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Usher Responds To Claims He Used A Lookalike At Concert

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Usher performing at O2 Arena in London

Usher has responded to viral speculation after fans questioned whether the singer actually performed at a recent concert on his ongoing R&B Tour. Videos from the show sparked claims online that a lookalike had taken the stage in his place, prompting a wave of reactions across social media. Now, Usher has addressed the unusual allegations and offered his response.

On August 7, Usher and Chris Brown performed at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, one of the stops on their co-headlining R&B Tour. Clips of a performance went viral online, with many claiming it wasn’t Usher who performed onstage that particular night.

One post, which has been viewed millions of times, showed a video clip an audience member recorded during the concert with text that read, “Usher you can’t fool New York that’s not you bro i want my money back.”

More comments followed, agreeing that the performer’s appearance looked “off.” “Usher out there using the Temu version of himself. They can’t clone this… but they can definitely cosplay it,” one user commented. Others say he looked more like Taye Diggs, Juelz Santana, or, as another pointed out, “Dude looks like R. Kelly and Usher had a baby!”

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The Singer Responded To The Viral Claim

Other users defended Usher, with one calling those who believed the “cloning” or “lookalike” claims “morons.” “He’s a 47-year-old man. His face will change as time passes lol I’ve seen Usher 4 times live. THAT WAS HIM 1000%,” a fan wrote.

Usher also addressed the claim, not taking it seriously and just laughing it off. The official social media account of the R&B Tour posted screenshots of his comments, along with the so-called lookalike Usher dancing.

“Ya’ll are funny… clone? They can’t clone this??” Usher wrote with a crying-laughing emoji. In another comment, he said, “How ya’ll come up with this? AI ain’t that advanced.”

Some offered their theories about why he appeared different. One suggested his mustache had been shaved differently, while others pointed out that a 47-year-old Usher would naturally look and move differently from the version of himself audiences saw in his 20s.

Another Viral Incident From Usher

Usher performing at O2 Arena in London
MAR/Capital Pictures / MEGA

The “lookalike” rumor wasn’t the first viral moment from the R&B Tour. As The Blast previously reported, a supposedly seductive onstage moment quickly turned awkward when a fan appeared uncomfortable as a shirtless Usher moved toward her.

The woman, later identified as Gabrielle Cheyenne, said she was selected for the VIP section but wasn’t aware until the last minute that she would be brought onstage to participate. Gabrielle admitted she would have reacted differently if it were Chris Brown dancing in front of her. “I’m more of a Chris Brown fan than I am of Usher,” she said.

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Some connected the two viral moments, joking that Usher was so hurt about the brush-off that he hired a lookalike to perform in his place.

The R&B Tour Faced Controversy Before It Began

Usher and Brown’s co-headlining tour drew criticism as soon as it was announced in April. Many were surprised, as the two allegedly had a physical altercation in 2023 at Brown’s 34th birthday party, per The Blast.

Another reason was Brown’s past and ongoing legal troubles. Many argued that the industry gives performers a “pass” for toxic behavior as long as they get high ticket sales and generate profit.

In an interview with AP, Usher said that criticisms over Brown were not a factor in his decision to tour with the singer. “He’s my brother, and he’s amazing as a performer. That’s who I see. He works hard for his fans, and his fans support him,” he said.

Usher And Chris Brown’s Joint Tour Has Surpassed $100 Million

The R&B Tour kicked off in late June and features 33 concert dates. During the three-hour concerts, Usher and Brown take the stage alternately to perform tracks from their decades-long solo careers before teaming up to perform collaborative songs.

According to reports, the joint tour has surpassed $100 million in earnings from the first eight shows and sold more than half a million tickets, per Pollstar. It is projected to earn about $400 million by the end of the tour in December.

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Bobby Bones Reunites With His Mirrorball Trophy

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Tom Bergeron at Critics Choice Real TV Awards 2024

Radio and TV personality Bobby Bones is ecstatic to have been reunited with his Mirrorball Trophy, the coveted prize he won for winning Season 27 of “Dancing With the Stars.” He made the unusual decision to give it back after feeling hurt by a comment from former host Tom Bergeron. The two have since hashed it out, and after expressing regret over giving up his trophy, he now has it back in his possession.

On August 6, Bobby Bones took to social media to share that he has his Mirrorball Trophy back, captioning the photo, “Look what just came in the mail.” The radio host won the coveted award in 2018 after besting the other contestants in “Dancing With the Stars” Season 27.

Bones’ win is arguably the most controversial in the competition show’s history, as many thought he wasn’t the best dancer. Years later, he also jokingly said he “cheated” to win.

In 2025, Bones mailed back the trophy after getting hurt over something former “DWTS” host Tom Bergeron said during an interview. In late May, he expressed regret about sending it back, and now he has it.

His fans are showing their support, with many pointing out that he earned the right to have the trophy. “I’m glad you got it back. You worked SO HARD for that, you deserve it!!!” one fan commented.

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In November 2025, Bones revealed in a TikTok video that he mailed his Mirrorball Trophy back to ABC.

The move came after he saw Bergeron’s interview with Parade, in which he was asked about which elimination surprised him the most. Instead of answering the question, the former “DWTS” host revealed which winner came as a surprise to him: Bobby Bones. “Bobby Bones was the first time I kind of… It was like ouch.”

Bones said it wasn’t so much about the comment as who said it, adding that he liked and admired Bergeron. “I try not to get my feelings hurt, especially about stuff like this, but this was hurtful,” he said.

Bones defended himself, saying that he didn’t even want to be in the show but was asked to do it to promote another project, which he agreed to, and he gave it his full effort. However, after hearing comments, not only from Bergeron, he felt “DWTS” didn’t like him, and he returned the trophy.

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Bobby Bones And Tom Bergeron Cleared The Air

Tom Bergeron at Critics Choice Real TV Awards 2024
Lisa OConnor/AFF-USA.com / MEGA

In March, Bergeron joined Bones on “The BobbyCast” where they talked about the comments he made.

Bones shared that despite his comment, he still loved Bergeron. The latter then apologized and said he should have phrased what he said better. “The fact that it hurt your feelings and that you sent your trophy back, I felt terrible about that,” Bergeron said.

He explained further, saying that saying “ouch” was more about the “balance between judge and viewer voting,” adding that many other people were surprised as well. By the finale, Bones and his pro partner, Shana Burgess, had the lowest scores in the entire competition, and they never received scores higher than 8 throughout the season.

Since the judges’ scores and fan votes each accounted for 50 percent of the result, Bones ultimately won thanks to the public vote.

The Radio Personality Said He ‘Cheated’

Bobby Bones at the 2019 CMT Music Awards
MBS/MEGA

In 2025, Bones admitted to “cheating” his way to victory during his season, but not in a way that broke the competition’s rules.

Instead, he put more time practicing than the four hours he said were allotted. As previously reported by The Blast, after his time with Burgess was over, Bones would rent a studio and continue practicing, as he knew he was “so far behind everybody else” in terms of dancing skills.

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Despite describing it as “cheating,” Bones did not break any official “DWTS” rules. The show does not place restrictions on rehearsal time, and celebrities are free to practice independently.

‘Dancing With The Stars’ Returns For Season 35

“Dancing With The Stars” is returning for its 35th season, which will premiere on September 15. As of writing, only four contestants have been named: Ciara Miller, Maura Higgins, Jackson Olson, and Guillermo Rodriguez.

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Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough will return as hosts, and the judging panel will include Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli.

The remaining contestants, along with their pro dancing partners, will be revealed live on “Good Morning America” on September 2.

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Insurance Won’t Cover Egg Freezing

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus Recalls ‘Devastating’ Pregnancy Loss When She Was 28

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is breaking down the costs associated with freezing her eggs after revealing she’s taking control of her reproductive future.

“Cutting straight to the chase, this was one of the things that was most stressful for me, as well, when I was considering doing this — is cost,” the congresswoman, 36, said in a video shared via her Instagram Stories on Sunday, August 9. “My insurance does not cover one penny of this. It is 100 percent out of pocket. It doesn’t go to my deductible — nothing. It covers nothing.”

On Saturday, August 8, the Democrat representing New York City’s 14th congressional district revealed she had made the personal decision to freeze her eggs amid ongoing speculation she may one day be a frontrunner for the Democratic nominee for president.

