From &34;Anora&34; to &34;The Secret Agent,&34; here are the streamer's best offerings. The 25 best movies to watch on Hulu From &34;Anora&34; to &34;The Secret Agent,&34; here are the streamer's best offerings. By Kevin Jacobsen and Declan Gallagher on June 5, 2026 7:29 a.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/DavidJonssonryelaneMarkEidelshteinMikeyMadisonanoraAmberMidthunderprey03272585a3364fc98740e9ac371ab339300769.jpg) David Jonsson as Dom in 'Rye Lane'; Mark Eydelshteyn as Vanya and Mikey Madison as Ani in 'Anora'; Amber Midthunder as Naru in 'Prey'.

From "Anora" to "The Secret Agent," here are the streamer's best offerings.

The 25 best movies to watch on Hulu

From "Anora" to "The Secret Agent," here are the streamer's best offerings.

By Kevin Jacobsen

and Declan Gallagher

on June 5, 2026 7:29 a.m. ET

David Jonsson as Dom in 'Rye Lane'; Mark Eydelshteyn as Vanya and Mikey Madison as Ani in 'Anora'; Amber Midthunder as Naru in 'Prey'. Credit:

Searchlight Pictures/Courtesy Everett; Neon; 20th Century Studios

With award-winning shows such as *The Handmaid's Tale* and *The Bear *under its belt, Hulu may be more recognized for its television output, but its movie selection is nothing to sneeze at. In addition to producing several acclaimed originals, including *Prey* (2022) and *Rye Lane* (2023), the streamer also has the rights to 20th Century Fox and Searchlight Pictures' vast libraries.

While it can be daunting to choose from their huge catalog of titles, we've curated a list of the 25 best films on Hulu, from classic dramas like *Catch Me If You Can* (2002) to newer Oscar nominees like *The Secret Agent* (2025).**

Anora (2024)

Mikey Madison as Anora 'Ani' Mikheeva in 'Anora'.

Courtesy of Neon

Writer-director Sean Baker's fascination with sex work as a conduit for telling humanistic stories about capitalism, relationships, and the plight of the working class is brilliantly realized in *Anora*, his most acclaimed film to date. The genre-shifting dramedy stars Mikey Madison as Anora “Ani” Mikheeva, a street-smart Brooklyn stripper who dives into a whirlwind romance with the pampered son of a Russian oligarch. After his family discovers that they got married, they hire stooges to put a stop to it. *Anora* won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Madison, who utterly transforms as a young woman whose Cinderella dreams are abruptly shattered as she is forced to come back down to reality. —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *Anora*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Sean Baker

**Cast:** Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Heath Ledger as Ennis Del Mar and Jake Gyllenhaal as Jack Twist in 'Brokeback Mountain'.

Kimberly French/Focus

Ang Lee's deeply empathetic romantic Western is built on a forbidden love that complicates the lives of two men. Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) are cowboys herding sheep on Brokeback Mountain in 1963 Wyoming, where an unexpected connection is forged. The pair become lovers, but, after their herding comes to an end, they struggle to keep their relationship hidden as they both marry women, raise families, and try to live within society's punishing strictures. Guided by Lee's sensitive direction, *Brokeback Mountain* is "that rare thing," as EW's critic puts it, "a big Hollywood weeper with a beautiful ache at its center." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Brokeback Mountain*: Hulu

**Director:** Ang Lee

**Cast:** Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale Jr. (center) in 'Catch Me If You Can'. DreamWorks/Everett

Leonardo DiCaprio has transformed into all kinds of characters, and he does just that as the chameleonic Frank Abagnale Jr. in this snappy crime drama. Based on a true story, Frank successfully pulls off a series of cons all over the country in 1960s America, using his wits and boyish good looks to trick people into trusting him as an airline pilot, a Secret Service agent, a doctor, and a prosecutor. His cons are tracked by an FBI agent (Tom Hanks) who is constantly on his tail, but Frank manages to escape and reinvent himself time and time again. DiCaprio is at his charming best here, and director Steven Spielberg takes full advantage of his leading man's charisma to help transport the viewer back to the glamour (and danger) of days gone by. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Catch Me If You Can*: Hulu

**Director:** Steven Spielberg

**Cast:** Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, Amy Adams**

Enys Men (2023)

Mary Woodvine as the Volunteer (front) in 'Enys Men'.

Mark Jenkin, the British filmmaker who directed the similarly brilliant *Bait *(2019), helmed this experimental nightmare about a wildlife worker on the titular Cornish isle who begins to descend into madness under the specter of a long-ago shipwreck and a family tragedy. There are no easy answers in *Enys Men*, and it risks being outright frustrating, but Jenkin's masterful cinematography evokes the unsettling atmosphere of a lost piece of 1970s folk horror. *—Declan Gallagher*

Where to watch *Enys Men*: Hulu

**Director:** Mark Jenkin

**Cast:** Mary Woodvine, Edward Rowe, John Woodvine, Flo Crowe

Fresh (2022)

Daisy Edgar-Jones as Noa and Sebastian Stan as Steve/Brendan in 'Fresh'.

Searchlight Pictures/Everett Collection

Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones star in this full-throttle psychothriller in which the less you know about the plot, the more effective the experience will be. Shot with a particularly daring eye with an inflection of dark humor and a solid soundtrack, *Fresh* takes a premise that could be terribly unpleasant and turns it into a slick piece of popcorn entertainment.

EW's critic calls the film "a clever, gory metaphor for the seemingly endless horrors of modern romance rooted in a plot twist just outrageous enough to plausibly be true." *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Fresh*: Hulu

**Director:** Mimi Cave

**Cast:** Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sebastian Stan, Jonica T. Gibbs, Charlotte Le Bon, Andrea Bang

It Was Just an Accident (2025)

Vahid Mobasseri as Vahid, Hadis Pakbaten as Goli, and Majid Panahi as Ali in 'It Was Just an Accident'.

The story behind Iranian writer-director Jafar Panahi making this Oscar-nominated film in secret is compelling enough. Even without that context, though, *It Was Just an Accident* easily ranks among 2025's most riveting watches, centering on Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri), a former political prisoner whose torturer from years ago stumbles back into his life. Unsure of whether he's the same guy, Vahid kidnaps him and reunites with his trusted allies (whom the man also tortured), and they struggle to decide what to do with him. It all leads to a mesmerizing third act that speaks to themes of retribution and trauma. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *It Was Just an Accident*: Hulu

**Director:** Jafar Panahi

**Cast:** Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi

The Last Showgirl (2024)

Pamela Anderson as Shelly in 'The Last Showgirl'.

