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)

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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)

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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.”

Draya Michele is on her way to becoming a chef. And she’s finally sharing the life update with her fans, encouraging them to never be afraid to pivot!

RELATED: She’s Fiesty! Clip Of Lyght Green Getting Frustrated With Draya Michele Has Social Media Users Crackin’ UP (WATCH)

Draya Michele Announces Her “Culinaire” Era

As mentioned, Draya shared her latest chapter on Instagram on Tuesday (April 21). She posted a series of photos and videos in a kitchen, dressed in chef attire. Some photos show her near a stove, while another shows her in a walk-in cooler. Two videos show her in action, from mincing onions to her flambé. Also, two photos show completed meat dishes: one resembles a stew, while the other shows a stuffed protein. In her caption, Draya Michele revealed her journey in the kitchen took a professional turn a few months ago.

“For the past few months, I’ve been in culinary school. Becoming a chef was never something on my mood board (until lately) but that’s the beauty of life. I’ve enjoyed cooking for my loved ones for years, and now I’m just perfecting it,” Draya wrote.

In the caption, she also encouraged her followers to take new lanes when desired. She wrote, “You’re allowed to evolve. You’re allowed to pivot. You’re allowed to discover new passions you never saw coming. It’s never too late to change your path or start something new. If you’ve been waiting for a sign… this is it.” 

Draya’s Been Teasing Her Cooking For Months

Tuesday marks the first time Draya Michele has confirmed she’s in elevated cooking classes. But it’s far from her first time showing off her skills in the kitchen. In recent months, she’s shared glimpses of meals she’s cooked, especially at home. For example, on January 9, she shared a fresh pasta-making video, which featured her and Jalen Green’s daughter, Lyght Green.

Additionally, in November 2025, Draya posted a recap of her “rehearsal day,” in which she tested a new way of slicing her yams for a candied dish. In the caption, she mentioned “plating” and using her same recipe while making the dish “aesthetically pleasing.”

Last August, Draya Michele also shared her soup-making skills. In the caption, she said “a few members of [her] tribe” weren’t feeling well, hence the dish. She credited Trader Joe’s for the find.

RELATED: Courtside Cuffin’! Jalen Green Secures Sweet Kiss With Draya Michele After Scoring Game-Winning Shot For Phoenix Suns (VIDEO)

Bold and the Beautiful sees RJ Forrester (Brayan Nicoletti) has lost any chance he had with Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace). Same last name, but no relation as they keep reminding us because it’s ick. But all of this is because Ivy Forrester (Ashleigh Brewer) has been outed as the villain. So, Electra is on the path to reconciliation with Will Spencer (Crew Morrow).

And that leaves us wondering what is next for Ridge Forrester‘s (Thorsten Kaye) spoiled bratty son. Hopefully, something that will make him more likable because he’s not very likable at all right now. Let’s get into what is coming for Ridge Jr.

Electra And Will Reconcile on Bold and the Beautiful

So, right now, Electra is reeling from the reveal of her aunt Ivy’s manipulation, stealing the letter. And when Electra pressed her, she finally handed it over. And then Electra went and told Will about the letter that she had left for him that Ivy stole. So finally Will’s getting to read the letter Electra wrote him.

And clearing this up means that RJ isn’t going to have a shot with Electra, no matter how badly he wants it and how much he thinks he deserves it and how much Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) thinks he deserves it. Destiny, all that. I saw the funniest thing. I think it was on X. Somebody referred to RJ as Destiny’s child. I laughed so hard. Anyway, I wish I remembered who had said it. I would credit you. I’m sorry if it’s you. It was brilliant.

So, Electra’s going back to Will, no matter how hard RJ tries to trash talk him, tries to bully Will out of Forrester and out of Electra’s life. So, with Will getting back with Electra, because they are still head over heels in love, things are going to change for RJ and he’s going to have to look for a new woman.

Future for RJ And Dylan on B&B?

So, this week we’re going to have Miss Dylan in scenes with RJ, he’s griping about Will to her, but Dylan makes it clear to RJ that Electra and Will are in love and they are going to be back together before long. You know, Ivy’s to blame for all of this. But Dylan also feels bad about the part she played in their split.

But RJ mostly blames Will, of course. So, I expect this conversation between RJ and Dylan to be just the start and lots more to come. If you remember, RJ had a flirty vibe with Dylan when they first met. And then RJ got distracted trying to make moves on Electra, even when she and Will were in a good place.

Bold and the Beautiful: RJ Loses Electra

So, hopefully RJ gets a reality check and sees that he’s got no chance with Electra. But, I do think we could see RJ end up with Dylan. Once Electra and Will are reunited and they aren’t options for Dylan and RJ, then I think we could see them drawn together. Maybe quickly, maybe slowly.

