Spider-Man fans of all ages have had so much to look forward to in 2026. Back in May, Nicolas Cage got his chance to be a live-action web-slinger in the pulpy Spider-Noir, playing washed-up detective Ben Reilly in a gritty version of 1930s New York where he’s the only superhero. This month will also finally see Tom Holland return to the big screen with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, pitting him against a mysterious new threat while his own powers run haywire. For the little ones, though, today was the date to circle with the premiere of Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends Season 5 on Disney Jr. and Disney+. The hit series is officially back in action with its new “Rescue Webs” storyline, combining Spider-Man with firetrucks to save the day in a premiere marked by a particularly slippery new villain.
To celebrate the premiere, Collider is excited to share a new sneak peek at the first episode, titled “Lights, Sirens, Action/Symbie’s Slimy Scheme. As the name suggests, the second half of the new adventure will see Spidey, Ghost-Spider, and Spin swing into action to stop the adorable yet mischievous Symbie from using his slime machine to ruin the city with a flood of slime. Our footage sees Gwen calling Peter to reveal she and Miles have learned where the shape-shifting symbiote baby is preparing his dastardly plans. As Spidey races to the Slime Factory with the Rescue-Webs Firetruck, his pals leap in to shut down Symbie’s machine before it fills up and slimes the playground. However, they aren’t ready for him to be so tricky, taking the power button with him and hopping from one portal to another to evade their grasp. Team Spidey will have to think of something quickly, with the tank continuing to rise by the second and the fate of the city at hand.
Symbie will be a recurring fixture in the new season of Spidey and His Amazing Friends, causing chaos and generally being “a little scamp,” according to executive producer Harrison Wilcox. Marvel and Disney+ have also gone all-out to give him a massive introduction to the series. For Comic Book Giveaway Day, they released Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends #1 CGD 2026 from one of Season 5’s staff writers, Danielle Kreger, and, on July 8, Marvel Comics debuted It’s Symbie #1, compiling all the little guy’s appearances across the page so far to promote his on-screen arrival. The character’s Slime Factory also became the focus for a new playset from Hasbro at Walmart, and Fall Out Boy‘s Patrick Stump even made his latest single for the series, “Meet Symbie,” all about him.
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Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz Which MCU Hero Are You? Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap
Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory?
🕷️Spider-Man
😈Daredevil
🤖Iron Man
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💀Punisher
⚡Thor
🛡️Cap
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01
What drives you to do what’s right? Choose the answer that feels most like you.
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02
It’s 2 AM. Where are you? Your answer says more about you than you’d think.
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03
How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice? Every hero has a method. What’s yours?
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04
How do you feel about keeping a secret identity? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.
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05
You’ve lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that? Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it.
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06
What’s your role when working with a team? Who you are under pressure is who you actually are.
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07
Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge? The answer defines what kind of hero you really are.
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08
When you’re not saving the world, what does life look like? The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story.
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09
What keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
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10
The battle is lost. You’re outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do? This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.
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Your Hero Has Been Identified Your MCU Hero Is…
Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed.
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Queens, New York
🕷️ Spider-Man
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You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing.
You do the right thing not because it’s easy, but because no one else will.
You understand that responsibility isn’t a burden you choose — it’s one that finds you.
Whether it’s a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up.
Peter Parker’s lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn’t a slogan to you. It’s the code you live by, even when it costs you everything.
Hell’s Kitchen, New York
😈 Daredevil
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You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free.
You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks.
You’ve looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy.
Matt Murdock’s duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own.
Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you.
Stark Industries, Malibu
🤖 Iron Man
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Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem.
You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic.
You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility.
Tony Stark’s arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too.
You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you’re willing to give everything. Because in the end, you’re Iron Man.
New York City
💀 The Punisher
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You’ve been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What’s left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief.
You don’t ask for forgiveness, and you don’t expect gratitude.
You see a corrupt, broken world and you’ve decided to do something about it, consequences be damned.
Frank Castle’s war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours.
Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute.
Asgard · Protector of the Nine Realms
⚡ Thor
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Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry.
You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth.
You’re larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on.
Thor’s story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector.
You bring the storm when it’s needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much.
Brooklyn, New York · The Avengers
🛡️ Captain America
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You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will.
