By Robert Scucci
| Published 1 hour ago

Of all the Stranger Things characters I could possibly latch onto, I was always partial to ole Dusty Bun, portrayed by Gaten Matarazzo. He’s the only younger character throughout the entire series’ run who looked like he actually wanted to be on the adventure of a lifetime that everybody else seemed bored to death with by Season 5. Matarazzo brings that same energy to his most recent effort, Pizza Movie (2026), and it’s reason enough alone to check out the Hulu Original stoner comedy.

If you’re into the likes of Cheech & Chong, Harold & Kumar, and even some of the higher-quality Seth Rogen stuff, like Pineapple Express, you’ll feel right at home with Pizza Movie because it hits most of the beats you’re familiar with. Pizza Movie is ultimately a stoner comedy, but with one caveat: its protagonists aren’t your typical stoners. They’re just college roommates who occasionally like to party and accidentally eat a very powerful hallucinogen.

Don’t Get This Twisted, Pizza Movie Is Very Funny

Most of the comedy in Pizza Movie comes from its visual effects, twists in perspective, facial reactions, and constant escalation. What I didn’t understand, though, was why this had to be an attempt at reviving the raunchy college comedy. Aside from the setting, this movie, and the humor driving it, could have taken place anywhere. In all honesty, it probably would have worked better in a random suburban house while the parents were out of town rather than on what appears to be a mid-tier college campus.

We’re introduced to roommates Jack (Gaten Matarazzo) and Montgomery (Sean Giambrone), who are relentlessly bullied after an incident earlier in the semester in which the former accidentally got the entire football team listed on the sex offender registry. Every so often, they hang out with Lizzy (Lulu Wilson), who has also distanced herself in order to preserve her reputation.

Dejected and wondering what to do after their coveted bottle of booze is smashed by their tormentors, the roommates stumble upon what appears to be an Altoids tin with the word M.I.N.T.S. written on top. They later learn it stands for Mind Igniting Neural Tuning Stimulants. They each ingest one of the little candies and are horrified to discover they’re about to go on the trip of a lifetime, complete with hallucinations, alternate timelines, nightmare flashbacks, and revelations about the true nature of reality.

They also learn that eating pizza, which they ordered earlier, can counteract the drug, so they set out to retrieve their pie knowing full well they’ll have to navigate hallways, dorm rooms, and stairwells filled with the jocks who hate them, as well as power-tripping RAs led by Blake (Jack Martin), who are allergic to fun and trying to get enough underclassmen documented so they can ship them off to Gralk Hall, the worst house on campus.

Not knowing any of this, Lizzy, who initially tries purchasing a party bus to impress the jocks, also ingests M.I.N.T. and reluctantly joins up with Jack and Montgomery, who are well past the point of tripping face. The only way they can save themselves from a complete break from reality is the pizza being kept warm by the Snackatron 3000 delivery robot downstairs.

This Didn’t Need To Be A College Comedy

While Pizza Movie wins serious points for leaning so hard into absurdity and physical comedy, especially in the third act, I’m completely confused as to why it had to be a college movie. On one hand, it makes sense for the setup because you need a group of antagonists and a bunch of young people packed into one condensed space to make it all work, but this could have just as easily, and more effectively, taken place in a suburban neighborhood while somebody’s parents were out of town.

A group of bullies could show up, our heroes barricade themselves upstairs after eating a M.I.N.T. given to them by one of their guests, and then learn they need to ride their bikes across town to get a pizza. If anything, this would enhance the story because they could get lost in the woods or be tripping so hard that they think the jungle gym at the playground is actually a Saw-style murder castle. The humor feels limited by making this whole thing yet another “run through the quad screaming” kind of endeavor.

It’s also worth noting that this is the first movie I’ve seen in a hot minute where college is portrayed as an average state school or low-tier private school experience. The living spaces are overcrowded and claustrophobic, and it’s actually a fairly accurate representation of what college life is like for a majority of underclassmen. While films like Animal House and Van Wilder offer a more luxurious-looking experience where everybody lives in decked-out frat houses, what we get here is a dorm room shared by two, sometimes three people.

The classic raunchy college comedy made young adults think they were missing out on campus life. Pizza Movie makes me glad I commuted to the university and lived at home.

Still, as much as the college setting rubbed me the wrong way, Pizza Movie is a solid stoner comedy that successfully accomplishes what it sets out to do. It’s a drug-induced slapstick chase plot, and it’s done well.

Pizza Movie is streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

Few fantasy heroes in the current culture are as immediately recognizable as Harry Potter. The Boy Who Lived was at the center of one of the largest and most popular fantasy franchises that dominated both books and film for well over a decade, and it continues to be massively popular. Warner Bros. has invested a staggering amount of money into a new series adaptation of the novels, banking on fans having enough nostalgia for the character to make it worth the time, money, and effort. Whether or not that upcoming series is able to escape the shadow of the immensely successful films remains to be seen, but regardless, Harry Potter will remain an immensely beloved hero — that doesn’t mean he’s the most likable, though.

As portrayed by the very likable Daniel Radcliffe in eight films, the character received a fair amount of depth, portrayed with the emotional volatility of an adolescent going through growing pains but imbued with emotional maturity beyond his years. He could also be a whinging, self-centered muppet who was often given a gargantuan amount of leeway by some of the Hogwarts staff because of his traumatic past. You know who else suffered tragically at the hands of Voldemort yet continually got the crap end of the broom without ever acting like a stubborn jerk? Neville Longbottom. And just like Neville, other fantasy heroes are deserving of more praise than Harry bloody Potter, and these are ten of them.

Wesley (Cary Elwes) – ‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Rob Reiner‘s fantasy comedy classic The Princess Bride is filled with likable and memorable characters. Every role is impeccably cast, and every actor gets a moment to shine. When a supporting cast is this colorful, it’s often that the blander hero gets left in the dust, but that’s certainly not the case for Carey Elwes‘ charming rogue Wesley. Quick-witted and even quicker with a sword, Westley is the kind of dashing and devoted hero that fantasy stories are filled with, further elevated by Elwes’ brilliant comedic timing and ability to balance self-awareness with genuine emotion. It’s the same magic that makes The Princess Bride such a timeless classic, and who wouldn’t rather have Wesley come to save them over Harry Potter?

Beginning as a humble farm boy hopelessly in love with the fair maiden Buttercup (Robin Wright), Wesley goes missing and returns years later to find her unfortunately betrothed to Chris Sarandon‘s comically loathsome Prince Humperdinck. He fights with his wits and his brains to save Buttercup, all with a smirk and charm reminiscent of the classic screen heroes played by Errol Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks. Elwes is perfectly cast as Wesley, and while he’d amp up the comedic absurdity to parodic levels for his role in Mel Brooks‘ Robin Hood: Men in Tights, he’s never been more likable.

Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) – ‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)

Image via 20th Century Studios

You can’t bring up The Princess Bride without talking about its true hero, Inigo Montoya. As a revenge-driven swordsman who goes from criminal to drunken wretch to reinvigorated hero, Montoya is never anything less than compelling, and is made immensely likable by Mandy Patinkin’s iconic performance. He is at the center of some of The Princess Bride’s most memorable scenes, whether it’s his charming first swordfight with Wesley, the comedy gold of haggling with Miracle Max, or his emotionally climactic duel with the six-fingered man who killed his father.

When introduced as one third of the criminal trio that includes Wallace Shawn‘s temperamental and loquacious Vizzini and Andre the Giant‘s gentle giant Fezzik, Montoya seems to be just another roguish swashbuckler. It’s when he reveals his backstory to Westley that we understand the full depth of his pain, which Patinkin plays with absolute sincerity. The character’s famous repeated line is delivered with conviction every time, and the actor brings a different flavor to it every time. He’s ferociously funny, unexpectedly moving, and undeniably likable. In a movie where every character is a classic, Inigo Montoya reigns supreme.

Willow (Warwick Davis) – ‘Willow’ (1988)

Image via MGM

Developed by producer George Lucas and directed by steady hand Ron Howard, the ’80s fantasy cult film Willow may not have left a cultural footprint remotely close to the size of the Harry Potter franchise, but it’s beloved by its fans and features a terrific lead performance by the tremendously likable Warwick Davis. The actor originally got his start playing the fan favorite Ewok Wicket in Return of the Jedi and has appeared in all kinds of sci-fi and fantasy franchises, including Harry Potter. The actor is awesome and underutilized, and Willow is one of his best characters.

Willow is a Bilbo Baggins-esque figure from a town of little people referred to as Nelwyn, who has adventure thrust upon him when he discovers a baby prophesied to bring down an evil sorceress. She sends her legions to kill the child, so Willow reluctantly leads an expedition to return the child to safety. In his quest, Willow is joined by the roguish anti-hero Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), and a lesser actor would have been blown off the screen by the movie star. Yet Davis imbues Willow with a decency that makes him infectiously likable. While not a success at the box office, Willow has more than enough magic to take on the star of the Wizarding World.

Edward (Johnny Depp) – ‘Edward Scissorhands’ (1990)

Image via 20th Century Studios

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There’s something about pure innocence that makes a character impossible not to like, and there are few fantasy heroes more innocent than the titular character in Tim Burton‘s suburban fairytale Edward Scissorhands. The juxtaposition between Burton’s gothic design of the character, created in collaboration with Stan Winston, and Johnny Depp‘s gentle childlike performance gives Edward an ethereal quality that permeates the entire movie around him. In many ways, Edward is the quintessential Tim Burton protagonist, a tragic hero whose purity was too good for the rest of the world, ultimately dooming him to a life of solitude.

Left alone in a castle after his creator (Vincent Price) dies, Edward is found by Dianne Wiest‘s kindly Avon lady, who brings him to her pastel home in the suburbs. Despite her and the rest of her family’s attempts to integrate Edward into their so-called normal society, jealousy and fear spread among the suburbanites. Burton excels at films featuring misfits who fail to conform, whether it’s Jack Skellington in The Nightmare Before Christmas or the titular character in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, but Edward is his most clearly autobiographical. Burton treats this misfit with an even greater level of empathy and warmth, and the character is by far his most likable hero.

Babe the Pig (Christine Cavanaugh) – ‘Babe’ (1995)

Image via Universal Studios

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In fairness to Harry Potter, when it comes to likability, it’s hard to compete with a talking pig. Even so, speech is no guarantee that a pig is going to be likable; just look at the villains from Animal Farm or the titular character of Gordy. That latter had the misfortune of coming out only a few months prior to Babe, and has forever lived in the charming, sheep-herding piglet’s shadow. There’s an alchemy in the combination of animal performers, animatronics, and the voice of Christine Cavanaugh that is special, even among other cinematic talking animals.

The film, which is based on the novel The Sheep-Pig by Dick King-Smith, follows the orphaned piglet as he is brought to Hoggett Farm, where he’s prepped to become a ham dinner before he proves his worth as an unlikely sheep herder. It’s the kind of family-friendly fantasy film that could easily be cloying, but instead is just effortlessly charming, much like the titular pig. Canavanaugh, who is best known for voicing Chuckie in Rugrats and Dexter in Dexter’s Lab, brings a softer tone to the character, imbuing Babe with an earnestness that matches his lovable pink exterior. It’s not recommended that anyone should be trying to own pigs as house pets, but it’s not hard to see why they would want to after watching this little porcine charmer.

Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) – ‘The Lord of the Rings’ (2001-2003)

Everybody needs a friend like Samwise Gamgee. This Hobbit from The Lord of the Rings was considered the chief hero of the trilogy by its author J.R.R. Tolkien, and that is reflected in his screen portrayal by Sean Astin in Peter Jackson‘s epic film adaptations. With an unwavering loyalty and moral conviction that even the power of the One Ring can’t corrupt, Samwise is the platonic ideal of a sidekick, but he’s so much more than just that for Frodo. Without Sam, it’s undeniable that Frodo likely would have succumbed to the influence of Sauron and all of Middle-earth would have fallen.

There are a dozen different moments of Sam’s heroism that you could pick out as his best, whether it’s his stubborn refusal to let Frodo go it alone in The Fellowship of the Ring, his inspiring speech at the end of The Two Towers, or his defiant face-off with the giant spider Shelob in The Return of the King. Most fans would likely list his final heroic act of carrying Frodo into Mount Doom at the climax of their journey, but there’s also something quietly special in the moment Sam takes his furthest steps out of the Shire at the beginning. The Hobbit has no idea of what perils await him, but he’s ready to face all of them for his friend. Samwise is one of the best fantasy heroes, and Astin’s inherent likability made him the perfect choice for the character.

Buddy (WillFerrell) – ‘Elf’ (2003)

Image via New Line Cinema

Will Ferrell is one of the most gifted comedic talents to come out of the ’90s. Beyond his character work on Saturday Night Live, the actor proved a consistently hilarious presence in movies in the 2000s. While most of his characters were of the more arrogant variety, like Ron Burgundy and Ricky Bobby, he also gave audiences an all-time icon with the impossible-to-dislike Buddy in the Christmas fantasy favorite Elf. Fish-out-of-water stories like this often become dull because they repeat the same jokes ad nauseam, but Ferrell has such an infectious and lovable energy to his performance that it makes his antics endlessly entertaining.

