There’s an old legal adage that says, “A man who represents himself has a fool for a client,” but not every man is Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo). If you’ve watched the previous three seasons of the Netflix series The Lincoln Lawyer, you know that Mickey is a lawyer who fights for his clients. However, when you are the client, and you’re fighting for your own freedom, your life, your family, and your reputation, the weight of it is impossible not to feel. While Season 4 marks Mickey’s toughest case yet, it’s also the only case he has taken on where he knows, with 100% certainty, that his client is absolutely innocent.

What Is ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ Season 4 About?

Season 3 ends on a cliffhanger, with Mickey Haller being pulled over in his blue Lincoln convertible by Officer Collins under suspicious circumstances. After Mickey learns that he was stopped because he had no back license plate, the officer insists that he open the trunk when he notices blood dripping from it. Upon discovering the body of Mickey’s former client, Sam Scales (Christopher Thornton), he is arrested.

That brings us to Season 4, based on the sixth book, The Law of Innocence, in Michael Connelly’s bestselling series, which picks up with Mickey locked up and, true to form, offering legal advice to an inmate. Through a voiceover at the top of the premiere, it’s explained that murder is the biggest and most important charge a prosecutor can file, and every murder case is like a tall, shady tree. It’s the prosecutor’s job to feed and water that tree, using every tool they have and sparing no expense to ensure it grows big and strong, since the bigger and stronger the tree grows, the easier it is to get a conviction — and if you’re the one who’s accused of murder, you need an axe to chop that tree down and burn it to ashes. This metaphor sets up the fight between defense and prosecution that continues back and forth until the Season 4 finale.

‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ Season 4 Has a Strong Sense of Family and Loyalty

One of the things that makes The Lincoln Lawyer so easily watchable is the charm that Manuel Garcia-Rulfo infuses into the titular character, which makes the higher stakes and tension of Season 4 even more nerve-wracking. Mickey is putting on a brave face with his positive attitude, but he has a lot of missing puzzle pieces to fill in if he’s ever going to be able to clear his name, leave behind the label of being Inmate 7211956, and reclaim his freedom. All that positivity worries ex-wives Maggie (Neve Campbell) and Lorna (Becki Newton), who regularly check in with each other because they both know Mickey all too well. With Mickey laser-focused on getting himself out of this mess, everyone else is feeling his absence, including Maggie and Lorna, his daughter Hayley (Krista Warner), former biker gang member turned investigator Cisco (Angus Sampson), and assistant Izzy (Jazz Raycole), giving them the perfect opportunity to find their own ways to help out.

In an attempt to keep the office going, Lorna tries to convince Mickey’s clients not to take their business elsewhere, but with no luck, until a walk-in client named Celeste (Kyle Richards, who delivers a really fun performance) comes to look for her. With a strong recommendation from a previous client, Celeste hopes that Lorna can do the same for her own divorce proceedings. When a prenup makes things difficult, Lorna has to get creative, and she does so in a truly satisfying way, proving that not only is she a valuable asset but that Mickey is lucky to have her. At the same time all of this is going on, Izzy connects with fellow law school student Grace (Gigi Zumbado), who not only develops into a love interest but also uses her digital forensics skills to help out. (And Lorna fully approves!)

“Death Row” Dana Is the Big Bad of ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ Season 4

Image via Netflix

Mickey Haller can’t go through a murder trial without a prosecutor in the courtroom, and that honor goes to Dana Berg (Constance Zimmer), also known as “Death Row” Dana. If her nickname isn’t scary enough, Dana has gone up against Mickey previously and lost, so she’s ready to kick his ass and maybe even get a little payback. Her presence on the case raises a red flag for Maggie, who shares a mysterious backstory with Dana that unfolds as the case plays out. With the bigger spotlight on everyone in Mickey’s life and Maggie playing a more significant role in Season 4, Campbell shines with heart and the fierceness that Mickey needs to make it through his trial.

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‘The Lincoln Lawyer’s Fate Has Been Sentenced at Netflix

Production is set to begin sooner than you may think.

