If you’re like me, Heated Rivalry has left you in a daze. Instead of focusing on work and trying to make a living, I find myself daydreaming about a weekend at the cottage, practicing my Russian, and replaying “I’ll Believe in Anything” on loop. Yeah, I’m not well.

And I think most of you who just finished Heated Rivalry are probably feeling the same way. We’re having some hardcore withdrawals, and it ain’t healthy. The good news is that Heated Rivalry has been renewed for two more seasons! The bad news is that we might have to wait until 2027 for the second season (but I literally can’t wait that long, I’m barely making it through the day as it is.) Luckily, there are some other hot, steamy queer shows out there to hold us over until we get more Shane, Ilya, and Scott on our screens (and in our hearts). 

This list will specifically focus on sultry, sumptuous guy-on-guy stuff (or Boy’s Love, BL, M4M, yaoi, MM – however you like to call it). For those who are looking for some other types of queer action, check out shows like The L Word (2004), Lip Service (2010) or Twenties (2020). But for some hunky man action, check out the list below for six more shows that’ll keep you… erm, stimulated until we get another season of Heated Rivalry.

Queer as Folk (2000-2005)

Based on the short-lived British show of the same name, Queer as Folk pushed tons of boundaries. The series follows the day-to-day lives of a group of queer friends in Pittsburgh during the early 2000s, from being in the closet to gay dating, dealing with homophobia, and navigating a time when the AIDS crisis was coming to a close, thanks to modernized medicine, but not fully over yet. 

While parts of the show feel dated now, America’s regression toward bigotry has sadly brought renewed relevance to the series. But, most importantly, Queer as Folk never shied away from fearlessly depicting nudity and sex. Because it aired on Showtime, it was able to get away with lots of nudity and naughty scenes that revolutionized television. If you love great ensemble shows like Sex and the City (1998) or Girls (2012) but want a great queer twist, check out Queer as Folk. Also, for more sexy action, check out Peacock’s 2022 reboot. 

Mary & George (2024)

Did you love the 2023 gay rom-com Red, White and Royal Blue? Well, what if I told you there was a miniseries starring Royal Blue alum Nicholas Galitzine, where he plays a young man who seduces King James to gain royal favour and riches? And, what if I told you it’s all based on the true story of King James VI & I and his lover, George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham? Oh, and did I mention that Julianne Moore plays George’s brilliantly conniving mother? 

On top of its oh-so-juicy plot, Mary & George is loaded with hot, thumpin’, bumpin’ sex scenes, and fans who loved seeing Galitzine’s rump in Red, White and Royal Blue will get more of that sweet, sweet cake, along with tons of full-frontals, too. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Galitzine even admitted he once shot four different sex scenes with four different partners in one day while making Mary & George. If that doesn’t sell the show, I don’t know what will. If you like steamy period dramas like The Tudors (2007) or Spartacus (2010), this is the show for you. 

Fellow Travelers (2023)

Set during the 1950s Lavender Scare, Fellow Travelers sees two closeted government employees begin a ravenous affair that slowly turns into a tender romance. Even better, the two leads are Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey. The show has some seriously hot and raw hunk-on-hunk action that will definitely fog up your glasses. 

But on top of that, it tells a truly gripping story about what the LGBTQ community had to go through during an era of immense persecution and bigotry. If you love captivating queer period dramas like It’s a Sin (2021), or are just riding the Jonathan Bailey train like the rest of us, you need to watch Fellow Travelers.  

Now Apocalypse (2019)

Queer auteur Gregg Araki is known for his deliciously horny indie films like The Doom Generation (1995) and Kaboom (2010). But in 2019, he also created the series Now Apocalypse, about a group of trendy twentysomethings in LA who bang anyone within arm’s reach. The show is full of hard abs, oiled bods, kinks… and an extraterrestrial lizard who might be the harbinger of the apocalypse. 

Now Apocalypse stars hot studs like Avan Jogia, Beau Mirchoff, and Tyler Posey, and the entire series is drenched in neon technicolor, bold outfits, and quirky charm. Come for the studs, stay for the seriously absurd and hilarious story. If you love series like Overcompensating (2025), but want it with some hardcore levels of zany kitsch and untamed camp, you gotta watch Now Apocalypse. 

Unconventional (2025)

Following the lives of two queer millennial siblings in their 30s, Unconventional was the first full-length scripted series from the rising LGBTQ streaming platform Revry. The show is available to stream on numerous platforms (including free ones like Pluto TV!) But for the full, uncensored version, you’ll have to watch on Revry. And if you’re reading this list, I’m guessing that’s the version you’ll want to watch. 

Plus, gay icon Kathy Griffin and Emmy-winner Beau Bridges even have supporting roles. If you love niche queer series like Noah’s Ark (2005) or EastSiders (2012), this is the show for you. 

Looking (2014-2016)

HBO’s Looking came out during a very strange time for the gay community. During the show’s run, gay marriage was legalized, the community transitioned away from the AIDS epidemic and into the era of PEP and PrEP, as apps like Grinder became commonplace. It’s sorta like Queer as Folk for a more modern audience. 

Looking portrays a group of queer friends living in San Francisco during these transitional years and follows their exploits with love, friendship, and hookups. The show doesn’t shy away from steamy sex scenes, and it includes everything from threesomes to cruising and more. The series also has a pretty robust cast, including Jonathan Groff, Russell Tovey, and future White Lotus (2021) star Murray Bartlett. 

Anticipation for Avengers: Doomsday (2026) is steadily rising as new details of the major Marvel Cinematic Universe film arise. The latest installment in the Avengers series is slated to be the MCU’s biggest crossover event yet, bringing together the Fantastic Four, X-Men, Thunderbolts, and several Avengers as they face the universe’s newest, most significant threat: Doctor Doom (Robert Downey, Jr.).

Excitement for the return of these characters, new and old, rose further when SFX/Makeup artist Gi Ponci Mua shared promotional art that seemed to tease the costumes of all the confirmed cast members for Avengers: Doomsday. Based on the art and other teasers, some of our favorite, most comic book-accurate MCU costumes may be returning. Use our guide to find out the best MCU costumes that we might see return in Avengers: Doomsday.

Magneto’s ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ (2014) Costume

In the Avengers: Doomsday promo art, one face is blocked, so you can only see a torso dressed in red. Many fans suspect it’s Magneto (Ian McKellen) in his red X-Men: Days of Future Past costume. In the film, young Magneto (Michael Fassbender) wears a reddish helmet, a breastplate with dark red sleeves, and a red cape. It’s the closest he gets to Magneto’s red/purple suit in the comics. If that is Magneto in the art, we can assume he’ll be wearing a costume similar to X-Men: Days of Future Past, but perhaps a slightly more comic book-accurate version.

X-Men: Days of Future Past is one of the best X-Men movies, incorporating time travel to create an intriguing crossover between the younger and older X-Men iterations. It is entertaining and climactic, and it reminds me a little of Avengers: Endgame (2019) with its time travel and crossover elements.

Mystique’s ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ (2016) Costume

The Avengers: Doomsday promo art depicted Mystique (Rebecca Romijn) in a comic book-accurate white suit. The only time we’ve seen Mystique with a semi-comic book-accurate look was at the end of X-Men: Apocalypse, when young Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) upgrades her look while training new X-Men recruits. Her sleeveless suit had a large white stripe down the front with blue shoulders and sides. In Avengers: Doomsday, it’s expected that Mystique will wear a similar suit with perhaps a few tweaks for enhanced accuracy.

Mystique’s costume was a surprising nod to Marvel Comics in a film that, otherwise, wasn’t overly concerned with comic book accuracy. Although it earned criticism for Apocalypse’s (Oscar Isaac) design and depiction, it still shines as a standard action-packed superhero film with excellent visuals and thrills. Fans of Dark Phoenix (2019) and X-Men: First Class (2011), which focus on the younger X-Men generation, will especially enjoy X-Men: Apocalypse.

Thor’s ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018) Costume

The Avengers: Doomsday art teases that Thor (Chris Hemsworth) will return to his Avengers: Infinity War look, with his short hair and black armored vest. While some prefer his iconic long locks, I’ve always loved his short hair and the more modern take on his costume. He has never looked stronger than in Avengers: Infinity War, which gives me hope that Thor in Avengers: Doomsday will boast that same awe-inspiring presence.

It’s not surprising that Thor had such a great costume in Avengers: Infinity War. The film is all about the spectacle and grandness of its epic crossover, and it really revels in how cool its characters are and look as they come together to face one of the strongest villains in the most high-stakes battles the MCU had seen up to that point. Avengers: Infinity is a must-see for fans who loved The Avengers (2012) but wished for an even grander scale.

Captain America’s ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019) Costume

The first Avengers: Doomsday teaser confirmed the return of Chris Evans’ Captain America. It also teased his look for the movie, as we see him pull out his Avengers: Endgame suit. The suit looks similar to his other costume iterations in the MCU, but features a more modern, scaled design, with the familiar star emblazoned on the chest. The chainmail-esque design on the breastplate is just the finishing touch his costume needed.

Most of The Avengers boasted slightly tweaked costumes in Avengers: Endgame, and the changes felt right for the finale feel of the movie and to track how they’d changed in the five-year time jump. Avengers: Endgame, as a whole, is one of the best-looking movies in the MCU. The visuals are stunning, and the cinematography is gorgeous, while the emotion and stakes offer the perfect payoff for the wait between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

Shuri’s ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (2022) Costume

Shuri (Letitia Wright) takes on the Black Panther mantle in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, wearing a gorgeous Black Panther suit with gold trimming. Based on the Avengers: Doomsday artwork, her black-and-gold suit will return. I thought the black-and-gold suit not only looked great, but also added a nice distinction between her costume and T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) costumes.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was the perfect follow-up to Black Panther (2018). It respected and honored Boseman’s legacy while establishing the MCU’s new Black Panther, Shuri. Like Black Panther, it’s a film that captured more than superhero action and delved into a poignant tale of grief, imperial power, culture, and hope. If you loved Black Panther and prefer superhero movies with a bit more emotion, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a must-see. 

Loki’s ‘Loki’ Season 2 (2023) Costume

In Loki Season 2, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) boasts a distinct costume at the end. When he becomes the God of Time, his outfit transforms to a new black-horned helmet and flowing green cloak. The Avengers: Doomsday Loki promo art is hard to make out, but to me, the shoulders most closely resemble the green, cloak-like garment in his God of Time outfit, while the horns appear to be his pre-Loki gold-horned look. However, I hope his full, dignified God of Time costume resurfaces in Avengers: Doomsday.

Loki’s costume change in Loki was the final touch of his transformation. His solo TV series shows a different side of the character, proving that redemption is possible. The deep dive into timelines, the multiverse, and Loki variants gives the show an intriguing sci-fi/fantasy vibe that makes it feel like one of the MCU’s more refreshing, distinct TV series, similar to WandaVision (2021) and Moon Knight (2022).

Gambit’s ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (2024) Costume

Channing Tatum’s Gambit will return in Avengers: Doomsday and, according to the promo art, he’ll wear the same costume he boasted in Deadpool & Wolverine. The costume is mainly comic book-accurate, complete with a plated vest, brown trench coat, headband, and black cowl. It was much more accurate and flashier than Taylor Kitsch’s Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), and it will be nice to see it again in Avengers: Doomsday.

Deadpool & Wolverine is an excellent film that demonstrates how fun multiverse movies can be. It gives viewers a chance to revisit beloved Marvel characters, like Blade (Wesley Snipes), or to finally visualize characters that never came to fruition, like Tatum’s Gambit. In addition to the wild variants and Marvel Easter eggs, Deadpool & Wolverine is the Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) crossover that fans have always dreamed of.

Cyclops’ ‘X-Men ‘97’ (2024) Costume

One gripe that many viewers had about the X-Men film series was that James Marsden’s Cyclops never got his comic book-accurate yellow and blue suit. Avengers: Doomsday may finally change that after the promo art revealed Cyclops in the iconic suit, which we’ve only seen in animated works, including X-Men ‘97.

X-Men ‘97 is a revival of X-Men: The Animated Series (1992) and could connect to the MCU through the multiverse. The series is an excellent way to stir hype for the X-Men’s return to the big screen, as it tracks their adventures in animation. It really captures the personalities and unique abilities of its heroes, as well as the primary themes of discrimination and acceptance that X-Men stories have always explored. Fans of the X-Men film series and X-Men: The Animated Series won’t want to miss X-Men ‘97.

Captain America’s ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ (2025) Costume

The Avengers: Doomsday promo art promises Anthony Mackie’s Captain America will return with the same suit he wore in Captain America: Brave New World. When Mackie first donned the Cap suit in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021), it boasted white ascents, goggles, and a cowl. For Captain America: Brave New World, his suit was upgraded to more closely resemble Rogers’, featuring a sleeker, more modern design and a blend of the Captain America and Falcon logos on his chest. I’m happy this perfect blend of Cap and Falcon may return for Avengers: Doomsday.

Captain America: Brave New World really allows Mackie to settle into the role of Captain America. He’s got the suit, the title, and the first feature-length outing as Cap, and it’s the perfect introduction to his new role. It nicely captures how he honors Captain America’s legacy while maintaining his own unique understanding of heroism and good and evil.

Sentry’s ‘Thunderbolts*’ (2025) Costume

After his MCU debut in Thunderbolts*, Sentry (Lewis Pullman) will return for Avengers: Doomsday. Based on the promo art, he’ll be wearing the same Sentry costume he wore in Thunderbolts*. Sentry’s suit in Thunderbolts* felt pretty special because they went with the nearly perfectly comic book-accurate yellow suit and black cape on the first try. If the suit returns in Avengers: Doomsday, it will hopefully add to a bigger display of comic book-accurate costumes than we’ve seen in the MCU before.

Thunderbolts* is one of the best, most recent MCU entries. Its underdog tale and team of anti-heroes set it apart from the MCU’s other superhero team-ups, such as The Avengers and The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025). There’s a lot more humor, heart, and spirit, as well as surprisingly touching moments of connection that reminded me of movies like The Suicide Squad (2021) and Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).

The holiday season has been defined over the years by certain traditional releases, ranging from timeless classics like Miracle on 34th Street (1947) to the more unexpected joys in movies like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005). With the holidays wrapping up, you might be looking for some movies that are a bit more subversive, silly, or perfectly attuned to the new year.

Some of the best examples of that can be found below, with a range of wacky comedies, epic action stories, and surprisingly heartbreaking turns breaking up the standard releases. Amid high-profile movies like Marty Supreme (2025) and anticipated shows like the finale of Stranger Things (2016), these 10 movies will cure your holiday hangover. Find them now on Netflix, HBO Max, and beyond. 

Coming to America (1988)

Set in the winter months but not necessarily a holiday film, Coming to America is a great movie to check out in the aftermath of the holiday season. The film stars Eddie Murphy at the height of his star power as Akeem Joffer, the prince of an African nation who decides to travel to New York City in hopes of finding a bride who loves him for him, not his station. Silly and romantic in equal measure, Coming to America benefits from a lighthearted tone that nevertheless explores themes of social class and bucking tradition.

Bolstered by a great supporting cast that includes Wesley Snipes and James Earl Jones, this is a great reminder of Murphy’s talents beyond playing a street-smart player in Beverly Hills Cop (1984) or Trading Places (1983). It’s a fun film to close out the holiday season with, especially as the themes are great for audiences heading into the new year, looking for new beginnings. 

Skyfall (2012)

The third outing for Daniel Craig as James Bond, Skyfall is a perfect fit for audiences looking for a bit of epic action to break up the more grounded and sweet fodder that makes up most holiday films. The movie focuses on a long-believed dead member of MI:6, who returns to enact revenge on M, meaning James Bond must confront the sins of his organization’s past while contending with his own history.

Set against a winter backdrop that becomes clearer in the film’s explosive ending, Skyfall has some wild twists and turns that only work thanks to the committed performances at the heart of the film. With Javier Bardem delivering an amazing villain performance opposite Daniel Craig’s James Bond, Skyfall works as a great palette cleanser for the old year and ends with a wide-open future.

Groundhog Day (1993)

A perfect watch for fans of Bill Murray movies like Scrooged (1988) and Ghostbusters (1984), the sense of renewed life and love in Groundhog Day makes it great for starting the new year. Focusing on a jerk of a weatherman who finds himself caught in an endless time loop of the same 24 hours, Murray imbues Groundhog Day with enough disarming comedy and understated charm to make it irresistible.

As the film goes along, Groundhog Day gradually develops a softer side, showcasing its talent for mixing dark comedy with sincere heart. A clear tonal ancestor to other successful time loop stories like Palm Springs (2020) and About Time (2013), Groundhog Day is a classic for a reason.

Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

With Die Hard (1988) becoming something of a Christmas classic, fans looking for another John McClane adventure should check out Die Hard with a Vengeance. Set in New York City, the film pairs McClane with a short-tempered Harlem business owner to contend with the dangerous brother of Hans Gruber, who is seemingly out for revenge. Harsher than almost any other entry in the series, this sequel features plenty of snarky back-and-forth between McClane and Zeus (played to perfection by Samuel L. Jackson) to keep audiences engaged.

It also boasts some of the franchise’s best action set pieces. While the actual plot is set against the blistering New York summer, audiences looking for a new McClane adventure will find plenty to love about this one. However, families who give the first film a pass and let kids and teens check out the action might want to steer them clear of Die Hard with a Vengeance, given the harsher language and situations like the sandwich board scene, which has to be seen to be believed.

Rocky (1976)

One of the all-time great sports films, Rocky is a perfect film to transition away from the holiday season. Set against a wintry backdrop in Philadelphia, the film follows the titular boxer as he prepares for a once-in-a-lifetime bout with the champ, Apollo Creed. Finding the key balance between uplifting and dramatic, Rocky’s more somber elements will keep audiences engaged while laying the groundwork for some of the best training montages in cinematic history.

It all builds to a timeless fight where Rocky doesn’t necessarily win, but proves that he can go the distance. Even if you’ve seen this film a hundred times (or know all the often imitated story beats by heart), the Rocky franchise is great for this time of year thanks to other films like the campy jingoism of Rocky IV (1985) or the technically superior—and incredibly impressive—Creed (2015) and its own sequels.

Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)

While Gremlins (1984) is a great holiday movie, Gremlins 2: The New Batch is far weirder, with enough subversive elements to make it ideal for the post-holiday season. The film follows Billy and Kate’s efforts to rescue Gizmo from the Clamp Center after he accidentally spawns a number of new mogwai.

Sillier than the horror-heavy original film, Gremlins 2 is a far more subversive title. The movie boasts plenty of parodies of classic film franchises, even briefly turning Gizmo into Rambo. More of a parody of sequels than a full-throated one itself, Gremlins 2 has a lot of fun poking fun at its own existence and at the modern classic that spawned it, with a lighter and more sardonic tone than the previous movie. If you loved the first Gremlins (or even if you hated it), Gremlins 2 might be a great movie to head into the new year with.

Harvey (1950)

A sweetheart movie from beginning to end, Harvey is a genuine delight and a great way to ring in the new year. While Jimmy Stewart’s holiday era films will always be defined by his starring role in It’s A Wonderful Life (1946), Harvey is every bit as good as that holiday classic—and maybe even better, thanks to a winning script that finds the right balance between witty repertoire and unyielding heart.

The film focuses on Jimmy Stewart’s Elwood, a wealthy young man who is pleasant to everyone he meets, a trait he seemingly acquired from his best friend, an invisible giant rabbit only he can see. Based on a play of the same name, Harvey benefits greatly from Stewart’s perpetually kind performance, with his soft side steadily winning over the relatives and doctors who fear that he’s gone mad. A winning film with a great big heart, Harvey is just sardonic enough to stand out from the typical holiday fare, but cute enough not to feel like too much of a departure from the season.

The Holdovers (2023)

A terrific dramedy with Academy Award-winning performances, The Holdovers is a great late-winter film for older audiences. The movie focuses on a teacher and cafeteria manager at a prestigious boarding school who are forced to remain there over the holidays to chaperone the students with no holiday plans.

Prickly without ever feeling mean, The Holdovers benefits greatly from a surprisingly snarky tone. Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, and especially Da’Vine Joy Randolph are terrific in the film, with the latter even earning a well-deserved Oscar for her heartbreaking performance as a mourning mother. A great anti-Christmas movie that nevertheless highlights the spirit of the season in its own unique way, The Holdovers may not be the right fit for younger audiences, but older viewers who love movies like Sideways (2004) or The Descendants (2011) will find plenty to love about this one.

Snowpiercer (2013)

A grim post-apocalyptic sci-fi action film set against an endless winter may not necessarily be what anyone thinks of when it comes time for the holidays, but Snowpiercer is a great flick to watch if you’re in need of some intense action and creative social satire. It follows an uprising among the workers onboard one of the last moving trains after the collapse of the world due to a new ice age. 

Snowpiercer is one of Bong Joon Ho’s most unique films, and considering he’s the visionary behind Parasite (2019) and Mickey 17 (2025), that’s saying something. Brutal in its action but with a defiant humanist core, Snowpiercer, as well as the Snowpiercer (2020) TV show that was inspired by it, are worth your time if you’re in the mood for a dark sci-fi epic. It’s a far cry from the more uplifting movies that usually define this time of year, but that’s what makes it such a good choice.

The Great Race (1965)

One of the biggest comedies of all time, The Great Race is everything audiences could want from a movie meant to end the year. The film focuses on a global race between Tony Curtis’ perfect Leslie the Great and his nemesis, Jack Lemmon’s conniving Professor Fate.

Slapstick at its finest, the film boasts a massive saloon brawl, encounters with polar bears, and the greatest pie fight in cinematic history. Coupled with Natalie Wood delivering a terrific performance as an intrepid reporter, Maggie DuBois, and a series of adventurous set pieces designed to honor the silent comedy icons that inspired generations of movie makers, The Great Race is a unique achievement of the comedy genre and the perfect non-holiday movie to watch in the aftermath of Christmas.

Volcanoes are one of nature’s most terrifying natural phenomena, turning regular-seeming mountains into massive torrents of smoke and flame. As such, it shouldn’t be surprising that plenty of filmmakers over the years have taken inspiration from the concept for movies. Everything from family-targeted animated stories to large-scale disaster films has found clever ways to use volcanoes as dangerous settings and overwhelming plot devices.

The best volcano scenes are the ones that blend a sense of hopelessness with the situation and the emotional core of their film, whether that be a confrontation with the divine in Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) or a tragic acceptance of fate. Some creatives have found other ways to use the imagery, reflecting the roaring fury of a broken heart or the bittersweet embrace of love in the face of certain death. Across fantasy epics, disaster films, and animated movies, here are the best volcano scenes in movie history, and where you can watch them on Prime Video, Disney+, and more.

Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)

Avatar: Fire and Ash is thematically rooted to a volcano, in more ways than one. Following up on the events of Avatar (2009) and Avatar: The Way of Water (2023), the third entry in James Cameron's sci-fi epic brings the Sully family into conflict with the Mangkwan, otherwise known as the Ash Tribe, having lost their faith in the franchise's deity Eywa after their home was decimated by a volcanic eruption. The scene where Quaritch visits their tribe in the ruined landscape is one of the most effective scenes in the film, and an anti-gravity duel above a splintering section of the planet gives the film's climax a volcanic touch. Fans of James Cameron's trilogy will be pleased with this third entry in the franchise, which does a good job of escalating the action while expanding the focus of the narrative more into the rest of the Sully family.

Volcano (1997)

Part of the 1990s string of memorable disaster films, Volcano is a character-driven thriller that works best when it retains a human focus. Volcano focuses on an eruption of a volcano in Los Angeles that threatens the city. The film's drama stems from the citizens of the city struggling to survive the chaos. Benefiting from a strong cast that includes Tommy Lee Jones and Keith David, the movie's use of LA gives the disaster tropes a larger scale than many other entries on this list. The best scene in the film is one that takes place in the LA transit system, with a group of survivors struggling to escape a quickly submerging train—and losing some notable characters along the way. A classic disaster movie through and through, fans of star-studded spectacle showcases like The Towering Inferno (1974) and Poseidon (2006) will love this one.

Dante's Peak (1997)

An unexpected rival to Volcano, Dante's Peak has a tighter scale and greater character focus. Set in the Pacific Northwest, the film follows a geologist and the citizens of a small town as they try to survive a suddenly rising volcano. A more grounded disaster movie than some of the other entries in the disaster genre, Dante's Peak has some truly memorable moments where Pierce Brosnan's volcano expert tries to keep others from getting overwhelmed and overtaken by the lava, including a scene where they try to reach higher ground as a river of lava overtakes the town streets by climbing atop of cars as they begin to sink into the flames. While the film wasn't well-received by critics, it's worth watching for fans of disaster movies on a smaller scale, like Take Shelter (2011) or Twister (1996).

2012 (2009)

A wildly over-the-top disaster movie that pulls out all the stops and hits audiences with every kind of world disaster at once, 2012 has every type of disaster movie wrapped up into it—including a volcano-heavy sequence that is just as wild as it is horrifying. With a level of destruction that rivals anything in the likes of Deep Impact (1998) and Armageddon (1998), 2012 embraces the scope and scale of the destruction of the world at large. This includes a sequence where the film's primary survivors, led by John Cusack's Jackson, end up at Yellowstone just as the long-dormant volcano erupts. A massive spectacle moment that is hard to match with any other film, 2012 works best as a visual showcase for how far special effects have come since the days of The Last Days of Pompeii (1935), with a level of horrifying spectacle matched by other apocalyptic movies like Don’t Look Up (2021) and the instantly classic “Day Of” episode of Paradise (2025).

Pompeii (2014)

Speaking of the Roman catastrophe (and films directed by Roland Emmerich), Pompeii is a period-piece drama that also happens to use the historical event as the basis for a wildly over-the-top disaster film. Starring Kit Harrington and Emily Browning as star-crossed lovers kept apart by society, the film’s various romantic and period-piece story elements quickly (and purposefully) become derailed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This leads to the film’s tragic ending, where the pair—the final survivors of the main cast amid the chaos—accept their fate and embrace as the volcanic flames engulf them. Perfect for movie fans obsessed with ancient Roman and ancient Greek movies like Gladiator (2000) and Troy (2004), Pompeii highlights the heartbreaking reality of being caught in a volcanic eruption.

Moana (2016)

One of the best animated Disney movies of the 21st century, Moana’s epic conclusion against a fiery walking volcano is a visually stunning and emotionally powerful turn for the movie. Much of the film sets up the danger posed by Te Kā, an apparent demon made of molten earth and endless fire. In essence, a walking volcano, Te Kā is eventually revealed to be the dark form of Te Fiti, the Goddess of life at the center of the film’s mythology. This leads Moana to confront the entity with empathy and understanding instead of anger and fear, leading to a gorgeously animated sequence where the fire god rushes towards her in a rage, only to be calmed by the young woman and restored to her true form. Magical in a way that can only be matched by the gorgeous animation of something like Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005), Moana’s finale is one of the nicest takes on a volcanic eruption in film history.

Shrek (2001)

While Shrek largely avoids stakes for the sake of comedy, one of the film’s more memorable moments of danger comes when the titular ogre and his companion Donkey are forced to cross a rickety bridge in an effort to reach Princess Fiona’s castle. The scene doesn’t shy away from the danger of the situation, with Donkey’s trepidation played for laughs and tension—especially once Shrek decides to mess with him by shaking the bridge. The beat actually ends up being a fun friendship moment for the pair before leading into their eventual escape from the dragon, paying off in an exciting way. While Shrek’s volcano scene may not be the most dramatic beat in the DreamWorks franchise, it’s still a great use of the natural danger as the background for a bit of character growth between the movie’s lead buddy partnership.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

The second entry in the modern Jurassic Park (1993) sequel trilogy, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom spends much of the run-time building to the eruption of a volcano on the dinosaur-inhabited island. Desperate to save as many of the creatures as they can, the film’s protagonists find themselves still on the island when the mountain erupts and begins to spew flame and fire all around. This leads to the highlight of the movie, with a desperate race to reach the shore while the heroes try to avoid being crushed by the fleeing animals or wiped out by the flames raining down above them—with the aftermath being one of the most quietly somber beats in the entire franchise as they sail away and can do nothing but watch as the poor creatures left on the island are caught up in the smoke cloud. While the rest of the movie fails to match that emotional height, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’s volcano scene is a real high point for the entire franchise.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Perhaps one of the most emotionally powerful scenes to be set at the base of an erupting volcano, the climax of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is bittersweet and triumphant all at once. After finally reaching Mount Doom after an arduous journey across Middle-earth, Frodo is finally broken by the corrupting influence of the One Ring—only for Gollum’s greedy attempt to steal the ring back, setting off a battle that accidentally dooms Sauron and saves the world. The scene is full of iconic moments, ranging from Gollum being consumed in the lava with his “precious,” to Frodo and Sam embracing as they accept their apparent fates. The scene even ends with Frodo and Sam being saved by Gandalf, giving this volcano scene a powerful finale. One of the best fantasy movies of all time, The Return of the King’s final scene is a delight from beginning to end—much as is the whole film.

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

The conclusion of the Star Wars prequel trilogy and one of the most anticipated sequences in the franchise’s history, Obi-Wan and Anakin’s duel on the lava-covered world of Mustafar is the best part of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. The heartbreaking and pulse-pounding conclusion to Anakin’s arc from precocious child to future Sith Lord, along with the duel between the former Jedi and his old master is truly epic, taking place across several structures and eventually building to a climactic final moment on the shores of a river of lava. It’s emotionally powerful and visually exciting, with a sense of action that matches some of the other memorable lightsaber duels from the Star Wars franchise like the climax of Return of the Jedi (1983) and Rey and Kylo’s team-up in The Last Jedi (2017). 

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) just finished wrapping, meaning the newest Marvel Cinematic Universe film and Spider-Man installment is just around the corner. Slated for release in July 2026, it will see the return of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker (aka Spider-Man), alongside his friends MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon). A few new faces have also joined the cast, including Stranger Things (2016) star Sadie Sink and Severance’s (2022) Tramell Tillman in undisclosed roles.

The film will pick up a little after Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), following Peter Parker as he begins a new chapter after much of the universe has forgotten his secret identity. Given its connection to previous Spider-Man installments and established MCU characters, there are a few films you’ll want to watch before Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters.

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

To get the most out of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, you’ll want to start from the beginning with Captain America: Civil War. Captain America: Civil War marks Holland’s Spider-Man debut, as Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.) recruits the teen hero to help him fight against Captain America (Chris Evans) in an Avengers dispute. While it’s not mandatory to understand Spider-Man’s story, nothing better highlights the character’s growth and change over the past decade than contrasting his first outing with Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Captain America: Civil War is also one of the best movies in the MCU. It moves closer to realism, exploring what a world with heroes would truly look like as world leaders seek to regulate them and tensions rise. Tense, dark, political, and action-packed, it blends the typical superhero action and dazzling scope of Marvel films, but with a little more complexity and sophistication, reminiscent of films like The Dark Knight (2008) and Superman (2025).

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Spider-Man: Homecoming is the first installment in the MCU’s Spider-Man series. It tracks the beginning of Spider-Man’s solo journey as he tries to be a hero in his own right after Iron Man declares he’s not ready to be an Avenger yet. It marks the first official chapter in Spider-Man’s MCU journey, and it will get you acquainted with Parker’s friends, family, and humble beginnings. Additionally, the film briefly introduces Michael Mando’s Mac Gargan (aka Scorpion), who is set to return in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Spider-Man: Homecoming is an excellent introduction to Peter Parker. It forgoes the typical origin story, starting with him already having powers, which keeps the momentum and pace up. As one of the first MCU films to focus on a teenager, it also features coming-of-age and high school drama elements, like Smallville (2001) and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025), which will especially appeal to younger viewers. 

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War’s focus on a much larger cast means it doesn’t mark an extensive chapter in Spider-Man’s journey. However, it is a must-see before Avengers: Endgame (2019), which is essential to understanding the current state of the MCU in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The film sees The Avengers rally for one final effort to stop Thanos (Josh Brolin) as the warlord attempts to use the Infinity Stones to radically change Earth.

Avengers: Infinity War is one of the MCU’s most ambitious crossovers. The sheer scale and scope of the project do not disappoint as viewers see a decade’s worth of stories and heroes converge on the big screen in one epic finale. Meanwhile, witnessing Spider-Man’s dream of being an Avenger come true is quite the treat. Fans of epic crossover movies, like The Avengers (2012) or Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), will love Avengers: Infinity War.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is set in an alternate timeline from the MCU and has little connection to Spider-Man: Brand New Day, except for Tombstone. The animated movie tapped Marvin Jones III (aka Krondon) to voice Tombstone, and he will now also portray an alternate, live-action version of the character in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. If you want to get an idea of why fans are so pumped about his casting, you can catch a couple of perfectly delivered lines from him in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Aside from Tombstone, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is an excellent take on Spider-Man. With cutting-edge animation, a mind-blowing multiversal premise, and an excellent depiction of Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), it’s one of the best Spider-Man films. Even though it’s not connected to the MCU, it will give you a better idea overall of the world of Spider-Man and the character’s many comic book iterations.

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Avengers: Endgame is the continuation of Avengers: Infinity War, which sees the remaining Avengers hatch a plan to go back in time and stop Thanos from acquiring the Infinity Stones. Like Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame features only a minor role for Spider-Man. However, the film is really the beginning of the current Spider-Man era, as it captures a pivotal MCU moment and a significant development with Spider-Man’s mentor, Iron Man.

In addition to putting Spider-Man on his current path, Avengers: Endgame is a solid finale to the Infinity Saga. The movie demonstrates the MCU can handle time travel effectively and packs in the action and emotion necessary to send off this era of the universe. If you loved Avengers: Infinity War and the Iron Man trilogy, Avengers: Endgame is a must-see.

Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Spider-Man: Far From Home follows Spider-Man as he adjusts to life after Avengers: Endgame and faces mounting superhero pressure after Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) recruits him to fight the Elementals. The film covers a significant part of Spider-Man’s MCU storyline, tracking the development of his relationship with MJ and an unexpected twist involving his superhero persona. You’ll definitely want to watch Spider-Man: Far From Home to understand Spider-Man’s relationships and the plot of Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Spider-Man: Far From Home returns to the tone and vibe of Spider-Man: Homecoming, especially that teen drama/romance element. The chemistry between Holland, Zendaya, and Batalon makes it a charming teen movie, while Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) and the Elementals ensure there’s a bit of superhero action. Ultimately, it’s a strong entry in the Spider-Man film series and a necessary chapter in Spider-Man’s journey.

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Spider-Man: No Way Home is the third installment in the Spider-Man series and centers on Parker after his attempts to erase society’s memories of his alter ego accidentally open a rift in the multiverse. It’s easily the most ambitious Spider-Man movie as it delves deep into the multiverse and brings back favorites from Sony’s Spider-Man movies, including Andrew Garfield and Toby Maguire’s Spider-Man iterations. The multiversal crossover creates both a sense of freshness and nostalgia.

Spider-Man: No Way Home is packed with action and feels like a homage to Spider-Man’s film history, but it also marks the most emotional chapter in Spider-Man’s journey. His actions in the film will profoundly affect his place in the MCU and directly shape the storyline of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. As one of the boldest and most critical Spider-Man movies, it’s the one most essential to watch before Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

2025 was a banner year for the anime industry. While the winter may have been slow, once spring and summer hit, there was an explosion of high-quality shows like never before. Whether you had Crunchyroll, Netflix, or even HIDIVE, there was something for everyone. But with the year winding down, and after watching an unhealthy amount of anime, it’s time to figure out what the best anime of 2025 is. 

With well over a hundred anime that have been released this year, some ground rules need to be established. First, we’re not going to talk about anime feature films. Even though Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (2025) made history as the highest-grossing anime film of all time, and 100 Meters (2025) was a technical marvel, it would feel weird to include them on a list of shows. Also, we’re only going to be looking at new shows, so returning shows like Dandadan (2024-Present), My Hero Academia (2016-2025), NEW Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (2025), and Apothecary Diaries (2023-Present), while excellent, would just take focus away from the new shows that deserve a round in the spotlight. 

With that being said, here is JustWatch’s Top 10 best anime of 2025 that you need to watch.

10) May I Ask For One Final Thing? (2025)

Fantasy anime have become a dime a dozen lately. Usually, with generic premises and ho-hum worlds we’ve seen dozens of times before, it takes a lot for a fantasy story to actually stand apart from the crowd, which is exactly what May I Ask for One Final Thing? does.

Setting an anime from the perspective of a gleefully violent villainess is one thing, but the lengths that May I Ask for One Final Thing? goes to make its protagonist, Scarlet, as sardonic as possible, giving the show a unique taste. In fact, the English dub does a lot to help elevate the show’s comedy and separates it from all of the generic fantasy on the market. There’s a certain wit and dark sense of humor to the dub that captures some of the same spirit as The Apothecary Diaries’ dub, with certain jokes even going so far as to give High School of the Dead (2010) flashbacks. It’s a show that indulges in its violent tendencies, and if you want to see a charming heroine relentlessly and joyously beat people into paste, May I Ask for One Final Thing? will meet your needs. 