Buddy is a human child who hitched a ride in Santa’s bag one Christmas, and has since been raised as an elf in the North Pole. When he discovers his true parentage, he makes a pilgrimage to New York City to meet his real father, played by professional curmudgeon James Caan. Ferrell makes jokes as broad as eating gum stuck to a subway entrance or as simple as pressing all the buttons in an elevator effortlessly, and they all feel tied to who Buddy is as a character. He’s filled with wonder and endlessly curious about the world around him, and we could all stand to be a little bit more like Buddy.

Giselle (Amy Adams) – ‘Enchanted’ (2007)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

A character who shares more than a few qualities with Buddy, Enchanted‘s Giselle is a bubbly princess transplanted from her magical kingdom to New York City, where her infectious energy and musical spirit enchant every character she meets. It’s another character that could become grating in the hands of a different actor, but Amy Adams weaponizes her charm to make Giselle lovable and aspirational. She sings and dances across the screen in a manner befitting a Disney princess, and Adams is guileless in the role.

Like many Disney princesses before her, Giselle dreams of meeting her Prince Charming and living happily ever after, but after she’s transported into the real world, she meets a dreamy divorce attorney who challenges her optimism. Like Buddy or Edward Scissorhands, Giselle is a magical character who instigates more growth in those around her than they do in her, but just because she doesn’t have any more dimension than her 2D animated counterparts doesn’t make her any less endearing. Adams is incapable of being insincere as an actress, and she makes Giselle truly feel like she’s stepped out of an animated fantasy.

Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) – ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ (2010)

Image via DreamWorks Animation

Hiccup from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise probably has the most outward similarities with Harry Potter. Both are young protagonists who exist in magical worlds and have had extraordinary expectations placed on their shoulders. While Harry wants nothing more than to live up to the example set by his heroic parents, Hiccup finds himself directly at odds with what his father expects from him. It’s that distinction that makes Hiccup all the more compelling in his first adventure. He’s empathetic, courageous, intelligent and awkwardly charming, all of which makes him eminently likable.

Voiced by Jay Baruchel, Hiccup is the antithesis to his heroic Viking father Stoick (Gerard Butler), the leader and dragonslayer of their village. Hiccup is a more intellectual sort who invents weapons to fight the winged beasts, one of which helps him down an infamously dangerous dragon. Upon discovering that the feared Night Fury is a gentle animal, he bonds with it, giving it the name Toothless, and together they try to bring peace between their two species. How to Train Your Dragon was an unexpected masterpiece from DreamWorks, featuring some breathtaking visuals, spectacular action and surprising emotional depth, and it all rests on its unlikely but likable hero.

Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz) – ‘Encanto’ (2021)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Encanto is a fantasy musical with vibrant visuals and instantly memorable songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. It explores themes of family identity and generational trauma through magical realism and Colombian culture, which informs all of its characters, including its hero. Voiced by Stephanie Beatriz, Mirabel is an ordinary girl living in a magical world. As the only Madrigal without a magical gift, Mirabel should have a mountain-sized chip on her shoulder, especially given the constant reminders that she isn’t “special.” Instead, the bubbly, quirky character takes it all in stride, even though she feels excluded from her family.

Mirabel’s exclusion is only exacerbated when she begins to see fractures in the magic that built her family’s home and gave them their powers. Her attempts to save her family are thwarted not by some malevolent evil force or character, but by her demanding Abuela. The familial struggle within Encanto is relatable regardless of the cultural specificity of the story, and Mirabel is likewise a relatable hero with all the quirks and flaws inherent to a teenager, even one without magical family members. Beatriz brings both a bubbly energy and an impressive vocal range in her performance, making Mirabel an irresistible character who shows Harry Potter that you don’t need magic to be magical.

Quiet luxury is a style many assume is off limits to shoppers on a budget, but that’s absolutely not the case — especially when you start with a wardrobe basic. In fact, building a closet around quiet‑luxury tops is one of the simplest ways to tap into the trend. These luxe-for-less picks set the tone for that polished, pared‑down look that instantly reads designer. And thankfully, there are countless quiet-luxury blouses that won’t break the bank, enhancing your personal style and meeting everyday wardrobe needs.

Whether you prefer breezy denim blouses, off-the-shoulder tops, sleeveless summer sweaters or a silky satin tank, these 17 quiet-luxury tops are the secret to looking wrapped in luxury this summer. Shop our top picks below from retailers like Amazon, Quince, Macy’s and Walmart — starting as low as $5.

17 Quiet‑Luxury Summer Tops That Look Expensive

1. Our Favorite: Over 1,000 shoppers picked up this sleeveless wool‑blend sweater in the past month, and it’s easy to see why. Reviewers love its flattering fit, luxe feel, surprising breathability and unmistakable quiet‑luxury vibe.

2. Preppy Style: Preppy and polished, this V-neck polo sweater has that prep‑school refinement and looks plucked from a boutique. And with so many hues available — including a chic black and white — choosing just one feels impossible.

3. Waist Slimming: It’s hard to choose what’s most stunning about this wrap-waist blouse. With a chic mock neck, oversized cap sleeves and a slimming waist, it packs a ton of quiet-luxury details into one beautiful presentation.

4. Pretty Pleats: Get that custom-tailored look with a pleated short-sleeve blouse. Designed with a flattering fit-and-flare aesthetic, the polished option looks great with wide-leg trousers, tailored skirts, structured shorts and other quiet-luxury staples.

5. Celeb Loved: Worn by celebs like Mindy Kaling, Quince’s short‑sleeve cashmere tee instantly makes an outfit look expensive. Thanks to the breezy, lightweight feel, it’s a piece you can easily wear straight through summer.

Related: Amazon‘s Latest Fashion Drop Gives Off Aritzia Vibes — All Under $30

If you dream of having a wardrobe filled with Aritzia clothing pieces, same. But why drop your entire paycheck if you don’t have to? We found 13 Aritzia-style gems hiding in Amazon’s Hot New Releases section, and we seriously can’t tell the difference. Somehow, they’re all under $30! With clean lines, rich neutral colors and […]

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6. Resort Ready: It’s not summer without linen, and this button‑up shirt looks like it costs three times its price. Adorned in quiet‑luxury‑centric colors like navy, black and white, it brings that crisp, resort‑ready polish that never goes out of style.

7. Beautiful Basics: Stealth wealth is all about the basics, and there’s nothing more rooted in sophisticated simplicity than a fitted baby tee. This Abercrombie style nails that sleek, sculpted look that elevates every outfit — even plain denim.

8. One and Done: A classic mock‑neck bodysuit is a quiet‑luxury staple. The answer to ‘what should I wear?’ is sleek, sculpted and slimming, with everything from tailored trousers to cut-off shorts.

