Days of Our Lives has Jeremy Horton (Michael Roark) building up a big pile of false hope where Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) is concerned. And this babysitting gig that Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) surprisingly took on revealed the Achilles heel in his and Stephanie’s marriage.

And it is something Jeremy is about to exploit to his advantage. Turns out he may not be psycho anymore, but he is still fixated on Stephanie and we’re gonna talk about Jeremy taking a wrecking ball to Stephanie’s marriage.

Days of our Lives: Stephanie Calls Jeremy Over

So, after Alex and Stephanie argued again about several things, including him showing up without checking with Stephanie before he brought Chanel Dupree DiMera‘s (Raven Bowens) baby home with him. You know, things were tense. They were tense before that and tense after that.

Alex left to take little Trey for a walk and Stephanie immediately called Jeremy over to hang out with her and comfort her. I mean, Stephanie shouldn’t be having her ex-boyfriend over while Alex is gone. Let’s be real. Plus, her husband remains suspicious of Jeremy, as he should be.

While Stephanie was venting to Jeremy, she told him she lost it on Alex. And of course, that has to thrill Jeremy, right? And he reassured Stephanie that he’s also a mess after the ordeal. That seems maybe untrue. Jeremy seems pretty calm and he’s thinking clearly and strategically.

So, Stephanie was telling Jeremy about Alex wanting kids. She’s not sure and Jeremy’s all, oh, Alex doesn’t understand what you’re going through. You know, Jeremy is all sympathy and understanding about what Stephanie’s dealing with. And then she brought up the fact that Alex had a pregnancy scare with Joy Wesley (AlexAnn Hopkins) last year.

Jeremy Calls His Dad on DOOL

And from there, Jeremy trotted home to Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth) for a quick catchup before he did something devious. So, he heard about Lani Price (Sal Stowers) and the twins arriving in Salem. You know, small talk, small talk. Then Jeremy hustles off to call his dad, Mike Horton (Roark Critchlow), to ask him for a phone number.

Now, I bet I know whose phone number it is. Consider this. Joy’s mom, Nancy Wesley, dated Jeremy’s dad, Mike, about four years ago. So, I guess that he still has Nancy’s contact info. And Joy was heading back to New York to be with her mom after lying and saying she’s not pregnant. If you recall, Joy took a pregnancy test and then lied right to Stephanie and Alex’s face.

And Joy said she wasn’t pregnant when she most definitely was. So, we don’t know right now exactly how much Jeremy knows for certain. Clearly, their parents were close and they may have remained close. So, Jeremy may know that Joy had a baby, but Jeremy might not have known who the dad was.

Or maybe he didn’t know that Joy had a baby. But Jeremy may call just to check in to poke around, nose around and see if it’s Alex’s baby. So, I feel whether he knows nothing or a little, you know, I don’t know if Jeremy knows the whole story about Joy.

But Jeremy may in fact be calling to get more info, like a fact-finding mission..And he just told Stephanie he’s staying in Salem. Jeremy told Alex before he even left the hospital that he was staying and Alex told Jeremy, “Leave Salem now.” He refused. I’m sure Stephanie’s glad that Jeremy stayed around.

Days of our Lives: Jeremy May Tell Joy To Come To Salem

And we know by the end of this week, Joy Wesley is at Alex and Stephanie’s door. And it looks like Jeremy has smelled blood in the water and he’s going to tell Joy this is her big chance to get Alex back. That’s where I expect this is going. I expect Jeremy may tell Joy, “Oh, guess what I just found out? Alex wants kids and Stephanie doesn’t.”

And their relationship is at a really weak point because of this kidnapping and all this. Jeremy may tell Joy, “This is it now or never. If you want to be with Alex and raise your child together, you need to get to Salem right now.” So, this is all based on the assumption that Joy had a healthy pregnancy that went to term and her and Alex’s baby is healthy and fine.

If so, the kid should have been born in like October or November if they stuck with an actual, you know, 40-week timeline. So, Joy could show up with an adorable little six-month-old. That kid would be just a few months younger than baby Trey, as a matter of fact.

So, when Joy shows up at Alex’s door later this week, it’s not out of nowhere. It’s not a random return. It looks like Joy is either conspiring with Jeremy or that he has fed Joy enough info to trigger her to show up. And I’m sure Jeremy’s hoping it’ll break up Stephanie and Alex’s marriage once and for all.

Jeremy’s Plan May Not Work Out on Days

What’s interesting is just based on timelines, doesn’t look like it’s going to work out well for Jeremy because Michael Roark’s last air date is April 29th. So that has Jeremy leaving just a few episodes after Joy arrives at Alex’s door. Now, as far as we know, there’s no recast of Jeremy coming unless they kept it a huge secret. Otherwise, it could be that his plan to use Joy to rip Stephanie and Alex apart may not work out in his favor on Days of our Lives.

