Whew, Roomies! New York is still recovering because something very serious went down behind closed doors after the final buzzer, and let’s just say the cameras barely scratched the surface. While the city was already losing its collective mind outside—subways shaking, bodegas buzzing, chopped cheese orders going up in real time—the real scene was unfolding somewhere a little more chaotic. And yes—we’re talking about the moment the New York Knicks officially sealed their championship win and turned a quiet locker room into pure, unhinged celebration energy—and now they’ve already touched back down in New York like nothing even happened.

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Knicks Turn Locker Room Into Champagne Chaos

Roomies, the videos do not do this justice—because as soon as that final buzzer hit and the reality of victory set in, the Knicks were losing their minds expeditiously. Like, no warm-up, no calm celebration, just immediate full-send energy the second they got behind closed doors. Inside the locker room, several players spray champagne bottles across the room, over each other, and even directly onto the gold trophy like it’s part of the ritual, while screaming like they’ve been holding in 53 years of emotions at once.

Everybody was rocking matching championship tees and white hats with the team logo, passing the trophy around like it was a family heirloom, stopping every few seconds to kiss it, touch it, and make sure it was actually real for the camera. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more unhinged, Timothée Chalamet popped in and got absolutely soaked in champagne like he subbed himself into the celebration—standing there grinning, drenched, and fully acting like he’d been part of the rotation all season.

Still Can’t Work His Phone, Even As Champion

Even with a championship in hand, some of the Knicks are still out here proving they can win games but not always their phones. OG Anunoby accidentally gives fans an all-access pass to the locker room celebration after the Knicks’ Game 5 title-clincher, hopping on Instagram Live mid-chaos as champagne flies, the trophy moves from hand to hand, and Karl-Anthony Towns pops into frame yelling, “We live baby, we live,” fully locked into celebration mode with goggles on. The problem? OG immediately realized he had no idea how to end the stream, repeatedly asking, “How do you end the live?” while the party kept raging behind him, turning what should’ve been a quick moment into 25 seconds of pure button-mashing confusion before the video cut off with his hand over the camera—championship energy in the streets, but still very much “someone call IT” in the locker room.

Champions Touch Down & Nobody Can Touch ‘Em

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Justin Trudeau had an epic World Cup date with his girlfriend, Katy Perry, at the Team USA game — but that doesn’t mean his allegiance to the country is automatic.

“From @TheAthleticFC: On a day that Canada and the United States both opened their campaigns at the World Cup, Justin Trudeau opted to watch Team USA,” the New York Times tweeted on Saturday, June 13. “His girlfriend, Katy Perry, was performing in the opening ceremony.”

Trudeau, 54, reposted The Times’s upload, adding, “Sometimes supportive boyfriend duties call.”

Trudeau and Perry, 41, attended the Friday, June 12, opener in Los Angeles between USA and Paraguay. The pop star opened the matchup with a performance of her song “Wonder” before the American soccer players won 4-1.

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While Trudeau celebrated the USA victory with Perry, he acknowledged via X that his allegiance still lies with his native country, Canada.

“You know who I’m rooting for to take the Cup,” the former Canadian prime minister tweeted, adding an emoji of Canada’s flag.

Trudeau, who was previously married to Sophie Grégoire Trudeau for 18 years before their 2023 separation, began dating Perry almost two years later. (Perry ended her decade-long engagement to Orlando Bloom, with whom she shares 5-year-old daughter Daisy, in 2025.)

“Things between Katy and Justin are very serious,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly earlier this month. “After her split from Orlando, Katy really wasn’t expecting to jump into another relationship anytime soon, but Justin completely caught her by surprise. He came into her life at the right time, and they have developed a really strong connection.”

Since then, Perry and Trudeau have made public appearances at concerts, red carpets and even political meetings.

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“Former Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau came to Japan with his partner, Katy Perry, and had lunch with us,” Japanese politician Fumio Kishida wrote via Instagram in December 2025, also referring to his wife, Yuko Kishida. “During my time as Prime Minister, I met Prime Ministers many times, and when I visited Canada, we worked together to strengthen bilateral relations, including formulating the Nikka Action Plan. I am glad that we are continuing this friendship.”

As Perry’s romance with Trudeau has continued soaring, the pair are also introducing their families. (Trudeau shares three kids with his ex-wife, while Perry and Bloom coparent their daughter.)

“Their relationship has deepened over the past several months, and they are about to celebrate their one-year anniversary,” the source told Us. “They both feel it’s important to blend their families thoughtfully and at a comfortable pace.”

By Joshua Tyler
| Published 1 hour ago

The year is 2004, and audiences are buying tickets to have a laugh at the expense of a boy named Napoleon in the movie Napoleon Dynamite. The film becomes a box office hit, and no one minds that its protagonist is pitiable. He’s a nerd, part of a cultural group everyone feels comfortable subjecting to ridicule. No one wanted to be a nerd like Napoleon, and that was the point. 

The year is 2006, and being a geek is so cool that a model named Olivia Munn begins portraying herself as a nerd. It may or may not have been true, but it works, and diving into the world of nerds helps make her famous. Munn builds an entire career out of being a desirable dweeb, and soon, the world is filled with attractive celebrities claiming geek status.

Modern readers may have a hard time imagining a world in which geeks and nerds weren’t accepted, but that was the norm until 2005, when one movie changed everything people thought about them. 

The 40-Year Old Virgin was that inciting movie, and this is the story of how it trapped the world into thinking there’s nothing wrong with nerds. 

Judd Apatow Makes Freaks And Geeks A Priority

The world changed in 2005. By 2006, American culture was geek culture, a place where it would surprise no one to hear the captain of the football team talking about his newly purchased lightsaber. 

