Everyone loves a creature feature and sadly, we don’t see as many of them these days as we’d like. But they’ve long been the source of turning the natural world into something terrifying, like the ocean in Jaws, the ocean in The Meg, the ocean in… well, you get the picture. This movie took that idea and transplanted it to Africa, and it combined a historical adventure with a quite unbelievable true story of two lions that ended up terrorizing railway workers in Kenya at the tail end of the 19th century. Now, you can experience it too.

The Ghost and the Darkness has officially joined Paramount+, giving the 1996 adventure thriller a new streaming home following its September 1 arrival. Directed by Stephen Hopkins (Predator 2) from a screenplay by William Goldman (The Princess Bride), the movie turned the story of the Tsavo man-eaters into a big-budget Hollywood production.

In the film, the lions are killing for sport rather than for food, and they have an almost supernatural knack for knowing what traps await them. Big-game hunter Remington and construction engineer Patterson set out to stop these unstoppable monsters. But, in this astonishing tale of man against beast, the hunters become the hunted.

The cast of the film includes Val Kilmer (Top Gun) as John Henry Patterson, Michael Douglas (Basic Instinct) as Charles Remington, Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton) as Robert Beaumont, John Kani (Black Panther) as Samuel, Bernard Hill (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) as Dr. Hawthorne, Brian McCardie (Rob Roy) as Angus Starling, Emily Mortimer (Shutter Island) as Helena Patterson, and Om Puri (East Is East) as Abdullah.

Is ‘The Ghost and the Darkness’ Any Good?

The Ghost and the Darkness received mixed reviews, and currently holds a 51% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences responded more positively with a 75% score. The movie also received recognition from the Academy Awards, winning the Oscar for Best Sound Effects Editing. It earned around $75 million globally during its original theatrical run and the real life story behind the film is just as fascinating and bizarre as the movie itself. The preserved remains of the two Tsavo lions are now housed at Chicago’s Field Museum, where they remain part of the museum’s collection.

The Ghost and the Darkness is streaming now on Paramount+.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

October 11, 1996

Runtime

Advertisement

109 Minutes

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Dolly Parton’s sister Stella Parton is taking aim at some of the reactions to her sibling’s death.

Posting a lengthy statement via Instagram on Friday, September 4, Stella, 77, condemned the use of “AI and endless garbage” and “snarky tweets” that have been posted online.

“Sadly, because of the way our lives have been lived in front of the public, we have no choice but to be subjected to incredible pressure and insensitivity from strangers,” Stella wrote. “There is a tremendous amount of AI and endless garbage being posted everyday and it’s been challenging to absorb and or ignore.”

While Stella expressed her gratitude for fans who have shown “genuine” support after Dolly’s loved one grieved her death, she urged those who were “exploiting” the tragedy to choose a more positive path.

“I ask that you show more compassion and wisdom as we move forward in life. Use my sister’s life as an example for tolerance and respect toward others,” she wrote. “It’s not about the most clever comments, fake AI garbage or snarky tweets.”

Stella continued, “At the end of the day or the end of a life, how will you feel about yourself? It’s not about what other individuals you will never meet think of you!”

Dolly was known for her positivity in life, and Stella asked followers to channel some of that personality trait that the “Jolene” singer embodied.

“My sister was a positive influence to the world into which she was born. She used her music as a tool and a passion to move people in a positive way,” she wrote, explaining that Dolly believed negativity was “nothing but a huge waste of positive energy.”

Us confirmed that Dolly died on August 25, after a brief battle with an undisclosed form of cancer. She was 80.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Related: Dolly Parton’s Sister Refuses to ‘Stay Silent’ About Politics Like Singer

Advertisement

Dolly Parton’s sister Stella Parton refuses to “stay silent” about politics. “‘Stella, why can’t you be more like your big sister Dolly and stay silent about the corruption going on in America?’” Stella, 77, wrote via Facebook on Wednesday, June 3. “I cannot and have not stayed silent about the crimes and blatant corruption going […]

“Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright and author, died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee,” Dolly’s rep said in a statement last month. “A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth and kindness that made us all feel like family.”