You don’t bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard.
Steve Rogers didn’t become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you.
Your strength isn’t in your fists; it’s in your refusal to compromise what’s right, no matter the cost.
In a world full of people taking the easy road, you’re the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time.
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What Else Is Happening in ‘Spidey and His Amazing Friends’ Season 5?
While Marvel is clearly excited for everyone to meet Symbie, there is much else to look forward to from Spidey and His Amazing Friends Season 5. In the first half of the premiere, Team Spidey’s Firetruck is stolen by the supervillain Zola, who quickly learns that being a hero isn’t as easy as he thinks. That’s just the beginning of a wide variety of new problems Peter, Miles, and Gwen will have to work together to solve, and lessons for the trio to learn. Some familiar faces from across the Marvel universe will also pay their first visit to the city to help Peter out, like Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Mr. Fantastic, voiced by none other than Mario Lopez. It’s shaping up to be a jam-packed season, and better yet, it won’t be the last, as the series was secured for a sixth season last month.
The Spidey and His Amazing Friends Season 5 premiere is out now on Disney+. Check out our exclusive sneak peek in the player above.
Chancery Judge Ashlee Cole, the mom of Warren Hudson, a teen who was on Horn Island with Nolan Xavier Wells, says her family is receiving death threats in the wake of his passing.
Chancery Judge Ashlee Cole, Mom Of Teen Who Was On Horn Island With Nolan Xavier Wells, Says Family Is Receiving Death Threats
On Thursday, July 9, Chancery Judge Ashlee Cole took to Facebook with a message for the public, and a few screenshots. Furthermore, Judge Cole wrote, “We have decided that we will not be speaking to the press at this time. The Media is not the appropriate forum to further elaborate on the facts of July 4, 2026. We realize that the truth will not stop the calls for the death of our small children.”
“We have not had the opportunity to speak to the Wells-Wonsley family or their attorney. However, we are willing to directly communicate with attorney Ben Crump and the Wells-Wonsley family,” she continued. “We will provide them with all the information known to us so their family can rest and properly mourn. We also want to know what happened to Nolan. We will do everything within our power to assist Nolan’s family in their quest for answers.”
In addition, Judge Cole shared screenshots and a screen recording of the messages sent to her Instagram account. In one screenshot, a person wrote, “These two are gonna be strangled till their eyes go red an lips turn blue.”
Another comment reads, “There’s gonna be a bomb sent to your office… I’m gonna get you when you leave work… Slow painful death… I got your email, your phone number, your address…”
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To note, the various comments appear to have been shared by one Instagram account, @yaeyae962.
Lastly, Judge Cole shared a look at message requests from various users.
See her post below.
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Chancery Judge Ashlee Cole Previously Spoke On The Death Of Nolan Xavier Wells
As The Shade Room previously reported, Chancery Judge Ashlee Cole initially made headlines when she shared a statement on the disappearance and death of Nolan Xavier Wells. On Tuesday, July 7, she took to Facebook, acknowledging her son, Warren Hudson, traveled to Horn Island with Wells on July 4.
Additionally, Judge Cole admitted that she had deactivated her social media due to the “heightened emotional state” online. At the time, she noted that she feared for her children’s safety due to images of them being circulated online.
Furthermore, she wrote that her family’s prayers were with Wells’ family. But she and her husband were not on Horn Island on July 4. And she believes her son “cooperated fully” with law enforcement.
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“He saw Nolan last at around 3 pm on July 4th. They left around 4:30 pm when the boat was taking on water and they had an issue with the bilge pump. Nolan made a decision to stay on the island and return inland later with another group of friends,” she added.
Before concluding, the judge wrote that she hoped her post would redirect attention to Wells’ family.
What’s The Latest On The Case?
Most recently, one of Nolan Xavier Wells’ friends, Tracestin Shepherd, has come forward, addressing a viral photo of him. As The Shade Room previously reported, Ben Crump, the Wells family’s attorney, reposted a photo showing Wells at a pool party. Furthermore, the caption alongside it suggested it was taken back on the mainland. This, specifically suggesting Wells had made it back from Horn Island before ultimately being discovered there deceased.