Either way, another thing I see ahead for him is also related to Miss Dylan. So, I think whatever crisis that she’s about to get into with this mystery person calling with the voice modulator and threatening Dylan, I think we’re going to see RJ wrapped up into that.

RJ Could Save Dylan on B&B

So, we could see Dylan needs saving and RJ could very well be the one to play hero, which is good because Will doesn’t need to be volunteering to save Dylan again. He needs to focus on Electra or she’ll have a complete whiny meltdown. So, they’re going to be back together soon. And of course, Dylan, I’m assuming, will remain a hot button issue for Electra for a while. I can even see her giving Will an ultimatum, you can’t help Dylan or else, you know.

So, I do think RJ is going to be the one to step up for Dylan and protect her, be there for her, which should bring them a lot closer. And this danger could actually take RJ and Dylan from a little bit of a flirtation thing into a serious relationship, not just a casual fling if they go through a big ordeal together.

Because going through trauma can absolutely hit the accelerator on a new relationship. Put it into high gear. Like all the Luna Nozawa (Lisa Yamada) stuff honestly did for Will and Electra when they went through that. It just made them stronger and brought them closer and did it faster. So, I think the same could happen with RJ and Dylan.

RJ Needs to Calm Down at Work

Also on the professional front, we could see RJ walking a thin line at work because really he needs to calm down his attitude about Will and talking about Spencers like they are subhuman. I mean if not I think RJ is going to face blowback from Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and Ridge whether Brooke likes it or not. You know I mean RJ’s sister Hope is married to a Spencer. Steffy has a Spencer child. There’s just so many overlaps between these families.

Katie is his aunt and also a Spencer. So, I think Steffy and Ridge are going to put their foot down with RJ and tell him start acting professional. Stop bringing drama and physical fights to the office or else. And he also needs to stop trying to get Will and Dylan fired because it’s not his decision, even though he thinks it is because of his last name.

Double Dating with Will and Electra on Bold?

Also, circling back to RJ and Dylan for a minute, something on a positive note. If RJ starts dating Dylan, which I think they will because they clearly chemistry tested them when Brayan Nicoletti first started at Bold and the Beautiful, I think in a weird twist, they could end up double dating with Electra and Will. It would be fun to see these four put all their animosity behind them.

That way, we could see a solid set of younger couples together interacting as they’re trying to build, you know, the generational cast of the show. Also, when Remy Pryce (Christian Weissmann) and Deke Sharpe (Harrison Cone) reconcile, which I expect eventually they will, we could see them in that same friend group with RJ and Dylan and also with Will and Electra.

Plus, with Remy’s mystery connection to somebody on the character canvas revealed soon, it could be somebody tied into the Forrester family or even to Dylan or RJ, you know, especially if there’s a Marone tie-in that could pull RJ into it because they keep dropping that name a whole lot lately. Like you don’t hear it for a long time and now the past couple of weeks we’ve heard it a lot.

Bold and the Beautiful: Could Luna Be Alive?

So, the last thing to consider could be that lunatic Luna might be alive, which many fans suspect. She may be the one tormenting Dylan. That’s possible. If so, then RJ may redeem himself by teaming up with Will to protect both Electra and Dylan from psycho Luna and get her put in prison behind bars forever. Because we know that Electra and Dylan would both be at the top of Luna’s hit list.

Electra because she is with Will and Luna’s crazy and thinks that Will belongs to her. And of course, Dylan would be a target because she ran over Luna with her car and supposedly killed her for the second time she died. So Luna’s got lots of reasons to target Electra and Dylan.

Bold and the Beautiful: Will & RJ Team Up against Luna?

So, I could see Will and RJ needing to put their differences aside and protect their ladies from Luna. And Will and RJ could come out of this with a new respect for each other. There’s lots of possibilities in this danger storyline with Dylan that’s starting soon.

But no matter how it plays out, one thing I think is absolutely certain, and I think RJ is going to be very irritated that he missed a chance to get with Electra. And we could see RJ pouting about it for a minute or two, but then I suspect he’ll have to decide that he has to move on with his life and he might move on with Dylan.

Also, a really quick congratulations to Matthew Atkinson, the actor who plays Thomas Forrester. He and his wife Brytnee Ratledge Atkinson are expecting their second child. They had a little boy and now they have a little girl on the way. So, congrats to them.

General Hospital fans, we have got a pile of leaked info for you. It is a sizzling rumor roundup. We’re going to talk about some big exits possibly coming, a very bad girl going to ShadyBrook, some contract updates, a dangerous weapon, and lots more.

We’ve got leaks about Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart), the final Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers) story, some details on Steve Burton’s contract status, scoop on Willow Tait (Katelyn MacMullen), and so much more.

Now, I will say upfront that I am working from a couple of different leak sources. So, some of these rumors actually conflict with each other and it’s kind of like, okay, which one do I believe? I’ve gotten good stuff from both.

