Entertainment
Sara Gilson’s Ex-Husband Lyle Covering Funeral Expenses
The late influencer Sara Gilson’s ex-husband, Lyle Landers, has offered to pay for her funeral in the wake of her death in an alleged murder-suicide plot carried out by her estranged second husband, Jeremiah “Shawn” Duffey.
Landers told TMZ on Thursday, July 30, that he promised Gilson’s parents that he would give her the funeral she deserved since he is in a stable financial position. (Gilson and Landers shared two children before divorcing.)
Following Gilson’s death, Landers confirmed to the outlet that he spent his birthday on Tuesday, July 28, picking out a funeral plot for the late TikTok personality. A private ceremony is expected to be held in her honor later this week.
A GoFundMe page that was recently set up to benefit Gilson’s two children has already raised more than $33,000. (Per the fundraising page, donations will go to the children’s “immediate needs, counseling, education, funeral expenses, and other costs that arise as they begin this unimaginable journey without their mother.”)
Influencer Sara Gilson filed three protective orders against Jeremiah Duffey — the first and second were filed five years ago and the third was filed one month before he allegedly killed her in an apparent murder-suicide. According to court documents obtained by Us, Gilson filed her first request in August 2021, claiming she was the […]
Gilson and Duffey were found dead at ages 43 and 48, respectively, by law enforcement officials in their Owasso, Oklahoma, home on July 23. Owasso police officers responded to the residence after receiving a 911 call from “a juvenile caller advising his step-father had shot his mother.” (Police suspect the case was a murder-suicide plot orchestrated by Duffey though the investigation is ongoing.)
The shocking crime was preceded by Gilson taking out an order of protection against Duffey on the same day in June as a local mother asked for her own restraining order on behalf of her teenage daughter. The mother’s petition alleged that Duffey sexually abused her daughter while coaching her basketball team. (Duffey was being investigated for the alleged sexual abuse by Oklahoma police at the time of his death.)
Weeks after she was granted an order of protection, Gilson publicly accused Duffey of pedophilia in a July 11 TikTok video. The hairstylist took part in a TikTik trend where she pretended to be interviewed for a true-crime documentary.
“Preparing for when Netflix drops a documentary about my soon-to-be ex-husband, who I just found out is a pedophile,” she wrote over the clip, while captioning the video, “I wish I was joking.”
@mrsgilson I wish I was joking. #plottwist #netflix #documentary
While the clip has now gone viral with more than 2.3 million “likes,” Landers told TMZ on Thursday that he hopes the video is not how Gilson is remembered.
“The world sees her TikTok video and they assume that’s who she is. That’s not her. She was a mom. That’s the real her,” he insisted.
As for Duffey, his ex-wife, Stephanie Ramsay, revealed earlier this week that the alleged killer will not have a funeral because his family do not want to honor his memory. Instead, Ramsay and Duffey’s five children have chosen to have him cremated so his remains can be put in a private family funeral plot.
Details are emerging about Gilson and Duffey’s troubled marriage, including information about alleged financial and legal issues. Per The Oklahoman, Gilson previously filed a restraining order against Duffey in 2021 but it was dismissed when she did not attend a hearing.
Us obtained court documents showing that Duffey filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2024 and listed a Glock 19 pistol, valued at $450, as one of his assets at the time. He listed Sara as a codebtor and specified her monthly income as a hairstylist and influencer at just over $3,000.
Jeremiah “Shawn” Duffey and Sara Gilson. Courtesy TikTok / Sara Gilson
However, Duffey allegedly told the Owasso Police Department in Oklahoma in March 2024 that his semi-automatic handgun was allegedly stolen from his car. According to a police report obtained by Us, he claimed that his “vehicle had been broken into and items [were] stolen,” including a handgun he valued at $800.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support. If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
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Hair found in Nancy Guthrie’s Arizona home contained no DNA, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said.
