If you were craving to see a high-speed car chase, a sci-fi gun battle, a fight between superheroes, or just the fun of watching Tom Cruise defy gravity, then the new action movies that came out in 2025 are a feast of destruction for the cinema. It has been a year of extravagant blockbusters and indie films full of adrenaline, and not even a bit of cynicism could hamper the viewer’s delight. A few of the explosive scenes might have been thrown at the wrong target if it were only a few works, but most of the productions have gone beyond the usual in visual effects, storyline, and entertainment, to name only a few. Therefore, it is time to bring your popcorn (and your seatbelt if you like) as we have listed the ten best action films of 2025, from ‘solid adrenaline rush’ to ‘please, take all of my money’.

10. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Once more, Tom Cruise goes out of his way to show that he is not quite ready to give up his stunt throne. The Fifth Reckoning culminates the Mission: Impossible series in a spectacular manner – both on the screen and in the audience’s emotions. Ethan Hunt, carrying out the most personal task ever, engages with the audience in an explosive and yet aching farewell. A critic very precisely conveyed the idea by saying that the film is “a sentimental sendoff for Ethan Hunt that gets the job done with a trademark sense for the impossible.” Besides witnessing a nerve-wracking helicopter chase, you would also get to experience a completely baffling yet mind-blowing train scene, which is probably why the film is often referred to as being of the type that makes you go out of your seats to applaud and possibly think about how it is that Cruise is still alive.

9. F1: The Movie

What else could you want if Brad Pitt were to be the driver of a Formula 1 car? In the hands of Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick), F1 turns fast racing into a spectacular, cinematic, thrilling experience. To prove he still has power in the vehicle, Pitt portrays a worn-out driver whose fuel runs out only to be refueled again, and his seeming effortless charm is what gives this film both heart and attitude. Kosinski can immerse the audience with his visuals and use of real stunt sequences, thus making every lap turn into a rollercoaster ride. Even if you have not been a fan of the Grand Prix and have never watched an episode, F1 is the one that you will find gripping the armrest. It is cool, hardcore, and similarly, as Pitt’s character is largely driven by charm and horsepower, quite a few of the movie’s elements are too.

8. Superman

With James Gunn’s second reboot of the Man of Steel, the DC Universe can definitely thank Superman for becoming a more lively and colorful place. Superman, as a character, looks like a burning flame with David Corenswet, who,o at the same time, depicts Clark Kent as basically a mythic yet mortal one. Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane is a sharp-tongued and daring heroine who mesmerizes her every second, and Nicholas Hoult’s Luthor is the kind of villain that makes evil quite charming again. One of the film’s quotes reads, “A Man of Tomorrow grounded in the here and now,” which is hardly disputable. Gun’s movie is just perfect for a combination of the old heroism and current-day relevance. Seeing it is super fun.

7. The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The first family of Marvel has a story of long failures, but is now finally going upwards. The First Steps adopts a retro-futuristic style, which not only reflects the 1960s spirit of optimism but also gives a nice modern twist. Pedro Pascal is great in the role of Reed Richards, while along with him we have energetic Sue Storm by Vanessa Kirby, impulsive Johnny by Joseph Quinn, and the genial, gruff Ben Grimm by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, forming a perfect ensemble of the main as well as the supporting characters. The main four characters’ interaction is incredible, and thus, the film’s heartfelt side, next to the fun and action, which have always been missing in Marvel lately, is the main reason for the film’s existence. Critics have given it a green light in terms of “a robust and tight ensemble cast along with an attractively retro look,” and they are on point. The Fantastic Four are finally becoming a family to support.

6. Thunderbolts

The mafed antihero group that is part of Mauvel’s extremely popular movie series is, in Mauvel’s movie series, creating a stir, and if we are to use a single word to describe the situation, it would be great. With its character-driven conflicts, quick and clever dialogues among characters, and superficially emotional yet deeply grounded plot, the film takes the audience back to the Phase Three era of Marvel. Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova is a complete delight as she skillfully mixes being smart with being physically strong. The trio that is powerfully flawed yet unstoppable and hence cannot be broken is the one that consists of the U.S. Agent, enacted by Wyatt Russell, Bucky Barnes, who you can see being played by Sebastian Stan, and the addition is a comedy of errors, which completes the trio. Most people have referred to it as “a welcome return to the MCU’s tried-and-true formula”, but actually, it goes even beyond that because it serves as proof that Marvel is still capable of having fun even when they don’t put much effort into it.”

5. Warfare

Warfare is a movie that would make you think that such a genre of war films does not exist if you were under the impression that you had seen every type of war film already. The film goes all the way and portrays the descent into the Iraq War’s chaos with great detail and realism, and the only fitting response to such a film is “no”. The camera is not the only thing that doesn’t change or even slightly indicate the presence of a character off-screen – so does the script. Politically hidden, the story of a small military unit journeying through a physical and moral abyss is recounted through raw human survival instincts. Ray Mendoza’s portrayal of the situation’s reality is being counterbalanced with Alex Garland’s usual disturbing atmosphere, and as a result, the production is stunning. As one of the reviewers said, Warfare “shows the most primal terror of war without giving it a name. It is a difficult watch, but it stays with you forever.

4. Sovereign

Nick Offerman leaves his deadpan humor behind in Sovereign, which stars him as a tight-wound thriller about terrorism, family, and authority. Based on real events, the film goes in-depth into how best intentions curdle into extremism, all while serving up bursts of action that’ll leave you grabbing your breath. Offerman delivers the performance of his career, part patriarch, part zealot, all nightmare-inducing. Critics have dubbed it “a provocative true crime thriller,” but that sells it short. Sovereign is the unusual movie that gets your heart rate up while you consider what pushes people to the brink.

3. KPop Demon Hunters

Typically, one would expect an animated action to be less impressive than a live one; however, KPop Demon Hunters is such a stunning combination of pop songs, supernatural fights, and vibrant visuals that it pretty much took the genre off the ground. The plot follows a group of K-pop idols who, in secret, are demon hunters, and therefore, they can combine fame and fashionably save the world. The record is very catchy, the humor is clever, and the fighting choreography is surprisingly strong. The movie was described by the critics as “lighthearted family fun with a great soundtrack,” but in fact, it is even more – it is a joyful explosion of color and music which demonstrates that animation can be just as powerful as live action.