9) Clevatess (2025-Present)

While May I Ask for One Final Thing? takes its time creating an entertaining fantasy world, Clevatess is the polar opposite. By the end of the first episode, we get a clear understanding that the world of Clevatess is dark, unforgiving, cruel, and oh so irresistible.

Also sporting a rather solid English dub, Clevatess feels like a time capsule from a bygone era. Thanks to some smart use of filters and sound design, Clevatess feels like it was ripped right out of the mid-2000s alongside Claymore (2007). The dynamic between its zombified heroine and the dark god she’s forced to serve is unconventional, and understanding the inner machinations of Clevatess and his lackadaisical desire to learn about humanity makes him a compelling lead. The action is fantastic, especially in the premiere, and it never loses focus over the course of its 12-episode first season. With a second season already confirmed to be in production, dark fantasy lovers looking for something retro will find a lot to enjoy with Clevatess.

8) The Summer Hikaru Died (2025-Present)

Dark anime like Clevatess are special when done right, but seeing a fully realized horror anime is incredibly rare. Horror is a niche genre at the end of the day, and seeing one succeed doesn’t happen every day. That is, unless you’re The Summer Hikaru Died. 

The Summer Hikaru Died is a great existential Lovecraftian horror series that revels in creating disturbing encounters meant to unnerve you. It’s a slow-burning series as we slowly piece together what the being that replaced the deceased Hikaru is, what it wants, and the secrets of the small town that’s reminiscent of Summertime Rendering (2022). The series also does a commendable job tastefully and thoughtfully integrating its LGBT messaging surrounding its two young male leads in a way that feels authentic both to its setting and their age. It blew up on Netflix over the summer, and if you’ve been looking for some unfathomable horror, The Summer Hikaru Died is the best 2025 has to offer.

7) Gachiakuta (2025-Present)

In a year where many of the old guards of Shonen action anime are taking their bows, new blood needs to rise up to keep the thrills alive. Thankfully for us, Gachiakuta is here to satisfy our need for violence with a series that isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty.

For its 24-episode first season, Gachiakuta has consistently impressed with its grimy world and characters that don’t fall into your typical Shonen tropes. The dynamic between Rudo and the rest of the Cleaners feels natural and like a found family, bickering and supporting each other in a way that breaks away from tradition. The show sports a similar attitude to Fire Force (2019-2026), and thrives on making its fight scenes into absolute spectacles with a whole litany of powers revolving around personal objects and the meaning that people associate with them. Gachiakuta is full of creativity and personality, making it perfect for you if you want a Shonen action series that doesn’t play it safe. 

6) Sanda (2025)

Christmas is one of the most popular holidays in the world, but, surprisingly, few anime center around the holidays. Sanda not only manages to tell a story about the importance of Santa Claus and the true meaning of Christmas, but also a messy and honest coming-of-age story.

A lot is going on in Sanda. It’s a mystery series about a female student who disappeared. It’s a dystopian thriller in the same vein as Shimoneta (2015) that criticizes the nature of government control and the adherence to cultural norms. It’s an action series about a buff and occasionally naked Santa Claus beating up adults to make kids smile. And, of course, it’s a Christmas story that asks both kids and adults to believe in miracles. Does it all come together? Not always, but the solid character designs from Beastars’ (2019-2026) Paru Itagaki are striking, and Science Saru animates each scene with a flair that brings her manga to life. It’s an excellent adaptation and a perfect anime to watch not only during the holiday season, but any season.

5) Rock Is A Lady’s Modesty (2025)

Watching an anime about girls forming a music group is nothing new. Bocchi the Rock! (2022-Present) reignited the trend, but while it was wholesome and funny, it wasn’t quite as lustful or rocked as hard as Rock Is A Lady’s Modesty. 

The comedy of Rock Is A Lady’s Modesty is on point, where we follow a group of posh and elegant debutantes who attend school during the day and rock out as foul-mouthed and immodest rockers by night. The soul of the series lies in the heavy metal and rock performances, all of which were motion-captured by the real-life metal band, Band-Maid. Because of that’s there’s a real authenticity and passion to the performances, which is made more than abundantly clear when each of the ladies compares the act of music to a whole lot of BDSM. There’s an undeniable sense of energy and enthusiasm every time they get on stage, and if you’re the kind of person who listens to metal daily, Rock Is A Lady’s Modesty will completely blow you away.

4) Zenshu (2025)

Original anime are rare and hard to come by these days. In an environment where studios would rather fund adaptations of properties that are known quantities or greenlight a new season of a pre-established show, it makes anime original shows all the more rare. Sometimes they fail, but other times you get a true hidden gem like Zenshu. 

Taking inspiration from 20th-century fantasy anime like Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984) and Magic Knight Rayearth (1994-1995), Zenshu is an isekai series done right. There’s a fatalistic element to every scene in Zenshu, but we know, alongside its lead Natsuko, that the fantasy world she was transported into is doomed to be destroyed. But that doesn’t make her journey through the show’s 12 episodes any less compelling, and she breaks out of her shell and develops genuine empathy towards the inhabitants of the world. It makes it all the more tragic when that inevitable conclusion does come to fruition since we’ve grown to care so much about its world. Animated wonderfully by MAPPA, Zenshu is a series that feels classic in all the right ways, perfect for those oldtaku groaning that they don’t make them like they used to anymore. 

3) Tatuski Fujimoto 17-26 (2025)

Tatsuki Fujimoto has quickly become one of the biggest rising stars in the anime industry. While they’re most known for Chainsaw Man (2022-Present), before they hit it big, they created a variety of shorts that were brought to life in the anthology series Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26. And, like most of his work, it’s nothing short of brilliant.

Given the nature of most anthology series, it’s hard to really iron down what makes the overall package so good, other than saying how strong each of the eight individual segments is. There’s romance, aliens, mermaids, and a desire to throw everything at the wall and see what sticks. They’re bizarre, but the understated writing helps ground each short into something familiar. Tatsuki Fujimoto understands how to wring empathy out of his characters, and if you loved how the character drama was presented in Look Back (2024), then you’ll be in heaven with Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26. Anime shorts, like original anime like Zenshu, are rare these days, but when they’re as good as Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26, they need to be savored.

2) Takopi’s Original Sin (2025)

Takopi’s Original Sin is not for the faint of heart. While it isn’t a horror series per se like The Summer Hikaru Died, the depths of despair that Takopi reaches can be traumatizing and triggering to those who aren’t prepared. If you are, then get ready for the most emotionally rich and harrowing anime of 2025. 

At first glance, Takopi’s Original Sin is a lighthearted series about a magical space octopus who wants to help kids be happy. But Takopi doesn’t offer up simple problems for its magical octopus to solve. There’s child abuse, bullying, neglect, suicide, and a whole host of other complicated and dark issues that push its small cast to the breaking point numerous times. It doesn’t revel in the misery it causes its cast like Made in Abyss (2017-Present) does, but the lengths that it goes to explore and unpack trauma are bold. It’s a series that emphasizes the best and worst in humanity and is animated in such a way that captures each gutwrenching expression in vivid detail. It’s only six episodes long, and it may be only for people who are comfortable with depressing stories, but Takopi’s Original Sin is an anime that will stick with you. 

1) To Be Hero X (2025)

In the past several years, anime has become a global phenomenon to the point where it’s being made in other countries. Solo Leveling (2024-Present) completely exploded despite being made in South Korea, and now, the best anime of 2025 is a series that was made in China. Before it aired, nobody had even heard of To Be Hero X, but after its stunning 24-episode run, it needs a second season now more than ever. 

Offering a bright and creative world of superheroes similar to My Hero Academia (2016-2025), but with an even more creative power system, To Be Hero X is an extremely smartly paced action series. Despite jumping between different time periods and ten different leads, it’s never hard to keep track of what’s happening. Each lead gets their time in the sun, has a developed arc, and we see how each of their arcs influences one another. Not only that, but the show frequently swaps between animation styles on a whim, delivering a visual experience that’s reminiscent of Arcane (2021-2024) but fully embraces the aesthetics and style of anime. To Be Hero X is a thought-provoking series that perfectly balances character, action, animation, and worldbuilding and more than deserves being called the best anime of 2025.

The first official Avengers: Doomsday (2026) teaser has arrived. Set to be the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first Avengers movie in seven years, the film promises to be one of the franchise’s most epic crossovers yet. With the multiverse at their disposal, the Russo brothers not only have countless MCU characters to work with but will also be integrating 20th Century Fox’s X-Men characters into the movie.

Marvel unveiled much of Avengers: Doomsday’s cast in early 2025, raising excitement for the return of the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Thunderbolts, and MCU staples like Anthony Mackie’s Captain America and Chris Hemsworth’s Thor. One of the most significant casting announcements, though, came in the form of the first Avengers: Doomsday teaser, which teases the return of the MCU’s original Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). As exciting as Cap’s return is, the teaser no doubt left you with some questions. Fortunately, we have the answers to the top five biggest questions about the Avengers: Doomsday trailer.

Who Is Captain America’s Baby?

A large portion of Avengers: Doomsday’s teaser features Rogers and a surprise character: a baby. It captures a serene scene of Rogers holding an infant in his arms, presumably his and Peggy’s (Hayley Atwell) child. In Avengers: Endgame (2019), Rogers decided to stay in the past and live out his life with Peggy.

Although it’s a bit farther back, you might also recall that Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) mentioned Peggy married and had two children after Cap disappeared for 70 years. Avengers: Endgame’s writers, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, confirm she actually married Rogers from the main timeline after he went back in time, and those two children are her children with Rogers. Canonically, Rogers’ and Peggy’s children are already in the MCU.

If that baby is Steve and Peggy’s child, it would align with Marvel Comics, in which Captain America had several children across several different timelines. One of the most well-known children is James Rogers, from Earth-555326, the son of Rogers and Black Widow, who joined the Next Avengers. He’s the star of the animated movie featuring the superhero team, Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow (2008). The baby in Avengers: Doomsday could also be Sharon Rogers, who was actually Peggy and Rogers’s daughter in Marvel Comics.

There’s also the slight chance that the infant isn’t Peggy and Rogers’ child. After all, The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) just introduced another baby to the MCU, Franklin Richards (Ada Scott). Franklin is extremely powerful and can bend reality, making it possible that he’s the baby in the teaser. One particularly wild fan theory posits that the baby is The Beyonder, who once transformed itself into a mortal infant in Marvel Comics. Given The Beyonder’s connection to Secret Wars, and the next Avengers movie being Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), it’s a far-fetched but mildly possible idea.

Whose House Is That In The ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Trailer?

Eagle-eyed viewers may also have noticed that the house Rogers approaches in the Avengers: Doomsday trailer is vaguely familiar. We have seen that exact house before in Avengers: Endgame. After Rogers stays in the past in Endgame, viewers get a brief glimpse of his life in that era as the camera pans over the charming little house, where Peggy and Rogers slow-dance through the window. There’s no mistaking the house in Avengers: Doomsday is the same one from Avengers: Endgame, which backs up the idea that this is the same Rogers of Earth-616 and not a variant of the character.

Have We Seen That Motorcycle Before?

Given that we’ve seen that house before in Avengers: Doomsday, you may be wondering if you’ve seen that motorcycle, too. After all, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen Captain America on a bike. In Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Rogers chose a Harley-Davidson WLM (aka The Liberator) as his mode of military transport during World War II. After his 70-year absence, he continued to use various Harley-Davidson models. However, his bike in Avengers: Doomsday is not one we’ve seen before. It appears he traded in his Harley for a Triumph, a popular British motorcycle brand. 

The Triumph may just be for historical accuracy, given its popularity in the 1950s, the period Rogers returned to in Avengers: Endgame. Otherwise, it may indicate a change in taste, illustrating how Rogers has changed since going back in time and starting a new life.

Is Captain America’s Motorcycle Helmet A Wild Easter Egg?

In the Avengers: Doomsday teaser, we also get a glimpse of a helmet, which Rogers hangs on his motorcycle before entering his and Peggy’s home. It’s a 1950s-style dark-blue motorcycle helmet with goggles. At first glance, it looks most similar to his helmet in Captain America: The First Avenger, suggesting it could be the latest take on his mask. At the same time, the old-fashioned design may also evoke Rogers’ helmet in Captain America (1979). 

In the 1979 movie, Captain America boasted one of the cheapest, most cheesy-looking costumes, complete with a big, bulky motorcycle helmet with wings and an “A” painted on it. We all know Marvel loves its Easter Eggs, and can’t help but wonder if the old-fashioned helmet is a cheeky reference to Cap’s most infamous costume.

What Does The ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Countdown Mean?

Avengers: Doomsday’s teaser ends with a countdown. It is the countdown to the film’s release, starting at 11 months, 14 days, and 15 hours, and slowly ticking down the seconds. The countdown might have an additional meaning, though. Given the film’s name and its countdown, it reminded me of the Doomsday Clock, which tracks how close we are to causing a human-made global catastrophe. Perhaps the Avengers: Doomsday countdown isn’t just a countdown to the movie, but a reference to an in-universe countdown toward a catastrophic event, such as a time incursion.

A good thriller needs a lot of ingredients to work, but none is more important than a great twist. Dark plot turns can completely reinvent entire movies around them, transforming everything that happened previously and reshaping the entire narrative in the process. Movies like Psycho (1960) and Scream (1996) have such good twists that they become part of the cultural zeitgeist even outside their specific context.

One such film is Se7en (1995), an absolutely brutal movie that takes an even darker turn from the serial killer thriller in the jaw-dropping third act. Along with these other films, Se7en highlights how a good twist can turn a film from good to great, and make for one of the most effective—and memorable—genres. 

Here are 10 thrillers, including Se7en, you can watch on ___, with twists so wild, no one can see them coming. Fair warning, we’re going to be spoiling a lot of the movies below, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still worth checking out.

Se7en (1995)

Se7en’s wild and grim ending remains one of the most shocking turns in cinematic history. Se7en was a game-changing release for director David Fincher, transforming him from a filmmaker best known for his music videos into one of Hollywood’s most in-demand directors. The film, which remains a highlight of both Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt’s careers, is a tense mystery story where two police officers struggle to stop a serial killer who targets people based on the seven deadly sins. The film's brutal final twist reveals that the killer, John Doe, has murdered the wife of Brad Pitt’s Mills in hopes of enraging him enough to force him to kill John Doe—serving as Wrath and the final murder of the plan. The twist works because it comes out of nowhere, literally delivered in a box for Mills in the film’s often parodied finale. Tracy’s presence earlier in the film only serves as a minor plot beat that is transformed into something much more sinister by the twist. Se7en's darker edges make it a hard movie to easily recommend, but fans of this intense police drama should also check out the twisty plots and grim morality of Insomnia (2002) and Prisoners (2013).

Shutter Island (2010)

Directed by Martin Scorsese, Shutter Island is one of the most twisty films that the famed director has ever made. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as U.S. Marshall Edward Daniels, investigating the titular asylum. However, as the film progresses and perception is called into question on several levels, it steadily turns out that Daniels isn’t who he appears to be, and is actually a patient of the asylum after murdering his wife for killing their three children.While some of Scorsese’s films, like Taxi Driver (1976) and After Hours (1985) have featured some good twists that call reality into question, there’s something far darker and more complex about the twist in Shutter Island that is perfect for anyone who enjoyed the cynical and heartbreaking turns of something like You Were Never Really Here (2017).

Memento (2000)

A great early showcase for Christopher Nolan, Memento is a terrific and creative dark thriller. The film follows Leonard Shelby, a man dealing with amnesia that constantly disrupts his life. Memento is a non-linear narrative that hops around two different perspectives, which can leave audiences confused at first. The film's concept uses the story to great effect, twisting characters in surprising ways and throwing the narrative into question at various points. Characters like Natalie and Teddy are shown as heroes and villains at various points in the narrative, throwing everything constantly into question. Memento's twists are a great showcase for what would become one of Christopher Nolan's typical skill sets, with a tricky narrative that sets up Nolan's later films like The Prestige (2006) and Inception (2010), which also play with conceptions of reality and the typical timelines. Memento is a tricky film that has a surprising amount of emotional weight, making the twists all the more impactful.

Malignant (2021)

James Wan's Malignant is a wild time, with a central twist that comes out of nowhere, definitely deserving recognition. Malignant follows Madison Mitchell, a young woman who starts having visions of murders that are happening around Seattle. While some audiences might be expecting a similar twist to Primal Fear (1996), where Madison turns out to be the killer, the twist is far more complex, surreal, strange, and absurdly funny, with Madison’s twin within her body taking control of their shared body to carry out some brutal acts. It’s the kind of twist that doesn’t work on paper, but is just wild enough to land in the moment. Finding a tone that feels right at home with grim but goofy movies like Evil Dead II (1987), Malignant's campy qualities help make the absolutely wild twist land better than it might have otherwise.

Parasite (2019)

Bong Joon Ho's Academy Award-winning film, Parasite, is one of the best thrillers of the modern era and a grim social satire with the perfect mix of pitch-black comedy and horrifying intensity. The film follows a poor South Korean family who are able to convince a wealthy family to accept them as their household attendants. What begins as a straightforward satire takes some very grim turns as the film progresses, especially as the previous employees of the wealthy Park family who have been hiding in the walls of the building make their intentions known. Fueled by the same undeniably humanity and harsh brutality that make Squid Game (2021) and No Other Choice (2025) so emotionally riveting, Parasite is a must-see film for anyone who loves a dark satire—and they'll understand why once they see just how horrifying the film's central twist is.

Fight Club (1999)

Fight Club was David Fincher’s biggest swing when he took it, and it remains an undeniable part of modern pop culture. Starring Edward Norton as an unnamed sad sack living a pointless life, the film follows his unexpected friendship with the chaotic and charismatic Tyler Durden. Grimy and gritty but with an undeniable sense of cool confidence, Fight Club takes a lot of darker turns as Durden’s ambitions for society at large push his growing collection of disenfranchised followers from his titular fight club to start committing worse crimes. The big twist of Fight Club, that Tyler is a dark reflection of the Narrator’s mind and has never actually existed, gives the film a twisty edge that makes it particularly exciting to revisit. A psychological thriller that takes a deeply unsettling and darkly compelling look at a twisted mind's man like Nightcrawler (2014) and Speak No Evil (2024), Fight Club is a good enough film that even knowing the twist ahead of time won’t ruin the experience. 

Oldboy (2003)

With one of the most infamous twists in film history, Oldboy is a brutal movie that has to be seen to be believed. Directed by Park Chan-wook, Oldboy follows a seemingly simple man who finds himself kidnapped and held against his will for years. Part of his informal Vengeance Trilogy, Oldboy is a hard-hitting film that pushes the boundaries of what you can get away with in a film. Oldboy has multiple layers of twists, including some absolutely brutal reveals involving Oh Dae-su's connection to his primary love interest Mi-do, who turns out to be his long-lost daughter—a reveal that only comes after Oh Dae-su and Mi-do have had sex. Vicious in theory and even more brutal in practice, Oldboy is a terrifically dark film that is a must-watch for anyone who loves dark South Korean films like I Saw the Devil (2010).

Gone Girl (2014)

David Fincher was already the king of dark twisty thrillers, but Gone Girl might have cemented his place in the cinematic lexicon once and for all. The mystery thriller follows a man accused of doing something to his wife, who has gone missing. The slow-burning drama takes a very different turn, however, once his wife Amy is revealed to be perfectly fine—and is orchestrating a plan to frame her husband for her apparent death. Surprisingly funny and suddenly violent when it wants to be, Gone Girl takes the balance that Fincher perfected in earlier thrillers like The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011) and gives it an almost comical edge. Gone Girl only works because of Rosamund Pike’s quietly twisted and deeply compelling lead performance.

The Housemaid (2025)

The Housemaid is a delightfully dark thriller that is filled to the brim with clever twists and turns. Directed by Paul Feig and an ideal follow-up to his prior work in the genre with A Simple Favor (2018) and Another Simple Favor (2025), The Housemaid follows a desperate young woman as she takes a job as the live-in housekeeper for a wealthy family. The initial drama seems to be between Millie and her employer, a perfectly attuned Amanda Seyfried as Nina Winchester. However, that conflict is only the tip of the iceberg, which steadily becomes a more vicious and hard-hitting narrative once it’s revealed that Nina was counting on Millie to have an affair with her husband—giving her a chance to escape his brutal control over her life. A modern take on classic thrillers like Rebecca (1940), The Housemaid has several plot twists and turns that make for a uniquely compelling narrative. 

Don’t Look Now (1973)

Don’t Look Now is one of the most memorable films of Donald Sutherland’s career, and boasts one of the most effective (and wild) dark plot twists in cinema history. The film follows a grieving couple, still dealing with the death of their daughter, who move to Venice so the husband can restore a church. However, as the film progresses, a warning that his daughter is trying to send to him from beyond the grave drives him to the edge of madness. Don’t Look Now is a brutal film, with a horrific final twist that makes a second viewing a requirement. The taut direction by Nicolas Roeg, who also brought a surreal edge to The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) gives Don’t Look Now much of its strange staying power. Make no mistake, though—if you’re looking for a plot twist that will catch you by surprise and emotionally wreck you, this is a film you have to see.

Since its inception in 1985, Studio Ghibli has become one of, if not the most, well-known anime studios in the world. With titles like Princess Mononoke (1997) and Spirited Away (2001), they’ve cemented themselves as a critically acclaimed animation studio where almost every single release has a certain je ne sais quoi to it. The natural beauty, the seemingly simple plots that belie an understated conflict, and a painstaking attention to detail are all hallmarks of a Studio Ghibli film. 

With this year celebrating the studio’s 40th anniversary, it’s not hard to see the influence they have had across the anime industry. While many studios would rather cater to delivering bombastic Shonen spectacles, some studios and directors are more keen on trying to replicate that Miyazaki magic themselves. These seven movies may not be Studio Ghibli movies, but they carry the same charm, tone, and themes that capture that same vibe. Most of these films are easily accessible on streaming services like Netflix and HBO Max, so if you want to expand your anime horizons with some similar yet different to Studio Ghibli’s filmography, these seven films will do the trick. 

Fortune Favors Lady Nikoku (2022)

Studio Ghibli may be known for its inventive and fantastical worlds, but a good portion of its library is focused on more relatable and down-to-earth stories. There could be some fantastical elements, but they’re content to just present life as is. If you like that aspect of Ghibli’s filmography, then Fortune Favors Lady Nikoku will be a delight. 

There’s a quaint and warm charm to the antics of Fortune Favors Lady Nikoku. At times, it feels like a gag manga with segments showing the antics of Nikoku. It bounces from one bit to another, but it never feels excessive or cartoonish. Rather, it feels authentic to the characters. Nikoku, but much like the family of My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999), there’s a quaint and warm feeling you get watching someone comfortable in who they are. It’s a strong message that is ideal if you want to see a film about the power of families, and in particular, mothers. Add in some cute little homages to Ghibli’s filmography, and it’s very clear that Fortune Favors Lady Nikoku is cut from the same cloth.

A Whisker Away (2020)

Studio Ghibli is a production house that loves cats. After all, they’re cats! They’re cute, fluffy, and cuddly, and for all you Ghibli cat lovers out there, consider giving A Whisker Away a watch. 

A Whisker Away hits a lot of the same beats as Whisper of the Heart (1995) and has the same magical surrealism as The Cat Returns (2002). Like Ghibli’s previous feline films, A Whisker Away knows it has to go beyond just showing cute cat images and calling it a day. It understands that you need to have a likeable lead for its coming-of-age romance, and Miyo more than delivers. She’s free-spirited and fun to be around, making her a perfect protagonist for the film’s 104-minute runtime. It’s an approachable anime that is great for teenagers seeking a little bit of magical realism.

Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011)

Makoto Shinkai has, over the past decade, established himself as an anime director who excels at crafting character-driven drama. But by far his most contemplative film, and one most reminiscent of Ghibli’s works, would have to be Children Who Chase Lost Voices. 

It’s a film that isn’t afraid to discuss loss in a way that feels honest. Structurally, watching Asuna enter this magical world hits the same notes that The Boy and the Heron (2023) does. There are plenty of strange creatures around, and a world that can feel darker than the average fantasy setting, but its most notable feature is how it doesn’t talk down to its audience. It doesn’t try to simplify grief or death. It presents it in a way that respects your intelligence, which is admirable. Conversations about death are important, and if you want to watch a movie that is poignant for both children and adults, Children Who Chase Lost Voices does a remarkable job at it.

Steamboy (2004)

While Ghibli’s more recent films are quieter and more contemplative, many of their earlier films carry a spirit of adventure. While a lot of adventure movies now deliver more complicated tales of good and evil, if you want something simple that evokes Castle in the Sky (1986), you need to check out Steamboy. 

Coming from the same mind that spawned Akira (1988), Steamboy is a visual marvel. Katsuhiro Otomo always knows how to craft beautifully animated and rendered machinery, and his artistry is abundantly clear here. There’s a certain scale and wonder to all of the tech on display, and much like the floating city of Ghibli’s seminal debut work, you can’t help but marvel at it all. The plot is also accessible, with very clear heroes and villains that make it easy for anyone to instantly start watching and enjoy. Complexity is nice and all, but sometimes you want a two-hour and six-minute adventure that’s easy to understand and feels like a modern classic.

The Deer King (2021)

One of the most prevalent themes in Ghibli’s library is the importance of nature and humans’ relationship with it. Ghibli films never outright condemn mankind and their encroachment on the environment, but they consistently offer nuanced takes and discussions on how we can mutually benefit from each other. For those seeking that same subtle commentary between nature and man, The Deer King may be for you.

In a lot of ways, The Deer King feels like a modern reimaging of Princess Mononoke. There may not be as much action as Ghibli’s magnum opus, but the world that The Deer King presents is equally compelling. The film takes its time fleshing out its world with its multiple factions and magical elements quite well, and like some of Ghibli’s best, it never overcomplicates it to the point of being unapproachable. Not only that, but the beautiful animated sequences depicting nature have a way of just washing over you. It’s subdued in all the best ways and captures the beauty of nature in a way that few films outside of Studio Ghibli can capture. 

Wolf Children (2012)

While Studio Ghibli is mostly known for the worlds they create, their characters can also be equally compelling. Out of all of Ghibli’s leads, few can compare to Princess Mononoke’s San. The story of her being caught between two worlds creates palpable tension, and that same internal conflict is elaborated and expanded upon in Wolf Children. 

Mamoru Hosoda’s familial drama can be an emotionally gutwrenching film. Watching two children grow up, torn between their wolf heritage and integrating with the human world, is tough, and it hits even harder if you’ve become estranged from your own siblings. Because of how comprehensively the film spends its nearly two-hour runtime fleshing out its cast, Wolf Children never invalidates one sibling’s point of view over the other. It’s a very human film that is very relatable and carries the spirit of Ghibli’s thoughtful storytelling for a new generation and will make you shed a few tears in the process.

Mary and the Witch’s Flower (2017)

Out of all of the anime directors and studios inspired by Studio Ghibli, none are quite as overt as Studio Ponoc. Formed by former Studio Ghibli employees, Ponoc made its debut film, Mary and the Witch’s Flower, as overtly Ghibli as possible. 

With an aesthetic that screams Ghibli, Mary and the Witch’s Flower captures the same sense of magic and adventure that dotted Ghibli’s earlier films. The closest comparisons would probably be The Secret World of Arrietty (2010), thanks to both films sharing a director and their understated presentation of magic, and Spirited Away, thanks to how its world is presented. Mary is an outsider in this mystical world, so she sees it with the same sense of wonder that Chirio had upon entering the mystical bathhouse. The film’s main selling point is just how wonderful the animation is. To say that it’s a near-perfect replication of Ghibli’s iconic style would be an understatement, so if you want a movie that captures the aesthetics of Ghibli without being a Ghibli film, Mary and the Witch’s Flower is as close as you’ll get.

A large part of the appeal in the Knives Out (2019) films is easily the anticipation of all the actors who'll be joining Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc in the latest whodunit. With each film, writer and director Rian Johnson gets better and better, allowing the audience to have a blast throughout while he also gives us something thematically rich to think about. His latest, Wake Up Dead Man (2025), is his most exceptionally crafted and the strongest thematically to fire on all cylinders.

The cast may also be the most interesting group thus far (sure, I'm biased as a Josh O'Connor girly, but that's not the point.) Jeffrey Wright also deserved a bigger role. With solid actors all around and more than one Marvel Cinematic Universe veteran, here's where you know the cast of Wake Up Dead Man from, as well as where you can watch their most famous roles on platforms such as Disney+, Prime Video, and more. 

Daniel Craig - Casino Royale (2006) 

Daniel Craig is lavishly and perfectly ensuring that Benoit Blanc is one of his most iconic roles, and for many people, this might eventually become their favorite, but to me, he'll always be 007, forever changed by a woman named Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale. Craig's range as an actor is so incredibly vast that it's no surprise his filmography consists of such excellence. 

The accent work in the Knives Out films is top-tier, but everything he delivers as Bond easily makes him the best of the infamous spy thus far. And this is a bold statement because all Bond actors do something so special in their respective adaptations. Still, if you love his work as a detective and somehow never watched his Bond films, then run, don't walk to experience the masterpiece he consistently delivers in all five films.

Josh O'Connor - Challengers (2024)

One thing about me? Challengers is in my top ten favorite movies of all time. It's something I think about at least once a day, and twice on Sundays. I'll watch anything Josh O'Connor is in, maybe even horror, which I generally stay away from. And his portrayal of Father Jud in Wake Up Dead Man is so monumental that I'm convinced he was born to play it.

I'm also convinced that I'd run to church if there were ever a leader like Father Jud, and it's a testament to how brilliantly O'Connor is able to embody a full range of emotions to deliver a masterful display of grace amid such terrors. Few actors have the incomparable range he has, but funnily, this isn't the first time he's played a priest. While I'd recommend Challengers to anyone who'll listen, if you want to see him in a role that's the polar opposite of an admirable religious figure, Emma. (2020) has you covered.

Glenn Close - Fatal Attraction (1987)

Glenn Close is a face we all know and appreciate. For many of us, we grew up with her as Cruella de Vil in the live-action 101 Dalmatians (1996). I was fuming for her because I couldn't believe she didn't win the Oscar in 2019 for The Wife (2018). But Close made a name for herself in Fatal Attraction, and since then, whatever role she steps into, the property is made better because of her.

And in Wake Up Dead Man, the amount of emotions she evokes during the last few scenes is what makes the film so deeply memorable. She's the reason why this is the best of the three so far. Close delivers something truly unforgettable, and Fatal Attraction can be a great watch if you admire the character's complex journey in Wake Up Dead Man.

Josh Brolin - Avengers: Infinity War (2018) 

I never thought I'd hate a Josh Brolin character the way I did Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, and then Monsignor Wicks happened. The repulsiveness that oozes from this so-called religious pastor is so vile, and credit where it's due, because Brolin sells his terror too well. And part of the reason why Wake Up Dead Man is so evocative is that it does reflect the world of countless corrupt religious leaders in our world—the very idols the Bible warns people about.

Now, while I still think that Thanos may continue to be Brolin's most famous role since The Goonies (1985), it won't be surprising if non-Marvel fans start associating him with Wicks for a while. At this point, Rian Johnson is collecting former MCU actors as his own infinity stones, and it's fantastic.

Andrew Scott - Fleabag (2016-2019)

For many people, Andrew Scott will likely always be known as Moriarty in Sherlock (2010). But for me and countless other people, he'll always be the Hot Priest from Fleabag. And considering the location that Wake Up Dead Man takes place in, it's impossible not to make that association. More than anything, Scott's range as an actor is one that continues to floor me.

In the last four years, he's been in a number of exceptional properties like the Ripley (2024) limited series, All of Us Strangers (2023), and, more recently, Blue Moon (2025). As one of the most versatile actors of our generation, Scott continuously proves that there's no role he can't take on. If you loved Josh O'Connor as a priest, run to watch Fleabag—you'll never have a normal reaction to the word "kneel" ever again, and you'll be better for it.

Kerry Washington - Scandal (2012-2017)

Whether you watched Scandal or not, the name Olivia Pope is such an iconic entry into network television that you've likely heard about her. You've seen the GIFS. You just know—Kerry Washington will likely always be known for Olivia Pope, and that's okay because she's that incredible and worthy. And because of this, Washington's range in Wake Up Dead Man is made even better.

She's the type of actress who can kill with just one look, and it's always exceptional to watch. She also looks unfairly breathtaking smoking, and that's a feat in and of itself. If you loved the scandal and artistry in this third Knives Out film, then run to watch Scandal for how it explores power dynamics, delicious relationships, and leaves you with great performances to think about.

Cailee Spaeny - Priscilla (2023)

Her role in Mare of Easttown (2021) is incredible, Cailee Spaeny's career is right at the precipice of a great boom, and you've likely seen her face in the titular role of Sofia Coppola's Priscilla. It's a near-perfect biopic with the type of stunning performance that showcases how gifted Spaeny is as an actress and how far she can go.

Like her role in Wake Up Dead Man, there's a plethora of nuance in the ways she delivers a single scene. How she looks at different characters. How she approaches everything. It's fantastic to have a few different roles to distinguish that the craft is something she's exceptional at. And even if you aren't a fan of the Presleys, Priscilla is an exceptional film worth watching for how it centers around the musician's wife in a way that's so rare with biopics. 

Thomas Haden Church - Broken Trail (2006)

Rian Johnson is basically five for five with comic book adaptation actors in this single movie alone (we're not counting the ones in other films in this list). And while Spider-Man 3 (2007) is a Sony production and also recognized as the least favorable of the original trilogy, Thomas Haden Church as the Sandman was still a great villain there. However, more people might recognize him from the Emmy Award-winning role in Broken Trail.

The western mini-series might not be everyone's cup of tea outside of the genre, but if you're looking for one with great performances at the helm, look no further. Church's role is also one of the underrated best ones from Wake Up Dead Man, as he adds a solid amount of depth to the theme.

Daryl McCormack - Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)

I was first introduced to Daryl McCormack in Bad Sisters (2022), but there's no denying that Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is his most popular role to date. He is in the name of the film, after all. McCormack's means of delivering different characters thus far have been impressive, and it's especially gripping when we see that Cy is so insufferable in Wake Up Dead Man.

Both Bad Sisters and Leo Grande aren't mainstream properties, so there's a good chance that the viewers who watch McCormack as Cy will begin to associate the role as the actor's most famous. And that ultimately works, too, because he's so good at ensuring that you remember how cunning he is. Still, if you want to watch him in a role where he's more of a complex darling, Bad Sisters is a perfectly executed mystery.

Mila Kunis - That '70s Show (1998-2005)

Though she doesn't appear on-screen as much in Wake Up Dead Man, Mila Kunis is a known face for her roles in That '70s Show and Black Swan (2010). Both are completely different from one another, and even more different than her role as Geraldine Scott, so it's a validation of the fact that she's got the range necessary for different characters.

While neither of these properties is similar to what she does in Knives Out, and at times, it feels almost as if the character is detached from the overall story because Blanc's detective work is so good, Black Swan can be a solid watch afterward to see the complexities of the renowned story. It's gorgeously shot and utterly iconic in all that it did the year it was released.

Jeremy Renner - Hawkeye (2021)

Funny that both the Marvel men play someone evil in Wake Up Dead Man. And while Hawkeye will likely be a memorable role for those who watch the films in their entirety, the Hawkeye series is a great thing to watch during the holiday season, as it's basically a Christmas property. Plus, Florence Pugh and Hailee Steinfeld are so great as Yelena Belova and Kate Bishop.

Renner's role as Dr. Nat isn't one of the standouts in the film, but his arc still involves the kind of payoff that is thoughtful and makes the overall mystery tremendous in what it accomplishes. He certainly isn't Clint Barton here, and that's okay.

Video game movies have been around for decades. Big gaming franchises like Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat, and Tomb Raider have even made the jump from console to screen more than once. However, as exciting as the prospect of seeing your favorite characters on the big screen is, many of these movies were poorly received. While TV series like The Last of Us (2023) and Fallout (2024) seem to have rebuked the video game adaptation curse, sometimes the best video game movies aren't based on real games at all. 

If these five movies have taught us anything, it's that you don't always need source material to create a compelling story. Technically, you might call these movies video game-inspired. With no shortage of homages and references, these films are so immersive that you wouldn't guess that they aren't actually based on real games. Boot up Apple TV, Prime Video, and more to watch them now.

The Last Starfighter (1984)

The Last Starfighter's fictional arcade game might have you pulling up Google to search for ties to a real game. After all, what we see on screen perfectly captures the vibes of late '70s and early '80s sci-fi games like Space Invaders and Galaga. Ironically, Atari thought the same thing and dropped Star Raiders II in 1986 as both a sequel to 1979's Star Raiders and a tie-in to The Last Starfighter.