Roadside Attractions/Courtesy Everett Collection

How do you reckon with the notion that the shimmering industry you once thrived in is now showing signs of rust? For Shelly (Pamela Anderson), being a Vegas showgirl has defined her entire adult life, but with the imminent shuttering of the revue she's been in for three decades, she is forced to forge a rocky new path. Anderson brings a brittle vulnerability in this indie drama, which EW's critic praises as "a requiem for any woman who has ever been underestimated because of her beauty, her choices, or her art." While the story has a compelling scrappy underdog spirit, the main attraction is Anderson, who utilizes her bright eyes and megawatt charisma to tell a poignant tale of regret and resilience. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Last Showgirl*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A

**Director:** Gia Coppola

**Cast:** Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brenda Song, Billie Lourd, Dave Bautista

Late Night With the Devil (2023)

David Dastmalchian as Jack Delroy in 'Late Night With the Devil'.

Courtesy of Adam White/IFC Films

Ever leave the TV on too long and accidentally stumble upon something truly off-the-wall frightening in the wee hours of the morning? That's the general vibe of this wickedly entertaining horror indie, which centers on a cursed episode of a late-night talk show from 1977. David Dastmalchian stars as Jack Delroy, an opportunistic host who invites a possessed girl and a child psychologist as his guests for the night in a desperate bid for ratings. Naturally, the night soon descends into mayhem. Sibling directors Colin and Cameron Cairnes evoke a bygone era with stunning verisimilitude; as EW's critic writes, "The slow-burn fallout blends occult conspiracies with human drama (plus creepy kids and '70s sideburns), and I adored every second of it." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Late Night With the Devil*: Hulu

**Directors:** Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes

**Cast:** David Dastmalchian, Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss, Fayssal Bazzi, Ingrid Torelli

Little Women (2019)

Emma Watson as Meg March, Florence Pugh as Amy March, Saoirse Ronan as Jo March, and Eliza Scanlen as Beth March in ‘Little Women’. Wilson Webb/Sony

Greta Gerwig has become synonymous with depicting girlhood and women's stories with sensitivity and pinpoint accuracy, as exemplified by this adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic tale. Saoirse Ronan stars as Jo March, who comes of age alongside her sisters in 1860s New England as they experience love and loss. Presenting the story with a nonlinear timeline, Gerwig illustrates how Jo's childhood shapes her adulthood in profound ways.**** "Her 2019 take is less a faithful rendering of the text than a sort of joyful reimaging," EW's critic writes, "a classic cleared of cobwebs." —*K.J.***** Where to watch *Little Women*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A–

**Director:** Greta Gerwig

**Cast:** Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet

No One Will Save You (2023)

Kaitlyn Dever as Brynn Adams in 'No One Will Save You'.

20th Century Studios

This smart little *Twilight Zone* riff stars Kaitlyn Dever as a young woman who is under siege in her isolated country home by a group of alien invaders. The script is witty while the general conceit is executed with panache. It's practically a silent film, one that judges its running time perfectly, introducing fresh, thrilling elements right up until the credits roll.

"It was a character thing where this person really wants a community and doesn't think she's deserving of one," writer-director Brian Duffield tells EW of the decision to make the film dialogue-free. "It felt like that device just amplified her character." *—D.G.*

Where to watch *No One Will Save You*: Hulu

**Director:** Brian Duffield

**Cast:** Kaitlyn Dever

Perfect Days (2023)

Koji Yakusho as Hirayama and Arisa Nakano as Niko in 'Perfect Days'.

This quietly moving, Oscar-nominated film from director Wim Wenders follows the ordinary life of a humble Japanese man. Hirayama's (Kōji Yakusho) days consist of a highly structured routine of simple pleasures: listening to music on cassette tapes; dutifully working as a toilet cleaner; enjoying nature; and reading. As we follow Hirayama's routine, we gain greater insight into what makes him tick, especially as he interacts with others.

EW's critic writes, "Between Kōji Yakusho's understated performance and the nostalgic soundtrack, this meditative story finds beauty in the mundane." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Perfect Days*: Hulu

**Director:** Wim Wenders

**Cast:** Kōji Yakusho, Tokio Emoto, Arisa Nakano, Aoi Yamada, Yumi Asō

Plan B (2021)

Victoria Moroles as Lupe and Kuhoo Verma as Sunny in 'Plan B'.

Brett Roedel/Hulu

This light and breezy dramedy about two friends embarking on a mission to obtain a morning-after pill hits many notes à la *Booksmart *(2019). Natalie Morales' sophomore directing venture is a cozy, bite-sized version of teenage friendship that has a worthy message but doesn't sacrifice fun in order to convey it. Morales cites *Schitt's Creek*, *Clueless*, and silent film auteur Buster Keaton among her inspirations for the film. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Plan B*: Hulu

**Director:** Natalie Morales

**Cast: **Victoria Moroles, Kuhoo Verma, Michael Provost, Mason Cook, Timothy Granaderos

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Presence (2024)

Callina Liang as Chloe Payne in 'Presence'.

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

Director Steven Soderbergh embraces the concept of horror movies having a special voyeuristic appeal in this chilling ghost story. The film centers on a somewhat dysfunctional family that has recently moved into a new house, which they discover is inhabited by a mysterious presence. This may sound like a familiar setup, but what helps *Presence* stand out is the haunting effectiveness of its perspective: The entire film is shot from the point of view of the presence. EW's critic notes that *Presence* will "linger with you long after you've closed the front door." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Presence*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A–

**Director:** Steven Soderbergh

**Cast:** Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang, Eddy Maday, Julia Fox

Prey (2022)

Amber Midthunder as Naru (center) in 'Prey'.

20th Century Studios

This excellent continuation of the *Predator* franchise is a super-powered, subversive reboot/sequel from director Dan Trachtenberg (2016's *10 Cloverfield Lane*). It takes all of the best elements of the series and the things that make the central monster so frightening, without indulging in the hackneyed plotting or overly bullish military members of the previous installments. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Prey*: Hulu

**Director:** Dan Trachtenberg

**Cast:** Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro, Sung Kang, Michelle Thrush

Rye Lane (2023)

David Jonsson as Dom and Vivian Oparah as Yas in 'Rye Lane'.

20th Century Studios

This tremendously cineliterate rom-com takes a *Before Sunset* (2004) approach to its story of two heartbroken individuals (David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah) hashing out their remorse and looking ahead to a future (maybe together?) over one night in London. *Rye Lane* is the best kind of metatextual romance, the sort that unabashedly indulges in the genre's greatest tropes but is always in on its own joke. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Rye Lane*: Hulu

**Director: **Raine Allen Miller

**Cast: **David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah

Sanctuary (2022)

Margaret Qualley as Rebecca Marin in 'Sanctuary'. Neon

*Sanctuary* is the polar opposite of *Rye Lane*. Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott star in this wild psychosexual thriller, which finds a dominatrix and a young heir engaging in a battle of wills over one night in a hotel room. Qualley is one of the most exciting actresses working now (so good that Lana Del Rey sang about her), consistently taking on outré roles that defy what we've seen her do before. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Sanctuary*: Hulu

**Director:** Zachary Wigon

**Cast: **Margaret Qualley, Christopher Abbott

The Secret Agent (2025)

Wagner Moura as Armando Solimões in 'The Secret Agent'.