“To find DNA on hair is extremely rare. Hair doesn’t produce DNA like touch DNA or bodily fluids,” Nanos told NBC News on Thursday, July 30.
The sheriff added to Fox News, “Yes, there was a hair. We had it and thought, ‘OK, well, we’ll do the DNA first,’ right? You’re going to do DNA before something else. … It came back … there’s no DNA.”
Nanos said the hair sample has been preserved in case it might still prove useful to the investigation.
Questions still remain after Today show host Savannah Guthrie‘s mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the news on February 1, 2026, sharing a missing person report via X. Nancy was described as a “vulnerable adult” who was last seen “at her residence” within Arizona’s Catalina Foothills area on the […]
“But does that mean the hair isn’t that of the suspect? We won’t know that ’til we have the suspect’s hair. You don’t just destroy it,” he told Fox News. “There’s other things that hair may prove valuable for, but right now, it was just about, ‘Is there any DNA there?’ And the answer was no. That was just a matter of weeks ago.”
In a brief statement to NBC News, the FBI Phoenix field office confirmed that “all hair had been resolved, and it does not point to a suspect” in Guthrie’s disappearance.
The news comes nearly six months after Guthrie, 84, was reported missing from her home outside of Tucson, Arizona, on February 1. Police are investigating the case as a kidnapping. No suspect has been identified.
Nancy, the mother of Today show cohost Savannah Guthrie, was last seen on the evening of January 31.
New details from the first alleged ransom note for Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy Guthrie, has been revealed nearly six months after she went missing. Journalist Briana Whitney read from the alleged note during the Wednesday, July 22, episode of the “Crime Junkie” podcast. “Hello, Savannah. We have your mother, Nancy,” it began. “She is safe […]
On Monday, July 27, Savannah, 54, issued a fresh plea for her mom’s return via social media.
“I’m coming on today with a very specific message,” she said in an Instagram video. “It has been months since our mom was taken from us. Our family is in agony. We are in a nightmare that will not end. Nothing about our situation has changed. We have done our part, but we will never stop looking for her. We will always ache for her. Feel that hole in our hearts.”
Savannah continued, “The world can be a cruel and unforgiving place, and I know that you have tried to do things the right way. So I’m asking you, begging you, to do the right thing now. Make the right choice. Help us find her. Tell us where to look for her. I truly believe it is never too late to do the right thing. Help us bring this situation to an end. For all of us — no matter where we’ve been and what we’ve done — I believe there is always, always a way home. Please make the right choice.”
She captioned the post, “Bring her home 💛.”
July was a strong month on Netflix, with several shows proving huge hits across the world, including Will Ferrell‘s new comedy series, The Hawk, and the streamer’s latest answer to Taylor Sheridan‘s ever-expanding Yellowstone universe, Ransom Canyon. But the biggest hit across the month was undeniably the Harlan Coben adaptation, I Will Find You, which was just revealed to have become Netflix’s tenth most popular English-language TV series of all time, with a cumulative 101.9 million views earned in just six weeks. Looking ahead to August, how do you make sure it’s as great as July? We’re here to help with this list of three shows you should binge-watch on Netflix.
For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Netflix.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
1
‘Hannibal’ (2013–2015)
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 8.5/10
It isn’t just the most exciting new shows that make Netflix worth subscribing to. Every now and then, the streamer gets its hands on a beloved series, adding it to its vast catalog and allowing a new group of viewers to indulge in its genius. That’s exactly what happened in late July, when Netflix officially added all three seasons of the brilliant Hannibal to its library.
This Primetime Emmy-nominated gem delves into the intricate, complex relationship between FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), with both men delivering electric performances. Bryan Fuller‘s psychological thriller masterpiece is a show everyone should watch at least once, with its 39 episodes available offering a perfect binge-watch that will last long past this weekend.
