Best Picture winners Paul Thomas Anderson, Sara Murphy, and the cast of ‘One Battle After Another’ at the 2026 Oscars (Disney/Frank Micelotta)
Sinners dominated the 2026 Oscar nominations, scoring a record-breaking 16 nominations. One Battle After Another followed with 13 nominations. Three films—Frankenstein, Marty Supreme, and Sentimental Value—earned nine nominations, while Hamnet picked up eight. And when the votes were tallied, it was One Battle After Another that scored the most wins, taking home six, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Casting, Best Supporting Actor (Sean Penn), Best Editing, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Winners were announced live on ABC during the 2026 Oscars held on March 15th at 4pm PT/7pm ET. Conan O’Brien returned as host, kicking off the awards show with jokes that hit on the Epstein files, Timothée Chalamet’s slam of ballet and opera, and streaming services.
Best Actor winner Michael B. Jordan at the 2026 Oscars (Disney/Ser Baffo)
2026 Oscars Nominees and Winners
Best Picture
Bugonia
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme WINNER: One Battle After Another
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams
Best Actor
Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon WINNER: Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent
Best Actress
WINNER: Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
Emma Stone – Bugonia
Best Supporting Actor
Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
Delroy Lindo – Sinners WINNER: Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value
Best Supporting Actress
Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value WINNER: Amy Madigan – Weapons
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
Best Director
Chloé Zhao – Hamnet
Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme WINNER: Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Best Original Screenplay
Blue Moon, written by Robert Kaplow It Was Just an Accident, written by Jafar Panahi; script collaborators: Nader Saïvar, Shadmehr Rastin, and Mehdi Mahmoudian Marty Supreme, written by Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie Sentimental Value, written by Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier WINNER: Sinners, written by Ryan Coogler
Best Adapted Screenplay
Bugonia, screenplay by Will Tracy Frankenstein, written for the screen by Guillermo del Toro Hamnet, screenplay by Chloé Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell WINNER: One Battle After Another, written by Paul Thomas Anderson Train Dreams, screenplay by Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar
Best Animated Feature Film
Arco
Elio WINNER: KPop Demon Hunters
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2
Best International Feature Film
The Secret Agent – Brazil It Was Just an Accident – France WINNER: Sentimental Value – Norway Sirât – Spain The Voice of Hind Rajab – Tunisia
Best Casting
Hamnet, Nina Gold Marty Supreme, Jennifer Venditti WINNER:One Battle After Another, Cassandra Kulukundis The Secret Agent, Gabriel Domingues Sinners, Francine Maisler
Best Cinematography
Frankenstein, Dan Laustsen Marty Supreme, Darius Khondji One Battle After Another, Michael Bauman WINNER: Sinners, Autumn Durald Arkapaw (the first female to win in this category) Train Dreams, Adolpho Veloso
Best Production Design
WINNER: Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Best Editing
F1, Stephen Mirrione Marty Supreme, Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie WINNER: One Battle After Another, Andy Jurgensen Sentimental Value, Olivier Bugge Coutté Sinners, Michael P. Shawver
Best Original Score
Bugonia, Jerskin Fendrix Frankenstein, Alexandre Desplat Hamnet, Max Richter One Battle After Another, Jonny Greenwood WINNER: Sinners, Ludwig Göransson
Best Original Song
“Dear Me” – Diane Warren: Relentless WINNER: “Golden” – KPop Demon Hunters (first KPop song to win in this category)
“I Lied to You” – Sinners
“Sweet Dreams of Joy” – Viva Verdi!
“Train Dreams” – Train Dreams
Best Sound
WINNER: F1
Frankenstein
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Sirât
Best Visual Effects
WINNER: Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
Jurassic World Rebirth
The Lost Bus
Sinners
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
WINNER:Frankenstein
Kokuho
Sinners
The Smashing Machine
The Ugly Stepsister
Best Costume Design
Avatar: Fire and Ash, Deborah L. Scott WINNER: Frankenstein, Kate Hawley Hamnet, Malgosia Turzanska Marty Supreme, Miyako Bellizzi Sinners, Ruth E. Carter
Best Animated Short Film
Butterfly
Forevergreen WINNER: The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Retirement Plan
The Three Sisters
Best Live-Action Short Film
Butcher’s Stain
A Friend of Dorothy
Jane Austen’s Period Drama WINNER (Tie): The Singers WINNER (Tie): Two People Exchanging Saliva
Best Documentary Feature Film
The Alabama Solution
Come See Me in the Good Light
Cutting Through Rocks WINNER: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
The Perfect Neighbor
Best Documentary Short
WINNER:All the Empty Rooms
Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud
Children No More: “Were and Are Gone”
The Devil Is Busy Perfectly a Strangeness
CBS’s Tracker season three, episode 12’s missing persons case takes Colter to Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Evelyn Martell, who appears to be either drunk or drugged, pleads that she wants to go home. The man she’s with refuses and insists they need to continue having fun.
(The following is a recap of season three, episode 12 – “Do No Harm” – and there are spoilers.)
Randy’s call about Evelyn’s case interrupts Colter (Justin Hartley) as he looks through his notes on David Pearson and Walt Fleming, still trying to find out more about their connection to his dad. Evelyn’s sister, Janie, wants their help, and it doesn’t seem she’s working with the police.
Colter meets Janie (Luisa d’Oliveira) in the parking lot at St. Patrick’s Hospital where Evelyn works. Security told her this part of the lot doesn’t have surveillance cameras. The police aren’t considering this a priority because there aren’t any signs of foul play. Janie located Evie’s car in the lot and explains she never showed up for her shift today. Evie’s been different and frazzled recently, but she never just disappears.
Evie came home recently after a bad day at work and started drinking and breaking things. She’d never acted like that before. Also, she was really distant after a meeting with Dr. Hooper.
Colter introduces himself to Dr. Hooper (Christopher Shyer) who doesn’t seem surprised that Evie is missing. Dr. Hooper says their meeting was about Evie freezing up during surgery. He had to step in and finish it for her. He also describes her behavior as being off, and he discovered vials of lorazepam were missing. Dr. Hooper didn’t report her and believes she’s dealing with a trauma she refused to discuss.
Although it’s against the rules, Dr. Hooper allows Colter to look at the hospital security footage. Colter searches the video and finds Evie wearing a wig, carrying a large bag, and covering her face so she’s not caught on camera.
