The Best Movies of 2026 (So Far)

The Nerdist - Fri, 08/14/2026 - 08:52
⚡ Quick Take
  • The year is already halfway over, and plenty of good movies have come out so far! Here are our favorites of 2026.
  • Our list includes horror flicks like Obsession to Christopher Nolan’s great epic The Odyssey.
  • We Love TV, Too: Check out our list for the Best TV Shows of 2026 so far!

This year has been a great year for movies. From horror stunners like Obsession to nerdy favorites like The Mandalorian and Grogu, 2026 has covered a wide scope of genres—and it’s only halfway over! At Nerdist, we hold movies near and very dear, and so we have compiled a list of our favorites, in no particular order. Here are the best movies of 2026 so far.

Project Hail Mary Ryan Gosling in his Fox sweater with his arms out wide in Project Hail MaryAmazon MGM Studios

Project Hail Mary kicked off the year with a feel-good space drama. It offered a little bit of everything. The deep emotions of an astronaut lost alone in deep space, complemented by star Ryan Gosling’s quippy humor and—who could forget—a lovable alien creature, Rocky.

This movie knew when to be serious, and it definitely knew when to be funny. It was heartwarming, too, exploring complex relationships between humans as well as humans and aliens, and the meaning and significance of sacrifice. If you loved Project Hail Mary as much as we did, you can show your affinity for Rocky with this super funny T-shirt.

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PROJECT HAIL MARY Made Me Romantic About Movies (Review) Hokum A horrifying face in the teaser for Hokum.NEON

Switching gears entirely, supernatural horror film Hokum will have you chilled to your core. Adam Scott of Severance and Parks and Rec stars as Ohm Bauman, an author who decides to spread his parents’ ashes where they took their honeymoon. He finds himself in a haunted hotel in Ireland where he must face the evil trapped there.

Hokum was created by Damian McCarthy, an Irish filmmaker. He drew inspiration from Gaelic myth, where he got the cailleach concept. In mythology, a cailleach is a mythical “hag” with power over the landscape. While not an inherently evil being in myth, she certainly felt evil in this movie. Bauman faces the witch herself alongside visions from the past.

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HOKUM Is a Delightfully Chilly Haunted Hotel Flick (Review) Is God Is Two girls, one with facial scars and another with a scarred arm, sit together on the hood of a car.Orion Pictures

Is God Is was an emotionally moving tale of twin sisters on a journey to kill their abusive father. Aleshea Harris’ directorial debut, based on her off-Broadway stage play of the same name, is a thriller, a dark comedy, and a revenge film rolled into one. It also explores the tensions within a cycle of abuse.

The two girls suffered life-changing first-degree burns at their father’s hands when they were children. Despite its characters’ traumatic backstory, the movie manages to be darkly comedic.

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IS GOD IS: A Cathartic and Brutal Exploration of Black Girl Rage (Review) The Devil Wears Prada 2 the devil wears prada 2 teaser trailer andy and miranda20th Century Studios

Picking up where the first installment of Andy’s story left off 20 years ago, The Devil Wears Prada 2 was a glorious return to Runway magazine. Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, and, of course, Anne Hathaway graced our theater screens once again. Despite two decades passing, we could be convinced the second movie had been filmed the day after the first—the stars appeared almost identical to their 2006 counterparts.

The story follows Andy and Miranda, both down on their luck. It deals with the realistic struggles of print magazines in moving to digital, clickbait-heavy formats. It also discusses the looming threat of A.I. taking over the journalism field (gulp). Amidst these heavier issues, the characters navigate the complex reality of their careers, their relationships with each other, and their own personal flaws.

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THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 Is 2026’s Most Important Movie—Here’s Why It Matters (Review) Backrooms The eponymous neon-lit hallways and odd rooms that make up The Backrooms.Kane Pixels

After his YouTube series The Backrooms gained immense traction, a creator known as Kane Pixels found himself directing a feature-length psychological horror based on the story he had been developing for years.

He created his YouTube series in a found-footage style, exploring a liminal, empty mass of endless hallways. The landscape resembles an abandoned department store, with fluorescent ceiling lights to boot. Parsons’ first episode was a “short film” published in 2022, and the story developed from there as he continued making videos for three years. You can read more about the internet “creepypasta” that inspired his work here.

The movie is set in the same location as his shorts and follows researchers as they investigate the realm of “the backrooms.” Getting lost in the hallways is scary enough, but when it turns out some sort of entity is there with them, the scientists have to fight for their lives.

