The first look at Outer Banks‘ final season hinted at more potential deaths after Rudy Pankow‘s controversial exit as JJ.

Netflix released the official trailer on Wednesday, July 28, which showed John B. (Chase Stokes), Sarah (Madelyn Cline), Kiara (Madison Bailey), Pope (Jonathan Daviss) and Cleo (Carlacia Grant) mourning the loss of JJ. They ultimately decide on a revenge plan that seems to led to some potentially fatal moments including someone on a motorcycle falling off a cliff, deadly explosives and more.

Outer Banks, which debuted in 2020, follows the conflict between two groups of teenagers in a coastal North Carolina town. The social divide is introduced with the wealthy residents (a.k.a. the Kooks) and the working class (the Pogues).

Season 5, which premieres August 20, will follow the aftermath of JJ’s shocking death. The show originally received backlash when Pankow’s departure was confirmed despite the writing team claiming it was always the plan to kill off the fan-favorite character.

“It’s been kind of lurking in his DNA from the beginning. He’s really a tragic figure, and the idea of mortality, and you only have a finite window — it’s also a theme of the show,” executive producer Jonas Pate told The Hollywood Reporter in November 2024. “It’s something John B. has talked about from the first season. So believe it or not, this is something that was always sort of baked in the cake, and we just wanted to tell the story as elegantly and interestingly as possible.”

After JJ’s onscreen death, the show’s creators explained their decision to kill off a Pogue.

“The overarching plan was to begin with just some kids who wanted to have a good time all the time, and take them on a whole journey,” Shannon Burke told Deadline in November 2024. “One of them was going to end up dying, and pretty early on, we knew that was going to be JJ, he’s the most reckless. He is also the most beloved and, in one way, the most sacrificing and the most risk-taking. And this was going to be JJ’s year.”

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Related: Rudy Pankow Unfollows Madison Bailey After Shocking ‘Outer Banks’ Exit

JJ’s shocking death on Outer Banks inspired fan speculation about what led to the controversial decision — including cast feud rumors and more. During the second part of season 4, which premiered in November 2024, viewers were in for a surprise when a trip to track down treasure in Morocco led to one of the […]

He continued: “The kids, they’re getting older. We wanted to begin in a place of innocence and then go to a place that at least one point to go is really dark for them, and then have them come out of it. That’s the overarching plan for the show. It was always JJ that was going to be, we just weren’t sure how we were going to play it.”

Viewers subsequently started to question whether Pankow’s exit came as a result of a rumored rift between him and the cast, which includes characters John B, Sarah, Kiara, Pope, JJ and Cleo (Carlacia Grant).

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Pankow, 28, for his part, has said that he thinks JJ’s death was meant to move the story along.

“When I first found out JJ was gonna risk it all and not make it, I understood it. And the risks got bigger and bigger, and the stakes got higher and higher,” he explained to Netflix’s Tudum that same month. “His death really does set up the future of OBX with the question, what is worth it? And when someone that close to you is gone, how do you navigate that?”

Outer Banks is currently streaming on Netflix.

Eva Mendes is making it clear that a viral image appearing to show Ryan Gosling and Johnny Depp together at San Diego Comic-Con never happened. The actress called out an Instagram account after it shared an AI-generated picture depicting her longtime partner walking alongside Depp at the convention. Although both actors attended the event, their appearances occurred on separate days, and there is no evidence they spent time together. Eva Mendes’ response prompted the account to apologize and change its caption to identify the image as artificial intelligence.

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The fabricated picture was shared by the Instagram account @opavisions and showed Gosling walking through the Comic-Con crowds alongside Depp, who was dressed as Ebenezer Scrooge. A character named Slopaxo also appeared partially in the image and was tagged in the post. The original caption presented the scene as if it were a genuine candid moment from the convention.

“Some of our favorite moments from Comic-Con weren’t on stage; they were watching Ryan Gosling, Johnny Depp, and @slopaxo moving through the crowds like the unlikeliest best-friend trio,” the caption read. “Between candid walks, conversations with fans, and spontaneous stops, they quietly became one of the weekend’s most memorable sights.”