You know, like if Jeremy is exposed for being the one who told Joy to come to Salem to look for Alex and bring the baby, I think that would kill any interest Stephanie has in Jeremy because she would see him as the same old manipulator he was before. But they could throw a big curve and Stephanie leaves town with Jeremy. But I don’t think so. That’s not on my bingo card.

So, it seems like no matter what he and Joy pull, they’re not going to both get what they want. But we could see Alex being thrilled to find out he and Joy have a baby. And of course, Stephanie likely won’t be thrilled because Joy lied to them at the time, right to their faces. But in the end, Jeremy’s part in whatever’s going on could be exposed and he could walk out of town.

So, it could be that his final action before his character exits is for him to push a wedge between Stephanie and Alex, even if Jeremy’s not going to be there to take advantage of it, because Joy and Alex’s baby being in Salem, that’s enough to cause plenty of problems for his marriage.

Days of our Lives: Will Stephanie Walk Away?

Now, of course, we’ll wait to see whether Joy can get anywhere with Alex. Now, I’m sure he would love their baby, assuming there is a baby, but that doesn’t mean he’ll have any affection for Joy other than being the mother of his child. He does love Stephanie, but then again, I could see her letting Alex go.

If Stephanie knows how badly Alex wants a child, I think Stephanie might walk away. And really, Alex himself may not know how badly he wants a child until he holds his own child in his arms. Stephanie might see in that moment that Alex will never be happy without children of his own. And if he could make do with just one, well, he has one and he can co-parent with Joy.

But if this whole thing has Alex deciding he doesn’t want just one, he wants more kids, and Stephanie hasn’t changed her mind and still doesn’t want any, this could be the end of them. Even though Alex and Stephanie really love each other. So, while Jeremy may not get to take advantage of it, he could be the thing that breaks their marriage.

B.J. Novak is sharing rare insight into his role as godfather to Mindy Kaling’s three kids.

During his appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on Monday, April 20, Novak, 46, was asked about the “best gift” he ever gave his godchildren.

“Kit nicknamed me Fofo, which is based on [the education app] Duolingo for kids character — the bear, Fofo,” the Office alum explained. “So, I got her a Fofo stuffed animal for her collection and that hit the spot.”

Related: Mindy Kaling’s Rare Family Photos With Her Children

Mindy Kaling doesn’t show her children’s faces via social media, but she has given glimpses of the little ones over the years. The Office alum welcomed daughter Katherine in December 2017, waiting until November of the following year to show her Instagram followers a photo of her baby girl. Kaling, who has kept the paternity […]

Novak is the godfather to Kaling’s three kids, daughters Katherine “Kit,” 8, and Anne, 2, and son Spencer, 5.

WWHL host Andy Cohen praised Novak for how “present” he is with his godchildren.

“He gets on their level. He talks to them,” Cohen, 57, added.

Kaling, 46, has never publicly revealed the identity of her children’s father, leading some fans to speculate that it may be Novak. However, the actress shut down the rumors in a 2022 interview with Marie Claire, emphasizing that she and Novak are close friends.

“He’s the godparent to both my kids — and they have such a great relationship — and so far [the speculation hasn’t] affected my happiness at all, it hasn’t affected my kids or B.J.,” she said. “It doesn’t bother me. If that’s what is going to be titillating to people, I’ll take it.”

Kaling — who has been candid about being a single mother by choice — previously called Novak an “integral part” of her family while accepting her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 2025. Novak also spoke on Kaling’s behalf at the ceremony, calling her an “incredible mother of three.”

“Mindy respects and understands [fame] in a very intuitive way, because in addition to being a brilliant and wildly successful showrunner, [she is] an incredible mother of three, a deep and caring daughter and friend and mentor to so many,” the Vengeance star said.

Novak continued, “You’d be on the walk of talent if they had one. You’d be on the walk of friendship. You’d be on the walk of compassionate parenthood, but let’s face it all of these would be terrible field trips, so here you are instead, very deservedly, a person who means so much to so many on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”

Kaling first announced she was pregnant in 2017, giving birth to Kit later that year. She later welcomed Spencer in September 2020 and Anne in February 2024.

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In February 2024, Kaling opened up about how motherhood has changed her life.

“It’s really rewarding, being a mom and spending time with these two people who look like me,” she told WSJ Magazine at the time. “I love them, and they’re so funny. In terms of my career, I’m a single mom, I’m the breadwinner in the house.”

The Never Have I Ever creator continued, “So there’s a lot of panic that comes with that, the buck stops with me, I have to earn money for them. Having kids is everything — wanting to be a good role model and wanting to produce content that doesn’t embarrass them and makes them proud is another layer to my life and a complication that I welcome.”

