<![CDATA[Inverse]]>https://www.inverse.comInverseTue, 06 Oct 2026 21:00:28 GMT<![CDATA['Lanterns' Still Needs To Solve A Huge DCU Mystery]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/lanterns-manhunter-mystery-dcuhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/lanterns-manhunter-mystery-dcuTue, 06 Oct 2026 21:00:25 GMT
HBO Max

Thus far, each project in James Gunn’s burgeoning DCU has expanded the scope of the world and its history. Creature Commandos introduced us to Task Force M and gave us glimpses of the universe’s past and future (including a silhouetted look at the DCU’s Batman), Superman fleshed out Clark Kent’s supporting cast while also acquainting audiences with the Justice Gang, Peacemaker Season 2 culminated in the creation of a pocket dimension metahuman prison that will certainly become relevant in the near future, and this year’s Supergirl brought viewers on a quest through the cosmos.

The most recent project, Lanterns, is no exception. While the show took a grounded, prestige television approach to its storytelling, it still managed to bring the spacefaring canon of Green Lantern down-to-Earth, introducing characters like Sinestro and the Guardians of the Universe to audiences maybe unfamiliar with them, and even tipping the hat to incredibly obscure Lanterns like Mogo and Ch’p. The show also introduced the amoral android Manhunters as the season’s overarching villain, but while it certainly led to an emotionally-charged resolution, it can’t help but feel like Lanterns simply kicked the can down the road for another project to deal with.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Lanterns Season 1.

For as big of a threat as they seem to be in this first season, Lanterns still chooses to keep them mostly shrouded in secrecy. | HBO Max

By the end of the season, what do we truly know about the Manhunters? We know that they were created by the Guardians, we know that they once destroyed an entire planet, we know that they can mimic any species in the galaxy for the sake of blending in, and we know that they have programming which prioritizes self-preservation at any cost. Most of that information is exposition delivered by characters other than the show’s two Manhunters, and even then we’re mostly left to speculate on certain questions like why the Guardians made them in the first place and the specific circumstances behind their discontinuation.

Compare this with the Manhunters of the comics: A prior attempt at a galactic peacekeeping force before the Green Lanterns, their rigid programming emphasis on “absolute order” caused them to see all organic life as the root of evil in the universe. Eventually, they were decommissioned after obliterating an entire space sector. While some of this can be assumed to be the case for Lanterns as well, the show has displayed no issue with completely changing certain aspects of canon — and for a show that adapts unfeeling murder robots into synthetic androids with complex emotions like Noah, you would think either he or Zoe would have some complicated feelings on their history and backstory.

Lanterns turns the unfeeling callous androids into beings with complex emotions, which is a drastic change that the show only takes advantage of towards the end. | HBO Max

The choice to end the season with John putting his faith in Noah as someone who can override his programming just like he did is, in theory, a thoughtful conclusion to his arc. But it also provides the show with a convenient justification to simply leave the Manhunters as a dangling plot thread, to be built upon in a later season or in a later DCU movie. It’s still not really known by the other members of the Corps that their bosses were the ones who created them in the first place, and the show never reveals the timeline of the destruction of Antaan’s planet. The implication seems to be that it happened after the Manhunters were initially decommissioned, but it’s entirely possible that the planetary massacre was at the behest of the Guardians in the first place.

Of course, this is a cinematic universe adaptation of superhero comics, a medium where stories have historically been interlinked to other stories, so it’s not unexpected for situations to be carried over into future storylines. Who’s to say they won’t be a part of Man of Tomorrow, or Lanterns Season 2, or an as-of-yet unannounced Green Lantern film?

But Lanterns is a show that, from day one, positioned itself as emphasizing tight, self-contained writing as opposed to big galactic battles and superhero spectacle. It feels like a missed opportunity to not further explore this interpretation of the Manhunters in Lanterns, and instead choose to make the audience fill in the blanks on pretty crucial aspects of the story. There’s certainly room for Noah and other Manhunters to show up in the future, but the question marks left dangling over the species’ history in the DCU does end up making their presence in Lanterns feel a little unsatisfying.

Lanterns is streaming on HBO Max.

]]><![CDATA[20 Years Ago, The Best Sci-Fi Show Of The Century Went Darker Than Ever Before]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/battlestar-galactica-2006-season-3-occupation-precipice-20-year-anniversaryhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/battlestar-galactica-2006-season-3-occupation-precipice-20-year-anniversaryTue, 06 Oct 2026 20:30:25 GMT
SyFy

While it may sound like hyperbole, the truth is, we never really knew how good we had it when Battlestar Galactica was still airing new episodes. Launched as a reboot for the 1978 series of the same name, the Battlestar miniseries in 2003 proved that a new version of an old concept need not be too precious with its source material, and by the end of its second season in March 2006, Ronald D. Moore and David Eick's Battlestar Galactica had eclipsed the original series in both creativity and cultural relevance. Season 2 also delivered one of the show’s greatest cliffhangers, and perhaps one of the best cliffhangers in TV history: After finding a meh planet to settle on, humanity elects corrupt scientist Gaius Baltar (James Callis) as the new president, and the series about a fleet of spaceships suddenly became about a bunch of people living on a depressing planet, now occupied by the robotic Cylons.

And then, on October 6, 2006, with the launch of its third season, Battlestar Galactica had to pick up the pieces with a double-episode premiere “Occupation” and “Precipice.” And in those episodes, what the show did was somehow even bolder than that famous cliffhanger.

Today, Battlestar Galactica is often lumped in with a post-9/11 kind of cultural discourse. The destruction of the 12 Colonies at the start of the show is a direct 9/11 reference in many ways, while the Cylons’ religious zealotry is central to why the genocide against humanity is carried out in the first place. It’s all heavy stuff, but what Season 3 did with the double-debut episodes “Occupation" and “Precipice” is to blur any direct analogs to real-world events while still making clear social commentary. And 20 years later, much of this could be read as sadly prescient for some of the most controversial issues in the world today.

The big storyline of these debut episodes is concerned with the insurgency of humans fighting against the Cylon occupation, and what lengths former Galactica officers and crew like Colonel Tigh (Michael Hogan), Chief Tyrol (Aaron Douglas), and Sam Anders (Michael Trucco) will go to in order to fight back. This storyline is extremely unflinching and doesn’t let anyone off the hook in terms of who's doing the right thing. In fact, if you contrast this with Andor Season 2 and its depiction of an on-the-ground insurgency in a sci-fi setting, Galactica looks like a gritty documentary about something that could be real, while in comparison, Andor looks like a romanticized dream of what a gritty storyline like this might look like.

Mary McDonnell, Edward James Olmos, and Jamie Bamber in 2006, at a New York screening of Battlestar Galactica. | Barry Talesnick/Globe Photos/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

This is why BSG is the real deal: It presents characters who you sympathize with on both sides of this conflict, in meaningful, uncomfortable ways. The Cylons have division in their ranks: Caprica Six (Tricia Helfer), Boomer (Grace Park), D'Anna (Lucy Lawless), and their various copies are pushing for a peaceful coexistence with the humans, or at the very least, an attempt to not wipe everyone out. Other Cylons are more extreme, like the various versions of Brother Cavil (Dean Stockwell), who would rather just start publicly executing humans and decrease the population to almost nothing.

While a lazier show would have just depicted the insurgents as a united front against the Cylons, BSG went for something else: The humans are divided on how to fight back. While Tigh pushes for humans to become suicide bombers, other humans have joined a Cylon-sanctioned police force. Meanwhile, civilians like former President Lara Roslin (Mary McDonnell) struggle with the ethics of all of it. BSG also gives a face to the polar opposites of the extremism among the humans: Jammer (Dominic Zamprogna) has joined the New Caprica police because he thinks it could help keep the Cylons from terrorizing humans. Meanwhile, Tigh, one of our flawed heroes, is okay with human casualties, and Tyrol expresses zero mercy for anyone who is a collaborator. Early in the two-part premiere, the infinitely corrupt Gaius Baltar confronts Roslin with the concept of humans killing innocent people, and she can’t look him in the eye.

The easy read of scenes like this is that Baltar is bad, and happens to be right about this one thing, and Roslin is good, and happens to be endorsing bad things because she has to. But it’s way more interesting than that, and there’s no clear reason why a real person in this world would automatically agree with one position or the other. “We were able to subvert the idea of who’s the good guys and who are the bad guys in terms of our guys being essentially the suicide bombers,” BSG producer Mark Verheiden said in Ed Gross and Mark A. Altman’s 2018 BSG oral history book, So Say We All. “I don’t think we were trying to say any point of view was morally better or worse — suicide bombing is not good — but that was where they had been driven to by the desperation of the situation.”

Ronald D. Moore and a Cylon during the run of Battlestar Galactica. | Picture Perfect/Shutterstock

In other words, the brilliance of Battlestar is that somehow, against all odds, it provided nuance to topics that are still extremely complex and provocative today. There are no clean, easy analogies in BSG, which is why its tackling of the issues, and much of the imagery, remains arresting to this day. But beyond the real-world implications, these episodes also changed the characters in ways that put the show on a different path. “The experience of New Caprica really scarred a lot of the characters in pretty deep ways,” Ronald D. Moore was quoted as saying, also in So Say We All. “When suddenly a big traumatic event like this happened midway, it just felt like the characters were more deeply wounded.”

Battlestar would take two more episodes, “Exodus Part 1” and “Exodus Part 2,” to actually get all the characters off of New Caprica, but the show was never the same. Some might say this storyline was, oddly, the highlight of the entire series, and that BSG had a hard time getting as close to this level of humanist and complex storytelling again. That said, the character twists that would occur following this storyline were all incredible, and 20 years later, the double-episode journey of “Occupation” and “Precipice” proves that Battlestar Galactica is still one of the greatest science fiction dramas of all time. Frak it. One of the best TV shows of all time, period.

Battlestar Galactica streams on Paramount+.

]]><![CDATA[19 Years Later, The Transformers Franchise Is Getting A Second Life]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/new-transformers-franchise-steven-spielberghttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/new-transformers-franchise-steven-spielbergTue, 06 Oct 2026 18:20:21 GMT
Paramount

It’s hard to get excited about any updates from the Transformers camp lately. The passing of Peter Cullen, who made Autobots leader Optimus Prime feel more alive than ever, still feels utterly shocking. That parent company, Paramount-Skydance, is in the midst of an acquisition that literally nobody wanted and is likewise casting a shadow over any developments. Still, the show must go on: the ink hasn’t even dried on the Paramount-Skydance-Warner merger, but the studio is apparently going full steam ahead on the next chapter of the Transformers saga.

Fortunately, longtime producer Steven Spielberg will be assisting in a much larger capacity than he might have previously. The filmmaker has been involved with literally every live-action Transformers film since Michael Bay revitalized the franchise back in 2007; as the newly minted Skydance works to bring the saga into a new era, he’s taking on more creative responsibility. Variety reports that Spielberg will “oversee all creative aspects of the live-action film” alongside producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Their goal: to bring the Transformers saga back to the feel of the first few Bay-directed films, which focused more on the rock ‘em, sock ‘em thrill of massive robot alien brawls and less on convoluted worldbuilding.

Steven Spielberg will help things transform and roll out. | Steven/AFF-USA/Shutterstock

This upcoming film will be the eighth in Skydance’s Transformers saga, and though it’s not yet clear if it will reset the timeline, it’d make a lot of sense to wipe the slate clean. Cullen left huge shoes to fill as Optimus, but a new actor could help the franchise start fresh. It’d also behoove the studio to get as far away from Rise of the Beasts — its last live-action film, which put all its chips on a Transformers-G.I. Joe crossover that never bore fruit — as possible. Per Variety, this film will be set in the present day, and screenwriter Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman, It: Welcome to Derry) is currently working on the script. Kinda smells like a reboot!

Spielberg’s role in Transformers 8 begins and ends at “producer,” and the director’s chair remains empty after Michael Bay departed the franchise in 2017. Anything is possible in terms of a return — but the Transformers need fresh blood if they’re going to break the mold of monotony. Spielberg wants to reclaim the magic of Bay’s first few films, but ideally, he’ll also look back even further, to the animated The Transformers: The Movie, for inspiration. The film returned to theaters earlier this year for its 40th anniversary, effectively reminding a lot of fans that Transformers needn’t be edgy, leery, or schlocky to tell a grown-up story. The franchise could stand to take a page from its playbook in its attempts to move forward. The past has more to offer than nostalgia: it could also hold the key to making this franchise more than a guilty pleasure.

The live-action Transformers franchise streams on Paramount+. The original 1984 show streams on Tubi as well as on YouTube.

]]><![CDATA[The Best Deals From Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days Sale]]>https://www.inverse.com/shopping/prime-big-deal-days-2026https://www.inverse.com/shopping/prime-big-deal-days-2026Tue, 06 Oct 2026 16:25:46 GMT

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days is officially underway and running through October 7, and some of the most tempting discounts have already dropped. From smart-home upgrades and useful gadgets to everyday essentials and early holiday gifts, there’s plenty worth checking out. Our shopping editors and deal experts dug through the early offers to find the standout buys worth grabbing now, before prices shift or stock disappears.

53% Off A Samsonite Carry-On With Smooth Spinner Wheels

With a discount this good, it's the perfect time to upgrade your carry-on whether you have any upcoming trips or not. Its lightweight hardshell exterior is designed to resist scratches, while multidirectional spinner wheels make it easier to navigate airports and train stations. Inside, a divider, pouch, and elastic straps help keep clothes and smaller essentials organized.

24% Off An At-Home Teeth Whitening Kit With Over 100,000 Reviews

These whitening strips are made to tackle deeper stains without requiring an appointment at the dentist. The box comes with 22 treatments, and the strips use a no-slip design that helps them stay put while you wear them. They're enamel-safe and have racked up more than 100,000 reviews from Amazon shoppers.

56% Off A Cooling Sheet Set With Over 450,000 Reviews

With more than 450,000 reviews, this four-piece sheet set had garnered a huge fan base on Amazon. The double-brushed microfiber is designed to feel soft and breathable, while the deep-pocket fitted sheet can accommodate mattresses up to about 16 inches thick. They're also wrinkle-resistant, making them a low-maintenance way to re-fresh your bedding.

51% Off A Cordless Vacuum With Up To 60 Minutes Of Runtime

This cordless vacuum offers the cleaning power of a full-size model without making you drag a cord from room to room. Its dual-brushroll system is designed to clean both hard floors and carpets, while a self-cleaning brushroll helps prevent hair from wrapping around it. The removable battery can provide up to 60 minutes of runtime in Eco mode, and HEPA filtration helps capture dust and allergens while you clean.

48% Off An Amazon Smart Plug With Over 500,000 Reviews

This compact smart plug lets you add Alexa voice control to lamps, fans, coffee makers, and other compatible devices without setting up a separate smart-home hub. You can create timers, schedules, and routines so certain devices turn on or off automatically throughout the day. It's also small enough to leave the second outlet accessible and will reconnect on its own after many Wi-Fi or power interruptions.

81% Off A Blink Outdoor Security Camera With Night Vision

This Blink bundle makes it easy to keep an eye on both your front door and the rest of your property, with a 2K video doorbell and a 1080p outdoor camera in one set. Both devices are weather-resistant and battery-powered, and you can use the Blink app to check live video, see at night, and speak to visitors through two-way audio. The included Sync Module Core helps keep everything connected, while an optional Blink plan unlocks person and vehicle detection for more useful alerts. It’s a convenient way to upgrade your home security setup without buying each component separately.

37% Off A 13-Piece Knife Set That Comes With Blade Guards

This 13-piece set covers most everyday kitchen prep with chef, slicing, santoku, bread, utility, and paring knives, plus kitchen shears. Each stainless-steel knife has its own blade guard, so you can safely store the set in a drawer instead of giving up counter space to a bulky knife block. The blades are also dishwasher safe and have a coating designed to resist rust.

50% Off A Water Flosser With Over 150,000 Reviews

Make your dental-care routine a little more thorough with this countertop water flosser, which has 10 pressure settings and seven interchangeable tips. Its large reservoir provides more than 90 seconds of use before you need to refill it, while a built-in timer helps you keep track of your routine. It's also suitable for braces and implants and can accommodate multiple users, making it a practical option for a shared bathroom.

45% Off Fruity Fiber Gummies That Support Digestion

Getting your fiber just got easier — and tastier — with these raspberry-and-lemon-flavored gummies. A serving of two gummies provides 5 grams of prebiotic fiber (via soluble chicory root) to help support digestion and regularity, promoting gut health. The vegan gummies are made without added sugar or artificial dyes, sweeteners, and flavors. Always speak with your doctor before adding supplements to your diet.

63% Off A Hanes Hoodie With Over 170,000 Reviews

A classic Hanes hoodie is the kind of basic that's useful for lounging, running errands, traveling, and just about everything in between. This one is made from midweight fleece with ribbed cuffs and a waistband, a drawstring hood, and a roomy kangaroo pocket. The fabric is designed to resist pilling, and more than 170,000 reviewers have weighed in on it.

27% Off BISSELL's Cult-Favorite Little Green Carpet Cleaner

BISSELL's Little Green portable multi-purpose cleaner sprays, scrubs, and suctions stains from carpets, upholstery, and even car interiors, and it uses a specialized formula to tackle stains and odors. If the tens of thousands of reviewers are to be believed, this powerful little cleaner works like magic.

49% Off A 6-Pack Of Storage Bags With Over 100,000 Reviews

These roomy storage bags are an easy way to get bulky blankets, bedding, and out-of-season clothes under control. Each one has reinforced handles, a zippered closure, and a clear window so you can see what's inside without digging through everything. They also fold down when empty, so they won't take up much space between storage seasons.

55% Off These Probiotic Gummies With Vitamin D

Designed to maintain your gut health, these probiotic gummies feature delicious fruity flavors, and a serving of two gummies contains a whopping 4 billion live cultures. The non-GMO, gluten-free formula doesn't contain artificial sweeteners or flavors. They also contain vitamin D to help support immune health. Always contact your physician before taking supplements.

40% Off OGX Volumizing Shampoo For Fuller-Looking Hair

OGX's biotin-and-collagen shampoo is designed to give flat or fine hair a fuller, more voluminous look. It's suitable for color-treated hair, too, so it can easily work into a wide range of routines. This is the type of everyday essential that's worth stocking up on while its on sale.

52% Off A Robot Vacuum That Mops At The Same Time

It's rare to find a really functional robot vacuum that also mops, so this model from roborock is a true standout option. It can map to multiple levels of your home, and features powerful suction and an anti-tangle feature for hair and pet hair. The built-in water tank allows you to mop and vacuum at the same time. Whether you're investing for the first time or replacing your old model, this robot vac is a fantastic buy while it's on sale.

30% Off These Best-Selling Probiotics

Physician's Choice everyday probiotic is designed to promote better immune, gut, and digestive health, and reviewers swear by it. This one-month supply of probiotics can be taken daily to aid your digestion, and help curb symptoms like gas and bloating. It's at a great price while the sale lasts.

53% Off Wireless Earbuds With Up To 30 Hours Of Listening Time

These wireless earbuds give you up to 10 hours of listening on a charge and 30 hours total when you factor in the charging case. The companion app lets you choose from 22 EQ presets and customize the controls, while a Find My Earbuds feature can help when one inevitably disappears into the couch. They're also water-resistant and have two microphones designed to make calls sound clearer.

28% Off The Apple AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds

Featuring active noise cancellation that's twice as powerful as the previous generation, these AirPods are heavy on features and lightweight enough to carry everywhere. Built-in heart rate sensing helps track calories burned for 50 kinds of workouts, and the earbuds feature live translation enabled by Apple Intelligence. They come with five sizes of ear tips for enhanced comfort and can run in noise cancellation mode for a whopping eight hours.

32% Off This Wildly Popular Overnight Collagen Face Masks

These cult-favorite overnight masks from BIODANCE are packed with collagen and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, minimize the appearance of pores, and promote skin elasticity. Leave one on for a few hours at night (until the mask appears translucent), and you'll be left with softer, smoother, and fresher looking skin. This pack of four is on super sale if you act fast.

23% Off Collagen & Caffeine Eye Patches From A Cult-Favorite Brand

Revive tired under-eye skin easily with these cooling hydrogel patches. Infused with skin-friendly ingredients like PDRN, retinol, and collagen, they only need to be worn for 10 minutes, making them easy to add to your morning routine. They can also be used to help revitalize your forehead, neck, and smile lines.

44% Off A Yankee Candle With Apple, Cinnamon & Vanilla Notes

Cozy up your space with this Yankee Candle, which combines the sweet scent of apple with warm notes of cinnamon and vanilla. The 14.5-ounce candle has three wicks to help fill a room with fragrance and uses a plant-wax blend. It's designed to burn for up to 40 hours, giving you plenty of cozy evenings out of one jar.

34% Off A Set Of Hotel-Quality Pillows

These hotel-worthy pillows have racked up an impressive 179,000-plus five-star reviews on Amazon. Each one features 1,050 grams of down-alternative filling for medium-firm support perfect for every kind of sleeper. An even-fill design avoids clumping, and the plush 8 inches of loft springs back night after night — no fluffing required. Machine washable, they're made with breathable 100% cotton covers for durability.

47% Off A 2-Month Supply Of Vitamin C

These capsules are filled with raw vitamin C and are designed to support your immune health, as well as collagen formation and skin and heart health. The formula also contains probiotics for digestive health and 23 powdered organic fruits and vegetables for added vitamin and antioxidant boosts. You get 120 capsules in the bottle.

47% Off A Bath Mat That’s Super Thin Yet Absorbent

This ultra-thin bath mat is designed to slip under doors without any bunching. It's incredibly absorbent, quick-drying, and backed with 100% natural rubber to provide a solid nonslip grip to your floor. It's also machine washable, and available in a ton of sizes and colors for a customized fit.

17% Off A Tracker That Works With Apple's Find My Network

Attach this compact tracker to keys, luggage, a backpack, or anything else you tend to misplace. The newest generation works with Apple's Find My network and adds expanded Precision Finding along with a louder built-in speaker to help you track down nearby belongings. It runs on a replaceable battery, so you don't have to remember to keep another gadget charged.

28% Off These Superfood Gummy Vitamins

These sugar-free gummy vitamins from Grüns pack in over 20 vitamins and minerals, including folate, biotin, and zinc. They're also a great source of fiber, containing up to three times more than many popular green powder supplements. With a formula backed by science, they're easy to take, portable, and mess-free, while also being vegan.

45% Off These Fiber Gummies For Healthy Digestion

Getting your fiber just got easier — and tastier — with these raspberry-and-lemon-flavored gummies. A serving of two gummies provides 5 grams of prebiotic fiber (via soluble chicory root) to help support digestion and regularity, promoting gut health. The vegan gummies are made without added sugar or artificial dyes, sweeteners, and flavors. Always speak with your doctor before adding supplements to your diet.

55% Off This Lip-Plumping Gloss From tarte

Hydrating and volumizing, this cult-fave balm has a glassy, glossy finish that doesn't feel sticky in the slightest. Formulated with vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, maracuja ,and over 10 superfruits, the balm provides immediate moisture to smooth lines and provides a plumping effect that reviewers rave about. It comes in a range of shades that range from a soft wash of color to deeper tints.

55% Off A Sleek Hardside Carry-On With Spinner Wheels

This durable hardside carry-on luggage has all the features you need to move seamlessly through the airport: 360-degree spinner wheels, an adjustable handle, and an ultra-light design. In addition to black, it's offered in trendy muted pastels so you can showcase your personality.

32% Off This Chocolatey Collagen Peptide Powder

With a rich, delicious chocolate flavor, this Vital Proteins powder is an easy way to add a dose of collagen peptides to your day to support healthy hair, nails, and skin — even bones and joints, too. It blends well with liquid, whether you're mixing it up with your milk of choice, water, or a smoothie. One reviewer even reported that it makes a tasty addition to coffee.

25% Off The Womanizer Pro40 Vibrator

Pulsating waves are one of the features that help this vibrator deliver maximum pleasure. Designed with a soft silicone head, it offers six different levels of intensity — so you can customize your experience in the bedroom. And it's waterproof, so you so can use it in the shower or bath, too.

32% Off A 12-Pack Of Paper Mate Pens In Assorted Colors

These colorful ballpoint pens have a bold 1.4mm tip that lays down smooth, vivid ink, while the soft grip keeps things comfortable through long writing sessions. The retractable design is bag-friendly, and the assorted shades are great for visually organizing information or just adding a little personality.

38% Off Electrolyte Tablets With Immune-Boosting Ingredients

Make your water work harder with these electrolyte tabs packed with bonus vitamins, minerals, and herbs to boost immunity like vitamin C, zinc, turmeric, and elderberry. Each order comes with two fruity flavors, and the formula only has 2 grams of sugar per dose. Plus, more than 8,000 shoppers have given it a 5-star rating of approval.

51% Off A Stanley Quencher With Over 200,000 Reviews

Stanley's 40-ounce Quencher has an ergonomic handle, reusable straw, and narrow base that's designed to fit in most car cup holders. Its three-position lid gives you a few different sipping options, while the insulated stainless-steel construction helps keep your drink at the temperature you want. With more than 200,000 reviews, it's one of those popular Amazon finds that could make a practical gift or everyday upgrade.

25% Off This Luxe Face Sunscreen That’s So Hydrating

Lightweight, breathable, and hydrating, this cult-fave SPF-40 sunscreen won't leave behind a white cast. Worn alone or under makeup, it has a lotion texture that's designed to protect dry, combination, and normal skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Hyaluronic acid helps ensure soft, hydrated skin — it's safe for sensitive skin, too.

58% Off A Bali T-Shirt Bra Designed To Look Smooth Under Clothes

Bali's cult-favorite T-shirt bra has garnered thousands of glowing reviews, and it's easy to see why: this ultra-lightweight bra features underwire, an inner sling, and a smoothing two-ply back, making it seriously supportive without being bulky. The adjustable straps can also convert to a crisscross style, making it a versatile everyday option.

64% Off An Amazon Fire TV Stick For 4K Streaming

If your TV's built-in streaming interface is slow or outdated, Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K Select offers an easy way to upgrade it. The compact device supports 4K streaming and puts streaming apps, live TV, and free content in one place. It also includes Alexa-powered search, so you can spend less time typing out movie and show titles with a remote.

32% Off A Deep-V Bra With A Wireless Lifting Effect

This best-selling bra offers comfortable support for everyday wear. Crafted from breathable nylon and elastane, it has a great amount of stretch without feeling restrictive. While it's wireless, it uses a liquid jelly band technology to offer the perfect amount of lift. Its deep-V cut will make it an everyday favorite.

63% Off This Classic Long-Sleeve Tee

Stocking up on wardrobe basics is a smart way to navigate big sale days, and this long-sleeve T-shirt is the perfect add-to-cart. It’s soft, slightly stretchy, and makes for a great layer when the temperatures drop. You may just want to pick up a few while it's at this price.

30% Off These Fan-Favorite Digestive Enzymes

These digestive enzymes are formulated with a blend of prebiotics and probiotics, including organic peppermint and organic ginger root. By working to break down food, they can help decrease tummy-related discomfort like bloating as they assist in the digestive process; take them regularly to have a happier digestive tract.

50% Off This Matte Long-Wear Lip Gloss

This matte liquid lipstick has an ultra-smooth finish with a shockingly long wear time. Designed not to fade or smudge, the high-pigment formula glides on easily with the flat, double-sided wand — for easy application at home or on the go. Shoppers love how the creamy texture feels on the lips, too.

45% Off A Brightening Powder Foundation With Nourishing Ingredients

This powder foundation is a nice pickup for anyone looking for lightweight daily coverage that leaves your skin looking even and brighter. This powder foundation works especially great on oily skin and is dermatologist-approved for all skin types. It's also packed with centella asiatica, vitamin E, and green tea extract so this doubles as skin care.

30% Off These Gusseted Pillows That Are So Plush

Backed by over 58,000 five-star reviews, this two-pack of bed pillows brings hotel-like comfort to your home. Stuffed with plush down-alternative poly-fiber, they have a gusseted design that helps them keep their shape. They're also designed with a soft cotton blend cover that's breathable for an easy night of sleep. You can grab a set in standard, king, queen, and European sizes.

28% Off The Shark Navigator

An extra-large dust cup, lift-away feature that lets you reach into awkward spots, and HEPA filtration combine to create the perfect vacuum for homes with all kinds of flooring. This upright vacuum has handy swiveling to get around corners and tight spaces with ease, and the crevice tool makes it easy to clean up fans, blinds, and more. The self-cleaning brush roll is designed to avoid hair wrapping, and it's powerful enough to pick up fur in a single pass — a must for homes with cats and dogs.

57% Off An Easy-To-Wheel Carry On In Standout Colors

A dependable hard-side suitcase designed to fit carry-on sizing rules for most airlines, this luggage has tons of must-have features for stress-free traveling. Able to expand to hold that extra outfit or souvenir, it features a zippered upper half, stretchy compression straps to help keep everything in place, and 360-degree spinner wheels for effortless motion. The telescopic handle pops up at the touch of a button and locks back in place when you don't need it.

39% Off These Super Comfy High-Waist Leggings

These best-selling leggings can hold up to your toughest workouts, but also make for great loungewear, thanks to their soft, stretchy, and opaque design. With a pocket on either side and a supportive, high-waisted design, these are leggings that you'll want to live in. You'd be smart to grab them while the sale lasts.

43% Off This Vitamin C “Super” Serum

This popular serum not only offers a healthy dose of vitamin C — it also includes a ton of skin-friendly ingredients like retinol, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and squalane that hydrate, revitalize, and balance your complexion. With a mild citrus scent, it's designed to be layered, using just a few drops every few days under a moisturizer for best results.

42% Off A Silk Pillowcase That’s Gentle On Skin & Hair

Crafted from premium mulberry silk, this pillowcase is buttery smooth to help prevent your hair from frizzing and pillow lines from forming on your skin overnight. The machine-washable pillowcase offers peak moisture absorption and is breathable to stay comfortable all night long; a hidden zipper ensures it stays put.

40% Off These Heavy-Duty Craft Scissors

Not only do these titanium-bonded scissors provide three times the strength of standard scissors, but they have an ergonomic design that makes them incredibly comfortable to use around the home. Suitable for both right- and left-handed use, they're great for crafts and stay sharp throughout repeated use. They're even backed by an impressive overall rating of 4.8 out of five stars.

53% Off A Pack Of Classic Sharpies

With a near-flawless 4.8-star rating overall from shoppers, these markers are a clear fan-favorite. The ink dries quickly and resists fading, which means once you've got something marked, that mark will stay put — and the fine-tipped end makes it easy to write legibly on surfaces ranging from paper and plastic to metal.

56% Off This Sleek Shapewear

These high-waisted shapewear shorts are getting rave reviews — and now, you can give them a try at a great discount. They're seamless, sleek, and soft, as well as breathable for comfortable wear throughout the night. They also offer a lift in back, and are designed with silicone bones at the waist to keep them from rolling down or pinching.

41% Off The Highly Rated Joomra Pillow Slippers

True to their name, the 1.7-inch-deep sole of these slippers ensures a cloud-like, pillowy feel with every step. The deep heel cups and nonslip bottoms help improve grip, making them comfortable to walk in around the house or out on errands. Made of waterproof and quick-drying EVA material, they're lightweight; you can even use a hair dryer to heat them before wearing them for the first time (as described in the listing) for a completely custom fit.

63% Off These Fuzzy Slippers With Memory Foam Insoles

Designed with comfort in mind, this snuggly pair of slippers is made with the softest faux fur (inside and out) and cushy memory foam insoles. The durable nonslip sole will help you keep a grip indoors and out. Best yet, they're machine washable as needed.

46% Off A Collagen Serum In An Easy Applicator Pen

Nourishing your skin has never been easier, thanks to this deeply hydrating serum in a handy click pen applicator. The formula features hero ingredients like niacinamide, milk protein, and collagen, and it's backed by a 4.5-star overall rating.

21% Off A Mega Pack Of These Overnight Pimple Patches

Treat acne while you sleep with these cult-fave overnight hydrocolloid pimple patches that boast a 4.6-star overall rating after more than 189,000 reviews. Suitable for even sensitive skin, they absorb whitehead gunk in just six hours to shrink the appearance of pimples and help support healing after just one use. They remove without causing any irritation in the morning.

40% Off A Color-Correcting Under-Eye Concealer

This under-eye concealer works wonders to color correct and conceal dark circles. The hydrating formula doesn't go on cake-y so this works great as a first step after sunscreen or primer but before any additional makeup. Join the masses who have added this to their makeup routine — the results speak for themselves.

65% Off This Hanes Hoodie That Will Become A Wardrobe Staple

Boasting more than 127,000 five-star reviews, this mid-weight hooded sweatshirt is made with a pill-resistant cotton blend for a plush feel that wears well season to season. It feature a drawstring dyed to match and has a split kangaroo pocket to keep your hands warm. A tag-free design ensures comfort, as does the cozy and well-sized hood.

32% Off Shimmery Burt’s Bees Lip Balms

This three-pack of Burt's Bees tinted lip balms is a must for the dry seasons. Offering deep hydration thanks to the shea and cocoa butter formula, these balms look as good as they feel. Three shimmery shades of pink add a natural pop of color with a pepperminty finish. Scoop them up while they're on sale — they make great gifts, too.

53% Off A 5-Pack Of USB-C Cables

Now's a great time to stock up on charging cables, and this five-pack of 6-foot USB-C cables are an especially good deal. Backed by well over 46,000 five-star reviews, these cables are designed with a nylon-braided material to help them avoid bending and tangling. They're compatible with many Apple and Samsung devices, and you can also buy them in different cord lengths, from 1 to 10 feet.

57% Off An Exfoliating K-Beauty Treatment That Leaves Skin Glowing

With gentle AHA exfoliation and not one but four ingredients that have been fermented for better absorption, this treatment is designed to give hydrated, glass skin glow with just a few uses each week, and with a 4.5-star overall rating after more than 10,000 reviews, it has earned plenty of fans. You can even add a drop to thin out and add a hydrating punch to foundation.

60% Off This pH Foundation That Adjusts To Your Skin

Trying to find the right foundation shade from your screen is near impossible — which is why this genius pH-based formula comes in three color-changing shades that go on white and then shift to your skin tone for a perfect match. Designed to avoid settling into fine lines, it smooths, hydrates, and evens out discoloration via niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and more. It leaves behind a matte finish and blends effortlessly for a seamless look.

20% Off Nourishing Supplements To Support Healthy Hair Growth

This best-selling hair growth supplement has a proprietary blend of over 20 ingredients — from marine collagen peptides to key vitamins and biotin — that target the causes of hair loss. Clinically tested for hair growth and volume, shoppers rave about the results.

62% Off A Super Long-Wear Powder Foundation

This cushion foundation is designed to deliver up to 72 hours of wear. It's made to have a full-coverage matte look — ideal for oily and combination skin — without smudging or looking cakey. Choose from over 15 shades to find the one that best matches your natural skin.

40% Off This Firming Collagen Balm Stick

Skin-care products from medicube fly off the Amazon shelves on a normal day. When they're on sale? You know they're going fast. This multi-balm stick hydrates and energizes your skin wherever you apply it. Reviewers love to use this on their foreheads, under eyes, and neck for an instant moisture boost.

27% Off This 3-Pack Of Dermaplaning Razors

These face razors are designed with micro-guards to help protect your skin while you're shaping your eyebrows or dermaplaning your face. The precise blade is made to target fine hairs while gently exfoliating your skin. You get three razors in the pack, and they come with covers to make traveling with them easy.

63% Off This Stretchy 2-Piece Workout Set

Make workout dressing as simple as slipping on this cute, matching set. The halter-style bra has a show-stopping strappy back, with removable pads for custom coverage. The high-waist biker shorts feature a wide, supportive waistband and practical side pockets. In a high-stretch performance fabric, these pieces feel buttery-soft whether worn together or mixed and matched with your other gym wear.

50% Off A Creamy Lipstick With All-Day Color

This creamy lipstick is designed to deliver all-day color without bleeding into your lip line. The lightweight, non-drying formula has vitamin E and white orchid extract to nourish and hydrate, and the lipstick is available in six shades that are made to pair with all skin tones.

15% Off An Outlet Extender With USB Ports

A truth universally acknowledged? You can never have too many outlets. This extender turns a standard two-plug outlet into a charging hub by adding three additional three-prong ports, as well as three USB-A ports and one USB-C port. This home upgrade makes so much sense, even more so when you can get it for this price.

46% Off These Chic Wide-Leg Jeans

Available in multiple colors and three different levels of stretch, these wide-leg jeans from Levi's are crafted from a cozy blend that includes 78% cotton. Fitted through the hips and thighs, they include a wide-leg silhouette. They're mid-rise and have a zipper closure for easy, everyday wearability.

31% Off The Classic Crocs Clogs That Reviewers Love

With over 300,000 ratings and a near-perfect 4.8-star average, the Crocs Classic Clog is backed by a cult following. It's easy to see why these shoes are so popular — they're lightweight, breathable, durable, easy to clean, and most of all super comfortable. Crocs recommends that if you’re in between sizes, size up.

48% Off The Coziest Memory Foam Slippers

These best-selling memory foam slippers are great for starting or ending the day. Designed with a double strap, faux fur uppers, and a soft lining, they're so cozy to wear. Anti-skid grips offer solid traction, and their high-density memory foam will adjust to your feet over time for a customized fit. You can grab them in multiple color options.

41% Off A 5-Pack Of BIC Highlighters

Stock up your desk, backpack, or home office with this five-pack of BIC highlighters. The pack includes five different fluorescent-hued highlighters, each with a chisel tip that works well for both broad highlighting and finer underlining, but what really makes these highlighters impressive is that they're designed to resist drying out for up to 8 hours when left uncapped.

58% Off These Cool Skechers That Are Comfy Enough For All-Day Wear

These slip-on mesh sneakers feature the cushiest memory foam insoles, offering comfy all-day wear no matter how long you're on your feet. With a machine washable build, you can wear these every day and still keep them looking like new. For this shockingly great price, you'll want to nab these lightweight kicks fast.

58% Off A Robot Vacuum With A Self-Emptying Base

This robot vacuum can take a sizeable chunk of floor cleaning off your plate, especially if pet hair and everyday debris seem to reappear as soon as you vacuum. It uses home mapping and a multi-pass cleaning pattern to cover carpets and hard floors, then empties itself into a bagless base that can hold up to 60 days of debris. An anti-hair-wrap system and HEPA filtration also help make ongoing maintenance more manageable.

55% Off These Probiotic Gummies That Help Support Gut Health

Designed to maintain your gut health, these probiotic gummies feature delicious fruity flavors, and a serving of two gummies contains a whopping 4 billion live cultures. The non-GMO, gluten-free formula doesn't contain artificial sweeteners or flavors. They also contain vitamin D to help support immune health. Always contact your physician before taking supplements.

40% Off A Plush Bathroom Rug With Over 70,000 Reviews

This thick microfiber bath mat gives you a soft place to land when you step out of the shower while helping soak up stray water. The quick-drying material has a nonslip backing and can be tossed in the washing machine when it needs a refresh. It also comes in plenty of sizes and colors, making it easy to find an option that works with your bathroom.

