gift, and you’ve always known it.
Ravenclaws are the thinkers, the questioners, the ones who find a puzzle irresistible and a good book better company than most people.
Ravenclaw is not merely about intelligence — it’s about the love of learning, the pursuit of truth, and the rare courage to admit you don’t know something yet.
You see the world with unusual clarity and depth.
Luna Lovegood, Filius Flitwick, Rowena Ravenclaw herself — all extraordinary, all original. And so are you.
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Here’s How Much ‘The Sheep Detectives’ Grossed at the Box Office
The mystery comedy, starring Hugh Jackman alongside several A-listers, grossed around $15 million domestically this weekend. Directed by Kyle Balda, the movie didn’t come cheap. It cost a reported $80 million to produce, which means that it needs to hit the $200 million mark worldwide to break even. By comparison, the most recent Paddington movie grossed nearly $200 million worldwide after opening with $12 million domestically. Amazon, however, hasn’t positioned The Sheep Detectives as a big-screen experience, at least not to the same degree as Project Hail Mary. But positive reviews could draw fence-sitters to theaters. The movie now holds a “Certified Fresh” 93% critics’ score and a 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The aggregator website’s consensus reads, “Drolly funny and sweet as a lamb, The Sheep Detectives is a delightful family entertainment that bundles disarmingly profound themes in a cozy package.” Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
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We love boutiques, too, but nothing says ‘luxe’ like Parisian-style clothing. The dresses are a different level of chic, featuring billowy fabrics, delicate prints and loose yet tailored silhouettes. We found 17 Parisian-looking summer dresses that deliver French girl ease with an elevated finish, so you can skip the boutique and look like you stepped off Rue Saint-Honoré.
These mini, midi and maxi wonders make you appear effortlessly put together, whether you’re grabbing coffee or attending your niece’s wedding. And unlike boutique pieces, these classy dresses on Amazon (yes, you read that right) lean mega sophisticated, meaning you’ll look rich while you stun. Scroll on!
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17 Parisian-Style Summer Dresses Secretly on Amazon
1. Our Favorite: Flutter cap sleeves and a defined belted waist make this button-front midi feel like a custom-made piece. The midi length skims past the knee for a polished silhouette.
2. Zimmermann Style: Designer-looking dresses usually require a designer budget, but this printed midi delivers an elevated Zimmermann vibe for $37. It reads expensive from across the room.
3. Secretly Smoothing: Clingy minis show every line, but this textured dress uses multi-dimensional fabric to camouflage your entire midsection.
4. Crisp Shirtdress: A structured collar, thick waistband and clean button placket give this burgundy shirtdress a genuinely tailored appeal. The deep red is even classier than black.
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5. Linen-Blend: With cotton and linen blend fabric, this striped midi breathes like pure linen but wrinkles far less. The stripes channel that quintessential French Riviera energy.
The Upper East Side is looking more and more like a scene from Bridgerton. Rich women who used to live in linen are swapping their go-tos for clothes with puffy sleeves, ditsy florals and breezy cotton. And if you ask Us, the English countryside dress look is everywhere from school pickup lines to lunch spots […]
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6. Drama Queen: Short puff sleeves and oversized floral blooms turn this button-front shift dress into a statement piece. The exaggerated florals do all the styling work for you.
7. Wedding Guest: Slip into this pink floral dress for a garden wedding ceremony with nude heels and a sparkly clutch. The delicate print photographs well from every angle.
8. Classy Act: A babydoll design and flowy silhouette leave room to move without sacrificing shape. As a bonus, this solid-color number even has pockets.
9. Elevated Tee: This striped T-shirt dress feels like pajamas, but looks like you tried. Honestly, you’ll wear it for school pickups, errands and casual lunches with friends.
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10. Farmers’ Market: Maxi dresses can drown a frame, but this tie-waist striped option creates definition right where you want it.
11. Simple Stunner: A stand collar elevates this red mini dress from basic to luxe. Elbow-length sleeves and an A-line shape keep things flattering.
12. Wardrobe MVP: Wear it open to the pool, belted to brunch or buttoned up for dinner. This ruffle-sleeve maxi earns its place in any summer rotation.