But since it is all juicy stuff, I decided to go ahead and share it. But as always, bear in mind, these are rumors, not official spoilers. So, take it with a big old grain of salt. But let’s talk about it.

Medical Storyline Rumors for General Hospital

So, not too long ago, we heard from one source that there was going to be some sort of public health crisis slash big medical storyline this summer that would kill some people. And then another source came in and said there’s definitely not a medical storyline coming this summer.

So, that feels like a coin toss at this moment. So, the one source that said people would die specified that Liz, Ric, and Lulu would not be on the chopping block as people that were taken down in whatever possible medical storyline. That same source also said the medical crisis would bring a new face.

Now, we already know there is a new face coming to General Hospital in May, but I suspect Jonathan Bennett’s new character, Joe Fitzpatrick, might actually be a future love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis). So, if he is a doctor, a medical plot makes sense.

GH Leak: Faison’s Final Project

And it looks like there is some big danger coming from Faison’s final project, according to some chatter I’ve gotten. So, of course, that is the Cold Fusion prototype that Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) is finalizing. By the way, I was looking up what even the heck is cold fusion.

By the way, it is infinite energy in a small package. So, it could be made into a bomb. It could be used to trigger mass power outages. It could be a highly targeted weapon for a finite target or a big weapon like a weapon of mass destruction. It’s very open to interpretation.

Also, given the neural charts and the brain stuff in the lab, some people are wondering if this device that Britt’s working on may be some kind of super machine for memory mapping. Or Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) and Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) may have Britt building some device for brainwashing or mind control, something else.

I could absolutely see that because Faison was heavy into memory mapping, but no matter what it’s used for, I’m sure it’s going to be evil, not good, and it may devastate Port Charles.

General Hospital: Exit Rumors

We’ve also been getting some exit rumors. We had one that said Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) was going to get sick and may die. And then the other leakers said, “No, that wasn’t happening.” So, again, coin toss. Not sure if Ric’s going to be wrapped up in these other casting rumors.

One source said three actors were leaving. And then another leaker said it will be four actors leaving. So the rumor about the three actors said one person wanted to leave, one didn’t want to leave but got exited and then the third exit no specific info.

So of the rumors saying three are exiting, one of them is supposed to go under a cloud of judgment or a walk of shame. Now that sounds like Willow Corinthos to me, but we will see. I tend to think she’s not leaving GH.

False GH Facebook info Going Around

By the way, there was an insane rumor over on Facebook where you often find inflammatory, wildly inaccurate stuff. There’s a GH page that does nothing but publish fake death rumors about actors and characters and all kinds of stuff.

And they said Katelyn MacMullen was fired. That did not come from official channels. It did not come from any reliable leaker. I’ve not heard anything about it from any of my sources. So that to me is file that as one more fib from Facebook.

So, the rumor regarding four exits I find less credible than the three exit one simply because they said one of these is supposedly Maura West as Ava Jerome. This leak that I find dodgy said that she would die. I don’t believe it for many reasons.

But primarily she’s a well-liked Emmy winner who’s been on the show for years, and the leaker didn’t even spell her name right. Like, not even in the country of spelling it right.

So, I feel like the one about Maura West isn’t credible at all, and the Katelyn MacMullen one’s just simply insane. Also, the source about the four exits say they’re all contract players leaving.

Contract Updates at General Hospital

So, by the way, looks like Kirsten Storms has slid back to recurring status. She came back on contract after her long break where she was doing her move to Nashville. She was taking care of some medical stuff.

Maxie Jones was back and then bam, back burner. There are some recast rumors if Kirsten Storms reportedly isn’t able to work as much as they want, but nothing firm on that yet.

Another rumor is that one or both of Elizabeth’s older sons could come back this summer. Cameron Webber and of course Jake Webber are her two sons. William Lipton has some room in his schedule if they want to bring Cameron back.

But Hudson West who plays Jake is very, very busy. We also heard that the Robert Scorpio exit storyline has been hit by delays because of Finola Hughes’ extended break, but will hopefully happen before the end of the year. So, we’ll see.

General Hospital: Ryan Paevey Takes A Break

Also, there’s a rumor that Ryan Paevey took an extension at General Hospital and he will be around through at least September 2026, maybe longer. He needed a little time off. They negotiated it.

So, we’ll have a gap where Nathan isn’t on screen. And we know that this is definitely true because it was confirmed by Ryan Paevey himself that he was taking time off and he posted some social media stuff about it.

Also, there’s a rumor that Steve Burton renewed his contract, but for just one year to keep playing Jason Morgan, not the usual two years. No word on whether this was at Burton’s request or not. The rumor said the contract extension came with a little bit of a pay cut, not a raise, a cut.

Marriage Of Convenience Coming on GH?

Another tidbit we got is that there is a marriage of convenience coming. Maybe Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) getting hitched. There was a photo that Laura Wright posted of her with her hair done up gorgeous and a white kind of dressy suit. She looks sort of glammed up. So, it could be for some other special event or it could be a suit for a simple wedding.