Two days after her death, Stella broke her silence via Instagram.

“My big sister Dolly got her wings this past Tuesday. If anyone gets to heaven, I’m sure she made it right on time,” she wrote on August 27.  “I know she’s showing out big time, in all her sparkles and shine. That was my sister’s way.”

My feet may finally be catching a break, because celebrities are making comfortable shoes look seriously chic. Katie Holmes has been wearing ballet flats for years, from luxe Chanel styles to red velvet Mary Janes. Meanwhile, Meghan Markle was recently spotted in a bow-topped pair. Consider me influenced — I’m trying the shoe style this fall by pairing ballet flats with jeans, trousers and dresses.

I rounded up 13 pairs of comfy ballet flats, including satin ballet flats, cushioned knit styles, and even one of Holmes’ exact pairs. You’ll thank me later for recommending these seriously chic flats over stiff heels!

13 Best Ballet Flats for All-Day Wear

1. Our Favorite: Katie Holmes and Meghan Markle have both made a case for classic black ballet flats. I’m skipping the designer price tag and snagging these bow-detail ballet flats for just $27.

2. Day to Night: I’d wear these pointed ballet flats on days when sneakers feel too casual, but heels are out of the question. The sleek shape instantly dresses things up, and the cushioned insole adds extra comfort.

3. Velvet Crush: Katie Holmes made a case for red velvet Mary Janes, pairing hers with relaxed jeans for an easy New York City look. I found these velvet Mary Jane flats for just $20, complete with a similar rich red finish and dainty buckle strap.

4. Bow Beauty: Take a page out of Meghan Markle’s style book and grab these satin ballet flats with a sweet bow detail. They boast an elastic strap, a cushioned insole and come in cute pastel colors.

5. Exact Match: No designer lookalike required — Holmes actually wore these exact silver Mary Jane flats from Franco Sarto. The metallic finish makes simple outfits feel a little more fun.

Related: 13 Comfy Summer-to-Fall Flats to Replace Your Sandals — From Just $20

Whether you’re mega-excited about fall or are holding on to summer, there’s one fashion item that can work for both seasons — comfortable flats. They provide enough coverage for cool days while still letting you enjoy the warm-weather look . . . even if you have a PSL in-hand. And these supportive summer-to-fall flats are […]

Advertisement

6. Gloss Boss: A little shine goes a long way, and these patent ballet flats are an easy way to make everyday outfits feel more elevated. I also appreciate the cushioned insole, especially if I’m wearing them for hours at a time.

7. Comfy Classic: I’d wear these square-toe Mary Janes when I want the ballet-flat look with a slightly more modern edge. The memory foam sole sweetens the deal, while an adjustable strap helps create a more secure fit.

8. Purse Perfect: I’d stash these foldable champagne flats in my bag anytime heels are part of the plan. They fold up for easy carrying, but still have light arch support and a thick rubber sole.

9. French-Girl Feel: There’s a reason cap-toe flats keep popping up on celebs, and these two-tone ballet flats nail the style. The bow-topped design has that Paris-in-the-fall feel that pairs well with jeans, knits and trench coats.

10. Sweater Weather: These sweater-like ballet flats are more than perfect for cool autumn days. The breathable fabric and soft sole make them practical for long days spent exploring.

11. Chocolate Fix: Consider these woven ballet flats my excuse to bring even more chocolate brown into my fall wardrobe. They’re lightweight, textured and cushioned with memory foam, so I don’t have to choose between looking cute and staying comfortable.

12. Woven Wonder: I’d never guess these woven Mary Janes were an Amazon find based on the intricate handwoven finish. The rich cognac color screams fall, while an adjustable strap and cushioned memory foam add everyday practicality.

13. Point Taken: One reason I’ll always have pointed flats like this comfy knit pair in my closet? The elongated toe can make my legs look longer and slimmer without adding a single inch of heel.

UsNow Fall Sale Alert: These chic fashion finds are up to 60% off – plus free shipping

Welcome to fall with our biggest sale of the season. Our favorite dresses, tops, handbags, and shoes are all on sale + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.

