The Star Wars franchise has created its own sarlacc, in a way, by setting the bar for success so high that even an otherwise excellent box-office performance is viewed as disappointing. In its opening weekend, The Mandalorian and Grogu delivered a haul in the same range as those of Project Hail Mary, Dune: Part Two, and Avatar: Fire and Ash. Considered in isolation, this is an encouraging result for the first Star Wars movie in seven years. However, when you add context, the picture changes. The Mandalorian and Grogu‘s opening weekend haul was also in the same range as Solo: A Star Wars Story, which remains notorious for being the least-successful live-action installment of the franchise. Solo is also largely responsible for bringing about major changes in creative strategy that saw Lucasfilm pivot from a big-screen-first game plan to streaming.

In other words, the failure of Solo influenced The Mandalorian, and now, The Mandalorian and Grogu is in the same pickle as Solo. This is the Way. However, Solo cost a whopping $275 million to produce. And this was the conservative estimate. The movie was effectively shot twice after original directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were fired for going off-script and replaced by the steady studio hand Ron Howard. Solo opened to mixed-to-positive reviews, and grossed under $400 million worldwide. The Mandalorian and Grogu, on the other hand, appears to have had an uneventful production that set Disney back by a reported $165 million. This is lower than most tent poles these days, which tend to cost more than $200 million. Project Hail Mary, for instance, had a reported price tag of $250 million. Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, on the other hand, remains the most expensive movie ever made with a reported budget of more than $600 million.

‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ Doesn’t Need to Gross a Fortune to Break Even

What this also means is that the bar for success is lower for The Mandalorian and Grogu than it was for Solo, which ultimately resulted in more than $100 million in losses for Disney. According to a recent report, the first Star Wars movie in seven years needs to gross between $500 million and $600 million worldwide to break even. This estimate takes into account the film’s combined production and marketing budgets of under $300 million, and the typical 50-50 split that studios have with exhibitors. Movies of this size generally need to gross twice their combined budgets to break even, and The Mandalorian and Grogu has crucial factors going for it. For instance, the movie holds an 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and an A- CinemaScore grade, which counters its lukewarm critical response. It’s also generating interest among the children drawn to Grogu, and the older males who enjoy Western-style action. More importantly, it’s the cheapest Disney-era Star Wars movie. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

May 22, 2026

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Runtime

132 Minutes

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Clint Eastwood is one of the last remaining stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age who initially made a name for himself in the Western genre with his signature role as the Man With No Name in Sergio Leone‘s Dollars Trilogy and rose to prominence starring in iconic movies such as The Outlaw Josey Wales, Dirty Harry, and the Oscar-winning Western, Unforgiven, making him one of the most versatile talents in American cinema history. Throughout his impressive career, Eastwood established himself as a major box office draw, delivering an array of memorable performances, but like any actor, some of his best work has inevitably faded from the limelight.

For all the praise surrounding Eastwood’s legendary pictures, some of his most fascinating films, such as The Beguiled and Play Misty for Me, have unfortunately been overshadowed by his more mainstream movies like The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, The Bridges of Madison County, and Million Dollar Baby, and deserve more credit than they generally receive. These overlooked works, including Tightrope and Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, come remarkably close to cinematic perfection and reveal Eastwood at his most daring, vulnerable, and unpredictable.

5

‘Tightrope’ (1984)

Image via Warner Bros.

Released during the height of Eastwood’s action-star era, Tightrope is a neo-noir cop thriller that quietly slipped between Eastwoo’s larger hits, but over time it has gained a reputation as one of his most mature and complex performances. Eastwood stars as a detective and divorced father, Wes Block, whose investigation into a string of murders in New Orleans’ French Quarter forces him to come to terms with his own dark and personal demons. The movie received generally positive reviews from critics, including At the Movies‘ co-host, Gene Siskel, who praised Eastwood for risking his public image and stepping out of his comfort zone.

Compared to Eastwood’s other films, Tightrope doesn’t fit neatly into the actor’s traditional on-screen persona and roles, which is a major reason why the movie has earned its reputation as a forgotten Eastwood gem. While it’s stylish, disturbing, and unusually fearless for a major Hollywood star like Eastwood to take on, Tightrope is the kind of forgotten movie that becomes more impressive the more cinema evolves around and stands as one of the best examples of how Eastwood could use genre filmmaking to explore deeper emotional and moral conflict. It’s too introspective to be a mainstream action movie and too grim and sexually charged to become a nostalgic crowd-pleaser, yet those same qualities are exactly why many modern viewers see Tightrope as one of his hidden masterpieces.

4

‘Play Misty for Me’ (1971)

Eastwood made his directorial debut with the 1971 psychological thriller, Play Misty for Me, which follows a popular California disc jockey, Dave Garver (Eastwood), whose casual relationship with a crazed fan, Evelyn (Jessica Walter), turns into an inescapable nightmare. Similar to Tightrope, Play Misty for Me was vastly different from the Westerns and action films Eastwood was generally associated with at this point in his career, and to make that bold genre shift, not only on-screen but as his first credit as a director, speaks volumes about his talent and ambition as a filmmaker. The main reason why Play Misty for Me is often overshadowed is that, similar to Tightrope, it doesn’t align with what the Eastwood audience expects to see.