This historical political drama unravels like a great ball of yarn in its exploration of Brazil's charged political climate during the 1970s military dictatorship. Wagner Moura plays Armando, a former technology professor who goes into hiding for reasons we come to understand later. Adopting the name Marcelo, Moura's character tries to evade capture after joining a dissident community. *The Secret Agent* is a quietly riveting film brimming with period-specific authenticity, with a subtly charismatic turn from Moura at its center. The film earned four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Wagner Moura, and Best International Feature Film. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Secret Agent*: Hulu

**Director;** Kleber Mendonça Filho

**Cast:** Wagner Moura, Carlos Francisco, Tânia Maria, Robério Diógenes, Alice Carvalho**

The Seed of the Sacred Fig (2024)

Setareh Maleki as Sana and Mahsa Rostami as Rezvan in 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig'.

Neon/Courtesy Everett Collection

This captivating political thriller is remarkably relevant to today's turbulent times. Set in Iran, the film centers on a recently appointed investigating judge who is encouraged to approve harsh sentences on opponents of the regime. Meanwhile, his daughters begin to sympathize with the protest movements, and he becomes paranoid when his gun suddenly goes missing. Simmering with tension that leads to an explosive finale, *The Seed of the Sacred Fig* is an essential piece of political filmmaking that earned an Oscar nomination for Best International Feature Film. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Seed of the Sacred Fig*: Hulu

**Director:** Mohammad Rasoulof

**Cast:** Soheila Golestani, Missagh Zareh, Mahsa Rostami, Setareh Maleki, Niousha Akhshi

Send Help (2026)

Dylan O'Brien as Bradley Preston and Rachel McAdams as Linda Liddle in 'Send Help'.

Brook Rushton/20th Century Studios

A *Survivor* superfan gets the chance to seek revenge on her frat-bro boss when they're stranded together on a deserted island in this giddily entertaining thriller. Rachel McAdams fully commits to her role as Linda Liddle, a corporate strategist passed over for a deserved promotion, who uses her survival skills to get one over on the entitled CEO of her company, Bradley Preston (Dylan O'Brien), after their plane crashes off the Gulf of Thailand. The film's twists and turns are better left unspoiled, but suffice it to say, it's a fun return to form for director Sam Raimi to the world of splashy violence. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Send Help*: Hulu

**Director:** Sam Raimi

**Cast:** Rachel McAdams, Dylan O'Brien

Sentimental Value (2025)

Stellan Skarsgård as Gustav Borg in 'Sentimental Value'.

Joachim Trier's latest meditation on life and expectations vs. reality is a tender family drama about the effects of generational trauma. Renate Reinsve stars as Nora Borg, an actress whose life is disrupted when her distant filmmaker father, Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård), decides to make a movie about their family history. Nora and her sister, Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), find themselves grappling with their father's mining of the past and his pursuit of artistic passions over a closer relationship with them. Winner of the 2026 Oscar for Best International Feature, *Sentimental Value* artfully balances the perspectives of each character to show how their history informed who they are today. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Sentimental Value*: Hulu

**Director:** Joachim Trier

**Cast:** Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Elle Fanning

Small Things Like These (2024)

Cillian Murphy as Bill Furlong and Zara Devlin as Sarah Redmond in 'Small Things Like These'.

Enda Bowe/Lionsgate

It is alarmingly common for people to look the other way in the face of injustice, as explored in this engrossing Irish drama. Adapted from the acclaimed Claire Keegan novella of the same name, *Small Things Like These* is set in a small Irish town in 1985, where a local convent houses "fallen" women and subjects them to unspeakable abuse. Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy), a coal merchant and family man, helps a teenage girl who has faced such abuse and tries to expose the truth — but this proves far easier said than done. Murphy is excellent as he explores Bill's internal struggle, while Emily Watson is chilling as the intimidating Mother Superior. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Small Things Like These*: Hulu

**Director:** Tim Mielants

**Cast:** Cillian Murphy, Emily Watson, Eileen Walsh, Michelle Fairley, Clare Dunne

Tangerine (2015)

Mya Taylor as Alexandra and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez as Sin-Dee Rella in 'Tangerine'. Augusta Quirk/Magnolia Pictures

Few in 2015 could have predicted that in 10 years, the director of *Tangerine* (among other low-budget indie films) would direct a Best Picture winner. For those who loved *Anora* and are eager to explore the rest of writer-director Sean Baker's oeuvre, *Tangerine* is the ideal next watch. Like *Anora*, the film is set in the world of sex work and has an energetic, screwball-esque energy, following a pair of transgender women (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor) who embark on a quest across the streets of Los Angeles to find the boyfriend/pimp who cheated on one of them. Filmed entirely with iPhone 5S cameras, *Tangerine* crackles with immediacy and authenticity. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Tangerine*: Hulu

**Director:** Sean Baker

**Cast:** Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian, Mickey O'Hagan, Alla Tumanian

The Testament of Ann Lee (2025)

Amanda Seyfried as Ann Lee in 'The Testament of Ann Lee'.

Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

How do you sum up the life of Ann Lee in a film? Make it an epic musical with the attention to character detail of an intimate drama. Mona Fastvold's *The Testament of Ann Lee* depicts the fascinating life of the founding member of the Shaker movement as she preaches a new way of worship through ecstatic dancing. Amanda Seyfried delivers one of her most visceral performances to date as Lee, providing a full-throated, nonjudgmental interpretation of the woman who would come to be revered as "Mother Ann." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Testament of Ann Lee*: Hulu

**Cast:** Amanda Seyfried, Lewis Pullman, Thomasin McKenzie, Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Abbott

Thelma (2024)

June Squibb as Thelma Post and Fred Hechinger as Danny Markowitz in 'Thelma'.

Courtesy of Sundance Institute/Photo by David Bolen

Tom Cruise, eat your heart out: June Squibb is the action hero of the year. The Oscar-nominated nonagenarian took on her first leading role in her decades-long career for this hilarious, heartfelt indie dramedy. Squibb plays Thelma Post, a grandmother who gets duped by a phone scammer, discovers her mistake, and makes a perilous journey through the streets of Los Angeles to track down the culprit. Though plenty of comedy is mined from the setup, the film also tackles heavier themes like aging and grief with a sensitive touch, thanks in part to Squibb's smart performance.