2. Predator: Killer of Killers

You thought the Predator franchise had exhausted itself, only to have Killer of Killers track down expectations and shred them into ribbons. This anthology reboot of the series pits the alien hunter against warriors across eras, Samurai, Vikings, and even World War II troops in a gory, gorgeously photographed series of vignettes. Every segment is unique yet linked, and the choreography of action is downright ruthless. Critic: They gushed that it’s “a lean, mean, and just plain awesome addition to the franchise,” and aren’t kidding. It’s by far the most innovative Predator film since the first one, and perhaps the most enjoyable, as well.

1. Black Bag

Steven Soderbergh has a flair for the sleek thriller, and Black Bag is him working at his finest. Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender star in this stylish and sneaky espionage thriller as opposing spies caught in a deceitful, seductive, and double-crossing web of intrigue. The movie is beautifully filmed, wickedly sharp in its dialogue, and steeped in that signature Soderbergh cool factor. Critics called it “a smart, impeccably designed spy caper that lets movie stars shine,” and it is precisely that. Seeing Blanchett and Fassbender trade blows, verbal and physical, is alone worth the cost of admission.

These are the films that made 2025 an unforgettable year for action enthusiasts, films that reminded us why we see movies in the first place. Whether it’s the adrenaline-fueled realism of Warfare, the superhero revival of Superman, or the unadulterated style of Black Bag, this year’s slate had something for all. If you didn’t catch any of them, count this as your cue: clear your weekend, darken the room, and let the adrenaline strike.

Let’s face it, TV spinoffs are a risk. With each hit, there’s a failure that leaves you questioning why it ever made it out of the drawing board (again, sorry, Joey). But occasionally, a spinoff doesn’t merely rise to the level of the original; it blows it away. These are the few, the proud, the shows that emerged from the shadow of their forebears and became legends in their own right. Here are 10 TV spinoffs that didn’t simply track in large footsteps; they outran them.

10. The Good Fight

The Good Wife already knew a thing or two about prestige drama, but The Good Fight took it to overdrive. Headed by the inimitable Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart, the series swapped network restrictions for the freedom of streaming and used that freedom to its maximum potential. Addressing the pandemonium of contemporary politics and social turmoil, it established itself as one of the most bold, cutting-edge dramas of its era. It wasn’t merely good TV, it was necessary TV.

9. Law & Order: SVU

When Law & Order premiered, it established the gold standard for procedurals. But the Special Victims Unit took that template and infused it with a pulse. By concentrating on extremely personal and even painful crimes, SVU transcended being a cop show; it became a cultural reference point. Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson became an icon of compassion and toughness, and even more than two decades later, the show still refuses to lose steam.

8. Angel

When Buffy the Vampire Slayer provided us with snappy teen angst and monster metaphors, Angel plunged into something moodier and darker. Based in Los Angeles, the show traced the dark vampire’s journey towards redemption, providing noir-tinted storytelling and emotional resonance that resonated with viewers. It wasn’t an extension, it was a reimagining of the Buffyverse, and it fluttered proudly on its own wings.

7. The Originals

Whereas The Vampire Diaries was high school drama with fangs, The Originals was an adult struggle for power splashed with blood and betrayal. Focusing on the immortal Mikaelson clan, this spinoff abandoned teenage angst for political maneuvering, eternal vendettas, and supernatural war. Located in New Orleans, it mixed a gothic setting with strong themes of family and loyalty, winning acclaim for its complexity and depth.

6. NCIS

It’s crazy to consider that NCIS was once a humble JAG spin-off. Today, it’s an international TV fixture. With the combination of humor, character-based storytelling, and military suspense, NCIS became a television staple, surpassing the original show JAG by a mile. Not only did it continue a franchise, but it expanded one, leading to numerous successful spin-offs in its own right. Full circle, indeed.

5. Star Trek: The Next Generation

The classic Star Trek revolutionized television, but The Next Generation brought the franchise into orbit. With Patrick Stewart as the authoritative (and authoritative-toned) Captain Picard, the show produced wiser storytelling, more textured characters, and improved special effects. It raised the science fiction genre to the level of philosophy, discussing moral complexities and humanity at warp speed. To many, TNG is Star Trek.

4. Frasier

It’s difficult to envision a Cheers spinoff surpassing the bar where everyone knows your name, but Frasier accomplished it with sophistication and humor. Transplanting the self-absorbed but endearing Dr. Frasier Crane to Seattle, the show traded beer for sherry and dispensed 11 seasons of smart-alecky humor and poignant moments. With Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce’s unparalleled comedic chemistry, Frasier became a sitcom-writing masterclass and a cultural touchstone.

3. Xena: Warrior Princess

Born out of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena was soon demonstrating she didn’t require another’s myth to tell her story. Lucy Lawless’s intense performance made the warrior princess a feminist legend, combining sword-swinging action with wit and emotion. Xena: Warrior Princess was one of television’s most popular cult hits, generating a devoted following that continues to thrive decades later.

2. Better Call Saul

The heir to Breaking Bad was an impossible job, until Better Call Saul made it seem effortless. Bob Odenkirk’s metamorphosis from Jimmy McGill to Saul Goodman was nothing less than stunning, supported by scriptwriting so diligent and emotionally shattering that it matched (and occasionally topped) its parent show. By the finale, it wasn’t merely a fantastic spinoff; it was one of the all-time greatest TV dramas created.

1. The Simpsons

It’s hard to believe that The Simpsons started as shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show. Over 30 years later, it remains the longest-running American sitcom and one of the most powerful programs in television history. From scathing social commentary to catchphrases that are still stuck in our heads, The Simpsons altered the face of television. The Springfield family didn’t just surpass their humble beginnings; they revolutionized pop culture for good.

So next time someone says spinoffs never work, hand them this list. Because sometimes, lightning doesn’t just strike twice; it hits even harder the second time.