So, technically, The Last Starfighter isn't based on a real game, but sort of became one in a different form. One of the more family-friendly offerings on this list, this PG movie revolves around a kid who becomes entangled in a galactic war after achieving a high score in the titular arcade game. If you're craving something a little more nostalgic, The Last Starfighter is an underrated choice.

Shoot 'em Up (2007)

A black-ops soldier rescuing a baby from being killed by an assassin sounds like a plot device you'd find in a game like Tom Clancy's The Division, but Shoot 'em Up has nothing to do with video games. However, its fast-paced action, audacious premise, and borderline offensive humor will leave gamers wishing it were. 

Shoot 'em Up is the ultimate choice for fans of similarly over-the-top action movies like John Wick (2014), Jack Reacher (2012), and basically any action flick with a guy's name in the title. This movie isn't trying to win awards; it's trying to entertain. Go in expecting a healthy dose of goofy action, and you'll be treated to a perfectly fun popcorn thriller you can enjoy alone or with friends.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

Director Edgar Wright loves infusing his work with pop culture references. If you've followed him since Spaced (1999), then you already know Resident Evil and Tomb Raider got frequent shoutouts. Come Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, those video game references multiply by the dozens. From references to Zelda, Tetris, Street Fighter, and more to health bars and extra lives used in conjunction with Scott and his enemies, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a certified video game movie.

However, while it pulls from no shortage of games, it's not actually based on a specific one. Think of it more like a hodgepodge of gamer and nerd culture. Whether you identify with one of these groups or both, like me, then you'll be delighted by Scott Pilgrim's immersive world and unique aesthetic. Watch Shaun of the Dead (2004) after if you're left craving more of Edgar Wright's trademark style.

Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

Wreck-It Ralph embraces a heartfelt humor that makes it feel akin to LEGO's line of video games. At some points, it leaves you questioning, "Wait, are you sure this isn't based on a real video game?" Unfortunately, it's not—or else I'd be playing that right now instead of writing this article. Unlike most of the other entries on this list, it also makes the ultimate family movie, with enough nostalgic Easter eggs to keep millennials and Gen X laughing and enough compelling storytelling to entertain younger generations.

It feels more modern and almost edgier than most of Walt Disney Animation's other projects (at least the ones without Pixar). Clever, funny, and surprisingly emotional, Wreck-It Ralph is perfect for gamers of all ages, especially those looking for a similar vibe to The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) or Sonic the Hedgehog (2020).

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Often dubbed the best video game movie of all time, Edge of Tomorrow sees Tom Cruise get sucked into a time loop while battling aliens. Wildly cool? You bet it is. Funny enough, though, Edge of Tomorrow isn't based on a game and hasn't had any major platform adaptations. (A big missed opportunity if you're asking me.) Like Shoot 'em Up, Edge of Tomorrow is chock full of action and humor. However, it plays itself much more seriously and manages to deliver a competent sci-fi story in the process.

Really, it's a gamer's equivalent to Groundhog Day (1993). If you like that movie, you'll most certainly like this, especially if the thought of Tom Cruise doing Tom Cruise stunts sends a burst of excitement coursing through you. Little-known fact: Edge of Tomorrow is actually based on a Japanese light novel, which is receiving an anime adaptation in 2026. So, yeah, go watch that, too. 

Every year, hundreds upon hundreds of new movies are released. So much so that even if you’re an ardent cinephile, it’s just not possible to see every one of them. We can try our best, but there are only so many hours in the day for us to sit and watch movies. With 2025 drawing to a close, we here at JustWatch wanted to spotlight the movies that you probably didn’t see for one reason or another but deserve to be watched ASAP.

Some of these films had very limited theatrical screenings that prevented us from seeing them. Some had wide releases but failed at the box office. Some had critical reception that dampered any audience enthusiasm. No matter how you slice it, these movies deserve a second chance at life. Case in point, some of these movies received a jolt in popularity when they launched on streaming services like Netflix and HBO Max and were able to reach the Top 10 most-watched movies in the United States for a time. If you’re trying to catch up on 2025’s films, these are ten movies that you probably didn’t get around to watching but should.

Caught Stealing (2025)

While it’s not often that you find an action movie that prioritizes character drama over action, they do exist, and Caught Stealing is a perfect example of one.

At points, Caught Stealing can be a pretty depressing movie. Its lead is a washed-up alcoholic who has lost everything and is now entangled in a crime drama that comes across as a grittier Birds of Prey (2020). Multiple factions are searching for a huge stash of cash, eventually devolving into a gang war that leaves everyone worse for wear. There’s still quite a bit of humor to Caught Stealing, mostly thanks to the dark and morbid dialogue that paints almost everyone as some varying degree of sociopath, but it works to help make Austin Butler come across as a likable everyman who’s way over his head. It’s a dark film to be sure, but Caught Stealing will delight those who want an action movie that isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty.

Companion (2025)

January is typically regarded as a forgotten month in the world of cinema. While everyone is focused on the awards season, January releases tend to be forgotten and underperform commercially. It’s a shame, especially when you get a horror comedy as clever as Companion.

Companion is what you would get if Her (2013) decided to be more of a horror movie. Instead of painting technology as something to be feared, Companion instead points the finger at how it enables humans to become their worst possible selves. Because of that, it’s so satisfying watching Iris overcome every obstacle and get the vindication that she rightfully deserves. After watching all 97 minutes of it, you’ll find it hard not to look at Iris’ actions and think “good for her.” Companion balances both comedy and horror well, and if you’re the kind of person who wants to see smug and self-righteous man-children get taken down a few pegs, then Companion is for you. 

Dust Bunny (2025)

It’s felt like ages since we’ve seen a Bryan Fuller-developed project, but good things come to those who wait. While it may not be a new season of Hannibal (2013-2015), seeing Fuller and Mids Mikkelson reunite for Dust Bunny is pretty magical in its own right. 

Dust Bunny, in a lot of ways, feels like Logan (2017) by way of Pan’s Labyrinth (2007). It’s a dark fable about a hitman attempting to protect a young girl from the things that go bump in the night, and it’s almost impossible not to sympathize with both of them. The chemistry between Mikkelson and Sophie Sloan is impeccable, creating a compelling dynamic over the film’s 107-minute runtime. There’s a sense of wonder and imagination present throughout the film, whether it be in the colorful action scenes or the way Sophie’s imagination makes its presence known in incidental moments. It’s a movie about the dark side of growing up that’s perfect for adults who want to remind themselves of the wonders of childhood.

Eddington (2025)

Ari Aster is a director who never compromises on his vision. His films are meant to make you uncomfortable, and Eddington is nothing if not a film engineered to make you feel that as often as possible. 

Few films are as blunt with their politics as Eddington is. Of course, a movie that examines the COVID-19 pandemic is bound to push some buttons, but Aster seems to take joy in triggering all sides of the political spectrum in this very modern and very dour Western. Much in the same vein as No Country for Old Men (2007), there are no heroes in this. Just deeply flawed characters that may or may not remind you of people in your own life. It may not be as wild as Aster’s previous film, Beau is Afraid (2023), but it’s a very grounded depiction of a dark era of the United States’ history that will satsfy those looking for a modern American epic.

If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (2025)

Some movies feel like the personification of a panic attack. Requiem For A Dream (2000) and Uncut Gems (2019) are movies that are relentless in their discomfort, and If I Had Legs I’d Kick You joins them as a movie that’s dead set on making you feel uncomfortable. 

Thanks to an Oscar-worthy performance by Rose Byrne, if you’ve ever felt just completely overwhelmed by all of the chaos life throws at you, you’ll find something relatable in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. While the film tends to focus on postpartum depression and the pressures associated with motherhood, much like Die My Love (2025), it approaches the topics in a way that both men and women can relate to. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You is excellent at forcing an emotional reaction from its audience, and while you may not want to ever revisit it because of its tone, it’s a movie that should definitely be experienced at least once.

The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (2025)

The fact that The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie was released is a minor miracle. Originally canned by Warner Bros., it was picked up by a smaller distributor and had a small theatrical run, and it stands out as one of the best animated movies of the year.

There’s a kinetic energy that’s impossible to ignore in The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. It feels like a throwback to a bygone era where 2D animation was the name of the game, and animators were throwing jokes at the audience at a mile a minute. There’s plenty of referential humor and goofy hijinks for kids to love, but there’s also plenty of adult jokes and sequences that feel ripped straight out of an episode of The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991-1996). It feels like a blur, and the way the film shifts through so many different genres in the span of 91 minutes always keeps you guessing just what is going to happen next. The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is absolutely bursting with creativity and is perfect for people who like their comedies loud and can embrace the non-stop madness.

No Other Choice (2025)

As time goes on and people’s views of the economy become dimmer and dimmer, movies like No Other Choice become more and more relevant. Yes, it’s a farcical comedy about the lengths a person will go to get a job, but is it really all that impossible?

Park Chan-wook is no stranger to biting social commentary, and No Other Choice is probably his most on-the-nose film yet. It shouldn’t be this entertaining watching a man kill his competitors just to get a job, but the mental gymnastics that Lee Byung-hun’s character goes through to plan each killing is nothing short of a delight. In a lot of ways, No Other Choice feels like a modern Glengarry Glen Ross (1992). Both films focus on a small cast of characters, but seeing each of their conflicting personalities and intentions really sells how brutal and unfair businesses are and can be. It’s a film that points out the lengths a person will go to earn the life they want, and if you have nothing but contempt for modern-day corporations, No Other Choice will hilariously validate you.

Sentimental Value (2025)

Foreign films often get overlooked by the Western film industry. Only a handful of international movies get their time in the sun here in America, but the ones that do, like Sentimental Value, are something special. 

Sentimental Value is a movie about a lot of things. It’s a film about a daughter attempting to connect with her estranged father. It’s about the difficulties of creating art while staying true to yourself. It’s even a film about regret and trying to atone for past mistakes. No matter which theme hits you the most, it’s almost a certainty that something in Sentimental Value will affect you. It’s a complicated examination of family, one that fans of Noah Baumbach’s The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) (2017) should be familiar with, and one that trusts that the audience will understand and empathize with each member of the Borg family. It’s a very adult drama, and those who have complex relationships with their own family will probably benefit from watching it.

The Phoenician Scheme (2025)

Wes Anderson is a unique and eccentric visionary. You can tell his style of filmmaking from a mile away, but if you thought that his latest films were all a bit too esoteric, the straightforward adventure of The Phoenician Scheme will be seen as a return to form.

Led by a commanding and conniving Benicio del Toro, The Phoenician Scheme prides itself on the all-star cast it assembled. Even if they’re only present for a scene, each actor relishes the opportunity to deliver their dialogue at a rapid pace that values logic over emotion. That should come as no surprise to any longtime Wes Anderson fan, but the globetrotting nature of The Phoenician Scheme keeps you invested not only in what’s going to happen, but which famous actor will appear next. It’s the perfect balance between the familial drama of The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) and the thriller elements that pervaded The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). It’s a simple adventure movie, but it has class that anyone looking for an elevated thriller can appreciate.

The Running Man (2025)

Remaking a cult classic is always a tricky proposition. Stay too close to the source material, and you’ll be called lazy. Modernize it too much, and you’ll betray the spirit of the original. The Running Man finds that sweet spot and reinvents Stephen King’s dystopian classic as a call to action that never forgets to have fun. 

There’s a lot of anger in The Running Man. For two hours and 13 minutes, Glenn Powell exudes a rage that becomes more and more justified as we witness the lengths the producers of The Running Man will go to isolate and character-assassinate his image. It makes his desire to burn it all to the ground justified, and even if the film isn’t as comedic as Ready or Not (2019), it channels the same spirit. There are plenty of explosions, and Edgar Wright knows exactly how to make Glen Powell appear as destructive as possible. It sadly bombed at the box office, but if you want a charismatic action spectacle, The Running Man has charm to spare.

Animation is one of the most meticulous and time-consuming art forms in cinema. It requires painstaking attention to detail and, regardless of the form, often takes years and hundreds of hours of labor to perfect. With hand-drawn animation, artists draw every frame by hand. Even with technological advances, 3D animation requires a different but still high level of detail and commitment, due to complex rendering. Pixar films, for example, require an estimated 24 hours to render a single frame, while most scenes average 24 frames per second.

Hence, it’s not unusual for animated films and shows to take years to create. Even so, we don’t expect a single scene to take an entire year to develop. However, some animated projects have done just that: creating such detailed, meticulous, and groundbreaking art that years of work went into producing what audiences view in mere seconds. One of the most famous examples is Studio Ghibli’s four-second crowd scene.

This Studio Ghibli Scene Took A Year And Three Months To Create

Hayao Miyazaki, the founder of Studio Ghibli, is one of the most revered names in animation. He is known for sticking to traditional hand-drawn animation, giving his films a gorgeous, vibrant, and enchanting touch. You might think that preserving hand-drawn animation, as much of the industry goes digital, might hold him back in some respects. However, he and his studio have managed to create increasingly complex scenes with hand-drawn animation.

Studio Ghibli demonstrated its dedication to hand-drawn animation in a particular scene from The Wind Rises (2013). The film, which is loosely based on a true story, is noticeable for its historical premise, central love story, and political themes, as it follows Jiro Horikoshi’s engineering career through World War II. Early in the movie, The Wind Rises depicts the harrowing Great Kantō earthquake in 1923.

In the aftermath of the quake, one scene captures the sheer chaos as crowds swarm the streets. Numerous civilians scramble to find help and shelter, with some riding horses, carrying luggage, or pushing wagons. Jiro and Nahoko are lost in the crowd of faces etched with panic and frustration. Miyazaki insisted the scene be hand-drawn, with animator Eiji Yamamori taking on the animation.

The scene took Yamamori a year and three months to animate. It meant hand-drawing and water-painting each person for each frame, conveying realistic fluid movement, and the body language and facial expressions of numerous people. If you look closely, you’ll see countless little stories playing out in those few seconds as civilians heave their belongings on their shoulders or as a parent and a child or a couple become separated and reach for each other in the crowd. 

If the scene runs at the typical 24 frames per second of animation, it means Yamamori painstakingly hand-drew and painted 96 frames. Day after day, week after week, he drew virtually the same image, but with subtle movement and changes, for an entire year. As Miyazaki stated after the scene was completed, following 15 months of work, “it was worth it.”

Other Incredible Animation Feats

Whether it’s hyperrealistic scenes or memorable scenes that took years to make, animators are always finding ways to make their art even more innovative. Even before The Wind Rises, Studio Ghibli garnered attention for its complex hand-drawn animation. In 2008, Studio Ghibli produced Ponyo (2008), which was nearly 100% hand-drawn and among the most complicated productions of the time, featuring a staggering 170,000 hand-drawn frames to bring the ocean’s motion and fluidity to life.

Sony’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) is also known for its cutting-edge animation. The film blends numerous animation styles to create a wholly unique, vibrant form of art with a comic book aesthetic. If you want an idea of how much effort went into this film, just take a look at Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya). Animators spent three years designing Spider-Punk alone, experimenting with numerous styles to convey his punk aesthetic and visually represent his energy.

The fun thing about animation is that it’s always the things you wouldn’t expect that turn out to be the most complex. For The Wind Rises, it was a four-second crowd scene. For Disney’s Tangled (2010), it was Rapunzel’s (Mandy Moore) hair. One of the reasons for Tangled’s enormous $260 million budget was the complexity of animating realistic hair. 

Rapunzel’s golden locks consisted of over 100,000 individual hairs, making them one of the hardest things to computer-animate. It wasn’t just the actual rendering that was complex; the animators had to don helmets with 70 feet of fishing line attached and practice walking and running to understand how hair of that length flows and affects body movement. Hair has only grown more complex for Disney, with Elsa (Idina Menzel) boasting 400,000 individual CGI hairs in Frozen (2013).

Hair is far from Disney’s only impressive feat. From rendering 10,000 balloons individually for every frame featuring Carl Fredickson’s (Ed Asner) floating house in Up (2009) to hand-drawing an estimated million unique bubbles for The Little Mermaid (1989) in a job so tedious the studio outsourced work to China, Disney’s animated movies are riddled with extensive animation feats. Disney, Studio Ghibli, and Sony demonstrate the endless possibilities for animation, and the fact that no matter how many times you watch these films, you’ll probably never really be able to grasp the extensive amount of detail and dedication that went into every single frame. 

Every year, new TV shows are released, and they're either cancelled or we get the gift of a renewal to watch them for a few years while geeking out with each other on social media. While I'm still so bitter about the cancellation of My Lady Jane (2024) last year, 2025 has thus far been full of some of the best new releases in various genres, some of which are genuinely setting new standards in more ways than one. 

From Heated Rivalry (2025) to The Studio (2025), here are the best new shows that've already been renewed, as well as where you can watch them on platforms such as HBO Max, Apple TV+, and more.

Heated Rivalry (2025 - present) 

When it comes to the romance genre, Heated Rivalry is a triumph in storytelling—a masterclass in every way, from the adaptation quality to the performances and every directorial choice. Brilliantly paced, despite my selfishly wanting more than six episodes, the amount of character building we get in this limited time is something that many shows barely reach with a full 22 episodes. 

Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, along with the entire cast, deliver sensational performances throughout, bringing to our screens the type of love story that's truly going to be fundamental for LGBTQ+ representation by being deeply respectful and wholeheartedly exceptional on all fronts. Romance is often dismissed as a genre, but I dare anyone to watch all six episodes and tell me that the production isn't equivalent to prestigious television that fires on all cylinders. 

Dept. Q (2025 - present) 

If you love Slow Horses (2022) and grumpy detectives, look no further than Dept. Q, led to perfection by Matthew Goode, who consistently makes every property he's in incredible. With a riveting and thought-provoking case that spans across the season as opposed to changing weekly, it's the type of show that's so much fun to binge, but it could’ve also been great as a weekly drop.

Since its debut, it's been one of the highest trending shows at JustWatch, and with its renewal at Netflix, we can look forward to more detective work that'll also allow us to get to know the characters better. We don't get too much in the first season, but it's still a solid amount to keep us invested while also ensuring that we return for more. 

Pluribus (2025 - present) 

From the mind of Vince Gilligan, who brought us Breaking Bad (2008) and Better Call Saul (2015), his latest drama, Pluribus, has been taking social media and the critical world by storm. Similar to the broad appeal of Severance (2022), the mystery element and characterizations likely draw in viewers with similar tastes, and the already perfect performance from Rhea Seehorn is something that we'll likely be discussing for a while.

A large part of the show's initial appeal, outside of who was attached to it, is all in the title. So many people came to it with the promise that the first episode is something that needs to be unspoiled because the unraveling is part of the viewing experience. It's now renewed for a second season, but with its production complexities, we likely won't get it back in 2026. Still, at least it's coming.

The Pitt (2025 - present) 

From the moment The Pitt aired its pilot episode, it was clear that the show was unlike any medical drama that had been done before. While many people likely came in because they loved Noah Wyle's character from ER (1994), they stayed because of the fast-paced, single-shift approach, wanting to see what'd come of these characters and the tumultuous day.

And so much happens in a single day that it's exciting to see how things will develop further in Season 2 because the show's large appeal lies in the fact that its ensemble cast is one we also get to know throughout the shift. The balanced character journeys showcase how we get from hour one to hour fifteen, elevating the tension to make every moment stick, making it the type of show that even those who generally don't love the genre can dive into. 

The Paper (2025 - present) 

If you loved The Office (2005), but were understandably hesitant to start The Paper, run—don't walk to watch it now. There's a guarantee you'll appreciate everything the show has to offer, and it's so riveting that we get an accurate, poignant look into small press because journalism isn't a career that's often covered in mainstream media.

The whole cast delivers plenty of hilarious moments, and the characters are already so delightfully fleshed out that it's exciting to see how much further development we'll get in Season 2 when we're back in this wild office. And for those who adored Pam and Jim's relationship, I'm personally already obsessed with Ned and Mare, so you might love them, too. 

The Studio (2025 - present) 

Like The Paper, everything I heard about The Studio before watching it made me think that I wouldn't actually like it. Yet, from start to finish, every beat of the humor is refreshing, nuanced, and uniquely moving to show us exactly what goes on behind the scenes with Hollywood executives making their decisions on the next big picture.

It's clever, ridiculously funny, and the guest stars are bound to bring joy in every area to show viewers what it's like to make a movie in Hollywood. As a now Golden Globe nominee, I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more seasons of The Studio, and with all the new changes that'll come to the industry, it's easy to hope that the show will incorporate them in every new arc. If movies and TV shows are your choice of entertainment, then the show is a must-watch for you. 

Outlander: Blood of My Blood (2025 - present) 

Prequels and sequels rarely hold a candle to the original story, but all that we see in Outlander: Blood of My Blood is a gorgeous feast to show us that this story isn't just good, but it's necessary to feel even more attached to the original. Watching Jamie Fraser's parents fall in love with each other is an absolute treat, but in the same way that Outlander (2014) is so magical for its scenic shots, so is the prequel.

It's the perfect type of show for viewers wanting to escape into a fantasy world with realism still at the crux of it all, and the romance is an added delight that makes everything swoonworthy and lovely. This one can also be perfect if you haven't watched Outlander and want to start now. The viewing experience might even be significantly different. 

Zootopia 2 is Disney’s latest computer-animated film to land in theaters. Like many of the studio’s movies, it centers on a world of anthropomorphic animals where detectives Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) investigate cases for the Zootopia Police Department (ZPD). The film is an allegory that explores themes of prejudice through the story of pit viper Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan), whom the residents of Zootopia view with suspicion.

While Zootopia 2 encourages kids and families to accept those around them, viewers may take it literally and become more open to all kinds of animals, including snakes, which we tend to fear. It’s far from the only film, though, to encourage acceptance of certain animals or open our eyes to the plight of animals. Our guide will show how to watch the best movies that have changed how we see animals on platforms such as Disney+, HBO Max, and more.

‘Free Willy’ (1993) Urges An End To Whale Captivity

Free Willy follows Jesse (Jason James Richter), an orphaned boy who forms a bond with a captive orca whale, Willy, and hatches a plan to free him. It’s a beautiful movie about the bond between a boy and a whale, connected through their desire to find their families. The happy ending makes it a feel-good, family-friendly film, while the action adds tension and adrenaline to keep viewers engaged.

Free Willy’s biggest draw, though, is that it tackles whale captivity. It did so in a pre-Blackfish (2013) world where people were far less aware of the stress and even mistreatment that captive whales faced. The message stuck with viewers, so much so that when they realized Willy’s actor, Keiko, was still in captivity, they demanded his freedom. After an extensive campaign, Keiko became the first captive whale released into the ocean, a moment that added momentum to the movement to end whale captivity.

‘Babe’ (1995) Stirs Interest In Vegetarianism

Babe centers on a pig named Babe (Christine Cavanaugh), who works hard to prove to farmer Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell) and his animals that he can herd sheep just as well as a dog. It’s a heartwarming comedy about one little pig who refuses to conform to the roles society expects from pigs. While there are some dark and scary elements, Babe’s efforts to protect the sheep make it an ultimately inspiring underdog tale.

What Babe does is elevate its titular protagonist, giving him a voice and a consciousness that opens viewers’ eyes to pigs’ intelligence and stirs interest in vegetarianism and veganism. In fact, working with the intelligent pigs on set moved Cromwell so much that he decided to go vegan by the second day. Like Charlotte’s Web (2006), Babe really makes you think about the potential of pigs if they’re permitted to be more than food.

‘Finding Nemo’ (2003) Raises Awareness For Clownfish

Finding Nemo follows Marlin (Albert Brooks), a widowed clownfish, as he journeys across the ocean to find his missing son, Nemo (Alexander Gould). The film is a gorgeously animated underwater adventure that will dazzle viewers with its many fish species, lifelike fish movement, and ocean-reef renderings. Meanwhile, it touches poignantly on themes of grief, parenting, and coming-of-age that will resonate with viewers of all ages.

Finding Nemo’s legacy is mixed: While some reports blamed the film for the over-sale of clownfish and reef degradation, others commended it for raising interest and awareness of clownfish. It inspired viewers to seek more information about clownfish, wildlife, and conservation efforts. If you love movies that encourage love of the ocean, like Moana (2016) and Ponyo (2008), but with a little more focus on its diverse marine life, Finding Nemo is an excellent watch.

‘Ratatouille’ (2007) Turns Rats From Pests To Friends

Ratatouille follows Remy (Patton Oswalt), a rat who finds a way to fulfill his love for cooking by secretly helping Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano) become a chef at the restaurant where he previously worked as a garbage boy. The film boasts a wildly creative premise while drawing viewers deep into the world of cooking and French cuisine. It also includes a powerful message inspiring viewers to cook and create connections and memories through meaningful dishes.

In addition to encouraging interest in cooking, Ratatouille encouraged viewers to change their perception of rats. While many people view rats as pests that they don’t want in their homes, Ratatouille argued that rats could be friends with humans. It seems viewers took this idea to heart, as rat sales surged nationwide and people recognized that rats make wonderful pets.

‘Black Beauty’ (2020) Continues Advocating For Horses

Black Beauty (2020) is the latest adaptation of Anna Sewell’s book of the same name. It follows the life of the mustang Black Beauty (Kate Winslet), who lives free until cowboys wrangle her herd, and she forms a connection with teenager Jo Green (Mackenzie Foy). The film captures the heart and spirit of the book with its touching exploration of Black Beauty’s life and the challenges she faces, and her incredible bond with Jo.

Since its publication in 1887, Black Beauty has been pivotal in influencing the humane treatment of horses and improving their welfare. Black Beauty (2020) continues that legacy by revising the story to highlight the brutality of mustang roundups and raise awareness of the welfare of wild horses. The 1994 movie may be the most faithful to the book, but Black Beauty (2020) is an excellent choice for those seeking a version of the story that addresses additional concerns about wild horse welfare.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ (2023) Encourages An End To Animal Experimentation

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 sees the Guardians rally to save Rocket (Bradley Cooper) as the raccoon’s past comes back to haunt him. The third film in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy is excellent for those of you who love Rocket and are eager to learn more of his history. Like previous installments, it’s the perfect blend of humor, action, and emotion as the team rallies around their own.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 also carries a strong message against animal experimentation, capturing the heartrending history of Rocket and how he became an enhanced raccoon. It doesn’t hold back, even treading a bit into horror as it captures the suffering of the Human Evolutionary’s (Chukwudi Iwuji) test subjects. Even PETA commended the film’s message. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a superhero film that delivers a real emotional punch and is reminiscent of Superman (2025) in the way it spotlights animals.

‘Flow’ (2024) Changes Our Perception Of Black Cats

Flow tracks the adventures of a little black cat who teams up with several animals to survive flooding in their forest. The film was one of the most unique releases of 2024, a dialogue-free production created entirely in Blender. Whether you just want to see a bunch of cute animals working together to survive or are interested in the ambiguous and unique world the film creates, Flow is a must-see.

Another bonus of Flow is that it focuses on animals that don’t usually dominate adventure films, including a black cat, a lemur, and a capybara. Black cats often appear in Halloween flicks because of legends that they bring bad luck, while common animals like dogs are favored over lemurs and capybaras. However, the depiction of a black cat as intelligent, resourceful, and capable of forming connections softened many viewers’ hearts, leading to a surge in black cat adoptions and helping diminish the stigma many associate with the breed.

‘Superman’(2025) Inspires Dog Adoption

Superman tells the story of Superman (David Corenswet), a Kryptonian living on Earth who discovers a startling truth about his heritage as Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) seeks to eliminate him. It’s an excellent take on Superman, as it digs a little deeper into his origin and those who resent him for being different. However, Superman is ultimately a movie about hope and suggests that anyone can rise above their heritage and find a true family.

Another aspect of Superman that most viewers loved was Krypto. The loyal companion of Superman stole the show with his adorable antics and bravery. While the dog is CGI, he was inspired and modeled after Gunn’s own rescue dog, Ozu. Krypto’s portrayal and the heartwarming story behind his inspiration drove a 500% surge in searches for dog adoption and rescue.

‘Zootopia 2’ (2025) Spikes Viper Pet Sales

Zootopia 2 tackles the latest adventure of our favorite rabbit and fox, Judy and Nick, as they investigate sightings of a pit viper in Zootopia, despite the species’ prolonged absence in the metropolis. The movie is an excellent follow-up to Zootopia (2016), maintaining the heart and humor of the original while expanding its characters, themes, and cutting-edge animation. Its sophisticated storytelling appeals to adults, while it’s an excellent starting point for conversations about acceptance for children.

In China, Zootopia 2 also had another interesting effect. Viewers loved the snake, Gary, so much that there was interest in purchasing venomous pit vipers, with a few already following through with the purchase. While the potential for inexperienced customers to purchase venomous snakes is concerning, Zootopia 2 also encourages experienced snake owners to provide homes for pit vipers and encourages more consumers to recognize reptiles as pets.

As 2025 begins to wind down and we here at JustWatch begin to reflect on the past year, one thing has become abundantly clear: 2025 was a great year for horror movies. Between smaller Indie hits and major blockbuster releases, horror films captured the attention of audiences around the globe.

 Not every movie was a smash hit, but when a horror movie was good, it dominated discussion both on and offline. In fact, many horror movies this year, like Frankenstein (2025) and Weapons (2025), were at times the number one most-watched movie in the United States. There was a time when horror films used to be considered niche, but that’s no longer the case. 

With so many great horror movies that came out on streaming services like Shudder, HBO Max, and Netflix this past year, which ones will stick with you long after viewing, and which ones will be forgotten by the next day? Out of the hundreds of horror movies that came out in 2025, these are the ten best horror movies you need to watch if you love being terrified and creeped out.

10) V/H/S/Halloween (2025)

The V/H/S series always delivers creative and interesting installments, and the myriad of shorts present in V/H/S/Halloween makes it one of the franchise’s best.

While all of the earlier V/H/S movies were solid horror movies, V/H/S Halloween is an excellent Halloween movie. There are still some great scares and plenty of spooky shots in the film, but there’s also a fair amount of tongue-in-cheek humor as well that befits the spooky season. It’s fun in the same way that Trick ‘r Treat (2007) is fun, since both films take joy in the season and relish in making each segment creepy, yet approachable. There’s still some of the dark intensity of earlier films, most notably in the brilliant bleak “Kidprint,” but if you’re trying to find a more mature Halloween movie that still retains the playful spirit of the season, V/H/S Halloween is perfect for you.

9) Companion (2025)

As consumers become more and more concerned about the prevalence of AI in society, movies like Companion are a reminder that oftentimes, it’s not the technology itself that’s at fault, but the people who are overly dependent on it. 

While Companion’s twist is fairly obvious after watching the first few minutes, once the film switches from a romantic comedy to a dark comedy, it truly comes alive. While you would expect a movie like Companion to take cues from horror movies like M3GAN (2022) that prey on our fear of technology, Companion goes the opposite direction. It’s a movie that shows just how monstrous people who have become cripplingly reliant on technology are. What helps sell it is Jack Quaid, whose character comes across as the definition of a guy you’d meet online who says he’s a “nice guy,” and Sophie Thatcher, who quickly realizes just how much of a petulant manchild her lover is. Companion’s dark sense of humor may not be for everyone, but it’s great for people who want to see AI tech bros be taken down a peg or two.

8) Presence (2025)

2025 was a great year for experimental horror films. While horror as a genre is used to taking risks and scaring the audiences in new and inventive ways, Presence was a bold and creative twist on the haunted house genre.

Told from the perspective of a ghost, Presence is less of a pulse-pounding thrill ride and more of a supernatural psychological drama. There are very few scares in the film, but the fractured nature of the Payne family can feel very close to home. Much like A Ghost Story (2017), we’re meant to observe the haunting and come to understand how and why the spirit has attached itself not only to this house, but to particular family members. The first-person perspective helps sell the movie, and at only 85 minutes long, you’ll be so engaged that you’ll wish it were longer. Few ghost movies are as well-made as Presence, and supernatural lovers won’t be able to look away from it.

7) Good Boy (2025)

Sometimes, you need more than a great premise. You need the dedication, creativity, and skill to bring your vision to life. On paper, a movie like Good Boy shouldn’t work, and yet thanks to three years of painstaking effort, it most certainly does. 

Making a movie from the perspective of a ghost, like Presence, is one thing, but making it from the perspective of a dog is something different. It is a simple horror movie about a dog who is trying to protect its owner from a ghost, but thanks to some clever cinematography, shot composition, and editing, Good Boy really makes you think that Indy is a capable and fully cognizant actor. His reactions to creepy moments are spot-on, and his whines and whimpers really drive home the fear and terror of the pain the ghost is inflicting on his owner. Frankly, Good Boy is one of the most technically impressive films of the year, and if you’re a fan of the technical aspects of filmmaking, Good Boy will leave you stunned.

6) Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025)

Horror movies are meant to play on people’s fears. The Final Destination series is nothing if not an expert at freaking people out with ridiculous kills and gory sequences. Every Final Destination movie has its crazy kills, but Final Destination: Bloodlines may just be the most hilarious entry in the series.

Final Destination: Bloodlines is aware right from the start that you want to see its cast die in increasingly gruesome sequences. But the film isn’t complacent and content with killing them in ways you would expect. It consistently subverts and shocks you with how quick and violent each death can be. While you may not remember all of the film’s 1 hour and 50-minute runtime, you’ll remember the MRI scene and that godforsaken penny and laugh at how extreme it can get. It’s nothing if not creative, and it’s the kind of horror movie you can watch with a group of friends and howl with laughter at. So if you found yourself wishing for some brutal yet hilarious action straight out of Happy Death Day (2017), Final Destination: Bloodlines will be your next obsession.

5) Bring Her Back (2025)

Horror movies can be uncomfortable. They’re meant to push the boundaries of what is socially acceptable and make audiences come face-to-face with the darkness within us all. Even with that in mind, Bring Her Back is disturbing in a way that few horror films are. 

A part of that has to come with the sensitivity of the topics discussed. Dead children, grief, and child abuse aren’t exactly easy topics on a good day, but Bring Her Back mixes them into a Molotov cocktail of misery. It expertly elicits emotions from the viewer, whether it’s sympathy for Andy and what he has to endure or hatred for Laura and the lengths she goes to achieve her ends. By the end, a part of you will feel dead inside, much like your first viewing of Hereditary (2018), but you’ll have such complicated feelings that Bring Her Back will stay on your mind for some time. If you’re looking for a depressing horror movie to make you feel for its cast, Bring Her Back will do that and then some. 

4) Weapons (2025)

The breakout horror film of the summer, Weapons excelled at creating a complex narrative like no other that’ll satisfy anyone looking for a dark mystery. Told from the perspective of six different characters, Weapons creates a complicated narrative that, like Rashomon (1950) before it, needs to be rewatched multiple times to fully appreciate it. 

While Weapons does utilize the occult to explain how and why a class of third graders disappeared, it’s the comparisons to real-world trauma that make Weapons stand out. While the theory that the film is an allegory for school shootings is debatable, seeing how each of the characters processes tragedy is fascinating. Some lash out. Some regress. Some isolate themselves. Some try to pretend that everything is okay. Whether you like it or not, you can probably relate to one of the film’s many cast members. Films that tastefully handle trauma, grief, and loss are hard to come by, so if you’re looking for a more horrific version of Prisoners (2013), you’ll find it in Weapons.

3) The Monkey (2025)

2025 was a great year for Stephen King fans. Between IT: Welcome To Derry (2025) and The Long Walk (2025), lovers of King’s brand of storytelling were eating well this year. The best dish, though, was the first one to release in 2025, Ozgood Perkins’ The Monkey. 

The Monkey is what you would get if you channeled a Stephen King story through Twin Peaks (1990-2017). It has all of the eccentricities you would expect from a King movie, but with the dial turned up to 11. Nearly every character acts and behaves like a vague approximation of a human, but fully commits to the insanity of the premise like Final Destination: Bloodlines. I mean, when the film is about a monkey toy with the power to kill people, it’s impossible not to have some fun with everything that happens. Yet, for as ridiculous as its premise is, everyone, most notably Theo James, plays each moment like they’re competing for an Oscar. It’s the most darkly comedic film that came out in 2025, and its strangeness deserves to be seen.

2) Frankenstein (2025)

Whenever Guillermo del Toro announces a new movie, you can guarantee it’s going to be immaculately made and with a painstaking attention to detail. Even by del Toro’s lofty standards, there’s a certain beauty to Frankenstein that is impossible to ignore. 

While it may not be a one-to-one adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel, when it’s presented as well as it is here, does it even matter? The tragedy of Victor and the Creature is poignant and moving. It broaches familiar topics, such as pondering the real monster is the story, but they only feel familiar because Frankenstein originated those very ideas. As always, del Toro’s dedication to practical props and sets help bring the film to life, going well beyond what he did for Crimson Peak (2015) and The Shape of Water (2017). Frankenstein is a love letter to Gothic horror, and if you ever considered yourself a fan of the genre, you owe it to yourself to watch all two and a half hours of it. 