Shop the UsNow Fall Sale –>

Advertisement

Related: Katie Holmes Wore the Shoe Equivalent of a Chunky Knit Sweater — We’re Sold

Katie Holmes wore knit ballet flats this spring, but I can’t stop thinking about how perfect this shoe is for fall. The soft, textured fabric practically looks borrowed from a chunky sweater, while the neutral shade makes them easy to wear with everything from jeans to trousers. Cozy shoes that still look polished? I’m sold. Holmes’ […]

Natural light is one of those home features people rarely think twice about until summer turns it into a line item.

The same south-facing windows that make a room feel bigger and brighter can also spend hours feeding heat into the house, leaving the AC to undo it later. After a record-hot July and another jump in cooling costs, that tradeoff is getting harder to ignore.

The answer is not to turn a sunny home into a cave. For most homeowners, the smarter move is figuring out which two or three windows are doing the most damage and treating those first.

Natural Light Is Getting More Expensive to Keep

Natural light still ranks near the top of what American buyers want. A 2026 Redfin survey found 44 percent of U.S. residents would choose a smaller home with more sunlight over a larger one with less, and 57 percent called sunlight either “non-negotiable” or “very important” when considering a new home.

That preference is colliding with hotter summers. The National Centers for Environmental Information reported July 2026 as the warmest month ever recorded for the contiguous U.S., averaging 76.9°F.

For homeowners doing the math on cooling costs, the number worth memorizing comes from the Department of Energy, which estimates that heat gain and heat loss through windows account for 25 percent to 30 percent of residential heating and cooling energy use. During a heat wave, that share shows up in real dollars.

“I have buyers who walk into a home that checks every box online and walk right out after making it past the entryway because of low light,” said Cassia Bourne, a Redfin principal agent in Denver. “I use those moments to tell my sellers that light sells a home — it makes it feel larger, cleaner and more inviting.”

Bourne’s point matters for resale value. Any fix that permanently dims a bright room may fight the exact feature that drives offers.

Window Heat Gain Is Pushing Electric Bills Higher

Three forces are converging on the same pane of glass.

Cooling is materially more expensive than it used to be. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association projected the average U.S. household would spend about $792 on electricity during summer 2026, up 10.5 percent from 2025 and nearly 40 percent from 2020.

“Electricity prices continue to rise, and hotter summers mean households need to use more electricity simply to stay safe,” said Mark Wolfe, Executive Director, National Energy Assistance Directors Association. “The result is that Americans are paying substantially more to cool their homes than they were just a few years ago.”

Buyer taste hasn’t budged. Bourne’s Denver clients keep walking out of dim listings, and Redfin’s survey suggests that reaction is widespread. A seller who blacks out every window to lower the AC load risks losing thousands at closing.

The performance data on window coverings gives DIYers real options, each with a clear tradeoff. Consumer Reports, citing DOE guidance, notes that smart use of window coverings can cut unwanted heat gain by up to 77 percent. Medium-colored drapes with white plastic backings reduce heat gain by about 33 percent. Highly reflective blinds do around 45 percent when fully closed. Exterior awnings can reduce solar heat gain by up to 77 percent on west-facing windows, per DOE, though they aren’t practical for renters.

Drapes are the cheap workhorse, blinds are the flexible middle, and awnings are the heavy hitter if you own the house and don’t mind changing the curb appeal.

Homeowners Are Getting More Strategic About Which Windows to Treat

Expect the next 12 to 24 months to reshape how households think about their windows, less as a binary between “open” and “blackout,” and more as a room-by-room energy decision. Three scenarios look most likely.

Static-cling and low-e films go mainstream as the renter-friendly middle option. In a 2025 Washington Post article, Seattle-area window-film estimator Bret Seeger framed the choice bluntly. “It’s always a trade-off,” he said. Films that block more solar heat generally reduce more visible light too. Seeger estimated that a relatively transparent low-e film letting in about 70 percent of visible light could lower summertime room temperature by roughly 3 to 4°F in a typical Seattle-area home without AC, though results vary by window, climate and film. Reader action. If you rent or don’t want to alter your glass permanently, price out static-cling film this spring for west- and south-facing panes only. Skip north-facing windows entirely, they aren’t your problem.

