Who was Ian Charleson?

Born in Edinburgh in 1949, Ian Charleson became a celebrated figure in both film and theatre. He gained international recognition for playing Olympic runner Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire in 1981, and later appeared in the Oscar-winning film Gandhi. Yet it was the stage where Charleson truly shone, performing in classics like Guys and Dolls and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. His intensity, charm, and emotional depth made him one of his generation’s most admired actors.

His most-iconic stage role was arguably Hamlet

In 1989, Charleson was asked to take on the title role in Hamlet at London’s National Theatre, stepping in at short notice. At the same time, he was living with HIV — a diagnosis he had received three years earlier, when the disease carried immense stigma. Despite his illness, Charleson delivered what many consider one of the most remarkable performances of his career, bringing a vulnerability and honesty to the role that resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike.

Tragically, Charleson passed away just eight weeks after completing Hamlet, at only 40 years old. His family publicly revealed that he had died from AIDS, making him one of the first British celebrities to be openly linked to the disease. This act helped challenge misconceptions and fear surrounding HIV/AIDS in the UK, leaving an enduring impact beyond the stage.

What will Elsinore be about?

The film promises to explore not just the artistry of Charleson’s Hamlet performance, but also the resilience it took to face such a monumental role amidst his own ailing health.

The name of the film, Elsinore, is the historical English name for Helsingør, the Danish city made famous as the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

According to Variety, the film will be directed by Simon Stone, from a script by Stephen Beresford. Both Andrew Scott, who stars as Charleson, and Olivia Colman, join the project not just as performers but as part of a production team that aims to honour the actor’s legacy with sensitivity and depth.

In a statement about the project, Stone said, “This is one of the most exciting projects I’ve ever been involved in. Stephen Beresford’s screenplay is both heartbreaking and hilarious, a beautiful ode to the power of community in times of crisis. Andrew Scott is one of the greatest actors of his generation as Ian Charleson was: it’s momentous casting.”

Elsinore is scheduled to begin filming on January 5, 2026. We’ll keep you updated as we know more.

The post This is the moving true story behind ‘Elisnore’, Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman’s latest film appeared first on RUSSH.

This morning, the Academy unveiled its official Oscars shortlist in 11 of 24 categories, giving us our first real indication of which films are gaining momentum ahead of nomination day. While nothing is guaranteed at this stage, the shortlist is the first step in forecasting which titles — and talents — are most likely to hear their names called when the final nominations are announced. So, which projects are likely to walk home successful? Below, read the full Oscars nominations shortlist.

What is the Oscars shortlist?

Ahead of the official nominations, the Academy conducts a preliminary voting round to determine its annual shortlist. This process narrows the field in select categories, spotlighting the films that have impressed voters early on in the awards cycle.

The shortlist applies to a specific set of categories: animated short film, documentary feature, documentary short, international feature, live action short, makeup and hairstyling, original score, original song, sound, and visual effects. To be eligible for a final nomination in these areas, a film must first pass through this stage.

When are the official nominations announced?

Expect these on January 22 (or 23, for those of us in Australia), followed by the actual Academy Awards ceremony on March 15.

Best casting shortlist

Best cinematography shortlist

Best makeup and hairstyling shortlist

Best score shortlist

Best original song shortlist

Best sound shortlist

Best visual effects shortlist

Best documentary feature shortlist

Best international feature shortlist

Best animated short shortlist

Best documentary short shortlist

Best live-action short shortlist

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The film has been a smash critical and commercial success so far — no easy feat. When it debuted in cinemas in September, it brought in $22.4 million USD in the first weekend in North America alone. Similarly, it’s in the running for a whopping nine categories at the upcoming Golden Globe awards, which is considered a strong precursor for how it will fare when the Oscars nominations eventually drop.

What’s it about?

