Entertainment
The 35 Best Thrillers of All Time, Ranked
Thriller isn’t just a word used as the title for one of pop music’s biggest albums of all time. It’s also a word used to describe an incredibly popular and long-lasting genre of movies: something that lies somewhere between horror, drama, and action, with a story that aims to excite, unnerve, or thrill its audience. The thriller genre has been popular ever since the silent era, and has continued to thrive as a reliable type of movie well into the 21st century.
It’s also a fairly broad genre, with countless movies that can be described as thrillers, or perhaps have elements of a thriller combined with other genres. The following selection of movies aims to look at the greatest thriller films of all time, predominantly focusing on movies where “thriller” is the primary genre. Above all, they’re very likely to get one’s heart racing, and are all easy to recommend to viewers who crave more adrenaline rushes in their movie diet.
35
‘Marathon Man’ (1976)
With a dynamite screenplay coupled with excellent performances by Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier, Marathon Man is a movie that never lets up. It stands in contrast to other films from the 1970s that sometimes had slower pacing, with this movie about a man getting wrapped up in a bizarre and convoluted conspiracy likely to make you as breathless as running a real marathon. Some would argue that the genre is at its best when it’s at its most stressful, and Marathon Man is indeed a nail-biting and stressful movie.
There are also times when Marathon Man verges dangerously close to becoming a grisly horror film, and will likely make viewers fear a trip to the dentist even more than they might’ve before. Any way you cut it, it’s good stuff, and sufficiently thrilling for those who are after something pulse-quickening in nature.
34
‘The Chaser’ (2008)
There have been plenty of great South Korean crime thrillers released in the 21st century so far, and The Chaser‘s would have to rank among the best of the lot. It follows a corrupt cop who discovers there may be a serial killer targeting prostitutes, and he sets out to try and find this murderer by any means necessary.
The results aren’t pretty, with The Chaser being an exceedingly dark, gritty, and oftentimes unpleasant movie that’s nonetheless difficult to look away from, compelling as it needs to be for a film of this kind. Its particularly dark take on the thriller genre might well ensure it’s not to everyone’s liking, but those who feel like they can handle something that gets very down and dirty might well find themselves sufficiently thrilled.
33
‘Le Samouraï’ (1967)
Being an assassin has never looked as cool as it’s looked in Le Samouraï, it has to be said. While the film doesn’t glamorize the life of its main character, or suggest his line of work is easy by any means, Le Samouraï is ridiculously stylish and just effortlessly suave, thanks to its deliberate pacing, visual aesthetic, and lead performance by Alain Delon.
It was also one of the best films released in 1967, which itself was very much a cool and radical year for cinema, in many ways. It tells a simple story about an assassin fighting for his life after a hit gone wrong, and does so in a timeless and very efficient way that makes Le Samouraï a singular crime/thriller movie, an enduring classic of French cinema, and a shining example of how good arthouse crime movies can be.
32
‘All the President’s Men’ (1976)
There has never been a better era for political thriller cinema than the 1970s. The contemporary skepticism of the American public was stoked by incidents like the Watergate scandal, creating an atmosphere of distrust and cynicism that many movies capitalized on. All the President’s Men is the absolute best of these films, taking direct interest in the Watergate scandal itself as it follows two reporters’ investigation of a botched burglary of the Democratic Party Headquarters that has ties to the White House and Richard Nixon’s presidency.
Its biographical status imbues it with a sense of urgent realism that is palpable, especially as government agents resort to intimidation to dissuade the journalists from persevering with their investigation. However, All the President’s Men is also bolstered by the exceptional performances of and dynamic between Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, the brilliantly naturalistic writing, and Alan J. Pakula’s sharp direction, making it an ageless triumph of political thriller cinema as well as a provocative expose on presidential corruption. —Ryan Heffernan
31
‘Zodiac’ (2007)
David Fincher is something of a maestro when it comes to thriller cinema. His technical precision, icy aesthetic, and his intense interest in stories of amorality, crime, and obsession have made for several of the genre’s defining triumphs over the past 30 years. While it might not be quite as revered as some of his other films, Zodiac stands tall as a commanding true crime thriller in its own right as it follows cartoonist Robert Graysmith’s (Jake Gyllenhaal) festering interest in investigating the Zodiac killer.
With a runtime of 157 minutes, Zodiac flaunts an epic, all-encompassing sense of scale that boldly marries its simmering slow-burn suspense with several sequences of blood-curdling terror. Fincher’s trademark ability to worm into the viewer’s mind is on full display from the film’s creeping opening minutes right through to its disconcerting final scene. Further propelled by a litany of strong performances, flawless period production design, and a sense of lingering and weighted resonance, Zodiac is a modern masterpiece of cinematic tension. —Ryan Heffernan
30
‘Double Indemnity’ (1944)
It might be most classifiable as a movie within the film noir genre, but Double Indemnity is also excellent when judged as a thriller. It’s about an insurance agent being targeted by a cunning femme fatale type of character, and seduced into helping her murder her husband for insurance money.
Things go about as well as you’d expect them to (essentially, things end in disaster; it’s a film noir tradition, after all). The thrill comes from watching things fall apart in an inevitable yet still somehow surprising way, with Double Indemnity holding up almost 80 years on from release as one of the most exciting movies from the film noir genre. Everything adds up to make Double Indemnity easily up there with the very best releases of the 1940s, regardless of genre.