Seasonal treatment becomes the norm, not the exception. Blackout curtains hung with tension rods can go up in June and come down in September, and film can be peeled off. More households will treat window coverings like storm windows, a summer layer that comes and goes. Reader action. Before the next heat wave, identify the two or three rooms that overheat first in the afternoon. Those are the only ones worth treating. Leave the rest bright.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Spectrally selective coatings set the ceiling on what’s possible. Some advanced low-e films filter out 40 percent to 70 percent of the heat normally transmitted through insulated glass while still allowing visible light through, per the DOE. Cheap static-cling films won’t necessarily match that. Reader action. If you own your home and plan to stay five-plus years, get a quote for professionally installed spectrally selective film on your worst offenders and weigh it against your last three summer electric bills.

The bottom line for a weekend improver is simple. Don’t try to fix every window. Fix the two or three that are costing you the most, and let the rest keep doing the job you bought them for.

Related: Johnny Galecki‘s Living Room Is a Masterclass in Maximalist Design

Most people know Johnny Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory. His Pasadena bachelor pad was practical and filled with science equipment, books and pop-culture memorabilia. His real home is nothing like that sitcom set. It is a maximalist dream that leans into the “eccentric aunt aesthetic” with velvet seating, saturated colors, oversized […]

Advertisement

THREE SIGNALS TO WATCH

1. NEADA’s next summer electricity cost projection, which will show whether the 10.5 percent year-over-year jump repeats in 2027.
2. NCEI’s monthly national climate reports through summer 2027. Another July above 76.9°F would confirm the trend, not the anomaly.
3. The next Redfin sunlight survey. If the 44 percent who’d trade square footage for sun holds or rises despite higher bills, expect film and shade demand to accelerate.

Silo‘s Ashley Zukerman broke his silence on the season 3 finale revealing a shocking twist with new character Troy.

The Friday, September 4, episode of the Apple TV series picked up with a flashback where Daniel (Zukerman) was revived from cryogenic sleep in Silo 1 as a specialist named Troy. He couldn’t remember his past and was brought back to lead the execution of the Silo 17 rebels who exited their Silo.

Troy struggled with flashes of his old life, which viewers saw throughout season 3. Before Victor (Matt Craven) died by suicide in the present timeline, he requested that Troy be revived and he left him a message that confirmed he was searching for someone named Helen.

“I thought I knew what was happening. I got on this call with Yana Grebenyuk Graham [Yost] when the show came up and when I came up with an idea for Daniel,” Zukerman, 42, exclusively told Us. “And he told me the story, and it was beautiful, but he left Troy out.”

Zukerman was “already sold” before they even got to Troy.

“I just like this team, and I love this show so much. But then it was only a week before starting that we got sent all the scripts, and I was reading, and I was fascinated,” he recalled. “And then I got to episode 10, and I was genuinely shook.”

Zukerman continued: “I remember exactly where I was. I texted Graham, and then I just had to go for a walk. I didn’t see it coming at all. And I was hit by a profound sort of … I think I was simultaneously hit by Daniel’s experience and the tragedy of that and also by the gift I knew I was given as an actor.”

Silo is set in a dystopian future where a community exists in a giant underground silo comprising 144 levels. The sci-fi series is shrouded in secrecy as viewers tune in to see how the past and the present will come together before the show’s fourth season.

“Season 3 keeps recontextualizing what you thought was happening,” Zukerman teased. “That ramps up even more. I’d say don’t take anything for granted [ahead of the last season].”

With the introduction of Troy, Zukerman is poised to take center stage in the show’s final season as this version of Daniel comes to terms with the manipulation that he went through — all while trying to find his wife, Helen (Jessica Henwick).

“I’ll say that I loved the setup that we know who Daniel was, we know what he’s really about, but he has been weaponized by this organization,” he explained. “And for that iteration of him to be put up against Rebecca [Ferguson]’s strength and intelligence [as main character Juliette], that was such an exciting opportunity. That was very exciting to me.”

