When it comes to a good television drama, it must be gripping. They need an engaging hook. Whether hero, villain, or antihero, the characters must be worth following. Throughout the history of television, we’ve seen series that not only contain those traits, but also so much more. They’re so extraordinary, we can call them masterpieces.

Though there are certainly many more titles that could make this list, the 20 masterpieces below are not only impactful but also iconic. They’ve moved us through an array of emotions. We’ve been shocked through twists and turns. They’ve left us with cliffhangers that have us anxious until the next season. These 20 drama titles are timeless and universally acclaimed. It’s time to celebrate these masterpieces that got us feeling a lot of feels.

20

‘Six Feet Under’ (2001-2005)

Image via HBO

Though the initial premise may sound morbid, the result was something extraordinary. Everyone loves a family drama, but there was truly nothing quite like Six Feet Under. Following the death of the Fisher family patriarch, Nate (Peter Krause) and his brother David (Michael C. Hall) inherit ownership of Fisher & Sons Funeral Home. Alongside their widowed mother, Ruth (Frances Conroy), and sister, Claire (Lauren Ambrose), Six Feet Under went beyond a conventional family drama. The Alan Ball-created series tackled themes of mortality, grief, sexuality, and finding the beauty and meaning in life’s fleeting moments. And sometimes it’s told through surreal conversations with the deceased to find resolution.

Bookended by a perfect pilot and a perfect finale, the journey with the Fisher family was filled with both viewers and characters accepting the inevitable. Each character had their own personal crises while maintaining a blood is thicker than water mentality. Though conflict was very much the name of the family business. An episodic series where each story begins with a new death, the overarching character development was furthered by each thematic episode. Six Feet Under smartly balanced profound tragedy with dark humor. With five perfect seasons, the legacy of Six Feet Under remains.

19

‘Law & Order’ (1990-2010; 2022-Present)

Image via NBC

Dun-dun. Very few television dramas are instantly recognizable by the sound effect that precedes the title screen. Then comes Law & Order, the iconic, long-running police procedural from Dick Wolf. The show is simple: Law & Order revolutionized the two-part storytelling structure for procedurals where the first thirty minutes involved the detectives investigating a homocide while the last thirty minutes focuses on the District Attorney’s office prosecuting the case. Rarely ever straying away from its mission, Law & Order tells you exactly what you’re going to get in its introductory voice-over. From original stories to ripped-from-the-headlines-inspired narratives, there has never been a shortage of narratives to bring to life.

Avoiding major arcs involving the police and lawyers’ personal lives, the characters became legendary for their exceptional work and their dynamic with others in the field. Focusing on partnership and process made the ensemble its strongest asset. The series has had a wave of stars coming and going throughout its storied run, including Jerry Orbach, S. Epatha Merkerson, Sam Waterston, Jesse L. Martin, and Dennis Farina, among others. And there are very few stage actors in New York City who haven’t popped up on an episode once in their careers. Having spawned an array of spin-offs and crossovers, Law & Order‘s legacy is profound. It’s because of the flagship series that spin-offs like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit have had such an illustrious run. The pinnacle of procedural dramas, Law & Order is rightly addictive.

18

‘Justified’ (2010-2015)

Image via FX

Who was cooler than Raylan Givens? Absolutely no one. Lifted from the stories and characters by Elmore Leonard, Justified became the blueprint for modern neo-Western crime series. Developed by Graham Yost, the series follows Timothy Olyphant as Deputy U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens, who, after an incident in Miami, is forced back to his backwoods roots in Kentucky’s Harlan County as he enforces his signature style of justice. Known for his unconventional, fast-draw, and sometimes fatal methods, Raylan’s suave demeanor often helps him come out on top. With a distinct Appalachian atmosphere that immerses audiences in Harlan County, Justified is a whip-smart masterpiece that modernizes classic gunslinger tropes while forging its own path.

A gritty, rural crime masterpiece, Justified was all about its characters. The series focuses primarily on Raylan and his method of enforcing the law, but he’s shaped by a strong ensemble around him. Raylan is easily Olyphant’s greatest role, evident in his dynamic with his longtime rival, Boyd Crowder, played by the equally outstanding Walton Goggins. One of the best bad-guy-versus-good-guy duos in modern television, their ongoing cat-and-mouse game, which coincides with each season’s overarching narrative, keeps the series engaging. Whether wide-spanning drug rings or familiar battles for power, the stories that Justifed told were uniquely its own. Though a revival series, Justified: City Primeval, brought Olyphant’s Raylan back for an adventure in Detroit, nothing will match the original run.

17

‘Severance’ (2022-Present)

Image via Apple TV

Trying to stand out amongst the pack on modern television can often be difficult. Whether being compared to another series or not having an engaging enough premise, if you’re not offering something novel, chances are you’ll be stuck with the pack. But then you have a show like Severance, and its brilliance and ambition make it one of the most original series of the 2020s. Created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller, the series follows the employees at Lumon Industries, a biotechnology corporation, who have undergone “severance,” a surgical procedure that splits a person’s memories between work and their personal lives. As the “innies” begin to uncover the sinister plot surrounding their jobs, it leads to a journey of identity, rebellion, and self-discovery. A fascinating mix of psychological mystery with surrealistic satire, Severance immediately became television’s greatest obsession.