As EW's critic writes, "A lesser actress could've turned Thelma into a retirement home caricature, but Squibb, of course, brings a thoughtful and sweet nuance to her heroine." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Thelma*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Josh Margolin

**Cast:** June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Clark Gregg, Parker Posey

The Woman King (2022)

Viola Davis as General Nanisca in 'The Woman King'. Ilze Kitshoff/TriStar Pictures

This entertaining action drama tells the story of the Agojie, a powerful real-life regiment of women who protected their African kingdom in the 1820s. Viola Davis stars as General Nanisca, the group's leader who mentors a spirited new arrival, Nawi (Thuso Mbedu). With their kingdom threatened by a rival tribe, General Nanisca and her crew use their well-trained skills to defend their home. Featuring a physically impressive turn from Davis as you've never seen her before, *The Woman King* is a rousing testament to women as warriors, with EW's critic calling it a "spirited and often thrilling action epic." —*K.J.***** Where to watch *The Woman King*: Hulu******EW grade:** B******Director:** Gina Prince-Bythewood******Cast:** Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, John Boyega

- Movie Reviews & Recommendations

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Published: June 6, 2026 at 09:38PM on Source: RON MAG

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June 06, 2026

The 25 best movies to watch on Hulu

From &34;Anora&34; to &34;The Secret Agent,&34; here are the streamer's best offerings. The 25 best movies to wat...

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Please welcome &34;Short Hand&34; and &34;Brosferatu&34; to the canon of horror spoofs. Wayans brothers break down Scary Movie's wild postcredits parodies of these 2 horror hits Please welcome &34;Short Hand&34; and &34;Brosferatu&34; to the canon of horror spoofs. By Ryan Coleman :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/RyanColemanauthorphoto0081ce8f0254478080f35972c433877b.jpg) Ryan Coleman Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books. EW's editorial guidelines June 6, 2026 9:00 a.m.

Please welcome "Short Hand" and "Brosferatu" to the canon of horror spoofs.

Wayans brothers* *break down Scary Movie's wild post-credits parodies of these 2 horror hits

Please welcome "Short Hand" and "Brosferatu" to the canon of horror spoofs.

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

EW's editorial guidelines

June 6, 2026 9:00 a.m. ET

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Chris Elliott in 'Scary Movie'. Credit:

Paramount Pictures

- Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, and Michael Tiddes, the director of *Scary Movie*, take EW inside the making of the film's wild pair of post-credits parodies.

- "Short Hand," a riff on Osgood Perkins' *Longlegs*, and "Brosferatu," a send-up of Robert Eggers' *Nosferatu*, were bumped to the end because they "threw the story off," Marlon says.

- But Tiddes, who's worked with the Wayans for over a decade, notes how with these brothers, "Things fall away, but they don't go away."

**This article contains spoilers for *Scary Movie.***

*Scary Movie*, the latest entry in the beloved horror parody franchise, is overloaded with riffs, digs, plays, and puns on modern cinema. Franchise co-creators and writers Shawn and Marlon Wayans, who have regained control of the franchise 25 years after their last go-around, didn't limit the scope of their latest effort to the horror genre. *Scary Movie *parodies *Ma *alongside *Michael*, *Weapons *alongside *Wicked*. There were, in fact, so many targets to choose from that some of the best jokes had to be held for after the curtain call.

Case in point: the film's two parodies that run during and after the credits: "Brosferatu," a buddy-comedy riff on Robert Eggers' foreboding *Nosferatu*; and "Short Hand," a satirical spin on Osgood Perkins' twisty *Longlegs*.

"I probably could've done six more scenes, or eight more scenes. We had so much stuff," Marlon says during a conversation for **'s* **Scary Movie *cover. Michael Tiddes, the film's director and a longtime Wayans collaborator, likens piecing the film's many interlocking storylines, dozens of characters, and hundreds of jokes together to completing a puzzle, where "the challenge, of course, is creating the connective tissue that kind of makes it a whole movie."

Here's how they did it.

Bill Skarsgård in 'Nosferatu'.

"I think the *Nosferatu* scene, 'Brosferatu,' was a part of the movie, but we replaced 'Brosferatu' with Michael Jackson because it was just a way bigger movie," Marlon shares. *Scary Movie *released in theaters on Friday, treating fans after a long hiatus to classically raunchy, Wayans-style send-ups of films like *Get Out*, *Sinners*, and *M3GAN*, all of which were glimpsed in teasers and trailers leading up to the premiere.

Though "Brosferatu" was held back for a surprise appearance during the roll of credits, the Wayans' ingenious parody of the Michael Jackson biopic *Michael*, which hits theaters in April, was teased in advance. Kenan Thompson stars in the self-contained sketch as Jermaine Jackson, trying and failing to mount his own hagiographic tribute piece.

Thompson was the Wayans' first choice for the role. "We wanted to cross universes. The Wayans have always worked with our people, right?" Marlon asks, pointing to an artificial division between the Wayans' sketch comedy series, *In Living Color*, and Thompson's longtime home, *Saturday Night Live*. "We were like, 'Why have two different institutional forces when we could pull from each other?" There's something "lovable about Kenan" in particular, Marlon continues. "He has a silly little look. He always looks like he's up to something. It's like he's in his own head, and he makes himself laugh first."

Another reason to swap "Brosferatru" for "Jermaine" is that the latter "wasn't horror and we were looking for something that wasn't horror-related," Shawn says. "So we picked *Michael*, but we still thought ['Brosferatu'] was really funny. So we said, 'Let's put it as an Easter egg.' And it was the same thing with the Chris Elliott scene with little Damon and Heidi."

'Longlegs' ending explained: Breaking down the last bloody birthday party's twist (and whether Lee is also possessed)

Inside the 'Scary Movie' family reunion for an 'edgy as f---' new era

The very same Chris Elliott behind the gnarl-handed mansion keeper Hanson in *Scary Movie 2*, who returns to star in "Short Hand" alongside Damon Wayans Jr. (the son of Marlon and Shawn's brother and *My Wife and Kids *star Damon Wayans) and Thompson's *SNL *buddy Heidi Gardner.

The duo first appear in parodied versions of the *Longlegs *roles originated by Blair Underwood and Maika Monroe midway through *Scary Movie*, standing by as their fellow officers are sent off after a suspicious perp. He's described as a dead ringer for Nicholas Cage's ghastly villain in *Longlegs*, and there Elliott sits at a bus stop, looking as freakish as ever. But the officers descend upon an innocent Black man standing nearby instead.

That scene ends up serving as just a taste of what the Wayans cooked up, as "Short Hand" returns during the credits for a brutal play-by-play send-up of *Longlegs*'* *terrifying interrogation scene. Gardner fits in especially well as one of the new additions to the Wayans ensemble. "We just thought Heidi was hilarious," Marlon says. "We were thinking about that character — it's always about the character. And that character being psychic, but playing it dumb, but still being hilarious," made her a perfect fit.

"We have these bonus scenes. We wanted to put those scenes in. They were really funny," he continues. But in early cuts of the film, the Wayans had to face the fact that they "threw you too much off the story. So you have to make choices. We had to make the choice to put that at the end, when the story was done, and now you could just enjoy it as a sketch. [Heidi] and little Damon had this wonderful chemistry, and she's just special."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our****** EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

Heidi Gardner and Damon Wayans Jr. in 'Scary Movie'.

