The Breakup (2006)

For when you’re still in the breakup phase.

Breakups are excruciating. The longer you’re together, the longer the breakup lasts. Anyone who’s taken a year to finally end it understands. In this classic, Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn call it quits slowly and with lots of fights. If you need that last little kick to finally say “enough,” this ought to do it. Watch The Break-Up on Prime Video.

How to be Single (2016)

For when you need a little help from your friends.

Sometimes it takes our friends to finally say “enough is enough” and pull us out of our tear-stained stupors. For Dakota Johnson’s character, it feels far too soon to be spending a night out in New York City, but it’s just what she needed. They teach her how to be single (and you, too). Let your annoying friends win and you’ll be one giant step closer to being over this breakup. Watch How to Be Single on Hulu.

The Wedding Singer (1998)

For when you hope for better things in your future.

No wallowing for you. You want to believe that you could find someone so much better in the near future. That’s what happens after Adam Sandler’s character gets unceremoniously dumped by his vapid girlfriend on the day of their would-be wedding. He meets sweet Drew Barrymore, and all bets are off. Watch The Wedding Singer on Max.

My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)

For when you can’t handle a happy ending.

If you can’t have a happy ending, then why should anyone else, right? When Julia Roberts finds out that her old best friend is getting married, she gets a spike of jealousy and decides to attend the wedding with the sole purpose of breaking them up. This is the rare occasion when Miss Roberts plays the bad guy. Watch My Best Friend’s Wedding on Starz.

Second Act (2018)

For when you need a big change.

Breakups often come with the worry that you’ll never find anyone again–that you’ll be stuck in this bad place forever. If you have doom and gloom for your future, watch Jennifer Lopez start fresh by leaving her grocery store job and becoming a success in the business world. It’s never too late to have the life you’ve always wanted. Watch Second Act on Hulu.

Someone Great (2019)

For when you and your ex will always love each other.

Some breakups are heartbreaking not because you feel betrayed, but because the person really was the love of your life. Even though Gina Rodriguez and her boyfriend still love and respect each other, their relationship can’t go on. As her friends help her deal with the fallout, consider them your friends, too. Watch Someone Great on Netflix. 

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

For when you just want to forget.

It can hurt so much to look back on the relationship after it’s over. It manifests as this deep, physical pain. Wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t have to feel it at all? What if you could actually wipe all memories of them from your mind? That’s what this classic answers when Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet break up. Watch Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind on Starz.

The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

For when all you can think about is revenge.

There’s nothing quite as powerful as a woman scorned. Unless it’s three women. Who are witches. In this dark and spooky classic, Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer all fall for the same guy–a Satanic Jack Nicholson. But when he betrays all of them, they’re left with some serious skills for vengeance. Watch The Witches of Eastwick on Max.

While the movie begins with a lighthearted tone and energetic zest, everything changes when Corrine is diagnosed with Cancer, and Jane becomes her loving caretaker. In a movie that pays homage to Beaches with a contemporary spin — even featuring the Divine Miss M in a supporting role — it goes without saying that the waterworks come flooding down every now and again. So, here are the most heartbreaking moments from the Prime Video original movie. 

Spoiler Warning for ‘Sitting in Bars with Cake.’

“I should be learning some major life lesson right now, but I’m just annoyed.” 

In a moment of unbridled vulnerability between Jane and Corrine, the two share secrets, both admitting they sometimes wish they were more like the other. Corrine: brave and undaunted. Bold and colorful. Jane: thoughtful and introspective. Caretaking and selfless. Corrine says, “I should be learning some major life lesson right now, but I’m just annoyed” in a moment of full disclosure that is so brutally honest and self-aware. 

This idea of “learning from everything” relies on some sort of fatalistic universal education and, guess what, sometimes (if not most of the time) it feels like a big old crock. Corrine is young, and she wants to live. She’s rejecting the “Hollywoodification” of pain — the idea that with each struggle comes some sort of step toward self-realization. The comment stings, for it’s so relatable in its rejection of all the BS people tell you when you’re going through hell. Sometimes, you’re just going through it, and all you’re doing is waiting for it to be over. 

“I forgot your birthday.” 

Corrine is in the hospital, and she is suffering from a bit of memory loss and confusion. She’s unsure of the month, unsure of the day. When Jane gives her this information, she says, “I forgot your birthday.” Here Corrine is, lying in a hospital bed with brain cancer, and she’s concerned that she missed her bestie’s birthday. To Corrine, what many would deem inconsequential at this time is no less significant. Just because she’s sick — and slowly losing her grip on the world of the living — doesn’t mean she has ceased to care about those whose lives will go on in her absence. 

“I just needed something to be mad at. I’m not mad at you.” 

Jane overhears Corrine’s parents, Fred (Ron Livingston) and Ruth (Martha Kelly), discussing Jane’s terminal diagnosis in the other room. Fred notes that they should’ve taken Corrine home with her. If they did, maybe she would have gotten better. Ruth points out the faults in this argument, but Fred is understandably pulling at straws — coursing through the history in his mind, looking for a single misstep to find something to blame: something to focus his anger and sadness on.

 When Jane approaches Fred later in an apologetic fashion, he tells her this. Jane did all in her power — all anyone, even her parents, could have done. Her sickness is no one’s fault. Fred knows that. He simply needed somewhere to direct his rage. Direct this aching dejection and misery. This line is, once again, tragic in its sheer honesty. Saying it out loud is ownership of the behavior. He relinquishes the need to point blame and, instead, allows himself to just be pissed the hell off at the damn universe for putting his glorious child on her deathbed. 

“I never thought I’d have so much fun.” 

Ruth and Jane sit down and begin a little walk down memory lane. They relive the time Ruth promised Corrine that if she waited until she was 20 to get a tattoo of a record player, she would buy her a car. Yet, in Ruth fashion, she caved and let Corrine get it earlier. Ruth admits that she actually really likes the ink, too. Ruth then articulates this beautiful realization regarding her daughter. 

Corrine is such a bright light. She brings joy and a contagious, neverending pool of energy wherever she goes. But, it is when Jane replies, “Me neither,” that we lose it. Corrine isn’t this fun-loving, mood-boosting person just for Jane; she’s this person for all who are lucky enough to cross her path. This conversation spotlights the kind of person Corrine is and the kind of person all who know her will have to learn to live without. 

“Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” 

Corrine’s Wham! jam. She gets up on that bar and dances with vivacity as she belts out the sing-a-long tune with a big smile and a zest for life. That’s how she sings this in one of the film’s opening scenes at the bar. Yet, toward the end, she selects this song once more. She’s sitting, and — with a breathy delivery and barely enough power in her voice to do more than whisper — she sings. Jane joins her to help out her bestie — even though she previously noted she would not make her karaoke debut tonight. Bestie love is stronger than the fear of a little public humiliation. 

The pain here lies in the juxtaposition between this scene and the opening montage. We see how fast Corrine has declined. How fast she has gone from a vibrant young woman with a whole life ahead of her to an exhausted cancer patient with most of her life behind her. However, she’s still smiling. She’s still singing. She refuses to let what’s to come control her in the now. She’s not dead yet, so hand her that mic and wake her up before you go-go, because she’s still here to “hit that high.”

