Reacher is considered to be one of Prime Video’s top TV shows, thanks to the brutal fight scenes that protagonist Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) finds himself embroiled in and the simple yet compelling idea of Reacher wandering the United States while delivering his own brutal brand of justice. The results speak for themselves: not only does Reacher top Prime Video’s streaming charts with each new season, but the fourth season is now heading toward its finale. And while the end of Season 4 may leave fans wanting more, Prime Video isn’t exactly leaving them empty-handed.

The Reacher spinoff Neagley, focused on one of Reacher’s closest allies, Frances Neagley (Maria Sten), will premiere all eight of its episodes on September 16, the same day as the Reacher Season 4 finale. With the franchise expanding and Neagley finally stepping into the spotlight, it’s an especially good time to look at the other Prime Video action series that helped pave the way for Reacher‘s success. One of the biggest is Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, based on Tom Clancy‘s novels and starring John Krasinski as the titular CIA analyst pulled into increasingly dangerous conflicts. For viewers already invested in Reacher and excited to see where Neagley takes the franchise next, Jack Ryan is another action-heavy Prime Video series well worth revisiting.

‘Jack Ryan’ Set The Stage for ‘Reacher’, ‘The Terminal List’ and Other Prime Video Series

Jack Ryan follows a formula that Reacher would adapt to great effect: each season features a different conflict for Ryan to overcome with his “particular set of skills“. In Season 1, he’s taken from his cushy desk job and thrown into conflict with a terrorist; then he has to fight off a plot to resurrect the Soviet Union (yes, really) and eventually learns that there’s a corrupt operator within the CIA. Each of these conflicts usually involves Ryan tracking down, then either killing the antagonist of each season or working to bring them down with his analytical skills. The action sequences feel intense thanks to the different directors that board each season; Phil Abraham, who directed multiple episodes of Daredevil, brings a grittier, down-to-earth approach, while Morten Tyldum delivers the same sense of tension to the pilot that he did with The Imitation Game. As a result, Jack Ryan feels like a different novel from season to season.

The biggest influence Jack Ryan had on Prime Video was convincing the streamer to lean more into television series based on military fiction. Reacher is based on Lee Child‘s novel of the same name, and doesn’t shy away from the fact that Jack Reacher was a former military officer. Likewise, The Terminal List and its spin-off The Terminal List: Dark Wolf draw influence from The Terminal List novels by Jack Carr. Jack Ryan also gave birth to the era of “Dad TV”, which most of these shows fit into. Their meat-and-potatoes storytelling, rugged lead protagonist, and generous use of violence made them huge hits, which led Prime to continue mining the same well. Even Prime’s latest series, Butterfly, fits into this mold: it’s based on the BOOM! Studios comic book that follows a secretive spy organization, and it literally puts the “Dad” in “Dad TV” since Daniel Dae Kim‘s character is attempting to reconnect with his daughter.

‘Jack Ryan’ Might Be Over, but It Continued With a Movie

Image via Amazon MGM Studios

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Jack Ryan managed to last for four seasons, scoring a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes during its run. While praise was given to Krasinski’s performance and the action performances, some of the story beats drew controversy. Season 2 drew fire for a plot where Ryan attempts to stop a cache of nuclear weapons from being shipped out of Venezuela; the Venezuelan government criticized this as “crass war propaganda.” Despite the controversy, Jack Ryan continued with a movie picking up after the events of the series, with Krasinski returning to the lead role.

The movie leaned further into the action that fans had come to expect, with Krasinski hyping up its approach in an interview with Collider’s Tania Hussain. “We were so excited to do a movie. As much as the long-form storytelling was a whole different ballgame to play in, it’s really fun to reduce it down and condense the timeline and therefore the tension. So, we’re getting to do all the big fun action movie stuff that we didn’t get to do in a television show,” he said.

Jack Ryan‘s return with the movie showed just how far the franchise had come, as the series helped to pave the way for Reacher and other hit series on Prime Video. Even if the movie itself didn’t quite live up to the series, if you love propulsive narratives, intense action, and the type of hero who can get stuff done on his lonesome, then Jack Ryan is the show for you.

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Release Date

2018 – 2023-00-00

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Network

Prime Video

Showrunner

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Carlton Cuse

Directors

Jann Turner, Andrew Bernstein, Dennie Gordon, Kevin Dowling, Lukas Ettlin, Patricia Riggen, David Petrarca, Phil Abraham, Carlton Cuse, Morten Tyldum

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Writers

Amy Berg, Dario Scardapane, Nolan Dunbar, Vince Calandra, David Graziano, Steven Kane, Marc Halsey, Robert Port

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Prince William wasn’t very confident that brother Prince Harry and sister-in-law Meghan Markle’s return to the United Kingdom wouldn’t reopen old wounds.

“There was cautious optimism that perhaps they would arrive in silent dignity and not stir up drama, but William was much less optimistic than the king and was proven right because right now he’s having an ‘I told you so’ moment,” a source exclusively tells Us.

William, 44, and Harry, 41, have had a fractured relationship since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior working members of the royal family in 2020, following which Harry released his memoir, Spare, and a six-part Netflix docuseries, titled Harry & Meghan, in which he and Meghan, 45, spoke out against the royal family.

In March 2020, Harry and Meghan moved to Montecito, California, to raise their two children: Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.

“William and Kate don’t have to do anything and say anything. History has proven time and again Meghan and Harry will dig their own grave,” continues the source. “And this takes them further away from reconciliation.”

“William has not spoken to Harry,” the insider adds. “William also hasn’t gotten over all the stress that Harry and Meghan caused leading up to Kate’s cancer diagnosis. She finally reached remission, only for them to come back to the U.K. and create more stress for everyone.”

Last month, Harry and Meghan sent shockwaves when news broke that they would be returning to the U.K. with their kids after living stateside for the past six years. It came as an even greater surprise to many due to Harry’s long-running concerns over his family’s security in Britain, as he previously expressed to the BBC that “I can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point.”