Mendes quickly entered the comment section to correct the claim. “FAKE. Please let People know when you’re putting out AI,” she wrote.

Instagram Account Apologizes After Being Called Out

Following Mendes’ response, the account acknowledged that the image was not authentic and promised to be more transparent. “@evamendes DISCLAIMER: THIS WAS AI***,” the account wrote.

“Thank you for saying something. You’re right, and I’ll be more clear going forward,” the message continued before praising Mendes and Gosling’s respective careers.

The account reportedly issued an additional apology with, “Ok we will sorry,” and later added, “Wow. I’m a big fan. I love your movies.” Comments have since been disabled on the post, while its lengthy original caption has been replaced with one word: “AI.”

Although the post has now been labeled, the initial presentation gave viewers no clear indication that the scene had been artificially created.

Johnny Depp Appeared At Comic-Con As Ebenezer Scrooge

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Part of what made the fabricated image appear believable was Depp’s elaborate Ebenezer Scrooge costume, which he genuinely wore during Comic-Con. The actor made a surprise appearance in San Diego to promote “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol,” scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 13.

Organizers constructed a mock storefront in the Gaslamp Quarter and covered the surrounding area in artificial snow. A crowd gathered as Christmas carolers performed before Depp emerged in character from the building. Despite fans cheering and calling out to him, Depp maintained Scrooge’s famously irritable demeanor as he moved through the activation.

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He later appeared in costume during Collider’s Directors on Directing panel, giving convention attendees a closer look at his transformation for the forthcoming film.

Ryan Gosling’s Ghost Rider Casting Was Revealed Days Later

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Gosling made his own surprise Comic-Con appearance on Saturday, when Marvel announced that he will portray Ghost Rider in an upcoming standalone film. Shawn Levy will direct the project, which is slated for release in 2028. The filmmaker recently worked with Gosling on “Star Wars: Starfighter,” scheduled to premiere on May 28, 2027.

“Gosling is the absolute sh-t. I say that with tremendous respect,” Levy told the Comic-Con audience. “We spent a lot of time last year making Starfighter, and the opportunity as Ryan started talking about this character, I was like, “Bro, let’s ride.” We’ll see you in 2028!”

The project will mark Gosling’s entrance into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reunite him with Levy behind the camera.

Eva Mendes Has Her Own Connection To ‘Ghost Rider’

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Gosling’s casting creates an unexpected full-circle moment for Mendes, who previously appeared in the 2007 “Ghost Rider” movie starring Nicolas Cage. Mendes portrayed Roxanne Simpson, the former girlfriend and love interest of Cage’s Johnny Blaze. The film earned approximately $229 million worldwide against a reported production budget of about $110 million.

The actress has publicly supported Gosling’s casting in the new adaptation, making her connection to the franchise even more personal. However, Mendes was considerably less enthusiastic about seeing her partner placed into a fictional Comic-Con encounter without an upfront disclosure.

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Following one of the most impressive opening weekends of the year, where it broke numerous records, including becoming its director and star’s highest-grossing opening yet, Christopher Nolan‘s historical epic The Odyssey held that momentum for weekend #2. The blockbuster, which was dubbed an “unrivaled cinematic spectacle” in Joe Schmidt‘s review for Collider, has now sailed to $700 million worldwide, against a $250 million production budget.

Matt Damon finally made the move to leading man in a Nolan movie in The Odyssey, after previously appearing in the likes of Interstellar and Oppenheimer. Add to this a star-studded ensemble including Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, and Zendaya, the reputation of Nolan, and the promise of a feast of practical filmmaking, and The Odyssey was destined to prove an unstoppable hit. Can it reach the $1 billion mark? After such a strong start, it certainly looks likely, and that would make it only Nolan’s third film to hit this height after The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.

With a global haul of $700 million after just a few weekends, The Odyssey has now surpassed the final box office total of one of 2026’s most defining films. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, Project Hail Mary made $684 million in global revenue earlier this year, with this total likely to be smashed by The Odyssey in less than a week. Considering just how strong Project Hail Mary‘s theatrical run was, for The Odyssey to make overtaking it look like a breeze is particularly impressive.

