Medical dramas may be popular, but they can also be formulaic—which is why it didn’t take long for The Pitt to grab the attention of critics, audiences, and even medical professionals. The acclaimed medical drama quickly set itself apart from other similar shows and became one of the most buzzed-about new shows of the season, thanks to its unique premise. Each episode covers approximately one hour of a 15-hour shift in a fictional Pittsburgh hospital and follows Dr. Robinavitch, or Dr. Robby, the chief attending physician of the ER, played by Noah Wyle. While a typical medical drama’s hour-long runtime covering hours or even days means storylines can be rushed, the approach The Pitt takes is closer to reality. The series is from the same creative team that created ER.

While The Pitt‘s approach to the genre is refreshing, it’s still the latest in a long line of medical shows, many of which will satisfy fans looking for something similar to watch. Just as The Pitt brings something new to a familiar genre, these shows also put a different spin on the well-worn territory of the medical drama, from characters whose unique perspective informs their work as doctors to hospitals facing unique challenges.

10

’24’ (2001–2010)

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Riveting thriller 24 followed counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) as he raced against the clock to uncover terrorist plots and save the country. Each season covered the events of a single day, meaning each episode took place over one hour, essentially in real time. It aired on Fox and lasted eight seasons, from 2001 until 2010. A ninth season, titled 24: Live Another Day, aired in 2014, followed by 24: Legacy in 2017.

The Pitt and 24 are very different shows, but their approach to storytelling and how they use their runtime is similar—24 immediately comes to mind when discussing the premise of The Pitt. In both shows, each episode covers about an hour. While The Pitt’s first season covered a single shift, each season of 24 equated to a full day. The result was nine exciting seasons of television, with stories and themes particularly relevant to the time.

9

‘Scrubs’ (2001–2010)

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Sitcom Scrubs presented a humorous take on the medical profession as it followed J.D. (Zach Braff), who narrated most of the episodes, in his career at the fictional teaching hospital Sacred Heart. The series also delved into J.D.’s relationships, from his romance with co-worker Elliot (Sarah Chalke) to his complicated dynamic with his attending physician, Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley). The show premiered on NBC before eventually moving to ABC and lasted nine seasons.

Scrubs was a beloved series during its original run, and for very good reason. It played with the tropes of medical dramas to great effect and stood out thanks to great writing and interconnected plots. Despite being a sitcom, it featured some pretty hard-hitting emotional episodes—it wasn’t afraid to be serious, and the result was some of its best episodes, which showcased the toll the job can take on hospital staff.

8

‘Code Black’ (2015–2018)

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CBS drama Code Black, based on the award-winning documentary of the same name, followed the staff of Angels Memorial Hospital, located in Los Angeles, with the busiest emergency room in the country, as their resources were spread thin, and they became overwhelmed with the ER at capacity, leading to a situation dubbed Code Black. Added to the chaos was a new group of residents. The series lasted three seasons, from 2015 until 2018.

The original documentary Code Black was the perfect jumping-off point for a TV series, with an angle that made an already intense and dramatic genre even more harrowing. The show depicted how difficult working in the ER could get when it was particularly busy, whereas most similar shows deal with a typical workload and even unusually quiet, slow shifts. Despite the chaos, the series managed to have some lighthearted and even funny moments.

7

‘The Resident’ (2018–2023)

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In The Resident, the staff of Chastain Memorial Hospital in Atlanta faced a number of both professional and personal obstacles, particularly a new medical student, Devon Pravesh (Manish Dayal), working under senior resident Dr. Conrad Hawkins (Matt Czuchry). The series began with Devon’s first day, and as it progressed, he only became more disillusioned, especially as the series’ plots dealt with the bureaucratic aspects of healthcare. The Resident lasted six seasons and just over 100 episodes.

The harrowing opening scenes of The Resident let the audience know exactly what they had in store when a doctor made a fatal mistake during surgery and convinced his colleagues to help cover it up, as part of an emerging pattern. It signaled the show would stand out from other medical dramas, and it only got better as it progressed, especially with plots dealing with hospital bureaucracy, something similar shows rarely touched on at the time.

6

‘New Amsterdam’ (2018–2023)

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Dr. Max Goodwin (Ryan Eggold) took over as the new medical director of America’s oldest public hospital in New Amsterdam. He was motivated by a genuine desire to help people and hoped to use his new role to make positive changes in the system, thereby improving the quality of care patients received. The show was based on the memoir Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital by Eric Manheimer and ran for five seasons.

With Max’s perspective as medical director, New Amsterdam was able to dive into not only the typical medical emergencies featured in a medical drama but the bureaucratic elements, as well. Max’s optimism and determination were refreshing to see, especially for those of us who have had to navigate the healthcare system. But there was plenty of medical drama to be had—over its five seasons, the show featured a number of interesting cases, often with shocking twists.