Let’s get real: if you’re a reading-and-binge-watching combo, you’ve likely caught yourself arguing (perhaps fiercely) over whether a program actually did the book justice. Apple TV+ has now firmly established itself as a contender in that game, picking up rights to everything from sci-fi blockbusters to literary tearjerkers. Some have gotten it right, others have fallen short, and some have ignited group chats filled with raging opinions. Here’s my top 10 of the best book-to-TV adaptations on Apple TV+ because we all know ranking drama is half the fun.

10. The Mosquito Coast

Paul Theroux’s masterpiece novel gets a new contemporary reworking with Justin Theroux, yes, his nephew, taking on the lead role of Allie Fox, an idealistic genius inventor on the lam with his family. The series builds on the book’s anti-establishment themes, amplifying the tension and emotional mayhem. It deviates from the original in spots, but the combination of family drama and survivalist intrigue makes it must-watch TV.

9. Shining Girls

Lauren Beukes’ time-traveling thriller is reimagined as a moody, psychological thriller centered on Elisabeth Moss. She stars as Kirby, a woman hell-bent on catching the man who assaulted her years ago, a killer with the ability to move through time. The series condenses the book’s scope, focusing on the trauma and strength of Kirby. Moss injects her trademark intensity, making Shining Girls into a chilling, time-bending ride.

8. Five Days at Memorial

Sheri Fink’s nonfiction account of a New Orleans hospital during Hurricane Katrina becomes a harrowing limited series led by Vera Farmiga. As Dr. Anna Pou, Farmiga captures the impossible choices faced when the floodwaters rose and the power failed. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s deeply human, unflinching in showing the moral and emotional wreckage left in Katrina’s wake.

7. Black Bird

Half crime thriller, half psychological standoff, Black Bird translates James Keene’s memoir into a tense, slow-burning work of art. Taron Egerton stars as Keene, an inmate, in return for his freedom if he can extract a confession from possible serial killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser). What transpires is a heart-pounding exercise in manipulation and trust. Egerton and Hauser deliver magnetic performances that keep the suspense razor-sharp throughout.

6. The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey

Samuel L. Jackson gives one of his finest performances in this adaptation of Walter Mosley’s novel. He is Ptolemy Grey, a 91-year-old with dementia who, briefly, recovers his memories, and with them, long-hidden secrets. The show is a combination of mystery with a deeply emotional investigation of memory, legacy, and connection. It’s poignant, heartbreaking, and wonderfully acted.

5. Truth Be Told

Based on Kathleen Barber’s Are You Sleeping, this series takes on the true-crime podcast phenomenon with Octavia Spencer as Poppy Parnell, a reporter reopening a cold case from decades past. Every season presents new enigmas as it navigates the morality of commodifying tragedy. Spencer’s authoritative performance anchors the show, making it as thoughtful as it is hooky.

4. Defending Jacob

William Landay’s legal thriller best-seller is given a pitch-perfect translation in this edge-of-your-seat miniseries. Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery star as parents whose teenager is charged with murder, and the show bottlenecks all the novel’s claustrophobic tension. With top-shelf performances and a gradual build-up of moral fear, Defending Jacob is a gut-punch of family drama and courtroom drama.

3. Silo

Drawing inspiration from Hugh Howey’s Wool series, Silo plunges audiences into a dystopian future where humanity exists in a giant underground complex, and defiance of the rules is taboo. Rebecca Ferguson is excellent as Juliette, a brilliant engineer digging up secrets. The show does more with Howey’s original storytelling with eye-popping visuals and careful world-building, building a future that feels disconcertingly real.

2. Foundation

Long considered “unfilmable,” Isaac Asimov’s iconic sci-fi epic finally gets on screen, and the outcome is big, smart, and visually stunning. Foundation reimagines the collapse of a galactic empire with a multicultural cast and fearless storytelling overhauls. Though it takes liberties with some facts, it hits the essence of Asimov’s concepts, the vulnerability of civilization, the strength of knowledge, and the gravity of destiny.

1. Pachinko

Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko is one of those novels so impossible to bring to life on screen, until Apple TV+ showed us otherwise. This sweeping, multigenerational drama follows a Korean family from generation to generation across Japan and Korea, from love and loss to identity. It’s cinematic in every frame, every performance felt to the core. Intimate and epic in equal measure, a masterclass in adapting the book’s spirit without sacrificing any greatness on the screen.

And there you have it, ten adaptations which prove Apple TV+ isn’t simply following trends; it’s creating a new benchmark for literary television storytelling. Whether you’re a hardline reader, a weekend viewer, or both, these shows demonstrate that the adaptation can burn every bit as bright as the book.

Let’s be real, some films don’t just make you laugh; they get under your skin. They make you uncomfortable, unsettle you, and stick with you long after the screen goes dark. These are the movies that leave you sitting quietly when the credits start rolling, the ones you advise hesitantly to others, “It’s great, but I don’t know if I can ever see it again. From violent melodramas and dreamlike nightmares to scary tales that slice too close to the truth, these are ten of the most emotionally powerful, indelible movies out there, ranked with genuine cinephile élan.

10. KPop Demon Hunters

On Disney’s surface, KPop Demon Hunters appears to be a colorful Disney adventure for children, pop stars, demons, and neon bright mayhem. But where that fast-paced exterior hides is a surprisingly grim center. The movie incorporates shame, addiction, queerness, and religious repression into a narrative through infectious musical numbers that also communicate more than the movie’s storyline. It’s a tonal ride. Part musical extravaganza, part psychological meltdown. Messy? Absolutely. But also intriguing, bold, and unforgettable.

9. Rita

Jayro Bustamante’s Rita is a haunting contemporary fairy tale that will not sugarcoat its punches. Set in Guatemala and inspired by horrific real-life events at state-run girl shelters, it’s a dark fable and a gritty social commentary. Imagine Pan’s Labyrinth without its whimsy, substituted with scorching truth. Bustamante gives us his most intense work to date unflinching examination of innocence tainted and hope shattered under systemic neglect.

8. The Settlers

Felipe Gálvez’s The Settlers takes the Western genre and incinerates it to bits. Laid in early 20th-century Chile, it tracks a band of mercenaries who are hired to “civilize” the lands of the Indigenous people. What ensues is a heart-stopping depiction of genocide and avarice. With direction as sharp as a razor and a soundtrack that hurts like an open wound, it’s a movie that requires your attention and will not release you. Brutal, stunning, and heartbreaking.