“I want to share with you all a decision that is very personal that I have made that has taken me time to consider, weigh and save up for,” she said in a video also shared via her Instagram Stories. “And it is of a sensitive matter and a personal matter and usually I keep my private life quite private, but I have made the decision to start freezing my eggs.”

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus Recalls ‘Devastating’ Pregnancy Loss When She Was 28


Related: Stars Who Struggled to Conceive Children Share Their Fertility Issues

It has been a difficult road to parenthood for many celebrity parents, including Chrissy Teigen and John Legend. After in vitro fertilization didn’t work on the first try, Teigen wondered if she had done something wrong. “You just look for anything to blame, especially yourself,” Teigen explained to New York Magazine’s The Cut in April […]

Ocasio-Cortez went on to break down her personal cost of the procedure, noting that it can vary depending on a variety of factors including the clinic type, where the patient lives, medication needed and insurance costs for those who can obtain coverage.

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“So, there are two main sources of costs,” she explained in her Sunday upload. “So you don’t just, like, pay one lump sum to the doctor — you pay for the medicine and then you also pay your clinic and for the procedure. So there’s two costs of it. Some places are very expensive — I am going to a place in New York City that specifically designs options for women who don’t have insurance covering it.”

GettyImages-2261495061aoccostoffreezingeggs.jpg

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
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She added, “So the grand total personally, for me, all in, is going to be probably between $8,000 and $9,000.”

Earlier on Sunday, Ocasio-Cortez made an appearance on ABC’s This Week, telling host Jonathan Karl why she decided to go public — and document the experience for her millions of social media followers — about her decision to freeze her eggs.

“I think, um, it’s important for us to normalize these conversations, especially in this political environment,” she said. “This [Donald Trump] administration is denying reproductive care to women across the country, from abortion rights to the ability to carry out a healthy pregnancy. I think it’s important for us as leaders to have these conversations and share these processes, especially for working women across the country, and normalize them.”

Julianne Hough


Related: Julianne Hough Documents Egg-Freezing Journey: ‘Never Simple’

Julianne Hough is opening up about an incredibly personal process: she’s freezing her eggs. “I just want to take a moment to say thank you to Dr. Carolyn Alexander and the incredible team at SCRC. Navigating fertility is never simple, especially with endometriosis and my own personal timeline and hopes around having children… but with […]

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Currently, the United States is the only industrialized nation that does not mandate paid family leave, per the Pew Research Center. The country also has the worst maternal mortality rate of any developed nation — a rate that has only risen after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, which granted pregnant people the Constitutional right to abortion access. States that have banned or severely restricted access to abortion have higher and rising rates of maternal and infant death, according to various studies.

Intensive investigative reporting from various outlets has indicated that at least 12 pregnant women have died since Roe v Wade was overturned.

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Aubrey Plaza Welcomes First Child With Chris Abbott

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Aubrey Plaza at Honey Don't Photocall

Aubrey Plaza gave birth to her first child with partner Chris Abbott, marking a major milestone for the actress. Known for her roles in “Parks and Recreation,” “The White Lotus,” and “Emily the Criminal,” Plaza has generally kept her personal life out of the spotlight. The arrival of her first child adds a new chapter to the actress’ life away from Hollywood.

Aubrey Plaza is stepping into her role as a mother. The 42-year-old actress was spotted in New York cradling her newborn after watching her partner, Chris Abbott, perform in Broadway’s production of “Death of a Salesman.”

Plaza, sporting jeans and a tank top, held her baby to her chest as she exited the venue. It’s the first time she has been seen out in public since giving birth. According to a source, the actress and Abbott welcomed the baby girl in late July, per a report from TMZ.

Since her pregnancy revelation in April, Plaza had been out and about, showing off her growing baby bump. Her last official public appearance while still pregnant was at the 79th Tony Awards held in New York in early June, where she posed at the red carpet alongside Abbott. On June 25, the actress also shared a mirror selfie on Instagram Stories, in which she showed off her belly.

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The newborn is the first child for both Plaza and Abbott.

The Actress’ Pregnancy Was A ‘Beautiful Surprise’

As The Blast previously reported, news about Plaza’s pregnancy broke in April, and an insider revealed that the couple was delighted. “It was a beautiful surprise after an emotional year; they feel very blessed,” the source said.

In January 2025, Plaza’s husband, Jeff Baena, died by suicide. It was later revealed that the former couple, who had been together since 2011 and married since 2020, had separated months before his death.

In July that year, several sources claimed Plaza was dating Abbott after they were spotted getting cozy. The actor then became Plaza’s constant companion at public events, though they never confirmed their romantic relationship.

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Aubrey Plaza Revealed How She Found Out She Was Pregnant

Plaza first publicly spoke about her pregnancy on the “Smartless” podcast with Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes.

“Well, there’s a baby inside of me,” she told the hosts, who sounded baffled by the revelation. “That’s a true story?” Arnett asked, to which Plaza replied, “Yeah, that’s true.” She then told the story about how she found out that she was expecting. The actress took her dog for an ultrasound at the vet, and she decided to get a scan, too. “I got an ultrasound on my stomach, and there is a baby in there,” Plaza said.

The actress, who leans heavily into her “witchy” persona, added that the scan showed her baby “already has a cloak and a little hat.”

The Actress Was Excited To Be A First-Time Mother

Aubrey Plaza at Honey Don't Photocall
Spread Pictures / MEGA

Elsewhere during the interview, Plaza was asked if she was excited to be a mom. “I am. Yeah. I’ve always wanted to see what that’s all about, you know? It just seems so interesting, that whole thing,” she answered.

While she didn’t have concrete plans regarding where she and Abbot wanted to raise the baby, Plaza said, “East Coast for sure.”

Before having her baby, Plaza split her time between Los Angeles and New York. In September 2025, however, she placed her Los Feliz home in Los Angeles up for sale and has since permanently relocated to New York.

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Aubrey Plaza And Chris Abbott Keep Their Relationship Low-Key

Plaza and Abbott first met while working on the 2020 psychological thriller “Black Bear.” They reunited professionally to star in the theater production “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea” in 2023.

The couple has largely kept their relationship away from the public eye since they began dating, rarely discussing their personal lives in interviews or sharing details on social media. The couple has maintained a low-key presence despite both having successful careers in entertainment.

So far, neither Plaza nor Abbott has spoken publicly about their daughter’s birth.

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Aubrey Plaza and Boyfriend Chris Abbott Welcome 1st Baby

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Chris Abbott Breaks Silence on Aubrey Plaza's Pregnancy With 1st Baby

Aubrey Plaza and her boyfriend, Chris Abbott, have reportedly welcomed their first baby together.

In photos obtained by TMZ and published on Sunday, August, 9, the actress was seen holding their newborn while leaving her partner’s final performance in Broadway’s legendary Death of a Salesman on Sunday.

According to the outlet, the pair reportedly welcomed their infant — a baby girl — in late July. Us has reached out to reps for both Plaza and Abbott for comment.

Plaza’s rep previously confirmed to People in April that the Parks and Recreation alum was pregnant and expecting her first child with Abbott, whom she previously starred with in the 2020 film Black Bear and the 2023 Off-Broadway revival of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea.

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One day after the pregnancy news broke, Plaza debuted her baby bump while walking her dog in New York City. The following day, she supported Abbott at an afterparty for his Broadway play Death of a Salesman’s opening night.

Chris Abbott Breaks Silence on Aubrey Plaza's Pregnancy With 1st Baby


Related: Celebrity Babies of 2026: Stars Who Welcomed Kids

Many stars grew their families in 2026. Ushering in the year, Becca Kufrin, Justin Theroux, MLB player Freddie Freeman, TikTok star Allison Kuch and NFL star Baker Mayfield all welcomed little ones into their respective families in April, followed by Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden in May. That month also brought new arrivals to Stephen […]

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Later in April, Plaza spoke out about her impending arrival for the first time.

“Well, there’s a baby inside of me,” she said during an appearance on the “SmartLess” podcast.

Plaza offered a lighthearted update on her pregnancy journey at the time.

“Today was a big day. I went to the doctor’s today, and my dog also went to the doctor’s,” she noted. “Both of us — my dog’s getting a scan right now. I got a scan earlier. I’m not kidding.”

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She added, “She had to get an ultrasound on her stomach. And then I got an ultrasound on my stomach, and there is a baby in there.”

Plaza went on to share that she was “excited” about becoming a mom.

“I’ve always wanted to see what that’s all about, you know?” she said. “It just seems so interesting, that whole thing.”