Harry and Meghan previously lost publicly-funded security protection in the U.K. as a result of stepping down from their royal roles.

Following the news of Harry and Meghan’s return, a letter was released on behalf of King Charles III to clarify the couple’s status in the royal family.

“It is well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of The Sovereign, and are no longer working Members of The Royal Family,” read the letter written by royal household senior officer Lord Chamberlain. “This position, distinct from the State and Royal duties undertaken by the working Royal Family, and with the personal latitude it brings the couple in respect of financial independence and protection of their privacy as they would wish, will continue to be fully respected.”

The letter added that Harry and Meghan’s “charitable work” is “a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity.”

“In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests,” the letter stated.

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A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan told the BBC that they were “a little surprised” to not have been told about the letter “in advance.”

An additional source previously told Us that the reason Charles, 77, put out the letter to help ease confusion following Harry and Meghan’s return as the couple’s children reportedly just began their new school year.

“Charles wrote a letter to clarify they are not working royals and they are considered private citizens so there is no confusion,” the source explained. “The king just wanted the public and press not to be confused. They can’t be one foot in and one foot out.”

The final season of Apple TV‘s Silo has a lot to explain, but the apocalyptic drama has quite a bit of story to tell as well. The show is based on a trilogy of novels by Hugh Howey, and while it has taken some liberties in the adaptation process, it has stuck to the source material where it counted most so far — even in places where it may not have been convenient. Season 4 will be the show’s final test, and we’ll see if all the changes along the way have led us to the same conclusion as Howey’s books. We’ll also see if these characters are similar enough to support the story’s central romance, or if that will be the biggest dropped plot in the series.

For those unaware, Howey’s books string out a long, star-crossed romance between Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson) and Lukas Kyle (Avi Nash). So far, the show has not lingered on these two quite as much as the books did, though most of their important encounters are still intact in the adaptation. The show may be building a more subtle foundation so that this plot line can land in the end, though at this point, it’s fair to say they may be dropping it altogether. The show would likely hold up fine without this romance, but if the writers and producers can pull it off, it will hit even harder than it did in the books.

‘Silo’ Season 3 May Have Built the Foundation For Romance

Image via Apple TV+

Apple TV’s Silo has diverged from the books since the beginning, though early in Season 1 it appeared they were building up to Juliette’s romance arc. The show actually started off stronger in this respect by introducing us to George Wilkins (Ferdinand Kingsley). This character was already dead when the books began, and Juliette’s romantic history with him was much further in the background. Juliette had helped with the investigation of George’s death, which was the pretense for making her sheriff.

On the TV show, George and Jules have a secretive romance that kicks off the main action of the show spectacularly. He introduces us to the idea of relics, leaving behind clues to the true nature of the silo after his death. He also adds a lot of emotional weight to Juliette’s story early on, though her grief for him may be part of the reason the show has held off on her romance with Lukas up until now.

In both versions, Juliette met Lukas while she was sheriff, noticing him stargazing in the commissary at night. However, in the books Juliette and Lukas spend a lot of time getting to know each other via radio while Juliette is in Silo 17 and Lukas is locked in the I.T. department. This is where their overt romance starts, while the book has kept it at bay. Meanwhile, the show added the Season 3 plot line where Juliette develops amnesia, further delaying the romance. In the books, Juliette becomes mayor shortly after returning to Silo 18, and immediately strikes up a romance with Lukas as well.

These changes do not rule the romance out entirely — in fact, they may even make it stronger. The TV versions of Jules and Lukas have now spent a lot of time together, and have relied on each other in some high-stakes situations. They have every reason to trust and admire each other without any expectations of love. If the show can transmute the history they have now into a romance, it will pay off strongly.

Juliette is Stronger on TV So Far

Image via Apple TV

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One major reason the TV show may have left Juliette’s romantic life on the back burner is her role as a heroic figure in this story. In the books, Juliette sacrifices no agency or strength in order to be with Lukas, but on TV the optics are much more important. It might be harder for audiences to see Jules as a capable revolutionary leader once she had a man at her side. The show also had to leave space for Juliette to grieve for George, not to mention everything else she has endured up to this point.

The show cleverly side-stepped an awkward part of the story where Lukas and Juliette are at odds, which is hard to reconcile for a relatively new relationship. In the process, it gave Lukas more to do and established more common ground between him and Juliette. Now the show has a chance to bring these two together in the climactic moments of their story with some real momentum. It will be a powerful statement to those who feel the show has been too unfaithful to the books, proving that a story can evolve and meander a bit while still ending up at the same place with all its authenticity intact.

It’s also possible the show will drop this romance plot entirely, and that could work just fine as well. We’ll know soon enough as Silo Season 4 premieres on July 9, 2027 on Apple TV. Previous seasons are streaming there now, and Howey’s books are available in print, digital, and audiobook formats.

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Release Date

May 5, 2023

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Apple TV

Showrunner

Graham Yost

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Directors

Morten Tyldum, David Semel, Michael Dinner, Aric Avelino

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Writers

Graham Yost, Hugh Howey, Jeffery Wang, Lekethia Dalcoe

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The conversation surrounding Chingy and his son, Isaiah Russell-Bailey, has sparked a heated discussion online about their estranged relationship. Chingy recently revealed Isaiah is one of his children during an interview with Jason Lee. Following the interview, Isaiah seemingly reacted while showing love to his mother and recognizing her support throughout his life. Amid the tension, Chingy seemingly addressed Isaiah’s mother, suggesting some parents manipulate their children and use them for financial gain. He also explained that his support for Isaiah has not always been public because he wanted him to create his own path. However, Isaiah is now sharing his side of the story! The actor is pushing back against some of his father’s claims while also defending his mother.