2
‘The Crown’ (2016–2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 81% | IMDb: 8.6/10
Sometimes the most obvious choice is the best. This weekend, if it’s somehow passed you by until now, don’t miss out on one of the most important prestige dramas in Netflix’s history, The Crown. Across six seasons, creator Peter Morgan and co. explore the modern history of the British monarchy, from the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II to some of the darkest times in her reign.
A lavish, utterly immersive period drama that is both ambitious in its grandeur and deft in its detail, The Crown was one of the first major productions for Netflix and, to this day, defines how many see the streamer. Whether it’s Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, or Harry Potter‘s Imelda Staunton, each version of Queen Elizabeth II bursts with reality, with both Foy and Colman’s versions two of the most memorable on-screen interpretations ever.
3
‘Solar Opposites’ (2020–Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.9/10
If the demands of intense dramas such as Hannibal and The Crown aren’t what you’re looking for this weekend, then perhaps a quirky animated sci-fi series is more your speed. Solar Opposites, which first aired on Hulu in 2020, follows a group of aliens who find themselves living in middle America after their planet is destroyed.
Prepare to laugh out loud and fall in love with a strange yet sentimental family of aliens as you dive head-first into the world of Solar Opposites. Sure, the show can often be cringe-inducingly crude, but it also manages to juxtapose this with heartfelt moments as all great adult animations do. Six seasons and 63 episodes are available to watch now.
- Release Date
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2020 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Hulu
- Showrunner
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Justin Roiland
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Sean Giambrone
Yumyulack (voice)
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Sagan McMahan
The Pupa (voice)
Tom Holland made his debut as Spider-Man in 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War.” Since then, the actor has appeared in four solo movies as the character, with the latest being “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” Now, amid the film’s release, he’s opening up about one day being replaced as the beloved superhero.
While promoting “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” Holland appeared on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast in July 2026 for an almost one-hour-long conversation. During it, the topic of him someday no longer playing the role that’s made him a star came up, with Holland stating that there is a plan in place for that to become reality at some point.
He shared, “There’s a whole plan that we have been working on for, I would say, since we finished Spider-Man: No Way Home. It’s laid out. It’s laid out. It’s gonna change for sure, but I have a really clear vision [for] the passing on of the baton, and I think it’s really exciting.”
After that, he stated that the topic of a different actor playing the role does come up in meetings. According to him, “I know I get really excited when we have these meetings and chat about it. But that is the thing I want to do most in this character, for sure.”
The ‘Spider-Man’ Star Says He Feels Pressure For ‘Brand New Day’
While on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Holland also spoke about maturing and now feeling pressure of starring in a movie on the scale of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” According to him, “I feel more pressure and more nerves releasing ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ than I did ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming.’”
He continued, “And I think there’s something about that kind of childlike naivety of what was happening to my life at 20 as opposed to finishing that third movie, sharing the screen with Toby and Andrew, being really kind of conflicted as to whether or not my time as Spider-Man had come to an end.”
After that, Holland called “diving into this new movie” a “leap of faith.” After that, the actor stated that he’s “so unbelievably proud of the new film.
Tom Recently Discussed His Desire To Make More Spider-Man Movies
Days before the podcast appearance premiered, Holland spoke to The Hollywood Reporter while on the red carpet for the premiere of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” During the short interview, he was asked about his future as the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The 30-year-old said, “I will do it for as long as they have me.” After that, he discussed the performance of the upcoming movie, saying, “So, if this movie does good, I guess we’ll see.” Regarding the expected box office performance of “Brand New Day,” Deadline reports the movie is expected to debut with around $425 million at the global box office.
Notably, this comes after the previous film, “No Way Home,” earned an astounding $600.5 million in its opening weekend, including international markets. This figure made the Holland-led “Spider-Man” movie the third biggest box office opening in history.
‘Brand New Day’ Has Solid Reviews
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” officially releases to theaters on July 31 with some advanced showings the day prior. Now, ahead of its release, Marvel has lifted the review embargo for both critics and social media users. Currently, on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 91% positive rating from critics, meaning all of Holland’s movies playing the character have a 90% or higher.
