Brad Pitt has reportedly been completely turned off from marriage and is said to have no intention to even have kids again.

Despite his current romance with jewelry designer Ines de Ramon waxing stronger, insiders claim the actor’s bitter divorce from his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, has made him averse to the thought of getting married.

Brad Pitt is also struggling with the emotional strain of being estranged from six of his children, whom he shares with Jolie, as most of them have opted to drop his last name.

Sources who spoke with the Daily Mail revealed that the chances of Pitt ever tying the knot again are extremely low due to the emotional and financial fallout from his previous relationship with movie star Angelina Jolie.

Besides his never-ending legal drama with the actress, Pitt also has to deal with the consistently widening rift between him and his six kids, who are primarily under Jolie’s care.

The four older children, Maddox, 24, Pax, 22, Zahara, 21, and Shiloh, 19, have distanced themselves from the actor, with Shiloh in particular, legally dropping Pitt from her name.

The twins, Vivienne and Knox, 17, are also now estranged from Pitt, as previous reports confirmed that he hardly gets to see them despite having court-mandated visits.

Insiders close to Pitt seem to blame the strained relationship on their mother, with a friend telling the news outlet that “there has been a campaign of alienation [by Jolie] which has been successful.”

“The antagonism is huge,” they added. “He has been alienated from the kids completely. It is devastating to him.”

These challenges have seemingly left Pitt with a bad taste in his mouth when it comes to the idea of marrying for a third time or having more kids.

The Actor Doesn’t Have Marriage On The Cards Despite His ‘Happy’ Relationship With Ines de Ramon

Pitt and de Ramon have been dating since 2022 and have even reportedly moved in together. The couple is said to be “very happy,” with the actor enjoying the “peace” and “support” of his “easygoing” partner.

Pitt is also enjoying a career resurgence after starring in the critically acclaimed “F1,” with three more movies in the can.

However, despite the positive state of his love life and career, sources noted that when it comes to the question of a third marriage, the answer is a firm “no” for the 61-year-old actor.

Friends of Pitt noted that at this point, they can no longer see him tying the knot again or even having more children.

“He has a great partner whom he appreciates, but there is no rush in that direction,” a source said, per the Daily Mail.

Brad Pitt’s Rift With His Kids Linked To Alleged 2016 Private Jet Incident

The rift between Pitt and his kids can be traced back to an unfortunate incident that took place in September 2016 on a private jet.

It was alleged that at the time, Pitt, in a drunken moment, poured alcohol on his family, told the kids their mother was “crazy,” and got physical with one of the children after shoving Jolie.

While the actor has consistently denied being a domestic abuser, the allegations have lingered to this day and seem to be at the heart of his estrangement from his kids.

Both Maddox and Pax have since dropped Pitt’s last name, opting to use only Jolie in the credits of films they have worked on.

Zahara, like her brothers, also began using just Jolie when she began college. Fourth child, Shiloh, dropped the name legally right after turning 18, while Vivienne notably opted not to be identified with her dad’s name in the credits of a musical adaptation she worked on in 2025.

More recently, the actor was noticeably absent from Zahara’s graduation from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.

Sources told TMZ that Pitt did not “reach out” ahead of the graduation, adding that “nothing prevented him from showing up for her. Or ever visiting her.”

These remarks have since alarmed people in Pitt’s circle, as they accuse Jolie of being “manipulative” and “evil.”

The Actor Still Has Hope For Reconciliation With His Six Children

Regarding Pitt’s absence from Zahara’s graduation, a source told the Daily Mail that the actor was simply faced with a hard situation due to the estrangement from his children.

They noted, “You can’t have it both ways – to promote a complete estrangement and then criticize someone for not going to an event when you’ve made sure that they would not be welcome.”

“That’s not a situation which he created,” the source added.

Despite how bitter things have become, a friend said that Pitt is still hopeful for a reunion with all six of his children, citing the past feud between Alec Baldwin and his daughter, Ireland, who have now become close in recent years.

“He continues to hope that one day a reconciliation is possible,” the insider noted. “There’s a hope that in time they will all find each other.”