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The 8 Scariest Levels of the BACKROOMS Obsession Focus Features/Universal Pictures

2026 truly is a year of good horror, with Obsession being another box office smash. It has also had its moment on the internet, with stills of star Inde Navarrette’s intense frown going viral, alongside her other facially uncanny moments.

More is disturbing about this movie than just the “be careful what you wish for” trope. In some ways, it is about the world of romance we live in today, the idealization of being in a relationship or being loved. Having a partner who has no personality outside of loving you may, in fact, be more terrifying than the natural character flaws that being an individual, an independent person, would bring.

The underlying messages of the movie are what take it from scary to horror.

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OBSESSION Is a Classic Story with an Uncanny Horror Twist (Review) The Mandalorian and Grogu The Mandalorian and Grogu cameosLucasfilm

For the Star Wars nerds out there, your favorite world has never stopped expanding. The Mandalorian show has been wildly popular in the years since it began its run. And now the creators have taken a more cinematic direction with The Mandalorian and Grogu.

The two-hour long feature film actually replaced the show’s fourth season. Director Jon Favreau mentioned that writing for season four was underway in 2023 but, in a statement to SFX Magazine, said they trashed those scripts entirely to write the feature film.

The episodes would have been aiming to continue where season 3 had left off and set up the Ahsoka show. However, the movie took a different direction, something that would be appealing to the audience whether they had watched the previous content or not.

“As long as you understand the archetypes of this hardened warrior with their vulnerable young apprentice, you’ll know these characters well, even if you’ve never seen the show,” Favreau said. “But there’s still a lot of Star Wars in there.”

Masters of the Universe

Based on the 1980s animated show, He-Man and The Masters of The Universe, this nostalgic movie did the series justice. He-Man, played by Nicholas Galitzine, is your average Joe working in an office cubicle and yearning for the day he can return to Eternia. Luckily, he does—it would have been boring otherwise—and along the way encounters Skeletor, the classic villain, along with other characters from the series.

masters of the universe he-manAmazon MGM

This is the second time He-Man has been adapted in live-action. In 1987, the first adaptation was made, featuring an oddly shiny blonde man and a tacky skeleton mask. On the surface, not much changed, but this film is a step up.

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MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE Is a Colorful Retro Adventure (Review) Toy Story 5

If you thought Toy Story 4 was the end, you’ve officially been proven wrong. Despite what seem to be repeated conclusive finales to the series, fans love Toy Story enough to bring it back to the theaters a fifth time. Nostalgic characters accumulated over the first four movies return and grapple with their place in the age of the internet.

Jessie, Bullseye, and three electronic toys in Toy Story 5Pixar

1990s toys meet electronics, and parents face criticism in this new story. A review from Indiewire points out the blatant complacency with which many parents now operate, surrendering their children to the teachings of mindless internet use. This movie calls that out and emphasizes the importance of imaginative play in childhood, and this makes it one of the best movies of 2026.

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TOY STORY 5 Cements the Franchise as Cinema’s All-Time Best The Odyssey Agamemnon in his full armor speaks to Odysseus in The OdysseyUniversal Pictures

Christopher Nolan, you genius of a creative. One of this year’s most hyped and highly-anticipated films, The Odyssey, absolutely lived up to expectations of this enduring and beloved epic. The mind-blowing cinematic scope, impeccable casting, thrilling fights, and enthralling moments made this epic truly worth seeing on the largest screen possible. Now that’s what we call cinema!

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Spider-Man with his mask half off his head.Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios

Is there any surprise that this is on our list. Tom Holland’s fourth round as Peter Parker / Spider-Man in this film, which is setting records for how quickly it is raking in dough, cements why he defines this character for a generation. Peter’s journey to reclaim himself, find healing, and establish balance between his normal life and saving NYC is truly what fans want in a Spider-Man film. Equally grounded yet delivering enough action to satisfy the always fervent Marvel fandom, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a dazzling delight.

Originally published on June 22, 2026 with additional reporting by Ella R. Dunn.

Nerdist writes about movies, TV, games, comics, and all things nerdy for Nerdist.This post has affiliate links, which means we may earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, we just have to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

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Categories: Nerd News

Does Mark Zuckerberg really believe AI is ‘for everyone’?