For those who weren’t treated to the magic of the movie in cinemas, allow us to fill you in (without giving away any spoilers, of course).  The fairly cryptic logline reads “When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunites to rescue one of their own’s daughter.” One of those revolutionaries, as you might have already figured, is Bob (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), and his daughter Willa is breakout star (and newly minted face of Louis Vuitton), Chase Infiniti. The pair live off grid, until Bob’s arch nemesis (expertly played by Sean Penn) resurfaces, and wreaks havoc on their now-peaceful lives.

So, when will it hit streaming?

Very soon actually. One Battle After Another lands on streaming on Friday, December 19. If you’re anything like the RUSSH team, you’ll be switching on your OOO and diving straight in for an appointment on the couch. Yes please!

Where can I watch it?

You’ll need an HBO Max account. If you haven’t already got one, it’s worth it. In addition. to One Battle After Another, you’ll find hits like I Love LA, Veep, Friends, Sex and the City, and countless others.

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Whether you’re looking for an erotic neo-noir thriller, or a softly poetic erotic romance, (and based on the opinions of a writer who studied film at university) we’ve put together our guide of essential films to have on your watch list.

1. Secretary (2002)

Maggie Gyllenhaal plays a shy young woman who engages in self harm. As part of her recovery, she takes a new job with a demanding attorney. The two slowly develop a consensual BDSM relationship that transforms them both, offering a healing catharsis. It’s sexy, heart-felt and surprisingly romantic in parts. Secretary is a film that didn’t achieve commercial success but has grown to be a cult title that everyone should see at least once.

2. The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)

Juliette Binoche, Daniel Day-Lewis and Lena Olin star in this movie based on the book of the same name. Set in 1960s Czechoslovakia against the backdrop of political unrest, this film follows a surgeon who is torn between two very different women. This is a film that explores sensuality, commitment, relationships and philosophy.

3. Babygirl (2024)

Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickson star in this Christmas film with a twist. A married and high-flying CEO, Romy begins a torrid affair with one of her younger interns. Their relationship begins explore to elements of dominance and submission, allowing Romy a new range of experiences and sexual satisfaction. But as the affair threatens to unravel her carefully constructed life, she has a choice to make. If you want to explore more, we have 10 more films just like Babygirl that you might like.

4. Wild Things (1998)

Matt Dillon, Denise Richards, Neve Campbell and Kevin Bacon lead this sexy thriller that leaves you guessing till the last frame. A high school counsellor at a prestigious school in Florida is accused of inappropriate behaviour. But as the truth becomes increasingly murky and the double-crosses begin to pile up, we’re left guessing about who is really pulling the strings. This campy 90s flick is an undeniable cult classic.

5. 9½ Weeks (1986)

Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke star in this movie about a short but passionate love affair between a gallery worker and a Wall Street finance worker. It’s a look at a relationship as it evolved through erotic power play, shifting between intoxicating intimacy and emotional manipulation.

6. Bound (1996)

This 90s sapphic tale stars Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly. The girlfriend of a mobster and an ex-con enter a clandestine affair all the while hatching a plot to rob $2 million from the mafia.

7. Y Tu Mamá También (2002)

It was the breakout film for Gael Garcia Bernal, directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Two teenage boys and a woman in her late twenties take a spontaneous road trip across Mexico. The three engage in a polyamorous relationship. As desire and jealousy simmer, the journey becomes an awakening—sexual, emotional, and political.

8. Fifty Shades of Grey (2025)

It was the film that put Dakota Johnson on the map. Anastasia is an literature student who receives the opportunity to interview Christian Grey, a wealthy businessman. The two slowly develop a relationship and Christian introduces her to the world of BDSM. The first instalment of a trilogy, Fifty Shades of Grey explore trust, consent and sexual fantasy.

9. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Stanley Kubrick’s epic stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. After a party for elite New Yorkers, a doctor’s wife revealed she nearly cheated on him. The revelation sends him on a journey through the sexual underworld of New York where he discovers a secret society that puts his life in danger.