29
‘Rear Window’ (1954)
A classic Alfred Hitchcock movie that ranks as one of the best films released in 1954, Rear Window is a highly inventive and ambitious mystery/thriller movie with a remarkably confined setting. It follows a man unable to leave his apartment, due to an injured leg, and as a strange hobby of sorts, he begins passing the time by spying on his various neighbors through their windows.
It touches on voyeurism and, in turn, paranoia, given the main character begins to suspect that one of his neighbors may have committed a murder. Rear Window stays surprisingly engaging, working wonders with a small cast and limited scope, showing that few directors could make thrillers quite as well as Hitchcock could in his prime. And no one can deny that Hitchcock was undoubtedly on fire throughout the 1950s.
28
‘Black Swan’ (2010)
Darren Aronofsky specializes in making intensely psychological movies, and while most of them could probably be classified more as dramas than thrillers, Black Swan certainly feels like a psychological thriller. It arguably feels like a horror movie in parts, too (as various intense movies from Aronofsky tend to be), telling a fiercely intense story about a young ballerina getting very immersed in her role during a production of Swan Lake, with violent and alarming results.
Black Swan is a stomach-churning movie, with a dizzying style, a continuing sense of escalating tension and dread, and an amazing lead performance from Natalie Portman. It’s one of Darren Aronofsky’s best films, and though its 2010 release makes it more recent than other classic thrillers, it deserves to be recognized among the best of the best.
27
‘Fatal Attraction’ (1987)
Fatal Attraction is a movie that has a reputation that precedes it. It’s a quintessential 1980s thriller, telling the now familiar-sounding story about one man having an affair with a woman who turns out to be more than he bargained for, and the way his family life is affected when she decides to stalk/terrorize him after he moves on.
Some elements date the movie, without a doubt, which can make it a little uncomfortable to watch today. It doesn’t handle a delicate topic like mental health with much care, even by the standards of a movie that came out more than three decades ago. However, Fatal Attraction is undeniably iconic as a thriller, earning six Oscar nominations and becoming a huge success at the box office (the highest grosser worldwide in 1987).
26
‘Straw Dogs’ (1971)
Anyone familiar with the filmography of Sam Peckinpah probably won’t be surprised by the direction Straw Dogs ends up going, though it does stick out for being one of the director’s few well-known non-Westerns (it’s no less violent, though). The plot follows a couple who go to live in a small rural town; one that at first seems to offer a peaceful alternative to life in a busy city.
However, things don’t go to plan. Certain townspeople harass the new couple, with things escalating from verbal to physical abuse. At that point, the slow-burn nature of the thriller’s plot explodes into violence, with the third act being an unsettling and still shocking rampage of revenge. Straw Dogs is a difficult film that won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but it’s amazingly well-made and acted overall.
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Life has never been easy for the Scarlet Witch within the pages of Marvel Comics. Wanda Maximoff is a character defined by tragedy, whether it be her upbringing with her brother, plagued by war, persecution, and experimentation, or the loss of her artificial children and marriage with Vision, leading to the pivotal House of M storyline. Yet, her trials and mistakes, while painful, have often been catalysts for her to become a stronger, more thoughtful, and more empathetic hero in the end. With her latest storyline on the page, however, she’s about to experience a test of mental and physical fortitude unlike any other she’s ever faced.
Marvel kicked off a new run with the character at the end of last year called Sorcerer Supreme, which picked up in the aftermath of Victor von Doom’s fall, leaving the Eye of Agamotto and the Cloak of Levitation without a wielder. Enter Wanda, who saw an opportunity to change her destiny, rescuing both items from the ashes and defying tradition to become the new Sorcerer Supreme of Earth despite what the Vishanti or her mentor, Agatha Harkness, had to say. Since then, she’s built herself a powerful counsel of confidants, escaped the grasp of Limbo and Madeline Pryor, faced down Dormammu, and, in the most recent issue, stopped the firing of the Extinction King’s super-cannon. Rarely has she gotten a moment to truly celebrate her victories, though, as she and the Sorcerer Supreme of the Quantum Dimension, Turin, found themselves transported to the next of the monarch’s Extinction Weapons — the Torture Star — where a fate worse than death awaits them.
While issue #9 doesn’t release until Wednesday, August 26, Marvel Comics released a preview showcasing exactly what the Torture Star does to those unfortunate enough to be caught in its grasp. This living sun is an ancient cosmic being that burns with hatred and agony, which the Extinction King commands it to bring down on Wanda and Turin. The pages pick up right after it teleported them to Jupiter’s moon, Io, where the Scarlet Witch describes their living hell of being frozen, broken, and incinerated with the heat of a star over and over again, with only brief respites between phases. Worse, one horrifying moment clarifies, as they’re roasting alive, that they feel every moment of searing agony, even once they’re reduced to nothing but bones. It’s “torture beyond mortal constraints” that threatens to break their minds, unless they can find some way to escape the eternal torment.
‘Sorcerer Supreme’
The Torture Star represents Wanda’s greatest challenge yet since becoming Sorcerer Supreme. She and Turin’s new prison is essentially a black hole of infinite pain and, to make matters much worse, they’re completely stripped of their magic. All they have is the ability to telepathically communicate with each other and plan their escape, but without the powers that make them so formidable, they’ll need nothing short of a miracle to make it out with their minds intact. Sorcerer Supreme continues DC favorite Steve Orlando‘s run with the Scarlet Witch, pairing him with artists Bernard Chang and Leirix, the latter of whom provides the covers.
Sorcerer Supreme #9 hits store shelves on August 26. Check out the preview pages in the gallery above.