13. Picnic Party: Gingham print gives this flouncy maxi dress a vintage feel. We love that it can be worn as an off-the-shoulder dress, too!
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14. Pretty Patchwork: When solid feels boring, this patchwork-style dress makes you the center of attention. The tiers create movement with every step.
15. Country Club: Loose summer dresses can look frumpy, but this sleek collared mini reads sporty and polished. It’s the dress equivalent of a tucked-in polo.
16. Butter Yellow: Yellow is the color of the season, and this butter-hued midi flatters instead of overwhelms. The square neck highlights the collarbone beautifully.
17. Vacation Mode: Some vacation dresses look out of place back home, however this belted shirtdress works in a real city, too. The 100% cotton fabric keeps it breathable.
Striped clothing pieces are everywhere in the Hamptons, and for good reason. Not only are these items nautical and luxe, but they’re also incredibly flattering, making you appear longer and leaner without even trying. Rich moms wear stripes nonstop while picking up the kids from school, meeting the girls for brunch and beyond — and […]
A week after a hugely anticipated sequel exceeded expectations in its box-office debut, another sequel achieved a similar feat, but with an entirely different target audience. Both movies fought a tight race for the number one spot this weekend, having received similarly enthusiastic reviews. The Devil Wears Prada 2 opened to nearly $80 million in its first weekend of release domestically, and has passed the $140 million mark in just 10 days. Globally, the movie is nearing the $500 million milestone, against a reported budget of $100 million. The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunites Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci two decades after the generation-defining success of the original film.
This weekend, the movie competed against Mortal Kombat II, which serves as a sequel to the sleeper-hit reboot that was released in 2021. Like most other Warner Bros. titles that year, Mortal Kombatdebuted day-and-date in theaters and on the HBO Max streaming service. Despite this, it ended up grossing around $85 million worldwide against a reported budget of $55 million. It received mixed reviews, but was praised for its action choreography and loyalty to the video games. A sequel was put into motion with much of the central cast and director Simon McQuoid returning.
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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
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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
🔧John McClane
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🎭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.
Rambo
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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
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.
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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.
Ethan Hunt
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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 How Much ‘Mortal Kombat II’ Grossed at the Box Office
Mortal Kombat II features Karl Urbanand Adeline Rudolph as Johnny Cage and Kitana, respectively. Returning actors include Mehcad Brooks, Jessica McNamee, Ludi Lin, Josh Lawson, Lewis Tan, and Shōgun duo Tadanobu Asano and Hiroyuki Sanada. Mortal Kombat II cost a reported $80 million to produce, and earned more positive reviews than its predecessor. It’s now sitting at a 65% critics’ score and a “Verified Hot” 90% audience score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “A self-aware slugfest that plays directly to those who know the difference between Fatalities and Babalities, Mortal Kombat II may not be a flawless victory but it’s likely the most roundly enjoyable entry in the franchise yet.” In his review, Collider’s Aidan Kelley praised the movie, but noted that the 1995 adaptation directed by Paul W.S. Anderson remains the franchise’s benchmark. That said, Mortal Kombat II delivered an excellent opening weekend haul at the box office, grossing almost $80 million worldwide in three days. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
The Evil Dead franchise is one of the strangest mainstream film series to exist, going from independent guerrilla filmmaking to a well-established brand name with distinct iconography. Even the poster font has become recognizable. It’s not surprising, considering all the Evil Dead movies from the original 1981 film to Evil Dead Rise have all been entertaining to various degrees. (Word isn’t out yet on Evil Dead Burn, but the teaser looked promising).
However, with the teaser for Evil Dead Burn offering hints to the vibe of the movie, it seems pretty clear that Evil Dead has officially gone in a different stylistic direction from its Three Stooges-inspired roots and gross-out carnage. Which, in turn, forces us to admit that the last great Evil Dead movie also happens to be the black sheep of the original trilogy — and that’s Army of Darkness.
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What Makes an ‘Evil Dead’ Movie an ‘Evil Dead’ Movie?