Another Movie Just Hit an Enormous Box Office Milestone

It wasn’t just The Odyssey celebrating a successful weekend at the box office. In its sixth weekend, after falling no further than third in the ranks, Pixar’s latest animated sequel, Toy Story 5, has finally reached the box office promised land, breaking the billion-dollar boundary. One of the most successful films of the year, Toy Story 5 is just the third to reach $1 billion in 2026, following in the footsteps of the video game adaptation sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and Antoine Fuqua’s musical biopic, Michael.

The Odyssey is currently available to watch in theaters worldwide. For more of the latest box office stories, stay tuned to Collider.

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Release Date

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July 15, 2026

Runtime

173 minutes

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Usher warned a fan during a concert in Birmingham, Alabama, before bringing her onstage. The singer is currently performing in the ‘The R&B Tour,’ and he recently kicked a woman named Gabrielle Cheyenne off the stage after she failed to play along during the fan segment. His new warning also seemed to address Gabrielle’s “pretty privilege” comments.

RELATED: Breezy Not Playing! Chris Brown Has The Internet Going Wild Over SPICY Moment With Fan On The R&B Tour (WATCH)

Usher Seemingly Throws Shade & Warns Fan Before Bringing Her Onstage

Usher is known for his spicy performances during his concerts, and he has a special segment where he brings a female fan onstage while he sings ‘Can U Handle It?’

A fan was kicked offstage recently during the tour, and she later said on social media that she looked too good to decline the offer to go onstage with her “PRETTY PRIVILEGES.” Days later, Usher warned a fan at his Birmingham show, referencing the woman he had previously kicked off the stage.

“Before we get started, don’t bring your a*s up here if you don’t wanna be here,” he said as the audience howled. “God, don’t like ugly, but he most certainly don’t feel too good about pretty privilege, either.”

Woman Kicked Off Stage Explains Her Reaction

During a performance in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday, July 25, Usher kicked a fan off stage after bringing her up for the sexy segment of the show. The fan seemed less than enthusiastic as the ‘Climax’ artist attempted to lay her down on a bed, and he waved her off the stage after saying, “I don’t think she wants to be on stage.” The fan, Gabrielle Cheyenne, explained herself on Facebook after receiving backlash.

“First off NOBODY is declining to go on stage. I looked good… you thought I wasn’t gonna let THOUSANDS of people see me?? On the big screen, where you Will never be???? My mom and I had FLOOR SEATS. Their team approached us and moved us to VIP before the show even started !! PRETTY PRIVILEGES something you will never know about!! They don’t say what you’re going up there for!! Y’all wanted me to get up there and f**k him atp ?? CHATT FOLKS AREN’T USED TO ANYTHING. That’s the most exciting thing that would’ve happened in y’all little a** lives !! F**k yall, DISRESPECTFULLY

Cheyenne spoke to TMZ on Monday, July 27, and admitted that she wanted to be onstage with Chris Brown, who is also on the tour. Cheyenne said that she was brought to the VIP area but wasn’t told what she would be brought onstage for. She said that she would have reacted differently if it has been Brown onstage with her instead of Usher. She added that she wouldn’t have accepted has she known the VIP offer was for the ‘Yeah!’ artist.

“I’m more of a Chris Brown fan than I am of Usher,” she said. “So, of course, it would have been a different reaction with Chris Brown… it wouldn’ta been the stiffness.”

The fan added that she didn’t mean to ruin the moment, but she prefers one artist over the other.

Fans Have Mixed Reactions To Usher’s Warning

Fan reactions were mixed after the clip was shared on TSR’s Instagram page. Several Roomies were feeling Usher’s warning while others shared their critiques about both fan interactions.

User @anishajanae wrote, “Yall talking about his ego hurt when it’s as simple as, don’t go up there if you don’t want to participate. We’ve seen how these shows go.”

User @gueits wrote, “He said nothing wrong, that girl was playing on them people’s stage 🫩.”