Randy (Chris Lee) thinks Evie’s phone is either dead or the SIM card’s been pulled. He searches for possible rides that would have picked her up from the hospital shortly after Colter saw her on video. Colter explains she might be under emotional distress, as Randy discovers a cab picked up a female rider a block away. The records show she was dropped off at a swanky bar downtown.
Colter speaks with a bartender and she confirms Evie was a hot mess last night. She was downing shots and made a connection with Josh, one of the bar’s regular customers. The bartender reports Evie was getting sloppy and Josh offered her a ride home. The bartender’s shocked when Colter explains that Evie never made it home. But even with that new detail, the bartender won’t reveal Josh’s last name. She does remember that it was about 1:45am when Evie left.
After she walks away, Colter grabs the payment terminal and finds Josh Greyland closed his $175 tab at 1:49am. Randy does a quick check and discovers Josh is an accountant at a local firm. He doesn’t have a criminal record.
Colter heads to Josh’s house and breaks in. He finds broken glass on the floor along with Evie’s wig and a bullet casing. Colter scans the room and sees a little blood on the couch. Randy checks Josh’s phone and it’s not pinging. But his BMW pings at a parking garage in town.
Night’s fallen by the time Colter pulls up to the BMW in the garage. The engine’s cold and there’s blood inside the car. Randy’s uncovered more info on Josh. Apparently, he was in Evie’s hospital a month ago after a car accident. Colter suspects a connection between him and the day Evie froze up during surgery.
Colter spots an empty lorazepam vial outside the car. Maybe Evie drugged Josh.
The scene switches to Evie (Karen David) tying up Josh while he swears he’s never seen her before. Evie claims that he and his friends raped her; she even recalls his chest tattoo as being all she could see while she was being assaulted.
Colter reports into Evie’s sister, explaining that something about seeing Josh a month ago in surgery triggered Evie. She kidnapped him, not the other way around. Colter asks if there’s anything from Evie’s past that would explain this, and Janie reveals Evie was assaulted in college. The police didn’t do anything because she had been drinking and couldn’t identify her attacker.
Colter notices blood drops and thinks Evie had a spare car that she took Josh away in. Janie believes Evie could have taken Josh to their uncle’s remote hunting cabin that they inherited.
Evie drugged Josh, stripped him, and now has him taped to a chair, legs spread, with a video set up to record what’s happening. When he comes to, she tells him she survived him and built a good life. She considers Josh showing up in the OR to be a miracle, and now she can make him pay for what he did. Evie holds a scalpel, ready to take away something from him so he can’t attack other women.
He begs for his manhood, asking what she wants. Evie wants him to tell the camera what he did to her 10 years ago. He claims not to remember, and she refreshes his memory, describing a frat house costume party he attended with a friend. They were dressed as cowboys, while she was a witch.
Josh agrees to confess on video.
Colter quietly looks around the cabin, gun drawn. Suddenly, Josh appears and tries to attack him, but Colter easily gets the upper hand. Josh insists Evie tortured him and then left him there after getting what she wanted. He confessed and gave her the name of the other man who raped her that night.
His name is Victor Christophers and Randy’s quick research indicates that he’s also an accountant. Colter and Randy agree that she’s looking for justice since she left Josh alive. However, Evie took a whole month to plan Josh’s abduction. She’s going after Victor without a plan in place.
Evie’s outside Victor’s and sees Victor through a window, but he’s with his wife and two young kids. Still, that doesn’t stop her, and she enters the home after Victor’s family goes to bed. She’s armed with a gun as she comes up behind him in his kitchen. He claims not to know her and offers her money or anything she wants. Victor insists he doesn’t know Josh, and she describes the night he and Josh raped her.
“You got away and I was left with this forever,” says Evie. Victor continues to claim she has the wrong guy.
Victor’s wife comes up behind Evie and knocks her out with a baseball bat. She wants to call the cops, but Victor tells her to leave with the kids, and he’ll take care of it. After his wife leaves, he calls Evie by name and says, “It’s been a long time.”
Colter arrives just as Victor’s wife and kids are leaving, and she confirms he and a woman are inside the house. Colter tells her to call the cops and stay out of the house.
Colter finds the baseball bat with blood on it along with an open door.
Victor repeatedly kicks Evie as she rolls around on the ground outside. Colter follows their trail as Victor wonders if Evie regrets her actions yet. Victor asks if anyone knows she’s there and kicks her again. Evie grabs a rock and rolls over while attempting to strike him in the face. His gun goes off as he falls and Colter races toward the sound.
Evie hits Victor multiple times but he’s too strong for her to hold down. Victor climbs on top of her and begins strangling her just as Colter walks up, ordering him to let her go. When he doesn’t, Colter fires two shots. Evie’s alive and Colter assures her she’ll be okay.
A short while later, Dr. Hooper informs Colter that Evie has broken ribs and a concussion, but she’ll be okay. He didn’t realize what she’d been through and feels terrible that she couldn’t confide in him. Colter believes he did a lot for her, and Evie’s sister is emotional as she thanks him and hands over the reward. Colter hopes the siblings will take care of and be there for each other.
Reenie (Fiona Rene) has decided to take the job with Maxine, even though she’s not sure it’s on the up and up. She insists that Mel (Cassady McClincy Zhang) be brought in to work with her, and Maxine agrees as long as they both sign NDAs.
Reenie’s suffering in silence from PTSD after being kidnapped, and she struggles to hold herself together when Colter calls. She was able to get the DA not to press charges against Evie. Plus, she learned Josh is suspected of multiple assaults and will probably be going to jail for a long time.
Reenie can understand what Evie did. She believes that trauma can really haunt you, and Colter can hear in her voice that something’s wrong. Reenie doesn’t want to talk about it and insists she’s good. Colter assures her that he’s always there for her. He hangs up, but it’s obvious that he’s worried about his friend.
CBS’s Marshals episode three opens with Belle (Arielle Kebbel) drinking and gambling, down $10,000. The action quickly shifts to outside, where two men set off a bomb in the middle of an empty road.
(The following is a recap of episode three, “Road to Nowhere,” and there are spoilers.)
Kayce (Luke Grimes) is repairing a fence broken by a stallion when Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) and Mo (Mo Brings Plenty) arrive at East Camp. Kayce admits he hasn’t had time to tame the horse, and he’s glad to see Thomas is back on his feet after the bombing. He reminds the Broken Rock Chairman that the threat’s still out there.
Thomas confirms the government’s about to break ground on the mine today.
Kayce makes it into work and Cal (Logan Marshall-Green) gives him a hard time about splitting time between working on the ranch and being a marshal. Cal suggests he should try and stick around and bond with the team, but Kayce’s not into that right now. He’s still committed to Tate and the ranch.