After the photo gained traction, Shepherd shut down the speculation. Furthermore, he stated that the photo was taken on June 27, and not on July 5, per The Shade Room. Additionally, he suggested that Crump is taking “advantage” of the Wells family’s vulnerability. This, as Wells’ mom shared a message for those “joking” about her son’s death.
On Sunday, July 12, The Shade Room shared an image of Michael B. Jordan apparently stepping out for night two of Jay-Z’s concerts at Yankee Stadium. For the occasion, Jordan seemingly hung up his red carpet suits and donned a more casual look. Specifically, he wore a Knicks cap, an apparent Knicks champion jersey, brown shorts, and black Converse sneakers.
See the pics of his look below.
The Ladies Are LOSING It
Social media users immediately hopped into TSR’s comment section, losing it over Michael B. Jordan’s rare casual ‘fit and his looks.
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Instagram user @regin3 wrote, “Never seen him in regular clothes lol”
While Instagram user @briiiiiii_x added, “He just get finer and finer 😭”
Instagram user @trinibad__reeze wrote, “Lori girl what was the problem, bc i dont see it 🧐😍”
While Instagram user @joypolamalu added, “i just realized we only see this man in business casual 😂”
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Instagram user @_munalee wrote, “The best part of this is knowing he looks just as good even with the hat off!! 😂😂😂😂”
While Instagram user @kizzyki_ added, “I been saying it for years man… the B stands for blow my back out pls🤧”
Instagram user @ci_sassy wrote, “I feel like this the first time I ever seen him in a regular fit 😂🔥”
While Instagram user @hernamebrya added, “Send him my way Lord 🤭”
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Instagram user @crystalbpeters wrote, “Some of these comments are unhinged and I love it 😂”
While Instagram user @idontgetpaidenoughforthis added, “This the first & only time I see the vision oh my my my 😮💨”
Instagram user @estefaniaa_caterinexo wrote, “Between him and that soccer player .. sweet baby Jesus 😍😍”
While Instagram user @therealcourtneybee added, “Now wait a minute, I ain’t ever look at him but on todayyyyyy 😍😍😍😍 Hello”
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Months Before Michael B. Jordan Stepped Out In A Casual ‘Fit, He Turned Heads With His Mom
Months before Michael B. Jordan stepped out in a casual ‘fit, or “regular clothes,” he turned heads alongside his mom. As The Shade Room previously reported, in January, Jordan brought his mom, Donna Jordan, as his plus-one for the Critics’ Choice Awards.
Ultimately, the pair stepped on the carpet and sparked reactions with everyone calling them twins!
In a move that could be seen coming miles away from the moment the merger was announced, 11 states, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington, have filed a claim in California’s court system to stop the $111 billion merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. If it goes through, the merger will result in the largest entertainment company in history, and contract the entertainment market to the smallest it’s ever been. On one side, the states are arguing against a monopoly, on the other, Paramount and Warner Bros. counsel argues it creates more opportunity for competition. It was expected, but it’s a disaster for the sale of Warner Bros. which has to be completed by September 30th, or it’s going to cost Paramount millions.
The September 30th Deadline
Specifically, if the deal isn’t closed by September 30th, Paramount will owe Warner Bros. shareholders $6.9 million per day. Not individually, but as a collective, which will still add up to a total of over $690 million per quarter in fines and fees. The latest move by the collected States put that deadline in jeopardy. That’s despite the Department of Justice signing off on the merger months ago, and other countries as well, including Italy, France, South Africa, Ukraine, among others have given it the green light.
Another potential roadblock is approval from the United Kingdom, which is expected to come within the next few weeks, but will then lead to a through audit by investigators. Paramount’s buyout is expected to be approved by regulators overseas, but it will take time. That’s also not including the lawsuit launched by consumers in April that has asked the Federal Court to ensure it’s not creating an illegal monopoly.
For all of the justified scorn heaped onto Warner Bros President David Zaslav, he is a ruthless businessman. His inclusion of the deadline fees and a payout if the deal falls apart means that to Warner Bros, the whole situation is a win/win. If the deal goes through, Hollywood will be left with only four major studios, significantly reducing the marketplace for major movies and shows to be made, which is why there’s already fewer in the pipeline.
