Entertainment
You Can Perfectly Track the History of the Horror Genre by Watching These 10 Movies
Horror has a special place in cinema history. The most prolific and recognizable filmmaking style ever created has had a helping hand in shaping the entertainment world into the smashing juggernaut that it is today, and its popularity grows each year. Since the medium’s conception, with the first horror technically being 1896’s Le Manoir du Diable (The House of the Devil), the genre has been at the forefront, creating some of the most iconic, terrifying, and wildly successful films ever made.
The timeline of the horror genre from its inception to the current era is nothing short of spectacular. Each era, from the silent age to the start of the 2020s, has seen horror change considerably and introduced something inventive that helped elevate the genre into the exciting powerhouse we know and love now. From the most revered classics to modern achievements, let’s track the frightening history of the horror genre using ten landmark films that best represent each significant point since its invention.
10
‘Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror’ (1922)
Starting with the silent age, horror in the time before talking pictures was when the genre was still in its infancy. This period was filled with pioneering classics, many of them still highly revered today for creativity and compelling visual storytelling. From The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and The Golem to The Phantom of the Opera, these were some of the first films to truly show the terrifying potential of horror. But, in this age of excellence, it is F. W. Murnau‘s Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror that’s widely hailed as the most definitive thanks to its historical influence.
Released in 1922 as an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker‘s Dracula, Nosferatu provided endless terror, becoming the pinnacle of early horror cinema. Featuring eerie visuals, a dark, haunting atmosphere, and one of the most unsettling depictions of a vampire in Count Orlok (Max Schreck), Nosferatu has become a timeless masterpiece that continues to have a lasting impact on modern horror. Arguably, it best represents the silent age of filmmaking with how iconic and revered it’s remained all these decades later.
9
‘Frankenstein’ (1931)
Moving away from the silent era to the dawn of talking motion pictures, next, let’s talk about Hollywood’s Golden Age of horror, when iconic tales of monsters, ghouls, and ghostly nightmares ruled cinema for most of the 1930s and ’40s. It was when Universal Studios entered its most legendary stage: the classic Monsters Universe, a time that saw Dracula, The Wolf Man, and The Mummy triumph on the big screen. But, taking the next spot on this list is a pioneering classic and arguably the most representative of this time, Frankenstein.
Released in 1931 by the remarkable James Whale, this legendary retelling of Mary Shelley‘s iconic novel has had a helping hand in shaping pop culture. Its story, characters, and classic sets have all been ingrained in the minds of cinemagoers for generations. Everything, from the lines to Boris Karloff‘s riveting portrayal of the creature, is still remembered, showing the power and excitement of watching a classic Universal Monster film. Though other adaptations of Shelley’s work are arguably more compelling, Frankenstein certainly represents the peak of this memorable age of horror history.
8
‘Gojira’ (1954)
In a post-WWII entertainment world, the late 1940s and ’50s saw the rise of the sci-fi horror craze. It was a time when the biggest thing to fear in theaters wasn’t some vampire in a dark castle or a supernatural beast, but something much more scientific. From alien invader flicks like War of the Worlds and The Thing from Another World, science-gone-wrong movies like The Fly and The Tingler, to cheesy B-movie classics like Tarantula and The Blob, it truly was a unique change for the genre. The atomic age defined this period, and what better film to define this time than the 1954 classic Gojira?
The world was still recovering after the war, and a new era of atomic energy brought the fear of nuclear devastation to an all-time high. It was greatly expressed through the films that came out during this time. Gojira is the pinnacle of this age, a powerful and creative film that uses its titular monster, the towering and iconic Godzilla, as a metaphor for the A-bomb’s devastating result. It’s also become a massive pop-cultural phenomenon that’s still widely watched, and Godzilla himself has remained a recognizable icon who is still featured in films today. Still, this first film will always be the best representative of this iconic point in history.
7
‘Psycho’ (1960)
The 1960s were some of the most transformative years of the 20th century, a time marked by significant cultural change and advancing ideas. Nowhere was this shift better expressed than through cinema, as films were evolving and shaping into the modern moviegoing experience that we know today. When it comes to horror, no film better exemplifies this change more than Sir Alfred Hitchcock‘s groundbreaking proto-slasher masterpiece Psycho.
Hailed as one of the most influential horror movies ever made, Psycho embodies the genre’s remarkable shift towards edgier, bolder horror during the ’60s. This bold approach was outright revolutionary, as many films during this time were lighter and followed much of the still-enforced Hays Code. Psycho dared to break all that, telling a darker, terrifying tale that was more risqué and violent than anything up to that point. It was way ahead of its time and ushered in a new age of terror that’s still prevalent even now.