- Release Date
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May 6, 2022
- Runtime
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126 minutes
- Director
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Sam Raimi
- Writers
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Michael Waldron
- Producers
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Jamie Christopher, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Scott Derrickson, Victoria Alonso
Pregnant Farrah Aldjufrie is ready to take her romance with former Buying Beverly Hills costar Zach Goldsmith public.
Shortly after confirming via social media on Sunday, August 23, that Goldsmith is the father of her first child due in November, Farrah, 37, took to her Instagram Stories with the pair’s first public couple photo.
The snap, taken on the day the real estate agents discovered they were having a baby boy, showed Farrah holding her cat with a blue bow collar wrapped around his neck as a smiling Goldsmith leaned into the duo with his eyes closed.
A video recorded by Farrah’s younger sister Sophia Umansky and shared via Farrah’s account just hours earlier showed Goldsmith hugging Farrah as the couple learned of their child’s gender. The footage also captured Goldsmith, who still works with Farrah at Mauricio Umansky’s real estate brokerage The Agency, kissing his partner’s head while tenderly holding her in a long embrace.
Farrah, who is the daughter of exes Kyle Richards and Guraish Aldjufrie, shared her pregnancy with fans via an Instagram post on July 3 that did not disclose the father’s identity. “My most exciting launch yet. Coming soon late November 2026,” the post, filled with snaps from a maternity shoot, was captioned.
Richards, 57, shared her joy over the news at the time, commenting on her eldest daughter’s announcement, “I can’t wait for this new chapter!! I love you so much Fairy.” (Richards also shares Sophia, 26, with her ex Mauricio, 56, as well Alexia, 30, and Portia, 18.)
Richards and Mauricio were in attendance at Farrah and Goldsmith’s gender reveal, both sharing footage from the occasion via their own Instagram Stories on Sunday night.
Kyle Richards’ eldest daughter, Farrah Aldjufrie, has sparked speculation that she and Alex Manos are over after the Buying Beverly Hills star was spotted without her engagement ring. Farrah, 34, shared photos from her family’s trip to Italy on Tuesday, August 22, geotagging La Conca del Sogno restaurant. In one picture, she could be seen […]
Farrah and Goldsmith’s on-screen chemistry sparked public discussion among fans of Buying Beverly Hills, which was cancelled by Netflix after two seasons in 2024. Noting that the pair appeared flirty while on the show, which followed The Agency’s multi-million dollar listings as well as Mauricio’s family dynamics, some social media users took to Reddit to speculate that Goldsmith was in fact Farrah’s baby daddy. (Goldsmith is already father to two sons, whom he shares with his ex, Jennifer Hamilton-Goldsmith.)
“You guys, she’s liked a comment about the father being the realtor who was nervous to talk to her – assuming Zack Goldsmith,” wrote one Reddit user in light of Farrah’s announcement.
While Goldsmith is yet to address Farrah’s pregnancy, he often shares social media content featuring his sons, including a Sunday video that showed him driving with one of them and a family dog while jokingly reflecting on his “uncontrollable cuteness aggression” towards his boy.
Charles Xavier may be one of the most important figures in the history of the X-Men, but Marvel is about to explore what might happen if Professor X never got the chance to build his mutant dream at all. The publisher’s latest What If…? story goes all the way back to Xavier’s beginnings to change one of the most important moments in X-Men history.
And this isn’t simply a world where Charles Xavier dies a little earlier than expected. Marvel is rewriting the bizarre connection between Xavier and Cassandra Nova, creating a reality where the X-Men’s greatest mentor never survives long enough to become Professor X and his most terrifying enemy takes his place.
What If…? X-Men #1 asks a particularly ominous question: What if Cassandra Nova killed Charles Xavier? The preview returns to the strange circumstances surrounding the two characters’ origins. Cassandra is a mummudrai, described by the Watcher as an astral-plane entity that exists as the equal and opposite of a person’s spirit. In the familiar version of events, Charles senses Cassandra’s presence while the two are still in the womb and fights back against her. This new reality changes the outcome completely.
Cassandra Nova Just Took Professor X’s Place
In the new reality, Charles fails to defeat Cassandra, and the preview shows the two becoming one, with the Watcher asking what would happen if “the parasite became the host.” Years later, the consequences are horrifying. Cassandra has seemingly inherited the life that should have belonged to Charles Xavier. The preview shows her operating from the Xavier estate while discussing her attempts to consolidate power, and she makes it clear that she has very different ideas about mutantkind than her brother ever did. Instead of Charles creating a school where young mutants can learn to control their abilities, this reality has mutants, including Jean Grey and Emma Frost, desperately trying to escape. They don’t get far.
The final preview page reveals a team of mutant enforcers waiting for them, including twisted alternate versions of several familiar X-Men. Cyclops, Wolverine and Gambit appear among the group confronting Jean and Emma, completely reversing the familiar idea of Xavier’s X-Men as a team created to protect mutantkind. It makes the one-shot much more than a simple story about Professor X’s death. Marvel is effectively rebuilding the X-Men’s history around the idea that Cassandra Nova won before Charles Xavier ever had the opportunity to become Professor X.
What If…? X-Men #1 is on sale August 26.
- First Film
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X-Men
- Created by
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Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
Everyone loves anime, especially now that the medium has become so much more popular with titles like Jujutsu Kaisen and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. But manga, on the other hand, is still rather underrated despite being the original version of many of these stories. Whether they are underappreciated or not doesn’t change the fact that manga contain some of the greatest stories ever.