Paramount Pictures

Eagle-eyed viewers may also notice that the "Short Hand" scenes are visually distinct from the rest of the film. That was by design. "What's so fun about these movies, and the challenge, is finding an organic way to transition from one to the next, and then how do you bring it back? Bring it to the story and then bring it to the next joke?" Tiddes asks.

"I accomplished that in many, many different ways, from pacing to sound to changing the way I shot different scenes. When I was doing *Longlegs*, I used a lot of very wide-angle lenses," the director of five prior Wayans features explains. But for a later fight scene that casts Anna Faris' Cindy Campbell in a *John Wick*-esque avenger role, "I was going towards anamorphics," he says, referring to specialty lenses that compress images, allowing for wider aspect ratios without cropping.

Tiddes wanted each parody to "feel like its own movie," but held one goal above all others: for the film to possess "momentum and energy. I wanted you to feel like you were on this ride, to feel like the jokes were coming at you, and you had no idea where they were coming from."

The result is one of the most densely loaded parody films in years, one that requires a special caveat: don't stop watching once the credits start to roll.

- Comedy Movies

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Wayans brothers break down Scary Movie's wild post-credits parodies of these 2 horror hits

Please welcome &34;Short Hand&34; and &34;Brosferatu&34; to the canon of horror spoofs. Wayans brothers break down ...

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Gangsters, psychopaths, thieves, and serial killers might be bad dinner guests, but they sure are exciting film characters. The 22 best thrillers on Amazon Prime Video that will get your pulse racing Gangsters, psychopaths, thieves, and serial killers might be bad dinner guests, but they sure are exciting film characters. By Ilana Gordon :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/ILANAGORDONHEADSHOT80577598f8ed442cacff5de184ceb9f5.jpg) Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

Gangsters, psychopaths, thieves, and serial killers might be bad dinner guests, but they sure are exciting film characters.

The 22 best thrillers on Amazon Prime Video that will get your pulse racing

Gangsters, psychopaths, thieves, and serial killers might be bad dinner guests, but they sure are exciting film characters.

By Ilana Gordon

Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

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June 6, 2026 12:00 p.m. ET

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Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter in 'The Silence of the Lambs'; Kyle Chandler as Deputy Jack Lamb and Joel Courtney as Joe Lamb in 'Super 8'; Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas in 'American Gangster'. Credit:

Ken Regan/Camera 5/Orion/MGM; Francois Duhamel/Paramount; David Lee/Universal

Though there is sometimes overlap between the thriller and horror genres, the former isn’t always out to scare you, but cranking up the tension is still a major goal. Aliens on the loose, serial killer investigations, family conspiracies, abusive cults, and robots gone rogue are just a few scenarios guaranteed to grab your attention and spike your blood pressure…and they all can be found on the list below.

If you're ready to meet some troubled people — and a few who haplessly wandered into distressing situations — read on for **'s 22 best thrillers streaming on Amazon Prime Video.**

American Gangster (2007)

Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas in 'American Gangster'.

David Lee/Universal

One of the most innovative gangsters of the 20th century, Frank Lucas earned the title of Harlem drug kingpin in the late-‘60s and early-‘70s by importing high-quality heroin from Southeast Asia and selling it under the street name Blue Magic. Ridley Scott adapted Lucas' story into a biographical crime drama starring Denzel Washington as Lucas and Russell Crowe as Richie Roberts, the detective determined to take him down.

*American Gangster* is Lucas’ story, but the film is a true two-hander, with Crowe’s obsessive performance as Roberts balancing out Denzel's Lucas, who moves through the criminal world quietly and with control. EW’s critic calls the film “meticulous and detailed, a drug-world epic that holds you from moment to moment, immersing you in the intricate and sleazy logistics of crime.” —*Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *American Gangster*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

**EW grade:** B

**Director: **Ridley Scott

**Cast: **Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding Jr., Josh Brolin

American Psycho (2000)

Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in 'American Psycho'.

Lionsgate Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

Bret Easton Ellis’ 1991 best-seller looks unrecognizable in Mary Harron’s cinematic adaptation of the controversial novel. Starring Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, a yuppie investment banker whose only real passions are consumerism, dining out, and committing murder, this black comedy and horror fusion satirizes the mass-consumption and performative lifestyle that was a hallmark of the 1980s culture and economy.

Luckily for viewers, the film version of *American Psycho* presents the best aspects of the novel without luxuriating in book Bateman’s fevered misogyny. EW’s critic writes that the film is elevated by Bale’s interpretation, noting, “He keeps Patrick lurching blindly toward humanity, until we see a self being born in a man who, paradoxically, was too selfish to have one.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *American Psycho*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

**Director:** Mary Harron

**Cast: **Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Josh Lucas, Chloë Sevigny

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)

Philip Seymour Hoffman as Andy Hanson and Marisa Tomei as Gina Hanson in 'Before the Devil Knows You're Dead'.

Money is the root of all evil, and in Sidney Lumet's 2007 crime thriller, *Before the Devil Knows You're Dead*, money rots the Hanson family from the inside out. After finance executive Andy Hanson (Philip Seymour Hoffman) realizes his embezzling activities are on the cusp of being discovered, he convinces his similarly cash-strapped younger brother, Hank (Ethan Hawke), to rob their parents' jewelry store.

The siblings' "victimless" crime does not work out as hoped, and as their father seeks revenge on the mysterious perpetrators, his two sons struggle to clean up the mess they left behind. The last film Lumet made before his death in 2011, *Before the Devil* is arguably his best. EW's critic at the time writes, "Lumet's camera has become an invisible cage, inviting us to study the behavior of the human animals trapped inside." *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Before the Devil Knows You're Dead*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade: **A

**Director: **Sidney Lumet

**Cast: **Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, Rosemary Harris, Marisa Tomei

Black Bag (2025)

Cate Blanchett as Kathryn St. Jean and Michael Fassbender as George Woodhouse in 'Black Bag'.

Claudette Barius/Focus Features

You're cordially invited to a night of fun and games with Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett. The A-list stars play married intelligence officers in this stylish spy thriller from director Steven Soderbergh.

After MI6 tasks George (Fassbender) with investigating a group of suspected turncoats, he is alarmed to discover his wife is among the list. This leads to an eventful dinner in which George invites all the suspects in the hope of sussing them out. Lots of fun twists and turns occur following the dinner, and Soderbergh's knack for tightly paced editing and assembling a great cast to bounce off of one another remains as strong as ever. *—Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *Black Bag*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director: **Steven Soderbergh

**Cast: **Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris

Charade (1963)

Cary Grant as Peter Joshua and Audrey Hepburn as Reggie Lampert in 'Charade'.