1) Sinners (2025)

For as powerful as and beautiful as Frankenstein was, there’s a certain boldness to Sinners that’s impossible to match. Part horror, part action, and part musical, Sinners the the type of original filmmaking that Hollywood could stand to learn from.

Horror has always been a vehicle for societal examination, and almost all aspects of Sinners are worth analyzing and poring over. There’s the importance and legacy of music, cultural assimilation and degradation, the nature of spirituality, and many, many other topics that will strike a chord with any horror afficionado. But at its core, like Get Out (2017) before it, it’s a film that tackles race in a way that feels authentic and real. The entire first half of Sinners is solely dedicated to fleshing out its world and the unique place the Smokestack Twins inhabit in it before going absolutely nuts with its vampiric and klan killing climax. There’s a little bit of something for everyone in Sinners, and the sheer technical acumen of Ryan Coogler’s horror-tinged love letter to westerns makes it the best horror movie of 2025.

Heated Rivalry (2025) isn't just an admirable romance adaptation, but it's one of the best shows of the year, geared to become something that can undoubtedly set a new standard for how to showcase queer joy in mainstream media. As a series, it's not only doing a captivating job of allowing real, human relationships to take center stage, but its critical and fan reaction makes a clear statement that we want more shows like it. 

We're tired of watching members of the LGBTQ+ community be treated as less than in the media when they're already facing terrors in the real world. We're tired of hearing that romance is a niche genre when it's the highest-selling genre for novels, and a show like Heated Rivalry is rapidly climbing streaming charts.

And from the very beginning, every episode is an accomplishment, but its penultimate is also one of the best episodes of all time as it fires on all cylinders to deliver a narrative achievement that's accolade-worthy. "I'll Believe in Anything" is now among the top three of the highest-rated TV episodes of all time on IMDb, sandwiched rightfully between Breaking Bad's (2008) "Ozymandias" and Six Feet Under's (2001) "Everything's Waiting." It's only the second episode to garner a perfect 10/10 score after "Ozymandias," and there are countless reasons for this brilliantly earned score. Stop what you're doing if you haven't already started and run to Crave Canada or HBO Max to watch before reading about the masterpiece that is "I'll Believe in Anything."

'Heated Rivalry' Sets A New Standard For Romance Adaptations on TV

As critics, when it comes to determining an episode's greatness, there are a few things to consider: Is its spot in the story well placed? Does it carefully service both the plot and the characters? Does the screenplay show us what's significant as opposed to telling us what we need to know? Do the performers rise to the challenges they're given and deliver something that's unforgettable in some way? As an adaptation, how effectively does it translate the source material to a different medium? Do the directing, cinematography, lighting, sound mixing, and music choices contribute to highlighting the episode's theme?

A lot of times, countless shows do all of these things, and depending on the genre they fall into, they don't always get the critical reception necessary to then push award campaigns ahead for more recognition. But in every way where it matters, Heated Rivalry Season 1, Episode 5, "I'll Believe in Anything," should get the recognition it deserves.

Thoughtfully written and directed by Jacob Tierney, the episode is masterful from start to finish in delivering the rising waves that crash toward the climax. Penultimates and finales also carry a weight on their shoulders as episodes that are generally more important to the story for where they fall in the narrative scale. These are the beats we often put the most pressure on to determine whether something can stick the landing, and in every way, "I'll Believe in Anything" does. 

The Season 1 Penultimate Episode Of 'Heated Rivalry' Is a Perfect Testament To Raw Human Emotions

Credit where it's due, Rachel Reid is a brilliant writer, and where she places these events in the Game Changer series is deliberately considerate to enhance all the emotional highs and lows. Jacob Tierney and the team understand the value of respecting the source material, and despite various changes here and there, their adaptation adds all that's necessary to draw in even those who haven't read the books.

Again, this being a penultimate episode matters because we're already walking into it knowing that the end is near. And how we swerve from one significant event to another with these characters is no small feat. For three episodes, not including "Hunter," we watched Connor Storrie's Ilya Rozanov and Hudson Williams' Shane Hollander orbit around one another as they grew closer through sex. Now's the time to unpack all of that—to put their clothes back on yet bare their souls in a way that allows them to be even more naked than they've ever been before. Because these are the moments that effectively underscore how they've fallen in love over and over while building a trust they didn't realize was armoring them the entire time.

It's this very trust and the safe space they've built together that allows Ilya to fully unburden himself and confess his love, albeit in Russian. Character development is crucial in cementing a great episode, and thus far, we've watched Ilya essentially choke on all the emotions he's kept locked away while Shane has tried to understand them all. 

The dance that they've been a part of is then elevated by the fact that both characters have never felt this way before, and we get to see this all come to light through the type of honest communication that proves vulnerability is the key to developing characters. Every show and episode that's ever nominated for any kind of award features some sort of confession, outcry, or climactic realization. In many ways, the episode includes all three, making it perfect. 

Connor Storrie And Hudson Williams Deliver Award-Worthy Performances

For an episode to be deemed as the best of the year, the actors also need to bring their A-game, and that's exactly what both Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams do. But the same can be said for François Arnaud and Robbie G.K. in the mark they leave during the episode's final few moments. Impressively, in a way that I have very few words for. That said, to think that both Storrie and Williams are only just getting started is an accomplishment that's even more rare because Storrie's accent work and the training he went through to speak another language is something that veteran actors don't take as seriously as they should. 

The phone call where Ilya bares it all while Shane fully listens, though he doesn't understand, is as evocative as it is because it's a further emphasis on how to build intimacy without physical touch. One character exposes his whole heart, while the other listens and wholly embraces every word that's coming out of his mouth, even while he doesn't understand, because he can feel it?

I can't remember the last time a scene like this was as evocative. Because that's how profound their connection now is, and the humanity that we see throughout Heated Rivalry's "I'll Believe in Anything" is proof of how humanity can inspire each other. How substantial it is to watch another queer couple come out publicly and realize that maybe one day, you can, too. Because ultimately, the inclusion of Scott and Kip in Episode 5 also underscores why Episode 3 was as significant as it is—how they're the game changers in more ways than one.

The masterful performances elevate every emotion and every narrative beat, while mindful song choices continue to work as parallels and signs of how the characters got to this point from the first episode. It sets up the events of the finale with the type of cliffhanger that feels earned and poignant, making a note of how prestigious TV is all about exploring and untangling human emotions.  Whether stuck in a mysterious company with severed minds or hockey as a metaphor, one thing's clear about TV in 2025: grief and love and healing all orbit around each other to deliver some of the best episodes we've watched.

‘Tis the season to snuggle up by a warm fire with a big hot cup of cocoa. The weather outside might be frightful, but the fire is so delightful! Then again, fireplaces (especially the real, old-school wood-burning ones) release tons of harmful gases and particulates into the air, making them incredibly toxic. 

Luckily, Netflix has us all covered with chemical-free artificial fireplace emulators that bring all the crackling, flickering, cozy warmth of a good roaring fire…without all those pesky lung irritants. It all started with the standard Fireplace for your Home, which is exactly what it sounds like. There are three hour-long “episodes,” including one with Christmas music, one of just the crackling fire, and another of relaxing instrumental music. You can also check out variations like the retro-themed Mid-Century Modern Fireplace or the stately White Christmas Fireplace for the holidays.

But Netflix also has a bunch of fireplaces inspired by their hit shows and movies. From Wednesday (2022-Present) to KPop Demon Hunters (2025) and more, here’s every Netflix fireplace, ranked. Yes. I’m getting paid to rank fireplaces, and I’m taking this very seriously. So put on your cozy socks and your chunky sweater, and grab that oversized mug that could double as a cereal bowl, because here we go! 

8. KPop Demon Hunters: Fireplace (2025)

Shockingly, the absolute worst fireplace is from KPop Demon Hunters. Despite the action musical being a worldwide cultural phenomenon dominating not just the Netflix charts, but also the Billboard charts…its fireplace kind of sucks. 

First off, it isn’t even a fireplace. It’s just a roaring pink fire altar from the movie, and it’s pretty small, taking up a mere fraction of the screen. Even worse, nothing really happens, making it a pretty boring experience. The first 22 minutes feature the score from the movie, but then we spend the next 40 minutes in silence. Because it’s animated, small, and silent, there isn’t even ambience, it all just feels empty. The KPop Demon Hunters: Fireplace is honestly dull, so let the demons keep it and find a better one.

7. Unicorn Academy: Holiday Fireplace (2025)

The Unicorn Academy: Holiday Fireplace is a hot mess. First of all, this is clearly the fever dream of some sugar-addled 7-year-old girl, thanks to its cheap, AI-looking animation style, awful pop instrumental Christmas music that was clearly pulled from the bargain bin, and the ample amounts of unicorns and fairies. 

Even worse, the fireplace is on a 10-minute loop, and the entire ordeal just repeats itself six times, creating an hour-long recording (yes, I sat through it, and yes, I regret it.) If you’re overdosing on sugarplums or huffing a little too much holly, this might just be the fireplace setting for you. It could also be a good option for hardcore fans of Unicorn Academy who simply crave any kind of new content. 

6. Squid Game: Fireplace (2024)

The Squid Game: Fireplace is admittedly quite beautiful. Embossed wall plating, a leather couch, an earth-toned rotary phone, and stately decor make it a striking fireplace setting fit for a swanky Manhattan lounge. 

But then there’s all the sinister ambient noises, the tense Squid Game soundtrack playing in the background, and a Young-hee replica sitting above the fireplace, making anyone who looks at it immediately think of the devastating red light, green light game. If you’re hosting an escape room party, this would be a great fit. But to relax? Absolutely not. It makes me feel like I’m about to meet with an evil villain who has probably poisoned my martini. 

5. Spellbound: Fireplace (2024)

Netflix’s animated fantasy film Spellbound also received the fireplace treatment. But it isn’t actually a fireplace, and instead is a fire in the middle of an enchanted forest (where is Smoky Bear when you need him?) It’s also loaded with the sounds of woodland critters and light ambient music from the movie. 

The Spellbound: Fireplace is also unique because it’s set just at the start of dusk, making it the brightest of all the fireplace adaptations. But as an animated fireplace, and its distinct setting that very obviously isn’t part of your house, the Spellbound version feels a little hokey and out of place. Kind of like you’re watching a scene from an old Disney movie that never seems to start. But for anyone with small kids making pillow forts in the living room, this could be a great choice to create a wilderness vibe.

4. The Witcher: Fireplace (2021) 

Netflix also has a fireplace inspired by their series The Witcher, which is inspired by the video game series of the same name, which is based on the book series of the same name…which were probably written in front of a fireplace? It all comes full circle. 

The medieval-looking The Witcher: Fireplace is actually a firepit, and it definitely gives off some Game of Thrones vibes. Plus, the score from the show plays in the background, giving this one a hefty dose of medieval ambience. If you’re hosting a ren fair party or running a D&D game, this is absolutely the epic fireside setting you need. 

3. Stranger Things: Fireplace (2025)

The Stranger Things: Fireplace is actually really cool. So cool that it almost becomes too distracting for a piece of background ambience. The fireplace is within the Byers house from season 1, complete with the alphabet and Christmas lights dangling above. 

But as the fire burns, tense music from the show plays (including its iconic opening theme). Then, the electronics flicker, and the Christmas lights begin to light up and spell words like R-U-N. For a whole 10 minutes, we’re even transported to the Upside Down. It’s one of the most active fireplaces in the Netflix library, which could be a lot of fun or distracting, depending on what you’re looking for. But for Stranger Things fans, it could be something interesting to check out. 

2. Wednesday: Fireplace (2025)

Step into the twisted, gloomy Addams house and sit next to the fireplace, which is inside the mouth of a giant stone Medusa. With ornate purple wallpaper, hardwood floors, and large gold-trimmed mirrors, the Wednesday: Fireplace is a gorgeously spooky setting. If you’re a fan of the show Wednesday, or just love all things ghostly and eerie, this is the fireplace for you.

But also, it’s just truly a stunning space. I’d live here. I don’t care if Uncle Fester creeps on me or if a dismembered hand runs around all night. Perhaps it can bring me my cup of tea while I rest by the fire? It’s the perfect blend of a relaxing fireplace and great scenery, without having too much going on, like in the Stranger Things fireplace. The next time you host a Halloween party or tell scary stories on Christmas night (this was a very real and popular tradition during the Victorian era), the Wednesday fireplace will perfectly set the mood. 

1. Bridgerton: Fireplace (2024)

Bridgerton knew the assignment when creating a fireplace setting. Stately floral arrangements, candelabras, fancy pillows, and a porcelain tea set all surround the stunning white, engraved fireplace within the Bridgerton manor. Plus, music plays throughout the entire hour, which makes this a lively and pleasant fireside setting, perfect for anyone hosting an afternoon tea or supper party. 

Its mix of elegance and simplicity makes the Bridgerton: Fireplace the best of them all. It’s even great to put on while you’re studying or working (I’m actually listening to it as I write this). The only downside is that it’s missing all the hunky hunks and salacious…you know…from the series. 

Let's be real. Half the fun of horror movies is the tropes. Whether it's a door squeaking when it shouldn't, creepy children, or ghostly whispers carried on the wind, these reliable cliches do wonders in creating suspense. The same can be said about the sillier horror movie tropes. You know, the ones that have you rolling your eyes while a smile also plays on your lips. Sure, you've come to expect them, but you also need them.

The tropes gathered on this list are the ones that have you yelling at the screen. "Turn around!" "Don't do that!" "For God's sake, just run!" While not every horror movie protagonist acts the way we want them to, their frequent stupidity and lack of awareness are also what make horror such a blast. Here are seven ridiculous horror movie tropes you know, love, and never get tired of. Watch the films that use them best (or, at least, the most memorably) on HBO Max, Netflix, and more. 

Splitting Up For No Good Reason

Sometimes I wonder if Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? (1969) popularized this trope because those meddling kids were always splitting up. In some cases, it made sense. Other times, it felt reckless. (If Fred and Daphne were just doing it to "hook up," couldn't they do that off Mystery Inc.'s time?) The same can be said about most horror movies, especially of the slasher variety. How often have you yelled at the screen when the twenty-somethings break apart? Wouldn't your chances against a masked maniac be better in a group?

Yet, that's really the fun of a slasher: watching the killer creatively pick off victims one by one. The Blackening (2023) has a really fun, really meta take on this trope that plays a pretty significant role in the movie. Sure to delight anyone who appreciates a good self-aware genre film. However, look to cult '80s favorites like The House on Sorority Row (1982) or Night of the Demons (1988) to see more organic, albeit just as silly, versions of this trope.

Strange, Unknown Fluids? Let's Lick, Touch, Or Both

Anyone who watches The X-Files (1993) knows Agent Mulder frequently touches and tastes all types of unknown substances in his pursuit of the truth. However, that bizarre oral fixation doesn't start and stop at him. Why are horror movie protagonists always soaking their fingers in blood to see if it's real? Perhaps it emphasizes their disbelief in the situations they've found themselves in, but couldn't they just look really closely? The same can be said about unknown, gooey substances.

Movies like Prometheus (2012) and Slugs (1988) use goo and slime to memorable effect. The latter, especially, involves many investigations of slime-covered corpses that also result in the investigators getting covered in the stuff. From gnarly practical effects to the trademark '80s sense of camp and over-the-top gore, Slugs is a worthy cult classic for your next movie night with friends.   

Unrealistically Skeptical Law Enforcement

Horror movies have a complicated relationship with law enforcement. Police are either treated as the ultimate saviors (the goal our protagonists are trying to contact) or they're wildly incompetent, arriving at the scene only to get murdered a second later. Add a little wildly unprofessional skepticism in there, and you've got the makings of the ultimate trope. Picture it: People covered in blood desperately trying to explain that a slasher is hunting them, only for the police to say something like, "You kids are wasting my time." 

Whenever I think of this trope, my mind jumps to Halloween (1978) as Dr. Loomis spends the entirety of the movie ranting, raving, and trying to convince the sheriff that Michael Myers, an escaped asylum patient, is a threat to Haddonfield. That said, Gremlins (1984) also has a wonderfully bizarre example of this. After initially ignoring Billy's warnings about the gremlins, the sheriff and deputy still don't quite believe it, even after witnessing the chaos in town. The best part is that rather than helping, they just drive back to the station. Gremlins' social commentary and dark humor are on full display here, so if comedy horror is your thing, you'll love what this iconic holiday horror movie is putting out.

The Killer Coming Back For One Last Scare

Wes Craven's Scream (1996) famously shines a spotlight on this trope when Randy warns, "Careful. This is the moment when the supposedly dead killer comes back to life for one last scare." If you've seen any horror movie ever, that scene will elicit a laugh. Really, Scream's meta-commentary about the genre's many tropes works for almost every entry on this list. Horror comedy connoisseurs will love it, but the blending of mystery and humor makes it a solid choice for horror newcomers, too.

1978's Halloween earns another mention for its iconic disappearing Michael act, but really, so many movies fall into this category. From classics like Friday the 13th (1980) to modern favorites like Terrifier (2018), and those middle movies like Orphan (2009) in between, boot up almost any horror flick, and you'll get some rift on the "dead killer returning" for one last jumpscare before the credits roll.

Don't Go Camping… Ever

While camping is a pastime enjoyed by many, that's never the case in horror movies. And, hey, I get it. Camping is all about getting closer to nature, and Mother Nature plays by her own rules. Whether it's a log cabin or a simple tent, there's something innately unsettling about the isolation of the woods, especially at night.

If you prefer man versus nature stories, Backcountry (2015) will make you second-guess hiking for the foreseeable future. The same goes for The Ritual (2017), a Netflix staple that interweaves a nice dose of occult horror if that's more your style. For slasher fans, Sleepaway Camp (1983) and the aforementioned Friday the 13th will also give you a tasty serving of camping horror, just with a summer camp vibe.

Wandering Off To The Bathroom Means Certain Death

While some of you reading this might be thinking, "But, wait! Isn't this the same thing as splitting up?" I'm here to tell you that you're wrong. The "call to nature" trope usually occurs before the horror even starts. One of our protagonists excuses themselves to use the bathroom, sometimes walking for what feels like miles, only to meet a grim end at the hands of a killer. What keeps this trope fun is that the character remains oblivious to his fate while the audience immediately suspects he is a goner. Then, it becomes a game of "when" rather than "if." 

Again, so many movies qualify for a shoutout here, but In a Violent Nature (2024) deserves special mention for delivering a pretty gnarly kill that will delight special effects nerds. It's got an old-school horror feel to it that makes up for the movie's slower movements. While the film itself might be a bit divisive, this particular kill acts as a worthy example of why Scream's Randy warned against ever saying, "I'll be right back," if you're in a horror movie.

Never Trust The Locals, Especially If They Live Rurally 

When it comes to stranger danger, horror movies really double down. If you're a horror movie character traveling to a new location, especially a remote, desolate one, assume everyone around you is a murderous monster. Personally, this is one of my favorite tropes because it's scary and, honestly, an introvert's worst nightmare. Imagine traveling to a new place, needing help, only to discover everyone around you is in on the terror. 

Perhaps no movie (and franchise) does this better than The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), a genre-defining classic that's sure to delight fans of grindhouse-style films. That said, if you want something a little off the beaten path (pun intended), consider checking out Wolf Creek (2005), Wrong Turn (2003), or House of Wax (2005), a movie I will always defend through my clouded millennial nostalgia. 

The year is winding down, which means it’s time to start planning out your celebrations for New Year’s Eve. For many, that means a night with friends that involves watching some kind of music-filled special, lots of fizzy drinks, and staying up until midnight to welcome the new year. 

If you’re looking for something a little more lowkey, maybe consider a movie night? For decades, cinephiles have celebrated New Year’s Eve by meticulously planning the exact time to start their favorite movie so a key moment happens right when the clock strikes 12. This year, we’ve saved you the trouble by putting together this list of 10 movies with unforgettably iconic scenes and when you need to start them for the scene to happen at midnight. Boot up Pluto TV, HBO Max, and more to kickstart your New Year’s movie party now. 

Ghostbusters II (1989)

If you’re going hunting for a Ghostbusters movie to watch this holiday season, 1989’s Ghostbusters II is probably the last one on your list. While the film was still a massive hit, you can’t deny that it’s a little toothless compared to the original, largely thanks to its tamer, more family-friendly humor and stylings in the wake of its 1986 animated counterpart, The Real Ghostbusters’ success.

Nonetheless, Ghostbusters II has one advantage: It’s set around late December, with New Year’s Eve serving as the deadline to stop the film’s big bad, Vigo the Carpathian. If you start the movie at 10:19 PM, the Ghostbusters will rappel into the film’s finale at midnight, punctuated by Bill Murray’s Peter Venkman exclaiming “Happy New Year!”

Back to the Future (1985) 

Did you know that if they made Back to the Future today with Marty living in 2025, he would be going back to 1995? That honestly sounds terrifying, but thankfully, I can watch the original to stop thinking about that. Back to the Future is a rare example of a practically perfect movie. While Back to the Future Part II is definitely my favorite thanks to its far-flung future setting and visual effects, I can’t deny how incredible the original is because of its sharp writing, clever concept, and absolutely stacked cast.

It’s got some of the most unforgettable scenes in movie history, whether it’s Marty threatening to melt his younger dad’s brains as “Darth Vader from Planet Vulcan” or Doc and Marty trying to fix the Delorean. But if you have to pick one scene to see when the year ends, it’s pretty obvious. Start the film at 10:19, and Marty will return to 1985 at exactly midnight. Sci-fi fans, this one is for you. 

Forrest Gump (1994)

Much like how Back to the Future is a classic slice of Americana, Forrest Gump is a beloved American classic. However, while the tale of Back to the Future is a hopeful and triumphant one, Forrest Gump is known for its punctuated moments of heartbreak and sorrow. As such, it may be the saddest moment on the list. And it makes sense, considering just how much of Forrest Gump is about one man enduring some of the most depressing and horrific things to ever happen to one individual.

But, unlike most other movies on the list, it has one scene set around New Year’s. If you start Forrest Gump at 10:38, you’ll get to celebrate the new year on a cold bridge as Forrest cheerfully tries to celebrate the occasion with a depressed, confetti-covered Lt. Dan. 

Beetlejuice (1988)

The Ghost With The Most has left quite a distinct mark on pop culture, despite barely being in the film that bears his name. After decades populated by the beloved Beetlejuice cartoon (1989) and a sequel, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice (2024), 1988’s Beetlejuice remains a surprising classic in line with the dark supernatural comedy Ghostbusters popularized a few years before. A lot of that is thanks to its incredible cast, including Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, and an unforgettably slimy Michael Keaton performance.

You could try to time it to the film’s iconic finale dance or perhaps Beetlejuice’s failed wedding to Lydia, but that’s no fun. Instead, start Beetlejuice at 10:31 PM, and you’ll ring in the new year with Beetlejuice being summoned to the corporeal world for the first time and uttering his iconic catchphrase, “It’s showtime!”

Die Hard (1988)

The debate will probably rage on for eternity about whether or not 1988’s Die Hard is a Christmas movie (I’m firmly in the camp that it is, for the record), but there’s no denying its status as a quintessential action film. With a star-making role for Bruce Willis and the unforgettable introduction of Alan Rickman as the terrifying Hans Gruber, Die Hard surprised everyone.

Everyman John McClane makes for a compelling hero, and the grounded action is exciting and incredibly tense. And while it definitely isn’t a New Year’s movie, it’s the perfect holiday action romp to ring in the new year with. Start the film at 9:58 PM, and you can mark midnight by dropping Hans Gruber from Nakatomi Plaza instead of a ball in Times Square this year. 

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

It’s difficult to know what film started the trend of timing a key movie moment to happen at exactly midnight, but a strong contender might be 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. I obviously don’t have to explain to you the cultural importance of Star Wars as a whole and what it means to films and sci-fi fantasy as a genre, especially if you’re already planning on watching this modern masterpiece to send out 2025 on a high note.

If you do watch A New Hope, start the film at 10:02 PM, and you’ll see the Death Star explode right at midnight. Note this timestamp is for the Disney+ version of A New Hope, which matches up pretty closely to the Blu-ray, digital, and DVD releases. However, if you’re watching the original cut, you’ll need to start at 10:05 PM. 

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

If you are, for some reason, looking to ring in the new year with a prequel instead of the original trilogy, I’m not here to judge you. But at the very least, I can steer you toward the better of the prequels. Rather than the dull Phantom Menace (1999) or the convoluted Attack of the Clones (2002), you can end the year on a high note if you start 2005’s Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith at 11:02 PM. 

And who wouldn’t want to end the year with this one? While the prequels could generously be called a mixed bag, Revenge of the Sith has a lot of great performances and edge-of-your-seat action, including the gorgeous lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin and the rise of Darth Vader. But if you start at 11:02 PM, you’ll get Obi-Wan’s iconic “Hello there!” quote happening at exactly midnight. 

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

One has to mention the film that popularized this trend, 2019’s once-in-a-lifetime event, Avengers: Endgame. Surely, at least one of you reading this is already planning on running some kind of MCU marathon this year. The MCU will finally be winding down its current phase in 2026 via Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday, so it’s the perfect time for a rewatch.

Yes, if you are going to marathon the MCU for New Year’s, the MCU is an easy one. There’s the exciting beginnings of Iron Man (2008), or the white-knuckle action of Captain America: Civil War (2016), but Endgame is just too perfect, too obvious for this event. Start Endgame at 9:29 PM so that Tony will snap his fingers right at midnight, and you can all start the year with a good cry over his emotional death. 

The Room (2003)

No one said you are obligated to only watch certified classics on New Year’s Eve. Sometimes, you just have to watch the most infamously bad movie of them all. 2003’s The Room is legendary for being the weirdest passion project to ever hit the mainstream, a bizarre indie film about love, betrayal, and playing football whenever you have a spare couple of minutes.

Whether you’re watching the cringe original or the hilarious adaptation of the film’s making, The Disaster Artist (2017), there is perhaps no moment in The Room more memorable than Johnny and Mark’s awkward rooftop discussion about women and relationships, so be sure to start the film at 11:22 PM to ring in the new year with the film’s classic “Oh hi, Mark” delivery. 

Casino Royale (2006)

It certainly seems like it’s going to be a while before we get a new James Bond. The franchise is quietly rebuilding as new owners, Amazon MGM Studios and Denis Villeneuve, work on a new film. Until then, there’s always the recently concluded Daniel Craig era of Bond films, which have become cherished classics in the eyes of many fans.

Sadly, Craig’s Bond is a bit too busy being a gloomy murder machine to have any Christmastime adventures. And while you could go for some of his higher-octane later adventures like No Time To Die (2021) or Spectre (2015), why not go back to a simpler, more traditional Bond adventure: 2006’s Casino Royale. If you start the film at 9:39 PM, you’ll ring in the new year with Craig’s very first “Bond. James Bond.”

In early 2025, just weeks after the wide release of his smash hit, Nosferatu (2024), director Robert Eggers announced his latest project: Werwulf (2026). Eggers, known for his supernatural, gothic, and period horror, took on the challenge of remaking the influential German Expressionist film Nosferatu (1922). The remake proved wildly successful, paying homage to the original’s style and vision while adding depth to the story. 

Nosferatu also earned Eggers many new fans, who were excited to see his first post-Nosferatu project. Hence, the announcement that Eggers is making a new period horror movie focused on supernatural creatures piqued viewers’ interest and even raised hopes of a Nosferatu sequel. Viewers can use our guide to find out everything they need to know about Eggers’ Werwulf.

What We Know About ‘Werwulf’ So Far

Like Nosferatu, Werwulf will capitalize on a Christmas Day release, landing in theaters on December 25, 2026. Eggers co-wrote the script with Sjón, with whom he previously collaborated on The Northman (2022). Eggers and Sjón set the film in 13th-century England and will add authenticity by utilizing Middle English dialogue. They are already using Old English in the title, with the spelling “Werwulf” rather than “Werewolf.” However, there will be annotations if you’re not familiar with Middle English.

Aside from the setting and dialogue, Eggers has kept the plot details of Werwulf under wraps, describing it to Bleeding Cool simply as a “medieval werewolf movie.” He also described the plot as dark. He stated, “And it’s also the darkest thing I’ve ever written. By far.” If you watched Nosferatu, you may be surprised by that statement. A lot of critics and audiences described Nosferatu as “repulsive” due to the extremely dark, bleak, and macabre subject matter, including necrophilia. In general, Eggers’ movies are dark, so to describe Werwulf as the darkest of all “by far” is quite interesting. 

The media has also confirmed several actors slated to appear in Werwulf. While their roles remain undisclosed, Lily Rose-Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, and Ralph Ineson will star in Werwulf. All four of these actors had previously collaborated with Eggers on Nosferatu.

Is ‘Werwulf’ A ‘Nosferatu’ Sequel?

Werwulf and Nosferatu have many similarities. They are both horror movies featuring supernatural creatures, share the same director, and have much of the same cast. However, Werwulf is not a sequel to Nosferatu. The films are set in different places and time periods, and Eggers has dismissed the idea that they’re related.

Although he denied trying to start a shared universe, Eggers admitted that the films are “companion pieces.” Werwulf isn’t a proper sequel to Nosferatu, but it is a “spiritual successor,” due to its thematic and stylistic similarities. They are period horror films with folklore-based stories that put Eggers’ signature gothic take on supernatural creatures. He told Bleeding Cool, “But yeah, both films are me trying to commune with folk culture of my past and are me and my brother’s take on New England folk tales.”

How Eggers’ Films Echo Universal’s Failed ‘Dark Universe'

Eggers is adamant that he’s not going to create the “Robert Eggers Cinematic Universe.” However, we still can’t help but notice the parallels between Eggers’ movies and Universal’s failed “Dark Universe.”

In the early 2010s, inspired by the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Universal planned to revive its Universal Monsters (1913-1956) franchise, a collection of monster adaptations and crossovers, with a proper shared universe: the Dark Universe. The Dark Universe would consist of interconnected films featuring Universal’s classic monsters. It kicked off with the 2017 remake of The Mummy. Unfortunately, The Mummy marked an infamous critical and commercial failure for Universal, prompting the studio to pause all future Dark Universe films, such as remakes of Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954).

Many projects fell through, and Universal has since shifted to standalone movies, abandoning the shared-universe concept. Now, I don’t believe the Dark Universe failed due to a lack of interest in a shared universe featuring monsters. After all, the Monsterverse has fared tremendously well. Universal’s shared universe had lots of potential, but it fell apart because the franchise pushed the idea too harshly. The Mummy overreferences other films and strives so hard to establish a universe that it hardly stands on its own.

The reason the Dark Universe failed, though, could be the same reason that Eggers’ films succeed. He’s not interested in creating a shared cinematic universe or setting up a franchise. Instead, he wants to give his take on folklore and horror tales, keeping the essence of these classic stories rather than letting franchise ambitions overshadow them. 

To be fair, Universal’s Dark Universe has its own unique audience, too. The Mummy was a standard Tom Cruise action thriller that offered viewers stunning visuals and plenty of fun. For some, finding every monster reference and catching every detail intended to set up the Dark Universe was fun. If you love big-budget, stylish, and action-packed films, The Mummy is the perfect watch.

However, Eggers’ films offer a slightly greater depth for audiences. Viewers seeking authentic adaptations of classic horror stories will be drawn to Nosferatu and Werwulf. Eggers pays meticulous attention to detail and historical accuracy, to the point of writing actual Middle English dialogue. He remains true to the spirit of folklore horror while expanding the story in meaningful ways by digging deeper into its themes and adding layers of darkness, seductiveness, and horror for hardcore horror fans. His authentic approach to period horror and his refusal to force a shared cinematic universe might just be what Hollywood needs.

The best part of Zootopia (2016) and now Zootopia 2 (2025) is the voice casting that allows us to basically see celebrities in a new, almost perfectly constructed light, especially when they play themselves. For instance, Robert Irwin has a brief cameo at the very end as Robert Firwin. Ed Sheeran even "appears" as Ed Shearin. And we've all rightfully been obsessed with Shakira's Gazelle since the first movie, right? 

But interestingly, some of the more familiar names are the ones who make for some of the best cameos in Zootopia 2, and we've decided to rank them. The movie is still playing exclusively in theaters, but it'll hit Disney+ soon enough. 

8. Patrick Warburton as Mayor Winddancer

Mayor Winddancer is one of the bigger players in Zootopia 2, but really, it's Patrick Warburton's comedic timing and relief that make the character intriguing. And interestingly, he also voices Kronk in The Emperor's New Groove (2000), which makes everything even more hilarious because the vibes that both animated characters possess are actually similar.

Warburton's comedic chops are a reason he's voiced a lot of similar characters. He's also in Family Guy (1999) as Joe Swanson, and it makes everything as Mayor Winddancer twice as memorable when we look back at his career before. The mayor is supposed to be entertaining, if nothing else, and the great head of hair is an added bonus.

7. David Strathairn as Milton Lynxley

David Strathairn is a recognizable face, even when you can't quite place where you know him. To top things off, so is his voice, and what he delivers as Milton Lynxley in Zootopia 2 is chilling.  Although he's been in a number of great properties, Strathairn's most famous role is arguably Good Night and Good Luck (2005).

His portrayal as Edward R. Murrow is incredible and landed him a number of accolades during the year of release. But more than anything, his inclusion matters in this ranking because he's basically Zootopia's version of Logan Roy from Succession (2018). The animated lynx even looks a bit like him, doesn't he? And this connection makes the Lynxley cameos even more hilarious because they're all connected. 

6. Fortune Feimster as Nibbles Maplestick 

Nibbles Maplestick is the second-best new player after Ke Huy Quan's Gary De'Snake, who's also on this list, and the role brings so much levity and ridiculousness into Zootopia 2. Fortune Feimster might be recognizable to those who've watched The Mindy Project (2012) and FUBAR (2023), but it's her comedy specials that are aces.

As one of the best in the business, Fortune Feimster's comedic timing is what provides some of the strongest beats of character building in Zootopia 2. The short time we get to spend with Nibbles is so funny that it's legitimately hard to imagine the story without her. If you loved the character, you'll also love Sweet & Salty (2020).

5. Brenda Song as Kitty Lynxley

And here we have Zootopia 2's version of Succession’s Shiv Roy, brought to life with excellent range and humor by Brenda Song, who'll forever be London Tipton from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody (2005) to me. Song's voice work has always been impressive, and what she does with the role undoubtedly makes it funnier.

Again, and maybe more than anything, the connections are what work so well here because it just makes the Lynxley family stand out as ridiculously as they do when we know what the actors have been in. Recently, she's been in Running Point (2025), which is another great showcase of her talents. 

4. Macaulay Culkin as Cattrick Lynxley

Okay, so if Milton Lynxley is Logan Roy, does that make Macaulay Culkin's Cattrick Lynxley Roman Roy? And if you're not a Succession fan, the connection is funnier when you realize that Culkin's brother, Kieran Culkin, plays Roman. Or, would that be Andy Samberg's Pawbert because he rebels? Interestingly, the roles can mix, and that's what makes the cameo A+.

Cattrick doesn't have as big a role as Pawbert, but genuinely, Culkin delivers the perfect cameo, if for no other reason, so that we could've had a blast making these Succession connections. But ultimately, he'll always be Kevin McCallister from Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), which are undoubtedly two of the most must-watch Christmas movies for all types of viewers.

3. Quinta Brunson as Dr. Fuzzby

In other words, if Janine Teagues from Abbott Elementary (2021) were a therapist, she'd be Dr. Fuzzby in Zootopia 2. While the character's cameo isn't as big as I hoped it'd be, what Brunson does in those few moments is incredible. There's no one else whose voice would work as well as it does for an animal as adorable as a quokka, and it's near perfect for both comedic relief and a wholesome, weird addition. 

Brunson is a star in every way, and if, for whatever reason, you aren't watching Abbott Elementary, it's perfect if you love the messages in Zootopia 2. It'll also likely heal your inner child, which always happens to me personally. No shame.

2. Andy Samberg as Pawbert Lynxley 

Is he Kendall Roy from Succession or Tom Wambsgans? It doesn't even matter because he's voiced by Andy Samberg, which means I immediately forgive his villainy a little. But I did also immediately think of "Cool motive, still murder," which is one of Samberg's most iconic lines as Jake Peralta in Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013).

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a top-tier comedy, and if you were tricked by Pawbert and then immediately betrayed, run to watch Samberg as Jake Peralta. It'll change your life if it hasn't already. The casting choice was astute, as Samberg gives us so much range in his vocal work as he manages vulnerability through humor. I can't imagine another actor allowing Pawbert to stand out more.