And speaking of the team, Belle’s frustrated because Andrea (Ash Santos) and Miles (Tatanka Means) are acting like kids, hiding and shooting foam bullets at each other at work, pretending to clear the room. Kayce points out where Andrea’s hiding, and Cal credits his buddy with having excellent spidey senses. Miles asks for advice on how to clear the room and Belle suggests a little close quarters battle (CQB) training couldn’t hurt.
Cal places Kayce in charge of teaching the team some frogman tactics. Kayce puts the team through their paces, advising them that once they take the real estate, they hold it.
Over at the rez, Thomas Rainwater, Mo, and tribal police block the road when heavy equipment tries to move in. The driver explains Highway 191 was blown up so they were forced to enter through the reservation. Mo warns him to turn around now, but the heavy equipment can’t turn around in such a tight spot.
“Well, then they’re our trucks now,” says Thomas.
Cal interrupts the team’s training with orders to head to the standoff on the rez. And it’s not just the construction equipment that is detoured to rez land; ranchers trying to take their livestock to auction are also stuck. The marshals have been charged with clearing the public from the scene, but that doesn’t go over well with the team. Cal reminds them it’s their job to clear the locals, and Kayce admits it’s going to cause problems when the locals see the marshals standing with Broken Rock.
Cal orders the team to “strap on the hard armor” because they’re going into battle. As they prepare, Miles wonders if they should believe Cal when he says they’re not going to be pointing their weapons at Broken Rock. The tribe’s witnessed a lot of broken promises, but this time Kayce believes Cal’s telling the truth.
The marshals arrive on the scene and encounter a lengthy traffic jam and lots of angry people. The ranchers are happy to see Kayce among the team and praise his work as a livestock agent. They’re sure Kayce will straighten everything out and that he’ll back their side instead of the rez.
Belle and Kayce recognize the Clegg brothers and realize the situation has escalated. Belle points out that the Clegg brothers were recently involved in a situation reminiscent of Ruby Ridge. The police haven’t bothered them since.
Randall Clegg (Michael Cudlitz) blames Kayce for giving Broken Rock so much power after giving away the Yellowstone. Randall believes John Dutton’s rolling in his grave after Kayce turned over Yellowstone to the rez. Kayce doesn’t take the bait but also doesn’t allow his family’s name to be insulted.
The ranchers have become an angry mob when the marshals position themselves next to Thomas Rainwater and the tribe. Cal orders the ranchers to leave Broken Rock land and that’s when fists are thrown. Cal threatens to arrest anyone who doesn’t leave and some of the mob begin to peel off and head back to their vehicles. A woman passes by Belle and does a double take, identifying her by her real last name. She spits in Belle’s face and says she’d change her name too after what her family did.
The majority of the mob remains in place and more fighting breaks out. Suddenly, gunshots ring out, aimed at the marshals. Two women are shot and the mob instantly quiets down. Cal points out where the shots came from as Belle and Andrea tend to the wounded women.
Kayce and Cal locate spent .308 shells casings and given the distance, they came from a hunting rifle. They follow trampled brush and spot a man fleeing the scene. Cal yells out at him to stop but he refuses, and Kayce’s forced to get ahead of him and tackle the shooter.
Back at the office, the team acknowledges that the locals and the rez are against them now. Cal reveals the shooter was Don Moore, the first rancher who threw a punch. He couldn’t get his cattle to market and turned violent. Miles confirms the tribal police are checking to make sure there aren’t any other shooters out there.
Cal sends Andrea to question Don while Miles investigates his background. Belle is assigned to do the ballistics work. However, the standoff hasn’t ended, and they’re all concerned that the situation is just going to escalate.
Cal confesses he doesn’t get Montana and that the place gives him Afghanistan vibes. The ranchers and government are basically one tribe, and Broken Rock is their mutual enemy tribe. Thomas Rainwater confiscating the equipment doesn’t help, and Cal asks Kayce to ask Thomas to stand down before there’s a full-on war. Kayce thinks his presence will just escalate matters, but Cal is certain he’s the only person who can reason with all the parties.
Andrea informs Don that he’s got gunshot residue on his hands and will be charged with either attempted manslaughter or murder. Don insists he didn’t shoot anyone and that he’s just a dad worried about taking care of his kids, something he can’t do if the rez stands in the way of progress. He’s angry the rez has stopped an airport and hotels from being built, which cost the area good jobs.
Andrea understands but that doesn’t change the fact two women were shot. She suggests that he confess and make things easier on himself.
Miles and Belle talk about what just went down, and Belle confesses that leaving the ATF for the marshals brought her closer to home and closer to her family’s history. Miles can relate and notes that some people think he’s a traitor for wearing a marshal badge. Belle thinks Cal and Andrea will soon figure out that Big Sky Country is actually just one small town. They also admit that Kayce’s got it the worst, given his family’s legacy.
Kayce meets with Thomas and Mo and confirms the shooting had nothing to do with the bombing. It was just a reaction to the roadblock. He thinks it’s time for Thomas to stand down before there are further injuries. Thomas points out that John Dutton wouldn’t do that; he even rerouted a river to get what he wanted. Since the Duttons bled for their way of life, Kayce shouldn’t judge him for doing the same.
As Kayce’s leaving, he spots the same truck passing by for the third time. It circles back again and a passenger begins firing an assault rifle at Thomas and the others outside a coffee shop. Kayce returns fire. A bystander is injured and Kayce takes off after the truck.
Back at the office, Belle reveals ballistics indicate there were three shooters. Don continues to claim he didn’t shoot anyone, and now there are two shooters on the loose.
Kayce calls in his location, and the team tries to figure out if it’s the same shooters and if they’re now targeting the rez and not the marshals. Cal sends Andrea back to get the two names from Don and he finally admits that if he gives her the names, his family will be targeted. Andrea promises to help his family, and Don reveals the shooters are Carson and Wes Clegg. It turns out the Clegg brothers were hired to blast the rocks to make way for the mine. When the rez hindered the mine work, they put the Cleggs’ contract in jeopardy.
The black Chevy Kayce’s chasing is registered to Wes Clegg. The team prepares for action and fills Kayce in by phone on what they’ve learned. Kayce spots the truck and believes the Cleggs have fled on foot into the woods.
Cal orders Kayce not to go in alone, reminding him “one is none.” Kayce actually listens and waits for the team to arrive before heading in to track the Cleggs. They make their way slowly and methodically through the woods but can’t find any tracks. Suddenly, a shot’s fired in their direction and they take cover.