Courtesy Everett Collection

Screwball comedies fell out of fashion after the 1940s, but the genre enjoyed a brief revival in the 1960s thanks to films like *Charade* (1963). A screwball comedy and romantic thriller, *Charade* stars Audrey Hepburn as Reggie Lampert, a woman on the run after her estranged husband is murdered, and she is accused of hiding money he stole from the government during World War II.

Pursued by three men and the feds, Reggie finds an ally in Peter Joshua (Cary Grant), a stranger whose name and background change throughout the film. *Charade* was shot on location in Paris and the French Alps, and the end result is a stylish romp with a clever script and a pair of leads whose chemistry defies their age gap. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Charade*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director: **Stanley Donen

**Cast:** Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau

Companion (2025)

Sophie Thatcher as Iris and Jack Quaid as Josh in 'Companion'.

Warner Bros. Pictures

If you’re looking for a restful retreat, *Companion* is not your movie. A dark comedy about a couple named Josh and Iris (Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher) who head to a lake house for a weekend away, the film takes a turn when Iris learns she is a companion robot and breaks free from Josh’s control.

A combination romantic comedy, thriller, and sci-fi crime movie, the script investigates issues around technology, masculinity, power dynamics, and relationships through a tongue-in-cheek lens: Think a darker and more toxically male spin on Spike Jonze’s *Her *(2013). EW’s reviewer promises, “[Drew] Hancock's feature directorial debut is a hell of an invigorating revenge fantasy, made all the more satisfying by its own winking self-awareness.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Companion*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Drew Hancock

**Cast: **Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén

Compliance (2011)

Dreama Walker as Becky in 'Compliance'.

Magnolia Films/Courtesy Everett

Go into your *Compliance* viewing with the understanding that this film will make you angry. Inspired by a true story, this thriller centers around a fast food manager, Sandra (Ann Dowd), who receives a call from a man identifying himself as a police officer claiming to be investigating a potential theft by Becky (Dreama Walker), one of the restaurant’s employees.

Under pressure from the officer on the phone, Sandra, her fiancé, and other employees at the establishment are ordered to put Becky through a series of increasingly exploitative and humiliating experiences — all in the name of upholding the law. A film about complicity, critical thinking, and how far people will go when they think they’re on the right side, *Compliance* is the perfect film for this particular cultural moment. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Compliance*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

**Director:** Craig Zobel

**Cast:** Ann Dowd, Dreama Walker, Pat Healy, Bill Camp

The Conversation (1974)

Gene Hackman as Harry Caul in 'The Conversation'.

FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty

Francis Ford Coppola meditates on the question of who is watching the watchmen in *The Conversation*, a neo-noir mystery thriller about the human side of surveillance. Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is known in the industry as the best bugger on the West Coast, capable of capturing even the most private conversations. But when he overhears the subjects of one of his assignments discussing their fear of being murdered, Harry worries for their safety, and attempts to investigate.

More than 50 years after its release, *The Conversation*’s alarmist attitude towards privacy concerns is still valid. Hackman is excellent as the withdrawn, paranoid Harry, whose professional and moral instincts become muddled as he seeks to protect two strangers and pinpoint which entities are surveilling him. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Conversation*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade:** A

**Director: **Francis Ford Coppola

**Cast: **Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Allen Garfield, Cindy Williams, Frederic Forrest

Die Hard (1988)

Bruce Willis as John McClane in 'Die Hard'. Twentieth Century Fox

Fans have debated whether *Die Hard* is a Christmas movie for nearly four decades, but it's an agreed upon fact that the film launched one of the most beloved action thriller franchises of all time. The first of five installments introduces audiences to the series' hero — New York police officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) — who has traveled to Los Angeles hoping to rekindle a romance with his estranged wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia). After German terrorists — led by the nefarious Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) — take control of the building where Holly's company's Christmas party is being held, McClane must work to take down the bad guys from the inside in order to save his family.

The world has *Die Hard* to thank for elevating both Willis' and Rickman's careers, and while Willis' 2022 retirement due to his aphasia diagnosis brought an end to the franchise, *Die Hard* will always be remembered as the movie that helped cement his legacy as one of the foremost action stars of all time.* —I.G.*

Where to watch *Die Hard*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** John McTiernan

**Cast:** Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Alexander Godunov, Bonnie Bedelia

Donnie Darko (2001)

Jake Gyllenhaal as Donnie Darko in 'Donnie Darko'.

Mary Evans/Pandora Cinema/Flower Films/Adam Fields Productions/GA/Ronald Grant/Courtesy Everett Collection

Sleep disorders, hallucinations, and rabbit costume-clad figures prophesying humanity’s imminent destruction are just a few of the treats provided in *Donnie Darko*, a trippy sci-fi thriller with a stacked cast. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Donnie, a teenager struggling with his mental health, who begins sleepwalking and experiencing visions that take a toll on his everyday life. Also starring Jake’s real-life sibling Maggie Gyllenhaal as Donnie’s sister, the film was quickly adopted by college kids and film students as the movie to watch in the early aughts.

*Donnie Darko* struggled at the box office primarily due to bad timing: The film’s theatrical release was scheduled for shortly after the 9/11 attacks, and the movie — which features a plane crash — suffered accordingly. Regardless, the film quickly achieved cult classic status, and, according to EW, is one of Gyllenhaal's best performances. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Donnie Darko*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Richard Kelly

**Cast: **Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Seth Rogen, Jena Malone

The Handmaiden (2016)

Kim Tae-ri as Sook-Hee and Kim Min-hee as Lady Hideko in 'The Handmaiden'. Everett Collection

It’s no surprise that this film from Park Chan-wook — about a handmaiden who is hired to interfere with the marriage of a wealthy heiress for a hefty payout — is visually dazzling, and the costuming and cinematography alone are enough to bewitch. Then, Chan-wook tosses in a twist, and then another, and the film’s handsome veneer is removed to unveil the wickedly sinister tones lurking beneath.

Ravishing and exhilarating, *The Handmaiden* is about both intimate love and crude obscenity, which Chan-wook expertly balances to complement each other well. —*Hayley Arnold*

Where to watch *The Handmaiden*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Park Chan-wook

**Cast:** Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong

The Hitch-Hiker (1953)

Frank Lovejoy as Gilbert Bowen and Edmond O'Brien as Roy Collins in 'The Hitch-Hiker'.

Courtesy Everett Collection

Ida Lupino made history as the first female director to helm a Hollywood film noir with this gripping thriller, which takes inspiration from real-life spree killer Billy Cook. Roy (Edmond O'Brien) and Gilbert (Frank Lovejoy) are driving through California where they unwittingly pick up a murderous hitchhiker, Emmett Myers (William Talman), who is wanted by police. Emmett holds the two men at gunpoint and instructs them to transport him to a specific location to evade capture.