10. Showgirls (1995)

Kyle MacLaughlan, Gina Gershon and Elizabeth Berkley star in this film that was critically panned but later achieved cult-status success. An ambitious stripper is determined to be a star. As she fights her way into a starring role in a Las Vegas show, she has to question her morals and relationships along the way.

11. Shame (2011)

Michael Fassbender plays a successful man that struggles with sex addiction. When his sister, played by Carrie Mulligan, arrived and reminds him of old wounds, his addition spirals out of control and his life slowly unravels around him. This erotic psychological drama is dark, intense and explores the ugly side of humanity.

12. Basic Instinct (1992)

When a crime novelist is implicated in a murder that suspiciously mirrors one of her books, a detective becomes slowly entangled in her web. Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone start in this cat-and-mouse-style erotic thriller that keeps you guessing until the end.

13. The Piano (1993)

In 19th-century New Zealand, a mute pianist played by Holly Hunter arrives for her arranged marriage to a wealthy landowner played by Sam Neil. As she adjusts to her new home half a world away, she finds comfort and unexpected romance with a rugged and almost brutish neighbour.

14. Nymphomaniac Volume 1 (2013)

A woman recounts her life of compulsive sexual experiences to a man, after he found her beaten in an alley. Her story spans adolescence to adulthood, exploring addiction, shame, consent and the search for meaning. Lars von Trier blends sexuality with philosophical inquiry. It’s a dark tale that is not for everyone – disturbing, darkly funny, and uncompromising.

15. The Dreamers (2003)

Eva Green, Michael Pitt and Louis Garrel headline this movie set against the backdrop of the 1968 Parisian riots. An American student is ensnared in the intense, sensual world of a French brother and sister. Their shared fantasies, games, and boundaries blur as tensions escalate.

16. Body Heat (1981)

In this neo-noir erotic thriller William Hurt is low-rent lawyer whoe falls for a seductive married woman, played by Kathleen Turner. As their relationship spirals, it draws him into a plot of lust and murder. A film channels the sultry tension of 1940s thrillers with a modern edge; it’s steamy, atmospheric, and impeccably crafted.

17. Unfaithful (2002)

Diane Lane plays a married woman who begins a passionate affair with a young French man. As the relationship becomes increasingly obsessive, and her desire sees her making riskier and riskier choices, her family life is pushed to a crisis point. It’s a story that is sensual, dark but also deeply human.

18. Original Sin (2001)

Angelina Jolie is a woman sent to Cuba for an arranged marriage with a wealthy businessman played by Antonio Banderas. While the two appear to initially fall deeply in love, passion and lies stir up secrets and deceit. All is not as it seems, and it may turn out deadly.

19. Call Me By Your Name (2017)

In the 1980s, a teenager played by Timothee Chalamet spends a summer in Italy discovering his sexuality. Eventually he falls in lover with an older, male grad student who comes to stay with his family. While their romance is fleeting, it is sacred, tender and absolutely heartbreaking.

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If you’re someone who’s already seen all the best A24 films so far, we’ve curated a list of each and every upcoming release from the film studio for 2026. From pop star thriller films to bachelor party horror flicks.

1. Pillion

Release date: 6 Feb 2026

Cast: Harry Melling, Alexander Skarsgård

We haven’t heard too much yet about Pillion – a story about the complexity of a BDSM relationship between a handsome biker and a directionless man. It’s a kinky exploration of queerness from director Harry Lighton. We, for one, will watch just about anything Alexander Skarsgård is in anyway.

2. The Moment

Release date: 20 January 2026

Cast: Charli xcx, Kylie Jenner, Rachel Sennott, Alexander Skarsgård, Mel Ottenberg

Perhaps one of the most exciting releases on the horizon is Charli xcx’s The Moment. It’s slated as a meta look at the life of a pop star. Charli’s longtime collaborator A. G. Cook composed the score too – so we know this one will have us itching to dance in our cinema seats.