Through two seasons thus far, Severance is the gift that keeps on giving. Severance is a masterful fusion of dystopian science fiction, workplace satire, and psychological thriller that forces the audience to think while they watch. Certainly not background fodder, Severance is an enthralling wonderland that continues to leave viewers begging for answers. Thanks to an impenetrable cast led by Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Zach Cherry, John Turturro, Tramell Tillman, and Patricia Arquette, Severance thrives with its immaculate storytelling. Severance also features a fully fleshed-out visual universe. Against a sterile, retrofuturistic backdrop, Severance captures how the mundane can be truly menacing. As the series marches on, it’s likely it will climb closer to the top spot of this list.

16

‘Hill Street Blues’ (1981-1987)

Image via NBC Studios

For many, Hill Street Blues may have been lost to time, but the truth is, without the NBC series, it’s likely the serial police procedurals that followed could never have been. Through seven seasons, Hill Street Blues followed the lives of the Metropolitan Police Department staff of a police station located on Hill Street. As they struggle with their personal and professional lives, the officers must manage a chaotic, crime-ridden inner-city precinct. Avoiding 80s clichés, Hill Street Blues struck a balance between dark drama and humor for levity, without the concise, clear, or happy resolutions typical of the era. A pioneer in the case-of-the-week format combined with long-term, serialized storylines, Hill Street Blues became must-watch television.

With the series featuring an almost documentary-style filming approach, Hill Street Blues immersed viewers in its world. Through a raw and authentic depiction, Hill Street Blues unabashedly showcased police work through truth, moral ambiguity, and corruption. By setting the series in a nondescript U.S. city, the series’ universality made it resonate because this city could be your city. Through the ensemble approach, Hill Street Blues ensured that, for better or worse, they showcased the community within the precinct. They united as an underpaid yet overworked team, battling bureaucracy. In the world of police dramas, Hill Street Blues sincerely set the tone for the genre forever.

15

‘The Newsroom’ (2012-2014)

Image via HBO

Many shows attempt to be topical, but what The Newsroom did extraordinarily well was take the headlines of the moment and use them as a motivation for the action. Created by Aaron Sorkin, the three-season series pulls back the curtain on the fictional Atlantis Cable News channel where news anchor Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels) and his staff attempt to produce an idealistic, high-integrity news show in the face of corporate, commercial, and personal obstacles. With a focus on news that matters through analysis of real-world events, the Newsroom was one of the most accessible, intelligent dramas that could have easily run for years.

Sorkin used his proficiency with the pen to craft a wonderfully nuanced character set in a fictionalized version of real events. Like many of his previous series, namely Sports Night, he can pull back the curtain on what a newsroom looks and feels like and remind audiences what it’s like to focus on ethical journalism over clickbait. Maybe it’s a fantasy he dreamed up, but his universe was so welcoming that it gave hope that this is how journalism actually is. That said, the idealized ACN newsroom comprised a cohesive ensemble, including Emily Mortimer, John Gallagher Jr., Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Dev Patel, Olivia Munn, and Sam Waterston. Truly a series that was cut too soon, The Newsroom was a conversation series that was very much necessary.

14

‘Fargo’ (2014-2024)

Image via FX

There have been quite a few movies that have attempted to turn their product into a TV series. While many aspired to be the next M*A*S*H*, very few succeeded. Then, decades later, the Joel and Ethan Coen masterpiece, Fargo, was transformed into an anthology series, and magic was made. Consisting of five self-contained seasons that share the same continuity as the film, Fargo depicts slightly interconnected “true crime” stories, centering on ordinary people drawn into murderous, chaotic situations involving Midwest niceties, mundane small-town life, and overtly inept criminals. With a twisted dark humor seeping into a tense crime drama that unfold. Created by Noah Hawley, Fargo uses the film’s success as a jumping-off point to become its own masterful project.

Make no mistake, the FX series is intentionally violent. It helps heighten the action as the crime collides with these seemingly innocent denizens of the quaint towns. Whether singular criminals or wide-spanning mafia syndicates, Hawley’s ability to tie the universe together through intricately small details and overarching themes became the draw for viewers to return season after season. As an anthology series, each season’s story lives on its own with a brand-new cast for each. Fargo’s ability to draw in sensational stars to play in Hawley’s sandbox elevated the already appealing series. The legendary list included Martin Freeman, Billy Bob Thornton, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Carrie Coon, Ewan McGregor, Chris Rock, Jessie Buckley, Juno Temple, and Lamorne Morris, among others. Through cinematic quality production and sensational writing, Fargo is television excellence.

13

‘The X-Files’ (1993-2002; 2016-2018)

Image via 20th Century Studios

No show shaped modern science fiction television quite like The X-Files. Created by Chris Carter, the series followed FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) as they investigated marginalized, unsolved cases. Focusing on solving what really is the truth out there, The X-Files entertained through its monster-of-the-week format while tapping into our deepest fears through the supernatural, paranormal, and conspiracy theories. Through its dark tone that effortlessly united sci-fi, horror, and thriller, The X-Files filled a massive void and a desire for something haunting.