It’s hard to nail down what a true Evil Dead movie is, considering the original three movies were all so tonally different from one another. They span from a low-budget haunted house movie to a medieval comedy-adventure film over the span of a single trilogy. The canon doesn’t line up, we’ve got three different Lindas (one of which has short hair), and franchise hero Ash’s personality changes from movie to movie. The first Evil Dead movie was practically a proof-of-concept by Sam Raimi that he could make a movie, the second was his creative hail mary after the failure of Crimewave, and the third is borderline a blank check movie after the success of Darkman.
If we’re trying to define what makes an Evil Dead movie, it’s probably best to say they are movies that blend dark humor with violent gross-out gags and legitimate horror threats in the form of the Deadites, who enjoy tormenting their victims just for the love of the game. The Deadites are out for blood, and they enjoy manipulating their victims. But they also don’t have any gravitas. When the possessed Henrietta gets her head cut off in Evil Dead 2, she yells in vain at Ash by saying, “Hey! I’ll swallow your soul, I’ll swallow your soul!” There’s no hubris in them, they’re just bullies. The gore of the movies is also important. While the original film had disturbing moments, most famously the pencil in the achilles tendon and “that” scene with the trees, the violence would later become so over-the-top that it inadvertently turns comical. Think Raimi’s predilection for blood fountains and the Evil Dead 2 gag of one of Henrietta’s eyes popping out and landing in Bobby Joe’s (Kassie DePaiva) mouth. It’s excessive in a goofy way, rather than leaning towards torture porn. To quote Bane in The Dark Knight Rises: “That comes later.”
Arguably the most important aspect of the movies that make them true Evil Dead movies is Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams. Even though Ash’s personality changes between movies, his involvement still has that authoritative seal that gives them that added layer of entertainment, and Army of Darkness is where the character became a legend. Ash is the Scream King, and, interestingly, he’s one of the only protagonists in the horror genre who’s the star of the movie rather than the monster, which is often the case for franchises. Similar to the Ghostbusters franchise, while the premise itself is what gets carried on in the series, it’s the performance and writing of the lead character (or characters) that made the originals memorable. This is where the lines diverge between Evil Dead movies and movies branded with the title.
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Army of Darkness is the last film in the series that had the union of Campbell’s charisma and Raimi’s creativity. Sure, the horror pretext is almost entirely omitted, but stylistically, the movie still has that connecting tissue of Raimi’s direction and sense of humor to make it feel like it’s the natural next chapter in the story after Evil Dead 2‘s cliffhanger ending. If he made a goofy sequel to A Simple Plan, that would be a drastic shift. Making a goofy sequel to Evil Dead 2 isn’t the most outlandish thing in the world, considering that the film’s second-best character is a hand with a mind of its own.
When you watch the post-Army of Darkness entries in the series, from 2013’s Evil Dead, through Evil Dead Rise, and up to the footage of Evil Dead Burn, they all have a similar aesthetic and there’s a consistency in tone and style that wasn’t present in the originals. They’re seedy and atmospheric, and the violence is genuinely disturbing. It’s a stark contrast from Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness, which are stylistically made to be cartoon-like and colorful. It’s ironic how the originals were all made by the same filmmaker and are all so tonally different, while the new movies were made by different directors to give their own takes on the material but feel more stylistically connected.
While the post-Raimi Evil Dead movies are entertaining in their own right, they feel more like standalone possession films with a few loose connections and references to keep them tied to the source material. Without that connecting tissue of Bruce Campbell as Ash, or the direction and writing of Sam Raimi, the movies just don’t feel ingrained in the franchise the same way the original films were. Army of Darkness was the last time that the series took a major creative risk, and in doing so, it made it the most distinct entry in the Evil Dead franchise and a favorite for die-hard fans.
President Donald Trump’s 18-year-old granddaughter Kai Trump shared her school spirit in a lavish way.
Kai — whose parents are Donald Trump Jr. and his ex-wife Vanessa Trump — celebrated her impending enrollment at the University of Miami by filling her bedroom full of merch from the school for a series of Instagram photos on Tuesday, May 5. (Kai confirmed she gave a verbal commitment to join Miami’s golf team in August 2024.)