7. Red Rooms

You may enter Red Rooms thinking you know what you’re in for: a typical psychological thriller. You’ll leave rattled. The movie gets you locked into its tension from the very opening frame, ratcheting up fear to nearly intolerable levels. The less you know ahead of time, the better your experience is the story. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you: by the end, you may have to catch your breath.

6. Sometimes I Think About Dying

In Sometimes I Think About Dying, Daisy Ridley gives a career-best performance as a quietly lost woman, unattached to the world around her. It’s a subtle mixture of sadness and humor, a miserably human, compassionately empathetic performance. The film expresses loneliness not as spectacle, but as fact. It’s the sort of movie that makes you think about all the tiny, transitory moments of connection you’ve ever made.

5. Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World

Radu Jude’s endurance film is a searing, incisive examination of contemporary exhaustion, emotional, political, and ontological. Clocking in at three and a half hours, it’s laugh-out-loud funny and terrifying, sometimes simultaneously. By its conclusion, you’re drained, vacant, and oddly thankful. It’s not an easy film to watch, but it’s the epitome of cinematic stamina: raw, unyielding, and indelible.

4. The Beast

Bertrand Bonello’s The Beast is a grand, reincarnation-themed romance shrouded in a nightmare. Léa Seydoux gives maybe her best performance in a film that alternates between periods, genres, and even worlds. Loosely based on Henry James, it’s cerebral and sensual, a study of destiny, terror, and how love persists through anarchy. Lovely, perplexing, and completely mesmerizing.

3. Evil Does Not Exist

Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car) swaps city drama for countryside mysticism in Evil Does Not Exist. Subdued, lyrical, this understated movie explores the restlessness of human relationships with the natural world, as a tight-knit community confronts corporate encroachment. Basic in aesthetic but rich in effect, it’s less about story and more about presence, the pauses, the dissonance, the unspoken sadness beneath contemporary success.

2. Close Your Eyes

Víctor Erice’s Close Your Eyes is a lost masterpiece regained, a poignant meditation on memory, art, and time itself. It’s the story of an older filmmaker returning to an abandoned project, and with it, all the things he’s lost. It’s sensitive, heartfelt, and wonderful in its restraint. The film’s understated emotion mounts until it’s overwhelming, a love letter to film and the specters that it holds.

1. Godzilla Minus One

Yes, a Godzilla film heads this list, and it deserves it. Godzilla Minus One is nothing less than amazing: a monster flick with the emotional density of a war film and the humanity of a human tragedy. Filmed on a tenth of a Hollywood budget, it surpasses most blockbusters in both spectacle and spirit. See it in both color and “Minus Color” edition, as the contrast only increases its impact. It’s exciting, frightening, and unexpectedly emotional, a good movie that makes you remember why Godzilla still exists.

Of course, that list barely scratches the surface of the dark side of cinema. Movies such as Grave of the Fireflies, The Road, Funny Games, Eden Lake, and United 93 challenge audiences to emotional breaking points occasionally, literally. They’re not comfort viewing; they’re confrontations. If you subject yourself to them for catharsis, curiosity, or sheer challenge, one thing is certain: you’ll never leave as you came.

Peacock has quietly evolved from the plucky upstart of the streaming universe to one of the most fun platforms around. Depending on your interests, you can binge classic comfort TV like The Office, thrill-chase with Twisted Metal, or obsess over the mental games of The Traitors. Peacock’s slate has something for everyone. Here are 12 of the finest shows to stream this week, numbered with all the soap operas you want. 

12. Girls5eva

If you have ever had a hairbrush karaoke session, singing along as a pop sensation, Girls5eva will be ringing all the bells. This acutely funny musical comedy celebrates a ’90s one-hit-wonder all-female group attempting a comeback years and years later. Starring Tina Fey and Robert Carlock producing, with a powerhouse cast topped by Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Busy Philipps, and Paula Pell, every punchline hits, and every tune gets stuck in your head. It’s smart, it’s retro, and a complete pleasure to watch.

11. Chucky

The world’s most notorious doll is not finished killing or joking around. Chucky, the television revival of the Child’s Play series, gets new life on Peacock with creator Don Mancini guiding the way and Brad Dourif reprising as the voice of the killer doll. It’s part slasher, part satire, part surprisingly tender coming-of-age tale. Evidence that even horror legends can grow up, and still frighten us years from now.

10. Rutherford Falls

Peacock has hit a sweet spot with offbeat small-town comedies, and Rutherford Falls is probably its most tender. Developed by Michael Schur, Ed Helms, and Sierra Teller Ornelas, the series delves into friendship, identity, and community with humor and heart. With one of TV’s biggest Indigenous writing staffs, it’s a refreshingly inclusive, well-considered comedy that’s both hilarious and meaningful.

9. The Traitors

If you’re into drama, deception, and mind games, The Traitors is your next obsession. Hosted by a delightfully theatrical Alan Cumming, this reality competition mixes mystery, strategy, and betrayal in a castle-set showdown. Think Mafia meets Survivor with a touch of camp. It’s Peacock’s breakout reality hit, and for good reason.

8. Love Island USA / Love Island: Beyond the Villa

Sun, love, and lots of drama, enter Love Island USA. Contestants couple up, couple down, and create drama in the Fijian sun while viewers get to be the matchmaker at home. Spin-off series Love Island: Beyond the Villa reunites fan favorites as they attempt real love (and real life) once the cameras are turned off. Combined, these shows are the beating heart of Peacock’s reality empire.

7. The Day of the Jackal

Eddie Redmayne stars as the world’s greatest ghost, the elusive assassin in this contemporary, high-stakes retelling of the classic thriller. The Day of the Jackal combines espionage, global intrigue, and heart-pounding suspense. Season two is shaping up to be even more twisty, solidifying this show as a must-see for both fans of spy novels and action dramas.

6. The Paper

From The Office’s Greg Daniels and Nathan for You’s Michael Koman comes The Paper, a workplace mockumentary for the digital age. Following the eccentric staff of a struggling Midwestern newspaper, the series captures the chaos of journalism with heart and humor. Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore lead a stellar cast, with a few surprise cameos for fans of The Office. It’s nostalgic, clever, and endlessly quotable, everything a comedy should be.