Brad Pitt Is ‘Happier Than Ever’ With Ines de Ramon

While marriage may not be on the cards for Pitt and de Ramon, the couple is reportedly content with how things are right now and very serious about each other.

Last October, a source told People Magazine that Pitt and de Ramon are now fully living together, noting that the actor always makes sure to include the jewelry designer in his plans as she makes him happy.

“Brad is really including Ines in all his travel plans, and when they are home, they just relax together,” the insider said. “They are really making their home into a home.”

Another source specified that Pitt, in particular, is “so happy and in love” as he and de Ramon make future plans as a couple.

Earlier this year, Academy Award winner Cillian Murphy said goodbye to his most beloved franchise, as he donned his flat cap once more as Tommy Shelby in the Netflix feature Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. Scoring 25.3 million views in its first three days of release, the movie was a huge hit on the streamer and proved so popular that the plans for it to end the Peaky saga were scrapped, with creator and writer Steven Knight continuing the story with two 6-episode seasons.

Before Peaky Blinders returns, albeit without the genius Murphy, one of the Irish actor’s most underrated movies is heading to a new streamer. The film in question is Red Eye, a 2005 thriller starring Murphy alongside Rachel McAdams (Send Help) and Succession‘s Brian Cox. The movie follows hotel manager Lisa Reisert (McAdams) as she bumps into the charming Jackson Rippner (Murphy) whilst attempting to fly home. Thinking she has struck luck when they are seated next to one another, it quickly becomes clear that this was no accident, with Jackson hiding a dark secret.

At the 2005 box office, the movie was a quiet success, earning just shy of $100 million against a reported budget of $26 million. This success was no doubt helped by the pedigree of the movie’s director: horror icon and all-round Hollywood legend Wes Craven. Critics were fond of the film too, with Red Eye “certified fresh” at 80% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling the film “slick fun,” “electric,” and “a simple, straightforward, surprisingly effective thriller with a minimum of gimmickry.” Over two decades on, and you can officially catch this underrated Murphy effort on Starz, starting June 1, 2026.

What Is Cillian Murphy Doing Next?

Alongside an as-yet-untitled Damien Chazelle movie, Murphy’s next project is as part of the ensemble in one of the most exciting returning horror movies. No, it’s not the next installment in the 28 Years Later trilogy; it’s A Quiet Place Part III, which features Murphy alongside the returning Emily Blunt and Jason Clarke. John Krasinski will be back behind the camera for the threequel, which recently kicked off production, as announced via a first-look image on The Office star’s social media.

Cillian Murphy’s Red Eye officially joins Starz this June 1. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for more updates on the latest streaming news.

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2024 – 2026-00-00

Network

ITV1

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Directors

Kieron Hawkes

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  Lesley Sharp

  Madeline Delaney

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While not every martial arts movie is about revenge, a good many of them are, which is okay, because revenge works as something to drive the sort of conflict you want to see play out in such an action movie. Martial arts films foreground hand-to-hand combat, be it with or without weapons used at a close range, and that’s probably why revenge works well with such films. Seeing a character get direct and physical revenge with an intimate fighting style tends to be both more intense and ultimately satisfying, both for the person seeking vengeance and the viewer.

There are some action movies that feature revenge while almost feeling like martial arts movies (see The Crow and Oldboy), but it feels like a little bit of a stretch to call them genuine martial arts films. They’re great action movies about revenge with some hand-to-hand fighting, though, and were worthy of honorable mentions here, just without appearing in the ranking below, since this ranking’s focused on genuinely great martial arts revenge movies that are sufficiently martial arts-focused.

10

‘The Avenging Eagle’ (1978)

Image via Shaw Brothers Studio

Though The Avenging Eagle doesn’t often get the appreciation it deserves, if you’re talking about all-time classic martial arts movies, it really should. There’s nothing here it really does wrong, in terms of delivering a good deal of exciting action within a no-nonsense narrative, here mostly just “complicated” by the fact that there’s one person who wants revenge against a particular clan for personal reasons, and another person who wants to fight back against that clan as a former member.