What happened between Napoleon Dynamite in 2004 and the rise of the aforementioned Olivia Munn in 2006 wasn’t organic. People didn’t change their minds about nerds because they suddenly realized they should be nicer to them. The world changed its mind about geeks because it was tricked into loving them by a singular piece of entertainment called The 40-Year Old Virgin. 

Released in 2005, The 40-Year Old Virgin was the first movie directed by comedian-turned-filmmaker Judd Apatow. In 1999, he’d previously tried to make a TV series around the idea of lovable and sympathetic nerds. The show was called Freaks & Geeks, and it was critically acclaimed. Those rave reviews didn’t matter. Audiences were so turned off by the concept that the series was canceled after airing only a handful of episodes.

Judd Apatow didn’t give up. He found a new way to deliver his pro-geek message when he later teamed up with comedic actor Steve Carell and, with him, convinced Hollywood to greenlight an R-rated comedy called The 40-Year Old Virgin.

“I thought of it as Freaks and Geeks 20 years later if one of them never had sex,” he told GQ. “That was my secret thought as I made the movie.”

He’d learned important lessons from his past failures. This time Judd took a less obvious approach to sympathetic geekiness. He did it with a trick, a trick that transformed nerd-hating viewers into full-on nerd lovers.

Andy Stitzer is the movie’s main character, and he is exactly what the movie’s title says he is. He also has a massive collection of vintage action figures and knows a few magic tricks. He may not wear glasses, but Andy’s not only a 40-year-old virgin, he’s also a 40-year-old nerd.

In the minds of those buying tickets to see it, The 40-Year Old Virgin was supposed to be another piece of nerd abuse comedy in the style of Napoleon Dynamite. That trick is the source of the movie’s screenwashing success. The 40-Year-Old Virgin is designed to appear as if it’s mocking Andy while quietly making the audience root for him. Then, when they least expect it, they fall in love with him. 

This is a Derision Inversion. A derision inversion is a persuasion technique in which a narrative initially encourages the audience to mock or dismiss a character, then gradually transfers audience identification onto that same character, transforming ridicule into sympathy or emotional allegiance.

The Apatow comedy’s name sells the idea of promised geek mockery, and the movie’s trailers only further relayed this notion by focusing on The 40-Year Old Virgin’s lead character making a fool of himself while getting his chest waxed. The film’s marketing wisely avoided anything too heartfelt.

A chest-waxing laugh at the expense of Andy Stitzer isn’t all the movie is and wasn’t something it could have been. The film’s chief nerd is played by Steve Carell, an actor incapable of being unlikable. That’s exactly what Judd Apatow wanted.

How The 40-Year Old Virgin Hypnotized The World

Audiences walked into The 40-Year Old Virgin ready to laugh at Steve Carell’s Andy Stitzer. By the time they walked out, they were laughing with him. 

In the minds of viewers, Andy became the kind of guy you’d love to be friends with, the kind of guy you’d like to see date your daughter. He became that person not because he changed but because you did. He doesn’t stop building scale replica models or staying up late playing tuba. Andy Stitzer is the same nerd at the end that he was at the beginning, except with a new confidence built up by realizing people care about him.

Andy’s journey is not one of abandoning his nerdiness to become someone else. He doesn’t become Stefan Stitzer to get the girl. Andy’s arc in The 40-Year Old Virgin is completed when he learns to accept himself as he is, and then surrounds himself with people who love him, geekiness and all.

The 40-Year Old Virgin was a huge hit. The movie opened at number one and stayed there for two weeks. It remained in the top two for five weeks. Those who saw it went back with their friends. Those who didn’t see it likely heard the news media talking about it and saw lovable Steve Carell out there, front and center, as the movie’s prototypical nerd.

The movie went on to spawn a whole generation of Judd Apatow-related movies, like Knocked Up and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Steve Urkel was no longer the nerd image in people’s heads. Judd Apatow’s movie and Steve Carell’s warm, friendly character took root there instead.

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve seen the film. The movie’s success created a huge cultural shift by reprogramming the brains of the people who saw it. Those people then took that programming with them and spread it to others. The nerd positivity The 40-Year Old Virgin designed spread through American culture like a mind virus, carried to new, impressionable brains by talk shows and other pieces of corporate entertainment rushing to duplicate that success. The entertainment media battled each other to be on the cutting edge of what Judd Apatow had now convinced them was a new trend.

Maybe your first indoctrination was watching Superbad or a documentary on the dangers of bullying. It doesn’t matter where you got the idea that nerds weren’t so bad; it was The 40-Year Old Virgin that put it in your head.

The Origins Of Andy Stitzer

None of it would have happened if Apatow hadn’t served as a producer on a previous R-rated comedy called Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Steve Carell has a supporting role in that film. He steals every scene he shows up in. 

Judd Apatow was so impressed he told Steve to call him, if he ever had an idea for something he wanted to do. Steve Carell did. He’d come up with a character to use in sketches with the legendary Second City Improv group and told Apatow about it. Carell told GQ: “It was about a guy playing poker with his friends, and they were all telling really dirty sex stories, and slowly, you realize that he’s a virgin, and his stories make no sense.”

That sketch would eventually become one of the funniest and best scenes in the movie, but as Apatow and Carell fleshed out the concept, they realized they wanted to do something more than a cheap sketch. They wanted people to understand their geeky virgin as a real person.

Apatow told GQ: “We learned from our research when we read a lot of blogs on the internet from virgins that they are all just nice, shy people, and they weren’t odd. There wasn’t any big joke to it.”

They took the same approach with Andy’s friends who, in a standard movie about an awkward virgin might have mocked him or bullied him. But Judd Apatow tells Entertainment Magazine: “At first glance, these guys embody every bad, misogynistic attitude toward women…but deep down, they are sweet guys with the best of intentions who cover up their own terror with horrible theories on women.”