If you remember, Carly married Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) twice in the past to avoid testifying against him. So, this could be a GH repeat where Carly marries Valentin this time so they don’t have to testify against each other over the fugitive business.

If Carly’s going to have a marriage of convenience, I definitely want it to be with Valentin. Another rumor says he’s not going to get a full redemption right away. He may have to go back on the run for a bit, but they are saying it looks like Valentin and Carly may actually be endgame.

General Hospital Drew & Willow Rumors

One last rumor in our roundup is about Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) and Willow. The scoop is Drew gets out of his locked in status, which of course we all expected would happen eventually and reportedly he’s back to being a jerk right away because apparently Willow shooting and paralyzing him taught him nothing, which sounds like typical him, right?

So, the rumor also says that Willow is sent off to Shadybrook. Now, I’m sure that’s because her lawyer Ric argues an insanity defense, kind of the stuff he was talking with Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) about already, you know, growing up in a cult, abusive, overbearing husband, yada yada. I mean, obviously ShadyBrook is better than Pentonville.

So, that’s the scoop we’ve got. We’ll see how much of this actually manifests from rumor over into spoiler. Some of the chatter seems likely to happen and other not so much, but it’s juicy stuff, so I wanted to share it.

By TeeJay Small
| Published 21 seconds ago

When Netflix first made their pivot from DVDs-by-mail to home streaming, they revolutionized the way that people consume media. At the time, consumers were raving about a seemingly unlimited library of movies, TV shows, and even some proposed original programming. This came with zero ads, for a monthly subscription fee that cost less than the price of a single movie ticket. Streaming exploded in popularity, so much so that numerous studios and production companies rushed to develop platforms of their own.

In 2026, there are dozens of streamers, mostly offering small libraries of mindless junk sandwiched between more ad space than Times Square. The golden era of streaming might be dead for the likes of Netflix, but some streamers are still new and fresh, providing a glimpse into that short, sweet period when prices were low and production values were high. For my money, I’d say Apple TV+ is one of the best streaming services currently on the market.

A Worthwhile Loss Leader

Apple TV+ was first launched back in 2019. At the time, the streamer had very few original projects, and needed to quickly establish itself as a worthwhile investment. To do this, they priced their subscription at just $4.99 per month. They also included a free one-year subscription with the purchase of any new Apple hardware.

Over time, Apple producers began snatching up fresh, original IPs with reckless abandon, spending hundreds of millions on projects such as Oprah’s Book Club, The Banker, The Greatest Beer Run Ever, The Problem With Jon Stewart, Ted Lasso, and more. They even courted famed auteur directors like Martin Scorsese to opt for Apple exclusive premieres over the more traditional full theater release.

Today, Apple TV+ is rapidly becoming the premiere streamer for fresh new sci-fi shows. Severance is probably the most popular example of this, but Apple also has projects like Silo, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, and Pluribus, created by Vince Gilligan. While this suite of high-quality shows is impressive, Apple’s real value is in their propensity to reinvent what a streaming platform is capable of. They’ve integrated the now-defunct iTunes Store into the streamer, so you can rent or purchase movies that aren’t streaming anywhere else. They also host podcasts, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and myriad other forms of bonus content.

There’s a larger reason why Apple TV+ is so good right now, and unfortunately, it’s sort of doomed to disappear. The truth is, the entire service is a loss leader. This term usually refers to things like $5 rotisserie chickens or Costco’s $1.50 hot dog meal, but it applies just as well to the landscape of streaming media. Apple TV+ is designed to get you invested in other aspects of the tech company, and they can afford to take a loss on it because they sell millions of iPhones each year. Netflix was also capable of burning through capital in its infancy, which is why we all fondly remember when it didn’t have ads and didn’t cost twice as much as a trip to the theater.

Right now, Apple TV+ costs $12.99 per month. That’s still a great price when compared to other streamers, and it’s well worth the price for Severance alone. While I have no doubt that Apple execs will tighten the leash on the streamer down the line, the service is currently in its experimental era. The bottom line is that it’s always good to get in on the ground floor of something. Streaming services seem to have a distinct life cycle, and Apple is currently living in the sweet spot.

Sydney Sweeney is currently co-starring in the long-awaited third season of HBO’s hit series “Euphoria,” but according to reports, she won’t be gracing the big screen in the upcoming sequel “Devil Wears Prada 2.”

The film, set to hit theaters on May 1, is set to feature a collection of cameos and guest appearances, and Sweeney was said to be one of them. However, she was reportedly cut from the film completely.

Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ Cameo Reportedly Nixed

A source close to the film spoke exclusively to Entertainment Weekly, detailing what Sydney Sweeney’s role would have been and why her cameo was cut out.