@dutchisrunway wrote, “Don’t mess up people performance and bag ..just to be weird.”

User @jinadoll1212 added, “Start bringing up REAL fans and not IG models and that won’t happen.”

@therealcourtneybee added, “Get real fans up there, the ones with your faces on the shirts 🤷🏾‍♀️😂.”

@iheartdna noted that Usher threw the whole tree with his warning. “Not ‘he don’t feel so good about pretty privilege either’ 😂 That was petty 🤣🤣.”

@mr_grindhard4 added, “Humbled her ssa quick😂😂😂.”

@shay_tha_great wrote, “Yall talking about ego???? HE AT WORK!!!! 😂😂😂.”

User @she.prettyxoxo wrote, “Imagine waiting your whole life to get picked just to get unpicked.😂.”

@nunu_struts replied, “It’s not about ego. It’s fn facts. Don’t get up there if you don’t want to be up there. It’s very simple.”

RELATED: Oops! Mario Slips On Stage While Performing In ‘The R&B Tour’ And Fan Reactions Are Undefeated (VIDEO)

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

Sports comedies have been enjoying a bit of a renaissance in the streaming era, arguably ever since the debut of the feelgood Emmy-winning hit Ted Lasso in 2020. Netflix recently took a big swing at the subgenre with its new golf series, The Hawk, starring Will Ferrell as a washed-up former PGA legend aiming to make the big comeback nobody wants him to, but that hat was just the latest example in a line of titles finding laughs among the pros. Apple TV also put its own spin on the game with Owen Wilson‘s Stick, and, just last year, Happy Gilmore 2 made its long-awaited return to the green with Adam Sandler back in the lead role as the former hockey player turned golf legend. Not to be lost in the shuffle is Glen Powell‘s football series Chad Powers, which overcame a lukewarm critical reception to score a touchdown with viewers and earn a Season 2.

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Inspired by the Eli’s Places segment where Eli Manning goes undercover as a college walk-on, Chad Powers Season 1 followed canceled football star Russ Holliday (Powell) as he eyes an opportunity to return to football glory after blowing up his reputation in a championship game. With some help from his roommate Danny (Frankie A. Rodriguez), he dons a new face and comes back to the game as Chad Powers, a West Virginia man competing for a starting job on the South Georgia Catfish. Hilarity ensues as he slowly leads the team out of the doldrums while keeping his secret gets harder and harder and the stakes soar ever higher. Season 2 now sees Chad as an established superstar, but with much bigger issues now that assistant coach and will-they-won’t-they love interest Ricky (Perry Mattfield) knows his secret. After filming began in February, that date has now been set for when the titular quarterback will begin the march to the promised land.

Hulu has announced that Season 2 will kick off on September 3, a remarkably quick turnaround less than one year after Season 1’s arrival. Accompanying the date was also a new set of images teasing what’s to come as the Catfish aim for the College Football Playoffs. A couple shots see him working on perfecting the disguise to ward off suspicion while he tries to lead the SEC football team to glory. Nonetheless, Coach Hudson (Steve Zahn) and Gerry (Colton Ryan) seem increasingly wary of him given his suspicious activity off the field. As much as she doesn’t want to help, Ricky may be his only hope, as she’s seen meeting with Russ and Danny at a restaurant, presumably to discuss plans to keep the Chad Powers myth alive.

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Release Date

September 30, 2025

Network

Hulu

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Directors

Tony Yacenda

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Writers

Michael Waldron

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  Russ Holliday / Chad Powers

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This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

We all love going for a stroll down memory lane and hearing noises, seeing sights, and clicking buttons we used to click as kids, which is why it’s been such a bummer that some of the original Xbox’s most fondly remembered games have remained frustratingly difficult to revisit outside Microsoft’s consoles. While backward compatibility has become a major part of the Xbox identity, PC players have largely been left watching from the sidelines. Well, all of that has now officially changed for good.

Xbox has officially launched Backward Compatibility on PC, beginning with four classic games from the original Xbox era. Conker: Live & Reloaded, Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge and Fuzion Frenzy are now available through the Xbox app on PC, and all four can be purchased individually and are also included with every Xbox Game Pass plan.