Eastwood’s character in Play Misty for Me isn’t a fearless gunslinger or no-nonsense cop, but instead he’s flawed, emotionally careless, and often overwhelmed. The film’s power comes from watching someone accustomed to control slowly lose it completely and, at the time, that kind of defenselessness was unusual for Eastwood and likely contributed to the movie being underrated compared to his more iconic roles. Looking back now, Play Misty for Me feels remarkably modern and also reveals Eastwood’s instincts as a filmmaker long before he established him as one of Hollywood’s most respected directors. What was once seen as a small experimental thriller now stands as one of the most fascinating hidden gems in his entire career.

3

‘A Perfect World’ (1993)

Image via Warner Bros

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Eastwood’s 1993 thriller, A Perfect World, stars Kevin Costner as an escaped convict from Texas, Robert “Butch” Haynes, who kidnaps and forms a strong bond with a young boy (T.J. Lowther) while being pursed across the country by a Texas Ranger (Eastwood). The movie wasn’t a major financial success, but according to an interview with The New York Times, Eastwood knew the risks that came with A Perfect World and that audiences may be disappointed that it wasn’t an action-packed adventure or a buddy road trip flick. Despite being one of Eastwood’s most emotionally layered and beautifully directed works, A Perfect World had several factors working against it that essentially led to it fading from popular conversation.

Unfortunately, A Perfect World arrived after the massive success of Eastwood’s Oscar-winning film, Unforgiven, which also revived public interest in his bigger and more celebrated films, and essentially cast a shadow over A Perfect World. Today, A Perfect World is credited as one of Eastwood’s finest directorial achievements and described as a deeply humane film about broken people searching for connection in a world that has already failed them. Its emotional maturity, understated storytelling, and haunting final act make A Perfect World feel less like a forgotten studio drama and more like a timeless American tragedy hiding in plain sight.

Image via United Artists

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Eastwood delivers a rich performance in Michael Cimino‘s crime thriller Thunderbolt and Lightfoot as a notorious bank robber disguised as a minister, John “Thunderbolt” Doherty, who is rescued by an amateur car thief, Lightfoot (Jeff Bridges), and commits a series of robberies with him while being pursued by his former partners in crime. Despite being both a critical and commercial success, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is another one of those strange near-masterpieces that slipped through the cracks of Eastwood’s career, mainly because it didn’t fit the image people expected to see from the Western icon.

The film earned Bridges an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, but many felt that Eastwood’s performance was also worthy of an Oscar nomination and has since been credited as one of his most human and criminally underappreciated performances. Even though Thunderbolt and Lightfoot had a few factors working against it, notably coming before Cimino’s career gained traction with his 1978 Academy Award-winning epic war drama, The Deer Hunter, it’s still a worthwhile Eastwood film that doesn’t announce its greatness as you watch, but instead, it sneaks up on you afterward, which may be exactly why it became forgotten in the first place.

1

‘The Beguiled’ (1971)

Image via Universal Pictures

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Don Siegel‘s Southern gothic drama The Beguiled is one of the most unsettling and psychologically fascinating films in Eastwood’s career, but the film falls in with his other forgotten gems because, at the time, audiences were expecting a cool Eastwood vehicle similar to his Western roles; instead, they got a sexually charged chamber drama where masculinity is exposed as fragile and corrosive. Set during the American Civil War, Eastwood stars in The Beguiled as a Union soldier, John McBurney, who, after being wounded, is taken in by a group of women who run an all-girls school in the South and manipulates them for his own personal gain.

On top of catching audiences off guard with Eastwood taking on an against-type role, it doesn’t help that The Beguiled sits awkwardly between several genres, because almost any movie that resists easy categorization eventually disappears for a while before being rediscovered by later generations of movie fans. Today, The Beguiled has gained a reputation as a cult classic and is considered by many critics and film historians to be not only one of the best collaborations between Siegel and Eastwood but also one of Eastwood’s most daring performances, showcasing his depth and range as an up-and-coming versatile actor.

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The Beguiled

Release Date

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January 23, 1971

Runtime

105 minutes

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Director

Don Siegel

Writers

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Albert Maltz, Claude Traverse, Thomas Cullinan, Irene Kamp

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Fleur Shomo spent years making fans believe her marriage to Caleb Shomo would last forever. 

From emotional anniversary tributes to backstage tour memories and romantic captions, the actress constantly celebrated her husband online. That is why followers immediately noticed when their latest anniversary quietly passed without acknowledgement. 

Weeks later, Caleb publicly came out as gay and confirmed the marriage was ending, while Fleur admitted the split had left her emotionally devastated. Now, insiders say the painful separation had actually been building behind the scenes for a long time.

To outsiders, Fleur and Caleb Shomo appeared inseparable. Their social media pages were packed with affectionate photos, concert memories, and emotional captions celebrating their life together.

Every April, Fleur would celebrate their wedding anniversary by sharing memories from their beachfront wedding in Kauai, Hawaii, once calling it “the most perfect of days.” However, this year, fans noticed the tradition suddenly stopped.