The movie never tries to hide Andy’s quirks. Apatow says, “Andy has turned his energy—decades of pent-up sexual energy—into his other interests. So he’s amassed a rather large collection of action figures and video games. He’s not exactly a hermit, but he’s an introvert who keeps to himself amidst his collection of stuff.”

Andy is a good, kind, lovable person and also a legitimately introverted, card-carrying geek who keeps his action figures vintage and knows an assortment of magic tricks. He’s the kind of guy you’d have met at the San Diego Comic Con, in the early days before attending became acceptably cool.

Making Andy sympathetic may have been Apatow’s intention, but the studio funding his film was still stuck in a mindset that had them thinking of nerds as less than human.  After only five days of filming, Univeral Pictures got cold feet and tried to kill the movie.

Maybe they’d seen Napoleon Dynamite too many times and weren’t ready to take off their nerd-hatred colored glasses, but Universal decided Steve Carell’s character looked like a serial killer and wanted nothing to do with it. Apatow and his team calmed them down, allowing the movie to resume filming. 

When Nerds Were The Disease And Punching Was The Cure

Before The 40-Year-Old Virgin, nerd perceptions were very different. To prove that point, take a trip back in time with me to the release of the movie Back to the Future. Arriving in 1985, the film features a prototypical nerd character named George McFly.

When the movie starts, George McFly is an adult nerd, and as a result, the movie assumes he’s also a total loser. By the time Back to the Future ends, his character arc is completed only when he gives up his nerd tendencies and starts acting like the kind of cool, confident guy who punches assholes in the face and plays tennis on the weekend. 

Changing George McFly from a nerd into a tennis-playing tool is, in a sense, the entire reason for Marty McFly’s adventure. Because, after all, who’d want a nerd for a father? No thanks. Get that man a doubles partner.

It worked because this was the ideology eighties audiences were most comfortable with. No one paused their VCR and asked, “Hey, what’s wrong with being a nerd?”

The best example of America’s pre-2005 anti-nerd bias is found in the most famous nerd of all time: Bill Gates.

Long before Elon, Bill Gates was famous for being a geek, and also famous for being uniquely hated. He was frequently criticized for overly aggressive business practices and being evasive when faced with government scrutiny. The view of the general public in the 80s and 90s, when it came to Bill Gates, was that he was a creep who spent way too much time reading books and stole everything he’d accomplished. He was also viewed as the prototypical modern representation of a nerd.

Gates was once so hated that it became unsafe for him to go out in public. It culminated in 1998 when, while walking down the street, he was attacked and hit with a pie in the face by a French activist, Noel Godin. The act was seen as a protest against Bill’s monopolistic practices, and the public didn’t exactly feel bad for Bill when it happened. Most felt he had it coming.

While he’s become unpopular again in recent years, after The 40-Year-Old Virgin, people viewed him favorably. Gates became Geek Jesus, a super-smart savior traveling the world dispensing vaccines to sick kids.

The Steve Urkel Effect

Not all nerds were hated in that pre-2005 world. Hated or not, none of them were respected. Few figures embodied this form of anti-nerd bigotry better than Steve Urkel.

Steve Urkel was one of the most popular characters in television history. In the early 1990s, people quoted him, dressed as him for Halloween, and bought thousands of talking Steve Urkel dolls. 

As played by Jaleel White on the sitcom Family Matters, Steve Urkel was loved specifically because people enjoyed mocking him. Laughing at Steve made viewers feel better about themselves because at least they weren’t like him. 

In one of the later Family Matters seasons, Steve develops a magic formula called “cool juice” that transforms him into a less intelligent, more suave version of himself called Stefan. When it happened, the audience did not bemoan the loss of their beloved nerd. Instead, fans celebrated Steve’s victory over his nerdiness. In the context of the show, Stefan is rewarded for his coolness by getting the girl whose heart nerdy Steve Urkel had been trying and failing to win all along.

The most popular, long-running gag on Family Matters revolved around Carl Winslow throwing Steve Urkel out of his house. He tosses him out because Steve is an annoying nerd. It was funny every time it happened because Carl was always right. Steve was annoying, and like all nerds, he had it coming. 

The Early Foundations Of Nerd Acceptance

The foundation for full nerd acceptance was laid in 1999 when corporations looked up and noticed that nerdy things were becoming exceptionally profitable. 

Lines wrapped around the block for The Phantom Menace. Star Wars toys were flying off shelves, and they weren’t being sold to kids. The Matrix was the surprise hit of the decade, and the adult men in line for it looked like they’d fallen out of a Volkswagon bus on its way to a permanently single convention.

The geeks who opened their wallets for those 1999 cash cows did not gain acceptance by rote of their numbers. If you were one of many bespectacled Star Wars fans who slept outside a movie theater that year, there’s a good chance a carload of frat boys drove past, rolled down their windows, stuck out their backsides, and shouted, “Nerds!” at you and your fellow line campers. 

The local news was also present at those Jedi campouts. Their aim was to cover the massive popularity of geek sci-fi properties with a strongly slanted “hey, look at these crazy weirdos!” angle. Making fun of nerds got them ratings.

Those big companies that noticed the profit potential built up inside those line-standers spent the next few years greenlighting more geek-friendly projects. Slowly, as movies like The Matrix gained more widespread acceptance, the cultural stigma against geekery began to soften. It didn’t dissolve. 

The Last Gasp of a Nerd-Hating Culture

When released in 2004, Napoleon Dynamite, for all its uniqueness, was the last gasp of a nerd-hating culture. The character was popular in the same way Steve Urkel was popular. Audiences loved laughing at him, but no one was interested in laughing with him. 

Without the built-in negative feelings American culture had about nerds, it would not have been OK to laugh at all. Instead, the audience might have felt sorry for Napoleon, who lives a horrible and sad life deserving of pity, not scorn.