With a cinematic approach that takes no shortcuts, The X-Files explored the bigger picture through engaging, shorter narratives. Between the mistrust of the government and the battle between science and faith, The X-Files’ ability to layer it all in under the guise of a sci-fi thriller made it bigger than it is. The X-Files was appointment television because of the brilliant chemistry between Anderson and Duchovny. In a time when dynamic duos in mystery and crime shows were all the rage, Mulder and Scully stood atop the heap. What made their partnership crucial was the flipped role reversal and a strong female co-lead. A masterpiece that continues to resonate, The X-Files remains a piece of its time. With high anxiety in a post-Cold War, pre-Internet world, The X-Files tapped into the zeitgeist with ease.

12

‘The Pitt’ (2025-Present)

Image via HBO

You might be shocked to see a show that’s barely a year old to make this list, but if you’ve watched The Pitt, you’ll completely understand. Let’s face it, The Pitt is a modern masterpiece and the best series on television right now. You might be shocked to see a show that’s barely a year old to make this list, but if you’ve watched The Pitt, you’ll completely understand. Created by R. Scott Gemmill, the high-octane medical drama chronicles the day in the life of the doctors, nurses, and staff at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center’s emergency room. Having to navigate staff shortages and underfunding during an intense 15-hour shift, The Pitt is a gritty, realistic portrayal that highlights healthcare burnout, addiction, and systemic issues. With each episode reflecting a single hour in the shift, The Pitt becomes a wholly immersive experience that medical dramas have never done before.

The Pitt can essentially be called a scripted documentary for how faithfully it depicts the action. When medical professionals deem the story to be authentic, you know you’re doing something extraordinary. The real-time format heightens the stakes tremendously. The characters are literally racing against the clock as obstacles are suddenly tossed in their path. And yet, there’s no shortage of character development through these intimate moments in the emergency room. Noah Wyle is in a career-best role as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch. He plays the traumatized yet deeply empathetic physician navigating personal and professional crises while simultaneously serving as a selfless mentor. Though Wyle’s Dr. Robby is the de facto leader in the ER, for the show itself, it’s an ensemble effort. Every single primary character is brilliantly built, flaws and all. Two seasons in, and the format keeps the show fresh. With that, the show can continue, introducing new faces as old ones depart. As long as it sticks to a shift per season, The Pitt could outlast ER and Grey’s Anatomy.

11

‘Deadwood’ (2004-2006)

Image via HBO

Before the Taylor Sheridan Western boom arrived, the 21st century kicked off with the greatest serialized Western drama, Deadwood. The David Milch hit series was a historical fiction that took viewers through the daily lives of the denizens of the Dakota Territory town, Deadwood. Using real-life individuals and events as the launching pad, depicting the trials and tribulations of a South Dakota gold mining camp as it transitioned into a civilized town. Starting with the power struggle between ruthless saloon owner Al Swearengen (Ian McShane) and honest former marshal Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant), as they navigate greed and murder and discover what defines a community. Rough and gritty with cursing galore, Deadwood didn’t idealize the West; rather, it showcased the hardships with fervent integrity.

Deadwood showcased sensational world-building of a lawless world. Deadwood’s visceral portrayal of the frontier isn’t meant to be perfect. The grit and dirt of the town contrast with the pristine, clean denizens of Deadwood, showcasing the disparity in power, class, and money. Without its authentic integrity, Deadwood would have lost its allure. The series’ writing became one of its great attributes. Written like a Shakespearean Western. Built into the Westernisms is seamless profanity, but not for shock value. It’s there for authenticity. Rather than sticking to the traditional drama formula, Deadwood remained philosophically character-driven. Beyond Olyphant and McShane, Deadwood featured one of the best ensembles of the decade, which included Molly Parker, John Hawkes, Robin Weigert, Jim Beaver, Dayton Callie, and more. Even with only 36 episodes, Deadwood was a masterpiece. Though a movie was made 13 years later to help tie up an exceptional series, it also served as a thank-you to the fans.

The greatest era for visual effects in cinema history ran for about a decade, from the early ’90s to the dawn of the new millennium. During this period, CGI was a new tool used sparingly, supplementing, in a best-case scenario, classical Hollywood filmmaking craft. This period of prominence began with Terminator 2: Judgment Day, continuing through timeless classics like Jurassic Park, Titanic, and The Matrix before really climaxing with Peter Jackson‘s The Lord of the Rings (throughout the later aughts, overused CGI became less inspired and more obligatory). An enormous gamble on the part of New Line Cinema, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is still arguably the most ambitious production of the 21st century, and perhaps an unprecedented feat of world-building.

Jackson’s revered adaptation of JRR Tolkien‘s books is also widely considered the apex of fantasy film, and for good reason. Third entry The Return of the King wasn’t just a rare genre film to get some Oscar attention, it swept the 2004 ceremony, winning all 11 awards it was nominated for. The Lord of the Rings is mostly untouchable as a work of fantasy filmmaking, though the following masterpieces, all of them bona fide classics and considered among the best films ever made, deserve to be remembered as every bit as perfect. These are the only fantasy movies in history that are every bit as good as The Lord of the Rings.