The team shoots in multiple directions, attempting to draw fire to determine where the Cleggs are located. Cal calls out their location and orders Kayce and Miles to remain hidden and move in on the flank but not fire. Cal lays down cover fire to draw the Cleggs’ attention while Kayce and Miles close the gap.
Kayce’s 50 yards out when he tells Miles they’re going to move up the slope and approach the Cleggs. He orders Miles not to stop once they begin moving. Kayce starts the approach but steps on a hidden mine and is briefly knocked out. He comes to, ears ringing, but recovers quickly enough to tell Cal to remain in position.
Kayce takes down Carson Clegg and Miles tackles Wes while he’s reloading.
Later that evening, Cal’s alone in the locker room and shakes as he takes two pills. He hides the bottle quickly when Kayce walks in. Kayce calls the Cleggs “Montana’s cockroaches” and knows they’ll pop up again. Cal wants him to go relax at the bar but Kayce declines. Before he leaves, he warns Cal to watch his back at the bar.
Ballistics clear Don Moore, and Wes Clegg confessed he and Carson were the shooters.
Thomas pays a visit to Kayce at East Camp and Kayce apologizes for asking him to stand down. He admits that after spending his whole life being pulled two ways, neither side wants him. Thomas believes they’re brothers for life after all they’ve been through.
Kayce believes his dad would have been proud of Thomas for creating a roadblock. Thomas reveals he returned the equipment and ended the standoff to obtain peace. Kayce thinks the Cleggs could have been behind the bombing because of their contract with the mine.
The talk turns more personal as Thomas admits he saw Monica’s shoes by the door. He thinks it’s Monica’s horse that keeps breaking down fences, and Kayce confirms he bought it for her right before she got worse. He didn’t try and tame it since she couldn’t ride it anyway. Thomas believes that whether it’s their shared grief or taking on the mine, they need to remain in the fight together.
Over at the bar, the bartender sarcastically jokes about Cal making friends everywhere. He wonders if there’s any threat inside the bar and claims he’s just misunderstood. Cal joins his team at a table and announces the shooting victims have been discharged. They can’t get over why the people they protect view them as the enemy, but Cal says they just need to keep doing their jobs.
Just then a stranger walks up and they’re certain it’s a threat. Fortunately, the man just wants to thank them for saving his friend’s daughter at the roadblock. He even pays for their next round of drinks.
The mood lightens and they toast, “To the protectors.”
However, things aren’t going as peacefully at East Camp. Kayce wakes, grabs his gun, and looks outside the front door. A single bullet has been placed on his doormat.
Maggie’s shocked to discover her sister’s been kidnapped by Ray DiStefano (played by Matthew Rauch) on CBS’s FBI season eight, episode 14. “Forgiven” will air on Monday, March 16, 2026 at 9pm ET/PT.
“Forgiven” Plot: After Maggie’s sister, Erin, goes missing, the team begins an all-out search to recover her. But when Maggie discovers Erin was kidnapped by a sinister figure from her past, she must race to save her before it’s too late. Mae Smith wrote the episode and Yangzom Brauen directs.
Missy Peregrym stars as Special Agent Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki plays Special Agent Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, Jeremy Sisto returns as Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, Alana De La Garza is Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille, John Boyd stars as Special Agent Stuart Scola, and Juliana Aidén Martinez plays Eva Ramos.
FBI is a fast-paced drama about the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This elite unit brings to bear all their talents, intellect, and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep New York and the country safe. Born into a multigenerational law enforcement family, Special Agent Maggie Bell commits deeply to the people she works with as well as those she protects.
Her partner is Special Agent Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, a West Point graduate via Bushwick who spent two years undercover for the DEA before being cherry-picked by the FBI. Overseeing them is Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille, who operates under intense pressure and has undeniable command authority.
The team also includes Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, the nerve center of the office whose ability to easily relate to and engage with both superiors and subordinates makes him a master motivator, as well as Special Agent Stuart Scola, an Ivy League-educated Wall Streeter-turned-FBI agent. These first-class agents tenaciously investigate cases of tremendous magnitude, including terrorism, organized crime, and counterintelligence.
Jeremy Renner as Mike McClusky and Hugh Dillon as Ian Ferguson in ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ episode 1, season 5, (Credit: Jeremy Parsons/Paramount+)
Filming is now underway on the upcoming fifth and final season of Paramount+’s Mayor of Kingstown. Jeremy Renner returns to star as the titular character, and David Morse (We Were Liars) has joined the cast as a series regular, boarding the series to play seasoned FBI agent Russell Hardy.
Returning series stars include Edie Falco, Laura Benanti, Hugh Dillon, Taylor Handley, Tobi Bamtefa, and Derek Webster. Necar Zadegan, Nichole Galicia, and Lennie James are also confirmed to return.
Paramount+ offers this description of the eight-episode final season:
“This season, in the wake of Tracy’s murder and the vengeance visited upon Callahan by Mike (Renner) and Kyle (Taylor Handley), FBI agent Russell Hardy (Morse) arrives in Kingstown searching for the ‘fugitive’ Callahan. A true lawman, Agent Hardy threatens to unearth all of Mike’s sins and secrets and disrupt Kingstown’s tenuous balance of power.”
Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon co-created the series and serve as executive producers along with Jeremy Renner, Antoine Fuqua, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Michael Friedman, Wendy Riss, Evan Perazzo, Michael Slovis, Regina Corrado, and Keith Cox. Dave Erickson serves as the showrunner and executive producer.
Paramount Television Studios, 101 Studios, and Bosque Ranch Productions produce the drama.
AMC’s set a June 7, 2026 premiere date for The Vampire Lestat and released the second song, “All Fall Down,” from the upcoming season. Series composer Daniel Hart composed the new song, which Sam Reid performs as part of the opening title sequence.
Commenting on the new song, the Vampire Lestat stated, “‘All Fall Down’ is mercifully only 68 seconds long. That’s 54 seconds more Daniel Hart than anyone should suffer. I like the harmonies on the chorus. I did those.”
The series also welcomes back Jacob Anderson as Louis de Pointe du Lac, Assad Zaman as Armand, Eric Bogosian as Daniel, and Delainey Hayles as Claudia. Jennifer Ehle joins the cast as Gabriella, Lestat’s mother.