Napoleon Dynamite’s a nerd, so no one cared. That left the 2004 audience members buying tickets to his movie, free to laugh at him. 

The Current State Of Nerds

Being a geek is now chic. Nerds have gained such broad acceptance that much of our world has been realigned to protect them. Anti-bullying campaigns are the standard in public schools, and social media is filled with super-attractive celebrities telling stories about how they were abused and bullied in high school before they got hot. 

Stories of past nerd suffering make the tellers more popular, or they wouldn’t share them. Take the time to investigate, and you’ll likely find most of them aren’t true. 

It doesn’t matter. When an attractive would-be star declares themselves a nerd, it’s viewed as a good marketing move. Entire YouTube empires have been built off that simple premise. It may not last forever, but in 2025 things have never been better for the word nerd.

Elon Musk Owes It All To Steve Carell

If pop culture’s view on nerds before 2005 was embodied by Steve Urkel, then in a post-2005 world, it is best embodied by Tony Stark. Stark is the smartest and quirkiest character in the Marvel Universe. Like the many other fictional and real-life nerds who came before him, Tony talks too fast because his mouth can’t keep up with the ideas in his head. 

Tony’s every bit the nerd Steve Urkel is, except he’s handsome, rich, and can get any woman he wants without the aid of cool juice to unleash his inner Stefan. And, of course, Tony Stark only wears glasses when doing so will give him superpowers or make him look awesome.

If pre-2005’s real-world nerd representative is best embodied by Bill Gates, then in a post-Apatow world, he’s been replaced by Elon Musk. 

Where Gates repulsed everyone who encountered him, Elon Musk is the toast of the social media and the podcasting world. Elon’s notorious for the number of beautiful women he juggles, and he’s the kind of celebrity most Hollywood stars only dream of being.

There’s no doubt about it: Elon Musk is a nerd. He talks too fast, slurs his words, plays video games, geeks out about space, and has the posture of a middle-aged writer. Yet, everyone wants to be him. If they don’t, it’s only because they’re jealous.

Things have changed, and nerds, at least the good-looking or rich ones, have Judd Apatow’s artful screenswashing in The 40-Year-Old Virgin to thank for it. When it comes to the less physically fortunate nerds out there, maybe things are as bad as ever. Except now they’ve lost their identity to the likes of hunky Henry Cavill (who loves nerdy games and building computers).

If Henry Cavill is now a nerd, then I suppose we’ll have to come up with a new word for the poor, introverted, fat kid still living in his mother’s basement and hoping to meet a supermodel who won’t expect him to look like Superman. Sorry kid, it’s probably not going to happen. Here’s to the losers, one and all.

Strappy sandals are a summer staple, but the hottest styles this year have a fun nautical twist: a bit of rope. Rope sandals, which feature either thick or dainty braided straps, give any outfit a seaside vibe. Not only is rope less likely to dig in, rub or lead to blisters, it also keeps your feet completely secure — no slipping and sliding.

After scouring the internet, we found the most stylish rope sandals that can be worn anywhere, including leisure vacation hikes, high-end dinners and beyond. No matter what your summer plans are, you’ll want to add a few rope sandals to your summer wardrobe.

15 Trendy, Nautical-Looking Rope Sandals

1. Our Favorite: Ease into the rope sandal trend with this supportive style from Cushionaire. The rope straps keep you extra secure and the padded footbed ensures feet stay supported with every step.

2. Foot Candy: The brightly-colored rope straps make these sandals extra fun. Choose between an eye-catching pink and red, candy-like green and white or true nautical navy and white.

3. Commit to the Trend: Go all in on the rope trend with these woven sandals that look like they were constructed from high-strength ship rope.

4. Built-in Accessory: Who needs a sparkly toe ring when these boho rope sandals create a pretty pattern around your big toe? They’re much more comfortable to wear than jewelry.

5. Feels Like Air: These ultra-thin rope sandals are designed to train your feet to walk barefoot on almost any terrain. They’re especially perfect for adventure travelers.

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6. Charmed: A little bling bling! These nautical rope slingback sandals come with pretty charms for an extra pop of personality.

7. So Stylish: Rope sandals go corporate with this sleek and secure thong design that’s streamlined with the angular leather footbed.

8. Vacation-Ready: As soon as you slip on these multi-colored rope espadrille sandals, you’ll know it’s time to turn on your OOO and fully enjoy your vacation!

9. Designer Dreams: Tory Burch goes nautical with these gorgeous rope sandals that are refined with the designer’s iconic logo.

10. Sophisticated Cords: These elegant rope sandals are made for elevated seaside lunches, thanks to the metallic twisted rope strap and leather lining.

11. Buried Treasure: If mermaids could walk (or you know, had feet) they’d live in these laced-up rope sandals that are embellished with delicate pearls and seashells.

12. Ornamental Style: The best rope sandals create the illusion of ‘jewelry’ for your feet, and that’s the case with this strappy design. It’s adorned with amber-hued crystals and stones.

13. The Natural Look: Braided straw straps give these rope sandals a countryside vibe. Pair them with a pretty sundress for a carefree summertime look.

14. Strut Your Stuff: Take the rope trend to new heights with these 4.5-inch platform wedges that are designed with pretty braided straps.

15. Go Bold: The rope on these stylish lace-up sandals comes in ten hues, ranging from bright red to light blue and even dark brown.

Brad Pitt is reportedly preparing for what sources close to the actor describe as a heartbreaking milestone in his long-running family estrangement. As twins Vivienne and Knox, Pitt’s youngest children with ex-wife Angelina Jolie, prepare to turn 18 next month, insiders claim the Oscar winner fears the occasion will mark the “final exclamation point” in his fractured relationship with his children.