38% Off A Set Of Versatile Kitchen Shears

Restock your kitchen shears with this affordable three-pack. The stainless steel blades feature serrated edges that effortlessly cut through meat, vegetables, herbs, even twine. Plus, the design includes a nut cracker and bottle opener so they're fully multipurpose. With a comfy grip and a dishwasher-safe build, they're a kitchen essential you'll want to scoop up on sale.

62% Off These Noise-Canceling Headphones

It's always smart to keep an eye out for a good tech deal on a big sale day, and these JBL on-ear headphones are a true steal. Their true adaptive noise canceling feature adjusts in real time to block out exterior noise, and the over-the-ear fit and soft padding make these really comfortable. If you act fast, you can snag them at their lowest price in months.

65% Off A Wireless Outdoor Security Camera With A 2-Year Battery Life

Keep an eye on your property without having to run wires outside with this battery-powered security camera. It offers 1080p live video, infrared night vision, two-way audio, and enhanced motion detection, while the included batteries can provide up to two years of power. This system also comes with the Sync Module Core you need to connect the camera, with optional person-detection alerts available through a Blink subscription.

31% Off COVERGIRL Mascara For Fuller-Looking Lashes

Offering extreme volume, this mascara plumps up each individual lash for a dramatic look that resists water, smudging, and clumping. It's safe to use on sensitive skin and has been certified as cruelty-free by the Leaping Bunny Program. No wonder it's earned more than 14,000 five-star ratings.

62% Off A Slim Rib-Knit Top That's Great For Layering

This fitted long-sleeve shirt makes an easy base layer for jeans, trousers, skirts, or even workwear. The lightweight rib-knit construction keeps it streamlined enough to wear underneath sweaters and jackets without adding a lot of bulk. It's one of those simple wardrobe staples that can get plenty of mileage as the weather cools down.

50% Off A 12-Pack Of Paper Mate Flair Pens

Add a splash of color to your journaling, to-do list, or anything else with these felt-tip pens. The medium felt tips use water-based ink designed to resist smearing and fading while minimizing bleed-through. You get 12 bright colors, and the reinforced tips help reduce fraying over time.

50% Off A Leave-In Hair Treatment That Strengthens & Protects

Nourish your hair with this strengthening leave-in treatment. It's formulated with protein-rich ingredients to get deep into the hair shaft and deliver moisture and shine. The treatment has added heat-protection properties for use with hot styling tools, and it's made to be gentle on all hair types.

59% Off A Bali Minimizer Bra With Plenty Of Support

Bali's minimizer bra is designed to reduce the appearance of your bust profile by up to 1.5 inches, which can help certain tops and button-downs fit more smoothly. The supportive underwire and adjustable design are made with everyday wear in mind. It also comes in an extended range of sizes and has earned tens of thousands of reviews.

60% Off A Ring Battery Doorbell With 2K Video

Upgrade your front-door setup with this rechargeable Ring doorbell, which gives you a wide-angle view in sharp 2K video. Two-Way Talk lets you communicate with someone at your door, while enhanced zoom makes it easier to take a closer look at what's happening outside. Because the battery is built in and rechargeable, you don't need to rely on existing doorbell wiring.

53% Off The Versatile Veggie Chopper That Reviewers Love

With the capacity to hold up to 5 cups, this chopper and spiralizer can dice and prepare veggies in just 30 seconds. It keeps stable on your counter with a rubber base, and it's designed with stainless steel blades that will stay sharp. Aside from being a time-saver, it's also compact for easy storage and dishwasher-safe for a quick clean.

48% Off A Lightweight Shark Cordless Vacuum

This Shark cordless vacuum combines a lightweight design with strong suction for quick cleanups around the house. It can run for up to 40 minutes, has a self-cleaning brushroll designed to reduce hair wrap, and converts into a handheld vacuum when you need to tackle furniture or smaller spaces. HEPA and anti-allergen filtration also help capture dust and other particles as you clean.

45% Off This All-In-One Baked Makeup Palette

A coordinated look all in one, this seven-in-one palette features blushes, highlighters, and eyeshadows that reviewers are raving about. Made in Italy, the baked powders won't settle into fine lines, and they're designed for all-day — and night — wear without the need for touchups. The natural-looking shades will look great with every skin tone.

38% Off Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes With Over 100,000 Reviews

Do your future self a favor and stock up on these best-selling makeup remover wipes while they're on sale. This is a pack of two, each with 25 alcohol-free face towelettes that easily wipe away makeup with a few quick swipes. Keep them stocked away under the bathroom sink for when your stash runs out, or bring them on vacation with you for a liquid-free makeup-removing solution.

31% Off A 2-Pack Of Extra-Long USB-C Charging Cables

Charging cables have a habit of disappearing right when you need them, so keeping a spare pair around is rarely a bad idea. These two USB-C-to-USB-C cables are each 6.6 feet long and support up to 100-watt fast charging. They're compatible with a wide range of USB-C devices, including newer iPhones, Galaxy phones, MacBooks, and iPads.

32% Off Maybelline's Viral Sky High Mascara

Reviewers swear by this mascara for its lash-extension look without the appointment. The flexible brush bends to reach lashes from root to tip, helping create length, volume, and definition that still feels lightweight. Infused with bamboo extract and fibers, the washable formula is designed to resist flakes and smudges while remaining gentle on sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

53% Off This Cuddle-Worthy Bubble Blanket

Bubble blankets are as eye-catching as they are cozy, but it's rare to find them at this good a price. This soft, textured throw will serve as a statement piece in your living room or bedroom. Curl up with it on a chilly night with a candle lit and a favorite movie — the vibes are immaculate.

53% Off A 10-In-1 Vegetable Chopper That Makes Meal Prep Easier

Speed up meal prep with this best-selling food chopper that does the work of multiple knife cuts with just a press of the lid. It comes with eight interchangeable blades for tackling different vegetables and cuts, and everything falls into the built-in collection container instead of scattering across your cutting board. With tens of thousands of positive reviews, it could be especially useful for anyone who does a lot of batch cooking or meal prep.

25% Off A 2-Pack Of Heavy-Duty Kitchen Shears

A sturdy pair of kitchen scissors can make everything from snipping herbs to prepping poultry a little easier, and this set gives you two. The stainless-steel blades are paired with comfort-grip handles and can go straight into the dishwasher after use. There's even a built-in bottle-opening feature for a little extra utility.

35% Off A Flat Extension Cord That Can Power 9 Devices

This 10-foot extension cord is a smart solution for bedrooms, home offices, or dorms where outlets never seem to be in the right place. It combines six traditional outlets with two USB-A ports and one USB-C port, letting you power or charge up to nine devices. The flat, low-profile plug also sits closer to the wall, which can be useful behind furniture.

40% Off A 6-Pack Of Large Storage Bags With Clear Windows

Seasonal clothes, extra bedding, and other bulky items can quickly take over a closet, which is where these roomy storage bags come in handy. Each one holds about 17 gallons and has reinforced handles, dual zippers, and a clear window so you can see what's inside without opening it. The flexible bags also fold flat when they're empty, so they won't become another bulky thing you have to store.

44% Off medicube's PDRN Moisturizer For A Dewy Finish

This medicube moisturizer combines PDRN with hyaluronic acid in a lightweight formula designed to hydrate without leaving skin feeling greasy. It's geared toward supporting the skin barrier while giving your complexion a firmer, dewier look.

34% Off A Yankee Candle That Smells Like Fresh Apples

Yankee Candle's Macintosh scent brings the crisp smell of apples into your home without having to bake a pie first. The large 22-ounce jar uses a plant-wax blend and is designed to deliver consistent, room-filling fragrance. It can burn for up to 150 hours, making it a good one to keep around throughout fall.

60% Off A Ring Battery Doorbell With Enhanced Zoom

Ring's rechargeable battery doorbell gives you a wide-angle 2K view of what's happening around your front door. Enhanced zoom lets you take a closer look, while Two-Way Talk makes it possible to speak with visitors from your device. Its built-in rechargeable battery also makes it an option for homes where hardwiring a video doorbell isn't convenient.

60% Off An Amazon Fire TV Stick For HD TVs

Amazon's Fire TV Stick HD is made for HD TVs and comes with an Alexa Voice Remote for finding shows, movies, and other content. Its compact design also makes it easy to move between compatible TVs or bring along when you're traveling.

29% Off A 3-Pack Of Colgate Optic White Toothpaste

This three-pack of Colgate Optic White is an easy way to stock up and save on an item you use every day. This toothpaste contains 5% hydrogen peroxide and is formulated to target deeper stains for a brighter-looking smile.

32% Off A 4-Pack Of medicube Overnight Gel Masks

These wildly popular gel masks combine PDRN have low-molecular-weight collagen and are designed to support a dewy, firmer-looking complexion while you sleep.

27% Off medicube's Vitamin C Capsule Cream

Cult-favorite Korean skin care brand medicube is known for its science-forward products and this vitamin C capsule cream is one of the brands most-loved offerings. The capsules are deeply concentrated with sea buckthorn extract to soften skin, vitamin B6 to tighten skin, ascorbic acid to even skin tone, and so much more. Just pop one—it's surprisingly satisfying—and work it into your face to see the benefits.

34% Off A 3-Pack Of Extra-Long iPhone Charging Cables

If you always seem to need a charger just a few feet farther from the outlet, these 10-foot cables give you plenty of extra reach. The three-pack is Apple MFi-certified and has a durable nylon-braided exterior that can stand up to everyday use. Keep one by the bed, one near the couch, and one in your bag so you're less likely to find yourself without a charger.

41% Off A Snail Mucin Essence With Over 100,000 Reviews

This lightweight essence uses 96.3% snail secretion filtrate to give dry or dull-looking skin a boost of hydration. It's designed to absorb without leaving behind a heavy feel while helping skin look smoother, healthier, and more glowy. More than 100,000 Amazon shoppers have weighed in on it, and it maintains an impressive rating of over 4.5 stars.

31% Off A Cordless Vacuum With Up To 60 Minutes Of Runtime

Cut the cord while tackling floors throughout your home with this powerful cordless vacuum. It offers three cleaning modes and up to 60 minutes of fade-free runtime, giving you enough flexibility for quick pickups or a more thorough cleaning session. The power trigger also draws energy only while you're actively vacuuming, helping make the most of each charge.

29% Off A Kitchen Scale With Over 170,000 Reviews

Whether you're baking, meal prepping, or portioning ingredients, this compact kitchen scale makes precise measuring much easier. It can weigh up to 11 pounds in five different units and has a tare function that lets you subtract the weight of your bowl or container. The stainless-steel surface is easy to wipe clean, and a backlit display makes the measurements easy to read.

42% Off A 12-Pack Of Smooth Gel Pens

Offered as a 12-pack, these bold-tip pens are the writing utensils you've been missing at your workstation. They're smooth, quick-drying, and even refillable. With a comfy grip, you'll reach for these pens for everything from making to-do lists and daily journaling to doodling and so much more.

50% Off This Lip Gloss That Glides On Smooth

Designed with a flat-tipped wand, it's easy to apply this lip gloss with precision. The finish is glossy and smooth, but not sticky, and it comes in over 15 shades to complement your particular skin tone.

17% Off A Power Strip That Can Charge 12 Devices

Turn one wall outlet into a charging station for your desk, bedroom, or home office with this space-saving power strip. It has eight AC outlets plus four USB ports, including two USB-C ports, so you can power up to 12 devices at once. The outlets are spaced apart to accommodate larger plugs, while a flat plug and 5-foot braided cord make it easier to use behind furniture.

23% Off A Power Strip With 16 Charging Ports & A 10-Foot Cord

If your collection of devices has outgrown your available outlets, this power strip gives you plenty of room to plug everything in. It combines 12 AC outlets with four USB ports and uses a three-sided design that leaves space for bulky adapters. The extra-long 10-foot cord and wall-mountable design also give you more flexibility when outlets aren't conveniently located.

30% Off A Retinal Treatment For Smoother-Looking Skin

This Korean skin-care treatment combines 0.1% retinal with peptides to target the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and enlarged pores. It's designed to help skin appear smoother and firmer with regular use. It has also earned more than 25,000 reviews on Amazon, making it a popular option for anyone looking to add a stronger retinoid product to their routine.

20% Off A Micellar Water With Over 30,000 Reviews

This gentle micellar water removes makeup and cleanses without requiring a traditional rinse, making it especially handy for busy nights or travel. The skin-pH formula was developed with sensitive skin in mind and is designed to leave your face feeling soothed and refreshed instead of stripped. It works on both face and eye makeup and has earned an impressive rating of over 4.5 stars.

24% Off A Cordless Handheld Vacuum For Quick Cleanups

For crumbs on the couch, pet hair in the car, and all the little messes that don't justify pulling out a full-size vacuum, this handheld option is easy to grab. It has a built-in crevice tool for tight spaces along with a clear dirt bowl that lets you see when it's time to empty it. Both the bowl and filter are washable, and the included wall mount gives it a dedicated spot to charge between uses.

30% Off A Tinted Mineral Sunscreen With SPF 50

This SPF 50 sunscreen uses a 100% mineral formula and was developed with sensitive skin in mind. Its lightweight, tinted texture is designed to blend into skin quickly and leave behind a matte, healthy-looking finish instead of a heavy layer. With more than 30,000 reviews, it's a popular option for adding daily sun protection without making your morning routine feel more complicated.

20% Off A Compact Carpet Cleaner For Stains & Spills

This portable spot cleaner makes it easier to deal with a spill before it becomes a permanent part of your carpet or couch. Its compact size is designed for grab-and-go cleaning on rugs, upholstery, and car interiors, and it comes with a 4-inch stain tool for targeted scrubbing. There's also a self-cleaning tool that helps rinse out the machine after you're done tackling the mess.

63% Off A Pair Of Memory-Foam Slippers With A Nonslip Sole

Give cold feet a softer place to land with these plush indoor slippers. They have a fuzzy wool-like upper, a soft lining, and memory-foam cushioning underfoot, while the nonslip sole adds some extra grip around the house. They're even machine washable, which is a nice perk for something you may end up wearing every day.

42% Off A Heat-Protectant Spray With Over 70,000 Reviews

If a blow-dryer, curling iron, or flat iron is part of your usual routine, a heat protectant is an easy step to add before styling. This lightweight spray protects hair at temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit while helping reduce heat-related damage and breakage. It's also designed to tame frizz, smooth the cuticle, and leave hair looking shinier without feeling greasy.

59% Off A Soft Cotton Bralette With Over 30,000 Reviews

This wireless, unlined bralette is made from a soft cotton-modal blend with stretch, giving it a lightweight and breathable feel for everyday wear. The pullover racerback silhouette keeps things simple, while the wide elastic band adds support without an underwire. It's machine washable, and Amazon recommends sizing up if you prefer more coverage or a more relaxed fit.

]]><![CDATA[A Brand-New 'Doctor Who' Show Is Coming to TV — But There's A Catch]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/doctor-who-tardis-crew-preview-canon-release-windowhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/doctor-who-tardis-crew-preview-canon-release-windowTue, 06 Oct 2026 16:25:13 GMT
BBC Studios

Doctor Who has been on a downward trajectory for a while now, but its fate wasn’t sealed until the BBC decided to put it out to pasture. There officially won’t be new Doctor Who episodes for the foreseeable future. At least, not any new live-action episodes.

While the main show is on hiatus, an interesting spinoff is just gearing up. And while it’s targeting a completely different audience, there could still be some interesting elements for hardcore fans.

Last year, the BBC announced that an animated Doctor Who spinoff would air on CBeebies, the preschool-aged BBC channel. Today, we got our first look at this new series, which raises some interesting canon questions.

Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew will premiere on CBeebies in late 2027 or early 2028. | BBC Studios

The series, Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew, follows “the Doctor, a young Time Lord, and his friends Hannah, Beastie and Toast-IE as they embark on extraordinary adventures through time and space,” the show’s official synopsis reads. “Travelling aboard the iconic TARDIS, they encounter incredible creatures, discover amazing new worlds and come face-to-face with legendary Doctor Who foes, including the Daleks.”

This synopsis confirms that the main character of this series is, in fact, the Doctor, but it’s probably not the next in the still-growing list of regenerations. Because this character is described as a “young Doctor,” we’ll probably see a Doctor fresh from stealing the TARDIS from Gallifrey. Then again, “young” Doctor might just mean that this regeneration is young, as we’ve seen the Doctor fluctuate in age over the years.

The Doctor has appeared in animated form before, but never in a preschool show. | BBC Studios

We also know the name of the new companion, Hannah, and two sidekicks, Beastie and Toast-IE, who are presumably the cute little critter in Hannah’s hands and the anxious robot following them. Toast-IE is likely an Easter Egg for fans, as a popular meme comparing aliens in Star Trek, Star Wars, and Doctor Who described the typical Doctor Who alien as a “household appliance that is a black hole with a Lancashire accent.”

With this series premiering in late 2027 or early 2028, the TARDIS Crew will premiere before Doctor Who returns. So will this animated Doctor be considered the “current” Doctor until a new one is announced, or is TARDIS Crew considered non-canon, like the previous Unbound universe during the last hiatus? There are a lot of questions that need answers, but at least a new generation will get the chance to fall in love with Doctor Who, canon or not.

Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew premieres in Late 2027 or Early 2028 on CBeebies.

]]><![CDATA[What Are LitRPGs Anyway? How I Learned To Love ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/from-gaming-to-world-domination-why-litrpgs-have-taken-overhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/from-gaming-to-world-domination-why-litrpgs-have-taken-overTue, 06 Oct 2026 13:00:25 GMT

Who is Carl, and why is he crawling in the dungeon? If you’re unaware of the phenomenon of LitRPGs, the concept of Dungeon Crawler Carl might not only seem like a mouthful (try saying it five times) but also a bit confusing. Which fictional world is this? Are these books based on games? Is this a kind of fanfic?

Yes and no. Enter LitRPGs, the subgenre of literature focusing on normal humans who are dropped suddenly into strange situations with role-playing game mechanics. Reading a LitRPG is like reading a hypothetical transcript of an actual Dungeons & Dragons game. Sure, the chance may be taken out of it, but in its place are expertly crafted story arcs, boss battles, and character development. At first, they seemed like a novelty, but now this genre is breaking into the mainstream — and it’s not showing any signs of slowing down.

I first heard of LitRPGs when I interviewed actor Felicia Day about the topic back in 2023. “Picture a protagonist, which you could project into going through either an apocalyptic world of Earth or a fantasy world,” she said of the genre. “And basically, as you do things, you level up, and you’re taking that journey of getting more powerful and fighting bad guys with the main character.” Suddenly, I realized what this was like: isekai.

Now, “isekai” is something you either know nothing about or everything about. Literally translated, it means “different world” or “other world,” which is a pretty apt description. Isekai stories involve an everyday character who finds themselves suddenly transported into a strange realm that they have to figure out on the fly. It’s a very common anime genre: a character passes away (colloquially referred to as “being hit by a truck”) and is reincarnated in another world. You can usually find isekai stories with titles like That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, or Re: Zero - Starting Life In Another World.

It’s a unique term across Japanese media, but it’s not unique to that culture. To a certain extent, The Chronicles of Narnia is an isekai. So is A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. Even Outlander has elements of isekai. So, in a sense, LitRPG is the latest version of this concept.

Author Matt Dinniman and the Audible narrator of Dungeon Crawler Carl, Jeff Hays | Phillip Faraone/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

In preparation for that Felicia Day interview, I thumbed through Dungeon Crawler Carl and He Who Fights With Monsters, two of the most popular LitRPGs of the time. I only had time to fully read one, so I picked He Who Fights With Monsters, a very classic isekai-style story where an Australian office manager is dropped into a fantasy world because of a ritual gone wrong. I thought it was fine, but nothing much more than the gimmick.

In the years since, I found my mind often wandering back to the genre. There are LitRPGs about farming, coffee shops, and apocalypses — everything under the sun. Had I written off the genre too quickly? When I spoke to Day, she suggested Dungeon Crawler Carl would be the perfect entry point, so I bought it on Kindle and started reading in earnest this time.

I loved it.

I don’t know what it was about it this time, but the story of Carl, a Seattle-based electrician who finds himself one of the few survivors of an alien-led apocalypse along with his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, suddenly became one of the most gripping stories I had ever read. I remembered something Day said about these books being like reality TV, and that’s especially true of DCC, which stages a whole dungeon-crawling tournament as part of an intergalactic game show, complete with Carl and Donut appearing on alien talk shows.

The series, written by Matt Dinniman, honestly has more in common with The Hunger Games than any other LitRPG: players in the galactic reality show are given loot boxes, sponsors, and have to think about how to make their fights more interesting to viewers. Carl even (inadvertently) coins a catchphrase: “Goddammit, Donut!”

As I kept reading book after book (there are currently eight books in the series), I noticed something interesting: I started to become better at video games. As I watched Carl and Donut navigate their way through in-world puzzles, skill trees, items, and builds, I became more aware of how those game mechanics worked in real-world games. As someone who is all left thumbs when it comes to games, this is tantamount to a miracle.

The Dungeon Crawler Carl series. | ACE Books/Penguin Random House

Dungeon Crawler Carl will soon become a series on Peacock, with Seth MacFarlane among its executive producers and Shadow and Bone’s Eric Heisserer and Thor: Ragnarok’s Chris Yost serving as co-showrunners. At San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that audiobook narrator Jeff Hays will reprise the role of Princess Donut and provide the voice for the series as well, a choice that was met with jubilation from the fandom.

In 2023, these stories were a niche community. In 2026, they’re starting to become more mainstream, and in a few years, when this series finally premieres, it could become the next big thing. Thirty years ago, a film franchise based on comic books seemed like a wild idea, but then we got the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Five years ago, a video game prestige TV show seemed impossible, but then we got The Last of Us.

A movie version of a book utilizing role-playing game mechanics may sound like a pop-culture mishmash, but that’s exactly what fans are hungry for. If you can open your mind to the possibilities, it very well could become the new frontier for fantasy across all media.

]]><![CDATA[20 Years Later, Martin Scorsese's Crime Thriller Masterwork Fulfills A Surprising Legacy]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/the-departed-20-year-anniversaryhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/the-departed-20-year-anniversaryTue, 06 Oct 2026 12:30:24 GMT
Andrew Cooper/Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock

In 1970, the “New Hollywood” movement received its first Best Picture Oscar. Skeezy street drama Midnight Cowboy captured the explicit, down-and-dirty, and modern mood of the post-studio system American wave better than any previous winner, and its Academy Award committed the exploits of two low-level scammers and hustlers to Hollywood history.

Even though crime is an ordinary and unglamorous element in Midnight Cowboy, something about its immersion in a criminal world struck a chord. Three crime flicks won Best Picture in the first half of the ‘70s alone: William Friedkin’s cutthroat drug trafficking thriller The French Connection, and Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part I and Part II, mafia epics made with a young visionary’s verve and cineliteracy. It would take nearly 30 years for another crime film to win Best Picture, but it makes sense that The Departed would be the one to cinch it. Released 20 years ago, Martin Scorsese’s foul-mouthed, cross-cutting saga of blood and identity is in sync with the cynical, psychologically-tinged crime films that share its Oscar glory.

The Departed takes the paranoia and intensity of a cat-and-mouse thriller and doubles it. Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a deep cover Boston cop infiltrating Irish mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). Elsewhere, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) joins the Massachusetts State Police unit to take down Costello, but he’s actually spying on the cops on Costello’s behalf. The Departed has the flair of a thrilling page-turner while immersing the audience in all the fear and guilt that’s an inevitable, but often ignored, side effect of crime fiction.

The Departed does not originate in 1970s America; it’s an English-language remake of Infernal Affairs, the 2002 undercover cop thriller starring acclaimed Hong Kong actors Andy Lau and Tony Leung Chiu-wai. But The Departed opted for a New England specificity that plays to Scorsese’s strengths: profane gangster movies that are as boisterous as they can be lonely, centering Catholic motifs such as grief and sin along the way. While The Departed was an ambitious, entertaining modern canvas for Scorsese, its street-level ferocity is more reminiscent of The French Connection than Goodfellas, and its intimidating mob kingpin is closer to The Godfather than Casino.

The French Connection made waves thanks to Friedkin’s fusion of documentary-tinged realism and stylized, propulsive filmmaking. New York detective “Popeye” Doyle (Gene Hackman) is on the trail of a heroin smuggler (Fernando Rey) who’s poised to smuggle $32 million worth of heroin into the United States — with the stakes so high, Doyle easily justifies his trademark thuggish tactics to bust the drug ring arriving on his doorstep. Friedkin brought an authentic unpleasantness to his cop protagonists, but if the line between cops and criminals is blurred here, in The Departed, it’s downright confused.

The French Connection and The Departed are possessed by the same ugly realism, and their fictionalized stories each remix real American crime history — the former is based on the NYPD who broke up a French heroin ring in the early ‘60s, while The Departed riffs on Boston mobsters like notorious informants Whitey Bulger and the Winter Hill Gang. Instead of being strict biopics, the films suffuse real crime into their demented worlds. Reality seems to have been distorted by the adrenaline coursing through their characters — every slug, gunshot, and chase through scummy stairwells and under subway strip lights feels especially on edge.

Jack Nicholson’s mob boss with Matt Damon’s police mole. | Andrew Cooper/Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock

Boston is an odd substitute for Hong Kong, but a perfect update for 1970 New York, and The Departed honors The French Connection’s heightened urban atmosphere with blood-soaked zeal. Bodies hit the ground with thundering impact, handguns act more like artillery, and there’s rarely a punch thrown that doesn’t end in blood sprays or knockouts. As we hurtle through its dense investigation plot, Billy and Colin’s contrary worlds are equally intensified and precarious — which also explains how The Departed, like The French Connection, can pull off such bleak and abrupt endings.

The Godfather paints gangsters in a far more noble, classical light than Scorsese ever did, so it’s easier to read its influence on The Departed as a kind of inversion. Frank Costello is The Departed’s answer to the dignified Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) — both are feared and revered, both love their subordinates like a father or brother would, and both are played by the most acclaimed leading man of a former Hollywood era. But Costello is the dirtbag answer to Don Corleone; he's a potty-mouthed, unkempt lecher mostly found in the back of grubby Irish pubs.

The films do align with how they treat criminals who become rats. In The Godfather films, mafioso betrayals are painted as a personal and spiritual transgression. Although the world of The Departed is a scuzzy headache with little nobility or classiness, Scorsese borrows the operatic overtones of mob betrayal from his old friend Coppola. To Colin, the discovery that Costello is a protected FBI informant is tantamount to finding out his father has another wife.

Scorsese didn’t set out to make a Best Picture winner, but the commonalities between his acclaimed crime film and its game-changing predecessors — all of which were released when Scorsese was beginning his career — are striking. The Departed draws on what made The French Connection and The Godfather films feel new and remarkable. Great crime movies redefine the boundaries of morality and lawlessness, and The Departed ensures that even its most principled cops and criminals are constantly knocked off-balance.

The Departed is streaming on HBO Max.

]]><![CDATA[Sinestro Corps? 'Lanterns' Is Setting Up The Return Of An Iconic DCU Villain]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/sinestro-corps-lanterns-season-2-theoryhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/sinestro-corps-lanterns-season-2-theoryTue, 06 Oct 2026 11:00:25 GMT
HBO Max

Even if you’ve never picked up a Green Lantern comic book before, chances are you recognize the name. A critically panned 2011 movie, a starring role in one of the most beloved cartoons of the early 2000s, and a short-lived animated solo series means Green Lantern has some pop cultural presence; most people at least know he’s got a magic ring that makes constructs and that he’s a member of the Justice League. They might even know that multiple heroes operate under the name, due to the sprawling size of the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps.

But for the first time ever, the Green Lanterns have received their own live-action TV series, and it has shed some light on corners of the mythos general audiences might not be as familiar with. Across eight episodes, Lanterns has laid the groundwork for one of the most important corners of the DC Universe, introducing some incredibly important players moving forward, including Earth’s new Green Lantern John Stewart. But with the tentative confirmation of a second season, it’s clear that the show still has more story left to tell. And, certainly, a huge part of that story will be the machinations of Sinestro, Hal Jordan’s former mentor who has been left in what looks like a prison — but might actually be his salvation (and everyone else’s worst nightmare).

Warning! Spoilers for Lanterns below.

Despite not having all that much screentime, Sinestro’s presence and his future looms large over the show’s next season. | HBO Max

Where Does Lanterns Leave Sinestro?

In the seventh episode of Lanterns, John Stewart and Hal Jordan travel to the decimated planet from which Antaan and his gang of extraterrestrial Manhunter-hunters originated from. There they find the remnants of a civilization utterly destroyed by the shape-shifting androids, specifically destroyed through the usage of a chemical weapon that assaults victims’ minds with their worst fears. To make matters worse, they find Sinestro there, and the season finale reveals why: He had been hard at work constructing a power battery for Noah, Sheriff Kerry’s secret Manhunter son, one tainted by the residual fear chemical left behind in the atmosphere and the water of the planet.

The season ends with John Stewart leaving Sinestro trapped and taking the lantern for himself, using it to operate as Earth’s Green Lantern in an “independent contractor” capacity — the fear compound imbued within it become key to John’s arc of learning to accept the existence of fear and overcoming it. It’s an interesting dynamic for the character, one that loosely parallels the non-canon alternate universe storyline Green Lantern: Earth One vol. 2, in which John wields a yellow ring for good as opposed to evil. But while John is able to harness his fears for the sake of protecting the world, his mentor’s mentor is well-known for harnessing his for evil.

While Sinestro’s extended stay on Antaan’s planet might seem like imprisonment, it might just work out in his favor. | HBO Max

The Sinestro Corps, Explained

In the comics, Sinestro began using his yellow ring in 1961’s Green Lantern vol. 2 #9, just two issues after his debut in issue #7. At first, Sinestro’s ring was simply an alternative power ring, and it was yellow because in early Green Lantern comics the color was actually a significant weakness for standard GL rings. It was created by a species of highly advanced weapon-smiths on the anti-matter planet of Qward — where Sinestro was imprisoned for ruling over his home planet like a dictator while using the powers of a Green Lantern — and it could only be charged by siphoning energy from Green Lanterns themselves.

That all changed in the early 2000s, when Geoff Johns began writing his nearly 10-year long Green Lantern saga. Johns is credited as one of the most influential writers ever for the character, and it’s easy to see why: not only did he bring Hal Jordan back from the dead (the character was killed off after temporarily becoming a villain in the ‘90s), but he also made a host of retcons to the Green Lantern mythos, most notably making the Green Lanterns’ weakness to the “yellow impurity” the result of the cosmic entity of fear known as Parallax, the same being who possessed Hal Jordan back during his villain era. Johns revealed that Parallax, who has been around since the beginning of the universe, was imprisoned by the Guardians of Oa in the Central Power Battery, which is the reason why Lanterns were originally weak to the color yellow.

Unlike the Green Lanterns, whose recruits are fearless and strong of will, the Yellow Lantern Corps is made up of those who inspire fear wherever they go. | DC Comics

In 1988, Sinestro was imprisoned inside the Central Power Battery on Oa as a punishment for his perpetual crimes in the pages of Green Lantern Corps #222-224. And almost 20 years later, Geoff Johns revealed that while Sinestro was there, his yellow ring made contact with and awoke Parallax (he was even a part of Parallax’s plan to corrupt Hal Jordan in the first place). His allegiance to Parallax becomes a massive problem in Green Lantern vol. 4 #10, with the official birth of the Sinestro Corps, an alternate villainous counterpart to the Green Lanterns; powered by Parallax, Sinestro created his own Central Battery and forged dozens of rings, offering them to anyone in the galaxy with the ability “to instill great fear” in the hearts of others. The Sinestro Corps (otherwise known as the Yellow Lantern Corps) would become the primary antagonists of the 2007 storyline The Sinestro Corps War, and their members include several villains from previous DC Comics storylines, including Cyborg Superman (the villainous Superman impostor who showed up after The Death of Superman), Superboy-Prime (the Clark Kent of another dimension who went insane after being stranded in a “paradise” pocket dimension), and a temporarily corrupted Kyle Rayner (one of the human Green Lanterns who came after John Stewart).

It’s hard to say whether or not Lanterns is gearing up for an adaptation of The Sinestro Corps War in its second season, but it’s a safe bet that Sinestro will be forging a new ring of his own. Although the last time we see him he’s stranded on Antaan’s ruined planet with seemingly no escape, if he could forge a ring and a lantern battery once, he can do it again — and this one will be completely powered by fear, unlike John’s. While the newest Green Lantern of Earth has once and for all proven his worth as a hero, he’ll definitely be in for a challenge when he has to face off against the man who trained the man who trained him.

Lanterns streams on HBO Max.

]]><![CDATA['Carrie' Release Date, Start Time, Trailer, And Plot For Amazon's Stephen King Remake]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/carrie-release-date-start-time-trailer-plothttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/carrie-release-date-start-time-trailer-plotTue, 06 Oct 2026 07:00:25 GMT
Prime Video

Every few years, you can count on Mike Flanagan to deliver a new take on a Stephen King classic — and you can rest assured knowing it’ll probably be pretty good, too. The writer has spent the past decade delivering delicious spins on spine-tingling, heartstring-tugging horror stories, but he’s never touched Carrie until now.

Any King die-hard will be justifiably wary of this new adaptation of one of the author’s most-loved works. King loved the Brian De Palma film, but hated the 2017 remake (along with the rest of the world). When Flanagan first approached King about taking on a new adaptation, his first question was, Why?

“His first response was, ‘Leave her alone. She’s been through enough,” Flanagan told Variety. The screenwriter initially felt the same way, but eventually found a fresh way to adapt Carrie’s story that didn’t feel quite like a retread — and he also got King on board, too. That’s as good a sign as any for the upcoming series, though it might suffer just a little under Prime Video’s release plan. Here’s everything we know about Carrie, from its premiere date to the changes it’ll make to the source material.

A new school year begins for Carrie White. | Prime Video

What is the Carrie release date?

Prime Video has been known to play things a little fast and loose when it comes to a show’s release schedule. Some series stream weekly; others drop all their episodes at once. Carrie — like the Flanagan shows that have premiered on Netflix — falls into the latter camp. All episodes of the show will premiere on Wednesday, October 7 on Prime.

When is the Carrie release time?

Shows on Prime Video typically drop at 12:00 am PT, or 3:00 am PT. We can expect all episodes of Carrie to premiere within that window, too.

Is there a trailer for Carrie?

Yes, there is. Check out the first trailer for Carrie below.

What is the plot of Carrie?

Most already know the story of Carrie: a sheltered girl with telekinetic gifts attends public school for the first time, gets bullied relentlessly, and unleashes the full breadth of her powers on her unsuspecting classmates. Flanagan’s Carrie follows those same beats but tweaks a lot of little tiny details. So much has changed since King wrote about the high school experience in 1974 — not just how kids bully others, but how psychologically, existentially debilitating it is to be a teen today, period. Carrie (Summer H. Howell) has no concept of school shooter drills or the process of menstruation, and she learns about each (and more!) the hard way. The games of popularity, the perils of cyberbullying, and the truth of her staunch religious upbringing will steadily strip away the layers of Carrie’s innocence, leading to an explosive confrontation at Ewen High’s fateful prom night.

How many episodes will Carrie have?

Carrie Season 1 contains eight episodes, the titles of which correspond to a school schedule. We can expect a few double entendres here, but we’ll have to wait to find the hidden meaning embedded in each episode.

Will there be a Carrie Season 2?

Carrie adapts the entire novel of the same name, but Flanagan apparently has ideas about continuing this story somehow. “In my dream scenario, I think it’s three seasons,” Flanagan told Collider at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. “In my dream scenario, I think Carrie has a wonderful three-step arc. It’s a trilogy, really.”

Of course, this is probably just wishful thinking on Flanagan’s part. His dream scenario doesn’t necessarily mean that Carrie’s first season leaves the door wide open for a trilogy... but never say never.

]]><![CDATA[Netflix Just Quietly Added The Best YA Fantasy Epic Of The Decade — But There's A Catch]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/percy-jackson-the-olympians-streaming-netflixhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/percy-jackson-the-olympians-streaming-netflixTue, 06 Oct 2026 01:00:25 GMT
Disney+

Telling good stories about tweens and teens is not nearly as easy as the Disney Channel originals of the ‘90s and 2000s made it look. Beloved as the House of Mouse might have been in our youth, their track record has been dismally shaky of late. That’s what makes something as successful as Percy Jackson and the Olympians, an adaptation of Rick Riordan’s five-book phenomenon, feel so special. Percy Jackson seemed unadaptable before the advent of the series, but with a combination of good casting, good writing, and decent visual effects, it’s rightly earned its place as “Disney’s next big thing.”

Good as it is to see Disney reclaiming its status as the provider of children’s media, the nature of streaming creates an insular bubble around shows that should feel like phenomena. Percy Jackson is pretty popular despite only streaming on Disney+, but it could be more so. Enter Netflix, the streamer that’s everybody’s competition and also, occasionally, their savior. Disney just struck a lucrative licensing deal with its big rival, leasing its punchiest titles to Netflix for limited promotional windows. Among shows like Felicity, This Is Us, and a handful of recent Disney-Pixar releases, Percy Jackson and the Olympians will also cross over — but only for a limited time.

Time is ticking down until Percy Jackson returns with its third season this November, and Disney is banking on that build-up to draw new eyes to the series. It’s leasing the first two seasons of Percy Jackson to Netflix for three months, starting on October 4 — so any novices not yet familiar with the series can catch up before its new season debuts on Disney+.

It’s a clever strategy, one that we’ve seen pay off for Amazon Prime’s Fallout, which streamed free on YouTube for a limited time, and AMC’s Interview with the Vampire, a show nearly doomed to “underrated legend” status because... does anybody have an AMC+ subscription? Disney+ is a far more common streaming platform to subscribe to, but it still can’t quite compete with the numbers Netflix rakes in month after month. Leasing a beloved show to the streamer for a few short months is a win-win for either party: Disney gets a kickback of whatever revenue Netflix makes from big audience numbers, and those who’ve never had the chance to see the new Percy Jackson can get a taste of the show before the story continues.

Percy Jackson Season 3 is coming soon, but you can catch the first two seasons on Netflix for a limited time. | Disney+

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, to put it glibly, is essentially American Harry Potter. It follows the misadventures of its title hero (played in the show by Walker Scobell) as he discovers his identity as a “half-blood,” the child of one human parent and another who belongs to the Greek pantheon. Yep, Greek gods are real in Percy’s world, as are the monsters, magic, and demons that populate those legends. There are also complicated rules and nebulous prophecies that govern how Greek gods interact with mortals — and Percy’s dad, the mighty Poseidon (Toby Stephens), broke a big one by falling in love with Percy’s mom (Virginia Kull).

Poseidon is a member of the “Big Three” alongside his brothers, Zeus (played by the late Lance Reddick in Season 1 and Courtney B. Vance in the seasons that follow) and Hades (Jay Duplass). Neither is supposed to have children, thanks to a prophecy that foretells a scion who will either save or destroy Olympus when they turn 16. Percy seems doomed from the very start — but as he trains in the ways of Olympus at a yearly summer camp, Camp Half-Blood, and embarks on quests with new friends, he learns that he’s not the only forbidden child this prophecy may be alluding to.