Already, more than 1,000 audience members have also reviewed the film, giving it a 98% positive rating on the platform. Both scores easily fall into the “fresh” distinction.
The 30-Year-Old Confirmed His Next Movie
While promoting “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” Holland appeared on “Good Morning America” in July 2026. While on the show, he confirmed plans for his next film, this time a biopic about iconic entertainer Fred Astaire.
According to the actor, “We have Fred Astaire next, that’s what we’re planning on doing. And as soon as I finish with these tours, I’m diving back into the dance studio.”
He added of the yet-to-be-filmed movie’s progress, “I did my first few rehearsals recently, and it both filled me with excitement and absolute dread because I’ve got so much work to do to try and do Fred proud.”
Entertainment
Jennie Garth addresses Tori Spelling’s ‘sad’ surprise exit from “90210” rewatch podcast: ‘We started this together’
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Garth’s third cohost, Amy Sugarman, said the pair were “really bummed and disappointed” by Spelling’s unexpected exit.
Entertainment
Hadestown's Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney Spill On All the "Behind the Curtain" Stories
Who’s the best duo in Hadestown? Take a guess! Eva Noblezada (Eurydice) and Reeve Carney (Orpheus) are real life husband and wife who star in an epic romance based on the greek myth.
Get a rundown of Us‘ top stories making headlines in celebrity news, sports and entertainment on July 30, 2026. Here are the key takeaways:
• Kylie Kelce shut down pregnancy speculation sparked by photos from her recent Paris trip, telling listeners on the July 30 episode of her “Not Gonna Lie” podcast that commenting on women’s bodies is unacceptable. She reminded fans she and husband Jason Kelce already have four kids and said her body will never fully return to its pre-baby state.
• Jonathan Taylor Thomas made a rare public appearance to reunite with his Home Improvement costars Patricia Richardson and Taran Noah Smith more than two decades after the sitcom’s finale. Richardson shared the new photo of the trio on Instagram on July 29, captioning it “My other boys.”
• Kate Cassidy explained that she is lasering off some of the tattoos she got in honor of late boyfriend Liam Payne because the ink is too thick, not because her feelings have changed, she shared on TikTok on July 29. Cassidy said she plans to have the tributes — including a “444” angel number for Payne — redone by an artist experienced in fine line work.
Edited by Samantha Benitz. Story produced with AI assistance
It’s slightly surprising to realize that Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder are contemporaries whose paths have crossed in more ways than one. Both filmmakers broke out at around the same time with their respective hits; Snyder directed a remake of Dawn of the Dead and Nolan made the mind-bending thriller Memento. For their first big-budget studio projects, both directors initially focused on Greek epics. Nolan’s project eventually became the movie Troy, but he was moved to Batman Begins instead. The superhero movie was released just two years before Snyder’s adaptation of a Frank Miller comic book, which—like Nolan’s Troy—was developed at Warner Bros. around the same time. Many years later, Nolan returned to Homer’s epic with The Odyssey, which has emerged as a blockbuster for the ages.
In its first week of release, The Odyssey was able to overtake the lifetime global haul of Snyder’s historical fantasy comic book adaptation. The Odyssey has so far grossed more than $650 million worldwide against a reported budget of $250 million. The movie is on track to become Nolan’s third blockbuster to gross more than $1 billion worldwide and to overtake both The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises to emerge as the filmmaker’s biggest-ever hit. Interestingly, Snyder spent several years in the DC stable as well, directing Man of Steel (which was executive-produced by Nolan), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Justice League.
