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SOLAR OPPOSITES: SEASON FOUR Starring: Dan Stevens, Thomas Middleditch, Sean Giambrone, Mary Mack, and Sagan McMahan Creators: Justin Roiland and Mike McMahan QUENTIN Despite the upheaval stemming from the controversy surrounding series co-creator Justin Roiland, which resulted in his removal as showrunner and star (replaced by Dan Stevens with a terrific explanation), Solar Opposites ’ fourth season is its best yet. Brilliant meta hilarity spread amongst three parallel-but-disparate storylines (the alien family, the dystopian “The Wall,” and the The Expanse -inspired “Silvercops”) has made it the funniest, and maybe smartest, adult animated show on television. The world-building is incredibly layered too, but it’s mostly memorable one-liners like “it smells like a third-trimester hamster abortion” and “you’re a pile of shit’s ugly sister” that kept me coming back for more.

BABY REINDEER Starring: Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Nava Mau, Tom Goodman-Hill, and Nina Sosanya Creator: Richard Gadd QUENTIN Baby Reindeer wasn’t on my radar until it became the buzziest Netflix show since Tiger King . I’m so glad I jumped in blind, and even more glad that I listened to the internet because it’s a tremendously complex tale of obsession and how abuse can shape a person. Through a collection of contradictions — painful, yet funny; hard to watch, yet spellbinding; empathetic, yet prompting judgment — creator/writer/star Richard Gadd tells an autobiographical tale that is incredibly raw, honest, emotional, and intimate. Fair (trigger) warning for those who have experienced sexual assault, but Reindeer is a revelation and one of the year’s best series. Sent from my iPhone. KATIE Baby Reindeer is an impressive mix of disturbing, heartbreaking, darkly comedic, thought-provoking, and always deeply compelling. It’s one of the most original TV shows I’ve seen. I was constantly shocked by the decisions of the characters, having no idea which direction each episode would take. Our central characters are multi-faceted and morally complex, and it delves deep into the unpredictable impact of internalising trauma and experiencing abuse. It’s unbelievable the show is not only based on true events, but an autobiographical account of star and creator Richard Gadd’s experiences. It's likely one of my favourite shows of the year. CALEB I went into Baby Reindeer expecting more of the usual true-crime, docu-drama shlock that Netflix churns out on the regular, but damn was I mistaken. This disturbing autobiographical story hooked me from the very first episode and refused to let go. Creator/star/writer Richard Gadd provides an incredibly intimate, fearless portrayal of himself, but it’s Jessica Gunning who steals the show as his obsessive stalker, Martha. She delivers a powerhouse showing that’s demented, hilarious, sympathetic, and utterly terrifying all at once. With amazing performances, clever editing, creative cinematography, and fantastic writing, Baby Reindeer is a must-watch.

THE BIG CIGAR Starring: André Holland, Tiffany Boone, Alessandro Nivola, Marc Menchaca, and P.J. Byrne Creator: Jim Hecht QUENTIN While I’m sure there is an unbelievable true story at the heart of The Big Cigar , Apple’s latest historical series can’t seem to find the thread to make it interesting. At only six, 30ish-minute episodes, it moves way too quickly, resulting in a show where almost everything is underdeveloped. On top of that, tonally speaking, it’s a disjointed mishmash, jumping from paranoid thriller to caper-y romp to character study to social commentary, none of which is helped by random time jumps. I guess this is what happens when you base a miniseries on a Playboy article, but this Cigar needs to be extinguished. Killer soundtrack, though.