Nothing About The Sale Is Good For Viewers
Paramount has put a pause on Star Trek until everything is sorted, and the only major franchise series on the Warner Bros side is the upcoming Harry Potter remake series. James Gunn is plugging along with the DC Universe revival, and the incoming bosses at Paramount have said he’ll be able to keep doing his thing, but that was before Supergirlfailed to reach the same level as Morbius. For fans of both Paramount and Warner Bros properties, it’s a scary time right now with nothing certain about the future.
The new lawsuit filed by the collected States will take some time to work through the court system and land on the docket. No judge has been assigned, and even if a ruling goes against Paramount and Warner Bros, there’s always appeals, which would be bolstered by the Federal approval already on record. All that said, consolidation is horrible for the consumer, and the best thing for the public would have been for Warner Bros to never on sale in the first place. The other potential buyer, Netflix, has its own issues it brings to the table.
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This latest twist is going to heat up in the next 60 days, so it will be interesting to see what the corporations are going to do as their next move, and how fast the court will move. The clock’s ticking and there’s millions, if not billions, worth of fines and fees on the line.
Another weekend at the box office comes to a close, and it seems as if one of the summer’s biggest flops is being realized. On the back of a lackluster first couple of weeks for Milly Alcock’s Supergirl, the second installment of James Gunn and Peter Safran‘s DC Universe, Disney’s latest live-action remake, Moana, has fallen to a terrible opening weekend, similar to that of 2025’s Snow White. The Dwayne Johnson-led movie has also faced widespread backlash, leaving it in a precarious position heading into its first full week in theaters. If Moana isn’t floating your boat, then you have plenty of great options to watch at home. With that in mind, here’s a list of three movies you should stream on Netflix this week.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
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1
‘Mile End Kicks’ (2025)
Rotten Tomatoes: 86% | IMDb: 6.2/10
This week on Netflix begins with the arrival of a 2025 Toronto International Film Festival gem that quietly hit theaters earlier this year. Starring Euphoria‘s Barbie Ferreira, Mile End Kicks follows a 24-year-old music critic whose personal and professional lives become intertwined as she becomes romantically involved with members of a band after moving to Montreal.
Also starring the likes of Devon Bostick, Stanley Simons, and more, Mile End Kicks is a thoughtful, funny, and emotionally intelligent coming-of-age tale from I Like Movies and Roommates director Chandler Levack, who based the film on her own experiences as a young music critic. For an easy smile spread across your face this week, Mile End Kicks is the perfect option.
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Collider Exclusive · Oscar Best Picture Quiz Which Oscar Best Picture Is Your Perfect Movie? Parasite · Everything Everywhere · Oppenheimer · Birdman · No Country
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Five Oscar Best Picture winners. Five completely different visions of what cinema can be — and what it can do to you. One of them is the film that was made for the way your mind works. Ten questions will figure out which one.
🪜Parasite
🌀Everything Everywhere
☢️Oppenheimer
🐦Birdman
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🪙No Country for Old Men
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01
What kind of film experience do you actually want? The best movies don’t just entertain — they leave something behind.
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02
Which idea grabs you most in a film? Great films are driven by a central obsession. What’s yours?
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03
How do you like your story told? Form is content. The way a story is shaped changes what it means.
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04
What makes a truly great antagonist? The opposition defines the protagonist. What kind of opposition fascinates you?
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05
What do you want from a film’s ending? The final note is the one that lingers. What do you want it to sound like?
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06
Which setting pulls you in most? Where a film takes place shapes everything — mood, stakes, what’s even possible.
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07
What cinematic craft impresses you most? Every great film has a signature — a technical or artistic element that makes it unmistakable.
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08
What kind of main character do you root for? The protagonist is the lens. Who you choose to follow says something about you.
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09
How do you feel about a film that takes its time? Pace is a choice. Some films sprint; others let tension accumulate slowly, deliberately.
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10
What do you want to feel walking out of the cinema? The best films leave a mark. What kind of mark do you want?
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The Academy Has Decided Your Perfect Film Is…
Your answers have pointed to one Oscar Best Picture winner above all others. This is the film that was made for the way your mind works.