According to a source who spoke to the Daily Mail, the collapse of the marriage did not happen overnight. “This had been building for a long time for Caleb, and it’s been incredibly heartbreaking for Fleur, who truly believed she had found her soulmate,” the insider shared.

The source added that although the split has been devastating, Fleur is beginning to process the reality of the situation. “They went through so much together, and while it’s been difficult, she’s slowly coming to terms with everything,” they explained. 

While Fleur struggles emotionally, the insider claimed Caleb has experienced a different kind of emotional shift. “Caleb now feels a huge sense of relief finally being able to live as his authentic self,” the insider noted.

Caleb Publicly Comes Out And Addresses His Personal Journey

Caleb Shomo officially addressed speculation surrounding his personal life in a lengthy Instagram statement shared Saturday.

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“I am a proudly gay man,” the Beartooth singer wrote. He explained that he felt compelled to set the record straight before it “affects those I love any further.”

Caleb reflected on years spent battling emotional struggles, pointing to his religious upbringing, depression, self-hatred, and hopelessness as themes that had repeatedly surfaced in his music.

“I spent  a decade burying feelings with alcohol, and honestly when I decided to put it down and focus on exploring why I felt this way for so long, it’s been a direct path to me reconciling with my sexuality in hopes that it will eventually lead to me experiencing self-love,” he shared.

Now, the insider says Caleb is fully aware of the criticism and online ridicule that may follow his announcement.

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“He stands by his decision and is ready to face the likely backlash, including that from trolls and others that are already making cruel jokes at his expense using his last name, and making it derogatory,” the source told the outlet.

Still, Caleb reportedly feels relief after finally speaking openly about his identity following years of internal struggle.

Caleb Shomo’s Revelation Left Fleur Shomo Emotionally Devastated

Fleur Shomo, l’épouse de Caleb Shomo de Beartooth, a réagit sur Instagram à l’annonce hier du coming out de son mari :

“Je ne sais pas vraiment comment commencer, car est-ce vraiment nécessaire de dire quoi que ce soit ? Mais je suppose que je vais me lancer directement. pic.twitter.com/4Ad1z7L7ay

— Louder Now! (@loudernowfr) May 24, 2026

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While Caleb publicly embraced his truth, Fleur used her own social media platform to reveal how deeply the situation has affected her emotionally.

As The Blast reported, the actress shared a video showing the pair dancing and laughing together and admitted the last several months have been “disorienting” and “hurtful.”

“You never want anything more for your person than for them to just be ok,” she wrote. She also confessed that the situation forced her to wrestle with conflicting emotions at the same time.

Fleur explained that she still wanted to support Caleb despite feeling emotionally shattered herself. “You can love and support your person through the hardest time in their life, whilst also be completely demolished & lose yourself at the same time,” she shared.

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Fleur continued, “You question everything. But I have learned the one thing I don’t need to question is our history.”

According to her, the love inside their marriage was always genuine, even if the relationship ultimately could not survive.

Caleb And Fleur Once Shared Their Romance Constantly Online

Breaking: Beartooth frontman Caleb Shomo has come out as gay; his wife Fleur has responded. The couple’s statements show a personal moment handled with candour and care – a notable development for fans and the band. More reactions expected… #Beartooth #LGBTQ pic.twitter.com/cMK1lXJtef

— AussiEx.au (@aussiExau) May 25, 2026

Before their split became public, Fleur frequently celebrated Caleb Shomo online, regularly referring to him as her “forever.”

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The pair dated for roughly two years before marrying in 2012, and Caleb quickly became a major presence across Fleur’s Instagram page. One emotional caption read, “I want to be here long enough to gather dust with you.”

In another tribute praising his music career, Fleur wrote, “forever in awe of you, your ridiculous talent & your frikin’ guts for putting another piece of you out there.”

When Caleb toured with Beartooth, Fleur regularly shared how much she missed him while counting down the days until his return home. She also frequently posted photos of herself traveling with the band during life on the road.

Even earlier this year, the 33-year-old appeared in a Valentine’s Day tribute where Fleur described him as her “favourite person.”

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Caleb Shomo Wants Future Relationships Kept Out Of The Spotlight

Although the couple’s marriage has ended, sources say Caleb intends to approach future relationships differently. According to the insider, he hopes to keep his dating life private, moving forward out of respect for Fleur and whoever enters his life next.

“He has no interest in turning it into a spectacle or forcing it into the public eye,” the source explained. They also noted that despite being openly gay, Caleb still wanted to carry himself with respect and show the same respect to anyone he would date. 

Meanwhile, Fleur admitted that despite the heartbreak, she still values the years they shared together. “Nobody will know anything about our marriage like we do. And no one can ever truly know what depths of love exist between two people unless they are those people,” she wrote.

She also acknowledged how difficult it has been coping with the aftermath privately while struggling emotionally behind the scenes. Her mental health, she revealed, had “suffered” during the breakdown of the marriage.

Still, Fleur made clear that despite everything, the relationship itself had been real. According to her, their romance was wonderful and full of so much fun, adventure and love.