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Aubrey Plaza and Chris Abbott’s Relationship Timeline


Related: Aubrey Plaza and Chris Abbott’s Relationship Timeline

Aubrey Plaza and Chris Abbott knew each other for years before their relationship turned romantic. Plaza’s rep confirmed to People in April 2026 that the actress is pregnant and expecting her first baby with Abbott. A source told the publication that it was a “beautiful surprise” following the Parks and Recreation alum’s difficult year. Plaza […]

The following month, Plaza’s unborn baby interrupted her with an unexpected kick during an interview.

“The baby just knocked on me,” she shared while speaking with TheWrap in May. “I just got knocked.”

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For his part, Abbott publicly reacted to Plaza’s pregnancy during a May appearance on Today With Jenna and Sheinelle.

“Can we say congratulations?” Jenna Bush Hager asked him at the time. “You’re expecting a babe.”

Abbott replied, “I thought for my Tony nom! No, no, I’m kidding.”

Bush Hager then acknowledged that Abbott had “a lot going on,” including his Tony Award nod for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play for his portrayal of Biff Loman in Death of a Salesman.

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Abbott agreed that there was “too much going on” in his life to keep up.

Aubrey-Plaza-Bump-Album-feature-GettyImages-2271706138.


Related: Pregnant Aubrey Plaza‘s Baby Bump Album Before Welcoming 1st Child

Aubrey Plaza is gearing up to welcome her first baby. “There’s something inside: it’s a baby,” Plaza quipped on an April 2026 episode of Late Night With Seth Meyers, announcing her pregnancy. “[I] may need you to pull it out. That’s why I came here tonight. It’s either you or [fellow guest] Henry Winkler. Those […]

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“We love Aubrey here,” Bush Hager added. “We’re so happy for the both of you.”

Abbott responded, “That’s very nice. Thank you very much. It’s very exciting.”

Prior to her pregnancy, Plaza’s estranged husband, Jeff Baena, died by suicide at age 47 in January 2025. The pair, who tied the knot in 2021, quietly separated prior to his death.

“This is an unimaginable tragedy,” Plaza’s rep told Us Weekly in a statement at the time. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.”

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In August 2025, Plaza opened up about her grief following Baena’s death.

“Overall, I’m here, and I’m functioning, and I feel grateful to be moving through the world,” she said on Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast. “I think, like, I’m OK, but it’s a daily struggle, obviously.”

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She added, “At all times, there’s, like, a giant ocean of awfulness that’s, like, right there, and I can see it, and sometimes I just wanna dive into it and be in it. And then, sometimes, I just look at it, and sometimes I just try to get away from it.”

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Kim Kardashian Cuddles Up to Lewis Hamilton in New Selfies

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Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton Pack on the PDA, Share a Kiss in Malibu Ocean

Kim Kardashian is flaunting her romance with Formula 1 racer Lewis Hamilton.

Cuddling up to her boyfriend, 41, in a string of PDA-filled selfies shared via Instagram on Sunday, August 9, Kim, 45, gripped the athlete’s arm and waist in two frames while other photos showed Hamilton with his arms wrapped around her.

Another snap, taken by Hamilton, captured the genetically blessed couple seated in a car as they both gazed softly at the lens.

Kim’s photo dump landed just two days after Hamilton, who is currently enjoying a Formula 1 World Championship summer break, shared his own cozy photos with her via his own Instagram account. In one shot, the pair appeared to be taking a walk in Calabasas, California, which is adjacent to Kim’s residence in the exclusive Hidden Hills.

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Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton Pack on the PDA, Share a Kiss in Malibu Ocean


Related: Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton Pack on the PDA, Makeout in Ocean

Kim Kardashian and Formula 1 racer Lewis Hamilton are showing their romance. The pair were spotted packing on the PDA in Malibu, California, on Monday, April 20, while swimming in the ocean. Kardashian, 45, rolled down her wetsuit to reveal a bikini top while Hamilton, 41, sported a black T-shirt and black shorts. While on […]

Another photo of Hamilton’s showed Kim blowing a kiss at the camera while flashing a peace sign, and another showed her staring down a dog inside somebody’s home.

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Kim’s loved ones showed their support for her own loved-up post on Sunday, taking to the comments section with messages of support. Her younger sister Khloe Kardashian, 42, posted seven red heart emojis while La La Anthony, one of Kim’s besties, posted five heart-eyed emojis.

Kylie Jenner, 28, also hit “like” on Kim’s post, as did Hailey Bieber.

SnapInsta-Kim-Kardashian-Cuddles-Up-to-Lewis-Hamilton-in-New-Selfies2.jpg

Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton
Courtesy of Kim Kardashian/Instagram

Us confirmed in February that Kim and Hamilton’s longtime friendship had evolved into something more. After they were spotted enjoying time together during multiple public outings, including Super Bowl LX, an insider told Us that he was also enjoying time with Kim’s children. (Kim shares daughter North, 13, son Saint, 10, daughter Chicago, 8, and son Psalm, 7, with her ex-husband Kanye West.)

“Lewis loves kids, so it’s been fun for him,” the insider told Us at the time. “The kids think Lewis is really cool, especially Chicago and Saint, who are completely fascinated by the fact that he drives race cars for a living.”

Kim Kardashian Shares Sweet Selfie With Lewis Hamilton and Daughter Chicago


Related: Kim Kardashian Shares Sweet Selfie With Lewis Hamilton and Daughter Chicago

Kim Kardashian is soaking up the summer with her boyfriend, F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, and her kids. In a Monday, July 13, Instagram post, Kardashian, 45, smiled as she took a sweet selfie with Hamilton, 41, and daughter Chicago. (Kardashian shares daughters North, 13, and Chicago, 8, and sons Saint, 10, and Psalm, 7, with […]

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Hamilton showered his girlfriend with praise himself in July, telling a fan during a press conference ahead of the British Grand Prix that the source of his recent happiness was, in part, thanks to his relationship. “Of course, of course it’s Kim,” he said at the time.

Kim and Hamilton’s friendship went as far back as 2014 when they posed for photos together at the 2014 GQ Men of the Year event. At the time, Kim was married to West, 49, and Hamilton was dating Nicole Scherzinger.

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2 Marvel Epics Are Officially Conquering Disney+ Worldwide Before ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

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avengers-doomsday-poster.jpg

Last weekend, the long-awaited Spider-Man: Brand New Day exploded into life on the box office stage, storming to several eye-catching records. Not only did the film earn the biggest opening weekend haul in domestic history, but it also earned the largest preview haul with $72 million, as well as the biggest opening day with just shy of $170 million. It took Tom Holland‘s return as Peter Parker less than a week to break the billion-dollar boundary, doing so in the second-fastest time ever.

Brand New Day isn’t just a box office phenomenon; it is also a massive success with both critics and fans, with many calling it the best MCU movie in many years. In Charlie Ridgley‘s review for Collider, he awarded the movie an 8/10, calling it “the best Spidey adventure in 20 years.” If there is one thing that this instant triumph has taught us, it is that the anticipation for December 18’s Avengers: Doomsday is clearly high, with it being undeniable that the promise of an unmissable round-up of cinema’s biggest franchise later this year has impacted Brand New Day‘s success.

But this isn’t the only way that the anticipation for Doomsday is visible already. At the time of writing, both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame rank in the top ten most-streamed movies on Disney+ worldwide, as millions remind themselves of what came before ahead of December 18. It is the latter that Doomsday will be hoping to match the success of, with Endgame scoring the second-largest box office haul in cinema history ($2.8 billion).

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Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz
Which MCU Hero Are You?
Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap

Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory?

🕷️Spider-Man

😈Daredevil

🤖Iron Man

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💀Punisher

Thor

🛡️Cap

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01

What drives you to do what’s right?
Choose the answer that feels most like you.






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02

It’s 2 AM. Where are you?
Your answer says more about you than you’d think.






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03

How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice?
Every hero has a method. What’s yours?






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04

How do you feel about keeping a secret identity?
The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.






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05

You’ve lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that?
Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it.






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06

What’s your role when working with a team?
Who you are under pressure is who you actually are.






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07

Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge?
The answer defines what kind of hero you really are.






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08

When you’re not saving the world, what does life look like?
The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story.






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09

What keeps you up at night?
Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.






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10

The battle is lost. You’re outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do?
This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.






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Your Hero Has Been Identified
Your MCU Hero Is…

Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed.