Christopher Nolan Handpicked Zack Snyder to Direct ‘Man of Steel’
Each of Snyder’s DC movies grossed more than his breakout hit, 300, which made around $470 million worldwide against a reported budget of $65 million. The highly stylized adaptation received mixed reviews and is currently sitting at a 61% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the movie has emerged as a fan favorite; it holds an 89% audience score on the aggregator website, and in the wake of The Odyssey‘s phenomenal run, has sparked a new wave of interest on home video. According to FlixPatrol, 300 was the number one movie on the domestic Vudu chart this week, ahead of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Disclosure Day, and The Mandalorian & Grogu. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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March 9, 2007
- Runtime
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117 minutes
- Director
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Zack Snyder
- Writers
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Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad, Michael B. Gordon
Entertainment
Ranking the best true crime podcasts of all time, from “My Favorite Murder” to “Criminal”
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The whodunits and deep dives that kept us gripped through twists and turns.
Summary
- Collider’s Perri Nemiroff chats with the showrunners and stars of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power at SDCC 2026.
- The crew discuss Sauron’s role in Season 3, at the height of the War of the Elves.
- They also tease new character details and relationships and highlight the mastery of craft behind the scenes.
At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Collider’s Perri Nemiroff had the opportunity to sit down with the showrunners, J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, and cast members of Prime Video’s hit prequel series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, to find out what fans can expect from the upcoming Season 3.
On November 11, we return to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth at the height of the War of the Elves, when Sauron (Charlie Vickers), as the Dark Lord, is ready and determined to craft the One Ring. The sprawling fantasy series welcomes back many returning cast members, and introduces Jamie Campbell Bower as Celeborn, Eddie Marsan as Thráin, Simon Pegg as the voice of the Balrog, and Andrew Richardson as Anárion — plus a couple of others the cast will tease, including a wholly original character.
Check out our two interviews with the cast and showrunners below, in which stars Benjamin Walker, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Daniel Weyman, Vickers, Owain Arthur, and Ismael Cruz Córdova, along with Payne and McKay, prepare us for what’s to come, and share what it’s like behind the scenes, seeing masters of their craft bring Rings of Power to life, from the actors to the unsung heroes.
Sauron Faces a New Challenge in ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 3
The stars share their characters’ journeys this season.
First up, Payne hints at Sauron’s creative struggles this season, and why what he did to Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) will come back to haunt him. Vickers, Addai-Robinson, who plays Míriel, Weyman, who plays Gandalf, and Walker, who plays Gil-galad, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of their characters at the beginning of Season 3, and highlight the performances of their new co-stars, Bower, who plays Celeborn this season, and Zubin Varla, who will play Khamûl the Easterling.
For all this and more on what’s to come, check out the video above, with a time index provided below.
- 00:54 – J.D. Payne discusses how Season 3 centers on Sauron’s growing self-doubt and the struggles he faces to forge the One Ring.
- 02:12 – The cast discuss each character’s greatest strength and greatest weakness for Season 3.
- 06:26 – Which cast members delivered impressive and inspiring performances?
- 12:50 – The crew highlight the behind-the-scenes artists who raised the bar with their craftsmanship.
‘Rings of Power’ Season 3’s Biggest Wild Card Is an Orc You Might Actually Root For
Eddie Marsan and Adam Young join the Season 3 cast in exciting new roles!
Finally, Nemiroff spoke with McKay, Córdova, who plays Arondir, and Arthur, who plays Prince Durin IV. During their chat, McKay expands on Sauron’s role this season, explaining how he becomes “full-metal” Sauron, the legendary villain LOTR fans are familiar with. Plus, Córdova and Arthur share details about Rings of Power’s newest characters — Durin’s questionable older brother, Thráin, played by Marsan, and an original character, an Orc named Marnûkh, played by Adam Young, who Córdova calls “an icon in the making.”
You can catch the full interview in the video above, with a time index below.
- 00:33 – Patrick McKay on why Season 3 centers on a darker, “full-metal” Sauron.
- 02:25 – Ismael Cruz Córdova praises Adam Young’s performance as Marnûkh.
- 04:29 – McKay previews the reluctant alliance between Arondir, Galadriel, and Marnûkh.
- 07:17 – Owain Arthur reflects on reuniting with Eddie Marsan as Durin and Thráin.