Zukerman expressed excitement at where the show goes from here — especially after connecting so closely to both characters.

“As soon as I read Troy, I felt like I wanted there to be no difference. I did connect to him immediately,” he told Us. “I saw why they wanted me, and I really thought I was just going to try to put all of myself in him. I was just going to try to put myself in his shoes as much as possible, which is, I think, probably the more I do this, the best way to approach a character anyway.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Zukerman was grateful for the opportunity to grow as an actor, adding, “But this I felt really invited me to do that, knowing that what we were then going to do is actually take his entire history and his life away from him. I think because of that context, it gave me permission to just really just throw myself into it completely.”

He continued: “The way he’s goofy, the way he’s a bit of a dog and the way that he thinks he’s funnier than he is and smarter than he is. There are so many parts of him that I connected with that I just thought I really wanted to see what would happen if I just really loved as much as I love and was as dorky as I am dorky.”

Silo is currently streaming on Apple TV.

2026 hasn’t exactly been a banner year for Ridley Scott, who finally returned to the world of sci-fi with his latest film, The Dog Stars. The film came into theaters carrying a $70 million budget, which seemed risky, especially considering the box office performance of his last few movies. Analysts who predicted the film would struggle were proven right — at the time of writing, The Dog Stars has eked out only $21 million at the global box office, putting it more than $100 million behind its estimated break-even point. Scott’s work on recent historical epics like Gladiator II and Napoleon also proved troublesome when it came to turning a profit at the box office, but both movies carried budgets of more than $200 million, meaning they would have needed close to half a billion just to break even.

Before The Dog Stars, Scott’s last sci-fi movie came in 2017 when he directed Alien: Covenant, the follow-up to his 2012 Alien prequel, Prometheus. Scott had previously said he was done directing Alien projects, but he softened his stance on this recently when he confirmed that he’s working with Michael Fassbender to develop a new Alien prequel movie centered around his android character, David. Scott has remained involved in the Alien franchise in the last few years as a producer, though, on projects like Alien: Earth, the first ever Alien TV show.

Written and created by Noah Hawley, Alien: Earth was a massive hit, and the show was renewed for Season 2 last year. Disney+ Canada took to its personal X account yesterday to confirm that the second season of Alien: Earth is officially in production, sharing a video of stars Sydney Chandler and Babou Ceesay on-set between takes. Game of Thrones stars Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) and Jerome Flynn (Bronn) are also reuniting in the second season of Alien: Earth.

Is ‘The Dog Stars’ on Streaming?

At the time of writing on September 4, The Dog Stars is not available to watch on any streaming platforms — the only way to watch the film is to go see it in a movie theater, which is the way Ridley Scott intended for it to be seen. Scott enlisted some big-time stars like Josh Brolin and Jacob Elordi to headline The Dog Stars, but despite even more star power like Guy Pearce and Margaret Qualley, the film is still struggling financially. Fans can expect The Dog Stars to hit VOD platforms like Prime Video sometime in the next few weeks as its box office numbers continue to dwindle.

Check out the first season of Alien: Earth on Hulu and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Ridley Scott’s future projects.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

August 12, 2025

Directors

Dana Gonzales, Ugla Hauksdóttir, Noah Hawley

Advertisement

Writers

Bob DeLaurentis

Advertisement

Advertisement

• 
• 

Advertisement

Advertisement

September is here, and every dedicated book-lover knows what that means: it’s time for peak reading season. With major releases on the horizon and the ideal level of coziness setting in the air, what better way to celebrate fall than with some great reads? And if you’re looking for a new book this weekend, you’ve certainly got a lot to choose from.

Between beloved classics and new bestsellers, there’s a wealth of great books out there in the world, but to make things a little easier, we’ve narrowed down a selection of must-reads that have been rocking the charts and sweeping accolades recently. Without further ado, here are three great books that we think you should read this weekend.