5

‘The Knick’ (2014–2015)

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Dr. John W. Thackery (Clive Owen), known as “Thack,” and New York’s Knickerbocker Hospital catered to the city’s poor and immigrant populations in the early 1900s in The Knick. In a time before the discovery of antibiotics, Thackery was a brilliant surgeon pioneering new techniques—ones which essentially made his patients into test subjects—all while dealing with an addiction to cocaine and opium. Although it only lasted two seasons, a spin-off may be in the works.

Audiences are used to seeing the cutting-edge procedures and technology used in modern medicine, and The Knick offered a glimpse into what the medical profession was like in the past as part period drama, part medical drama. Conditions that would be treated easily on a show set in our era presented much larger problems on The Knick. The show’s setting also allowed it to address issues such as race relations.

4

‘This Is Going to Hurt’ (2022)

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Limited series This Is Going to Hurt, based on the non-fiction book of the same name by series creator Adam Kay, followed junior doctor Kay (Ben Whishaw) in his work in Obstetrics and Gynecology at an NHS hospital. The series also delved into his personal life and the ways it was impacted by his work, from the physical toll a lack of sleep took to the way it affected his relationships.

Like some of the best medical dramas, This Is Going to Hurt was rooted in the real-life experiences of its creator, and the world of Obstetrics and Gynecology can be a rollercoaster of highs and lows, something most other medical dramas only address occasionally. Complicating matters was the lack of support Kay and his colleagues experienced. In this way, the series mirrored The Pitt, specifically Dr. Robby’s confrontations with hospital administration over resources.

3

‘The Good Doctor’ (2017–2024)

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The Good Doctor followed Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore), who had autism and savant syndrome, as he began his career at a prestigious hospital. Despite being a skilled doctor, he often faced doubt from his colleagues, with the exception of his mentor, Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff). The show was based on the South Korean series of the same name and aired on ABC from 2017 until 2024, with seven seasons and over 100 episodes.

Despite receiving criticism for its depiction of people with autism, The Good Doctor remained a popular and successful series for the duration of its run. It featured a number of interesting characters and compelling stories, both within the staff’s personal lives and their work at the hospital. The series also delved into the impact of Shaun’s autism on his work, both positive and negative, as well as the problems caused by administrative issues.

2

‘House’ (2004–2012)

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Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), a cantankerous infectious disease specialist, led a team that solved some of the most baffling medical mysteries that came through the doors of Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey on House. Dr. House wasn’t afraid of breaking the rules to save his patients, and he also had some problems of his own—most notably, an addiction to pain pills. The show lasted eight seasons, from 2004 to 2012.

Like The Pitt, House stood out among medical dramas—but for its main character rather than its structure. House was a far cry from the caring doctors with good bedside manner typically depicted on TV. He saw his patients less as people who needed his help and more as puzzles to solve, and because of the nature of the show, House‘s best episodes often featured unusual medical cases not often seen in other similar shows.

1

‘ER’ (1994–2009)

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NBC drama ER first aired in 1994 and followed the staff of the fictional County General Hospital, a teaching hospital in Chicago, as they balanced their intense jobs with the drama of their personal lives. It was created by writer Michael Crichton—best known for Jurassic Park—and came to an end in 2009 after 15 seasons and over 300 episodes, making it the longest-running medical drama until Grey’s Anatomy beat it in 2019.

It’s almost impossible to think about The Pitt star Noah Wyle without thinking about ER, the show that launched his career and is still held up as one of the best medical dramas of all time. ER set the stage for what a medical drama could be, with a variety of intense, harrowing cases and compelling characters, both patients and staff alike. It was nominated for 124 Emmy Awards, 23 of which it won.

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Release Date

1994 – 2009-00-00

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Michael Crichton

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Michael Crichton

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Game of Thrones actor Michael Patrick died at age 35 following a three-year battle with an incurable neurodegenerative disease.

The actor and playwright — who was affectionately known as “Mick” by his friends and family — memorably appeared in a Game of Thrones season 6 episode as a Wildling and also starred in British shows This Town and My Left Nut.

Patrick was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in February 2023 after experiencing balance and mobility abnormalities while working on a play. Tragically, he had a family history with MND as his father also died from the condition.

After undergoing clinical drug trials, his wife, Naomi Sheehan, confirmed via Instagram on April 8, 2026, that Patrick died following 10 days in a Belfast, Northern Ireland, hospice care center.

Keep scrolling for more information about MND and Patrick’s diagnosis.

What Is Motor Neurone Disease?

The Mayo Clinic describes motor neurone disease — also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease — as a neurodegenerative condition that impacts nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

“The disease leads to muscle weakness and gets worse over time,” the clinic states.

Those with MND gradually lose muscle control over their speech, swallowing and limbs.

What Are the Symptoms of Motor Neurone Disease?