Per the insider, Sweeney was to appear in a scene with Emily Blunt at her Dior office as Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Stanley Tucci arrive to ask for her help. Sweeney appeared as herself in the scene that was described as three minutes long.

Sweeney’s cameo “did not work structurally with the rest of the sequence,” leading to a “creative decision” to cut her from the film entirely. The source also shared that the film’s team was “grateful” for her participation.

Sweeney And ‘Euphoria’ Spark Backlash For Highly Sexualized Season 3 Scenes

On April 12, after a more than four-year wait, “Euphoria” finally returned to catch up with the cast of characters as they venture into adulthood via a five-year time jump. However, many fans couldn’t get past the scenes of Sydney Sweeney’s character, Cassie Howard.

This season, Cassie has embarked on a career on OnlyFans, resulting in her taking very suggestive and highly sexualized photos that many have deemed degrading.

Some critics have gone even further, accusing “Euphoria” and creator Sam Levinson of leaning into “disturbing” and “misogynistic” storylines more than ever in comparison to previous seasons. 

In her very first scene in season three, Sweeney is dressed as a dog, as she pants, eats out of a bowl, and is led on a leash. 

Additionally, the following episode sees her dressed as an adult baby with her legs spread while sucking a pacifier, and also being topless with ice cream dripping down her nipples.

Other scenes feature Sweeney wearing a soaking wet American flag T-shirt without a bra, and also dressed as a baseball catcher in only a nude thong. 

Speaking to the consensus of her scenes, one social media user asked, “How is Sydney even agreeing to do this season of Euphoria?” while another said, “Why would Sydney agree to doing allat… weird.”

Another described the scenes as a “humiliation ritual,” and added, “Please God, I can’t keep seeing Cassie degrade herself in the most embarrassing ways imaginable.” 

Popular OnlyFans Model Slams Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Euphoria’ Portrayal 

On April 16, OnlyFans model Sophie Rain spoke with Complex about Sweeney’s portrayal of Cassie’s foray onto the platform, and she didn’t mince words.

“I just watched the recent episode, and while I do love Sydney Sweeney, I believe the depiction the director created, labeling OnlyFans as this easy money gateway, is damaging for girls,” Rain said. “Only a few hundred women on the platform have made worthwhile money, and many women only make a few hundred dollars a month.”

She also voiced her opinion on the costumes Sweeney has worn so far this season.

“I also think some of the outfits Sweeney wore, especially the baby costume, just horribly paints OnlyFans girls,” Rain told the outlet. “I am very conservative on my OnlyFans account, and depicting us as catering to certain audiences that like us to dress up as toddlers is damaging to our community.”

‘Euphoria’ Creator Sam Levinson Explained The ‘Humor’ Behind Sweeney’s Character Dressing Like a Dog

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Levinson discussed the trajectory of Cassie’s character in season three.

“[Cassie] has got her dog house and her little dog ears and the nose, and that has its own humor, but what makes the scene is the fact that her housekeeper is the one filming it,” Levinson said. 

“What we wanted to always find is the other layer of absurdity that we’re able to tie into it so that we’re not too inside of her fantasy or illusion, the gag is to jump out, to break the wall,” he told the outlet. “We wanted to capture what she’s trying to show the audience and be inside of it, but then also pull back wider and see how depressing it is.” 

Sydney Sweeney Recently Signed On For ‘The Housemaid’ Sequel

Per Deadline, following the success of the first film, co-starring Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney has been confirmed to return for “The Housemaid’s Secret.”

The sequel will also reportedly star Kirsten Dunst and feature the return of Michele Morrone as groundskeeper Enzo.

Denise Richards’ daughter, Lola Sheen, is paying tribute to family friend Patrick Muldoon after the actor’s death at age 57.

Lola, one of Richards’ daughters with ex-husband Charlie Sheen, shared in her Monday, April 20, Instagram post that she “begged” her mom to get back together with Muldoon. Richards, 55, and Muldoon briefly dated in the 1990s but remained close friends throughout Muldoon’s life.

“I thought you were the one that was supposed [to] be in our lives forever. When I think of my childhood, I think of you, Pat, and it’s gonna be so weird to go on without you in our lives,” Lola, 20, wrote alongside a throwback photo of Richards and Muldoon. “You were such a huge part of our family and life will never feel the same, but that’s just because of how much you impacted us.”

“Thank you for showing everyone around you how to be alive,” Lola continued. “You were the definition of what it means to have fun. I’ll never forget when we were on that trip with my mom and you wouldn’t stop singing that lola song to me and made me laugh so hard. And you know that song will always make me think of you.”

Related: Denise Richards and Patrick Muldoon’s Relationship Explained

Denise Richards and Patrick Muldoon were one of the It couples of the ‘90s. The pair met in 1997 while filming Starship Troopers, which was released the following year. While they split in 2000, Richards and Muldoon stayed close friends. They even referred to each other as “schweet babe” even after their breakup. “I’ve known […]

She wrote, “I will really miss hearing my mom laugh on the phone with you. Your voice always brightened my day and I’m gonna miss hearing it, but I know my mom will more, but we will never stop talking about you.”