1

‘The Disappearers: A Novel’ (2026)

Image via Riverhead Books

Written by acclaimed Jamaican author Marlon James (creator of the Channel 4/HBO series Get Millie Black), The Disappearers is a novel set in 1980s Kingston, Jamaica. The story revolves around a gay theatre troupe preparing for a production of John Herbert’s Fortune and Men’s Eyes, who experience a homophobic attack and adopt different strategies to navigate its aftermath. The novel is James’ first new book set in Jamaica after his Booker Prize-winning 2015 work A Brief History of Seven Killings.

Like James’ acclaimed previous work, The Disappearers is an intense story that shows great dedication to realism in both its characterizations and its depiction of violence. The novel made it onto the longlist for the 2026 Booker Prize and has been highly acclaimed by critics. Informed partly by the author’s own experiences and stories he heard in his youth, the book paints a fascinating picture of queer life in Jamaica and the complex intersections of race and sexuality.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Collider Exclusive · Oscar Best Picture Quiz
Which Oscar Best Picture
Is Your Perfect Movie?
Parasite · Everything Everywhere · Oppenheimer · Birdman · No Country

Five Oscar Best Picture winners. Five completely different visions of what cinema can be — and what it can do to you. One of them is the film that was made for the way your mind works. Ten questions will figure out which one.

🪜Parasite

🌀Everything Everywhere

☢️Oppenheimer

Advertisement

🐦Birdman

🪙No Country for Old Men

FIND YOUR FILM →

Advertisement

01

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

ASomething that pulls the rug out — that makes me think I’m watching one kind of film and then reveals I’m watching another entirely.
BSomething overwhelming — funny, sad, absurd, and genuinely moving, all at once.
CSomething grand and weighty — a film that makes me feel the full scale of what I’m watching.
DSomething formally daring — a film that pushes what cinema can even do.
ESomething lean and relentless — pure tension with no wasted frame.

NEXT QUESTION →

Advertisement

02

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

AClass, inequality, and what people are willing to do when desperation meets opportunity.
BIdentity, family, and the chaos of trying to hold your life together when everything is falling apart.
CGenius, moral responsibility, and the catastrophic weight of a decision you can never take back.
DEgo, legacy, and the terror of becoming irrelevant while you’re still alive to watch it happen.
EEvil, chance, and whether moral order actually exists or if we just tell ourselves it does.

NEXT QUESTION →

Advertisement

03

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

AGenre-twisting — I want it to start in one lane and migrate into something completely different.
BMaximalist and genre-blending — comedy, action, drama, sci-fi, all in one ride.
CEpic and non-linear — cutting between timelines, building a mosaic of cause and consequence.
DA single unbroken flow — I want to feel like I’m living it in real time, no cuts to safety.
ESpare and precise — every scene doing exactly what it needs to do and nothing more.

NEXT QUESTION →

Advertisement

04

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

AA system — invisible, structural, and almost impossible to fight because it has no single face.
BThe self — the ways we sabotage, abandon, and fail the people we love most.
CHistory — the unstoppable momentum of events that no single person can stop or redirect.
DThe industry — the machinery of culture that chews up talent and spits out irrelevance.
EPure, implacable evil — a force so certain of itself it becomes almost philosophical.

NEXT QUESTION →

Advertisement

05

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

AShock and inevitability — a conclusion that recontextualises everything that came before it.
BEarned emotion — I want to cry, laugh, and feel genuinely hopeful, even if the world is a mess.
CDevastation and grandeur — an ending that makes me sit in silence for a few minutes after.
DAmbiguity — something that leaves enough open that I’m still thinking about it days later.
EBleakness — an honest refusal to pretend the world is tidier than it actually is.

NEXT QUESTION →

Advertisement

06

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

AA gleaming modern city with a hidden underside — beauty masking rot, wealth masking desperation.
BA collapsing suburban life that opens onto something infinite — the multiverse of a single ordinary person.
CThe corridors of power and science at a world-historical turning point — where decisions echo for decades.
DThe grimy, alive chaos of New York and Hollywood — fame as both destination and trap.
EVast, indifferent landscape — desert and highway where violence arrives without warning or reason.