By Robert Scucci
| Published 28 seconds ago

Some of my favorite movies lean heavily on vibe, color, and a musical score that evokes a pure sense of dread. Panos Cosmatos’ Mandy (2018) rips through your consciousness like shattered glass through wet tissue paper with its hallucinogenic, magenta-tinted Nicolas Cage rampage, and it’s such a cathartic film because the visuals and sound design come together in such an enthralling way. Cosmatos’ first film, 2010’s Beyond the Black Rainbow, has all the elements I love about Mandy, but its journey is an inward one that sinks deep into the subconscious.

If I had to compare the film’s aesthetic and setting to other well-known properties for context, it would be the first season of Stranger Things crossed with 1980’s Altered States. Ironically, the Duffer Brothers, who through interviews have made it increasingly apparent that they somehow became wildly successful in spite of their own creative instincts, deny any connection between their hit Netflix series and Beyond the Black Rainbow. For what it’s worth, I made this connection going in blind, before even checking the Wikipedia page.

That same Wikipedia page cites an article from The Hollywood Reporter in which Matt Duffer was outraged over allegations of taking inspiration from Beyond the Black Rainbow, while Ross admitted to seeing “a little bit” of it. So maybe it’s just a coincidence that half of the duo behind Hawkins Lab is at least aware of the film’s aesthetic. If only Lucas Sinclair didn’t believe in coincidences anymore, but I digress. 

Let’s Not Get Into The Nitty Gritty Details Here

I love a good plot rundown. I don’t care about spoilers. You could tell me every twist ending ahead of time and it wouldn’t bother me. That just means I can look for clues on my first viewing and try connecting the dots. For some reason, and I know I’m in the minority here, spoilers can make movies better because you’re free to just watch and appreciate what’s happening.

That said, you really don’t have to know much about Beyond the Black Rainbow to enjoy it. There’s a definitive plot, protagonist, antagonist, and existential dilemma, but watching this movie is more of a cathartic, audiovisual experience than a narrative one.

We’re introduced to the head of research at the Arboria Institute, Barry Nyle (Michael Rogers). The institute, like I said, bears a striking resemblance to the Hawkins National Laboratory depicted in Stranger Things, where mind-control experiments are conducted on children. That could be coincidence, as both seem heavily influenced by the Montauk Project conspiracy theory. Living in captivity at the institute is Eleven… er, sorry, Elena (Eva Bourne), who has psychic powers kept in check by a powerful glowing prism.

The facility itself was founded by Mercurio Arboria (Scott Hylands), a drug-addicted recluse who Barry occasionally reports to, despite their strained relationship. Through hypnotic, drug-addled sequences, we learn that Barry is sexually obsessed with Elena and is also connected to her mother through his work, though he never fully discloses how right off the rip. Elena, when she’s not subdued by a cocktail of drugs or the prism dulling her powers, has a lethal mind that requires constant monitoring from staff like Nurse Margo (Rondel Reynoldson), along with guards known as Sentionauts, who can subdue her with injections if she gets too feisty after being mentally tortured all day.

Watch It With Headphones

Beyond the Black Rainbow is all about mind control, hallucinations, and sinking deep into your subconscious while experiencing a spiritual awakening under hostile, controlled conditions. The best way to watch this film is with your full attention. Not to catch Easter eggs or subtle clues, though there are plenty, but because of how immersive it is. If there’s a single movie you could describe as a fever dream, it’s this one. Lights and sounds throb in lockstep as your entire being gets assaulted by neon flickers that make you feel like you’re being pulled into a trance against your will.

If you lock into Beyond the Black Rainbow just right, it barely feels like a movie. It establishes a vibe that pulls you in, and you just exist with these characters for 109 minutes straight. Voices distort, scenes and faces melt from one frame to the next, and the whole experience is dizzying and disorienting from start to finish. If I had to sum it up in two words, they’d be “viscerally upsetting,” and I mean that as a compliment of the highest order.

Panos Cosmatos set out to make viewers uncomfortable with his debut, and he succeeds in every conceivable way. There are layers of meaning and consciousness throughout, but it’s best to go in and let them reveal themselves. I can’t say I’ll be throwing this into regular rotation, but once every couple of years, when I’m feeling a disproportionate amount of existential dread and want to sink into an audiovisual representation of that feeling, Beyond the Black Rainbow is the kind of soul ripper that pushes you straight through your own ego death as the inhabitants of the Arboria Institute pry open their third eyes and bleed into the ether.

Beyond the Black Rainbow SCORE

As of this writing, Beyond the Black Rainbow is streaming for free on Tubi.