TechCrunch - Fri, 08/14/2026 - 08:43
Meta released Glimmer this week, an open-weight AI model anyone can download and run on their own hardware — a contrast to Muse Spark, the company’s more powerful model that stays locked behind its own APIs. The release landed alongside a letter from Mark Zuckerberg arguing AI should be “for everyone” rather than controlled by a handful of labs, but as Equity’s […]
Categories: Nerd News

Durin and Elrond ‘Are Still in Love’ in RINGS OF POWER Season 3, Shares Owain Arthur

The Nerdist - Fri, 08/14/2026 - 08:36
⚡ Quick Take
  • Durin and Elrond will reunite in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season three, confirms actor Owain Arthur.
  • Durin and Elrond are our favorite relationship from the series, and we’re glad to hear they’re “still in love.”
  • However, Arthur wouldn’t confirm how much screen time Durin and Elrond will share in The Rings of Power season three.
  • Go Deeper: Learn more about Durin and Elrond’s friendship in The Rings of Power and why it’s important.

One of our absolute favorite relationships in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has been between the unlikely duo of Elrond and Durin. In season one of The Rings of Power, Elrond and Durin spent much of their screen time together, forging bonds between dwarves and elves, and unknowingly finding a way to save all of elf-kind… Though not without a price. Sadly, The Rings of Power season two, Durin and Elrond weren’t together very much, each of them drawn down their own complex paths. Although Durin did show up for Elrond, albeit not personally, right at the moment when the elf needed him the most. But what does The Rings of Power season three hold in store for Durin and Elrond? And will they spend more time together this season? Durin actor Owain Arthur can’t make any promises… But he can assure us that Durin and Elrond are still “in love.” (And that’s what we like to hear.)

Arthur laughs as I ask after Durin and Elrond’s relationship in The Rings of Power season three, and how much time we can expect the pair to spend together. “Yeah, it’s tough to keep them apart, that’s for sure.” He grins, assuring us all, “They are still in love with each other.” Naturally.

More to the point, Arthur confirms that Durin and Elrond will spend SOME time together in The Rings of Power season three. “You do see them together in season three, that’s for sure. I can promise you that.” The actor confirms, “How much I can’t explain, but I have a feeling there’s more to come.”

Durin and Elrond the rings of power season 3 owain arthur and robert aramayoPrime Video

Well, just knowing we’ll see Elrond and Durin reunite at least for a little bit in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has us excited for the season all over again. We have a dwarf’s promise on the matter, and that is word of stone. “More to come” also sounds promising. But please, just let Durin and Elrond be happy. Is that so much to ask?

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Robert Aramayo Talks THE RINGS OF POWER’s Finale, Elrond and Durin, and His Current Favorite Tolkien Tale

Durin, Elrond, and the rest will return when The Rings of Power season three premieres on Prime Video on November 11. The full release schedule can be found here. If you’d like to get yourself ready for this return to Middle-earth, you can pick up The Fall of Númenor: And Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-earth or The Silmarillion and read more about Tolkien’s vision of the time when the show takes place.

This post has affiliate links, which means we may earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, we just have to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

Rotem Rusak is the Editor-in-Chief at Nerdist. She’s still hoping for that Adar resurrection in The Rings of Power season three.

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Categories: Nerd News

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Squishmallows Are Fiercely Adorable

The Nerdist - Fri, 08/14/2026 - 08:26
⚡ Quick Take
  • We can’t find where the real dragons are hiding, but we can own this adorable House of the Dragon Squishmallows set.
  • There are four Squishmallows dragons included: Caraxes, Vhagar, Syrax, and Seasmoke.
  • Dive Deeper: These dragons and their riders are all still alive, but here is who died in House of the Dragon season three.

House of the Dragon season three ended with smoke, flames, and lots of death, none of which make our hearts happy. As we wait for what the fourth and final season brings, we wonder who will ultimately win this Dance of the Dragons. Honestly, at this point, all we can do is root for the dragons because the Blacks and Greens are all being very dumb. And while we can’t seem to find where the real dragons are hiding on Earth, we can own this adorable House of the Dragon Squishmallows set featuring four of our favorite fictional beasts. 

Click To View Gallery Squishmallows Store

The set includes Daemon’s dragon Caraxes, Rhaenyra’s dragon Syrax, Addam’s fire-breathing buddy Seasmoke, and the legendary Vhagar, ridden by Aemond. Well, previously ridded by him. It seems that Vhagar is a free spirit who is doing what she wants to do, and we love that for her. They look incredibly adorable and not at all like they would BBQ a legion of your enemies. We love how true their colorways are very representative of how they all appear in the HBO series.