Sources close to Brad Pitt believe the actor has been completely shut out of his children’s lives amid years of family turmoil following his split from Jolie.

For many parents, a child turning 18 is cause for celebration. But sources close to Pitt reportedly see the upcoming birthdays of Knox and Vivienne very differently. “We’re at the finish line. Angelina has won,” one source close to Pitt reportedly told the Daily Mail.

“This has been a comprehensive and deliberate effort to fully alienate the children from their father and dropping the Pitt name from theirs is an exclamation point,” the insider added. “She has completed the most effective campaign of parental alienation ever, but at what cost?”

The source claimed Pitt believes the twins reaching adulthood will effectively close the door on any legal visitation rights he still had.

Pitt’s Relationship With His Children Has Reportedly Deteriorated

Pitt and Jolie share six children together: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne. According to the report, Pitt has allegedly had little to no contact with his children in recent years and has missed major milestones, including graduations, performances, and school events.

The outlet further reported that, like some of their older siblings, Knox and Vivienne may formally remove “Pitt” from their surname after turning 18.

Speculation surrounding the family dynamic intensified earlier this month after reports claimed Knox omitted Pitt’s surname from his high school diploma during graduation from Fusion Academy in Los Angeles.

Vivienne previously appeared to distance herself publicly from her father as well, listing her name as “Vivienne Jolie” while working as a production assistant on the Broadway production of “The Outsiders” in 2024.

The Rift Between Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie Dates Back Years

Pitt and Jolie’s highly publicized split began in 2016 following an alleged altercation aboard a private plane traveling from France to Los Angeles. At the time, Jolie accused Pitt of inappropriate behavior during the incident, allegations that sparked an FBI investigation.

According to reports, authorities later declined to pursue charges, and Pitt was ultimately cleared following investigations by both the FBI and child services. Sources close to Pitt claim the actor took accountability for his behavior and sought help afterward.

“He fully made amends to Angie and the kids,” one source reportedly said. “Look, it was something he deeply regretted. He was wrong on the plane. No one is defending what he did. It wasn’t criminal, but he held up his hands and apologized, he got himself sober, he made amends.”

Pitt has publicly spoken about getting sober following the split and has remained open about how seriously he took his recovery.

Angelina Jolie’s Camp Reportedly Pushes Back On Pitt Narrative

Not everyone close to the family agrees with the characterization that Pitt was unfairly pushed out. According to the Daily Mail, a source familiar with Jolie’s perspective disputed claims that the actress engaged in a deliberate effort to alienate the children.

The insider reportedly argued that any distance between Pitt and the children stems from the lasting impact of events surrounding the divorce. “If he isn’t close to the kids, it’s because of the harm he has done,” the source reportedly said. “He wasn’t honest about his actions, and it affected the trust between them. It’s been very hard for the kids. No one knows, except them, how bad it has been.”

The source also denied claims that Jolie sought reconciliation after the plane incident, instead saying the actress participated in years of family therapy in hopes of helping everyone heal.

Brad Pitt Previously Fought For Shared Custody

Following their divorce filing, Pitt and Jolie spent years locked in a legal battle over custody of their children.

A judge initially ruled that the former couple should share 50/50 custody, though the decision was later overturned after questions arose surrounding the judge’s business relationships with Pitt’s legal team. Jolie has maintained primary physical custody since, while Pitt reportedly ended his pursuit of expanded custody rights in 2024.

Now, as Knox and Vivienne approach adulthood, sources claim Pitt is struggling to come to terms with what may be the final chapter of one of Hollywood’s most heartbreaking family divides.

Kate Middleton didn’t take too kindly to protesters booing her and her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, during their Trooping the Color outing.

The royals were driving past a crowd of adoring fans and waving when a group of anti-monarchists began demonstrating with signs, taking aim at the British monarchy.

Kate Middleton’s furious glare and the kids’ confused expression quickly went viral online, with royal fans blasting critics and saying the Princess of Wales, who recently beat cancer, shouldn’t face such treatment.

Kate’s Trooping the Colour experience may have gone a little sour after she was faced with a group of anti-monarchy protestors while driving past a crowd of supporters.

The mother and her three children looked taken aback as they were hit with loud boos and chants instead of the usual cheers during the annual event.

According to reports, the demonstration was staged by the anti-monarchy group, Republic, who came to the gathering equipped with umbrellas that spelled out the phrase, “Stop The Reign.”

Protesters also chanted slogans like “Not my King” and “Not my Queen” as Kate and her family drove through central London toward Buckingham Palace.

The royal procession was part of the traditional festivities celebrating King Charles’s official birthday, a royal custom observed regardless of his actual birth date on November 14, 1948.

While George, Charlotte, and Louis had a look of confusion on their faces due to the boos and chants, an unimpressed Kate simply glared directly at the group, letting her displeasure be known.

The Princess Of Wales’ Reaction Goes Viral As Supporters Slam Anti-Monarchists

On social media, Kate’s furious facial expression quickly went viral after a video was shared online, sparking a wave of support from royal fans who felt she and her kids were being poorly treated, especially after her recent battle with cancer.

An individual said on X, “Booing Catherine when she is with her children is beneath contempt. Those dolts deserved the glare and more. Don’t include the children – any of them – in whatever animas you may have against the Royal family on either side of the pond. It’s gross.”

“They are booing children. For the love of God, children. If I were their mom, I’d be p-ssed too,” another person commented.

A third supporter wrote, “Grown adults booed children. They should be ashamed of themselves,” while another noted that the kids especially “don’t deserve this” type of treatment.

The Shocking Boos Sparked Debate About Whether The Kids Should Be ‘Paraded’ And Exposed To Harsh Criticism

Critics of the royal family turned their attention to William and Kate, slamming them for exposing their children to the harsh reality of fame.