FLORIDA MAN Starring: Edgar Ramírez, Anthony LaPaglia, Abbey Lee, Otmara Marrero, Lex Scott Davis, Emory Cohen, and Clark Gregg Creator: Donald Todd QUENTIN On paper, Florida Man has a lot going for it: a twisty crime comedy starring beautiful people and a mountain of hilarity to mine from the popular Florida Man memes. However, in execution, the series feels hollow and forced, almost like AI wrote it. Nothing feels organic, from the character chemistry to the non-linear storytelling. It’s like the series is trying too hard to be a vibe instead of a show, but in a “how do you do, fellow kids?” way. Admittedly, Clark Gregg’s subplot is great, but the poor pacing, subpar writing, and breezy fluff of the main tale makes it hard to stay invested. JOSEPH Florida Man feels like it was pitched as a joke, but then was accidentally picked up. The cold openings of most episodes, which are based on Florida Man memes, only fuel this theory further for me. Sadly, this comedic neo-noir has very little comedy or mystery. It’s a shame, too, because despite the underwhelming story, the characters are well written and the cast is quite engaging. The last few episodes almost save the show, but they also highlight the weaknesses in the writing. Florida Man needed a tighter story and a clearer vision to stand out, but even with some strengths, it’s forgettable.

THAT '90S SHOW: SEASON ONE Starring: Callie Haverda, Ashley Aufderheide, Mace Coronel, Reyn Doi, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Sam Morelos, Andrea Anders, Kurtwood Smith, and Debra Jo Rupp Creators: Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Lindsey Turner, and Gregg Mettler NICK That ‘90s Show needed to do two things to succeed: feel authentically ‘90s and feel authentically That ‘70s Show . It succeeds on both accounts. The rebootquel goes the familiar route of focusing on the children of the original series' characters with positive results, making it more Girl Meet World than the brutal Fuller House . The original cast steps right back into their roles without watering things down, and the new cast admirably leads the series to make names for themselves. I never swooned over That 70s Show , but it was always good for a laugh. The same can also be said of its sequel. PAIGE As a huge fan of That ‘70s Show , I must admit That ‘90s Show is not rad. In fact, it’s actually kinda bad. It can’t seem to find the same spark its predecessor once did. In the season’s latter half, it finally tries to stand on its own two feet, but it just never finds its footing. As for the time period, the 1990s and its tropes are the perfect timeline to place the spinoff, but I would’ve much rather this show focused on the original cast 15 years later than a new crop of kids that aren’t really intriguing or all that funny.

THE DROPOUT Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Naveen Andrews, William H. Macy, Stephen Fry, Dylan Minnette, Camryn Mi-young Kim, Sam Waterston, Elizabeth Marvel, Laurie Metcalf, Bill Irwin, and Kurtwood Smith Created by: Elizabeth Meriwether QUENTIN Although unsure as to whether it’s a scathing takedown of Elizabeth Holmes (Amanda Seyfried) or a somewhat sympathetic (and darkly comic) portrait of a woman in over her head, The Dropout ’s end result is ultimately an eye-opening true crime series about corporate fraud and the unchecked ambition of disruptor culture. Seyfried anchors the series with an awards-worthy performance, nailing Holmes’ vocal intonation and mannerisms perfectly. She truly disappears into the role, from immature college kid to human icicle of a CEO, in unsettling ways, which helps keep the series engaging even if you already know all the gritty details.

THE CHANGELING: SEASON ONE Starring: LaKeith Stanfield, Clark Backo, Adina Porter, Malcolm Barrett, and Samuel Herring Creator: Kelly Marcel QUENTIN Despite good performances from LaKeith Stanfield (of course) and Clark Backo, as well as some often great direction from Melina Matsoukas, The Changeling is a big ol’ mess. It’s a mishmash of genres, moving from romance to horror to fantasy, and on top of that, the pacing is piss-poor with many questions left unanswered. The first few episodes move really slowly before finally breaking fully into the story around midseason; however, it then has two straight Stanfield-free bottle episodes that completely kill the momentum. It was a laborious watch in a binge, and I really can’t imagine anyone staying with this series on a week-to-week basis. AMARÚ Malcolm Barrett is such an underrated actor. He’s consistently hilarious while carrying dramatic weight in every word he says. He’s also the only thing I cared about in The Changeling , a puzzling mystery that has weird (read: stupid) people saying weird things that ultimately DO NOT unravel the weirdly sinister happenings while moving at a maddeningly uninteresting pace. This show reiterated my pure nonchalance towards horror, and it had me repeatedly asking, “what dafuq is going on?” to things that couldn’t hold my interest. So… Malcolm Barrett. Look him up, say, “ohhh yea, that guy,” and watch other things he’s in.