In an era where supernatural YA is scarce, Percy Jackson is a breath of fresh air. | Disney+

The first five books in Riordan’s series chart the years leading up to Percy’s Sweet 16, and are chock full of encounters with figures like Medusa and Hercules, as well as remixes of classic Greek stories. (If Millennials and Gen Z know anything about The Odyssey, it’s probably thanks to the second book in the series, The Sea of Monsters.) Riordan’s books are divided into chapters that perfectly facilitate an adventure-of-the-week format on-screen, but with just 16 episodes between seasons, Percy Jackson is easily bingable, too. It should be a breeze to catch up before the new season premieres on November 20; with the series streaming on Netflix until the end of the year, though, new viewers also don’t have to rush.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is streaming on Disney+ and Netflix.

]]><![CDATA[83 Years Later, 'Lanterns' Just Changed One Of the Most Legendary Sci-Fi Ideas Ever]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/green-lantern-oath-changehttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/green-lantern-oath-changeMon, 05 Oct 2026 19:55:18 GMT
DC Studios

Spoilers ahead for the Lanterns Season 1 finale.

Green Lantern fans know that John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) was always going to become one of Earth’s best defenders — but the path Lanterns takes to get him there makes the journey feel like a total waste of time. Thanks to flashbacks to his traumatic childhood, we know his relationship with fear, race, and the Lantern Corps itself was twisted by his parents’ training. He rejected the chance to become Earth’s next Green Lantern after Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) in 2016, but 10 years later, in Lanterns’ season finale, he finally finds his way back to that responsibility on his own terms. Oddly, it also brings him even farther from the version of the character fans know and love from the comics, tweaking a foundational aspect of Lanterns lore in the process.

Bafflingly, John’s reconciliation involves an assist from Sinestro (Ulrich Tommsen), a disgraced Lantern who was ousted from the Corps after murdering a Guardian of the Universe. It’s a long story that ultimately doesn’t mean squat in the grand scheme, but he was broken out of his prison on Oa and forced to forge a new lantern on a strange, unnamed planet. As this planet was polluted by a chemical agent that imbues fear in all its victims, the lantern he makes there is also infused with fear as well as willpower.

How? Who knows: Lanterns has never been interested in explaining how any of this lore works, and it doesn’t change its tune in the finale. All that matters is that this “unsanctioned” lantern will make John a very different kind of Green Lantern if he uses it to charge Hal’s old ring — which he literally pried off Hal’s corpse. Not a Yellow Lantern, as many theorized... just a freelance hero who doesn’t answer to the Corps and makes his own rules. Also: his own Green Lantern oath. For some reason.

In brightest day, in darkest night...

John makes his own oath in the Lanterns finale. | DC Studios

Just before John charges “his” ring in the lantern Sinestro forged, he admits to Hal (well... the hologram construct of Hal stored in the ring) that he’s never really jived with the Green Lantern oath. The Halogram tells him he can make it work to suit his own needs and intentions, and tells him “don’t be afraid to be afraid” before disappearing forever.

John takes that advice to heart, freestyling a new oath that encapsulates his MO as a hero and acknowledges his relationship with fear:

“In brightest day, in darkest night,
I’ll embrace my fear, I’ll do what’s right.
I choose this ring, I choose this fight,
In service to this lantern’s light.”

It’s... a little hypocritical, considering that not an hour before this pledge, he let Hal’s murderer and a Manhunter with half-baked plans for world domination walk free. If John intends to do what’s right, he’s off to a comically bad start. Said oath is also not very good, but hey — John’s an architect, not a wordsmith. If only there were a prolific sci-fi writer around to help him craft a punchier oath...

The Lantern oath has defined the Corps for 80 years. Why is now the time to shake things up? | DC

There’s more than one Green Lantern oath out there, but what many consider the definitive creed for the Corps first appeared over 80 years ago in Green Lantern #9. Alfred Bester, the Hugo Award-winning author of several celebrated sci-fi novels, penned the original four-line pledge for Alan Scott, the Green Lantern of DC’s Golden Age. His work would become a fixture of Green Lantern lore, however: what began with Alan Scott was eventually co-opted for Hal Jordan and, later, the entire Corps.

Again, a lot of Lanterns tweak the oath for their own purposes — even Alan had another catchphrase he’d use in battle now and then — but the oath Bester crafted for the comics is iconic for a reason. It’s a little piece of sci-fi history, one that even total novices to Green Lantern stories might be a little familiar with. That John doesn’t even get to say it when he realizes his destiny in Lanterns just feels wrong, not to mention a little disrespectful to the stories that paved the way.

What about the original oath didn’t suit John’s intentions as a hero? His desire to acknowledge the power of fear is valid, to an extent, but it’s not like Hal’s creed made any grand condemnations about fear. Being a Green Lantern has always been more about will — the will to overcome fear, to design grand constructs, and protect the innocent — than fearlessness. Lanterns has misunderstood that at every turn, and John’s new creed only drives that point further. He may call himself a Lantern when the series comes to an end, but tweaking such crucial Lantern history strips John of any chance to live up to that title. It might have been better if he’d just become a Yellow Lantern instead, if this is the best hero’s journey the Lanterns team could have dreamt up.

Lanterns is streaming on HBO Max.

]]><![CDATA['Lanterns' Season 1 Ending Explained: What Happens Next To John Stewart?]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/lanterns-season-1-ending-explained-john-stewarthttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/lanterns-season-1-ending-explained-john-stewartMon, 05 Oct 2026 19:52:35 GMT
HBO Max

After eight weeks and eight episodes, the first live-action show in James Gunn’s new DCU has ended. Lanterns was the second attempt to bring the Green Lantern mythos to life after the disastrous Ryan Reynolds vehicle in 2011, and the two projects could not be more different. While the film opted to jump straight into cosmic superhero shenanigans, Lanterns instead took a much more grounded approach, explicitly modeling itself after HBO’s True Detective — an approach that may have disappointed fans looking for the procedural space opera of the comics, but mostly resonated with critics and general audiences.

That’s certainly not to say that Lanterns didn’t engage with the more heightened aspects of the source material. On the contrary, the entire first season used the mystery of the Manhunters’ presence on Earth and the modern-day demise of Hal Jordan as a launchpad to introduce the world of the Green Lantern Corps, which will surely be expanded upon when Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart shows up in next year’s Man of Tomorrow. But the show’s season finale drastically changed the status quo with several major reveals and defining character turns, meaning the DCU’s version of the Green Lantern Corps will be tumultuous in its own particular way.

The Season 1 finale keeps John on his hero’s journey and allows Hal to properly pass the torch. | HBO Max

What Happens In The Season Finale Of Lanterns?

After John and Hal’s hologram enter the portal to Antaan’s long-dead homeworld and discover Sinestro in Episode 7, the pair waste no time interrogating him to find out why he’s there and how he escaped imprisonment. After John waterboards him, Hal's villainous former mentor delivers the episode’s first major twist: Noah, Sheriff Kerry’s son, is actually the last Manhunter on Earth, and he helped Sinestro escape so he could forge a power battery for him. It becomes clear that Noah’s human conditioning is conflicting with his android programming, and John becomes determined to prove that Noah can choose to avoid violence.

During his confrontation with him, Noah confesses to the murder of Hal Jordan, explaining that he killed Hal because he wouldn’t keep quiet about his true nature, but also revealing that he struggles with his identity and dreams of simply living a normal life. Noah begs John to mercy-kill him, as John claims to have done the same for Noah’s grandma Zoe, but John refuses, because he knows the truth — Hal’s murderer is actually Sheriff Kerry, having killed him in a moment of desperate impulse after Hal revealed he knew the truth about her son. While Kerry offers to turn herself in, John urges her not to, insisting that it’s not what Hal would’ve wanted. She’s left to watch Noah’s final high school football game, wracked with grief over killing the man she loved but hopeful that Noah’s lie for her safety indicates that he’s capable of overriding his programming.

The entire season builds to the reveal that Kerry has been protecting not just one Manhunter in Rushville, but two. | HBO Max

The finale ends with an unexpected new direction for John’s future. He uses the Lantern signal in the middle of Rushville to call Guy Gardner, who immediately recognizes that John is wearing Hal’s ring. When Guy threatens to report him to the Guardians, John tells him to do exactly that, because he’s taking over patrol of Earth as an “independent contractor” of sorts, using the flawed lantern created by Sinestro (which is infected by the residual “fear” left behind on Antaan’s world) to become a Green Lantern unburdened by the restraints of the Guardians of the Universe. John recites his own, brand-new oath, affirming his decision to finally embrace and conquer his fears, before flying off towards an uncertain future.

What’s Next For John Stewart?

After the conclusion of Lanterns, the character of John Stewart is flying into uncharted territory. While he’s had his fair share of conflicts with the Guardians of the Universe, he’s never operated as a Green Lantern independent of them, and in fact, in the 1992-1993 storyline Green Lantern: Mosaic, John even becomes the first human Guardian. In an ironic twist, John’s current trajectory most strongly resembles 1992’s Guy Gardner: Reborn, a series in which Guy loses his Green Lantern ring and steals the yellow power ring from a (then dead) Sinestro to operate as his own vigilante, an era which took place before Geoff Johns took over Green Lantern in the early 2000s and retconned the yellow ring as being powered by the fear entity Parallax.

If one thing’s for certain, it’s that Guy Gardner won’t respond kindly to having his position compromised. | HBO Max

While it seems like John will still operate as a Green Lantern (despite the power of fear locked in his new battery), it’s hard to imagine he won’t come to blows with other members of the Corps. An unsanctioned Lantern patrolling Earth doesn’t seem like something the Guardians of Oa would take lightly, and the realization that he’d been tricked only worsens the growing rivalry between John and Guy. With Lanterns Season 2 already in development, it may follow the aftermath of John’s decision and the Guardians’ response... and we may even meet one of the many Earth-based Lanterns who come after Hal, John, and Guy.

We already know that Aaron Pierre will be in the sequel to last year’s Superman, and at this point, it’s a safe bet that he’ll replace Guy as Earth’s Green Lantern — but does that mean he’ll be taking over his spot on the Justice Gang as well? And if so, knowing that the group is obviously being set up as a precursor to the Justice League, will we see John Stewart become a founding member of DC’s premier superhero team? Lanterns may not have been the high-concept cosmic superhero epic fans expected, but it still functioned as an origin story for one of the most beloved Green Lanterns, and it’s all but certain we’ll see John in those types of adventures in the future.

Lanterns is streaming on HBO.

]]><![CDATA[Will There Be A 'Lanterns' Season 2? Here's Everything We Know]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/lanterns-season-2-explainedhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/lanterns-season-2-explainedMon, 05 Oct 2026 16:29:37 GMT
HBO

The pressure was on Lanterns from the moment it was described as inspired by True Detective. James Gunn’s new take on the DC Universe would be a prestige buddy-cop drama echoing the now-iconic first season of True Detective, which also premiered on HBO. It was a big claim: True Detective (Season 1 in particular) is heralded as one of the best TV shows of the century.

But when True Detective Season 2 started back at square one, it famously couldn’t maintain its momentum. Now that Lanterns Season 1 has ended and largely wrapped up its mystery, could it pull off what its predecessor couldn’t? Here’s everything we know about the future of Lanterns.

Damon Lindelof isn’t returning to Lanterns, but he revealed that the show has started development on Season 2. | Ray Tamarra/Shutterstock

Is Lanterns Renewed For Season 2?

While Lanterns isn’t technically renewed for Season 2 yet, that hasn’t stopped its creative team from planning ahead. Damon Lindelof recently spoke with Collider about the future of Lanterns, even though he left the series after Season 1. He confirmed that Season 2 is in early development, with a writers’ room already assembled.

Lindelof also spoke about the decision to keep Hal as the victim of the murder mystery throughout the series, instead of miraculously reviving him. “The worst possible schmuck-baity thing that we could do is show you a pilot where Hal Jordan was definitively dead, and then try to walk it back and say, 'Oh, he was a clone' or 'He's only mostly dead' in the Princess Bride vernacular.”

Kyle Chandler ended Season 1 dead, but anything could happen in a possible Season 2. | HBO

What Will Happen In Lanterns Season 2?

While Lindelof was forthcoming about work being done on Season 2, he was also honest about how little he’s involved. “I swear to you, as I look at you in the eye on Wednesday this 30th of September, I do not know anything about the creative, and I wouldn't want to hamstring those writers in any way for what future storytelling mechanisms they could indulge in,” he said.

That said, this is the DC Universe, and anyone can be brought back from the dead via a parallel universe — something Peacemaker Season 2 explored at length. It’s also possible the series will try True Detective’s anthological approach, but it’s hard to see how that would be possible without moving the entire story into another era.

And even if Lanterns Season 2 doesn’t ultimately get greenlit, its legacy is already secure: John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) will appear in the upcoming Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, so whatever happens, this story isn’t over yet.

Lanterns is streaming on HBO Max.

]]><![CDATA[A Brief, 2,770-Year History Of Fan Fiction]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/fan-fiction-historyhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/fan-fiction-historyMon, 05 Oct 2026 13:00:25 GMT

There are those who believe that all fiction is fan fiction. Because the earliest stories written down were actually reinterpretations of oral tales told around campfires, then, on some level, when Homer created The Odyssey, that was his fanfic of quasi-historical mythological tales that had been heard by millions of people for hundreds of years. Finding an origin point where fan fiction (aka fanfic) and true, “original” fiction are spiritually different is perhaps impossible. And, if we were to pop back in time in the TARDIS or Doc’s DeLorean and bring Shakespeare to the present, he would have no idea what you were even talking about. Great stories almost naturally provoke audiences to want to create more great stories. Or as Michael Chabon put it in his 2008 book Maps and Legends: “All novels are sequels; all influence is bliss.”

That said, today most people know the difference between fanfic and, well, not fanfic. But how? Philosophically, there may be no real difference, but in reality, there is. And the key to that delineation, which creates a difference, requires a very brief history lesson.

Fanfic of Ancient Times, From Homer to the Brothers Grimm (the Sixth Century BCE to the 1800s)

An illustration of "The Elves and the Shoemaker" from Grimm’s Fairy Tales. | Ivy Close Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

In the middle of the sixth century BCE, the poet Homer formalized the now-familiar tale of The Odyssey, which was not his original concept, but rather his take on oral tales that came from much older tales that preceded him by about 450 to 600 years. For a modernish reference, this would be like somebody doing fanfic of the 1953 James Bond novel Casino Royale in the year 2403, in a type of medium we can’t even yet imagine. (Perhaps telepathic stories that are delivered via a cream you rub on your face?)

But the thing with The Odyssey is Homer’s version has jumped media over the centuries; and its first medium was that of the oral tradition, or spoken “rhapsodies.” Experts on folktales and fairy tales will note that many such foundational stories like The Odyssey are mnemonic, and as Gail de Vos and Anna E. Altmann state in their book New Tales for Old, the ancient storyteller “improves with the driftwood of stock themes and phrases, original in the momentary linking of them.” In other words, the concepts of the characters or the themes are out there in the ether, so storytellers (we might call them enthusiastic fans today) commonly would draw upon these ideas to form “new” stories. Anyone who knows even the tiniest bit about George Lucas’ process for creating the original Star Wars is aware of Joseph Campbell’s notion of the monomyth, which suggests that various concepts recur in stories, which Campbell largely attributed to psychological reasons of the Jungian variety.

But even if we don’t believe in the reason for the existence of the monomyth, the idea that themes that are attractive to the imagination tend to show up over and over again throughout time is, generally, demonstrably true. And more to the point, the writer’s urge to create something from something, rather than something from nothing, is very old.

Case in point: William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, circa roughly 1599, was an early example of the original RPF, or Real Person Fanfic. Caesar was a real historical figure who died in 44 BCE, but in Shakespeare’s version he had clock towers (there were no clock towers in 44 BCE in ancient Rome) and was also haunted by legit, real ghosts. In short, Shakespeare took huge liberties throughout his plays with history, geography, and fantasy, and yes, borrowed more than a few existing myths and legends to make his stories work. Today, both Shakespeare and Homer would be utterly baffled if a movie studio or book publisher issued them cease-and-desist letters for using copyrighted IP in any of their new works, because, let’s face it, if Shakespeare were alive today, he’d be writing plays about the Avengers or the boys on Heated Rivalry.

The first 1936 Flash Gordon serial, starring Buster Crabbe as Flash and Jean Rogers as Dale Arden. | The Legacy Collection/THA/Shutterstock

So, what changed? Part of the big shift is, again, connected to the medium. You’ve heard of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, not because Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm invented those stories, but because they got those stories published in book format in 1812. This very well may be one of the most influential forms of fanfic ever, since the Grimm versions became the default versions of these stories for countless generations, which eclipsed memory and relevance of those versions. (Correlatively, lots of fanfic-ish things can, and do, end up eclipsing the thing they were based on. If we think of Star Wars as George Lucas’ fanfic of Flash Gordon, we know which one is more famous. Ditto Bill Finger and Bob Kane ripping off the Shadow for the creation of Batman.)

But, broadly speaking, even though it’s arguable that the Grimms co-opted stories created by the people and turned those into their own creative provenance, they didn’t own those fairy tales. At least not legally. That didn’t happen until later.

Fanfic Evolves: Sherlock Holmes, copyright laws, and Star Trek zines (1890s to 1980s)

Florilegius/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Copyright laws, in a sense, effectively created fan fiction, since fan fiction for profit exists, often, in opposition to copyright. The beginning of copyright law in regard to published works coalesced over time, but after 1930, the modern age of how we think about fictional characters, legally, began to take hold. Crucially, the invention of fan fiction is connected to one thing: penniless publishing.

If someone is making a profit off of a derivative work, and the original is copyrighted, then you’ve usually got a violation. If you’re not making a profit, and you’re distributing your fanfic, freely, you’re (usually) in the clear. But how did we get there?

In 1891, Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie published a short story (anonymously) called “My Evening With Sherlock Holmes,” which was a parody of the great detective, who was created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who had only just debuted in 1887 in A Study in Scarlet. Barrie and Doyle were buddies, but had they not been, could Doyle have sued Barrie or the magazine that published the story? Likely not. Although copyright law existed in the U.K. since the Copyright Act of 1842, early laws in both the U.S. and the U.K. mostly protected direct rip-offs of characters, rather than plot. The 1930s case, Nichols v. Universal Pictures, established that you couldn’t really own plots, but that developed or “delineated” characters could be protected by copyright law, while stock characters could not.

Meanwhile, the 1909 Copyright Act in the States gave authors exclusive rights over adaptations of their works, which meant that theatrical versions of books were less loosey-goosey than before; this is where our time-traveling Shakespeare probably would have gotten into the most trouble. Finally, in 1976, the Copyright Act was overhauled, which helped establish concepts like “fair use” and the notion of the legal status of derivative works. This is a bit reductive, but it was at this point that the question of profitability came into play.

Fans at the registration desk for the first Star Trek convention in 1972 in New York City. | New York Daily News Archive/New York Daily News/Getty Images

Following Sherlock Holmes fanfic, of all varieties and legalities, the biggest explosion and arguably largest influence on modern fanfic came from the Star Trek franchise. In 1967, the zine Spockanalia #1 was created by Sherna Comerford and Devra Langsam in celebration of the original Star Trek, which, at the time, was still airing new episodes. This contained fiction, poems, and articles about Spock and Star Trek, which went on to spawn countless other Trek fanzines, which, in turn, created all sorts of fanfic concepts including the very notion of “slash” fiction and the trope of “the Mary Sue.”

Before FanFiction.net and Archive of Our Own — because the internet didn’t exist in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s — Star Trek fanfic became the most visible example of what we know and think of fanfic today. And, in another predictive development, many Star Trek fanfic writers, from Della Van Hise to Sondra Marshak and Myrna Culbreath, all later went on to pen and publish fully authorized Star Trek novels, which didn’t fully exist yet when the fanzines first began.

Harry Potter and the Internet (2000s)

Charley Gallay/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

With the dawn of the internet, fanfic quickly went from what seems to have been a very long infancy (hundreds of years?) to the format we’re more familiar with today. In short, the best and most effective medium for fanfic turned out not to be zines made by hand (as beautiful as those are) but websites in which anyone could write and upload their fic. This suddenly meant all sorts of fandoms, from Star Trek to Batman, had a new outlet for their stories.

But the newest fandom proved to be the most prolific. By the early 2000s, Harry Potter fan fiction was everywhere online, and suddenly all sorts of new slash fiction, of the more wizarding variety, proliferated. For a time, as the films became a huge franchise for Warner Bros., the specter of legal action threatened various websites hosting Potter fanfic. “During these early years of online fandom, copyright holders were extremely protective,” historian Mattias Boström writes in his 2016 book From Holmes to Sherlock. “Warner Bros., which thought the fans were stealing its property rather than celebrating ... used to send cease-and-desist letters.”

As Boström points out, and as many remember, “entire web communities risked being deleted if the wrong material ended up there.” But after 2008, following a legal shake-up with Steve Vander Ark’s nonfiction guide, The Harry Potter Lexicon, fair use, not-for-profit Potter fan fiction continued, fairly unfettered.

From Fic to Bestseller (2011 to 2020s)

Jim Spellman/WireImage/Getty Images

In modern times, perhaps the most curious fanfic phenomenon is a transformative one. As some might know, author E.L. James blew up in 2011 with her originally self-published online book Fifty Shades of Grey, which, oddly enough, began as Twilight fanfic. When you think about Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight being inspired by various vampire stories that came before, the hall of mirrors of fan-ish inspiration becomes dizzying, and even more interesting, since Fifty Shades of Grey doesn’t have any vampires in it. (Just sadists!)

The success of the Fifty Shades novels was so great that in 2012, various Random House employees, regardless of their connection to the book, each received a $5,000 bonus. This means that various folk in the publishing industry benefited from something that began as Twilight fanfic online. And that was before the film adaptation with Dakota Johnson.

In terms of massive amounts of money being made in publishing or in Hollywood, Fifty Shades might be the pinnacle of fanfic triumph. But this year’s The Love Hypothesis is in a similar fanfic–to–mainstream book–to–popular movie pipeline. Ali Hazelwood’s concept began as a kind of fanfic about the Star Wars characters Rey and Kylo Ren and now has very much become its own thing.

Of course, Hazelwood and James don’t need to be aware of the long history of fan fiction that helped their success along, but from Homer to Star Trek writers and beyond, fanfic today doesn’t stand on the shoulders of giants, but ordinary people who are, well, fans.

]]><![CDATA[How the Most Controversial Star Wars FanFic Created 'The Love Hypothesis']]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/the-love-hypothesis-star-wars-origin-reylohttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/the-love-hypothesis-star-wars-origin-reyloMon, 05 Oct 2026 13:00:25 GMT

Kisses are a complicated subject in the Star Wars fandom. There’s the awkward twin kiss in A New Hope, the gorgeous “I Love You” “I Know” farewell kiss in The Empire Strikes Back, and the polarizing and dubiously romantic kiss in The Rise of Skywalker. But there’s another kiss that is almost as critical to the franchise that many fans ignore, a kiss that has kept readers rapt for years: the kiss between Dr. Solo and Ph.D. candidate Rey in Head Over Feet, a Star Wars alternate universe (AU) fan fiction written by Ali Hazelwood under the name “Ever_So_Reylo.”

Later published and reworked as The Love Hypothesis — with new character names, “Olive Smith” and “Dr. Adam Carlsen” — which was then adapted into a Prime Video original movie, it can be difficult to see the Star Wars bones of this rom-com, but that’s just what makes it so wonderful and odd. Using Star Wars as a launching pad, like stock characters in the days of commedia dell’arte, this story managed to go from science fiction to science academia — and proved why fan fiction is such a crucial part of the literary landscape.

Fan fiction being turned into original works isn’t new by any means. “Filing the serial numbers off,” as it's often referred to, is how Twilight fan fiction Master of the Universe turned into romance behemoth Fifty Shades of Grey. It’s how a Wattpad story about Harry Styles turned into the five After movies. It’s how a steamy Draco/Hermione fic became Alchemised, a bestselling romantasy tome.

But what makes The Love Hypothesis — or rather, Head Over Feet — so unique is how it evolved. It started as a stock-standard AU fan fiction, placing characters into different situations and settings, often a coffee shop, office, or college. In this case, it was a science academia AU.

Hazelwood was uniquely qualified to write this AU, in particular. While she was self-publishing this fanfic on Archive of Our Own, the go-to fan fiction site, she already had a few publishing credits in academic journals as a neurosurgeon. But don’t go looking for them: “Ali Hazelwood” is a pen name, and she keeps her real name hidden to separate her scientific career from her creative writing. This has become more common than you think. Frieda McFadden, for example, the author of The Housemaid, kept her real identity, Dr. Sara Cohen, M.D., a secret for over 20 years, even donning a wig for her author pics.

The Star Wars fanfic that started it all

Writer Ali Hazelwood. | Amanda Edwards/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

“Head Over Feet” is an interesting fan fiction. To the uninitiated, reading about “Dr. Solo” and his dog “BeeBee” may seem a bit uncanny, but it follows a very established fan fiction structure, even occasionally getting a little meta. When Rey suggests fake-dating so she can help her best friend make a move on her ex and Dr. Solo can appear like he’s putting down roots, she even mentions how “fake dating” is a trope.

“A line appears between his eyebrows. ‘Why do you keep saying that?’
‘Saying what?’
‘Fake-dating'. Like it’s a thing.’
‘Because it is. Don’t you watch rom-coms? Or read Young Adult novels?’ Silence. ‘No fanfiction?’
Ben just stares at Rey with a puzzled expression, until she clears her throat and looks down at her knees. ‘Um. Right.’
Not an AO3 fan, clearly. God, they have nothing in common.”

One of the perks of fan fiction is how unique the language can get. These fanworks are not professionally edited; instead, they are often “beta-read” by other fan fiction writers. Because of this, the spelling and grammar are almost always impeccable, but there are some interesting style choices.

For example, Rey’s expletive of choice appears to inexplicably be “poop.” When she realizes she has feelings for Ben, she says “Poop. Poop, poop, poop—.” When she overhears some attendees gossiping about her at a conference, she escapes to her shared hotel room with Ben, thinking that “Ben witnessing all of this just enhances the poopyness of this poopy, poopy day.” Is it something that would be in a published novel? No, as evidenced by the fact that this doesn’t make the cut in The Love Hypothesis, but it does reflect the individuality of the author herself and, by extension, her version of Rey. Maybe she is a little naive, maybe she feels weird even thinking in explicit language; it may seem unrealistic, but it conversely actually comes across as more “lived in.”

The Love Hypothesis, The Novel

The original cover of The Love Hypothesis and the famous kiss between Kylo Ren and Rey in The Rise of Skywalker. | Lilith Saur/Penguin Random House/Lucasfilm

While The Love Hypothesis is almost a word-for-word adaptation of the original fan fiction, there are a number of key differences. Instead of following a standard fan fiction structure with a simplistic plot and plenty of cameos, The Love Hypothesis instead follows a romance novel structure. Gone are BeeBee and references to Dr. Holdo. “Rey” is now “Olive Smith,” and “Ben Solo” is now “Adam Carlsen.” And, alas, gone are all the “poops.”

There are some fan fiction elements that still shine through. While the reference to fan fiction itself was left on the cutting room floor, Olive still freaks out when she books a hotel room with Adam that there will only be one bed, a notorious fan fiction trope to force a will-they-won’t-they couple to do the deed.

But the biggest change is the conflict. In the fan fiction, Rey is thrown off by hearing some random scientists trash-talking her talk on pancreatic cancer research and calling her a diversity hire. In the novel, Olive reaches out to Adam’s longtime friend Tom about the possibility of continuing her research at his lab but is taken aback when he corners her and suggests that her work is merely mediocre.

The broad strokes of the fan fiction are there, but the action is beefed up just enough to keep readers interested in one setting instead of a number of shorter, serialized chapters, which perfectly leads the way for the final step in this story’s evolution: the movie.

The Love Hypothesis, The Movie

Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman in The Love Hypothesis; in real life, Bateman is married to Rey actress Daisy Ridley. | Prime Video

The Love Hypothesis movie, now streaming on Prime Video, stars Lili Reinhart as Olive Smith and Tom Bateman — the real-world husband of Rey actor Daisy Ridley — as Dr. Adam Carlsen. This irony is not lost on anyone involved with the production.

“It was completely bizarre,” Reinhart told People. “You can’t write that or plan that — that Tom is exactly the right person we were looking for to play Adam, and he just so happens to be married to Daisy. I would like to think that it was serendipitous and wonderful, but we’re just lucky to have found him because he’s perfect.”

The jump from fan fiction to novel is a lot more stark than the jump from novel to movie. All the same parts are there: a meet-cute involving expired contacts and a Stanford bathroom, the random kiss, the fake-dating pact, the villain, and the happily ever after. One of the only major changes is the simplicity of the subplot — Olive’s roommate Malcolm and Adam’s longtime friend Holden, the Finn and Poe analogs from the original fan fiction, end up together, and in the movie Malcolm just realizes that grad school isn’t for him. Tom is also made a bit more explicitly evil — he propositions Olive to sleep with him to advance her career — and the final conceit between him and Adam was cut.

Outside of its evolution, it’s a very serviceable rom-com, full of great chemistry, comfortably low stakes, and a steamy love scene. But with the added context of what came before, we can trace how stories grow and change from medium to medium and from different stages of mainstream acceptance. Without the confrontation, for example, it becomes painfully obvious that there’s nothing to this version of Adam’s past. What is his defining characteristic beyond being gruff and probably neurodivergent? It’s nice to get Easter eggs like how “Rey’s Theme” makes an appearance in the score, but in filing away the Star Wars elements, we lose some of the plot.

If it weren’t for fan fiction, Ali Hazelwood would still only be publishing papers on neuroscience, and those don’t really get adapted into crowd-pleasing movies. But because of this outlet, the literary world has a new science-romance maven, and Prime Video has another winning rom-com.

The Love Hypothesis is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

]]><![CDATA[15 Years Later, A Controversial Horror Anthology Remains Wildly Influential]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/american-horror-story-15-year-anniversaryhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/american-horror-story-15-year-anniversaryMon, 05 Oct 2026 12:30:24 GMT
20th Century Fox Television/Kobal/Shutterstock

Like the zombies, vampires, and other assorted ghouls they regularly tend to feature, TV horror anthologies don’t tend to stay dead for very long. While some fans might lament the bygone days of The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, or Alfred Hitchcock Presents, it’s worth pointing out the appeal of more contemporary anthologies like Tales from the Crypt, Goosebumps, or Black Mirror in more recent decades.

The horror anthology format might ebb and flow in popularity as time marches on, but certain TV series have helped establish the genre as a cultural phenomenon able to capture the imaginations of mainstream audiences across the globe. And just as The Twilight Zone managed to accomplish this spectacular feat back in the late ’50s, so too has American Horror Story redefined what the anthology format could look like for the modern television landscape.

Originally airing on FX in 2011 and now on its 13th season at the network, American Horror Story draws on numerous original stories for the basis of each season, incorporating a cast of recognizable actors who (usually) portray different characters from one season to the next. (This extensive cast list includes Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, and many, many more). Although the story for each season varies, American Horror Story always utilizes well-known horror conventions, settings, and character archetypes for each of its outings, including — but not limited to — ghosts, haunted houses, alien abductions, demonic possessions, serial killers, cults, sleepaway camps, and witchcraft.

In many ways, looking over the entirety of American Horror Story can feel a lot like checking off an exhaustive list of well-known horror tropes, ranging from the deliberately campy (killer clowns, mad scientists, seductive vampires) to the flat-out disgusting. (Don’t even get us started on Season 2’s Bloody Face.) In a sense, that is certainly true; but just as Rod Serling used sci-fi and horror to explore topical issues of the day, AHS creator Ryan Murphy adopts these recognizable horror stereotypes to touch upon countless themes, topics, and talking points relevant to the modern era.

The main quality that has always set The Twilight Zone apart from its rival anthology series is the thought-provoking way it managed to illustrate the darker issues at the back of audiences’ minds in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Some episodes managed to convey the frightening reality of nuclear armageddon — a terrifyingly real possibility amidst the most frigid days of the Cold War — while other episodes showed how twisted, unfair, and downright uncaring fate and the universe can really be. In the grand annals of space age anxieties, racism, conformity, and prejudice were all openly analyzed in Rod Serling’s TV masterclass, with Serling using the guise of genre to palatably explore each of these topics and more.

Echoing Serling’s earlier accomplishments with The Twilight Zone, Murphy scores a similarly remarkable achievement with American Horror Story. Though it undoubtedly — and sometimes shamelessly — adopts every tired and worn-out cliche the horror genre has yet to produce, Murphy uses these conventions to portray many issues, problems, and topics affecting 21st century audiences.

The family of “Murder House.” | 20th Century Fox Television/Kobal/Shutterstock

In the course of the series, Murphy deftly explores everything from mental health, modern marriages, and addiction, to discrimination, sexism, sexuality, and social marginalization. The problems, worries, and concerns may have changed significantly since Rod Serling first introduced us to an unknown dimension we can all dimly recognize, but Murphy manages to bring new topics to light with each new season of American Horror Story. Some of these discussions might be more subtle, intelligent, or acutely handled than others, but Murphy always ensures every new addition to AHS comes equipped with a few core themes ready for dissection, retracing the same colossal path Serling tread with The Twilight Zone, albeit in a way 21st century audiences could appreciate and respond to.

As nearly every dedicated horror fan can attest, most casual viewers tend to instinctively dismiss horror as a vehicle for thematic discussion. But as we see in shows like The Twilight Zone and American Horror Story, there’s still plenty of storytelling potential to be found in this niche but dependably entertaining format of television horror. Like The Twilight Zone before it, many different horror anthologies have found their way to the small screen, such as Black Mirror, The Terror, Into the Dark, and Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. Yet AHS remains in a league of its own, if only for its captivating analysis on the social mores of the modern day and age.

American Horror Story streams on Hulu and Disney+.

]]><![CDATA[60 wacky things that are actually so freaking useful]]>https://www.inverse.com/shopping/wacky-things-that-are-actually-so-freaking-usefulhttps://www.inverse.com/shopping/wacky-things-that-are-actually-so-freaking-usefulMon, 05 Oct 2026 02:00:25 GMT

Just because an item is a little kooky or over-the-top doesn’t mean that it can’t also be useful in your day-to-day life. And all the wacky finds on Amazon are proof. Whether its a set of metal cooling balls for your morning coffee or a portable egg carrier, some of the things that seem the silliest are actually pretty handy. If you’re still not convinced, continue scrolling for a well-curated assortment of products that are worth a second glance.

A self-stirring mug for mixing coffee, matcha, & lightly powdered drinks

With just a touch of a button, this self-stirring mug lets you mix your favorite beverages — think matcha, coffee, and protein drinks — no added utensils needed. The leakproof design features a glass tumbler with a wood-grain handle and lid that stirs via a battery-powered motor at the top. “It’s both stylish and incredibly convenient,” wrote one buyer. “Everything gets mixed evenly, so the flavor is consistent from the first sip to the last.”

Genius ice packs for localized finger injuries

This set of two finger ice packs are an absolute must for your emergency supply kit. Designed to look like an inflatable water floaty, they’re great for aiding ailments like arthritis, tendonitis, gout, sprains, and more. The compression-like sleeve is free of latex and slips on easily, for a speedy recovery.

Duck-shaped tire valve caps that glow in the dark

Between the duck shape and glow-in-the-dark effect, these decorative tire valve caps strike the perfect balance between style and function. They’re available in a pack of four and each piece is made from titanium alloy and comes complete with washers for a secure fit. The best part is, they offer a universal fit, which means you can use them for everything from cars and motorcycles to bicycles and trucks.

A microfiber hand-drying plushie that’s absorbent

This chenille towel ball is designed to look like an adorable shaggy dog. The super absorbent animal is made from a soft and gentle microfiber material that dries quickly, so you don’t have to worry about odor or it mildewing. It comes in a few different colors, along with cute puppy and floppy bunny styles.

Warning whistles for avoiding animal-related car accidents

Reduce the risk of potential car accidents with this pack of deer whistles. Available in a set of two, the tube-like design can be easily attached to the outside of your vehicle, without worrying about it ruining the look of your car. Use the included, double-sided tape to install them. They’ll sound a high-pitched frequency that you can’t hear, to let deers know to stay out of your path.

A sparkly lip balm holder for your car’s console

Keep your pout moisturized on the go by sticking this sparkly lip balm holder to your car’s dashboard console. It’s embellished with shimmery rhinestones and comes with an adhesive tab that allows you to stick it to your vehicle’s interior. Choose between a dozen different colors on offer, including a cheetah and leopard animal print motif for those who prefer something a little bolder.

Body lotion tablets that are perfect for travel

These body lotion bursts are such a genius find. They come with 38 heart- or star-shaped tablets in a pack, each of which is infused with a nourishing lotion formula featuring vitamin E. Plus, it has a sweet, cherry almond scent that’s not too overpowering.

A sticky laptop sleeve for all your computer essentials

Keep essentials like writing utensils and cable chords easily accessible from wherever you are with this laptop sleeve that sticks to the top of your computer. It has multiple compartments and a self-adhesive back that will stay firmly in place. Removal and repositioning is just as easy, which means you don’t have to worry about damaging the device’s surface.

Foldable flip-flops for pedicures & high heel emergencies

Stowing a pair of these foldable flip-flops in your car or everyday tote is bound to come in handy on the day to day. They’re made from a flexible, rubberized material that’s surprisingly lightweight, considering how durable they are. The split-toe design, adds to the comfort and ease of wearability.

  • Available sizes: 5-6 — 13-14
  • Available colors: 15+

This mini projector that creates a galactic light show

One of the easiest ways to transform the vibe in your room is by adding mini projector into the mix. Just download the coordinating smartphone app to flip through all the remote-controlled device features, including an automatic timer, brightness levels, and 20 different color options. It also has a built-in Bluetooth speaker that plays soothing music and white noise for peak relaxation.

Bag attachments for keeping your everyday tote oranized

Thanks to these bog bag attachments, now you can keep your everyday essentials — think keys, cardholder, water cup, and more — organized and easily accessible. Thanks to the plug-in fastening the four-piece neoprene pack comes with a well-sized pouch, cup holder, and two carabiner hooks for your keys and more. They’re all lightweight as well as sand-proof and waterproof, making it great for the beach.

A portable egg case for overnight camping trips

This egg storage box is a practical alternative to bringing a whole carton along on a camping trip. It’s made from a clear, plastic material with a cushioned design and a snap sealed lid to keep them from breaking in transport. Use the included carabiner key chain clip to attach it to the rest of your hiking gear.

A puffer jacket for keeping canned beverages colder, longer

This puffer-style beverage jacket keeps canned and bottled drinks colder for hours, and it looks really cool. It’s made from two thermal layers with handles that resembles arm sleeves on each side for ease of carry. Plus, it has a rubberized base to ensure stability when sitting your drink down on table and countertops.