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Queens, New York

🕷️ Spider-Man
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You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing.

  • You do the right thing not because it’s easy, but because no one else will.
  • You understand that responsibility isn’t a burden you choose — it’s one that finds you.
  • Whether it’s a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up.
  • Peter Parker’s lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn’t a slogan to you. It’s the code you live by, even when it costs you everything.


Hell’s Kitchen, New York

😈 Daredevil
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You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free.

  • You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks.
  • You’ve looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy.
  • Matt Murdock’s duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own.
  • Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you.


Stark Industries, Malibu

🤖 Iron Man
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Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem.

  • You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic.
  • You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility.
  • Tony Stark’s arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too.
  • You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you’re willing to give everything. Because in the end, you’re Iron Man.


New York City

💀 The Punisher
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You’ve been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What’s left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief.

  • You don’t ask for forgiveness, and you don’t expect gratitude.
  • You see a corrupt, broken world and you’ve decided to do something about it, consequences be damned.
  • Frank Castle’s war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours.
  • Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute.


Asgard · Protector of the Nine Realms

⚡ Thor
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Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry.

  • You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth.
  • You’re larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on.
  • Thor’s story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector.
  • You bring the storm when it’s needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much.


Brooklyn, New York · The Avengers

🛡️ Captain America
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You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will.

  • You don’t bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard.
  • Steve Rogers didn’t become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you.
  • Your strength isn’t in your fists; it’s in your refusal to compromise what’s right, no matter the cost.
  • In a world full of people taking the easy road, you’re the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time.

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Who Stars in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’?

It might be quicker to name everyone who won’t be appearing in Avengers: Doomsday. Disney and Marvel have put together perhaps the most jaw-dropping cast list for any film this century, with directors Joe and Anthony Russo facing a near impossible task to reward each of them with enough screen time. Among this cast are new additions to the MCU, such as Marvel’s First Family (Vanessa Kirby, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach), who feature alongside classic MCU favorites such as Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, and Tom Hiddleston, and even a selection of Noughties X-Men favorites in Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, and James Marsden.

Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for all the latest streaming stories.


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Release Date

December 18, 2026

Runtime
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165 Minutes

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‘House of the Dragon’ Star’s Most Overlooked Role Officially Finds a New Streaming Home

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Olivia Cooke in 'Vanity Fair'

House of the Dragon Season 3 has been must-watch viewing for anyone with an HBO Max subscription these past few months. Returning on June 21, the opener, “Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood,” generated 21.5 million global viewers within its first three days, with the entire season so far averaging over 33 million global viewers per episode, making it the second most-watched individual season in HBO’s illustrious history.

Key to the show’s success has once again been the main cast, which includes the likes of Tom Glynn-Carney, Ewan Mitchell, Emma D’Arcy, Rhys Ifans, and Olivia Cooke. With the show’s third season coming to a close, fans will be looking for what to watch next. With that in mind, one of Alicent herself, Olivia Cooke’s, best miniseries performances is coming to streaming in the U.S. Back in 2018, Cooke starred in a seven-episode adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray‘s 1848 novel Vanity Fair, which aired on ITV across the pond.

Cooke stars as penniless orphan Becky Sharp in the adaptation, as she fights her way through the societal standards of Regency England after being given the position of governess in Hampshire. The series also stars Tom Bateman, Michael Palin, and a star of another beloved Regency era tale, Bridgerton‘s Claudia Jessie. The show received strong reviews upon arrival, scoring an 89% average rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with much of the credit going to Cooke’s “sparkling” central performance. Starting August 19, you’ll be able to stream 2018’s Vanity Fair on BritBox, the home of many beloved British titles.

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Collider Exclusive · Game of Thrones Personality Quiz
Which Game of Thrones House Do You Belong To?
Stark · Lannister · Targaryen · Baratheon · Tyrell

Five great houses. Five completely different answers to the same question: how do you hold power in a world that will take it from you the moment you stop paying attention? Eight questions will determine where your loyalties — and your nature — truly lie.

🐺Stark

🦁Lannister

🐉Targaryen

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🦌Baratheon

🌹Tyrell

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01

Someone powerful is acting dishonourably and everyone knows it. What do you do?
In Westeros, the answer to this question has ended more than one great house.





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02

What is the source of your power?
Every house endures because of something. What is it for yours?





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03

Who do you truly fight for?
Strip away the banners and the words. The honest answer tells you everything.





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04

How do you deal with your enemies?
A house’s method reveals its character as clearly as its words ever could.





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05

What kind of ruler do you believe in?
Westeros is full of answers to this question. Most of them end badly.





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06

You suffer a devastating loss. How does your house respond?
How a house handles defeat tells you more about it than how it handles victory.





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07

Which of these truths about Westeros do you most believe?
Every house has a philosophy. This is yours.





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08

The Iron Throne is within reach. What do you do?
The answer reveals not just your ambition — but your character.





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The Maester Has Spoken
Your House Is…

Your answers point to the great house whose words, values, and way of surviving in Westeros match your own. Bend the knee — or don’t. That’s very much up to you.

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Winterfell · The North

🐺 House Stark

Winter is Coming — and you have always known it. You prepare not out of fear but out of duty, because the people who depend on you deserve someone who takes the long view.

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  • You lead with honour even when it costs you, because you understand that a reputation built on integrity is the only one worth having.
  • Your loyalty to family and people runs deep — not as sentiment but as a code that doesn’t bend when things get difficult.
  • The North endures because Starks endure — not by being the cleverest players in the game, but by being the kind of people others are willing to follow into the cold.
  • You are that kind of person. The pack survives. The lone wolf dies. You already know which one you are.


Casterly Rock · The Westerlands

🦁 House Lannister

You understand the game — its rules, its exceptions, and exactly when the rules become the exception. You play it without illusions and without apology.

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  • You are sharper than most people realise, and you have learned to use that gap to your advantage.
  • A Lannister always pays their debts — and you always keep your word, because your word is an instrument of power, and instruments must be kept in working order.
  • You love your family with a ferocity that sometimes blinds you, and you know it, and you do it anyway.
  • The lion doesn’t concern itself with the opinion of sheep. Neither, in the end, do you.


Dragonstone · The Iron Throne

🐉 House Targaryen

You carry a sense of destiny that is difficult to explain and impossible to ignore — the feeling that you are not simply participating in the world but meant to reshape it.

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  • You are capable of extraordinary things, and you know it, and that knowledge is both your greatest strength and your most dangerous quality.
  • Fire and blood are not just words to you — they are a philosophy about what change requires and what it costs.
  • The Targaryens at their best were transformative rulers who broke chains and defied the limits of what anyone thought possible.
  • At your best, so are you. The dragon has three heads. You are one of them.


Storm’s End · The Stormlands

🦌 House Baratheon

You are a force — direct, powerful, and difficult to ignore when you enter a room or a conflict. You do not negotiate with challenges. You meet them.

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  • Ours is the fury — and yours is a kind of intensity that commands attention, respect, and occasionally fear from those who underestimate what’s behind it.
  • You value strength and straight dealing. You’d rather know where you stand in a fight than navigate a web of courtly whispers.
  • The Baratheons built their house on the back of one of the greatest military victories in Westerosi history — and then struggled with what came after.
  • The lesson of your house is that winning is not the end of the story. Governing is. You are learning that too.


Highgarden · The Reach

🌹 House Tyrell

You understand that power does not always announce itself — that sometimes it arrives with flowers, good wine, and a smile that doesn’t quite reach the eyes.

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  • Growing strong is your house’s motto, and you live it: patiently, strategically, always investing in the relationships and resources that will matter most when it counts.
  • You are charming by choice and calculating by nature — a combination that makes you one of the most effective players in any room you enter.
  • The Tyrells fed King’s Landing and shaped its politics without ever sitting on the Iron Throne — and they were arguably more powerful for it.
  • You know that the person who controls the food controls the kingdom. And you always know where the food is.

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‘Game of Thrones’ Is Heading to the Big Screen

Olivia Cooke in 'Vanity Fair'
Olivia Cooke in ‘Vanity Fair’
Image via Prime Video

Just as House of the Dragon Season 3 comes to an explosive end, fans of the franchise have been rewarded with the news many had long hoped for. It was revealed this week that the franchise is officially heading to the big screen during a 2027 slate presentation. Warner Bros. Discovery officially confirmed that Aegon’s Conquest will be released as a theatrical event movie, “Beyond 2027, the slate will continue to leverage iconic intellectual property, including the theatrical event film Aegon’s Conquest from the Game of Thrones universe, the next installment of The Matrix, the next Batman film, and a live-action Jetsons film starring Jim Carrey, the company confirmed.