Both have been wronged by the same people, essentially, and so they form a duo to go about fighting a bunch of bad guys. The Avenging Eagle clocks in at just 90 minutes, and has a generous amount of well-choreographed fight scenes for a film of such a brief length (it also helps that there are quite a few different weapons used throughout, which keeps the action scenes sufficiently varied).

9

‘John Wick’ (2014)

Image via Summit Entertainment

While the sequels to John Wick get a bit wilder and perhaps even convoluted (not necessarily in a terrible way, since all the criminal underworld stuff proves quite entertaining), the first one is stunningly simple. The titular character is a man who’s lost pretty much everything by the time of the film’s start, except a puppy he was gifted by his wife before she passed away.

Some rather foolish criminals kill that dog and steal John’s car, so he sets off getting violent vengeance for them taking what little he had left, and since he’s got nothing left to lose, he doesn’t mind using the skills he used to have in his previous life as a hitman to get that revenge. Also, John Wick does admittedly have more by way of shootouts than all the other martial arts movies mentioned here, yet many of the fights here are kind of “gun fu,” combining some aspects of hand-to-hand combat with firearms, and that approach is one of the things that helps much of the action stand out.

8

‘Vengeance!’ (1970)

Image via Shaw Brothers

The exclamation mark in the title Vengeance! is well-earned, since this whole movie goes pretty big, loud, broad, and bloody. And not just bloody by the standards of the early 1970s, since this one still feels visceral today. It would’ve probably been a shock to the system back in 1970, though, doing for martial arts movies what The Wild Bunch kind of did for Westerns (and yes, that’s an entirely different movie, but it came to mind just now because that one was also graphic for its time, and still holds up as pretty darn violent to this day).

As for the plot of Vengeance!… well, it’s all in the title. There is a young man who’s murdered, and then his brother sets out to kill the people who killed him. And he goes very far in achieving such a goal, to the point where he begins to feel less and less heroic, more or less going from sympathetic, to an anti-hero, and then to someone similarly vicious as the violent people who got the whole blood-drenched mess started in the first place.

7

‘Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance’ (1972)

Image via Toho

There’s a distinction between martial arts cinema and kung fu movies, because kung fu movies are a sub-genre of the martial arts genre (or a sub-sub genre to a sub-genre, if you want to count martial arts movies as an action sub-genre). So, there will be samurai movies worth mentioning here, even if they’ve obviously got a focus on combat with swords over literal hand-to-hand stuff, with the first of note, for present purposes, being Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance.

You’ve got “Sword” in the title, obviously, and it’s also near the word “Vengeance,” so go figure. This is the first of the Lone Wolf and Cub movies, which are, broadly, all about an ex-executioner being betrayed by the clan he once worked for, and seeking revenge against anyone who still belongs to said clan. He and his son get up to some other things throughout the series, and the six main films are all pretty great, but the first one’s being singled out here just because that sets up why the central character wants to become the vengeful one-man army he is for the rest of the series.

6

‘The 36th Chamber of Shaolin’ (1978)

Image via Shaw Brothers Studio

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is wonderfully straightforward, even by the standards of martial arts movies that involve revenge. Evaluated cynically, you could call it the most basic and no-nonsense of perhaps the quintessential martial arts movie premise (in that there’s a person who’s wronged, then that person trains, then finally, that person gets revenge), but less cynically, you could also say it’s the movie that does that straightforward premise the most seamlessly.

There’s catharsis here, and maybe that’s the main thing. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin spends what feels like the bulk of its runtime on the training, and that extended process proves surprisingly compelling to watch, as there are so many challenges – both physical and mental – for the protagonist to overcome. So, once he does master everything, he blasts through those who wronged him… and all that’s quite entertaining to watch, too.

5

‘Lady Snowblood’ (1973)

Image via Toho

Another samurai movie, and one of the all-time great ones, Lady Snowblood is about a young woman who, from a young age, was basically brought up just to get revenge. It’s almost all she knows, given her mother lost almost everything, and then wished for her to be brought up as someone who could avenge all the deaths in the family that occurred before her birth.