Jane and Corrine sit on the beach 

If you haven’t seen Beaches, this scene may not hit as hard. However, if you’ve witnessed the classic film starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey in a very similar presence, this moment is bound to pull at the strings. Bette’s C.C. Bloom and Hershey’s Hillary Whitney sit on the beach and watch the waves go by before Hillary meets her death. Just seeing the sand and the beach patrons brings back this moment in an abundantly clear allusion to the ‘80s film. Jane doesn’t die at this moment, but it indicates that she only has so much time left. 

“I thought of another secret…” 

Toward the end of the movie, Jane tells Corrine, “I thought of another secret. I never wanted to move to LA. All I knew is that I’d follow you wherever you went.” She notes that she’d have gone to the darkest, grimiest place if Corrine would be there, for she has a way of bringing light everywhere she goes. Corrine cuts the tension a bit by replying “duh,” but it makes the moment no less tender.

Jane went to LA for Corrine, because Corrine is such a positive influence on her life. Deep down, she knew that, if she stayed close to Corrine, she would follow her heart, and not the “acceptable expectations” her parents have for her. It’s a remarkable commentary on their friendship and the type of bond they possess. They both have changed each other for good..and for the better.

The crux of the plot happens in a dream. You get to choose between three beaus: Paul the current attorney boyfriend, Jack the Earth-conscious high school sweetheart, and Rex the rock star who could further her career. You have some choices to make, but some are much better than others. (And yes, there is a right answer.) Today I’m ranking the main choices from worst to best. Which one did you choose?

4. Rex, the rock star

Okay, we get the initial appeal of this British babe. The tattoos, the hair, the charisma, the accent–he’s got it all. Plus, if Cami chooses Rex, she also has the benefit of furthering her career. But is that enough? As she chooses the Brit, his sex appeal quickly steps over the line into cringe territory. (Stop caressing your chest! OMG!) Plus, she barely knows him. This is the guy you have a fling with before you settle down, not the one you turn your life upside down to end up with. This isn’t a long-term guy, and I think he’d be the first to admit it.

3. Jack, the high school sweetheart

My first instinct was to put Jack above Paul. If she’s this confused about who she should be with, she clearly doesn’t like Paul as much as he deserves, but is Jack, her ex from high school, that much better of a choice? Sure, the man is gorgeous. Like, wow. But so much has changed in the ten years since they’ve been apart. People change. She’s risking a lot on something that isn’t as much of a sure thing as it seems. Plus, Cami pretends to care about the things he loves just to fit in with him. If you choose him, you end up at a protest that she only feels lukewarm about. Never choose a man that you have to change for.

2. Paul, the current boyfriend

I feel so bad for Paul. How could you not? He’s ready to propose to his girlfriend of three years and suddenly she’s like, “Nope, there are two other guys I’m thinking about.” Sure, his job is questionable and his sex appeal isn’t as universal as the other two, but he also understands Cami. He likes her just as she is. He’s thoughtful and attentive and really believes that they have what it takes to last the long haul. Of the three guys, he seems like the best choice.

1. Cami chooses herself

There’s one choice that you might not realize you can even make, and that’s having Cami choose herself. For instance, if you go the Jack route, you’ll inevitably get to decide between him or her. Here’s why choosing Cami is the right choice: None of the other choices are good. Rex is a complete unknown, Jack is an idealized form of her past, and if she still can’t be sure about Paul after three years of dating, he deserves to be let go. Clearly Cami needs some time to herself to figure out what she wants. And judging by the casino scene if you choose her, it seems like the secret “Perfect” ending. May we all choose ourselves like Cami should.

Check out Choose Love on Netflix.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lauren | IBD Advocate and Previous Stoma Owner 💜 (@lauren_talking_shite)

Crohn’s disease has affected my identity in many ways. I think this shows in the way that I introduced myself up top– “My name is Lauren and I have Crohn’s Disease”, rather than “my name is Lauren and I am doing my Doctorate training to be a Clinical Psychologist, I love my dog, I’m getting married” etc. It takes up so much space in who I am and how I identify myself because it creeps into every aspect of my existence. 

I’m resentful that the amount of time I have spent in hospitals has potentially pushed me back in my career, impacted my relationships, and made it impossible for me to plan for the future without a hint of concern. I’m the only person in my friend group, that I know of, that has to worry in real time about when their next hospital admission will be, or their next surgery. I worry about feeling poorly on my wedding day or needing to go to hospital when I go on holiday, which when you are just trying to have fun can be really draining and also just a bit of a buzzkill!

The constant worry and the comparison I make between myself and other people without this condition impact my mental health. I have had various diagnoses of mental health conditions throughout my life, even prior to Crohn’s disease, which I think does make me more susceptible to struggling with the condition. As you may be able to tell I’m super career-driven, so when I have to take time off work to manage pain or be in hospital this can make me feel really hopeless for the future. The condition itself can feel really isolating too– no one talks about poop! So finding other people who are struggling with the same thing can sometimes be difficult, especially if you don’t have the right channels for accessing this. I also think that in general there is a lack of understanding from the outside world about the impact of this illness, “it’s just a pooping disease”, but actually this illness can be incredibly severe, change your life, and even put your life at risk sometimes, as it did with me. I don’t think many people realize its severity because it’s not something you can visibly see on the outside. This lack of understanding adds to feelings of isolation and loneliness, speaking from my experience. I think this is where my idea to talk about it so openly came from.

I’m really outgoing and certainly not a shy person, so I created an Instagram account to help spread awareness and put poop on the agenda! Afterward, I really feel like I discovered what the term “post-traumatic growth” really means. Despite looking different from everyone else around me, I felt more confident and proud of myself than I had ever felt before. I studied and learned about Crohn’s disease, about Stomas and I became my own advocate and tried to advocate for others too. I found a passion in sharing my story and spreading awareness which I still feel so strongly about two years later! I also had a new appreciation for my body that transcended what size I am and how I look. Now it is more about the ability of the human body to survive and keep me alive and that it deserves love and acceptance, not diets and punishment.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lauren | IBD Advocate and Previous Stoma Owner 💜 (@lauren_talking_shite)

Since then, I have had so many amazing opportunities that I value so much, and I hope that they make other people feel less alone. I have written articles like this one, done photoshoots, been invited to be on TV, and even spoke in UK parliament about national policy for Crohn’s and Colitis care in the UK. I am honestly writing this part with the biggest smile on my face. 

I will never, ever, be thankful for Crohn’s disease coming into my life and the pain this causes but I am thankful for the person that Crohn’s disease has turned me into. 