More Classic Xbox Games Are Coming to PC

Through Xbox Play Anywhere, each title can be accessed across compatible PCs, Xbox consoles and handhelds including the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, while cloud streaming is also supported. Players who already own a digital Xbox licence for any of the four games will not need to purchase them again on PC. The updated versions include resolution scaling of up to four times the original output, VSync, fullscreen and windowed display options, anisotropic filtering and improved anti-aliasing.

Backwards compatibility has been a huge feature of the Xbox since the Xbox One began supporting the original Xbox titles and those from the Xbox 360. It continued through the Series X and S, but this is the company’s first coordinated effort to bring that legacy catalog properly to PC. And in more good news, Achievements are going to be added to selected original Xbox games on both PC and consoles later in the year. The initial four releases are expected to receive Achievement support within the coming months, which will give us all those endorphin rushes we used to get when we’d complete a level in 30 seconds or something.

Microsoft has not yet revealed which games will join the service next, although it confirmed that the library will continue expanding. For now, PC players can finally revisit the foul-mouthed squirrel who’s well known for having very bad days, control time, battle through the skies, and ruin friendships in multiplayer permanently without digging an original Xbox out of storage.

Mason Gooding is promoting several projects. This includes Netflix’s “72 Hours,” in which he stars with Kevin Hart, and his latest movie, “I Want Your Sex.” Recently, the 29-year-old heartthrob opened up about growing up with his famous dad and how he feels the “Radio” star used what he called “speed parenting” because of his busy schedule.

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Mason appeared on the “Wildmen” podcast in July 2026, discussing a wealth of topics from his burgeoning career to his life growing up with Cuba as a father. He said of his childhood, “My father was an actor and grandfather [Cuba Gooding Sr.] was a singer.”

He explained, saying, “I have probably a stronger relationship and understanding based on who they were publicly than who they were privately. It wasn’t until I was older that they could — not my grandfather, God rest his soul — but like my dad would have been able to articulate like a lot of the lessons I learned as a kid.”

Regarding Mason’s grandfather, he passed away in 2017 at the age of 72. After that, he spoke specifically about his father’s parenting style, saying, “Cause when you’re a parent who’s an actor, and you’re gone for so long, then you come back, you try to … the word would be speed-parent … cause you come in for a week, and you’re like, ‘Why is that broken? Why are you failing school? Why are you fighting?’”

Mason Says Cuba Gooding Jr. Was A Different Person Away From Cameras

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Mason continued reflecting on his upbringing with Cuba by stating that he was unsure about how to approach their relationship because the man he saw in interviews failed to align with what he witnessed when his dad was home.

According to the young actor, “At the time, I didn’t really understand that relationship ’cause I was like, ‘You’re so positive and charismatic in these interviews, and then you come home, and it’s a different guy,’ and I didn’t get that correlation or lack thereof.”

In reflecting, he stated, “It’s just understanding that that dissonance between who I get at home and who you are on camera will actually be a factor in how I parse out our relationship moving forward.”

Mason Previously Shared Fond Memories Of His Dad

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Mason seemingly has a complicated relationship with his dad, Cuba. However, he still has fond memories of him, including his sharing sage acting advice. The “Scream 7” star spoke to BET in 2019, first joking that he had a hand in his father’s Oscar win.

He said at the time, “Even though technically he won the Oscar in ’97, I like to think I had some hand in that. Regarding being a good luck charm for his dad, Mason recalled, “He always said that before he got Jerry Maguire [that he] related to the character so much because he had a baby on the way, which was me, and it led up to the perfect time and atmosphere to get the role. All the stars lined up, making it what it was. Here’s hoping that same good luck rubs off on me.”

Regarding the advice Cuba shared, Mason said, “It’s not about blowing it [on camera emotion] out of proportion all the time. He said it’s about holding it down and keeping it down until the perfect moment comes and let it explode from you, and that’s what moves audiences.”