The latest booing incident intensified debate about how the couple’s kids are “paraded” at public royal events, which tend to attract anti-monarchists.

One person noted, “Shouldn’t [have] paraded their kids around like that and expecting people to cheer. The age of deference to the monarchy is over. The sooner the younger generations of royals realise that, the better.”

Another wrote, “They knew it happened last time, so why let the kids go through it again. They have no sense, they’d rather stick to the performative cr-p.”

However, defending the kids’ right to be at the Trooping the Colour ceremony, a person on X said: “Most of the British people wanted the kids there, enjoy seeing them at this public, ceremonial celebration. Royal kids have always gone to this event, as far as I know. Maybe adults can ACT like responsible adults and not boo children!”

Kate Middleton And Her Children Rocked Matching Colors For The Royal Event

At the Trooping the Colour ceremony, Kate looked as stylish as ever in a pale blue outfit by Catherine Walker, along with a matching hat.

According to People Magazine, the Princess of Wales accessorized with the Irish Guards Brooch as the honorary Colonel, alongside her floral pearl earrings by Cassandra Goad and a pair of white heels.

A touch of blue was also present in the outfits worn by Kate’s kids, George, Charlotte, and Louis, with the young princes sporting baby blue ties while the young princess had blue accents on her white dress.

For the event, thousands of spectators gathered at Horse Guards Parade to witness a magnificent display of military pomp and pageantry celebrating King Charles’s official birthday.

The Princess Of Wales Was Hailed As A ‘Steady Hand’ For The Monarchy

Recently, insiders shared that Kate has become a major source of support for the royal family, especially her husband, Prince William.

According to a report, the Princess of Wales has been the future king’s “steady hand” since the start of their romance.

“Even back in their university days, she was the voice of reason, always pushing William to think of the bigger picture and his role within the monarchy,” an insider noted.

During her cancer battle, Kate was also said to be “the one holding everything together and supporting William while he was struggling to process it all.”

The princess, while visiting a cancer patient, spoke about how “tough” the experience was for her and her family, admitting that she knew “how hard it was for the children and my parents.”

Now that she is in remission, experts have branded her return to the spotlight as a great thing for the royal family, especially now that they are being plagued by controversy due to the disgraced ex-prince Andrew’s links to late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

Of all the many exciting summer blockbusters in 2026, from the iconic Steven Spielberg‘s long-awaited return to sci-fi in the alien epic Disclosure Day to Tom Holland‘s return as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, no film is as hotly anticipated as The Odyssey. Three years after sweeping awards season and smashing the box office with 2023’s Oppenheimer, director Christopher Nolan returns with his most ambitious film yet, one that we now know boasts a staggering $250 million production budget.

Nolan movies are usually stacked with eye-catching talent, but The Odyssey feels like his most impressive ensemble yet. Featuring a supporting cast that includes the likes of the aforementioned Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Mia Goth, Elliot Page, Benny Safdie, and more, this adaptation of the famous fictional story by Homer will be led by the ever-brilliant Matt Damon. Ahead of The Odyssey sailing onto global screens, one of Damon’s more divisive movies is back in the streaming charts.

Released in 2011 and somehow predicting the COVID-19 pandemic nine years later, Contagion faced a mixed reception upon arrival, splitting audiences down the middle but earning favorable reviews from critics. “In its first hour, Contagion masterfully balances all of these plotlines to create a fast-paced and serious-minded scenario that will leave you aching to douse yourself in hand sanitizer,” wrote Matt Goldberg in Collider’s review from 2011, with others heaping praise on the movie’s stellar cast. Whether it’s an uncanny look at the future or performances from the likes of Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laurence Fishburne, Marion Cotillard, and more, you’re looking for, Contagion has it. At the time of writing, 15 years later, this Steven Soderbergh thriller has gone viral again, becoming the most-streamed movie on HBO Max in the U.S.

Was ‘Contagion’ a Box Office Hit?

Did audiences in 2011 catch Contagion fever? The answer is complicated, with the film technically a financial success, scoring a global haul of $137 million against a production budget of $60 million. However, with a cast as impressive as this, and with the strength of director Soderbergh behind the camera, many would’ve predicted the movie to perform much better. After opening at #1 in the U.S., the movie quickly fell down the ranks in the weeks to come, dropping out of the top five entirely by weekend #3.

Contagion is streaming now on HBO Max. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.

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Release Date

September 8, 2011

Runtime

106 minutes

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Director

Steven Soderbergh

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Writers

Scott Z. Burns

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The latest in Taylor Sheridan’s ever-expanding Yellowstone universe, Dutton Ranch has already garnered rave reviews for successfully carrying the mantle of the franchise’s legacy. Reprising their roles from Yellowstone, Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser lead the cast as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, who attempt to leave the ghosts of Yellowstone behind and start a fresh life in South Texas. A spin-off sequel to the parent show, Dutton Ranch serves as a narrative/thematic bookend to the Dutton family’s saga.

If you’re a fan of Dutton Ranch’s acclaimed first season, then you might also want to catch up on more sprawling Western shows of the 21st century. From frontier-era dramas to modern-day thrillers, each of these Western shows shares the common themes of power, family legacy, loyalty, and survival, as well as complex characters who bring it all to life. Read on to discover more shows like Dutton Ranch that you can watch right now.

1

‘The Son’ (2017–2019)

Image via AMC

Developed by Philipp Meyer, Lee Shipman, and Brian McGreevy from Meyer’s novel, The Son follows the life of Eli McCollough, kidnapped as a teenager in 1849 by the Comanche people and raised by their chieftain as his son. Decades later, Eli is a ruthless oil baron and rancher, struggling to maintain his power as his violent past threatens his future. Pierce Brosnan stars as the titular character, with Henry Garrett, Paola Núñez, Carlos Bardem, and Zahn McClarnon in key roles.