5. Poker Face

Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne serve up pure gold with Poker Face, a masterful throwback to the mystery-of-the-week genre. Lyonne stars as Charlie Cale, a human lie detector who can’t seem to help stumbling into murders wherever she goes. There’s a new crime each week, along with a new guest star and Lyonne’s unbreakable charm. It’s clever, stylish, and one of the decade’s greatest detective shows.

4. Law & Order: Organized Crime / Law & Order: SVU

Peacock is the ultimate destination for Law & Order fans. SVU remains a TV institution, with Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson still seeking justice after more than 20 seasons. Meanwhile, Organized Crime brings Christopher Meloni’s Elliot Stabler back into the fold, chasing down New York’s most dangerous criminals. With both series streaming in full, it’s the perfect time to revisit these legendary shows or start fresh from the beginning.

3. The Office

Let’s face it—The Office is Peacock’s crown jewel. It’s quoteably infinite, crazily rewatchable, and just as funny now as it was back then. The show has garnered a whopping 1.7+ billion viewing hours on Peacock, demonstrating its timelessness. Relive Jim and Pam’s love story or cringe at Michael Scott’s shenanigans; The Office never fails.

2. The Paper (Yes, Again)

It’s not often a show is so excellent it warrants a double shout-out, but The Paper deserves one. Not just a spiritual descendant of The Office, it’s a love letter to story, to community, and to the messy glory of everyday workplaces. With whip-sharp dialogue and a cast of actors that feel like long-lost friends, it’s the type of show you’ll be eager to make every friend you have watch.

1. The Traitors

Number one on that list is The Traitors, the reality behemoth that’s got everyone abuzz. Every installment is filled with scheming, paranoia, and eye-popping surprises, all stage-managed by Alan Cumming’s wickedly over-the-top hosting. The weekly-by-week drop keeps audiences on tenterhooks and social media abuzz. It’s a testament to the fact that occasionally, the slow burn is the sweetest.

Peacock has evolved into a powerhouse of entertainment, offering something for every mood: nostalgia, laughs, chills, or drama. Whether you’re revisiting old favorites or discovering new obsessions, these 12 shows prove there’s never been a better time to hit play.

There is nothing like the rush you feel from seeing a genuine stunt performed in a film, particularly when it’s the star doing it. These flash moments of shock come at a price, though: actual cuts and bruises, and a few occasions in the ambulance. These are the actors who crossed the line and put their bodies on the line for the films.

10. Natalie Portman’s Rib Injury during Black Swan

Natalie Portman had to pay a very bitter price to play a prima ballerina. During the filming of a lift in Black Swan, she hurt her rib; one bone was entirely on top of the other. The pain was so excruciating that the scene when her character is examined by a physical therapist actually stemmed from her actual injury. Portman never broke character for an instant; therefore, the line between acting and feeling was very thin.

9. Daniel Craig’s Tooth Trouble in Casino Royale

James Bond might be indestructible, but Daniel Craig isn’t. While filming a vicious fight sequence in Casino Royale, Craig was actually struck, and two of his front teeth were shattered. The filmmakers rushed him to London to get emergency dental repairs, and he wore a mouthguard for the remainder of the shoot. The result? Some of the most realistic fight scenes of the Bond series, along with real pain.

8. Dylan O’Brien’s On-Set Crash That Could Have Ended His Career

Dylan O’Brien’s on-set accident might have put an end to his acting career. While filming a complex stunt for the film, he was pulled out of a moving vehicle and struck by another car, with multiple fractures to the face and a concussion. A bout of reconstructive surgery and a few months’ worth of rehab were required, but O’Brien came back to complete the movie. His comeback was nothing less than heroic.

7. Margaret Hamilton’s Burns in The Wizard of Oz

Poor old Hollywood wasn’t the most safety-aware of places. Margaret Hamilton, Wicked Witch of the West, was severely burned during a pyrotechnics-gone-bad stage exit. A failed trapdoor led her to be engulfed in fire that left her with second-degree burns on her hands and face. Six weeks passed before Hamilton healed enough to return and finish up her scenes—with green makeup.

6. Halle Berry’s Broken Ribs in Bruised

Halle Berry didn’t just play an MMA fighter in her directorial debut, Bruised—she even got hit on her body. During the case, while filming a fight scene with UFC champion Valentina Shevchenko, Berry broke two ribs. She chose to go on with the shoot, completing the film in her injured, yet very determined, state of mind instead of production shutting down. If that is not a definition of total commitment, then what is?

5. Michelle Yeoh’s Torn ACL in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Besides being a daredevil when it comes to stunts, Michelle Yeoh’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was her breaking point. She even tore her ACL during the movie’s gorgeous rooftop chase, and ultimately ended up needing surgery and several months of rehab. Yeoh returned to complete the shoot, and she spent much of her time on set wearing a leg brace under her costume. Her dedication really made the movie have much more gravitas and intensity, which was even apparent in the movie’s theme of beauty and power.

4. Sylvester Stallone’s Heart Injury in Rocky IV

In the course of performing the boxing scene for Rocky IV, Sylvester Stallone instructed co-star Dolph Lundgren to punch him in reality. On an extremely unfortunate twist of fate, one of the punches was so powerful that it inflamed Stallone’s heart, really just like what occurs when one experiences a car accident. He was seriously ill and spent a couple of days in intensive care, but the incident was real enough to be retained in the film. 

3. Brad Pitt’s Hand Injury in Se7en

In the shooting of a dramatic car chase sequence in Se7en, Brad Pitt, the star actor of the film, slipped and, in a desperate attempt to arrest his fall, he punched the window of the car. Fortunately for him, the glass was razor-sharp, and in turn, it sliced through his hand, and in a deep cut requiring suturing. The director, David Finch, treated the accident as a blessing in disguise and chose to proceed with the shoot, working the injury into the script, thereby the bandaged hand became the character’s appearance. What one observes is an undetectable blending of a true event with fiction. 