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Justin Hartley’s Tracker has dealt with numerous surprise cast exits — so who is and isn’t returning for season 4?

The hit CBS series, which premiered in February 2024, introduced fictional survivalist Colter (Hartley) as he travels the country to help solve various missing persons cases. The ensemble cast grew with characters such as handlers Teddi (Robin Weigert) and Velma (Abby McEnany), hacker Bobby (Eric Graise) and attorney Reenie (Fiona Rene).

Weigert’s character was written off and McEnany and Graise soon followed.

“I do think it’s evolving. If I can’t evolve those characters — Randy or Reenie or Bobby — they’re not just people that just pick up the phone and go, ‘OK, here is the answer.’ That’s when the show is phoning it in,” executive producer Elwood Reid exclusively told Us Weekly in May 2025. “The challenge is when you got to learn about them, which I thought was interesting. That’s the challenge of the show is not having it fall into a formula.”

Related: Which ‘Tracker’ Stars Have Left Justin Hartley’s CBS Show So Far?

Justin Hartley‘s hit show Tracker has lost several main characters after just two seasons — but who is still left from the cast? CBS found success with Tracker immediately after it premiered in February 2024 to record-breaking ratings. Viewers have since tuned in week after week to see fictional survivalist Colter Shaw (Hartley) travel the […]

Reid noted that they didn’t want Tracker to “fall into complacency.”

“The only rule I really have of the show is each week Colter is going to come to a new place and there’s going to be a new case. How he gets those answers and what he uses on the team, that’s all something that’s up for grabs,” Reid teased. “Meeting these [local] weird characters is something we’re going to try to do more of as the season goes on. Just Colter coming in and interacting with other characters. That’s fun to see Justin flex those muscles with really good guest cast members.”

More recently, Reid weighed in on the onscreen changes. “What we’re realizing is there are characters that come on that if it worked, we’d bring them back,” he told Us in December 2025. “I do think the show can’t always do that. But when it does do that, it makes the world feel a little bit more connected.”

Reid noted there was only one constant on the show: Hartley’s fan-favorite character.

“The audience leans in because they’ve seen that character before. But I think they’re still thinking the central DNA of the show is Colter. With this guy, what makes him appealing is he is a mystery to himself,” he added. “He’s a mystery to the audience. We see him and his off time putting together some pieces of his past.”

He concluded: “I don’t know if we’ll ever put it all together, but he’s going to struggle to continue to do that. That’s just as far as we have thought. The biggest improvement we made this year — in my opinion — was getting people in the same room. Just that connectivity, I do think the audience is enjoying seeing their characters in the same place physically.”

Before filming began on season 4, news broke that the show would be moving production from Vancouver to Los Angeles. Keep scrolling to see which cast members are — and aren’t — coming back:

Justin Hartley

There would be no Tracker without Colter Shaw so Justin Hartley is expected to be front and center in season 4. Hartley, however, hasn’t ruled out Colter dying in the future.

“It’s important to keep upping the stakes. I like being Colter as a hero, finding people and all that. I also really like seeing him in a suspenseful thriller and a dangerous situation,” Hartley told The Hollywood Reporter in April 2025. “I don’t want our audience to forget that this man is mortal, he’s not a superhero. He can die! The things he is doing are very very dangerous.”

Robin Weigert

After joining Tracker in season 1, Robin Weigert’s character was written off in the premiere. She isn’t expected to reprise her role in future seasons.

Abby McEnany

Season 2 caused more concern when Eric Graise was noticeably absent from six episodes. News later broke that Graise and Abby McEnany wouldn’t be coming back — at least for now.

Eric Graise

Eric Graise’s Bobby was missing from several episodes before officially being written off. There has been no word on a return and both Graise and Abby McEnany have yet to break their silence on their respective departures.

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Related: Why Did ‘Tracker’ Lose 3 Cast Members Before Season 3? Shakeups Explained

Justin Hartley’s Tracker is easily CBS’ biggest hit show — so why has it gone through three cast shakeups in just two seasons? When Tracker premiered in 2024, it introduced Us to survivalist Colter Shaw (Hartley) as he travels the country to help find missing people, track down information on criminal cases and more. The […]

Fiona Rene

In addition to Justin Hartley, Fiona Rene is the only remaining OG cast member on the show.

“There’s going to be an attempt to build out the rest of the characters — particularly what’s happening with Reenie and where we left her off and what her life is looking like,” Reid teased to Us in August 2025. “The show always comes back to that. What makes the show work in my opinion is Colter is a guy that comes in and says, ‘I can help you.’ It works every time.”

Chris Lee

Chris Lee was brought in ahead of Eric Graise’s exit — and is expected to return.

“Having Chris Lee in the same space that Fiona Rene is in just gets you [more]. The stuff we’ve seen so far is so much fun. It has made a huge difference,” Reid told TVLine in September 2025. “Now, when Colter calls, it feels like he’s calling into something already in motion. This is all part of my ‘evil plan’ to use Fiona more — the more you can build out her world, the more the show benefits.”