The influencer took advantage of the popular TikTok “bed party” trend, where incoming freshmen decorate their rooms with their school colors to show their commitment to the university.
In a carousel of photos from her bed party, Kai posed with her mom Vanessa and many of her friends, all while repping Miami in its signature colors of orange, white and green.
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Kai also shared a brand new vlog on Saturday, May 9, documenting her final days of high school. In the vlog, Kai brings fans along for her graduation rehearsals and hangs out with some fellow college-bound friends.
“This is very sad guys,” she tearfully explained ahead of her final week as a high school senior. “I’ve had a great time in high school. I’ve met a great group of people. Great class and school and everything like that. Now, it’s on to the next chapter. … It’s scary but it’s exciting but it’s sad. It’s like all the emotions in one.”
Kai admitted, “I feel like I’m going back into ninth grade, freshman year. I’d rather start over. … It’s just really sad, and happy! But sad as well.”
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The golfer has a promising athletic career ahead of her, as she previously debuted as an amateur on the LPGA Tour in November 2025. (Kai was sponsored as an amateur at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge tournament in Belleair, Florida.)
Kai Trump and friendsCourtesy YouTube / Kai Trump
Earlier this year, Kai opened up on Logan Paul’s “Impaulsive” podcast about how having Secret Service protection has impacted her high school experience, including dating.
“To be honest with you, it’s really awkward when you’re sitting and going on a date with a guy and they’re two tables behind you,” she revealed in January. “It’s a little weird. I try my best not to let it bother me. Especially the past year, since he’s become President, I’ve had to learn that, yes, they’re following me, but also to focus on pretending that they’re not there.”
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Kai added, “Obviously, they are there. But if you can try to not really focus on that and enjoy your time with your friends, your family or whatever it is, it makes it easier.”
Kai Trump is facing social media backlash as followers feel the up-and-coming golf star bogeyed her latest YouTube video. Trump, 18, posted a 19-minute video titled “I Brought My Secret Service to Erewhon” on Sunday, March 8, showing her shopping at the Los Angeles-based high-end, organic grocery store chain known to be one of the […]
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She acknowledged that it definitely took some time to adjust to having the Secret Service trailing her on a daily basis.
“For the first few months, it was tough,” she said. “It was not easy having someone following you all the time. But once I was like, ‘Their only job is to protect me. I’m going to focus on my stuff and have them do their job.’ It made it so much easier.”
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have continued fueling wedding speculation while enjoying a series of stylish outings in London.
The couple recently stepped out for multiple date nights, with the pop star turning heads in a lacy look as reports surrounding her and Kelce’s rumored July wedding continue to intensify.
As of now, insiders claim Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are planning a lavish New York City ceremony featuring celebrity guests, strict privacy measures, and extravagant pre-wedding celebrations.
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Taylor Swift Turns Heads In Chic Black Ensemble During London Night Out With Travis Kelce
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Swift traded traditional bridal-inspired fashion for a bold all-black look during her latest night out with Travis Kelce in London.
The singer stepped out in a sleek lace-trimmed slip dress layered beneath a long black coat as the couple headed to Gordon Ramsay’s newly opened restaurant, Lucky Cat, in the upscale Bishopsgate area.
She completed the look with black heels, her signature red lipstick, and an elegant updo that kept her hair swept away from her face. Kelce complemented her style in a coordinated outfit featuring a brown matching set, plaid loafers, and dark sunglasses.
Swift and her fiancé, Kelce, have been making the most of their time in London, with several public appearances throughout the week. Just a day earlier, they were spotted leaving the popular Indian restaurant Gymkhana hand in hand after another date night in the city.
Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce’s Rumored Wedding Details Include A New York Venue
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Their public outings come as rumors surrounding their upcoming wedding continue to intensify. Reports claim Swift and Kelce are planning to marry on July 3, nearly three years after they first started dating.
According to Us Weekly insiders, the timeline is reportedly being planned around Kelce’s NFL offseason schedule.