“In the upcoming rock and roll-centric season, the Vampire Lestat goes on an electric multi-city tour while being haunted by ‘muses’ from his wild and rebellious past,” reads AMC’s synopsis. “As his band’s popularity and star power rises, so does Lestat’s influence over vampires and humans alike, leaving others to contend with Lestat’s power in the face of the Great Conversion, an unnatural surge in the vampire population.”
Rolin Jones created the series, based on Anne Rice’s bestselling books, and serves as writer and showrunner. Executive producers include Jones, Mark Johnson, Hannah Moscovitch, Christopher Rice, and the late Anne Rice.
“’All Fall Down’ is both the title track for the new season and the idea for a song by the Vampire Lestat from early in the band’s life. Much like ‘Long face,’ it feels heavily influenced by Bowie, T. Rex, and other 70s rock’n’roll stars who were looking back to the blues as much as they were looking up to the stars for inspiration. ‘All Fall Down’ marks a time in this vampire band’s life when they were still figuring out exactly what their sound was, and before Lestat himself started to change personas and explore other musical styles,” explains Daniel Hart.
Hart continues, “At the same time, with ‘All Fall Down,’ we tried to capture the overall feeling of this new Lestat we get to know better and better throughout the season: more wild, more raw, more self-deprecatingly funny than ever before.”
Charles Vandervaart in ‘Outlander’ season 8 episode 2 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Starz’s Outlander season eight, episode two begins in London in 1775. William’s thrilled that his cousin Benjamin Grey (Alex Bhat) is being sent to Boston under General Howe. Ben always made William feel as though he was a part of the family. William (Charles Vandervaart) hands him the toy soldier Ben gave him as a child, and Ben promises to always keep it with him for good luck.
(The following is a recap of season eight, episode two – “Prophecies” – and there are spoilers.)
The setting shifts to Philadelphia as Mercy Woodcock (Gloria Obianyo) and Henry Grey (Harry Jarvis) exchange vows. The reverend notes that the laws that try and block their marriage are unjust. God’s law matters more. Mercy is grateful for their friends, including Denzell Hunter and William, who support this marriage and hopes a bill will soon pass that will make interracial marriages legal. William toasts the couple and announces that he’s incredibly proud of his cousin, Henry.
Henry pulls William aside, aware that something’s wrong. William’s forced to break the news that Henry’s brother, Ben, has died. William didn’t want to tell Henry this on his wedding day but couldn’t delay passing along the message. Ben had a wife and son, and William swears he’s going to find out more about what happened to him and how he died.
William rides to the camp of the Americans who captured Ben to uncover more details on his death. He’s told that many prisoners died due to an outbreak of jail fever. That explanation doesn’t satisfy William, and he asks if any of Ben’s possessions remain and if he can visit his grave.
William sits next to the makeshift grave, marked with a simple piece of wood. He fills Ben in on everything he’s missed and confesses he always thought of him as his brother. He will make sure Ben’s son knows all about his father.
William speaks with a soldier who actually knew Ben and was sorry to hear he died. The soldier reveals Ben’s condition had improved and he was surprised to learn he’d died during the night. By the time the soldier heard about his passing, Ben had already been buried.
William looks through Ben’s belongings and doesn’t find the toy soldier Ben swore he’d always keep in his pocket.
Night falls and William begins digging up Ben’s grave. He discovers the man buried there is definitely not Ben!
Richard Rankin, Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe in ‘Outlander’ season 8 episode 2 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Death Comes to the Ridge and Jamie’s Invited to Join a Militia
North Carolina 1779 – Claire (Caitriona Balfe) gives Fanny (Florrie May Wilkinson) a little anatomy lesson, and Fanny confesses her sister Jane would have loved this place. Fanny hints that there was something different about Jane and that Mrs. Abbott, the madame, thought she was strange. She even accused Jane of practicing the dark arts.
Claire gently lets Fanny know she can tell anyone in the family anything, anytime, but to be careful with the rest of the residents of Fraser’s Ridge. Claire wants to protect Fanny’s innocence from men who learn she was raised in a whorehouse.
As Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Roger (Richard Rankin) cut wood, Roger fills Jamie in on Dougal’s son, Buck, and that they invited him to come with them here, but he refused. Roger acknowledges Buck’s a good man and he’s family—he loves him for that if nothing else.
Jamie asks if Roger’s ever heard of John Sevier, Benjamin Cleveland, or Isaac Shelby. They are Overmountain Men who Frank mentions will be instrumental in leading the patriots to a winning battle against the British here on the mountain. Roger hasn’t heard of them, but admits he’s not an expert on the Revolutionary War in North Carolina. Frank’s book said Jamie will fight alongside them, but he doesn’t know any of these men.
Roger reminds him it might be about a different Jamie Fraser and volunteers to read Frank’s book. Captain Cunningham (Kieran Bow) joins them and Jamie confirms Cunningham’s a fellow Freemason. Jamie wants to begin building a lodge here on Fraser’s Ridge to host meetings. He invites Cunningham and he agrees to pitch in and help out.
Bree (Sophie Skelton), Rachel (Izzy Meikle-Small), Lizzie (Caitlin O’Ryan), and Amy (Joanne Thomson) pick berries and discuss marriage and pregnancies. Rachel jokes that her baby is running out of space in her womb, and Lizzie reveals that she gave birth on a table in the house after mistakenly believing she only had to use the toilet. Bree warns Rachel that most births aren’t that easy.
Suddenly, a bear runs toward the women and attacks Amy. Bree acts quickly and fires a shot, but not before Amy is injured. Jamie hears the gunshot, grabs Amy, and races home to Claire.
Amy’s losing a lot of blood and Claire tries to help with the pain. The bear mauled Amy’s face and neck and Claire assures her that Evan’s on his way while signaling to Jamie that she isn’t going to survive.
Roger arrives with Amy’s husband, and Evan (Gary Lamont) comforts his two young children. Claire delivers the devastating news to Roger, and Evan takes the children in to see their mom.
Sophie Skelton in ‘Outlander’ season 8 episode 2 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Bree shakes uncontrollably and looks at her blood-stained hands.
Claire covers the half of Amy’s face that was ripped apart, and Amy’s son pleads with her to hang on. Amy’s able to hold her son’s hand as Claire apologizes to Evan for not being able to save his wife. Evan comforts Amy, promising to take care of the boys. Amy’s family tells her how much they love her, and Evan asks Roger to say a prayer for her. Roger obliges.
Ian (John Bell) races to Jamie’s house to check on Rachel and panics when he sees blood on her apron. She quickly assures him both she and their baby are fine. Rachel’s in shock knowing it could have been any of them.