A rain drum chime for meditation

This steel waterproof rain drum is great for outdoor meditation. It’s made in a raised, pebble-shaped design that captures the soothing sounds of falling rain. As the water hits the surface, it creates a serene and ethereal auditory experience that is surprisingly relaxing. It comes in more than 10 different metallic shades and a few different sizes.

A mini hairbrush that doubles as a safe for storing money, jewelry, & more

By design, this mini hairbrush is quite deceiving. At first glance it looks like just another beauty tool but when you zoom in you’ll realize that the base’s cap unscrews to reveal a hidden compartment for safely storing your valuables. The compartment can fit everything from petty cash to jewelry to other essentials you want to keep close to your person.

This novelty charging cable cover that is so playful

Make your electronic cords stand out in a sea of similar styles with these cute charger covers, inspired by your favorite cartoon characters. The set comes complete with both cable and port protectors that are compatible with a handful of different phone models. There are more than a dozen different styles to choose from, including a porky pig and black bat.

A magnetic bar soap holder that looks so sleek

If you’re looking for a way to make your bathroom feel more modern and chic, these magnetic soap bar holders are a small but impactful detail that could make all the difference. Available in a pack of two, they’re made from all-natural wood and is suitable for soaps of all sizes and shapes. The best part is how easy they are to install, just use the included adhesive tabs to stick them to smooth clean surfaces like, glass, tile, granite, marble, and more.

An espresso cooling ball that feels so professional

These metal cooling balls are an easy way to cool down espresso and other hot beverages so that you an enjoy them, almost immediately. They’re made from stainless steel in a strategic design that will sit atop your favorite mugs and glasses for absolute precision. All you have to do is freeze them for two to four hours before placing it on top of your cup and letting your hot coffee brew on top. You’ll never have to worry about diluting your drink during the chilling process.

A wireless lamp that looks like an expensive bottle of alcohol

This wireless bottle lamp shade is designed to turn your favorite spirit into another piece of expensive decor on your shelf. The rechargeable light can be placed atop most standard-sized wine and liquor bottles using the flexible, silicone connector. It has three adjustable brightness settings built in for more customized lighting options.

A hair dryer stand that looks so professional

Turn your bathroom into a salon by adding this hair dryer stand into the mix. It’s suited for most standard tools and has an neck and shaft, both of which allow you to reach your hair from every angle, without worrying about your arms getting tired. The weighted base helps ensure it won’t tip over when in use.

Toothbrush holder stands that are so nostalgic

Available in a set of two, these toothbrush holder stands are functional additions that double as decoration for your bathroom. They’re made from see-through acrylic with a floating mold that creates the illusion of a shell-filled seascape. Order the matching soap dispenser for a coordinated look.

This donut-shaped piercing pillow for side sleepers

Side sleepers will love this donut-shaped ear piercing pillow, as it prevents your jewelry from pressing into the cushioned surface for hours at night. It’s made from cotton and has a strategically-placed cutout at the center that takes pressure off your ear. Choose between dozens of different colors and prints on offer, including a slew of artful foral prints.

Elastic no-tie shoe laces for slipping sneakers on & off

Designed for both kids and adults, these elastic no-tie shoe laces make slipping your favorite sneakers on and off a breeze. All you have to do is put the laces in your shoes, cut off the access before burning each end with a lighter and attaching each metal buckle for reinforcement. Choose between more than a dozen different color options on offer, including a bold shade of neon yellow.

Kitschy car air vents for decorating in a way that’s still practical

These shoe-shaped air vent clips are a great way to give your call a little added personality. Available in a pack of four, they come in a colorful assortment — blue, green, yellow, and pink — that will liven up the inside of any vehicle. Just attach the clip fastening to the outside of the open vent.

Handmade wool dryer balls for reducing static & wrinkles

These wool dryer balls are the type of product that you never knew you needed until now. Handmade from organic New Zealand wool into a wide-eye sprite motif, they are an easy way to get rid of the wrinkles and static in your clothing before you even take them out of the dryer. It also helps soften fabrics for a gentler wear.

Adorable accessories for your tumbler cup

These tumbler lid accessories are such a fun (and affordable) way to decorate your cup to make it feel more unique. Each set comes with a landscape theme, complete with colorful, coordinated animal charms as well as a cute straw cap to top it all off — literally. Choose between four different styles on offer, including wide-eye frogs sitting on a lily pad.

Clear glassy keyboard stickers that are nail friendly

These clear glass keyboard stickers are perfect for those with longer nails. Designed to iridescent bubbles, they’re easy to apply, just use the peel-and-stick adhesive tabs and place them atop each key. The best part is they’re reusable and removing them is just as seamless, so you don’t have to worry about residue being left behind.

A silicone dishwasher net to keep cups, baby bottles, & bowls from shifting

Keep smaller dish pieces (think caps, straws, and baby bottles) from falling over during a rinse cycle with this dishwasher net attachment. It’s made from a flexible, heat-resistant silicone material that’s meant to be stretched across the top basket, ensuring everything is secure. “The adjustable hooks are a great design feature,” wrote a shopper. “They make it easy to attach the net tightly to different dishwasher racks, and everything stays in place during the wash cycle.”

Slip-on soaking shoes for at-home pedicures

Created with at-home pedicures in mind, these soaking shoes are a great alternative to a traditional basin, which is prone to spills. The boot-like design is made from a heat-resistant PVC material to safely slip on before adding water and things like rose petals, spa salts, and other ingredients. They come in two colors and three different sizes, allowing you to find a pair that fits you the best.

A hand-shaped metal paper clip that has a vintage look

Between the hand-shaped design and burnished finish, this metal paper clip looks like something you’d find at your local vintage store. The decorative silhouette is especially great for junk journals and books, alike. “I can toss it in my bag without worrying about it breaking or getting scratched,” one buyer wrote about the overall durability.

An arcade-inspired light switch cover that is so unique

Perfect for gamers, this two-tone light switch plate cover looks like the buttons featured on your favorite arcade machine. They’re easy to install — no electric wiring needed — all you have to do is remove the existing plate using a standard flathead screwdriver and placing this novelty cover on top. Choose between a rainbow assortment of colors on offer for your own personalized set.

This remote control holder that mounts to the wall

If you’re someone who loses things often, this mountable remote control holder is a great solution. Just use the self-adhesive back to hang it on a wall, or smooth surface you frequent for safe keeping. The best part is, it’s renter friendly, so aside from no screws or nails being needed, there won’t be any residue left behind when you remove the holder.

A sparkly pill holder key chain that is so blinged out

This sparkly pill holder key chain has a distinct Y2K vibe. The blinged out design is covered in high-shine rhinestones in a twist-top silhouette that is surprisingly secure. Available in a dozen of fun colors, it can also be used to keep smaller essentials like your rings, stud earrings, coins, and earplugs.

Portable titanium toothpicks for cleaning teeth from wherever you are

Thanks to these portable stainless steel toothpicks, you’ll never find yourself without floss or a way to get good out of your teeth again. It comes in a set of two, each of which comes complete in a matching case to protect to pointed edge and its own key ring. “The quality of the construction is immediately evident,” one customer gushed. “The tips are perfectly machined to be effective without being overly sharp.”

Rotating cable clip holders that are so adorable

These rotating cable clips are such a small and stylish change that will make all the difference in your desk or nightstand setup. Available in a pack of eight, these turtle-shaped holders come with a self-adhesive tab that allows them to stick to the sides of your beside and end tables, keeping your charging cords within arm’s reach. The colorful assortment are just the cherry on top.

This moody touch-tap lamp for dim showers

Perfect for bathrooms with little to no natural lighting, this waterproof shower lamp will transform your nighttime routine into a spa-like experience. It has a touch-tap design that allows you adjust the brightness and flip between 16 different vibrant colors. You can also use the included remote control for ultimate convenience.

A bra wallet for keeping your ID, cash, & other essentials close

This skin-friendly bra wallet is designed with travel in mind. Not only does the small, neoprene pouch have a clip fastening that attaches to the center of your undergarment, the snap-flap fastening keeps your smaller essentials — think cash, ID, and valuable jewelry — safe. Choose between three wear-with-anything shades on offer.

This sensory activity board for calming stress & anxiety

Keeping the hands busy while calming the mind, this sensory activity board is a fun way to combat stress and anxiety. This fidget toy comes has a push and peel design, featuring a maze with colorful tubes that you can work into the grooves, twisting and turning them for screen-free fun. “The materials feel durable and safe, with no flimsy parts,” wrote one buyer. “Even after weeks of daily play (and some drops and tosses), it still looks brand new.”

This shopkeeper’s bell for front doors, refrigerators, & more

A great alternative to an alarm, this shopkeeper door chime alerts you when someone enters a room (or opens a kitchen appliance). It’s made from an all-natural wood grain with a metal bell that is surprisingly loud, considering how small and compact it is in stature. Use the strong magnetic hold or included self-adhesive tabs to mount it to clean, smooth metal and nonmetal surfaces around your home.

An adjustable rose lamp that is so versatile

Between the adjustable gooseneck and unique design, this flower lamp is great for both kids and adults, alike. It’s made to look like a single, long-stem rose that sits comfortably on most smooth surfaces, like end tables, nightstands, and countertops, too. The rechargeable silhouette has three different brightness features and a portable battery that lasts for up to eight hours.

An adorable overflow drain cover for your daily bubble baths

This overflow drain cover is made to look like an adorable animal or water creature — think octopus and little yellow duck. It’s made from silicone in a suction-cup design that will stick to the side of your tub, allowing you to comfortably control your bath levels without worrying about the water slowly draining out while you soak. Choose between a handful of colors available.

Cacti toilet bolt covers that are so cutesy

If you’re looking to make a few subtle changes to your bathroom, adding these decorative toilet bolt covers into the mix is such an underrated finishing touch. They’re made from detailed ceramic to look like palm-sized cacti, however if you’re not into desert plants, it comes in more than a handful of different styles, including butterflies and fruits like lemons or strawberries. Installing them is super easy, just place them on top and they’ll snap straight on.

Beaded garden stakes for easy self-watering

These DIY plant stakes kit is a fun way to make your garden and potted plants even more aesthetically pleasing. It comes with a colorful assortment of 140 beads, all in varying sizes and shapes, and has a crystal-cut glass bulb at the top as well as a sharp edge that will seamlessly penetrate the soil. The set is a perfect activity for family get togethers for both, kids and adults to enjoy.

Plastic clothespins that look like cutesy cat claws

Perfect for cat lovers, these novelty clothespins are equal parts adorable and functional. They come in a pack of 24 and can be used a bunch of different ways, including line drying and keeping open food bags closed. “The rubber-like coating on the inside of the clip is a nice touch since it grips onto whatever you are clipping, which is especially useful if you are trying to hang clothes or close something slippery,” wrote a customer.

Cloud-like elbow pads for your work-from-home setup

These cushioned elbow pads are a great way to upgrade your desk setup. Made from waterproof memory foam, they have a padded, cloud-like design that offers ample wrist and arm support while you type. Choose between four different neutral tones available — black, pink, beige, and white.

This all-natural eucalyptus plant that doubles as a retainer case

This denture or retainer case disguised as a potted plant is an aesthetically-pleasing way to soak mouth guards, baby pacifiers, as well as a set of fake teeth. The discreet design features a cup with strainer that will fit most small, oral supply items. “It looks just like a little plant, so it blends right in with her space—guests don’t even realize what it is,” wrote one shopper in their review.

A pronged stand for intricate floral arrangements

If you’re someone who enjoys arranging flowers as a hobby, this pronged stand is an absolute must. It’s designed with rustproof stainless steel pins that are strong enough to hold stems, as well as a rubber gasket to prevent the plant frog from scratching and scuffing your favorite vases. Choose between gold-tone and silver hardware to find the one that best suits your arrangement.

Color-changing shower lights for a moody experience

These color-changing shower lights are a great way to instantly upgrade your bathroom without making any major changes. It comes with two waterproof and rechargeable fixtures in a pack, each of which has three dimmable, light temperatures — warm, natural, and cool white — for more customized settings. Use the included remote control to flip between different features on offer.

A reusable makeup shield for perfect & precise application

Achieve a professional-level look with this reusable makeup shield in a practical, half-moon shape. It’s made from a padded, silicone material that will catch any excess powder or shadow during application, while also serving as a straight edge stencil for cut creases and winged liner. Pro tip: Try placing them in the refrigerator or freezer ahead of getting ready to get rid of puffiness and soothe dark circles.

Dissolvable soap paper sheets you can use on-the-go

Thanks to this no-waste antibacterial soap paper, you no longer have to worry about dirty hands while you’re traveling on the go. A great alternative to the typical sanitizer, it comes with 100 sheets in each pack and all you have to do is add water and watch them dissolve into a gentle cleansing solution. All the fruity and fresh scents on offer are just an added bonus.

This ear piercing cleaning kit for soothing irritation

Reduce the risk of infection and oder with this pretty genius piercing cleaner tool that is made to be inserted into the hole. It has soft, fiber-free swabs on each end for a gentle wipe down that is both clean and efficient. Available in a set of two, this tool is suitable for ear, nose, navel, and other body piercings that require a little extra care.

A decorative flower button for cars with a push-to-start engine

Give your car a little extra flair by adorning the interior with something as simple as this push-start button cover. Made to look a dainty jelly flower, it’s easy to install, just pop the cute resin add-on top using the self-adhesive back for a secure fit. Decoration aside, it’s also a great way to protect your nails, in the process.

This food-thawing belt that is so genius

Cut down on the food prep time with the help of this thaw belt. This genius find is both innovative and simple by design, it’s made from food-safe silicone with a suction-cup bottom that will stick to the sink while safely unthawing frozen meat while retaining the essential nutrients and vitamins. “This is a snap to use and rolls up to easily store,” one shopper shared.

A wine drip ring for easy cleanup & preventing accidental spills

One of the downsides of hosting and entertaining guests is having to clean up the mess the next morning and these wine drip rings are a great way to prevent accidental spills before they even happen. It comes with 12 pieces in each pack, which can just be slipped over the top of the funneled bottom top, which will catch any drippings. Plus, this is also a great way to protect your furniture from unsightly water (or wine) rings.

A whimsical gutter downspout that looks like something out if a storybook

This playful gutter downspout looks like a page out of a storybook. It’s made from resin in a colorful, lifelike design that is functional while giving your home a little added curb appeal. And if frogs aren’t really your thing, it comes in a bunch of different styles, including everything from mermaids and frogs to turtles and big black bears.

Banana-shaped shoe deodorizers for combatting smelly insoles

These cheeky shoe deodorizers are a fun and discreet way to get rid of extreme smells and replace it with a natural citrus scent. The aromatic formula is made up of pure essential oils and dried lavender flowers. Designed to look like a pair of bananas — complete with the fruit sticker on the side — they’re meant to last anywhere from six to 12 months, giving you the most bang for your buck.

A door silencer for nurseries, sound sleepers, & more

This three-pack of door silencers is an absolute must for soft sleepers, baby nurseries, and other rooms you want to keep quite. They’re super easy to use, just wrap the elasticated loops to the base of each doorknob so that the fabric square covers the lock and latch to prevent accidental door slamming. “Instead of a loud crash echoing through the house, it reduces the impact to a dull, quiet thud that allows me to sleep peacefully,” wrote one buyer.

This suction-cup drink holder that is peak luxury

This mounted drink holder sticks to most smooth, clean surfaces, which allows you to take your preferred beverage with you wherever you are in your house. No tools, drilling, or nails needed, it has super sticky suction cups that can be strongly pressed to stainless steel, glass, acrylic, tile and more, with no slipping. “My standard wine glasses fit perfectly and feel secure, without any wobbling or fear they’ll tip over,” a customer wrote. “The material feels solid and well-made, not flimsy or cheap, so I’m confident it will hold up over time.”

An ergonomic footrest that is peak comfort

This ergonomic footrest might be exactly what your desk or table has been missing. It comes with two springboard designs (one for each of your feet) that prevents fidgeting and allows you to relax your legs while you work. Plus, there’s an anti-slip base and traction at the top for ample support to relieve back pain.

Glass fish tumblers that are so unique

Equal parts playful and fun, these lead-free glass fish tumblers are all different and stackable for ease of storage. Not only that, when layered on top of one another, they create a picturesque figure, allowing them to double as decor. The best part? They have a double-walled lining with a scratch-resistant finish so you don’t have to worry about scuffs over time.

]]><![CDATA[How To Watch The Hellraiser Movies In Order]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/hellraiser-movies-in-orderhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/hellraiser-movies-in-orderSun, 04 Oct 2026 14:00:25 GMT
Entertainment Film Distributors

When most people think about the horror icons that emerged as a result of the ‘80s slasher wave, they think of three in particular: Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, and Freddy Krueger. The enduring legacy of all of these characters are a reflection of how outsized their impacts were at the time — Michael just wrapped up a reboot trilogy back in 2022, Jason is getting a prequel TV series about his Mom in just a few weeks, and Freddy is finally coming back to screens courtesy of Paramount and the Wes Craven estate. But there’s another horror franchise that got started in the ‘80s, and while it doesn’t enjoy the same spotlight as the other three, it rivals them in terms of sheer output (for better and much worse).

Part of the reason why the Hellraiser franchise never became as big as A Nightmare on Elm Street might be because the first two films, and the novella they’re based on, are so much more complex and risqué than the horror movies packing theaters at the time — the central villains are the Cenobites, interdimensional beings from a hellish plane of existence where their pursuit of extreme sensation has rendered pain and pleasure indistinguishable. The first film presents them as brutal zealots proselytizing the pleasures of suffering, but as the series went on, they began treating Pinhead (referred to by series creator Clive Barker as the Hell Priest) and his companions as traditional slashers.

The Priest and his Cenobite compatriots are some of the most strikingly designed and fascinating villains in all of horror. | Entertainment Film Distributors

While the first film became a beloved and boundary-pushing piece of body horror, and the second film has earned its place as a cult classic in its own right, the later sequels fall off a cliff into the pit of straight-to-DVD installments, each one a more torturous attempt for various studios to retain the IP rights than the last. It wasn’t until recently that the franchise received a proper second life, with a generally well-received reboot directed by David Bruckner back in 2022. Now the Cenobites live again, this time in video game form with the upcoming October 8 release of Hellraiser: Revival, a survival horror game developed by Saber Interactive — which gives fans the perfect excuse to open the box and revisit each of the franchise’s many installments.

How To Watch The Hellraiser Movies In Release Order

In truth, the Hellraiser canon really can be summed up to the events of the first four movies. The original introduces Ashley Laurence as Kirsty Cotton, who stumbles upon the Lament Configuration and the Cenobites after her sadistic uncle Frank is resurrected by her mother-in-law Julia, with whom he’d been having an affair. The second film follows Kirsty after she’s institutionalized when no one will believe her story, only for the lead psychologist at the hospital to attempt to cross over to the Cenobites dimension using the box.

Kirsty Cotton is the closes the series ever gets to a Laurie Strode or a Sidney Prescott. | Entertainment Film Distributors

The third film departed from Kirsty’s story with the Lament Configuration ending up in the hands of a New York City nightclub owner, while the fourth served as a sort of ersatz prequel featuring three different timelines: one in the 1790s with the creator of the box, one in 1996 with his modern descendant, and one set in 2127 (beating Jason X to the punch). After that, the timeline of the films becomes indiscriminate, with each movie taking the shape of various psychological thrillers with the DNA of Hellraiser spliced into them. The franchise is one of the most eclectic in horror, with one of the steepest drop-offs in quality as well, but nevertheless each of them offer a unique experience in one way or another, which in all fairness is the Cenobites’ whole deal.

Here’s how to watch all the Hellraiser movies in order:

  1. Hellraiser (1987)
  2. Hellbound: Hellraiser 2 (1988)
  3. Hellraiser 3: Hell on Earth (1992)
  4. Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)
  5. Hellraiser: Inferno (2000)
  6. Hellraiser: Hellseeker (2002)
  7. Hellraiser: Deader (2005)
  8. Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005)
  9. Hellraiser: Revelations (2011)
  10. Hellraiser: Judgement (2018)
  11. Hellraiser (2022)
David Bruckner’s reboot was the first well-regarded Hellraiser movie in over 30 years, and Jamie Clayton’s interpretation of Pinhead was a huge point of praise. | Hulu

Despite a declining reputation brought on by eight less-than-stellar sequels, it’s a testament to how much of an impact on pop culture the first film made that Hellraiser is even still recognizable and beloved.

Hellraiser: Revival is going back to basics, closely following the lore of the original novella The Hellbound Heart and the original two movies, which means it’s bringing back the combination of dangerous sensual allure and grotesque body horror that makes the first one such an exhilarating watch. Hopefully the game is enough to generate interest in another film in the franchise; either a sequel to Bruckner’s reboot or a brand-new take on the material, because as Pinhead himself once said, the Cenobites always have “such sights to show you.”

Hellraiser: Revival releases on October 8 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

]]><![CDATA[65 Freakishly Clever Things Under $20 That Are Life-Changing]]>https://www.inverse.com/shopping/freakishly-clever-things-under-20-that-are-life-changinghttps://www.inverse.com/shopping/freakishly-clever-things-under-20-that-are-life-changingSun, 04 Oct 2026 12:30:24 GMT

There’s a special category of product that’s freakishly clever and won’t break the bank at the same time. These are the weirdly specific little inventions that solve problems you didn’t even realize had solutions in the first place. From storage hacks that eliminate everyday annoyances to lighting tricks that make routine tasks dramatically easier to simple gadgets that will change the way you interact with your space, these cheap finds punch far above their price tags. They may look strange at first, but once you use them, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.

A teeny-tiny dancing cat that holds your AirPods

This magnetic AirPods holder is shaped like a little dancing cat you can keep on your desk or nightstand to make your day a little more fun. Each of the cat’s hands have tiny little magnets on them to each hold one AirPod. It becomes a great go-to spot to store your headphones so you always know where they are when you’re looking for them. Plus when it’s not being used, it just looks like a cute dancing cat figurine.

A cable management strip that reduces tangles of cord clutter

This cable management strip mounts to the back of your desk, nightstand, or entertainment center, and can hold up to 16 cables, organizing them to keeps wires from tangling and ruining the look of your space. It applies with a thick adhesive backing and multiple strips can be lined up to get your wires from point A to point B.

Pocket-size pill cases you can just squeeze to open

These pocket-sized pill cases are the most genius way to make sure you always have your meds, supplements, or just-in-case pills with you anywhere. They can hold up to 28 small or medium tablets, which is shocking considering the size. Each one has a squeezable design with a secure seal that keeps your pills from spilling out everywhere.

Latex barrier tape that helps you create a mess-free manicure at home

If you want to start doing your nails at home but need some help making them as good as the salon, this latex tape is the solution. It has a nail polish-like brush that you can use to apply the latex on the skin around your nail. Then do your nails as usual. When you’re done and the manicure has dried, you can peel the latex off and any nail polish that strayed onto your skin will come off too.

An elephant-shaped drying rack with a trunk that drains excess water

This geometric elephant looks like a sculpture but it’s actually a dish-drying rack designed specifically for cutlery. It helps keep your countertop organized while also elevating your newly cleaned silverware to help things dry faster. The trunk doubles as a drain that allows excess water to run directly back into the sink so there’s no messy standing water to worry about.

Easy-to-apply cement crack filler that upgrades your driveway or walkway instantly

If you want to update the outside of your home on a budget, this cement crack filler completely refrehes your driveway or walkway by removing all those pesky gaps that seem to grow new weeds everyday. It has a self-leveling formula and dries gray to blend in with concrete. It can also be painted with latex or oil-based paint.

Refrigerator liners that encourage air circulation to keep produce fresher

These refrigerator liners have a porous design that allows air to circulate throughout the drawer to prevent produce from spoiling before you’re ready to eat it. They absorb moisture to help create the kind of refrigerator environment that will keep your fruits and veggies fresher for longer.

Adorable earrings that look like animals biting your ears

Upgrade your jewelry game and check out these adorable animal earrings. They’re designed to look like they’re biting the edge of your lobe and they couldn’t be cuter. They come in all kinds of animal shapes — from a shark to a dinosaur to a hippo — to add a whimsical element to your jewelry collection that’s guaranteed to make you smile.

Ceramic toilet bolt covers that add charm & hide gunk

You know those ugly bolts at the base of your toilet that have a way of collecting dust and grime no matter how often you clean them? Well, these ceramic birds slip right on top to not only add an unexpected pop of charm but also make your bathroom look cleaner in an instant. Plus they don’t require any tools to install.

A night-light that projects a geometric pattern on your walls

If you’re still using an ordinary night-light, you’re missing out. This light basically has a pseudo crystal ball on top and on the bottom, so when the light is on, it projects the coolest geometric pattern on your walls. It has three brightness levels and lets off a warm white glow that’s gentle on your eyes at night.

A dog-shaped hand towel that’s made of shaggy chenille

This dog-shaped towel is made of buttery soft and shaggy chenille, which looks adorable, is super absorbent, and dries quickly. It comes in a bunch of neutral and pastel colors and it stands on your countertop, always ready to be used when you’re washing your hands. Like a normal towel, it can even be tossed in the washing machine for easy cleaning.

A plucking fidget toy that provides a safer alternative to picking & pulling

If you’re someone who picks at their skin, bites their nails, or pulls at their hair as a soothing method for any kind of stress, this fidget toy was designed specifically for you. That’s because it features dozens of long strings inside a flexible silicone base that you can slowly pick out with the included tweezers. It’s tactile and interactive, giving you something to do with your hands to help distract from other picking habits. The whole thing fits in the palm of your hand to take it with you anywhere.

Stained-glass window film that adds privacy without blocking natural light

Thanks to the 3D texture, vivid colors, and the way it reflects a rainbow of light around your space, this window film looks like expensive stained glass even though it installs in seconds with only water and static cling. Made of vinyl, it blocks out UVA and UVB rays to protect your art, furniture, and books from fading in the sun.

A retractable car charger with USB-C & Lighting cables

The most annoying part about charging your phone in the car is the tangle of wires it creates in and around the center console. That’s what makes this charger so absolutely brilliant. It has a USB-C and Lighting cable that expand up to 31.5 inches so you can even use it in the back seat. But when you’re not using the cables, they retract back into the charger to keep your car feeling tidy.

Earring support patches to keep your ears from sagging

If you love a big earring, these support patches are a must-have. They stick to the backs of your ears so no one will know they’re there, helping to hold up your earrings and preventing your lobes from sagging or your piercing from stretching. Hypoallergenic and latex free, they’re so comfortable, you’ll forget you’re wearing them.

Durable picks that remove hair from brushes & vacuums

These durable picks feature claw-like points that can help you remove stray hair from brushes or vacuums quickly and easily. It removes all types of hair — pet and human — getting deep into the brush or vacuum, cutting through it to help remove it in an instant. This way, you can help keep these things working good as new.

A magnetic dishwasher cover that transforms the appliance into a work of art

This magnetic cover mounts to the front of your dishwasher to turn it into a work of art, something that can actually add to the decor of your kitchen. It features vivid flowers, greenery, and pine cones, to bring a nature-inspired vibe to your space. It’s water resistant and easy to clean — two important attributes for anything in your kitchen. It also doubles as a way to protect the surface of your dishwasher from everyday scratches and scrapes.

Paper soap sheets for scrubbing up when you’re away from home

These paper soap sheets come in a pack of 100 and allow you to get your hands clean anywhere. Whether you’re at the airport, on a plane, camping, at work — you name it — these sheets of soap only need water to create a luxurious lather that’s cleansing and moisturizing at the same time. The packets themselves are compact enough to keep in your purse or pocket.

Key cap covers that look like cute dog heads

If you have trouble remembering which key is the bottom lock or the top lock for your front door, these key cap covers can help. Made of flexible and durable material, the covers have cute dog head shapes that help you easily differentiate between keys without thinking about it too hard. They slide right onto the top of the key, adding some personality without blocking the actual key itself so they’re still completely usable.

A handheld plunger designed to get gunk out of your sink

This handheld plunger was designed specifically to deal with clogs in your sink or tub, which is absolutely genius. Simply apply the plunger to the drain cover, pump it a few times to push huge volumes of air into the pipe, and watch as the blockage gets removed and your sink goes back to working properly again.

Colorful highlighter pens that create all kinds of fun designs

These aren’t ordinary highlighter pens — not only do they have bright, vivid colors, but they actually produce a line of fun shapes to emphasize and decorate your notes at the same time. They feature everything from dots to hearts to squiggles, and roll across your page with ease. The other side has a fine tip for writing notes in the margins, too.

Flameless candles in gorgeous smoked glass jars

These flameless candles have three tapers inside gorgeous and expensive-looking smoked glass jars, giving you the look and feel of candlelight without worrying about a live flame. They’re battery operated so you can put them anywhere and the timers, brightness, and lighting modes can be controlled with a remote.

Teeny-tiny onigiri vases for small flowers & stems

These teeny tiny ceramic vases look like adorable, personality-filled onigiri rice balls. They’re made from high-end ceramic with a glossy surface that adds so much charm. They’re not watertight so they’re best for faux flowers, dried grass, or other decorative foliage you want to display in the cutest way possible.

An elephant-shaped mug with a built-in compartment for tea bags

This ceramic mug is perfect for those cozy mornings, afternoons, and nights when you want to curl up with some tea. It holds up to 15 ounces and has a separate, built-in compartment to store your tea bag once it’s done steeping so you don’t have to get up to throw it out. It’s designed to withstand high temperatures to keep your drink warm and your hands comfortable.

A 2-sided eyebrow pencil that creates fuller, bolder brows

This eyebrow pencil makes it easier than ever to get fuller, bolder brows without leaving your bathroom. One side has a precise brush tip that can draw hair-like strokes for extra detail, while the other side has a four-fork tip that fills in and blends color to create the brows of your dreams. They work together to create a natural, long-lasting shape.

Mini brass figurines that add an unexpected pop of charm to door hinges

These teeny-tiny brass figurines mount to the top of your door hinges to add an unexpected pop of charm that’s guaranteed to make you and your guests smile when they’re spotted. They have intricate details on the brass surface and they’re such a fun and simple way to add a conversation starter to your space.

A long-handled brush that cleans between your toes

Clean between your toes without bending down with this brush. It has a long handle that expands from 12.2 to 24.4 inches so you can reach down between each of those little piggies and get your feet clean as can be. It comes with three cotton cloths that slip onto the end to clean, each of which can be washed and reused.

A window cleaner & defogger small enough to fit in your glove compartment

This window sponge instantly removes fog and condensation from windows and mirrors in your car. It can be used wet or dry and doesn’t require any cleaning solutions to work. The compact design means it can fit in your center console or glove compartment without taking up too much space.

Mesh tape that blends into screens to repair tears & holes

This mesh tape was specifically designed to help repair tears and holes in screen doors and windows, blending in so you’ll barely even know it’s there. It’s resistant to heat, cold, rain, and wind, so it can be used in all weather conditions year-round. The three-layer structure is ultra strong and durable and only takes a few seconds to install.

Travel salt & pepper shakers to season your food anywhere

Make sure you can season your food anywhere with this travel-size salt and pepper shaker. About the size of a matchbox, it has two separate compartments with airtight lids that lock out moisture to keep everything inside fresher longer. Each side holds one tablespoon and the lid also has a wide-opening option to easily fill. The whole thing is dishwasher safe, too.

A tea light candle holder with a chic bird accent

This vintage-inspired candle holder looks like tree branches, with a bird confidently perched on top and a candle lighting the way. It’s a gorgeous centerpiece for a dining table or accent for a side table. It has a powder-coated finish that gives it an expensive look, despite how budget-friendly it is.

A cute cat with a long tail designed to hold headphones, keys, & more

This little cat has a long, strong tail that can hold up to 1 pound — which is perfect for keys, glasses, wired headphones, and more. It adheres to your desk, computer, or shelf with strong 3M double-sided tape and keeps your space functional and adorable.

Cylindrical car tissue boxes that fit into cupholders

These tubular tissue holders solve that annoying problem of needing tissues in the car but having nowhere to put that traditionally sized box. They were designed specifically to fit in your car’s center console cupholders or in the door, so you have easy access when you need them. Each box has a gorgeous floral pattern and holds up to 50 tissues.

A shower steamer tray that protects tablets from water to last longer

Shower steamers level up any shower and this tray makes them last so much longer. The tray suction cups to the wall, giving you the perfect spot to hold your shower steamer, protecting it from direct water spray while still allowing the scent to rise and fill your space. This way, you can make sure your shower always feels like a spa.

A toilet brush that hides behind the tank to stay out of sight

Sure, you need a toilet brush in your bathroom, but you don’t need it to be out and ruining the vibe. Instead, check out this holder. It mounts to the back of the tank, keeping the brush easily accessible when you need it but out of sight and out of mind when you don’t. The brush itself has an angled design that allows you to easily scrub underneath the rim of the bowl.

A hanging organizer that adds a ton of storage space to cabinets

This organizer mounts underneath a shelf to give you back a good amount of storage space inside your cabinets. It’s great for pantry items like snacks and spices, cleaning supplies like garbage bags, or toiletries like toothpaste. It installs with 3M tape and can hold up to 2.2 pounds. It’s a great way to take advantage of the unused space underneath shelves, adding storage and keeping your cabinets so much more organized.

Putty that removes gunk from your headphones & cases

Your earbuds are about to look brand new when you use this earbud cleaning putty regularly. The putty molds to the shape of your earbuds and their case, removing earwax and other gunk that can accumulate there over time, which can block sensors and make the headphones work less effectively. Removing gunk can also help restore and improve the sound quality. The putty also works on tricky small spaces on your phone, too.

Silicone plates designed to help your tacos keep their form

These silicone plates are specifically designed to hold up to four hard or soft tacos, allowing them to keep their shape while you’re eating. This way, all the insides don’t fall out every time you put them down. The four slots keep the tacos upright and the entire thing can be put in the microwave to warm up your food, unlike those metal taco holders. They’re made of food-grade silicone and there’s plenty of room on the plate for all your favorite sides, too.

A mini trash can that hangs off the cabinet for easy meal prep & cleanup

This trash can mounts onto a cabinet door or drawer, bringing the bin up against your countertop to make meal prepping so much easier. It’s made of plastic and silicone that’s waterproof and easy to clean. And the whole thing collapses even smaller to store between uses. It’s seriously the most brilliant way to streamline your meal prep routine, getting rid of all the garbage on the counter instead of having to walk back and forth to the normal kitchen bin.

A super-comfortable seat cushion that looks like a cute piece of toast

This seat cushion is filled with super-cozy material that can make your desk chair, driver’s seat, or favorite spot on the couch so much more comfortable. It’s covered in a buttery soft velvet material that’s nice against your skin. The bottom has a nonslip design that keeps it secure on the seat no matter what weird position you might sit in throughout the day.

A magnetic box to stealthily stash keys away for emergencies

This key box is a great way to secure keys outside the home in case of emergencies or getting locked out. It has a magnetic design and an extra-large inside space so it can even be used for car keys. Two magnets secure it to any metal surface (it can also be mounted with the included screw), it’s rust resistant, and the lid slides back and forth for easy access.

A finger massager tool designed to help with stiffness & discomfort

This finger massager features a dual-sided design that aims to to help increase circulation, reduce stiffness, and soothe discomfort. One side has two rollers that apply pressure to both sides of each individual finger. And the other side targets specific areas, releasing pressure points and offering a deep massage.

A shelf that installs above an outlet to hold devices while they charge

This shelf is absolutely brilliant for a few reasons. First, it installs behind a wall outlet in an instant without blocking access to the plugs. Second, it features a shelf that can hold small devices while they’re being charged. And third, it features two hooks on the bottom for keys, towels, and other small accessories. It’s great in the bathroom for your toothbrush, in the bedroom for your phone, or in the entryway for keys and rechargeable items.

Cleaning putty that gets into all those tough-to-reach spots in your car

This cleaning putty is a must-have for anyone with a car. You know all those hard-to-reach spots you have the biggest trouble cleaning? Well consider them good as new when you use this putty to remove hair, dust, crumbs, and other gunk. That’s because it conforms to the shape of those tricky spots — air vents, cupholders, dashboard nooks and crannies, you name it — and has a slightly sticky surface that traps dirt without leaving any sticky residue behind.

Long & thin spatulas that get every last drop out of jars & cans

Waste food? Not in this economy. Everyone needs these spatulas in their kitchen. They have long handles with tiny spatula ends that work to get every last drop out of condiment bottles, jelly jars, ketchup bottles, mayo containers — and even cosmetics. The long handles allow them to get really deep into the jar without getting food all over your fingers. And the spatula end can also be used to spread all the condiments you’re able to retrieve.

A blackout stamp that covers personal information to help prevent identity theft

This stamp can be rolled over names, addresses, account numbers, and other personal information, masking it to make everything underneath unreadable and helping protect sensitive information from theft. One swipe can hide up to three lines of text, and you can add multiple layers for added security. It works on paper, envelopes, and glossy surfaces. It’s pre-inked and sealed so all you have to do is start rolling to protect your information.

A fish-shaped humidifier cleaner that helps keep the water clean

This fish-shaped water filter floats inside your humidifier’s water tank to help fight slime and odor for up to 30 days. Free from harsh ingredients, it can be dropped inside your humidifier to help keep it cleaner and more sanitary without you having to worry about scrubbing. Plus it comes in the cute fish shape so it looks like you’ve turned your humidifier into an aquarium.

A shoulder wrap filled with glass beads to add a slightly weighted touch

This shoulder wrap is a great way to help soothe stress and relax. It’s filled with glass beads that add weight, providing a light pressure on your shoulders and neck. It comes in a 2-pound and 4-pound option, which makes a big difference when it comes to relaxation because you can choose the pressure that works for you.

A baking syringe that injects icing directly into cupcakes & pastries

This syringe was designed to inject icing into cupcakes and pastries, taking your baking game to the next level. It comes with eight different heads that create eight different textures to decorate your baked goods. The syringe can hold up to 0.5 cup of your favorite frosting. The tip changes so easily — you can even do it while you’re still decorating to change things up. It also works for deviled eggs, cannolis, cream puffs, and so much more.

A rainbow kinetic fidget toy designed to help reduce stress & improve concentration

With an iridescent finish that’s positively mesmerizing, this desk toy has a smooth finish that makes it super satisfying to spin between your fingers, creating an optical illusion you won’t be able to look away from. It’s a great way to occupy your hands at work or school to help reduce stress and improve concentration so you can get on with your day. It’s small and pocket-sized, so you can take it with you anywhere you need a little mental stimulation.

A powerful shoe deodorizer that eliminates smells & keeps them gone

This powerful shoe deodorizer has a forest fresh pine scent that works to remove odors at the source and keep them gone. All it takes is one to two sprays (or up to five for a more serious smell) and the advanced formula will get to work to have your shoes and feet smelling fresh all day long. It works on any shoe — from work boots to running sneakers to slippers — but can also be used in gym bags or athletic gear that might get a little smelly.

A self-draining ceramic soap dish that’s shaped like a cute duck

This ceramic soap dish comes in the shape of an adorable duck, bringing fun and charm to your countertop without trying. It has a hole in the bottom that elevates the soap to prevent it from getting goopy, while collecting excess water and draining it directly back into the sink so water isn’t pooling and making your countertop gross. The duck design is seriously so cute and the whole thing is easy to clean.