I see everyone who lives with Crohn’s or Colitis as a true warrior and often people don’t see their own strength, but it’s there. I want people with Crohn’s and Colitis to know they are not alone and that I stand with you, that it’s okay to talk about poop and you deserve to project your inner strength that it takes to live with this condition out into the world for others to see. You will always have a shared experience with me and the millions of other people around the world who try to navigate life with this condition. I think it’s important to share what this illness takes away from people and the strength it takes to get through that each and every day.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tasha Stewart | Crohns Advocate (@thecrohniemommy)

“I Am Stronger Than I Think”

It’s easy to underestimate your own strength when facing a chronic illness like Crohn’s. But remember that you’ve already overcome countless challenges in your life. Every day, you wake up and continue to fight this battle. You are stronger than you think, and your inner strength will carry you through even the toughest times.

“I Am Not Defined by My Diagnosis”

Crohn’s disease is a part of your life, but it doesn’t define who you are. You are still the same unique, incredible person you were before your diagnosis. Embrace your individuality, your passions, and your dreams. Crohn’s is just one chapter in your story.

“I Embrace the Ups and Downs”

Living with Crohn’s often means dealing with unpredictable flare-ups and setbacks. Instead of dwelling on the lows, try to embrace the journey as a whole. Your highs and lows are all part of your unique experience, and they make you the resilient person you are.

“I Am Not Alone”

Sometimes, Crohn’s disease can make you feel isolated. But remember that there’s a vast community of people who understand what you’re going through. Seek out support groups, both online and in-person, to connect with others who share your struggles. You’ll find comfort in knowing that you’re not alone on this journey.

“I Am Grateful for the Good Days”

Amidst the challenges, there will be days when you feel better and more like yourself. Cherish these moments and use them to recharge and enjoy life to the fullest. Gratitude can be a powerful tool in finding happiness even in the midst of adversity.

“I Deserve Self-Care”

Living with a chronic illness can be exhausting, both physically and mentally. Remember that you deserve self-care and self-compassion. Make time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation, whether it’s reading a book, taking a walk in nature, or indulging in your favorite hobby.

“I Will Advocate for Myself”

You are your own best advocate when it comes to managing your health. Don’t hesitate to speak up, ask questions, and seek second opinions if needed. Your voice matters, and you have the right to be involved in decisions about your treatment and care.

“I Am Resilient”

Living with Crohn’s disease requires resilience beyond measure. You face each day with determination and grace, even when the odds seem stacked against you. Believe in your ability to bounce back from setbacks and continue moving forward.

“I Am Learning and Growing”

Your journey with Crohn’s disease is an opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. You’re constantly learning about your body, your strengths, and your limitations. Embrace this process of growth and use it to become a stronger, wiser person.

“I Am a Survivor”

You’ve already survived every challenge that Crohn’s has thrown your way. You are a survivor, and you have the strength to face whatever lies ahead. Keep moving forward with determination and hope in your heart.

Remember that while these affirmations can provide encouragement and hope, it’s essential to have a support system in place. Reach out to friends, family, and healthcare professionals who can provide the help and guidance you need.

In addition, consider joining online communities and blogs that focus on Crohn’s disease. The unrelenting support online for others in the IBD community is admirable, which is what inspired me to start my blog, “The Crohnie Mommy.” My blog offers insight, tips, and a supportive community to help anyone navigating life with Crohn’s disease.

In conclusion, facing a Crohn’s diagnosis is undeniably challenging, but it’s essential to maintain hope and optimism throughout your journey. You are not alone in this battle, and there is a community of individuals who understand your struggles and are ready to support you. Embrace these affirmations, lean on your support system, and explore valuable resources that help you navigate your path with strength, resilience, and hope.

So, let’s dive into actresses who take on combat-ready courageous characters with cutthroat conviction. The female actors who portray those willing to challenge Zoro in a sword fight. The heroines and antiheroines who will set a corrupt corporation ablaze while walking away with a couple of bruises, a tear in their jeans, and a blood-stained t-shirt. 

Note: The primary list will highlight actresses whose action-hero legacies exist beyond a singular movie or film franchise.

Angelina Jolie 

From the fearless and resourceful Lara Croft — who calculates just as fast as she combats — to the lethal, adaptable, and charismatic Jane Smith, Jolie has portrayed a handful of characters adept in hand-to-hand combat and loaded with an arsenal full of weaponry —crossbows, pistols, shotguns, combat knives, grenades, and more  —that she wields with acumen. She has also played the likes of skilled and enigmatic spy Evelyn Salt, the maternal and protective Mistress of Evil Maleficent, the cool and calm marksman Fox in Wanted, and voiced the fan-favorite Tigris in Kung-Fu Panda. 

Jolie’s heroes often boast an unwavering degree of confidence and an air of nonchalance. They are proud and polished. Relentless and driven. They also tend to be a bit mysterious — as to coincide with her dark features and angular bone structure. At the end of the day, her high-octane characters match her aesthetic intensity. 

Jodie Foster 

Who could forget Jodie Foster in Flightplan? Driven by an unwavering maternal instinct and sharp yet unstable mind, she portrays a grieving widow whose daughter disappears on a plane. With those around her determined to make her think she is losing her mind, she must combat both intellectual manipulation and physical threats. She exquisitely captures the balance between vulnerability and resiliency. Doubt and determination. Fear and ferocity. From using a fire extinguisher as an improvised weapon and contorting her body to climb into tiny spaces to employing a calculative and resourceful approach to investigation, she uncovers the mystery at the center via mental and physical superiority over the antagonists. She played a badass mother a few years prior in Panic Room, combining protective tendencies and intuition with top-notch problem-solving skills. 

Foster notably took home the Oscar for her take on Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs. She deftly conveyed the doubts and insecurities of an FBI trainee with a difficult childhood as well as the grown, strong-footed, and hyper-fixated disposition of a woman undaunted. 

Foster’s badass heroines tend to be a mix of vulnerable and courageous. Broken yet brazen. She’s best when taking on a fighter who is not driven by ego or some clandestine assignment but by personal and emotionally stirring catalysts. She’s unparalleled when the head must overcome the heart to get the job done. 

Milla Jovovich 

If talking about Milla Jovovich’s badassery, we must start with her take on Alice in the Resident Evil franchise. Alice is a former security operative who becomes a relentless warrior fighting against hordes of zombies. She is beyond resilient — jumping back from intense physical altercations with an uncanny and unbridled degree of strength. She will not rest until all the undead are gone. 

She is independent and skilled in hand-to-hand combat, as are many action heroes, but her willingness to operate in the gray moral zone works in her favor, as she defies the traditional hero stereotype akin to a Marvel or DC character. Her motivations also shift throughout the franchise’s many installments. From what starts as a quest for identity and revenge becomes a drive to protect survivors and uncover the truth about a global pandemic. 

Outside Alice, Jovovich has also portrayed the martial artist Leeloo in The Fifth Element, the needs-no-introduction Joan of Arc during the Hundred Years War in The Messenger: The Joan of Arc Story, and the genetically-enhanced warrior Ultraviolet.  Her heroes often boast complex motivations that evolve over time and an assertive attitude that is unwavering in the face of powerful adversaries. 