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Parasite
You are drawn to films that operate on multiple levels simultaneously — that begin in one genre and quietly, brilliantly migrate into another. Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite is a film about class, desire, and the architecture of inequality that manages to be darkly funny, deeply suspenseful, and genuinely shocking across a single extraordinary running time. Your instinct is for cinema that hides its true intentions until the moment it’s ready to reveal them. Parasite is exactly that — a film that rewards close attention and punishes assumptions, right up to its devastating final image.
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Everything Everywhere All at Once
You want it all — and this film gives you all of it. The Daniels’ Everything Everywhere All at Once is one of the most maximalist films ever made: action comedy, multiverse sci-fi, family drama, existential crisis, and a genuinely earned emotional core that sneaks up on you amid the chaos. You are someone who responds to ambition, who doesn’t want cinema to choose between being entertaining and being meaningful. This film refuses that choice entirely. It is overwhelming by design, and its overwhelming nature is precisely the point — because the feeling of being crushed by infinite possibility is exactly what it’s about.
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Oppenheimer
You are drawn to cinema on a grand scale — films that understand history not as a backdrop but as a force, and that place their characters inside that force and watch what happens. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is a film about the terrifying gap between what we can do and what we should do, told with the full weight of one of the most consequential moments in human history behind it. You want your films to feel important without feeling self-important — to earn their ambition through sheer craft and the gravity of their subject. Oppenheimer does exactly that. It is enormous, complicated, and refuses easy comfort.
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Birdman
You are drawn to films that foreground their own construction — that make the how of the filmmaking part of the what it’s about. Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman, shot to appear as a single continuous take, is cinema examining itself through the cracked mirror of a fading actor’s ego. You respond to formal daring, to the feeling that a film is doing something that probably shouldn’t be possible. Michael Keaton’s performance and Emmanuel Lubezki’s restless camera create something genuinely unlike anything else — a film that is simultaneously about creativity, relevance, self-destruction, and the impossibility of ever truly knowing if your work means anything at all.
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No Country for Old Men
You are drawn to cinema that trusts silence, that refuses to explain itself, and that treats dread as a form of meaning. The Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men is a film about the arrival of a new kind of evil — implacable, arbitrary, and utterly indifferent to the moral frameworks we use to make sense of the world. It is one of the most formally controlled films ever made, and its controlled restraint is what makes it so terrifying. You want your films to haunt you, not comfort you. You are not interested in resolution if resolution would be dishonest. No Country for Old Men is honest in a way that most cinema never dares to be.
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2
‘Old Henry’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 7.3/10
If tender coming-of-age tales aren’t your thing and you prefer your week streaming gritty, then look no further than one of the most popular movies on Netflix right now, Old Henry. Directed by Potsy Ponciroli, the film follows a middle-aged man living on a farm with his son, whose life changes when he helps an injured man with a satchel of cash, only for an interested party to come knocking.
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Starring Tim Blake Nelson, the Critics’ Choice-nominated star of HBO’s Watchmen, this violent, moody Western delivers everything you could want from the genre. One of the most popular genres in the world right now, the Western is constantly being updated and adapted. If you prefer your Westerns to be classic and traditional, then Old Henryis for you.
3
‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 70% | IMDb: 6.5/10
Right now, Minions & Monsters, the seventh entry in the Despicable Me franchise, is one of the most popular movies at the box office. A perfect companion piece to this that is sure to keep the whole family entertained this weekend is Minions: The Rise of Gru, the second installment in the Minions prequel series and the fifth overall in the franchise.
Set in the 1970s, the film follows Steve Carell‘s Gru, who dreams of becoming the world’s greatest supervillain at just 12 years old. Alongside his loyal Minions — Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and Otto — Gru hatches a plan to join a supervillain supergroup known as the Vicious 6. Packed with ’70s retro style and plenty of typical Minions chaos, Minions: The Rise of Gru is sheer, hilarious fun for everyone.
These days, catching Rihannaoutside could just mean her on an NYC stroll with her three kids. But on Sunday, July 12, mama mode gave way to superstar energy! She popped out for night three of Jay-Z‘s concert, and her Navy (fans) lost it as clips hit the internet. And what really had everyone in a chokehold was the message she shared about performing!