“Thank you for being the best friend to her. Thank you for being the one to make her laugh and forget about all she’s going through. That was a gift you had,” Lola said of her mom’s friendship with her Starship Troopers costar. “The bond you two had was something so special that no one can touch. When I think of my mom, I think of you. You guys came as a package, and I’m so thankful I got to know you and witness a friendship so pure and special in front of my eyes.”

“I always begged my mom, I’m sure she told you, that you guys would end up back together, haha, but I guess staying best friends was better anyways ♥️,” Lola added. “You really were a rock star, Pat, and forever will be. Have fun up there … I know you will. Love you.”

Thank You!

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Muldoon died on Sunday, April 19, following a heart attack. He and Richards first appeared on screen together in 1997’s Starship Troopers. They reunited in various holiday-themed TV movies, including A Christmas Reunion (2015) and My Adventures With Santa (2019).

Related: Denise Richards Family Guide: Meet the Reality Star’s 3 Kids

Denise Richards and her family are far from camera shy. The actress first offered fans insight into her life when appearing on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for two seasons from 2019 to 2020. Five years later, in 2025, she peeled back the curtain once again via her own Bravo reality series, Denis Richards […]

Most recently, Richards appeared as Muldoon’s love interest in the 2025 music video for his song “Gray Again.” The making of the video was documented on Richards’ Bravo reality show, Denise Richards & Her Wild Things.

Richards is currently locked in a bitter divorce battle with estranged second husband Aaron Phypers, who filed for divorce in July 2025 after six years of marriage.

By Joshua Tyler
| Updated 7 seconds ago

Debate over the current state of Star Trek is always raging, but because there’s been so much Star Trek made for so long, it almost doesn’t matter. Whether good new Star Trek is being made or not, there’s plenty of great past Trek out there waiting to be watched and rewatched.

I’ve spent my entire life watching, writing, and thinking about Star Trek, so whether you’re planning a rewatch or diving into Star Trek for the first time, I’m here to be your ultimate guide to the most important parts of the franchise.

These are Star Trek’s ten best TV shows, ranked in order by quality.

10. Star Trek: Prodigy

Star Trek: Prodigy was primarily aimed at kids in the 12 – 15 age range, but proved entertaining for adults as well, largely because it takes Star Trek seriously. After a premiere episode that was clearly an intentional homage to Star Wars, Prodigy stopped trying to be something else and settled into being Star Trek. It’s Star Trek for kids, but it’s still actually Star Trek.

This CGI animated series consists of short, mostly under-30-minute episodes that follow the adventures of a group of kids who commandeer a lost Starfleet vessel, the USS Protostar. Aboard the ship is a hologram version of Star Trek: Voyager’s Captain Janeway, there to serve as an instructor.

Janeway isn’t the only piece of Star Trek’s past included in the show. Unlike other new live-action Star Trek shows, Prodigy takes advantage of the Star Trek universe’s existing and established world. Rather than remaking Star Trek in its own image, Prodigy uses Star Trek to tell new stories using the world that we already know. It set out to add to the Star Trek universe, not reboot it, and for Trekkies, that’s a beautiful thing to behold.

Star Trek: Prodigy is straightforward and clearly aimed at kids, but still a lot of fun. It’s perfect for both getting the next generation involved in Star Trek and keeping adults happy and engaged.

9. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

In Season 1, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds demonstrated strong potential and got off to a great start. It was the best first season of any Star Trek show outside the original series. 

Since then, the writing has gradually degraded rather than improved. The stories have become increasingly illogical, turning into emotional venting rather than relatable character motivations and carefully plotted drama.

Season 3 began with an episode that, from a plot perspective, made no sense at all. It then produced episodes that were either jokes or ripped off from other Star Trek shows.

Captain Pike is the show’s biggest strength, and he’s brilliantly played by Anson Mount. Unfortunately, he rarely gets much screen time. 

Strange New Worlds isn’t cheaply produced. It has many special effects, including numerous lovingly crafted, detailed shots of the glorious, newly refitted Enterprise. It’s something other new Trek shows don’t always do, and should be praised for it. However, it also relies too much on obvious LED walls and dark interior shots.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds had the potential to rank highly on this list, but as the series progressed, it failed to capitalize on a strong start.

8. Star Trek: The Animated Series

Dwelling in the Star Trek dark ages between the cancellation of the original series and the revitalization of Trek with The Motion Picture is Star Trek: The Animated Series.  