Uma Thurman 

“It’s mercy, compassion, and forgiveness I lack. Not rationality,” Uma Thurman says as The Bride in Kill Bill: Vol 1. The Bride, or Beatrix Kiddo, is easily Thurman’s best-known ass-kicking character, as she slays her various opponents with a Samurai sword that measures 37⅞”. And just as she self-describes, she is a ruthless assassin lacking a single shred of empathy. Those around her continue to underestimate her, as she takes them down in a ritualistic fashion that is strategic and unclouded by emotional influences. Remorseless and callous. Left for dead on her wedding day by Bill and the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, no word better describes her murderous vendetta than vengeful. She is an adaptable Martial Arts expert boasting lightning-fast reflexes — almost beyond human in nature — and unconventional tactics like the Five-Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique and swordplay with a broken blade. 

Thurman also played the seductive and fiery, manipulative and cunning Poison Ivy in the campy splendor Batman Returns. Here, she is psychologically deceptive, exploiting the male ego to gain an upper hand.

She also voiced Emma Peel in the ‘90s animated series The Avengers, portrayed the complex supporting character The Baroness in Gattaca, and, of course, mesmerized viewers with the captivating and confident Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction. 

Michelle Yeoh 

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Tomorrow Never Dies. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. The Long Kiss Goodnight. Reign of Assassins. Everything Everywhere All at Once. From a warrior with expertise in Wudang-style Martial Arts to a secret agent who partners with James Bond, an immortal sorceress, and an elite assassin, Yeoh has portrayed the gamut of tough, skilled, and strategic heroes and villains. 

Whether fighting for good or evil, Yeoh’s characters always boast combat chops. Her cinematic portfolio is filled to the brim with hand-to-hand combat experts, as well as those beyond proficient with weaponry (or even magical powers). This list would not be complete without the woman who has been kicking ass on the big screen for decades and ultimately took the Oscar for the high-octane-fueled Everything Everywhere All at Once. 

Charlize Theron 

If there’s any actress out there who isn’t afraid to get their hands a little dirty, their hair shrouded in dirt and shrapnel, their knees covered in bruises and scars, their lips inflamed and dripping with blood, it’s Charlize Theron.

From the intense physicality required of her to play Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road and Lorraine Broughton in Atomic Blonde to the acrobatic acumen of Aeon Flux and the leadership qualities of Andy in The Old Guard, Theron’s badasses are often no-nonsense warriors who, though skilled in combat, take a few hits and wind up on their ass every now and again. 

Theron is also adept at playing ass-kickers who can assemble and lead a group of warriors. She has that shoulders-back disposition and impending stature — standing at 5’10” tall — that effortlessly demands respect and obedience. She is a formidable presence in the action space, nimbly balancing emotionally-wrought climaxes with seemingly never-ending fight sequences. 

Halle Berry 

Mess with Ororo Munroe and face the storm…literally. Halle Berry portrayed the X-Men character Storm in four different X-Men installments and always maintained a fiercely protective nature. She is selfless and driven to protect those who cannot defend themselves. Yet, she is also intelligent and forward-thinking enough to know when a fight calls for conversation rather than combat. She is an empathetic and strong leader who, rather than many ass-kickers on this list, is not heartless nor vengeful, but driven to fight her by compassion and desire for peace between mankind and mutantkind. 

Halle Berry also portrayed Patience Phillips in the critically condemned yet now campy cult classic Catwoman. In this film, she is rebellious and resourceful, seductive as a strategy, independent, and morally gray. Clad in tight black leather and adorned with diamond nails, she portrayed the acrobatic vigilante with both physical prowess and justice-seeking depth…even if some lines are a bit, well, over the top and theatrical. 

Berry also portrayed skilled NSA agent Jinx Johnson in Die Another Day, hacker Ginger Knowles in Swordfish, mother scorned Molly Woods in Kidnap, and historied assassin Sofia in John Wick: Chapter 3. 

Honorable Mentions: 

• Sigourney Weaver: Ellen Ripley in Alien, Dr. Grace Augustine in the Avatar films, and Joan Leaven in Cube. 
• Scarlett Johansson: Black Widow in the Avengers franchise, Lucy in Lucy, and Major Motoko Kusanagi in Ghost in the Shell. 
• Jennifer Lopez: Detective Harlee Santos in Shades of Blue, Karen Sisko in Out of Sight, Slim Hiller in Enough, Charlie in Money Train, Darcy in Shotgun Wedding, and Terri Flores in Anaconda. 
• Kate Beckinsale: Selene in the Underworld franchise, Anne Valerious in Van Helsing, and Celine in Total Recall. 
• Linda Hamilton: Sarah Connor in the Terminator films. 
• Carrie-Anne Moss: Trinity in The Matrix series. 
• Jennifer Lawrence: Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games series, Mystique in X-Men: First Class, Days of Future Past, Apocalypse, and Dark Phoenix. 
• Zoe Saldana: Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy series and Neytiri in Avatar films. 

She probably followed it up with something viciously offensive about Elizabeth Taylor’s weight, but the wisdom still stands. This week marks the 9-year anniversary of Joan Rivers’ death. As a comedian (and a queer one at that), I have long looked to Mother Joan for strength and fortitude. 

Especially when I tested positive for HIV in 2016, I found myself regularly watching her stand-up, as well as the 2010 documentary that follows her comeback after years of rejection and failure. 

Seven years out from my diagnosis and nine from her death, I like to think that HIV and Joan Rivers have a lot in common. For starters, they were both big hits with gay men in the 80s! (Don’t get mad. Joan would have loved that joke, and gay men in the 80s would have, too, for that matter). 

More importantly, Joan and HIV have both taught me that Capital-L “Life” can feel inconceivably tragic in the short run, only to end up being bombastically hilarious in the long. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by James Tison (like Tyson) (@jamestison)

Let’s face it: bad things happen to all of us. There are universal events in the shared human experience that pop up just to shoot you down. You get fired. Your parent dies. Your house burns down. You turn 36 and you’re still not where you want to be in your stand-up career and one of your peers just got a Late Night gig and you’re happy for them but also dear god why not me??? You know, universal human experiences! 

If you’re like me, your brain is wired to go straight to a cycle of despair and catastrophization. When something even mildly bad happens, my demons start singing a 4 part harmony called “Everything’s Over (And It’s Your Fault, You Dumb Idiot)!” It’s pretty catchy. 

The day I got my HIV diagnosis in 2016, that’s exactly how I reacted. 

I went in for routine testing at the free clinic and when the rapid test showed that I was HIV positive, I was stunned. Like, shell-shocked-and-hearing-a-high-pitched-noise-in-a-WWII-movie stunned. 

The nurse immediately started explaining that “there’s a state program that’ll pay for my insurance” and how “HIV isn’t a death sentence anymore” and blah blah blah. I wasn’t listening. I was running Terms of Endearment scenes on loop in my head (“It’s after ten! GIVE MY DAUGHTER THE SHOT!”) and hearing my mother’s words from when I came out to her as gay in 2003 (“I just don’t want you to get sick!”). I was blindsided. 

Life was at its worst, and it felt entirely by my own doing.