9. Demure Details: It’s a universal truth that off-the-shoulder tops look impossibly chic. This Spanx iteration doesn’t just accentuate your shape — it’s a great building block in any quiet-luxury closet.

10. Classic Denim: No fashion wardrobe is complete without a classic button-up denim shirt. This tie-front top puts a breezy spin on the classic piece, creating a soft, relaxed shape that looks effortless yet elevated.

11. Button-Up Beauty: Leave it to Levi’s to have the most irresistible button‑up cotton vest of the summer. Whether you rock it on its own or layer it with a crisp button‑down, it has that minimalist silhouette that reads pricey and polished.

12. Silky Smooth: It’s no surprise this satin scoop-neck tank is such a hit with Macy’s shoppers. The Donna Karen design has a relaxed, drapey fit that shines on its own or layers beautifully under a structured blazer.

13. Easy-Breezy: Asymmetry is a popular design feature in quiet‑luxury tops. Such is the case with this pricey‑looking cowl‑neck blouse from Anne Klein — a little drape, a little drama and a whole lot of appeal.

14. Summer Essential: You’ll look like you walked straight out of the Hamptons in this breezy button-up blouse. Made with a gauzy cotton-linen blend, the whole vibe is ‘I summer by the water,’ even if you don’t.

15. Buy Every Color: A bit of bounce and a lot of beauty bring this lace crewneck alive. Reviewers say the go-to Walmart top looks way more expensive than it actually is — proof that designer labels are overrated.

16. Easy To Layer: Ribbing is an underrated, quiet‑luxury detail, and it’s front and center in this slimming ribbed tank. You can get the whole elevated look for under $10 with this Walmart gem.

17. Classic Print: This cropped gingham tank is surprisingly sleek for such a playful pattern. Source the style in both brights and muted neutrals to match whatever mood your summer wardrobe is in.

Related: These 17 Boutique-Style Floral Blouses Are Trending for Summer 2026

Summer 2026 top fashion trends are leaning slightly feminine, and floral blouses are leading the charge. Instead of the loud, overly busy prints of years past, this season’s must-have tops feel a tad more elevated, with puff sleeves, delicate embroidery, soft color palettes and silhouettes that look straight out of an upscale boutique. You don’t […]

Everyone knows Spock (Leonard Nimoy) as probably the most influential character in science fiction. Whenever you mention the genre to people who aren’t that familiar with it, everyone tends to know at least the Vulcan salute or “Live long and prosper.” As iconic as those are, however, they are far from being the finest our favorite half-Vulcan has to offer. With so much of him on Star Trek, from The Original Series to the movies, it might seem difficult to pinpoint Spock’s best moment, but look no further than Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and his iconic line: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” It captures his essence perfectly, and is definitely among pop culture’s most misquoted and misunderstood lines.

Spock Uses His Most Famous Line To Justify His Sacrifice in ‘The Wrath of Khan’

There are certain quotes that break the barriers of genre and media to reach even those who are oblivious to where it comes from, often resulting in them being delivered out of context or with completely different intentions than what they are really about. Spock’s “The needs of the many” is one such case. He says it not once, but twice in The Wrath of Khan, and both are all about his arc in the movie, but barely anyone outside the Star Trek fandom remembers or even knows the context.

First, he says it to his old pal, Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner), when what starts as a training course for cadets aboard the Enterprise suddenly becomes an actual high-stakes mission. Spock is the ship’s captain, but tells Jim that he should take command, since he is the senior officer and the regulation commands it. Jim repeatedly refuses, but Spock reaffirms it as a must for that mission, given the circumstances, stating that “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few,” to which Jim completes: “Or the one.”

Later, after Khan (Ricardo Montalbán) attempts to deliver his final blow against the Enterprise, the ship’s warp drive is damaged, making it impossible for them to escape. Spock then decides to go into the radiation-flooded engine room to restore power, sacrificing himself while locking his friends out. In his final moments, he and Jim recite the “needs of the many” quote again, but with the deliveries reversed, and Spock finishes it with “The one.” So, in the movie, it’s all about Vulcan logic and sacrifice.

Spock’s Quote Is the Epitome of Vulcan Utilitarian Philosophy

Thankfully, situations like the one that requires Spock’s sacrifice aren’t that common in the real world, but his “The needs of the many” line is still delivered quite often, and in contexts where it doesn’t apply at all. It’s usually taken as a way to justify unfair decisions based on a simplistic calculation of cost over consequence, where benefiting the majority is worth overlooking the needs of minorities, often going so far as the majority imposing their will on the minorities, and that’s not what it is about at all.

To fully understand it, we need to look at why it exists. “The needs of the many” goes back to utilitarianism, an ethical theory which states that the most moral course of action is always the one that achieves the greatest good for the greatest number of individuals, and this is intrinsically tied to Vulcan nature. They are known for their sometimes annoying predilection for logical reasoning over anything else; so, when Spock says that to Jim in both circumstances, he is taking a selfless stance, as he understands himself to be the minority.

However, utilitarian ethics is favored by the Vulcans for a very good reason. As distant genetic “cousins” to the vicious Romulans, they are actually deeply emotional individuals, and had to learn over millennia how to coexist amongst themselves. For Vulcans, “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” is about survival of the species, not intellectual or moral high ground. Otherwise, a single individual may lead to a crisis that puts the collective in danger because of individual wills.

Spock Himself Understands That the Truth of His Quote Is Purely Circumstantial

Image via Paramount Pictures

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You may tell yourself you would also sacrifice yourself if you were in Spock’s shoes in that scene in The Wrath of Khan, but the truth is that most of us wouldn’t. He does what he does because, despite being half-human, he was raised Vulcan, so Spock understands what true selflessness demands when the need arises, and understands that such decisions aren’t available to everyone. Kirk, for example, never once considers it, because his goal has always been to save everyone, not the majority.

People also forget (or simply don’t know) that the very next movie, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, actually reverses the “Needs of the many” line to great effect, as Jim and his crew figure out how to bring Spock back once they learn how. Spock even left a “fail-safe” of sorts behind, too, because he knew that the truth of his sacrifice was purely circumstantial, not a fail-proof ethical truth. Deep down, we all know that saving everyone is the only objectively right thing to do, and Spock would kind of agree, too.

All these reflections are what make “The needs of the many” the greatest quote in science fiction. It’s a simple and rather straightforward line, but one that evokes the kind of moral questioning that’s typical of the best works of the genre. Star Trek particularly excels at this kind of provocation, turning human ethics and morals into poignant moments that really put them into perspective. So, next time someone pulls out the trolley problem and delivers this banger, feel free to let them know that this isn’t what the line is about at all.