2. Tom Cruise’s Broken Ankle in Mission: Impossible – Fallout

Tom Cruise’s personal rule of doing his own stunts is the stuff of myths, but it finally caught up with him on Fallout. In jumping from one roof to another, he miscalculated the space and landed splat on a wall, injuring his ankle in the process. Shooting was delayed for nine weeks as he recuperated—but in typical fashion, Cruise came back to finish the scene on his own. The take where he hurts himself actually makes it into the movie.

1. Jackie Chan: The Greatest Stunt Legend

Few performers have sacrificed as much personally on behalf of their craft as Jackie Chan. For decades of doing his own death-defying stunts, Chan has broken virtually every bone, endured humanly possible skull fractures, spinal injuries, dislocated shoulders, and even had his brain opened up after a fall out of a tree. His commitment to practical stunts has earned him a worldwide legendary status and a walking scar tissue of healed wounds.

From blacked-out eyes to broken limbs, these performers demonstrated that movie magic sometimes takes an extremely real cost. Their injuries are part of film history—a reminder that the greatest action sequences oftentimes derive from performances without fear and a little too much devotion.

Think Starz is that streaming platform you roll over on your way to Netflix or Max? Time to think again. Starz has developed a quietly lethal film library packed with all things from cult favorites and sci-fi thrill rides to Oscar winners and quote-worthy comedies. If you’re feeling like watching an edge-of-your-seat blockbuster or a retro, this lineup’s got you covered. Here are the 10 best movies now playing on Starz, ranked below from good to essential.

10. War of the Worlds (2005)

Steven Spielberg’s modern retelling of H.G. Wells’ classic sci-fi novel about alien attack is a masterclass in tension. Tom Cruise plays an ordinary-guy dad trying to keep his kids alive as the world around them is laid waste by huge Martian war machines. It’s mad, frantic, and wonderfully visual, a disaster movie that’s terrifyingly believable. Avoid the remake; this is the one you’ll be sleeping with the lights on.

9. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

Edgar Wright’s cult classic action-romance is sugar-coated visual candy. Michael Cera’s Scott Pilgrim has to fight his dream girl’s seven villainous exes in a comic book-like world where everything looks and feels as if it were drawn. The fast cuts, crazy fight choreography, and sick soundtrack make this a geeky dream come true that never loses its appeal.

8. Pitch Black (2000)

Before Fast & Furious fame, Vin Diesel was Riddick, a hard-case inmate stranded on a sun-scorched world filled with light-averse beasts. Pitch Black is dark, action-packed sci-fi that combines horror and survival with just the right amount of attitude. It’s the one that started the franchise, and still the best of the bunch.

7. Gladiator (2000)

“Are you not entertained?” Ridley Scott’s sword-and-sandals epic, revised as a historical epic, was a spectacle once again. Russell Crowe fills the screen in Maximus, the betrayed Roman general who has to fight for honor and vengeance in the Colosseum. Five Academy Award-winning Gladiator is one of the most uplifting, emotionally powerful blockbusters ever imagined.

6. Dazed and Confused (1993)

Richard Linklater’s cult classic so perfectly encapsulates that bittersweet high-school purgatory, shot on the last day of school in 1976. With its easygoing charm, killer soundtrack, and early appearances by future stars Matthew McConaughey and Ben Affleck, this coming-of-age staple is basically one long, wistful summer night.

5. Bring It On (2000)

This satire of cheerleading brought sass, athleticism, and unexpectedly sharp wit to teen movies. Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union play bitter teammates vying for the national title, delivering big laughs, show-stopping routines, and fierce competitive heat. Twenty years on, it remains that movie when it comes to pep and attitude.

4. Big Daddy (1999)

Adam Sandler is most endearingly and surprisingly sentimental. Big Daddy is the story of a directionless guy who finds himself with instant responsibility for an underage boy left on his doorstep. What starts as a ramshackle premise becomes a bittersweet journey through manhood and discovering one’s place in the most unlikely of ways. It’s stupid, schmaltzy, and pure Sandler.

3. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

George A. Romero’s shoestring-budget horror changed the genre for all time. Stuck in a farmhouse while the dead rise, a group of strangers must contend with both outward dread and inward disintegration. Beyond the zombies, though, it’s a scathing social critique that remains so today. Plainly put, it’s where contemporary horror started.

2. This Is the End (2013)

The end of the world has never been so hilarious, or meta. Seth Rogen, James Franco, and his comedy team feature in over-the-top roles of themselves attempting to survive doomsday. It’s ridiculous, over-the-top, and incredibly quotable. Few comedies have ever managed to balance anarchy and wit with such finesse.

1. Boyz n the Hood (1991)

John Singleton’s landmark directorial debut is an incisive portrait of life, death, and brotherhood in South Central Los Angeles. Powerful performances by Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, and Laurence Fishburne make it both a gritty and a heartfelt one. Boyz n the Hood is not only a great film, it’s a cultural touchstone that remains relevant more than 30 years on.

From cult hits to timeless dramas, Starz is quietly killing it with its movie lineup. These ten picks prove that sometimes the best gems aren’t hidden on the biggest platform; they’re waiting right where you least expect them.

Certain films are soothing to watch again and again, and then there are the ones that break you so badly, you can’t even conceive of sitting through them a second time. They are indelible experiences: stunningly crafted, heart-wrenching, and unshakeable. You will respect them greatly… but most likely never press “play” once more.

10. Uncut Gems

Adam Sandler’s performance as Howard Ratner is absolute madness. The Safdie brothers construct a world so frenetic and stressful that you’ll be caught up in Howard’s whirlwind of poor choices and escalating debt. It’s a phenomenal, high-tension masterpiece, but the stress is so overwhelming that watching it once will leave you completely exhausted.

9. We Need to Talk About Kevin

Tilda Swinton gives a haunting performance as a mother coming to terms with the unthinkable: her son’s violent, unforgivable actions. The film digs deep into guilt, fear, and the horror of maternal helplessness. It’s brutally effective and emotionally scarring, a movie you’ll respect more than enjoy.

8. American History X

Edward Norton’s performance as a recovered white supremacist is indelible and chilling. The raw examination of hate, redemption, and cycles of violence that the movie attempts is strong but brutal. Its last shots are a gut blow that lingers long after the credits roll, ensuring it’s a one-and-done watch for all but the toughest.