The modern landscape for manga is only getting better, and that is why this list will rank the greatest manga masterpieces from the past 25 years, which is from 2001 to 2026. Based on aspects such as writing, art, detail, originality, popularity, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality, these ten series are the best of the best in the 21st century and will remain renowned for the next 25 years as well.
10
‘One-Punch Man’ (2012-present)
Masterpieces aren’t reserved for dramatic stories with intricate plots. Sometimes the best manga of the past quarter-century can be a simple but fun, action-packed adventure. One-Punch Man follows Saitama, the strongest hero in the world; however, nobody knows it. This gets him into hilarious misadventures, even on some of the most dangerous missions against the strongest opponents.
In terms of action, there isn’t a better manga than One-Punch Man, which wows readers with some of the best art they will ever lay their eyes on. Outside the striking manga panels and stunning character designs, this manga is also surprisingly funny, using its characters for hilarious moments and epic battle sequences. One-Punch Man is an action masterpiece that defines the genre of the past 25 years.
9
‘Grand Blue Dreaming’ (2014-present)
Comedy manga are vastly underrated in favor of their anime counterparts, but this list features a couple of sidesplitting classics of this century, including Grand Blue Dreaming. Iori moves to a seaside town for university, staying with his cousins. When he joins a diving club expecting something new, he is tricked into what is basically a drinking club, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have fun.
There are a lot of fantastic modern shounen manga, but seinen is where the best stories and comedies are, and the proof lies with Grand Blue Dreaming. The eccentric cast of characters and typical college humor is absolutely perfect, even if rare for manga, adopting a unique sense of comedy in comparison to others. Grand Blue Dreaming isn’t just senseless silliness, but it is also a moving story about maneuvering college life.
8
‘Golden Kamuy’ (2014-2022)
The anime of Golden Kamuy is coming to an end in 2027, but if fans can’t wait any longer, then they should pick up the manga, the superior version of the story. With rumors of a massive stash of gold hidden somewhere in the country, a soldier and an Ainu girl team up to find it. The map is tattooed, and dozens of escaped convicts are involved, and the only way is to capture them and put the pieces together.
There aren’t many manga that can switch between absurd humor and a serious plot like Golden Kamuy, which blends its ridiculous sense of humor and bizarre characters into a dramatic war story. From shocking plot twists to some of the weirdest moments in manga history, Golden Kamuy is a quirky series, but that doesn’t get in the way of its adventure and core themes, which drive the compelling story.
7
‘The Climber’ (2007-2011)
A lot of these manga are masterpieces in written form, but this medium is also acclaimed because of its art, and when it comes to that, barely any series beats The Climber. The protagonist doesn’t want to be bothered by others, but when he discovers the joys of climbing, he tries not to let them get in his way as he aims for the next highest peak after each successful climb.
Manga like Berserk are often claimed to have the best artwork, but The Climber might be reaching for the crown of the best art in manga history. The grounded aesthetic and realistic portrayal of characters are detailed to perfection, but the use of imagery creates hallucinatory visions that depict the character’s inner thoughts. The Climber is a distinct manga that revels in the beauty of being alone and doing what one loves.
6
‘Yona of the Dawn’ (2009-2025)
Most fans think that action anime is only for men, but there are plenty of woman-focused action stories out there, with Yona of the Dawn being one of the best shoujo manga ever. Once upon a time there was a dragon and his four guardians, but as time passed, that fact became legend. After the kingdom is taken over, Yona, the exiled princess, learns that in order to take her homeland back, she must find these fabled dragon warriors.
The anime is soon to get a second season, but with the manga completed, it is the best way to experience the story. Yona of the Dawn is praised for its character development, which grows a spoiled and annoying brat into a reliable leader and resilient princess. Plus, the manga has a strong supporting cast that helps develop her while also having their own moments to shine.
5
‘Yotsuba&!’ (2003-present)
Grand Blue Dreaming is a hilarious manga, but one of, if not the greatest, comedy manga is Yotsuba&! The titular character just moved to a new town with her father, and while he is busy with his job, she can roam around town, make new friends, and have fun. There isn’t much to this manga, but the simple joys define the pure childlike wonder that it embodies.
Many people dismiss comedy manga, but it has so much more storytelling than many other genres. Yotsuba mixes life lessons into its hilarious plot. While it is well written, Yotsuba is beloved for its protagonist and comedy, which has her causing adorable chaos around town. From simple farm trips to playing with friends, every moment is hysterical for young and old fans, proving this series has what it takes to blow up as an anime.
Fullmetal Alchemist is considered the greatest anime series of all time, and while the manga doesn’t have the same status, it is still among the best ever. After brothers Edward and Alphonse lose parts or all of their bodies in a taboo experiment, they set out on an adventure to find the philosopher’s stone. However, all they uncover is a government conspiracy that threatens to consume the entire world if they don’t intervene.
Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the most complete manga ever, and by that, this list means it contains everything a manga fan could want, from great artwork and characters to an engaging story, riveting drama, mystery, action, worldbuilding, romance, and shocking plot twists. It is one of the best-crafted plots that works in adventure and drama seamlessly to create an outstanding and timeless manga legend.
3
‘Vinland Saga’ (2005-2025)
Some manga of the past 25 years are still going, but others have finished their stories, and Vinland Saga is the most recent manga to have concluded its grand adventure. After the death of his father, Thorfinn joins the crew of the Vikings who murdered him, hoping to get his revenge when he is stronger. However, years later, he has a crisis of faith, unsure of what direction he should take in a life that is defined by bloodshed.