Unlike almost every other animated version of something popular in live action, the Trek animated series features the vocal talents of everyone in the original cast and an extra dose of James Doohan, who, in addition to voicing Scotty, also provides voices for lots of other ancillary characters. Working in its favor is the show’s ability to do things Trek couldn’t do on a live-action TV show’s special effects budget. We get new alien characters like a three-armed navigator named Mr. Arex, whose odd limb arrangement couldn’t have been done with TV Trek makeup. 

Many of the episode scripts are written by incredibly talented science fiction writers, and there is an attempt here to explore big ideas in the same way the live-action show did. Unfortunately, those big ideas are now being shoehorned into a 20-minute animated show instead of a 42-minute live-action one. There isn’t much time, and a lot of the episodes end up feeling rushed. Some of them are flat-out silly.

The quality of the animation varies a lot, partly as a result of the time in which it was created (The Flintstones was still the pinnacle of animation in 1973). It’s also partly as a result of sheer laziness from the animators used to bring these stories to life.  

Star Trek: The Animated Series is an uneven ride, but one that hardcore Trek fans won’t mind taking. 

7. Star Trek: Voyager

Star Trek: Voyager began with the best premise any Trek show has ever had. A by-the-book Federation crew is stranded seventy years away from home with a bunch of terrorists. They’re forced to work together for survival and must claw and scratch their way back to the Federation in a hostile and totally unknown part of the universe.

For much of its run, Voyager ignored that premise and went with a script-of-the-week technobabble formula.  When the show’s central premise was addressed, it was hampered by unevenly developed characters.

When at its best, Voyager is carried by the raw talent of Robert Picardo as the ship’s lovable holographic doctor and Jerri Ryan, after she joins the show as Seven of Nine in the fourth season. Their performances are so good that they elevate everything around them, including Kate Mulgrew, whose Captain Janeway is at her best when playing off Seven. 

Star Trek: Voyager’s worst episodes are a slog but Voyager’s best episodes like “Equinox” and “Year of Hell,” make it all worthwhile. 

6. Star Trek: Lower Decks

Star Trek: Lower Decks is faithfully set during the Star Trek: The Next Generation movie era, and it uses what we already know of that world to create new stories. Sometimes, it uses that period-specific space setting to create comedy (inside jokes that only real Trekkies will get and broader humor for the newbies). It does it all seamlessly.

The animated comedy show deserves praise for its consistency, among other things. Each episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks has a minimum level of quality. There’s not a bad episode in the show’s entire run, only some that are enjoyable and also episodes that are brilliant, epic, and among the best all-time. Consistent quality in entertainment is rare, especially where Star Trek is concerned.

In season 5, they wrapped up all the show’s loose ends and fixed many of the wrongs committed by other, inferior Star Trek shows. Lower Decks was, at the time of its release, the most Star Trek the world of Star Trek had been since the 90s. Effort like that deserves a high ranking, and so I’ve given it one.

5. Star Trek: Enterprise

Star Trek: Voyager finished its run on television in 2001, and the show had fallen far in the ratings. Meanwhile, the most recent Next Generation movies were being savaged by critics and fans alike. It seemed like the perfect time to take Trek in a new direction, so instead of pushing forward in the era started by Picard back in the 80s, Trek head honchos decided to delve into Trek’s past with a prequel series set before Kirk and Spock.

Enterprise followed the crew of Earth’s first-ever warp 5 vessel, the Enterprise NX-01, as humanity began its first push out into the galaxy with the help of the Vulcans. The series had an opportunity to show us the birth of the Federation, as humans journeyed around the cosmos, making new allies and encountering enemies like the Klingons for the first time.

It did not do that. Instead, the first season immediately got bogged down in a time-travel plot forced on them by the network. Lackluster ratings and lackluster fan response caused Star Trek: Enterprise’s cancellation after four seasons in 2005, sending the entire Trek franchise into a total hibernation until JJ Abrams rebooted everything with his 2009 Star Trek film. 

So why is it so high on this list?  While they initially failed to deliver the show’s premise, the series began to find its footing at the end of the third season. By the fourth, they actually started following through on the promise Enterprise made us in the beginning.  

The fifth season could have been great, but we’ll have to settle for a third and fourth season, which showed hints of greatness in a series that never fully became what it might have been. 

4. Star Trek: Picard Season 3

The first two seasons of Star Trek: Picard are so different from Picard Season 3 that they might as well be a totally different show. Not only did they bring in an entirely new cast, but also a new showrunner, Terry Matalas, and a new creative team behind the scenes. Since Star Trek: Picard season 3 is basically a different show, I’m treating it as a different show in these rankings.

The Star Trek: Picard team that took over for season 3 actually likes Star Trek and knows something about it. So they binned everything Picard had done previously and started from scratch. That included rebuilding the show’s atrocious opening credits.

Picard season 3 is the perfect send-off movie that the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew never really got. Along the way, it even managed to fix some of the franchise’s more egregious mistakes (everything that happened to Data, for instance).