In that sense, it’s quite a desolate and despairing movie, because the core story here is incredibly sad, even if there’s also some level of spectacle here (owing to the visuals), not to mention a good bit of excitement when there’s action (the fights here are rather bloody). Lady Snowblood does have a sequel, but it’s not the kind of thing where you really need to see that movie… not the case for a two-part film that Lady Snowblood famously inspired, but more on that duology in a bit.

4

‘The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter’ (1984)

Image via Shaw Brothers Studio

Since both The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter starred Gordon Liu, were directed by Lau Kar-Leung, and produced by Shaw Brothers Studio, they’d make for a pretty solid double feature. Also, they kind of have the same premise, but The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter ends up being a little more about the struggle to get revenge, as it sees its protagonist failing quite a bit more during his training.

The focus, as such, is a little shifted, and it also leads to the action in the final act being messier and arguably more thrilling. It’s an approach to that previously mentioned well-worn formula that ends up working quite well, and even if it’s a bit more chaotic overall (things had to be altered when one of the film’s stars, Alexander Fu, died suddenly during production), it’s still ultimately a great martial arts movie that’s (largely) about revenge.

3

‘Harakiri’ (1962)

Image via Shochiku

Again, it’s a samurai movie, and one that doesn’t really emphasize action, for the most part, but Harakiri still feels very much worth mentioning because it’s eventually a pretty impactful revenge movie. Elaborating on the details or even mentioning revenge is a part of it could be ruining things, yet there’s also something to be said about the execution here, and that’s something you can only fully appreciate from watching the film.

Harakiri is largely a drama, and centers on a man who tells a samurai clan why he feels compelled to end his life via the titular ritual (sometimes called seppuku). The reason the movie’s light on action is that Harakiri wants to build tension and focus on a heavy-going narrative before, all so that you do feel the intensity of the fighting far stronger when it does eventually begin. The approach ends up working remarkably well, to say the least.

2

‘Kill Bill: Vol. 1’ (2003)

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 has more action than the second volume, yet that one’s heavily indebted to the martial arts genre in slightly different ways, even if it’s narratively a direct continuation. So, the first movie is getting mentioned first, and gets to take its own place here. It’s largely a homage to martial arts movies, with a particular focus on swordplay, and you get a ton of action in the final act.

This first volume of an overall epic moves at a wildly fast pace throughout, as in, if it were any faster, you’d probably feel overwhelmed and might struggle to keep up. The motivation of the main character, The Bride, is incredibly straightforward at this point in the story, and Kill Bill: Vol. 1, overall, is like, “Yeah, the nuance can wait; it comes later.” This one’s mostly about action, and the action is undeniably exciting.

1

‘Kill Bill: Vol. 2’ (2004)

Image via Miramax Films

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So, if Vol. 1 has all the action, and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 is a technically talkier affair, why does it take the #1 spot over the first half of the story? It’s a fair question, and it’s first worth mentioning that there is still some action in Vol. 2, and what you do get is largely satisfying and well-choreographed. But there are more interesting places it goes as an exploration of revenge, and the dramatic highs and lows that come with actually getting vengeance.

Also, Kill Bill: Vol. 2 has a great training sequence that plays out as a flashback in Vol. 2, with the flashbacks also making The Bride (who’s even given a name in this half of the story) a more fleshed-out and compelling character. Bill’s also a proper character in this one, as opposed to the almost voice-only appearance he has in the first, and that helps, because he’s also a great character. Vol. 1 pays homage to martial arts action, while Vol. 2 pays homage to the comparatively “slower” scenes you get in most classic martial arts movies, and somehow, it all works, and adds up to an immensely satisfying whole.

When you think of Elijah Wood, what first comes to mind is probably characters who embody innocence or heroism. From his career as a child actor to his performance in the record-breaking Lord of the Rings trilogy, to family films like Happy Feet, he has found great success portraying people who exemplify what is good in the world. However, one role lurks in the shadows of his filmography: Kevin, the sadistic cannibal killer in Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s 2005 film Sin City.In a movie full of tough guy actors such as Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, and Benicio del Toro, it’s Wood that stands out as the most intimidating, as he uses a unique approach to make the audience squirm in their seat.