RELATED: That’s That! Chingy Sets The Record Straight On Where Things Stand With Son Isaiah Russell-Bailey (PHOTO)

Isaiah Russell-Bailey Addresses Where He Stands With His Father Chingy

Isaiah took to Instagram on Thursday (Sept. 10) to address his relationship with his father after taking a few days to reflect. The actor shares he usually keeps their relationship private but felt compelled to speak after seeing Chingy’s comments. Isaiah also claimed Chingy’s version did not accurately reflect their relationship, alleging years of absence, neglect, and lack of involvement.

Additionally, Isaiah defended his mother against claims that she influenced his feelings toward his father. He explained that his feelings about their relationship came from his own experiences growing up.

Isaiah wrote, “I’ve stayed quiet about my relationship with my father because I’ve never felt the need to share that aspect of my life publicly. But after seeing his comments, I feel compelled to speak for myself. What my biological father shared is not an accurate representation of our relationship. Saying something publicly does not make it true. You cannot rewrite years of absence, neglect, or lack of involvement with a few paragraphs about love, support, and being there for your child.”

The actor added: “I know what my childhood and my relationship with my father actually looked like. I know who was present and who wasn’t. I know who supported me and who didn’t. And to be clear, the claims about my mother are completely false. She did not manipulate me into disliking my father. A parent doesn’t have to turn a child against someone who was already absent. My feelings are my own, and they come from my own experiences.”

Furthermore, Isaiah Russell-Bailey said his career is not a part of his and Chingy’s story either. “I’ve worked diligently and tirelessly for what I have. The people who genuinely supported me know the sacrifices I and my mother had to make, as well as the setbacks and work that went into getting here. What bothers me is the blatant attempt to present an image to the public that doesn’t match reality, while implying that I somehow share that version of our relationship. I DO NOT,” he said.

Ultimately, the actor refused to expose “every private detail” of his relationship with Chingy “just to win an argument on the internet.” However, he said he refuses to allow someone to speak for him or use his or his mom’s name “to create a false picture of a nonexistent relationship for clout.”

“I know the truth, and the people who were actually there know it too. I’ve said what I needed to say, and I won’t be speaking on this again.”

Social Media Weighs In

Many gathered under  The Shade Room  as they reacted to Isaiah’s statement. Many empathized with his experience and commended him for standing up for himself and his mother. Others argued that Chingy did not say much to begin with and felt the situation was being dragged out.

Instagram user wrote @theearred wrote, “Good for him for standing up for himself & his mom. Very mature response.” ❤️ 

Instagram user @annayaalanaeee.__ wrote, “that part. ppl refuse to believe that children can have their own mind and voice when it comes to a relative relationship.”

While Instagram user @trappthageneral wrote, “Moma wrote this lol”

Instagram user @dat1sagittarius wrote, “Like he so bothered that his father mentioned him when he was asked a question 😂 all he said was his son is a big actor out in cali. He didn’t take credit or say he raised him. He doing too much IMO”

Instagram user @teshayfanchon wrote, “Atp you’ve mentioned him & went into detail more than he did you. Let’s hang this up and just get along. 🥴”

While Instagram user @flawlessndbrown_ wrote. “Idk I feel like his mom talked bad about his dad a LOT & it worked. Chingy didn’t even say anything bad”

Instagram user @jeffspates00 wrote, “Mind yall he’s 19 I’m pretty sure he can write up his own statements while yall saying his mom did it”

Instagram user @shortybaddaxx added, “He needed this moment to become relevant again & im glad his son let it be known respectfully. He didn’t even need to bring up his son name in the interview knowing they don’t have a relationship.”

While Instagram uaer  @tyisha_ wrote, “Chingy has 4 kids. Why didnt he name drop them all? You can acknowledge how many kids you have without exposing their identity. He only name dropped the famous kid that he didnt raise.”

How Isaiah Russell-Bailey Has Been Making His Own Lane In Hollywood

Outside of the family drama, Isaiah has been making waves in Hollywood for some time now. He held it down on Netflix as Shaka McKellan on ‘Family Reunion,’ appearing throughout the series from 2019 through 2021. Isaiah later played Rewind in Netflix’s ‘We Can Be Heroes’ and Caleb Channing in Disney+’s ‘Crater,’ adding to his growing resume. Whether he’s hitting red carpets or pulling out his best moves alongside his mother, Brittany Perry-Russell, Isaiah continues making his own lane.

RELATED: 21 Savage Opens Up About Fatherhood & How Parenting Youngest Child With Latto Differs From Raising His Other Kids

Some kids movies survive because parents keep introducing them. Others survive because kids would find them again anyway. The really special ones have enough mischief, speed, heart, and personality that nobody in the room feels like they are sitting through children’s entertainment. You can put one on after dinner, hear a familiar line from the other room, and somehow end up watching the rest.

That is the standard here on this list. Adventure helps. Great jokes help even more. But the biggest thing is whether the movie makes being young feel exciting rather than simplified. These stories understand imagination, embarrassment, friendship, fear, and the absolute seriousness children can attach to things adults dismiss. These 8 movies are fun because they remember what that age actually feels like.

8

‘Paddington 2’ (2017)

Image via StudioCanal

Paddington 2 sends the nicest bear in Britain to prison, which sounds cruel until Paddington starts improving prison life through marmalade sandwiches and basic manners. Paddington (Ben Whishaw) just wants to buy Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) a beautiful pop-up book of London for her hundredth birthday. He gets a job washing windows, saves every coin, and then somehow ends up accused of stealing the book himself.

That is the movie’s whole charm. Paddington assumes people can be decent and keeps behaving accordingly until even hardened inmates begin softening around him. Hugh Grant’s Phoenix Buchanan adds exactly the right amount of silliness as a vain actor using ridiculous disguises to hunt for hidden treasure. The Browns get their own pieces of the investigation, the prison escape turns into proper adventure, and almost every payoff circles back to some tiny detail planted earlier. Children get color, slapstick, trains, and a bear causing chaos. Adults get a surprisingly moving reminder that kindness can actually change the temperature of a room.