5

‘The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)

Image via Lucasfilm/courtesy Everett Collection

Though it’s more commonly classified as science fiction, George Lucas would be the first to tell you his space opera creation is more of a space fantasy. Though there’s an internal logic to the historic original trilogy and, to a lesser extent, the prequels, that make them very much sci-fi, an internal logic that was mostly abandoned in the mostly awful sequel trilogy and modern spinoffs, this is a saga of mysticism designed to reinvigorate classical myth. Especially when viewed in their original, despecialized theatrical cuts, these first three films are all extraordinary landmarks of fantasy, with middle chapter, The Empire Strikes Back, universally considered the high point.

Critical response to Empire was mixed at first, with some saying the film lost some of the charm and innocence of the 1977 film. That’s entirely the point, though that response is understandable to a degree, because at that point, the story was incomplete. George Lucas is a creative genius, one of scarce few who’s created and populated his own world, though he himself has said he’s aware he’s not the best director. His mentor Irvin Kershner took the reins here, from a script Lucas co-devised with help and polish from Lawrence Kasdan and Leigh Brackett. The lesser Star Wars films with Lucas’ involvement have an element of sterility to them, but the human touch is all over The Empire Strikes Back, as is grandeur. Here, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) steps into a far scarier and murkier reality, ultimately learning his father is everything he hates in the most iconic twist ending in film history. Empire is unafraid of looking despair in the face, but it’s a rollicking good time from start to finish, with much humor and spirituality coming from Frank Oz‘s ingenious voice performance as the small, green, and wise Master Yoda.

4

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946)

Image via Liberty Films

Years before it would become the quintessential Christmas classic (you know, along with Die Hard), Frank Capra‘s low fantasy melodrama was a box-office bomb and a critical meh. With the horrors of WWII only just truly sinking in and very much top of mind, a heartfelt fantasy film was something of an ask for mainstream audiences, even from a three-time Oscar-winning director in Frank Capra. In its day, It’s a Wonderful Life lost so much money it bankrupted Liberty Films. It would only become a classic after audiences rediscovered it on TV years later, much like The Wizard of Oz, which we’ll get to shortly.

Prominent critics of the time came down on It’s a Wonderful Life for perceived overreliance on sentimentality, but revisiting the film in present day, it’s almost shockingly dark. The in media res opening hinges on an everyman who’s ready to end his own life. A chunk of the film is even shot like pure film noir. The darkness is necessary, because it brings us what is, simply, the greatest, most authentic and most carefully set-up emotional payoff in movie history. Though people saw it as a great director’s misfire 80 years ago, it’s now considered Capra’s defining picture, and that of star James Stewart.

3

‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ (1971)

Image via Paramount Pictures

“Whimsy” is a word that’s often associated with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and though that shoe fits, it’s really important to remember how dry and edgy the enterprise is. The second and third acts play out a lot like a slasher film (the immoral and unworthy characters are picked off one by one). There’s a heart of gold at the center, but it’s a morality play. Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) is one of the best and most sympathetic protagonists in film. He wins because he is pure of heart.

Roald Dahl absolutely, famously, hated this adaptation of his 1964 book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, oddly enough for what he perceived to be a saccharine quality that went against the bite of the novel. This is where it’s really important to remember that book and film are different mediums, and Willy Wonka delivers a more emotionally robust, completely satisfying experience than reading the book, and whimsy is just a part of that. Tim Burton‘s 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is technically a more faithful adaptation. It’s also terrible, with uncanny valley visuals, rancid and unfunny jokes and one of the most high-profile misfires of a lead performance in Johnny Depp‘s disturbing Michael Jackson impersonation. The 1971 picture is untouchable, with Gene Wilder’s lead performance a thing of timeless comic timing and grace.

2

‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)

Image via MGM

MGM’s iconic fantasy musical overcame one of the most infamously troubled mega-productions in film history to become an altogether awe-inspiring work of art and entertainment. Based on the children’s book by L. Frank Baum, Victor Fleming‘s timeless fantasy charmer represents the best of classic Hollywood filmmaking, much like the director’s Gone With the Wind, released the same year. The Wizard of Oz has endured like no other film in part for this reason, but watching the film for the millionth time today it’s easy to be blown away by just how much personality it has, from Judy Garland‘s golden voice and spunk, to the ingenious and detailed set design that’s still impressive under the aggressive clarity of a recent 4k restoration.

The third act of The Wizard of Oz is a high-stakes, red-blooded, pure and stone-faced adventure film. Though she was reportedly the kindest person to Judy Garland on a mostly cutthroat film set, Margaret Hamilton is so memorably evil as the Wicked Witch of the West she surely influenced nearly every major live-action film villain in her wake. There’s a reason the American Film Institute ranked The Wizard Oz rather high on its 2001 list of the most heart-pounding films ever made. It was such an expensive production that it lost money upon release, but TV airings became national events decades later, and in time, this became the most-watched movie in history.