Elijah Wood’s Kevin Is the Most Disturbing Character in ‘Sin City’

The character serves as the villain of the film’s third story, “The Hard Goodbye,” which follows Marv (Rourke), a hardened criminal who finds momentary happiness with a woman named Goldie (Jaime King). After spending the night with her, he wakes up to find her murdered next to him, and is framed for her killing. He embarks on an investigation to avenge Goldie, which leads him all the way to the top of Basin City’s church establishment, and its cardinal, played by Rutger Hauer. It emerges that Goldie’s murderer is Kevin, a serial killer who has been weaponized by the cardinal to carry out murders under the pretense of some divine experience.

Of all the dark and bloody deeds done in the movie, Kevin is set apart as something altogether more sinister. A figure trained to kill like an animal — accompanied by wolves who are taught the same thing — the combination of his deadly appetites and the unsettling realization that something as sacred as the Church could be protecting him takes this beyond the usual corruption to something no one watching can understand. Whatever Marv’s past misdeeds, few (if any) would begrudge him his revenge in these circumstances.

Elijah Wood Will Terrify You Without Saying a Single Word

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So much of the impact of the character comes from Wood’s performance, which is the definition of the phrase “less is more.” He says nothing in the movie, only appearing in the shadows wearing a sensible sweater and round glasses, while sporting a detached, unmoving smile. When he moves, he moves like the wolves that accompany him, but with no explanation or backstory beyond how he met the cardinal, he remains frighteningly ambiguous, and therefore, unpredictable.

Part of the effect is also what the audience associates with the actor. For most, he is Frodo Baggins from Lord of the Rings, the brave Hobbit that saves the world because it’s the right thing to do, a character a million miles from the evil deeds of Kevin. Any movie fan will find it odd to see him be the instrument of such heinous crimes, let alone watch him simply smile in the aftermath. Like Robin Williams in One Hour Photo, or Hugh Grant in Heretic, there’s an extra dimension in seeing an actor outside what is expected of them.

Elijah Wood’s Career Is Way More Than Just Lord of the Rings

For Elijah Wood, taking chances on more outlandish roles has proven a consistent success for him, even if those movies do not have the same global impact as The Lord of the Rings. He has worked on unusual films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Toxic Avenger, tense dramas such as Grand Piano, and even returned to Middle-earth with a small role in The Hobbit films. These independent films might not have the same reach, but offer the creative diversity that can show a different side to the actor.

Over two decades on, Sin City remains a true individual in the history of comic book adaptations. With black and white visuals ripped from the pages of Miller’s original graphic novel, few characters were realized more vividly on film than Kevin. If you haven’t seen the film in a while, it’s time to revisit the dark and ruthless streets of Basin City again. Just beware of two unblinking eyes watching you, with an emotionless smile.

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Release Date

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April 1, 2005

Runtime

124 minutes

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Writers

Frank Miller

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Lizzo has tried all she can to shake the feud rumors, and now she is facing it head-on!

The singer has once again corrected the notion that she spends her free time talking ill about her peers in the industry, especially when it comes to Taylor Swift.

Lizzo has definitely name-dropped the billionaire once or twice in the past, often declaring her admiration for the pop star and reiterating that she is not in a competition with the musician.

The day began with a post from an X user attempting to compare streaming numbers from some of their projects, stating: “The Life Of A Showgirl + MY FACE HURTS FROM SMILING — 4.005M. ICEMAN + MAID OF HONOUR + HABIBTI — 683k.”

Lizzo reacted to the post, asking for clarification on what the X subscriber meant, to which a fan responded that all that sh-t talking has finally caught up to her and impacted her record’s position on the chart. 