6
‘The Exorcist’ (1973)
Where the ’60s got the ball rolling and helped shape modern horror, the ’70s were really where things kicked it up a notch. This is arguably the most revered decade for horror, an age marked by wild acclaim and featuring intense classics. Steven Spielberg‘s monster hit Jaws birthed the summer blockbuster, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Halloween kick-started the slasher craze. However, there’s no mentioning this decade without talking about the scariest movie of all time: William Friedkin‘s The Exorcist.
The Exorcist is the ultimate ’70s horror movie, and it’s the most praised and recognizable film to come out of this time. It’s timelessly terrifying, featuring some of the scariest moments in horror history. From Linda Blair‘s bone-chilling performance as the possessed Regan to Krzysztof Penderecki‘s eerily brilliant film score, there’s so much that’s made this seminal picture endlessly horrifying over the years, and its terror can still trump any of the films that come out today.
5
‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ (1984)
The 1980s were a truly exhilarating time to be a movie fan, an age of mega blockbusters and iconic Best Picture winners. The movies let the audience get swept up in the fun, abandoning most pretenses beyond entertainment. It was also where the horror genre reached the height of the slasher craze after it took off in the late ’70s. From Friday the 13th to Child’s Play, most of the thrilling slasher flicks we know and love started here. But, here to represent the peak of slashers and the peak of ’80s horror, is Wes Craven‘s A Nightmare on Elm Street.
A Nightmare on Elm Street rolled into theaters in 1984 and instantly became a pop-cultural phenomenon, a major hit with critics and audiences that turned its sinister killer, Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), into one of the greatest characters in cinema. Craven’s masterpiece marked a time when slashers absolutely dominated the box office, and today it’s still hailed for its intense scares, legendary characters, and for just overall capturing the spirit of this exciting decade.
4
‘Scream’ (1996)
Horror went through quite a remarkable change in the 1990s. Like any decade, it also saw extreme highs and major lows. It was when The Silence of the Lambs came out and became the first horror movie to win Best Picture, but it also experienced the most significant dark age, a time when slashers were becoming tired, outdated, and too clichéd. Then everything changed when Wes Craven returned with another game-changer, 1996’s Scream.
Scream came at the perfect time to save the subgenre from irrelevancy, delivering a fresh, bold new story that powerfully poked fun at the horror genre while giving new inspiration. Scream ushered in a new age of meta-horror, where the stories reference other movies and the characters are self-aware and know the tropes that made up the genre. It’s still a huge influence on the slasher and horror comedies that come out in modern cinema, and its impact on cinematic history will likely never be forgotten.
3
‘Saw’ (2004)
A new century brought all kinds of shifts to horror. The 2000s were the peak of experimental horror, where every year they tested the waters to see what would float and become the next biggest thing. Through this ever-advancing time for the genre, up-and-coming filmmaker James Wan dared to push something far edgier and unique, and so his 2004 splatter masterpiece Saw became seen as one of the ultimate horror films of the early century.
Packing some intense scares, a chilling mystery, and a now-legendary and iconic villain, Jigsaw (Tobin Bell), Saw is a recognizable staple of 2000s horror cinema. It was darker, more shocking, and more gruesome than anything really up to that point, and it really elevated the splatter and torture subgenres to the next level of recognition. It’s still a pop-cultural phenomenon more than twenty years later, and its influence really helped shape the genre going further into this century.
2
‘Hereditary’ (2018)
The early 2000s kick-started a new age of horror, and then the next decade brought a new meaning to the genre. Next, we enter the 2010s, and truly, the movement that represented this time was the elevated horror subgenre. Trading jump-scares, loud noises, over-the-top gore, and expensive Hollywood-style productions for quieter, more thematic storytelling, this decade was marked by a return to subtler, more thought-provoking horror. And, truly, what better masterpiece to describe this point than Ari Aster‘s 2018 film Hereditary?
A wickedly intense, highly suspenseful, and unimaginably terrifying thrill ride, Hereditary is now considered to be one of the all-time most twisted horror films in the industry. Its story is perfectly written, the direction is on point, and it features talented stars at the top of their game, giving award-worthy performances. Hereditary greatly represents this terrifying new wave of elevated horror with its tense story that easily creeps under the viewer’s skin. It’s a modern masterpiece whose influence has carried over to the next decade.
1
‘Sinners’ (2025)
Finally, we’ve entered the current era of the 2020s, and boy, have things been interesting. Though we’re only slightly past the mid-point of this decade, it’s safe to say that we’ve certainly entered a new horror renaissance. It’s a time marked by high-quality new stories and a resurgence at the box office, where reboot franchises like Scream and Final Destination have returned to reclaim their dominance, and where freshly creative tales are here to make a name for themselves in the genre. No original horror film demonstrated this approach more than Ryan Coogler‘s Oscar-caliber vampire film Sinners.