The Mayo Clinic specifies “muscle twitching and weakness in an arm or leg, trouble swallowing, or slurred speech” as early symptoms of MND. Eventually, the patient has increasing difficulty speaking and swallowing and can no longer control their limbs.

In Michael Patrick’s case, he first experienced symptoms while performing in a play at the Dublin Fringe in late 2022.

“I had to dance in it and I kept falling over, tripping on my shoes,” he told the “Brain and Life” podcast in January 2026. “I kept blaming my shoes, kept saying, ‘Why have they got me dancing in these big chunky shoes? It’s not fair.’ But it didn’t get better.”

Patrick was advised to see a doctor by a relative. By the time he was diagnosed with MND in February 2023, he’d already lost the ability to “lift [his] right foot” and “couldn’t point [his] toes to the ceiling.”

Can Motor Neurone Disease Be Passed Down Through Families?

Per the MND Association, “inherited MND affects up to 1 in 10 people” with the disease.

“If you have a family history of MND, it does not mean you will definitely get the condition, as other risk factors are usually needed for MND to begin,” the MND Association states. “You may also hear inherited MND being called familial or hereditary MND.”

In Michael Patrick’s case, his father died of MND within months of being diagnosed. Michael admitted to RTE in August 2025 that he initially worried he’d face a similar fate.

“My dad was diagnosed in February and he died that October,” Michael remembered. “There wasn’t much time with him. I’m thinking, ‘Am I gonna [die] in October?’ Thankfully, I haven’t.”

Michael suggested on the “Brain and Life” podcast that his family “seems to be the only one in Ireland with the gene” for a rare form of MND.

“I have the FUS MND familial inherited version of four genes that are known to cause MND and familial MND. One’s the FUS gene,” he noted. “I think it’s one of the rarer of the four.”

Is Motor Neurone Disease Incurable?

There is no cure for motor neurone disease but research into potential therapies is currently taking place.

Michael Patrick was able to get into a clinical drug trial for a potential treatment and noticed “the first reversal of symptoms” within weeks.

“I can now wiggle my right foot [and] toes for the first time in about two years. It’s small,” he told the “Brain and Life” podcast in January 2026. “And my breathing’s still going unless I get a tracheotomy, and my arm’s still getting weaker, but fact is there is some reversal there, which is really exciting.”

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As people living with MND gradually lose the ability to speak and breath freely, some opt to have a tracheostomy, where a tube is surgically inserted in the throat to open up an airway.

Patrick considered having a tracheostomy. He ultimately chose not to go forward with the procedure in February 2026 after being given one year to live by his neurologist.

“In short I’m not going ahead with the tracheostomy,” he confirmed via Instagram in February 2026. “I had confirmation it would be around 6-12 months before I could get home due to lack of staffing resources. Thanks so much to everyone who helped push this — from senior social workers, to politicians, to the chief executive of the hospital. Everyone has tried so hard, but there just isn’t the staff.”

There’s something very satisfying about a show that knows exactly what it’s doing from the start. You don’t have to worry about a weak season or a disappointing ending, which happens more often than you think. But I love when I can just settle in and trust that the story is going somewhere, and more importantly, that it will get there properly. That kind of consistency is rare, especially with long-running shows.

Most series start strong and then lose focus along the way. However, the HBO shows on this list stand out. They don’t feel like they are figuring things out as they go. They build slowly, they follow through on their ideas, and they actually respect the time you invest in them. By the end, it feels like you have just watched something good. Let’s get into the list.

‘Deadwood’ (2004–2006)

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What makes Deadwood stand out is how fully it commits to its story from the very beginning. It does not try to ease you into things or simplify anything. Instead, it drops you straight into a rough, growing town where power is still being shaped and nothing is stable. The tone of the show stays consistent throughout, which is a big reason why it never loses its grip.

The story follows figures like Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) and Al Swearengen (Ian McShane), whose interests often clash as the town develops. Their interactions drive much of the tension, though the show also gives attention to the wider community. Over time, their personal relationships shift, and alliances change. Even the town slowly takes a different form. The writing, however, is complete because everything builds just naturally. Their conflicts are never forced, and the characters are allowed to grow without sudden changes in the storyline.

‘Six Feet Under’ (2001–2005)

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Six Feet Under takes a very different approach, though it is just as consistent in what it sets out to do. The show talks about everyday life, but it does so through the lens of a family that runs a funeral home. From the start, it deals with heavy themes, though it presents them in a very different way that is more honest and overwhelming.

The Fisher family, including Nate (Peter Krause) and David (Michael C. Hall), steer through personal struggles while managing the business their father left behind. Each episode often begins with a death, which then connects to the emotional state of the characters. As time passes, the show builds a deeper understanding of grief, relationships, and change. The standout point of the show is how carefully it develops its characters. Their character arc is very real, their growth feels earned, and the story moves forward without losing focus.