1

‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ (1937)

Image via Disney

Virtually every fantasy film made after 1937 owes a debt to Walt Disney’s breakthrough masterpiece, not least of all The Lord of the Rings. The Wizard of Oz was even greenlit specifically because of the astonishing success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (the highest-grossing movie ever made by a margin at the time of its release). Snow White was famously dubbed “Disney’s Folly” in the press leading up to its release as the studio head was famously putting his company and his entire livelihood on the line to produce Hollywood’s first feature-length animated feature, and no one seemed confident that an 80-minute cartoon could emotionally engage an audience. How wrong they were; Snow White remains intensely emotionally gripping nearly 90 years later. Lucille La Verne’s Queen is as cruel a villain as any in film, the princess is beguilingly gentle and kind, and the dwarfs are hilarious in a timeless slapstick fashion. The depth of the animation cels is still staggering, there’s so much detail and information in every frame it’s quite clear that this was a film studio going for broke, putting everything into this. The breathtaking 2023 4K UHD disc re-release is one of the best things the struggling, hardly venerated modern Disney company has done over the past few years.

Though technical advances have, obviously, been made in the near-90 years since its release, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs remains the greatest animated film of all time for its striking and primal power as well as its inestimable influence. Along with, say, The Lord of the Rings, The Exorcist and Star Wars, this is the ultimate movie about good versus evil, an innovative technical landmark just as surely as those pictures were. In adding Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to his “Great Movies” anthology, Roger Ebert rightly utilized a word that should rarely be used:

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Release Date

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January 14, 1938

Runtime

83 minutes

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Director

Ben Sharpsteen, Larry Morey, David Hand, Perce Pearce, William Cottrell, Wilfred Jackson

Writers

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Ferdinand Horvath, Dorothy Ann Blank, Ted Sears, Merrill De Maris, Webb Smith, Richard Creedon, Otto Englander, Dick Rickard, Earl Hurd

Producers

Walt Disney

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• 

  Adriana Caselotti

  Snow White (voice) (uncredited)

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  Lucille La Verne

  Queen / Witch (voice) (uncredited)

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It’s a commonly accepted fact that human beings only use 10 percent of their brains, and if people can accomplish so much without even being able to access all of the resources at their disposal, what would happen if someone found a way to tap into the remaining 90 percent? That question, based on that very much true fact, is the basis of Luc Besson’s 2014 sci-fi action movie Lucy. The movie made a ton of money, specifically $469 million from a $40 million budget, but remains particularly divisive among critics and audiences — despite the fact that it’s pretty cool.

The main reason for some of Lucy’s shaky legacy is that the absolutely true “10 percent of your brain” concept that the movie is based on is actually… completely fake nonsense. That’s the kind of issue that people who point out plot holes because they’re smarter than the movie are unable to get over, much like the hollow earth in the MonsterVerse series, but the counterargument from Lucy fans is, simply: Who cares? Now Lucy is coming to Netflix on April 1, giving everyone a chance to expand how much of their brain they use.

What Is ‘Lucy’ About?

Image via Universal Pictures

Scarlett Johansson stars as Lucy, a normal woman using a normal percentage of her brain who gets involved with South Korean drug runners. While being forced to transport a bag containing a synthetic sci-fi drug, Lucy is accidentally dosed with a huge amount of the stuff and begins to develop superpowers — super strength, telekinesis, and more. At the same time, though, her emotions and capacity to feel pain are effectively eliminated.

While running from bad guys, Lucy meets up with a scientist (Morgan Freeman) who explains the totally inaccurate “10 percent of your brain” thing. As Lucy starts to use more and more of her brain, she begins to perceive time and reality in new ways. The scientist convinces her that she should find a way to pass on what she has learned about existence, so she takes as much of the drug as she possibly can to finally achieve 100 percent brain power. At that point, things get super weird, and to say anything else would spoil one of the movie’s big thrills.

‘Lucy’ Is a Thrilling Sci-Fi Spectacle

Image via Universal Pictures

If you can get past the basic premise and all of the “science” being stupid (seriously, people can accept that a lightsaber works, but why can’t we pretend that Lucy takes place in a world where the 10 percent thing is true?), Lucy is a good sci-fi action movie. It plays to Johansson’s strengths, namely her ability to play both very human and very detached from her humanity — which she also tapped into when she played Black Widow in the Marvel movies. Speaking of, Johansson also knows her way around action scenes, which Lucy has plenty of.

Lucy is, ultimately, a dumb movie that has the confidence of a smart movie, which often makes for a fun experience. The Matrix doesn’t feature unimpeachable science (which is perfectly fine, because the genre is called science fiction and not science textbook), but imagine how silly it would be if the Wachowskis had a very wrong idea about how computers work. It would be wild, and Lucy is that kind of wild. That is sort of director Luc Besson’s specialty, though, and Lucy fits in his canon alongside movies like The Fifth Element, La Femme Nikita, and Léon: The Professional. It is a little more grounded than his recent Dracula adaptation, though, which is kind of remarkable since this is a movie based on a concept with even less basis in reality than vampires.

Lucy, as mentioned up above, will be on Netflix on April 1.