Shifting between the late 1800s and the 1900s, the story of The Son is told in two parallel timelines to explore the conflict between the past and the present. While it is not as contemporary as Dutton Ranch and is more traditional as a western, the AMC show shares some similar themes with the Yellowstone universe. With themes of family legacy, a ruthless patriarch, and generational conflict over land and business, The Son is closer in comparison to 1883 and 1923 than Dutton Ranch, but fans of the franchise might still find it an interesting watch.

2

‘Ransom Canyon’ (2025–Present)

Image via Anna Kooris / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

Netflix’s answer to the Dutton family saga, Ransom Canyon is a romantic Western drama developed by April Blair and based on the book series by Jodi Thomas. Set in the titular town, the story centers on grieving rancher Staten Kirkland and his relationship with his longtime family friend, Quinn O’Grady, as they navigate rival ranch families vying for control of the land. Josh Duhamel, Minka Kelly, Eoin Macken, Lizzy Greene, Garrett Wareing, and Marianly Tejada star in the main roles.

Ransom Canyon has several shared elements and motifs with Dutton Ranch, in terms of ruthless rivalries, rugged cowboys, and expansive ranches, but varies largely in tone. The Netflix original leans more towards intimate emotions and personal relationships akin to shows like Virgin River or Sullivan’s Crossing, while maintaining its high-stakes family drama narrative. While Ransom Canyon earned mixed reviews in its first season, it has found a following among fans of Western melodrama.

3

‘Deadwood’ (2004–2006)

Image via HBO

Created and produced by David Milch, Deadwood is an HBO Western drama that follows the history of the titular South Dakota town before and after its annexation by the Dakota Territory. Set in the 1870s, the story chronicles its evolution from a lawless gold-mining camp into an organized civilization, focusing on the power struggle between Al Swearengen, a ruthless saloon owner, and Seth Bullock, a newly arrived, upstanding ex-Marshal. Timothy Olyphant and Ian McShane play the central characters, leading an ensemble cast.

With moral tension, a lawless land, and complicated characters, Deadwood is an engaging western drama that trades family complications for social politics. The series might not have grown in size or popularity like Yellowstone, but it set new standards for the genre in the early 21st century. A 2000s television classic, Deadwood has aged well and become a landmark of the Western genre that is sure to appeal to Dutton Ranch fans.

4

‘Longmire’ (2012–2017)

Image via Netflix

A neo-Western crime drama developed by John Coveny and Hunt Baldwin, Longmire is based on the Walt Longmire Mysteries series of novels by Craig Johnson that follows the titular troubled sheriff in a Wyoming County. With the help of his daughter Cady, longtime friend Henry, and his team, Walt Longmire sets out to solve major crimes in his county while navigating troubles in the bordering native reservation. The series stars Robert Taylor as the titular sheriff, with Katee Sackhoff, Lou Diamond Phillips, Adam Bartley, and Cassidy Freeman in main roles.

Longmire has earned the reputation of a subtle and quiet show that delights with its mystery and scenic visuals. It intelligently blends crime procedural elements with conventional, slow-burn drama in a gorgeous setting that would feel familiar to Dutton Ranch fans. Though it became the highest-rated original drama series on A&E during its run and is still considered one of the best modern westerns on television, Longmire has become sadly forgotten in more recent years.

5

‘The Madison’ (2026–Present)

Image via Paramount+

Following the phenomenal success of Yellowstone and its spin-offs, Taylor Sheridan wrote and created The Madison, another neo-Western story set within the Yellowstone universe that isn’t connected to its characters or plots. The series follows Stacy Clyburn, matriarch of the Clyburn family, who moves her family from New York City to an idyllic ranch home in Montana after suffering a tragic loss. Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell, Beau Garrett, Patrick J. Adams, and Elle Chapman star in the main roles.

Slow-burning and deeply emotional, The Madison is a dramatic shift from the rest of the Yellowstone shows. Unlike most sprawling westerns dealing with land disputes, corporate intrigue, or violent action, it dives more into character drama and the Clyburn family’s inner workings. On its premiere, The Madison received mixed reviews, with praise for its stunning cinematography and Michelle Pfeiffer’s powerful performance as the grieving matriarch.

6

‘1923’ (2022–2025)

Image via Paramount+

Created by Taylor Sheridan, 1923 is the third series in the Yellowstone universe and serves as a sequel to 1883 and a second prequel to Yellowstone. Set in the titular year, the plot focuses on one generation of the Dutton family as they navigate personal, social, and economic hardships in the early years of the Great Depression, which severely affected Montana before the entire economy collapsed decades later. The show’s ensemble cast stars Helen Mirren, Harrison Ford, Jerome Flynn, Timothy Dalton, and Brandon Sklenar in key roles.

The two-season Western drama became a major success for Paramount+ as its biggest debut, rising above the ratings of Yellowstone and other shows by Sheridan. The show draws its audience with the star power and keeps them engaged with its great cinematography and powerful acting. Since its premiere in 2022, the show has earned widespread acclaim, perhaps the most in the franchise, earning several awards and nominations, especially for Mirren and Ford’s performances.

7

‘1883’ (2021)

Image via Paramount+

The success of Yellowstone paved the way for its first spin-off and prequel, 1883, which follows the history of the Dutton family and the origins of the family saga. Set 125 years before the events of Yellowstone, in a post-Civil War America, 1883 follows James and Margaret Dutton as they leave behind the poverty of the southern states and settle in Montana, founding the Yellowstone Ranch. The series stars Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Sam Elliott, Isabel May, and LaMonica Garrett in main roles, alongside guest stars like Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Billy Bob Thornton, and Graham Greene.