These House of the Dragon Squishmallows are far tinier than their television counterparts at only 5 inches big. That’s the perfect size to bring the spirit of Westeros to your desk. You can find them on Amazon for a little over $20 and have four new fierce friends in just a few days.

Tai Gooden is the Features Editor for Nerdist, a fictional villain apologist, and a horror aficionado who is forever waiting for her trip in the TARDIS.

This post has affiliate links, which means we may earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, we just have to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

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Categories: Nerd News

The Internet Wants Assad Zaman to Be Nightcrawler in the MCU’s X-MEN (And We Do Too)

The Nerdist - Fri, 08/14/2026 - 08:10
⚡ Quick Take
  • The internet has fan cast Assad Zaman as Nightcrawler in the MCU’s X-Men and we agree that this is one spectacular idea.
  • To make their point, fans have put together glorious fan art and fan vids that have amassed millions of views.
  • Zaman is a tremendous actor and his past performances more than proved he’d be able to deliver one incredible Nightcrawler.
  • Learn More: At Nerdist, we dove deep into Assad Zaman’s The Vampire Lestat character in our Armand Character Profile.

There’s much conversation about who will make the cut to be part of the MCU’s first X-team in the upcoming X-Men movie. Fans have waited a long time to see the MCU’s version of this mutant team, so it’s no surprise the internet is rife with ideal fan castings for the many beloved characters from this franchise. Recently, though, one particular fan cast has taken the internet by storm. And that’s the (very good) idea that The Vampire Lestat/Interview with the Vampire‘s Assad Zaman should play Nightcrawler in the MCU’s X-Men movie. In true fandom fashion, this vision of Zaman playing Nightcrawler has arrived with fan art, fan vids, and millions of views, all of which make for a compelling case. Let’s take a look at all the excitement.

Assad Zaman fan cast for Nightcrawler in mcu x-menMarvel Studios/AMC

The casting of Assad Zaman as Nightcrawler in the MCU’s X-Men makes a lot of sense to us. After all, Nightcrawler is known for his quirky sense of humor, tragic past, complex relationship with religion and family, sensitivity, yellow eyes, and fluffy hair—all things Zaman has more than demonstrated himself capable of bringing to our screens in the finest of fashions. Zaman is also just a tremendous actor, full stop, and he has a background in theater, which makes perfect sense when it comes to Nightcrawler’s background of live performing. And, we mean, we feel like all of this Assad Zaman as Nightcrawler fan art that talented denizens of the internet have created really underscores the point.

my humble contribution to the assad zaman as nightcrawler agenda https://t.co/Incu16Xjpd pic.twitter.com/aiqxebNBCE

— ً (@tendertiefling) August 12, 2026

neuron activation então rabisquei rapidinho https://t.co/NFKMzqvqUK pic.twitter.com/X2hcKVLPx1

— Autunno (@outonopriv) August 10, 2026

assad zaman nightcrawler i think abt u all the time pic.twitter.com/4k070GfRRT

— nat 🌙 (@_souperstar) July 24, 2026

been thinking abt assad zaman nightcrawler recently,,,,, pic.twitter.com/SOZmgAsFZf

— nat 🌙 (@_souperstar) December 5, 2025

i know next to nothing about nightcrawler but if assads there so am i https://t.co/Gi020izeKe pic.twitter.com/NBgMrSDjFf

— MAC 🦇 (@armandseyepatch) August 12, 2026

Decided to edit one myself with Assad zaman as nightcrawler pic.twitter.com/QJgGTNqmLX

— dagger⚔️ (@pmkntwo) August 12, 2026

Fans of Assad Zaman as the MCU’s Nightcrawler have even taken things to a live-action place, so any Marvel execs out there can really SEE the vision. (And hey, doesn’t this excited fan base make a good case for the casting all on its own?)

Encantada, tudo o que eu precisava era de artes e edits do Assad Zaman como Kurt / Nightcrawler. https://t.co/0DFdTcca7m pic.twitter.com/omalP8XqfL

— Liz ᵀⱽᴸ (@lestatgothic) August 10, 2026

growing very fond of these assad zaman as nightcrawler edits. marvel lock in pic.twitter.com/wunJH1cPqc

— 🗡️ (@slasherscott) August 11, 2026

Honestly, we could be here all day sharing compelling fan arguments for why Assad Zaman would make an incredible Nightcrawler in the MCU’s X-Men movie. And that’s pretty loud all on its own. What we’ve shared here is just the tip of the iceberg of what’s out there.