NEXT QUESTION →

Advertisement

07

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

AProduction design and mise-en-scène — every frame composed to carry meaning beneath the surface.
BEditing and tonal control — the ability to move between registers without losing the audience.
CScore and sound design — music that becomes inseparable from the dread and awe of what you’re watching.
DCinematography as performance — the camera not recording events but participating in them.
ESilence and restraint — what’s left unsaid and unshown doing more work than any dialogue could.

NEXT QUESTION →

Advertisement

08

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

ASomeone smart and resourceful who makes increasingly dangerous decisions under pressure.
BSomeone overwhelmed and ordinary who turns out to be capable of something extraordinary.
CA brilliant, tortured figure whose gifts and flaws are inseparable from each other.
DA self-destructive artist whose ego is both their superpower and their undoing.
EA quiet, principled person trying to make sense of a world that has stopped making sense.

NEXT QUESTION →

Advertisement

09

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

AI love a slow build when I know the payoff is going to be seismic — patience for a devastating reveal.
BGive me relentless momentum — I want to feel breathless and emotionally spent by the end.
CEpic runtime doesn’t scare me — if the material demands three hours, give me three hours.
DI want it to feel propulsive even when nothing is technically happening — restless energy throughout.
EDeliberate and unhurried — I want dread to accumulate in the spaces between the action.

NEXT QUESTION →

Advertisement

10

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

AUnsettled — like I’ve just seen something I can’t fully explain but can’t stop thinking about.
BMoved and energised — like the film reminded me what actually matters and gave me something to hold onto.
CHumbled — like I’ve been in the presence of something genuinely important and overwhelming.
DExhilarated — like I’ve just seen cinema doing something it’s never quite done before.
EHaunted — like a cold, quiet dread that stays with me for days.

REVEAL MY FILM →

Advertisement

The Academy Has Decided
Your Perfect Film Is…

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

Advertisement

Parasite

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

Advertisement

Everything Everywhere All at Once

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

Advertisement

Oppenheimer

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

Advertisement

Birdman

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

Advertisement

No Country for Old Men

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

Advertisement

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

Advertisement

2

‘This Is Me: A Reckoning’ (2026)

Image via Grand Central Publishing

The world at large was shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of actress and singer Hayden Panettiere last month. Despite her popularity and accolades, Panettiere’s death certainly reminded a lot of people that they knew so very little about the star beyond her work in iconic classics like Remember the Titans, Nashville, and Heroes, and if you’re one of those people, then you need to have this book on your reading list.

Published in May 2026, just months before Panettiere’s death, This Is Me: A Reckoning is a candid, intimate memoir in which the star recounts her lifelong relationship with the world of entertainment. The book shares the highs and lows of Panettiere’s life, including her struggles with loss, postpartum depression, addiction and recovery, domestic abuse, and more. Yet, despite the pain and hardships it outlines, the book is ultimately inspiring, which also makes it all the more heartbreaking.

Advertisement

3

‘Theo of Golden’ (2023)

Image via Atria Books

The third book and first novel by American author Allen Levi, Theo of Golden started life as a self-published book before being picked up by Simon & Schuster for a traditional release in 2026. The story follows the titular stranger, who arrives in the small city of Golden and visits the local coffee house, where he finds 92 portraits of the people of the city. Buying them one at a time, he sets out to reunite the portraits with their subjects, with each exchange leading to a new connection.

Despite the fact that none of the marketing materials for Theo of Golden mention this, it is a narrative rooted in Christian values. This can come as a surprise to some readers who may be expecting a quirky slice-of-life story, but the book is most accurately described as an allegorically and morally charged Christ-narrative, with its protagonist often interpreted by reviewers as a stand-in for God. While that does mean that the book may not be as appealing to all audiences, it’s a heartfelt work with an emphasis on kindness and grace, which we could all use a lot more of, regardless of our religious persuasions.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

2024 – 2024-00-00

Advertisement

Network

HBO Max

Advertisement

• 

  Tamara Lawrance

  Millie-Jean Black

  Advertisement
• 

Advertisement

Advertisement