7

‘The Goonies’ (1985)

Image via Warner Bros.

Goon in The Goonies definitely means a very different thing now about 4 decades later. But this is a movie about a group of kids facing the loss of their neighborhood, and they find an old treasure map and do what kids in movies used to do before smartphones ruined everything. They disappear into tunnels beneath the Oregon coast looking for One-Eyed Willy’s fortune. The Goonies feels like childhood imagination given permission to become completely real for one afternoon.

The fun comes from how messy the adventure is. Nobody behaves like a tiny action hero. They yell over each other, panic, argue, make bad decisions, and somehow keep moving. Chunk (Jeff Cohen) gets separated and ends up befriending Sloth (John Matuszak). Data (Ke Huy Quan)’s homemade gadgets work just often enough to justify carrying them. Mikey Walsh (Sean Astin) genuinely believes the treasure can save everyone’s homes, which gives all the pirate nonsense a surprisingly sincere purpose. Then there are waterslides, booby traps, skeletons, the Fratellis, and an actual pirate ship waiting underground. It is loud and scrappy in a way newer family adventures sometimes polish away.

6

‘School of Rock’ (2003)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Dewey Finn (Jack Black) gets kicked out of his band, needs rent money, and impersonates his roommate to take a substitute-teaching job at an expensive private school. That should probably end badly. Instead, School of Rock turns a classroom full of overachieving kids into a rock band and somehow makes the fraud feel like the healthiest thing that has happened to half of them.

The movie works because Dewey eventually notices what each kid can actually do. Zack Mooneyham (Joey Gaydos Jr.) writes songs. Freddy Jones (Kevin Clark) attacks the drums. Lawrence (Robert Tsai) finds his place at the keyboard. Tomika (Maryam Hassan) can absolutely sing, even if insecurity has convinced her otherwise. Billy (Brian Falduto) takes fashion extremely seriously. Even the children who are not performing get jobs because this entire ridiculous operation needs managers, security, and lighting. The Battle of the Bands gives everyone a goal, but the real joy is watching a classroom loosen up without becoming stupid. Few kids movies make self-expression feel this contagious. You finish it wanting to start a band even if you cannot play anything.

5

‘The LEGO Movie’ (2014)

Image via Warner Bros.

Emmet (Chris Pratt) follows every instruction, likes every popular song, and has somehow managed to live such a perfectly normal life that his coworkers barely remember him. Then he is mistaken for the most important person in the universe. The LEGO Movie takes that joke and runs with it at a speed that feels appropriate for children dumping an entire LEGO bin onto the floor.

Anything can become useful because everything can become something else. A city street can turn into a vehicle. A couch can become part of a getaway. Benny (Charlie Day) spends ages begging to build a spaceship and finally gets his moment with the enthusiasm of someone who has been waiting his entire existence. Batman (Will Arnett) is convinced every idea he has is brilliant, while Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) spends much of the movie wondering why destiny apparently chose Emmet. Beneath all the visual chaos is a very simple pleasure familiar to anyone who played with LEGO as a kid. Rules are useful until imagination decides otherwise.

4

‘The Incredibles’ (2004)

Image via Pixar Animation Studios

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The Parr family has superpowers and still spends a surprising amount of time dealing with things every family recognizes. Bob Parr (Craig T. Nelson) hates his job. Helen Parr (Holly Hunter) is trying to keep everyone functioning. Violet Parr (Sarah Vowell) wants to disappear socially and can literally do it. Dash Parr (Spencer Fox) is told to stop showing off even though running ridiculously fast is the thing he enjoys most. The Incredibles understands that family life remains family life even when someone can lift a car.

That makes the action much more fun because everybody fights like themselves. Helen stretches around problems. Dash turns danger into a race. Violet has to become confident enough to protect people instead of hiding. Bob discovers that sneaking around on secret missions is much less exciting once the whole family gets dragged into the consequences. Syndrome (Jason Lee) brings genuine danger, but the movie never forgets to be funny. Edna Mode (Brad Bird) can explain costume design like national security, and Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) searching for his super suit during a citywide emergency is still one of the most believable marriage arguments ever written.

3

‘Ratatouille’ (2007)

Image via Pixar Animation Studios

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Remy (Patton Oswalt) has better taste than almost everyone around him. The problem is that he is a rat living in Paris, and restaurants are generally not open-minded about that résumé. Ratatouille gets around this problem by having Remy hide beneath Linguini (Lou Romano)’s chef hat and control his movements by pulling his hair, which is completely absurd and somehow becomes normal within minutes.

From there, the movie turns cooking into play. Remy darts through the kitchen correcting sauces while Linguini tries desperately to look competent. Colette Tatou (Janeane Garofalo) teaches him how unforgiving a professional kitchen can be. Skinner (Ian Holm) becomes increasingly convinced something strange is happening and is absolutely right. Then Anton Ego (Peter O’Toole) arrives looking like a man who has never enjoyed lunch in his life. His reaction to one simple plate of ratatouille gives the movie its emotional center because everybody understands the feeling of food suddenly bringing back a place or person. Kids can enjoy the chase scenes and kitchen chaos. The rest of us may leave weirdly motivated to cook something.

2

‘Back to the Future’ (1985)

Image via Universal Pictures

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Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) gets into a DeLorean with a mad scientist, travels from 1985 to 1955, and immediately creates the worst possible problem by accidentally interfering with his parents falling in love. Back to the Future barely gives you time to think about how strange that is because the movie keeps finding another complication. And it’s not just fun for kids.