Jay-Z is celebrating 30 years of his music with an anniversary concert that has had social media users popping off all weekend. From bringing out Beyoncé during night one to Eminem and Pharrell doing their big one on night two. Then, on Sunday, Rihanna stepped on a stage inside Yankee Stadium for the first time in two years, per PEOPLE. She linked with Jay-Z to perform their 2010 hit track ‘Run This Town.’ Also, she performed another Rihanna classic, ‘B*tch Better Have My Money.’ At one point, the singer said, “Oh my God, I missed this sh*t y’all,” adding, “New York, I love you guys.”
Jay-Z Has Fans Swooning With Special Tour Guests
Rihanna wasn’t the only guest to rock night three in Yankee Stadium! Jay-Z had the venue popping off and hundreds of people singing along to not only his classics, but other hip hop greats. Usher, for example, took a break in between Washington D.C. tour shows with Chris Brown, to pop out for Jigga on Sunday! Jeezy, Clipse, Jermaine Dupri also took the stage for the 30th anniversary concert close-out.
By the time it wrapped, Jay-Z had brought out his wife, Beyoncé, their firstborn daughter Blue Ivy and former nemesis, Nas. On night two, Eminem, Slick Rick and Pharrel wowed the audience. Off the stage, Michael B.Jordan’s appearance at the show turned heads.
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Social Media Begs For Rihanna’s Return
Hearing Rihanna speak of performing had fans dreaming of that long-teased new album! The last time the pop star blessed her Navy with a full-length project was ‘Anti’ in 2016. She toured that year between March and November. Over the years she’s assured fans that new songs have been recorded and that an album is in the works. Back in 2021, for example, she claimed that fans aren’t going to expect what they hear! While fans wait to see how true her statement lands, she’s released some new music including ‘Life Me Up’ and ‘Born Again’ in 2022 for a ‘Black Panther’ soundtrack. Also, she’s taken the stage for private shows, but her biggest one since the ‘Anti’ ended appears to be the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2023. After Rihanna’s message in Yankee Stadium, it seems the world wants to see more of the artist who over 21 years ago gave us the hit song, ‘Pon De Replay.’
Beloved Hollywood icon Sam Neill has left behind a rich legacy following a sudden departure that has deeply saddened the global entertainment community.
The celebrated actor’s final public moments are resurfacing as admirers look back on his final weeks, particularly his recent appearance at the ARIA Hall of Fame Awards barely a month ago.
Neill passed away on Monday, July 13, about four years after revealing that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.
5JPA/AFF-USA.com / MEGA
Neill appeared completely radiant during his final public outing just one month before his passing. The 78-year-old performer spent a memorable evening in Sydney attending the 2026 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame Awards.
Weeks before he passed away, the actor had used his digital platforms to share several cheerful behind-the-scenes photographs from the musical celebration, which took place at the Carriageworks venue.
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Expressing his pure excitement, he wrote on Instagram, “ARIA HALL of FAME awards! Great night in Sydney. Four women I have idolised for decades were honoured. JENNY MORRIS, KATE CEBERANO, and VIKA and LINDA BULL.”
Neill also noted his deep admiration for former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, whom he dubbed “another hero.”
Sam Neill’s Unexpected Passing Follows A Hard-Fought Victory Over Illness
Just months after celebrating a triumphant recovery from a serious health battle, Neill’s life came to an unexpected end. The widely praised actor, who built a legendary career, passed away suddenly at 78 years old.
The actor’s family officially announced on Monday that he died suddenly after being admitted to a medical facility in Sydney, Australia.
Sharing the heartbreaking news through a statement on his official Instagram channel, his loved ones highlighted that he approached the final chapter of his life with grace. According to The Blast, the official update read:
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“It is with immense sadness that the whānau (family) of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13 July, in Sydney, Australia. Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.”
Concluding their message, the family expressed gratitude for the medical personnel at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their exceptional care, while gently requesting privacy as they navigate the loss.
The official confirmation of Neill’s sudden passing immediately triggered an overwhelming wave of affection and sadness across global social media networks. Millions of fans united online to post deeply emotional tributes celebrating his extraordinary professional journey.
“You beautiful man. I admired so much what you did on screen, but just as much off screen. You were a man of the people who cared deeply about our world. You were all class. Thank you,” one fan wrote.
Another devastated follower shared their raw shock at the headline, commenting, “Oh no!!! I gasped and cried! Sending so much love to Sam’s family and friends. Vale Sam. I am gonna watch The Dish tonight.”