1. Ke Huy Quan as Gary De'Snake

Ke Huy Quan may be an Academy Award winner for Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) as well as a known face from The Goonies (1985), but we all came out of Zootopia 2 absolutely obsessed with Gary De'Snake, right? The amount of heart and sincerity that Quan packed into the role is no small feat. 

The writing was always meant to showcase him as the hero in the end, but it's everything that Quan brings that makes him so memorable. Whatever movie or TV show Quan is in, it's instantly made better by his presence and performances. There's no question about that, and it's why he had to be the number one choice on this list.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) is one of 2026’s most exciting superhero movies, and fans are eager to find out who exactly Sadie Sink is playing. The Stranger Things (2016) star is confirmed to be at the heart of the new film, but it remains unclear at this time if she’s playing a hero, a villain, a side character, or a love interest. Given the open-ended nature of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man trilogy following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), it really could be anything.

This hasn’t stopped rumors from spreading about potential reimaginings of comic villains, fresh takes on fan favorites, or deep cuts to help lay the groundwork for Avengers: Doomsday (2026). This has only been amplified following the leak of an apparent trailer for the film, which gave a few small clues about a female character who seems to be speaking to Spider-Man—and seems to be aware that he’s Peter Parker. Given what’s been speculated on so far and given what we know about the MCU, here are some of the potential characters that Sadie Sink could play in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. 

Shathra

One of the most prevalent theories for Spider-Man: Brand New Day has argued that Sadie Sink will play a relatively minor but powerful villain from the Spider-Man mythos, Shathra. Debuting in 2002, Shathra was a fundamental deity from Earth-001, who attempted to weave a Great Nest at the heart of all existence, only for her sister’s Great Web to be chosen instead. A murderous force of nature with a grudge against any and all people connected to the Web of Life and Destiny (like Spider-Man), Shathra’s human cover identities of Sharon Keller and Annabelle Adams could be the initial presentation of Sadie Sink’s character before the reveal of her true identity.

While this would be Shathra’s first on-screen appearance, it would also build off of her recent appearance as a villain in the “End of the Spider-Verse” storyline from the comics. She could also factor into Brand New Day as part of the fallout of Peter Parker’s actions in Spider-Man: No Way Home, explaining why she’s seemingly capable of knowing who Peter Parker is and about how he protected his friends by altering the world’s perception of him. For fans of the more multiversal elements of the superhero genre that Shathra represents, make sure to check out mind-bending and reality-hopping titles like Loki (2021) and What If…? (2021).

Chameleon

While Shathra might be the most powerful villain for Sink to potentially play, she could also be a lower-level threat to the larger universe, such as Chameleon. One of Spider-Man’s oldest enemies, the Russian freelance criminal and master of disguise, could easily be reimagined for the MCU as a quiet power player with ties to the Black Widow program. It would also give the MCU its own take on the concept following the lackluster returns of the Chameleon’s big cinematic debut in Kraven the Hunter (2024).

There’s also precedent for the character to be reimagined as a woman, something the MCU has grown more comfortable with in stories like Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025). Chameleon would also make sense as a prospective character who could investigate and figure out who Spider-Man is, even after everyone forgot about Spider-Man, all while reflecting a more grounded approach closer to Vulture than multiversal tears. It could be a lot of fun to see Sink play with the flexibility of the character, given her own range as a performer. 

Alistair Smythe

An out-there concept, but a potentially intriguing one, could cast Sadie Sink as a reimagining of Alistair Smythe. A minor character in the comics but a fan-favorite tragic villain in Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994), Smythe’s father was behind the creation of the robotic Spider-Slayers. When they were seemingly killed, Alistair swore revenge.

As a bio-enhanced figure, a gender-swapped version of Alistair played by Sink would be an intellectual equal to Peter Parker in an interesting way, as well as carry on the “human enhanced by tech” trend that has defined the MCU Spider-Man’s personal threats. It could also explain the rumored casting of Sarah Snook, who could be playing the film’s version of Alistair. Doing this would give the MCU a lot of room to play with the character, due to their limited presence in the original comics that it’s adapting.

Jean Grey/Marvel Girl

One of the most popular theories about Sadie Sink’s role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day has suggested that she won’t actually be playing a Spider-Man character, but will instead be one of the first notable X-Men to appear in the MCU. Theories have been swirling for a while that Sink will play the MCU’s Jean Grey, setting up a more important role in the franchise’s future by pairing her up with an established icon like Peter Parker.

It would also explain why Sink has been confirmed for an appearance in Avengers: Doomsday, which seems to be already in the process of becoming a launching pad for the X-Men into the MCU. Sink’s character could be aware of Peter Parker’s identity through the use of her telepathy. Fans of Jean Grey and those curious about the kind of arc Sink could have can look to the original live-action X-Men trilogy to animated fare like X-Men (1992) and X-Men Evolution (2000), the latter of which even has a teenage Jean that could be an inspiration for the MCU’s version if this theory is correct.

Felicia Hardy/Black Cat

One of the earliest theories about Sadie Sink’s character in Spider-Man: Brand New Day argued that she could be a new love interest for Peter Parker. Given the reported street-level focus of the story, this led to plenty of fans suggesting that Sink could be playing Black Cat. Felicia Hardy is one of Peter Parker’s most consistent love interests, a master criminal with a moral core who effectively becomes Catwoman to Peter Parker’s Spider-Man.

It would be a fun excuse to let Sink showcase her action chops while also giving her plenty of room to play around with the femme fatale archetype. Fans curious about this character and her relationship to Spider-Man can check out her important supporting arcs in Spider-Man: The Animated Series. However, a film adaptation of the character and her dynamic with the Wall-Crawler could mimic the dynamic between Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle in The Batman (2022).

Gwen Stacy/Ghost-Spider

Another popular theory for Sink’s role is that she will play a new incarnation of Gwen Stacy. One of Peter Parker’s earlier love interests, Gwen’s death at the hands of the Green Goblin has remained one of the foundational tragedies of the character for decades. Although Sink is a natural redhead, she could dye her hair to match the character’s typical blonde, or, similar to how Zendaya didn’t necessarily physically resemble the original comics MJ, Sink could just be playing a redheaded version of Gwen.

Conversely, if the movies aren’t trying to replicate the tragic version of Peter and Gwen’s romance from The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), the film could instead introduce Sink as the live-action version of Ghost-Spider. A multiversal hero from a world where she got the powers instead of Peter Parker, “Spider-Gwen” has become an especially popular character among fans after her cinematic debut in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) and in the Marvel Rising (2018) series of animated films. This could be a multiversal tie-in or a chance to introduce the MCU’s version of Gwen as a fellow superhero.

May Parker/Spider-Girl

Fans of the reality-hopping from Spider-Man: No Way Home have been keeping their fingers crossed that the Spider-Man (2002) or Amazing Spider-Man universes could return, and Sadie Sink playing May Parker, aka Spider-Girl, could be the key to that. The daughter of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson in an alternate future, May headlined one of Marvel’s longest-running female-led comic books and has appeared briefly in multiverse-hopping adventures.

May is a fun character with just the right mix of Peter’s snark and MJ’s resilience, a perfect follow-up for Sink after her tenure as Max in Stranger Things. While it’s also an unlikely choice, it would pay off the multiverse elements introduced to No Way Home and could set up Sink to play an important role in the likely multiverse-heavy Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).

Madam Web 

One potential (if unlikely) explanation for Sadie Sink’s character being capable of understanding who Peter Parker is would be introducing Sink as a version of Madame Webb. The original incarnation of the character was an old seer with ties to Spider-Man through the Web of Destiny, an old woman very similar to her depiction in Spider-Man: The Animated Series.

Other characters have been associated with the role, though, like Julie Carpenter. Still, Sink could be playing a similar character, more of an expositional figure who underscores Spider-Man’s importance in the events yet to come. It’s also potentially a means for Marvel to try and reclaim the concept following the less-than-stellar reception to Sony’s Madame Web (2024) and introduce its own take on the character to the mainline MCU. 

Everyone knows Batman. As one of the most popular superheroes in pop culture history, even your grandma is likely familiar with Gotham City's enduring vigilante. Whether it's the campy theatrics popularized by Adam West in Batman (1966) or the more grounded and gritty reimagining of Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022), no incarnation of Batman looks the same. While movies like Batman (1989) and Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy are mainstream favorites, other films fell completely under the radar.

In some cases, the oversight is fair. Other times, it's a grave mistake. If you think you've seen every good film out there, here are five underrated Batman movies you probably haven't seen that are very much worth watching. Find most of them on Prime Video, HBO Max, and more now.

Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero (1998)

Maybe you're like me and cried like a baby when Harley Quinn (2019) put its spin on Mr. Freeze's tragic attempts to save his wife Nora in Season 2, Episode 4, "Thawing Hearts," or maybe you're normal. Regardless, Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero is the ultimate underrated Batman movie for anyone who finds themselves sympathizing with Mr. Freeze more than they probably should.

Spinning out of Batman: The Animated Series (1992), Subzero sees Kevin Conroy and Michael Ansara reprise their roles of Batman and Mr. Freeze, respectively. In another attempt to save his dying wife, Freeze kidnaps Batgirl (Melissa Gilbert) as a prospective organ donor. Like The Animated Series, Subzero manages to keep its content relatively family-friendly while delivering some heavy-hitting emotional moments that give it a mature feel. Again, Batman proves himself to be the ultimate detective, while Freeze remains just as complex and captivating an antagonist as ever. (Why haven't we got a good live-action Freeze movie yet?) 

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000) 

Whether you're familiar with Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker or not probably correlates with your attachment to Batman Beyond (1999), the cyberpunky younger sibling of The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures (1997). If you've the film, then you already know it's an underrated gem that many critics and audiences of the time brushed aside as a kids' movie.

Yet, as is often the case with Batman content, Return of the Joker packs a surprising amount of depth in its 75-minute runtime and features a delightfully unhinged Joker performance from Mark Hamill. The only downside here is that Return of the Joker loses a little bit of its punch without prior knowledge of Batman Beyond. Don't get me wrong. You can totally go into it as a standalone, but if you want the full experience, consider at least watching Season 1 of Batman Beyond first.

The Batman vs. Dracula (2005)

Pitting Batman against Dracula feels like a no-brainer. After all, both characters have strong associations with bats and slinking around at night. Yet, there are far too many DC fans who haven't seen The Batman vs. Dracula—or even know of its existence. While it's loosely based on DC Comics' Batman & Dracula: Red Rain, the movie definitely does its own thing, making changes that keep the action high.

If you're a horror fan who also likes Batman, The Batman vs. Dracula was made for you. Don't let its animation fool you. This movie is spookier than most of Batman's animated outings, perhaps more on par with Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018) when it comes to its horror sensibilities. Not to mention, Dracula's supernatural abilities give Batman an interesting foe to go up against, considering they're a relatively rare occurrence in his rogues' gallery.

Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014)

While gamers might be rolling their eyes, those unfamiliar with the Batman: Arkham video game series probably let Batman: Assault on Arkham pass them by without even realizing it. With the animated movie putting the Suicide Squad in the spotlight, this movie isn't for those craving a Batman showcase. Instead, it's an action-packed, heist story primarily involving the Suicide Squad's attempts to retrieve important data stolen by The Riddler as Batman and Joker do their usual song and dance.

If you've played the critically-acclaimed Batman: Arkham video games, then you already know how gritty, dark, and immersive this take on Gotham, Batman, and his rogues is. Assault on Arkham delivers a similar vibe, with plenty of black humor, violence, and sexual content to place it firmly in mature territory. This one isn't for the kids. It's for us adults who want to unwind and watch Batman kick some butt.

Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham (2023)

Let's be real for a second. As great as Batman is, retreading the same old origin story and villain arcs can become… tiresome. That's why Elseworlds stories like Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham are so refreshing. It delivers the characters you know and love, just without a different spin. If The Batman vs. Dracula piqued your interest earlier, then this one most likely will, too.

Here, Batman returns from an overseas trip only to discover Gotham is under some type of supernatural curse. Also set in the 1920s, this incarnation of the Batman universe feels like the best type of fan fiction. Otherworldly, creepy, and filled with cosmic dread, The Doom That Came to Gotham is the definitive Batman movie for fans of Lovecraftian horror. Really, there's nothing else like it out there.  

In 2013, South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho broke into the American market with his post-apocalyptic thriller, Snowpiercer. It’s set in a world where climate change has driven humanity’s last survivors onto a self-sustaining, circumnavigational train where passengers are segregated based on class. Everything changes, though, when Curtis Everett (Chris Evans) leads a revolution. Creative, riveting, and thought-provoking, Snowpiercer is one of Bong’s best films.

However, for certain viewers, Snowpiercer may be something more than an excellent addition to Bong’s filmography. To some, Snowpiercer is actually the long-awaited sequel to Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971). While the two films may not strike you as remarkably similar, you may think again after hearing the evidence for the compelling fan theory.

The Similarities Between ‘Willy Wonka’ And ‘Snowpiercer’

YouTuber Luke Palmer, who goes by the channel name Rhino Stew, went viral for a video connecting Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and Snowpiercer. Before delving into his theory, Rhino Stew starts by pointing out something you can’t deny: the similarities between the movies. Sure, they are set in different times and places. However, the basic premises are virtually the same. They both feature a man/boy who grew up in poverty and whose defining moments come when they must work their way through an unusual environment.

In Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) works his way through Willy Wonka’s (Gene Wilder) chocolate factory, while in Snowpiercer, Everett works his way through the train. Everett and Bucket face unique challenges in each room of the factory/train, which quickly wipe out their companions. Upon reaching the final train compartment, Everett learns that the train’s leader, Wilford (Ed Harris), orchestrated everything to find a successor, much like how Wonka orchestrated the Golden Tickets and factory tour to find his successor, Charlie.

The films are also thematically similar. They examine class, fate, and free will. The only real difference is that Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory frames its themes in a way that children can understand.

How A Fan Theory Connects ‘Willy Wonka’ And ‘Snowpiercer’

Rhino Stew takes it further than pointing out the similarities between the movies and hypothesizes that they take place in the same universe. According to his theory, Charlie Bucket grows up to become Wilford in Snowpiercer. Assuming “Willy” is short for “Wilford,” it’s possible Charlie took on his mentor’s name, just as he did his penchant for branding his “W” logo on everything. To be fair, in some takes on the story, like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Wonka is far more antagonistic, which means it wouldn’t be surprising if his successor had a similar darkness.

Everything takes on a new meaning in Rhino Stew’s theory. For example, the scenes of Charlie excelling at chemistry and math in school could have foreshadowed his Wilford era. Between Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, which takes place in 1971, and Snowpiercer, which takes place in 2014, the chemistry genius Charlie/Wilford foresaw the devastation caused by the government’s decision to use the cooling agent CW-7.

Wilford’s knowledge of math allowed him to understand the necessary human sacrifices to make the train plausible. However, the apocalypse did a number on his mind, causing him to take particularly drastic measures. Through it all, he remained faithful to Wonka’s legacy, creating an imaginative, fantastic invention specifically designed to challenge his successor.

The theory could even ease your mind about the ambiguous fates of the children who failed Wonka’s tests, as Rhino Stew suggests Wilford isn’t the only Willy Wonka character to appear in Snowpiercer. Wonka’s spy, Wilkinson (Günter Meisner), may have gone on to serve Wilford under the alias Gilliam (John Hurt). Cowboy and gun-obsessed Mike Teavee (Paris Themmen) turned into the real gunman and henchman, Franco the Elder (Vlad Ivanov). Snowpiercer’s Claud (Emma Levie) could even be Augustus Gloop’s (Michael Böllner) daughter, given their similar lack of impulse control and Claud’s willingness to eat anything, even her own blood.

The only thing really missing from Snowpiercer is the Oompa Loompas. However, Rhino Theory points out Wilford’s vague explanation of a “piece of equipment” for the train that went “extinct” before the movie’s event. He may just have been talking about the Oompa Loompas, especially because their short stature means they would’ve fit into the engine room, which Wilford explicitly states could only fit a “very small person.”

Are ‘Snowpiercer’ And ‘Willy Wonka’ Actually Connected?

As intriguing as the Willy Wonka and Snowpiercer fan theory is, it remains just a fan theory. There’s no proof that the two films are connected, and Bong has never publicly acknowledged Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

Even so, the theory is intriguing enough to persist and at least makes us question if Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory could’ve been an inspiration for Snowpiercer. As mentioned above, the movies are great for individuals interested in class disparity, riveting fictional environments, and enigmatic, rich, and eccentric antagonists. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is easier to digest and safe for children, thanks to its vibrant colors, catchy tunes, and admirable Charlie. Adults will enjoy it, too, especially if you like children’s stories that are actually a little dark when you really think about it.

If you loved Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, but always wondered what the uncensored and adult version of the story would be, Snowpiercer might just give you that experience. 

Few characters in modern pop culture inspire as much conversation as Anakin Skywalker. Most audiences instantly think of Hayden Christensen, whose performances in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) and, years later, in Ahsoka (2023) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) introduced the Star Wars franchise to a new generation. His portrayal is the most widely recognized version of Anakin, despite Sebastian Shaw being the first actor to bring the character to life on screen.

But these aren't the only actors who have stepped into those intimidating Jedi boots. Across animation, video games, and late-night cult comedies, which can be found on Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu, several well-known stars have portrayed Anakin. These alternate performances offer fans a twist on the character's mythology. While none of these versions define Anakin the way Christensen did, they reveal how culturally embedded the character has become.

Zac Efron - Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III (2010)

Zac Efron voicing Anakin Skywalker on Robot Chicken (2005) is one of the most unexpectedly charming alternate takes on the character. This version of Anakin appears in Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III (2010), the stop-motion sketch-comedy special that gleefully poked fun at everything. The episode, narrated by Emperor Palpatine (Seth McFarlane), details his rise to power, with the character questioning his selection of Anakin Skywalker as an apprentice.

Efron was at the peak of his High School Musical (2006) fame when he voiced Anakin, which is exactly what makes his performance popular. His clean Disney earnestness adds a previously unseen element to Anakin's impatience and melodramatic impulses. His performance is intentionally exaggerated, making it ideal for fans who love Star Wars but also enjoy seeing its mythology lovingly shredded. If you enjoy shows like Rick and Morty (2013), this will be firmly in your wheelhouse.

Seth Green - Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II (2008)

While Seth Green is best known as the co-creator and long-time voice actor on Robot Chicken, many people don't realize he also voiced Anakin Skywalker in Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II. The episode sees the Star Wars saga get gleefully dismantled through rapid-fire stop-motion sketches that reimagine iconic moments with silly twists, from Palpatine's having a disastrous day to stormtroopers juggling family life on the job.

Green's Anakin is less youthful than Efron's, but his take is arguably the more incisive parody. The character tends to show up during flashbacks to hammer home his neuroses, anger issues, and occasionally embarrassing lack of self-awareness. Because Green isn't afraid to make the character look ridiculous, this portrayal works best for viewers who love deep-cut humor. If you've ever debated the Jedi Order's ethics, argued about the Clone Wars timeline, this is the show for you.

Seth MacFarlane - Family Guy (2007)

Seth McFarlane voiced Anakin Skywalker in the trio of Family Guy (1999) Star Wars trilogy spoofs titled "Blue Harvest", "Something, Something, Something, Dark Side," and "It's a Trap!," which aired in 2007, 2009, and 2010, respectively. With Lucasfilm's approval, the first installment reframes the sci-fi classic as one of Peter Griffin's long-winded stories, told during a power outage. Each of the movie's characters is brought to life by a member of the Griffin family.

McFarlane, the creator of the hit animated sitcom, voices Anakin by way of Stewie Griffin. His performance is one of the least discussed, largely because Anakin isn't a central figure in the original Star Wars trilogy storylines. His appearance is brief but still memorable. This version of Anakin is perfect for fans who grew up on Family Guy and appreciate the show's willingness to poke fun at absolutely everything. If you don't mind when beloved icons are lampooned, you'll enjoy this spoof.

Matt Lanter – Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)

Matt Lanter's portrayal of Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated movie was one of the most significant expansions of the character outside the live-action films. Released as a theatrical introduction to the animated series, the film positioned Lanter as the definitive voice of Anakin for an entire era of Star Wars storytelling that would go on to reshape how many fans understand the troubled, iconic character.

Unlike the exaggerated parody takes, Lanter's Anakin is sincere, confident, and noticeably more heroic. His performance leans into Anakin's natural charisma, which presents him as a respected Jedi knight instead of an apprentice plagued by conflict. But we also get to see flashes of his impatience, arrogance, and emotional volatility, which foreshadow Anakin's darkness. It's perfect for Star Wars fans and viewers who enjoy stories with expanded lore.

Apart from Heated Rivalry (2025), which is adapted from Rachel Reid's incredible Game Changers series, romance adaptations were pretty scarce in 2025. We simply didn't get enough, and of the few rom-coms we did get, none of them scratched the very specific itch that only romance novels are best at achieving. 

We didn't exactly get enough yearning, vulnerability, and memorable beats that make the story something worthy of rereading or rewatching over and over again. But thankfully, it feels like the coming year might fix this. 

From the adaptation of Emily Henry's People We Meet on Vacation (2026) to the announcement of It Happened One Summer (2026), here are the romance adaptations we know are coming and why you'll love them when they release on platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and more.

People We Meet on Vacation (2026)

We have news that each of Emily Henry's books will be adapted in some capacity (like Happy Place will be a series), but first up is Poppy and Alex's friends-to-lovers story, and I personally can't remember the last time I was this jazzed for a romance adaptation. With legitimately perfect casting in Emily Bader and Tom Blyth, the beats we already have in the trailer and teasers have me on my knees from excitement.

In more ways than one, the book is Henry's love letter to When Harry Met Sally (1989), and if you've ever wanted a romance that wholly captures the essence and heart of the movie, People We Meet on Vacation is the one for you. The buzz it'll deliver will be unmatched. There's so much to look forward to in how many book scenes can make it onto the screen, and even if they aren't, Bader and Blyth are such stunning performers that they'll surely fill in all the gaps we need to make every arc deeply compelling.

The Love Hypothesis (2026)

We don't have official confirmation about whether The Love Hypothesis will be released in 2026, but considering the fact that we know they've wrapped filming, I can't imagine it taking any longer. And selfishly, I can't wait that long either. Ali Hazelwood delivers the best type of fake dating in an academic setting, and the story is one that's undoubtedly going to stick with you when it's out. 

Like People We Meet on Vacation, the casting is also everything because Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman feel like they've been shaken straight out of the book. The one TikTok of him literally carrying her with one hand still lives rent-free in my mind, and I think about it at least once a day and twice on Sundays. Genuinely don't know how I'm going to cope with this whole movie on my screen. If you love fake dating and a grueling academic setting, plus women in STEM, The Love Hypothesis will be your next big obsession. 

Every Year After (2026)

Based on Carley Fortune's bestselling romance novels, Every Summer After and likely One Golden Summer, the TV series, Every Year After, is set to include stories with all the books in the kind of beachy escapism that we've all been itching for since The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022) ended. It's going to be the best thing to give us second chance romances and stories with complex characters, and I'm personally most psyched about all the angst we could get in this series.With a casting announced and production hopefully beginning early next year, there's a good chance we can have this one in 2026. Bonus points if it's actually ready by the summer, because it'll add all the necessary feels and give us all the vibes to geek out over it.

It Happened One Summer (2026)

I have a feeling that we may actually get the adaptation of Tessa Bailey's It Happened One Summer in 2027 rather than 2026, but maybe adding it to this list can serve as some sort of manifestation. 2026 absolutely should be the year of rom-com adaptations, and it's all I want. That said, the first of the Bellinger Sisters novels will star Nina Dobrev and Tyler Hoechlin, which in and of itself is so exciting.

Here's the thing with romance adaptations: a lot of times, people really underestimate just how much casting matters to sell these stories. Sometimes, that means that slight character quirks like hair or eye colors might change, but the right actor can still capture the heart of the character in the best way possible to do right by the books, and that's what matters. We've got great casting here, so it's enough to be eager about the opposites-attract grumpy/sunshine romance.

Off-Campus Series (2026) 

The Off-Campus series, which is set to follow Elle Kennedy's books, is going to air on Prime Video, and there's a very good chance that we'll see it come to pass in 2026. With an ensemble cast similar to how we watch seasons with Bridgerton, that's presumably how the series will roll out, giving us more sports romances in a college setting, which is something I feel we haven't gotten much of since early 2000s CW shows.

The series will be perfect for you if you love sports, opposites attract, and solid found family vibes. Again, it's unclear how much can change from the books to the screen, but there's already a lot to be excited for with the cast and the fact that it's getting a series order to flesh out all the characters.

You Deserve Each Other (2026)

A second chance romance with an engaged couple who are constantly at each other's throats? Sign me up. Right away. Immediately. Sarah Hogle's gorgeous novel is getting an adaptation with Penn Badgley and Meghann Fahy. And now's the chance to finally cleanse our brains from everything we saw in You (2018). But also, Meghann Fahy? Iconic. 

More than that, stories about marriages (engagements, in this case) and the things people will do to save them are always some of my favorites. Add in the hijinks these two keep pulling, and this love story is going to hit twice as hard. If you love romances that are centered around opposite pairings cut from the same cloth and rich banter, there's a good chance You Deserve Each Other is going to scratch all the right itches for you.

The Bodyguard (2026)

While Katherine Center's novel isn't exactly a holiday rom-com, Netflix's adaptation of The Bodyguard will be turning it into one. Starring Jared Padalecki and Leighton Meester, this one's going to be especially great if you've read the books and love the concept of her being the bodyguard instead of him. Also, not to be confused with The Bodyguard (1992).

The film is likely to be released this coming year, as Netflix has recently doubled up on its holiday releases around December, so we're in for a treat. The casting is also doing something so specific for the Gossip Girl (2007) and Supernatural (2005) girlies, I wouldn't even know where to begin when it comes to unpacking all of that. If anyone comes across a time machine, let me know.

In a Holidaze (2026)

In a time loop story that's bound to bring some magical realism into our holiday season, In a Holidaze is so much fun in text that I can't wait to see how it's developed on-screen. The recently announced cast will be starring Maddie Ziegler, Rob Lowe, Graham Phillips, and Elias Kacavas, and it'll hit Netflix hopefully in the coming year.

It's perfect for anyone who loves Palm Springs (2020), and like The Bodyguard, it can give us two incredible holiday romance adaptations to look forward to. If you want a precious and gorgeous romance that'll help you escape reality, I have a feeling this one's going to be it. 

Over a decade after its conclusion, Spartacus (2010) returns, only this time it looks a little different. Instead of picking up from the series' third and final season, titled Spartacus: War of the Damned, the universe expansion comes in the form of a sequel with a "what if" approach. Essentially, series creator Steven S. DeKnight delivers an alternate timeline dubbed Spartacus: House of Ashur, which posits what would happen if Ashur (Nick E. Tarabay) survived his encounter with Naevia (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) on Mount Vesuvius.

It's an interesting idea, especially for longtime Spartacus fans eager to see the Starz series return in any form. However, those hoping Lucy Lawless' Lucretia would also get the revival treatment, think again. While Lawless makes an appearance in the first episode, House of Ashur regulates her role to a guest appearance, which, personally, feels like a big mistake.

Lucretia Deserved A Big' House Of Ashur' Comeback

With House of Ashur playing in fantasy and twisting fate, any Spartacus character could earn a second chance from the gods. Considering Ashur dies before Lucretia, not bringing her back into the fold feels a bit puzzling. After all, her relationship with Ashur ranks among the most complex in the show, with the equally manipulative duo forming an alliance based on mutual benefits before spiraling into full-blown enemies. Emphasis on the "full-blown."

Watching Lucretia go head-to-head with Ashur again after how he treated her in Vengeance would have been particularly satisfying. So would an alternate timeline where Lucretia got to keep Ilithyia's baby. I'm picturing another "what if" scenario where they both live, and a time jump accounts for the actors' ages and allows Lucretia's "son" to get sucked into the fight against Ashur, too.

Right now, though, House of Ashur lacks a wickedly dark female character like Lucretia (at least so far), with the show's female characters feeling a bit overlooked at times. Lawless returning to the role would have added the sharp-witted, slow-plotting feminine villainy that made her such an intriguing character in Spartacus. Not only that, but Lawless was one of the biggest lures of the original series, and a more substantial role in House of Ashur would've gone a long way in enticing viewers. Instead, her guest appearance feels like nothing more than a marketing ploy. 

Why Lucy Lawless Only Cameoed In 'House Of Ashur'

Perhaps "marketing ploy" feels like too harsh a word. However, Lucretia and Ashur's encounter in House of Ashur was released ahead of the series premiere as a sure-fire way to drum up anticipation. As Steven S. DeKnight told TV Insider, "It was absolutely vital [for Lawless to return]. Ashur and Lucretia were so tied together in that season of Vengenace…" DeKnight continues to explain that "working schedules" got in the way, and for "about a month," he wasn't sure if Lawless would be available at all.  Still, finding out that scene is pretty much the extent of her inclusion in the sequel feels disappointing, to say the least. 

It's unclear if Lucretia would have played a bigger role had Lawless' availability been different. Obviously, the show is titled House of Ashur, not House of Lucretia, so her role may have fallen to support anyway. That said, it would have been nice to see Lawless back in the gowns and dress, stalking around the ludus and plotting revenge, especially as a middle-aged woman, considering we still don't get enough of that representation on screen. 

Is 'Spartacus: House Of Ashur' Worth Watching?

If you're a longtime fan of Spartacus, then this was made for you—yes, you specifically. While the "what if" premise allows new fans to also step into the world with fresh eyes, the emotional impact and love/hate attachment to Ashur definitely won't hit quite the same, even with Lucretia's cameo doubling as a recap. My best advice is to watch the original series, including the prequel Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, before jumping into House of Ashur. Debuting to an impressive 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and since dropping to the high 90s, the sequel series manages to deliver the same character-driven stories, balanced by a good heaping of NSFW material, to keep you invested in what comes next. If stories about the brutality of ancient Rome excite you, or you like the messy politics and squabbling for power in series like Game of Thrones (2011), Spartacus and House of Ashur will quickly become new favorites. 

Hollywood has adapted numerous anime and manga into live-action over the years. The success of these projects varies significantly from great, like with Alita: Battle Angel (2019), to horrible, like Death Note (2017). Usually, these films flaunt their anime background, but that isn’t always the case. For example, did you know that Edge of Tomorrow (2014) is based on a Japanese light novel? More importantly, did you know that it’s being remade in 2026 as All You Need Is Kill (2026), with a much more overt anime aesthetic?

The Tom Cruise sci-fi action movie was a modest hit for its time. It made around $370 million and now lives on Prime Video, but it went to great lengths to hide its Japanese origins. So it would appear that All You Need Is Kill will be a more faithful adaptation of the light novel, right? Strangely enough, that isn’t exactly accurate. If you’re interested in learning what’s going on with the first big anime feature film of 2026, here’s what you need to know about All You Need Is Kill.

What Is ‘All You Need Is Kill’ About?

All You Need Is Kill is the story of a young woman named Rita. One day, an interdimensional alien flower spawns in Japan and lays its roots around the world. One year later, Rita volunteers to harvest elements of the plant to rebuild Japan, but it erupts and gives birth to aggressive and mindless monsters that brutally slaughter Rita and the nearby volunteers.

She then wakes up in her bed the morning of the attack and quickly realizes she’s in a time loop. With no idea how to break the loop, she continuously confronts the creatures and dies each time in the hope that she’ll discover a way to end it. Eventually, she meets a young engineer named Keiji who also experiences the time loops, and the two of them begin to develop exoskeletons to better help them fight the creatures and break the cycle of death they’re stuck in.

How Is ‘All You Need Is Kill’ Similar To ‘Edge Of Tomorrow’?

Edge of Tomorrow is structured pretty similarly to All You Need Is Kill. It lifts the core concept of two heroes stuck in a time loop, donning exoskeletons, and fighting aliens, but the perspective and execution is far different. 

Most notably, Edge of Tomorrow isn’t told from Rita’s perspective, but from Keiji’s analogue, Major William Cage. Cage, played by Tom Cruise, isn’t as meek as Keiji and is more of a cowardly soldier scorned by his commanders. Rita is still present, but instead of being a volunteer with little combat experience, she’s presented as a war hero who has defeated scores of the alien invaders, known here as Mimics. The plot is also significantly more complicated, with multiple supporting characters and a globe-spanning adventure to end the loop as opposed to All You Need Is Kill’s focus on its duet of protagonists and its single setting. 

Funnily enough, Edge of Tomorrow is actually more faithful to the light novel than the upcoming adaptation. Both it and the original book present themselves as sci-fi war stories, while All You Need Is Kill comes across more like a sci-fi fantasy. Edge of Tomorrow uses each loop and the trauma they experience as a metaphor for PTSD, which is more in line with the light novel than the romantic undertones of All You Need Is Kill’s doomed heroes.

Why Did ‘Edge Of Tomorrow’ Lose The Anime Aesthetics?

So if All You Need Is Kill is embracing its anime origins, and Edge of Tomorrow is closer to the source material, why does it hide them as fervently as it did? The answer, in part, comes from the time period during which the film was released. Anime was considered a niche subsection of pop culture in 2014 and only occasionally received mainstream recognition. Even then, when it did, it was usually for the wrong reasons. Dragonball Evolution (2009) was 20th Century Fox’s attempt to broaden the appeal of Dragon Ball Z (1989) to Westerners, but it became a laughing stock both commercially and critically.

In general, anime films, or live-action films inspired by anime, were viewed as risky prospects, which is probably why Edge of Tomorrow presented itself more as a gritty sci-fi action movie. When Tom Cruise was cast, the script changed to better acclimate the story to his particular set of skills, which meant the eccentricities of the manga diminished. Now, anime is much more widely accepted, and with less of a risk due to its smaller budget and release, All You Need Is Kill can fully immerse itself in the iconography that Edge of Tomorrow was so scared to approach.

Should You Watch ‘All You Need Is Kill’?

If you want a psychedelic action movie with bonkers animation, All You Need Is Kill certainly is that. The movie does an admirable job of making its world vivid and memorable. Like Heavenly Delusion (2023), it trusts that audiences will be able to piece together what’s going on in this strange, dystopian sci-fi world and respects their intelligence in the process.

It can be an assault on the senses with its frenetic visuals and character designs reminiscent of Tekkonkinkreet (2006), but they help to keep your attention in ways that few anime can. All You Need Is Kill balances action and drama well over the course of its 85-minute runtime, which helps make the climax an effective fever dream of emotional angst and heartbreak. It’s chaotic 

Here's the thing about holiday romances and tropes made for TV: They're formulaic, yes, but when they deliver, they deliver. I'm not watching these types of movies to discover the next best Oscar nominee; I'm here for nostalgia, joy, and indescribable escapism. Because really, who amongst us doesn't want to spend all of December doing Christmas activities instead of our jobs? We should all have the whole month off, is what I'm saying. 

As silly and saccharine as the tropes might feel to people who don't love the genre, when the actors are good, and the writing sticks the landing, they each have the ability to become comfort films we'll end up revisiting year after year because the joy is infectious. Here are some of the most oddly specific tropes you'll see in holiday romances, as well as some movies to watch if you love them on Prime Video, Hallmark+, and more.

Big City Girl Moves Back Home To Her Small Town

This one gets a ton of flak, but here's the thing: As someone who currently lives in a big city, I'd happily escape to my small-town childhood home if I had one. Because as lovely as big cities are, there's magic in small towns, too. Going somewhere without sitting in traffic for hours? Where do I sign up? That said, there's magic in childhood memories and people who've known you for years. Bonus points if she falls in love with a Christmas tree farmer or some sort of lumberjack, because why the heck not?

Hallmark has gotten better throughout the years of trying to incorporate this trope differently by still giving the female character the best of both worlds. Or, in a means to subvert expectations, they have the male main character leave his city job for the small town he was once desperate to get away from. If you want elements of this with a touching story about finding connections to the parent you never knew, my personal favorite will always be the Finding Father Christmas (2016) trilogy.

Kids Are Always Invested In The Adults’ Romantic Lives

I mean… are they wrong to be? I'll happily welcome a meddling kid any time. I mean, really, single dad Jude Law in The Holiday (2006) with his daughters wanting Cameron Diaz's Amanda to see their fort? Mr. Napkinhead? Need I say more? The movie is perfect on all fronts, but those are moments that'll always get to me.

The trope is especially prominent in Hallmark properties like the underrated gem Hope at Christmas (2018) and A Kismet Christmas (2022), which also doubles as a small-town romance. You can't go wrong with any sort of single-parent trope, nor siblings who are legal guardians, because these are always the movies that have a ton of emotional depth in them. 