HBO developed its reputation for television excellence by making gritty, mature shows that included the sort of graphic content that would never be permitted on a network program. While the best shows in HBO history offered more than just shock value, the transgressive nature of the material suggested that it was “dangerous” in a way that was enticing to audiences. Compared to its contemporaries, Six Feet Under was a fairly traditional family drama that didn’t necessarily require a prestige distributor. However, Six Feet Under distinguished itself as a probing exploration of life, relationships, and death that was as artful as it was authentic. The series managed to turn its dark subject matter into a poignant, occasionally funny encapsulation of the totality of human existence, and it still holds up just as well 25 years later.

‘Six Feet Under’ Strikes the Perfect Tone Between Workplace and Family Drama

Six Feet Under is the story of the Fisher family, who own and operate a funeral home. After the family patriarch Nathaniel Sr. (Richard Jenkins) dies, control of the business is passed along to his sons David (Michael C. Hall) and Nate (Peter Krause), who are also tasked with caring for their mother Ruth (Frances Conroy) as their sister Claire (Lauren Ambrose) prepares to graduate from high school. Six Feet Under is both a workplace drama and a family story, exploring how one business interacts with the partners, loved ones, and acquaintances of the recently deceased. While Six Feet Under never chose sentimentality when it could provide a more honest outlook, it did celebrate the profundity of life’s most minor moments in a way that most television shows wouldn’t think to portray.

The framing device of Six Feet Under is quite clever, as each episode opens by showing how someone died before they were prepared by the Fishers, who are also tasked with planning the funeral. These introductions can be darkly funny, tragic, or unexpected, but they play an important role in showing how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken for granted. What distinguishes the Fisher family’s practices from other funerary businesses is that they make efforts to understand someone’s last wishes and honor their life, despite not always being prepared to support the bereaved. Although it seems like the characters might be hardened by their experiences, the Fishers only become more involved with the entire community through their business. By offering insights into people who have no control over how they will be remembered, Six Feet Under explores the realistic ways grief can emerge and how it doesn’t always occur in the way that one might expect.

The commentary on death is fascinating because Six Feet Under opened itself up to conversations about the meaning of life and offered interesting perspectives on faith, forgiveness, and human frailty. However, the HBO series has endured as a great drama because of its well-defined characters, each of whom evolves immensely over the course of five seasons. Nate begins the story as a somewhat reckless, uninvolved participant in the family who ends up having one of the most complicated arcs as he searches for what he wants in life. David offers the most grounded perspective because he is the closest thing to his father’s heir apparent, but Six Feet Under was also trailblazing in its nonjudgmental depiction of a gay character, as well as the difficulties he faced coming out. Claire’s journey is perhaps the most fascinating because she has an opportunity to grow up over the course of the show and often has a perspective that grounds her brothers; although both Nate and David are essentially in the shadow of their father, Claire is willing to diverge from the family path, often resulting in intense standoffs with their mother.

‘Six Feet Under’ Retains Its Quality Throughout All Five Seasons

Six Feet Under still feels like a high-quality HBO show today because the series was artful with its visual inventiveness and found a way to explore subconscious desires and anxieties in a way that hadn’t been seen before. Dreams rarely feel surreal when they are occurring, and Six Feet Under was able to walk in its characters’ shoes as they had their reality reconstructed in response to trauma. Although the show never ascribed to a single religion, spiritual undertones are present throughout, particularly in the way that characters communicate with loved ones who have departed. One of the best framing devices that Six Feet Under developed was bringing back Jenkins as a ghostly version of Nathaniel Sr., who looms so large in his children’s memory that they are able to visualize him.

Six Feet Under is the rare show that retained a consistent level of quality throughout without ever having a “jump the shark” moment; even the fourth-season episode where David is kidnapped, which could have felt completely ridiculous, is well-handled because of its stunning real-time execution. The greatest legacy of Six Feet Under is that it has what may be the best series finale of all time in “Everybody’s Waiting,” which wraps up every character’s fate with just the right amount of gravity and ambiguity. Although it is an emotionally involving show that is often quite harrowing, Six Feet Under remains a masterpiece that demonstrates how empathetic great television can be.

Dark fantasy is a genre that incorporates elements of both fantasy and horror and is not exclusive to any age range; it can be made for kids while still incorporating things that are eerie, uncanny, or disturbing (think Coraline). It’s sort of a fringe genre, not quite horror, but also kind of horror at the same time. It’s important not to confuse the genre with grimdark fantasy, which is about moral ambiguity, cynicism, and brutal violence (think Game of Thrones), although there is often plenty of overlap.

Dark fantasy books, speaking strictly in the traditional sense, have been around for centuries, with some appearing as early as the Middle Ages. Not all of these books are novels, either. Some are artbooks, some are epic poems, and some are fictitious accounts of history with no clear narrative. However, the truly marvellous do tend to stand out. These are the best dark fantasy books of all time, masterpieces of literature that are as haunting as they are fascinating.

10

‘Katabasis’ (2025)

Image via HarperVoyager

Author R. F. Kuang has been seeing a lot of publicity lately. While she is a student of academia, working on a post-graduate degree, she has received more attention for her popular fantasy novels, which have been absolutely blowing up in recent years. Her most recent effort is Katabasis, a standalone work that feels true to herself. The story follows two PhD students at Cambridge University who descend into the depths of Hell to rescue their professor.

In this story, academia is Hell… literally. While critical reviews have been mixed, many casual readers have absolutely loved this novel. It started simple, but became wonderfully complex, addressing philosophical concepts, important social commentaries, and raising a lot of questions. Some people don’t like the book because they think it isn’t very subtle with what it’s trying to say, but whatever you personally may think about it, Katabasis has been exceptionally popular, winning numerous awards and selling millions of copies.

9

‘The Vagrant’ (2015)

Image via HarperVoyager

The Vagrant is the first in a series of the same name, which follows a mute, lone wandered who travels across a war-torn, deserted landscape. This world is populated by terrifying demons (which is where the horror aspects come in), which have forced humanity to take refuge in the distant Shining City. Though it is not initially revealed why, the Vagrant carries a sword and must deliver it to the Shining City before it’s too late.

With this book having a silent protagonist, it has to rely on a lot more than dialogue to tell its story. For that reason, it’s not for everyone, especially if you don’t like long blocks of prose. But for those who are into that sort of thing, it feels like an experiment in storytelling that ultimately works pretty well. If anyone ever feels lost in life or aimless, The Vagrant is a great book to turn to. Even if you don’t feel this way, it’s a unique story that demands more attention.