Sam Neill Was Open About His Battle & Victory Over Cancer
Before Neill’s sudden passing, the Hollywood icon focused his energy on spreading good, ensuring other patients could access the same advanced medical care that had saved his own life.
The Blast reported that Neill opened up about his extensive health struggle after being diagnosed with a rare type of blood cancer.
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He detailed the massive roadblocks he faced during his illness, explaining that standard chemotherapy was a “miserable” experience that eventually stopped working entirely, leaving him feeling as though he was running out of options.
Neill’s medical team in Australia turned to CAR T-cell therapy, and the treatment cleared the actor’s body of the disease.
Inspired by his incredible recovery, he partnered with fellow patient Geoff Nyssen and the Snowdome medical foundation to fiercely lobby state and federal governments to officially fund and approve the life-saving protocol.
Neill’s sudden loss deeply affected his former cinematic partners, prompting emotional reflections from those who shared his most famous on-screen journeys.
Actress Laura Dern released a deeply moving public tribute honoring the memory of her long-time friend and legendary colleague.
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“Sam was my beloved lifetime friend… He showed me the depths of loyalty, protectiveness, and love…” she wrote in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.
The two performers portrayed iconic romantic interests, Dr. Ellie Sattler and Dr. Alan Grant, in the popular “Jurassic Park” franchise.
Rebecca Ferguson as Julliet on Apple TV’s SiloImage via Apple TV
Rebecca Ferguson is having quite an interesting year, with three distinct releases in the sci-fi genre. In December, she will return as Lady Jessica in Denis Villeneuve‘s hotly anticipated trilogy-capper Dune: Part Three, after playing the memorable character in the first and second films. The movie is set to clash at the box office with Avengers: Doomsday, which shows just how confident Warner Bros. is about its success. In all probability, Dune: Part Three will be a huge success both critically and commercially, but Ferguson didn’t have the most auspicious of starts to her year. In January, she starred alongside Chris Pratt in the movie Mercy, which underperformed at the box office after receiving poor reviews.
Ferguson played an artificial intelligence-powered judge in the poorly received film, while Pratt starred as a police officer accused of murdering his wife. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, Mercy is a “screenlife” movie in which the majority of the action unfolds entirely on digital devices. The movie now holds a 24% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “Constricting its two stars inside an airless presentation of a clunky techno-thriller premise, Mercy is tedious enough to make you cry uncle.” However, the film received an encouraging 81% audience score on the website, which was helpful when it began its streaming run on Prime Video. In theaters, however, Mercy grossed just $54 million worldwide against a reported budget of $60 million.
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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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Rebecca Ferguson Is on a Sci-Fi Streak this Year
Ferguson’s comeback has already begun with her second sci-fi project of the year. She recently returned to Apple TV with the third season of her critically acclaimed series Silo. The show premiered in 2023 and has been renewed for a fourth and final season that’s set to be released in 2027. Silo holds a 93% overall score on Rotten Tomatoes, but the third season has cemented itself as the best of the bunch with a perfect 100% score. The aggregator’s consensus reads, “Silo codifies its third season as a masterful dystopian tale with expertly driven character arcs and tighter narrative strings, fulfilling its promise of science fiction excellence.” The positive reviews have no doubt benefited Silo significantly in terms of viewership, and according to FlixPatrol, the show has now spent 500 days on the domestic Apple TV chart. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
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Release Date
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May 5, 2023
Network
Apple TV
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Showrunner
Graham Yost
Directors
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Morten Tyldum, David Semel, Michael Dinner, Aric Avelino
Writers
Graham Yost, Hugh Howey, Jeffery Wang, Lekethia Dalcoe
For Marvel Cinematic Universe fans, the X-Men are something of a Holy Grail. Before Disney bought 20th Century Fox, it was impossible for these mutants to appear alongside heroes like Captain America or the Hulk. After the purchase, it was possible for the X-Men to appear, but we only got small hints here and there, like an alternate-universe Xavier in Multiverse of Madness and Beast popping up after the credits in The Marvels. Relatively speaking, why has Marvel been holding back? Simple: they have been working on an X-Men movie that will bring the team into the MCU rather than just giving us more multiversal cameos.