- 10:37 – The trio spotlight behind-the-scenes crew members who make Rings of Power a cinematic feat.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 premieres on Prime Video on November 11.
- Release Date
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September 1, 2022
- Network
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Amazon Prime Video
- Showrunner
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John D. Payne, Patrick McKay, Louise Hooper, Charlotte Brändström, Wayne Yip
- Writers
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Patrick McKay, John D. Payne, J.R.R. Tolkien, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Stephany Folsom, Nicholas Adams
The term “action film” has been around since the 1910s, but the action genre we know and love today was originally established during the New Hollywood Movement by classics such as Goldfinger, Dirty Harry, and Enter the Dragon, and hit its peak of popularity in the 1980s with iconic hits including The Terminator, Die Hard, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Since then, action movies have entered a new age that has redefined the genre with intense action sequences, compelling stories, and memorable characters, proving that the genre is more than just a spectacle of explosions and fight scenes.
While there have been an abundance of stellar action movies released since 2000, there are a few exceptional entries, such as John Wick, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Casino Royale, that transcend the genre with unwavering thrills and intriguing players, making them some of the greatest action movies of the 21st century. From Mission: Impossible — Fallout starring Tom Cruise as the legendary Ethan Hunt to Quentin Tarantino‘s Kill Bill: Volume 1, these are the six best action movies released since 2000, ranked!
6
‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ (2018)
Tom Cruise reprises one of his famous roles as IMF agent Ethan Hunt in Christopher McQuarrie‘s Mission: Impossible — Fallout, marking the sixth installment in the hit action film franchise. Set two years after the events of Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation, Hunt and his team, Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) and Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), work with a CIA agent, August Walker (Henry Cavill), to track down a dangerous arms dealer and a group of terrorists who have three plutonium cores, but when the weapons go missing, the mission intensifies into a desperate race against time to stop a potential nuclear attack.
Mission: Impossible — Fallout features some of the most ambitious practical stunts ever filmed, including Cruise’s HALO jump, helicopter chase, and brutal hand-to-hand combat scenes, which were all performed with little to no CGI. Its expertly choreographed action, memorable villains, and stunning cinematography not only set a new standard for modern action films, but it also showcases how to maintain the nostalgia of a popular franchise while still forging a fresh and original path. By blending thrilling spectacle with genuine suspense and emotional depth, Mission: Impossible – Fallout has become a benchmark against which many contemporary action movies are measured.
5
‘Man on Fire’ (2004)
Denzel Washington stars in Ridley Scott‘s 2004 action thriller, Man on Fire, as a former CIA operative turned personal bodyguard, John Creasy, who is employed by a wealthy businessman in Mexico City, Samuel Ramos (Marc Anthony), to protect his nine-year-old daughter, Lupita “Pita” Ramos (Dakota Fanning). When Pita is kidnapped by a notorious gunman, Creasy goes on the warpath to find her before it’s too late, leaving a path of bloodshed, vengeance, and destruction behind him every step of the way.
Unlike many action films, Man on Fire gives equal weight to character development and explosive action, which makes Creasy’s journey both compelling and emotionally impactful, setting it apart from other modern action thrillers. Washington delivers a powerhouse performance, conveying the genuine danger of a man who has nothing else to lose with a blend of unpredictable menace and surprising vulnerability. Between Washington’s unforgettable performance, Scott’s sharp direction, and its timeless tale of revenge, Man on Fire continues to endure decades after its original release and is, hands down, one of the best action movies of the 21st century.
4
‘John Wick’ (2014)
John Wick is a top-tier action thriller that ultimately reinvented the modern action movie with its innovative fight choreography, stylish world-building, and relentless pacing, and has since grown into one of the most popular action film franchises to date. Keanu Reeves stars as the titular character, a retired assassin and grieving widow, who, after his dog is killed by a sadistic mobster (Alfie Allen) and his crew, comes out of retirement to track down those who are responsible, ultimately serving up his own form of street justice and merciless revenge.