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Cassady McClincy Zhang

Cassady McClincy Zhang, who was introduced in season 3, will seemingly keep playing Mel in future seasons.

Jensen Ackles

Despite Jensen Ackles’ busy schedule, every season has found a way to involve the actor, who plays Justin Hartley’s onscreen brother.

Sofia Pernas

The same goes for Justin Hartley’s offscreen wife, who has played his love interest on Tracker since the show premiered.

Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi appear to be spending more time together than ever.

Photos published by TMZ on Sunday, May 24, seemingly showed the model, 30, standing inside a Montecito restaurant with the Euphoria actor, 28. According to the outlet, the pair dropped into the eatery “with pals” in what was a “double date” before they left together in Elordi’s car.

In the snaps, Kendall appeared to be in conversation with Elordi before the duo, who remained standing beside one another, turned their attention elsewhere.

The photos come after Us Weekly reported last week that the pair’s romance has become more serious than initially thought. “Kendall and Jacob have become very close recently,” a source exclusively told Us on Wednesday, May 20, before reflecting on their recent trip to Hawaii.

Related: Inside Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi’s ‘Fun’ New Romance

Days after Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi were seen getting cozy with each other at Coachella 2026, a source exclusively tells Us Weekly that the two are “casually seeing each other.” “It is not serious, but they have been ‘hanging out’ for a few months now,” the insider shares. “It started around awards season in […]

“They were excited to get away to Hawaii and have some downtime together,” the insider stated. “This has been going on since January, but things are progressing, and they have been consistently seeing each other when they can. It is much more serious now, without a label.”

A photo published by TMZ on Sunday, May 17, showed a bikini-clad Kendall and a shirtless Elordi engaged in conversation while seated on a Hawaiian beach. The photo arrived two days after they were individually photographed grabbing breakfast from a farm on the island of Kaua’i.

The source told Us that the pair are enjoying getting to know each other. “Kendall especially likes that Jacob is very funny and easy to be around, and she seems really happy and relaxed when she’s with him,” the insider stated. “They’ve been spending more private time together behind the scenes and have become much more comfortable in each other’s inner circles.”

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Kendall’s circle includes sister Kylie Jenner, who was spotted on a double date in Los Angeles with Kendall and Elordi, as well as Kylie’s boyfriend Timothée Chalamet, on May 16. “It has really worked out that they can hang out with Kylie and Timothée, and it has been so fun for all of them to be together,” the source explained to Us. “The group dynamic has made things even easier because there’s no pressure and everyone gets along naturally. They’ve been enjoying low-key dinners and just hanging out at home casually.”

Elordi and Kendall were first romantically linked during the first Coachella weekend after they attended Justin Bieber’s headlining set. Another source told Us at the time that sparks had flown between the pair after forming a friendship long ago.

“They have known each other socially for years now and have hung out in similar circles, but it became romantic recently,” the insider said at the time, adding then that Kendall thought Elordi was “a really cool and down-to-earth guy.”

One of the greatest strengths of film is its ability to bring to life vivid worlds and concepts through the limits of imagination, with science fiction films being one of the greatest expressions of these limitless possibilities. Some of the most groundbreaking and influential films of all time are a part of the sci-fi genre, ranging from all-time classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey to modern smash hits like Dune: Part Two. However, genres are highly malleable and flexible in film, and adding a twist of comedy into a sci-fi film has been one of the most effective and timeless ways to find success.

While comedy always acts as an effective addition to any other genre of film, the creativity and limitless potential of science-fiction worlds and technologies make for a perfect pairing of comedic hijinks. Sci-fi comedy has been a staple of film for decades, with some being some of the most legendary and iconic films of their respective eras, with an undeniable legacy throughout the landscape of culture. While everyone will have their favorite sci-fi comedies, there is something special for those that can be considered the best of the best.

15

‘Paul’ (2011)

Image via Universal Pictures
 

Utilizing the buddy comedy energy of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost to create this wild, R-rated rendition of the classic E.T. setup, Paul may just be the raunchiest yet most surprisingly endearing sci-fi comedy to be released in the 21st century. The film sees Pegg and Frost as a duo of friends who come across an alien (Seth Rogen) who escaped confinement in Area 51 after being stuck there for 60 years. The trio is now on the run from the government while getting into all sorts of shenanigans as they attempt to get Paul back to his home planet.

While Paul certainly has a lot of the signature raunchy comedy conventions that defined buddy comedies of the era, it’s the surprisingly fluid parody of classic alien movies that has given the film a continued legacy after its initial release. It helps that a goofy smart-ass alien fits perfectly into the camaraderie-fueled energy of Pegg and Frost’s comedy, only further amplifying their charm and witty nature.

14

‘Evolution’ (2001)

Image via DreamWorks Pictures

One of the more underrated films from iconic comedy filmmaker Ivan Reitman, Evolution takes the director’s signature strengths to tell a wild story of extraterrestrial life causing chaos and destruction on Earth. While its initial premise isn’t too far from a traditional sci-fi thriller, it’s all in the tone and characters that make Evolution one of the most memorable sci-fi comedies of the 2000s. From wildly absurd creatures to goofy character dynamics, the film continuously finds ways to delight and make light of the chaotic prospects of this end-of-the-world alien threat.