Yet somehow… it also wasn’t over. The nurse was right that a state program would pay for my treatment and insurance. Health insurance helped me get therapy, which helped me get sober for 4 years, which helped me double down on my dreams and my personal health. I was Undetectable within months and have had zero health complications in the years since. 

But I’m a comedian. Never content to be content, I started doing something that is probably a little sick… I started doing stand-up about my HIV. And what’s worse; it worked. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Snowflake @ Good Judy (@snowflake_comedy)

I can’t describe to you how much fun it is to toy with audiences’ fears and expectations around the subject. People today are just as ignorant as I was in 2016 about all the health breakthroughs, and it tickles me to no end to simulate those highs and lows with an audience (and, most importantly, get laughs). 

Building that set was the first breakthrough for me in terms of learning how to write material that connected with audiences. Since then, I’ve been gigging consistently for five years throughout the country and I filmed my hour earlier this year. That hour got me a stand-up agent, and now I’m prepping to enter the college market to take my act on the road. I’m not nearly as successful as I want to be (CUE THE COMPARE-AND-DESPAIR THOUGHT LOOPS), but I’m edging ever closer to the life of a working comedian. And I truly don’t think I would be here without the alleged tragedy of that initial HIV diagnosis. 

I re-watched the Joan Rivers documentary last night for the first time in a few years to prepare for this article. I know pretty much every word to this doc, and yet I am still struck by the cycles this woman goes through on her path to success. This film shows a 75-year-old legend who has made millions off her art form, but she is constantly plagued by depression, insecurity, compare-and-despair, anger, and self-loathing. 

I am not fixed. My reactions to Life are still so much worse than most of the things that Life actually throws at me. But I am once again reminding myself (and hopefully others in the process) that “getting better” isn’t about how often you fall into a funk of maladaptive reactions. Getting better is about how often and how quickly you can snap yourself back out of them. 

I’ll continue snapping out of my funks, and so will you. It’s what Joan would do.

Britney Spears.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Maria River Red (@britneyspears)

Those of us who experienced the golden age of Britney will never forget this mega-famous pop star at her prime. For some people, Britney was their first ever favorite song, concert “VHS” tape, CD, and poster. She and Kevin Federline met in 2004 where sparks flew as their eyes met across the room in a “love at first sight” fashion. After a very brief three-month romance, they got married. This is a red flag in itself, as there was likely some love bombing and fast-forwarding going on; she and Kevin also had children shortly after the wedding. It is important to note that before Kevin met Britney, he was already engaged to Shar Jackson, who was about to give birth to her second child. Yet Kevin abandoned her and her unborn child for Britney Spears. Britney’s own marriage to Kevin Federline seemed to push her toward self-sabotage and reckless behaviors. Britney filed for divorce only a few weeks after her second son and had a number of public breakdowns, and understandably so: the stress of being with a toxic individual can be overwhelming and make you act out of character. As Britney noted in a now deleted Instagram post, Federline would refuse to see Britney even though she was pregnant with his second child at the time. She said, “But geez {Kevin} wouldn’t see me when I flew to New York with a baby inside me and Las Vegas when he was shooting a video!” She received advice from someone which she took seriously. “I got a text saying, ‘If you don’t divorce Kevin he will publicly do it to you.’ Since I hadn’t seen him in a while, I already knew it was over {and} I had my baby.” Britney was also fed up with the fact that Kevin would regularly go out partying and leave her alone to raise their kids. Kevin allegedly continued a pattern of cheating and deceptive behavior that was evident in his past relationship with Shar; he was reportedly cheating on Britney with an exotic dancer according to Today.

Parental alienation is another tactic narcissistic and otherwise toxic personalities use to gain control, pitting their own children against the victimized parent. Spears has faced numerous difficulties in co-parenting with Federline, who she feels has brainwashed and turned the kids against her. Federline even released private videos of her to depict her as an unfit mother. Spears’ lawyer, Mathew Rosengart told People in a statement, “Britney has faithfully supported her children and she loves them dearly,” the statement said. “Whether he realizes it or not, Mr. Federline has not only violated the privacy and dignity of the mother of his children, he has undermined his own children, whose privacy he should protect. Putting aside his ITV interview, Mr. Federline’s ill-advised decision to post an old video of his 11 and 12-year-old children was cruel, bottom-of-the-barrel stuff. It was abhorrent. In addition to demeaning himself and violating societal norms, he has now also created various legal issues for himself including, but not limited to, implicating cyber-harassment and cyber-bullying statutes, among other things.” Many fans have called out Kevin for exploiting Britney Spears’ money for years after the divorce; he continues to make bank weaponizing interviews about her and the kids.  “It saddens me to hear that my ex-husband has decided to discuss the relationship between me and my children,” Spears told NYPost.

Lessons from Britney’s toxic relationship:

Don’t trust the “spark” at the beginning of a love bombing romance without thoroughly vetting your partner. Do not rush into marriage and children quickly, especially if you have considerably more resources than your husband (you never know whether he’s exploiting you or planning on doing so). Marriages with a toxic partner only harm any children you bring into it. Ask yourself the important questions to assess both the motives of yourself and your partner when it comes to marriage and raising children. And remember that the way a relationship starts is likely the way it’s going to end as well: if a man is abandoning his previous partner and baby to begin a relationship with you, it’s probably not going to be a happy ending as it’s an indication of his deep-rooted character and capacity for empathy. These types don’t change for anyone, not even if you’re the biggest pop star of all time. At the same time, show yourself self-compassion. If you acted out of character in a toxic relationship and reacted to chronic patterns of manipulation, you’re not alone.

Selena Gomez.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez)

This one may be debatable to the fanbase, but it’s clear that at the very least what Selena Gomez went through was a toxic relationship that she identified as emotionally abusive. Her on-and-off tumultous romance with Justin Bieber made headlines for seven years, and only two months after the final break-up between them, Justin headed for the altar with a new wife. Throughout their relationship, allegations of Justin cheating were confirmed by Selena herself. She posted on Justin’s Instagram in August 2016, “Funny how the ones that cheated multiple times, are pointing the finger at the ones that were forgiving and supportive, no wonder fans are mad.” She wrote this Instagram comment in the midst of a heated conversation with Justin where she suggested he stop blaming his fans for questioning one of the relationships that he got into shortly after one of his break-ups with Selena. In an interview for NPR, Selena Gomez disclosed that when the relationship finally did end for good, she didn’t get a “respectful closure” from Justin and that she was a victim to a certain type of abuse which she later clarified was emotional abuse. In her interview with Zane Lowe, she talked about having higher standards after these experiences and channeling her pain into her music, saying, “The agony. The confusion. The self-doubt…I am worth something. I’m not going to settle, I’m going to wait. Because there is something out there that is going to give me that feeling that I deserve and that I want.”