Claire’s tending to Amy’s body when Bree joins her, admitting she wishes she’d acted quicker. She’s going to join the hunt for the bear because she has to do something.
Mrs. Cunningham barges in to help and has already retrieved Amy’s funeral shroud. Claire’s stunned that Amy had one and admits she doesn’t…but maybe she should.
Jamie hands Amy’s son a rifle and assures him that the kill will be his and Evan’s. The boy admits he’s never hunted a bear, and Jamie explains he should aim right behind a bear’s shoulder to take it down. After that, he can finish it off with a bullet to the heart.
As the small hunting party heads out, Claire and Mrs. Cunningham discuss Amy’s face and how to make it presentable enough for her family to say goodbye during her wake. The shared duty of taking care of Amy’s body breaks the ice between Claire and Mrs. Cunningham, and Mrs. Cunningham allows Claire to call her Elspeth.
The hunting party stops when they hear gunshots. It seems Captain Cunningham got to the bear first and has already killed it. Cunningham describes the bear as a formidable foe and Jamie thanks him for taking care of it.
In the days that follow, Ian watches as Rachel helps Bree and Claire make cabbage stew and sauerkraut. Ian’s not enjoying the smell, but Claire explains it’s very healthy and helps with heartburn. Suddenly, Rachel begins experiencing labor pains. Ian’s incredibly nervous as he grabs a pelt and asks Claire to wrap his baby in it. Claire says he can do it himself.
A short while later, Claire hands Ian his newborn son and Ian declares that he’s the most perfect baby. Ian sits with Rachel and smiles as they hold their child. Fanny looks surprised and tells Claire she’s never seen anyone happy to have given birth. That never happened in the brothel.
John Bell and Izzy Meikle-Small in ‘Outlander’ season 8 episode 2 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Bree asks about the baby’s name and Ian and Rachel toss out possible choices including Fox and Marmaduke. Ian suggests Wolf and Rachel jokes that Ian will next suggest Rollo. Ian admits that’s not a bad idea. “He was a good dog,” says Ian, beaming.
Later that evening, Jamie and Ian spend time on the porch, drinking and talking about Ian’s new addition to his family. His name’s Oggy…for now. Ian wishes his dad could have met Oggy and hopes his mom will meet him one day. Jamie thinks Jenny would be over the moon.
Ian views Jamie as a second father and asks his advice on raising a child. Jamie can’t offer much because he never got to experience what Ian’s about to experience. Still, Jamie says what Ian needs to hear. “You will be everything that the bairn needs,” says Jamie, lifting his glass in a toast.
Claire’s harvesting mushrooms when a stranger rides up, rude and unwilling to give his name. He rides on to the woodshed and introduces himself to Jamie as Benjamin Cleveland (Turlough Convery). Benjamin calls Jamie “General Fraser” and knows Jamie resigned his commission to tend to his wife. When Jamie confirms he’s not rejoining the army, Benjamin invites him to join his militia. Jamie asks who the other men in the militia are and Benjamin lists John Sevier, Isaac Shelby, William Campbell, and others. The militia was established to protect the land from Tories and Indians.
Benjamin admits he killed the men Jamie saw hanging from a tree because they were Tories. He hates Tories and asks about Cunningham (a Tory) and why Jamie allows him on his land. If Jamie joins him, he can help with Cunningham. The militia has 100 men now and is continuing to grow.
Jamie doesn’t accept his offer, and Benjamin insists it’s just a friendly invitation. Roger walks up as Benjamin leaves, and they both realize Jamie is definitely the Jamie Fraser Frank mentions in his book.
Jamie tells Claire and Roger that Benjamin thinks he should kill Cunningham. Jamie hasn’t found Cunningham mentioned in Frank’s book, and Roger asks if he’s mentioned in the battle. Jamie shares that he isn’t. Jamie wonders why none of his men are mentioned fighting in the battle, and Claire thinks that’s because Jamie doesn’t really join the militia.
After Roger leaves, Jamie confirms he hasn’t told him that Frank’s book says he dies in the fight. Claire insists he won’t. She’s still not sure why, after 20 years of marriage, Frank never mentioned this battle. Claire explains that Frank made her promise not to look for Jamie; that’s the only way he’d take her back. Yet Frank apparently was looking for Jamie and kept what he learned from her. Why would he do that?
Jamie believes Frank was actually searching for her in history, not him.
The Freemason lodge finally opens, and the men gather for their first official meeting. Jamie guides the meeting, hoping to strengthen the community. Cunningham’s the first to speak, telling Evan he has the group’s sympathies and support. He recalls the loved ones he’s lost, including his 18-year-old son, Simon, who was shot and killed next to him in the Battle at Saratoga. Cunningham recalls sitting next to his son’s body in the hospital tent and seeing the light reenter his face. Simon opened his eyes and said, “Don’t worry, father. I’ll see you again in seven years.” He closed his eyes and died.
Cunningham believes the Lord showed him the soul doesn’t die when the body does. Since he knows when he’ll see his son again, he wants to fill his days helping others. He tells those gathered to cherish their families while they have them.
Roger and Jamie discuss Cunningham’s speech, and Jamie’s worried. “A man being called by God is one thing. A man who thinks he cannot die is quite another,” Jamie warns.
That evening Outlander welcomes back Tobias Menzies – or at least his voice – as Jamie continues reading Frank’s book. Frank’s voice fills Jamie’s head, noting that Cunningham has five more years to live. Also, Cunningham’s not the only one who knows the date of his death.
Jamie wakes Claire, telling her he needs her. They make love, with Frank’s words still ringing in Jamie’s ears.
Episode two ends with Frank’s voice telling Jamie, “You’re going to die. Who will hold her once you’re gone?” A passage from Frank’s book is shown and it reads:
“The Rebels suffered minimal losses—only twenty-eight fell—though, they too, lost one of their senior officers, with James Fraser among the fallen.”
Wyatt Russell in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ season 2 episode 3 (Photo Credit: Apple TV)
Apple TV’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season two, episode three, picks up the action with Keiko (Mari Yamamoto) and Lee (Wyatt Russell) attempting to make it to a boat to escape the island when they’re struck by Titan X’s tentacles. Fortunately, they’re not injured. Keiko pauses on the dock, watching the last of the Scarabs scuttle to the massive Titan. A quick underwater shot shows the Titan welcoming the Scarabs.
Its head rises above the waterline, and as the creature turns away, Keiko snaps photos. She’s sad that Billy missed this.
(The following is a recap of season two, episode three and there are spoilers.)