Beef is back on Netflix, but its return is looking a lot less explosive than the first time around. The Emmy-winning series made a big impression in 2023 by turning a road-rage setup into one of Netflix’s most talked-about original hits, and that kind of breakout success always makes a follow-up harder. Season 2 has arrived with a fresh cast, a new feud, and a much glossier setting, but the early numbers suggest it hasn’t landed with the same force out of the gate. It’s still on the chart, which matters, but the size of the drop is hard to ignore.

According to Variety, Beef Season 2 debuted at No. 10 on Netflix’s English-language TV Top 10 for April 13 through April 19 with 2.4 million views after premiering on April 16. That is a steep fall from Season 1’s launch, which drew 34.1 million hours viewed in its first week in 2023, or about 5.8 million views when adjusted for runtime. In other words, the new season’s opening is down by roughly 58%. The first season also peaked in week two with the equivalent of 12 million views, so Season 2 still has room to grow, but this is a much softer start.

Who Stars in ‘Beef’?

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This second season swaps out Steven Yeun and Ali Wong for a new cast led by Oscar Isaac​​​​​​​ and Carey Mulligan, reuniting the two stars after Drive and Inside Llewyn Davis. They’re joined by Charles Melton, Cailee Spaeny, Youn Yuh-jung, Seoyeon Jang, and William Fichtner in a new story set around a wealthy California country club, where a fight between a boss and his wife pulls two younger outsiders into a spiraling mess of blackmail, favors, and violence. It’s still recognizably Beef, just with a cleaner, richer, and more socially corrosive setup than the first season’s suburban pressure cooker.

Collider’s review stated that Beef Season 2 is ambitious, well-acted, and often compelling, but it never feels as sharp or complete as the first season. Instead of centering on one tightly wound conflict, this new story spreads itself across two couples, class issues, race, beauty standards, healthcare, and more. That gives the season a lot to say, but not enough time to say it well. The review felt that the “show is trying to do too much with too little. With double the protagonists, the season would have had more room to breathe with even just ten episodes, allowing for the final arc — which takes our protagonists out of California and over to Korea — to feel a bit more natural in the transition.”

Beef is streaming now on Netflix.

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Release Date

April 6, 2023

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Network

Netflix

Showrunner

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Lee Sung Jin

Directors

Hikari, Jake Schreier, Kitao Sakurai, Lee Sung Jin

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Writers

Alice Ju

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By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 30 seconds ago

When it comes to science, moviegoers are willing to forgive some fudging of, say, the laws of thermodynamics or sound in space, but we know it’s all Hollywood magic. Yet there’s one myth that has persisted for decades, and Lucy, the Scarlett Johansson sci-fi action movie, puts it front and center: that humans use only 10 percent of their brain.

While the Luc Besson film pushed the myth to its breaking point, it managed to take root in pop culture because, like a spaceship going at the speed of light, or gigantic sea monsters able to exist without collapsing on themselves, this is a myth that, deep down, we want to be true. 

The Myth Of The True Potential Of The Human Brain

The origin of the 10 percent of the brain myth is unknown, though it may date back to the late 19th century, when neurology was emerging. Unable to get a clear picture of the human brain with the technology of the time, early researchers could have viewed only a fraction of the cells that make up the organ, leading to the belief that we use only 10 percent of it. What Lucy and the similar drug-fueled superpower movie Limitless put forth is similar to the early self-help gurus of the roaring 20s, who talked about the unlimited potential inside every human. 

Thinking of the time was that average humans only used a percentage of their brain, which means, by reading their books and listening to their talks, you weren’t average, you were special, and you used more of your mental power than those other peasants. If that sounds a lot like social media influencers today, that’s because everything’s already happened before. Though the basis comes from a myth designed to promote grifters, Lucy is still an original sci-fi action film worth watching today. 

Lucy Was A Massive Success

Lucy starts as a fairly normal movie, with Johansson’s Lucy forced to smuggle drugs that, when accidentally released in her stomach, start unlocking her brain’s latent power. In real life, accessing 100 percent of your brain at once is called a seizure, but here it grants a normal woman psychokinetic powers, enhanced speed and strength, and, of course, she knows Kung-Fu. Johansson gets to go full action-star and take down a crime syndicate before the film decides to get really strange in its last act. 

Grounding the action and increasing sci-fi elements are Johansson’s effortlessly cool performance and the dulcet tones of Morgan Freeman, the one man Hollywood studios trust to explain absurd sci-fi plots. Unlike Transcendence, the forgotten Johnny Depp AI film in which he has the same role, Lucy was a hit movie. Bringing in $463 million at the box office, the film was a massive success that easily eclipsed its $40 million budget.