Toothbrush holders that look like duck feet

These toothbrush holders look like the cutest pair of webbed duck feet, turning an everyday essential into something fun and whimsical. It keeps your toothbrushes upright to help them dry faster for a more sanitary dental routine. They save a ton of space on your countertop and add a nice pop of color.

A key chain pill holder that looks like an avocado

This looks like a cute avocado accessory to add to your key chain, but it’s actually a pill holder so you can have your medications and supplements with you wherever you go. The avocado part is made of soft silicone and the brown seed center has a tight, waterproof lid to protect everything inside. And the metal attachment secures to your keys, bag, backpack — you name it.

A brass door handle that’s shaped like an octopus tentacle

This brass door handle looks like an octopus tentacle and it’s potentially the coolest way to impress yourself and your guests. It’s weatherproof and water resistant so it can be used indoors or outdoors and it comes with four screws that match and blend right in for a totally seamless installation. The antique brass finish is so expensive-looking and the whole thing works to turn a plain door into something totally show-stopping.

A microwaveable bag for ready-to-eat potatoes in minutes

This microwaveable bag creates a steam pocket that cooks potatoes in just four minutes. The bag has a convenient reference chart that tells you the wattage and cook time depending on how many potatoes you’re cooking at once. You can also use it to cook corn on the cob or heat bread, tortillas, and more. It’s reusable and washable so you can keep it clean between uses.

A groovy bathtub drain stopper that features a cute floating flower

This bathtub drain stopper has a floating flower design that makes the whole thing so much more fun. The silicone bottom sits on top of the drain, creating a seal that doesn’t allow water through. It has a rust-resistant stainless steel chain and a floating water lily design with a cute little lady bug on top. It dries quickly and is the perfect way to create a relaxing, luxurious bath.

A night-light that projects relaxing ocean waves all over your space

This isn’t an ordinary night-light. It has a textured surface that projects relaxing ocean waves all over your room, helping you fall asleep while filling your space with the vibiest ripple effect. It has six brightness levels, four speeds, and 16 colors to choose from, which are all controlled with a convenient remote. The cube-shaped design lights up on five sides to transform the look and feel of your room for a more peaceful night’s sleep.

A corn stripper that removes kernels easily

If you love corn but hate corn on the cob, you can remove it in an instant with this stripping tool. Inside is a sharp stainless steel blade that effortlessly separates the kernels from the cob so you can eat your corn exactly the way you like it. The outer plastic shell helps protect your fingers and the whole thing is so small, it can fit in your cutlery drawer for easy storage between uses.

A water leak detector that alerts you to issues before they become a massive problem

Don’t wait for water damage and mold issues to realize you have a leak somewhere — get alerted the second it starts with this detector. Place it anywhere that might experience a leak — think: underneath washing machines and dishwashers, beneath the kitchen or bathroom sink, etc. — and it’ll set off a loud alarm if it detects water on any of the drip probes. It doesn’t require any setup or app installation. Most impressively? One battery can last over two years.

A steam cleaner that removes tough grease from your microwave

This little duck isn’t just a cute kitchen accessory, it actually uses steam to remove tough grease and grime from your microwave, helping it look good as new in no time. Simply add vinegar and water to the base and microwave the whole thing for up to seven minutes. The ventilation holes release the cleaning solution, making it easy to wipe the entire microwave clean.

An electric hairbrush that lets off a fine mist to reduce frizz & hydrate your scalp

This electric hairbrush does double duty when it comes to keeping your hair and scalp hydrated and healthy. It lets off a fine mist when you’re brushing to reduce frizz and moisturize your skin while you’re brushing for smoother, shinier hair. It has a liquid tank where you can add water-soluble hair oil and serum. It even has a gentle red light that refreshes your scalp with targeted light treatments designed to help encourage hair growth, too.

Shoe bags specifically designed to put your sneakers through the washing machine

Did you know you can clean some sneakers inside the washing machine if you have these convenient bags? They’re designed to hold one pair of adult shoes (or two pairs of kids’s shoes) and feature shaggy chenille fibers that help scrub the shoe down as it bobs around the machine during the wash cycle. The zipper has a safety hook to keep the bag closed for the whole time. And it has a hanging hook to easily dry between cycles.

Silicone holders that keep makeup sponges clean when you’re traveling

If you’re not protecting your makeup sponges while you’re traveling, you’re missing out. These silicone holders completely envelop the sponge to prevent grime, dust, and other makeup from getting on it inside your toiletry bag. But they have a ventilated design that allows for proper airflow to prevent mildew from building up. They can be used with wet or dry sponges and fit almost all types and shapes.

A lavender body scrubber infused with cleanser that smells divine

This loofah sponge has built-in lavender body wash that cleanses and exfoliates your skin at the same time. It’s packed with yuzu, vetiver root, and edelweiss to help improve skin elasticity, balance pH levels, and calm irritation. Created for all skin types, it rejuvenates the skin and leaves it looking and feeling smoother every day.

]]><![CDATA[30 Years Ago, The Wachowski Sisters Made A Radical Noir Thriller]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/bound-30-year-anniversaryhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/bound-30-year-anniversarySun, 04 Oct 2026 12:30:24 GMT
Gramercy Pictures

The cinematic movement that would eventually be called film noir doubled as a Trojan horse, showing audiences subject matter and ideas in direct opposition to the conditions imposed by the Hays Code. In the 1940s and ‘50s, when the genre was at the height of its popularity, the Motion Picture Production Code was at the height of its censorial power, forcing filmmakers to work with guidelines that required simple black-and-white morality and forbade on-screen depictions of sex, queerness, and interracial relationships, among other touchy subjects.

Noir gave filmmakers an avenue to use implication and symbolism to subvert the Code’s rigidity, and many explored topics subtextually that mainstream films weren’t allowed to tackle directly: female resentment towards the unkept promises of traditional domesticity, institutional corruption, social issues like misogyny and racism. When neo-noir emerged in the ‘70s, it pushed the envelope further, expanding what was acceptable in terms of sex, violence, and transgressiveness. And 30 years ago today, the Wachowski Sisters bridged the gap between the two movements with a film that poked the bear of America’s latent lesbophobia, while also introducing the world to their influential kinetic visual style — and gifting audiences one of the greatest noirs of all time in the process.

Much like the characters in Bound are trapped in their own metaphorical prisons, the film also leads you to believe it’s locked in the framework of a traditional noir. Corky (Gina Gershon), our stoic and guarded lead, is hired fresh out of prison to help renovate a Chicago apartment complex, which is where she meets Violet (Jennifer Tilly), the mousy, alluring wife of low-level Mafia money launderer Caesar (Joe Pantoliano). You know from the moment they lock eyes that a passionate affair is brewing, and by the time their mutual lust inspires them to steal $2 million from Caesar’s powerful Mafia friends, you almost feel it coming; it’s familiar by design, a common plot structure for a genre that understands money as the key to freedom from crime or domestic servitude.

But Bound isn’t a traditional noir. While films of the past, like Double Indemnity, recognized how discontented a generation of women were with the docile, stay-at-home wife archetype after tasting real economic and social agency during World War 2, they also presented female sensuality as manipulative and dangerous, the birth of the femme fatale archetype. Bound’s lesbian love affair (and the controversial scene in which it’s consummated) represents the exact opposite — Corky and Violet’s queerness is presented as a liberatory escape from the suffocating lives they lead. Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly’s chemistry is the film’s pulsing heart, and the irresistible pull between them lets Corky be lovingly vulnerable while Violet envisions a life for herself beyond the machinations of the men she has to perform femininity for. It’s an on-screen depiction of lesbian intimacy so unarguably positive that it was outright confrontational at a time when America had just legally defined marriage as being “between a man and a woman.”

Making your heroes a lesbian couple at a time when gay marriage was widely opposed was a genuinely remarkable statement for a debut feature. | Gramercy Pictures

Despite mostly being confined to a claustrophobic apartment complex, Bound’s plotting is explosive and unpredictable. Corky and Violet’s plan to frame Caesar’s rival Johnnie (a pre-SVU Christopher Meloni) goes off without a hitch, but it works almost too well. Soon enough, Caesar is intent on either extracting the truth from Johnnie or implanting a bullet in his brain, two choices that don’t bode well considering that Johnnie is the son of Mafia boss Gino Marzzone (Richard C. Sarafian). The hierarchy of the Mafia is presented as another kind of prison, one where outsized male egos compete to be the alpha, a trap almost as suffocating as the shackles of heteronormativity Violet is trying to escape. In a classic noir, we might follow Caesar as he slowly realizes his beloved has betrayed him, but here, we’re encouraged to root for that betrayal, because the heist symbolically destroys a patriarchal system that still tries to control how women express their identities.

Bound was shot by frequent Wachowski collaborator Bill Pope, and it gives viewers a taste of the revolutionary visual style that would soon explode into the mainstream with their collective work on The Matrix. As a once-simple plan is beset by dizzying complications, Pope’s never-stationary camerawork reflects the complex dynamics at play: he presents Caesar’s rising paranoia with a vertigo-inducing tracking close-up, and literalizes the barriers separating Corky and Violet, as well as their unbreakable connection, using erratic inserts of phone lines and grand pass-through shots showing just how close they are despite being in adjacent rooms. Even the film’s single shoot-out sequence reflects a visual approach to action that they’d fine-tune in their follow-up: gun violence as a moment frozen in time, instant death rendered across what feels like an eternity.

Bound is proof that, from day one, the Wachowski Sisters had an ingenious visual eye and a disregard for safe, established storytelling methods. It took one of Hollywood’s archetypal genres, a movement that paved the way for modern cinema, and made something truly radical in form and text. Film noir's legacy has always been one of subversion and transgression, and two of the century's most influential filmmakers used that legacy to tell a deeply entertaining, celebratory story of unabashed lesbian romance and liberation.

Bound is available on Prime Video.

]]><![CDATA['Lanterns' Episode 8 Release Date, Start Time, Trailer, Plot, And More For The DC Series]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/lanterns-episode-8-finale-streaming-guidehttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/lanterns-episode-8-finale-streaming-guideSun, 04 Oct 2026 01:00:25 GMT
HBO

It’s been a while since any DC universe has released anything as divisive as Lanterns. For some, it’s the second coming of the prestige-genre mashup we got with Watchmen; others can’t get past all the disjointed wheel-spinning and worldbuilding. Wherever on the spectrum you find yourself, this rollercoaster ride has officially reached its end — at least for now.

Lanterns Episode 8 will bring its first season to a close, but so many questions remain for the series to solve. Will John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) finally accept his fate as Earth’s latest Green Lantern? If he does, what will become of the realm’s current Lantern, Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion)? Who murdered Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler)? And why the heck did he break his old mentor, Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen), out of space-jail? Ideally, Lanterns will resolve as many of these threads as possible — but until then, here’s everything we already know about the series finale.

What is the Lanterns Episode 8 release date?

The Green Lantern Corps is getting a major shake-up in the Lanterns finale. | HBO

Lanterns has been airing during HBO’s primetime Sunday night slot. Episode 8 will premiere on HBO on Sunday, October 4.

What is the Lanterns Episode 8 release time?

You can catch Lanterns Episode 8 on HBO this Sunday at 9:00 p.m. ET, or 6:00 p.m. PT. It will be available to stream on HBO Max at the same time.

Is there a trailer for Lanterns Episode 8?

Yes, there is. Above, find HBO’s preview for Lanterns Episode 8, which teases a confrontation with Sinestro, a major moral reckoning for John, and a potential resurrection for Hal.

What is the plot of Lanterns Episode 8?

Lanterns Episode 8 will likely pick up right where Episode 7 left off, with John and a holographic version of Hal (nicknamed the “Halogram”) exploring a mysterious alien planet that the original Hal frequented. At the end of Episode 7, they discovered that Sinestro has been held there against his will — we can deduce that Hal broke him out of his confinement on Oa, but the purpose of that subterfuge remains a huge mystery.

Though there are plenty of questions left for the finale to answer, John might have found a convenient way to solve everything. In the Episode 8 teaser, he suggests that Hal might not have been murdered in vain. We see shots of Hal lying in a stark silver room, a strange mark on his arm. It’s the same mark John got after submitting to the Manhunters’ regenerative technology in Episode 5, which suggests that John will try to resurrect Hal in the Lanterns finale. That we’ve received such a shocking tease of the episode suggests that this scheme won’t exactly go to plan, however. We’ll have to wait and see how everything shakes out, but this could be the most interesting episode of Lanterns yet.

Will there be a Lanterns Season 2?

Lanterns hasn’t been officially renewed for a second season, but work has begun on Season 2. HBO could very well give the series the green light soon — but even if this story doesn’t continue on the small screen, this won’t be the last we’ll see of John Stewart. He’ll appear in Man of Tomorrow, director James Gunn’s sequel to Superman, which hits theaters in 2027. Hopefully Lanterns Episode 8 will also keep the door open for Hal Jordan and Guy Gardner: anything is possible, and the story of the Green Lantern Corps is clearly just beginning.

Lanterns is streaming on HBO Max.

]]><![CDATA[65 Weird Home Upgrades With Near-Perfect Amazon Reviews That Are So Genius]]>https://www.inverse.com/shopping/weird-home-upgrades-with-near-perfect-amazon-reviews-that-are-so-geniushttps://www.inverse.com/shopping/weird-home-upgrades-with-near-perfect-amazon-reviews-that-are-so-geniusSat, 03 Oct 2026 16:01:20 GMT
Amazon/Inverse

There are plenty of ways to upgrade your home that you haven’t thought about doing before. And they aren’t all huge facelifts or big renovations. I’m talking about those weird but wonderful changes that make your home better and a little more fun. From door hinge toppers to light switch covers to a strange gutter downspout, these genius home upgrades on Amazon are strange and strangely awesome — and they come with the rave reviews to back them up.

A decorative floral toilet decal that’s renter friendly

This decorative decal is an easy way to transform your space without fully committing to one look. Not only is the self-adhesive sticker a breeze to install, it’s just as easy to remove, making it great for temporary rentals. The best part? It comes in a bunch of different designs and can be applied to most smooth, clean surfaces —including your toilet.

Burnished brass sparrow hinge heads that have a vintage feel

With a subtle yet intricate design, these magnetic sparrow hinge heads are made from brass with a burnished finish. They come with three pieces in each set and are designed to be placed on the hinges of your doors, wardrobes, cabinet doors, and more for a whimsical upgrade to an otherwise boring part of your home.

This gargoyle gutter guardian with a distinct gothic vibe

For a quirky and fun detail outside of your home, this gargoyle gutter guardian is worth adding to cart. It’s made from stone-like resin in an intricate design that looks just like a statue. It also is super functional. Attach it to you gutter’s spout and it’ll extend it and redirect your drain water away from your home’s foundation. “This has enough weight to act as an anchor, keeping the spout where it should be,” a shopper wrote.

Peel & stick window decals that are so pretty

Give your windows a joyful upgrade with these peel and stick window decals that are easy to apply, reposition, and remove without a residue. Bright and colorful, they also add a touch of privacy.

This plug-in carbon monoxide detector with battery backup

All you have to do is plug this gas leak and carbon monoxide detector into the wall to ensure you’re alerted to any gas leaks. It features a loud 85-decibel alarm, and while it’s powered by an outlet, it also takes a set of batteries to function during power outages as well. “Easy to install and use. Its design and appearance is good in that it is not noticeable. It comes with battery and [packs] easy when traveling. Mounts easily in sockets. We take it when we travel to Airbnb homes for our safety,” wrote one shopper.

Cute toilet bolt covers that install without tools

Replace that dirty toilet bolt cover with this adorable ceramic cover that’s surprisingly easy to clean. Durable and rust-resistant, they install without tools, too.

Solar-powered lanterns that look like something out of a storybook

Bring a little something extra to your outdoor space with these motion-sensing solar-powered lanterns. Available in sets of two, they’re made with woven hanging ropes that let you place them in trees or on the side of your roof. The best part is they are completely weatherproof so you don’t have to worry about them getting ruined in harsh climates.

An artful privacy film that’ll give your window that stained glass look

A privacy window film is an equally stylish and practical alternative to curtains or other heavy drapes. This one features a self-cling design that’s easy to install. Just peel and stick it to smooth, clean glass. Removing it is just as easy, which makes it especially great for anyone renting or who changes their mind often.

A 2-pack of waterproof color-changing lights for your shower

These waterproof shower lights will turn your bathroom into your own private nightclub. It comes two to a pack, each of which has color-changing features that let you determine the vibe. Just use the included remote controller to flip between all the settings on offer.

Artful peel-&-stick floor tiles that transform your floors

Instantly transform the vibe in your space using these peel-and-stick floor tiles, available in five different floral designs. They’re made from an easy-to-clean vinyl material with a self-adhesive back that makes installing them a seamless process. They’re waterproof, easy to cut, and completely removable, too, making them renter friendly.

Peel-&-stick decals with artful designs

Take your space from good to great with the addition of these peel-and-stick decals to your stairs. They’re made in varying pretty designs that will go with just about any interior decor aesthetic. These can be trimmed to your needs and are easy to remove if the time comes.

Twinkling curtain lights that are beyond ethereal

Bring a little whimsy to your space with these LED twinkling curtain lights. Whether it’s for a wedding, holiday, or simply to set the vibe in your personal oasis, they’re bound to work hard in your collection of house decor. What’s even better, is there are eight different light modes that you can flip between with just a push of a button.

A well-lit fairy house statue for your garden that’s the definition of whimsy

Bring a little whimsy to your garden by adding a few of these cute fairy house statues to your outdoor decor collection. They’re made from weather-resistant resin with intricate details that add to the fairytale vibes. There’s even a really cool light-up feature that automatically turns on when the sun goes down, lasting for anywhere between eight to 10 hours a night.

A wedge pillow to fill the gap between your bed frame & the wall

Now you can prevent smaller items like your remote control, phone, or lip balm from falling in those hard-to-reach spaces between your headboard and the wall with the help of this wedge pillow. It’s made from a cushioned memory foam material with a slip pocket on the side for storing your bedside essentials. Choose between a wide range of sizes to fit your mattress.

A magnetic screen door that lets your pets go in & out with ease

Outdoor entertaining just got a lot easier with this magnetic screen door. Just hang up the mesh curtain in your doorway using the included hardware for seamless entry (and departure). One of the best parts is, it’s a great way to let your pets in and out without having to worry about constantly opening and closing the door behind them.

Cutesy chair leg covers that look like little kitten paws

Perfect for cat lovers, these knitted chair socks are designed to look like little kitty paws. Not only do they protect your floors, while preventing your furniture from slipping on smooth surfaces, they give your space a little pizazz, too. There are 24 pieces in each set, all of which have a different design.

A set of suncatcher prisms that sparkle when the light hits them

These suncatcher prisms are made from glass in a crystal-cut design that sparkles from every angle when the light hits them. Each set comes with seven pieces in various sizes and silhouettes, all of which are meant to be hung in the window. Choose between six different color options on offer.

This genius swiveling wall hook for your hats & coats

Increase the storage options around your home by adding this swivel wall hook to your entryways, closets, bathrooms, and more. Just mount it on walls or cabinet doors to hang things like hats, coats, and other accessories you want to keep readily available. It comes in two different finishes — dark and light.

A nautical toilet paper holder made from cast iron

This octopus toilet paper holder looks like something you’d find in an antique shop. It’s made from cast iron with a burnished finish that gives it that vintage edge. Plus, installation is super easy, just use the included hardware to mount it into place.

A curtain made from beaded crystals that look like raindrops

This crystal curtain adds a whimsical feel to your space. Designed to look like sprinkling droplets, it consists of 20 strings, all cascading in crystal size. “The shimmering beads catch the light beautifully, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere,” a buyer wrote in their review. “It's easy to install and perfect as a room divider.”

A cordless wooden lamp that looks just like another book on your shelf

Discreet yet unique, this cordless lamp is designed to fit seamlessly into your bookshelf. It’s made with a wooden book-shaped base that slides right in between the other books on your shelf. It’s outfitted with a dimmable feature that can be adjusted to your liking with just one touch. Add one or two to your bookshelf, and you’re reading nook or library just became that much more impressive.

Glow-in-the-dark remote control covers that make them easy to find

If you constantly find yourself losing the smart remote during movie night, these glow-in-the-dark covers are the perfect solution. Available in a pack of three, all in different colors, they’re made from a soft silicone material that has a textured surface that’s easy to grab. “One glance around the room and I can find it quickly,” a shopper shared. “It also protects the remote if knocked off a table or out of your hand.”

Toilet paper holders with personality

If you have to put your extra toilet paper somewhere, you might as well have fun with it. This ant-themed holder set lets you display two rolls in a more unique way. It will definitely leave your guests talking after they visit your bathroom. And because the set is crafted from durable, rust-resistant materials, it can last for a long time.

This animal plushie door stopper that’s so handy

Available in more than a dozen different styles, this plushie door stopper is made to look like yet another decor item in your space. The weighted design is filled with sand inside to ensure it keeps your door open. “It’s amazing quality, slip resistant, and fits where I want it to,” one customer wrote in their review.

Anti-slip stickers made to make your showers safer

These anti-slip stickers are a quick and easy fix to making your showers safer. They come in a pack of 24 pieces, each of which is made from a clear, self-adhesive material that sticks to most smooth surfaces, including ceramic tile, acrylic, and even sealed micro cement. Just use the included scraper too peel, apply, and smoothen the sticker into place.

Sheer embroidered curtains made from featherweight voile

Between the sheer fabric and carefully embroidered motifs, these voile curtains really evoke nature. Each set has two panels with a rod pocket at the top that makes installation super easy. Choose between nine different sizes and more than a dozen artful designs such as butterflies and flowers.

A set of peeping cat bookends with an industrial feel

Cute yet functional, these peeping cat bookends have a cool cutout design. They’re made from an industrial metal material that’s durable and will help keep your favorite reads in place. “They hold up books of different sizes without slipping or tipping over,” wrote one customer.

A plunger tray that keeps your floors clean & dry

Once you use your plunger once, it feels kind of gross to just set it back on your bathroom floor. Fortunately, this plunger tray exists. The disk keeps the utensil elevated and allows it to dry faster, and the grooved base can collect any excess water that drips off. The tray is sized to fit most standard plungers.

A sponge caddy that drains excess water back into the sink

Keep the area around your sink clutter-free with this handy organizer. Made from rust-resistant metal, the caddy is designed to corral your sponges, dish brushes, soap bottles, and more. And the angled base helps excess water drain right back into the sink so things don’t stay soggy post-dishwashing time.

A cheeky Star Wars light switch cover that’s really funny

Whether you’re a fan of the film franchise or simply like its cheeky saying, this Star Wars light switch cover is a fun addition to any room. It has a smooth face with clean round edges and is resistant to fading, moisture, and scratches, too. Just use the included hardware and a screwdriver to install on any standard-sized socket.

This foldable window perch that feels like a cloud

Give your cat a cuddly cloud experience with this fluffy window perch. The mountable design has a plush, four-sided bolster bed that comes in three different neutral shades. What’s even better is the fact that it’s machine washable, which makes the overall maintenance a breeze.

A luxe rose-scented shower filter that’s infused with vitamin C

Give your bathroom the spa treatment by adding this vitamin C filter to your showerhead. It has a subtle rose scent that sits nicely on the skin, while softening and filtering the water from your showerhead in the process. There are also two other scents available — forest and lavender.

This mesh sink strainer bag that keeps food scraps from the kitchen drain

Kitchen cleanup just got a lot easier with the help of this sink strainer bag for your drain. It’s made from a lightweight mesh material that allows water and other liquids to sift through, leaving food scraps and other debris for easy removal. Just slip it over the strainer before you start prepping.

A floral print knife set that’s the epitome of cute & functional

This floral-print knife set is made from high-carbon stainless steel that’s durable and great for cutting all manner of cooking jobs. It comes with six knives in different floral designs, each with an included blade guard to keep them protected when not in use. They’re a fun upgrade to your old, tired knife set — and they’re sure to be a conversation starter.

A toilet brush holder that sticks to the wall

Don’t lose valuable bathroom floor real estate to your cleaning products. This wall-mounted toilet brush holder keeps the tool accessible but also out of the way. It attaches with adhesive hooks — no tools required — and keeps your brush clean and protected between uses. You can get the holder in white or black to best blend with your bathroom style.

An anti-fog hanging mirror that lets you see yourself from every angle

This hanging mirror with three adjustable panels is an absolute must for primping in the bathroom. Whether you’re cutting and dyeing your hair, or perfecting a makeup look, this 360-degree design allows you to see your appearance from every angle. The built-in LED lights increase the range of visibility.

A sleek bell that can be attached magnetically or with adhesive

Create a welcoming chime whenever someone opens a door or even a cabinet door with this sleek shopkeeper’s bell. Available in multiple colors and two styles, you can attach it with adhesive or its magnets.

Brick wall clips that are made from durable stainless steel

The brick wall clips are designed for safely hanging things like plants, flags, and other outdoor decor to the side of your home. They come with at least six in a pack, each of which are made from stainless steel with an adjustable screw fastening for added reinforcement. “The plastic packaging is reusable for storing the clips when not in use,” a customer wrote. “A nice added bonus, not mentioned in the description, is that they include the metric hex wrench needed to tighten and loosen the screw.”

This playful toilet stool made from bamboo wood

Whether it’s meant for an adult, child, or teen, every bathroom could use a good toilet stool. This one is made from all natural bamboo wood with strategically-placed nonslip pads that make it look like a cute little cat. It helps adjust your sitting position from 90 to 35 degrees, reducing pressure and promoting healthy bowel movements.

Colorful mushroom night-lights that are so psychedelic

Add an instant glam touch to your walls, furniture, and more with this leopard-print peel & stick wallpaper. Plus, it’s waterproof and removable so it’s even more versatile. It comes in three colors and multiple sizes, too.

A faucet filter that softens hard water

This hard water filter is made from chrome metal in a sphere shape that has a multi-layered technology system inside. It attaches easily to most standard bathtub faucets, which means installation only takes a few minutes. Designed to remove chlorine, lead, and fluoride, this filter can remove some natural things found in tap water that can damage your hair when you shower or take a bath.

A microfiber hand towel that looks just like an animal

This cutesy microfiber hanging hand towel is such a unique find. It’s made from a quick-drying microfiber material to look like a little hedgehog, blending the lines between cute and functional. It comes in a set of two and in multiple colors to match your bathroom scheme.

A waterproof lamp with lots of color options

This waterproof, highly adjustable lamp makes it easier than ever to set the vibe. With 16 colors (including multiple white warmth colors) and adjustable brightness levels, it’s versatile, and since it’s rechargeable and portable, it can go everywhere from the bathroom to a balcony.

A magnetic paper towel holder that sticks directly to your fridge

Free up some room on your countertops with this magnetic paper towel holder that you can stick directly to the metal surfaces around your kitchen. Indoor appliances aside, you can also place it on the side of a toolbox or grill while working and entertaining outdoors. Plus, it has adjustable tension, which allows for jumbo-sized paper towel rolls, too.

This face-shaped stone tissue box that’s a literal work of art

Doubling as an art fixture for your home, this stone face tissue box is made to fit most standard-sized packaging. Pull the tissue through each nostril to make the most of the cheeky design. One reviewer wrote, “I love this tissue box. Always getting a good comment [on it].”

Space-saving bags for your blankets & more

Maximize your storage space with these storage bags with options for multiple layers of compression from one to four. The design includes a clear window that lets you see what’s inside at a glance while two handles make them easier to transport. You can even choose your colors to better coordinate or differentiate what’s inside.

This decorative cover for your doorbell chime

If you’re looking to hide that doorbell you can’t move, this doorbell chime cover is a nice place to start. It’s made from high-quality wood with an intricate, artful design that can be customized to your liking. Installing it is really easy, just place it over your mounted chime, no professional tools or help needed.

Dusk-to-dawn night-lights with a motion sensor

These dusk-to-dawn night-lights are a great solution for those that find themselves constantly fumbling around in the dark. Each pack comes with a set of six plug-ins with LED bulbs on the top and bottom. “I like the fact that they are so small and lightweight compared to other night-lights, yet they provide strong light,” wrote one shopper. “The lights go off instantly when you turn on the main lights in the room.”

Decorative magnets that you can stick directly to your garage door

Give your home a little added curb appeal with this set of garage door hardware. Each decorative pack comes with six magnetic designs that can be placed directly on the door itself for a little added flair. “The magnets are strong so you don’t have to worry about them moving,” one buyer wrote.

An adorable cat tail planter pot that’s so cheeky

Whether you’re a plant lover or not, this cat planter is a fun and functional conversation piece. It’s made from ceramic in a cheeky design that intends for the sprout or bud to stand straight up like your furry friend’s tail. The drainage hole helps prevent root rot or other diseases caused by moisture buildup.

A cable management box that looks just like a coffee table book

Very few things are as unsightly as loose and jumbled cords scattered around the room, which is why this cable management box has such a genius design. Not only does it help conceal those odd and end items, it’s made to look like a coffee table book, doubling as decor. Choose between a dozen different motifs to find the one that best fits into your space.

This rug-inspired light switch cover that’s an optical illusion

Designed to look like an intricate Persian rug, this light switch cover is made from a durable yet flexible material to fit most standard-sized single outlets. There are more than a dozen different styles to choose from, allowing you to find the one that best suits your aesthetic. Use the included hardware for secure installation.

Colorful motion-activated lights that turn your staircase into a nightclub

Transform your boring space into something much more enjoyable using these rechargeable and motion-activated stair lights. They come in a pack of six, each of which has an adhesive back that sticks to most smooth wall surfaces. These lights are especially great for dimly-lit staircases and hallways where you want to increase visibility.

A magnetic cheat sheet & cooking guide for your air fryer

There’s a good chance you’re not using your air fryer to its full capacity, which is where this magnetic cooking cheat sheet comes in handy. Whether you’re cooking desserts and snacks or meats and vegetables, the guide walks you through the process, step by step. The best part is you can just stick it to the side of your appliances to refer back to when you need it.

A durable plant stand you can hang on a wall, ceiling, or a rod

Display your plants and make sure they get plenty of light with these easy-to-install hanging shelves. Each order comes with durable S-hooks and other mounting tools so they’re ready to install to a curtain rod, against a wall, or even from the ceiling. If five shelves don’t suit your needs, they also come in smaller and larger variations.

Wood-grain contact paper for an easy & quick update

Upgrade the surfaces in your home using this surprisingly luxe wood-grain contact paper. It’s made from slick vinyl material with a self-adhesive back that makes it easy to apply. Each roll can cover almost 15 square feet and comes in 12 different sizes to accommodate a wide variety of countertops and shelves in your space.

Crystal suncatchers with a celetrial vibe

Made with multifaceted crystal prisms, these gorgeous suncatchers create magical light wherever you place them while the moon and star accents cinch the vibe. Available in multiple designs and in gold-or silver-tone options, there are so many ways to use them.

Floral wall decals for a customizable accent wall

Since each of the wall flowers is individually cut, these floral wall decals are easy to arrange just how you’d like it. The adhesion is super strong and are designed to work on walls, glass, plastic, and more. When you’re done, heat the attached stickers with a blowdryer for a few minutes and peel them off easily without a sticky residue.

Clever plant trellises for inside or out

Support your plants both inside or out with these double helix-inspired supports. They’re made from slightly more than 15 inches of high-quality iron for use inside or out, and even come with multiple colors to suit your decor.

Adorable ceramic bud vases backed by 4.6 stars

Add cottagecore-approved sweetness to your decor with these ceramic bud vases that are just a few bucks apiece. Whether you fill them with a few fresh, dried, or faux stems, they’re a little accent with big personality. You can also get them in cat-, ghost-, and onigiri-inspired styles.

Magnetic tumbler organizers that come with hooks & a lid rack

Get your water bottles off the counters and save space in your cabinets with these magnetic organizers that stick right on to the fridge. This pack of four racks also comes with hooks and a lid rack for even more versaility though you can also opt for three- and six-pack options.

Gorgeous, thick shelf liners that are easy to wipe clean

Give your shelves and cabinets instant polish and shine with this thick EVA lining. Available in multiple widths and lengths, you can cut it to suit your needs and choose from more than a dozen botanical styles. Plus, more than 4,000 shoppers have weighed in and given it a 4.7-star overall rating.

100% cotton macrame hangers that fit plants up to 8 inches wide

Make the most of your vertical space with these macrame hangers made from durable cotton rope. Available in multiple neutral shades, they are designed for pots from 3 to 8 inches.

A memory foam seat insert that doubles as a large sofa cushion

Whether you use it as a lounging spot or an extra-large pillow for the couch, this pillow insert is soft, supportive, and luxurious. They’re 32 inches wide and packed with shredded memory foam for plenty of comfort.

A compact vacuum for sofas, mattresses, & more

The unique, compact shape of this rechargeable vacuum is built for cleaning sofas, mattresses, cars, and more. The HEPA filter removes 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns and it’s really easy to maneuver around your home.

]]><![CDATA['Avengers: Doomsday' Release Date, Cast, Trailer, And Plot For The Marvel Blockbuster]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/avengers-doomsday-release-date-cast-trailer-plothttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/avengers-doomsday-release-date-cast-trailer-plotSat, 03 Oct 2026 14:00:24 GMT
Marvel Studios

Ever since it was announced back in the summer of 2024, fans have been waiting impatiently for Avengers: Doomsday. The title was actually the result of a last-minute strategy shift after the story needed to break away from Kang the Conqueror and lean heavily on the success of Avengers: Endgame. Just like Endgame, Doomsday is a massive event that will bring all corners of the MCU together, and just like Endgame, Doomsday is directed by Joe and Anthony Russo.

More than two years later, we’re now only a few months away from the release of Doomsday, so here’s everything you need to know about the movie, from the massive cast to all the big plot theories.

When Is The Avengers: Doomsday Release Date?

Avengers: Doomsday will premiere in theaters on December 18, 2026. This is technically a delayed release date, as the first iteration of this project, Avengers: Kang Dynasty, was actually supposed to premiere in May 2025. But since Doomsday has been announced, it has progressed on schedule, which is quite the accomplishment in the era of multiple delays for blockbusters like this.

Chris Evans is back as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Doomsday. | Marvel Studios

Who Is In The Cast Of Avengers: Doomsday?

Jesse Grant/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Avengers: Doomsday has a huge cast, and the majority of the actors involved were revealed over a grueling hours-long livestream in May 2025. Those actors are the following:

  • Thor (Chris Hemsworth)
  • Loki Laufeyson (Tom Hiddleston)
  • Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd)
  • Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic (Pedro Pascal)
  • Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby)
  • Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn)
  • Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach)
  • Sam Wilson/Captain America (Anthony Mackie)
  • Joaquin Torres/Falcon (Danny Ramirez)
  • Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan)
  • Cassie Lang/Stature (Kathryn Newton)
  • Shuri/Black Panther (Letitia Wright)
  • Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejía)
  • Namora (Mabel Cadena)
  • M’Baku (Winston Duke)
  • Yelena Belova/Black Widow (Florence Pugh)
  • Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour)
  • John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell)
  • Ghost/Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen)
  • Robert Reynolds/Sentry (Lewis Pullman)
  • Xu Shang-Chi (Simu Liu)
  • Hank McCoy/Beast (Kelsey Grammer)
  • Charles Xavier/Professor X (Patrick Stewart)
  • Erik Lensser/Magneto (Ian McKellen)
  • Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming)
  • Scott Summers/Cyclops (James Marsden)
  • Rebecca Romijn (Mystique)
  • Remy LeBeau/Gambit (Channing Tatum)
  • Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.)

Is There A Trailer For Avengers: Doomsday?

Yes! The trailer rollout for Avengers: Doomsday has been long and fraught, going back to the teaser exclusive to showings of Avatar: Fire and Ash. But as we count down the months until December, we are seeing more and more “traditional” trailers. You can check out the most recent of these trailers below:

What Is The Plot Of Avengers: Doomsday?

At this point in the wait for Avengers: Doomsday, we have a few clues we can look to when it comes to plot. We even have an official synopsis to start from: “In Avengers: Doomsday, beloved heroes from three distinct universes will be set on a deadly collision course and face an existential threat unlike anything they’ve ever encountered.”

Those three universes must be the main MCU timeline, the X-Men timeline, and the Fantastic Four timeline. During the recent re-release of Avengers: Endgame, we got a few extra scenes tacked on at the end, including two involving Loki and the Time Variance Authority, who notice that the multiverse is collapsing. However they are going to collide; somehow, these multiverses invoke Dr. Doom’s wrath.

Will There Be A Sequel To Avengers: Doomsday?

In a way! When Avengers: Doomsday was first announced back in 2024, it was as the first part in a two-part theatrical event. The second movie, Avengers: Secret Wars, is scheduled for December 17, 2027 — less than a year after Doomsday. We may have been waiting for 7 years for this Avengers movie, but we’ll

Avengers: Doomsday premieres in theaters on December 18, 2026.

]]><![CDATA[Netflix Just Quietly Released The Best Western Epic Of The Year]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/east-of-eden-review-netflixhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/east-of-eden-review-netflixSat, 03 Oct 2026 12:30:25 GMT
Netflix

We’re getting to the point in the Streaming Era where services are starting to gain certain reputations. Paramount+ is the streaming service for broadcast hits like the Yellowstone Cinematic Universe, HBO is where you go for prestige Sunday night shows, and Apple TV+ is full of innovative sci-fi series. Netflix, however, doesn’t seem to have a firm identity in place: it’s known for Bridgerton as much as Stranger Things.

But with its latest series, East of Eden, we may have just seen Netflix corner at least one corner of the streaming landscape: lofty, epic adaptations of multigenerational sagas. Zoe Kazan’s take on John Steinbeck’s masterpiece is a resplendent, candlelit melodrama full of high-concept monologues and a collage-style presentation, and it shows what the streamer does best: big stories on the small screen.

The dynamic between Cain and Abel is played out multiple times in East of Eden. | Netflix

East of Eden begins as the story of a victimized young woman named Cathy (Florence Pugh), who is taken in by the brothers Adam (Christopher Abbott) and Charles (Mike Faist). The two brothers take very different views on Cathy’s character, and it’s not long until she’s moved away with Adam, as his wife. They have two children of their own, and their journey — and the journey of their mother — is crafted into a biblical tale of resentment and forgiveness.

East of Eden is one of those books that is almost impossible to adapt: the story spans decades and generations, with characters growing from heroes to villains and back again depending on the focus of the episode; each of the seven episodes highlights a different aspect. Florence Pugh is, rightfully, getting most of the attention for her portrayal of Cathy Ames, but there are some great performances across the whole cast, including a stellar guest role for Martha Plimpton as Faye, the wealthy madam who takes in Cathy as a daughter.

But at its core, this is the story of brothers, and the relationship between them. The story of Cain and Abel plays out, over and over, reminding us that we always have the free will to break whatever cycles we are stuck in with enough time. In a TV structure, this recurring point actually gets to fully sink in.