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Release Date

July 25, 2014

Runtime

90minutes

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Director

Luc Besson

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Writers

Luc Besson

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Lucy

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The Harry Potter film series is one of the best and most wondrous to hit screens so far this century. That is the kind of impact that J.K. Rowling‘s ‘Harry Potter’ book series has generated. The worldwide phenomenon, which centers on a British boy (Daniel Radcliffe) who attends a school for wizards, enchanted legions of readers with its unforgettable characters, riveting narrative, engrossing world, and, of course, a wondrous system of magic spells.

The spells in Harry Potter cover a multitude of purposes, from completing mundane housework to self-defense to eliminating one’s enemies with extreme prejudice. With the wizarding world still front-of-mind as a trending pop-culture series, it’s little surprise that the Harry Potter tale is receiving a TV adaptation, with the new HBO series set to premiere on December 25. While it remains to be seen if the show will be able to recapture the captivating sense of movie magic that made the films thrive, it seems a safe bet that these iconic spells will feature in the show at some point.

35

Impedimenta

Impediment Jinx

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

As the incantation Impedimenta implies, the spell impediments the target, making them slow down or stop completely, depending on the intensity of the jinx. It’s especially a useful spell for dueling, slowing down your opponent so they become an easier target for attack spells. However, the jinx’s most notable use was during a flashback in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

During the film, Harry is coached by Professor Snape (Alan Rickman), where the latter rummages through Harry’s head. But Harry has had enough and goes through Snape’s head, where he witnesses his father bullying Snape. In the novels, James Potter uses Levicorpus to throw Snape into the air, but in the films, James uses Impedimenta, likely to slow down and gain control of his prey. —Jasneet Singh

34

Confundo

Confundus Charm

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

The confundus charm, conjured by the incantation “confundo,” is a nifty little spell that has been used frequently in the series. It confuses or misdirects the target of the spell, as long as the object is “sentient” in some regard, including other humans, or objects like broomsticks. The degree of confusion is dictated by the caster, from simply being unaware of something, or creating that feeling of forgetting what you were doing there.

The charm has been used multiple times in the series, with the most hilarious instance being Hermione (Emma Watson) using it on Cormac (Freddie Stroma) during the Quidditch trials, so Ron would make it into the team. However, it has also had darker uses, where Barty Crouch Jr. (David Tennant) used it on the Goblet of Fire to confuse it into accepting Harry Potter’s name. —Jasneet Singh

33

Pestis Incendium

Fiendfyre

Image via Warner Bros

Aside from the Everlasting Flame, Fiendfyre is the next strongest form of magical fire in the Wizarding World, borne of Dark Magic and by a highly skilled caster. What’s really iconic about the spell is that the flames take on the form of a mythical creature, usually a dragon or serpent. The almost sentient, powerful, and volatile flames are one of the few things that destroy Horcruxes, and have a memorable role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

In the Room of Requirement, Gregory Goyle (Josh Herdman) conjures Fiendfyre to kill the film’s main trio, but the second the flames emerge from his wand, he loses control. He wasn’t powerful enough as a wizard to properly guide the spell, leading to the entire room being burst into flames, including the diadem Horcrux, but when trying to climb to safety, Goyle fell into the flames. The inferno is an unforgettable scene in the franchise. —Jasneet Singh

32

The Unbreakable Vow

Binding Magical Contract

Image via Warner Bros.

Although The Unbreakable Vow has been mentioned a few times in the franchise, we only see the binding magical contract in action once: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Severus Snape makes the fearsome vow to Narcissa Malfoy (Helen McCrory), promising to take care of Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) to make sure no harm comes to him while he fulfills the Dark Lord’s task. Her additional term to the contract is that if Draco fails at his task, Snape would fulfill it in his stead. It is iconic because this is the vow that leads to Snape killing Dumbledore.

The Unbreakable Vow requires three parties: the two people making the vow, who clasp hands, and the witness, who casts the spell. In the film, three golden rings appear around Snape and Narcissa’s clasped hands, magically binding their vow. And, as the unbreakable implies, if either party breaks the vow, an imminent, painful death is waiting for them—cross your fingers, hope to die in the most literal sense. —Jasneet Singh

31

Piertotum Locomotor

Animation Charm

Image via Warner Bros.

The animation charm brings inanimate objects to life, and we can only imagine the plethora of uses this charm can have. Throughout the eight films of Harry Potter, we have seen objects move as if operating at their own volition, and in some instances, it could have been the work of piertotum locomotor. However, the first real and significant time we heard the incantation was during Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.

It was the first spell cast during the Great War against Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), marking the beginning of a vicious battle. Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) briskly walks to the entrance of the castle, flourishes her arms to the side, and casts the spell, bringing all the huge, stone suits of armor alive and ready to attack. Given its use in the final battle, the animation charm proves to be more iconic than just making knives cut or chessboard pieces move. —Jasneet Singh

30

Immobulus

Freezing Charm

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

The freezing charm, Immobulus—as the name would suggest—immobilizes the target of the spellcaster. As a result, it is a ceaselessly useful charm, particularly for witches and wizards canny enough to use it to their advantage. The first time audiences saw it used was in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets when the pixies broke free in Professor Lockhart’s (Kenneth Branagh) Defence Against the Dark Arts class and Hermione cast it to bring a swift end to their recklessness.