But even after Selena had already moved on, Justin’s emotionally abusive behavior toward her continued. During his 29th birthday, Justin appeared to taunt Selena by sharing party favors engraved with the message that he was glad he didn’t “get” what he thought he wanted, which fans deemed a passive-aggressive reference to Selena. This is a classic gaslighting tactic of toxic people post-breakup – instead of moving forward with their life, they decide to flaunt their new relationship to their previous partner, gleefully painting themselves as “not the problem.” Yet Justin’s perspective of both of his two major relationships are very similar, revealing that it is likely Justin’s destructive patterns, rather than the patterns of his partners, that are the root of the problem. Referring to Selena, he said, “When stuff would happen, I would lose my freakin’ mind, and she would lose her mind, and we would fight so hard because we were so invested in each other. Love is a choice. Love is not a feeling. People have made it seem in movies that it’s this fairy tale.” When it comes to his new wife Hailey, he told Vogue, “I’m the emotionally unstable one,” and confesses that marriage didn’t solve his problems like he expected they would. Hailey also told Vogue, “The thing is, marriage is very hard…That is the sentence you should lead with. It’s really effing hard.” Many fans have pointed out the hardships of this marriage and have criticized the way Justin callously treats his new wife – from appearing to slam a car door in her face to failing to dress up at a business event held in her honor. It’s clear that Justin’s issues didn’t magically disappear just because he moved on to a new partner.

Life lessons from Selena and Justin’s romance:

Narcissistic and otherwise toxic people engage in jealousy induction and create “love triangles” to pit people against one another. They will appear to move on quickly to other people while still drawing attention to their past partners. They do not enjoy seeing their past partners move on and heal. Their toxic patterns continue regardless of who they move on with. Do not be afraid to let go of an abusive, on-and-off relationship – you may just be freeing yourself from more years of turmoil. Don’t trust narcissistic or toxic people to address their real problems: they will likely cast their abusive behavior as “everyday problems” when in reality it’s not about how hard marriage is. If one partner is lacking in empathy or consideration for their partner, the marriage will be difficult regardless of who it’s with. Selena did a terrific job channeling her experiences and emotions into creativity and success: it would be wise to follow this example after you’ve ended a relationship with a toxic or emotionally abusive person.

Amber Rose

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Amber Rose (@amberrose)

Rapper and model Amber Rose, who dated Alexander Edwards, Kanye West and Machine Gun Kelly, has been very honest and transparent about the fact that she has a pattern of dating narcissistic people. As she told Complex, “I had to go see a therapist, and she was just like, ‘You attract narcissistic sociopaths.’ And I am not mentioning no names. But a few of them have been that…Like, nah, you’re not gonna control my every move, you’re not gonna tell me what I need to wear, you’re not gonna tell me where I need to go or who to be friends with. I don’t have time for that s–t.” She also wrote in an Instagram post referring to her ex Alexander Edwards who allegedly cheated on her with 12 different women, “When {you’re} in love with a narcissist, your brain tells you to run when your heart says stay. Unanswered questions. Gaslighting. Stonewalling, Deflecting, Projecting. I wish it was easy for me to ‘fix him,’ but that’s not for me to do. The pain cuts so deep, especially when there are children involved.” Her other ex, Kanye West, is also infamous for his abusive and controlling behavior toward Kim Kardashian.

Life lessons from Amber Rose:

Amber is refreshingly honest about her life and relationships and brings up vital points. Know your patterns. If you tend to become entangled with narcissistic people, it’s important to seek help and healing to disrupt the trauma repetition cycle. Adding marriage or children to the mix will only make it harder to leave – so never try to save a toxic relationship with further commitment.  The traits of narcissism make infidelity more likely according to research. Even a one-time affair should not be dismissed as there is no guarantee it won’t happen again. Serial cheating and deception is abuse.

Sandra Bullock

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sandra Bullock (@sandra.bullock.official)

When actress Sandra Bullock won the Oscar for her film The Blind Side, she thanked her husband, “reformed bad boy” Jesse James in her speech. He appeared to have tears in his eyes as Bullock thanked him. James, a former high-school football star who was notorious in his youth for getting into bar fights and stealing cars, appeared to have redeemed himself as an entertainment bodyguard who opened up a motorcycle shop. Yet he also had two failed marriages when he met Sandra Bullock, and tattoo artist Kat Von D had accused him of sleeping with a whopping 19 other women throughout their mere one-year relationship. In fact, his most recent pregnant wife, Bonnie, accused him of cheating just this past year, calling him a “truly disgusting being” and sharing she was deeply hurt by his actions. The world later found out that Jesse James had cheated on Sandra with a stripper, and that this 11-month long affair began when she began filming. When Jesse James was asked about the affair, he confessed it was likely because of “ego, loneliness, distrust, which probably led to resentment.” But catch that last word: resentment. During one of the most celebratory moments of Sandra’s life, James decided he would sabotage it with his infidelity. Likely, he was resentful and envious that the attention was not on him. Cheating was a way for him to nurse his own ego when his more successful wife took center stage. Considering that five other women came forward with cheating allegations against Jesse, it’s clear that his patterns are narcissistic and have nothing to do with Sandra and their relationship.

Life lessons from Sandra Bullock’s marriage: “Bad boys” are tempting to date but cannot usually be reformed. Narcissistic and psychopathic people can certainly put on a charming show, but their pleas for forgiveness and pity ploys are hollow and empty. They tend to be pathologically envious of their partners and cannot stand when the focus is not on them. They will actively sabotage the moments in your life where you are celebrating and flourishing. If a man has two failed marriages and a past history of crime, it is worth evaluating why before you get involved. Even if he claims his childhood trauma “made him do it,” consider whether he’s actually made the substantial steps to change. If he’s not comfortable with you being in the spotlight, he’ll likely lash out due to his ego.

Priyanka Chopra

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra)

Before Quantico star Priyanka Chopra met her soulmate Nick Jonas, she tended to date narcissistic men. In a podcast interview with Dax Shepard, she said, “In relationships, I kept making the same mistakes. I was with similar guys [who were] a little bit narcissistic. I just needed to figure out what about me evoked that. Like, why did I attract it?” Chopra says. “A lot of the patterns in my relationships was my feeling gaslit. I gave that kind of power to the people that I was with, where I was like, ‘You come first.’ … I always looked for someone who I could be vulnerable with, never realizing my vulnerability gave this incredible power to my partner.” Chopra observes that she always had long relationships back-to back with her partners, not all of whom were happy for her or her success. Nick Jonas was considerably different from her past partners, as he was not only a gentleman, he showed pride in both her success and her beauty. He was and continues to be her biggest cheerleader.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra)

Life lessons from Priyanka Chopra:

Don’t give your power away to narcissistic people by shrinking or dimming your light to make them comfortable. Marry the man who wants to see you win. If you’re a successful and smart woman, research shows that you will likely encounter some extra difficulties in the dating world. So it’s important to find a “Nick Jonas” type who is strong enough in his own masculinity not to have his ego wounded when his wife is in the spotlight. Nick Jonas was devoted in his pursuit of Priyanka and never stopped giving her the “honeymoon” stage. Most women flourish in relationships where their partner is extra attentive and – let’s be honest – loves and pursues them just a bit more than she loves and pursues him (although she clearly does love him a lot). You deserve a healthy partner who continues to court you at every stage of the relationship.