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In court, Dana looms, ruthlessly proving that she always has some trick up her sleeve. While Mickey keeps poking holes in everything that’s thrown at him, obstacles are thrown his way, and he makes some shocking decisions that lead him down some unexpected paths on his way to the truth. Because this season feels more significant by putting everything on the line for its title character, it requires everyone to step up and give it their all, and they rise to the occasion. It’s also nice to hear and see some names and faces from the past to tie the previous seasons into the larger world that’s being built.

It’s too hard to name an MVP for The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4 because they all get standout moments, whether standing up for a client, making their case in court, or opening up more emotionally. Honorable mention goes to Elliott Gould as Mickey’s mentor, David “Legal” Siegel. While his mother has a larger-than-life personality, Mickey’s father figure grounds him in a way that no one else can.

‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ Has Already Been Picked Up for Season 5

Image via Netflix

Although Mickey Haller starts this season’s trial by saying, “Act like a winner, and you will be a winner. We’re gonna win this thing, no doubt in my mind,” there are plenty of moments that might make the audience wonder whether that is true. However, he keeps chipping away at his prosecution and fights for his innocence in a way that only Mickey Haller can, and while the outcome of the case is unexpected, it’s a decision that fully resolves that storyline. It also illustrates why it’s better to be on Mickey’s team than to have to face off against him.

With The Lincoln Lawyer already picked up for another 10 episodes, Season 5 will be inspired by Connell’s seventh book, Resurrection Walk. While that story features a team-up between Mickey Haller and his half-brother Harry Bosch (though they’ve yet to have the same relationship in the TV series, as Bosch falls under the umbrella of another streaming service), it revolves around an innocent woman convicted of killing her ex-husband, who needs someone to prove her innocence. There’s no telling how that story will be adapted for next season, and we likely won’t find out until 2027, but it’ll still be fun to tune in and find out how Mickey Haller handles whatever is thrown his way.

Independent journalist Don Lemon said about a dozen federal agents came to his Los Angeles hotel to arrest him last week, even though his attorney had told authorities he would turn himself in to face federal civil rights charges over his coverage of an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church.

RELATED: Don Lemon Breaks His Silence After Jail Release & Arrest For Minnesota Church Protest (VIDEOS)

Lemon told ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel that sending the agents was a waste of resources because law enforcement wouldn’t have had to dispatch agents to follow him if he had been allowed to surrender to authorities.
“I was walking up to the room and I pressed the elevator button, and then all of a sudden, I feel myself being jostled and and people trying to grab me and put me in handcuffs,” he said Monday on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
He asked the agents who they were and said they identified themselves. Lemon asked to see a warrant and was told they didn’t have it. The agents then summoned an FBI agent to come from outside to show Lemon the warrant on a cellphone.
The Department of Justice didn’t respond to a message seeking comment. The FBI’s Minneapolis office said it would be inappropriate to comment because the case has reached “the adjudication phase.”
Kimmel introduced Lemon, his first guest of the night, by saying he “was arrested for committing journalism.”
Lemon’s attorney has said Lemon plans to plead not guilty. He told reporters “I will not be silenced” after he was released in response to a judge’s orders.
A grand jury in Minnesota indicted Lemon, another independent journalist, Georgia Fort, and others on charges of conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers during the Jan. 18 protest at the Cities Church in St. Paul, where a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official is a pastor.
Fort, in an interview with MS NOW’s Rachel Maddow on Monday, said it was “extremely traumatic” for her family when nearly two dozen agents came to her house to arrest her. She has three daughters, and initially thought the youngest two — aged seven and eight — slept through most of it.
“I did find out at some point my eight-year-old woke up but she was so terrified, she just laid in her bed and cried,” Fort said. “Now what we’re seeing from them, they’re afraid to be alone. They’re having issues going through their normal routines. And so we’re just — we’re trying to recover from this.”
Fort said there’s been a strategic attack on the press for some time, but the arrests of her and Lemon takes things to a new level. “I really want American people to understand, attacking the press is not simply attacking journalists,” she said. “It’s attacking the public’s right to know.”
Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023 following a bumpy run as a morning host, has said he isn’t affiliated with the group that disrupted the church service. He told Kimmel he wasn’t a protester.
“I went there to be a journalist. I went there to chronicle and document and record what was happening. I was following that one group around, and so that’s what I did. I reported on them,” Lemon said.
Lemon said he asked the arresting officers if they would let him make a phone call. He said he was told no and that he could talk to his attorney the next day. He tried to use Siri on his Apple Watch to call his husband and his attorney but neither picked up.
A diamond bracelet he was wearing kept getting caught on his handcuffs, which hurt, and the agents told Lemon they would take it off. Lemon said he asked if the agent would mind taking it up to Lemon’s husband in his hotel room and they agreed to do that.
“And that’s how my husband found out. Otherwise, no one would have known where I was,” Lemon said.
Lemon said he was kept in a holding room at the federal courthouse from midnight until 1 p.m. the following day.
Kimmel himself became a symbol of a fight against censorship last year, when ABC suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for remarks made following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr pressured broadcasters to take Kimmel off the air shortly before that.
ABC lifted the suspension after a public outcry, and Kimmel returned to the air with much stronger ratings. In Congress, Democratic senators raised concerns that Carr’s actions trampled on the First Amendment.