A Small Business Always Needs Saving From A Corporation Buy Out

Not the bakery that sells the best gingerbread cookies in town! Don't you dare touch the tree farm! Hands off the local bookstore that's been in the family for generations! This is an unpopular opinion, but part of the reason I don't love You've Got Mail (1998) the way most people do is that The Shop Around the Corner closes for business. Hallmark movies would never, and therefore, I welcome them all. Most recently, we even got a delightful little gem in Christmas at the Catnip Cafe (2025) that I still can't stop thinking about.

This specific trope is the one I'll always go to bat for because small businesses are integral to communities, and nothing will ever compare to their charm. There's so much livelihood, heart, and history that it makes me livid that more people don't care about their value. So, really, if I had to keep one trope to utilize forever with holiday romances, saving the small business will always be the one. 

Realism? We Don’t Know Her

Okay, so this is the most niche trope, and it's my absolute favorite. The Spirit of Christmas (2015), Ghosts of Christmas Always (2022), A Timeless Christmas (2020), A Biltmore Christmas (2023)—what do they all have in common? Magic or time travel in some way without an actual magic system that makes sense, and it's perfectly fine because I have no desire to question it. The ghost can suddenly become human even though he's been dead for centuries? Believable. I won't question a thing.

And in the last few years, these types of movies have been my favorite movies because they've still dabbled with some of the best tropes, like the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, while simultaneously delivering unique love stories that stick the landing in a clever way. Throws a coffee cup down like in Thor (2011) and demands another. More of these movies forever and ever.

Someone Rediscovers The Christmas Spirit

The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced this is actually the most realistic trope because the more we overwork ourselves during the holiday, the more exhausted we become when it's time to actually celebrate. And as someone who's feeling extra grinchy this year because of how overwhelming everything is, I just know that a Christmas tree farm with a local coffee shop that makes gingerbread lattes in town could fix me.

But really, movies like this year's Christmas Above the Clouds (2025) or anything that centers around a Scrooge-like character who needs the extra push to realize that sometimes you just have to let go and let the spirit of the holiday take over are A+. If you watch Finding Father Christmas, which is also on this list, then you'd love Erin Krakow in Christmas Above the Clouds.

Making Connections In Unlikely Places - Forced Proximity Of Some Kind

Oh, no two characters are trapped, how dreadful, said no romance fan ever. While the idea of making unexpected connections in unlikely places and forced proximity can be separated as two different tropes, I want to combine them solely to scream about the absolute masterpiece that is This Is Christmas (2022). A gorgeous, breathtaking British holiday movie that doesn't just deliver in the romance area, but also with the idea of companionship to ensure that no one spends the holidays alone. 

Basically, if you cry every time Kevin watches Marley reunite with his family at the end of Home Alone (1990), then you're bound to adore This Is Christmas. Trains, airport gates, a hospital, an inn during a storm, a coffee shop, a toy store, etc.—the idea that a single day and one place can change everything based on the people who are there with you is an extremely comforting thought. It's one of the more wholesome tropes I always want to see more of.

The premiere of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is coming to HBO in January 2026, will bring us back to Westeros once again. Yes, the same Westeros we first discovered in Game of Thrones (2011) and then explored in House of the Dragon (2022). All of those shows are based on A Song of Ice and Fire and complementary texts by George R. R. Martin. This is G.R.R.M.’s world, we’re just living in it. Or, HBO is.

But with a new show comes questions. When there are two series, the answer is easy: One comes before the other. Simple. But where does the third one fit? And what do you need to watch before? Here is everything you need to know about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. 

When Is ‘A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms’ Set?

To understand when A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set, it’s important to understand that the history of Westeros is told from one reference point: the coronation of King Aegon “the Conqueror” or Aegon I Targaryen, who was the first ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. Maesters refer to the history of Westeros as “before the Conquest” and “after the Conquest.” Very biblical stuff.

So when is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms set? In the year 209 after the Conquest, a period of relative peace for the Seven Kingdoms, which at that point were ruled by King Aerys I Targaryen. The HBO series will follow a young knight, who will end up becoming Ser Duncan “the Tall” (Peter Claffey), and his little squire, who is actually Aegon V Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell) in disguise.

The series is an adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s series of fantasy novellas known as Tales of Dunk and Egg. So far, there are three novellas, “The Hedge Knight,” “The Sworn Sword,” and “The Mystery Knight,” which were collected in the book A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The first one takes place around 209 after the Conquest, the second one around 210 or 211, and the third one around 212 after the Conquest.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is planned to run for three seasons, adapting all three of these stories to show us what was going on in Westeros during those three or four years. There’s still a chance there could be more if the show is successful and if George R. R. Martin can write more in time, but we probably shouldn’t hold our breath for that. We’re still waiting on Game of Thrones book six, after all.

How Does ‘A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms’ Relate To ‘House Of The Dragon’ And ‘Game of Thrones’?

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms happens squarely in the middle of the two series. House of the Dragon focuses on the civil war for the throne called the “Dance of the Dragons,” which culminates in the near extinction of dragons. House of the Dragon is set to take place from 101 to 129 after the Conquest, still a good eighty years before A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

What about Game of Thrones? Well, that starts in the year 298 after the Conquest, so the new show is a little less than 90 years before the original show set in Westeros. Pretty much in the middle. And there are some clear nods to Game of Thrones in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, too. Aegon V is the brother of Maester Aemon, who appears in Game of Thrones. Don’t remember him? He’s the Maester of the Night’s Watch, and he makes it quite a long time in the show, dying in Season 5.

That’s not all, as Duncan the Tall is an ancestor of our favorite Game of Thrones knight, none other than Brienne of Tarth. It’s not yet clear how closely related they are, but the family resemblance is pretty easy to see.

How we get from the tales of Dunk and Egg to the aforementioned Egg becoming Aegon Targaryen V, called “the Unlikely” because no one ever expected him to become King and Duncan the Tall as the Lord Commander of his royal guard, we still don’t know. But hopefully A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will weave the story of House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones in a way that takes us exactly there. There have already been many stories told in Westeros, and many stories that could have been told. What makes this one special? We will soon find out. 

For decades, rumors spread around Hollywood about the “video game curse,” and it was believed that adapting video games into movies and TV shows was a death sentence. There was good reason to believe so, too. Films like Super Mario Bros. (1993), Street Fighter (1994), and Wing Commander (1999) all failed at the box office and left behind tarnished legacies. 

The 2000s brought a mixed bag of results. Some films, like Tomb Raider (2001), became a success, while others, like Doom (2005), continued to show how risky video game adaptations could be. But within the last decade, the tides have finally started to turn. Yes, we still get a few stinkers like Monster Hunter (2020), but we’re also getting huge, successful movie and TV adaptations. But what are some of the best adaptations that seem to be breaking the dreaded video game curse? Read on to find out where you can watch them on Prime Video, HBO Max, and more. 

Fallout (2024-Present) 

Based on the Bethesda game series, Fallout sees a retro-future world after a series of nuclear blasts rattled the surface, bringing widespread destruction and radiation. But some groups of people survived the fallout in underground bunkers called vaults. The Fallout series picks up as one of the vault dwellers (Ella Purnell) ventures to the surface for the first time to find her missing father. 

Fallout received rave reviews and even Emmy nominations thanks to its fantastic blend of humor and action. The Wastelands (the surface world) provide so much great material to work with, blending a post-apocalyptic dystopia with wild west and mid-century vibes. But all of it is done with a good dose of humor and wit. Think of Fallout as a weird mix of Westworld (2016-2022) and Zombieland (2009). 

The Last of Us (2023-Present)

Whereas Fallout is a humorous look at a dystopian future, The Last of Us takes a much more serious tone. Inspired by the zombie apocalypse subgenre, The Last of Us offers a similar story, but this time focusing on a parasitic fungus that causes the annihilation of mankind. The fractions of society that remain are lost in grief and grapple with trauma. 

The Last of Us does a great job at showing the emotional toll the survivors suffer through and reveals how easily we can lose our humanity when pushed to the brink. If you love The Walking Dead (2010-2022), this is an absolute must-watch. It also has some similar vibes to films like Children of Men (2006). The series also has a fantastic cast, including Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, and Kaitlyn Dever. 

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

While the original Mario Bros. movie from the 90s was a failure (though I seriously love it and think it’s an underrated classic), 2023’s animated film The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a smash hit. Grossing over $1.3 billion at the box office, the movie saw Mario (Chris Pratt) team up with various characters around the Mushroom Kingdom to defeat Bowser (Jack Black). 

Whereas the original film featured a totally ‘90s, grungy, cyberpunk world, fans loved that the animated movie stayed true to the video games, creating a vibrant and colorful realm. Plus, the voice cast was stacked with talent, including Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen, and Keegan-Michael Key, among others. For a fun movie that stays super on-brand with the video games, you need to watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie. 

Sonic the Hedgehog (2020-Present)

Based on the iconic SEGA game series of the same name, Sonic the Hedgehog sees Sonic enter the human world and find refuge with a small-town couple (James Marsden and Tika Sumpter). But true to the games, Sonic ends up in a furious cat-and-mouth chase with the evil mad scientist, Dr. Robotnik—played by none other than Jim Carrey in his greatest character performance in decades. 

Just like the game series, Sonic the Hedgehog is fast-paced and full of adventure. Plus, the movie uses tons of other goodies from the games, like the gold rings and even naming the town Green Hills. If you’re a Sonic fan, or just love great family-friendly adventure movies like Jumanji (1995) or Jungle Cruise (2021), check this one out. So far, there are three movies and a miniseries. Plus, we can look forward to a fourth film set to release in 2027. 

Twisted Metal (2023-Present)

Based on the vehicular deathmatch game Twisted Metal, the series adaptation depicts an alternative timeline where society collapses in the early 2000s, turning America into a wasteland of walled cities, roving gangs, and ample violence. But just like Fallout, Twisted Metal leans heavily into the action and humor, turning this apocalyptic realm into a vibrant, almost cartoonish world.

Think of it like The Fast and the Furious (2000) and Mad Max (1979) came together, with tons of raunchy humor thrown in. It’s wild, it’s full of explosions, and you can tell the entire cast is having a blast. If you want irreverent humor and wild action, Twisted Metal is the show for you. A third season has already been greenlit and is heading for production soon. 

Pokémon (1997-Present)

Pokémon has seamlessly made the transition to movies and TV numerous times. Most notably, the 1997 cartoon that raised an entire generation of Millennials. The show wasn’t just a successful adaptation of the games, but actually fueled interest, making the games more popular than ever. 

Then came the dark and funny noir film Detective Pikachu in 2019, which hilariously turned the world of Pokémon into a gritty, crime-filled megacity. The dichotomy between the childlike Pokémon and the world of sleazy back alleys was amazingly absurd…and incredibly lucrative, earning over $433 million at the box office. 

From noir to cozy, Pokémon also debuted its slice-of-life series Pokémon Concierge in 2023. The charming show centers around a resort for Pokémon, and its vibe is cute, refreshing, and relaxing. It feels like a cozy video game came to life. If you’re a Pokémon fan, be sure to check out all three adaptations, since all were met with praise from critics and audiences. 

A Minecraft Movie (2025)

Grossing close to $1 billion at the box office, A Minecraft Movie was truly a video game adaptation for a new generation. It was total meme-bait, loaded with inside jokes, and had lots of cultural references that, if you’re over 30…you probably just aren’t going to get. 

But for those who play Minecraft and grew up in the era of social media and virality, the film is actually really smart, super funny, and tons of fun. Plus, all viewers will love Jennifer Coolidge’s fantastically aloof performance, where, as always, she delivers nothing but the best. If you loved the fun adventure (and surprisingly smart humor) of The Lego Movie (2014), then you should watch A Minecraft Movie. 

Uncharted (2022)

Based on the PlayStation franchise of the same name, Uncharted follows a young brother (Tom Holland) who searches for his missing older brother—and treasure—with the help of an old family friend (Mark Wahlberg). But per usual with treasure-hunting films, deceit and backstabbing add more layers of drama to the story. 

Uncharted was a huge success, grossing over $407 million. Its plot stayed very true to the games and was seen as an authentic adaptation by fans. Its one downside is that Uncharted is super generic. If you’ve ever watched an Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider movie, you can probably figure out the entire plot of Uncharted after about 10 minutes. But for adventure fans, it’s still worth a watch. 

Greek mythology is one of the definitive bedrocks of Western storytelling, with plenty of common archetypes, morals, and concepts having their roots in the ancient era. 

There have been lots of faithful and inspired adaptations of that material, ranging from classic movies like Jason and the Argonauts (1963) and the upcoming The Odyssey (2026) to more inventive reimaginings like Disney’s Hercules (1997) and Netflix shows like Blood of Zeus (2020). However, others have taken the ideas into some pretty interesting directions.

The best of these reimaginings use the mythological figures as the core idea, taking inspiration from the Gods and the legends that arose around them. Some of them play with the genre in creative ways, leaning more into comedy, romance, or pure drama. A few are even almost unrecognizable from the original myths, fully reimagining the concept from a new cultural perspective. These are the best ten modern takes on Greek mythology across movies and TV, available to watch on Disney+, Netflix, and more.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023)

Based on the book series of the same name, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a fun remix of the Greek pantheon into the YA-world. The first season of the show adapts the first book in the series, The Lightning Thief. While the film adaptation of Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) was fairly well-received, the new show has proven to be a critical darling with several Emmy nominations and wins to its name. 

Perfect for fans of YA-tinted material like the Harry Potter franchise or The Hunger Games series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians does a great job of coaching the Greek Gods in the background, where they serve as parental and aspirational figures for the show's younger main cast. The modern reinventions of the mythological characters are fun, with the supporting cast benefiting from some great casting—including Jason Mantzoukas as Dionysus, which is perfect casting.

Kaos (2024)

Ambitious, colorful and deeply creative, Kaos was a compelling riff on Greek mythology that feels undercut by a one-season cancellation. The show focused on several figures around a modern-day reimagining of ancient Greece, with Jeff Goldblum's Zeus ruling on high as the various Gods, mortals, and demiGods of the world and in-between dimensions reckon with his actions. 

Thought-provoking in its medley of reimagined myth and somber character drama, Kaos is the ideal Greek-flavored follow-up to anyone who enjoyed The Sandman (2022). While the show seems not to be getting a second season on Netflix, this eight-episode story is still very much worth a watch, if only for the clever ways it plays with the power dynamics among the older members of the Pantheon and to see how Goldblum makes Zeus both disarmingly funny and deeply frightening.

American Gods (2017)

A wide-ranging exploration of mythology with a complex emotional core, American Gods is a visually rich if tonally muddled story that has some interesting things to say about the Gods of old. In American Gods, various deities have fled to the United States, preparing for conflict with a new crop of Gods rising up to reflect the 21st century. An adaptation of the book with the same name, American Gods has some creative fun with the various Gods and their interactions, especially whenever it can let Ian McShane throw out some of the prickly charm he pulls out in shows like Deadwood (2004) and films like John Wick (2014)—with one great example being his encounter with Demeter, the Greek God of the harvest and hearth. Similar to Kaos, this show came to an unexpected and premature end, but it’s worth checking out for audiences who love to see mythology reimagined in fresh, modern ways.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

One of the best films from the Coen Brothers and one of the best adaptations of The Odyssey, O Brother, Where Are Thou? is a bluegrass riff on mythology that intersects with the charming folksiness and darker sides of the American experience. Starring George Clooney as the dimwitted but overconfident leader of a trio of escaped convicts, their efforts to get home lead to plenty of bumbling slapstick and charming musical sequences. 

The film’s true thematic run is rooted in the ways it quietly references Greek mythology through clever takes on concepts like the Cyclops, the Sirens, and a plea to the Gods. Perfect for people who loved the Coen Brothers' other more comedically tinted films like The Big Lebowski (1998) or Hail, Caesar! (2016), O Brother, Where Are Thou? is one of the more creative reimaginings of Greek mythology, by taking it as far from the epic nature of the old stories as possible.

Xena: Warrior Princess (1995)

While it may be rooted in the mythology and era, Xena: Warrior Princess has a creative approach to reimagining mythology through a decidedly ‘90s vibe that separates it from other period pieces. Focusing on the titular wandering hero and her best friend, Xena: Warrior Princess has a lot of fun with the episodic nature of the show and throws her constantly against new dangers and threats inspired by mythology. 

A spin-off of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995), Xena is the more entertaining show and makes for a perfect pairing with fellow turn of the century feminist pop culture icon, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997). Xena’s popularity led to 134 episodes, and its influence can be seen in everything from She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018) to more mature fare like Red Sonja (2025).

Hercules In New York (1970)

More famous for being the cinematic debut of Arnold Schwarzenegger than anything else, Hercules in New York is a silly idea that can't quite match the comedic potential. Set in a version of New York City that won't feel unfamiliar to anyone who has seen Hair (1979) or Midnight Cowboy (1969), Hercules in New York focuses on a version of the legendary demigod who descends from the heavens and gets to experience the weirdness of the city. While the film itself is a bit of a shaggy mess, there is some fun to be had with the cheesy comedy and fun moments like the sight of Hercules wrestling a bear. Not necessarily for anyone looking for a dramatic or complex time, Hercules in New York is a fun film for fans of the unwittingly goofy action movie, like Samurai Cop (1991).

Wonder Woman (2017)

One of DC’s most successful blockbusters, Wonder Woman does a great job of bringing the iconic superhero to life. Starring Gal Gadot as the titular hero, the film introduces a version of the Amazons and the Greek God Hades who find themselves intersecting with the growing conflict of World War I. Wonder Woman’s ability to bring mythic levels of power and nobility to the increasingly muddied conflict of man’s war is what the film sings, especially in sequences where Diana is able to just storm her way through the greatest weapons that the era has to offer. Definitely the highlight of Gadot’s appearances in the DC Extended Universe—although her minor role in Shazam!: Fury of the Gods (2023) is at least entertaining—Wonder Woman is a fun superhero story that does a good job of bringing the Gods into a superhero universe.

Valentine (2008)

Valentine is an interesting riff on Greek mythology, taking cues from shows like Desperate Housewives (2004) more so than actual myth. The show focuses on the Valentine family, the clan of Aphrodite, who find their ability to spread romance waning in the modern day. The show takes an interesting direction by focusing on Aphrodite, who is usually shunted off to the side in adaptations. Canceled after only 8 episodes, there's still something intriguing about the show's blend of Greek mythology with stock romantic dramedy characters, especially a version of the dynamic between Aphrodite, Ares, and Hephestus that doesn't pull back from the messy drama. It’s almost strangely prophetic of Lore Olympus, which took a similar modern-day approach to much greater success in the world of comics. A strange peer to the likes of Gossip Girl (2007), Valentine is an interestingly bizarre and strangely charming show.

Krapopolis (2023)

Irreverent and silly but with a surprisingly strong heart, Krapopolis is a very silly take on Greek mythology. From Dan Harmon, the mind behind Community (2009) and one of the chief creatives for Rick & Morty (2013), Krapopolis is a bombastic comedy about a “great city’ of the ancient world that often falls into chaos due to the ruling family. With a main cast that includes Richard Ayoade, Matt Berry, Hannah Waddingham, Pam Murphy, and Duncan Trussell, Krapopolis is a great pick for audiences looking to laugh along with the mythology and can appreciate how it reflects modern society. A mythological counter to the sci-fi absurdism that is Futurama (1999), Krapopolis is a clever, cheeky, and colorful take on mythological creatures and deities that finds fun ways to use the concept as a means of discussing class disparity and politics.

Mischief Of The Gods (2014)

A wild reinvention of mythology that takes the concept into the world of anime, Mischief of the Gods is a self-awarely strange and deeply committed take on the romantic teen genre, all filtered through old Gods. Tasked with teaching the importance of love to teenage variants of various Gods from across several deities, the anime focuses on mild-mannered Yui Kusangai doing her best to teach the various Gods, all while struggling with her own self-doubt and attraction to them. An anime that's ideal for fans of K-drama romance stories, Mischief of the Gods has a lot of fun with the concept, especially when pitting pretty boy variants of the likes of Hades, Thor, Anubis, and Tsukito against one another in pursuit of the same woman. While it doesn’t have the most action in the world, fans of high-drama anime will find plenty to love in this show.

Released in December 2005, Brokeback Mountain is celebrating its 20th anniversary. In the two decades since the movie was released, so much has changed in our world. From growing acceptance of the LGBTQ community, to the achievement of marriage equality in 2015, to all the regression and rising levels of bigotry that we now see today, the queer community has been through a lot since Brokeback’s premiere. 

But, as a whole, we are definitely seeing more queer characters in film and television, something that was virtually unheard of back in the 2000s when Brokeback Mountain hit theaters and became a landmark moment for queer media. Let’s take a look back at the most powerful, popular, groundbreaking LGBTQ movies and TV shows that have debuted since Brokeback  Mountains shattered the barriers of queer characters in media 20 years ago.

Modern Family (2009-2020)

Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) broke ground by starring in Modern Family. The ensemble series sees the extended Pritchett and Dunphy families live their day-to-day lives, which are always filled with hilarious misadventures. Cam and Mitch weren’t the first gay characters on TV, but since they were in the main cast and were featured so prominently for so many years, their roles were enormously influential in normalising gay people on television. 

Plus, they, along with the rest of the cast, were perfectly casted and fantastically hilarious. If you love the humor from shows like Parks and Recreation (2009) or The Middle (2009), then check out Modern Family.

RuPaul’s Drag Race (2009-Present)

Arguably one of the most crucial pieces of media to make gay culture mainstream, RuPaul’s Drag Race has boomed into a cultural phenomenon. The competition series pits drag queens against each other in various challenges ranging from fashion to acting, lip-syncing and more. 

Its larger-than-life contestants, bright colors, and epic drama helped make it must-watch television, and the show has ushered in a new generation of world-famous queens like Trixie Mattel, Katya, Bob the Drag Queen, and more. If you’ve ever used or heard “shade,” “what’s the tea,” or “Not today, Satan,” you can thank Drag Race. It’s perfect for fans of reality competition series like Project Runway (2004), but with bigger hair, more glitter, and higher stiletto boots.

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Based on the true story of Ron Woodroof, Dallas Buyers Club stars Matthew McConaughey as a man in the ‘80s who discovers he has HIV that has progressed to AIDS. But with America’s highly homophobic culture and the bigoted Reagan administration, he quickly realizes that the nation couldn’t care less if he lives or dies. So, he sets out on his own to find and distribute AIDS medication to those who need it. 

The movie was praised for offering a glimpse into just how bigoted and merciless America was toward the gay community in the ‘80s. It was also a milestone for cinema because it showcased a meaningful trans character (played by Jared Leto, which is problematic for its own reasons, but that’s another article). Dallas Buyers Club scored six Oscar nominations and two wins for McConaughey and Leto’s performances. If you’ve seen powerful movies about gay life during the AIDS crisis, like Longtime Companion (1989) or The Normal Heart (2014), this is a must-watch. 

Carol (2015)

Based on the 1952 novel The Price of Salt, the Oscar-nominated film Carol tells the story of an older woman, Carol (Cate Blanchett) and a younger woman, Therese (Rooney Mara), who secretly fall in love during the 1950s. The film is an eye-opening look at the secretive lives queer people had to live during the Lavender Scare era, but its real power lies in the captivating emotional depth of its characters.  

On top of earning Oscar noms, it’s an important piece of queer history because it’s based on the novel from 1952, which, at the time, was wildly controversial (but that actually helped push sales, turning the book into a success.) It’s a great example of pre-Stonewall queer art released during an era where gay stories were practically unheard of.  

Moonlight (2016)

Moonlight centers around two low-income Black men growing up during the crack epidemic. The film follows them from childhood to adulthood, exposing the way their lives are shaped by crime and a failed system. But most importantly, Moonlight is a tender expose of Black men. Whereas most media depicts Black men as hardened and overtly aggressive, Moonlight shows a different side.

Star Andre Holland spoke with The Root in 2016, saying of the film, “So much value has been placed on the Black body and it being a powerful tool that, when we see images that present a counterpoint to that, I imagine that for some people it feels quite threatening.” If you love coming-of-age queer dramas like Beach Rats (2017) or movies that challenge Black stereotypes like Waves (2019), then Moonlight is required viewing. At the 97th Oscars, the film earned eight nominations, even taking home the prestigious Best Picture award. 

Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Based on the 2007 novel of the same name, Call Me By Your Name was a wildly popular but somewhat controversial film by auteur Luca Guadagnino. The film sees 17-year-old Elio (Timothee Chalamet) fall in love with 24-year-old Oliver (Armie Hammer). 

Like most of Guadagnino’s films, Call Me By Your Name is super pulpy and melodramatic, but in a way that you can’t look away from. He somehow blends high-brow and guilty pleasure together seamlessly, creating movies that are artful enough to earn Oscar nominations, but salacious enough to garner tons of gossip and online fanfare (the peach!!!!). However, as stated, the film is also loaded with controversy, but its success (it scored four Oscar noms, including Best Picture) and its widespread adoration from viewers can’t be ignored as a part of queer history. If you’re a fan of other Guadagnino movies like Queer (2024) or Challengers (2024), this is the film for you. 

Love, Simon (2018)

Based on the 2015 novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, the teen rom-com Love, Simon sees a closeted student (Nick Robinson) get blackmailed by the school bully. In order to keep his secret, he needs to set the bully up with his friend, Abby (Alexandra Shipp). Naturally, madness ensues, lessons are learned, and queer love blossoms. 

The movie was a huge hit and really helped bring gay storytelling into the mainstream rom-com space, whereas gay films previously were (largely) bitter dramas about secret lovers or dying of AIDS. This marked a significant moment for Hollywood, which finally realized that gay storytelling didn’t just mean focusing on the painful and the dramatic. If you love other gay rom-coms like Bros (2022) or Single All the Way (2021), then check out this hit movie. You can even watch its sequel series, Love, Victor (2020). 

Red, White and Royal Blue (2023)

Based on the 2019 novel of the same name, Red, White and Royal Blue follows a handsome politician’s son (Taylor Zakhar Perez) as he falls in love with a hunky British royal (Nicholas Galitzine). The rest of the film is just a pure, good-ol’ rom-com romp filled with the kind of juicy romance that puts butterflies in your tummy.

The movie was so impactful because it was a huge success for Amazon despite coming out in 2023, after Republicans had already begun their new witch hunt against the LGBTQ community, claiming all queer content to be obscene, perverse, and designed to “groom” children. Red, White and Royal Blue was a fearless response that showed how normal a gay rom-com could be, instantly proving bigots wrong. We’re even set to get a sequel next year. 

Emilia Perez (2024)

The musical crime drama Emilia Perez is a very controversial film for a variety of reasons. But its impact on culture can’t be denied. The movie follows a cartel leader (Karla Sofie Gascon) who quits the business and starts a new life as a woman. Her wife (Selena Gomez) is none the wiser, and her entire ordeal is aided by her American friend, Rita (Zoe Saldaña). 

Look… the movie has some issues, and Gascon has some issues, and nobody really knows how this film will be viewed in five, ten, or twenty years from now. But it was a massive hit, garnered tons of chatter online, and scored 13 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. It also earned Saldaña a win for Best Supporting Actress, and Gascon became the first trans person to earn an Oscar nomination ever. 

So, yeah, the movie and its star have problems, but they made quite the splash. So, whether it’s good or bad, Emilia Perez is cemented in the history books of the queer experience. If you enjoyed other trans stories, like Transparent (2014), or experimental musicals like Idlewild (2006), check out Emilia Perez. 

Heated Rivalry (2025)

The Canadian hockey series Heated Rivalry took the streaming world by storm when it premiered in 2025. The show follows two closeted hockey stars, Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), who begin having a secret, heated affair. But before long, the two realize they might actually be developing feelings for each other. 

The show is unapologetically gay and features tons of hot, steamy scenes that have gotten the entire internet talking. Streaming on Crave in Canada and HBO Max in the US, the show quickly climbed the charts and got so popular that halfway through the first season, a second season was greenlit. Heated Rivalry is so remarkable because it didn’t have to hide its queerness to get popular. In fact, its ample sex scenes are actually part of what’s bringing in viewers. Think of it as all the romance of Red, White and Royal Blue mixed with the daring passion (and nudity) of Queer as Folk (2000). 

Honorable Mention - Paris is Burning (1990)

Paris is Burning is a 1990 documentary about New York’s ball scene in the late ‘80s, which largely served as a space for low-income queer communities that were often Black and Latino. It was a space where you could dress up and compete, or just meet up with your friends. It was also super diverse, where competitors could be gay, trans, nonbinary, or anything in between. 

While the film was praised in high-brow circles upon its release, it didn’t really see national attention until we entered the woke era decades later, and marginalised groups started getting more understanding and attention. That’s truly when Paris is Burning exploded and found itself a new era of success and popularity (much larger than it ever received when it first came out). In 2016, it was even added to the Library of Congress. 

And yes, a good chunk of its renewed fame is because of Drag Race and the way the series mainstreamed trans queens and aspects of ball culture on the show. If you love the series Pose (2018), this is the film it is inspired by, and trust me, you’re going to love it. 

The Boys’ fifth and final season will premiere on Prime Video in Spring of 2026. The final season of the gritty superhero satire show is shaping up to be quite the finale. Based on the Season 5 official teaser, the stakes are higher than ever, and there’s nothing “the boys” aren’t willing to do. Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) himself promises, “We’re going all the way.”

Now, for longtime fans of the show, it’s hard to see how The Boys could go much further. The series is known for its over-the-top sex and violence and masterful utilization of the shock factor. No matter how shocking a season is, the show always manages to keep viewers on their toes. Use our guide to revisit the wildest moments in The Boys, ranked by shock factor and effectiveness, to prepare for Season 5. 

10. Billy Butcher’s Parasite Reveal In ‘The Boys’ Season 4

After abusing V24 and taking Compound V in an attempt to stave off the effects, The Boys Season 4 reveals Butcher has a parasite. It causes him to hallucinate and squirms under his skin. However, no one could have predicted how the parasite would manifest. In the final episode, Butcher gives in to his darkness and unleashes his parasite. He crashes a meeting between the boys and Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doomit) when enormous tendrils explode from his chest, grabbing Neuman and ripping her in half with ease.

I knew The Boys Season 4 would give Butcher special abilities, but I never thought he’d go full Venom. The shocking reveal, combined with the grisly death, was just unexpected enough to make your jaw drop. I also thought it fit in well with Season 4’s themes, which focus on Butcher’s increasing deterioration and struggle to evade his dark side. 

9. Timothy’s Death In ‘The Boys’ Season 2

One of the weirdest aspects of The Boys is The Deep’s (Chace Crawford) attraction to fish, including his relationship with the octopus, Timothy. However, their relationship in Season 2 culminates in one of the most nauseating incidents of the season when Homelander (Antony Starr) sadistically forces The Deep to eat Timothy alive. The scene is shot in excruciating detail as viewers hear the crunch of Timothy’s body, see the black ink dripping down Deep’s lips, and Deep slowly slurp the tendons down. The knowledge that Timothy is the Deep’s friend only makes it more jarring.

The Boys Season 2 is really where Homeland starts to go off the deep end. He doesn’t even try to hide his sadistic side from The Seven, and instead revels in tormenting them. The Deep consuming Timothy is a brutal scene to stomach, but it drives home the extent of Homelander’s sadism.

8. Love Sausage Scene In ‘The Boys’ Season 2

In The Boys Season 2, the boys infiltrate Sage Grove Center, and Mother’s Milk “MM” (Laz Alonso) comes across a few rogue, unusual supes, including a man dubbed Love Sausage (Andrew Jackson). Love Sausage attacks MM with an enormous tentacle protruding from his body and nearly strangles him. It’s only when Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara) knocks out Love Sausage that MM realizes, in horror, that the tentacle is actually the man’s penis.

The Love Sausage scene is one that grosses you out but is oddly funny at the same time. I felt like this scene in Season 2 particularly prepared me for some of the even more grotesque scenes in the following seasons. It really establishes The Boys’ unique brand of penis humor, though it’s not even close to as taboo as some of the genitalia scenes on this list.

7. The Airplane Scene In ‘The Boys’ Season 1

In The Boys Season 1, Homelander and Queen Maeve (Dominique McElligott) set off on a mission to save a hijacked plane. However, when Homelander uses his laser vision to kill the hijackers, he damages the plane’s controls, sending it nosediving. Despite Maeve’s pleas, he insists he can’t possibly save everyone on the plane and encourages her just to leave. When the passengers rush at him, begging for their lives, he threatens to laser everyone of them.

Homelander convinces Maeve to leave, letting the plane crash with all its passengers. Season 1 initially keeps viewers guessing at just how corrupt Vought and Homelander are, but it finally reveals all with that dark scene. Although it’s not the goriest or most abruptly shocking, it’s one of the darkest scenes in the show, and it leaves you with a pit in your stomach watching the plane go down. It ensures viewers leave Season 1 with no doubt about the nature of Homelander.

6. The Sauna Scene In ‘The Boys’ Season 4

In The Boys Season 4, the gang infiltrates the alt-right convention, TruthCon, where Firecracker (Valorie Curry) and her assistant, Splinter (Rob Benedict), give a speech. At one point, Frenchie (Tomer Capone) and Kimiko accidentally walk in on Splinter in a sauna. The supe, who can clone himself, has created duplicates to form a human centipede. The nude clones stand in a line, performing oral anal sex on another in front of stupefied Frenchie and Kimiko.

It’s one of those The Boys scenes that you can never unsee. While the show has a reputation for its wild sex scenes, it somehow still manages to top almost all the others. It’s a testimony to how, even four seasons in, The Boys still manages to up the ante. As disturbing as the sauna scene is, the fact that it was tame in terms of gore prevents it from ranking in the top five entries on this list.

5. Hugh Sr.’s Hospital Rampage In ‘The Boys’ Season 4

In Season 4 of The Boys, Hughie receives the terrible news that his father, Hugh Sr. (Simon Pegg), suffered a stroke that left him comatose. After a misunderstanding, Hugh receives Compound V, which causes him to awaken. However, the Compound V has horrible side effects, resulting in Hugh suffering memory loss and an inability to control his powers, including phasing through physical matter, including humans. As a result, he accidentally rips out the heart of one patient before phasing through and killing two more hospital patients, leaving him soaked in blood from the waist down.

The scene is the closest The Boys has come to genuine horror, driven by Hugh’s completely unpredictable, erratic, and violent behavior. Finding him in various stages of murdering patients is deeply unsettling. The horrifying sequence is a stark, final reminder of the dangers of Compound V and utilizing it to cheat death.

4. Robin Ward’s Death In ‘The Boys’ Season 1

The Boys has one of the most shocking opening scenes in TV history. Viewers see Hughie (Jack Quaid) and his girlfriend, Robin (Jess Salgueiro), discussing their future together while holding hands on the sidewalk. However, in a split second, everything changes. Robin disappears as blood spatters on Hughie’s face, and he sees her reduced to a puddle of blood on the sidewalk; the only part left is her two severed hands, which he’s still holding. It takes viewers a few seconds to realize speedster A-Train (Jessie T. Usher) accidentally ran through Robin at super speed, killing her instantly.

As someone who walked into The Boys not knowing what to expect, that scene absolutely blew me away. It came out of nowhere and was so fast, shocking, and unexpected that it absolutely made most viewers’ jaws drop. Few TV show moments compare to it, aside from the massacre in Invincible’s (2021) first episode.

3. Congressional Head Popping In ‘The Boys’ Season 2

In Season 2 of The Boys, Butcher convinces former Vought scientist Jonah Vogelbaum (John Doman) to testify against Vought’s corruption. Jonah takes the stand, but just before he can speak, the presiding judge’s head explodes, followed by Jonah’s head. Numerous heads begin exploding among the courtroom, bathing survivors in blood as a supe (later revealed to be Victoria Nueman) commits a massacre in the courtroom.

In the show, the boys are watching the court hearing on television, and react in horror to the carnage. Their reactions likely reflect your own while watching that scene. Just like Robin’s death, it has the advantage of being completely unexpected, to the point that it might even give some viewers a jump scare. The scene proves The Boys Season 2 isn’t just raunchy, but also still able to pack the same shock and emotional punch as its first season.

2. Homelander Kills Protestor In ‘The Boys’ Season 3

The Season 3 finale of The Boys sees Homelander introduce his son, Ryan (Cameron Corvetti), to the world. When a protester throws a can at Ryan, Homelander lasers his head, killing him instantly in front of a large crowd of Homelander supporters. After a few moments of stunned silence, Homelander’s supporters start cheering, and Ryan slowly breaks into a smile.

The protestor’s death was sudden and shocking. However, there’s also an underlying horror to the scene as you watch both Homelander and Ryan smile. Homelander’s smile marks the absolutely bone-chilling moment when he realizes he doesn’t have to hide his violence and corruption anymore. Ryan’s smile signifies he’s not the innocent child viewers thought he was. As shocking and brutal as the scene is, there couldn’t have been a better way to end Season 3 and set up Season 4.