‘Rome’ (2005–2007)

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Historical shows often feel distant, but Rome keeps everything grounded in people and their choices. It does not just focus on major events. Instead, it shows how those events affect individuals who are trying to survive, gain power, or simply hold on to what they have. That balance is what keeps the show engaging from start to finish.

The story moves through the fall of the Roman Republic, following figures like Julius Caesar (Ciarán Hinds) and Mark Antony (James Purefoy), while also staying close to soldiers like Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson). Their paths cross in ways that connect personal lives to political shifts. As power changes hands, loyalties are tested, and their consequences feel realistic. The writing stays consistent because it never loses focus on how big events shape individual lives.

‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)

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Some shows give you clear answers, but The Leftovers works in the opposite way. It slowly builds its story around uncertainty and sticks to that idea from the very beginning to the end; nothing changes. Instead of trying to explain everything, it highlights how people react when they are left without answers. That approach gives the series a strong sense of direction, even when everything just feels unpredictable.

The series begins after a sudden event where a portion of the world’s population disappears without explanation. Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux) tries to maintain order in his town, while Nora Durst (Carrie Coon) deals with personal loss in her own way. As the story moves forward, different characters search for meaning, each in their own way. What keeps the show consistent is its focus on the emotional truth of every individual and those gray areas that do not need explanations.

‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

Power struggles can easily become repetitive, but Succession keeps things sharp by constantly shifting the balance between its characters. The show starts with a clear idea, which is a family that is fighting over control of a media empire, and then it keeps finding new ways to explore that conflict without losing its focus in the middle. Every season builds on what came before, so nothing feels reset or ignored.

Logan Roy (Brian Cox) sits at the center of it all, while his children — Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Shiv (Sarah Snook), and Roman (Kieran Culkin) — circle around him, each of them trying to secure their position. Alliances form and break, though the emotional damage always carries forward. The writing works because every move has a consequence, and even those consequences stay with the characters instead of randomly vanishing after a few episodes. By the end, the story feels complete because it follows its own logic all the way through without taking easy shortcuts.

‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)

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It is easy for long-running shows to lose direction, but The Sopranos never really does. From the beginning, it knows what it wants to explore, and then it stays committed to that idea even as the story expands. The show mixes crime, family life, and personal struggle in a way that is consistent across all seasons.

Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) balances his role as a mob boss with his personal life, including his sessions with Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). What makes the writing stand out is how it allows contradictions to exist without trying to resolve them neatly. Tony can be both controlled and impulsive, caring and destructive. He has all these realistic shades. As the story moves forward, relationships shift, though the core themes remain steady. And because of that, the show feels complete.

‘The Wire’ (2002–2008)

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The Wire is one of the best shows that stays amazing and consistent throughout, while also expanding its scope. Each season looks at a different part of the same system within the city of Baltimore, and it does not feel redundant at all, though everything connects in a way that was planned from the start. The show does not rush its storytelling, and it does not simplify complex issues.

Characters like Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), Omar Little (Michael K. Williams), and Stringer Bell (Idris Elba) are part of a much larger picture that includes law enforcement, politics, education, and the media. As the focus shifts from one area to another, the story keeps building on previous events. Nothing is ignored, and nothing feels added just “for effect.” I felt the show to be very complete, especially in its storyline and character development. It does not change its tone or direction to chase attention, which is why it holds together so well from beginning to end.

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The Wire

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2002 – 2008-00-00

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HBO

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Ernest R. Dickerson, Ed Bianchi, Steve Shill, Clark Johnson, Daniel Attias, Agnieszka Holland, Tim Van Patten, Alex Zakrzewski, Anthony Hemingway, Brad Anderson, Clement Virgo, Elodie Keene, Peter Medak, Rob Bailey, Seith Mann, Christine Moore, David Platt, Dominic West, Gloria Muzio, Jim McKay, Leslie Libman, Milcho Manchevski, Robert F. Colesberry, Thomas J. Wright

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The first major project by Dave Filoni in his tenure as Lucasfilm co-president debuted this week, combining the franchise’s past and present in exciting ways. Filoni began working at Lucasfilm over two decades ago, debuting as a creative with Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Since then, he has spearheaded several projects at the company, even after it was sold to Disney. He was named Chief Creative Officer a couple of years ago, and co-president earlier this year. His first Star Wars project of 2026 stumbled out of the gate, but picked up the pace soon enough. The project in question, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, is an animated series that revolves around the titular character from Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace and other Star Wars media.

Created by Filoni, the show features Sam Witver as the voice of Maul, alongside Gideon Adlon, Wagner Moura, and Richard Ayoade. It’s the latest in a string of new animated offerings from Lucasfilm for Disney+, following Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Visions, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi, and Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. Maul – Shadow Lord opened to critical acclaim for its writing and visual style; it currently holds a perfect 100% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes.