8

‘Between Two Fires’ (2012)

Image via Ace

Between Two Fires is a historical fantasy novel set in the Middle Ages. The plot begins when angels and demons go to war once again, causing the Black Plague to sweep across Europe. In plague-torn France, a disgraced knight rescues a young girl from danger and tries to escort her across the land to a safe place. It’s no easy feat, however, as the Plague isn’t the only thing they have to worry about. In this version of history, horrifying demons roam the landscape and serve as the biggest obstacle in the way of the pair.

The book isn’t just an entertaining novel; it also addresses themes of theology and morality, prompting important questions in the reader. It might be a bit cynical, but hey, that’s the genre, right? The demons and the way they are described definitely evoke horror vibes, so it’s certainly a dark fantasy novel. In fact, it’s one of the best dark fantasy novels ever, receiving critical acclaim and stellar reviews all around.

7

‘Vermis I: Lost Dungeons and Forbidden Woods’ (2022)

Image via Hollow Press

Vermis I: Lost Dungeons and Forbidden Woods is a really interesting book. It’s not particularly long, but its concept is something unlike anything you’ve ever read before, guaranteed. The artist Plastiboo, whose real name is unknown, created this book as a video game strategy guide for a game that doesn’t even exist. It’s more of an art book than a novel, yet it works so well.

As such, there isn’t really a whole lot of story to this book; it’s purely an exercise in worldbuilding, creating a disturbing and uncanny world for a video game that doesn’t exist, but really should. Despite the fact that there’s no proper narrative, it’s an intriguing concept with an even more intriguing setting, both of which are executed brilliantly. Vermis I is a reading experience that is totally fresh, and that easily sinks its claws in, never letting go of its reader until the end.

6

‘Shadows for Silence: In the Forests of Hell’ (2013)

Image via Tor Fantasy

Shadows for Silence: In the Forests of Hell is a novella by Brandon Sanderson initially published in a multi-author anthology called Dangerous Women, which also included works from George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois. Later, the novella was published as a standalone work and was republished in the author’s personal anthology of short stories, Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection. The story is part of Sanderson’s Cosmere universe, which features numerous different series and standalones. The Cosmere itself is a galaxy, with each solar system having a unique magic system.

Shadows for Silence is set on Threnody, a world overcome with a dark force known simply as “the Evil.” Anyone who dies here becomes a Shade, a wandering, ghostly spirit that comes out at night, looking to feed on the living. In the forests of Threnody, Silence Montane works as an innkeeper and mother by day, and a bounty hunter by night. One evening, she gets an offer that she cannot refuse, causing her to make the dangerous voyage out into the woods at night. This story might be short, but it’s a great adventure, and one of the eeriest works in the Cosmere. In fact, it’s the only Cosmere work that is dark fantasy. It’s an absolutely fantastic story about a dark and oppressive world that readers are dying to see more of.

5

‘Prince of Thorns’ (2011)

Image via Harper Voyager/Mark Lawrence

Prince of Thorns is the first of the Broken Empire trilogy, which is set on Earth, centuries after a nuclear apocalypse reverted humanity back to the Dark Ages. Europe, along with parts of Asia and Africa, makes up the eponymous Broken Empire, a land full of feuding royals. Ghosts roam the wastelands at night and necromancers hide in the mountains. In the midst of it all is Prince Jorg Ancrath, a self-professed sociopath who intends to overthrow his father, become king, and eventually Emperor.

Everything about this world is bleak and depressing; there is just no hope to be found anywhere, and only the strong survive, while the merciful meet horrible ends. Not only is it a grimdark story, but it also fits into dark fantasy because there are horror elements, including horrifying nuclear mutants, the undead, and vampiric sorcerers who can raise the dead. It’s one of the rare cases where real life actually looks more appealing than a fantasy world, because living in the Broken Empire world really would suck. Still, the story is great, and it’s refreshing (yet also disheartening) to have such a morally reprehensible protagonist.

4

‘The Blade Itself’ (2006)

Image via Gollancz

The Blade Itself is a novel that is the first of a series, set in a morose world previously inhabited by both demons and humans. Though the demons have long since been banished, their power is still drawn upon by wizards and sorcerers, who reach through to the Other Side and use the power beyond to cast their spells. This first novel establishes this setting, and the characters contained therein, which are a pretty diverse and mostly despicable cast. They’re horrible by design, however, which makes them that much more entertaining.

This book was received very well by critics, many of whom acknowledged that it not only delivered on what it promised, but definitely lived up to its hype. The eclectic, colorful characters received particular acclaim, as they are all engaging and greatly enhance the narrative. The fact that demons and other entities associated with horror are such a major part of this story nestles this book firmly within the dark fantasy genre. Truthfully, it’s one of the best examples of it.

3

‘The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three’ (1987)

Image via Grant

The Dark Tower has become a bit of a household name at this point, almost as much as its author, Stephen King. Infamously, it received an awful film adaptation of the books, which didn’t represent the source material at all. Out of all The Dark Tower books, the second one, The Drawing of the Three, is often considered to be one of the best, if not the absolute best.

The story of The Dark Tower is about a world that is splitting apart at the seams, prompting a knight to search out the mythical titular structure, said to be a gateway to other universes and possibly humanity’s last hope. Being a Stephen King book, of course there are going to be horror elements, which is why it’s dark fantasy. However, the setting is also really unique, as it feels like the Wild West meets steampunk fantasy and horror. It’s a great book series — one of the finest ever conceived, in fact.

2

‘The Last Wish’ (1993)

Image via Orbit

The Last Wish is a collection of short stories that serves as one of the prequels to Andrzej Sapkowski‘s The Witcher series, which famously became a video game series and a Netflix series. The Last Wish is mostly a bunch of disconnected stories with no overarching narrative, which is more of a help than a hindrance. The stories, like the rest of the series, feature Geralt of Rivia, a partially undead being known as a Witcher, who is trained in magic and combat to hunt monsters across the countryside.

Most of the monsters featured in the series are largely based on folklore and mythology from all around the world, which includes a lot of ghostly spirits or werewolf-like beings, hence why it’s considered dark fantasy. While this anthology isn’t particularly long, it’s a wild ride from start to finish. It’s also a crucial piece of The Witcher story, as it’s where Geralt meets many of his most trusted allies. The Last Wish serves as the perfect introductory piece for Sapkowski’s works, and also as one of the greatest dark fantasy books ever made.

1

‘Divine Comedy’ (1321)

Image via Barnes & Noble

Divine Comedy is an epic narrative poem written by Florentine poet Dante Alighieri way back in the 14th Century. Though it wasn’t written as such at the time, the story became one of the most impactful and influential works in the entirety of dark fantasy. In fact, it’s a foundational entry, and while it lacks many of the qualities that distinguish dark fantasy, it’s impossible to separate it from the genre. Do note, however, that “comedy” didn’t mean the same thing in the Middle Ages as it does now. Back then, it didn’t mean the story was funny; it just meant that it had a happy ending. The book is actually a deeply serious religious narrative split into three distinct parts.