3. How to Make a Killing

Release date: 20 February 2026

Cast: Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, Topher Grace

Powell joins the A24 universe for this story about a rich kid who finds out he was never really rich at all. John Patton Ford directs as we watch Powell’s character try to enact increasingly deranged plan to correct the family tree by removing the remaining relatives who stand between him and the fortune he believes should have been his all along.

4. The Drama

Release date: 3 April 2026

Cast: Zendaya, Robert Pattinson

Zendaya and R-Patz as an elite couple announcing their engagement? We’re sat. We’re also loving the meta marketing rollout for this one – inclusive of a full-page engagement announcement in the Boston Globe.

5. Mother Mary

Release date: April 2026

Cast: Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel, Hunter Schafer, Kaia Gerber, Alba Baptista, FKA Twigs

Another of the A24 universe’s most anticipated films of 2026 – Mother Mary is a thriller about a pop star amid an identity crisis, who seeks out the help of an old friend and legendary fashion designer, played by Coel. It’s got a soundtrack courtesy of Jack Antonoff and Charli xcx too – so you know A24 isn’t playing around.

6. Deep Cuts

Release date: TBC

Cast: Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey

You’ve probably seen Deep Cuts on the front shelf of your local bookstore for the last few months, but an adaptation starring Priscilla‘s Cailee Spaeny and Outer Banks’ Drew Starkey is en route. The story focusses on two music-obsessed twenty-somethings who collide in a campus bar and spark a creative partnership that lasts a decade. Durkin – known for The Iron Claw – will direct and produce alongside A24, with Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein, and Josh Safdie.

7. untitled horror film

Release date: TBC

Cast: Emma Corrin, Hunter Schafer, Havana Liu Rose, Sophie Wilde and Josh Hutcherson

We’re thinking of this one like The Hangover but horror. This untitled bachelor party horror flick already has a stacked cast attached, and will be directed by Arkasha Stevenson.

8. Discretion

Release date: TBC

Cast: Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman

While not technically a film, this A24 legal thriller series is another we’re excited to see come to life in 2026. It’s starring Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman as our dream mother-and-daughter duo. Interestingly, the path from short story to series was lightning-fast. A24 acquired the rights to Chandler Baker’s unpublished short piece earlier this year (reportedly for a seven-figure, making it one of the year’s biggest IP deals).

9. Jonty

Release date: TBC

Cast: Cole Escola, Jesse Plemons

We simply adore Cole Escola – and we can’t wait to see them enter the A24 universe as part of Jonty, a new comedy from A24. They’ll be starring opposite Jesse Plemons – and that’s pretty much all we know so far. Plot details are still under wraps, but with this team, audiences can expect a smart, biting comedy with plenty of heart.

10. Dennis

Release date: TBC

Cast: Yura Borisov, Alison Oliver

Dennis has been in the pipes for a while now – but we’re hoping 2026 is the year we’ll get to finally see it. Anora‘s Yura Borisov and Saltburn‘s Alison Oliver are set to lead this story about a British student (Oliver) and a Russian poet (Borisov) who fall in love in 1990s Moscow.

11. The Masque of the Red Death

Release date: TBC

Cast: Mikey Madison or Sydney Sweeney (Mikey was slated to replace Sweeney in June, but yet to be confirmed)

Sydney Sweeney was the original lead set for this feverish reimagining of the Edgar Allan Poe classic, but Anora star and Oscar-winner Mikey Madison was reportedly set to replace her in June of this year – although the swap has yet to be confirmed. Described as “wildly revisionist,” this adaptation comes from director Charlie Polinger, who is also behind the upcoming indie drama The Plague, currently in post-production.

12. Elden Ring

Release date: TBC

Cast: Kit Connor

British actor Kit Connor just wrapped on Alex Garland’s A24 film Warfare, but must’ve made an impression, as he’s apparently the front-runner for a lead in Garland’s next project: a live-action adaptation of the genre-defining video game, Elden Ring. The film will be based on the video game by the same name, which was released back in 2022. For those unfamiliar – it’s set in a ruined, mythic realm called ‘The Lands Between’, and follows a player-character known as the Tarnished who, having been exiled, returns to the land to seek power.