The locals demand that Keiko turn over the camera. The villagers argue over whether to let Keiko and Lee leave, concerned others will come to the island once they reveal what they witnessed. Lucia (Camila Ponte Alvarez) tries to protect Lee and Keiko, insisting no one will believe them if they don’t have photos to prove it.
The situation escalates, and Lee and Keiko only manage to escape after Lee holds one of the villagers at knifepoint. They make a run for it, and Lee removes the film from the camera but leaves the camera behind for the villagers to find. They find a spot to hide and remain silent until everyone walks away. Unfortunately, Lucia hears them but doesn’t give away their hiding spot.
Lee and Keiko find an empty house, which gives Lee a chance to care for Keiko’s injured arm. Keiko wants to talk about what happened when they just danced and reminds Lee that they’re past “that.” Lee claims whatever she thought she felt wasn’t real; it was the wine.
Keiko gets some rest and when she wakes, she insists on looking at Lee’s wound. She starts to tend to it, but he pushes her away, angry that she won’t take no for an answer. She reminds him he always takes care of everyone but himself. They argue over her always stepping into dangerous situations that almost get them killed. She insists he can leave if he can’t handle it, and Lee confesses he can’t leave her.
Keiko grabs his face, and a fiery kiss evolves into passionate sex.
The following morning Keiko wonders what happens next for them. However, they don’t have time to discuss it because they hear Bill (Anders Holm) yelling for Keiko from a nearby boat. Bill’s looking everywhere and hugs his wife. He apologizes for leaving and insists from now on they’ll stick together. Keiko seems off, and he wonders what’s wrong. She claims everything’s fine.
Kurt Russell and Mari Yamamoto in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ season 2 episode 3 (Photo Credit: Apple TV)
Monarch Hands Over Control to Apex
Monarch Outpost 18 docks at Tokyo’s port, and May (Kiersey Clemons) confronts Cate (Anna Sawai) about trying to leave without saying goodbye. Cate doesn’t think she belongs there and is worried about what happens when people find out she’s responsible for releasing Titan X.
Lee (Kurt Russell) is anxious to go after Titan X, but the ship’s going to be stuck at the dock until the engines can be repaired. Monarch’s board doesn’t want news to get out about Titan X to avoid panic, but how do you hide a Titan? Keiko and Hiroshi (Takehiro Hira) believe they can lead Titan X away from the population. Hiroshi thinks they can mimic the Scarab’s cry and Titan X will follow the sound.
Kentaro (Ren Watabe) points out that Hiroshi’s Suzuki device was destroyed by Kong. Hiroshi confesses he has a backup, and Tim (Joe Tippett) is all-in on the plan. Their meeting’s interrupted by the intrusion of Jason Trissop and his men from Apex Cybernetics into the control center. Jason’s the head of special projects at Apex, and Tim can’t believe Monarch put Apex in control of Outpost 18. Jason explains they now have operational control because Tim’s people lost Titan X.
Director Barris confirms Apex is in charge and that it’s mostly due to Leland Shaw being involved in Tim’s decisions. Barris points out Lee’s a criminal, but Tim is adamant that Lee and Dr. Randa have the most experience and need input into the operation.
The discussion becomes heated but finally settles down when Barris confesses Apex has technology Monarch doesn’t possess to find the missing Titan. Barris orders Tim to turn over Lee and Keiko immediately.
Tim leads Keiko, Hiroshi, Lee, and Kentaro to a boat while explaining Apex’s role and that they’re only interested in what can make them money. Tim wishes them luck and hopes Hiroshi’s Scarab sound plan works.
Shibuya, Tokyo: As they make their way through the streets, giant billboards show Wanted posters featuring Lee and Keiko.
Hiroshi shows the group his prototype, which is based on Dr. Suzuki’s original design. He believes they can lead Titan X to the middle of the ocean and let Monarch handle it from there. However, he and Kentaro need to buy components. Lee and Keiko volunteer to retrieve diagrams from Hiroshi’s office.
While they’re searching his office, Keiko finds photos that show her son with two different families. Lee refuses to explain why, saying it’s Hiroshi’s story to tell, not his.
Takehiro Hira and Ren Watabe in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ season 2 episode 3 (Photo Credit: Apple TV)
Lee and Keiko find what they need and run into Kentaro and Hiroshi to hand it off. Lee wants to give Keiko and Hiroshi time alone and suggests that he and Kentaro pair up to scout the area. Keiko asks Hiroshi about his two families, begging to get to know all about his life. Hiroshi reveals he was with two women and loved them both.
“I gave in to what my heart wanted. I don’t expect you to understand,” says Hiroshi.
Meanwhile, Tim joins May at an outdoor diner, still convinced handing over a Monarch asset to Apex is a horrible idea. He’s certain Apex has ulterior motives that haven’t been exposed yet. Tim wants May to accept a job with Brenda Holland at Apex and spy on what they’re up to. He’s worried whatever Apex is doing will lead to another G-Day.
May agrees to be a mole inside Apex and meets with Brenda, promising she’s ready to get serious and use her skills to stop Titan X.
San Francisco: Cate returns home and her mom, Caroline, pulls her in for a huge hug. Caroline’s boyfriend, James, asks if she can reveal anything about what she’s been up to, and Cate confirms it feels like she was in Axis Mundi for just a few days. Caroline thinks it would do Cate good to see her old teacher friends and put what happened in the past.
Cate almost does what her mom suggests, but at the last minute she doesn’t join her old co-workers at a restaurant. Instead, she reunites with her ex at a nightclub, and sparks fly. Dozens of shots and a lot of sensual dancing follow.
Now back at Apex, May looks through the company’s files for anything on “Randa, Tokyo” and comes up with 534 results. She scans through and learns Apex has been spying on them since the beginning and is still actively doing so. May opens a live feed and sees Apex has sent agents to steal Hiroshi’s prototype. By the time Hiroshi and the group return to his workshop, it’s gone. Hiroshi thinks Apex might have taken it because they want the world to know about Titan X.
Anna Sawai in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ season 2 episode 3 (Photo Credit: Apple TV)
Cate and her ex’s reunion in the club is interrupted when Monarch issues a safety alert. Breaking news shows Titan X, and Monarch has put the world on Titan watch. Cate tries to blow it off, insisting it’s not important. Her ex wants to leave, but Cate says this is all her fault and refuses to go with her.
The news of a Titan spotted in the Pacific is enough to clear out the club.