But all of that aside, Assad Zaman is just an incredible actor. Cast him as Nightcrawler. Cast him in everything!

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Eric Bogosian and Assad Zaman Discuss All Things Armand and Daniel in THE VAMPIRE LESTAT Rotem Rusak is the Editor-in-Chief at Nerdist. She is a great lover of the anti-hero, including Zaman’s Armand, and is always ready for a new ship to set sail. In her work, she likes to combine fandom passion with journalistic sensibilities. Follow her on Instagram.

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Categories: Nerd News

Apple proposes to take a 15% cut of purchases made outside the App Store

TechCrunch - Fri, 08/14/2026 - 07:54
Apple is asking a federal judge to allow it to charge commissions of up to 15% on purchases made through external links in iOS apps.
Categories: Nerd News

Kog is going deeper to squeeze more inference out of GPUs

TechCrunch - Fri, 08/14/2026 - 07:50
The idea that GPUs are poorly suited for agentic workflows may be a misconception, according to French startup Kog.
Categories: Nerd News

Disney+ Said No No POWER RANGERS Live-Action Series

The Nerdist - Fri, 08/14/2026 - 07:34
⚡ Quick Take
  • Those Mighty Morphin Power Rangers will not get to have any adventures at Disney+ after the streamer cancelled its live-action series.
  • Reports cite that the cancellation stemmed from budgetary constraints.
  • Nerdist’s Take: Considering Amazon MGM’s success with Masters of the Universe from a streaming perspective, Hasbro could partner with them to bring a live-action Power Rangers series to fruition.

No No Power Rangerssss. Those Mighty Morphin Power Rangers will not get to have any adventures at Disney+ after the streamer cancelled its live-action series. This project by Percy Jackson and the Olympians showrunners Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz began development back in 2024. And sadly, it never even made it out of the development stage. It’s been a rough road for Power Rangers fans for many years, with a few unrealized projects and meh-to-decent movies. 

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A POWER RANGERS Series at Disney+ Is in the Works

According to Deadline, the reason why Disney+ cancelled the live-action Power Rangers series isn’t about creative differences, but budgetary ones. Bringing the spectacle that many modern and potentially new fans will want to see is a big investment for an IP that Disney does not own. Of course, the Power Rangers brand is owned by Hasbro. The company wants to get a live-action series going for a new generation. There was some nostalgia-driven success at Netflix with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, a reunion special in 2023. 

Nerdist’s Take: Hasbro Should Partner With Amazon MGM Studios and Bring a Live-Action Power Rangers Series to Prime Video  Poster art for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always features the Blue Ranger in the middle, the Black Ranger to his right, and the Pink and Red Rangers to his left.Netflix

Amazon MGM Studios and Hasbro are currently working on a Jem and the Holograms live-action series. And, Amazon’s Masters of the Universe film, while not a box-office success, got a love of streaming love and overall praise from fans for capturing the world’s goofy spirit. MOTU and Power Rangers feel like distant cousins in terms of their foundations. Both are nostalgia-driven franchises looking to tap into those now-adult fans and bring their kids into the fold. 

They both have similar themes like cosmic elements, hidden identities, monsters of the week and recurring villains that resonate with fans. Considering how well Amazon did with bringing MOTU to life via allowing creatives to adapt material in ways that felt right and that the company certainly has the money to pour into a series, it wouldn’t be a bad move to partner with them. 

Hopefully, Hasbro will find the right place to make a live-action Power Rangers series happen after this unfortunate cancellation at Disney.

Tai Gooden is the Features Editor for Nerdist, a fictional villain apologist, and a horror aficionado who is forever waiting for her trip in the TARDIS.

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Categories: Nerd News

Hyperscalers might regret embracing natural gas if new forecast proves correct

TechCrunch - Fri, 08/14/2026 - 07:05
Natural gas prices could triple in some parts of the U.S., which could saddle hyperscalers with massive bills to power their AI data centers.
Categories: Nerd News

Steve Rogers’ ENDGAME Ending, Explained—and What It Means for AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY?

The Nerdist - Fri, 08/14/2026 - 06:42
⚡ Quick Take
  • Avengers: Endgame‘s final scene is important for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
  • In Avengers: Endgame, Steve Rogers went back in time. We break down what happened, who he married, and more.
  • We also explain how Endgame could result in Steve Rogers’ return in Avengers: Doomsday.