When it comes to the greatest manga ever made, many fans bring up three specific works, and Vinland Saga is among them. It is hard to argue, because Vinland Saga boasts arguably the best character development in the medium, taking Thorfinn from an angry annoyance to a deep and nuanced character. There is a reason why it is considered one of the best seinen manga, proving it is among the best of the last quarter-century.
2
‘Goodnight Punpun’ (2007-2013)
A good manga makes people feel things, and Goodnight Punpun will make anyone break down and cry. The titular character is a normal boy living in a less-than-ideal situation, and this manga chronicles his life, from the good to the bad to the ugly. As a hopeless romantic, he wants nothing more than to fall in love, but this is where the root of his problems stems from.
A lot of fans don’t experiment outside their comfort zones, sticking to action or shounen series, but viewers should dip their toes into the ocean that is Goodnight Punpun. It may be an ocean of tears that will make viewers bawl their eyes out, but it is an incredibly profound and hard-hitting manga that will be relatable for some and tragic for all. It is a manga that will leave a pit in fans’ stomachs, but its realistic story is one of the most engaging of the past 25 years.
1
‘Kingdom’ (2006-present)
As mentioned, many of the manga on this list have come to an end, but some continue, further proving why they are the best of the last 25 years. Kingdom is about a young boy who dreams of becoming the greatest general in the Warring States period of China. One fateful day brings him into contact with the emperor-to-be, and thus begins the duo’s journey to unite the kingdoms and achieve their lifelong dreams.
Manga sometimes feature big stakes and flashy battles, but the grandeur of Kingdom is better than any other over-the-top manga. Its intricately crafted war sequences are a spectacle to witness, because not only are they gorgeous to look at through the art, but they also use genuine strategy. Kingdom is all about the battles, but it has plenty of endearing characters and political intrigue to prove why it is one of the best manga series of all time.
Kingdom
- Release Date
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June 4, 2012
- Directors
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Jun Kamiya, Akira Iwanaga, Kenichi Imaizumi, Kazuya Monma
- Writers
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Naruhisa Arakawa, Noboru Takagi
Western audiences will probably associate Akira Kurosawa with epics such as Seven Samurai and Ran, and, of course, the widely influential drama Rashomon. However, the legendary Japanese filmmaker also made a quietly meditative drama that is just as well-regarded. The movie in question was released in 1952, which makes it 74 years old. It’s currently available to stream in the United States on HBO Max, giving a new generation of audiences a great opportunity to check it out. That said, they may want to hurry, because it’ll be removed from the platform soon.
The movie was inspired by a Leo Tolstoy novella, and it follows a man from Tokyo who learns to appreciate the small joys of life after he’s diagnosed with a terminal illness. Seven Samurai is well known for having inspired the classic Western The Magnificent Seven and George Lucas’ culture-defining original Star Wars movie. But Kurosawa’s 1952 classic has been just as influential; it’s only that the movies it inspired are equally unassuming. Most recently, it served as the basis for Living, the British drama film that earned the veteran Bill Nighy his first-ever Oscar nomination, and also for the Oscar-nominated Wim Wenders drama Perfect Days.
Here’s How Long You Have Left to Watch the Japanese Classic on HBO Max
We’re talking, of course, about Ikiru. The movie now holds a near-perfect 98% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “Ikiru is a well-acted and deeply moving humanist tale about a man facing his own mortality, one of legendary director Akira Kurosawa’s most intimate films.” The late critic Roger Ebert was one of Ikiru’s most passionate fans. Adding it to his collection of “great movies,” he wrote, “Over the years I have seen Ikiru every five years or so, and each time it has moved me, and made me think.” You can watch the film on HBO Max before it is removed from the platform on September 30. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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March 25, 1956
- Runtime
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143 Minutes
- Director
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Akira Kurosawa
The sudden death of Hayden Panettiere has reignited a painful conversation that Melissa Gilbert believes Hollywood can no longer avoid.
The former child star is speaking out after three young actresses from the same generation died within a relatively short period, arguing that their deaths point to a much deeper problem within the entertainment industry.
Drawing from her own experiences growing up in front of the cameras, Gilbert is now calling for serious reflection on how child performers are treated long after the spotlight fades.
For Melissa Gilbert, the loss of Panettiere was not an isolated tragedy. It became part of a troubling pattern that has left her searching for answers.
In a Substack essay titled “Enough Is Enough,” the actress reflected on the deaths of Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Daveigh Chase, noting that all three were former child performers who died far too young.
“Within one year, Michelle Trachtenberg, Daveigh Chase and Hayden Panettiere have died,” Gilbert wrote, adding, “Three former female child actors of the same generation are gone. Tragically, heartbreakingly, agonizingly too soon.”
The losses hit especially hard because Gilbert saw herself in them. Having spent much of her childhood working in television, she said the deaths felt personal in a way that outsiders might not fully understand.
“They are gone and the question I have been turning over and over in my head is, ‘WHY?’ Why are these three sweet, wildly talented, vibrant, vital young women gone?” she continued.
Gilbert expanded that thought by pointing to a larger community of women who grew up in the industry, naming stars such as Brooke Shields, Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, and Drew Barrymore among those who share similar experiences.
Gilbert Says Former Child Actors Share A Bond Few Others Understand
According to Melissa Gilbert, former child performers belonged to what she described as a unique “tribe,” one bound together by experiences that often remain invisible to the public.
“We are all members of the same tribe; Female Former Child Performers, and when one of us dies, it runs through all of us like an electrical current,” she explained.
That feeling became even stronger after three deaths occurred so close together. Gilbert argued that the industry should not dismiss the situation as coincidence.