The first and most famous part is Inferno, about a man travelling through the Nine Circles of Hell to rescue his lover, who has been captured by Satan. The other two parts are called Purgatorio and Paradiso, which dive more into politics and philosophy, a stark departure from the more gripping first part. In any event, the whole poem is one of the greatest pieces of text ever produced, with a legacy spanning centuries and many adaptations across all forms of media. It’s hard to say if dark fantasy would ever even exist without the Divine Comedy, which is why it’s the best dark fantasy book of all time, hands down.

John Fogerty’s life is getting turned into a movie and he already has an idea of who could play him in the “amazing” biopic.

“Whoever that Bob Dylan guy was. That would be great,” Fogerty, 81, exclusively told Us Weekly at the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony on Thursday, June 11, of his dream casting scenario.

While the Creedence Clearwater Revival singer couldn’t remember his name, he appeared to be referring to Timothée Chalamet.

Chalamet, 30, transformed into the iconic singer-songwriter Dylan, 85, in 2024’s A Complete Unknown, which was nominated for eight Oscars including Best Actor for his portrayal of the “Mr. Tambourine Man” singer.

Fogerty, for his part, exclusively told Us that a biopic about his career — he cofounded Creedence Clearwater Revival and has had a decades-long solo career — is officially in the works but not much has been revealed about the project.

“That’s going to be a thrill,” the musician teased of the upcoming film. “We are well into this thing. That is about all I can say about it.”

While Fogerty remained tight-lipped about when fans will get to see his world come to life on the big screen, he shared his hopes for the story line with Us.

Related: The 5 Best Music Biopics Ever Made, Ranked

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“There have been some twists and turns in my career,” Fogerty explained. “I think the most important thing is what really happened in my life — I actually fell right into a love story that’s true.”

The “Born on the Bayou” singer, who has been married to Julie Lebiedzinski since 1991, noted that his music isn’t the only thing he hopes viewers see play out on screen.

“I’m the most grateful and appreciative man for [Julie] because the whole rest of my life has been a dream,” Fogerty gushed.

John, a California native, rose to fame in the ‘60s after cofounding Creedence Clearwater Revival or CCR with his late brother, Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook and Doug Clifford in 1959. The band was originally named Blue Velvets before being changed to the Golliwogs and finally settling on CCR in 1967.

Once CCR was officially the name, the band released seven studio albums between 1968 and 1972.

The group, which performed at 1969’s Woodstock, churned out chart-topping hits such as “Proud Mary” and “Fortunate Son” before disbanding in 1972.

John, for his part, has continued to sing the band’s songs on his solo tours. (He is currently on his Legacy Tour with his Travelin’ Band.)

On Thursday, John was honored with the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award, after being inducted into the organization years prior.

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“I love music! It’s supposed to be about joy. It’s supposed to be about fun,” John said during his acceptance speech.

He went on to explain that the “concept of taste” in music comes down to, “Why do some songs suck and some songs are great?”

John mused, “It seems like the great ones just flow effortlessly. There’s no wasted moments. … I wanted to reach that very high bar. I think that’s something everybody in this room understands.”

By Robert Scucci
| Published 11 seconds ago

If there’s anything I love more than a solid thriller, it’s one that makes me laugh. If it makes me laugh at things I shouldn’t be laughing at, even better. Which is why I’m ashamed to admit that I’d never even heard of 1996’s Freeway until I scrolled past it on Tubi and saw that Reese Witherspoon and Kiefer Sutherland share top billing, and that the film has an agreeable 76 percent score between critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. I loved Election (1999), but admittedly I’m not fully versed in Witherspoon’s filmography. What I do know, though, is that when she’s given an opportunity to go nuts, she knows how to deliver.

I’m happy to say that Freeway is not only solid for its time, but actually holds up remarkably well today because it operates in a lane far enough removed from polite society to feel universal. Its characterization is also so strong that you’re not even thinking about what year it is.

The Ever Elusive I-5 Killer

The less you know about Freeway, the better, because the whole film is a slow crescendo of insanity.

The surface-level plot is simple enough. 14-year-old and illiterate Vanessa Lutz (Reese Witherspoon) runs away from her abusive and neglectful family to start a new life. When her car breaks down, she’s picked up by a charming and unassuming man named Bob Wolverton (Kiefer Sutherland), who she quickly bonds with through conversation, revealing more than she probably should about her questionable upbringing.

Once Vanessa appears comfortable enough around Bob, he reveals that he’s a serial killer known as the I-5 killer, and that she’s about to become his next victim. Vanessa manages to overpower him with the gun her boyfriend gave her before she left home, leaves him for dead, and flees to a diner, where she’s subsequently arrested for shooting the man. Bob survives but suffers permanent disfigurement, and now denies any connection to the I-5 killer whatsoever.

The film quickly transitions from a story of survival to one of revenge. Now trapped in prison and facing the possibility of being tried as an adult, Vanessa needs to figure out how to survive her new surroundings, clear her name, and somehow kill Bob, who thinks he’ll never have to answer for his crimes.

Reese Witherspoon Is A Force Of Nature

Freeway is one of Witherspoon’s best early performances, and she fully commits to Vanessa’s insane adventure. She convincingly portrays a young woman who’s wise beyond her years despite her illiteracy, in the sense that her survival instincts are more evolved than those of somebody 20 years her senior. She hams it up with the officers when she knows she’s in trouble, but she also knows when to show her teeth when her safety is compromised, whether she’s in a holding cell, on the streets, in prison, or back at home.

Remember how I said this movie is funny? It comes from how terrifying she is when in a state of shock or self-defense. When she walks into that diner to gather her senses, she calmly sits down and orders food, completely unaware that she’s pretty much covered in Bob’s blood until the waitress points it out. 

Kiefer Sutherland is an absolute menace, and his straight-faced intensity is brilliantly offset by Witherspoon’s confrontations when the timing is just right. It’s one of those dynamics that makes you wish they’d worked together on more projects. I don’t think we’d get the same performance out of Witherspoon if Sutherland weren’t so perfectly cast as Bob Wolverton. He toes the line between charming and creepy flawlessly, which is exactly how I imagine a serial killer living a double life would act when his old ball and chain isn’t around, or even aware of his whereabouts for that matter.

Freeway never wears out its welcome, and I strongly recommend it to anybody looking for a solid, straight-up thriller. Just when you think it can’t escalate any further, it finds a way. While there’s no real moral ambiguity here, it’s a raw and exciting take on the kinds of true crime stories that are all over your Netflix feed.