Watching Marty meet teenage versions of his parents is still hilarious. George McFly (Crispin Glover) is even more awkward than Marty imagined, Lorraine Baines (Lea Thompson) develops a crush on her own future son, and Biff Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson) somehow manages to be awful in every decade available to him. Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) has to solve time travel using 1955 technology while Marty races toward the exact lightning strike that can send him home. The clock-tower finale remains ridiculously satisfying because so many moving pieces finally line up at once. Children get a time machine, skateboards, rock music, and adventure. Adults get the much stranger experience of imagining their parents before they were parents. That combination never really gets old.

1

‘Toy Story’ (1995)

Image via Pixar Animation Studios

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Toy Story is to kids what the Night at the Museum would be to history geeks. The idea is almost unfairly good. Toys come alive when children leave the room, and their biggest concern is whether the next birthday present will replace them. Toy Story turns that childhood fantasy into a friendship story between Woody (Tom Hanks), who is terrified of losing his place, and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), who does not yet realize he is a toy.

Their rivalry makes the whole movie move. Buzz walks into Andy Davis (John Morris)’s room believing he is an actual Space Ranger. Woody watches everyone adore him and handles the situation with the emotional maturity of someone being replaced at work. Then both toys get stranded, land in Sid Phillips (Erik von Detten)’s terrifying house, survive Pizza Planet, and have to stop fighting long enough to get back to Andy. The jokes still work because the personalities are so clear. Rex (Wallace Shawn) worries constantly. Hamm (John Ratzenberger) is sarcastic. Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles) seems permanently irritated with everybody. But the real reason Toy Story stays number one is simpler. It takes the secret life every kid once imagined for their toys and makes that world feel completely believable.

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Toy Story

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Release Date

November 19, 1995

Runtime

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81 minutes

Director

John Lasseter

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Writers

John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Joss Whedon, Alec Sokolow, Joel Cohen, Joe Ranft, Pete Docter

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• 
• 

  Tim Allen

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  Buzz Lightyear (voice)

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Roomies, after days of waiting and plenty of anticipation, the moment has finally arrived for Lil Durk. The rapper walked into Friday facing a jury’s decision that could have drastically changed his future — and now, that decision is in. The verdict also had social media buzzing, with G Herbo, Drake, Ye, and more taking to social media to react to the news.

RELATED: Lil Durk Found Not Guilty On All Charges In Murder-For-Hire Trial

Lil Durk’s Murder-For-Hire Trial Ends With Not-Guilty Verdict

Jurors reached a verdict Friday, September 11 in Lil Durk’s federal murder-for-hire trial, and the rapper was found NOT GUILTY on all counts. The case centered on an alleged plot prosecutors said targeted Tyquian Bowman, better known as Atlanta rapper Quando Rondo, during an ambush near the Beverly Center four years ago.

Prosecutors charged Durk and two others in connection with the alleged stalking and killing of a man during the 2022 shooting. Throughout the trial, prosecutors accused Durk of setting the alleged plan in motion. The federal jury began deliberating Wednesday after hearing closing arguments from both sides and spent several days considering the evidence before reaching its verdict.

Ye, Drake & G Herbo React To Lil Durk’s Verdict

The reactions didn’t stop with fans, as several celebrities also took to social media to weigh in on Lil Durk’s not-guilty verdict. Ye, Drake, and G Herbo were among those who shared their reactions following the news, with each appearing to acknowledge the rapper’s legal victory in their own way.

Lil Durk is not guilty on ALL COUNTS

— ye (@kanyewest) September 12, 2026

Drake sends love to Lil Durk after he was found not guilty on all charges. pic.twitter.com/HXrYWn9OQi

— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) September 12, 2026

G HERBO REACTING TO DURK NOT FOUND GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES pic.twitter.com/ZrI7pqOHdn

— Big StoneBridge (@StoneBridge49_) September 12, 2026

Social Media Pops OFF Amid Durk’s Verdict

Following the verdict, social media quickly lit up with reactions to Lil Durk being found not guilty on all counts over in The Shade Room’s comment section. Celebs and supporters flooded social platforms with celebrations, while others weighed in on the outcome of the closely watched case and the rapper’s long-awaited return to freedom.

The Instagram user @yesimprettyvee added, “👏👏👏👏👏👏👏”

And, Instagram user @supa_cent commented, “All that ratting went to waste.”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @lyfejennings wrote, “👏🔥🔥🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🔥🔥🔥”

While Instagram user @bhadbhabie shared, “🙌”

This Instagram user @louuuyoung said, “All my life…🙏🏾🏆💯”

Finally, Instagram user @thelilmoshow added, “🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆”

Folks On X Didn’t Come To Play About The Voice

Lil Durk looking at OTF Jam after being Found not Guilty 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/zHUjMeEmNZ

— 𝑫𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑺𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝑭𝒂𝒏 ™️ (@Spliffingza) September 12, 2026

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LIL DURK FOUND NOT GUILTY pic.twitter.com/9WBVgs4EpS

— Wost🕷️ (@mosthiphop) September 12, 2026

Lil Durk walking out of prison after being found not guilty : pic.twitter.com/fKejaHyjz0

— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) September 12, 2026

WOW Lil Durk not guilty on ALL Charges! nobody guilty of Murder For Hire. Dede and Lindsay guilty of all 3 Stalking counts including the one resulting in death of Lul Pab.