DOPESICK Starring: Michael Keaton, Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg, Will Poulter, John Hoogenakker, Kaitlyn Dever, Rosario Dawson, and Jake McDorman Creator: Danny Strong QUENTIN While Dopesick features top-notch acting and a compelling story, its approach could have been better. It attempts to discuss the opioid crisis from every viewpoint, including that of big pharma, the oblivious doctors prescribing OxyContin, the low-income communities hit hardest by addiction, and the government’s investigation into all the above. In doing so, the series is so sprawling that some storylines don’t get the attention they deserve or they splinter off in random directions for unnecessary “character development.” Add in constant and confusing time jumps, and you get a decent show that, with a tighter focus, could have been great.

Previous Next June 18, 2025 WRITTEN BY: AMARÚ Sometime last year, Nick was thinking about putting a list together of the up-and-coming Hollywood movie stars. Not in the “A-listers of the day” sense, but the true, global, carry a film on their name alone, men and women faint in their presence, larger-than-life, bona fide movie star with a capital M, capital STAR of the 90s kind of way. He came to the belief that, due to the state of the movie industry and movie-going trends, cinematic superstardom like that may no longer be possible, and scrapped the article. I’m of a different belief. Firstly, I am more optimistic about the state of the industry, especially in the past few years with a combination of new box office event movies like Barbenheimer, Wicked , and Sinners , and more independent movie studios like A24 and Blumhouse breaking their own box office records with more consistency. Secondly, and more importantly, while they may not “technically” reach the over-the-top star-status of our actors of old, there is a new crop of actors that I see glimpses of our old Hollywood megastar within. From names like Michael B. Jordan to Anya Taylor-Joy, there are so many actors who inhibit the same aura as the stars we grew up with, and taking into account that everything evolves over time, we still find ways to revert back to what we know and love. Here are 10 of those actors who I believe either will, or already have great potential to, become the Hollywood Movie STARS the public has been craving. ISABELA MERCED Hear me out here (not the first time I’ll say this), but know that this is my dark horse pick that I want to present front and center. Starting with her appearance in Alien: Romulus , Isabela has the potential to have a killer run between that, The Last of Us Season Two, and multiple appearances as Hawkgirl (in Superman and Peacemaker ). Her excellent performance as Dina in The Last of Us shows that she has that scene-stealing, girl next door that everyone wants to be around charisma and the ability to fill that role that Jennifer Lopez used to (big emphasis on used to) fill. Smart, charismatic, authentic, and eye-catching, Isabela has the chops to be love interest, best friend, stand-out, and lead in any four-quadrant movie that everyone wants to see. GLENN POWELL Since I put my long shot out first, it’s only right to talk about the guy that everyone has already crowned as the second coming of Tom Cruise (do they say Tom, or is that just me?). Either way, Glenn is first to mind when mentioning the new crop of leading men with the perfect smile, masculine charm, and acting chops. He’s already stood toe-to-toe opposite of Cruise as the roguish bad-ass in Top Gun: Maverick , has proven capable of flipping to the absolute boy toy in Twisters and Hit Man , and with his name constantly in the running whenever top-billing roles like X-Men’s Cyclops are being fan-casted, Powell is already ticking all the boxes that Mr. Cruise is still doing to this day. COLMAN DOMINGO Everyone loves stories like Colman’s. Working in the industry for more than 30 years as a recognizable and dependable character actor, it wasn’t until the last five that his star absolutely skyrocketed. Similar to another man I thought of for this list, the equally talented Mahershala Ali, Domingo has finally been recognized for his tremendous talent with back-to-back Best Actor Oscar nominations for his roles in Sing Sing and Rustin . But unlike Ali, who has become a little more selective with his roles, Domingo’s output has not slowed down from his pre-Oscar buzz. His range is impeccable, from voice acting roles in mega franchises ( Transformers, Spider-Man ), to series regular in notable shows ( Euphoria, Fear the Walking Dead ), and continued stand-out supporting move roles ( The Color Purple & Drive-Away Dolls ), he’s taking the actor’s actor spot that Ali and Denzel Washington occupy, and ramping up the front-facing workload and spotlight (and I didn’t even mention his always cover-worthy fashion sense). AUSTIN BUTLER Another top name that is spoken about in the new crop of leading men, Butler fills that mysterious bad boy with a heart of gold role to the point where he can easily be the Brad Pitt to Glenn Powell’s Tom Cruise. He fully encompasses the roles he takes on, from real-life subjects like Elvis Presley ( Elvis ), to fictional psychos like Feyd-Raufa ( Dune: Part Two ), and that enigmatic magnetism will continue to bring people to his movies for decades to come. I can easily see him leading the next David Fincher film, being the dependable wing-man in a Stephen Soderbergh caper, or starring alongside Powell as sexy, co-lead, centuries-old vampires. He can do whatever he wants in any movie he wants, and the people will always be intrigued to see him do it. JENNA ORTEGA Jamie Lee Curtis is somehow forgotten as the mega superstar she was/is, but there will always be room for the Scream Queen that has comedic chops to stand above her male and female counterparts. Enter Jenna Ortega. She IS Wednesday Adams in the global Netflix phenomenon Wednesday , should have been starring in at least three more Scream films with Melissa Barrera, and was the only choice to be the next female lead opposite Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Ortega is the It Girl for all things gothic, horror, and horror-comedy these days, and whether these days, the old days, or days of future past (sorry…), horror will never not bring droves of people to the theaters. Just like Jenna. TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET Personally, before Timmy made that “I want to be one of the greats” speech, and was seen game-in and game-out, sunglasses and slick-backed hair in tow during this latest New York Knicks playoff run, I liked him, but kind of let everyone else fawn over him. But now, as a fellow New York Knick lifer, and a respecter of confidence and coolness, I can’t help but see a young Jack Nicholson. And who the hell doesn’t love Jack?! In my eyes, Timmy will forever be GOATed, and his ability to carry a movie and a role since a young age proves this opinion beyond my Knicks bias. He caught everyone’s eye in Call Me by Your Name , then stole everyone’s heart in the Dune franchise, and after his Oscar nomination for A Complete Unknown , there isn’t a person on the planet that he doesn’t do something for. More than something if you ask me. JOHN BOYEGA Ok hear me out (I told you…), even though this movie is not good in almost any way, once I saw Boyega play absolute charm, cool, and allure in Pacific Rim: Uprising , I said he needs to be put in every action comedy from here on out. Stupid fandom aside, he rocked it as Finn in the Star Wars sequel series, proved his sci-fi/action chops from the jump in Attack The Block , but also showed his range in dramatic roles from the stoic title character in They Cloned Tyrone to the regal Dahomey king in The Woman King . With all this ability to reach the masses in multiple ways, Boyega reminds me a lot of the captivating range Jamie Foxx encompasses, and if given the opportunity, he can become just as beloved. DANIEL KALUUYA Oscar winner and multiple time nominee, multiple comic-book movie actor, horror movie lead, and possibly the coolest motherfucker on screen no matter who is standing next to him, Daniel Kaluuya has that chill about him that never goes unnoticed. Similar to George Clooney, he just feels like he always has everything under control, including every aspect of Hollywood superstardom. You need box office numbers, put him with Jordan Peele and watch the masses flock. You need some awards consideration, put him with damn near any worthy director and watch the masses flock. You need an injection of effortless cool in any films, put him in the film and do what… watch ‘em flock! ZENDAYA What was the film that you realized America’s Sweetheart Sandra Bullock could also be devilish, sinister, and outright mean? Maybe it never was a full heel turn, but her against-type roles in The Proposal, Our Brand is Crisis, and Ocean’s 8 , just upped my love for Sandy B. Now, imagine what people already think about Zendaya since we’ve fallen in love with her during her Disney Channel days, got enamored with her even more by taking on one of the most iconic love interests in franchise history (MJ in the MCU), and then absolutely trembled in the shadow of her awesome diabolical behavior in Euphoria AND Challengers . There’s no question that she is more than capable of adding to the long line of American actresses who have held that sweet mantle. FLORENCE PUGH Does anyone know if Florence Pugh can carry a note? Because (one more time) hear me out, if she can do that as well as Meryl Streep did in Into The Woods, I would not be surprised if Pugh eventually comes for the title of the most nominated, best actress not named Viola Davis (aka best white actress). No offense to Saoirse Ronan, but Pugh has that additional unteachable quality about her that only a few, like Streep and Davis, possess alongside their acting ability. She is the chameleon that steals every scene, fills every role, plays any genre, and slays any heart. She has already outdone her contemporaries in the same film (she stole the title for favorite March sister from Ronan in Little Women ), the same franchise (she is now the Black Widow, sorry Scarlett), and the same life (let me have my Florence is a better Paige than the real life Paige in Fighting With My Family , even if I’m wrong). Florence has that thing that all Hollywood stars have, that unnameable, unknowable, characteristic that will blast her to superstar status.