“When three of us die so close together, something is very, very wrong,” she wrote.
The 62-year-old believed many former child stars carried similar emotional scars because they grew up navigating an environment that often prioritized production schedules and profits over their well-being.
Gilbert argued that those who lived through it understood firsthand “how the entertainment industry uses, abuses, exploits and then throws away its youngest.”
While concerns about child stardom have existed for decades, Gilbert believed the problem had intensified in recent years. She suggested that modern technology may be making matters worse, citing the rise of smartphones and the constant public scrutiny they create.
Melissa Gilbert Reflects On Her Own Childhood Trauma In Hollywood
Gilbert’s concerns were rooted not only in observation but also in her own life story.
The “Little House on the Prairie” star recalled how little emotional support was available to child actors during difficult moments. She described working through illness, injuries, and personal trauma because the expectation was always to keep going.
“I can’t tell you how many times I worked while horribly sick, injured or worse,” she wrote.
One memory continued to stand out decades later. Gilbert revealed that her father died when she was just 11, yet she returned to work only months afterward. What remained painful, she said, was the lack of acknowledgment from the adults around her.
“And not one single adult on that set discussed it with me or offered condolences,” Gilbert recalled. “I later found out that the fear was I would become too upset to work. I was eleven, my Daddy had just died and I was shattered.”
Looking back, she believed her character’s frequent emotional scenes became an unintended outlet for grief.
“Thank God my character cried in every single episode,” Gilbert wrote, further noting, “That, as twisted as it sounds, was my therapy. My release.”
Gilbert Addresses Netflix’s ‘Little House On The Prairie’ Reboot
While Melissa Gilbert’s recent essay focused on the lasting impact Hollywood can have on young performers, the actress has also revisited another defining chapter of her career in recent months.
In July, Gilbert broke her silence on the “Little House on the Prairie” reboot, a project that sparked intense discussion among longtime fans of the beloved series.
Having portrayed Laura Ingalls Wilder for nearly a decade, Gilbert explained that she had deliberately stayed silent because she questioned whether she could approach the subject objectively.
“Honestly, I’m afraid that I am unable to be fully objective because I am too deeply involved to weigh in without emotion,” Gilbert wrote per Us Weekly, adding that she also felt it was not her “place to weigh in.”
However, she said one issue had become impossible to ignore: the debate over whether either version of the series was historically accurate. Her answer was unequivocal, as she stated, “The short answer is no, neither are entirely accurate to the times nor the books.”
Gilbert then pointed to specific differences, explaining that the real Laura Ingalls Wilder did not spend significant time in Independence, Kansas until she was 60, while the Ingalls family lived in Walnut Grove for only a short period.
Rather than treating those inaccuracies as a reason to dismiss either adaptation, Gilbert urged viewers to recognize the creative choices involved. “My hope is that folks realize that these are all perfect examples of dramatic license,” she noted.
Melissa Gilbert Fires Back At ‘Woke’ Criticism Of ‘Little House On The Prairie’
Weeks before Gilbert weighed in on the Netflix reboot itself, she found herself defending the legacy of the original “Little House on the Prairie.”
As anticipation for the new series grew ahead of its July premiere, some commentators criticized Netflix for potentially taking the beloved franchise in a more politically progressive direction.
Among the most prominent voices was Megyn Kelly, who questioned whether modern producers were attempting to reshape the beloved story to fit contemporary political and social values.
Gilbert strongly disagreed with that characterization and argued that critics were overlooking what the original series actually represented.
According to the actress, “Little House on the Prairie” addressed difficult social issues long before such topics became part of today’s cultural debates.
Gilbert pointed out that the original show tackled subjects including racism, antisemitism, addiction, domestic violence, sexual assault, and discrimination. “Before people start throwing around words like ‘woke,’ they should probably watch the original series again,” she told Entertainment Weekly, emphasizing that confronting injustice was always part of the show’s DNA.
Gilbert also noted that the series frequently explored prejudice and inequality through the experiences of the Ingalls family and the broader Walnut Grove community.
Dr. Dre has spent decades shaping the sound of hip-hop, producing the genre’s most celebrated and influential works. As artificial intelligence continues to spark debate across the entertainment industry, the legendary producer isn’t shying away from the technological shift. He is taking an open-minded approach and “embracing” AI as a tool, while suggesting that some people who oppose the technology may simply be afraid to learn something new.
The use of AI in music has sparked a heated debate, with critics raising concerns about originality, artists’ rights, and the potential for the technology to replace human creativity. Dr. Dre, who has collaborated with some of the biggest hip-hop artists, including Eminem, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, and N.W.A., doesn’t see the technology as something to fear.
Longtime collaborators and business partners Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine share the same stance and are both pro-AI. In an interview with The New York Times, Iovine said that gifted people “make better records” with the aid of AI. However, he acknowledged that AI companies have “the worst public relations,” which results in pushback.
Dr. Dre, on the other hand, said he doesn’t see the technology as a threat, adding, “I think the only people that see it as a threat are the people who have trouble creating.”
Dr. Dre shared that he had discussions with people who oppose AI, comparing their resistance to those who once rejected drum machines and synthesizers when the technologies were first introduced.
“It’s a new tool for creativity. Some people are afraid of learning new things. I’m embracing it. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen with this,” he added.
The producer confirmed that he uses AI as part of his music-making process, but only to alter or build upon material that he has already created. “Yes, I’m using it. Again, as a tool to see what it would do with what I just did,” he emphasized.