‘Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord’ Honors Fans Who’ve Stuck by the Franchise

The site’s consensus reads, “An inspired look into the depths of an iconic character, Maul once again proves that through kinetic, vibrant, and engaging animation, the Star Wars saga can continue in masterful spades.” In her review, Collider’s Maggie Lovitt wrote that the show “sets up some incredible events that could lead to major payoff for viewers who have also invested time in the comics and novels set during this era, and perhaps even Solo: A Star Wars Story fans.” However, the positive reviews weren’t enough to instantly propel the show to the top of the domestic Disney+ chart. Following its two-episode premiere earlier this week, the show debuted at number seven on the domestic Disney+ leaderboard, behind Secrets of the Bees, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, and Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade. The following day, however, Maul – Shadow Lord claimed the top spot both globally and domestically. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

April 6, 2026

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Disney+

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Brad Rau

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Star Wars

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Abbott Elementary blindsided viewers with a shocking split.

During the Wednesday, April 8, episode of the hit ABC series, Gregory (Tyler James Williams) and Janine (Quinta Brunson) argued over plans for an upcoming couples’ trip. Janine then broached the subject of a break up and while their decision wasn’t seen, Brunson confirmed off screen that the fictional couple have parted ways.

“No one saw it coming. I think that’s a great time to throw a stone at the settled earth. It was something I thought about from the beginning of this season,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “They’ve been in a relationship for a while now, and we’ve seen them be really great and go through the honeymoon phase, but I wanted to get under the surface a little bit about what could be going on with these characters and how, in relationships, things like this happen.”

Brunson wanted to tell a realistic story.

Related: Nace! Choni! Devastating Fictional Breakups TV Fans Still Can‘t Get Over

An emotional roller-coaster. From Riverdale‘s Cheryl and Toni to Nancy Drew‘s Nancy and Ace, fans have watched their favorite couples break hearts with some devastating splits. Riverdale, which premiered in 2017, originally introduced Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) as a grieving sister trying to deal with the death of her twin brother Jason (Trevor Stines). After striking […]

“We see it every day — couples who look kind of perfect from the outside. There can be things going on in that we don’t know about, that they discover within their relationship,” she continued. “We talked about this a lot in the room about relationships and past relationships, current relationships, how you never know. It could be this one little thing that leads you into an argument.”

The actress added: “This small thing was actually a catalyst for possibly some larger discussions that need to happen between two people who are trying to spend a lot of time with each other and possibly their lives together.”

While teasing the rest of the season, Brunson addressed the chances of Janine finding love elsewhere.

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Related: TV Couples We Need Together in 2026: From ‘The Pitt’ to ‘Tracker’

Fan-favorite TV couples like 9-1-1’s Buck and Eddie, The Bear’s Sydney and Carmy and Tracker’s Colter and Reenie — or Billie — deserve to finally get together on screen in 2026. Based on Jeffery Deaver‘s novel The Never Game, Tracker has viewers tuning in each week to see their favorite fictional survivalist — a.k.a Colter […]

“You will see Dominic again before the end of the season. We absolutely adore having Luke Tennie. He is wonderful. He’s the hardest-working man in show business right now. The boy is everywhere,” she shared. “It was so funny when he first showed up, he was like, ‘Yeah, I’m on The Pitt too.’ And I was like, ‘Damn, you really are working.’”

She concluded: “What’s crazy is we wrote the character of Dominic, and Luke auditioned, and the minute I saw his face, I barely needed to look at the audition tape. I was already a huge fan of him on Shrinking. I knew that he would have what it took to pull this role off. He’s incredible to me. I opened his audition tape and was like, ‘Yeah, I don’t even know why I opened this.’”

Abbott Elementary airs on ABC Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. ET and is available to stream on Hulu the next day.

Game of Thrones actor Michael Patrick spoke candidly about his battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) prior to his death at age 35.

Michael’s death was announced via Instagram on April 8, 2026, by his wife Naomi Sheehan, who shared that her husband — whom she affectionately called “Mick” — had succumbed to the neurodegenerative disease after 10 days in a Belfast, Northern Ireland, hospice care center. (Per the Mayo Clinic, MND impacts the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and gradually weakens the muscles controlling speech, swallowing and limb movement.)

“[Mick] was admitted [to hospice] 10 days ago and was cared for by the incredible team there. He passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Words can’t describe how broken-hearted we are,” Sheehan wrote.

Patrick was both an actor and a playwright who appeared in a Game of Thrones season 6 episode as a Wildling. He also used his own battle with MND as inspiration for his hit play My Right Foot, which examined how he coped with being diagnosed with the same disease that killed his father.

Keep scrolling for more about what Patrick said about his diagnosis.

Michael Patrick Noticed Increasingly Scary Symptoms

Michael Patrick explained on the “Brain and Life” podcast in January 2026 that he first wondered whether something was amiss while performing in a play at the Dublin Fringe festival in late 2022.