Starting August 19, you’ll be able to stream 2018’s Vanity Fair on BritBox.

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Joe Amabile’s Wife Reveals ‘Best Update’ After His Brain Surgery

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Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt at Jingle Ball 2025 - Arrivals In Inglewood, US

Joe Amabile is back home with his wife, Serena Pitt, after undergoing brain surgery to remove a tumor discovered during a full-body scan. The “Bachelor in Paradise” star was discharged from the hospital days after telling followers that doctors had successfully removed the entire mass. Although Amabile has now reached a major milestone in his recovery, the couple indicated that he still has a lengthy healing process ahead of him.

Serena Pitt Shares First Look At Joe Amabile Back Home

Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt at Jingle Ball 2025 - Arrivals In Inglewood, US
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Pitt confirmed her husband’s return home through an Instagram Stories update on Saturday, August 8. “So happy to be back home with Joe,” she wrote alongside a photo of Amabile relaxing on the couch inside their New York City apartment while watching golf. “Lots of rest and recovery ahead of us.”

The image marked a significant change from the hospital photographs the couple had shared only days earlier. Pitt remained by Amabile’s side throughout his hospitalization and surgery.

Amabile offered his own encouraging update from the hospital on Thursday, August 6. “They got it all!” he wrote alongside a collection of post-operative selfies.

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Pitt later confirmed that doctors had removed the entire tumor. “The best update: they were able to remove the entire tumor,” she shared. “Joe is recovering really well. We’re feeling so grateful.”

No further information about the tumor’s testing or Amabile’s long-term treatment plan was included in the available updates.

A Full-Body Scan Led To The Unexpected Discovery

Amabile revealed his health crisis in July, explaining that the tumor had been discovered after he underwent a Prenuvo full-body scan. “So a little medical update. I didn’t share my Prenuvo [full body scan] results because they ended up finding a lesion in my brain,” Amabile said in an Instagram video.

The reality star was subsequently sent for additional imaging to provide doctors with a clearer look at the abnormality. “Then, I had to go get a brain MRI, and there was a blueberry-sized lesion in my brain that looks to be a glioma, which is a tumor,” he continued. “I now need to get brain surgery next week to get it removed and get it tested.”

The finding came as a shock to Amabile, who admitted that he had not expected the screening to lead to such a serious procedure. “And then we’re going to go from there. So it’s been a wild couple weeks. I definitely wasn’t expecting this,” he said. “I think it’s one of those things where you’re like, ‘Oh, something like this will never happen to me.’ And here I am.”

Amabile said at the time that doctors believed the tumor was in its “really early stages” and were optimistic that they could remove it completely.

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‘Grocery Store Joe’ Tried To Stay Positive Before Surgery

Joe Amabile at 2021 Peoples Choice Awards
OConnor/AFF-USA.com / MEGA

In the caption accompanying his initial announcement, Amabile acknowledged the emotional strain caused by the unexpected diagnosis. “This past month has been a lot of ups and downs to say the least. After multiple scans and MRIs, I have what looks to be an early-stage brain tumor,” he wrote.

He also revealed that the operation would take place at Memorial Sloan Kettering. “In two weeks I’ll be undergoing a craniotomy to have it removed, yeah brain surgery, @memorialsloankettering,” Amabile continued. “I’m doing my best to stay positive during this time and am lucky to have a lot of support from family and friends.”

Amabile became known as “Grocery Store Joe” after his first appearance in Bachelor Nation. He later met Pitt during Season 7 of “Bachelor in Paradise,” and their relationship continued after the cameras stopped rolling. The couple married at a New York City courthouse in October 2022 before holding a larger ceremony in South Carolina the following year.

Joe Amabile Explains Why He Chose A Craniotomy

Joe Amabile and his wife at Warner Bros. Television Group’s Fall TV Season Celebration
Lisa OConnor/AFF-USA.com / MEGA

Ahead of the operation, Amabile addressed the risks and reasoning behind his decision on the couple’s “Not Married to This” podcast. According to the former grocery store owner, monitoring the lesion would not have provided a definitive answer about what it was. “It was, we’ll never know what this is by just monitoring it. We will only know by taking it out or biopsying it,” Amabile explained.

He understood that operating on the brain carried serious risks, even though the tumor’s location reportedly made complete removal more feasible. “And from my understanding, they only do biopsies in the brain if removing it is very dangerous,” he said. “But where mine is located, it seems like it’s a less dangerous scale to remove it. I mean, the surgery is very dangerous. [A] craniotomy … is scary. It’s a serious surgery.”

The decision ultimately allowed doctors to remove the entire tumor, according to the postoperative updates shared by Amabile and Pitt.

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Bachelor Nation Friend Was ‘Hoping For The Best’

Dylan Barbour at Gladiator II premiere
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Amabile received support from fellow Bachelor Nation personalities throughout his health ordeal. Before the surgery, Dylan Barbour told Us Weekly that he had recently spent time with Amabile in the Hamptons and remained in regular contact with him.

“I just saw Joe in the Hamptons,” Barbour said, adding that “he’s doing well.” “It’s good to see him. Good to spend time with him. I talk to him weekly,” the 32-year-old continued.

Barbour also described the close friendship that developed between their families after their time in the reality television franchise. “Joe’s the best. We spent summers together at our lake house. We went to the Hamptons. Him and Serena [Pitt] couldn’t be better people,” he said. “I’m hoping for the best.”

Amabile’s return home now begins the next phase of that recovery, with Pitt making it clear that rest will remain the couple’s immediate priority.

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10 Best Greek Mythology Movies to Watch After ‘The Odyssey’

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Immortals-Mickey-Rourke

Greek mythology is a contender for the most well-known and influential mythology in the world. Originating as oral poems passed down through the ages, they have captured the human imagination for thousands of years thanks to their wide variety of gods, monsters, and heroes, all of whom have a dash of tragedy that makes their struggles feel more human. Even if you’ve never heard one of their myths in its entirety, monsters like the multiheaded Hydra and the one-eyed Cyclops have become staples in the fantasy genre, to say nothing about famous sayings like “flying too close to the sun,” which comes from the tragic tale of Icarus.

Christopher Nolan‘s The Odyssey has got people thinking about Greek Mythology again. Fortunately, there is a plethora of films based on these ancient tales, and each one offers something new and unique in its retelling.

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1

‘Immortals’ (2011)

Immortals-Mickey-Rourke Relativity Media/ Virgin Produced/ Atmosphere Entertainment/Hollywood Gang Productions

Having lost faith in the gods after the death of his family, King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) rallies his armies and seeks out the Epirus Bow, a magic weapon that can be used to release the Titans and bring about the end of the Olympians. Despite the threat he poses, Zeus (Luke Evans) forbids the gods from directly aiding mortals, wanting them to have free will. However, he does take the form of an old man (Sir John Hurt) to train a demigod warrior named Theseus (Henry Cavill), who comes to despise Hyperion when he attacks his village.

Immortals is pure 2010s action-slop, but if you’re in the mood for cinematic junk food, it’s a lot of fun. Between the slo-mo action sequences inspired by 300, over-the-top gore and violence, and hilariously fake-looking costumes, the film manages to hold one’s attention, if only because you want to see how silly things can get by the end. Still, there are some things that do work, such as the performances by Cavill and Evans, who manage to tap into the complex emotions of their characters.

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2

‘Métamorphoses’ (2014)

Baccus holds three women by the wrist before turning them into bats
Baccus holds three women by the wrist before turning them into bats
Image via Sophie Dulac Distribution

A young woman named Europe (Amira Akili) decides to skip class one day. She bumps into a charismatic man named Jupiter (Sébastien Hirel), who convinces her to travel with him. What follows is a magical odyssey that sees Europe bear witness to interactions between ancient gods and mortals, all linked by themes of transformation.

Métamorphoses is based on the Metamorphoses by Ovid, and while it was written from a Roman perspective and uses the Roman names for the gods, a majority of the stories within it come from Ancient Greece. This adaptation is a very trippy film, and the longer you watch it, the more it feels like you’ve stepped into a lucid dream. The result is an unsettling, confusing, and magical atmosphere that conveys a sense of having entered a world that may appear like our own, but plays by its own unknowable rules that can lead to harsh punishments if broken.