1. Termite’s Sneeze in ‘The Boys’ Season 3

In The Boys Season 3, the boys set off to find the Vought-connected supe Termite (Brett Geddes), who has the power to shrink. They find him at a party, where he goes off with his love interest, Peter (Jarrett Siddall). The pair engage in some unusual intimacy, which includes Termite shrinking down and entering Peter’s penis. However, when Termite sneezes, he accidentally grows to full-size inside Peter, causing Peter to explode from the waist down.

Now, even if The Boys had left it at the weird sex act, it still probably would’ve made this list because it’s the kind of scene that makes you go, “What did I just watch?” However, the show then had to add a gory, brutal explosion and death to ensure no show would ever come close to the wild scenes. Termite’s sneeze is the kind of scene in a show that you never forget, no matter how much you may want to.

The entertainment industry is still reeling from the potential sale of Warner Bros., which could transform the landscape in some major ways if a company like Netflix gets it. Currently engaged in a bidding war with Paramount for the legacy studio, Netflix could be looking to expand its franchise library in some pretty crucial ways with a successful merger with one of Hollywood’s oldest institutions.

Fans of the shows and films that come from Warner Bros. have some serious questions, though, especially as it pertains to the future of those franchises. Some seem likely to be a great position under the Netflix banner, while other brands might suffer from the streamer already having plenty of original productions that fill a similar space. Here are 10 of Warner Bros.’ biggest franchises and what becoming part of Netflix could mean for each of them.

Game of Thrones Franchise

Game of Thrones remains one of the biggest franchises under the Warner Bros. banner, and the fate of the series might hang in the balance due to the potential Netflix merger. Game of Thrones ended on a fairly conclusive note, although the fantasy epic continues with prequels like House of the Dragon (2022) and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026). It’s likely that Netflix would let those series play out if they ended up on HBO, especially given the popularity of House of the Dragon.

However, it seems likely that many of the other supposed spin-offs and prequels in development could be shut down. It’s possible, though, that audiences could finally see the proposed sequel series focused on Arya Stark if the plan goes through, as Netflix could see that particular spin-off as a potential new franchise starter.

The Lord of the Rings Franchise 

While Prime Video is the home to the prequel series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022), the future of the The Lord of the Rings series could be severely impacted by Netflix taking ownership of the films through an absorption of Warner Bros. This would give the streamer access to the Peter Jackson trilogy as well as the subsequent prequels like The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) and the two films that followed it.

 It would also give Netflix a controlling interest in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum (2027). Netflix having The Lord of the Rings franchise under its belt could lay the groundwork for other adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, although a certain amount of negotiation would have to be had between Netflix, Prime Video, and the Tolkien estate ahead of any other proposed sequels. 

Harry Potter Franchise

The Harry Potter series remains one of the biggest franchises under the Warner Bros. banner, even as series creator J. K. Rowling has raised plenty of controversy in recent years with her political statements. Despite this, development is moving ahead with the Harry Potter (2027) series, currently in production.

The show, intended for HBO Max, could even be one of the things that has Netflix so interested in purchasing Warner Bros., as the streamer could replace its concluding Stranger Things (2016) with another fantastical coming-of-age story rooted in nostalgia. The Potter franchise being bought out in the WB sale could also end up giving Netflix more room to consider spin-offs or remakes of its own, albeit only if it can get Rowling’s involvement and approval, given her prior deal with Warner Bros.

DC Universe

One of the more intriguing questions of a potential merger between Netflix and Warner Bros. would be the fate of the DC Universe. Although some Zack Snyder fans are hopeful that the streamer’s partnership with Snyder on Army of the Dead (2021) and Rebel Moon (2023) could bring him back into a leadership position, it seems more likely that Netflix would want to retain James Gunn and Peter Safan at the helm of the successful cinematic relaunch of the franchise. 

Netflix could continue to grow the brand by keeping up momentum on upcoming releases like The Batman 2 (2027), Supergirl (2026), and Lanterns (2026), while also using the former two as a litmus test for what it’s willing to bring to movie theaters, which has been a big question for the streamer’s WB ambitions, especially in light of the success Superman (2025) had on the big screen. Conversely, TV shows from DC, like Harley Quinn (2019), Creature Commandos (2024), and Peacemaker (2022), would feel right at home on Netflix. However, it likely depends on how much Netflix is willing to let someone like Gunn retain creative control.

Dune Franchise

The Dune movies have been tremendous successes for Warner Bros., with Dune (2021) turning the iconic but previously decried “unfilmable” book into a genuine blockbuster smash. Dune: Part Two (2024) had an even more positive reception. Given that Dune: Part Three is currently in production, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Netflix let Denis Villeneuve close out his trilogy before he moves on to his upcoming reboot of James Bond with Prime Video.

However, it’s possible that Netflix looks at the huge commitment to Dune and decides to let it lie without its chief creative force behind the scenes, making it more likely that this is a franchise that would come to a conclusion (at least for now) with Dune: Chapter Three and Dune: Prophecy (2024).

Looney Tunes Franchise

Looney Tunes is one of the foundational franchises that helped make Warner Bros. what it is, which is why it’s been so surprising to see Looney Tunes have such ups and downs lately. Honestly, Netflix might be a good place for audiences to check out Coyote vs. Acme (2026) after a limited theatrical run, especially given how close the film came to not being released.

Given the streamers’ embrace of animation for both families and mature audiences, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Looney Tunes get a bigger push with Netflix, potentially even bringing back the Looney Tunes Cartoons (2020) after HBO Max discontinued the modern series. In fact, seeing Netflix acquire the rights to all the Looney Tunes shorts might give the streamer a deep bench of animation to help it better combat Disney+ and its reserves of Mickey Mouse content.

Friends (1994-2004)

One of the biggest successes in television history, Friends found renewed love in the modern era with the show’s streaming releases. While it became a selling point for HBO Max, bringing Friends back to Netflix could give the streaming service one of the benchmark sitcom franchises.

This could be an opportunity for the streamer to also build off that success, whether that be in spin-offs, remakes, reimaginings, or even just incorporating Friends elements into some of its other successful reality shows like Is It Cake? (2022). While Friends might not have the pull that it once had, it still presents a good bedrock for Netflix to build its own future sitcoms around as it attempts to replicate the heights of previous generations of television success.

Cartoon Network

There are a lot of shows that fall under the Cartoon Network category that might be called into question if Warner Bros. does become part of Netflix. Legacy shows like Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake (2023) and The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball (2025) might be safe, given their popularity and longstanding fandoms. Other consistent titles like Teen Titans Go! (2013) and new hits like Iyanu (2025) might benefit from Netflix’s embrace of animation. 

However, there’s also a chance that the streamer could consider its own output enough and decide to cut down on the number of animated shows it keeps actively producing. While it may be a mix of the two, it seems likely that a Netflix and Warner Bros. merger would result in some of Cartoon Network’s franchises coming to an end.

Adult Swim

The more mature programming block on Cartoon Network, Adult Swim likely faces the same potential future as Cartoon Network. While popular hits like Rick and Morty (2013) and Smiling Friends (2020) might be safe due to their popularity and extensive pre-existing contracts with Warner Bros., there’s a chance that Netflix might not renew them.

Conversely, the Adult Swim banner (and the Toonami one, for that matter) could be absorbed by Netflix and turned into its standard bearer for more mature animation and anime. In the process, Netflix would also get the rights to a lot of classic Adult Swim material like Aqua Teen Hunger Force (1999), Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law (2000), or Sealab 2021 (2000), which could lay the groundwork for revivals or reboots of those older titles.

HBO

As one of the most critically acclaimed brands under the Warner Bros. umbrella, it seems likely that HBO is one of the main draws for Netflix in its attempt to acquire WB. Even beyond the Game of Thrones shows, HBO’s library of content and strong modern programming would be a major win for Netflix as it hopes to establish itself as the streaming home of prestige entertainment.

New seasons of shows like The White Lotus (2021) would likely be in the works, especially if they continued the more anthology approach that defined the first two seasons. Likewise, the HBO library of titles like The Wire (2002) and The Sopranos (1999) could find new life on the streamer, which may even seek to continue the franchises in new ways. HBO is one of the prime names in television, so Netflix acquiring it would likely put the brand front and center, albeit while likely putting down HBO Max in the process. 

Every year, it feels like dramas get darker and the real world around us grows more bleak, making it harder and harder to sometimes watch things that are too heavy. Amy Poehler asks this question to all her guests in her podcast, Good Hang With Amy Poehler, where she wonders what they're doing to make themselves laugh. 

For me, it's always comedies—but specifically, the wholesome comedies that are both laugh-out-loud funny and simultaneously go the extra mile to stitch something broken inside of us. We have a lot more returning gems than newer shows, but they're still the perfect ones to turn to for every type of viewer.

From the Golden Globes-nominated series, The Studio (2025) to underrated, The Residence (2025), here are the best comedy TV shows of the year, as well as where you can watch them on platforms such as Apple TV+, Hulu, and more.

Ghosts (2021-present)

Every year, I get on my soapbox and scream about how Ghosts is the best show on TV that not enough people are watching. It's the single greatest sitcom we've had in decades, and in the same way that the US The Office (2005) essentially improves on the UK version while still honoring its legacy, Ghosts does the same with its BBC predecessor. And five seasons in, we get so much development that it's astounding how brilliantly the writers use the ensemble cast with a near-perfect balance. 

Ensemble shows are generally more challenging to navigate because how do you fairly tell stories that'll satisfy the audience when their favorite characters aren't on screen? Yet, the excellence of Ghosts lies entirely in the detail that the characters are all so captivating, you can't help but love them all. I've watched a lot of sitcoms in my career, and I've never seen anything like Ghosts. If you want something that'll make you laugh while also making you cry with significant conversations about human connections and legacy, look no further. 

The Studio (2025-present) 

The Studio is likely on its way to sweep the Golden Globes, and it's still the biggest surprise of 2025. I'll be totally honest in admitting that I had no plans to watch it when I first heard about its development. As someone who generally prefers dramas as opposed to comedies centered around the art of filmmaking, I didn't think I'd appreciate The Studio. Yet, from beginning to end, the humor and meta-storytelling make it an absolute doozy.

It's exactly the type of show we need in this day and age, when it feels like all we're getting are reboots and remakes. And, in more ways than one, it is coming in at the right time, where so much of the industry is in a strange place these days with AI, the lack of original storytelling, and questionable decisions from big properties that focus on subverting expectations rather than honoring the characters. In short, if you love movies, The Studio feels like a must-watch on all fronts.

Only Murders in the Building (2021-present)

For five seasons now, and like Ghosts, no show delivers wholesome and bleak narratives wrapped up so neatly in humor the way that Only Murders in the Building does. As Season 5 takes us through the murder of The Arconia's longest resident, Teddy Coluca's Lester; it deep dives into showcasing the heart of the show and how it's all a brilliant homage to unexpected friendships. It's a love letter to the idea that every person who stepped through those doors has become part of a found family.

And when it came to protecting everything from the construction of a casino that would change The Arconia forever, the podcast trio proved that they'd stop at nothing. Wholesome shows like Only Murders come once in a lifetime to give us levity with tragedies in a manner that effectively displays the ongoing vicious cycle of life. It's a continuous testament to humanity in a way that feels integral to murder mysteries as a genre. If you've yet to start watching and are a fan of sharp humor and whodunnits, what are you waiting for?

The Paper (2025-present) 

It's safe to assume that when production of The Paper was announced, many of us were guilty of assuming that it'd be some sort of lackluster spin-off capitalizing on the success of The Office. Instead, it's a fresh, deeply relevant, and clever mockumentary that focuses on journalism and the state of the craft in the world today. Domhnall Gleeson and the whole cast bring something unique and nuanced to their roles, proving with the show's debut season that it's about to become something special.

It's genuinely hilarious and thoroughly compelling from start to finish in its means of highlighting a profession that doesn't get nearly as much attention as it should while still maintaining the charm of a small city. In its way of also focusing on the dynamics of office employees who are each vastly different from one another, it delivers unique bonds and fun friendships that can stay with viewers for a while. If you loved The Office and were hesitant about giving The Paper a try, know that there's a very good chance you'll appreciate everything it's trying to do.

Abbott Elementary (2021-present) 

Like Ghosts and Only Murders, Abbott Elementaryproves that five seasons in, and it's only capable of improving itself. Quinta Brunson and the whole team continue to deliver some of the most wholesome narrative beats that touch on the found family trope while also healing the inner child in me who used to hate elementary school (please tell me I'm not alone in this specific thing.) Everything about the show is special, but it's extra hilarious in Season 5 as so much of it changed with school budgets, further challenges, and character dynamics.

As it happens in Parks and Recreation (2009), the inclusion of romance with Janine and Gregory makes the show ten times lovelier and sweeter. How they continue crossing milestones in and out of the school while Ava also finds love, and the teachers all find ways to grow, makes the season incredible. There's plenty to appreciate with every episode, but more than anything, it's how each narrative angle feels nuanced and relatable. If you want a good, classic sitcom, Abbott Elementary is the show for you.

A Man on the Inside (2024-present) 

One thing is for certain: we can safely deem 2025 as the year of excellent mystery comedies with amateur sleuth detectives delivering heart and humor in spades. While A Man on the Inside Season 2 loses a tiny bit of its charm from its debut, it's still an incredible sophomore run that provides plenty of joy. Ted Danson is so particularly delightful in the role that I'd happily watch seasons of him taking on the next big case, even when the location changes.

A large part of the reason some people don't latch onto comedies the same way they do with dramas is that they prefer a heavy plot that can provide shocking twists and turns. Some comedies land in the space that allows them to be both, and that's the case with A Man on the Inside, as Season 2 does an even more gripping job of strengthening dynamics and making us worry for the characters. It provides nuanced entertainment and a plethora of joy, perfect for anyone who loves Only Murders.

The Residence (2025) 

Uzo Aduba leads The Residence so expertly that it's an absolute travesty the show was canceled during its first season. It could've done so well with fans of Only Murders and A Man on the Inside discovering it later on, and it's also so perfect for those who loved the humor in The Thursday Murder Club (2025). It's clever, funny, and the whole cast brings something deliciously sharp in every frame they're in.

Shows like The Residence aren't rare or overtly unique, but it's still shocking that it wasn't given the leg room to grow because it has all the markings of a solid comedy. From the writing to the directing and every performance, it's got something for every type of audience who generally appreciates the genre to some capacity. 

Disney's Renaissance Era is one of its most iconic decades, where films are each incomparable in a way that's shaped so many '90s kids through our childhoods. Every movie is unique in its animation, characterizations, and themes, reflecting a hopeful era of storytelling that relies heavily on ensuring the underdogs come out on top.

Beyond this, while stylistically they're each different, there's a precise reflection of growth through each one that showcases how the animation technique and narrative go hand-in-hand to create something special. From 1989 to 1999, here is every Disney movie released in order during the Renaissance Era, as well as how you can watch them on Disney+. 

The Little Mermaid (1989)

Even to this day, there's no statement truer than Sebastian's "Ariel, the human world is a mess." Louder for the people in the back. The Little Mermaid is a delightful fairytale, veiling an even darker story about agency and how people often treat their daughters as opposed to their sons. I always cry like a baby at the end when Ariel says bye to her dad, but beyond that, it's a nuanced tale of how to compromise in a relationship.

For many people, Prince Eric was also their first animated crush, and while a lot of times critics feel that Ariel lost too much of her identity at the end, it's actually a fascinating account of how she makes a choice that's right for her. Kids movie or not, it's one of the best features there, with incredible music, gorgeous animation, and a solid narrative through and through. It's especially perfect for people who love anything pertaining to the ocean, as it's stunning in how it captures the sea.

The Rescuers Down Under (1990)

Of all the movies in the Disney Renaissance era, Rescuers Down Under is undoubtedly the most underrated. Countless people still don't even remember it exists, and it's a shame because it's lovely on so many levels. The story itself isn't all that unique, but it's still so gorgeously animated and wholesome that it's perfect for the whole family.

While some themes can be a bit mature, it's still one that's appropriate for all ages. As a sequel, while it's not as groundbreaking or memorable as The Rescuers (1977), it still provides all the right entertainment and a worthy follow-up that ensures the heart and characters are all intact with another thrilling adventure. If you want something that's super cute and features a location we don't always travel to in fiction, look no further.

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Like The Little Mermaid, people often love to criticize Beauty and the Beast for how it diminishes the princess's strength when she chooses love in the end. Don't even get me started on the bigger and more wild critics that attempt to make Beauty and the Beast sound more toxic than it is, when it's one of the most thought-provoking movies to explore genuine kindness and the importance of spreading it.

Belle's bookworm spirit is formidable for those of us who grew up to be giant nerds because we also had our noses stuck in a book when we were kids. Beyond this, Beauty and the Beast still features the single most romantic Disney song ever in "Tale as Old as Time," while the library scene is quite literally gift goals in every way. Frankly, if you ask me, all men should learn from the Beast.

Aladdin (1992)

Narratively and visually in every way, Aladdin is a standout. And while the focus here is on the male character as opposed to the princess, so much of Jasmine's journey is what shines when we examine how women are often trapped in this era. They don't need "rescuing" per se, because let's be real—she can take care of herself—but the love stories matter, too. 

For the longest time, Aladdin was also one of the more underrated Disney movies with less and less merch, but its growing popularity has been a welcome change. Perfect for the people who love an opposites attract romance, Aladdin and Jasmine are one of the best pairs, while the late Robin Williams delivers the most iconic performance in his voice work for the Genie.

The Lion King (1994)

The Lion King feels like everyone's favorite Disney movie, and rightfully so, because its version of a Hamlet retelling is near-perfect. Personally, I'm an even bigger fan of The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride (1998) because Simba is in his dad era, plus the forbidden romance between Kovu and Kiera, hit hard. Still, The Lion King is a brilliant showcase of grief and an achingly realistic story of how to navigate through it.

It might not be appropriate for more sensitive kids, but it's still a gorgeously animated feature to eventually introduce to everyone, too. As an account of unexpected friendships, love, and loyalty, there's nothing quite like it in Disney's archives and there's a reason it's so profoundly revered by most people.

Pocahontas (1995)

Pocahontas features the actual best Disney soundtrack of all time, and I will hear absolutely no arguments about this. No song makes me weep the way "Colors of the Wind" does, and there's nothing quite like the journey the titular character goes on to protect her land. As one of the more serious animated movies that tries to address how Americans took Indigenous peoples' lands, two paragraphs simply aren't enough to describe how momentous the film was growing up when it came to understanding the history.

If you've watched Avatar (2009) and have somehow never seen Pocahontas, or you haven't watched it in a while, rewatch it now because no animated feature compares, narratively and visually. It's a triumph, and the best Disney film from the Renaissance era. 

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

Funnily, after watching Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Story (2025), I had the urge to then immediately rewatch The Hunchback of Notre Dame. If you're in the same boat, I highly recommend doing the same. Thematically and visually, everything about the movie glistens as one of the strongest showcases of corruption and power, disguised under a fairytale lens to make it more palatable for kids. 

Though, really, it's also one of the darker stories like The Lion King that might not be suited for sensitive audiences until they're a bit older. Quasimodo's torture scene is still one that viscerally affects me as an adult. There's something tremendously thought-provoking about every detail in this movie that really cements the Disney Renaissance era as its strongest run.

Hercules (1997)

Greek mythology in general often provides rich and nuanced material to craft beautiful stories that are both engaging and aesthetically pleasing. Hercules is a perfect example, and one that also comes equipped with an incredible soundtrack and a heartfelt story about where strength truly comes from.

Hades is the last best villain we've had until we later get introduced to the sinister ways of Mother Gothel in Tangled (2010), but it's lovely and gorgeously stylized, with colors that make it stand out even beyond the story's strength. It’s perfect for kids who want to dive into a bit of mythology through a more easily accessible storyline. It also feels like one of the more underrated gems that deserved far more praise back when it initially aired and now, too. 

Mulan (1998)

Mulan is one of the most emotional films in Disney's Renaissance era, because, like The Little Mermaid, it paints a clear picture of how women are treated far more differently than men. It's one of the most powerful films to date, with visuals to match its compelling narrative and even more astounding voice work.

On top of the story and its thematic significance, Mushu may be the best sidekick. Truly, ask me how many times I say "dishonor on you, dishonor on your cow" every time I'm pissed off, but if I'm proud, it's always "My little baby, off to destroy people." It's one of the best and most quotable movies, while also being one that's visually so stunning and significant. It’s a must-watch for the whole family, but especially if you're in the mood to feel empowered. 

Tarzan (1999) 

Coming in a close second with a movie that features one of Disney's most emotional songs in Phil Collins' "You'll Be in My Heart" is Tarzan. And visually, it's also another triumph that showcases exactly how the Renaissance era progressed with more freedom to allow the characters to look different while still maintaining Disney's charm. When we watch them in order, especially the advancement is enormous and so fascinating.

As a movie, Tarzan also shines thematically as a story of friendships that's reflected through various personality types. It's one of the few stories that's especially more poignant where familial bonds are concerned than romantic relationships, allowing it to stand out with gorgeous animation, voice acting, and writing. Perfect for all the little adventurers out there. 

Santa Claus is one of the most popular recurring roles in cinema. For decades, too many actors to name have portrayed Santa in a variety of films, from classic holiday flicks to Christmas horror movies. As popular as Santa is in cinema, he has never been a big name at awards shows. On the whole, Oscar nominations for magical/non-human roles are very rare, and Santa Claus is no exception.

Because Santa Claus appears in films so frequently, it’s difficult for actors to put a truly unique spin on the character. However, 78 years ago, one actor achieved the remarkable feat of portraying the only Oscar-winning Santa. In 1947, the original Miracle on 34th Street included an Oscar-winning performance from Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle. Although the 1994 remake often overshadows the 1947 version, it’s worth revisiting.

The Story of ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ (1947) - And its ‘90s Remake

The original Miracle on 34th Street tells the strange and magical story of Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn), an elderly man who saves the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade when he fills in for Santa Claus after the original actor becomes intoxicated. He plays the role so well that event planner Doris Walker (Maureen O’Hara) hires him to play Santa regularly at the Macy’s Store on 34th Street in New York City.

Kringle continues to perform phenomenally as Santa, earning shoppers’ respect and loyalty by finding them the best deals in the area for their shopping needs. He also forms a connection with Doris’ daughter, Susan (Natalie Wood), who Doris raised not to believe in Santa. However, things take a strange turn when Doris and others begin to realize that Kringle genuinely believes he is Santa.

What starts as a heartwarming story of a Santa, who goes above and beyond, turns into a courtroom drama as New York City lawyers debate whether to rule that Santa is or isn’t real, and put it upon Kringle to prove he’s the real Santa. It’s a charming, wholesome, and sentimental movie that strives to fend off the cynicism surrounding the holidays and encourage a little belief. 

In the ‘90s, director John Hughes set about remaking Miracle on 34th Street. The 1994 version maintains the original’s general plot, though it changes a few details. Macy’s refused to allow the remake to use its name, so Kris Kringle (Richard Attenborough) worked at the fictional Cole’s instead. The film also tackles religious faith alongside its Santa debate and elevates a romantic subplot between Dorey Walker (Elizabeth Perkins) and Bryan Bradford (Dylan McDermott). Although it does a good job of modernizing the tale, it struggles to live up to the original, which most critics and audiences agree was nigh perfection.

What Made Edmund Gwenn’s Santa Oscar-Worthy?

The 1947 Miracle on 34th Street attained high critical acclaim, earning four Oscar nominations and three wins. Among the wins, Gwenn took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Kringle. While many actors have portrayed Santa and done so well, I believe Gwenn stands apart because he was the only actor to truly embody the role. As Kris, Gwenn radiated a warmth and wholesomeness difficult to replicate.

It’s a timeless performance with near universal appeal, still effortlessly choking up audiences to this day as viewers see Gwenn interacting with children and infusing the lives of everyone he comes across with a bit of warmth and magic. Even more than a top-notch, emotional performance, Gwenn achieves something that no other Santa has on-screen: embodying the enchantment of Santa so thoroughly that he almost makes the viewers believe he is Santa, too.

At the 20th Academy Awards, when Gwenn won the Oscar, the competition wasn’t even close. The uproarious applause when his name was announced as a nominee confirmed that Hollywood stood behind Gwenn’s Oscar win. After a touching speech he began with, “Whew! Now I know there’s a Santa Claus!”, it was even clearer that he was the perfect actor for the role of Kris Kringle. A lot of actors can act, but it’s something special when an actor can actually make you believe.

Why You Should Watch ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ (1947)

Miracle on 34th Street is a true Christmas classic. If you love timeless classics like A Christmas Story (1983) and It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), you need to add Miracle on 34th Street to your list. Gwenn’s performance alone is enough reason to watch. While opinions may vary, I believe Gwenn is the closest you can get to Santa Claus. He embodies the character like no other, helping infuse the film with its sense of magic.

I especially enjoy how Miracle on 34th Street conveys its message while remaining realistic. It’s lifelike in its exploration of holiday cynicism and commercialization, as well as the corrupt reason one may or may not want to rule Santa Claus as real. However, through its redemption arc of both a child and her mother, it raises a genuine sense of hope and belief that shines through the cynicism.

If you want a Christmas film that tackles an interesting debate about belief in a warm, funny, and heartfelt way, with impeccable performances and a balanced blend of realism and magic, Miracle on 34th Street is a must-see.

The tease trailer for Supergirl is finally here, and it gave fans a small taste of everything they could have wanted: action, snark, drama, and even more Krypto. The film, which hits theaters this summer, promises to be something of a mirror of the popular Superman (2025), thanks to its flawed and cynical lead. 

But there’s one thing fans are dying to see that was barely featured. Blink, and you may have missed the brief, shadowy shot of Jason Momoa, making his DC Universe debut as Lobo. Lobo has long been one of DC’s most popular characters, but this marks his big-screen debut. Before you get too excited, here’s everything you should know about Lobo and where you can catch the Main Man’s past TV appearances.  

DC Comics & Supergirl Anti-Hero Lobo, Explained

If you know anything about comics, then you know about the hyper-extreme comics of the ‘80s and ‘90s that led to the rise of characters like Deadpool and Spawn. Lobo is a byproduct of that thinking, though he actually predates it by quite a bit. He debuted in the ‘80s as a rival to one of DC’s lesser-known cosmic teams, The Omega Men, before transitioning to his own stories in the ‘90s. 

In the current continuity, Lobo is the last of his species, the Czarnians. He’s a bounty hunter by trade, but his alien physiology means he is practically unkillable. Even when reduced to fragments, Lobo always regenerates. He’s also incredibly strong, able to go toe-to-toe with Superman and give the Man of Steel a run for his money.  

For a brief spell, he was one of the most popular characters in comics, reworked from his first appearance to become a parody of grimdark ‘90s characters. The character blew up almost overnight, with a number of high-profile appearances and one-shots, but it was fairly short-lived. After just a few years, Lobo was back in obscurity, only showing up for occasional big stories, such as DC’s landmark weekly series 52 or joining Batman’s reformed Justice League of America in the New 52. 

These days, Lobo hasn’t been up to much in the comics. He most recently was roaming around space with his daughter, Crush, after she spent some time in the Teen Titans to spite him. In his most recent appearances, he turned up in DC K.O., a linewide DC Comics tournament, but was quickly knocked out of the tournament by Wonder Woman. 

With his upcoming big-screen debut in Supergirl, it’s almost certainly just a matter of time before DC’s Main Man makes his return. Until then, here’s where you can go to find Lobo’s biggest TV appearances in streaming. 

Superman: The Animated Series (1996)

For many, Superman: The Animated Series was the introduction to a lot of DC comics characters you may not otherwise have heard of. Lobo, voiced by Everybody Loves Raymond (1996) star Brad Garrett, appears in a two-part story in which a villain collects the last members of a dying species. Hired initially to capture Superman, Lobo must instead work with him to escape.

The story is exciting, with great humor and a wonderful, all-ages representation of the typically crass Lobo. While Lobo was, like many other cameos, just a one-off appearance, he eventually returned for an episode of the later Justice League series. 

The Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special (2002)

This one feels like it’s little more than a checkbox on the Lobo trivia list, but it’s just significant enough to warrant a mention. Released in 2002 and starring Andrew Bryniarski (perhaps best known as Zangief in 1994’s Street Fighter) as Lobo, this short movie was filmed as part of an educational course for the American Film Institute.

In the film, Lobo is hired by the Easter Bunny to kill Santa so that Easter can become the top holiday. It’s a harmless and entertaining little romp, but you’ll have to find a bootleg copy on YouTube if you want to check it out. 

Young Justice (2010-2022)

Lobo makes a few scant appearances in the popular series Young Justice, debuting in the show’s second season premiere. He is introduced as a bounty hunter who comes to Earth in search of an alien robot hiding in the body of a presentation, in an episode that sees him fighting Wonder Girl and Batgirl.

Young Justice is renowned for its action and storytelling, and Lobo’s few appearances here are no exception, but he’s more of a supporting character than an antagonist or recurring character. You shouldn’t expect much more than fan service in these appearances, but if your expectations are tempered, they’re great episodes. 

Krypton (2018-2019)

A point about Lobo’s Czarnian heritage that is seldom brought up? He’s functionally immortal. The only place that would really need to come up, though, would be Krypton, a supremely underrated 2018 SyFy channel series about Superman’s grandfather, Seg-El. Lobo appears in the second season, played by Kin (2021) star Emmett J. Scanlan.

Again portrayed as the last of his species, Krypton ties the eradication of the Czarnian race to Brainiac and sets up a feud between Lobo and Brainiac. The character was popular enough that a spin-off was in development, but that seemingly went away when Krypton itself was cancelled. 

Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2020)

In much the same way Superman: The Animated Series had years earlier, Superman: Man of Tomorrow used Lobo’s similarities to Superman to introduce brand new fans to the universe. Man of Tomorrow was the first installment of DC’s latest wave of animated films and saw Lobo come to Earth in pursuit of a bounty placed on Superman’s head. The two duke it out, alongside the Martian Manhunter, eventually teaming up to take down classic Superman foe Parasite.

Man of Tomorrow uses a lot of the same story beats as prior stories, but it’s still a really good take on the Superman and Lobo dynamic. Sadly, it’s also the only appearance of Lobo in the Tomorrowverse, and his last appearance in anything prior to Supergirl.  

There has been no shortage of iconic TV theme songs over the years. From early hits like Green Acres (1965) to longstanding favorites like The Golden Girls (1985) and Friends (1994), these themes are so catchy, you don't even have to look up to know what's playing. While these titles are still beloved favorites, some theme songs go even harder and achieve viral status. 

It's no small feat, either. With all the music and television at our fingertips this day and age, there's something special about the themes people boost into the pop culture zeitgeist and ensure they stay. Here are seven TV show theme songs that went viral and what made them stick. While I surely left off many deserving titles, these picks represent some of the best. Find their respective TV shows on Hulu, HBO Max, and more.  

Law & Order (1990-Present)

If you need a theme song to emphasize criminal activity, whether it's your dog tearing up the sofa or something more serious, look no further than Law & Order. While Cops' "Bad Boys" theme is a close contender, I'd argue Law & Order just beats it out because it doesn't need words to convey its message.

Controversial opinion? Perhaps, but there's something almost magical about Law & Order's menacing, stern, and direct tone that makes it feel… "especially heinous" (that one is for you, Law & Order: SVU fans). Composer Mike Post effectively captured the title in the opening theme. If you've ever thought about what "law" and "order" sound like from a musical perspective, it's apparently the first few minutes of Law & Order's opening.

The X-Files (1993-2018)

Even if you've never seen a single episode of The X-Files, you undoubtedly know its eerie opening score. Mark Snow's creepy masterpiece (which he created partly by accident with his elbow) has been a pop culture hit since its 1993 debut, and that hasn't changed much over the decades. These days, you'll hear it interjected into videos to express mystery or to punctuate "WTF" moments, given the show's central conspiracy premise.

However, it's not the only part of The X-Files to go viral. Mulder's "Do you think I'm spooky?" quote, which he utters right in the pilot episode, also frequently makes its rounds, especially around Halloween. While The X-Files' icon status ensures it's worth watching for almost anyone, those who like dark procedurals loaded with mystery will appreciate it even more. Bonus points if you're as spooky as Mulder and also enjoy supernatural stories. 

The Sopranos (1999-2007)

The Sopranos' opening theme became a viral hit long before social media and proved it has staying power. "Woke Up This Morning" by Alabama 3 is bluesy, moody, and also a little electric. It's a certified bop that is undeniably catchy. While it's the type of song you'd probably nod your head to even if you've never seen The Sopranos, so much of its popularity comes from the series' staggering success.

As The Godfather (1972) of television, The Sopranos is one of the best and most influential TV shows of all time. Interestingly, Alabama 3 didn't write the song specifically for the show, but singer Rob Spragg said it was inspired by a murder committed by a survivor of domestic abuse, later charged with manslaughter (Mental Floss). Perhaps it's the way the song recounts how violence can change an ordinary day that makes it such a perfect pairing for The Sopranos' gritty, violence-heavy content.

The Office (2005-2013)

The Office might have ended in 2013, but that didn't stop the Louisiana State University Tiger Marching Band from performing their own rendition of the mockumentary series' famous theme. Understandably, that stint went viral. However, Jay Ferguson's upbeat piano riff is a frequent background song for TikTok and Instagram videos in general.

Like the show itself, the theme evokes a sense of warmth, which is probably why it remains so beloved all these years later. You don't hear it and think, "I'm about to watch a gritty drama like The Sopranos." Instead, it perfectly captures the series' lighthearted tone about workplace mayhem and hijinks. If you need a sitcom filled with relatable characters to binge next, consider moving up The Office on your watch list, especially if you loved shows like A.P. Bio (2018) or Parks and Recreation (2009).

Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2024)

If you already know and love series like The Larry Sanders Show (1992) or Seinfeld (1989), then you'll probably jive with Curb Your Enthusiasm's particular brand of dark, observational humor. The Larry David-created show might not be for everybody, but its theme song is another story. "Frolic," composed by Luciano Michelini for a 1974 Italian film, found new life in Curb Your Enthusiasm, and then again on social media.

Honestly, it feels like not a day goes by that I don't hear "Frolic" attached to some embarrassing moment captured on video, followed by a blip of Curb Your Enthusiasm's end credits (Directed by Robert B. Weide and Executive Producer Larry David). Is it funny? Absolutely, which is probably why it remains so ingrained in the pop culture zeitgeist. The song's almost circus-like sounds do wonders in making anyone using the theme seem like a… well… clown, which is really the whole point.

Stranger Things (2016-2025)

Stranger Things is an unusual case. Not only is its main theme a social media phenomenon, but Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" became an even bigger viral sensation after its prominent use in Season 4. Honestly, at this point, it's basically an alternate theme for Stranger Things. So, yes, while that exciting '80s synth sound over the intro is a big deal, "Running Up That Hill" is the real star—which, so far, has been criminally underused in Season 5. 

Gen Z's obsession with the 1985 song rocketed it into the streaming charts, with Netflix reporting it reached one billion streams on Spotify. It's undoubtedly an impressive feat for a forty-year-old song, and that success likely stems from the importance it holds in the show. "Running Up That Hill" isn't just Max's favorite song; it also plays a pivotal role in her confrontations with Vecna. For many, it's symbolic of hope, giving it a universal appeal. If you like sci-fi with an adventurous spirit and a heavy dose of '80s nostalgia like Back to the Future (1985), you'll also dig Stranger Things.

It: Welcome  To Derry (2025)

Fans of Stephen King's iconic story might have had to wait five episodes for Bill Skarsgård's Pennywise to appear, but It: Welcome To Derry dropped a certified banger right from the start. "A Smile and a Ribbon" by Patience and Prudence creates a perfectly deranged juxtaposition, with the 1956 song offering an old-fashioned whimsy to a show loaded with horrific violence and creepy moments.

Really, it's the perfect Pennywise anthem. As a shape-shifting creature, it masquerades as something it's not to lure in children and feed on their fear. In that respect, "A Smile and a Ribbon" functions as a similar mask by lulling viewers into a false sense of security before unleashing the scares. Since Welcome to Derry's HBO Max release, I've seen no shortage of memes featuring people dancing to this song with captions reading along the lines of, "Me on my way to watch kids get slaughtered by a clown each week." 

Bridgerton (2020) Season 4 is right around the corner with its two-part release, and if you've read the books, then chances are that, like me, you've been waiting for the season for a while now. 

Based on Julia Quinn's third book of the series, An Offer From a Gentleman, the fourth season will follow the second son, Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek (Beckett in the books), in a Cinderella-inspired secret identity romance. In other words, Benedict is in a love triangle with the same woman, and it's going to be glorious to watch his buffoonery until he clocks everything in real-time (affectionately.) 