7. No Country for Old Men

The Coen brothers’ dark masterpiece probes fate, morality, and senseless violence. Anton Chigurh, Javier Bardem’s creation, is raw nightmare material, cold, relentless, and pitiless. The film’s unflinching examination of evil’s senselessness unsettles you even as you are awed by its perfection.

6. Melancholia

Lars von Trier’s apocalypse epic is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg are two sisters who are facing the inevitable demise of all things, and it’s as despairing as it gets. A gorgeous, haunting study of depression and resignation, it’s genius… and utterly soul-destroying.

5. Manchester by the Sea

Casey Affleck’s understated, fractured performance holds this heartbreaking exploration of sorrow together. It’s a loss story with no quick ending or redemption, just the wrenching continuity of memory. The film’s integrity is what makes it superlative, but it’s what makes it almost impossible to see twice.

4. Hereditary

Ari Aster’s first horror film isn’t about demons or ghosts; it’s about loss, trauma, and how families unravel. Toni Collette shines in a performance that can’t be forgotten, and the film’s spiral into madness is both horrifying and heart-wrenching. It’s an emotional masterclass in horror that leaves you rattled to your very foundations.

3. Midsommar

Another Ari Aster mind-melter, Midsommar takes place in bright, endless daylight but feels like a slow-motion nightmare. Florence Pugh’s Dani finds solace and horror in a mysterious Swedish cult. What unfolds is a disturbing, grief-fueled breakdown wrapped in folk horror beauty. You’ll never forget it… or willingly watch it again.

2. Requiem for a Dream

Darren Aronofsky’s unrelenting portrayal of addiction is one of the most harrowing films ever made. Its descent from hope to despair is so raw that it feels like an emotional assault. By the time the credits roll, you’ll be speechless, and probably in need of something lighthearted to recover.

1. Grave of the Fireflies

No film punches as hard as Isao Takahata’s Grave of the Fireflies. Studio Ghibli’s animated tragedy is the story of two brothers trying to survive in the midst of World War II. It’s touching, devastating, and excruciatingly real. Once you’ve seen it, it remains in your mind for good, but it’s something you’ll never want to experience again.

These movies are unforgettable works of film, brash, stunning, and heart-wrenching. They remind us just how potent movies can be… but also how hurtful. See them once, feel it all, and then perhaps give your heart a very long holiday.

It has always been a problem for Hollywood to change the facts to fit their dramatic narrative. For every film that depicts events accurately, there are ten that show history only as a background. We keep watching them, anyway. Possibly, it is the dresses, the shootings, or just the fun of watching the A-list actors doing the fights and revolutions. Whatever the reason for these “retellings” is, they influence those millions of people who do not watch the films, but hear or read about them as the past, i.e., those who see the movies and then read or hear about them, think of the past, for the better or, let us be honest, quite often for the worse. They represent the top 10 most misleading historical films and TV shows, which have been the furthest from the truth, with those that made historians reach for their blood pressure medication being placed last.

10. The Imitation Game (2014)

Benedict Cumberbatch cannot help but be brilliant when he is playing the role of Alan Turing, the genius who created the breakthrough to decrypt the Enigma machine that the Nazi’s used. The story of the film, however, is so far-fetched that it would be disgraceful for a spy during the Cold War to acknowledge it. It invents a story in which Turing is blackmailed by a Soviet spy owing to a compromising file and intensifies the antagonism towards his gender to the ultimate. One of the reviews cited says that mixing up things is one thing, but doing so based on the writer’s personal bias is something totally different. The movie should be complimented on letting the world know how brilliant Turing was, but at the same time, it confuses the very difficult side of his life.

9. Red Tails (2012)

George Lucas initially wanted to make the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black fighter pilots in WWII, really cool with a biopic, but in the end of the day, he gave us more Hollywood fiction than historical facts. The film lies about the Airmen never losing a bomber (which is false) and portrays the military’s institutional racism as a few bad guys who are evil-minded. It is concealed behind a more complicated façade, and a lot more uplifting than this paint-by-numbers war movie, which has been polished.

8. Windtalkers (2002)

In this Nicolas Cage action film, Navajo code talkers are assigned bodyguards under instructions to kill them if they are at risk of capture. That is absolute rubbish—no such instruction ever issued, and it would have been against the law in any event. The actual code talkers were real-life heroes whose courage didn’t require that kind of Hollywood hype.

7. Battle of the Bulge (1965)

This retro war film was such a disaster that even President Dwight Eisenhower emerged from retirement to gripe about it. The movie mucked up everything from the chronology and weather to the military strategy, which got a rare presidential fact-checking. When the general who commanded the actual battle needs to give a press conference to correct you, you realize your script went astray.

6. Defiance (2008)

Daniel Craig is the leader of a group of Jewish resistance fighters in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe, but the film omits some disturbing aspects of their actual history. Polish historians complained about the way the film glossed over events involving violence against Polish civilians. The actual Bielski brothers were multifaceted characters—something the film does not care to investigate.

5. Mississippi Burning (1988)

Definitely strong. Factually? Not really. This FBI-centered film on the murder of civil rights activists in 1964 portrays the agency as the heroes of the tale and Blacks from the local communities as the ones who got the shaft. As these communities were the ones risking their lives for justice while the film turns them into bystanders. It ends up being a suspenseful and fun flick that wipes out those who were the most necessary characters of the movement.

4. Gladiator II (2024)

Ridley Scott’s follow-up film distracts the viewer with its outrageous, colorful effects from the first movie to a large extent, and also does not consider the actual events of history whatsoever. Scott once said, “We’re not making a documentary.” Affected as he is by the statement, I would still agree with him, but I’m sure that Roman historians would definitely not be impressed by this one.

3. Napoleon (2023)

Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon was to be a flamboyant portrayal, but it turned out to be confusing. The movie mixes up the timelines, depicts Napoleon shooting at the pyramids, and shows his personal life just to reach the cinematic peaks. The French historians were nowhere near being delighted, and they claimed that the film left out major things, such as the resurrections of slavery and most of Napoleon’s real achievements. Rather than a biopic, the film looked more like the bloopers of France.