It features in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as well, used by Professor Lupin (David Thewlis) to nullify the aggression of the Whomping Willow so he could safely gain passage to the Shrieking Shack. A spell that is as pragmatic and effective as its caster, Immobulus is representative of the Harry Potter universe at its most clever and inventive.

29

Engorgio

Growing Charm

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

The Engorgement Charm, otherwise known as the Growing Charm, as it sees the spellcaster engorge the target, is a spell that is used to both comic and unsettling effect throughout the Harry Potter films. It first appears in The Prisoner of Azkaban in the Defence Against the Dark Arts class when Barty Crouch Jr. —disguised as Mad-Eye Moody (Brendan Gleeson)—casts it to expand a spider-type creature upon which he displays the effects of the three unforgivable curses.

The spell is used to much more joyful effect in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 when Harry casts the incantation alongside Ron (Rupert Grint) on a candle flame in the tent, creating a brief inferno that leaves the two young wizards shocked. While not featured in the films, there is a variation of the spell—Engrogio Skullus—that makes a person’s head grow larger.

28

Serpensortia

Snake Summoning Charm

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

The snake-summoning charm appears only once across the eight Harry Potter films, and its appearance may not seem immediately consequential at that, but it is an enchantment that has a certain impact on viewers. It features during the duel between Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, with Malfoy casting the spell at the behest of Professor Snape.

In addition to leaving the crowd of students surrounding the duel in a stunned silence, it also exposes Harry’s parseltounge abilities to the rest of his classmates. Couple this with the fact that snakes play a monumental role in the second Harry Potter film, particularly, and Serpensortia is a spell that has a much deeper meaning in the context of its story, making it especially representative of The Chamber of Secrets.

27

Reducto

Reductor Curse

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

There is certainly no shortage of spells in the Potterverse that can have the effect of blasting things into millions of pieces. However, that is the sole purpose of Reducto, an explosive curse that reduces the spellcaster’s target to little more than a pile of ash or a breeze of fine mist. It features several times throughout the film franchise, perhaps most notably being used by Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright) during the training sequences in the Room of Requirements in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

It became a favorite spell of Harry Potter as well. He first uses it in the Tri-Wizard Tournament during Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire before using it multiple times throughout the final two films. Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis), Professor Snape, Hermione Granger, and Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) are among other known users of the spell in the extended Harry Potter lore.

26

Relashio

Revulsion Jinx

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

With the same pronunciation as the Italian word Rilascio—meaning “I release”—Relashio is cast as the Revulsion Jinx, a spell that forces the target to relinquish its grasp on whatever it is holding on to. It can be cast on people, creatures, and objects, and is used several times throughout the films at least, with there being multiple instances where the jinx could quite possibly have been cast unspoken, such as when Professor Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) pries apart two smooching classmates in The Order of the Phoenix.

The first confirmed use of the spell occurs in The Goblet of Fire during the second task, when Harry uses it underwater to free himself from the clutches of the grindylows. It is used again in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 to free the dragon in the crypt in Gringotts to create a diversion as Harry, Ron, and Hermione mount their escape.

After more than two decades at NBC News — and nearly eight years co-hosting Saturday Today — Peter Alexander has officially said goodbye to the network he long called home.

The veteran journalist made his emotional announcement during the March 28, 2026, broadcast of Saturday Today, citing a desire to prioritize time with his family over the demanding work schedule that kept him away from his wife and two young daughters.

Here’s everything to know about Alexander’s NBC career, why he decided to leave the news organization and where he’s reportedly headed next:

Peter Alexander’s History at ‘NBC News’

Peter Alexander’s career at NBC spanned more than two decades. He joined NBC in 2004, covering news for local affiliate stations. He transitioned to the national news desk in 2018, cohosting Saturday Today while serving as the network’s White House Correspondent.

Alexander was named the Chief White House Correspondent for NBC News in 2021. He marked his 20th anniversary with the network in 2024.

“I never imagined being a political reporter,” Alexander said on Today in August 2024, calling hard-hitting news reporting an “eye-opening” experience. “What I learned the most is what it means to be a storyteller. I really feel like we have a higher responsibility doing this for a living. Being journalists, you have the trust of the audience, the trust of the people whose stories you’re telling. That’s something that I take so seriously.”

Alexander has also participated in the weekday broadcast’s annual Halloween special, dressing up as some of Hollywood’s most prolific stars and beloved movie characters, from Jimmy Buffett and Mrs. Doubtfire to Blake Shelton and Kevin Bacon.

Peter Alexander’s Tearful Farewell

Peter Alexander did not hold back his emotions as he announced his departure live on air during the March 28, 2026 broadcast of Saturday Today.

“This morning I am bursting with pride and with gratitude. I’ve had the most incredible experience over 22 years with NBC News,” Alexander said. “I could not be more grateful for … the leaders and mentors here who have believed in me and given me more opportunities than I ever dreamed of.”

Alexander further reflected on how deeply intertwined his personal and professional lives had become over the course of his career at the network.

“It’s hard to believe, but I have been part of the NBC family for longer than I’ve had my own family,” he added. “Studio 1A, being right here, with this team and with all the folks you don’t see on TV, this is literally my happy place.”