This modern masterpiece is the current face of the horror genre, an absolute cinematic achievement that was a mega hit both critically and financially. With a record sixteen nominations, it’s now the most nominated movie in Academy Award history, a testament to how wildly acclaimed and truly brilliant it’s become. Sinners is a symbol of the horror genre’s dominance and influence in this current decade, and if it’s anything to go by, it’s that horror is only going up from here.
Entertainment
17 Comfy Rich Mom Sneakers on Amazon for Spring — From $10
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Your feet hurt by 2 p.m. and your old sneakers look like they survived a mud run. Spring hits and suddenly you need something that feels like a slipper but doesn’t look like one, and finding that combo gets harder — especially when arch support actually matters.
Good news: Amazon is packed with comfy spring sneakers that deliver real cushioning without sacrificing style. We dug through thousands of reviews from women who prioritize feel over hype and pulled together 17 pairs worth trying. Our rich mom picks below range from lightweight walking shoes to sporty slip-ons, all with the kind of support your feet demand this time of year.
Comfy Rich Mom Sneakers on Amazon I’d Actually Buy
1. Our Favorite: These pink training sneakers solve the “cute but comfy” dilemma with a cushioned midsole and arch support design that holds up. They’re our favorite pick from this entire list.
2. Pop of Pink: The removable insole in these pink fashion sneakers lets you swap in your own orthotics if needed. They’re lightweight, non-slip and just $38.
3. Green Go-To: Want a little height without sacrificing comfort? These retro green sneakers have a platform sole and cushioning built for walking and tennis. The gum sole adds great grip.
4. Sorbet Style: If you want proven New Balance comfort with a pop of color, this 574 V2 sneaker nails it. The gray base keeps things grounded while the orange sorbet details add personality.
5. Memory Foam Must-Have: These memory foam sneakers have a cushioned insole that actually makes a difference on long days. The retro cream colorway looks fresh without trying too hard.
6. Floral Find: These floral canvas sneakers bring colorful flower prints to a classic low-top silhouette. At just $22, they’re an easy way to add some spring energy to your rotation.
7. Butter Yellow Beauty: If you love comfy spring sneakers from Amazon but want to skip the usual white, these butter yellow sneakers are a fresh alternative. The anti-slip sole keeps you steady on any surface.
8. Lavender Love: Skechers’ Hands Free Slip-ins technology means you step right into these lavender Bobs Squad sneakers with zero bending. The comfort Skechers is known for, in a gorgeous spring color.
9. Everyday Staple: Need one sneaker that works with literally every outfit? This Keds Champion sneaker in white canvas has been that shoe for generations. Clean, minimal and endlessly wearable.
10. Goes With Everything: Can’t decide between feminine and sporty? These Mary Jane fashion sneakers blend both styles so you don’t have to choose. They genuinely go with skirts, dresses and jeans alike.
11. Easy Breezy: Heading somewhere warm this spring? This breathable Reef sneaker slips right on and lets air flow through the knit upper. The soft cushion footbed makes long walks actually enjoyable.
12. Popular Pick: Lace up these Adidas spring sneakers in that bold pink and lemon combo for your next walk or weekend outing. They add instant color to neutral tops and jeans.
13. Retro Flair: If you love vintage-inspired shoes with some height, this Reebok platform sneaker in pink and cream delivers both. The Club C Double Revenge is a style you won’t see on everyone.
14. Major Deal: At 50% off, these baby blue canvas sneaker is now just $10. It’s a simple low-top lace-up in a pretty spring color at a price that’s almost hard to believe.
15. Top Trend: The ballet flat sneaker trend is here, and this Vivaia Cristina sneaker in pink satin leads the pack. It’s foldable, lightweight and far more comfortable than a traditional flat.
16. Pastel Perfection: Tired of boring neutrals? This Rocket Dog sneaker wraps your feet in plush foam comfort and pops of pastel color. The light yellow, teal, orange and lavender tones are so fun.
17. Mesh Moment: Hot feet are the worst, and the breathable mesh upper on these lightweight leather sneakers fixes that. The memory foam insoles add cushioning that lasts all day long.
Entertainment
The Oscars' biggest controversies, scandals, and WTF moments (including some you may have forgotten)
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Many of the most memorable not-so-golden moments date back way before Envelopegate and the slap heard ’round the world.