The Lasting Appeal Of Lucy

The appeal of Lucy is simple: it’s a sci-fi action movie starring Scarlett Johansson, who, in the middle of her run as Marvel’s Black Widow, was approaching the peak of her popularity and power in Hollywood. It’s also from Besson, the director of The Fifth Element and The Professional, who could make reading from the phone book look amazing.

Who doesn’t want to think that with some hard work and dedication, you could unlock your true potential and become John Wick? Lucy is currently streaming on Netflix.

By TeeJay Small
| Published 31 seconds ago

Back in 2020, the United States was going through a series of dramatic once-in-a-lifetime events all at the same time. The global pandemic had us confined to our homes, binge-watching our favorite sitcoms. The tumultuous election cycle had us wondering if we’d ever see civility in our government again. And a series of viral police brutality encounters engaged a large-scale discussion about the nature of race and policing that spilled over into nationwide protests. While all this was going on, a handful of obnoxious caucasian executives decided they needed to be the center of attention for five minutes, so they banned a handful of TV episodes from streaming.

Several prominent TV series were struck with the ban-hammer over a few weeks in Summer 2020, including five episodes of FX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The episodes in question featured a variety of characters donning dark makeup to perform black or brown-skinned caricatures. Whether it’s Dee Reynolds performing her Hispanic character Martina Martinez, or Mac’s ill-advised portrayal of Lethal Weapon‘s Roger Murtaugh, each instance of blackface has been scrubbed from the show.

This Is Not An Argument In Favor Of Blackface

Just to be clear, I don’t think any civilized person is arguing in favor of blackface. As a society, we have effectively all reached an agreement that white actors performing in minstrel makeup to mock or denigrate black people is weird, wrong, and patently unacceptable.

In fact, nobody makes that argument clearer than the cast and crew of Always Sunny, since that was literally the entire point of the now-banned episodes. Each instance of blackface in the show is met with shock and disgust from the rest of the gang, as part of a demonstration of how doing blackface is wrong.

It’s OK To Portray Flawed People Being Flawed

Banning these episodes, to me, scans like banning Star Wars because Darth Vader murders people. Killing people is precisely what establishes him as a villain that we’re supposed to root against.

If you can’t portray a flawed character doing something awful without audiences seeing it as some kind of endorsement, we may as well ban every movie, TV show, and video game that’s ever been made. What’s next? Should we ban every war documentary that makes a passing reference to the atrocities of the Nazis?

No One Was Offended By It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Blackface Episodes

Normally, I’m not one to argue about things like this, because I’m not impacted by the material. But in this case, it seems clear that nobody was offended by these It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia episodes in the first place. Absolutely nobody was talking about the show during the Black Lives Matter demonstrations during the Summer of 2020, and I’ve never encountered somebody who felt offended by these episodes and agreed with them being pulled.

From my perspective, it seems like the execs at Fox turned on their TVs and watched as protestors stormed the streets seeking police accountability. Then, realizing that they had absolutely nothing to contribute to that conversation, they searched for something inconsequential that might put their company in headlines. They pulled the episodes at the request of nobody at all, patted themselves on the back, and acted like they made some kind of grand gesture, probably while fraternizing with politicians in a Scrooge McDuck-style pool of gold coins.

What We’ve Lost

It’s been six years since the episodes were pulled, and I think it’s past time to put them back on streaming. Some of the episodes, such as “The Gang Recycles Their Trash” and “America’s Next Top Paddy’s Billboard Model Contest,” are foundational to the Always Sunny in Philadelphia catalog. Plus, new viewers are missing out on Paul Walter Hauser‘s hilarious cameo appearance as a young juggalo in “Dee Reynolds: Shaping America’s Youth.”

Hulu doesn’t need to make any major announcements about the episodes. Nobody has to come forward and admit they were wrong for virtue-signaling and attention-seeking by pulling the episodes in the first place. Just quietly reupload the banned episodes, and we can all move on with our lives. They’ve already done this for the single banned Community episode, which was pulled around the same time, and miraculously, nobody batted an eye.

There can never be too many thrillers in Hollywood. The industry has more than one way to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. For decades, staples like The Silence of the Lambs, Fargo, and Pulp Fiction have differed in style, but they all deliver that same adrenaline rush in theaters.

Over time, the thriller genre has evolved to reflect the anxieties of modern society. Each decade introduces new fears and pressures, which often translate into high-stakes situations that test the human psyche. With that in mind, here are the 10 most perfect thriller movies of the last 20 years, ranked.