Jimmy Iovine Claims There Are Many ‘Closet AI Producers’
Iovine, who also said he uses AI, revealed that many music producers make use of the technology in their work but don’t want that information to become public knowledge, referring to them as “closet AI producers.”
Dr. Dre agreed, saying, “That’s a good way to put it. They’re using it, they just don’t want to admit it.
Iovine and Dr. Dre aren’t the only iconic producers who have admitted to using A.I. Timbaland, who has collaborated with Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, and Justin Timberlake, among others, is also a supporter of A.I. and is actively involved with Suno, the controversial AI music creation platform.
Timbaland partnered with the company in 2024 and said he spends several hours using the platform to rework existing beats from his library. “You still need that human element to operate this tool. It doesn’t replace anything. All it does is add to your arsenal,” he said, per Rolling Stone.
Dr. Dre Changed T.I.’s Mind About AI
Rapper T.I. said that he was “emphatically against” the use of AI in music, but has since changed his stance after having a conversation with Dr. Dre.
In a December 2025 episode of his podcast “expediTIously,” guest Dallas Austin asked T.I. about what he thought of AI in music. T.I. revealed that Dr. Dre told him he uses AI tools in his process and even sent him some of the work he did.
“He was like, ‘No, it’s still work. You still have to work, be talented, and have programming to do what you want it to do. It’s just an advantage’,” the iconic producer told him. Looking at it from Dr. Dre’s perspective, the rapper said he changed his mind about the technology, adding, “I kind of understood.”
AI Music Creation Platforms Are Facing Lawsuits
The record label Round Hill Music is suing AI music creation platforms Suno and Anthropic over infringement. The music publishing company claims the AI platforms used thousands of copyrighted songs to train their systems to create AI-generated music.
Round Hill Music alleges that Suno “built its entire model on copyright infringement” and said the damages could “exceed $1 billion,” as reported by Billboard. The record label’s CEO, Josh Gruss, noted that they are not against the use of AI. Rather, they are suing because the platforms have built businesses based on other people’s creative work.
Music industry giants Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group also filed lawsuits against Suno, and the cases are still ongoing.
Shaquille O’Neal may be best known as one of basketball’s all-time greats, but his talents have extended well beyond the court. After making a name for himself in the NBA, he ventured into acting, appearing in several films and TV projects. His first major starring role came in 1996, when he played the titular rapping genie in the family comedy film “Kazaam.”
Shaquille O’Neal began acting professionally while in the middle of his NBA career, but it wasn’t until “Kazaam” that he nabbed a starring role.
The musical comedy centers on Kazaam, a 5,000-year-old rapping genie who was unintentionally freed from a boombox by a teen boy named Max. Kazaam must grant Max’s three wishes while helping him navigate his issues at home and helping him reconnect with his estranged father.
The movie received less-than-stellar reviews and currently holds a 5 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer.
Now, 30 years after the film’s release, O’Neal is addressing his critics, saying that the only ones who think “Kazaam” was a “terrible” movie are adults.
“First of all, you shouldn’t have been watching. It was for kids. But then I get young adults that say, ‘Yo, man, that was my favorite movie.’ So it’s what you call a cult classic,” he told PEOPLE.
‘Kazaam’ Director Stands By The Movie’s Idea
O’Neal appeared in the sixth installment of “Scary Movie,” and his cameo had something to do with his “Kazaam” character.
“Kazaam” co-writer and director Paul Michael Glaser said it was “nice” that the movie still resonated with audiences decades later, while acknowledging it could have turned out better.
Glaser shared that he was asked whether he had movie roles in mind for O’Neal, and that he developed the concept of a rapping genie. “At that time, Shaq fancied himself a rap musician, so I wrote it as a rap musical,” he told The Hollywood Reporter.
Despite harsh comments from critics, Glaser said, “I still believe that was a really good idea. I don’t think we executed it as well as we could have,” adding that regardless, he had a good time working with the NBA icon.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Other Leading Movie Role Also Failed To Impress
A year after “Kazaam,” O’Neal starred in the film “Steel,” in which he portrayed DC Comics superhero engineer John Henry Irons, known by his alter ego, Steel. Just like “Kazaam,” “Steel” failed to impress critics. The movie was also a box office flop, earning only $1.8 million globally.
Director Kenneth Johnson described it as a “frustrating situation,” telling Vice in 2017 that he wasn’t on board with casting O’Neal in the leading role from the beginning, but executives were convinced that it would be a success. “I mean Shaq is a nice guy but he had done two movies, neither of which made any money or noise,” Johnson said.
In 2022, O’Neal told the Austin American Statesman that he wanted to reboot “Steel.” “I did that movie right before the special effects took off… But if I never get a chance to redo that movie I’m definitely… Matter of fact, I’m going to redo ‘Steel’,” he claimed.
The Former Basketball Player Has Had Three Razzie Award Nominations
The Golden Raspberry Awards, also called the Razzies, recognize the year’s most poorly received films and performances, celebrating Hollywood’s biggest misfires.
Not even entertainment’s biggest stars can escape the Razzies, and some of the winners include Sandra Bullock (Worst Actress for “All About Steve”), Halle Berry (Worst Actress for “Catwoman”), Ben Affleck (Worst Actor for “Daredevil,” “Gigli,” and “Paycheck”), and Al Pacino (Worst Supporting Actor for “Jack and Jill”), to mention a few.
O’Neal has had three nominations at the Razzies, being recognized for his performances in the movies “Steel,” “Blended,” and “Blue Chips” for Worst Actor, Worst Supporting Actor, and Worst New Star, respectively. Despite the dubious honor, the former athlete has yet to take home a Razzie.