Lupino makes the most of a low budget, crafting a genuinely suspenseful thriller with potent emotional resonance. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Hitch-Hiker*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Ida Lupino

**Cast:** Edmond O'Brien, Frank Lovejoy, William Talman

The Infiltrator (2016)

Bryan Cranston as Robert Mazur in 'The Infiltrator'.

Liam Daniel/Broad Green Pictures

Behind the scenes, the biographical crime drama thriller *The Infiltrator* is actually a family affair. Written by Ellen Brown Furman and directed by her son, Brad Furman, the movie is set in the 1980s and follows the infiltration and dissolution of Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar’s money laundering business. Three years after *Breaking Bad* went off the air, Bryan Cranston switches sides from meth maker to cartel breaker, starring as real-life U.S. Customs Special Agent Robert Mazur, whose undercover work was crucial in exposing Escobar’s far-reaching financial misdeeds.

Pivoting effortlessly from family man to ruthless felon, Cranston once again puts his acting range on full display, with a nuanced performance that is underscored by the knowledge that the slightest misstep could cost him — and his family — their lives. The film may have premiered a year after Netflix released *Narcos*, but Cranston’s efforts are enough to distinguish the project and make it a must-watch. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Infiltrator*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade: **B+

**Director:** Brad Furman

**Cast: **Bryan Cranston, Diane Kruger, John Leguizamo, Benjamin Bratt, Yul Vazquez, Amy Ryan

Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

Elizabeth Olsen as Martha and Sarah Paulson as Lucy in 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'.

Jody Lee Lipes/20th Century Fox Film Corp

Elizabeth Olsen makes a memorable feature debut in *Martha Marcy May Marlene*, a film about Martha (Olsen), who escapes a cult, moves in with her sister, Lucy (Sarah Paulson), and brother-in-law, Ted (Hugh Dancy), and attempts to reintegrate into society. This psychological thriller loves to play with time and memory. As Martha recovers at Lucy and Ted’s lakeside home in Connecticut, the viewer is led to question whether the nightmares and hallucinations she experiences are symptoms of PTSD or a prediction of dangers to come. Olsen’s role is physically and emotionally demanding, and EW’s critic notes that she “carries the story with authority.” *MMMM* is beautifully acted and constructed with care. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Martha Marcy May Marlene*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

**EW grade:** B+

**Director: **Sean Durkin

**Cast: **Elizabeth Olsen, John Hawkes, Sarah Paulson, Hugh Dancy

Memento (2001)

Guy Pearce as Leonard Shelby in 'Memento'.

Danny Rothenberg/Newmarket

Christopher Nolan emerged as one of the most inventive mainstream directors of his generation with this cerebral crime thriller. Guy Pearce stars as Leonard, a man with amnesia struggling to put the pieces together of who killed his wife. Unable to store new memories, Leonard develops an elaborate system of documentation involving photographs and tattoos to provide connective tissue to his future self.

“*Memento* has a spooky repetitive urgency that takes on the clarity of a dream,” writes EW’s critic. “It’s like an Oliver Sacks case study played as malevolent film noir.” —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Memento*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade:** A

**Director:** Christopher Nolan

**Cast:** Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano

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Saltburn (2023)

Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick in 'Saltburn'.

Courtesy of MGM/Amazon Studios

Combine the obsession featured in *The Talented Mr. Ripley* with *Brideshead Revisited*’s commentary on privilege and you get *Saltburn*, directed by Oscar-winning writer Emerald Fennell.

Barry Keoghan stars as Oliver, an outcast Oxford student who befriends uber-rich classmate Felix (Jacob Elordi). After Felix invites him to his family’s palatial country house over summer break, Oliver weasels his way into their good graces and turns their world upside down. Nasty yet perversely funny, *Saltburn* is, as EW’s critic describes it, “a gothic thriller dusted with poisonous candy-pop glitter,” —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Saltburn*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade:** A

**Director:** Emerald Fennell

**Cast:** Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Alison Oliver

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter (center) in 'The Silence of the Lambs'. Orion/Everett Collection

According to *The Silence of the Lambs*, the best way to catch a serial killer is with another one. Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) is a former psychiatrist and convicted cannibal whose intellect and preternatural understanding of the human psyche the FBI hopes to use to help catch the killer Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine). To convince Hannibal to cooperate, the FBI sends in Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), an agent in training who finds a way to match wits and guts with the monster in the cage. A slow-burn thriller with dialogue that will linger in your nightmares for years after watching, *The Silence of the Lambs* is a fantastic film, largely due to the energy buzzing between Foster and Hopkins. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Silence of the Lambs*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

**Director: **Jonathan Demme

**Cast: **Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine

A Simple Plan (1998)

Brent Briscoe as Lou, Bill Paxton as Hank, and Billy Bob Thornton as Jacob in 'A Simple Plan'.

Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

Morality, paranoia, and betrayal are prominent themes of *A Simple Plan*, Sam Raimi’s thriller about three men who take a walk in the woods, only to discover a crashed plane, a dead pilot, and $4.4 million in $100 bills. Now saddled with the moral dilemma of keeping the money or turning it in, the trio devises a simple plan.

Set in rural Minnesota and starring Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, and Brent Briscoe in the roles of the trio, *A Simple Plan* is often compared to the Coen brothers’ *Fargo *(1996), but the film skews more tragic than comic. EW’s critic writes, “In this tensely layered and ominous caper, greed is the ultimate truth serum. It brings the ugliest sides of relationships burbling to the surface.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *A Simple Plan*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade:** A

**Director: **Sam Raimi

**Cast: **Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Bridget Fonda

Super 8 (2011)

Kyle Chandler as Deputy Jack Lamb, Joel Courtney as Joe Lamb, Elle Fanning as Alice Dainard, and Ron Eldard as Louis Dainard in 'Super 8'.

Francois Duhamel

While reviewing *Super 8* in 2011, EW’s critic gave the film an A, writing, “Loving, playful, and spectacularly well made, *Super 8 *is easily the best summer movie of the year — of many years.” J.J. Abrams’ love letter to ‘80s sci-fi movies, *Super 8 *is a story about a grieving 14-year-old trying to make a zombie movie with some friends, only to accidentally witness a train accident that is not quite what it appears.

A nostalgic, sweet film that pays homage to youthful summers of yore, first loves, and military secrets accidentally captured by precocious, small-town children, *Super 8 *is one of those special movies that rarely get made anymore. If you like films like *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial* (1982) and *Stand by Me *(1986), then you need to add *Super 8* to your must-watch list. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Super 8*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

**EW grade:** A

**Director:** J.J. Abrams

**Cast:** Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, Joel Courtney, Gabriel Basso, Noah Emmerich

The Vast of Night (2020)

Jake Horowtiz as Everett Sloan, Mark Banik as Gerald, and Cheyenne Barton as Bertsie in 'The Vast of Night'. Amazon Studios

Made for under $1 million, director Andrew Patterson gifted Amazon Prime with one of the best sci-fi movies of 2020. *The Vast of Night *follows Everett (Jake Horowitz) and Fay (Sierra McCormick), who discover a mysterious sound frequency while the entire town is attending a high school basketball game. Though the movie calls back to *The Twilight Zone,* the supernatural subject matter is explored through an entirely fresh lens. "

"We wanted to immediately make it clear [in the film] that the things you're about to see in this story are very much the same things you've seen before in this story, but we're going to do this in a new way,” Patterson said in an interview with EW. It’s an honest and subdued approach to sci-fi, and the minimalism yields time for Patterson’s craft to shine. —*H.A.*

Where to watch *The Vast of Night*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Andrew Patterson

**Cast:** Sierra McCormick, Jake Horowitz

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

Tilda Swinton as Eva and John C. Reilly as Franklin in 'We Need to Talk About Kevin'.