Florence Pugh’s Cathy Ames has a modern edge that complicates her character. | Netflix

There’s a cohesiveness to this series that brings to mind Netflix’s previous big family saga, One Hundred Years of Solitude, the massive multi-part adaptation of Gabriel García Márquez’s book of the same name. Like East of Eden, that series tackled big topics like destiny, curses, and family legacy, and like East of Eden, was regarded as a difficult story to adapt. Co-showrunner Zoe Kazan, granddaughter of film director Elia Kazan who made the first East of Eden, imbues Cathy’s story with moments of girlhood, even if much of the plot focuses on brothers.

While the cinematic nature of this story does have its drawbacks — it’s a very dark show, so don’t watch it in a bright room — this series feels so conceptually whole that it could become the defining example of Netflix’s original programming. It’s lush, melodramatic TV that rides the line between a TV movie and a miniseries to create a weekend’s worth of watching that will stay with you for weeks.

East of Eden is now streaming on Netflix.

]]><![CDATA[This Throwback Action-Horror Thriller Is Loud, Chaotic, And Fun]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/beware-boiuna-review-snake-thrillerhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/beware-boiuna-review-snake-thrillerFri, 02 Oct 2026 22:00:24 GMT
Lionsgate

With a pedigree that includes Snakes on a Plane, Snakes on a Train, and the 1997 Jennifer Lopez-Ice Cube vehicle Anaconda (and its quickly forgotten 2025 reboot), it’s safe to say that giant-snake movies are not the most highbrow of horror subgenres. To be clear, Beware Boiúna doesn’t buck this trend: Although the title character is evoked in terms of “defending” the jungle and “restoring balance” between humanity and nature, her inability to tell the good characters from the bad ones effectively negates any themes the movie might be reaching for in this department. (Unless the message is that all humans must be eliminated if Earth is to survive, which would be pretty badass.) In this case, the giant snake is just a giant snake — which is for the best, actually, because then we can relax and just enjoy the mayhem.

An American director like Mike P. Nelson (Wrong Turn, Silent Night Deadly Night) making a survival horror movie set in the Amazon has the potential to be a cultural minefield as well. Nelson manages to sidestep this, largely through a twist in the second act that we won’t spoil here, but takes the movie in a fun new direction leading up to the creature-feature finale. In the meantime, Nelson and screenwriter Alan B. McElroy (Wrong Turn, Halloween 4: the Return of Michael Myers) introduce a cast of characters reminiscent of the scientific exposition team in another jungle classic, Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Jessica Rothe spots something scary in the water in Beware Boiúna. | Lionsgate

In this case, they’re on a medical mission to treat Indigenous people living in Peruvian Amazonia, in small villages that are hundreds of miles away by boat from the nearest hospital. Various crew members and mentors circle around them, but the key characters here are Alli (Jessica Rothe), a bleeding-heart American medical student, and Lena (Kiana Madeira), a streetwise (jungle-wise?) local working the boat for extra cash. Lena has a secondary motive as well, but that comes in later. First, she and Alli must provoke the wrath of sleazy developer Brennan (Logan Marshall-Green), a classic movie douchebag in the ‘80s-villain mold.

After a found-footage style cold open, the first two-thirds of Beware Boiúna are driven by the drama between the human characters, shifting into eco-thriller mode as Brennan chases Alli and Lena’s boat through the jungle. This is fine, in part because of the capable cast and in part because it lulls you into almost forgetting that a giant snake is going to pop up at some point, increasing the jump-scare impact when this hundred-foot queen finally comes crashing through the swamp.

Jessica Rothe, Kiana Madeira, and Jaime Newball, also looking at something scary. | Lionsgate

When they do arrive, the monster-movie scenes are very big and very loud — this is probably the loudest movie we’ve seen in theaters all year, louder even than Godzilla Minus Zero. The film’s VFX budget is put to use for a few clear, good-quality shots of Boiúna herself in all her slithery glory. But the majority of the snake attacks are captured with shaky camerawork that makes it all but impossible to follow what’s happening in the moment. Accompanied by a sound mix that’s turned to 11, the effect is equal parts thrilling and painful.

Nelson presumably filmed the action this way in order to “hide budget,” meaning that he fudged the details with shaky camerawork in order to disguise the fact that this modern-day B-movie didn’t have enough money to make the snake look good all the time. But there are other ways to approach this problem, from the old-school tricks of Val Lewton to the brief glimpses of the shark in Jaws. To his credit, Nelson did film many of the effects practically, and the carnage that Boiúna leaves floating in her wake does look pretty good.

Muddy mayhem in Beware Boiúna. | Fantastic Fest

There’s one sequence where the balance of horror elements is just right, in which Madeira falls into a deep pit of soggy mud and struggles to pull herself out as Boiúna slithers closer. It’s a throwback to adventure movies of years past — between this and The Swallow, which also premiered at Fantastic Fest, quicksand is making an unexpected comeback in 2026 — that works because it doesn’t dress up (or obscure) its scares too much. Tense and inescapable, it provides the pure entertainment that the rest of this movie is striving for. But for an unabashed B-movie like this one, achieving the modest ambition of pulling off one killer horror scene is enough.

From Lionsgate, Beware Boiúna is now playing in theaters.

]]><![CDATA[20 Years Later, One Of The Best Sci-Fi Thrillers Of The Century Is Getting A Big Upgrade]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/the-host-20th-annviersary-theatrical-rereleasehttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/the-host-20th-annviersary-theatrical-rereleaseFri, 02 Oct 2026 19:03:26 GMT
Chungeorahm Film/Kobal/Shutterstock

Bong Joon-Ho may have broken into the mainstream with Parasite, but he’s been making genre masterpieces for over two decades now. From the murder mystery Memories of Murder in 2003 to Mickey 17 just last year, his career runs the gamut of the thriller genre, bouncing from neo-noir to dystopia and back again.

But in 2006, Bong made a sci-fi thriller that revealed so many of his favorite tricks: complicated creature design, sociopolitical satire, and some fascinating characters. Now, 20 years after it premiered, it’s getting a big upgrade and a return to theaters.

Magnolia Pictures recently announced that Bong Joon-ho’s 2006 Korean kaiju movie The Host will be re-released in theaters with a brand-new 4K restoration. “While feeling the weight of the passage of these many years,” Bong said in a video accompanying the announcement, “I’m happy to meet the North American audience again, especially on the big screen.

“Twenty years may have passed,” he continued, “but I believe the human emotions that well up in the film remain as relevant as ever.”

The Host follows Gang-du (Song Kang-ho), a food stand worker and down-on-his-luck dad who finds himself embroiled in a fight with a mysterious creature. When it absconds with his daughter, Gang-du must do whatever it takes to rescue her from the terrifying Host. Informed by Korean thrillers and classic creature features, The Host is a brilliant sci-fi movie that proved Bong’s global appeal, even if he wouldn’t truly get the attention he deserved for a few years.

The Host’s cutting edge special effects from Weta Workshop and The Orphanage will look even better in 4K. | Chungeorahm Film/Kobal/Shutterstock

The Host was originally praised for its cutting-edge special effects, so a 4K restoration will show these in even higher quality. The re-release also contains a conversation with Bong himself. So even if you’ve seen The Host recently, this event will be worth checking out just for the new insights 20 years on. But be wary — this is a one-night-only event, only on November 20.

As Bong Joon-Ho said when he accepted his Oscar for Parasite, “Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” In 2006, before streaming made international stories much more accessible, a foreign film was a lot more alienating to North American audiences, as proven by The Host’s lackluster global release initially. In 2026, in a world where international shows get global following, this movie could find an entirely new audience.

The Host returns to theaters on November 20.

]]><![CDATA[10 Years Later, HBO's Greatest Sci-Fi Fantasy Of The 21 Century Is Almost Impossible To Watch]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/westworld-hbo-10-year-anniversaryhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/westworld-hbo-10-year-anniversaryFri, 02 Oct 2026 12:30:24 GMT
HBO

“You had to be there” has become an effective shorthand for the chronically online and the cultural moments that unfolded largely in cyberspace, but it’s hard to think of a modern show more deserving of that phrase than Westworld. You couldn’t enjoy a leisurely scroll back in 2016 without running into post after post trying to make sense of the HBO series. “What the heck is going on with Westworld?” was the phrase on everyone’s lips and at the top of every headline; in turn, it became the show’s biggest draw. A mystery box of such heady proportion hadn’t graced our screens since Lost — and though plenty have sprung up and even surpassed Westworld since it premiered 10 years ago, the rush its first season gave us has yet to be replicated.

Despite rebooting the 1973 cult classic of the same name, which was itself based on a novel by Michael Crichton, Westworld felt fresher and more novel than any genre mash-up that’d come before it. Series creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy changed very little about Crichton’s original premise, which imagined a near-future theme park populated with lifelike animatronics in cowboys-and-natives cosplay. This realm is a perverse pleasure ground for the wealthiest of the wealthy: for the small fee of $40,000 a day, patrons can dress up in Old West costumes and release their inhibitions. The android “hosts” live to serve — they’re anything from cannon fodder in a shootout to a warm body for guests with love on the brain.

It’s all relatively harmless. Bullets tear through artificial flesh, and any memory of violation is erased at the end of each day, as we learn when the higher-ups at Delos (the corporation that keeps Westworld and an indeterminate number of parallel parks running) perform a wellness check on their oldest host. Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) is effectively Westworld’s resident Disney Princess: she and the rest of the hosts are physically incapable of harming any human guest, and our heroine swears that she’d never even hurt a fly. Her bright-eyed complacency upholds Delos’ carefully constructed status quo, but it doesn’t last long. Though she denies ever questioning the nature of her reality in her diagnostic with Bernard (Jeffrey Wright), the inherent cruelty of her “story loop” — which involves the murder of her family and the constant threat of sexual assault — eventually seems to break her.

The crumbling of Dolores’ psyche has something to do with “Reveries,” remnants of her memories and updates that are growing past the point of suppression. Dolores has been in the park for decades and has effectively seen it all. Though multiple software updates have wiped memories both good and bad, Westworld’s founder, Dr. Ford (Anthony Hopkins), has loosened the restrictions to beget more authentic interactions between hosts and guests. That choice notably compromises the precarious balance keeping the hosts docile — the park’s head writer (Simon Quarterman) warns that they’re becoming “too real.”

Ford’s mysterious role in the burgeoning host uprising was one of Westworld’s greatest threads. | HBO

Whether Ford is consciously trying to compromise his greatest creation is one of the most intriguing questions posed in Westworld Season 1. If the hosts think and feel on a human level, how does one justify the cruelty they face day after day? How can Ford (and his small army of operations managers, technicians, and writers) continue the charade?

There’s no question that Westworld has plenty to say about our own relationships with escapism and artificial intelligence. We’re at least a few decades removed from the technological advancements that would make the eponymous park feasible in the real world — but humanity has easily matched the depravity we see in the guests and Delos’ operatives. As AI advances, absorbing our traits and tics and destroying analog records, our own place in the world has never felt more retrograde.

Westworld poses that same theory in its first season: Dolores, in her radicalization, becomes the pinnacle of android potential. Ditto for characters like the crafty Maeve (Thandiwe Newton) who, like The Matrix’s Neo, spends the first season downloading enough information to become a formidable murdering machine. The smarter the hosts get, the crueler the guests become; by the end of Westworld’s first season, you’re unequivocally rooting for the latter, which might be one of the better narrative coups of 21st-century television.

It’s just a shame about, y’know... the rest of the show.

Westworld had a lot to say about AI-human competition. We need that message now more than ever. | HBO

In hindsight, Westworld might have worked better as a limited series. Sure, there was good to be found in the seasons that followed its first, but none of it matched the greatness of that debut. Season 1 supplemented its central mystery with turns more shocking than any theory you could find on Reddit or Twitter. (Many might have guessed the true identity of Ed Harris’ Man in Black, but the question of who was a host in disguise threw us all for a constant, and gratifying, loop. Again, you just had to be there!) Its cast was ironclad, and its plot walked the line between heady alienation and bingeable fun. But that perfect tapestry began to unravel almost immediately after Westworld’s solid Season 1 finale. Eventually the story escaped the parks altogether, latching onto a future-set plot that would have been confusing if it weren’t also so, so boring.

Westworld maintained its loyal following throughout its four-season run. Most hoped the show would somehow reclaim its magic, but it never truly got the chance. HBO canceled the series in 2023 and almost immediately washed its hands of all things Westworld. It’s no longer available to stream anywhere, not unless you’re willing to shell out some money for a rental. It’s a tragic end for a show that began with so much promise: even if its early seasons were strong, they feel practically lost to time.

Westworld is available to rent on Prime Video and other digital platforms.

]]><![CDATA['Carrie' Review: Mike Flanagan's Update On The Stephen King Thriller Is Unexpectedly Great — Until It Isn't]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/carrie-tv-reviewhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/carrie-tv-reviewThu, 01 Oct 2026 22:00:24 GMT

Over the past decade, Mike Flanagan has proven himself to be Stephen King’s biggest fan, directing three feature films — Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep, and The Life of Chuck — based on the world-famous horror author’s work. He’s also made a name for himself in the TV world, with buzzy adaptations and original series like The Haunting of Bly Manor and the very Stephen King-esque Midnight Mass. That makes him the ideal person to adapt a Stephen King novel for television, if such a thing must be done.

Historically, Stephen King TV adaptations have been more of a miniseries thing. Here, Flanagan, his writers, and his co-directors — including Kate Siegel and Kyra Sedgwick, who helm one episode each — stretch the story out over eight episodes, each just under an hour long. As we mentioned in our first-look review from Fantastic Fest, this necessitates certain changes to the story, for a handful of reasons. One of them is to explore the characters in more depth, which leads to more nuance. This is very successful. The other is to add new story elements, which is where Flanagan’s Carrie goes wrong.

First, what works: Carrie was first published in 1974, a time when high school was practically unrecognizable compared to now. Suggesting that bullies should “choose kindness” would have gotten you shoved into a locker in the ‘70s — or the ‘80s, or the ‘90s, for that matter. But in 2026, assemblies encouraging teenagers to do just that are commonplace. Then again, so are school shooter drills. Through the character of Carrie White (Summer H. Howell), the series is able to highlight the confusing, contradictory world today’s teenagers live in, particularly the ambient threat of gun violence in schools and the self-consciousness that comes from knowing that you could be recorded by anyone, anywhere, at any time.

Matthew Lillard as Principal Grayle in Carrie. | Amazon Content Services

This, of course, leads us to social media. In Flanagan’s Carrie, the title character’s bullies are everywhere and nowhere, as an anonymous classmate — anonymous to the kids, anyway; the audience knows that it’s troubled rich girl Chris Hargensen (Alison Thornton) — creates an Instagram account called “CarrieRed” devoted to uploading embarrassing photos anonymously submitted by Ewen High School students. The latter part is important, as Carrie is not the sole victim and Chris is not the sole perpetrator of the bullying in this series. This spreads both the suffering and the blame around, which fits the more sympathetic airing that all the characters, including Chris, get here. But it also dulls the horror, particularly when — without saying too much — it’s revealed that neither Chris nor Carrie are wholly responsible for the infamous pig-blood incident, nor the massacre that follows.

It’s not as much fun to watch Carrie crying as she sets the school gymnasium on fire with her mind, in other words. But that’s not as dramatic as the changes Carrie makes to the character of Margaret White (Samantha Sloyan), reframed here as an overprotective mother rather than as an abusive monster. She seems as though she might be on her way back to the latter at the end of Carrie Episode 2, but her character takes an unexpected turn in the second half of the series that’s self-righteous and a little delusional, but far from villainous. This Margaret’s biggest sin is pride, as she uses the “CarrieRed” incident to take out her frustrations on the secular world that she’s feared her entire adult life — not on her daughter, as she has in previous versions of the story.

Samantha Sloyan as Margaret White in Carrie. | Amazon Content Services

After a setup invented for the series that adds backstory about Carrie and Margaret emerging from self-imposed isolation after the death of Carrie’s father, the extremist elements of Carrie fade into the background as the season goes on. This is unfortunate, as the connections Flanagan and company make between this aspect of the story and contemporary right-wing culture-war messaging are some of the series’ most insightful. Instead, Carrie gets carried away (sorry) with broad themes of scapegoating and witch hunts — both metaphorical and literal — accompanied by feminist monologues about women with “powers” being condemned as sorcerers and frauds. (These would be more compelling if they didn’t use images from the famously unreal Salem Witch Trials to illustrate their point.)

This is where Siegel’s character, briefly glimpsed at the end of Episode 1, starts to play a more important role in the story, although she physically appears too late to be properly developed as a character in her own right. In the meantime, as Chris and Sue Snell (Siena Agudong) embark on their own interpersonal dramas, Carrie makes friends with Emaline (Thalia Dudek), a fellow outcast who conveniently appears every time Carrie gets overwhelmed with emotion and does something spooky. Their relationship leads to the series’ low point, as Emaline and Carrie go to a junkyard to develop Carrie’s telekinetic powers in a scene that’s a little too much Eleven and not enough Carrie White.

Thalia Dudek as Emaline and Alison Thornton as Chris Hargensen in Carrie. | Amazon Content Services

A high point comes in Episode 3, where Carrie attends her first party, gets a little drunk, and finds out that her classmates aren’t so bad after all. Chris, meanwhile, gets into a fight with her new stepsister, and ends up leaving the party wasted and miserable. Siegel (who directed the episode) cuts between the girls’ faces, each of them hanging out of the passenger seat of a car. (Carrie is feeling the wind on her face; Chris feels like she’s going to throw up.) We know that something horrible is going to happen soon, but for now, Carrie’s life is on an upward trajectory, while Chris’ is sliding downwards. Add a sprinkle of the supernatural, and it’s the series’ entire arc captured in 30 seconds of visual storytelling.

It’s a great example of using character to deepen and modernize what Stephen King was doing in his original novel. Unfortunately, however, in subsequent episodes the series strays from this approach and into Stranger Things-inspired territory, whose cultural moment has long since passed. And that’s unfortunate, because in many other ways this Carrie quite unexpectedly rises to our own.

Carrie premieres on Prime Video on October 7th.

]]><![CDATA[5 Years Later, Marvel Will Finally Answer 'WandaVision's Trippiest Question]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/visionquest-white-vision-ultron-tommy-explainedhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/visionquest-white-vision-ultron-tommy-explainedThu, 01 Oct 2026 19:32:50 GMT
Marvel Studios

For a long time, it felt like VisionQuest, the final chapter of the trilogy that began with WandaVision, was a figment of our hopes and dreams. It’s been five years since Vision (Paul Bettany) sparred with his colder, more naive counterpart, the White Vision (also Bettany), eventually transferring his memories so he could make the ultimate sacrifice in WandaVision. The 2021 series left a lot of questions unanswered; some were addressed in Agatha All Along, but mysteries remain about the new incarnation of Vision and the fate of Tommy Maximoff, one of two children the OG Vision “had” with Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen).

VisionQuest has quietly been in the works for some time, but this October it will finally address all of the above, plus a little extra. Marvel has kept details incredibly close to the vest: the show hits Disney+ in exactly two weeks, yet we’re only just now getting a sense of the plot. The latest VisionQuest trailer takes all the vague details of past updates and lays them out in a way we can understand. It also sets up the series to untangle WandaVision’s most confusing twist, and even give Ultron (James Spader) a new lease on life.

VisionQuest catches up with White Vision years after he inherited the original Vision’s memories. Now, it seems, he’s assumed his identity, too, although he says he inherited none of “his virtue” when taking on the Vision mantle. He’s been studying Vision’s life and striving to live up to his heroism, but that’s not easy with the vestiges of Ultron still hanging out in his psyche. Ultron is technically Vision’s dad: he created him to be the ultimate weapon in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. We can thank the Avengers’ timely intervention for preventing that, but the new Vision is still struggling to reconcile those origins with Vision 1’s expectations.

That struggle gets harder when he discovers his son, Tommy (now played by Ruaridh Mollica), is in trouble on the island of Madripoor. As the trailer shows, Vision unleashes Ultron to help rescue Tommy, but since Ultron never fulfilled his goal of enslaving humanity, that’s an absolutely terrible idea. Vision faces a very Freudian ordeal as he fights Ultron for what’s probably the final time. “This is a fight I likely won’t win,” he admits in the trailer. But in reconnecting with Tommy, who’s dealing with a similar memory dilemma, VisionQuest will finally address this trilogy’s weirdest paradox.

Do the memories make the man?

VisionQuest is bringing back the Ship of Theseus theory. | Marvel Studios

When the two Visions faced off in WandaVision, they resolved their conflict with a heady debate about existence and identity (and with lasers). The OG Vision walks his counterpart through the Ship of Theseus thought experiment, which asks whether a ship is still the same ship if every rotting component is replaced. “Secondly,” Vision asked, “if those removed planks are restored and reassembled, free of the rot, is that the Ship of Theseus?”

“Neither is the true ship,” White Vision proposed. “Both are the true ship.”

Vision went on to theorize that the “rot” in their situation might be his own memories, which kinda made sense until he gave those memories to White Vision. Though the latter claimed “I am Vision” after receiving that parting gift, VisionQuest pokes a major hole in that theory. The new series seems poised to solve this paradox once and for all, and it’ll likely address the Blade Runner Easter eggs we got in WandaVision along the way.

It’ll be interesting to see Vision’s struggle paralleled with Tommy’s: this isn’t the original Tommy, after all, but a reincarnation of sorts. When Wanda dissolved her hex over the town of Westview, the constructs she’d created — including her own children — were seemingly destroyed. Her magic was so powerful, however, that their spirits found new vessels. We saw Billy (Joe Locke) unlock the memories attached to that spirit in Agatha All Along, and Tommy will face the same issue in VisionQuest. It took five years, but Marvel is finally closing the loop on this trippy saga, and in a properly compelling fashion.

VisionQuest premieres October 14 on Disney+.

]]><![CDATA[65 Cheap Things That Make Your Home Way Cooler]]>https://www.inverse.com/shopping/cheap-things-that-make-your-home-way-coolerhttps://www.inverse.com/shopping/cheap-things-that-make-your-home-way-coolerThu, 01 Oct 2026 19:00:24 GMT
Amazon

Whether you’re renting or putting down roots, you deserve a home that feels as cool in person as it looks on your Pinterest board. You might think that requires digging deep into your savings, but the dope things on this list actually make it possible to upgrade every room for way less than you imagine. Think sleek hardware, lighting, and floor and wall coverings that don’t require a contractor to install. Plus, tons of cozy linens, quirky decor, and unique design touches for all the custom vibes. Scroll on for all the finds that’ll make your home a place you’ll be proud to show off.

A faux calla lily bouquet that glows

If you love keeping fresh flowers in your home but don’t love the maintenance, then these faux calla lilies are for you. They have stunning lilac-hued tips and look surprisingly realistic. And you’ll love that they double as ambient lighting, offering a soft glow with the convenience of a built-in timer.

Flameless candles for moody lighting without the hazard

Lighting candles is one of the most effortless ways to make any space a mood — and this upscale set of three pillar candles allows you to do just that without worrying about actual flames. The flickering wicks look ultra-realistic, but they’re actually completely flameless. Switch them on or off, set timers, and adjust the brightness with the included remote.

Crystal cabinet pulls available in striking colors

Even the most basic cabinets and furniture will look way better with these striking knobs. They feature real quartz geodes with gold-plated bases and hardware for extra sparkle. They offer a surprisingly comfortable grip and are available in striking colors, including a vibrant rainbow set.

A faux bookshelf sticker for enhancing the look of any door

Always dreamed of having a classy home library? This bookshelf door sticker is the next best thing. It adds a curated look and visual depth to any room with its sophisticated design. It even has faux sconces for a cozy, low-light effect. And renters will appreciate that it peels off residue-free on moving day.

A toilet paper stamp that creates a cheerful detail

You’ll never replace another roll without reaching for this toilet paper stamp once you see the cool detail it creates. Just press to enjoy the cheerful smiley face stamp that will have your guests grinning, too. It also works on paper napkins and towels, so you can spread the joy throughout your home.

An adjustable sunset lamp with a moody glow

Setting the mood is as easy as switching on this dope sunset lamp. It casts a moody sunset glow and features an adjustable arm that allows you to change the size and position of the projection—think walls, ceilings, and floors. While it looks and performs like a high-end home find, it’s surprisingly inexpensive.

A unique paper towel or TP holder that looks antique

You’ll love how cool this unique paper towel holder looks on bathroom and kitchen countertops. It’s constructed from cast iron, features a sturdy, weighted base, and is hand-finished in a warm antique gold. Choose from a curated selection of animal themes, including a stretching cat and the adorable featured frog.

A corner rug that will make your kitchen look so sleek

This kitchen rug has a genius design that gives high-traffic corners a streamlined look. Not only does the soft woven material look just like linen, but it absorbs spills in seconds and is machine-washable for quick and easy cleanup. Available in neutral colors, you’re sure to find the perfect match for your space.

A shower lamp with a mesmerizing projection feature

Stop turning on that harsh overhead light when you bathe and get this shower lamp instead. It’s waterproof and completely wireless — just charge it ahead of use. And it features a removable shade that allows you to transition from a diffused glow to a mesmerizing wave projection. Tap the top to switch between 16 colors.

A tabletop fountain for a relaxing spa vibe

This tabletop fountain features cascading tiers and built-in tealight candle holders, creating a spa-like ambiance in your home. Although it includes real pebbles, the fountain is made from a durable resin material with a textured finish that mimics natural stone, making it a perfect fit for various interior styles.

An iconic key holder from your favorite TV show

If you’re a fan of the ‘90s sitcom Friends, you’ll find it impossible to resist this wall key holder. It looks just like the iconic purple doorway of Monica and Rachel’s apartment. With multiple hooks and a small shelf, it’s the ideal place to hang keys and small handbags, plus stash a pair of sunglasses.

A plush faux fur blanket in trendy prints

This is one fur blanket that will make you feel as good on the outside as it does on the inside. That’s because it’s made from cruelty-free, synthetic rabbit fur but offers an authentic plush feel. And you’ll love the textured design and mottled pattern that makes it look ultra bougie. Choose from a selection of eye-catching colors.

Charming toilet bolt covers that are way better than plastic caps

When it comes to decorating your bathroom, the smallest details count, like these charming toilet bolt covers. They look like adorable ducks and are made from heavy-duty glazed ceramic, making them a serious upgrade from cheap plastic models that are always falling off. And you don’t need any tools to install the pair — just sit them over the bolts.

Faux subway tiles that look like real ceramic

Hate the backsplash that came with your place? Use these faux subway tiles to cover it up in seconds. It looks like real ceramic but is so much easier to clean and install — just peel and stick the sheets on and wipe away messes with a cloth. Choose from versatile colors ideal for bathrooms and kitchens.

Easy-to-install curtain lights for whimsical vibes

These curtain lights turn plain walls into a magical focal point. They feature an easy-to-hang cascade of LEDs that create a warm glow, making them perfect for bedrooms, living spaces, and even party backdrops. And they come with a remote control that allows you to switch them on and off and set timers without ever getting up from your seat.

A disco ball globe that’s so damn fun

This globe is downright irresistible. The shimmery silver disco ball features real mini glass tiles that reflect light with every spin, making it a fun piece of decor that your guests will love, too. And the gold-tone base has a classic silhouette reminiscent of antique world globes.

A modern toaster that looks ultra-sleek

Everything about this toaster screams expensive — minus the actual price tag that’s shockingly low. The slim profile gives it a sleek look, but the slots are large enough to accommodate thick bagels. And the colors are unheard of when it comes to appliances — think modern hues in velvety matte finishes.

A sleek trim for pristine baseboards in minutes

If your baseboards have seen better days, this peel-and-stick trim is a quick and easy way to refresh any space. It’s made from a durable material that’s effortless to keep clean — just wipe with a damp cloth. And installation is as simple as sticking it in place. The neutral color selection is sure to include the perfect match for your home.

Sleek stick-on lights that automatically switch on & off

Say goodbye to harsh overhead lights or fumbling through dark spaces in the middle of the night. These lights provide a soft glow and feature motion sensors that automatically switch them on and off for ultimate convenience. The affordable set includes eight battery-operated lights with peel-and-stick backings for quick installation.

Coffee table books with secret storage

This genius organizational find combines the upscale look of chic coffee table books with smart storage. Simply flip open the lids to reveal secret compartments for stashing TV remotes, mail, keys, and more out of sight. The budget-friendly book set includes two books in neutral colors to match any space.

A multifunctional diffuser with a flame-like effect

Spa vibes are in your future. This multifunctional diffuser features real Himalayan salt rocks and creates a soothing water vapor and flame-like glow. Just add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to enjoy a luxurious aromatherapy experience right from the comfort of your own home.

A swan spoon set that will wow your guests

Your friends will be seriously impressed when you break out this posh coffee spoon set that looks so expensive. It includes 10 gold-tone spoons with feathered handle tips and a matching swan holder. It’s available in a variety of colors, including a set in a cool iridescent finish.

A fairy door for hiding outlets & light switches

This little fairy door is designed to add an enchanting touch to your walls while covering up light switches and outlets. It’s handcrafted from sustainable Paulownia wood with a finish that gives it an antique look. The peel-and-stick backing makes installation a breeze, and the hinges make for convenient access.

Stick-on molding trim for a high-end look in seconds

For a classic wainscoting look without busting your budget, get this molding trim that looks like the real thing. It’s made from a flexible material and has a peel-and-stick backing for easy installation. Plus, it can be cut to size and painted for a custom finish. Use it to level up doors and walls in any room.

Retro floor tiles you can install in minutes

Updating your kitchen and bathroom floors isn’t as expensive or time-consuming a project as you might think — especially when you grab these stick-on tiles. You’ll love the retro design and bold black-and-white color scheme, plus how easy they are to wipe clean since there are no grout lines to trap dirt. You get 10 tiles in a pack.

An elegant couch cover for an instant upgrade

Whether you want to update your tired old sofa or want to protect your new one from messy spills and pet hair, this couch cover is the way to go. The soft chenille fabric and elegant striped pattern make it look and feel a lot more expensive than it really is. And it’s machine washable, so it’s so much easier to clean than upholstery.

Waterproof decals that will make your toilet look so much better

You’ve probably never thought to decorate your toilet, but it’s actually the perfect opportunity to upgrade your bathroom. These nature-inspired bathroom stickers are waterproof and come in large panels, making them perfect for applying to tanks, lids, and even seats when cut to size.

Modern wall sconces that look hella expensive

These modern wall sconces look like high-tech lighting that would cost a fortune. They’re completely wireless and feature dimmable, color-changing lights that cast a vibrant glow. Use them as bedside lights, to give your media space a custom vibe, and more. A remote is included for maximum convenience.

Decorative door hinge toppers in fun animal themes

These decorative door hinge toppers transform ordinary hardware into a conversation-starting detail. Made from brass with an antique finish, they feature twee hummingbirds. Strong magnets allow for easy installation and help keep them securely in place. And there are even more fun animal themes to choose from within the listing, like buzzing bees and contemplative frogs.

A ruffle shower curtain for cottagecore vibes

This cottagecore shower curtain is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to give your bathroom a magazine-worthy look. It features hand-tied bows and soft ruffles in a creamy linen-blend fabric that’s machine washable for effortless maintenance. And it comes in four neutral colors, so you can find the best match for your space.

A decorative drying mat for your coffee bar

Upgrade the look of your countertop with this decorative drying mat. It’s available in a range of ceramic tile-inspired patterns and made from an absorbent, quick-drying material. It’s ideal for air-drying dishes, for keeping coffee bars tidy, and even for use in your pet’s food and water station.

A bath mat that looks like a moss forest floor

Bring the look of nature right into your bathroom with this bath mat that looks just like real moss. The microfiber material feels plush underfoot and is ultra-absorbent. Place it in front of your shower, sink, and even alongside your bed. The rubber backing promises to keep it from slipping.

An elegant wallpaper with a textured appearance

This elegant yet durable wallpaper looks like something you’d see in a five-star hotel. It features delicate branches with colorful blossoms against a green backdrop with a textured appearance. Peel and stick the waterproof covering to walls to instantly transform your space. Choose from a curated selection of classic colors.

A tissue box cover that looks like a retro radio

This tissue box cover looks just like a retro radio, making it as cool as it is functional. All you have to do is insert a tissue box, snap it back together, and then pull individual sheets through the slot at the top. You’ll love the gold-tone accents and the charming color selection.

Supportive kitchen mats available in vintage patterns

These kitchen floor mats are both stylish and functional. The delicate floral pattern creates a vintage farmhouse look while the thick material provides comfortable support during meal prep. The budget-friendly set includes two mats with stain-resistant, waterproof surfaces for easy maintenance. And they’re available in a bunch of colors and sizes.

Vintage-style bud vases for mantles & more

These vintage-style green bud vases are perfect for displaying on mantels and window sills, and they’ll instantly transform a tablescape, too. They’re made from heavy-duty glass and feature unique etched patterns. And they’re available in so many other colors, which means you’re sure to find your favorite.

A smart lamp you can sync with movies & music

This might be the most mesmerizing lamp you’ve ever seen. It features a paper shade that diffuses light and a really cool hourglass silhouette. You’ll love the endless color selection and the fact that you can sync it with music, movies, and more using the included remote or free phone app.

A cable management box that looks so charming

This cable management box transforms tangled cords and power strips into a charming accent piece. It's handcrafted from pine wood and has multiple side slots and a removable lid for easy access. It’s a stylish way to declutter your home and is available in two versatile colorways.

Floral wall stickers for a pop of color

If you’re not ready to commit to wallpaper but crave a pop of color, these wall decals are the perfect solution. They feature a romantic floral theme and stick to walls, furniture, and cabinets — no tools required. They’re just as easy to remove and won’t leave behind any sticky residue.

A plaid oven skirt that keeps your appliance doors clean

Tie this charming oven skirt on your appliances for a cozy-chic farmhouse look. It’s made from a classic red and white plaid fabric that doesn’t just look cute but also helps protect ovens and dishwashers from messy splashes, while doubling as a hand towel. Wait until you see the color selection and affordable price tag.

Dried eucalyptus stems with a refreshing scent

These eucalyptus stems are an understated decor option that requires zero maintenance. And they double as aromatherapy — just hang them in your shower where the steam will activate the invigorating menthol scent. The affordable bundle includes 10 natural stems that are expertly dried and break-resistant.

Classic wood appliques for furniture & walls

Elevate walls, cabinets, furniture, and more with these sophisticated wood onlays. This shockingly inexpensive set includes four rubber wood appliques featuring an intricately carved design. Use wood glue or nails to attach them to surfaces, then paint or stain them to create a custom finish.

Lace curtains for an instantly romantic look

These lace curtains match so many interior styles — think cottagecore, Victorian, and more. The light-filtering lace creates an elegant, romantic aesthetic that instantly elevates any room. Plus, the scalloped trim gives them an ultra-expensive-looking finish. And wait until you see the amazing color selection.

A floor transition strip with a real wood-grain look

This floor transition strip creates a seamless flow between rooms. It’s made from a flexible material with a wood-look finish and can be cut to size to achieve the perfect fit. And since it has a peel-and-stick backing, you can complete every room in your home in just minutes.

Vintage-inspired corner guards that protect furniture

Give your furniture an antique look while protecting it from damage. These elegant corner guards feature intricate carved patterns that add a high-end touch to even the most basic furniture. The set of four is ridiculously inexpensive and available in both bronze and black finishes.

A wooden doorbell chime cover with hand-carved motifs

Disguise that old-school doorbell chime with this artistic cover. The hand-carved wood features stylish motifs and has a bright white painted finish that gives it a pristine look. And the backing is lined with felt to protect your walls from scratches. Choose from two versatile sizes.

Bathroom wall decor for cat lovers

Cats are known for unraveling toilet paper rolls. And now you can enjoy the hilarious sight without the mess. This bathroom decor set includes three wall art pieces featuring mischievous felines. They’re crafted from wood and finished in a timeless black-and-white painted finish, making them a set you’ll have for years.

A sleek picture light that’s totally wireless

This rechargeable picture light will help you create a curated art gallery vibe. It features a sleek light bar and a polished gold finish that makes it look so much more expensive than it really is. And, best of all, it’s totally wireless and has a magnetic base, so you don’t even need to call out an electrician to have it installed.

A fridge mat that catches crumbs & leaks

Catch messy crumbs and leaks with this genius refrigerator mat. It’s designed to line up perfectly in front of standard refrigerators and is made from waterproof rubber that is easy to wipe clean. Choose from three neutral colors, including a modern charcoal gray, to find the best match for your kitchen.

A modern lamp with a bendable body

Show off your artistic eye with this unique table lamp. The bendable design gives it an anthropomorphic look while making it incredibly versatile. It’s constructed from solid wood and includes a classic white shade that offers a warm glow, perfect for reading, relaxing, and crafting.

Stair stickers that look like retro tiles

Updating your staircase doesn’t have to cost a ton or take up your entire weekend. These stick-on stair stickers are proof. They look like retro ceramic tiles and feature a versatile black-and-white color scheme. Made from a waterproof material, they promise to stand up to everyday wear.

A crystal candy dish you’ll love showing off

This stunning candy dish looks like a pricey vintage find. It’s made from iridescent crystal glass and features hobnail details. Fill it with small treats, or prop it on your desk or bedside table to stash push pins and accessories. It’s available in a curated selection of colors and designs — all at a price you’ll hardly believe.

Heavy-duty curtain rods with eye-catching finials

These curtain rods feature rustic gold bird finials, giving them an eye-catching look. Their heavy-duty metal construction can support up to 50 pounds, which means they’re ideal for hanging thick, blackout drapes without dealing with annoying sagging. And the telescoping rod can be adjusted fit both narrow and wide windows.

Colorful espresso cups you can stick in the dishwasher

You’ll love sipping your morning brew out of these vibrant espresso cups. They’re crafted from durable ceramic and feature colorful hand-painted folk art patterns with a textured feel. You’ll also appreciate that they’re both dishwasher- and microwave-safe, making them ideal for everyday use, but pretty enough for serving guests.

A versatile rope basket for stashing clutter

This best-selling laundry basket can pull a room together in seconds. Use it to store everything from clothing to throw blankets and even as a place to quickly stash clutter before guests arrive. It’s woven from cotton rope and features a stylish color-block design, plus side handles for easy toting.

A rustic wall hook that holds a ton

Ordinary wall hooks get the job done, but this one is so much better. The cast-iron hook features an adorable pair of cats with a timeless rustic finish that looks good in bedrooms, hallways, and bathrooms. And with an impressive 55-pound weight capacity, it’s ideal for hanging even your heavy winter coats.

A crystal ball night-light with a celestial scene

This unique night light captivates with its solar system design. It features a light-up crystal ball etched with a celestial scene. Simply set it on the wooden base and switch on the glowing LED light beads. And since it’s USB rechargeable, you can effortlessly move it between rooms without dealing with cords.

Solid wood wall planters with etched front panels

These rustic wall planters are etched with floral details and made from solid wood that’s surprisingly lightweight. They’re ideal for displaying dried flowers and faux greenery and are so versatile that you can hang them in your bedroom, bathroom, and beyond. The set includes four planters that are just under 1-foot long each.

An elegant floor register cover that won’t rattle

This elegant floor register cover instantly upgrades any room’s aesthetic. The durable antique bronze design complements a variety of flooring types, including wood and carpet. Plus, the weather-resistant dampers create a perfect fit, eliminating rattling while providing maximum airflow. Choose from affordable packs of one, two, or six — all at budget-friendly prices.