The events of Avengers: Endgame left us reeling when we first saw them. The original Avengers all got their moments to shine in the 22nd Marvel movie, but, of course, the end of the movie focused on one: Captain America. It’s hard to believe that seven years later, we’re revisiting that final Avengers: Endgame moment and opening it up again as Steve Rogers begins a new journey in the MCU and returns to the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday.

At the time of Endgame, we knew it had to happen. Since his very first film, Captain America: The First Avenger, Steve Rogers has dreamt about his dance with his one true love, Peggy Carter. In his final moments before crashing into the Arctic, just before he was frozen in the ice for seven decades, Steve thought of his dance date with Agent Carter. “I’m gonna need a rain check on that dance.” Peggy, knowing full well he was about to die, comforted him through tears. “Alright, a week next Saturday at the Stork Club. Eight o’clock on the dot, don’t you dare be late. Understood?” After his rescue and restoration by S.H.I.E.L.D., he thought only of that dance – for years and years.

peggy steve dancing avengers endgame (1)Marvel Studios

That dance is part of why Steve Rogers’ ending in Endgame is such a tearjerker. After Thanos is defeated and the vanished are brought back to life, Steve steps back in the Quantum Realm time machine to take the Infinity Stones into the past and put them back, closing the time loops. But instead of returning to the present, he travels further into the past, where he presumably marries Peggy. The film closes with a flashback of them dancing together in their living room.

It’s a beautiful moment, but one that poses a lot of timeline questions. How far back did Steve go? What about Peggy’s husband that she mentions in The Winter Soldier? How does Steve Rogers now return in Avengers: Doomsday? Here’s a rundown of Endgame‘s final moment, what it means, how it works, and what it could mean for the future of the MCU.

Where did Old Steve come from in Avengers: Endgame?

If we’re going off the time travel logic presented to us in Endgame, then Steve went back to 1970, when he and Tony traveled to in an effort to get the Tesseract prior to when Loki ran away with it. Also to acquire more Pym particles to continue their time-traveling efforts. By going back to that time, as well as the times and places visited by the other Avengers, Steve would have effectively closed the time loops the Avengers created. But instead of jumping back to the present, he decided instead to go back in time – most likely to the 1950s, a.k.a. after the events of ABC’s Agent Carter – to live out the rest of his days with his long-lost love.

Old man Steve Rogers in Avengers: EndgameMarvel Studios

That means the elderly Steve we see at the end of Endgame is actually present-day Steve, who presumably lived in hiding and away from the major events of the Avengers films. He went back in time and stayed there, aged normally, and waited until the exact moment he could pass along his shield to Sam Wilson.

Who Is Steve Rogers’ Wife in Avengers: Endgame?

Old Steve Rogers is wearing a visible wedding ring when Sam speaks to him. Sam asks who the lucky lady is, and Steve respectfully refuses to talk about it. We can assume, given the scene we see next, that the woman he married was Peggy. That lends a whole new perspective to the scenes we see in films like The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Knowing that Steve and Peggy were married all along makes their “reunion” in The Winter Soldier more layered. Peggy is saying goodbye to the young Cap – “it’s been so long” – while her husband, the aged Cap, is somewhere offscreen.

But this does present another possible wrinkle in the timeline…

What About Peggy’s Husband?

In The Winter Soldier, we see Peggy in the WWII museum talking about her husband, a man who served as the member of a battalion over one thousand soldiers and was rescued by Captain America. Fans have wondered since Agent Carter‘s cancellation who this mystery man might be. It was never answered on that show, or in the films, but Endgame presents a few possibilities. The first is that Peggy married some random veteran we’ve never met, and the second is that this whole interview was a smokescreen to hide her secret marriage to Steve Rogers.

The latter seems more likely. Especially when you re-watch her scene in The Winter Soldier. On her deathbed, Peggy talks to a young Cap, and we see photographs of her children on her bedside table. Conveniently, there are no pictures of her husband, meaning he could be anyone. It’s likely, then, that the husband Peggy refers to in the film is actually Steve, and she never mentions their peculiar situation to his younger self because she knows it would compromise the series of events that led them to one another. Instead, she acts as if she hasn’t seen him in decades.

So How Does Steve Rogers Return in Avengers: Doomsday?

We see Steve pass the torch (shield, really) to Sam Wilson at the end of Endgame, and he becomes Captain America. We don’t, however, get a definitive “death scene.” For a long time, it seemed like Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers would not return to the MCU. Evans said for a long time that his time was up. But in the run-up to Avengers: Doomsday, we learn that Steve Rogers will absolutely return for that movie

But how can that be? Well, in the MCU, anything is possible. Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers might be the Steve Rogers who lived his life with Peggy, arrived via time-travel shenanigans. When Steve decided to stay with Peggy, he almost certainly created a branching timeline in the MCU, meaning there’s a second Steve Rogers timeline where different things happened to him. Alternatively, Avengers: Doomsday Steve Rogers might be an alternate-universe Steve Rogers who’s come from some totally other reality. 