RELATED: Whew! Nicki Minaj Seemingly Hints At Turning Up The Heat After Don Lemon Accused Her Of Using Slur Against Him

Associated Press writers Audrey McAvoy and David Bauder contributed to this report via AP Newsroom. 

Bold and the Beautiful has Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig) and Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan) determined to be together despite the fact that Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) just hit Taylor with a heartbreaking ultimatum.

Bold and the Beautiful: Deacon and Taylor Tangle

So, last week we saw Deacon Sharpe and Taylor Hayes professing their love to each other and they shared a passionate kiss. Deacon thinks he and Taylor are meant to be together and she agrees. They talked again with Deacon reiterating that he’s ready to leave Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) to be with Taylor.

And then we saw Taylor telling Steffy Forrester that she and Deacon can’t deny their feelings anymore and they want to be together. Of course, Steffy freaked and she told Taylor this can’t happen. Then Steffy took things further and told Taylor that if she’s with Deacon, that’s a deal breaker.

Steffy said Taylor’s not just putting herself in danger, she’s putting Steffy and the kids in danger because Sheila will come after them all. She will lash out if Deacon leaves her. So Steffy told Taylor, “If you start seeing Deacon, I will cut you out of this family.” Of course, that horrified Taylor.

Deacon and Taylor Vow to Fight for Their Romance on B&B

But spoilers for this week confirm that Deacon and Taylor vow to find a way to be together and they share another kiss. So, they’re not going to give up. While Steffy was raging at Taylor, we had Deacon trying to low-key bring up divorce to Sheila. What didn’t help was that when Deacon was trying to talk to her, Sheila had that giant hatchet knife that she was using to chop up fish.

So, Deacon’s trying to ease Sheila into the idea of divorce, talking about what a good person she is now and how much she’s changed, whether or not they’re together. But the only problem is basically what Deacon did was he put Sheila on high alert and she’s going to be suspicious. Meanwhile, Taylor and Deacon are very intent on being together because they are in love. Steffy’s ultimatum is a problem and so is the fact that Deacon is pretty much scared of Sheila.

A Secret Affair and the Search for a B&B Love Nest

I suspect that Deacon and Taylor are going to start a secret affair while they figure out how to make sure Sheila doesn’t come unhinged and doesn’t start hurting people that she loves. And of course, Deacon and Taylor could always wait to be together and they could be patient, but I doubt we’re going to see that, especially because we’re in February sweeps.

I think Deacon and Taylor are going to keep seeing each other. They’re going to keep smooching and I think they’re going to do even more than that. I think we’re on a countdown to seeing them getting intimate, but Deacon and Taylor need some place to be together because they definitely can’t go to his place. Deacon lives with Sheila and they can’t go to her place because Taylor lives in Steffy Forrester’s guest house and she has hit her with that ultimatum.

So, I suspect Taylor and Deacon are going to get themselves a little love nest somewhere they can sneak off and be together. Because as of now, the only way for Taylor to be with Deacon is to sneak around. Until they can figure out how to get Sheila to calmly accept that Deacon doesn’t want to be with her, they either have to stay away from each other or they have to creep around and develop this relationship in secret.