2. Pearl Harbor (2001)

Among a multitude of explosions was the only love triangle of World War II that Michael Bay focused on in his blockbuster. The Doolittle Raid in the movie is entirely made up, as well as Roosevelt’s involvement, and the idea of Japan invading America is so incorrect that it is almost laughable. Is it beautiful to view? Definitely. Is it a WWII history accurate? Not a bit.

1. U-571 (2000)

The submarine thriller that caused the ire of an entire nation is at the top of the list. In U-571, the Americans are portrayed as the ones who took the Enigma machine from the Germans on a submarine, while in reality, it was the Brits who got it, and quite a few months before the U.S. was even involved in the war. The historical inaccuracy was so large that it made the British Prime Minister publicly condemn the movie and the American President issue his apology. It’s not really the kind of legacy that directors dream of.

So the next time you see “inspired by true events,” don’t forget to put it down with a pinch of salt. Hollywood’s past may be good and dramatic, but it’s mostly more fiction than fact. We keep watching, though—as long as the popcorn is fresh and the music is nice—only we might also have to have a history book next to us.

Hulu really hasn’t stopped sizzling this year. Its mix of sharp comedies, edge-of-the-seat thrillers, and glitzy dramas has produced a library that caters to any binge-watcher’s mood. Breaking news? Hulu has what it takes to deliver the thrill you crave. Want to laugh out loud with sitcoms or watch grand historical stories? Hulu’s slate has covered you. Here are the 10 best Hulu shows to add to your queue immediately because your watchlist should not be filled with anything less than the best.

10. Deli Boys

Comedy-wise, if you prefer your joke to be dirty, edgy, and a bit disorienting, then Deli Boys is right up your alley. Mir and Raj Dar, the Pakistani American brothers, are the characters whose lives the show follows after they inherit the empire of their father’s convenience store, only to find out that it is a front for drug running. It is absurd, deeply emotional, and, in fact, quite funny in its depiction of the immigrant experience through some crazy comedic window. Moreover, with Fred Armisen joining the cast in season two, the jokes are going to get elevated to a different tier.

9. Paradise

Paradise offers the viewers political intrigue, high-drama plot twists, gut-wrenching surprises, and a lot more than that. The show is a product of the brain of Dan Fogelman (creator of This Is Us) and features Sterling K. Brown as a Secret Service agent who gets involved in a presidential murder scandal. Every episode keeps one in suspense, and the audience is still trying to figure out what happened to Special Agent Billy Pace after that horrible ending (“My man Billy never had a chance,” said one Redditor). Season two is coming with Shailene Woodley and Thomas Doherty joining the cast.

8. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

Reality TV enthusiasts, welcome your new fix. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives strips away Utah’s perfect filters from its renowned “MomTok” influencer families to expose hidden scandals, secrets, and rivalries lurking behind their shiny posts. It’s a guilty pleasure, binge-viewing, and impossible to turn a blind eye to a spicy blend of social media soap and real-world drama that viewers can’t resist.

7. Interior Chinatown

Humorous, self-reflexive, and unexpectedly poignant, Interior Chinatown resists simple classification. Adapting Charles Yu’s prize-winning novel, it features Jimmy O. Yang as Willis Wu, an extra who longs to be the protagonist of his own life. When an actual crime forces him into a hard-boiled-style thriller, fiction and reality begin to bleed together for him. Pilot-directed by Taika Waititi, this subgenre-spanning comedy-crime series is as witty as it is sentimental.

6. Only Murders in the Building

A true-crime comedy that’s the ultimate comfort TV, Only Murders in the Building is as charming as ever. Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short play unlikely neighbors turned true-crime podcasters who can’t help but get entangled in murder mysteries in their Upper West Side building. The show’s new season welcomes A-list guest stars Bobby Cannavale, Renée Zellweger, and Christoph Waltz, ensuring its blend of humor, heart, and whodunit appeal isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

5. Abbott Elementary

Quinta Brunson’s Abbott Elementary is still one of television’s sweetest comedies. It takes place in a Philadelphia public school and stars a team of dedicated teachers making do with minimal resources and maximum personality. The show has accrued huge awards and accolades for its intelligent writing and warm heart. Heading into its fifth year, it’s still the benchmark for feel-good, socially astute sitcoms.

4. The Bear

The intensity of The Bear is hardly matched by any other series. Jeremy Allen White plays Carmy, a chef from a top-tier restaurant, who returns to Chicago to revive the family sandwich shop. It is a deeply moving, unflinching journey of ambition, grief, and the complicated nature of teamwork. The show manages to be both nerve-wracking and loving, and the guest appearance by Jamie Lee Curtis, for which she won an Emmy, was remarkable. The new season sees more of the evolving relationship between Carmy and Syd and the restaurant’s future.

3. What We Do in the Shadows

Who says vampires can’t have fun? What We Do in the Shadows is a mockumentary-style comedy that turns the dark-sider vampire trope on its head with a group of inept vampires trying (and failing) to deal with everyday life in modern Staten Island. The show was co-created by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi and has completed six seasons. This series has firmly established itself as one of the most intelligent and hilarious comedies of the small screen, with a devoted fan base. You can stream all six seasons now, perfect for an unrelenting binge.

2. Shōgun

Shōgun is an absolute visual feast that not only dazzles but also sets a new standard for television of the highest quality. The mini-series, based on the classic novel by James Clavell, takes the audience deep into medieval Japan, where the interplay of politics, honor, and betrayal rules the day. The show was the big winner at the 2024 Emmys, taking home 18 awards (out of 25 nominations!), and it is still lauded for its grandeur, aesthetic, and powerhouse performances. There are two more seasons planned, but the art is already complete with the first 10 episodes.

1. Say Nothing

Sitting at the top spot is Say Nothing, a scary limited series from FX revolving around the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The series is anchored on Patrick Radden Keefe’s award-winning book and follows Dolours Price, an activist who finds herself in the midst of violence and tragedy. It’s a gripping slow burner that captures your attention from the very first scene, a flawless script, and a heart-wrenching drama that stays with you long after the closing credits.

And that was the best of Hulu today. From sob-inducing comedies and ghostly chaos to political thrillers and grand-scale dramas, Hulu is proving time and again that it is one of the most influential players in the streaming game. So, it’s about time you upgrade your account and start watching.