Entertainment
The Most Ambitious 30-Hour Sci-Fi Epic in History Is Still Dominating the Global Charts
Every streaming platform has plenty of sci-fi shows to offer, but it’s hard to beat Apple TV’s offering of original sci-fi programming. The platform got its start with more light-hearted hits like Ted Lasso, but it’s become more famous for shows like Severance, Invasion, and even Pluribus. Severance has aired two successful seasons to date, while Invasion recently wrapped up with its third and likely final season. Pluribus, which comes from creator Vince Gilligan, took the crown from Severance to become the most-watched Apple TV sci-fi show of all time. Apple did release a sci-fi misfire a few years ago with Constellation, which was one of the few shows to be canned after one season. This came despite praise from legendary author Stephen King.
Many would argue that the most underrated Apple TV sci-fi show is Foundation, which is a complex saga of humans living throughout the galaxy under the rule of the Galactic Empire. The series features big stars like Jared Harris and Lee Pace, and it recently aired its third season last summer. Apple TV renewed Foundation for a fourth season, but it’s still unclear at this time when the show will be released or when it plans to resume production. Although it’s been months since Foundation went off the air, the show is still hanging around in the Apple TV top 10 in several countries around the world. Foundation was written and created for TV by David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman, and it’s based on the series of novels by Isaac Asimov. The show holds scores of 87% from critics and 73% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Truth Is In Here — The Collider TV Quiz!
This week, X marks the spot. Eight conspiratorial questions to see if you’re a real X-Files fan… or if you’re an alien posing as an agent.
What Else Is Streaming on Apple TV Right Now?
The most popular series on Apple TV is another of its wildly underrated sci-fi ventures, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. The shows stars father-son duo Wyatt Russell and Kurt Russell as young and old versions of the same character, and it’s directly connected to HBO’s MonsterVerse franchise. To reach the top spot, Monarch had to dethrone Hijack, the thriller show starring Idris Elba that just wrapped up its sophomore season. The most popular movie on Apple TV right now is F1, the Best Picture-nominated blockbuster starring Brad Pitt. It briefly lost the crown to Eternity (Elizabeth Olsen) before gaining it back last week.
Check out all three seasons of Foundation on Apple TV, and stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates and coverage of Season 4.
- Release Date
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September 23, 2021
- Network
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Apple TV+
- Showrunner
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David S. Goyer
- Directors
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Alex Graves, Roxann Dawson, Jennifer Phang, Mark Tonderai, Andrew Bernstein
- Writers
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Jane Espenson, Leigh Dana Jackson, Liz Phang, Eric Carrasco, David Kob, Addie Manis, Marcus Gardley, Lauren Bello, Olivia Purnell
Entertainment
Martin Scorsese’s Most Intense 210-Minute Gamble Is Seeing a Massive 2026 Resurgence
Whenever Martin Scorsese decides to stop making movies, he’ll be remembered in rarified air as one of the greatest to ever step behind the camera. It’s difficult to pinpoint what he’s best known for, considering he has so many classics, but it’s hard to leave out older hits like Taxi Driver (Robert De Niro) as some of the finest work of his career. More recently, he reunited with De Niro and teamed up with his long-time collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio for the ambitious crime epic, Killers of the Flower Moon, which has been streaming on Apple TV since its run in theaters. The film earned widespread critical acclaim and was even nominated for 10 Oscars, but it went home from the 2024 ceremonies empty-handed, mostly due to the overwhelming competition from Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.
Back in 2019, Scorsese teamed up with De Niro once more for one of his most underappreciated movies, The Irishman. The 3.5-hour epic crime saga tells the story of Frank Sheeran, a WWII veteran-turned-hit man for the Bufalino crime family. He ultimately assassinated his close friend Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) later in his career, which sent his life into a downward spiral. It’s been almost seven years since The Irishman arrived on Netflix — the film was released straight to streaming and did not receive a theatrical release — but it continues to age like fine wine. The Irishman is in the Netflix global top 10 in a few countries around the world, but its streaming resurgence hasn’t come out of nowhere. Fans are craving a new Martin Scorsese movie now that it’s been a few years since one of his pictures hit the big screen.
An Actor Awards Recap — The Collider Movie Quiz!
The Screen Actors Guild doled out accolades eight nights ago. Is it fresh enough in your memory to survive this recap?
What Do We Know About Martin Scorsese’s Next Movie?
Martin Scorsese’s next movie does not yet have an official release date, but it’s now in production and expected to premiere later this year. The film, titled What Happens at Night, stars Leonardo DiCaprio opposite Jennifer Lawrence and Mads Mikkelsen, and it follows an American married couple who visit a snowy European town to adopt. Scorsese is also attached to direct a new Hawaii-set crime thriller starring DiCaprio opposite Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. It’s likely to be his next movie once he wraps production on What Happens at Night.