— Trap Lore Ross (@traploreross) September 12, 2026

LIL DURK BEAT THE FEDS 🙏🏽😭 https://t.co/nONmvm6z6R pic.twitter.com/n418B6dYw1

— CMO🐍 (@CGTOPSHOTTA) September 12, 2026

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OTF Jam wore a wire for 6 years just for Lil Durk to get acquitted and he facing life pic.twitter.com/NbWn08c92j

— Cxnt (@CxntCondoneIt) September 12, 2026

LIL DURK NOT GUILTYYYYY AHHHHHHH HAAAAAAAA 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/WNkdISpdMK

— 6 🇯🇲 (@AwinoE5) September 12, 2026

LIL DURK FOUND NOT GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES pic.twitter.com/VVvdUEyE1k

— Big StoneBridge (@StoneBridge49_) September 12, 2026

Lil Durk Found not guilty 🐐 pic.twitter.com/pYZb7q1uYX

— BuffBoy 🦬 (@skobuffss) September 12, 2026

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I can’t believe the song PR worked for Lil Durk 💀 pic.twitter.com/nYRNvPCSbx

— The Pettiest Laker Fan 🤫 (@ThePettiestLA) September 12, 2026

Brian Steel goes 2-for-2 after representing both Lil Durk and Young Thug. pic.twitter.com/uOCtG6Fwls

— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) September 12, 2026

RELATED: Lil Durk’s Case Takes Another Turn As Jury Deliberations Begin

Things are getting a little more personal between Chingy and his son, Isaiah Russell-Bailey. After Isaiah recently shared his perspective on their relationship following his father’s interview, Chingy is now speaking out — and he’s making it clear there’s more than one side to the story.

RELATED: That’s That! Chingy Sets The Record Straight On Where Things Stand With Son Isaiah Russell-Bailey (PHOTO)

Chingy Addresses Isaiah’s Perspective On Their Relationship

On Friday, Chingy exclusively told The Shade Room that he doesn’t believe private family matters should play out publicly, but he still felt compelled to address some of the claims being made. The rapper acknowledged that while he may feel he made an effort as a father, Isaiah can still feel like he needed more from him.

“I can know that I tried while Isaiah can still feel that he needed more from me. Both can be true,” Chingy wrote. “My intentions do not erase his experience, and his pain does not erase the love I have always had for him.”

Chingy Gets Real On Fatherhood, Support, And Reconciliation

Chingy also shared that he contributed more than $200,000 in child support over the years and made efforts to maintain a relationship with Isaiah. However, he acknowledged that financial support isn’t a replacement for a father’s physical or emotional presence.

The rapper says he’s willing to listen, take responsibility for his part and have an honest conversation with his son. Still, Chingy hopes that conversation can happen away from the public eye rather than becoming something played out online or through interviews. Ultimately, Chingy says his love for his son hasn’t changed. “Your father loves you. I always have, and I always will.”

Fans Weren’t About To Let This Go

Fans quickly headed to The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section to share their thoughts on the situation. While some questioned whether $200,000 in child support over 18 years was enough, others agreed with Chingy’s perspective, with many suggesting the situation may have been blown out of proportion.

One Instagram user @ashlicakes said, “$200k over 18 years is very roughly about $30 a day 😂”

This Instagram user @iamdavidb_ wrote, “And now yall don’t want to hear his side huh ?! Even when he owned up and validated HIS SON feelings…”

And, Instagram user @hd4president commented, “Wish my daddy gave me 200,000 😂😂”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @canaryk_ added, “N*gga said ‘I paid that money tho.. relax’ 😂😂😂😂😂”

While Instagram user @iamsooogirly shared, “Court ordered child support vs taking care of your children isn’t the same 😩😩😩😩 it’s usually indicative to the father being an absentee”

Finally, Instagram user @duronswayy said, “The fact you mentioned money tells me everything I need to know. Conversation over.”

RELATED: Actor Isaiah Russell-Bailey Shows Love To His Mom After Chingy Reveals He’s His Father (PHOTOS + VIDEOS)

Christian McCaffrey got a haircut while he was in Australia with the San Francisco 49ers, and his barber had a distinctly Down Under comment for him.

“I was getting a haircut a few days ago and one of the barbers looks at me and says, ‘Looks cracker,’” McCaffrey, 30, told reporters after the 49ers’ 27-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne on Thursday, September 10. “I said, ‘Sorry, what did you say?’ I didn’t know what it meant, I guess that means it looks good. But that was funny.”

McCaffrey added that the comment was one he was used to hearing at home, albeit in a different context.

“He said it again, I said, ‘Dude, I hear that every Sunday,’” he joked. “That was good, we had a good moment. I enjoy all the slang.”

Related: Olivia Culpo Shares Rare Glimpse Into Christian McCaffrey’s Life as a Dad

In the game of parenting, Olivia Culpo believes San Francisco 49ers football player Christian McCaffrey deserves the title of MVP. “I always knew he would be a really good dad because he’s a really good person,” Culpo, 33, exclusively shared with Us Weekly while celebrating her partnership with Heluva Good! Dips before Super Bowl LX. […]

The term “cracker” in Australia has quite a different definition than in the United States. In Australia, it’s used to mean something great, according to Charles Stuart University’s guide to Australian slang. Stateside, it’s often used as a derogatory term for a white person.

Overall, McCaffrey spoke glowingly of his experience in Australia. In a press conference on Monday, September 7, he lauded the country’s coffee and food.

“It’s been great. The coffee’s unbelievable,” he said. “I don’t know why nobody talked about that as much as they should have beforehand. Coffee’s been great, the food’s awesome, the people are really nice. It’s been a really, really cool experience for all of us.”

While McCaffrey and his team were in Australia, his wife, Olivia Culpo, supported him from home. The pair welcomed their first baby, daughter Colette, in July 2025, and Culpo, 34, is now pregnant with their second.

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Related: Olivia Culpo Rocks Pumping Bra While Cheering Christian McCaffrey Touchdown

Olivia Culpo is one dedicated wife to San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey. Culpo, 33, took to her Instagram Stories on Sunday, October 19, to share footage of herself jumping up and down while gripping her pumping bra as she celebrated one of McCaffrey’s touchdowns. (The 49ers won over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night […]

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The running back spoke to Us in February about watching Culpo become a mom and how he has embraced fatherhood.

“Watching Olivia become a mom has been so cool,” he said. “We had [Colette] in July, which was right before training camp, so I was kind of in go-mode and went through the whole season. There’s challenges that come with that. So, to now take a breath and be able to be a dad has been really, really fun.”