10

‘The Raid: Redemption’ (2011)

Image via Sony Pictures Classics

The Raid: Redemption follows Rama (Iko Uwais), a rookie officer part of an elite police squad tasked with raiding a high-rise apartment block controlled by crime lord Tama Riyadi (Ray Sahetapy). Inside, criminals rule every floor, forcing residents to obey for survival. When their cover is blown, the team becomes trapped, fighting through waves of armed attacks to reach the top.

There is something claustrophobic about fighting in enclosed buildings. The moment the squad enters those doors, there’s no way out. Within tight corridor spaces, machete-wielding brutes can jump on you at any second. There is no grace in fighting, just the urgency to fend off as many attackers as possible, with adversaries literally coming from all four directions.

9

‘Shutter Island’ (2010)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Shutter Island starts with U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) investigating a patient’s disappearance from Achecliffe Hospital. Drawn there for personal reasons, he suspects the doctors are hiding sinister practices. Denied key records, Teddy presses on as a hurricane isolates the island. With dangerous inmates loose and clues mounting, he begins to question his memory and sanity.

The isolation of being confined to a mental facility on a stormy island does things to the mind. When someone’s head is in a daze, it’s hard to differentiate what’s real and what isn’t. Hence, the psychological aspect of Shutter Island. As the claustrophobia kicks in and Teddy’s senses are tested, a series of frightening hallucinations begins to taunt him.

8

‘No Other Choice’ (2025)

Image via Neon

Unemployment makes people do the craziest things in No Other Choice. Veteran papermaker Man-su (Lee Byung-hun) loses his job when his company is taken over. He struggles for over a year to find work in the industry while his family faces growing financial strain. When he spots an opening at a rival company, he does everything to eliminate the other candidates and secure his future.

South Korea is best known for critiquing class anxiety, and No Other Choice — despite the absurdity of Man-su’s actions — reflects just that. As realistic as thrillers go, nothing is more relatable than the fear of being laid off after years of dedication. And when viewers are at Man-su’s age, that anxiety only intensifies.

7

‘The Secret Agent’ (2025)

Image via Neon

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The Secret Agent is set in 1977 Recife, during Brazil’s military dictatorship, where former researcher Armando (Wagner Moura) arrives during Carnival under a false identity, secretly reconnecting with his young son and a network of political dissidents. Living among refugees and underground activists, he becomes caught up in surveillance, corruption, and escalating threats.

While this sounds like fiction, there are unfortunately real threats faced by those who speak out against capitalist corporations. These dangers still exist today. The real horror comes from the idea that people in the highest socioeconomic positions can view the working class as insects they can easily dispose of.

6

‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

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In the aftermath of Batman Begins, Batman (Christian Bale) partners up with Lieutenant James Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) to take down an elusive mob accountant. However, when the three hit a dent in their investigation, they have no choice but to turn to the Joker (Heath Ledger). Little do they realize, the green-haired menace has plans to take over Gotham.

The real highlight of The Dark Knight is every interaction between Batman and the Joker. It’s not even the fight scenes, but the moments inside the Gotham City Police Department that bring the most adrenaline. As Batman nearly breaks him physically, the Joker sits back, clearly enjoying the fact that he’s winning the battle where it matters most — inside Batman’s head.

5

‘Gone Girl’ (2014)

Image via 20th Century Studios

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Gone Girl is an extreme case of a marriage gone wrong. Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) returns home to find his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) missing days before their anniversary. As media scrutiny intensifies, his seemingly perfect marriage dissolves in the public eye. Under growing suspicion, Nick becomes the main suspect of the investigation, not realizing that Amy has orchestrated the entire ordeal.

No backstabbing is worse than character assassination. Sometimes, being dead feels like a better option — at least the buried don’t have to listen to the opinions of others. But Nick is put through the wringer when he is falsely accused of being abusive. Sometimes, the best weapon isn’t murder — it’s word of mouth.

4

‘Inception’ (2010)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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The surreal thriller Inception follows Dom Cobb (DiCaprio), a master thief specializing in extracting secrets from dreams. Offered the chance to reclaim his life, Dom is willing to take one last job. Instead of stealing information, this time, he must perform inception — planting an idea within a target’s subconscious.

There are virtually no limits in Inception. Entering the dreamscape feels like a surreal ride, and the film captures this through its large-than-life landscapes. From a zero-gravity hallway fight that spins endlessly to a dream world where an entire city block explodes piece by piece, it proves that thrillers can be just as visually stunning as they are heart-pumping.

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3

‘No Country for Old Men’ (2007)

Image via Miramax Films

The chaos in No Country for Old Men begins when ordinary welder Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) discovers drug deal carnage and takes two million dollars. Meanwhile, a psychopathic killer named Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) hunts him down, murdering anyone in his path. As Moss tries to hide his tracks by going high and low in Texas, Sheriff Ed Tom Bell gets to the bottom of the case (Tommy Lee Jones).