Be sure to check out The Irishman on Netflix, and stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates and coverage of Scorsese’s future projects.
- Release Date
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November 27, 2019
- Runtime
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210 minutes
- Writers
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Steven Zaillian
Entertainment
Every Leonardo DiCaprio movie role ranked, from “Titanic ”to “One Battle After Another”
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Breaking down the A-list Oscar winner’s illustrious career.
Entertainment
Before His ‘Tulsa King’ Universe Takeover, Samuel L. Jackson’s Brutal Western Hits Free Streaming
After redefining the Western with his explosive revenge saga Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino doubled down on the genre with an even darker and more experimental follow-up. Released in 2015, The Hateful Eight remains one of the director’s most unusual and polarizing films.
Nearly a decade later, the snowbound Western is finding new life online — with the film now streaming for free on Fawesome, giving audiences a chance to revisit Tarantino’s icy chamber drama. Set in post-Civil War Wyoming during a brutal winter storm, The Hateful Eight traps a group of strangers inside a remote stagecoach lodge as paranoia, secrets, and grudges begin to unravel.
The film centers on the definition of a stacked cast led by Samuel L. Jackson as Major Marquis Warren, Kurt Russell as John “The Hangman” Ruth, and Jennifer Jason Leigh as Daisy Domergue. The rest of the cabin is filled out by Walton Goggins as Chris Mannix, Demián Bichir as Bob, Tim Roth as Oswaldo Mobray, Michael Madsen as Joe Gage, Bruce Dern as General Sandy Smithers, James Parks as O.B. Jackson, and Channing Tatum as Jody Domergue.
An Actor Awards Recap — The Collider Movie Quiz!
The Screen Actors Guild doled out accolades eight nights ago. Is it fresh enough in your memory to survive this recap?
Is ‘The Hateful Eight’ Worth Watching?
Collider’s review of the movie stated that The Hateful Eight did little to change entrenched opinions on Quentin Tarantino, but strongly rewarded those already attuned to his style. The film was described as a confident, deliberate Western that used confinement, dialogue, and escalating tension to interrogate race, violence, and power in post-Civil War America. While not a radical reinvention, it showcased Tarantino refining his craft through structure, ensemble work, and visual detail, particularly with the 65mm presentation. The review praised the explosive second half, razor-sharp performances — especially Jennifer Jason Leigh’s — and argued the film functioned as a dark, thematically rich companion piece to Django Unchained.
“The Hateful Eight may not be Tarantino’s ‘best’ film, but it doesn’t need to be. His return to the Western genre doesn’t feel like a retread of Django, but an essential exploration of themes that couldn’t be completely examined by just one movie, especially one that took place in the antebellum South. While I wouldn’t go so far as to call The Hateful Eight a spiritual sequel to Django, it’s definitely got the same weighty topics on its mind and Tarantino — ever loquacious, bratty, frustratingly brilliant, and shockingly witty — knows just what he wants to say. Hunker down and listen up.”
The Hateful Eight is streaming now on Fawesome.
- Release Date
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December 25, 2015
- Runtime
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188 minutes
- Producers
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Bob Weinstein, Georgia Kacandes, Harvey Weinstein, Richard N. Gladstein, Shannon McIntosh
Entertainment
Hulu’s 10/10 Bingeworthy Sci-Fi Masterpiece Is Eerily Similar to Rebecca Ferguson’s ‘Silo’
Sci-fi TV shows have taken over the medium in the last few years, with every platform looking for its newest hit. Apple TV has plenty to hang its hat on between Severance, Silo, and Pluribus, while Netflix recently wrapped up its biggest sci-fi show of all time in Stranger Things. It’s certainly a tough genre to master — one could argue that there are far more misses than hits when it comes to sci-fi TV shows each year, but they all have one thing in common: a great writer. A cool world alone isn’t enough to make a compelling sci-fi show; there must be interesting characters and a layered plot for audiences to buy into.
Hulu has found a sci-fi show worth clinging to in Paradise, the gripping thriller led by Sterling K. Brown. The show starts as a simple murder mystery, but it’s evolved into something much greater as it continues to dive deeper into its ongoing Season 2. Aside from flashbacks with President Cal Bradford (James Marsden), the entirety of Paradise Season 1 takes place inside the bunker, but Season 2 sees Xavier Collins travel outside the bunker to search for his wife. He’s run into some trouble along the way, but so far, it’s nothing a former Secret Service agent can’t handle.
After a three-episode premiere just a few weeks ago, Paradise is already more than halfway through its eight-episode season. The sci-fi show is sitting handsomely at the top of Hulu streaming charts in America, and Disney+ streaming charts in international territories. Not all that surprising, considering the show holds a Certified Fresh 91% from critics on the aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing. It’s eerily similar to Silo, the aforementioned Apple TV sci-fi show led by Rebecca Ferguson.