What begins as a simple revenge story evolves into a thrilling showcase of expertly choreographed gunplay, martial arts, and tactical combat, often referred to as “gun-fu,” essentially cementing John Wick as one of the best action movies in recent years. Director Chad Stahelski‘s emphasis on practical stunts, long takes, and realistic action sequences gives the film a distinctive style and undeniable edge that has influenced countless action movies since its release. Combined with Reeves’ committed and emotionally fueled performance, a richly imagined underworld of assassins, and jaw-dropping action scenes, John Wick set a new standard for the genre and launched one of the most successful action franchises of the 21st century.
3
‘Casino Royale’ (2006)
Casino Royale is the second adaptation of Ian Fleming‘s spy novel of the same name and revitalized the legendary James Bond franchise with a grittier, more realistic approach, essentially appealing to both original fans of 007 and newcomers to Fleming’s iconic MIF agent. Daniel Craig makes his grand debut as Bond, who, after earning his license to kill, is tasked with taking down a private banker and terrorist financier, Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), by playing him in a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale in Montenegro.
The movie explores Bond’s early career while blending high-stakes espionage with intense action and emotional depth, making Casino Royale a modern standout in the action genre. Despite being a remake, Casino Royale leaves its own distinct mark on the franchise with a career-defining performance by Craig and memorable action-packed sequences, notably the opening black-and-white chase and the tense finale in Venice, which is a masterclass in practical stunt work and expertly choreographed action. By combining thrilling action, sophisticated storytelling, and a standout performance from Craig, Casino Royale successfully reinvented one of cinema’s most iconic heroes and set a new benchmark for modern spy and action films.
2
‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ (2007)
The Bourne Ultimatum is loosely based on the third novel in the Bourne Trilogy series written by Robert Ludlum and masterfully combines fast-paced action with intelligent storytelling and emotional depth. The movie picks up after the events of The Bourne Supremacy and follows Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), a CIA assassin with dissociative amnesia, as he continues to search for information about his past before joining the top-secret black ops program, Treadstone, while evading the relentless pursuit of the CIA and a similar program known as Blackbriar.
The film’s intense foot chases, intense hand-to-hand combat, and realistic car pursuits are filmed with a kinetic style that creates a constant sense of urgency without sacrificing clarity, ultimately solidifying the film’s place among the best of the best modern action thrillers. Damon’s understated performance adds depth to Bourne’s struggle for identity, which makes the action feel more personal and meaningful. The Bourne Ultimatum was a major success and went on to win three Academy Awards, including Best Film Editing and Best Sound Mixing. With its gripping plot, relentless pacing, and groundbreaking approach to realistic espionage action, The Bourne Ultimatum raised the standard for modern spy thrillers and influenced countless action films that followed.
1
‘Kill Bill: Volume 1’ (2003)
Quentin Tarantino’s iconic action thriller Kill Bill: Volume 1 combines breathtaking action and unwavering suspense with the director’s distinctive style of storytelling and distinct visual spectacle, and is regarded by many as one of the greatest modern action movies to ever grace the silver screen. The movie stars Uma Thurman as a former mercenary known as the Bride, who becomes hellbent on tracking down and exacting her revenge on a group of assassins and their leader, Bill (David Carradine), after they tried to kill her and her unborn baby.
Kill Bill: Volume 1 features some of the most iconic action sequences of the 21st century, including the unforgettable showdown with the Crazy 88 and the climactic duel against O-Ren Ishii. Drawing inspiration from martial arts films, spaghetti westerns, and anime, Tarantino creates a visually striking and uniquely stylized experience that only a filmmaker of his caliber could achieve with such precision and passion. With its expertly choreographed sword fights, memorable characters, dynamic soundtrack, and bold cinematography, Kill Bill: Volume 1 redefined the revenge action genre and remains one of the most influential and celebrated action films of the modern era.
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