‘House Party’ (1990) | Max

High schooler Kid (Christopher Reid) wants to go to his friend Play’s (Christopher Martin) house party, but his strict dad isn’t having it. As he tries to outsmart his Pops (Robin Harris) and get to the party, Kid ends up having an epic night filled with music and mayhem. 

House Party epitomized the vibrant hip-hop culture of the early ’90s. The film’s soundtrack is a who’s who of early ’90s hip-hop and R&B, and includes tracks like “To da Break of Dawn” by LL Cool J and Marley Mar and “Fun House”  by Kid ‘n Play. 

The film perfectly mirrored the spirit of youth rebellion that was just starting to brew. And remember those scenes with the pagers and huge phones? They gave us a glimpse of a world on the brink of a digital revolution.

‘Clueless’ (1995) | Paramount+

Dive into the glamorous world of Beverly Hills with high schooler Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone), her fashion-forward friends, and her former stepbrother, Josh (Paul Rudd). This modern take on Jane Austen’s Emma explores Cher’s matchmaking endeavors and personal growth.  

Clueless was a reflection of ’90s materialism. Cher’s journey from a self-absorbed teen to someone who genuinely cared about others resonated with the era’s growing emphasis on authenticity.

Cher’s high-tech closet gave us a sneak peek into the future, while her fashionable outfits became ’90s style benchmarks. Her iconic yellow plaid outfit is still celebrated and worn as a Halloween costume. And her phrases like “As if!” and “Whatever!” became part of the ’90s lexicon.

‘Scream’ (1996) | Paramount+

Wes Craven’s meta-horror masterpiece introduces us to the town of Woodsboro, where a masked killer terrorizes a group of teens, including Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell).  

Scream was a cultural phenomenon that etched itself into the ’90s.  It was self-aware — like a horror movie within a horror movie — and it was high concept in its deconstruction of genre tropes. Sidney Prescott was more than a scream queen; she symbolized the ’90s spirit of empowered women.

‘The Craft’ (1996) | Hulu

Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney) moves to a new school and befriends a group of outcast girls who practice witchcraft. As they harness their supernatural powers, their newfound abilities come with unforeseen consequences. 

The Craft emphasized themes of female empowerment and the importance of strong, supportive friendships. It was a reflection of the era’s growing emphasis on women’s rights and camaraderie. The film’s success may have contributed to the rise in supernatural teen dramas, laying the groundwork for shows like Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ (1997) | Hulu

In the coastal town of Southport, four friends — Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt), Barry Cox (Ryan Phillippe), Helen Shivers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), and Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze Jr.) — find their lives forever altered when a tragic accident shatters their carefree summer night. 

I Know What You Did Last Summer embodied the decade’s appetite for teen thrillers and contributed to a wave of similar movies, including Urban Legend and Final Destination. The film indirectly touched on themes of secrecy and exposure, reflecting our growing concerns about the digital age, where privacy was becoming a precious commodity. It also brought together ’90s power couple Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr.  

‘Can’t Hardly Wait’ (1998) | Max

After dumping his long-term girlfriend, Amanda Beckett (Jennifer Love Hewitt), popular jock, Mike Dexter (Peter Facinelli) throws a raging pre-graduation house party. Preston Meyers (Ethan Embry), a love-struck outcast, seizes the opportunity to finally confess his feelings to Amanda. Meanwhile, the party unfolds as various characters, including Denise Fleming (Lauren Ambrose) and Kenny Fisher (Seth Green), navigate their own romantic and personal dramas throughout the night.  

Can’t Hardly Wait perfectly captured the ’90s fascination with epic teen parties, with a soundtrack including tracks from Blink-182, Third Eye Blind, and Smash Mouth. The movie’s depiction of a chat room romance served as a nod to the growing influence of the internet on our social lives.

‘She’s All That’ (1999) | Showtime

High school heartthrob Zack Siler (Freddie Prinze Jr.) accepts a bet to transform the artsy and not-so-popular Laney Boggs (Rachael Leigh Cook) into the prom queen. As Laney undergoes a makeover, unexpected feelings and genuine connections develop.  

She’s All That dove into the themes of transformation and authenticity, mirroring the era’s quest for personal growth and genuine connections. Some of the film’s iconic moments, like Freddie Prinze Jr.’s hacky sack performance, were quintessential ’90s pop culture experiences.

’10 Things I Hate About You’ (1999) | Disney+  

This modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew follows the headstrong Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) and her sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) as they butt heads on the idea of high school romance. Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) tests Kat’s disdain for conformity when he charms her enough to get her to attend senior prom.

10 Things I Hate About You embodied ’90s teen rebellion and individualism. It celebrated grunge style and popular ’90s music, including tracks like Letters to Cleo’s “Cruel to Be Kind” and Save Ferris’ “I Know.”  Kat Stratford’s unapologetic attitude was inspiring and influential. And Heath Ledger’s magnetic performance as Patrick Verona solidified his status as a Hollywood heartthrob. 

‘Varsity Blues’ (1999) | Prime Video 

In the small town of West Canaan, Texas, football is everything. Star quarterback Lance Harbor (Paul Walker) faces tremendous pressure from the community and his coach, while backup QB Jon Moxon (James Van Der Beek) questions the town’s obsession with the sport. 

Varsity Blues tapped into the ’90s obsession with sports and showcased the pressures high school athletes faced, exploring themes of coming of age and self-discovery.

‘Cruel Intentions’ (1999) | Prime Video

In the seductive world of Manhattan’s elite, step-siblings Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Phillippe) engage in a twisted game of sexual conquests and manipulation. Their intricate web of deceit takes an unexpected turn when a virtuous girl, Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon) arrives to challenge their cynical views on love.

Cruel Intentions helped the genre evolve by proving that teen romance stories could be complex and dark, laying the groundwork for shows like Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars. The movie was a reflection of our era’s fascination with complex relationships and moral dilemmas. It delved into themes of power and manipulation, mirroring our growing cynicism. It was a defining film that combined a decadent lifestyle with moral introspection, truly capturing the essence of the late ’90s. And with hits like “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve and “Praise You” by Fatboy Slim, the soundtrack serves a perfect dose of ’90s nostalgia.

‘Drive Me Crazy’ (1999) | Prime Video

When their respective romantic plans fall apart, neighbors and former childhood friends Nicole Maris (Melissa Joan Hart) and Chase Hammond (Adrian Grenier) decide to pretend to date. But what starts as a charade soon leads to real emotions. 

Drive Me Crazy is set against the backdrop of Y2K, a time when the world was bracing for potential chaos as the new millennium approached. It captured the anticipation and excitement we all felt in 1999. And it also showcased the growing influence of the internet on relationships, with the characters engaging in online chat room romance, subtly mirroring the era’s budding digital age.

‘American Pie’ (1999) | Prime Video

Four high school friends make a pact to lose their virginity by prom night. This raunchy yet heartwarming comedy explores their comical mishaps and the bonds of friendship during this pivotal moment in their lives.  

American Pie brought a new level of raunchy humor to the teen comedy genre. It was unapologetically bold, pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable on the big screen at the time. 