Protecting Taylor Hayes from Sheila Carter’s Revenge on Bold and the Beautiful

Taylor and Deacon also need to meet in secret to strategize on how to get him extricated from his marriage to Sheila without her trying to kill Taylor or Deacon or both him and Taylor. I don’t think Deacon is patient enough to wait to be with Taylor, but at the same time, he doesn’t want her to be at risk.

Official 2026 Bold and the Beautiful spoilers said that Deacon is very intent on protecting Taylor from Sheila and the potential risk that she might go nuclear and want revenge on Taylor for taking her man. Of course, if Deacon can find a way to peacefully divorce Sheila, then Steffy may reconsider the ultimatum.

But as of now, I can see why Steffy’s right not to trust Sheila. I don’t think there’s any way to stop her from going bat crap crazy if Deacon tells her he wants a divorce. That’s bad enough. But to make it worse, if he tells Sheila he’s in love with Taylor and wants to be with her, that’s going to be a huge problem because Sheila is giving Taylor the credit for saving their relationship.

Hope Logan and Brooke Logan Join Team Taylor and Deacon on Bolf

And even worse, if Deacon brings his kids into this and says, “Look, part of the issue is my kids don’t want you around Sheila but they totally approve of me being with Taylor.” I mean, that is going to hit Sheila twice as hard. And in the end, I don’t think there’s any stopping the train wreck that’s coming. But Taylor already said she’s willing to take the risk and she isn’t afraid of Sheila.

And flat out, Taylor said she’s not going to live in fear, but she can’t do anything about Steffy’s fear, which is tangible and justified. So, she and Deacon are definitely going to pursue their relationship, and they need time alone so that they can bask in these newfound feelings and sort out the Sheila situation.

So, they need a love nest, and I’m wondering where that’s going to be. Bold has an unused set that they could remake into a romantic little hidey-hole where those two can be together. Do you remember Luna Nozawa (Lisa Yamada)’s little apartment? I think that would work. That’s a set they’ve got built and on hand and was used recently.

Finding a Secret Hideout on The Bold and the Beautiful

The problem with a hotel room is that would leave a money trail unless it was some little ratty cash-only place. But B&B has a set for that, too. Do you remember that icky little hotel where Eric Forrester (John McCook) and Quinn Fuller (Rena Sofer) used to meet before they were publicly outed in a relationship? Then again, Taylor could take a page from Bill Spencer (Don Diamont)’s playbook and have a naughty little sex room built next door to her office.

Hope & Deke Support Secret Romance on Bold and the Beautiful

Taylor and Deacon could also just lock the door and get busy on her shrink couch, but anybody could catch them there, including Steffy or Sheila. I think Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) and Deke Sharpe (Harrison Cone) would actually help them as much as possible. They might even run interference so that Deacon could sneak around to be with Taylor

We know that both of Deacon’s kids want him to leave Sheila and they very much want him to be with Taylor instead. I also think that when Hope hears that Steffy gave Taylor this ultimatum and threatened to cut her out of the family, I could see Hope doubling down to help Deacon and Taylor on the sly.

This week, Steffy’s going to go tell Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) that Taylor has feelings for Deacon. I’m sure Ridge is going to be outraged and he’ll tell Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang). But I think Brooke would support Taylor being with Deacon. Brooke might also try and help get through to Steffy and help Deacon find a way to get Sheila to accept a divorce without getting violent.

Will Deacon & Taylor Survive the Sheila on B&B?

One thing we know for sure is that Deacon and Taylor are very happy to have found each other and they are falling in love. They’re already saying, “I love you.” I think they could have a really good life together. But Sheila is the primary and most terrifying obstacle to this relationship.

If they can deal with Sheila and get her to accept things, I think that Steffy would drop the whole deal about cutting her mom out of her life. In the meantime, I expect to see Deacon and Taylor sneaking around and finding some place where they can be together without prying eyes seeing them.

Wait to see if they find a little love nest all of their own. It is February sweeps, so I’m expecting them to find some place with a bedroom and they’re going to hit the sheets.

Roommates, some heavy family tea is spilling about GloRilla and her relationship with her loved ones. While the rapper has been making waves in the industry and building a name for herself, her sister Victoria Woods is now speaking out about what she claims has—or hasn’t—been done for their family.