The thrill in No Country for Old Men comes from just how eerily still the movie moves. There’s no explosive buildup. Instead, it throws viewers off by putting together the most ordinary of scenarios that, within a second, become a deadly affair. Case in point: Chigurh’s polite conversation at the gas station turns into a life-or-death coin toss situation.

2

‘Parasite’ (2019)

Image via NEON

Parasite follows the struggling Kim family, who live in a cramped semi-basement and fold pizza boxes for scrappy pay. When Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik) lands a tutoring job he is clearly unqualified for, he gains access to the wealthy Park family. Slowly, he brings each family member into the household under fake identities as they infiltrate this world of privilege.

Parasite challenges audiences to rethink their views on social class. At first, the film seems to “villainize” the Kims for lying their way into a wealthy household. However, it also reveals that they are victims of an unequal capitalist system. While they may be difficult to fully empathize with, their actions reflect a harsh reality where “faking it until you make it” becomes their only way out of poverty.

1

‘Uncut Gems’ (2019)

Image via A24

Uncut Gems kicks off with jeweler Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) buried in debt and addiction. Instead of putting a pause on his gambles, he’s constantly high on the next big win. When he acquires a rare Ethiopian opal, he stakes everything on a high-risk plan involving an NBA player’s performance.

Before Uncut Gems, Sandler was known as Hollywood’s quintessential funny man — which is why seeing him play a menace is both shocking and refreshing. The film doesn’t hold your hand. Viewers are thrown straight into high-anxiety situations where people are constantly in each other’s faces, and it always feels like someone could pull a gun at any second.

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Release Date

December 25, 2019

Runtime

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136 minutes

Director

Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie

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Producers

Scott Rudin, Sebastian Bear-McClard, Eli Bush

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Rihanna gave birth to her first daughter last fall, and fans have been waiting patiently to see a glimpse of the superstar’s latest bundle of joy. 

Well, the wait is officially over, as baby Rocki Irish has made her debut in the only way that one would expect the daughter of Rihanna to, on the cover of a magazine, of course.

The Fenty founder and her gorgeous baby girl are serving high fashion on the latest cover of “W” magazine.

Rihanna And Daughter Rocki Irish Are Fierce Fashionistas In First Magazine Cover

Covering the 2026 Pop Issue of the publication, “W” has chosen superstar Rihanna and her adorable baby girl Rocki Irish to serve mother-daughter goals and fashion inspo.

Riri and 7-month-old Rocki are dressed in matching Dior looks for the cover shoot, complete with a custom-made diaper and headpiece for Rihanna’s mini-me.

“The haute couture diaper is definitely a first for Dior,” admitted Dior creative director Jonathan Anderson. “When Rihanna asks for something, she is already ahead of what is happening. She is thinking outside the box. When she has an idea, I’m always trusting in the process. I trust her implicitly on anything she feels that is right to do.”

Taking to Instagram to share the cover, Rihanna gushed about her daughter stealing the show.

“Cover girrrrrlz!!!” she captioned the post. “Baby Rocki served sumn serious on her first cover! came on set and shut her mama dowwwnn!!!! 

Rihanna Previously Spoke About Her Post-Baby Body While Attending Paris Fashion Week

In an interview with Rihanna posted via X, formerly known as Twitter, the Grammy winner spoke about some of her favorite looks from the Dior Spring/Summer show during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week. However, it was her comment about her post-baby curves that many moms can likely relate to.

“Favorite look? That’s impossible,” Rihanna gushed about the designs. “I wanted the coats, I wanted the dresses, I wanted the skirts with a little bump [at the stomach] ’cause I got a little pouch after having kids, so I’d love that.”

“I loved the accessories — the bags, the shoes, the earrings — everything was perfectly made, super well done, super whimsical. Everything made me excited. It was a very thrilling show,” she added.

Rihanna recently welcomed daughter Rocki Irish in September 2025 with boyfriend A$AP Rocky. The couple is also parents to sons, 3-year-old RZA and Riot, 2.

Fans Went Into Overdrive When The Singer Hinted At Expanding Her Family In January 2026

Per Us Weekly, earlier this month, Rihanna gave a strong hint that she is not done adding to her family.

The singer-turned-mogul responded to a post by “Love Island” star Montana Rose that read: “Deciding whether to get hot and sexy or get pregnant in 2026.” Rihanna replied underneath the post, writing, “Wait! So I’m not crazy then? Bet!”

While many fans were happy at the possibility of Riri becoming a mom again for the fourth time, there were others who expressed their disappointment because another pregnancy means a new album is once again put on hold. Rihanna’s last album, the record-breaking “Anti,” celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

Although she may add another baby to the mix in the future, Rihanna recently shut down speculation that she is currently pregnant.