3D star magnets in a rainbow of colors

From refrigerator doors to whiteboards, these star-shaped magnets are sure to stand out. The affordable pack includes 16 magnets in a mix of rainbow hues, all crafted from a durable resin material with a 3D design. And there are even more star designs to choose from.

A spa-like shower head with a built-in filtration system

Shower heads this sleek would typically set you back hundreds of dollars, but this modern model is shockingly affordable. It features six spray modes, plus a hidden multi-stage filter that effectively removes chloride and other impurities, helping your skin and hair feel so much softer and less dry.

A sleek outlet concealer for a seamless look

Eliminate visual clutter with this cool outlet concealer. The flat panel creates a seamless look, while the power strip offers three outlets, allowing you to tuck cords out of sight and make use of outlets located behind heavy furniture. It’s available at a budget-friendly price and in multiple cord lengths.

A bidet that attaches right to your existing toilet

Give your bathroom a European upgrade with this bidet toilet attachment. It’s effortless to install (no plumber needed) and offers adjustable water pressure and dual nozzles for precision front and rear washing. Plus, the slim profile doesn’t interfere with the look or functionality of your existing toilet seat.

A cherry blossom tree lamp with glowing blooms

This cherry blossom tree lamp is absolutely stunning — and when you switch it on, it’s pure magic. Each pink blossom is equipped with a tiny LED light that creates a charming glow. You’ll appreciate that you can power it in one of two ways: with the included USB cable or by inserting three AA batteries.

Modern plant wall shelves that can hold up to 100 pounds

Display your houseplants in style while giving them the light and space they need to thrive. These plant wall hangers include roomy, rust-resistant shelves and bottom hooks, which means the affordable set of two can easily accommodate up to four plants and up to a total of 100 pounds. Plus, they come with hardware and step-by-step instructions.

]]><![CDATA['Primetime' Ending Explained: The Director Explains Dan's Final Scene]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/primetime-ending-explained-lance-oppenheim-skyler-gisondo-merritt-wever-interviewhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/primetime-ending-explained-lance-oppenheim-skyler-gisondo-merritt-wever-interviewThu, 01 Oct 2026 15:00:24 GMT
A24

It all began with a Cameo.

In 2024, director Lance Oppenheim, fresh off his acclaimed documentary Spermworld, received a Cameo as a gift from his wife, featuring Chris Hansen congratulating him. “He congratulated me on the release of the film, and then he told me to have a seat, and he went on to tell me about his new programs,” Oppenheim recalls to Inverse. All par for the course for a celebrity Cameo, right? Except something immediately stuck with Oppenheim as he watched the 1-minute video. Hansen immediately began plugging his own show, Hansen vs. Predator, and his podcast, Have A Seat With Chris Hansen, as well as his own streaming crime network. It was all such blatant showmanship that Oppenheim couldn’t stop thinking about it.

“When I was a kid, he was this crusading journalist, but today he's almost this self-aware performer who is still doing the same investigations into the subject matter that he's been doing since 2006,” Oppenheim says. “If you pay him $30 on Cameo, he'll wish you a happy birthday and then pretend that you're a predator. And I thought that was so odd.”

So when he received Ajon Singh’s script for Primetime a few months later — around the same time that he met Robert Pattinson — he couldn’t resist. The script, which is based on the 2007 Esquire article “Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die,” detailing the prolific suicide that got To Catch A Predator pulled off the air, was exactly the kind of movie that would allow Oppenheim to explore Chris Hansen and the “fascinating enigma of a person” he became. But, curiously, the ending of Primetime is not really about Chris Hansen, but about Dan Plum, Skyler Gisondo’s young aspiring who

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Primetime.

Primetime Ending Explained

Chris Hansen approaches a predator. | A24

What’s clear as Primetime unfolds is that it’s not just about Chris Hansen; it’s equally about Dan Plum, to whom Hansen gives the nickname “Decoy Dan.” Just as the film follows Hansen’s spiral into a fame-fueled despair, it also follows Dan as he auditions for the show (thinking it will finally help him get his SAG card) and becomes one of the show’s go-to decoys. And it climaxes in the botched sting operation that would bring down Hansen’s To Catch A Predator media empire and make Dan complicit in a man’s suicide.

For Oppenheim, having Hansen’s foil be an aspiring actor-turned-decoy was key to Primetime. “There was almost this Bud Fox-Gordon Gekko thing from Wall Street where they're almost like mirror images of each other,” Oppenheim says. “You have two people who essentially want to be on television no matter which way it comes to them. And one person's much further along in that journey than the other one.”

The climax manifests in different ways for Hansen and Dan, and even for Merritt Wever’s Andy, To Catch A Predator’s producer who struggles over whether to leave the show for its much-cheerier rival, ABC’s What Would You Do? Wever reveals to Inverse that the script “went through a lot of different drafts and iterations, but the container or the arc of Andy never changed. She was a person who was drawn to a certain kind of job with a certain kind of material... She decides to stay, and if anything, she doubles down.”

Merritt Wever’s Andy puts the cynical button at the end of the climax. | A24

And Andy certainly doubles down after the tragedy of the botched sting unfolds: Once the heavily armed police officers of Murphy, Texas swarm into the house of assistant district attorney Bill Conradt (Alex Winter), whom To Catch A Predator were trying to out as a predator, the operation ends with a gunshot. Conradt shoots himself (Hansen briefly seeing Conradt through the window, his face looking like a mask of an ancient monster), and the show’s latest mission is a failure. While everyone else sits in shock, Andy assures, “I can work with this.” However, we see Dan, sitting in the police car, silently leave, while Hansen seems to be shell-shocked that he failed to get his “whale.”

“The thing to me that always [binds] the movie together and the characters together, and to me it was always about the emotional toll that the work would take, even the climax at the end,” Oppenheim says. “It's something that you can see on the show. It's something you can see in David Oset's brilliant documentary, Predators. What I thought the film could maybe explore was how that affected the characters in real time and the aftermath, the lingering feeling of essentially achieving everything you've ever dreamt of with this primetime slot.”

The Actual Ending, And How It Changed

Skyler Gisondo’s Dan Plum is at the center of the final scene in Primetime. | A24

The film doesn’t cut to credits there. Instead, we jump forward to a few months later, with Dan receiving a package that got delivered to the wrong house. He opens it, and we see: It’s his SAG card.

In a Q&A following an LA screening of Primetime, Oppenheim revealed that this ending was actually Gisondo’s idea. “I remember we were coming to the end of the film and the movie ended a little bit earlier, and I just kept thinking, ‘I don't want it to end in this sort of way that makes you just completely f*ck my life,” Oppenheim said. “I want it to end in a way that there's still something around the corner and you could read it a few different ways and that he has an opportunity to keep going even if he shouldn't.”

Gisondo is humble about his role, telling Inverse that he simply played Dan as an “amalgamation of all these decoys.”

“It was more about just the general...way that they navigated the space, their relationship to the cameras and the perform tonally with the performance, how far they were taking it, how much they were changing the voice,” Gisondo says.

But perhaps it was because Gisondo’s Dan was so moldable and not based on any one real person that Oppenheim could effectively play out the movie’s themes — about the cost of turning complicated, high-stakes issues into entertainment — through him.

“I liked seeing the devastation of what this experience had caused for him, the true emotional toll,” Oppenheim said. “He's the person who starts as this naive guy who doesn't know anything about the world, and by the end he's affected by it.”

Primetime is currently playing in theaters.

]]><![CDATA[Hulu Just Quietly Added The Most Baffling Sci-Fi Movie Of The Year]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/soulm8te-review-hulu-streaminghttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/soulm8te-review-hulu-streamingThu, 01 Oct 2026 12:30:24 GMT
Universal Pictures

Some stories succeed because they’re in the right place at the right time, like a vampire movie in 2008 or a dystopian book series in 2011, or a legacyquel in 2021. But other stories are timeless and work regardless of what time they’re set in or when they are released. Star-crossed lovers, for example, or a mythical hero’s journey.

But these stock stories are a curse as well as a blessing: they invite the viewer to compare what they’re watching to all the other, better, variations on the theme that came before. Unfortunately for one sci-fi movie now streaming on Hulu, what should have been the start of an anthology franchise quickly became a predictable slog for this very reason.

Soulm8te was supposed to be the movie that brought back the erotic thriller. Produced by James Wan’s Atomic Monster and set within the same universe as M3GAN, it looked like the movie version of an episode of Black Mirror, with a bunch more gore and guts and slasher movie elements. Unfortunately, what we got instead was like watching Black Mirror without any of the subversion or personality. It’s no wonder it was eventually switched to a direct-to-VOD release from a full theatrical one.

Soulm8te opens with young widower David (David Rhysdahl) as his robotics company is acquired by a massive conglomerate, and he’s chosen by the company to beta-test a new technology that imports its chatbot into a synthetic android. It sounds a lot like the Black Mirror episode “Be Right Back,” or the Twilight Zone episode “The Lateness of the Hour,” or the entire movie Companion.

Unfortunately, the element this movie adds to make this take feel new is another big derivative trope: the “careful what you wish for” story, where the pretty girl’s affection goes too far and veers into horrific. You know, exactly the premise of Obsession, the defining horror movie of the year.

Sara is unfortunately much more derivative than her spiritual sister M3GAN. | Universal Pictures

When David eliminates the guardrails of his Soulm8te, Sara (Lily Sullivan), she quickly turns evil, attacking David’s coworkers out of jealousy and trying to prove she can be a good mom. Much like her predecessor M3GAN, her protection turns deadly, but unlike her, it’s all tinged with discourse around abusive romantic relationships. Obsession handles this by framing Nikki as the victim of mind control, but Sara is 100% at fault here.

The script is almost proud of this fact. “I’m not your enemy,” one of Sara’s victims pleads. “We don’t need to be pitted against each other.”

“Don’t try that girl-power sh*t with me,” Sara responds callously, sneering.

Soulm8te is the movie that people assumed Obsession would be, and that’s not a compliment. Every “twist” is the obvious choice, and the messages it tries to send about AI and how that changes romance were tired even before they became relevant. Sure, all the elements of a good movie are here: there are the creative slayings like in Heart Eyes, the obsessed female lead of Obsession, the tech element of Companion, all wrapped up in a M3GAN franchise. But this is less than the sum of its parts.

There’s nothing wrong with a tropey movie — the hits are the hits for a reason. But this movie isn’t a greatest hits album. It’s a bad cover band, and all it makes you want to do is revisit the original.

Soulm8te is now streaming on Hulu.

]]><![CDATA[Zach Cregger's Next Sci-Fi Thriller Just Got A Perfect Star]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/zach-cregger-the-flood-jennifer-lawrencehttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/zach-cregger-the-flood-jennifer-lawrenceWed, 30 Sep 2026 18:45:36 GMT
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Since catching the world by storm with the 2022 horror breakout Barbarian, Zach Cregger has been on a spectacular genre run. Weapons was one of Warner Bros. highest-grossing original films in 2025, and it earned Amy Madigan her first-ever Oscar win for her depiction of the sinister Aunt Gladys (who’s now getting her own prequel spin-off). And just a few weeks back, his Resident Evil reboot shattered the franchise’s financial and critical benchmarks, proving he’s just as skilled at bringing IP to life as he is at crafting original stories.

So with three films now under his belt, what’s next? The internet has already been clamoring for a sequel to Resident Evil, and Cregger has also talked about a now-dormant pitch for a DC Comics movie about a random henchman in Gotham City, yet his fourth film will apparently be neither of those. Instead, Cregger is already in pre-production for The Flood, a science fiction film that will mark his first departure from straight horror, and he’s just cast its lead actress.

In just four years, Cregger has gone from a small-budget hit to one of the most in-demand genre filmmakers. | 20th Century Studios

According to Deadline, Jennifer Lawrence is set to star in The Flood, in the first official casting announcement since the film was announced. Cregger is returning to New Line Cinema, the same WB subsidiary behind Weapons, but in collaboration with Stephen Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, which may indicate how firmly the movie fits in the sci-fi wheelhouse. While plot details are still incredibly light, the film is said to follow “a deep-space captain who leads her crew to investigate a cryptic signal from a distant world, only to uncover an alien artifact that warps time, reality, and their sanity, forcing them into a confrontation with an incomprehensible intelligence."

Jennifer Lawrence is certainly no stranger to genre projects — one of her earliest starring roles was in the 2012 psychological horror film The House at the End of the Street, and she was also one of the leads in 2016’s Passengers (a psychological science-fiction drama) as well as Darren Aronofsky’s mother! (another horror film). Her involvement bodes well for Cregger’s script, as Lawrence has talked about being picky with her choice of projects recently. After three very good horror films, it’ll be interesting to see what Cregger brings to the table as he branches out into another genre, one that will undoubtedly require a bigger scale than what he’s worked with before.

The Flood is scheduled for a theatrical release on August 11, 2028.

]]><![CDATA[The Most Beleaguered Apocalyptic Thriller Sequel Just Got A Promising Update]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/28-years-later-3-danny-boyle-update-cillian-murphyhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/28-years-later-3-danny-boyle-update-cillian-murphyWed, 30 Sep 2026 18:23:17 GMT
Sony Pictures

The 28 Days Later franchise was dormant for years before director Danny Boyle and Alex Garland saw fit to revive it — and the duo seemed eager to make up for lost time. 28 Years Later and its sequel, The Bone Temple, premiered within a year of each other, the first two films in a planned sequel trilogy. Can we expect the third film in this zombie saga to keep to that schedule?

In a perfect world, 28 Years Later Part 3 would hit theaters sometime in 2027, but there’s been no definitive word on where it is in production — or what it will eventually be titled. One would think, after the long-awaited return of Cillian Murphy’s Jim in The Bone Temple, Sony would be fast-tracking the final planned film. Part 3 seems to be in some kind of limbo, perhaps because The Bone Temple made significantly less than 28 Years Later did in its box office run. Is Sony worried about taking a risk with yet another sequel? There’s no telling what the powers that be might be thinking — but Boyle is confident that this trilogy will get its final chapter sooner than later.

Danny Boyle doesn’t know when 28 Years Later 3 is coming — but it’s definitely on the way. | Christian Bruna/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Boyle is currently making the rounds with his latest film, Ink; the director appeared at the Zurich Film Festival, where he offered a promising update about the final film in the 28 Years trilogy. “28 Years 3, or whatever it ends up being called, will get made because people keep asking about it,” he revealed. “Quite when I’m not sure, but there’s a script — a very good script by Alex Garland.”

Said script reportedly has “a lot of Cillian Murphy in it,” which should excite fans who’ve been waiting to see the loop close between 28 Years and the OG film, 28 Days Later. Jim returns in the final moments of The Bone Temple, rushing to rescue young Spike (Alfie Williams) and his new ally Kelly (Erin Kellyman) from a horde of Infected. How these characters will interact — or what their next mission will be — is totally unknown to everyone but Boyle and Garland. The director will officially return to helm the final part of this saga, but the question of “when” remains unanswered. Still, it’s nice to know that Boyle is still keen to bring this story home. Part 3 might not get the same accelerated release as its predecessors, but the 28 Years saga will be told in its entirety if Boyle has anything to say about it.

]]><![CDATA[4 Years Later, Amazon Might Revive A Cursed Spider-Man Experiment]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/amazon-tv-new-spider-man-serieshttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/amazon-tv-new-spider-man-seriesWed, 30 Sep 2026 16:52:28 GMT
Sony Pictures

Spider-Man may be a superhero movie icon, but he came to TV first. The Amazing Spider-Man gave us a live-action Peter Parker on TV all the way back in 1977, but for years now, Amazon has tried to find its own big Spider-Man show without much success.

Still, it looks like the studio is trying again — according to Deadline, Amazon is planning to greenlight a new live-action Spider-Man series based on an existing comics storyline. Could this new project finally make Spider-Man as successful on streaming as he is at the theater?

Amazon started developing Spider-Man shows in 2022, when it struck a deal with Sony to work on a “suite” of live-action series, beginning with Silk: Spider Society. In 2024, however, the entire project was canceled. Then there was Spider-Noir, which had a unique release in both color and black-and-white and the claim to fame of being Nicolas Cage’s first starring TV role, but was canceled after Season 1 wrapped up.

Spider-Noir was canceled after Season 1. | Prime Video

Now, yet another project is about to get its moment in the spotlight, and it’s reportedly an adaptation of the comic book’s Clone Saga run, which revolves around clones of Spider-Man and their claim to be the “real” Spider-Man. This is the story that introduced Ben Reilly, who would later appear in the animated movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

The animated Spider-Verse movies are definitely the crown jewel of Sony’s solo Spider-Man projects, so taking inspiration from them makes sense. That’s how we got Spider-Noir in the first place. But after the failure of “Sonyverse” movies like Madame Web and Kraven the Hunter, could a tangential TV show succeed?

Ben Reilly’s version of Spider-Man appeared in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. | Amazon Prime Video

Still, we’re talking about Spider-Man here; just because a live-action series hasn’t found its footing so far, it’s bound to work eventually. The character is still so popular that Brand New Day is setting box-office records, and while that doesn’t necessarily translate to small-screen success, Amazon sure seems convinced that making a third attempt in four years is worth it.

Spider-Noir is streaming on Prime Video.

]]><![CDATA[5 Hidden Gems from This Year's Fantastic Fest]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/fantastic-fest-2026-hidden-gemshttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/fantastic-fest-2026-hidden-gemsWed, 30 Sep 2026 14:00:25 GMT

2026 marked the 21st edition of Fantastic Fest, a film festival that’s long been at the forefront of defining what a “genre movie” means for the North American market. Like everybody, the festival had a bit of a rebuilding period after COVID shut down festivities in 2020 and 2021. This year, however, Fantastic Fest really found its footing, with the strongest lineup of films in recent memory and a variety of well-run, inclusive events designed to cater to all types of fest-goers, from early risers to karaoke vampires. (Inverse’s Katie Rife had to leave before the GWAR show, which was very sad.)

Highlights included secret screenings Alpha Gang and In A Violent Nature 2, as well as Wild Horse Nine and a special screening of Primetime. Beyond the big-name titles, however, this year’s festival also included a number of excellent under-the-radar movies worth seeking out. Some of them are already scheduled for release, while others will be traveling the festival circuit for the foreseeable future. We’ve rounded up our five favorites below.

The Cycle

Deborah Ann Woll looks at something unspeakable in The Cycle. | Fantastic Fest

Based on his resume — the director first rose to fame with the slasher parody ThanksKilling in 2008 — you might not expect Jordan Downey to make a movie as deathly serious as The Cycle. But he’s done exactly that, and quite successfully so, with this grim and gruesome blend of serial-killer thriller and supernatural horror, the best straightforward horror movie to come out of this year’s Fantastic Fest. Deborah Ann Woll (Daredevil, True Blood) plays an especially clear-eyed version of the morbid savant common in TV procedurals, a forensic examiner in the grey and rainy Pacific Northwest who’s called in to consult on a bizarre case involving three corpses found at the same crime scene decomposing at dramatically different rates.

Where her investigation goes from there is truly surprising: If you think the setup is shocking, just wait for the conclusion. That’s all we can really say without ruining it, because this is one of those films where it’s best to go in blind. But if you’ve got a taste for graphic autopsy scenes and nightmarish creature effects, be sure to catch this one soon.

The Cycle hits Shudder on October 23.

Ghost in the Cell

One of many “‘WTF” moments in Ghost in the Cell. | Fantastic Fest

Speaking of grotesque, Indonesian horror master Joko Anwar has come up with something completely unique — not just in his filmography, but in horror in general — with Ghost in the Cell. Where his 2017 remake of Satan’s Slaves found terror in the shadows, every one of the outrageously gory kills in his latest movie is brightly lit and takes place in full view, if not of the other characters, but of the audience. (Hannibal wishes it could be this creative.)

Anwar’s approach to the movie’s tone is similarly bold, mixing up slapstick comedy, political satire, heartfelt character work, dance numbers, and martial-arts inspired action, putting it in a bag, and shaking it up with wildly mobile camerawork and homoerotic sight gags. The audacity is jaw-dropping, and the giddy WTF-ery begins early and does not let up throughout. A cast of likable convicts further up the entertainment value, making this the most fun Indonesian horror-comedy set in a haunted prison you’ll see this year. And you won’t have to wait long.

Ghost in the Cell opens in select North American theaters this weekend.

Gimme Truth

“Starseed” and former rapper Arcturus Ra, the most endearing of the five subjects of Gimme Truth. | Fantastic Fest

Conspiracy theories and the people who believe in them are well-trod territory in the documentary world. But no one approaches the topic like Gimme Truth directors Brad Abrahams and Simon Ennis, whose open-hearted approach to their subjects allows them to go places and see things that most filmmakers don’t have access to. Of course, some conspiracy theorists are more dangerous than others. The five subjects profiled in Abrahams and Ennis’ new movie represent a full range of unorthodox belief systems, from harmless hippie “Starseeds” and a good old-fashioned alien crackpot to the more politically charged worlds of Qanon and COVID conspiracy theorists.

Combining revealing interviews with bonkers AI art (generated by the subjects, not the filmmakers) and fly-on-the-wall footage taken at fringe events like the Conscious Life Expo and the world premiere of Plandemic: The Musical, Gimme Truth maintains a distance from these colorful characters without mocking them. It’s more interested in figuring out how these people got to this point in their lives and where they might go from here, as with a former 9/11 truther profiled in the doc who now helps other people climb out of the conspiracy rabbit hole. Her story is gutting, not least because she now knows the beliefs that alienated from her friends and family were all lies. But it’s also hopeful, a rare quality in coverage of this increasingly (and distressingly) common phenomenon.

Following its premiere at Hot Docs and screenings at Fantastic Fest, Gimme Truth is scheduled to play at New/Next Festival in Baltimore on October 4.

Godmother

Paige Evans preparing for battle in Godmother. | Fantastic Fest

Godmother is another pleasant surprise out of this year’s Fantastic Fest from first-time feature director John Veron, who effectively sets up one kind of horror movie before pivoting into another. The basic setup involves a boring couple on vacation and the annoying party girl who insists on tagging along, creating one of those movie Rorschach tests where everyone thinks that a different character is being the a-hole here. It all seems to be leading up to a typical, if vicious, slasher movie shot at an Airbnb in Joshua Tree…until it doesn’t.

The film’s musings on gender and relationships take a wild and goopy turn in the second half, taking elements of Get Out, Rosemary’s Baby, Cocoon, and a half-dozen other influences and bathing them in bright red Dario Argento lighting. The bodily autonomy theme, which Veron credits to co-writer Alanah Pearce, is evident. But underneath there’s also some very relevant commentary here on how older generations suck the life out of younger ones for their own selfish benefit. We’ll leave it up to you to find out whether or not we mean that literally — hopefully sooner rather than later.

Godmother is currently looking for a distributor.

Pathetic Fallacy

A typically inscrutable still from Pathetic Fallacy. | Fantastic Fest

Name a genre. Go ahead, any genre. Why? Because whatever it is, there are probably elements of it in Pathetic Fallacy. Starring Fantastic Fest favorite Jessica Rothe — who stars in three films from this year’s lineup — and Scott Mescudi, also known as Kid Cudi, Adam Egypt Mortimer’s third feature is a rollercoaster ride of storytelling and emotion, shifting between devastating drama to stylish and sexy musical numbers to bloody horror kills with surprising deftness and ease.

The operative word here is “psychedelic,” as Pathetic Fallacy sends Mescudi — a recent widower looking for meaning in the wake of his wife’s (Rothe) devastating death — through an acid-trip tunnel into a magical forest full of what the director calls “evil Disney” talking cartoon animals before the halfway mark of the story. The movie is transcendental in some less tangible ways as well, exploring not only the rawer aspects of grief but also mental illness, meditation, and the nature of consciousness itself. It’s a lot to put on Macudi, who stars here in his first major movie role. But he pulls it off, one of many miracles in this strange and wonderful genre-bender shot in gorgeous, tactile 35mm.

Pathetic Fallacy is still searching for distribution.

Fantastic Fest 2026 ran from September 17-24 in Austin, Texas. Dates for next year have not yet been set, but the festival usually takes place on the third week of September.

]]><![CDATA[10 Years Later, Marvel's Best One-Off Villain Shows What Could Have Been]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/luke-cage-10-year-anniversaryhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/luke-cage-10-year-anniversaryWed, 30 Sep 2026 12:30:24 GMT
Netflix

The “will they, won’t they” story of whether or not the Marvel Cinematic Universe is making a new Blade comics adaptation, starring Mahershala Ali as the vampire anti-hero, seems to have come to an end in 2026. Despite an initial announcement, many years of creative team changes, a vocal cameo in the 2021 film Eternals, and a cheeky meta-joke in Deadpool and Wolverine, it’s not happening. Both Kevin Feige and Ali agree that the film’s cancellation is the biggest failure of Feige’s career. On social media, you might come across Marvel fans joking that the powers that be have actually “fumbled” Ali twice, because 10 years ago, the Academy Award winning actor made his MCU debut in a very different project as the villain in Luke Cage season 1.

Created by Cheo Hodari Coker, Luke Cage was Marvel Television’s third street-level superhero series on Netflix following Daredevil and Jessica Jones. Mike Colter, who plays the bullet-proof hero of Harlem, first debuted in the latter. The first season follows him as Luke returns to his neighborhood and quietly uses his super strength and impenetrable skin to fight local crime while working at a barbershop and a nightclub.

Ali played Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes, an arms dealer and the owner of said nightclub, called Harlem’s Paradise, at the beginning of the series. The Marvel comics supervillain Cottonmouth first appeared in 1974. In the comics, he has powers of his own: strength that matches Luke Cage and razor-sharp teeth that will bite you.

On the show, Cottonmouth did not have superpowers. He was the cool, calm, and corrupt foil to Luke’s clean-spoken, goody goody hero. (Steve Rogers may have earned himself a reputation for saying “language” once in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but Luke keeps an actual swear jar.) His ruthless ambition to rule over Harlem forced Luke into a leadership position that, like all reluctant heroes, he never actually wanted. Cottonmouth had impeccable style, a loyal enough sidekick in Theo Rossi’s Shades, and a powerful accomplice in his councilwoman cousin Mariah Dillard, played by Alfre Woodard. The verbal sparring scenes between Ali and Woodard are some of the best in the MCU.

Unfortunately, Ali’s character was quite literally short-lived on the series. Spoiler alert, Cottonmouth dies in Season 1, Episode 7. A new villain, Willis “Diamondback” Stryker, played by Eric LaRay Harvey, faced off against Luke in the back half. As a result, some fans have since formed the opinion that Marvel wasted Ali’s talent. However, as Coker himself recently confirmed on social media, that was the plan from the beginning:

“I didn’t fumble the bag the first time,” Coker tweeted. “He took the role because it was a limited appearance. He was always going to die in episode 7, by design. He made Luke Cage, Hidden Figures, and Moonlight simultaneously. He was killing it on Luke Cage and Marvel TV and the other actors begged me to change my mind, which would have locked him into a long term contract (and cost him the Green Book Oscar) but I kept my word to him on a handshake. That’s why we’re friends to this day. Always keep your word.”

Mike Colter’s Luke Cage and Mahershala Ali’s Cottonmouth. | Netflix

That’s the price you pay for talent, sometimes, especially on television. Scheduling is not easy! It’s one of many reasons that television shows often have years-long hiatuses these days. After putting its hero through the wringer and multiple Big Bads, Luke Cage was canceled after two seasons and shuttered alongside the rest of the Defenders universe and Marvel Television itself. The studio pivoted its television content to the then nascent Disney+ under the Marvel Studios banner and Feige himself. Since then, Colter has been “recanonized” into the MCU on Daredevil: Born Again. A few other characters from the Netflix shows have made the jump.

In addition, several actors have played multiple characters in the MCU in the 18 years since its inception. That includes Willard herself, who also appeared in Captain America: Civil War in a brief cameo as the mother of a Sokovia victim who shames Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark into action. Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Gemma Chan, Michelle Yeoh, and Patton Oswalt are some other notable examples.

Ali instead pitched himself for a Blade film to Marvel Studios in 2019, after his second Oscar win, and Feige announced both him and the project at San Diego Comic-Con that summer. From 2021 to 2023, the trades reported a revolving door of writers and directors. In 2024, Marvel Studios removed the title from their upcoming slate. Finally, in summer 2026, Ali confirmed that he had officially exited the project. Give up the ghost. It’s not happening.

With the MCU’s ongoing obsession with multiverse storytelling, there is a world in which Ali could reprise his role as Cottonmouth in the MCU proper, now that Blade is off the table. But the time has probably passed. The bridges may not be burned, but won’t likely be crossed. At least we got Ali’s intelligent and terrifying performance in Luke Cage, that was decidedly not a fumble and stands the test of time a decade later.

Luke Cage streams on Disney+.

]]><![CDATA['Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother' Ending Explained: Did Latif Die?]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/your-mother-your-mother-your-mother-ending-explained-bassam-tariq-john-cho-interviewhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/your-mother-your-mother-your-mother-ending-explained-bassam-tariq-john-cho-interviewTue, 29 Sep 2026 22:00:25 GMT
Orion Pictures

Mahershala Ali’s collaboration with writer-director Bassam Tariq has finally made it out of production limbo — and though it’s not the Blade reboot they were initially set to do with Marvel, you don’t find yourself yearning for that while watching Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. The film is much headier, spiritual, and morally nuanced than a Marvel film could ever be permitted to be, following the plight of Latif (Ali), a hitman who finds himself questioning his Muslim faith after the passing of his wife.

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is like a lot of thrillers in that it doesn’t compromise its momentum, but the paths it takes to get to its final showdown are delightfully subversive. Latif spends more time searching for breast milk for his infant daughter, Zizi, than taking on the next job offered up by his handler, Mike (Laith Nakli). As if by some cruel twist of fate, the quest he desperately needs to complete is inextricable from the one he’s running from. In finding a woman who can nurse Zizi, Latif comes face-to-face with his target, a gun-zealous mega-church pastor known as Father Hwan (John Cho).

Hwan’s “war on porn” has him hunting Mike’s nephew, Hatty (Abubakr Ali), the purveyor of “halal” adult content. Latif’s refusal to give Hatty up sends a whole world of hurt crashing down around him and his family. Eventually, he decides to put an end to it the only way he knows how: with his trusted machete and his talent for “punishment without mercy.” What makes Your Mother so brilliant, however, is the pivot Tariq takes to subvert this “one last job,” delivering a spiritual reckoning for both his reluctant hero and fervid villain.

Spoilers ahead for Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother’s ending, explained

Mahershala Ali as Latif in Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. | Orion Pictures

Latif is mostly looking out for himself and his three kids in the first half of Your Mother, but he finds that he needs Hatty’s help finding a woman who can nurse Zizi. He’s shocked to learn that she’s a recent convert at Hwan’s church, and the strip club she’s chosen to meet Latif is a newly converted church. Though Latif and Hatty (who was tied up in the backseat of Latif’s van) initially escape Hwan and his followers, they catch up with them not hours later. As Latif has his kids to protect, he allows Hwan to abduct Hatty — which sends Mike and his goons right to his doorstep. Latif leaves body after body in his wake trying to get his kids out of Houston; his daughter Fatiha (Adia) and son Qadir (Jahleel Kamara) both witness the darker instincts he’s spent years trying to hide.

Eventually, after Latif’s imam (Giancarlo Esposito) is murdered by Hwan’s vengeful followers, it’s clear he has to stop running and put an end to the cycle of violence. He drops his kids off at his brother’s house and heads to Hatty’s mansion, where he finds Hwan and his congregation holding an impromptu worship service, and Hatty strapped to a chair with saran wrap. Hwan makes halfhearted amends for the death of Abdul Malik, telling Latif that he forgives him for all his transgressions. It’s appropriately patronizing and, Tariq says, the absolute last thing Latif wants to hear in that moment.

“At that moment... you think you are irredeemable,” Tariq tells Inverse of Latif’s headspace. “You have yelled at your kids, your daughter has seen you murder people, you are a monster in her eyes at this moment... Then you got this guy that’s like, ‘I forgive you.’ You don’t want forgiveness from him. You want to know that your children still love you.”

An unexpected payoff

Hwan and Latif’s showdown is more spiritual than it is physical. | Orion Pictures

After Latif’s stilted farewell with his kids, reconciliation — or even a reunion — feels unlikely. He’s a formidable assassin, but he’s also essentially brought a sword to a gunfight. Even when he unsheaths his blade (ha) and unleashes his pent-up wrath on Hwan’s henchmen, his advantage is short-lived. Hwan quickly gains the upper hand and shoots Latif several times in the back. Latif falls to his knees, praying in earnest for the first time. He then seems to breathe his last, signaling victory for Hwan and his church.

What happens next is the kind of twist that’s more or less open to interpretation: per Tariq, some believe that Latif truly dies in this moment, with the rest of Your Mother taking place in the afterlife. It’s not a bad reading, per se, “because in a way it’s like, why is it that we have to only have a happy ending in this life?” Tariq asks. “For us to think that all happiness just happens in this life is really dangerous. I think when you move courageously, and you do things that are right in this life, they will pay off in ways that you don’t understand.”

Of course, that’s just one take on Latif’s ending. “What I think was my first intention — and when I spoke with Mahershala, and I think this is what we believed — was that he witnesses his daughter praying for him,” Tariq says. Latif, face pressed to the floor in a praying posture, somehow peers through the veil and sees Fatiha (who was previously grappling with her own faith) pleading for her father’s life. It means so much more to him than Hwan’s hollow claims of forgiveness.

“At that moment, when he is... in this state where he is blessed with this miracle of seeing his daughter praying for him and saying, ‘Bring Baba home,’ it’s like, ‘Sh*t, I’m going to get up.’”

Your Mother is about two men witnessing a miracle and finding parallels in their belief. | Orion Pictures

And get up he does. Latif rises again — much to the shock of Hwan, who survived his own near-death experience decades prior. Hwan believes his mother’s prayers brought him back to the land of the living, so to see Latif get a similar miracle humbles him instantly. This moment effectively washes away the bad blood between the two men, giving them more common ground than they’d have admitted before.

“It’s very satisfying to see these two guys who were at each other’s throats walking shoulder to shoulder sitting in the same moment,” John Cho tells Inverse. He’s referring to their final exchange where, even as Latif stumbles out of Hatty’s mansion, Hwan follows him out, asking him who’s praying for him. “The staging of that was initially more face-to-face, confronting each other. And we talked and said, ‘I think we have to stage it in a way where they’re literally going in the same direction.’”

Though they eventually go their separate ways, it’s a beautiful moment of acknowledgement for both Latif and Hwan. These are two men who have justified their bloodshed with their faith, albeit in different ways, but both are capable of the same kind of grace. It’s what makes it possible for Latif to return to his kids and embrace a clean slate — and, ideally, what will influence Hwan to give up his crusade. That they both walk away unscathed is the biggest surprise in Your Mother, but it’s exactly what sets the film apart from any film like it. “They had to meet and both be confronted with a divine moment,” Cho says — and in doing so, we in the audience get to embrace that divinity, too.

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is now playing in select theaters.

]]><![CDATA['Aegon's Conquest' Release Date, Plot, Cast, And More For the Game of Thrones Prequel]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/aegons-conquest-release-date-plot-casthttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/aegons-conquest-release-date-plot-castTue, 29 Sep 2026 20:52:49 GMT
HBO

The more the Game of Thrones universe expands, the more the Targaryens take center stage. In Game of Thrones, only two characters are Targaryens, and we don’t even know about the second one until most of the way through the show. In House of the Dragon, the vast majority of characters are Targaryens on both sides of the Dance with Dragons. Even A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the Game of Thrones spinoff that was supposed to scale down the scope, still has a future Targaryen king as one of its main characters.

Now, this new focus is moving to the silver screen with Aegon’s Conquest, a new historical epic prequel following the reign of the Targaryens all started: with Aegon the Conqueror and his sisters/wives, Visenya and Rhaenys. They were the first Targaryens to travel to Westeros, and as the only ones with dragons, they quickly took control of the entire realm. After a long wait, we finally know when to expect the first Game of Thrones movie — and who will be behind the camera.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms director Owen Harris will bring Aegon’s Conquest to life in a new movie. | Ray Tamarra/Shutterstock

What Is The Aegon’s Conquest Release Date?

According to Deadline, Aegon’s Conquest will be released in theaters on June 1, 2029. This is a long time away, even for a big-budget movie, but an official release date is just another great sign that this project will actually happen, unlike the multiple other Game of Thrones spinoffs that have ended up shelved.

This project has been in the works for a long time. Rumors about an Aegon’s Conquest project started swirling back in 2023, but it wasn’t confirmed until April of this year, when Warner Bros. officially announced the movie during CinemaCon. The 2029 scheduling makes perfect sense if you look at the larger Game of Thrones release schedule: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 2 is set for 2027, while House of the Dragon Season 4 should release in 2028. By placing this movie in 2029, we won’t see a Game of Thrones-less year until 2030 at the earliest.

We’ve previously only seen Aegon’s Conquest in an animated featurette. | HBO

What Is The Plot Of Aegon’s Conquest?

At the time, we knew that Beau Willimon, one of the most-acclaimed writers from Star Wars’ Andor, would write the script, but we didn’t know who would direct until now. Owen Harris, one of the directors of A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms, will helm the movie. Harris is a perfect choice, as he has directing credits across genre TV, including the award-winning “San Junipero” episode of Black Mirror and multiple episodes of the Damon Lindelof Peacock series Mrs. Davis.

Harris may not have experience directing feature films, but he knows how to enter a franchise already in progress and create a new chapter and its own little world. He did that for Dunk and Egg in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms; hopefully, he can do the same with Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys in Aegon’s Conquest.

A lot is riding on this movie — it’s not only the first theatrical Game of Thrones story, but it’s also the first time we’ll see this foundational part of Westerosi history in live action. We know a little bit about these characters from bonus featurettes, but this will show where the whole world we’ve been exploring for 15 years actually began.

Who’s In The Cast Of Aegon’s Conquest?

No one has been cast yet, and there aren’t even any casting rumors yet, but updates will be posted as soon as they become available.

Is There A Trailer For Aegon’s Conquest?

There isn’t a trailer yet, but we’ll update this page as soon as one shows up.

Aegon’s Conquest will premiere in theaters on June 1, 2029.

]]><![CDATA[A Beloved Post-Apocalyptic Franchise Is Getting Two New Mystery Projects]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/the-last-of-us-new-projects-naughty-dog-neil-druckmannhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/the-last-of-us-new-projects-naughty-dog-neil-druckmannTue, 29 Sep 2026 20:11:43 GMT
Sony Computer Entertainment

Like movies, post-apocalyptic nightmares are a setting video games will never abandon. From the Fallout franchise to more recent examples like Hideo Kojima’s wildly inventive Death Stranding series, gamers are more than familiar with exploring ravaged worlds destroyed by nuclear weapons, zombies, or invisible beings from another dimension.