Cuba Previously Spoke About Mason’s Career

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Mason’s first big role came in 2018 when he was cast in the HBO series “Ballers,” appearing in three episodes. After that, was cast in Olivia Wilde‘s 2019 film “Booksmart.” Cuba dished about his son and his early success in a 2018 PEOPLE interview.

He said at the time, “My youngest son Mason just did a stint on Ballers with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as one of the characters in that.” After that, he teased “Booksmart,” saying, “He’s got a new indie movie that he’s starring in.”

Mason’s continued to expand his career with episodic appearances on shows such as “Star Trek: Picard” and “How I Met Your Father” before scoring a role on “Love Victor,” which started in 2020.

Mason Is Involved In Multiple 2026 Projects

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Mason’s latest movie, “72 Hours,” was released on Netflix in July 2026. The movie, which also stars Hart, Marcello Hernandez, Teyana Taylor, and Andy Garcia, debuted at number one on the streamer’s top chart. Additionally, his other film, “I Want Your Sex,” is arriving in movie theaters on July 31. His previous movie, a thriller called “The Gates,” was released in March 2026.

According to Deadline, he’s also been tapped to star in an action film, “Last Resort,” which is scheduled to be released in 2028.

When you’re constantly in front of the camera, a bright smile essentially becomes part of the job. Just ask Erin Andrews, who keeps her pearly whites in tip-top shape with the Crest 3D Whitestrips Dental Whitening Kit.

“I’m always doing [Crest White Strips], because I’m a coffee drinker and wine drinker,” the broadcaster shared. Instead of booking a professional whitening appointment, which can be timely and costly, these fan-favorite strips are an easy way to maintain a brighter, camera-ready smile from home.

Get the Crest 3D Whitestrips Dental Whitening Kit for $63 at CVS!

This kit isn’t a quick one-and-done process. It comes with 20 treatments and is actually designed to deliver gradual results over time using the same enamel-safe whitening ingredient that dentists use to remove years of surface stains caused by coffee, tea, wine and other everyday foods and drinks. Still, it’s foolproof to use: apply the strips to clean, dry teeth, leave them on for 45 minutes and remove them when finished. The brand recommends using the product once a day for 20 days for best results.

Related: Mindy Kaling Swears by This $17 Face Cleanser to Control Oily Skin

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We love when a celebrity reveals the beauty products they use regularly — and we especially love it when their go-tos are affordable options that actually work. Mindy Kaling, for instance, swears by a tried-and-true facial cleanser that costs under $20. Although the bottle indicates it’s for normal to dry skin, Kaling gives it the […]

The strips themselves are made with Advanced Seal technology, which molds comfortably to your teeth and helps them stay securely in place so you can answer emails, fold laundry, get ready for work or just chill out while the whitening strips do the heavy lifting. They conform to the shape of your teeth to ensure even coverage, helping whiten both the front and sides of each tooth for a more uniform-looking smile.

For anyone who’s frequently on the go, the whitening kit is also super easy to travel with. Each treatment comes individually wrapped, so you can slip a few packets into your carry-on or toiletry bag without sacrificing precious packing space.

One reviewer swore the results were “dramatic.”

“I am really happy with the results of the Crest White Strips. They were easy to apply and stayed on well,” they wrote. “The light was comfortable. My teeth turned out so white!”

“Only took a few days before seeing a positive difference,” another shopper shared.

Whether you’re preparing for a big event, heading on vacation, walking down the aisle or simply want to refresh your smile, the Crest 3D Whitestrips Dental Whitening Kit offers a convenient way to achieve a noticeably brighter smile without the hefty cost of professional treatments!

Get the Crest 3D Whitestrips Dental Whitening Kit for $63 at CVS!

Related: Jennifer Garner‘s $21 ‘Everyday‘ Sunscreen ‘Works Under Makeup‘

Just because you can afford expensive beauty products doesn’t mean they’re better than drugstore options — just ask Jennifer Garner. The long-standing Neutrogena ambassador relies on an affordable facial sunscreen to get optimal protection against those harmful rays. Even better, the star’s go-to pick won’t interfere with other steps in your routine, including skincare and makeup. […]