While early speculation pointed to a Rhode Island ceremony, newer reports suggest the couple has chosen New York City for the event.
The exact venue has not been disclosed, though insiders have described it as an “arena or museum-like” location capable of hosting a lavish celebration.
Sources say the ceremony itself is expected to embrace traditions, with Swift’s father reportedly set to walk her down the aisle. There would also be customary father-daughter and mother-son dances.
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The Couple’s A-List Guests Have Reportedly Signed NDAs
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Guests who have allegedly confirmed attendance are said to have signed non-disclosure agreements, keeping the invite list tightly guarded.
Even so, several names linked to Swift and Kelce continue to circulate as potential wedding guests.
Friends reportedly expected to attend include Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, Emma Stone, the Haim sisters, and Zoë Kravitz, while Kelce’s guest list is rumored to include Patrick Mahomes and actor Miles Teller.
There is also speculation surrounding the music for the big day. Swift previously joked that longtime friend Ed Sheeran would likely end up performing if there was a stage involved, noting that he is frequently asked to sing at weddings.
“He knows what people want, and he wants to give people what they want,” she said.
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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Rumored Wedding Plans Reportedly Include a $10 Million Budget
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Fashion details for the couple’s wedding have also become a major topic of discussion.
Reports claim Swift is drawing inspiration from Elizabeth Taylor’s vintage bridal looks, particularly the actress’s 1950 wedding gown to Conrad Hilton Jr.
Sources say Swift admired the gown’s fitted waist and lace detailing, and there is even speculation she may attempt to borrow one of Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry pieces for the ceremony if permission can be secured from the estate.
Meanwhile, pre-wedding celebrations are reportedly already in motion. Insiders claim Kelce and his friends are planning a Bahamas getaway focused on golf and partying, while Gomez and Hadid are allegedly organizing an extravagant bachelorette celebration for Swift.
According to Closer Online, Swift has intentionally stayed out of most of the planning details for the pre-wedding parties, aside from agreeing on a budget with Kelce.
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Sources claim the pair has set aside as much as $10 million for the festivities, with private jets, luxury villas, and full private staff services expected to be part of the celebrations.
Travis Kelce Says ‘I Can’t Wait’ After Rory McIlroy References His Future Wedding With Taylor Swift
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Meanwhile, Kelce appears to be already looking ahead to his future wedding with Swift.
During the May 6 episode of the “New Heights” podcast, the Chiefs star reacted enthusiastically when golf champion Rory McIlroy compared the atmosphere of the Masters Champions Dinner to a wedding celebration.
McIlroy, who recently secured another Masters victory, reflected on the emotional experience of bringing together people from different stages of life in one room. While discussing the annual dinner tradition, he told Kelce that he would likely experience a similar feeling on his wedding day.
“Travis, you’ll feel this this year whenever you’re sitting at your wedding,” McIlroy said, adding, “you have all the people in a room … it’s amazing to have all these people in the same room from your childhood … and it’s surreal. It’s unbelievable.”
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The comment appeared to catch Kelce’s attention immediately, as the NFL star grinned before replying, “I can’t wait.”
Actor and musician Billy Bob Thornton has been open about his Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder diagnosis, and recently, he candidly shared how the condition intensely affected him in the past by sharing an amusingly gross anecdote. The actor also discussed his overall mental health journey and restrictive diet, sharing his newfound love for grapes, oddly paired with a condiment.
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In an episode of the podcast “Howie Mandel Does Stuff,” 70-year-old Billy Bob Thornton opened up about his mental health, particularly his Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which host Howie Mandel is also diagnosed with.
While speaking with Mandel and his co-host, daughter Jackelyn Shultz, Thornton remembered a moment from the late ’80s that highlighted his obsessive-compulsive thoughts. “You wanna hear a funny, but creepy, gross funny one?” he asked, before telling his story.
Thornton shared that he was in the market pavilions in West Hollywood, waiting in line behind an older gentleman, who had a “leathery, wrinkly neck” with “200 blackheads.” There was a particularly large one that Thornton compared to a pin head. “You popped it?” Shultz asked, to which the actor replied, “No. It wasn’t that bad, but it’s close.”