WELCOME TO CHIPPENDALES Starring: Kumail Nanjiani, Murray Bartlett, Annaleigh Ashford, and Juliette Lewis Creator: Robert Siegel ADRIANO There is something of a missed opportunity in Welcome To Chippendales . The story itself is engaging, compelling me to return every week, not to mention Kumail Nanjiani’s engrossing performance and Murray Bartlett stealing every scene he’s in. However, I wish the show wasn’t so lacking in style, which is especially noticeable for a tale of glamour and intrigue. Unfortunately, any grit present is only there because of the nature of the true crime story, not because of any conscious decision in the direction. It has enough entertainment value that I would recommend it, but it left a lot to be desired. QUENTIN Welcome to Chippendales , Hulu’s latest true corporate crime story, boasts enough sleaze and neon to make the darkly sordid tale quite a bit of fun (think of it as The Dropout through the lens of Netflix’s GLOW ). Admittedly, I’m not a huge Kumail Nanjiani fan, but he does good dramatic work here; however, he is greatly overshadowed by Murray Bartlett. The series’ only real flaw is that it covers 20+ years in eight episodes, so seemingly important plot points and characters are glossed over or forgotten quickly. And while there is clear character development, it comes at whiplash-inducing speeds. Still, I never lost interest.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER: SEASON TWO Starring: Morfydd Clark, Charlie Vickers, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Robert Aramayo, Markell’s Kavenaugh, Daniel Weyman, Sophia Nomvete, and Owain Arthur Creators: Patrick McKay and John D. Payne AMARÚ The Rings of Power showrunners must’ve heard fans talking about how slow Season One started because they took the momentum of its second half and kicked down every door going into Season Two. They’re fully playing in the Lord of the Rings ’ high-fantasy sandbox now. Combining multitudes of magical Middle-Earth lore with a brisker pace and heightened action pushes the dialogue-heavy scenes, some that still drag, but most of which bring far more character development to this large ensemble. So, instead of five storylines disparately plodding alongside one another, each plot races to coalesce towards one exciting climax. I’m geeked beyond measure and need more Middle-Earth pronto.

GENIUS: ARETHA Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Courtney B. Vance, David Cross, Malcolm Barrett, Patrice Covington, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Rebecca Naomi Jones, and Shaian Jordan Creator: Suzan-Lori Parks QUENTIN With NatGeo dropping eight episodes over four consecutive nights, it feels like the network wasn't too proud of this miniseries about Aretha Franklin. I can see why. While Cynthia Erivo absolutely slays the singing parts, her performance during the non-singing parts is restrained to the point of being dull. The series also feels cheap, from the 80s-style opening credits to the fact that they couldn't get the rights to Aretha’s biggest hits (really? No “Respect”?). It's like a low budget, made-for-TV Bohemian Rhapsody - an incredibly flawed and formulaic biopic that is only as strong as your love for Aretha’s music.