RELATED: Clocked It! GloRilla Claps Back After Trolls Criticize Her Viral Bare-Faced Video (WATCH)

GloRilla Accused Of Leaving Her Family Hanging After Fame

In a video circulating online, Victoria Woods, also known as Scar Face Woods, reveals that their mom is still clocking in at FedEx. She also claims that GloRilla hasn’t contributed to household expenses since her rise to fame. Scar Face pointed out that GloRilla has 10 siblings she hasn’t helped financially but allegedly has supported friends along the way. And, she didn’t hold back referencing a viral video that showed GloRilla buying their father a Jaguar, claiming that while it was a flashy gift, it didn’t even have gas and that the parents still require financial assistance.

Additionally, Scar Face stressed that GloRilla doesn’t publicly acknowledge the family support they still need, leaving fans and followers talking. While GloRilla hasn’t publicly responded to the allegations yet, the post has already sparked online conversations, with fans debating the responsibilities, if any, that come with fame—and whether family obligations should come first.

So… What Else Did She Say?

Taking to Facebook, GloRilla’s sister Scar Face Woods seemingly aired out the rapper even more. From detailing their parents’ money struggles to their upbringing and even their autistic brother, Victoria Woods went IN on GloRilla. She wrote:

“I’ll Really Go Live And Expose Yall Favorite Rapper!! Same Mom, Same Dad, 10 Siblings!! Yall Think she this upright a** person when she really not ain’t fwu since she got on and I’m constantly getting acknowledgment for being her sister and she ain’t fwu at all Gloria Woods call my bluff it’s been 4 years why the media haven’t seen your siblings? And don’t say cause you protecting us cause we still in Memphis it’s cause you talk about our struggles and you don’t fwu!! !! na let’s clock it”

In another post, she added:

“And our parents are not straight!! Our dad just borrowed 100$ from our mom yall think yall know shit but don’t !! I had to give my mom 1800$ on a 2400$ rent cause Yall favorite rapper blocked her !! Im tired of being quiet!!!!”

And she continued, calling attention to their siblings’ living conditions:

“…Not finna put our autistic brother on here it’s 10 !! ion gaf about how yall put it she ain’t gave none of the ones she struggled with SH*T! !Same house with [rats] and [roaches] sleeping on busted air mattresses taking baths outta water bottles when our parents couldn’t make ends meet she’s Wrong no matter how yall put it”

GloRilla Caught In Family Tea, Fans Drag Hard

As soon as the drama broke, fans ran straight to TSR’s Instagram comment section to share their two cents. Some defended GloRilla, saying she doesn’t owe grown family members financial support. While others insisted there’s probably more to the story than what’s being shared. Of course, countless people also took the sister’s side, saying that no matter what, the family would be living it up alongside her if she wanted to help.

One Instagram user @heyimdeo commented, “She don’t have to support yall! TF!“

This Instagram user @kingbarbieee_ said, “If I get as much money as glo my mama ain’t working no where now my siblings is different but my mama daddy n granny I’ll die bout it“

And, Instagram user @skinnynene___ added, “My mama and siblings won’t struggle if I make it period idgaf“

Meanwhile, Instagram user @itsjasleeee shared, “Maybe yall didn’t support her dream ? Idk but she always said her friends stuck by her and gon ball with her so 🤷🏽‍♀️”

While Instagram user @dramaqueenb__ asked, “Ok the mom still working at fedex is crazy a little thou , no ?“

Then Instagram user @carmensangel said, “I’m on the side of I don’t have to take care of grown ppl 🤷🏽‍♀️ I worked hard for my accomplishments ain’t gon just mooch off me.“

Finally, Instagram user @trinidadrell commented, “Wish my family would when the time comes 😂😂😂”

RELATED: Toosii Opens Up About His Mental Health While Adjusting To Being An LSU Student (VIDEO + PHOTOS)

Coldplay Couple’s Kristin Cabot
Cashes In At Corporate Conference!!!

Published
February 4, 2026
4:30 PM PST

An animated movie gets labeled underrated all the time, but most of those picks are just popular films that people want to sound special about. This list is different. These are the ones that feel quietly perfect and still somehow slip through the cultural cracks, even though they play like total classics. They’re not that popular either. You might not have heard about most of these.