13. Tony

Release date: TBC

Cast: Dominic Sessa, Leo Woodall, Emilia Jones, Antonio Bandera

A24’s upcoming biopic on the life of the late Anthony Bourdain found its lead in rising actor Dominic Sessa, best known for his breakout in The Holdovers. More recently, the cast has officially welcomed Leo Woodall, Antonio Bandera and Emilia Jones into the fold. The film is reportedly set to strip back the layers of Bourdain’s endless charisma, to tell his story pre-fame.

14. Enemies

Release date: TBC

Cast: Austin Butler, Jeremy Allen White

Two of the internet’s favourite actors are set to star in this tense, cat-and-mouse-style thriller backed by A24. Enemies positions Butler and White on opposing sides of the law: “a relentless detective and an infamous contract killer collide in a deadly game of cat and mouse,” the logline reads.

15. untitled musical comedy

Release date: TBC

Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Julianne Moore, Paul Giamatti, Halle Bailey, Havana Rose Liu, Bernadette Peters

A musical comedy? By Jesse Eisenberg? Count us intrigued. Halle Bailey, Havana Rose Lui, and Bernadette Peters were recently added to the roster, alongside Julianne Moore, Paul Giamatti, Eldar Isgandarov, Bonnie Milligan, Colton Ryan, Lilli Cooper, Maulik Pancholy. and Eisenberg himself. Plot details are scarce here, but we know that Moore will play a “shy woman who is unexpectedly cast in a community theatre musical production, going to extremes as she loses herself in the role.”

16. Be My Baby

Release date: TBC

Cast: Zendaya

Retelling the story of 60s music icon Ronnie Spector – who’s best known for co-founding and leading the girl group, The Ronnettes – Zendaya is leading this adaptation of Spector’s memoir. Spector even had hand-picked Zendaya for the lead role.

The post All the new A24 films coming out in 2026 appeared first on RUSSH.

The Moment cements Charli’s move into filmmaking, although it’s just one chapter in her Hollywood conquest. The pop icon has been quietly stacking credits: from Daniel Goldhaber’s Faces of Death remake to Romain Gavras’ adventure comedy Sacrifice, and a starring role in Pete Ohs’ Erupcja. Charli is also sharing the screen with Nicholas Galitzine, Emma Corin, and Maika Monroe in Julia Jackman’s 100 Nights of Hero, which debuted at Venice and will close the London Film Festival next week.

Watch the official full-length trailer

Who is in the cast?

The cast of The Moment has now been revealed, and it’s stacked. Joining Charli XCX are Kylie Jenner, Rachel Sennott, Kate Berlant, Alexander Skarsgård, Rosanna Arquette, Jamie Demetriou, Arielle Dombasle, Hailey Benton Gates, Trew Mullen, Mel Ottenberg, Richard Perez, Isaac Powell, Rish Shah, Tish Weinstock, Michael Workéyè, and Shygirl. Phew.

What is the film about?

As you’ll now have gauged from the trailer, teh film is something of a mockumentary about the whirlwind that was Brat. Or, as the logline puts it: the film follows a rising pop star as she navigates the complexities of fame and industry pressure while preparing for her arena-tour debut. Sound familiar?

The Moment is directed by Scottish visionary Aidan Zamiri in his feature debut, with a screenplay co-penned by Zamiri and writer Bertie Brandes. Charli’s longtime collaborator, PC Music’s A. G. Cook, composed the score, promising a sonic landscape as transformative as her chart-topping discography. Cook also appears in the film.

Behind the scenes, the project brings together a powerhouse team, including David Hinojosa of 2AM as producer, alongside executive producers Brandon Creed, Mikey Schwartz-Wright, and Zach Nutman. A24 – known for its streak of indie-to-mainstream successes – is on board to distribute the film globally, signalling another major step in Charli’s ongoing cultural takeover.