Shaquille O’Neal Doesn’t Let His Acting Critics Get To Him
O’Neal is well aware that not everyone has been impressed by his acting, but he doesn’t take critics’ opinions to heart.
He offered his response to detractors, jokingly telling them to check out his bank account. “I would give them my Bank of America account information,” O’Neal told Craig Melvin on the “Glass Half Full” podcast, and continued to reveal how much he was paid for each movie.
“‘Blended,’ thank you Adam Sandler. $3 million. ‘Blue Steel’ was about $6 million and ‘Kazaam’ was about 9 [million].”
O’Neal said he doesn’t care about critics. “Every now and then a person will walk by and say ‘Kazaam’ was my favorite movie. That’s all I need,” he added.
Soccer superstar Erling Haaland looks nearly unrecognizable thanks to his new ‘do.
“This beautiful blonde hair, time to let it go,” Haaland, 26, said in a Sunday, August 23, YouTube video. “I was thinking about doing this straight after the World Cup, but I was so busy so I didn’t do it. [The] season starts now, so it’s time to get a fresh start and everything.”
The Manchester City player then shared that he had received hair advice from former Swedish soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimović, who also sported longer hair.
“The only thing is, Zlatan told me never cut your hair because your strength is in your hair. I’m a bit nervous,” he said. “I want [a] buzzcut, like I’ve been in the military.”
For Travis Kelce, it’s hair today, gone tomorrow! The Kansas City Chiefs had their fifth practice session ahead of the upcoming NFL season on Sunday, July 27, but the talk of training camp was Kelce’s hair The Chiefs tight end, 35, was seen sporting his signature buzz cut with faded sides during Sunday’s practice session […]
Haaland then pulled out his phone to show inspiration pics, explaining that he might want a hair style that is “really short.”
“The vikings, they go short as well,” he said.
Haaland proceeded to sit down as his hair was split into several pony tails, which were then cut before going even shorter. In the middle of the styling, Haaland quipped, “I look like Kevin from Home Alone with this haircut.”
“I can’t wait for the fans to sing, ‘Who the f***ing hell is that?’” Haaland joked. “I want Man[chester] City fans to sing that tomorrow.”
Once Haaland was done getting his hair buzzed, his girlfriend, Isabel Haugseng Johansen, walked into the room to see the new look.
Patrick Mahomes’ cropped haircut was a long time coming — and he’s happy with the results. “I’ve wanted to do it for a while, but it was kind of one of those superstitions [of] ‘I can’t win the Super Bowl,’” the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, 29, told sports reporter Rob Collins in a Wednesday, April […]
“Oh my god,” she said, as she placed her hands over her face. “It looks nice … I think you look really tough. I will wake up in the morning and I’ll be like, ‘Who’s that?’”
Haaland then showed his teammate Jack Grealish and Ibrahimović, who were surprised by his transformation.
“OK guys, that was it. Please let me know what you think about my new hairstyle. Should I [have any] regret? No. No, regrets. Never. But remember, the Vikings always cut it short,” Haaland told the camera, before giving a peace sign.
Haaland also documented the process on his Instagram, sharing several photos of the stages of his hair trim.
“Short hair don’t care 😅✂️,” he captioned the upload, also adding in another Instagram video, “New season, new trim 💇🏼♂️😎.”
Haaland debuting his new haircut on social media comes the same day Manchester City kicked off their season against AFC Bournemouth and won their Sunday matchup 2-1.
Entertainment
Alan Ritchson’s $700M Blockbuster Is Officially Leaving Streaming Competition in the Dust
2026 has been a breakout year for Alan Ritchson, who has starred in two of the biggest streaming projects on different services. Ritchson kicked off his strong year in 2026 by headlining the ambitious Netflix sci-fi thriller, War Machine, which earned over 139 million views during its first 90 days on streaming. Not only was this enough to crack the all-time Netflix top 10, but it was also enough to warrant the green lighting of a sequel, War Machines, which is now in development. Ritchson can also be seen reprising his role as Jack Reacher in Reacher Season 4, which is based on the novel Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child. Prime Video was so confident that Reacher Season 4 was going to be a massive hit that the show has already been picked up for Season 5.
Prime Video made the right call in renewing Reacher for Season 5 early, too, as the show has immediately surged to the #1 spot on watchlists around the world. As fans continue to watch new episodes of Reacher every Wednesday on Prime Video, they’re also rushing to Peacock to check out Ritchson’s highest-grossing movie of his career, Fast X, the tenth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise. Ritchson plays Agent Aimes in the film, and he’s also confirmed he will return in the 11th and final installment, Fast Forever, if it ever makes it out of development limbo. Peacock is currently the streaming home for several Fast & Furious movies, but the titles have been known to jump around month to month. Peacock also announced this week that it’s upping prices on all plans, effective immediately.
When Does ‘Reacher’ Season 5 Come Out?
Prime Video has yet to set an official release date for Reacher Season 5 at the time of writing, but it bodes well for the show that production on the next season is already underway. Ritchson just shared a video to his personal Instagram of him greeting fans at the end of a long day of shooting — his social media is a must-follow for Reacher fans, as he consistently posts updates about the show and his personal life. While not confirmed, it’s a safe bet that Reacher Season 5 will likely begin streaming sometime next year, assuming there are no hiccups or delays.
Check out Fast X on Peacock and Reacher on Prime Video, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Alan Ritchson’s future projects.
- Release Date
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May 19, 2023
- Runtime
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142 minutes
- Director
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Louis Leterrier
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