The musician quickly tackled the commenter, reiterating that she has never talked sh-t about Swift for any reason. Lizzo continued, “Also, while we’re on the subject, I’ve never talked sh-t about any artist. Just because I mention an artist by name does not mean I’m talking sh-t — grow tf up pls.”

Internet users did not waste time rushing down to Lizzo’s comment section with lots of opinions about her past behavior and new claims. According to them, Lizzo is getting those allegations now because she had indeed thrown shade at Swift at some point in the past.

This commenter declared: “YES YOU HAVE TALKED SH-T ABOUT TAYLOR STOP GASLIGHTING US ?? You literally sided with KANYE WEST in 2016, let’s not.”

Some X subscribers praised Lizzo for shutting down these reports, thereby laying unnecessary fan wars to rest for good. Others also praised her for always showing love to female artists instead of descending into mindless dramas.

“Please don’t respond to trolls on social media.  Get off social media and just do your job/art, be happy, and live your life.  Take a clue from some of the biggest artists that are your friends and acquaintances and how they handle SM,” this user stated.

Lizzo Publicly Shouted Out The ‘Shake It Off’ Singer In 2023

As shared by Seventeen, Lizzo got talking with a fan during one of her performances in Perth when she addressed a fan who held up the “I chose you over Taylor” sign. The singer responded by first thanking the fans for attending the show, joking that she would even get them tickets to attend a Swift show.

Lizzo continued that Swift is an amazing artist, and the fan should not have to choose between herself and the billionaire because she also adores her as an artist. Lizzo also extended a request to the fan holding the “I chose you over Taylor” sign if she could put her autograph on the sign.

Although the singer realized midway into her performance that Swift was not scheduled to sing at the venue, she reminded the audience that she “heart Tay Tay too,” stressing that there was no competition between them.

The ‘Juice’ Hitmaker Previously Called Herself A ‘Black Taylor Swift‘

In 2022, Bustle noted that Lizzo openly compared herself to the pop superstar during an interview about songwriting and relationships. While promoting her album “Special” on “The Breakfast Club,” the singer shared that her real-life experiences and romances inspire a lot of her songs. 

When asked whether the people she dates should expect to end up in her music, she jokingly replied that she is the “Black Taylor Swift,” admitting she writes candidly about her love life. Lizzo referred to her track “Break Up Twice” as an example, revealing her relationship inspired it with boyfriend Myke Wright during a period when they rekindled their romance. 

The singer recalled one of her protective friends threatening Wright at a barbecue if he hurt her again, a moment that later made its way into the track. The singer also humorously noted that she and Wright had only done a “soft launch” of their relationship online at the time, teasing that things would only become truly official once they appeared on a red carpet together.  

Like Swift, the musician emphasized that she often channels personal experiences into her songwriting while still keeping some details private. She also revealed that she wrote more than 170 songs for “Special,” hinting that many unreleased tracks could eventually end up on streaming platforms.

Fans Are Not The Only Ones Catching Words From Lizzo

A few days ago, the singer spoke about the rollout for her upcoming fifth studio album, “B-TCH,” claiming her label, Atlantic Records, has not properly promoted the project ahead of its release.

As reported by The Blast, Lizzo took to her TikTok to urge her fans to support the album and place their pre-order before it gets released in a few weeks.

Lizzo responded to a fan who asked why there had been little promo for her album, such as absent billboards and advertisements. According to the singer, the promotional plans have been decided upon during marketing meetings.

However, despite her signing off on the billboard campaigns and ads for the album rollout, work is yet to take off in that department, leaving the singer frustrated over the lack of support.

Some of the most celebrated shows tackle tough topics. The ability to take a complex issue and present it in an entertaining but informative way is a huge risk that can backfire if not handled correctly. However, some shows like Dopesick, Adolescence, and I May Destroy You have been praised not only for being great works of art but also for exploring nuanced topics with the complexity and care they need. Netflix has been at the forefront of such shows recently, but HBO has forever remained the home of difficult storytelling. Their latest show is another attempt to explore the effects of masculinity, abuse, and sexuality.