The film’s iconic moments, such as the infamous pie scene, have become emblematic of ’90s comedy. American Pie symbolized the era’s willingness to embrace a new level of irreverence and authenticity in storytelling. It also set the stage for a wave of raunchy comedies in the 2000s, including the American Pie sequels and movies like Superbad and The 40-Year-Old Virgin.

Canceled too soon: ‘Sense8’ 

Sense8 was a globe-spanning sci-fi epic that placed LGBTQ+ characters in the spotlight. In the show, eight individuals from different parts of the world share a psychic connection. They can tap into each other’s skillsets — from hacking into computers and driving buses like Nascar pros to kicking some ass in hand-to-hand combat — which comes in handy as they discover that a powerful organization seeks to rid the world of their existence. 

Featuring stunning visuals, in-depth characterizations, and a twisty-turny wacky Wachowski plot, the show was a rich — occasionally sloppy — but compelling work of beauty. Likely due to the sheer cost of production, the show bowed out after a movie-like special in 2018 (instead of a third season). From the high-octane action sequences to the arousing group sex scenes and intimate vulnerable exchanges, Sense8 had all you could want in a show — sex, action, compassion, and intrigue. 

Went on for too long: ‘13 Reasons Why’  

The first season of 13 Reasons Why, based on the novel of the same name by Jay Asher, follows the story of Hannah Baker — a high school girl who dies by suicide and leaves behind 13 tapes that explain why she did it (and who in her life contributed to the irreversible act). 

Though unforgivable in its glamorization of suicide — especially considering its impressionable demographic — the first season provided a cohesive storyline that nimbly jumped between the past and present to maintain a mysterious throughline. It was also a gripping exposé on adolescent grief with strong performances from the teenage actors and a stand-out Kate Walsh as Hannah’s devastated mother. 

Unfortunately, once the show no longer had source material to rely on, it went off the rails. Ticking off checkboxes of hot-button adolescent issues in formulaic fashion, it did no more than instill shock value. It lost all sense of depth, becoming a melodramatic mess. Yet, despite the show’s utter fall from a semblance of grace, it received two more seasons that undercut the somewhat strong starting point. This should have been a one-and-done limited series based on Asher’s work. 

Canceled too soon: ‘The Chair’

The Chair followed the trials and tribulations of an English department chair at a major university and starred a humorous and empathetic Sandra Oh in the leading role. Though a bit ambitious in all it sets out to accomplish, the show is an exploratory window into the academic world — and the all-too-disappointing fall of the humanities. As STEM fields become the “safe” option to guarantee success in this capitalistic-driven world, fewer students are enrolling in literature and art courses and, without students, do you have a department? Yet, more so, without the humanities, what happens to the culture at large? 

Oh is utterly relatable — she is warm and tender but driven and determined. And, she boasts an outstanding supporting ensemble including Holland Taylor, Nana Mensah, David Morse, Joe Duplass, and Bob Balaban. Unfortunately, the show was axed after a singular standout season that tightly married absurdist comedy with industry misfortunes to create a dilemma that was at once professional and personal. 

Went on for too long: ‘The Ranch’ 

The Ranch follows Colt (Ashton Kutcher), who returns home to his family’s ranch in Colorado after his semi-pro football career ends in failure. Though the show didn’t exactly do anything “wrong” (except hire Danny Masterson), it didn’t do all that much right. It’s quite formulaic and predictable and relies on a laugh track in the face of stale jokes that are often unfunny or offensive. 

Though it’s common for shows of this sort to blend humor with more tender moments, it’s important to maintain a cohesive tone. Unfortunately, The Ranch suffered from tonally incongruous jumps between laughing matters and somber moments. And, despite a messy hodgepodge of heartfelt moments and humor, the show still failed to adequately develop its characters over the course of four uninspired seasons (split up into eight parts). 

Canceled too soon: ‘One Day at a Time’ 

An exquisite reimagining of Norman Lear’s 1970s series of the same name, One Day at a Time follows a Cuban-American family as they face financial setbacks, racism, mental health issues, homophobia, interfamily disagreements, and more. Yet, despite conquering serious subject matters, the show always managed to inject laugh-out-loud humor without minimizing the very significant issues it tackled. 

The main family members — Penelope (Justina Machado), Alex (Marcel Ruiz), Elena (Isabella Gomez), and Lydia (Rita Moreno) — all boast clearly defined relationships with one another that develop throughout the series, especially as the younger characters travel through the harsh terrain of adolescence. Not to mention, the performances from Machado and Moreno are award-worthy. They play a mother-daughter duo who love one another but do not see eye-to-eye as a result of generational differences and perspectives surrounding tradition.

The show is smart, heartfelt, and hilarious. A downright triumph that is timely and relatable — especially to those of us with loud, larger-than-life family members who can’t help but insert themselves into each other’s business. Netflix canceled the series after three critically acclaimed installments. Pop TV picked it up for one more season, and then it was goodbye forever to the Alvarez family. 

Went on for too long: ‘Fuller House’ 

Netflix canceled the show above after three seasons but gave this poorly-acted, cringeworthy Full House reboot five nostalgia-heavy but utterly empty seasons. Please make it make sense. 

Fuller House may have satisfied diehards of the original series, as we got to see our favorite ‘90s family back on screen. However, once that jolt of excitement wore off, it became clear that this show didn’t have much to offer outside entertaining cameos from Uncle Jesse, Joe, and now Grandpa Danny. 

There are some cutesy moments and some family hugs that remind us of yesteryear, but it’s unoriginal and utterly unnecessary. Fuller House is yet another cash-grab reboot that does not improve upon or extend its predecessor in any significant way. 

Canceled Too Soon: ‘The Midnight Club’ 

The Midnight Club is yet another Mike Flanagan creation that explores death and the idea that its finality may not exactly be final. The show takes place in a manor with a mysterious history and follows eight terminally ill teenagers who meet at midnight to share sinister stories — and look for signs of the supernatural from beyond. When death is knocking at your door, there isn’t much to be afraid of. There aren’t many risks you won’t take. 

Though not Flanagan’s best — and paling in comparison to the triumphant Haunting of Hill House and Bly Manor — the show was a heartfelt exploration of the demons within us and outside of us. It’s tender. And the young-adult spin, while reducing the horror level, does not make the show any less impactful. It was canceled after one emotionally stirring and thrilling season. 

Went on for too long: ‘Elite’ 

Three working-class students enroll at an elite high school in Spain (thanks to a scholarship program), and the clash between them and the existing high-brow students ends in murder. The first season offered a gripping mystery while exploring class differences, the power wealth grants, and the disadvantages the absence of it creates.

Unfortunately, in a very How to Get Away with Murder fashion, each new season presents a new death. Each new season, there is a new string of suspects, as the students band together to dodge trouble. It’s extremely repetitive. The formula only works for so long, and with most of the original cast members (whom we were so drawn to) no longer in the series, it’s no longer worth the watch. Season 7 is set to drop on Netflix in October 2023… It just keeps on kicking!