When will it be released?

The film will be released in theatres on January 30, 2026. It’s premiering at Sundance, and we’re already dreaming about how star-studded that red carpet will be.

Feature images: one, two.

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1. Divergent (2014)

Arguably an obvious choice, but a great film nonetheless. Set in a society divided into rigid factions, Divergent follows Tris (played by a young Shailene Woodley), a girl whose resistance to classification makes her a threat to those in power. It mirrors The Hunger Games because its teen-driven rebellion, with themes of government manipulation and a heroine at the centre of it all who is forced to fight her way toward freedom.

2. The Maze Runner (2014)

It seems 2014 was a great year for this genre. In The Maze Runner, a group of boys trapped in a shifting maze (yes, the title is quite literal) must escape to uncover the truth about the organisation experimenting on them. Every day, “Runners” attempt to map the labyrinth in the hope of finding a way out, but the maze resets nightly, making escape feel impossible. It carries the same survival-challenge tension and conspiracy-heavy world-building as Catching Fire.

3. Battle Royale (2000)

Often described as the blueprint for The Hunger Games, this Japanese cult classic centres on a class of students forced to fight to the death by a totalitarian government. It’s darker and sharper than the story of Katniss and Peeta, but still very much feels like the story that started it all.

4. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)

Yes, this is technically within the world of The Hunger Games, but there are different characters, so we’d say it counts. If you want more from Panem itself, this prequel follows a young Coriolanus Snow during the 10th Hunger Games. It expands the lore of the original film, while also deepening the politics, and laying the groundwork for the cruelty Katniss later rebels against.

5. Snowpiercer (2013)

In this post-apocalyptic world, the last of humanity survives aboard a single, perpetually moving train, where passengers are divided by a rigid class system. Much like the districts of Panem, the tail-section passengers live in squalor, while the front enjoys luxury and control, creating an inevitable tension that sparks a violent rebellion. We won’t give too much away, but like all of Bong Joon Ho’s work, it’s worth a watch.

6. Children of Men (2006)

Set in a bleak near-future where humanity has become infertile and society is on the brink of collapse, Children of Men follows Theo, a man tasked with protecting Kee, a young woman who miraculously becomes pregnant. But as they navigate a world rife with political unrest and violent extremism, their journey becomes a desperate fight for hope and survival.

7. V for Vendetta (2005)

Set in a dystopian near-future England ruled by a totalitarian government, this film follows a masked revolutionary known only as V as he orchestrates a campaign to overthrow the oppressive regime. For fans of The Hunger Games, we’d call this the adult, political cousin.

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Unrequited love, the bittersweet ache of loving even if it isn’t returned, has long been cinema’s achilles heel. The screen loves to display the desperation of the heart, the yearning of the lover, and the vulnerability that this provokes. When we’re in the trenches, we selfishly find solace in seeing others endure the same trials and tribulations on screen. Blame it on our humanity.

These films involve both the heartbroken and the heartbreaker. If your heart has recently been hurt, or you are a yearner by default, these films are your bread and butter. Below, our pick of the best films about unrequited love.

1. Call Me by Your Name

I will never tire of watching this film. If you haven’t feasted your eyes on this Guadagnino masterpiece, respectfully, what are you doing with your life? Set in the ’80s in Northern Italy, where piazzas reign supreme, this film follows Elio and Oliver, whose love is doomed from the jump. Elio’s father, an archaeologist, invites Oliver to stay with his family and assist with academic matters, yet fleeting encounters between the two boys quickly spiral into a summer romance. With an expiry date placed upon their relationship, Elio is left with the pain of memory of what could have been.

2. 500 Days of Summer

The tale of a work crush is as old as time. This non-linear film will tug at your heartstrings, told from Tom’s perspective (a certified hopeless romantic), who is set on Summer being his one and only. Without giving too much away, Summer has other plans, and breaks things off abruptly. In a melancholic state, Tom ponders on the 500 days the two spent cuffed up, trying to piece together exactly when their love was tainted.