This limited series follows two half-brothers over a 30-year period as they develop a complicated yet unhealthy relationship. Their personalities could not be more different, which causes friction but also allows them to complement each other. Ruben (Richard Gadd) is the older, more popular, and masculine of the two, while Niall (Jamie Bell) is the more intelligent one. They both struggle with personal issues; for Ruben, it is blinding anger, while Niall’s is his sexuality. The show is deeply violent — physically, emotionally, and sexually. Viewers and critics alike have found it difficult to watch, even when it is excellently written and acted.

That show is Half Man, the six-episode drama created by, written by, and starring Richard Gadd of Baby Reindeer. Gadd rose to prominence for doing the same thing with Baby Reindeer, and the show was a breakout hit thanks to its honest exploration of obsession and sexual assault against men. Half Man circles the same themes but from a more intimate place between relatives in a relatively challenging time period. The final episode airs on Thursday, May 28, bringing to a close the story of Ruben and Niall. All lingering questions get answered, and the intensity justified.

Is ‘Half Man’ Worth Watching??

While the show has not achieved the critical acclaim Baby Reindeer enjoyed, critics have praised it for its ability to remain entertaining even when hard to watch. “Richard Gadd delivers a broodingly bleak sophomore effort that dares to plumb the depths of toxic masculinity and repression in a complex and unsettling tale that makes for unsettlingly good TV,” their verdict reads on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, accompanying a 77% score. Viewers are not that far away, giving it an 80%. Half Man also stars Mitchell Robertson (Young Niall), Stuart Campbell (Young Ruben), and Neve McIntosh (Lori).

Catch the series finale on Thursday or stream episodes on HBO Max in the U.S. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

2026 – 2026-00-00

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BBC One

Directors

Alexandra Brodski, Eshref Reybrouck

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Writers

Richard Gadd

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2026 has been a great year for sci-fi movies, with releases like Mercy, Project Hail Mary, and War Machine. These films have seen varying degrees of success, with Mercy underperforming at the box office but excelling on streaming. Meanwhile, Project Hail Mary has been a critical and box office hit and is expected to replicate this success when it eventually arrives on streaming. War Machine never had a theatrical release, but it has become Netflix’s top movie of 2026. But looking ahead at the rest of the year, there are still some strong contenders that have yet to have their moment. Among them is a thriller that promises an emotional but action-packed tale.

This dystopian sci-fi drama has assembled a powerful cast, and the story gives them a lot to work with. The film has been set for an August 28 release by 20th Century Pictures. It follows the main character, Hig, a young pilot who, together with a military survivor, Bangley, has carved out their own space in a violent world where humanity has ceased to be the bare minimum. However, when Hig intercepts a radio transmission, he leaves their secluded compound because, despite what this brutal world has shown him, he believes that out there somewhere, humanity still exists.

The film in question is The Dog Stars, directed by Ridley Scott (The Martian). Mark L. Smith adapted it from Peter Heller‘s book of the same name. The main cast includes recognized actors like Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Josh Brolin (Avengers: Endgame), Margaret Qualley (The Substance), Guy Pearce (Memento), Benedict Wong (Avengers: Endgame), and Allison Janney (I, Tonya). 20th Century has already released a trailer that sets the stage.

‘The Dog Stars’ Indicts Humanity Once Again in Emotionally Charged Trailer

The video above introduces Hig (Elordi), who has survived a world-ending event. So he knows the before and the after. He knows the joy of love and family, and the pain of losing it. Hig is forever optimistic, even when the world gives him no reason to be. Bangley (Brolin), on the other hand, doesn’t share the same optimism. He knows what humans are capable of, especially when pushed to their limits. Nothing pushes people more than the realization that the rules no longer exist and society has collapsed. But the world of “wake up, survive, rinse and repeat” doesn’t appeal to Hig. He knows there must be something more out there, and he’s willing to take a risk. So he puts his pilot skills to use and ventures out on a dangerous but potentially rewarding mission. And who knows, he might find love again.

The Dog Stars is in theaters on August 28. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

August 28, 2026

Writers

Mark L. Smith, Peter Heller, Christopher Wilkinson

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