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3

‘Ulysses’ (1954)

Kirk Douglas as Ulysses
Kirk Douglas as Ulysses
Image via Paramount Pictures

Penelope (Silvana Mangano), Queen of Ithaca, finds herself hounded by a mob of suitors who demand that, since her husband Ulysses (Kirk Douglas) never returned home from the Trojan War, she remarry and give Ithaca a king, despite having a grown son, Telemachus (Franco Interlenghi). Unbeknownst to them, Ulysses washes ashore on the island of Phaeacia, suffering from amnesia. He is taken in by King Alcinous (Jacques Dumesnil) and wins the affection of Princess Nausicaa (Rossana Podestà), but just as they are to be married, the memory of the events that led him there comes back.

Ulysses is a condensed telling of the Odyssey that goes for the strange choice of using a mix of Greek and Roman names for the characters. Once you get past that indecisiveness, it’s a pretty good adaptation with impressive sets for the time and strong performances. Douglas is by far the stand-out, as he manages to tap into Ulysses’ signature wit, intelligence, and pride, while mixing in his own natural charisma, resulting in a protagonist who is everything you could hope for in a Greek hero.













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Collider Exclusive · Oscar Best Picture Quiz
Which Oscar Best Picture
Is Your Perfect Movie?

Parasite · Everything Everywhere · Oppenheimer · Birdman · No Country
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Five Oscar Best Picture winners. Five completely different visions of what cinema can be — and what it can do to you. One of them is the film that was made for the way your mind works. Ten questions will figure out which one.

🪜Parasite

🌀Everything Everywhere

☢️Oppenheimer

🐦Birdman

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🪙No Country for Old Men

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01

What kind of film experience do you actually want?
The best movies don’t just entertain — they leave something behind.





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02

Which idea grabs you most in a film?
Great films are driven by a central obsession. What’s yours?





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03

How do you like your story told?
Form is content. The way a story is shaped changes what it means.





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04

What makes a truly great antagonist?
The opposition defines the protagonist. What kind of opposition fascinates you?





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05

What do you want from a film’s ending?
The final note is the one that lingers. What do you want it to sound like?





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06

Which setting pulls you in most?
Where a film takes place shapes everything — mood, stakes, what’s even possible.





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07

What cinematic craft impresses you most?
Every great film has a signature — a technical or artistic element that makes it unmistakable.





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08

What kind of main character do you root for?
The protagonist is the lens. Who you choose to follow says something about you.





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09

How do you feel about a film that takes its time?
Pace is a choice. Some films sprint; others let tension accumulate slowly, deliberately.





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10

What do you want to feel walking out of the cinema?
The best films leave a mark. What kind of mark do you want?





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The Academy Has Decided
Your Perfect Film Is…

Your answers have pointed to one Oscar Best Picture winner above all others. This is the film that was made for the way your mind works.

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Parasite

You are drawn to films that operate on multiple levels simultaneously — that begin in one genre and quietly, brilliantly migrate into another. Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite is a film about class, desire, and the architecture of inequality that manages to be darkly funny, deeply suspenseful, and genuinely shocking across a single extraordinary running time. Your instinct is for cinema that hides its true intentions until the moment it’s ready to reveal them. Parasite is exactly that — a film that rewards close attention and punishes assumptions, right up to its devastating final image.

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Everything Everywhere All at Once

You want it all — and this film gives you all of it. The Daniels’ Everything Everywhere All at Once is one of the most maximalist films ever made: action comedy, multiverse sci-fi, family drama, existential crisis, and a genuinely earned emotional core that sneaks up on you amid the chaos. You are someone who responds to ambition, who doesn’t want cinema to choose between being entertaining and being meaningful. This film refuses that choice entirely. It is overwhelming by design, and its overwhelming nature is precisely the point — because the feeling of being crushed by infinite possibility is exactly what it’s about.

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Oppenheimer

You are drawn to cinema on a grand scale — films that understand history not as a backdrop but as a force, and that place their characters inside that force and watch what happens. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is a film about the terrifying gap between what we can do and what we should do, told with the full weight of one of the most consequential moments in human history behind it. You want your films to feel important without feeling self-important — to earn their ambition through sheer craft and the gravity of their subject. Oppenheimer does exactly that. It is enormous, complicated, and refuses easy comfort.

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Birdman

You are drawn to films that foreground their own construction — that make the how of the filmmaking part of the what it’s about. Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman, shot to appear as a single continuous take, is cinema examining itself through the cracked mirror of a fading actor’s ego. You respond to formal daring, to the feeling that a film is doing something that probably shouldn’t be possible. Michael Keaton’s performance and Emmanuel Lubezki’s restless camera create something genuinely unlike anything else — a film that is simultaneously about creativity, relevance, self-destruction, and the impossibility of ever truly knowing if your work means anything at all.

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No Country for Old Men

You are drawn to cinema that trusts silence, that refuses to explain itself, and that treats dread as a form of meaning. The Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men is a film about the arrival of a new kind of evil — implacable, arbitrary, and utterly indifferent to the moral frameworks we use to make sense of the world. It is one of the most formally controlled films ever made, and its controlled restraint is what makes it so terrifying. You want your films to haunt you, not comfort you. You are not interested in resolution if resolution would be dishonest. No Country for Old Men is honest in a way that most cinema never dares to be.

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4

‘Hercules’ (1997)

Hercules breaking a metric tape while Phil looks impressed in 'Hercules'
Hercules breaking a metric tape while Phil looks impressed in ‘Hercules’
Image via Walt Disney Animation
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When the God of the Underworld, Hades (James Woods), learns that the newly born Hercules (Josh Keaton and Tate Donovan) is the only thing that will prevent him from conquering Olympus, he sends his minions Pain (Bobcat Goldthwait) and Panic (Matt Frewer) to kidnap the baby, turn him mortal, and kill him. However, they are interrupted before he drinks the last drop, meaning that Hercules retains the strength of a god. This causes him to feel ostracized during his adolescence, but, upon speaking to his father, Zeus (Rip Torn), he learns that he can become a god again by becoming a true hero.

Hercules plays very fast and loose with the mythology that inspired it, combining elements from superhero and sports movies, while also spoofing celebrity endorsement deals. It’s a veritable ad lib of a film to be sure, but it’s still entertaining thanks to beautiful Disney animation, catchy songs, a good sense of humor, and likable characters. Hades also ranks as one of Disney’s best villains thanks to his interesting design and Woods’ iconic performance.

5

‘Iphigenia’ (1977)

Tatiana Papamoschou gives a moving performance in 'Iphigenia' (1977)
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After Helen, wife of King Menelaus of Sparta (Costas Karras), is abducted by Paris of Troy, his older brother, King Agamemnon of Mycenae (Kostas Kazakos), rallies all of Greece into an army to get her back. Unfortunately, Agamemnon angers the goddess Artemis when his men kill one of her sacred deer, and she denies the Greeks the wind they need to set sail. High Priest Calchas (Dimitris Aronis) consults the Oracle and learns that Artemis will only be sated if Agamemnon offers his eldest daughter, Iphigenia (Tatiana Papamoschou), in sacrifice.

Iphigenia was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and, thanks to being a Greek production, feels all the more authentic as an adaptation. The film is far less action-oriented compared to other Greek epics, instead relying on powerful emotional moments as the characters debate, anguish, and rage against this impossible situation. This results in some fantastic performances from everyone involved, but special note has to go to Kazakos for how he conveys Agamemnon’s broken spirit, and Papamoschou, who was only 13 when the film was made.

6

‘Jason and the Argonauts’ (1963)

Jason battles against skeleton warriors
Jason battles against skeleton warriors
Image via Columbia Pictures
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Enraged that Pelias (Douglas Wilmer) defiled one of her temples when he killed the daughter of King Aristo during his coup, the goddess Hera (Honor Blackman) spirits away Aristo’s son, Jason (Todd Armstrong), and warns Pelias that a man wearing one sandal will be his downfall. Years later, an adult Jason intends to overthrow Pelias, but also unknowingly saves Pelias from drowning, losing a sandal in the process. Realizing who he is, Pelias encourages the young hero to go on a quest to find the legendary Golden Fleece, hoping he will be killed along the way.