But really, a large part of the reason why Sophie and Benedict are such a beloved pair is that there's something delightfully joyous and simultaneously angsty about Cinderella stories. How a couple falls in love quickly and slowly at the same time, without quite putting two and two together. It's an effortless trope to appreciate, and while we wait for the new season, here are the best Cinderella movies to watch, as well as the platforms you can stream them on, like Disney+ and more.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1997)

Nothing, and I mean nothing, could ever top Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. Brandy and Paolo Montalban are sensational, plus the incomparable Whitney Houston as the fairy godmother? It's in a league of its own in every way and the best live-action adaptation to date. One of the things Bridgerton gets a lot of credit for is its means of having inclusive casting in a time period where stories are centered around predominantly white characters, but in countless ways, Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella paved the way.

With incredible music, perfect performances, and a glowing production design that feels achingly nostalgic and warm, few things will ever come close to the magic of this version. If you're excited for Bridgerton Season 4 and only watch one Cinderella adaptation until then, let it be this one for its unique and transcendent spin. 

A Cinderella Story (2004)

Some might say that consistently waiting for a new season of Bridgerton is the equivalent of Hilary Duff's Sam waiting for rain in this drought: useless and disappointing, until it's not. As far as modern-day classics go, A Cinderella Story is for the millennials. It's for the Lizzie McGuire (2001) girlies who'd follow Hilary Duff to the ends of the earth and beyond. But it's also a solid present-day retelling that explores the hierarchy of high school in a way that's still relevant today.

It's unclear how much of the books Bridgerton Season 4 will keep as is, but based on the book version, Sam and Sophie are most alike in how their own dreams and freedom are part of their bigger character journey outside of the romance. It's a lovely, quintessential early 2000s rom-com that hits in all the right ways, and a must-watch if you want something contemporary and nostalgic at the same time. 

Cinderella (2015)

Disney live-action movies are unfortunately not as great as their animated counterparts, but everything about Kenneth Branagh's Cinderella glistens as a cinematic treasure. A large part of the reason this version works is that, like Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, it honors the original animated cartoon while adding realistic elements that feel organic. And the success of this really never meant that we needed a live-action version of everything.

Still, Lily James and Richard Madden are so perfectly cast as Ella and the Prince, that this adaptation is one of the few where we actually get to know him and his grief with his father, too. The side of him that we get to see with his father and everyone around him, parallels interestingly with Bridgerton in how Benedict interacts with his mother (a book moment that I hope the show keeps). Plus, we get to see Prince Kit shine in how he fully sees Ella, which makes their romance even lovelier.

A Cinderella Christmas (2016)

A Cinderella adaptation that takes place during Christmas? Nobody move, this one's for me specifically. A Cinderella Christmas is a charming and stunning adaptation that's rich with magic and layers in a way that feels particularly dreamy. It's not every made-for-TV Christmas movie that every type of viewer can appreciate, but Emma Rigby is perfect in the role, and it can be especially joyous if you've ever watched her in Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (2013). 

It doubles as a celebrity romance, which is fascinating when compared to Bridgerton because while the prolific family isn't exactly royalty, their popularity in the Ton is basically the equivalent of being a celebrity in the Regency era. It's deliciously trope-y, and the chemistry between Angie and Nicholas is an absolute treat in every area. 

Ella Enchanted (2004)

For a whimsical and fun twist to the original story with a delightful cast and gorgeous production design, look no further than Ella Enchanted. It's bold and so full of layers that it's a film you'll want to rewatch a few times if it's not already on rotation. It's one that's especially perfect for the viewers who love the vibes in Ever After (1998), too. 

Anne Hathaway and Hugh Dancy make a precious team, and the twists provide the kind of intriguing drama that makes it easy to appreciate how a story can fully become its own while still honoring the classic tropes we love and adore. And I mean, really, it's a musical, need I say more? I don't think I do. 

Well, it’s finally over. After eight seasons, 181 episodes, and four feature-length films, My Hero Academia has finally come to an end. It’s a bittersweet ending, especially given how the show’s final season delivered an unforgettable climax, and the show’s finale gave most of its cast a satisfying resolution. It’s hard to watch things you like end, but My Hero Academia went out as good as it could have, with its head held high.

But now, for many fans like myself, there’s a My Hero Academia-shaped hole in people’s hearts that needs filling. While it’ll probably be a while until another show captures that blend of western superheroes and Japanese animation as well as it did, these ten shows have some of that same spark. Some focus more on the superhero action, some focus on the charming school setting, and some are chock full of the same Shonen tropes that made the series as accessible as it is. My Hero Academia may be over, but these ten shows, which can be found on Crunchyroll and Netflix, may be your next obsession.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes (2025-Present)

If you’re that torn up about My Hero Academia finishing, did you know that it has a spin-off that actually was referenced in the final season? If that’s the case, then My Hero Academia: Vigilantes would be the best place to start!

Focusing more on ground-level heroics and with fewer cataclysmic conflicts, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes feels like the franchise’s version of Marvel movies like Spider-Man (2002). Street-level crimes are the name of the game here, offering insight into a part of the series that we knew was there but was never explored in great detail. It also leans a lot more into the comic book aesthetics, with plenty of animated sound effects dotting the screen that help the show embrace its comic book roots. If you want to keep exploring the world of My Hero Academia, Vigilantes will do that, and with a second season confirmed for Winter 2026, fans won’t have to wait too long for more content.

Jujutsu Kaisen (2020-Present)

While My Hero Academia was the poster child for Shonen Jump during most of its run, it soon began to share the spotlight with a similar, yet much darker series cut from the same cloth, Jujutsu Kaisen. 

Also set in a school featuring super-powered teenagers, the students at Jujutsu High use dark magic called Curse Energy to defeat monsters that threaten the people of Japan. While there are plenty of unusual powers to be had in Jujutsu Kaisen as well as excellently animated fight scenes, it is also a much more violent series than My Hero Academia, with plenty of death, destruction, and heartbreak. As a modern version of anime like Yu Yu Hakusho (1992-1995), there are still moments of levity, but the tone is decidedly for those who are looking for a more serious My Hero Academia. Plus, with JJK also getting a new season in Winter 2026 as it barrels towards its climax, there’s still plenty of time to start watching and catch up before it airs.

Mashle: Of Muscles And Magic (2023-Present)

At its core, My Hero Academia is a lighthearted Shonen series that does a great job balancing comedy and action together. If that’s what you loved most about the series, then consider giving Mashle: Of Muscles And Magic a shot.

Yes, Mashle's inventive, colorful magic system delivers excellent fight scenes, but the true joy of the series is watching its lead, Mashle, fighting. While everyone fights with magic, Mashle punches things hard. Really, really, hard. So hard, in fact, that everyone thinks he’s magically powerful. It creates some excellent comedic moments, but it also makes the fight scenes a ton of fun to watch, with each punch he throws showcasing the raw strength he possesses. He’s like a high school version of Saitama from One Punch Man (2015-Present), both in terms of his sheer power and his stoic responses to most situations. It may not be as inventive as My Hero Academia, but it carries the series' spirit through its tone.

Welcome To Demon School! Iruma-Kun (2019-Present)

If you’re the kind of person who wants to see more of the high school antics of Class 1-A and less superhero action, then Welcome To Demon School! Iruma-Kun may be for you.

My Hero Academia contains a wide and likeable cast of characters (except Mineta), each with their own unique quirks and eccentricities, and the same can be said for Welcome To Demon School! Iruma-Kun. Because Iruma-Kun centers around monsters and demons, each of the characters has a unique visual design and set of powers… except for its lead, Iruma. Iruma-Kun, much like Deku, doesn’t have any powers, and if that gets discovered, he’s a dead man. The lengths that Iruma goes to hide his secret are a lot like The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (2016-2019), and with such a wide cast of characters, there’s plenty of opportunities for some lighthearted hijinks. With three seasons under its belt already, and a fourth set for Spring of 2026, if you want another long-running and lighthearted comedy, Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-Kun could fill the void. 

Naruto (2002-2007)

While it’s clear that American superheroes inspired most of My Hero Academia’s aesthetics and powers, its plot and structure scream classic Shonen. In fact, if you were going to watch another anime like My Hero Academia, why not go for the one that inspired the series the most: Naruto?

Masashi Kishimoto’s ninja epic was a prolific Shonen anime for its time. While Naruto would become a more action-oriented anime as it shifted into its sequel series, Naruto Shippuden (2007), the original series carries some of that early MHA charm. Naruto has his friend/rival Sasuke, much like Deku has Bakugo, and a whole support cast of characters with their own unique powers, a league of villains with their own nefarious purposes, and a message of hope and optimism that its lead constantly spouts at every turn. Naruto, alongside its descendants Black Clover (2017-Present) and My Hero Academia, all deliver accessible and universally appealing action that anyone, from kids to adults, can enjoy.

Tojima Wants To Be A Kamen Rider (2025)

If there’s one thing that’s clear about My Hero Academia, it’s that it wears its heart on its sleeve. Deku loves superheroes and is willing to do anything to be like his mentor, All Might, and if you want another show that openly loves superheroes, then Tojima Wants To Be A Kamen Rider is unconventional, but perfect for you.

There’s a genuine and earnest nature to each of Tojima Wants To Be A Kamen Rider’s characters as they train effortlessly to become just like the superheroes that inspired them as kids. Is it a bit goofy at points? Yes, but it hardly matters when the conviction they have to do good is as strong as it is. In that sense, it carries both the spirit of My Hero Academia, Vigilantes, and even Samurai Flamenco (2013-2014), although it’s not quite as lighthearted as those shows. If you ever wanted to be a superhero when you were a child but eventually grew up, Tojima Wants To Be A Kamen Rider will reignite that childlike wonder in your heart.

Shy (2023)

Shonen shows like My Hero Academia are primarily made for teenage boys. That isn’t to say that girls can’t like them, but much like superhero comics, they tend to skew to male audience members. Shy is what you get when you try to make a female version of My Hero Academia.

While you may expect Shy to be a bombastic superhero show like My Hero Academia, or one filled to the brim with fan service, it’s actually not. Instead, it’s more of a superhero drama that explores the anxieties and trauma of its cast, with the occasional bad guy thrown in to spice things up. While it isn’t quite as weird as Doom Patrol (2019-2023), it retains the soul of that series and doesn’t shy away from some discussions that are given the maturity and care they deserve, making it a great choice for those who are looking for a superhero anime with a bit more depth. Add in the predominantly female cast, and you have a superhero anime that tries something different within the genre and more or less succeeds.

Bungo Stray Dogs (2016-2023)

One of My Hero Academia’s key strengths is how approachable and accessible it is. Bungo Stray Dogs is the thinking man’s MHA, and ideal if you ever wished that My Hero Academia explored more heavy topics.

While My Hero Academia contains a whole host of colorful superheroes with equally colorful powers, Bungo Stray Dogs is more understated. Thanks to the show’s characters all being literary authors, their abilities all correspond to their own works. It creates some interesting powers that can seem borderline broken, like a billionaire who has the ability to become stronger the more money they spend. Because of that, it’s a very high concept action series not dissimilar to anime like Blood Blockade Battlefront (2015-2017), and the ongoing war between the different factions of Bungo Stray Dogs’ world has been building for five seasons. If you’ve matured and think the superheroics of My Hero Academia are too juvenile, then Bungo Stray Dogs may just be for you.

Little Witch Academia (2017)

Sometimes the setting is what makes a show special. The world of My Hero Academia is positively bursting with potential, and each new facet learned about it and its central setting, U.A. High School, makes it all the better. If you miss the halls of U.A. High School, consider enrolling in Little Witch Academia’s Luna Nova Magical Academy.

Much like U.A. High School, a lot of thought and care went into the construction of Little Witch Academia’s setting. The amount of effort and worldbuilding that went into crafting just the curriculum at Luna Nova may seem unnecessary, but it helps to establish just how much attention to detail the staff at Trigger put into effectively establishing the show’s setting. People may say that it’s just Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), but anime, but that’s doing Little Witch Academia a great disservice. The world is densely packed with lore and wonder, and the energy of its cast of young witches and wonderful animation helps make its world feel more alive than Hogwarts ever was. If it’s worldbuilding you want, Little Witch Academia is for you.

SSSS.Gridman (2018)

For as great as the heroes of My Hero Academia are, sometimes you’re more interested in the villains. Overhaul, Stain, and Shigaraki are all excellent antagonists, and if you want a superhero show that also knows how to deliver a great villain, then you need to watch SSSS.Gridman. 

While SSSS.Gridman initially appears as a send-up of Gridman the Hyper Agent (1993-1994), once it reveals that its central antagonist isn’t a gigantic monster, but a teenage girl named Akane Shinjo, you’ll become curious about how bad she can be. Over 12 episodes, we see how multifaceted a villain Akane is, and you’ll be both rooting for her defeat, yet sympathetic to her motives. She’s a god-like being, not unlike Makima from Chainsaw Man (2022) or All-For-One, and you’ll genuinely wonder how our heroes can defeat such a powerful enemy. Every hero needs a bad guy, and SSSS.Gridman presents one of the best anime villains in recent memory.

Hallmark has once again done something incredible. It built one of its most comforting and quietly thriving franchises with Good Witch. What started as a made-for-TV movie in 2008 turned into a beloved universe, spanning across seven movies and seven seasons of television (wow!), drawing viewers in with its low-stakes drama and enough charming small-town energy to make you consider moving to Middleton yourself. 

With so much content to cover, it can be overwhelming to know where to start, especially in a way where you feel like you haven’t accidentally skipped a chapter. Luckily, the franchise is very welcoming, and Good Witch’s chronological order and release order align here, which thankfully prevents a lot of “wait, what did I miss, when did that happen?” confusion. 

The best and smoothest way to watch Good Witch is in release order, beginning with the movies, which lays the foundation, and then transitioning into the TV series. It’s the cleanest way to experience Cassandra “Cassie” Nightingale’s arc, from mysterious newcomer to the emotional center of Middleton. There are also five specials attached to the show, and they’re best watched after Season 1 (Halloween), Season 2 (Secrets of Grey House), Season 3 (Spellbound), Season 4 (Tale of Two Hearts), and Season 5 (Curse from a Rose), respectively. 

How To Watch The Good Witch Franchise In Release Order

• The Good Witch (2008)
• The Good Witch’s Garden (2009)
• The Good Witch’s Gift (2010)
• The Good Witch’s Family (2011)
• The Good Witch’s Charm (2012)
• The Good Witch’s Destiny (2013)
• The Good Witch’s Wonder (2014)
• Good Witch Show Season 1 (2015)
• Halloween (2015)
• Good Witch Show Season 2 (2016)
• Secrets of Grey House (2016)
• Good Witch Show Season 3 (2017)
• Spellbound (2017)
• Good Witch Show Season 4 (2018)
• Tale of Two Hearts (2018)
• Good Witch Show Season 5 (2019)
• Curse from a Rose (2019)
• Good Witch Show Season 6 (2020)
• Good Witch Show Season 7 (2021)

Now, let’s break down each movie and the TV series, so you know what you’re getting into, and where you can find it on streaming services like Hallmark+, Fubo, and more!

1. The Good Witch (2008)

The Good Witch is where it all begins. We meet Cassie Nightingale, a woman who moves into a haunted-looking mansion, Grey House, in Middleton, and immediately becomes a source of fascination (and suspicion) for the town—partly because of her intuition and partly because she’s a bit too perceptive for everyone’s comfort. The Good Witch does cozy mystery perfectly; it’s whimsical and slow-paced, so if you’re coming in expecting big fantasy or supernatural elements, then you might find the entire franchise understated. But that’s what I love about it. 

Compared to later titles (especially the more romantic sequels), the first movie is mysterious and guarded, before it softens Cassie into a more open and real character, which I think works in its favor. The Good Witch might be the strongest entry in the franchise, because it feels the most magical without trying too hard. So for anyone who loves small-town mysteries and antagonists who are cartoonishly suspicious of any woman with a functioning personality, then you’re in the right place (and I checked, you can’t book Grey House as a B&B, I’m sorry!)

2. The Good Witch’s Garden (2009)

The Good Witch’s Garden expands Cassie’s emotional world. Cassie is now more settled in Middleton, and the film starts unfolding the romantic side of things with her relationship with Jake (her love interest) deepening, along with increased character interactions (which is needed, because in the first film the secondary characters felt more like concepts rather than people.) If you enjoy a gentle romance way more than romance involving grand speeches or fireworks, you’ll like the sequel. 

Like the first film, the drama is a bit low-stakes, so you won’t find any major plot twists here (but with a new film comes a new antagonist who brings conflict to the town, which I think they should have explored a bit more.) According to me, if the first film was a trial run for you, then Garden is where you’ll decide if the franchise is for you or not (I’d still suggest sticking with it if you’re someone who likes character-driven storytelling.) Sure, the antagonist’s arc wraps up pretty quickly, but if you enjoyed the emotional comfort of Chesapeake Shores, then Garden will scratch the same itch.

3. The Good Witch’s Gift (2010)

Of course, a franchise can’t be considered complete if there isn’t a seasonal instalment! The Good Witch’s Gift is set around Christmas, and leans into themes of family, forgiveness, and second chances (you know, all the good stuff!) Cassie tries to plan a Christmas Eve wedding, but chaos ensues, as expected. I felt Gift is the most emotionally accessible title in the franchise because of how Cassie gently nudges people towards growth without overstepping her boundaries, proving that her presence is changing people in a subtle way. 

Gift is an ideal choice to watch as a standalone around the holidays because of the vibes it brings (and the ‘conflict’ in this movie is basically a misunderstanding.) Where Garden was about setting up the romance between Cassie and Jake, Gift solidifies it and highlights the arcs of some other characters as well (all plot lines are treated with equal importance in this film, which I appreciated.) If you like cozy seasonal storytelling, with it being emotional but not overly sentimental, then The Good Witch’s Gift is an easy watch (and rewatch!)

4. The Good Witch’s Family (2011)

This one is for drama lovers (it’s me, I’m the drama lover) where new family members with maybe-not-so-great intentions show up. The Good Witch’s Family now shifts the focus to Cassie in her new role as a wife to Jake, and a stepmother to Jake’s kids, Brandon and Lori. But just when you think things are settling down into a routine within their new family, we’re introduced to the chaos storm that is Abigail, Cassie’s long-lost cousin. To be frank, I think Family is the most fun movie to watch as a viewer (as I mentioned before, I thrive on drama.) 

The franchise thus far was feeling a bit too goody-goody to me, and Abigail brings the spice the series desperately needed. Family commits to tension between the characters in a way where you’re not really sure if Abigail is lending a hand or is making things worse. It still holds up as the edgiest title of all the films, relatively speaking (I mean, it’s still Hallmark, not HBO.) Family channels Once Upon a Time’s energy from the early seasons, with small towns and mysterious family members. Honestly, Abigail should’ve had her own spinoff, perhaps titled The Better Witch? (Please don’t tell Cassie!)

5. The Good Witch’s Charm (2012)

If you’ve thought that Cassie’s life is going a bit too smoothly (barring Abigail’s visit, of course) and want her to have a (lovingly!) rough week, then The Good Witch’s Charm delivers. A new job? Check. A new baby? Check. And an estranged mother returning without warning? CHECK. Charm portrays Cassie stressed and frazzled, with a “too much to do, too little time” sentiment (something we’ve all been through, I’m sure.) For once, she isn’t effortlessly gliding through problems, and this leans into her humanity. Just like in shows like Gilmore Girls, we learn a bit more about Cassie’s past and her struggle to reconcile her past relationship with her foster mother to her present (it’s very Emily-and-Lorelai-esque.) I’m unable to decide if I liked the “investigative journalist” subplot or not, as the tension is mild. As always, the resolution is predictable, but I think adding another feather in Cassie’s already overwhelmed cap was a smart move, as it makes her seem more relatable than she was in the other movies (I honestly think she should be messy more often.) If you like movies that give out peak “Sunday afternoon movie” energy, like Autumn In The Vineyard, then you’ll enjoy The Good Witch’s Charm.

6. The Good Witch’s Destiny (2013)

If you love Merriwick lore and have been intrigued about Cassie’s roots, then The Good Witch’s Destiny is crafted for you. It’s way more lore-heavy than previous entries, and dives into family history and ominous vibes (but, and I say this with love, no one would lose their sleep over the ‘scares’ in the film.) The film could be considered Halloween adjacent and is for viewers who enjoy a mystical atmosphere without being morbid, or awaiting a jump scare in every other scene. 

Destiny is tonally closest to Family, just because they’re both not as “happy-go-lucky” as the other titles. I have to admit, Cassie’s birthday curse storyline was interesting, though I was frustrated by how some of the characters were acting towards her (you’ll know what I mean when you watch it.) The ending was a bit too neatly wrapped; seriously, it felt as though the twist ended before it could really mature into something, but all in all, if you enjoy watching movies about prophecies and revelations about family, you’ll have fun watching this movie. 

7. The Good Witch’s Wonder (2014)

If you’ve made it this far, it’s clear that you’re ready to live in Middleton long-term. The Good Witch’s Wonder is the swan song of the movie era, with Cassie facing a new challenge, this time involving wedding planning, misunderstandings, and a newcomer harboring secrets (at this point, it’s just a classic Middleton Wednesday!) The comfort factor is dialed up a notch; it knows it’s the final movie, and goes into the “one last cozy ride” vibe in full throttle. Compared to the first movie, Wonder has let its characters grow with it emotionally, and has solidified Cassie as the epicentre of the community from an outsider who everyone looked at with a side eye. 

Wonder is for the viewers who appreciate closure after having been invested in Cassie’s life for 6 years. This film acts like a bridge between the movies and the upcoming TV series, and can be considered as the perfect launchpad or stopping point (depending on if you’re fatigued yet or not.) If you’re not quite ready to leave Middleton behind, you still have 7 seasons to go through, so no shedding tears or goodbyes yet! For anyone who has stuck with the films from the beginning, The Good Witch’s Wonder will feel like coming home. 

8. The Good Witch TV Series: Seasons 1-7 (2015-2021)

Aaaand we’re back! Cassie returns in the Good Witch (TV Series), and this time she’s newly widowed (I know, I can’t believe Jake’s dead!) and living with her now-teenage daughter Grace. Because of its long-form storytelling and episodic format, the series is truly able to build up character arcs and deepen relationships in a way the movies weren’t able to (but they did their best, and that counts for something!) Spanning 7 seasons from 2015 to 2021, the series transforms Middleton into a fully lived-in world, with new neighbors—and love interests!—being introduced, but with the same community and family problem-solving formula that made the films so beloved (and, just as a cherry on top of the cake, Abigail from The Good Witch’s Family is back! She genuinely gives the show its flair.) Some fans didn’t like the ending, and thought it deserved a couple more episodes for better closure, and they wouldn’t be totally wrong. The show is ideal for viewers who value warmth, character-driven storytelling, and slow-burn romance, all provided on a low-stakes, low-stress silver platter. Anyone who enjoyed the emotionally rewarding storyline of Hart of Dixie, will enjoy the Good Witch show. 

Luca Guadagnino has captivated audiences with his deeply personal, intimate, and sensual filmmaking. Unapologetically provocative and delving deep into complex and sometimes even taboo topics, like cannibalism, few movies are as engaging and polarizing in modern Hollywood. 

Most recently, Guadagnino’s divisive new movie, After the Hunt (2025), premiered on Prime Video, drawing new audiences to the filmmaker. If you’re interested in delving further into his filmography, you can use our guide to find out where you can watch all Luca Guadagnino movies, ranked to the best, on Prime Video, Mubi, MGM+, and more.

10. The Protagonists (1999)

The Protagonists is Guadagnino’s feature film debut, which follows a film crew as they document the 1994 homicide case of Mohamed El-Sayed (Andrew Tiernan). It’s an interesting film-within-a-film story and utilizes a more unconventional format than most of Guadagnino’s movies. I enjoyed the meta elements and found it impressive that, back in 1999, Guadagnino was already exploring society’s problematic attitude toward true crime.

At the same time, The Protagonists struggle to evade becoming what it warns about. The strange film-within-a-film premise and choppy recreations of a terrible actual crime case don’t say anything profound about it. The format and ambiguity are also quite confusing, resulting in The Protagonists taking last place on this list.

9. After the Hunt (2025)

After the Hunt is a psychological thriller that centers on Alma (Julia Roberts), a Yale professor who finds herself caught in the middle when her student, Maggie (Ayo Edebiri), accuses Alma’s colleague, Hank (Andrew Garfield), of sexual assault. Like most of Guadagnino’s films, After the Hunt contains powerful performances and big ideas. Roberts, especially, dazzles with a quiet but sharp performance, while the increasingly complex web of “he said, she said” keeps viewers intrigued in this talk-heavy drama.

After the Hunt parallels movies like Promising Young Woman (2020) and Luckiest Girl Alive (2022) in terms of its themes, though it maintains a higher level of ambiguity. Even though After the Hunt tackles interesting ideas, its execution is a little shaky. The film is overly long and struggles to say something significant about its topic, preventing it from ranking higher on this list.

8. Melissa P. (2005)

Melissa P. is Guadagnino’s second feature film and tells the story of the titular protagonist (María Valverde), who begins exploring her sexuality while juggling a turbulent relationship with her mother. The film is as erotic and provocative as customary for Guadagnino. It also features his common coming-of-age topics and exploration of complex relationships and sexual awakening. However, it’s even darker than most of his films, as Melissa P. explores human cruelty and sexual predators.

Although the darker subject matter may not appeal to everyone, Melissa P. still reminded me of other well-received movies, such as A24’s Anora (2024) and Eighth Grade (2018). It’s a difficult watch, but there are elements of hope, nonetheless, and a realism that comes from viewing the coming-of-age experience from a teenage girl’s perspective. 

7. A Bigger Splash (2015)

A Bigger Splash is a psychological drama that follows rock singer Marianne Lane (Tilda Swinton) and her husband, Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts), whose vacation in Italy takes an unexpected turn when they run into Marianne’s former lover, Harry Hawkes (Ralph Fiennes). It’s an intriguing drama with complex relationships and unexpectedly dark narrative twists. Although A Bigger Splash begins as a soapy drama, the plot twists keep it fascinating and add layers of depth and ambiguity.

A Bigger Splash reminds me most of Guadagnino’s other works, Call Me By Your Name (2017) and Bones and All (2022). It boasts the same dreamy, hazy summer-vacation vibes as Call Me By Your Name, thanks to its idyllic Italian setting, while the dark plot twists are reminiscent of Bones and All. However, the ambiguity of the plot means it’s the type of movie you may not get a lot from on the first watch, but that offers a new interpretation with every subsequent watch.

6. Suspiria (2018)

Suspiria is Guadagnino’s remake of the 1977 horror film of the same name and centers on Susie Bannion (Dakota Johnson), a young ballerina who begins studying at a prestigious dance academy in Germany and becomes suspicious of its mysteries and odd phenomena. The film accomplishes a difficult task of holding up well against the original. By offering additional plot elements and elevating the brutality, it feels almost like its own project.

Suspiria also shines because of its strong performances, especially Tilda Swinton, who portrays multiple characters throughout and essentially carries the movie. Dark and disturbing with intriguing feminist themes, Suspiria is a thoughtful horror movie. It’s a great film if you enjoy thought-provoking, slow-burning horror like Climax (2018) and Black Swan (2010), though you may be disappointed if you’re looking for more conventional horror. 

5. Bones and All (2022)

Bones and All tells the story of two young cannibals, Maren (Taylor Russell) and Lee (Timothée Chalamet), who form a connection while drifting and struggling to make sense of their pasts. Between its mature subject matter and grisly body horror, Bones and All isn’t an easy film to stomach. However, those who enjoy or are ambivalent to body horror will find it’s also a very rewarding and complex coming-of-age romance.

Russell and Chalamet shine as young lovers, navigating a world where they don’t quite fit in. The cannibalism is a little less jarring when one recognizes it can be seen as a metaphor for many things, including substance abuse or trauma. While the extreme nature of its horror prevents it from ranking higher on this list, Bones and All is still an excellent coming-of-age horror-esque tale reminiscent of Raw (2016) and Only Lovers Left Alive (2013).

4. Queer (2024)

Queer follows William Lee (Daniel Craig), an American immigrant in Mexico City in the 1950s, who finds himself falling for a young G.I., Eugene (Drew Starkey). The film strongly parallels Call Me By Your Name, evoking the same dreamlike atmosphere and telling a hauntingly beautiful, intimate tale of love and yearning. However, Queer also seems to adopt a darker, perhaps more realistic, lens.

Whereas Call Me By Your Name is a dreamy, summer romance, Queer centers on two men struggling to subdue their sexuality and desires. There’s a haunted and dark feel to it, though the visuals are gorgeous and Craig’s performance as the desperate Lee is mesmerizing. Like many of Guadagnino’s films, it paints an intriguing portrait of human loneliness and the search for connection.

3. I Am Love (2010)

I Am Love centers on Emma Recchi (Swinton), who begins a whirlwind love affair with a chef. At the same time, her husband and children grow increasingly divided over an inheritance issue involving their paternal grandfather. The film reminds me a bit more of Melissa P. and A Bigger Splash, due to its gorgeous visuals, cinematography, and feminist themes. In addition to its romance tale, it’s a thoughtful family saga and exploration of one woman’s journey to self-discovery.

I Am Love is also the kind of movie that one can rewatch and discover something new about each time, including opening one’s eyes further to the gravity of Emma’s situation. The movie is passionate, visually pleasing, and thought-provoking. However, its relatively standard “trapped/bored housewife” trope prevents it from reaching the heights of the best Guadagnino movies on this list. Still, I Am Love is an excellent watch for fans of A Bigger Splash and Babygirl (2024).

2. Challengers (2024)

Challengers tells the story of tennis coach and former tennis champion, Tashi (Zendaya), as she coaches her husband, Art (Mike Faist), through a Challenger event, where he’ll face off against her ex-boyfriend, Patrick (Josh O’Connor). You’ll never realize just how interesting tennis can be until you watch Challengers. While the central love triangle is one of the biggest draws, the impeccably choreographed, intense, sweaty, and intimate tennis matches throughout keep the pace and adrenaline running high.

Despite the love triangle element, Challengers doesn’t feel like a romance movie. Instead, it plays out more like a psychological thriller, as viewers explore the manipulation, attraction, and betrayal among three people over thirteen years. As a result, it feels a little different and more refreshing than the typical romance drama. It’s a must-see for viewers who enjoy complex romances, such as those in May December (2023) and Shiva Baby (2021).

1. Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Call Me By Your Name is a romance film in which 17-year-old Elio (Chalamet) finds himself increasingly drawn to Oliver (Armie Hammer), the 24-year-old graduate student living with the Pearlmans for the summer. The film is an achingly beautiful and authentic depiction of first love. It captures both the intensity and yearning, as well as the innocence and wholesomeness of true love.

What really makes Call Me By Your Name so appealing is that its themes and depictions of love resonate with a universal appeal. Although it’s a love story between two men, it’s told with such empathy and beauty that many viewers can see themselves reflected in its themes of love and heartbreak, regardless of their sexuality. Call Me By Your Name combines the strengths of all of Guadagnino’s best movies, boasting the authenticity of Queer but with the aesthetics of I Am Love and the passion of Challengers, making it his best film. 

MTV may have reinvented itself more times than most of us have changed hairstyles. But its most iconic shows have a staying power that's hard to match. Before streaming shaped what we watch and how we watch it, MTV was the place where young people discovered new music and new trends. And yes, it also gave us a handful of genre-defining shows that walked so the rest of modern pop culture could run. What's fun about revisiting MTV programming today is how different the context feels.

Shows that once defined pop culture now feel like time capsules or a familiar echo in an empty room. Reality TV still follows the blueprint MTV drafted. Music documentaries still chase the intimacy MTV Unplugged (1989) perfected. And scripted teen dramas still borrow the essence of series like Teen Wolf (2011). With several MTV classics finding new digital homes on Paramount+, Prime Video, and more, this is the perfect moment to rediscover (or finally catch up on) the best the network created.

MTV Unplugged (1989-Present)

MTV Unplugged was a special musical experience in which major artists were invited to perform stripped-down acoustic sets. Bands performed intimate renditions of their biggest hits, which occasionally redefined their entire careers. Performers have included Oasis, Bob Dylan, Alicia Keys, Pearl Jam, and Jay-Z. No other music series has captured music history in such a raw, documentary-like format.

Some of the most famous live shows ever recorded happened on the MTV Unplugged series, making it the perfect pick for concert-goers and anyone who enjoys music in its rawest form. Not every installment is a masterpiece, but the great ones transcend time. Even today, the Nirvana and Mariah Carey sessions remain benchmarks for live performances. 

The Real World (1992-2019)

Long before reality television became a viewing staple, The Real World tossed a group of strangers into a shared apartment and documented the messy reality that comes with being a young adult. Cameras captured everything, from clashes over identity, hookups, heartbreak, and the kind of blow-ups that happen when people from wildly different backgrounds are forced into close proximity. It's impossible to overstate how foundational The Real World is to modern television.

It shaped the language and structure of unscripted storytelling before "reality show" even existed as a category. It's perfect for anyone who loves social-experiment shows, viewers who are curious about early millennial culture, and fans of Love Island (2019) who want to see where the formula started. Opinions expressed by the cast reflect the decade they came from. But that's part of its value.

The Osbournes (2002-2005)

The Osbournes gave the world an inside look at heavy-metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, his wife Sharon, and children Kelly and Jack, long before celebrity reality shows became a proper thing. Their Beverly Hills home became ground zero for some of reality TV's most unforgettable moments as they balanced ordinary home life with fame. Across four seasons, the show humanized the rock icon while simultaneously exposing the absurdity of celebrity life.

Some moments feel over the top, but the emotional honesty (especially Ozzy's vulnerability) gives the show a surprising amount of depth. It's messy, loud, and sometimes insensitive by today's standards, but that authenticity is what made it iconic. It's perfect for fans of rock history, outrageous family dynamics, and the early 2000s era of reality television, especially since it paved the way for Keeping Up with the Kardashians (2007).

Punk'd (2003-2015)

Hosted by Ashton Kutcher in its original and most famous run, Punk'd inflicted pranks on unsuspecting celebrities, capturing unrehearsed reactions from stars like Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, and Drake. When it premiered, the show redefined what celebrity entertainment could be. It flipped the power dynamic of fame, letting everyday viewers see panic, outrage, and disbelief from people normally surrounded by handlers and PR filters.

Some pranks land flawlessly, while others feel a touch mean-spirited by 2025 standards. But the show's cultural significance is undeniable, especially in its early seasons when the concept felt fresh and chaotic in the best way. Anyone who enjoys prank shows, early-2000s pop culture, or celebrity reality content with a comedic twist will love Punk'd. 

The Hills (2006-2010)

The Hills follows Lauren Conrad, Heidi Montag, Audrina Patridge, and Whitney Port as they chase careers, chase dreams, and sometimes chase each other out of their lives while living in Los Angeles. What begins as a post-high-school adventure quickly morphs into an LA fairy tale with sharp edges. Few series better capture the glossy escapism of late-2000s reality storytelling like this Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County (2004) spin-off.

The Hills perfected that "scripted but not scripted" vibe that came to dominate lifestyle-centric shows for years. Watching it now is like revisiting an era of oversized sunglasses, emotionally vague boyfriends, and impossible rent prices. It's ideal for fans of comfort-drama reality shows, anyone who loves the early influencer aesthetic, or viewers looking for an easy binge with maximal nostalgia.

Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

Teen Wolf begins when shy high-schooler Scott McCall (Tyler Posey) is bitten by a mysterious creature and eventually discovers that he's become a werewolf. His transformation upends his life and forces him into a supernatural world filled with hunters, rival creatures, and impossible moral choices. Alongside best friend Stiles Stilinski (Dylan O'Brien) and love interest Allison Argent (Crystal Reed), Scott must balance homework with saving the world.

Teen Wolf expertly mixed supernatural mythology with surprisingly engrossing emotional arcs. It's equal parts scary, romantic, and earnest, a combination MTV hadn't attempted on this scale before. The show ran for six seasons and continued the story in Teen Wolf: The Movie in 2023. It's a must for viewers who enjoy coming-of-age fantasy, supernatural romance, and serialized drama with teen-adventure vibes like Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997). 

Scream (2015-2019)

Inspired by the Wes Craven films, the first two seasons of the Scream series follow Emma Duval (Willa Fitzgerald) as a masked killer terrorizes her small town, exposing secrets and pushing her friend group into paranoia. Scream cleverly modernizes the franchise for a digital-age audience. Social media, bullying, and online anonymity become part of the horror, making the scares feel unsettlingly contemporary.

Scream Season 3 follows football star Deion Elliot (RJ Cyler). He is tormented by Ghostface, who uses his darkest secrets and tragic past against him, while going on a killing spree. The show is super fun and a lot more emotionally resonant than you'd expect from an adaptation of such a popular film series. It's ideal for slasher fans, teen-drama enthusiasts, or anyone who enjoys horror. It's also a fun companion piece for fans of the original movies.