Ultimately, we don’t yet know how Steve Rogers will return in Avengers: Doomsday. But we’ll find out when Avengers: Doomsday releases on December 18, 2026.

Originally published April 25, 2019.

Lindsey Romain writes about movies, TV, games, comics, and all things nerdy for Nerdist.

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Categories: Nerd News

US courts will start publishing how often the government uses spyware

TechCrunch - Fri, 08/14/2026 - 06:29
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts told TechCrunch that it will start disclosing how many times judges authorized the use of spyware to wiretap suspected criminals.
Categories: Nerd News

Uber and Pony.ai plan to bring 2,000 robotaxis to Europe

TechCrunch - Fri, 08/14/2026 - 03:44
The partnership is expanding beyond the initial market of Zagreb, Croatia to four additional European cities.
Categories: Nerd News

BEWARE BOIÚNA’s New Trailer Will Make Your Skin Slither

The Nerdist - Thu, 08/13/2026 - 15:54
⚡ Quick Take
  • Beware Boiúna is an all-new snake horror set in the Amazon.
  • The movie follows a team of doctors sent to the rainforest on a medical mission, only to come face to reptilian face with something deadly and, worse, vengeful.
  • Boiúna might just be the first good creature feature this year.

Beware Boiúna is bringing back the creature feature! Featuring… an absolutely enormous snake. The Anaconda reboot must have been an inspiration to Hollywood, because this snake is much bigger and much scarier than a boring old water boa.

The new trailer shows a group of doctors sent to the Amazon rainforest, who encounter a threat much more terrifying than they had imagined. Take a look below:

The Amazon sounds terrifying enough with the palm-sized spiders, but you couldn’t pay me any amount to spend time in there with Boiúna. This isn’t purely an animal horror movie, either. There seems to be a supernatural/mythical element to it, with the snake being a strategic and smart predator rather than simply an animal following its nature.

Deep in the Amazon, a medical mission spirals into a fight for survival when Boiúna, a colossal ancient predator, awakens to reclaim her domain. In the jungle where nature holds absolute power, she decides who lives and who dies.

One good sign for Boiúna‘s success is that everyone working on the movie seems to get horror. The movie will be directed by Mike P. Nelson, who has worked on other very campy projects like Silent Night, Deadly Night and Summer School. The stars include Logan Marshall-Green from The Odyssey, Jessica Rothe from Happy Death Day, and Kiana Madeira of the Fear Street trilogy.

A still from Beware Boiúna, showing a terrified doctor covered in mud with the enormous snake behind her.Lionsgate

2026 seems to be a big year for the animal horror subgenre. However, despite their best efforts, recent movies have tried and failed to do the creature feature well. Killer Whale (2026) has perhaps the worst Rotten Tomatoes score I’ve ever seen, and Grizzly Night (2026) didn’t do well among audience members or critics, either. Hopefully, Beware Boiúna can turn the trend around. The movie comes to theaters on October 2, just in time for the season of all things spooky.

Ella R. Dunn writes about movies, TV, games, comics, and all things nerdy for Nerdist.

The post BEWARE BOIÚNA’s New Trailer Will Make Your Skin Slither appeared first on Nerdist.

Categories: Nerd News

Controversial Film THE DEVILS Releasing NC-17 Cut Over 50 Years Later

The Nerdist - Thu, 08/13/2026 - 15:40
⚡ Quick Take
  • Ken Russell’s 1971 film The Devils will see an uncut, NC-17 version this October.
  • The movie, depicting carnality within, without, and for the Catholic Church, was immediately controversial upon release.
  • Russell assembled a director’s cut in secret in 2004 but Warner Bros. refused to release it…until now!
  • Nerdist take: The Devils is one of cinema’s most troubling masterpieces, and seeing it uncut will be a revelation.

Most movies with extreme content from days of yore will see an uncut release at some point. As censorship regulations decrease or tastes and permissiveness change, usually a movie will see an unrated version, if not in theaters, at least in home media. In the case of Ken Russell’s 1971 film The Devils, the movie has remained nigh-impossible to see in a complete format. Russell, who also directed other controversial movies like Women in Love, Tommy, and Altered States, had trouble with The Devils from the start. Warner Bros. deemed its shocking content unsuitable for audiences, even well into the new millennium. What makes the uncut version of The Devils so controversial? In a word, blasphemy.