Why Peter Alexander Is Leaving ‘Saturday Today’

The core reason behind Peter Alexander’s decision was straightforward: he wanted more time with his family.

Alexander and his wife, Alison Starling, share daughters Ava and Emma, who were 12 and 10 in March 2026. Since Alexander lives in Washington, D.C., the commute and schedule required to cohost the Saturday morning show from New York City took a significant toll.

“It is literally so fun, I mean, what a gig!” he said during his farewell show. “But, because I live in Washington [D.C.], it’s also a trek. I’ve been away from my home more than 80 nights in the last seven months, [and] more than 200 Friday nights away from my family in the last seven years.”

Alexander added, “So, in this limited window before my daughters lose interest in hanging out with me [and] it’s already happened quick, I’m eager to carve out a better balance between my personal and professional lives. [I want] to challenge myself with something new. I’m excited because I was taught, ‘Family first, the rest is details.’”

Alexander further thanked NBC News for “undoubtedly the most exciting years” of his TV journalism career.

Where Is Peter Alexander Going Next?

While Peter Alexander made clear during his final broadcast that he’s not stepping away from journalism, he did not publicly disclose his next chapter on air.

“[I want] to challenge myself with something new,” he said on Saturday Today in March 2026.

Multiple outlets later reported that Alexander will join MS Now as an anchor and chief national reporter. MS Now has not publicly commented or made any anchor announcements.

Peter Alexander’s Loved Ones React to His ‘Saturday Today’ Departure

Peter Alexander has been married to Alison Starling since 2012. Starling showed her support publicly after her husband’s March 2026 announcement.

“You make us so proud,” Starling wrote via her Instagram Stories after Alexander announced his departure from NBC.

Alexander’s announcement also prompted an outpouring of emotion from his colleagues at NBC News, both on air and on social media.

His Saturday Today cohost Laura Jarrett held back tears after hearing Alexander’s announcement live on the broadcast.

“Peter, we love you, we are going to miss you,” Jarrett said. “We have laughed so hard we want to cry with you, we have learned from you and we are not the only ones. … You are a brilliant journalist. You are a good and decent man, and you are an extraordinary father. You only get one shot to be Ava and Emma’s dad [and] 200 nights is a long time. They are lucky to have you as their father.”

Other prominent NBC personalities shared their sentiments through social media, including Savannah Guthrie and Sheinelle Jones.

“A great colleague, a better friend. We love you, Peter,” Guthrie replied via Instagram comment.

Jones offered a longer and more personal tribute. “We love you! I second Savannah — you’re a rock star journalist … but you’re also such a good friend and a light in the workplace. I’ll certainly miss your Halloween showcases (Mrs Doubtfire & Jimmy Buffett are my favorites 🥰) … but I’ll be forever thankful that I got to spend part of my career with someone I’ve admired since college!!!” she wrote.

This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.

Kylie Jenner is officially on relaxation mode.

Jenner, 28, shared a series of vacation snaps to her Instagram on Saturday, March 28, where she rocked a tan-colored bikini as she lay in the sand with her face away from the sun.

In another pic, Jenner kneeled in the water as she arched her back toward the sun and closed her eyes. She was also seen laying in the water leaning back, with her hands reaching the sand.

She captioned the snaps “dnd,” short for “do not disturb.”

One day later, Jenner was all smiles as she stunned in a black string bikini and frolicked in the water. In one image, Jenner was seen walking in the knee-high water toward the camera as she carried a hat.

“Having the time of my life,” she captioned the Sunday, March 29, Instagram post.

Jenner’s travels come weeks after she stepped out to attend the 2026 Oscars with boyfriend Timothée Chalamet, who was nominated for his role in Marty Supreme. (The actor, 30, lost the Best Actor in a Leading Role award to Sinners’ Michael B. Jordan.)

Prior to his loss, Chalamet earned the trophy for Best Actor at the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards in January, where he gave a sweet shout-out to Jenner.

“I couldn’t do this without you,” he told Jenner as the audience cheered. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Related: Kylie Jenner Shares Bare-Faced Bikini Pics From Beach Vacation

Kylie Jenner is channeling low-key luxury. Jenner, 27, took to Instagram on Monday, March 24, and shared rare selfies that showed the beauty mogul through a more natural lens. The fresh-faced photo dump featured her on a remote beach vacation and staying somewhere luxe but secluded. She opted for minimal makeup, wearing her hair naturally […]

The pair have been going strong for nearly three years after they were first romantically linked in April 2023, with Chalamet going on to form a bond with Jenner’s two kids. (Jenner and ex Travis Scott welcomed daughter Stormi and son Aire in 2018 and 2022, respectively. The on-again, off-again exes split for good in 2023.)

“Timothee has also become a part of her kids’ lives and is really great with them,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly earlier this month. “They think he’s super fun, and they love being around him.”

The insider explained that Jenner waited for the right time to introduce her boyfriend to her two children.

“They kept that part of life separate for a while, but Kylie slowly let him in, and now he’s spent a good amount of time with them,” the source said, adding that Jenner and Chalamet have a “genuine bond.”

“When they aren’t working, they live really normal lives together,” the insider continued.“They both like being home.”