Everett Collection

A mother fears her child may be a psychopath in this unnerving thriller drama. Eva (Tilda Swinton) struggles to fully connect with her son, Kevin (Ezra Miller), who torments her without apparent reason or remorse. Making matters worse is the affection Kevin shows to his father, which only increases the distance between them. It all leads up to a horrifying incident that irrevocably changes Eva and Kevin’s lives forever.

*We Need to Talk About Kevin* is one of those films you may never want to watch again, but its impending sense of doom is bracingly effective, as are the performances by Swinton and Miller. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *We Need to Talk About Kevin*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Lynne Ramsay

**Cast:** Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller

You Were Never Really Here (2018)

Joaquin Phoenix as Joe and Ekaterina Samsonov as Nina Votto in 'You Were Never Really Here'. Alison Cohen Rosa/Amazon Studios

Lynne Ramsay crafts a lone wolf story in a gritty arthouse fashion, with Joaquin Phoenix as Joe, a war vet with PTSD who saves runaway girls from the sex trade. Though his personal life is already splitting apart at the seams, Joe plunges into further danger when a routine rescue goes awry.

Ramsay speeds through many of the action shots to instead focus on Joe’s psyche. Images from his past are spliced together abruptly and rather awkwardly, an apt representation of the way his trauma continues to torment him. The result serves as a visual representation of Joe’s disjointed mind, resulting in a film as emotionally arresting as it is dark and thrilling. —*H.A.*

Where to watch *You Were Never Really Here*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Lynne Ramsay

**Cast:** Joaquin Phoenix, Judith Roberts, Ekaterina Samsonov, John Doman, Alex Manette

- Thriller & Mystery Movies

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Thriller"

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---

Source: Thriller

Published: June 6, 2026 at 09:38PM on Source: RON MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

byKris Ronald

in

June 06, 2026

The 22 best thrillers on Amazon Prime Video that will get your pulse racing

Gangsters, psychopaths, thieves, and serial killers might be bad dinner guests, but they sure are exciting film characters. The 22 best ...

Read More

Paul Rudd chugs entire beer mid-Today interview, stuns Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones: 'No,...

The &34;Power Ballad&34; actor was given a pint of Guinness and challenged to &34;split the 'G.'&34; Paul Rudd chugs entire beer midToday interview, stuns Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones: 'No, you did not!' The &34;Power Ballad&34; actor was given a pint of Guinness and challenged to &34;split the 'G.'&34; By Emlyn Travis :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/EmlynTravisauthorphotocba6765b433b4f93b9398d18053153b1.jpg) Emlyn Travis Emlyn Travis is a news writer at . She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and NME.

The "Power Ballad" actor was given a pint of Guinness and challenged to "split the 'G.'"

Paul Rudd chugs entire beer mid-Today interview, stuns Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones: 'No, you did not!'

The "Power Ballad" actor was given a pint of Guinness and challenged to "split the 'G.'"

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and NME.

EW's editorial guidelines

June 5, 2026 4:11 p.m. ET

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Sheinelle Jones; Jenna Bush Hager; Paul Rudd. Credit:

- Paul Rudd surprised Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones by chugging an entire beer mid-interview.

- The *Power Ballad* actor was challenged to "split the G" on Friday's episode of *Today*.

- Instead, he drained the entire glass, causing Hager to shout, "No, you did not!"

Paul Rudd chugged an entire beer in the middle of his *Today* interview, leaving Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones speechless.

The cohosts presented Rudd with a full pint of Guinness on Friday in celebration of his new film, *Power Ballad.*

"We got you a Guinness because you shot in Ireland, you were with a very famous Irish filmmaker," Hager explained, referring to writer and director John Carney. "We heard you can 'Split the G.'"

Jones, Hager, Rudd, and his empty glass on 'Today'.

"Splitting the G" is a popular drinking ritual that involves ordering a pint of the aforementioned beer and taking a large enough first gulp that the liquid lines up perfectly with the middle of the "G" in the word Guinness printed on the glass.

"You want to try right here on national television?" Hager challenged Rudd. "Okay, let's see it, if Paul Rudd can really do it all."

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Hager and Jones both cheered on Rudd as he began chugging the liquid, but their excitement quickly turned to shock when the *Anchorman* actor went past the mark and drained the entire glass.

"Oh my Gosh!" Hager yelled as the show's producers could be heard clapping and groaning in the background. "No, you did not!"

Rudd, in response, simply held up his now-empty glass and exclaimed, "I missed it! I miss the 'G.'"

Jones and Hager were both visibly stunned after Rudd's showing, with the latter left staring off into the distance behind the camera, mouth wide open. "I've never seen that in my life," Jones remarked.

Neither had Hager. "And I hung out with some beer drinkers back in my day," she added.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

Rudd had the perfect response afterward. "You know, I'll just be honest with you, I haven't had breakfast yet," he said as Jones and Hager burst into laughter.

"They do say Guinness is like the milkshake of beers, so, hopefully you got your daily caloric…," Hager began, to which Rudd replied, "That's it. That's breakfast."

Wildly enough, Rudd is the *second* person to chug a beer on *Today* this week. Carson Daly pulled a "shoey" and chugged a beer out of his worn shoe in front of Hager, Jones, Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie, and Craig Melvin on Wednesday's broadcast.

"Next time I'm gonna drink it out of Savannah's shoe, and I'm gonna call it a 'Choo-y,' Jimmy Choo shoes," Daly later quipped. "So I'll do a 'Shoey' and a 'Choo-y.'"

He added, "Do you know what I have to do to stick around with these fine, hard-hitting journalists? Some interview presidents, some do Shoeys and Choo-ys. Gotta earn your keep, everybody!"

Watch Rudd chug a Guinness in the clip above.

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Talk"

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Source: Talk

Published: June 5, 2026 at 11:57PM on Source: RON MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

byKris Ronald

in

June 05, 2026

Paul Rudd chugs entire beer mid-Today interview, stuns Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones: 'No,...

The &34;Power Ballad&34; actor was given a pint of Guinness and challenged to &34;split the 'G.'&34; Paul Rudd ...

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