McCaffrey added, “We have the same values in life, there’s never really any conflict when it comes to [parenting]. Obviously, I can’t be there for most of the day, and she really does love it. As a girl dad, you definitely get softer. I don’t care what anyone says.”

While the 80s were certainly radical, the 90s were admittedly pretty dang fun. Pop culture bloomed eternal, as music, TV, film, and all art mediums exploded in a cornucopia of diverse directions. While some movies went very dark (Seven, Falling Down, Trainspotting), others took the rollicking, fun-addled themes of the 80s and brought them to new extremes of smile-inducing entertainment.

Here are the eight most fun movies that were released in the 90s, in all their raucous glory. Most of these cinematic gems are pure comedies, but others meld action, drama, and strangeness into the mix. Each one listed here is an immortal entry into the world of movies, and each one is more fun than the next.

8

‘Clueless’ (1995)

Image via Paramount Pictures

The title says it all. The 90s blessed the cinematic world with several films that were updates on literary classics, but none were as funny and joyous as Clueless, the reimagining of Jane Austen’s Emma. Music video star Alicia Silverstone became a household name overnight as the lead in this colorful, jubilant movie that perfectly encapsulates everything that simply is the 90s (and inspired widespread fashion trends galore).

Cher (Silverstone) is a seemingly vapid, obnoxiously wealthy and popular Beverly Hills high schooler with one thing on her mind: match-making. With the help of her bestie, Dionne (Stacey Dash, who has perfect comedic timing), she sets people up left and right (sometimes for her own personal gain, but ostensibly out of “charity”). When the clumsy transfer student Tai (Brittany Murphy, equally grand) arrives, Cher is determined to find her the perfect match. Naturally, things get a tad complicated when Elton (Jeremy Sisto) falls for Cher instead of Cher’s intended target, Tai. From the clothes to the malapropisms, everything in writer-director Amy Heckerling’s Clueless is smart fun (daring you to mock the title).

7

‘Speed’ (1994)

Image via 20th Century Fox

There are a host of 90s action movies that are as fun as they are exhilarating, and none of them embody this duality more than director Jan de Bont’s Speed. With its ultra-fun premise and pitch-perfect casting (can you imagine anyone other than 90s dude Keanu Reeves and America’s sweetheart Sandra Bullock in these roles?), this action-comedy-love story hits all the marks.

The concept is brilliant in its simplicity. If the bus that Annie (Bullock) is driving goes below a certain speed, then the whole thing blows up. Barreling through the busy streets of L.A., the bus is a, well, bomb on wheels. With SWAT team member Jack Traven (Reeves) coaching Annie along the way, a beautiful chemistry is born — along with some of the most entertaining action set pieces of the decade. Throw in a ridiculous villain, Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper, who clearly loved being a lunatic), and you’ve got one of the most fun action movies of all time (just let us never, ever speak of the sequel…).

6

‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’ (1994)

Image via Warner Bros.

While Jim Carrey may have already been in the cultural zeitgeist with the sundry insane characters that he created for the hit sketch comedy show In Living Color (remember, the Wayans Brothers’ weekly program…where J. Lo was a dancer), he didn’t really make it to the mainstream until director Tom Shadyac‘s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective was released. Here Carrey was allowed the freedom to be as zany and rubber-faced as physics would allow, for an entire feature-length runtime.

Ace is a P.I. that specializes in, you guessed it, pet-related cases. When the mascot for the Miami Dolphins, a porpoise with a real purpose, goes missing, Ace is the obvious guy for the job. Carrey is naturally the driving force behind this film, and his performance is sheer, boldly manifested fun. This wacky movie would truly launch Carrey’s career and spawn an equally hilarious sequel. All-righty-then.

5

‘Being John Malkovich’ (1999)

Image via USA Films

While this film is brilliant for its hilariously bizarre premise alone, and sparks all sorts of existential, philosophical, and metaphysical debates, its overall tone is unabashedly a very fun one. What if you could be someone else? That’s the primary query raised in genius screenwriter Charlie Kaufman’s eccentric script, and the answer is boisterously brought to life by the always fun director Spike Jonze in the masterpiece that is Being John Malkovich.

Craig Shwartz (a bespectacled, pony-tailed John Cusack, boldly playing against type here) is a puppeteer who can’t find work (imagine that). His excessively loving wife, Lotte (a frizzy-haired Cameron Diaz, really playing against type), is just trying to support Craig and feed her one hundred pets. Craig begins working at a weird company on the “7 and a half” floor, where he meets his true love interest (and foil), Maxine Lund (Catherine Keener, at her snarky best). Here they discover a portal that leads directly into the psyche of John Malkovich (playing a perfectly droll version of himself). Obviously, this is a wacky plot line, bubbling with uniquely subverted scenarios, but the film as a whole is one of the smartest, funniest of the 90s, which packs in mysterious, ironic fun into every eccentric scene.

4

‘Happy Gilmore’ (1996)

Image via Universal Pictures

Current national treasure Adam Sandler was already a movie star (after his memorable SNL run) with his first major movie, Billy Madison (a film, no doubt, that many a Gen X-er and Millennial still quote to this day). This sophomoric classic is, of course, packed to the gills with tremendous amounts of fun sequences and lovably loony characters. However, the viewing public didn’t fully embrace Sandler until director Dennis Dugan’s Happy Gilmore hit the links. This movie is so much fun it should be illegal.

Happy (Sandler, who co-wrote the script) is an “aspiring” professional hockey player; the only caveat is that he can’t really skate. After he hits a fluke golf shot, while attempting to save the home of his grandma (the charming Frances Bay) — a sweet MacGuffin for the ages — Happy realizes that he can make money on the pro golf tour. Sure, whatever. The point is that Sandler is at his furious best here, getting into fights with fans, Bob Barker, and an alligator. The supporting cast of Christopher McDonald (as Shooter), Carl Weathers (as Chubbs), and Julie Bowen (as Virginia) all add to the raunchy fun. All in all, it was even worth the 29 years it took to get a sequel.