After the Avengers: Secret Wars reboots this cinematic universe, future MCU movies will finally include everyone’s favorite merry mutants. Before that, though, we’re getting one last multiversal cameo, and it’s a doozy. Avengers: Doomsday will feature appearances from several iconic characters from the original 20th Century Fox films, including Professor X and Magneto. This is a big deal because it’s basically the first onscreen X-Men team-up in the MCU. Unfortunately, that team-up is destined to be a disappointment because most of the characters we are going to see have never had much chemistry together.
A Blast From The Past
The early X-Men movies copied the vibe from the original comics, presenting the team as a kind of found family (albeit a dysfunctional one). Cyclops and Jean Grey were like cool older siblings to the young students, while Storm was a really intense den mother. Wolverine, in turn, was basically a protective older brother to fellow newcomer Rogue. Charles Xavier, of course, was the father of the group, which is only fitting; after all, far too many of his young mutant charges had been rejected by their biological families. Xavier offered these gifted children the chance to start over with someone who truly cares about them.
What does this trip down memory lane have to do with Avengers: Doomsday? The earlier X-Men films leaned into their dysfunctional dynamics and allowed different characters to bounce off of each other in fun and exciting ways. For example, there’s a tense love triangle between Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Wolverine, and a slow-burn romance between Rogue and Iceman. But we’re not likely to get great interactions out of the X-Men in Doomsday because the team lineup is so dysfunctional. The film features Cyclops, Beast, Magneto, Xavier, Mystique, Nightcrawler, and Gambit. While these characters are interesting on their own, most haven’t had much onscreen chemistry in earlier films.
When Frasier Has The Blues
For example, Cyclops is here, and it will be exciting to see him kick some Sentinel butt. But he won’t have Jean or Wolverine to interact with, which is deeply unfortunate. Scott’s always been stuck with the straight man role, but that only works if he has someone else (like someone more passionate) to bounce off of. Out of this Doomsday lineup, Xavier is the only one he has much of a relationship with, and it looks like most of the professor’s time will be spent bonding with his favorite frenemy, Magneto, who himself has no other former Brotherhood villains but Mystique to interact with.
Beast is also here, and while Kelsey Grammar is perfect in the role, he didn’t interact with many team members back when he first appeared in X-Men: The Last Stand. That’s because he had long since left the school and become a politician. Like, Xavier is literally the only mutant that he previously spoke with who is returning for Doomsday. Similarly, while Alan Cumming is great as Nightcrawler, he mostly interacted with Storm and Jean Grey back in X2: X-Men United. Neither of them is in Doomsday, so we won’t be getting a tearful reunion or anything.
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A Failed Gambit
Mystique will be in Avengers: Doomsday, and in the original films, her closest relationship was with Magneto. However, when we last saw them together, he abandoned her once she lost her powers, and she betrayed him by giving his location to the FBI. The upcoming film may retcon this; otherwise, if this is supposed to be the same universe, we’ll have to re-establish her relationship with Magneto and everyone else. That goes double for Gambit, who never appeared alongside any of these characters and has only appeared in the MCU as a gag character in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Now, maybe Avengers: Doomsday is going to do an excellent job establishing the relationship between a bunch of characters who have never had much chemistry or shared much screen time, but that’s doubtful. After all, the X-Men are just one part of a film that will be crawling with cameos from so many other heroes and villains, leaving very little time to build new dynamics. This is basically the opposite approach of Spider-Man: No Way Home, which leaned into the existing relationships between Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man and villains like Doctor Octopus. In Doomsday, almost all of these X-Men relationships must be built from the ground up.
Again, all of these X-Men performers are great on their own, but most of us were hoping to see a team that’s greater than the sum of its parts. Avengers: Doomsday drops December 18, and we’ll find out whether the first MCU team-up featuring these marvelous mutants is better than it looks on paper. If so, I’ll be happy to eat crow and admit I was wrong. If not, you can join the rest of me in hoping that the mutants will have much better chemistry in the upcoming X-Men film!
Disney’s live-action Moana had to honor one of the studio’s most beloved animated films while creating something that could stand on its own. Director and executive producer Thomas Kail explains how his team approached that challenge, from preserving what audiences already love to finding new ways to tell the story.
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