3. In the Mood for Love

Set in 1962 in Hong Kong, this Wong Kar-wai work of art follows two neighbours, who are both grappling with their own respective heartbreak after finding out their partners are having an affair. Their unspoken bond brings them closer together, yet their love doesn’t completely come to fruition as neither of the two wants to stoop to the level of infidelity. The scenes until the curtain is drawn are sultry and sensual, and a visual feast for the sentimental watcher. Simmering tension is rife in this film, and its contents reside in the subtext. In the Mood for Love is one to be revisited, time and time again.

4. He’s Just Not That Into You

He’s Just Not That Into You is a lesson in misreading situations due to crumbs of misinformation — we’ve all been there. This rom-com follows a string of Baltimore residents whose lives intertwine as they try to make sense of the complexities of their relationships.

5. Her

AI in film. Questionable in theory, ridiculously gorgeous in delivery. Theodore is left with an aching heart after his marriage ends, and leans into his fascination with a new AI operating system, where he meets Samantha, whose voice guides him to a deeper self-reflection. What initially begins as a Chat-GPT-esque bond quickly deepens into love. Whilst we don’t want to give away the entire plot, loneliness and longing are unwavering themes within this Spike Jonze film.

6. Past Lives

Yes, I may have watched this last night. And yes, I may or may not have already seen it on multiple occasions. This film is the slow burn of all slow burns, a puppy love that never fully amounts. Two childhood sweethearts are pulled apart when Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea to Canada. Years later, Hae Sung sets out to reconnect with Nora online, and the two begin to make up for lost time, reminiscing over Skype. Decades later, Hae Sung and Nora meet in New York for a fateful week where they explore the weight of their choices. This modern romance explores their unspoken connection that transcends the bounds of time and place, as the two share a palpable connection that is quiet yet powerful.

7. The Great Gatsby

Shoutout F. Scott Fitzgerald. Narrated by Gatsby’s neighbour, this one follows self-made tycoon Jay Gatsby (played by no other than DiCaprio), who longs for his first love, Daisy Buchanan, hosting opulent soirées in the hope that she will one night attend. Set on Long Island in the Jazz Age, this film explores how love is synonymous with obsession, company doesn’t equate to companionship, and sometimes, what’s in the past cannot be revived.

8. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Sometimes even the cushiest love makes us want a lobotomy. In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Clementine opts to have her memory wiped to forget about Joel after their relationship turns sour. Upon finding out, a distraught Joel decides to follow suit. The chaotic plot unfolds in chronoscopic time as they fight to remember one another and try to cling to remnants of their love. The film explores the harsh reality that pain is inseparable from love, how we are shaped by memory and the cyclical nature of longing.

9. Brokeback Mountain

This neo-Western romantic drama follows a ranch hand and a rodeo cowboy who fall for one another and commence a passionate affair when they are isolated from the constructs of rural America. Upon returning to their respective girlfriends, the two push down their feelings and embrace marriage, yet the lifelong connection is ever-present for the two shepherds.

10. Paris, Texas

Directed by Wim Wenders in 1984, this one has endured the test of time. Rightly so. This neo-Western drama road film follows Travis, a dishevelled drifter who has physically and metaphorically lost his way for four years. Travis tries to reclaim the memory of his past life through confronting grief and heartache, rebuilding the bond with his son, Hunter and travelling to Houston in a search to win his wife Jane back. A different kind of unrequited love, but painful nevertheless.

Feature image: IMDb

The post Prepare to have your heart torn apart with these films about unrequited love appeared first on RUSSH.

It’s been more than a decade since the pair first brought the characters to life, anchoring a franchise that went on to make more than $3.3 billion worldwide. Their last appearance was in 2015’s Mockingjay – Part 2, which closed with Katniss and Peeta living quietly with their children. Now, they’re set to return in what’s being described as a flash-forward sequence within the upcoming prequel film.

Here’s what we know so far.