Each pick is a clean 10 out of 10 for me because the craft disappears, and you just feel the story working. Some are funny, some are heavy, and a couple are downright strange, but every one of them has real staying power once you finally press play. So if you’ve been hunting down an animated 10/10 watch, lock in.

10

‘April and the Extraordinary World’ (2015)

Image via StudioCanal

April and the Extraordinary World is a pulp adventure that hides a surprisingly sharp idea inside its fun. In this version of history, science keeps vanishing, so Paris feels stuck in a smoky, steampunk limbo while a teen, April Franklin (Marion Cotillard), chases the truth behind her parents’ disappearance. The movie earns your attention fast because every invention feels practical, and every chase has stakes.

As it escalates, it never forgets the emotional core, which is April choosing curiosity over fear. There is a clean sense of momentum to the mystery, and the villains stay unsettling without turning cartoonish. By the time the finale clicks, the story feels complete rather than overexplained, and you realize it pulled off a big, strange premise with real control. It’s a good watch for both children and adults.

9

‘The Red Turtle’ (2016)

Image via Toho

The Red Turtle barely uses dialogue, yet it still tells a full life story with clarity. A castaway washes up on an island and keeps trying to escape, until a red turtle blocks him in a way that feels maddening, then meaningful. The film turns survival into a relationship with place, time, and consequence.

What makes it linger is how it keeps changing shape while staying simple. There is no wasted emotional noise, just images that do the work and transitions that feel earned. It’s a 10/10 because it proves animation can hold an entire human life in a handful of images, and somehow make it feel more real than dialogue ever could.

8

‘Tokyo Godfathers’ (2003)

Image via Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan

This film starts as a messy night out and turns into a chain of plot turns that never stops paying off. Tokyo Godfathers follows three homeless friends who find an abandoned baby, and instead of treating it like a cute gimmick, the movie forces them to follow the baby’s trail through Tokyo’s backstreets, debt, family secrets, and bad luck. Hana (Yoshiaki Umegaki) keeps the group moving with stubborn warmth.

The magic is that every “coincidence” hits like life, not writing (and that’s a major problem with most animated films). It is directed by Satoshi Kon, who seems to have kept that feeling checked. The film, therefore, keeps the pacing sharp like a thriller but never loses the bruised humanity underneath the jokes. It’s funny in that painful way where you laugh and immediately feel something catch in your throat. And by the time all the threads collide, you realize the movie wasn’t just about finding where the baby belongs, it was about watching these three people accidentally find their way back to themselves.

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7

‘Persepolis’ (2007)

Image via Diaphana Distribution

Persepolis is so different. It looks simple on the surface, yet it carries enormous emotional weight without ever getting stiff. It follows Marjane (Chiara Mastroianni) growing up through the Iranian Revolution and its aftermath, and the story keeps focus on what that does to a kid’s identity, friendships, and sense of safety.

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That whole premise makes it an excellent film, giving it that rewatchability factor for anyone who clicks with the themes, and how it refuses to flatten anyone into a symbol. You get clear personal stakes in every phase, from teenage rebellion to exile loneliness, and the film never pretends those phases are neat. Any child who feels the same things in their life ends up loving it.

6

‘Fantastic Planet’ (1973)

Image via New World Pictures

There are animated films that feel whimsical, comforting, even playful, and then there’s this strange, unnerving sci-fi fever dream from 1973 that seems designed to make your skin crawl in the best possible way. Fantastic Planet drops you onto a distant world where humans aren’t heroes or explorers, but tiny, disposable creatures treated like pets (or pests) by towering blue beings called Draags.

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From the very first minutes, the movie radiates imbalance. Everything is off-kilter: the scale, the power, the cruelty baked into everyday life. Terr (Jean Valmont), the human who escapes captivity, isn’t framed as some shiny savior figure. He’s just surviving, learning, resisting, and the film refuses to turn his struggle into a simple fantasy of triumph. The ending doesn’t wrap things up with some satisfying overthrow or blood-soaked payback. Terr doesn’t defeat the Draags. Nobody wins, nobody is redeemed, and that’s why it sticks.