Rihanna Left Her Los Angeles Home Following A Targeted Shooting

A day after the shooting at her home, Rihanna was photographed traveling in a line of black SUVs to the private aviation terminal at Van Nuys Airport on Monday, March 10, according to Daily Mail.

The Fenty Beauty founder and Grammy winner was then said to board a small twin-engine jet to fly out of Los Angeles.

Shooting Suspect Ivanna Ortiz Entered A Not Guilty Plea 

Per PEOPLE, on March 25, during an appearance at Los Angeles Superior Court, Ivanna Ortiz pled not guilty to a host of charges connected to her allegedly shooting at Rihanna’s home on March 8 while the superstar and her three children were inside.

Among the charges against her, the most serious is attempted murder, as Ortiz is accused of brandishing an AR-15 rifle and firing off 10 rounds at Rihanna’s home.

In addition to attempted murder, Ortiz is facing 13 other felony counts, including 10 of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three of shooting at an inhabited dwelling or camper.

After initially being held on $10 million bail, that amount was reduced to the current sum of $1.875 million. If convicted, Ortiz could receive a sentence of life in prison.

Victoria Beckham is opening up about how she and her husband David Beckham navigate “tough times,” and their secret involves prioritizing their four children.

The Spice Girls member, who recently celebrated her 52nd birthday, spoke about the long-time couple’s family dynamic and commitment when things get hectic. 

Victoria Beckham Notes How She And David Beckham ‘Put Children First’ Amid Difficult Times

While appearing on “Today with Jenna & Sheinelle” on Tuesday, April 21, Victoria Beckham opened up about her family dynamic with husband David Beckham and their four children: Brookyln, Cruz, Romeo, and Harper.

When asked how she is navigating a “challenging year,” pointing to the highly public fallout between oldest child Brooklyn and his parents, Beckham explained that her children always take precedence.

“We always put our children first,” she said. “We love our children so much and have always really focused on protecting our children, but we laugh a lot. David Beckham is really, super funny.”

She Also Discussed The Close Bond Shared With Her Husband

The couple, who have been married for 27 years, have captivated fans since they began dating at the height of her Spice Girls fame.

“You know, myself and David, we’re so close and we have incredible people around us,” Victoria said on the show. “We’re close to my parents and David’s parents. We support each other through everything that we do.” 

“We’ve grown together. And that’s where I feel so blessed. We really have grown together,” she added. “We support each other. We’ve both got big dreams. We’re both very, very ambitious and we support each other. I want him to be the best version of himself and that’s what he wants for me.”

Victoria Beckham Finally Addressed The Ongoing Issues With Son Brooklyn

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal on April 16, Victoria addressed the deep family rift but stopped short of mentioning Brooklyn by name.

“All we’ve ever tried to do is protect our children and love our children. And you know, that’s all I really want to say about it,” she stated. 

Brooklyn initially took his feud with his family public due to long-simmering issues involving his wife and her relationship with his parents.

Brooklyn Beckham Took His Feud With His Parents A Step Further With Tattoo Removal

Back in February, Brooklyn sent a message to his parents without saying a word. Per Us Weekly, the oldest child of David and Victoria has allegedly removed the tattoos he got dedicated to them.

In recent images of Brooklyn out with wife Nicola Peltz, the anchor tattoo on Brooklyn’s right arm which featured “DAD” in the middle, appears to have now been covered up with three nondescript symbols.

The tattoo also has the words “Love You Bust,” underneath the anchor and is still present. According to the outlet, “Bust” is a loving nod to Brooklyn and David’s past relationship, as they referred to each other as “Buster,” a name which is tattooed on David’s neck.

However, David isn’t the only one who had his tribute tattoo removed. Brooklyn also allegedly covered up the “Mama’s Boy” tattoo on his chest in honor of Victoria.

In January 2026 Brooklyn Beckham Publicly Called Out His Parents And Distanced Himself From His Family

In the bombshell posts he made earlier this year calling out his family, Brooklyn ended his message by making it abundantly clear that he has no current interest in repairing his fractured relationship with his family.

“I have been silent for years and have made every attempt to keep these matters private,” Brooklyn wrote in multiple messages posted to his Instagram Stories.

“Unfortunately, my parents and their team have continued to go to the press, leaving me with no choice but to speak for myself and tell the truth about only some of the lies that have been printed,” he continued.

Brooklyn made his stance clear with his family moving forward. “I do not want to reconcile with my family. I’m not being controlled, I’m standing up for myself for the first time in my life.”

He also hurled accusations that his mom Victoria “hijacked” the first dance at his wedding by dancing “inappropriately” and making him feel “uncomfortable” and “humiliated.”