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Billy Bob Thornton Boinked A Stranger’s Blackhead
Thornton said that upon seeing that giant blackhead, he had an obsessive thought that just wouldn’t go away, and he had to touch it. “You’re saying you want to touch it?” Mandel asked. Thornton explained that he didn’t want to touch it, but his obsessive-compulsive thoughts made him think he needed to do it.
He decided to use a magazine rack near him and the man as a ruse. Thornton said, “I went ‘boink’ and then reached to People magazine and got it.” When the man turned around, he apologized, saying that he was just reaching for a magazine. “So anyway, I got to touch the blackhead and get out of it, you know.”
Mandel and Schultz roared with laughter, seemingly grossed out and amused at the same time. “Did you say boink?” Schultz asked. “That’s hysterical,” Mandel added. “I got over that a long time ago. I went to blackhead therapy,” Thornton joked.
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The Actor Shares How ‘Exhausting’ OCD Is
Thornton shared his OCD diagnosis publicly in 2004 during an interview with Ann Curry. The actor talked about his physically and emotionally abusive father and said his upbringing might have triggered his OCD. “It exhausts you… You’re constantly doing mathematics in your head,” he told Curry. Thornton shared the same sentiment in the podcast with Mandel, saying, “It’s so emotionally and mentally exhausting that that’s one of the things that people don’t really say much.”
His symptoms manifested at a young age, and he remembers counting down with the clock while waiting for his father to come home. “I would hear the car pull in the driveway around 4 o’clock usually, and I would, in my head, I would say if I can count to a hundred five times before I hear the car come in the driveway, everything’s going to be okay,” he said.
Thornton shared that he does things similar to that despite knowing that it’s “silly,” but he isn’t able to control the compulsion.
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Howie Mandel Expressed Gratitute To The Actor
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Mandel has been open about his own OCD diagnosis, but it wasn’t always that way. During an appearance on “The Howard Stern Show” in 1998, his diagnosis was accidentally revealed. Mandel, who is a germophobe and is widely known for not shaking hands, had an anxiety attack when he couldn’t get out of the studio, as he didn’t want to touch the doorknob.
Thinking it was a bit, the crew jokingly prevented him from leaving, which heightened his anxiety. He then told Stern that he sees a psychiatrist for OCD, and his panic attack was real, not knowing the show was still broadcasting live.
During the podcast, Mandel revealed that Thornton reached out to him, telling him that they had a lot in common, referring to their OCD. “It was beautiful to be open with somebody about humanity and about struggling,” Mandel said. Later on in the interview, Thornton circled back, saying it was so rare to find someone in the business who didn’t talk about work or projects, and they agreed it was therapeutic to talk about their shared condition.
Billy Bob Thornton’s Restrictive Diet And Odd Food Combinations
Elsewhere in the interview, Thornton shared his aversion to certain foods due to his allergies and rare blood type, which makes it difficult for him to digest. Mandel then shared how his son, Alex, who is friends with Thornton’s son, William, once said Thornton served him bagels with cream cheese and ketchup when he was at their home. “That’s a hillbilly bagel,” Thornton said.
The actor also shared the new obsession that he discovered while in a dressing room waiting for an event to begin. The food spread didn’t have anything he could eat, except for grapes. He got a white grape, dipped it into spicy Dijon mustard, and ate it. “It was one of the best things I ever had in my lifetime,” Thornton said, adding that it’s become his new “thing.”
Josh Brolin as young Agent K in ‘Men in Black 3’Image via Sony Pictures Releasing
Nearly two months into its theatrical run, Project Hail Mary is finally facing intense competition. Two weeks ago, it was unseated as the reigning champion of the domestic box office by the Michael Jackson biopic. Last week, it was pushed further down the leaderboard by The Devil Wears Prada 2. And this weekend,Mortal Kombat IIclaimed another chunk of its target audience. That said, Project Hail Mary remains the second-highest-grossing American film of the year both domestically and worldwide, behind The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. In its eighth weekend of release, the sci-fi epic slipped out of the top five and passed what may be its final global box office milestone.