5

‘Millennium Actress’ (2001)

Image via Madhouse

Millennium Actress makes memory move like cinema itself — fast, fluid, impossible to hold still. A filmmaker interviews retired legend Chiyoko Fujiwara (Miyoko Shōji), and her answers don’t arrive as neat recollections. They explode into scenes: her life collapsing into the roles she once played until the boundary between performance and reality stops mattering.

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The film jumps across centuries, wars, and romances with dizzying speed, but it never loses its center. Everything is anchored to Chiyoko’s longing, that single emotional current pulling her forward. It qualifies as a 10/10 for me because it frames love not as something she ever has, but something she is always moving toward. The story becomes a chase stretched across an entire lifetime — not for a man exactly, but for the feeling of pursuit itself. By the end, it appears that the blurred timelines were the only honest way to show what she spent her life running after.

4

‘The Secret of Kells’ (2009)

Image via Buena Vista International

The Secret of Kells feels like a story carved into illuminated manuscript pages and then brought to life. The plot follows Brendan (Evan McGuire), a young monk in a fortified abbey, and his world is ruled by fear of invasion and strict boundaries. And once he meets Aisling (Christen Mooney), the film shifts into a quest where art becomes the thing worth risking everything for.

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The movie stands out because it commits fully to its visual style. Inside the abbey, everything looks stiff and controlled, straight lines, tight spaces, repeated shapes, which match how Brendan’s life is ruled by rules and fear. Once he goes into the forest with Aisling, the animation changes. The backgrounds get looser, filled with curves and swirling patterns, like the world is opening up. The design is taken directly from the real Book of Kells: flat perspective, heavy outlines, and decorative detail packed into every shot. That’s why the film doesn’t feel like a typical fantasy cartoon.

3

‘A Scanner Darkly’ (2006)

Image via Warner Independent Pictures

A Scanner Darkly uses rotoscope animation to make paranoia feel physical. Bob Arctor (Keanu Reeves) is an undercover cop sinking into addiction while spying on his own friends, and the film never gives you a safe viewpoint. Every conversation feels slightly off, like you are listening through a damaged wire. Donna (Winona Ryder) might be honest, or she might be another angle.

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What makes it stick is how it turns comedy into discomfort. The group’s jokes have real nervous energy, and the story keeps tightening until Bob cannot tell what he knows anymore. When the final reveals land, they are brutal because they are quiet, and the movie makes you sit with the cost instead of dressing it up.

2

‘Ernest & Celestine’ (2012)

Image via StudioCanal

Ernest & Celestine is one of those rare kids’ films that feels genuinely kind. Celestine (Mackenzie Foy) is a young mouse raised on the idea that bears are basically monsters, and Ernest (Forest Whitaker) is a broke, hungry bear who looks scary on paper but is basically just exhausted and decent. Their friendship doesn’t just “challenge society” in some vague way, it pisses off an entire world built on fear and tradition.

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What I love is how calm the movie is about its message. It doesn’t do big speeches or melodrama. The prejudice is baked into everything: the courtrooms, the rules, the way crowds immediately turn cruel. And the softness of the watercolor animation makes that harshness hit harder, because the world looks gentle even when it’s being unfair. The movie feels like watching two outsiders accidentally expose how ridiculous the whole system is, just by refusing to play along.

1

‘Song of the Sea’ (2014)

Image via StudioCanal

Song of the Sea is one of the most emotionally wrecking animated films that somehow still looks like a bedtime story. It follows Ben (David Rawle), an angry, shut-down kid who is carrying grief like it’s poison, and Saoirse (Lucy O’Connell), who is quieter, almost otherworldly.

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What makes the film work so well is how tightly the fantasy connects to the family’s emotions. The folklore animation is the movie’s way of showing sadness, memory, and healing without spelling everything out. The story itself, setting off on a quest to liberate the fairies and protect the spirit world from the forces of evil, is just beautiful and makes it an ideal watch for children. It’s like Spirited Away, but at a low heat.

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Song of the Sea

Release Date

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December 10, 2014

Runtime

93 Minutes

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Director

Tomm Moore

Writers

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Will Collins, Tomm Moore

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