It’s not only Terry Matalas bringing back the entire Star Trek: The Next Generation cast that makes it good. Plugging in a bunch of old actors will only get your story so far, and the tone of the show is nothing like those classic Next Gen episodes.

Instead, Star Trek: Picard season 3 captures a vibe akin to the original movie era of Star Trek: II, III, IV, V, and VI. The series’ hero ship (yes, we have hero ships again) is specifically designed to be reminiscent of the refit Enterprise from that era. The Titan-A is a Neo Constitution, and it may be the coolest ship Star Trek has produced since the Enterprise-E.

Matalas’s obvious love and dedication to all things Star Trek made Picard season 3 soar. That one season, and only that one season, of the show is a proud addition to this list.

3. Star Trek: The Next Generation 

In 1994, Star Trek: The Next Generation was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series by the Emmys. It deserved to be nominated more. The long-gestating television follow-up to the Star Trek of the sixties debuted in 1987 and immediately struck a different tone than its predecessor with a mature, effete Captain who seemed more like a father figure than a gutsy adventurer. 

It worked. It worked for much the same reasons the original series did: by taking on challenging topics in a science fiction setting, with great writing that was unafraid to take risks.  TNG has stood the test of time because its lead, Captain Picard, became something of a father figure to the kids watching with their parents.

You want to BE Captain Kirk, the swashbuckling hero making all the tough calls and winning against impossible odds. You want to SERVE under Captain Picard, you want to stand with him, next to him, and soak in all his wisdom. 

Whether you prefer Kirk or Picard is probably a function of who you are, but thanks to great writing and bold vision, The Next Generation stands the test of time, responsible for some of the best moments in all of Star Trek. Characters like Data, Worf, and Q are among the most enduring figures in all of pop culture. 

2. Star Trek

The series that started it all has aged but is still entirely enjoyable, thanks in large part to the remastered versions, which cleaned up the original prints and updated some of the FX.  

CBS wanted Gene Roddenberry’s vision to be Wagon Train in the stars, but Roddenberry and the show’s staple of respected science fiction writers (like Harlan Ellison) had loftier ambitions.  They used their platform to tell complex, thought-provoking stories and build interesting characters.

The camaraderie of the holy trinity (Kirk, Spock, McCoy) is the centerpiece of the show, which did its best to challenge the ideals of its viewers (as with the first-ever interracial kiss on television in season 3) and also entertain them. It’s funny too, in all the right moments, with the constant teasing and push and pull between McCoy and Spock providing the perfect angel and devil on Kirk’s shoulders as he makes all the big decisions.

In Star Trek’s second season, Kirk admonished his crew to boldly go by telling them, “Risk is our business!”  It was Star Trek’s business, too, and the franchise has always been at its best when it takes risks. Few have taken them better than the show that started it all. 

1. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

This was the first Star Trek series designed to play out like one long, seven-season movie.  Back before linear storytelling was all the rage on television, with shows like Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine blazed a trail as one of the first TV shows to tell a continuous story arc across multiple seasons.

The stories DS9 told were top-notch, thoughtful science fiction as it tackled the reality of Gene Roddenberry’s Root Beer in a universe that does not like bubbles. Part of the reason it’s so good is Ron Moore, who would later become known as the mastermind behind the brilliant Battlestar Galactica reboot. He honed his craft here, and many of BSG’s most successful moments can be traced directly to the roots he planted on Deep Space Nine.

The cast is the most talented in Trek, with people like Renee Aberjoinois (Shapeshifting Odo), Avery Brooks (The Sisko), Colm Meaney (O’Brien Must Suffer), Armin Shimmerman (Leader of the House of Quark), Nana Visitor (Terrorist in Charge), Andrew Robinson (Plain, Simple Garak) and Michael Dorn (Not a Merry Man) delivering Emmy-worthy (but unrewarded) performances. 

Thanks to a rocky, uneven start in seasons 1 and 2, Deep Space Nine never got its due.  But if you watched it and stuck with it, by Season 4 or 5, you knew this was some of the best television in the history of the medium, and the best Star Trek show the franchise has ever produced. 

Where Should Newcomers Start Watching Star Trek?

So Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is the best show Star Trek has ever produced. But if you’ve never watched Star Trek before, is that where you should start streaming? 

If you do opt for Deep Space Nine, you’ll be happy, but I’d suggest starting with The Next Generation. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s inciting event is something triggered by the events of The Next Generation, and while DS9 still makes sense whether you’ve seen those TNG episodes or not, viewing them will only deepen your appreciation of Captain Sisko’s character arc once you dive in. Besides, Next Generation may not be number one on my list, but it’s still really, really good.

The Worst Star Trek Shows

Wondering where shows like Star Trek: Discovery or Starfleet Academy would rank if we made a longer list? You don’t have to wonder.

We made a longer version ranking everything Star Trek has ever done. Journey into darkness with our full Star Trek ranking.