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Thespians honored their own last Sunday. Just how many of the night’s big winners can you name in today’s round-up?
Has ‘Paradise’ Been Renewed for Season 3?
Hulu has yet to pick up Paradise for a third season officially, but this is likely more a matter of when rather than if. The show is performing well in the viewership category, and creator Dan Fogelman has been open about his three-season plan for the series. Sterling K. Brown recently confirmed that filming for Paradise Season 3 will begin in just a few months and go through the end of the summer, so a renewal announcement is likely imminent. The show will not go beyond Season 3.
Check out the first five episodes of Paradise Season 2 on Hulu or Disney+, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage on the future of the show.
- Release Date
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January 26, 2025
- Network
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Hulu
- Showrunner
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Dan Fogelman
- Directors
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Gandja Monteiro
- Writers
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Jason Wilborn
Entertainment
Undertone Is 2026’s Scariest Movie — and You’re Not Ready for It
When was the last time you were scared while watching a horror movie?
And I mean really scared, the kind of freaked-out that stays with you long after the movie is over.
A24’s new horror movie, Undertone, does just that. The Canadian film, out now in theaters nationwide, achieves what few other films in the genre accomplish — it projects real menace and suggests evil is lurking right behind you.
It’s 2026’s scariest film to date and joins recent films like Hereditary and Skinamarink as superior examples of elevated horror. But how did first-time feature film director Ian Tuason make a scary movie for the ages? And why is The Sopranos, HBO’s classic mob series that is definitely not scary, a key influence?
What Is ‘Undertone’ About?
Undertone centers around Evy (The Handmaid’s Tale‘s Nina Kiri), a young Canadian woman who produces a popular supernatural podcast with remote co-host Justin (The White Lotus‘ Adam DiMarco) from her quiet Toronto home. With her mother in the last stages of an unnamed terminal illness upstairs, Evy wants nothing more than to focus on her work rather than deal with her mother’s inevitable death. But when Justin finds 10 tapes that document a young couple’s haunting, Evy soon realizes she can’t avoid the ghosts of her past, present and uncertain future.
If that plot description is a little vague, that’s on purpose. Part of the pleasure of watching Undertone is letting Tuason slowly reveal what it’s all about — and what it all means.
The Origins of ‘Undertone’: From Radio to a One-of-a-Kind Horror Film Experience

Nina Kiri in Undertone. Dustin Rabin /© A24 /Courtesy Everett Collection
“[Undertone] started as a radio play. I used to listen to a lot of narrative podcasts like Mark Phillips’ Homecoming, which was later adapted into a Prime Video show starring Julia Roberts. I was big into The Black Tapes [by Paul Mae and Terry Miles], too. I was writing the part with Justin and Evy investigating these hidden messages in these audio files when COVID hit, and then my parents got sick. I moved back into their home [to take care of them], which coincidentally is where we shot Undertone.”
“The Exorcist really freaked me out and traumatized me as a kid because it took something in your home that’s safe and weaponized it. What would happen if something similar happened to me when I was taking care of my mom? That feeling of your home safety being weaponized against you?”
“That was my answer to the next question I had: What does Evy do in between recording her podcasts? Oh, she’s taking care of her dying mom. Next thing I know, we’re filming.”
The Sounds of Terror
Undertone differs from most horror movies in that it relies more on sound to tell its story and generate its scares.
“The original script had more sound direction than camera direction,” Tuason admits. “I specifically wrote ‘the baby cries to the rear right’ in the script, and you hear that. I related everything to the frame. It’s easier for the sound editor to know what I’m thinking [and what I want].”
“I was heavily involved in the sound mix, so I just started pointing in different directions and advised them to put a bang [at a key moment in the story]. I got that idea from my background in virtual reality. I made a lot of VR content, which requires you to create a 3D soundscape. In VR, there isn’t a frame, there’s just a space.”

Nina Kiri in Undertone. A24 /Courtesy Everett Collection
Undertone is a horror movie that plays with ambiguity. For the bulk of the movie, you’re not sure what’s happening to Evy. Is she imagining things? Or is she really experiencing an actual haunting, something she’s always been skeptical of believing in?
“That was intentional,’ Tuason confesses. “I wanted to maintain a feeling [of uncertainty.] What’s happening in the movie? [What Evy goes through] may or may not be paranormal, and you don’t know for sure because a faucet could turn on by itself, right? That sound she hears upstairs could be the wood expanding in the floorboards. Even when the lights turn off, and Evy sees a figure in the dark, it’s brief, and then the lights turn back on, and the figure is gone. I couldn’t write something and put it in there unless it could be plausibly explained.”