Now, over 50 years later, Russell’s uncut vision of “my most…indeed, my only…political film” will premiere for one week on the big screen this October. And in a brand new 4k restoration to boot. Check out the trailer below, but BEWARE INTENSE FLASHING.

Russell based the movie on the historical nonfiction novel, The Devils of Loudon by Aldous Huxley. The story takes place in the 1600s in the walled French city of Loudon. It follows the iconoclastic (and not altogether holy) Catholic priest, Father Grandier (Oliver Reed) as he tries to keep the control of the citizenry from the corrupt Cardinal Richelieu (Christopher Logue) and his serpent-like thrall over the insane King Louis the XIII (Graham Armitage).

Playing into the Cardinal’s hand is Grandier’s all-too-human desires. Grandier is a big fan of sleeping with women in his parish, for example. But it’s also the desires of the cloistered Ursuline nuns nearby. Specifically Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave) who is obsessed with Grandier and resentful that she cannot have him for herself. The movie depicts a kangaroo court wherein accusations of Satanic fraternization lead to hysteria, panic, torture, and worse.

Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave) kneels amid other nuns and a crucifix in Ken Russell's The Devils.Warner Bros. Clockwork

I’ve seen this movie a few times over the years and it’s one of the most arresting movies I’ve ever seen. The Devils is upsetting and scary and weird and certainly doing its own thing. But almost no one who has seen the movie has seen Russell’s original vision, which WB released heavily cut even back in the 1970s.

“The restoration of the material is like cleaning the Sistine Chapel with saliva. It is insane, the epic size of the film. I mean, I’ve seen it on the big screen in Telluride at a theater – but I’ve never seen the movie until I saw this restoration.” – Guillermo del Toro

Assembled from the original camera negative, this new 4K restoration presents Ken Russell’s definitive vision of The Devils by referencing the edit he privately constructed in 2004. Ken Russell’s The Devils is the uncut and unfiltered theatrical experience that Russell always envisioned – and the first time the film will be presented restored and in 4K. Russell died in 2011.

This new cut of The Devils has a rating of NC-17 for “sexual content and graphic nudity.” What it doesn’t say is “involving religious relics and the clergy.” North American audiences will get to see the movie in select cinemas for one week, beginning October 14, 2026. I’ll be there.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.

The post Controversial Film THE DEVILS Releasing NC-17 Cut Over 50 Years Later appeared first on Nerdist.

Categories: Nerd News

Investors sue Selena Gomez alleging fraud tied to her mental health startup

TechCrunch - Thu, 08/13/2026 - 15:12
The plaintiffs say they invested nearly $1.2 million in the company, and are accusing Gomez of failing to build and market the startup.
Categories: Nerd News

Flock says its new tool will help identify police abuse, but hasn’t explained how it works

TechCrunch - Thu, 08/13/2026 - 15:02
The surveillance company announced it's making a tool called "Audit Assistance" mandatory for all customers, claiming it's already helped catch abuse. But the company has yet to explain how the tool works in detail, raising questions about its effectiveness.
Categories: Nerd News

If Apple sends you a push notification alerting you to a spyware attack, take it seriously

TechCrunch - Thu, 08/13/2026 - 14:50
Apple now sends out push notifications to iPhone lock screens when the company identifies government spyware targeting someone's devices.
Categories: Nerd News

Writer introduces new AI model and upgraded harness to contain token costs

TechCrunch - Thu, 08/13/2026 - 14:13
Built as a post-training variation on Z.ai's open source model GLM-5.2, Writer says the new system should provide deployment-ready capabilities at a much lower price.
Categories: Nerd News

Databricks wanted to raise $1B, investors wanted $15B. It settled on $5B at a $190B valuation.

TechCrunch - Thu, 08/13/2026 - 13:14
AI is expensive, Ali Ghodsi tells TechCrunch. With so many investors wanting into his latest round, he said yes to more than planned.
Categories: Nerd News

OpenAI introduces ‘Ultrafast,’ a new mode that makes GPT 5.6 Sol work at 14x the speed

TechCrunch - Thu, 08/13/2026 - 12:22
OpenAI is launching a preview of a sped up version of its latest, most powerful model, in an effort to court enterprise users.
Categories: Nerd News

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