Jason and the Argonauts is a fantastic adventure film that captures the epic nature of Greek mythology. This is thanks in large part to the phenomenal stop-motion animation by the legendary Ray Harryhausen, which not only brings the mythical creatures to life, but makes them move in such a way that feels both a part of the world yet distinctly not of it. No other moment captures this better than the iconic skeleton fight; Harryhausen’s team not only made it seem like the skeletons were there locking swords with Jason and his men, but they also move in more dynamic ways, such as by jumping over obstacles or vaulting over walls.

7

‘Clash of the Titans’ (1981)

Perseus holding Medusa's severed head in Clash of the Titans.
Perseus holding Medusa’s severed head in Clash of the Titans.
Image via Metro Goldwyn Mayer
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Perseus (Harry Hamlin) is the demigod child of Zeus (Laurence Olivier) who grew up on the island of Seriphos until he was teleported off by the goddess Thetis (Dame Maggie Smith) in retribution for Zeus cursing her cruel demigod son, Calibos (Neil McCarthy). Now outside the city of Joppa, Perseus learns that Calibos cursed its princess, Andromeda (Judi Bowker), and helps to break the curse and secure her hand in marriage. However, Thetis announces that Joppa will be destroyed unless Andromeda is sacrificed to a sea monster called the Kraken, forcing Perseus to seek the means of killing it.

Clash of the Titans was the last film to feature Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion creatures, and they rank among his best. The show-stealer this time is the gorgon Medusa, notable for her horrific serpentine design, and for the fantastic atmosphere of dread and anxiety as Perseus and his men must desperately hide from her petrifying gaze. The story between the creatures is satisfactory for what it is, with the star-studded cast giving stellar performances, especially whenever the gods are on the screen.

8

‘Troy’ (2004)

Odysseus (Sean Bean) and Achilles (Brad Pitt) fighting in Troy
Odysseus (Sean Bean) and Achilles (Brad Pitt) fighting in Troy
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
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Achilles (Brad Pitt) is the greatest warrior in all of Greece, and he is eager to earn more glory. He gets his chance when Paris of Troy (Orlando Bloom) kidnaps Helen (Diane Kruger), wife of the King of Sparta, Meleneus (Brendan Gleeson), prompting his elder brother, King Agamemnon (Brian Cox), to rally all of Greece for the invasion. The war turns out to be far from easy, however, thanks to the size and strength of Troy’s walls, the leadership skills of Paris’ elder brother, Hector (Eric Bana), and Achilles refusing to fight after Agamemnon claims Briseis (Rose Byrne), a Priestess of Apollo captured by Achilles.

Troy is based on The Odyssey’s prequel story, The Iliad, although it plays very hard and loose with the story, such as removing any instance of the gods interfering with the war. It’s another movie where the best way to enjoy it is to focus on the action sequences, which are enthralling thanks to the choreography and the scope of the battles, especially when the armies clash or legendary heroes duel. That said, it does still have its emotional moments, and the star-studded cast all put out worthy performances for such an epic tale.

9

‘The Return’ (2024)

Ralph Fiennes as Odysseus in The Return (2024)
Ralph Fiennes as Odysseus in The Return (2024)
Image via Bleecker Street
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After years away from home, Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) washes up on the shores of his kingdom, Ithaca. However, he learns that, in his absence, his wife Penelope (Juliette Binoche) is being pressured to remarry by a gathering of impatient suitors, and the life of his son, Telemachus (Charlie Plummer), is in jeopardy. Rather than immediately retaking his throne, Odysseus poses as a beggar to assess the situation and come up with a plan.

The Return makes the rather bold choice to only adapt the second half of The Odyssey, thus omitting the gods, monsters, and the deadly overseas journey. This allows the story to become more grounded and focus on the characters and their inner turmoil. This is best represented through Odysseus’ struggle with PTSD at being the only one of his men to return home from the Trojan War, though Penelope’s impossible choice and Telemachus’ complex relationship with both of his parents are given their necessary dues as well.

10

‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ (2000)

Delmar, Ulysses, and Pete looking confused in the forest in O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Tim Blake Nelson, George Clooney and John Turturro in O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Image via Touchstone Pictures
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A trio of convicts — Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney), Pete Hogwallop (John Turturro), and Delmar O’Donnell (Tim Blake Nelson) — escape from their chain gang and head off to recover some treasure that Ulysses buried before his arrest. They’re on a time crunch, however, as the area is slated to be flooded and turned into a reservoir. A blind man (Lee Weaver) tells them that they will indeed find their fortune, but not the one they seek, and only after enduring much hardship.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? may be set during the 1930s, but its foundation comes from The Odyssey, and if you know the story, you can quickly see how many of the plot beats match up. The film is a joy from beginning to end, with stellar camaraderie between the three protagonists, a hilarious comedy of errors that all pay off in the end, and even references to real-life figures, like Tommy Johnson (Chris Thomas King), a guitarist who sold his soul to the devil for his talent. Finally, there’s the soundtrack, which is a lovely collection of folk songs that display a wide array of styles and help to elevate the scenes they’re a part of.


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O Brother, Where Art Thou?

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Release Date

September 15, 2000

Runtime
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107 minutes

Director

Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

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Writers

Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Homer

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HBO’s Disturbing 8-Episode Horror-Comedy Is Too Good To Stay Forgotten

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Tanya Reynolds in The Baby

Demonic children are nothing new to the world of horror. Whether they’re the actual spawn of the devil, like the titular baby from Rosemary’s Baby, just plain evil, like Orphan’s not-so-little Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman), or something in between, like the various children touched by the supernatural from The Ring, The Exorcist, and many, many other movies, this particular kind of enfant terrible has been making the rounds ever since the dawn of the genre. They appear in stories about the corruption of the innocent, the fear of evil hiding in plain sight, and, of course, the trials and tribulations of becoming a parent — particularly, a mother.

There is, after all, something inherently terrifying in bringing a whole new human being into the world and raising them without a blueprint, with no clear idea of what they’ll become. Thus, it isn’t rare to find horror stories that are, in the end, about nothing more than the strangeness of fostering another person into your own body or discovering that your sweet baby isn’t as sweet as you thought. All of these stories take a complex look at a part of many women’s lives that is usually romanticized, giving us a somewhat exaggerated glimpse of how hard becoming a mother can be. But no story accomplishes this goal quite like HBO’s horror-comedy miniseries The Baby.

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What Is ‘The Baby’ About?

Created by Lucy Gaymer and Siân Robins-Grace, The Baby tells the story of 38-year-old Natasha (Michelle de Swarte), a carefree and child-free woman who is less than thrilled by the fact that all her friends are suddenly having babies. Unable to deal with the shift in her friends’ lifestyles, Natasha pushes them away with her callousness and even seems to judge them for being mothers. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when a small, adorable, and utterly diabolical baby comes into her life.



















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Collider Exclusive · Horror Survival Quiz
Which Horror Villain Do You Have the Best Chance of Surviving?
Jason Voorhees · Michael Myers · Freddy Krueger · Pennywise · Chucky

Five killers. Five completely different ways to die — if you’re not smart enough, fast enough, or self-aware enough to avoid it. Only one of them is the villain your particular set of instincts gives you a fighting chance against. Eight questions will figure out which one.

🏕️Jason

🔪Michael

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💤Freddy

🎈Pennywise

🪆Chucky

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01

Something feels wrong. You can’t explain it — you just know. What do you do?
First instincts are the difference between the survivor and the first act casualty.





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02

Where are you most likely to find yourself when things go wrong?
Setting is everything in horror. Where you are determines which rules apply.





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03

What is your most reliable survival asset?
Every survivor has a quality the villain didn’t account for. What’s yours?





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04

What kind of fear is hardest for you to fight through?
Knowing your weakness is the first step to not dying because of it.





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05

You’re with a group when things start going wrong. What’s your role?
Horror movies are brutally clear about who survives group situations and who doesn’t.





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06

What’s the horror movie mistake you’re most likely to make?
Honest self-assessment is a survival skill. Denial is not.





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07

What’s your best weapon against something that can’t be stopped by conventional means?
Every horror villain has a weakness. The survivors are always the ones who find it.





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08

It’s the final scene. You’re the last one standing. How did you make it?
The final survivor always has a reason. What’s yours?





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Your Survival Odds Have Been Calculated
Your Best Chance Is Against…

Your instincts, your strengths, and your particular way of thinking under pressure point to one villain you actually have a fighting chance against. Everyone else — good luck.