Especially considering that its cast of prominent Hollywood stars, like David Duchovny and Julianne Moore, were often associated with more grounded and serious stories (even serious sci-fi stories in the case of Duchovny and The X-Files), seeing them in such a wild sci-fi parody was massively entertaining for audiences of the era.

13

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014)

Image via Marvel Studios

The various offerings of the MCU have always balanced the line between genres. However, Guardians of the Galaxy proved to be a massively influential film for the extended universe that added oodles of charm and comedic personality to its execution. Under the vision of James Gunn, the previously completely unknown characters that make up the Guardians of the Galaxy became global icons thanks to their wild comedic chemistry and vast intergalactic creativity.

Even over a decade later and after these characters have become blockbuster icons, this initial outing is still one of the funniest films in the MCU and a beautiful exploration of charm and passion for these characters and the Marvel world as a whole. There is arguably more passion and care for this film than any other film from the early phases of the MCU, with many even still believing this to be the absolute height of the MCU.

12

‘Sorry to Bother You’ (2018)

Image via Annapurna Pictures

One of the most creative and wildest satires of recent memory, Sorry to Bother You is a beautiful, high-octane takedown of capitalism that explores the limits of both dark comedy and outrageous sci-fi concepts. The film follows the story of Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield), a Black telemarketer living in an alternate version of Oakland who has seemingly found the key to limitless success in his professional life. As he rises through the ranks, he finds himself alienating more and more of his friends, going deeper and deeper into a terrifying corporate rabbit hole.

While the film’s sci-fi elements don’t truly go into full force until later in the film, Sorry to Bother You is still a brilliantly hilarious experience that makes the most out of its strange, satirical lens of the world. It’s easily one of the most creative and distinct directorial visions to be released in recent memory, with the distinct voice of director Boots Riley shining through in nearly every frame and sequence of the film. It’s truly unlike any other sci-fi comedy out there and is assuredly going to be considered a modern classic as the years go by.

11

‘Spaceballs’ (1987)

Image via MGM

Star Wars is not just one of the most iconic sci-fi films of all time, but one of the most iconic pieces of pop culture entertainment in any medium, so it was only a matter of time before a great parody film was made. Spaceballs is easily the most prominent and effective Star Wars parody to date, thanks to the ingenious comedy of Mel Brooks, best known for his work in the likes of other parodies like Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles. The film has a signature style of farcical, fourth-wall-breaking comedy that has made it a landmark title in the realm of parody filmmaking.

While many different creatives and visionaries have parodied and riffed on Star Wars‘ world and characters over the years, none have had as much undeniable charm as Spaceballs, becoming an undeniable comedy force even outside of Star Wars. The film’s ingenious style of comedy has aged beautifully in the decades since its release, and the film is often considered one of the most beloved and acclaimed parody films of all time.

10

‘Idiocracy’ (2006)

Image via 20th Century Studios

As far as extravagant and memorable sci-fi world concepts are considered, few are as effective and hilariously told as Idiocracy, which creates a far-off future equal parts depressing and hilarious. The movie follows Joe Bauers (Luke Wilson), a man chosen, due to being completely average and ordinary in every way, to be placed into hibernation and sent into the future. When he awakens 500 years later, he finds that civilization has dwindled so greatly that he is, by and large, now the smartest man on earth, as well as the only person who can help save it from its eventual destruction.

The world created by Idiocracy manages to be as interesting and multi-faceted as it is hilarious, able to excel both from a surface level of watching a low-intelligence society and the comedy of how it got to this point in the first place. The film has only continued to age with grace as it is more and more considered a terrifying prophecy for an increasingly wild and unpredictable future. Still, even with its wild antics, the signature dialogue-based humor of director Mike Judge, known for his work on King of the Hill and Office Space, helps Idiocracy excel as one of the best comedies of the 2000s.

9

‘Lilo & Stitch’ (2002)

Image via Disney

One of the best examples of a sci-fi comedy film being translated to the infinitely rewatchable and approachable nature of an animated family movie, Lilo & Stitch is overwhelming with cutesy charm and passion that has made it one of Disney’s greatest masterpieces. This lovable story of a young girl finding an unexpected friend in a chaotic alien from outer space has touched the hearts of audiences for decades. It is easily one of the funniest films Disney has ever released, a comedic delight from start to finish.

What’s so effective is that even with the wild comedic hijinks of its story and characters, it never gets in the way of the signature heart and emotion that continues to make Disney the titan of family movie storytelling. Lilo & Stitch is a film that will, at one moment, touch the audience’s heartstrings and, in another, have them laughing at its distinct charm. While the film received a myriad of sequels and a live-action remake, none of them are nearly as hilarious or emotionally impactful as the iconic original.