How ‘Undertone’ Elevates Horror — and Drew Inspiration from ‘The Sopranos’

Nina Kiri in Undertone. Dustin Rabin /© A24 /Courtesy Everett Collection
The result is a scary movie like no other. Eschewing blood, guts and any need for a clear explanation, Undertone marinates in the terror of ambiguity. You can even call it “elevated horror,” even though that term has some negative connotations among genre fans.
“I just discovered that ‘elevated horror’ was an offensive term to some people. That surprised me. There’s no agreed-upon definition of what it actually means. Some people take it like ‘my horror is better than yours.’ And I can’t really define it either, but I know it when I see it, like Hereditary or The Babadook. Those movies were made by filmmakers who are experts in their craft.”
“When I was writing Undertone, I was taking ideas from different things that weren’t even in the horror genre. I took a lot from The Sopranos because I liked certain shots. I mean, some of Tony’s (James Gandolfini) dream sequences are really scary! Ultimately, I tried to make the best movie I could by making Undertone the scariest it could be.”
Mission accomplished, Ian.
Entertainment
Sebastian Bach Issues Apology For Christina Applegate And Brad Pitt Drama
Following the release of Christina Applegate‘s memoir, Sebastian Bach has issued an apology over the love triangle involving the actress and Brad Pitt. Reflecting on his younger days in the whirlwind world of rock ‘n’ roll, Bach acknowledged the past and apologized to anyone he may have hurt with his actions.
Sebastian Bach Apologizes Over 1989 Incident
Applegate’s memoir, “You with the Sad Eyes,” was released on March 3, and soon afterward, the media highlighted one anecdote in which she ditched Pitt for Bach in 1989.
At that time, Applegate was best known for her role as Kelly Bundy on the sitcom “Married… with Children,” while Pitt was a lesser-known actor at the beginning of his acting career. Bach, meanwhile, was the frontman for the heavy metal band Skid Row.
On March 12, Bach spoke with Billboard and addressed the story, saying he was “very surprised when that all hit.” The rock star then issued an apology to all those he may have hurt in the past.
“I apologize if I hurt her… if I hurt anybody. When you’re young you get thrown into the whirlwind of rock ‘n’ roll, meeting a lot of people and you better hold on tight. It’s like being on a roller coaster… It was a long time ago. If I hurt anybody, I apologize for it.” Bach said.
Christina Applegate Shared Details In Her Memoir
In Applegate’s memoir, she wrote how she and Pitt had been “platonic” friends for a long time before she asked him to be her date at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards.
However, Bach caught the 17-year-old actress’ attention at the ceremony. Applegate wrote, “Brad back then was still making his way as an actor, and he wasn’t yet THE Brad Pitt, the man of so many people’s dreams.” That night, she ended up leaving with Bach, while Pitt drove her mother home.
As the actress shared, she and Pitt didn’t speak for a long time after the incident, but had made amends years later. She wrote in her book that Pitt “deserved much better.” Later, Applegate discovered that Bach was in a relationship and had a baby.
The Actress Spoke About The Incident In 2015

In 2015, Applegate was a guest on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” and in the game Plead the Fifth, the actress was asked about leaving Pitt mid-date in 1989.
Cohen’s question was: “Who was the guy that you ditched Brad Pitt for?” Applegate took a moment before asking how many plead the fifths she had. At that point, she had already used up all her passes. Still, she refused to name the person.
Cohen asked her questions, such as whether the person was famous or an actor. “Was he known to the public?” the host asked, to which Applegate replied, “Mmm hmm.” Applegate remained tight-lipped throughout the questions and didn’t drop a name.
Sebastian Bach Wrote About The Actress In His Book
In 2016, Bach was on a radio show when he revealed that he was the guy Applegate ditched Pitt for. In his memoir, “18 and Life on Skid Row,” released that same year, he wrote that he and the actress “hit it off” in an instant. He said Applegate was “very nice, very beautiful, and very famous,” and part of why he pursued her was he thought it would be “good for the band.”
He was in a relationship with a woman named Maria back then, but in his mind, he thought, “No rings? No strings.” Although he said he pursued Applegate, he revealed that they did not sleep together, adding that he was “attached” to Maria, and Applegate was so young.
“So there was a time on this earth when Sebastian Bach was, like, a hotter lay than Brad Pitt. Of course, that’s going in the book! I’ve gotta tell somebody that,” Bach said in the radio show.
Sebastian Bach Wanted A Skid Row Reunion
Skid Row formed in 1986 in New Jersey and rose to fame in the late ’80s, releasing multi-platinum albums and songs, such as “18 and Life,” “I Remember You,” and “Youth Gone Wild.”