“I had to dance in it and I kept falling over, tripping on my shoes,” he recalled. “I kept blaming my shoes, kept saying, ‘Why have they got me dancing in these big chunky shoes? It’s not fair.’ But it didn’t get better.”

Michael was advised by his wife’s aunt to get himself checked out because of his family’s history with MND. By the time Michael saw his doctors, he could no longer “lift [his] right foot” and “couldn’t point [his] toes to the ceiling.”

He was officially diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in February 2023.

Michael Patrick’s Father Died from MND

The This Town actor looked back on his initial response to the diagnosis while speaking to RTE in August 2025. Michael Patrick naturally wondered how long he would realistically have to live since his father previously died of MND.

“My dad was diagnosed in February and he died that October,” Michael recalled. “There wasn’t much time with him. I’m thinking, ‘Am I gonna [die] in October?’ Thankfully, I haven’t.”

He shared on the “Brain and Life” podcast that his family “seems to be the only one in Ireland with the gene” for a rare form of MND.

“I have the FUS MND familial inherited version of four genes that are known to cause MND and familial MND. One’s the FUS gene,” he explained. “I think it’s one of the rarer of the four.”

Michael Patrick Took Part in Clinical Drug Trials

In September 2023, Michael Patrick was accepted into a drug trial for a potential treatment for MND. The initial results were promising as he “saw the first reversal of symptoms” within weeks of starting the trial.

“I can now wiggle my right foot [and] toes for the first time in about two years. It’s small,” he told the “Brain and Life” podcast in January 2026. “And my breathing’s still going unless I get a tracheotomy, and my arm’s still getting weaker, but fact is there is some reversal there, which is really exciting.”

He praised the “level of care you get and support” he’d received from his medical team since beginning the trial.

Michael Patrick’s Friends and Family Rallied to Support Him

In the wake of Michael Patrick’s MND diagnosis, his friends and family set up a GoFundMe account to help pay for specialized care that comes with getting a tracheostomy. (Patrick’s doctors recommended that he get a tracheostomy — a surgical incision to open up an airway — to help with his breathing.)

The fundraising appeal has raised more than £110,000 against a £100k goal, as of publication.

“Everyone’s been amazing,” he said on the “Brain and Life” podcast. “I’ve got a great support network with my family and my wife. I got married two days before I started the drug trial, so she’s amazing. My friends from school recently raised £100,000 through a GoFundMe account for me for support and stuff. So I have a lot of support. Family and friends are really amazing and I can’t thank them enough.”

Michael Patrick Offered a Health Update Weeks Before His Death

Michael Patrick revealed via Instagram in February 2026 that he’d been told by his neurologist that he “likely [had] about one year left.” He spent “over a week” in the hospital discussing the practical realities if he went ahead with a tracheostomy procedure.

“In short I’m not going ahead with the tracheostomy,” he announced. “I had confirmation it would be around 6-12 months before I could get home due to lack of staffing resources. Thanks so much to everyone who helped push this — from senior social workers, to politicians, to the chief executive of the hospital. Everyone has tried so hard, but there just isn’t the staff.”

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Michael decided that he did not want to “risk a significant amount of time” in the hospital if he was in the end-stages of MND.

“Thanks so much for all the donations to the GoFundMe, even though I didn’t go ahead with the tracheostomy — it will still go towards providing me with specialist care as I enter the final stages of life. I’m still overwhelmed by all your generosity,” he concluded.

Michael died on April 7, 2026, after being hospitalized in the Northern Ireland Hospice for 10 days.

Lots of action movies like to open with a bang. They hit the ground running and get an audience primed and their adrenaline pumping for the roller coaster ride that’s ahead of them. Opening action scenes set the table in the best way possible, and there are few movie-going experiences as thrilling as watching a new film and immediately getting thrust right into the thick of it. The old Hollywood adage is “cut to the chase,” and these are the movies that do just that.

Some franchises are known for their opening sequences. So much so that audiences come in with set expectations for each new installment to thrill them more than the last in the opening minutes. That’s certainly led to an escalation in on-screen spectacle, but sometimes the best opening action scenes aren’t even the most bombastic, though there are quite a few that do blow things up spectacularly. Loud or quiet, expected or not, these ten opening action scenes are the most perfect of all time.

10

‘Blade’ (1998)

Image via New Line Cinema

Superhero movies love to open with action. In the cinematic eras before origin stories became popular and after they were played out, it’s been a common occurrence to open these adventures watching our caped crusaders and webslingers doing what they do best. X2 opens with a terrific White House attack featuring Nightcrawler, Deadpool breaks the fourth wall and some bad guy faces almost immediately, and the opening sequence of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is the only good scene in that movie. The best, and bloodiest, of these though, comes from a superhero classic made well before the modern era of superheroics had even started; Blade.