As of this writing, you can stream Freeway for free on Tubi.

By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated 48 seconds ago

Disney has been around for a long, long time now, and over the decades, the company has wiped a movie from the timeline, Song of the South, and oddly, an episode of Darkwing Duck. The first is because of the racism, but the second is a little surprising. What could be in the Ducktales spin-off that was so horrible Disney pulled it from airing and has never made it available on Disney+? It’s Satan. Turns out, parents weren’t fond of a cartoon including a plot about the Devil making a deal with one of the main characters. 

Darkwing Duck Vs. The Prince Of Darkness

Darkwing Duck was always a darker series than Ducktales but the banned episode, “Hot Spells,” goes a little further than the color palette and the Batman-style rogue’s gallery. Goslyn, Darkwing’s daughter, is bored when she goes to a magical school alongside Darkwing and Morgana, finding that magic isn’t as fun as it sounds. It’s a lot of math. The Janitor, Beezelbub in disguise, takes advantage of the opportunity to trick her into a deal that gives her magic, but allows him to take Darkwing Duck’s soul. 

Together, Morgana and Goslyn are able to trick Beezelbub into releasing Darkwing Duck. It’s still a Disney afternoon cartoon after all. By then though, the damage was done, and parents lit up the switchboards at ABC with complaints that their child watched the Devil himself. The odd thing is, it wasn’t Beezelbub’s first appearance. 

Beezelbub, or The Devil, or Satan, depending on how you want to refer to him, appeared in the episode “Dead Duck” when Darkwing passed away (temporarily). Meeting the Masked Mallard at the Pearly Gates, Beezelbub tried to convince St. Peter that the hero should be in Hell. At the end of the episode, Darkwing wakes up with a bump on his head, thinking it was all a dream. 

Not The Only Banned Episode Of Darkwing Duck

More Darkwing Duck episodes wound up being banned, including “Tiff of the Titans,” which included a cameo from Gizmo Duck. That one was banned due to a terrorism plot. Around September 11, 2001, it was caught up in the rush of entertainment banned, albiet briefly, due to sensitivity. “Bearskin Thug” was pulled in 2001 as well after complaints that the bear was too scary. The best banning though was “Aduckyphobia,” pulled because the character Arachno-Duck was too similar to a certain wall-crawling Marvel superhero. 

With the exception of “Hot Spells,” the banned episodes have been restored on Disney+. Internationally, “Hot Spells” is available for streaming, but within the U.S., it’s been banned for over 30 years and counting. A character giving into temptation and making a deal with the devil is pretty common in shows like Supernatural, or well, Lucifer, but the afternoon cartoon was a bridge too far. 

Darkwing Duck is one of the many shows that Disney hasn’t done much with over the years. For a decade, there have been rumors of a legacy sequel featuring a grown-up Goslyn and an older Drake Mallard,  produced by Seth Rogen. A few months ago, the original voice for D.W., Jim Cummings, said he had recorded a scene, so fans can cautiously look forward to more news about the return of Darkwing Duck in the near future. This time, Satan won’t be included.

“Real Housewives of New York City“ alum Luann de Lesseps is gearing up for the premiere of her new show, “The Golden Life.” Now, ahead of the series, she’s reacting to her costars, Ramona Singer and Sonja Morgan, having recently reunited with Bethenny Frankel.

This comes weeks after E! released the trailer for the series, which is slated to premiere this fall.

De Lesseps was featured on Page Six’s Virtual Reali-Tea podcast in June 2026. During her interview, the “Real Housewives of New York City” alum was asked about the RoC ad Morgan and Singer recently shot with Frankel in Paris.

In reacting to it, she began, “Good for them. I think they needed a little cash, so, perfect.” After joking with the podcast hosts, the Cabaret performer added, “It’s a cash grab, what do you want?” Then, De Lesseps was asked if she believes the three ladies still speak after shooting the ad.

She responded, “I’m sure they do. They can have their relationships. They can be friends with whoever they want.” She then added, “They went very quickly, and then they came back very quickly because we had our own show to do.”

During the interview, she was also asked if she’d rather go ziplining or do the ad with her co-star. She said, “Oh, girl, give me a zip line any day. So I can zip on out of there.”

Luann And Bethenny Previously Interacted in 2024

De Lesseps has had a contentious relationship with Frankel for several years. Their last big clash came during the “RHONY” episode from season 11 titled “Life is not a Cabaret.” Years later, in 2024, the two reunited and took a photo in the Hamptons.

However, the reunion was short-lived as De Lesseps accused her former co-star of posting the photo for clout and using her daughter in the process. She told Us Weekly in July of that year, “After watching Bethenny’s video and still being blocked by her on social media, I realize she just used her daughter to get to me.”

She continued, claiming the photo opp “wasn’t a genuine reconnection.” She added, “To watch the video, it hurt my feelings.”

Before her change of heart about Frankel’s motivations for the photo, De Lesseps told the outlet, “I’ve been through a lot with Bethenny, but I am not the person who hangs on to the past. We are moving through it in a positive way. Because life is a cabaret.”

The ups and downs of De Lesseps’ friendship with Frankel have been well documented on and off of “The Real Housewives of New York City.” Because of this, De Lesseps’ most recent comments about her former costar have caused varying reactions from fans. Overall, social media users think the “RHONY” alum was only having fun.”

One person said, “Luann’s ability to always drag Bethenny is beyond funny to me.” Another person wrote, “I think Luann and B are going to come together again. Just wait and see.” After that, someone else pointed out that she shaded her “Golden Life” costars, saying, “I think this new show is going to be more drama than we thought.”

E! Released ‘The Golden Life’ Trailer In May

E! announced “The Golden Life” in February 2026. In addition to De Lesseps, Singer, and Morgan, the original cast of the show included Jill Zarin and Kelly Bensimon. However, Zarin was fired before production began over her comments about the most recent Super Bowl halftime performance. Following the change, Dorinda Medley was added to the cast.

Then, in May, the first official trailer was released. The teaser featured each of the ladies giving a summary of their time in Florida, with moments of drama and laughs from the show sprinkled between.

Luann Previously Reacted To Jill Zarin’s Firing

De Lesseps was interviewed by PedestrianTV in February 2026, shortly after Zarin was confirmed to have been fired from “The Golden Life.” When asked for her thoughts on the matter and what her former costar had said, she stated, “My reaction was: ‘tone-deaf.’”

She continued, “I’ve known Jill for a long time, and I’m just surprised by the whole thing.” The “RHONY” alum then called the situation “unfortunate” before saying, “But the show must go on.”