Bach joined the band as the frontman in 1987, helping define Skid Row’s sound with his stage presence and powerful vocal chops. He left the band in late 1996 due to disagreements over the band’s direction.
In February, Bach said he had wanted to reunite with his former bandmates to perform as Skid Row once again, but it seemed unlikely. “The more I keep saying yes, yes, yes, but they don’t do anything, then I’m like, well, I mean, at some point, it’s like beating my head against a wall,” he noted.
Entertainment
Dolly Parton Returns To Spotlight After Health Concerns, Shares ‘All Is Good’
Fans of Dolly Parton had grown increasingly concerned after the country music icon missed some scheduled appearances in recent months due to health concerns. Now, the singer has made her first major public appearance, offering reassurance to supporters who had been worried about her health.
Dolly Parton Explained Her Absence From Public Events

On March 13, Parton attended the opening day celebration of Dollywood’s 41st season, delivering the keynote address to the large crowd. The Queen of Country co-owns Dollywood, a theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, that opened in the ’80s.
It was Parton’s first major appearance since revealing some health issues last year. Addressing the crowd, the singer shared the reasons why she hadn’t been seen in public the past several months. “I’ve had a few little health issues, and we’re taking good care of them. I just kind of got worn down and worn out, grieving over Carl and a lot of other little things going on,” she explained.
Parton said that she needed the time to regroup “spiritually, emotionally, and physically,” adding, “All is good. It didn’t slow me down.”
The Singer’s Husband Died In March 2025
For six decades, Parton shared a loving and devoted marriage with Carl Thomas Dean, who famously preferred to remain out of the public eye.
The two met outside a laundromat in Nashville in 1964 when Parton was 18 and Dean was 21. Two years later, they married in an intimate ceremony. The couple renewed their wedding vows for their 50th wedding anniversary in 2016, and Dean recalled the moment he first saw Parton.
“My first thought was ‘I’m gonna marry that girl.’ My second thought was, ‘Lord she’s good lookin’. And that was the day my life began. I wouldn’t trade the last 50 years for nothing on this earth,” Dean stated, per ET Online.
Dean passed away in March 2025 after a long illness. In an interview with The Independent after her husband’s passing, Parton said, “Part of me was at peace that he was at peace and not suffering anymore. But that still doesn’t make up for the loss and the loneliness of it.”
Dolly Parton Had A Kidney Stone Infection

In September 2025, Parton skipped a Dollywood event, instead sending a video telling the crowd the reason for her non-appearance. She had a kidney stone that turned into an infection, and was advised by her doctor not to travel. “Don’t worry about me, I’m gonna be okay. Just can’t do it today,” she assured her fans.
That same month, the “Jolene” singer made an announcement postponing her December Las Vegas residency, citing health issues. Although she didn’t provide details about her health, she did say that she had to undergo “a few procedures.” Parton assured her fans that she won’t be “quitting the business” but needed some time to recuperate and put together a show that her fans deserved.
Parton also missed an event where she was inducted into the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Hall of Fame and skipped the Academy Governors Awards, where she was awarded an honorary Oscar.
The Queen Of Country Skipped Her Birthday Celebration

On January 19, Parton celebrated her 80th birthday. The Grand Ole Opry House hosted a birthday weekend celebration for the country icon. However, as The Blast previously reported, Parton wasn’t able to attend the festivities.
Parton expressed her deep gratitude to the Opry in a video and said she wished she could be there. The singer didn’t give a reason for her absence, but she appeared happy and healthy.
Fans sent birthday greetings to Parton, while some were concerned about her health. One commented, “What’s wrong with Dolly, is she still under the weather as in sick or she’s got other things going on? I’m starting to get worried about her.”
Another user wrote, “Let her get some rest. She hasn’t had the time to get over her precious husband, Carl.”
“God bless her and keep her safe. She’s such a treasure,” one commented.
Dollywood’s New Attraction
Dollywood kicks off its 41st season with the “I Will Always Love You Festival,” a celebration of Parton’s hit songs, which will run through April 12.
In addition, the theme park has a brand new attraction, the NightFlight Expedition. The $50 million roller coaster features immersive elements, and according to Dollywood President Eugene Naughton, it will be the longest ride in the park at 5.5 minutes long.
“We have half a million gallons of water that’s going to rush by you as you’re riding NightFlight Expedition, and you’re going to get a chance to really, truly feel what it’s like to whitewater raft,” Naughton teased.
With the new attraction, they are hoping to attract more visitors and eventually have Dollywood open all-year-round. Dollywood’s 41st season will close in January 3, 2027.
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