As an early prognosticator of the superhero boom that would happen in the 2000s, Blade straddles a line between superhuman action and blood-soaked horror. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the slaughterhouse rave opening action scene. With water sprinklers that spray blood, things are plenty crimson even before Wesley Snipes’ day walking vampire slayer shows up. Once he does, he starts turning his fanged foes into dust while some sick techno beats blare. It’s a scene so good, the rest of the movie actually suffers in comparison. Blade introduces himself so hard that the only direction for him to go was done. Even so, the bloodsoaked vampire rave shootout still slays.

9

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’ (2002)

Image via New Line Cinema

Peter Jackson’s epic The Lord of the Rings saga is packed with outstanding action depicted on a massive scale. Gigantic battle sequences featuring hundreds of extras, groundbreaking CGI and all kinds of fantasy carnage dominate the latter two films in the trilogy. The Fellowship of the Rings, other than a brief prologue, is relatively smaller in scale in its action in comparison, with The Two Towers upping the ante considerably with the Helms Deep finale. That may be the best action scene in all of Middle-earth but the sequel also starts with a pretty spectacular one as well.

Opening with a return to when Gandalf tragically sacrificed himself to save the fellowship from a big ugly Balrog, the movie follows the wizard’s fall as he continues to do battle with the gigantic beast in a midair sword and fiery claw fight. It has some truly astounding visuals and a rousing Howard Shore score that’s guaranteed to get you excited. Fantasy movies don’t often open with bloodthirsty battles, often attempting to ease audiences into their fantasy worlds, but with that worldbuilding already handled, The Two Towers stands out with a wholly unique and utterly awesome fight scene of mythical proportions.

8

‘Drive’ (2011)

Image via FilmDistrict

Contrary to what you may have heard, size isn’t everything. While some action movies shoot their load in their opening minutes with all the spectacle they can muster, it doesn’t always serve them in terms of maintaining their momentum. Often the best kind of opening action scene is the kind that shows some restraint. Plenty of movies have opened with a car chase, with one of the most frequently cited as the best being the musical getaway in Baby Driver. All due respect to the rhythms of Edgar Wright, but that car chase is ever so slightly bested by the cooler and quieter one in Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive.

With Ryan Gosling as the laconic Driver, the film opens with him acting as wheelman to some would-be robbers. The getaway that follows is less demolition derby or high-speed pursuit and more a sweat-inducing game of hide-and-seek between the Driver and the LAPD. Using side roads and the shadows, the Driver moves with effective efficiency, and we’re all along for the ride as the camera never leaves the car until he does. It’s an incredibly tense and masterfully designed sequence that shows you don’t need a climactic crash or even speeds over 100 MPH to get an audience’s pulse to race.

7

‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’ (2015)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Every Mission: Impossible film has a memorable opening sequence that kicks off the plot before lighting the fuse for the opening credits and Lalo Schifrin’s iconic theme plays. The shocking flash-forward from Mission: Impossible III featuring the sadistic villain played by Philip Seymour Hoffman is probably the overall best of these. In terms of action, though, it’s hard to top Tom Cruise running down a cargo plane and then getting stuck outside it while it takes off from Rogue Nation.

As with all the iconic stunts in the film franchise, Cruise performed the plane takeoff himself, looking like a stubborn bug on a windshield. The stunt is even more visceral for the minimal amount of digital enhancement done on it, as evidenced by the behind-the-scenes material. It lets the stunt speak for itself as one of the most daring from the entire film series, and it puts the audience right on edge for what is arguably the best Mission: Impossible movie ever made.

6

‘GoldenEye’ (1995)

Image via MGM/United Artists

There’s something about a secret agent trying to catch a plane. More so than any franchise, the James Bond films are known for their iconic opening action sequences. They are a key part of the 007 formula and there’s no shortage of awesome action on display in them. From the car chase leading to a train fight in Skyfall to the iconic snowy mountain pursuit in The Spy Who Loved Me, it’s hard to pick just one. Walther PPK to our head though, it’s got to be the induction of Pierce Brosnan into the franchise in GoldenEye.

Infiltrating a Soviet military base by way of a record-breaking bungee jump is one hell of a way to open a movie, and from there the sequence delivers on all the Bond hallmarks. Gunfights, witty dialogue and a daring escape all make up the meat of the sequence, which is capped off by Bond jumping a motorcycle off a cliff to intercept a crashing plane. Even if the visual effects of the last part haven’t stood the test of time, the sequence has. It’s vintage Bond with a modern twist, it inspired an awesome video game level, and it leads into the banger that is the Tina Turner title track. It’s an exceptional action sequence that will leave you shaken and stirred.

5

‘Police Story’ (1985)

Image via Golden Harvest

Jackie Chan has few equals when it comes to nail-biting stunt work and the effortless blending of humor and action. His films, particularly those made in his native Hong Kong, are second to none in the action department, and Police Story is his masterpiece. It’s a film filled with Chan’s unique brand of physical comedy mixed with martial arts, and its book ended with two amazing action sequences. It ends with a blistering mall melee and begins with an equally destructive raid on a shanty town.

