Movies

The X-Files had a huge impact on television, changing it in two key ways. It blended science fiction with the structure of a police procedural, appealing to viewers who weren’t necessarily fans of either genre on its own. The show also popularized the ‘monster of the week’ format, making episodes easy to watch in any order and allowing new viewers to jump in at any point. Many of these standalone episodes are now iconic, and even the more complex storylines could be reimagined for a modern audience, proving that The X-Files continues to inspire creativity.

The new series, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, is coming to HBO Max in July. Stars Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn, and John Ross Bowie recently discussed the show at CCXP Mexico City. They also revealed a new theme song composed by Danny Elfman – a spin-off from The Big Bang Theory – and shared some first-look images, which you can see below.

Actress Colman Domingo was originally chosen to portray Diana Ross in the film Michael, but audiences have noticed she doesn’t actually appear in the finished movie. Domingo explained on X (formerly Twitter) that her scenes were cut, likely due to legal issues. This follows reports that the film underwent significant changes and reshoots just before it was released.

Fans of the Dark Souls series have long hoped for an official release of its spin-off, but the wait for a better version of Dark Souls 2 is much shorter. A new fan project lets you download and play an enhanced version of the game on Discord, all while preserving the original gameplay experience.

Currently, The Hunting Party ranks as the 10th most-watched show on Peacock in the U.S., according to FlixPatrol. It’s also the 13th highest-performing series on the platform this year. This popularity is happening just before the season finale airs on May 7.

Great General Toys has shown off designs for their new action figure, DJS-D03 Blade Calamity, which is based on the classic Generation 1 character Slag/Slug. They’ve also shared images of a prototype for DJS-D01A Tyrannosaurus Warrior, modeled after Grimlock, the Dinobot leader. This new collection of dinosaur-inspired robots features updated designs and a consistent modern detail, promising a powerful and impressive team.

Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy was a landmark achievement in filmmaking, seamlessly blending artistry and storytelling to create a truly magical experience. However, subsequent projects set in Middle-earth haven’t lived up to that standard. While Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy earned a lot of money, it didn’t receive the same critical praise, and more recent adaptations – like the expensive and controversial The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Prime Video and Warner Bros.’ animated film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim – have been even less successful.

Charlize Theron’s latest film, the survival thriller Apex, has just been released on Netflix. To help promote the movie, Theron and her co-star Taron Egerton recently did a video interview where they asked each other questions. Egerton shared his celebrity crush, and Theron revealed hers was Richard Dean Anderson, the popular star of the 1980s TV show MacGyver.

Currently, The Long Walk is the third most popular movie on Starz, according to FlixPatrol. The dystopian horror film initially appeared on the charts on April 25th, starting at number five, and has since climbed to third place.

As a critic, I’ve always been fascinated by the behind-the-scenes stories of how shows get made, and the origins of Star Trek: Voyager are particularly interesting. Back in 1991, the new head of Paramount, Brandon Tartikoff, approached Rick Berman – a key figure in Star Trek: The Next Generation – with a pretty unusual idea: a sci-fi take on the classic western, The Rifleman. While the show kept that father-son dynamic, everything else was completely fresh. According to Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman’s book, The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, a space station setting was the only viable option for a new Star Trek series besides a starship or planet. What’s really striking, though, is that this pattern of initial criticism and slow appreciation had already started with Star Trek itself. Every new installment seems to face years of negativity before finding its audience.