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‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (2022)

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The Best Picture-winning phenomenon that is quickly becoming one of the defining and standout cinematic experiences of the 2020s, Everything Everywhere All at Once blends sci-fi, comedy, and drama to create a masterful crowd-pleasing thrill ride. The film follows Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh), a Chinese immigrant who, on what was already a stressful day of dealing with the stresses of an IRS audit, finds out that she is the key to winning an ongoing battle to save the multiverse. She is soon given the ability to tap into alternate versions of herself from across dimensions, using their skills and strengths to fight off vicious foes.

There are a lot of reasons that Everything Everywhere All at Once became such an immediate hit with audiences, yet its sci-fi world-building and signature blend of comedy are easily two of its biggest strengths. While many other films have tackled the concept of the multiverse in recent years, Everything Everywhere All at Once truly makes the most out of the premise and goes all out in terms of creative expression in its usage of the concept. Combined with a wild, raunchy, and in-your-face style of humor, it’s no wonder that the film became such an instant fan favorite.

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‘Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie’ (2026)

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Bringing the cult classic internet-era duo to the big screen with a time travel sci-fi twist, there is a clear passion and love for comedic filmmaking baked within every moment of Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. The film sees the goofy band duo attempting once again to get a show at their venue of choice, The Rivoli, only to find that their latest plan manages to see them travel back in time and get trapped in 2008. The duo gets into all sorts of shenanigans as they face their past and make massive changes to their future.

Even for those who aren’t familiar with the original show, there is so much wild, unpredictable passion and creativity within Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie that makes it one of the absolute funniest films in years. It proves to be much more than just a parody of classic time travel comedies like Back to the Future, but its own wild style of hidden camera comedy mixed with an unpredictable parody narrative.

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‘Ghostbusters’ (1984)

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Combining the worlds of fantasy and science fiction into a singular, star-studded comedy experience, the original Ghostbusters was a massive cultural phenomenon that would define comedy filmmaking of the 80s. The film follows a group of parapsychologists who, after losing their jobs at a prestigious university, decide to go into the business of carrying around custom-made proton packs to hunt down the ghosts of New York City. They soon find themselves well over their heads as they go head-to-head with a terrifying demon that threatens to take over the world.

It’s difficult to understate just how much of a phenomenon and success the original Ghostbusters was, ushering in a new era of sci-fi comedy and continued success from the SNL alumni. It evolved simply beyond the scope of being a sci-fi comedy and became a massive franchise in the process, and while many additional entries have had their own success, nothing holds a candle to the ingenuity and charm of the original.

Kevin Costner is basically synonymous with Westerns these days, and with good reason. He was the star of Yellowstone, the biggest Western hit on television in decades. He poured his own money into Horizon: An American Saga, for better or worse, and he’s never far away from a stetson or a horse. But that reputation was cemented with his 181-minute epic, which brought Hollywood to its feet in rapturous applause. The only problem is that it’s about to leave streaming.

Dances with Wolves is leaving Prime Video on May 31, so you’d best saddle up if you want to see the award-winning behemoth in time. The film follows Lieutenant John J. Dunbar, a Union Army officer who requests a remote post on the American frontier after the Civil War. Isolated from his own military and surrounded by unfamiliar land, Dunbar forms a bond with a nearby Lakota community, which forces him into questioning where he came from and the violence that moves west with it.

Dances with Wolves stars Costner (Field of Dreams) as Lieutenant John J. Dunbar, Mary McDonnell (Independence Day) as Stands With A Fist, a white woman raised by the Lakota; Graham Greene (Wind River) as Kicking Bird, a Lakota medicine man; Rodney A. Grant (Geronimo: An American Legend) as Wind In His Hair, a proud Lakota warrior; Floyd Red Crow Westerman (Hidalgo) as Ten Bears, the tribe’s respected chief; Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon) as Black Shawl, Kicking Bird’s wife; Robert Pastorelli (Eraser) as Timmons, the wagon driver who takes Dunbar west; Charles Rocket (Hocus Pocus) as Lieutenant Elgin, a Union Army officer; and Maury Chaykin (My Cousin Vinny) as Major Fambrough, the officer who sends Dunbar to his post.

Was ‘Dances With Wolves’ Successful?

It’s hard to overstate just how much of a success. Prepare yourself for these numbers, because it grossed about $424 million worldwide against a reported budget of around $19–22 million, which is an enormous return. That’s 22 times its production budget, so, financially alone, it’s an absolute game-changer. It was also a major awards success. Dances with Wolves earned 12 Oscar nominations and won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Costner. All of this, and it was his directorial debut on a feature film. An astonishing achievement. Now, admittedly, it has been reassessed over the years, especially around its portrayal of Native American culture, but nobody can deny just how big a hit this was.

Dances with Wolves leaves Prime Video on May 31.

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Release Date

November 21, 1990

Runtime

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181 minutes

Writers

Michael Blake

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Producers

Jake Eberts

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• 
• 

  Mary McDonnell

  Stands With A Fist

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Samantha Busch (née Sarcinella) was brought to tears ahead of a moment of silence at the Indy 500 that honored her late husband, NASCAR driver Kyle Busch.

Clutching the shoulder of son Brexton, Samantha, 39, was overcome with emotion while one of the event’s announcers paid tribute to the Busch family at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 24. “Samantha, I want you to know that this sport stands with you, and that you and your children are NASCAR family forever,” the announcer told the crowd, as seen via a TikTok video posted by Bleacher Report.