Cate returns to the base of the Golden Gate Bridge and enters a fenced-off restricted area. Memories of Godzilla’s attack flood back as she looks up at the destroyed bridge. She’s angry at herself for opening the rift and letting loose another Titan and sobs as the full effect of her actions hits her.
Love Triangle Changes Hiroshi’s Life
Washington DC, 1957: Lee’s home, glancing through papers when an envelope from Keiko is slipped through his mail slot. In the letter, Keiko confesses she loves him, but that Billy has her heart. She and Lee can never be together again because she won’t allow them to destroy a good man.
“In another lifetime, in another world, this could have been about us. Maybe in the next lifetime we will find each other again,” writes Keiko.
Back to the events in Tokyo, Keiko insists they can figure out another way to get Titan X away from the world. Hiroshi doesn’t agree; it’ll take too long to make another machine. He’s worried about the panic Titan X will cause, and Keiko thinks they should return to Monarch. Hiroshi finally tells his mom about this life, claiming all she thinks about is Monarch. He also admits the last time he saw Bill Randa was when he was 11 years old. Before Bill disappeared, he sent Hiroshi to live with Keiko’s mom.
Keiko doesn’t believe Bill would have ever abandoned their son.
A flashback to 1962 shows Hiroshi looking through Lee’s possessions that have been stored with Bill. Hiroshi and Bill both miss Lee and Keiko, and Bill volunteers to put Lee’s stuff back while Hiroshi grabs a glass of milk. While he’s putting things away, Bill finds the letter that Keiko wrote to Lee in 1957.
CBS’s Yellowstone spinoff Marshals scored the network’s biggest premiere launch since 2017, so the news that the series has officially earned an early season two renewal comes as no surprise. Marshals debuted on March 1, 2026, and pulled in 20.6 million viewers over its first week in release. New season one episodes air on Sundays at 8pm ET/PT.
“Marshals delivered a breakout performance, capturing a massive audience across platforms and quickly establishing itself as one of TV’s most powerful new series,” stated Amy Reisenbach, president, CBS Entertainment. “The overwhelming viewer response speaks to the strength of the Yellowstone world, the bold character-driven storytelling from the creative team and the dynamic cast performances led by Luke Grimes.”
In addition to Grimes, the spinoff stars Logan Marshall-Green as Pete Calvin, Arielle Kebbel as Belle Skinner, Ash Santos as Andrea Cruz, and Tatanka Means as Miles Kittle. Brecken Merrill returns as Tate Dutton, Gil Birmingham reprises his role as Thomas Rainwater, and Mo Brings Plenty returns as Mo.
CBS offers this synopsis of the series: “Marshals stars Luke Grimes reprising his role as Kayce Dutton. With the Yellowstone Ranch behind him, Dutton joins an elite unit of U.S. Marshals, combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana. Kayce and his teammates – Pete Calvin, Belle Skinner, Andrea Cruz, and Miles Kittle – must balance the high psychological cost of serving as the last line of defense in the region’s war on violence with their duty to their families, which for Kayce includes his son Tate and his confidantes, Mo and Thomas Rainwater, from the Broken Rock reservation.”
The series is produced by Paramount Television Studios and 101 Studios. Executive producers include Taylor Sheridan, Luke Grimes, David Glasser, John Linson, Art Linson, Spencer Hudnut, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Michael Freidman, and Greg Yaitanes.
Love, loss, regret, and second chances make up the core of Reminders of Him, a 2026 romantic drama based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel.
The film opens by introducing Kenna Rowan (Longlegs’ Maika Monroe) returning to her hometown, Laramie, after serving five years of a seven-year sentence for vehicle manslaughter. She pleaded guilty to killing her boyfriend, Scotty (Rudy Pankow from Outer Banks), in an accident where she was driving under the influence.
Kenna has three main goals. First, she needs to find a place to live, which she does. Two, Kenna needs a job, and three, she wants to see her five-year-old daughter, Diem (Zoe Kosovic), whom she hasn’t seen since giving birth to her in prison. Scotty’s parents, Grace (Lauren Graham) and Patrick (Bradley Whitford), are raising her daughter, making the third goal the most challenging. Scotty’s parents still blame Kenna for their son’s death and, understandably, want nothing to do with her.
After a long and unsuccessful day of job searching, Kenna visits the old bookstore Scotty used to love only to discover it’s been turned into a bar. She meets the bartender and owner, and they are immediately attracted to each other. (Ledger seems to be drawn to her sadness.) When Kenna hears a co-worker call Ledger (Tyriq Withers, Him) by his name, she realizes he was Scotty’s best friend, whom she never met because he was away playing ball in the NFL. Kenna makes an abrupt exit, a little freaked out by the experience.
To make things even more complicated, Ledger lives across from Scotty’s parents and has become a surrogate father figure to Diem.
Kenna finally gathers the courage to visit Diem after securing a job at the local supermarket. She attempts to surprise Scotty’s parents with a visit, but Ledger sees her as she is about to knock on the door and quickly realizes who she is. Determined to protect Diem, Grace, and Patrick, Ledger forces Kenna into his truck and drives her away.
And that action begins the struggle between Ledger and Kenna to deal with their strong attraction while being on opposite sides about Kenna inserting herself into Diem’s life. Ledger finds himself torn between wanting to help Kenna and remaining loyal to Scotty’s parents.
Contrived and predictable, Reminders of Him is a shallow and sappy romantic drama that would make a better fit on the Hallmark Channel than on the big screen. It’s a dull and lifeless love story.
As Kenna, Maika Monroe delivers a soulless and awkward performance that almost gives the impression that she’s unsure of how to play the character. At times, Monroe seems excessively cold and robotic, while in other scenes, she plays the character as if she were a bratty teenager.
Tyriq Withers is miscast as Ledger, with every scene feeling forced and unnatural. Even the scenes with him doting over Diem ring false. Worse, Monroe and Withers have no chemistry together, so Kenna and Ledger’s relationship falls flat.
Lauren Graham and Bradley Whitford deliver the only worthwhile performances in the film as Grace and Patrick. Their subtle and controlled outrage and disgust when they learn that Kenna is back in town seem genuine and sincere. Unfortunately, their performances are not enough to make the film worth watching.
Directed by Vanessa Caswill, Reminders of Him stumbles in its attempt at romance and leaves little reason for audiences to care about the characters at the heart of the story.
GRADE: D
Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, drug content, brief partial nudity, some violent content, and strong language
Release Date: March 13, 2026
Runtime: 1 hour 54 minutes
Studio: Universal Pictures