3

‘Wayne’s World’ (1992)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Saturday Night Live has produced hundreds of memorable characters over the decades, with many of them receiving their own feature films. Some succeeded, and others flopped — but there is, hands-down, none as fun as director Penelope Spheeris’s Wayne’s World, one of the most quotable 90s movies out there (and that’s saying a lot).

Wayne Campbell (Mike Meyers, in a tie for his best role ever — the other naturally being the titular character in Austin Powers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey, whose voice simply cannot be removed from one’s head) run a cable access show from Wayne’s basement. For whatever reason, they are handed the opportunity to go big time, as a powerful exec, Benjamin Oliver (Rob Lowe, at his smarmiest), buys them out. The narcissistic Benjamin naturally has ill-intentions, as he wants to steal Wayne’s love interest, the badass bassist Cassandra (the drop-dead gorgeous Tia Carrere). From head-banging to pranking everyone in their path, Wayne and Garth are two of the most iconic characters to emerge from the 90s, and every scene they’re in bursts with unbridled fun.

2

‘Pulp Fiction’ (1994)

Image via Miramax Films

While there were a ton of films that previously incorporated dislocated timelines in cinema history, none resonated with American audiences that much until the arrival of Quentin Tarantino’s big breakout film, Pulp Fiction. The jumping narrative may have been confusing for viewers initially, but mentally putting the timeline into the correct sequence proved to be quite fun indeed for audiences everywhere.

The story is a complex one, with a ton of sub-plots to keep track of, but the basic tale is of a missing suitcase (filled with a mystery material that glows gold) that two hitmen are hired to locate. Of course, the two assassins in question are Vincent Vega (John Travolta, in a role that jump-started his career like no other), and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson, who became one of the most beloved character actors ever with this juicy part). One of the more fun side plots involves a disgruntled boxer, Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis, cool as ever), as he struggles to snag some loot and then evade one of the weirdest basements in film history. The cast features way too many other stellar thespians to name (Uma Thurman, Christopher Walken, and Harvey Keitel, for example), all of whom deliver the goods, and uphold the spirited tone of the movie. While there were quite a few heavy moments in this film (“Zed’s dead, baby, Zed’s dead”), it ultimately is one of the most fun watches in cinema history.

1

‘The Big Lebowski’ (1998)

Image via Gramercy Pictures

Film noir has never been this fun. In fact, noir master writer-directors Ethan Coen and Joel Coen had already made quite a few winners in his genre (Blood Simple, Miller’s Crossing), but no one ever dreamed that a noir could be a laugh-out-loud comedy. Everything about this movie is perfect, from the casting to the soundtrack to the surreal, stylishly choreographed bowling sequences. There may be some deep and dark themes explored in this movie, but no quality in it shines as bright as its commitment to providing the audience with unmitigated fun.

The story revolves around “The Dude” (aka, the Duderino, for one), Jeffrey Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), an unemployed, burn-out bowling enthusiast. His rug, which really tied the room together, is mistakenly stolen from his home by a cadre of washed-up German electro bandmates. This was a misunderstanding, as they were really trying to square up a debt with the “Big” Lebowski, a powerful “philanthropist” living in the posh part of town. Eventually, the latter Lebowski hires The Dude to locate his missing trophy wife, Bunny (Tara Reid). The Dude is aided in his quest by Walter Sobchak (John Goodman, who simply is comedy in this movie) and Donny (Steve Buscemi, also amazing, even though he was out of his element). Eventually, The Dude meets the femme fatale, the artist Maude Lebowski (Juliane Moore, whose acerbic, dry wit is merciless). There is an argument to be made that everyone in this cast delivers career-high performances (certainly the most memorable ones for a lot of them). The Big Lebowski has inspired countless group Halloween costumes, bar trivia nights, and the most quotable quotes in film history. It’s possibly the most fun movie ever, but that’s just like, your opinion, man.

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The Big Lebowski

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Release Date

March 6, 1998

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Runtime

117 minutes

Director

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Joel Coen

Writers

Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

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After days of deliberation, Lil Durk’s high-profile legal case has reached its long-awaited conclusion. The jury has now reached a verdict in the rapper’s murder-for-hire trial. And, Lil Durk has learned his fate.

RELATED: Social Media Reacts To Lil Durk’s Alleged Behavior In Court Ahead Of Verdict

Lil Durk Learns His Fate

On Friday afternoon, jurors reached a verdict in the murder-for-hire trial of Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk in connection with a deadly shooting near a Los Angeles shopping center. Lil Durk has been found NOT GUILTY on all counts.

The Charges At The Center Of Lil Durk’s Trial

Lil Durk, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, faces five primary federal counts stemming from an alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting rapper Quando Rondo in August 2022. The charges included conspiracy to commit a violent crime, stalking Rondo using a dangerous weapon, stalking Saviay’a Robinson, also known as Lul Pab, resulting in his death, using interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death, and using, carrying, and discharging firearms and a machine gun in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death.

His Courtroom Demeanor Sparked Attention Amid Deliberations

Furthermore, just one day before the reported verdict, Lil Durk’s courtroom behavior had some people wondering what was going on as the jury continued deliberating. According to journalist Michael Blackshire, who appears to be attending the trial, the rapper walked into court smiling on Thursday and exchanged warm interactions with members of his legal team and others in the courtroom.

His attorney, Drew Findling, reportedly patted him on the back and complimentedhis tie. Durk also hugged Brian Steel and Christy O’Connor and shook hands with attorneys representing OTF Dede and David Lindsey before taking his seat. Shortly afterward, Durk reportedly spotted his mother in the audience and smiled at her. She smiled back, creating a brief but seemingly meaningful moment between mother and son as Durk awaited the jury’s decision.

RELATED: Lil Durk’s Case Takes Another Turn As Jury Deliberations Begin