Produced on a reported budget of more than $200 million, Project Hail Mary marks the directorial comeback of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who hadn’t made a movie in more than a decade. It stars Ryan Goslingin the lead role of a scientist who’s sent on an intergalactic mission to save the world. Project Hail Mary is based on a bestseller by Andy Weir, whose previous novel served as the source for The Martian — the acclaimed blockbuster directed by Ridley Scott and headlined by Matt Damon. Remarkably, Project Hail Mary has surpassed The Martian both critically and commercially. It now holds a “Certified Fresh” 94% critics’ score and a “Verified Hot” 95% audience score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes.
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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 How Much ‘Project Hail Mary’ Has Grossed at the Box Office
With more than $660 million at the worldwide box office, Project Hail Mary has now surpassed the $655 million lifetime global haul of Men in Black 3. Released in 2012, the threequel outgrossed its two predecessors by a large margin, and took the franchise’s collective global haul past the $1.5 billion mark worldwide. Directed by the returning Barry Sonnenfeld, Men in Black 3 was produced on a franchise-record budget of $250 million. Alongside Will Smith, the film featured franchise mainstay Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin, who played versions of the same character wrapped up in a time-travel plot. Men in Black 3 holds a 67% score on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “It isn’t exactly a persuasive argument for the continuation of the franchise, but Men in Black 3 is better than its predecessor and manages to exceed expectations.” Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
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Release Date
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March 15, 2026
Runtime
157 minutes
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Director
Christopher Miller, Phil Lord
Writers
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Drew Goddard, Andy Weir
Producers
Aditya Sood, Amy Pascal, Andy Weir, Christopher Miller, Phil Lord, Rachel O’Connor, Ryan Gosling
Jason Statham fans have a lot to look forward to. Not only will he be returning to the role of Adam Clay in The Beekeeper 2, although this time under the directorial eye of Timo Tjahjanto instead of David Ayer, but Statham is also set to feature in a hugely enticing David Leitchfilm called Jason Statham Stole My Bike, which Leitch described to Collider as “a chance for Jason and I to do something we’ve been wanting to do for a long time.”
However, the most exciting upcoming Statham project sees him reunite with the man who gave him his big break in cinema, Guy Ritchie, almost 30 years since they first collaborated on Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Four more collaborations later, and the duo will be teaming up on their sixth project, Viva La Madness, a new action-thriller based on J.J. Connolly’s 2011 novel and the follow-up to Layer Cake. The only frustrating thing all these upcoming movies have in common is that we won’t be seeing them for some time yet, with The Beekeeper 2 scheduled for a January 2027 release date.
Thankfully, Statham fans are being kept well entertained on streaming, as many of his best and most underrated movies continue to circulate. At the time of writing, 2016’s Mechanic: Resurrectionis one of the ten most-streamed movies on Netflix in the world. Directed by Dennis Gansel, the film marked the sequel to 2011’s The Mechanic, which itself was a remake of the 1972 film of the same name starring Charles Bronson. Mechanic: Resurrection stars Statham alongside an eye-catching cast including Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones, Michelle Yeoh, Sam Hazeldine, Rhatha Phongam, and John Cenatiempo.
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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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Did ‘Mechanic: Resurrection’ Prove Popular in Theaters?
After the first installment scored a disappointing box office haul of just $76 million, Mechanic: Resurrection had some retribution to achieve. Thankfully, Statham is a master of revenge, with this sequel proving an undeniable hit during its 2016 theatrical run. Against a reported budget of $40 million, Mechanic: Resurrection earned a global haul of $125 million, split between just $21 million in domestic revenue and a further $104 million from overseas markets.
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The Jason Statham-led sequel Mechanic: Resurrection is one of the ten most-streamed movies on Netflix in the world. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for the latest streaming stories.
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Release Date
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August 26, 2016
Runtime
99 minutes
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Director
Dennis Gansel
Writers
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Philip Shelby, Tony Mosher, Brian Pittman, Rachel Long, Lewis John Carlino
Producers
David Winkler, John Thompson, William Chartoff, Robert Earl
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