Samantha, donning a matching black T-shirt to that worn by Brexton that read “Battle of the Busches,” held her son to her chest and hugged him as fans applauded the words.

“Brexton and Lennix [the couple’s daughter], your dad loves you with all his heart,” the announcer continued. “Everyone gathered here, everyone behind you, everybody watching on TV, and all those people up in that grandstand are your family, and we’ve got you.”

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As the crowd applauded again, the teen adjusted his black cap and rubbed his mom’s arm.

“Kyle Busch is NASCAR. He was one of a kind and there will never be another, and I’d ask everybody now to join us in a moment of silence for Kyle,” the announcement continued.

The tribute comes after NASCAR confirmed on Thursday, May 21, that Kyle had died at the age of 41. The announcement came after the athlete reportedly “became unresponsive” while testing in a Chevrolet racing simulator at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, on Wednesday, May 20.

News broke the following day that Kyle had been hospitalized, and the Busch family issued a statement the following day. “Kyle has experienced a severe illness resulting in hospitalization,” the statement read. “He is currently undergoing treatment and will not compete in any of his scheduled activities this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. We ask for understanding and privacy as our family navigates this situation.”

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NASCAR legend Kyle Busch leaves behind his wife, Samantha Busch, their two children and his brother Kurt Busch following his shocking death at age 41. “We are saddened and heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup champion and one of our sport’s greatest and fiercest drivers,” NASCAR announced […]

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On Saturday, May 23, a rep for the family confirmed to NBC News that Kyle died of pneumonia that progressed “into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications.”

Kyle was also honored during the early stages of Sunday’s Indy 500. “As the drivers exit turn four … on lap 18, we remember Kyle Busch,” an announcer said during the race. The moment was shared via INDYCAR on FOX’s official X account at the time, with the caption, “A tribute to Kyle Busch on Lap 18 of the Indy 500.”

Kyle’s final race was the NASCAR All-Star Race on May 17 at Dover International Speedway. He finished in 17th place. “You never know when the last one is,” he told reporters in the event’s aftermath.

Season 3 of Tracker came to an end — but was there another surprise cast exit?

During the Sunday, May 24, finale, Colter (Justin Hartley) and Russell (Jensen Ackles) dug into their father’s past. The episode ended with Russell agreeing to work a suspicious — and questionable — job in exchange for nothing about his dad coming to light. He had a call with Reenie (Fiona Rene) where he hinted he would be gone for a while, which he didn’t disclose to Colter.

The season ended on a hopeful note after previously weathering several changes. CBS’ hit series, which premiered in February 2024, introduced fictional survivalist Colter as he travels the country to help solve various missing persons cases. The ensemble cast grew with characters such as handlers Teddi (Robin Weigert) and Velma (Abby McEnany), hacker Bobby (Eric Graise) and attorney Reenie.

Weigert’s character was written off and McEnany and Graise soon followed.

Related: Why Did ‘Tracker’ Lose 3 Cast Members Before Season 3? Shakeups Explained

Justin Hartley’s Tracker is easily CBS’ biggest hit show — so why has it gone through three cast shakeups in just two seasons? When Tracker premiered in 2024, it introduced Us to survivalist Colter Shaw (Hartley) as he travels the country to help find missing people, track down information on criminal cases and more. The […]

“I do think it’s evolving. If I can’t evolve those characters — Randy or Reenie or Bobby — they’re not just people that just pick up the phone and go, ‘OK, here is the answer.’ That’s when the show is phoning it in,” executive producer Elwood Reid exclusively told Us Weekly in May 2025. “The challenge is when you got to learn about them, which I thought was interesting. That’s the challenge of the show is not having it fall into a formula.”

Reid noted that they didn’t want Tracker to “fall into complacency.”

“The only rule I really have of the show is each week Colter is going to come to a new place and there’s going to be a new case. How he gets those answers and what he uses on the team, that’s all something that’s up for grabs,” Reid teased. “Meeting these [local] weird characters is something we’re going to try to do more of as the season goes on. Just Colter coming in and interacting with other characters. That’s fun to see Justin flex those muscles with really good guest cast members.”

More recently, Reid weighed in on the onscreen changes. “What we’re realizing is there are characters that come on that if it worked, we’d bring them back,” he told Us in December 2025. “I do think the show can’t always do that. But when it does do that, it makes the world feel a little bit more connected.”

Reid noted there was only one constant on the show: Hartley’s fan-favorite character.

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“The audience leans in because they’ve seen that character before. But I think they’re still thinking the central DNA of the show is Colter. With this guy, what makes him appealing is he is a mystery to himself,” he added. “He’s a mystery to the audience. We see him and his off time putting together some pieces of his past.”

He concluded: “I don’t know if we’ll ever put it all together, but he’s going to struggle to continue to do that. That’s just as far as we have thought. The biggest improvement we made this year — in my opinion — was getting people in the same room. Just that connectivity, I do think the audience is enjoying seeing their characters in the same place physically.”

Tracker is streaming on Paramount+.