Why are they in the film?

It’s a question everyone is asking… if Sunrise on the Reaping is a prequel set before Katniss (Lawrence) and Peeta (Hutcherson) were even born in the world of Panem, then how are their characters returning for the film?

For those who’ve read the book – you’ll know that their characters don’t magically time travel back to the arena. In fact, most fans are pretty certain they’ll be reprising their roles for an epilogue that fast-forwards into the future.

The real question is – what might we be fast-forwarding to? And why the need to film new scenes with both actors? Given that young Haymitch Abernathy is another District 12 contestant (the first to win the games), and a revolutionary in his own right, we’re thinking this might come in the form of some future redemption arc for his character. Likely with a cameo from Woody Harrelson, playing Haymitch all-grown-up. (You may have noticed his voice in the Sunrise on the Reaping trailer released earlier this year, which all-but-confirmed his return to the franchise too.)

What will their roles be?

At this stage, no specific details have been shared, and Lionsgate are yet to respond to requests for comment. What we do know, however, is that Sunrise On The Reaping takes place 24 years before the events in The Hunger Games. In other words, long before Katniss or Peeta would have been born.

The story follows the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, a moment fans will recognise as the Quarter Quell that once pitted Haymitch Abernathy against the Capitol.

Because of this timeline, it’s widely assumed that Lawrence and Hutcherson will appear only in a forward-jumping sequence, possibly revisiting their Games era, or picking up sometime after we last saw them.

The prequel itself already has a stacked cast, including Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, and Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, with Joseph Zada, Glenn Close, Mckenna Grace, Maya Hawke and Whitney Peak rounding out the ensemble.

Directed by Francis Lawrence, Sunrise On The Reaping lands in cinemas on November 20, 2026 — now with two  nostalgic cameo fans (and the RUSSH team) will be counting down for.

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We’ve known about the film for some time now, with Deadline breaking the news back in April 2024 that the Challengers star and Mickey 17 actor were in early talks for the leading roles in the upcoming film. Now, we finally have more details on exactly what their collaboration will look like, with new details around the plot of The Drama, as well as a first-look poster, officially here.

Let’s dive in.

Watch the first teaser trailer

Planning a wedding is stressful enough, but throw in whatever drama is happening in this teaser, and you’ve got yourself a nightmare.

When does it come out?

The Drama is slated for release in cinemas on April 3, 2026.

What is The Drama about?

Per The Hollywood Reporter, The Drama centres on an engaged couple (played by Zendaya and Pattinson) who, just before they are due to get married, are thrown into crisis when unexpected revelations derail what one of them thought they knew of the other. Sounds gripping, no?

Helping us really immerse ourselves in this world is the film’s first poster, shared to Instagram, which shows Zendaya on Pattinson’s lap, showing off a very shiny engagement ring indeed. The caption, styled like a save-the-date, simply reads: “Formal invitation to follow.”

A post shared by A24 (@a24)

Who else is involved in The Drama?

There’s been a further – equally unexpected – addition to this star-powered cast, in none other than Alana Haim. Shortly after making her Golden Globe-nominated acting debut Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza, the singer has scored yet another part. At this point, we don’t know much else about Haim’s involvement, but we’ll certainly be keeping our ears open for further developments.

Director Kristoffer Borgli, who recently directed the critically-acclaimed film, Dream Scenario, is the mastermind behind the film, with reports confirming that he will direct based off the script he has written himself. Exact details of the plot are still very much under wraps, beyond the loose story of a romance that takes an unexpected turn before a couple’s big day.

Ari Aster, Lars Knudsen and Tyler Campellone will produce under their Square Peg banner – the production company behind films that include Hereditary, Midsommar, Dream Scenario as well as upcoming films Death of a Unicorn and Eddington. This also isn’t the first time Borgli has worked with A24, and if the end result is as impressive as their last partnership, then we’re certainly in for an impressive ride.

Stay tuned as we find out more about the film.

Image: One, two.

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