During its concurrent run with Yellowstone, 1883 became more successful than the parent show, breaking several records. The series is closest in theme to Dutton Ranch than any other title in the Yellowstone universe. Beth Dutton’s journey is not only reminiscent of her ancestors’ journey from the South to the Great Plains but is also a poetic, full-circle moment for her bloodline. A well-crafted, well-acted period drama, 1883 enjoys high praise from fans and critics and is a must-watch for Dutton Ranch fans.

8

‘Yellowstone’ (2018–2024)

Image by Federico Napoli

A television phenomenon created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, Yellowstone is the reason why Dutton Ranch exists. The show follows the powerful Dutton family, owners of the largest ranch in Montana, and revolves around patriarch John Dutton as he navigates his family’s legacy, personal and social relationships, and legal conflicts with the local native reservation. The show’s ensemble cast includes Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, and Gil Birmingham.

The Dutton family generation that set off the titular franchise, Yellowstone revived the Western genre for television and became a groundbreaking show. Fans of Dutton Ranch will not only like Yellowstone as a previous chapter but might also find it useful to watch Beth Dutton’s history with her family and the events that led to her move to South Texas. Powered by gritty characters and terrific performances, the neo-Western drama has had increasingly positive reviews and has earned cult status.

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Release Date

2018 – 2024

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Network

Paramount Network

Directors

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Stephen Kay, Taylor Sheridan, Christina Alexandra Voros, Guy Ferland, John Dahl

Writers

John Coveny, Ian McCulloch

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Tim Allen has opened up about the unique public challenge his voice continues to pose for him, more than three decades after bringing Buzz Lightyear to life.

The 72-year-old actor recently confessed that he never really wanted to be a dad and said his effort at parenting has been “a work in progress.”

Allen has been open about his sobriety in the past, but shared that he was not sober during some of his oldest daughter’s younger years.

Allen first recorded “Toy Story” lead Buzz Lightyear in 1995, and since then, his voice has remained synonymous with the galaxy’s most famous Space Ranger.

However, the role has brought a real-life challenge for him, as he revealed that he can no longer speak freely in public without blowing his cover.

Speaking during a recent SiriusXM interview to promote “Toy Story 5,” in which he reprises his role alongside co-stars Tom Hanks, Greta Lee, and Conan O’Brien, Allen said his wife, Jane Hajduk, often asks him to be quiet when they go out to sporting events or plays together.

“My wife loves going to football games, and I love it, but I cannot speak in public because of Buzz Lightyear,” he said, per PEOPLE. “I’m a very private guy, but if I’m in the stands — she likes sitting in the stands to see her Steelers play, so we gotta go to these games. And she’ll go, ‘Shut up. If you want something to eat, whisper to me. I’ll go get it.’”

Allen Recalls A Funny ‘Toy Story’ Mix-Up

Even when Allen tries to stay under the radar at public events, his efforts often prove unsuccessful.

In the SiriusXM interview, he recalled one instance when he was recognized because of “Toy Story.” Allen explained that he and his family once went to see a performance of “The Wiz” in Chicago, and his wife warned him, “Don’t talk.” However, other patrons appeared to confuse him with his longtime co-star and Woody voice actor, Hanks.

“So, we’re sitting there, and there’s a really good play, and I get up and walk away, and three of the ladies behind me go, ‘Tom, we just love you in Toy Story,’” Allen said. “I went, ‘Oh, no.’”

“Toy Story 5” is set to hit theaters on June 19 and will see Allen star alongside familiar cast members Hanks and Joan Cusack, who voices Jessie. Meanwhile, O’Brien and Lee join the cast for the new entry, with O’Brien voicing a potty-training-themed toy named Smarty Pants and Lee playing Lilypad, a tech-savvy, frog-shaped smart tablet that pulls children away from older toys.

Tim Allen Gets Candid About Fatherhood

Allen is the father of two daughters: Katherine Allen, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Laura Deibel, and Elizabeth Allen-Dick, whom he shares with his current wife of 20 years, Hajduk.

Over the years, both daughters have supported him at several movie premieres, including “The Santa Clause 3” and “Toy Story 4,” with Elizabeth now following in his footsteps.

However, during an interview with  Us Weekly, Allen opened up about his initial thoughts on fatherhood, saying he “never really wanted” to be a father and that his journey has been a “work in progress.”

“I never really wanted to be a dad. I joke about it on stage; I’ve just never been a real fan of children. As people have said many times about parenting, you go through all this [stuff] to get a driver’s license or a passport, but there’s nothing about [raising] children,” he said. “It was a work in progress.”

Allen Reveals His Wife Had A Different View On Kids

Allen went further in the interview, revealing that his stance was a far cry from Hajduk’s, as she wanted at least five children “because you learn on the first two.”

“With Kate, I was gone a lot, so her mom did most of the raising. I come from [a family of] seven boys and two girls, and it’s a very different world to me with girls. I have a different view of what will make a strong woman,” he explained.

“The girl stuff I have little interest in — clothing, looks, gossip, and all that — [I focused on] learning finances, learning how to take care of yourself, and that works for boys and girls,” Allen said.

However, the experience appears to have been richly rewarding for him, as he also noted that he has come to understand the depth of a father-daughter bond over the years.

Tim Allen Reflects On Past Mistakes

Ahead of the release of “Toy Story 5,” Allen took a trip down memory lane and recalled getting off on the wrong foot during his early years, when he made some mistakes he is not proud of.

“I’d lost focus after college, where I got into criminal stuff,” he said, referencing his two-year prison stint.

The “Home Improvement” alum then made efforts to get back on track by drawing inspiration from those who had gone ahead of him.

“When I was incarcerated, I started reading books [about] men and women who had been successful out of nowhere, and I started focusing on where I wanted to be,” the actor continued. “I did not want to do that ever again. I humiliated my family and friends, and myself. I did not want to make that mistake [again].”