Chan plays a police officer who is part of a sting operation to take down a crime boss, an operation that goes south fast and quickly devolves into a shootout. The shootout culminates in a downhill demolition derby as the crime boss flees by driving literally through the shantytown. Chan gives chase and ends up dangling from a bus like the heir apparent to Buster Keaton. It’s a physical feat surrounded by action that could have only come from a talent like Chan, and it’s the perfect opening to one of the best action movies of all time.

4

‘The Matrix’ (1999)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Lana and Lilly Wachowski took clear influence from the likes of Chan and many others for their cyberpunk martial arts thriller The Matrix, which ushered in a new era of action in Hollywood. The film redefined the genre with its artificial reality setting and its combination of gunfights, king fu and its iconic bullet time effects. All of those elements are front and center in the film’s perfect opening action scene.

Carrie Ann Moss, as the leather-clad badass Trinity, is caught between a digital rock and a hard place, with cops and agents swarming on her location. She escapes by the skin of her teeth thanks to some gravity-defying footwork and the first of the film’s landmark 360-degree slow-motion shots. A rooftop chase ensues with more superhuman acrobatics. It’s not only an awesome action sequence, but it perfectly introduces the audience to the world of the Matrix and its reality-bending effects. Anyone who was sitting in the audience in 1999 watching this opening scene knew they were witnessing a game-changing moment in the action genre.

3

‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

There are few ways to start a movie more enthralling than a high-stakes heist. Bonus points if it doubles down on the action. The standard of this kind of opening was set by Michael Mann’s Heat, and it would get the mention here if it weren’t for the opening action scene that was most directly influenced by it in The Dark Knight. The second part of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy immediately sets itself apart from its more gothic predecessor as an urban action thriller while simultaneously giving Heath Ledger’s Joker a proper villain introduction. It’s a masterclass in action, tone setting, and establishing a character.

Batman is nowhere to be seen in this opening sequence, which focuses solely on a group of clown-masked criminals robbing a bank. The IMAX cinematography used to capture downtown Chicago, standing in for Gotham City, is magnificent, and gives the film an appropriately epic scale. The mounting tension of the sequence is compounded as each member of the robbery crew kills off another in an escalating series of executions that culminates in the final reveal of the Joker. It perfectly illustrates both the expanded scope of the sequel while effectively communicating how clever and ruthless this version of the iconic villain will be. It’s easily one of the best openings in any superhero film ever, and a perfectly executed action sequence.

2

‘Hard Boiled’ (1992)

Image via Golden Princess Film Production

For pure, unbridled action, there are few filmmakers who can compete with John Woo at the peak of his powers. The director set the action world on fire as one of the founding filmmakers behind the Heroic Bloodshed action movement. These movies coming out of Hong Kong took inspiration from classic crime and noir cinema and exponentially increased the bullet and body count. They had an immeasurable influence on Hollywood’s own action movies, but none of those Hollywood copycats, even the ones directed by Woo himself, came close to the best of the Hong Kong classics. The best of those originals is Woo’s masterpiece Hard Boiled, which begins with a tea house shootout for the ages.

Chow Yun-fat plays the awesomely named inspector Tequila, who is described as a god when he’s given two guns, which he often does in the opening action scene. He dual wields his way through a group of heavily armed gangsters, creating the most dynamic destruction ever put on film. The action is the perfect balance of chaotic and balletic, and the ammo is seemingly infinite. Hard Boiled is as kinetic as action movies get, and the opening shootout announces Woo’s intentions for what would be his Heroic Bloodshed swan song. Bullets fly, blood is spilled, and action movies are forever changed.

1

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Raiders of the Lost Ark is as perfect an action adventure film as has ever been made. Its flaws, which every movie has, are immediately rendered irrelevant by another iconic and awesome moment. Many of those moments come in the absolutely flawless opening, where there’s not a single frame out of place. From the introduction to Harrison Ford’s greatest hero Indiana Jones, to the unforgettable booby-trap set pieces and the rousing airplane escape set to John Williams’ score, it’s a perfectly constructed action sequence that should be taught in every film class.

Inspired by everything from James Bond movies to adventure serials and Uncle Scrooge comics, the opening tomb raiding action scene synthesizes those core inspirations into their most essential parts. As Jones steals a golden idol from a Peruvian temple, he’s faced with pitfalls, poison darts, tarantulas and, most memorably, the world’s most perfectly spherical boulder. Every singular moment of this opening action scene has been etched into pop culture history. In another hundred years, film scholars will continue to study it like paintings on a cave wall. Just like the artifacts idolized by Jones, the opening of Raiders of the Lost Ark belongs in a museum.

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Raiders of the Lost Ark

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Release Date

June 12, 1981

Runtime

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115 minutes

Writers

Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas, Philip Kaufman

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