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Camp Crystal Lake · Friday the 13th

Jason Voorhees
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Jason is relentless, but he is also predictable — and that is the gap you would exploit.

  • He moves in straight lines toward his target. He doesn’t strategise, doesn’t adapt, doesn’t outsmart. He simply pursues.
  • Your ability to keep moving, use the environment, and resist the panic that freezes most victims gives you a genuine edge.
  • The Crystal Lake survivors were always the ones who stopped running in circles and started thinking about terrain, water, and distance.
  • You think like that. Which means Jason, for all his indestructibility, would face someone who simply refused to be where he expected.


Haddonfield, Illinois · Halloween

Michael Myers
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Michael watches before he moves. He is patient, methodical, and almost impossible to detect — until it’s too late for anyone who isn’t paying close enough attention.

  • But you are paying attention. You notice the shape in the window, the car parked slightly wrong, the silence where there should be sound.
  • Michael’s power lies in the invisibility of ordinary suburbia — the fact that nothing ever looks wrong until it already is.
  • Your spatial awareness and instinct to map every room, every exit, and every shadow before you need them is precisely the quality Laurie Strode had.
  • You are not a victim waiting to happen. You are someone who already suspects something is wrong — and acts on it.


Elm Street · A Nightmare on Elm Street

Freddy Krueger
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Freddy wins by getting inside your head — using your own fears, your own memories, your own subconscious as weapons against you. That strategy requires a target who can be destabilised.

  • You are harder to destabilise than most. You’ve faced uncomfortable truths about yourself and you haven’t looked away.
  • The survivors on Elm Street were always the ones who understood what was happening and chose to face it rather than flee from it.
  • Freddy’s greatest weakness is that his power evaporates in the presence of someone who refuses to give him the fear he feeds on.
  • Your psychological resilience — the ability to stay grounded when reality itself becomes unreliable — is exactly the quality that keeps you alive here.


Derry, Maine · It

Pennywise
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Pennywise is ancient, shapeshifting, and feeds on terror — but it has one critical vulnerability: it cannot function against someone who genuinely stops being afraid of it.

  • The Losers Club didn’t survive because they were braver than everyone else. They survived because they faced their fears together, and faced them honestly.
  • You ask the questions others avoid. You look directly at what frightens you rather than turning away.
  • That directness — the refusal to let fear fester in the dark — is Pennywise’s worst nightmare.
  • It chose the wrong target when it chose you. You are exactly the kind of person whose fear tastes like nothing at all.


Chicago · Child’s Play

Chucky
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Chucky’s greatest advantage is that nobody takes him seriously until it’s already too late. He exploits the gap between how something looks and what it actually is.

  • You don’t have that gap. You take threats seriously regardless of how they present — and you never make the mistake of underestimating something because of its size or appearance.
  • Chucky relies on surprise, on the delay between recognition and response. You close that delay faster than almost anyone.
  • Your instinct to treat every unfamiliar thing with appropriate scepticism — rather than dismissing it because it seems absurd — is the exact quality that keeps you breathing.
  • Against Chucky, not laughing is already winning. You are very good at not laughing.

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Brought to life by twins Albie and Arthur Hills and a team of skilled VFX professionals, the titular baby doesn’t enter Natasha’s life through any conventional way. There are no disturbing pregnancies or creepy orphanages in her path. The infant simply falls into Natasha’s arms as she is standing on an empty beach by a cliff where she was hoping to catch some rest from day-to-day stress. Right away, the baby imprints on Natasha, and there’s absolutely nothing she can do to get rid of him. No matter how much she tells people that this is not her baby, everyone reacts to seeing them together either by congratulating her for becoming a mother or by complaining that she didn’t tell them sooner. To add insult to injury, the baby simply kills or maims everyone who stands in their way using his seemingly endless energy and psychic abilities. And who’s to blame for the chaos that ensues but Natasha?

The True Villain of ‘The Baby’ Is, Unsurprisingly, the Patriarchy

Tanya Reynolds in The Baby
Tanya Reynolds in The Baby
Image via HBO

Right off the bat, it’s easy to see the most obvious way in which The Baby forces us to look at mothers under a different light. For being so judgy and unaccommodating towards her child-rearing friends, Natasha receives the visit of the demon baby equivalent of the Ghost of Christmas Present and learns that she needs to step up. Her friends are stressed, lonely, and in need of help, and it’s not their fault that their children have insomnia right in the middle of poker night. By the end of the series, Natasha learns her lesson and becomes someone on whom her mommy friends can rely on to feel more like full human beings instead of someone who just exists to look after a child. It’s all plain and simple, and yet, this PSA side of The Baby is the least interesting of the many ways in which the show casts a humanizing look on being a mother.

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The show slowly reveals the baby’s origins through Mrs. Eaves (Amira Gahazalla), who has been tracking the child, and the revelation of what the baby represents is more nightmarish than the baby. He is, in Mrs. Eaves words, “a bottomless pit of need”. He attaches himself to women who don’t have and don’t want children and demands from them unconditional, undivided love and attention. When they fail to give it to him, he gets rid of them, usually in pretty gruesome ways.

Through flashbacks, we learn that back in the 60s, when Mrs. Eaves was just Nour (Seyan Sarvan), she fell in love with a woman named Helen (Tanya Reynolds). Her love was reciprocated, but there was a catch: Helen was married and pregnant with her first child. In much more homophobic times, Helen’s husband drags her away from Nour, claiming that his wife is being corrupted, and forces her to take the pregnancy to term under inhumane circumstances. Helen is treated as a living, breathing incubator. In such an environment, there is no room for motherly love to flourish.

Helen has an ideal of motherhood shoved down her throat — or into her arm, with a hypodermic needle — and the result is that it is impossible for her to have a healthy relationship with her child. Being forced to become a mother means that the ideal nuclear family she’s part of is less than ideal. Even after she escapes, Helen is trapped in the patriarchal mold that society has forced on her. This all leads her to kill herself, while the baby, on the other hand, lives on as a flesh-and-bone reminder of all the expectations and the strain that is put on mothers.

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‘The Baby’ Makes Helen Into the Perfect Foil for Bobbi and Barbara

Helen’s story stands in sharp contrast to that of Natasha’s estranged sister, Bobbi (Amber Grappy). Energetic and great with children, Bobbi is desperate to adopt a baby of her own. Not only does she believe that a baby will help heal her relationship with Sam (Genesis Lynea), she also feels that she has so much love to give that a child could find no better home than with her. But it’s precisely her enthusiasm that makes the social worker put her on a one-year waiting period before she can go through the adoption process again. While Helen didn’t want a baby at all, Bobbi wants a baby too much. She isn’t attuned to the reality of being a mother, and her high expectations are far from realistic. The same societal pressures towards motherhood that were at play in Helen’s storyline are at play in Bobbi’s own life.

But the most intriguing parallel is between Helen’s story and that of Barbara (Sinéad Cusack), Natasha’s mother, whom she loathes for having abandoned her and Bobbi when they were kids. Now living in a commune, Barbara tries to win back Natasha’s trust and give her advice about the baby, not knowing the true danger he poses. Natasha is enraged by the fact that her absent mother is trying to give her parenting advice. Having grown up idolizing her father for taking care of her and Bobbi all by himself, Natasha can’t accept when her mother tells her that it was her father who asked her to leave. Barbara spent most of Natasha’s childhood lying in bed, too depressed to do anything. Natasha took care of her, and Barbara couldn’t help but feel guilty that she wasn’t able to love her daughter with the same intensity. That sadness and guilt were the reason why she left Natasha behind, but not before giving her a little sister whom she could shower that love on.

When this revelation hits, Natasha is forced to deal with two harsh realities at the same time. The first one is that she also failed as a mother figure. She failed to give Bobbi all the love that was expected of her. Then, she has to face the fact that her mother isn’t the bad person she believed her to be. She was simply a human being, a woman who was just as tired as Natasha is now. On the other hand, little Natasha was just as demanding as her demon baby, even if she didn’t have the same psychic abilities. Her mother left not because she hated her nor because she didn’t think things through before having a child. She left because she couldn’t take it anymore. It was either leaving or dying. After learning this truth, Natasha is given the insight she never would have gotten had a supernatural killer baby not dropped onto her lap. While the horror and comedy elements are equally entertaining, it’s this deeper aspect of The Baby that makes it a perfect watch — just maybe not for new mothers.

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