Despite being a well-worn genre for decades, one of its most beloved installments arrived relatively recently: 2013’s The Last of Us, developed by the same Naughty Dog that created another industry darling with the Uncharted series. Not only was The Last of Us met with immense critical acclaim, but it was a watershed moment for video games as an interactive storytelling medium, and its success spawned an equally acclaimed sequel and an HBO TV series adaptation. Given how the game fundamentally changed the medium, it would be unthinkable to imagine that Naughty Dog isn’t planning to return to its decrepit vision of a post-breakdown United States, and recent statements by the series’ creative director, Neil Druckmann, confirm that more is on the way.

It’s impossible to overstate how many modern video games live in the shadow of The Last of Us. | Sony Computer Entertainment

On September 28, two days after “Last of Us Day” (a fan celebration marking the day the Cordyceps outbreak reached critical mass in-universe), Druckmann dropped a post on the official Naughty Dog blog. It included an update on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a sci-fi adventure that will be the studio’s next project, and it also confirmed that two new projects set in The Last of Us universe are on the way. “I will tell you that both projects will expand the canon of The Last of Us beyond Part 1 and Part 2,” the post reads.

According to the post, both projects are in the very early stages of development, and there’s no confirmation that they’re even video games. The Last of Us has, of course, branched out to television, so there’s a small chance there could be another TV project in the works (while Druckmann is no longer involved with the creative direction of the flagship show, that doesn’t necessarily exclude him from working on a spin-off), but there’s also the possibility that it could be an original film set in the world of the games, or even a comic book, which the series has done before. It’ll probably be a while before these two mystery projects are fully revealed, but it’s reassuring to know that the universe of one of the most acclaimed video games of all time is still growing.

]]><![CDATA['Spider-Man's Claire Temple Cameo Is Creating Marvel Chaos]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/spider-mans-claire-temple-cameo-canonhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/spider-mans-claire-temple-cameo-canonTue, 29 Sep 2026 18:59:11 GMT
Netflix

With its newfound status as the highest-ever grossing film in the US, it’s clear audiences are loving Spider-Man: Brand New Day. For all its virtues, though, Marvel’s latest also isn’t quite perfect. The film still succumbs to the franchise’s more grating instincts, once again sidelining Peter Parker (Tom Holland) to focus on the origins of a completely different character. Brand New Day also feels strangely disconnected from the corners of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe that Spider-Man should be intimately familiar with.

After Daredevil: Born Again and Disney+’s Punisher special — neither of which felt in step with the MCU — many hoped that Brand New Day would somehow bridge the gap between the larger universe and the remnants of Netflix’s Defenders-verse. Unfortunately, the film is more content to swing in the limbo between those two worlds: its attempts to fold more Defenders characters into the MCU, like Rosario Dawson’s Claire Temple, were unfortunately cut for time. Of course, there’s no telling if a mere cameo would have fixed that disjointed feeling between Daredevil, Punisher, and Spider-Man — but with Brand New Day heading back into theaters for a victory lap, we may get the answer very soon.

Per Deadline, Marvel and Sony are planning to extend Brand New Day’s theatrical window in an unexpected way. The film is still doing gangbusters on the big screen, but a new version of it is apparently waiting in the wings. The Brand New Day rerelease will contain new footage not yet seen, including the deleted scene that would have brought Claire Temple into the MCU.

The gap between the MCU and the Defenderse universe just got a little bit smaller. | Marvel Studios

Dawson first broke the news about her Brand New Day cameo at this year’s GalaxyCon. “I even shot a scene in the new Spider-Man movie,” she revealed, “But I got cut out.”

Her cameo would have seen her reprising her duties as the “Night Nurse,” this time for Spider-Man. Claire appeared in every Defenders series, from Daredevil to Luke Cage, as the go-to physician for New York’s most active vigilantes. She became a fixture of New York’s street-level scene, at least within the Netflix universe, so it’d make all the sense in the world to see Spider-Man also turn to her for help — if only to further fold the Defenders universe into the MCU.

15 years ago, this deleted scene would have lived solely on the special features of a DVD, technically part of MCU canon but likely regarded as a bit of niche fandom knowledge. That Marvel has reportedly seen fit to canonize it on the big screen is a pretty big deal: this could set a new precedent for superhero movies, but it will also bring the MCU and the Defenders-verse one step closer to true synergy.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is playing in theaters.

]]><![CDATA[A Star Wars Fanfic Franchise Is Beating Actual Star Wars To Making Sequels]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/the-love-hypothesis-star-wars-fanfiction-sequelhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/the-love-hypothesis-star-wars-fanfiction-sequelTue, 29 Sep 2026 18:21:28 GMT
Amazon MGM Studios

Rey and Kylo Ren were the perfect pairing for fanfiction writers. Their dynamic was full of angst, their personalities couldn’t be more different, and their romance was just ambiguous enough to spark imaginations. It’s no wonder that “Reylo” fanfiction quickly became one of the most popular pairings in the Star Wars fandom, and from there, it was only a matter of time before it broke into the mainstream.

Ali Hazelwood’s hit fake-dating romance novel The Love Hypothesis is actually a Reylo fanfiction (originally titled Head Over Feet) with the identifying details changed. Rey became Olive, and Ben became Adam, but because the original fanfiction was set in modern-day academia, the main plot remained. The book was just adapted into a movie starring Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart and Daisy Ridley’s real-life husband, Tom Bateman, and now the book is getting a follow-up — and the movie might, too.

Hazelwood recently announced on her Instagram that The Two-Body Problem, the sequel to The Love Hypothesis, will be released on February 2, 2027, and Amazon MGM Studios is already developing a film adaptation. “For now let me just say that the TLH movie and its cast made me fall for Adam and Olive all over again, that revisiting them was an absolute pleasure,” Hazelwood wrote in the announcement.

We don’t know much about the plot yet, but Hazelwood did provide a few clues. “The Two-Body Problem spans a couple of years, and it’s a mix of slice of life, postdoctoral turmoil, and unflinching exploration of the hardest challenge one will face in a long-term relationship: deciding what to have for dinner,” she wrote. The accompanying image includes a bit more detail: “Olive Smith finally has her PhD, and she’s living her happy ever after. Well, not quite her ever after, since postdoctoral fellowships are temporary by nature, but she doesn’t mind: she has her friends, her research, and best of all, she has Dr. Adam Carlsen,” the description reads. “Being in love with another researcher means navigating the hard reality of clashing schedules, an increasingly grim and ultracompetitive job market, and Olive’s desire to be seen as a formidable scientist in her own right.”

The scientist version of Rey is getting a sequel before Star Wars’ Rey. | Amazon MGM Studios

This book’s title, The Two-Body Problem, is an obvious reference to The Three-Body Problem, a physics challenge involving the relationship between celestial bodies that inspired the sci-fi novel of the same name by Liu Cixin. But there’s another reference there, too: in academia, the “two-body problem” can refer to the difficulty of two academics having a relationship while still furthering their careers. This is the exact dilemma Olive and Adam are getting themselves into.

Within the Star Wars world, we’re still waiting with bated breath for the promised sequel movie focused on Rey. The last we heard, a new writer was working on the script, but that was 18 months ago. If we can’t follow up with Star Wars’ Rey anytime soon, we can at least see what’s going on with this alternate version.

The Love Hypothesis is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

]]><![CDATA[Star Wars Just Quietly Added A New Vehicle To Canon — And It's Awesome]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/star-wars-skimspeeder-canon-racerhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/star-wars-skimspeeder-canon-racerTue, 29 Sep 2026 18:13:48 GMT
Lucasfilm

A sci-fi world is only as good as its vehicles, and Star Wars has tons of them. From the escape pod that Darth Vader used to get away to the Millennium Falcon to the Imperial Star Destroyer, there are plenty of cool ships and gadgets for fans to break down, study, and build in LEGO (if they have enough room). But this list is ever-growing, and now includes the hover cradle from The Mandalorian and the Halcyon from the ill-fated Galactic Starcruiser from the Disney Parks.

But a recent Star Wars video game is adding some new vehicles, ones that open up a whole new world within the galaxy’s once-time favorite sport: racing.

A new feature on StarWars.com introduces a number of new racers to choose from in the upcoming video game Star Wars: Galactic Racer, including the skim speeders, a brand-new ship to canon. These sleek racers were originally created for smuggling, but they’re also useful on the track, especially when it comes to going around sharp corners. “Galactic League founder Darius Pax introduced the skim speeder to the racing scene, and it fit right in,” the report says. “Like all repulsorcraft, skim speeders make use of repulsorlift generators to nullify the force of gravity, paired with turbine thrusters and fuel for high-powered propulsion.”

Podracing may be a set piece from The Phantom Menace, but this proves that there’s more to this sport than what’s shown there. The skim speeder is one of four different vehicle types you can race in the new game — landspeeder, speeder bike, and podracer are the other three — and this one is a combination of a land speeder and a podracer.

We thought we knew what all the racing vehicles in Star Wars looked like, but the Skim Speeder is completely new to canon. | Chesnot/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Just as Galactic Racer expands on the world of the 1999 game Star Wars Episode 1: Racer, these ships expand Star Wars culture by showing the true breadth of the racing scene. But don’t expect this racer to remain in video game canon. Just as TV characters appear in games, new elements added to video games could pop up somewhere else, perhaps even in one of the upcoming movies.

Motorsports may seem like a minor part of the Star Wars universe as a whole, but remember, it was Anakin’s racing skills that allowed him to pitch in during the Battle of Naboo. Even the most frivolous parts of Star Wars culture may, in fact, become important later, and vehicles are the perfect opportunity for this.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer will be available for purchase on October 6, 2026.

]]><![CDATA[Is It Really Dandruff? The Science Behind Seborrheic Dermatitis]]>https://www.inverse.com/science/the-science-behind-seborrheic-dermatitishttps://www.inverse.com/science/the-science-behind-seborrheic-dermatitisTue, 29 Sep 2026 16:43:47 GMT

Few things are more humbling than looking down at a black shirt and realizing your scalp has been shedding onto it all day. But if those flakes have you scratching your head — literally and figuratively — you’re far from alone.

Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis are closely related, though experts don’t always define their relationship in the same way. And they're hardly niche problems: A 2024 meta-analysis of 121 studies and more than 1.2 million people estimated that 5.64% of adults worldwide have seborrheic dermatitis, while dandruff may affect roughly half of the population. So where does ordinary dandruff end and seborrheic dermatitis begin — and why does the condition keep coming back?

What’s the Difference Between Dandruff and Seborrheic Dermatitis?

Basically, they're relatives. Though dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis are sometimes used interchangeably, “dandruff is considered to be a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis, without as much redness and inflammation,” says Dawn Queen, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. Dandruff is generally confined to the scalp, while seborrheic dermatitis can cause redness, itching, and greasy or flaky scale on the eyebrows, around the nose, behind the ears, the beard area, and even the chest, she says.

To add to the confusion, flakes are often chalked up to simple dryness, but a genuinely dry scalp is actually less common than you might think — thanks in part to the high concentration of oil-producing sebaceous glands on the scalp. The appearance of the flakes can help distinguish the two: “An actual dry scalp tends to produce fine, white, powdery flakes, while seborrheic dermatitis is more likely to involve small, yellowish, greasy patches along with more intense itching and redness,” says Queen.

What Sets Off Seborrheic Dermatitis?

Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis are closely linked to a fungus that naturally lives on your skin: Malassezia. This genus of yeast is a normal part of the skin microbiome and feeds on oil produced by the sebaceous glands. “Most of the time, we have a pretty peaceful relationship with it,” says Dr. Carlos Vieira, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist based in Philadelphia.

Simply having Malassezia isn’t necessarily the issue; it’s how your body reacts to it. Research suggests seborrheic dermatitis involves an interplay among the yeast, sebum, the skin barrier, and the immune system. Everything from genetics to environmental factors may explain why one person’s Malassezia minds its own business while another person’s contributes to an itchy, flaky scalp, says Vieira.

That relationship between Malassezia and oil helps explain why seborrheic dermatitis can seem so contradictory: Your scalp may feel dry and flaky even when it’s producing plenty of oil. Because the yeast feeds on sebum, oil-rich areas like the scalp are an especially hospitable environment for it. Infrequent washing can allow sebum and scale to build up, potentially creating a more favorable environment for the yeast — but Vieira stresses that the equation isn’t as simple as “less hair-washing equals seborrheic dermatitis.” Two people with similar scalp habits can have very different experiences.

Oil isn’t the only factor, either. Queen points to cold, dry weather, stress, and illness as common triggers; sweat may play a role for some people, while greasy hair products and product buildup can worsen symptoms. Hormones may also have an indirect effect by changing oil production: Vieira notes that “fluctuations during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can also exacerbate the condition.”

How to Treat Seborrheic Dermatitis

If your anti-dandruff shampoo isn't doing much, the problem may be how you're using it.

Queen and Vieira recommend ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, and zinc pyrithione. Salicylic acid can loosen and remove built-up scales. “Prescription options include stronger antifungals and medications that target inflammation,” says Queen.

“Medicated shampoo should be treated more like a scalp treatment than regular shampoo,” says Vieira. Work it into the scalp and leave it there for about three to five minutes before rinsing. Using it two or three times per week is generally enough, since frequent use can dry out the hair itself, he says.

Why Seborrheic Dermatitis Might Keep Coming Back

Unfortunately, clearing the flakes doesn't necessarily mean they won’t come back. Seborrheic dermatitis is chronic and “tends to wax and wane, meaning a calm scalp can be followed by another flare that seems to come out of nowhere,” says Vieira. However, knowing what’s triggering your symptoms can make them easier to manage. If you’re not seeing improvement from a consistent OTC treatment (or your scalp is particularly red, itchy, or inflamed), Vieira recommends seeing a board-certified dermatologist. Psoriasis, eczema, and contact dermatitis can all masquerade as seborrheic dermatitis, and sometimes, as he puts it, “your scalp needs a little detective work.”

Presented by BDG Studios

]]><![CDATA[Tom Cruise Just Made The Year’s Most Absurd (And Annoying) Post-Apocalyptic Satire]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/digger-review-tom-cruise-apocalyptic-satirehttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/digger-review-tom-cruise-apocalyptic-satireTue, 29 Sep 2026 16:00:24 GMT

Imagine the most ridiculous uber-wealthy person alive. Maybe he’s a little rotund, his expensive silk pajamas barely hiding his protruding paunch. Maybe he wakes up in a mansion filled with gaudy antiques and monuments to his greatness, and is perpetually followed by a housemaid who silently shuffles behind him, cleaning up the mess that he carelessly leaves in his loud, obnoxious wake. Maybe his double chin wobbles in anger while he berates the staff of his oil rig for interrupting his daily calls with the most important people around the world — cracks in some iceberg be damned.

But in Digger, you don’t have to imagine, because Tom Cruise’s Digger Rockwell, an oil tycoon who becomes responsible for a climate disaster that could destroy the world, is the most odious, self-centered caricature of a wealthy gazillionaire possible. In fact, imagination is pretty much thrown out the window and left for dead in Alejandro Iñárritu’s apocalyptic black comedy — and I mean apocalyptic in both senses of the word. Digger, like the impending climate catastrophe it depicts, is also a bit of a disaster, though that’s part of the intention of the movie. It’s almost designed to be polarizing, Digger’s first half playing like an endurance test of how long you can listen to men yelling incessantly, while the second half lays out a winking metatextual explanation for why we watched men yell for an hour. It would be a clever, compelling rug-pull, if it all weren’t so smug.

Iñárritu co-writes the script for Digger with Sabina Berman, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., and Nicolás Giacobone, from a story by Iñárritu, Berman, and Jez Butterworth. It’s a crowded group of voices behind the story, which lends to the film’s cacophonous tone. From the start of the film — which begins with a cheeky “curtains up” of Digger’s bedroom window curtains — Digger barrels through its plot at a relentless, manic pace. After a busy morning of swanning around his gaudy mansion, taking calls and caring for his half-dead cat, Digger reluctantly receives a call from the staff at his Arctic oil rig, who warn of cracks in the surrounding icebergs caused by methane that leaked from Digger’s rigs.

Annoyed at their suggestions of shutting down his rig, Digger hangs up, only to learn that mere minutes later, the rig had exploded, and an iceberg the size of a small city was headed right for Europe. He’s delivered this news by Ganesh (Riz Ahmed), his constantly frazzled head of environmental research, and the movie’s sole source of moral righteousness. This becomes an unlikely boon, as the film soon descends into an endless cycle of such systemic and pervasive evil that even its most incisive political commentary starts to feel tedious.

The thing about satire is that it’s supposed to be funny. And nothing about Digger’s story of the most powerful men in the world scrambling to save their assets while the Earth is on the verge of ending plays out even like a particularly good joke. Sure, they’re all cartoonish buffoons — Cruise’s Digger the ringleader of all of them, both textually and performance-wise. Cruise calls on the spirit of his Jerry Maguire performance to inject a sense of smarmy charm into Digger Rockwell, though it feels like his natural charisma and the movie’s indecision on whether to humanize Digger or paint him as a cartoon villain, clash. Digger even gives a Gordon Gekko-like “greed is good”-style monologue which is greeted with jeers and boos from his audience, but painted as amusing by the film because of Cruise’s outlandish circus-act attitude while giving it.

Riz Ahmed’s Ganesh is a standout in the film. | Warner Bros.

But if Cruise were over-the-top, the rest of the cast goes completely overboard with their archetypes: Sandra Huller is Digger’s tightly-wound half-sister and business partner; John Goodman plays the President of the United States like a (very familiar) braggadocious dictator; Michael Stuhlbarg is his simpering Vice President; and Robert John Burke plays a military man so meatheaded it seems a miracle that he functions.

Then, there’s the absurdist metatextual reveal that happens shortly into the first act, which reveals a second character that Cruise plays, and a whole cast of others “behind the curtain.” But none of these characters transcend archetype either, with only Ahmed’s Ganesh displaying a glimmer of the humanity that the film purports to comment on.

The reveal does lend a modicum of depth to Digger. It even gives itself a little bit of grace by laying out that everything, from its insufferable tone and cartoonish caricatures, was by design. Even the drab colors — which look even more washed-out and artificial in the 35mm VistaVision format that cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki shot on — are intentional. But intention does not necessarily make something better. And whatever cutting commentary Digger may have about the evils of late-stage capitalism, or men in power, is kneecapped by the fact that it doesn’t know what it wants to say.

Digger opens in theaters October 2.

]]><![CDATA[70 Years Later, The Most Influential Sci-Fi Movie You've Never Seen Just Got A Huge Upgrade]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/forbidden-planet-4k-blu-rayhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/forbidden-planet-4k-blu-rayTue, 29 Sep 2026 12:30:25 GMT
MGM

More than two decades before filmmaker George Lucas took audiences to a galaxy far, far away, director Fred M. Wilcox and Forbidden Planet (1956) got there first. Unlike the sci-fi films that preceded it, which were either set on Earth or within our solar system, there’s not a single shot of our planet in the film. Set in the 23rd century, when incredible scientific advancement has enabled faster-than-light interstellar travel yet human beings are doomed to bring their worst impulses everywhere they go, Forbidden Planet introduced several firsts to sci-fi cinema, and its influence on the genre remains unmistakable.

Based on a screenplay by Irving Block and Allen Adler, and recognizably drawing on elements of Shakespeare’s Tempest, the film follows a starship crew on a mission to determine what became of the scientists who reached the “Earth-type” planet Altair IV around 20 years ago and were never heard from again. On approaching the remote planet and expecting lone survivor Dr. Edward Morbius (Walter Pidgeon) to welcome their rescue party, they’re taken aback by his insistence on staying put, as well as his warnings of the terrestrial dangers they’ll encounter if they refuse to turn back. They land anyway, and learn that an unseen entity had ripped apart the earlier expedition. Now, its horrific attacks have resumed.

Visually striking, thematically dense, and sonically innovative, a new, limited-edition 4K UHD from Arrow Video means there’s never been a better time to visit Forbidden Planet.

How Was Forbidden Planet Received?

Forbidden Planet not only netted a box office of $2.7 million against its $1.9 million budget, but it picked up an Academy Award nomination for Best Special Effects. It offered more than flashy visuals: Variety called it “a top offering in the space travel category,” and critic Pauline Kael described it as “the best of the science-fiction interstellar productions of the 50s.” And it was Los Angeles Times critic Philip K. Scheuer who, while praising MGM’s lush production, observed that Forbidden Planet had actually surpassed its genre, calling it “more than another science-fiction movie” and “a genuinely thought-through concept of the future.”

Why Is Forbidden Planet Worth Watching Now?

Because the familiar sci-fi elements of deep-space exploration and contact with alien civilizations wouldn’t exist without Forbidden Planet. It was the first film to depict humans building and piloting a faster-than-light spaceship, depicted here as a flying saucer. Amiable and dry-witted, Dr. Morbius’ helpmate Robby was the first cinematic robot to have a distinct personality — as filmmaker Joe Dante put it in the documentary Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet (2006), Robby’s predecessors were “of the somewhat clunky variety, where you got basically three metal blocks and a head.”

Robby would not only go on to cameo in The Twilight Zone, but several other props from Forbidden Planet, including its saucer spaceship, would be recycled for other episodes. The film’s outsized influence on cinematic history, however, extends far beyond its furnishings.

Forbidden Planet starred a young Leslie Nielsen before he became known for comedy. | MGM

“If there had been no Forbidden Planet, there might not have been 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) or Star Wars or Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977),” wrote Criterion’s Charles Tashiro. And according to David Alexander’s authorized biography of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, Roddenberry acknowledged the film as an inspiration. Consider the friendship between Forbidden Planet’s starship’s captain and its doctor, which resembles that of Kirk and McCoy.

Meanwhile, the film’s pioneering electronic score left a deep impression on sound designer Ben Burtt, who saw the film as a child and was influenced to create sound effects of his own. Burtt eventually went on to craft the soundscape of another pop-culture behemoth: Star Wars. “The sounds inside the Death Star, all the different rumblings, the tonal things when Ben Kenobi goes in to turn off the tractor beam…in some way that idea probably came from Forbidden Planet, the idea of this abyss full of energy that goes on forever,” Burtt said in an interview.

What Special Features Does The Forbidden Planet 4K Blu-Ray Have?

Arrow Films’ brand-new 4K restoration of Forbidden Planet lets it be seen at home, for the very first time, in its original Cinemascope aspect ratio of 2.55:1 and with its reinstated theatrical Perspecta stereo soundtrack. Along with deleted scenes, lost footage, and the original shooting script, Arrow’s limited edition also contains two archival documentaries and a featurette. Newly filmed content includes an appreciation of Bebe & Louis Barron’s groundbreaking electronic score by historian and composer Neil Brand. New essays by Frank Collins and Johnny Mains, and new audio commentary by film historians Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw, provide critical appraisals and context. For more Robby the Robot, the Blu-ray extras include another film that he starred in, The Invisible Boy (1957), as well as an episode of The Thin Man where he featured.

]]><![CDATA[Did 'Lanterns' Just Introduce The Birthplace Of The Yellow Ring?]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/lanterns-episode-8-qward-explainedhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/lanterns-episode-8-qward-explainedTue, 29 Sep 2026 11:00:25 GMT
HBO Max

One of the most crucial elements for a superhero’s long-term success is how effective their villains are. Batman has The Joker, the X-Men have Magneto, Superman has Lex Luthor... how our heroes handle the adversity they face says just as much about them as their costume or origin story.

The Green Lantern Corps has faced countless enemies in the 60 years since Hal Jordan made his debut, from the rogue cyborg peacekeepers known as the Manhunters to the villainous criminal William Hand, but none of them hold a candle to Sinestro. Introduced in the pages of Green Lantern vol. 2 #7, he was initially just a former Green Lantern turned rogue until later writers fleshed out his backstory and established him as Hal Jordan’s one-time mentor, a retcon that adds a fascinating degree of complication to their already decades-long rivalry. Lanterns already introduced Ulrich Thomsen’s portrayal of Sinestro at the end of Episode 2, but Episode 7 might have just introduced a location central to his development as a larger villain.

Sinestro has been pulling the strings for most of the season, and now he’s on the loose. | HBO Max

Qward, Explained

In Green Lantern canon, as well as the larger canon of the DC Universe, Qward is an incredibly important location. It was created as an unintended byproduct of a Maltusian (an alien race that splintered, with some becoming the Guardians of the Universe) named Krona using a device designed to uncover the secrets of the universe’s creation. This backfired and resulted in the birth of an antimatter universe, a near-perfect inverse of our own, governed by chaotic metaphysical laws that directly oppose ours.

While Qward is crucial to Sinestro’s journey, it’s also the home of one of DC’s most terrifying foes: the Anti-Monitor, the central villain of the revolutionary 1985-1986 comic book crossover Crisis on Infinite Earths. Along with the Anti-Monitor came a race of warlike beings known as the Thunderers, who served as the Anti-Monitor’s elite fighting force against his positive universe counterpart, the Monitor. However, when the Anti-Monitor was initially defeated (long before the events of COIE), the Thunderer ranks fractured, and a small sect became the Weaponers of Qward, legendary armsmiths whose existence is kept secret from the rest of the positive world.

Qward was the birthplace of two of the greatest recurring threats to the entire DC Universe. | DC Comics

How Does Qward Fit Into Lanterns?

While Lanterns implies that Sinestro was imprisoned for inspiring an uprising against the Guardians, the source material tells us he was imprisoned on Qward for a slow descent into dictatorial cruelty against the people of his birth planet, Korugar. While there, Sinestro made a pact with the Weaponers of Qward, who forged Sinestro the first yellow power ring. Although later writers introduced an entire Sinestro Corps and the concept of Parallax (a yellow fear entity that powers the Sinestro Corps and once turned Hal Jordan into a psychopathic murderer), Sinestro’s original lantern ring was just a mirror of Hal’s, only powered by fear instead of willpower.

Episode 7 of Lanterns takes us to the home of the (now deceased) aliens who were hunting down the Manhunters, and it's a barren waste that was once the site of a massacre involving a chemical compound that induced pandemonium and fear in the populace. As John tells us after his own miniature panic attack, that compound is still in the air, and it can’t be a coincidence that Sinestro just happens to be present at the same time the planet is being investigated for its potential connections to Hal Jordan’s murder.

The discovery of a portal to another planet in Hal’s storage locker significantly expands the scope of the murder mystery. | HBO Max

It could be that Lanterns is rewriting DC canon yet again, reimagining Qward not as an antimatter prison but the site of a horrific conflict, and the lingering fear and trauma baked into the clouds and water might end up being the mechanism by which Sinestro creates a ring powered by fear. It’s perfectly fitting for a depiction of a character who’s been treated like Hannibal Lecter: an insidious master manipulator, capable of playing the long game while working on a weapon that can rival the ones that put him away.

New episodes of Lanterns premiere Sunday on HBO Max.

]]><![CDATA['Avengers: Endgame Encore' Doubles Down On Marvel's Most Complex Canon]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/avengers-endgame-encore-tva-canonhttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/avengers-endgame-encore-tva-canonMon, 28 Sep 2026 20:03:43 GMT
Marvel Studios

Avengers: Endgame was supposed to be just that: the endgame, the final moments of the Infinity Saga. However, that hasn’t quite turned out to be true. Recently, Avengers: Endgame has returned to theaters as a way to debut Marvel’s new “Infinity Vision” format. This event, titled Avengers: Endgame Encore, brought the three-hour epic back to theaters with the added bonus of new footage.

Even though these extra scenes only totaled a few minutes, they massively changed the state of the MCU heading into Avengers: Doomsday this December, including something that was hinted at in trailers before. It may seem small, but it could make a Disney+ TV show the most pivotal part of the whole franchise.

Avengers: Endgame was made even bigger (and longer) in Avengers: Endgame Encore. | Marvel Studios

There were four new scenes added to Avengers: Endgame Encore. One followed Doom as he forged his mask, and another showed Hulk meeting Doom. But the other two had a unique focus: Loki. One, tacked on immediately after the final scene of Steve and Peggy dancing, showed Loki at the door in his Time Variance Authority uniform, asking for Steve’s help with something. Another came later, showing the crew at the TVA — Agent Mobius, O.B., and Casey — watching two timelines on a collision course. “The multiverse is collapsing,” O.B. says.

Why focus half of these additional scenes on Loki? Because, simply put, he’s kind of the patron saint of the multiverse in the MCU. In his series Loki, which premiered all the way back at the start of MCU TV in 2021 and ran for two seasons.

Loki’s sacrifice in Loki Season 2 was supposed to prevent the multiverse from collapsing, but that’s exactly what’s happening in the bonus scene in Avengers: Endgame Encore. | Marvel Studios

Even though this series came and went without much of a dent in MCU canon, it’s actually proving to be very important for Doomsday. Loki established the TVA as the regulatory body in charge of rogue timelines, which would be “pruned” and eliminated. They existed to keep the multiverse at bay, but that was undone by Loki in Season 1. At the end of Season 2, he sacrificed himself so the multiverse could exist in harmony without collapsing. However, it looks like something happened to make that sacrifice all for naught.

The way timelines work in the MCU has always been very complicated and often quite confusing, but Loki actually spells it out and makes it a little easier to understand, though because it’s buried in the archives of Disney+, you’d be surprised how many fans have never seen it. Relying on previously established lore from a TV show is a risky move — just look at how Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness relied on WandaVision to its detriment — but maybe these teases will encourage fans to get up to speed.

Avengers: Doomsday premieres in theaters on December 18, 2026.

]]><![CDATA[One ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ Scene Is Setting Up The Next Big Marvel Movie — But It's Not 'Doomsday']]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/avengers-endgame-encore-post-credits-hulk-doom-secret-warshttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/avengers-endgame-encore-post-credits-hulk-doom-secret-warsMon, 28 Sep 2026 19:29:51 GMT
Marvel Studios

When directors Joe and Anthony Russo insisted that fans would have to watch Avengers: Endgame Encore — the anniversary screening of Marvel’s record-breaking team-up film, this time with more exclusive footage! — to understand what was going on in Avengers: Doomsday, it sounded very much like bluster. To any Marvel fan with at least a little ball knowledge, Endgame lived up to its namesake: it was designed to close the chapter on the franchise’s Infinity Saga, and it did so with aplomb. Marvel was meant to move on from that adventure with the films to come, and Doomsday was meant to be the end of a new saga. To watch the Russos breathlessly building a bridge between one story and the next has been a little disheartening, especially since the Multiverse Saga hasn’t been Marvel’s most coherent.

Endgame Encore only adds to the franchise’s strange strategy. Its “extended” footage is actually from the filming of Doomsday; only one scene is a tactile continuation of any scene from Endgame. The rest could very likely be sequences plucked from the upcoming film and tacked onto Endgame Encore as post-credits scenes — and one in particular might not pay off until Doomsday’s sequel, Secret Wars.

Spoilers ahead for Avengers: Endgame Encore.

Doctor Doom vs. The Hulk

One Endgame scene takes place right after Spider-Man: Brand New Day. | Marvel Studios

Endgame Encore contains a total of four additional scenes. The second — after an extended version of Endgame’s original ending featuring Steve Rogers, Peggy Carter, and Loki of Asgard — catches up with Bruce Banner after the events of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. He’s holed up in a bunker miles underground, still reeling from his encounter with Jean Grey, whose telepathic meddling unlocked the careful safeguards he’d built up to keep the Hulk at bay. In this post-credit scene, we find him working on an inhibitor that will suppress the Hulk for good (again) and recording his progress on a video log. Before long, however, he’s interrupted by Doomsday’s big villain, Doctor Doom.

Doom breaks into Banner’s secure facility and says, “I’ve come to collect you.” In response, Banner transforms into the Hulk to fight him off. His camera falls to the ground before we can see the outcome of their battle, but as the room begins to glow green under the light of Doom’s Latverian runes, it’s safe to assume Hulk loses this battle and becomes Doom’s prisoner.

How Endgame Encore sets up Secret Wars

What does Doom want with Bruce Banner? | Marvel Studios

All of the scenes in Endgame Encore are designed to stoke hype for Doomsday, but there are a few reasons to assume that this Hulk scene won’t pay off for a few more years. For one, Mark Ruffalo wasn’t among the myriad names included in Doomsday’s hours-long cast announcement in 2025. There’s a chance he could be on the same path as Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell, who were also omitted from that announcement, only to officially join the cast later.

“There are characters and actors who have not been announced who are a part of Doomsday,” Anthony Russo recently told Empire. The Russos wouldn’t confirm or deny if Banner plays a role in the film, but their vague comments do leave room for the Hulk to cameo in Doomsday — most likely as one of the many heroes Doom uses as mind-controlled minions. That said, there’s more reason to believe that Banner’s role in the Doom storyline will really be explored in Secret Wars.

Not unlike Infinity War and Endgame, which spread the Avengers’ conflict with Thanos across two films, Doomsday is just the beginning of Doom’s reign of terror. It will continue in Secret Wars, which will bring an end to the multiverse with a series of incursions (or collisions). The 2027 film is taking heavy inspiration from Jonathan Hickman’s comic series of the same name, which brought heroes and villains from multiple Marvel universes to a realm called Battleworld. This new planet, cobbled together from the remnants of destroyed timelines, was created by Doom. He ruled over it with an iron fist as God Emperor, with “barons” enforcing his will within each region.

Secret Wars could take a major page from Planet Hulk and give Bruce Banner a much bigger story. | Marvel

One swath of Battleworld, far to the north, was Greenland. Ruled by the Red King (a variant of Red Hulk) and home to multiple Hulk variants (including Doc Green, a version of Steve Rogers transformed by gamma radiation), this region was only briefly mentioned in Secret Wars. It got much more attention in a five-issue spinoff, Planet Hulk, which followed another Steve Rogers variant — a gladiator known as The Captain — on a quest to save his version of Bucky Barnes from the Red King.

Shockingly, Bruce Banner wasn’t actually a part of this storyline: the version of Hulk from Earth-616 bit the dust before Battleworld was even formed. But in adapting Secret Wars (and, most likely, its tie-in comics), the Russos could easily take a few creative liberties. If Bruce doesn’t serve as one of Doom’s lackeys in Doomsday, he could be one of the wild Hulks ruling over Greenland in Secret Wars. It’d certainly make up for the missed opportunities, few as they were, in Hickman’s story. It’d also deliver on what fans have been begging to see from Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk for years. After his sidelining in both Infinity War and Endgame, we might finally get the chance to see him at the center of a major battle. We’ll just have to wait a bit longer to see that come to fruition.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18.

]]><![CDATA['Star Wars: Episode X' Cast, Director, Writer, Timeline And Release Window, Explained]]>https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/star-wars-episode-x-cast-director-writer-release-window-timelinehttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/star-wars-episode-x-cast-director-writer-release-window-timelineMon, 28 Sep 2026 16:41:27 GMT
Julien'S Auctions/Shutterstock

Star Wars projects are like candles in the wind. They’re announced all the time, but the merest obstacle, like a subpar Game of Thrones finale or an overstuffed schedule, could be enough to make everything fall apart. Because of that, fans don’t put much stock in announced projects. Kevin Feige’s planned movie was shelved, as was Patty Jenkins’, as was Damon Lindelof’s.

But one project kept chugging along as the others fell around it: a brand-new trilogy, written and produced by X-Men franchise veteran and Rebels co-creator Simon Kinberg. Since it was announced in 2024, this lofty plan has progressed into a fully-formed project — including an attached director, none other than Spider-Man: No Way Home helmer and director, Jon Watts.

So, could this be the start of a new Skywalker Saga? All signs are pointing to yes. Here’s everything you need to know about this planned Episode X, from the minds behind it to when we could expect to see it.

When Is the Star Wars: Episode X Release Date?

Jod (Jude Law) in a scene from the 2024 finale of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. The next major Star Wars movie will be directed by Skeleton Crew co-creator Jon Watts. | Lucasfilm/Disney+

While we don’t have an exact release date for this movie — it technically hasn’t even been greenlit by Disney yet — we at least know when it won’t be coming out. The next Star Wars movie, Star Wars: Starfighter, is scheduled to premiere in theaters on May 28, 2027. There has never been less than a year’s gap between Star Wars movies, so the earliest possible release date would be May 28, 2028.

But seeing how this movie is just now seeking out creative talent, it’s likely production and post-production will take even longer. Perhaps this new trilogy will align with The Rise of Skywalker, the end of the previous trilogy, and premiere a decade later in December 2029. It sure would take a while to get there, but it would be an interesting homage to the chapter that came before. It wouldn’t be unprecedented: The Force Awakens premiered in 2015, a decade after Revenge of the Sith in 2005.

Who Is Developing Star Wars: Episode X?

Simon Kinberg will write and produce the movie, drawing on his experience consulting on The Force Awakens and co-creating Rebels. He also has a good deal of knowledge around blockbusters, as he produced many of the X-Men movies. While he’s a trusted writer and producer, he’s not really known for directing: his feature directorial debut, Dark Phoenix, is now regarded as a box-office flop.

Perhaps for that very reason, Kinberg will not both write and direct like the minds behind the sequel trilogy.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jon Watts, the director behind the first three Tom Holland Spider-Man movies, will direct the new movie. He’s no stranger to Star Wars, either: he served as the showrunner and co-creator for the Disney+ Star Wars series Skeleton Crew, which premiered back in 2024.

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Jon Watts, creator of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, will take on a new chapter of Star Wars by directing Episode X. | Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

What Is The Plot Of Star Wars: Episode X?

While it’s still too early to make any big assumptions about what could possibly happen in this upcoming movie, we do have a few clues: as this is Episode X, it will take place after the end of the sequel trilogy. However, it’s also part of a new saga after Rise of Skywalker ended the Skywalker Saga. So while it may not be a direct sequel, it will at least show what happened after we last left the Star Wars universe.

Who Is In The Cast Of Star Wars: Episode X?

This movie may be far off; we do know at least one legacy character will appear: according to The Hollywood Reporter, Rey will appear in this movie “in some capacity.” Notably, this report said Rey would appear, not necessarily Daisy Ridley, who portrayed her in the sequel trilogy.

Ridley is already set to appear in a long-awaited Rey sequel movie, so it’s possible her role will be recast for this movie, especially if it is set decades after the sequels. Perhaps Rey will serve a role in this movie similar to the one Luke played in the sequels, as a wise sage character from a past era of the Star Wars timeline.

Rey — though possibly not Daisy Ridley — is set to appear in Star Wars: Episode X. | Lucasfilm

Is There A Star Wars: Episode X Trailer?

There’s no trailer just yet; however, we could use the pattern of recent Star Wars movies to predict when we could expect a trailer. Usually, first-look teasers come about eight months before the release date, like with The Last Jedi, Rogue One, and The Mandalorian and Grogu. However, there’s one big exception in recent history: The Force Awakens, as the first movie in the sequel trilogy, released its first look a little more than a year before its release in 2015.

So while we may need to wait a good while for this movie to premiere, we may not have to wait as long as usual to see what this movie will look like.

How Many Star Wars Sequels Will There Be?

We know that this is the start of a new trilogy, so there will (hopefully) be two more movies after this: Episode XI and Episode XII. This is on top of the other planned Star Wars movies, including Star Wars: Starfighter, the Rey sequel movie, and James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi movie, if those actually make it to production. But for now, it looks like this one will actually be happening.

Star Wars: Starfighter will hit theaters on May 28, 2027.

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