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The proliferation of streaming services means that audiences are constantly bombarded with things to watch, and it's easy for individual movies to get lost in the fray. Yet, every once in a while, a film that might very well have faded into obscurity before the streaming era manages to secure a new lease on life when it hits, say, Prime Video.

Time and time again, Amazon's streaming platform has proved itself to be a golden opportunity for movies that failed at the box office. Prime Video helped Gareth Edwards' ambitious 2023 sci-fi movie "The Creator" find an audience, but it has also benefitted films that are, for want of a more polite phrasing, pretty bad. Ryan Reynolds' worst-reviewed movie became a Prime Video hit 12 years after its release, after all -- and Nicole Kidman's 2025 critical flop "Holland" did the same immediately after it hit streaming platform.

Now, singer Rihanna's first major blockbuster movie,...

The Apple TV+ Original show Murderbot starring Alexander Skarsgård started streaming recently. Based on the Murderbot Diaries book by Martha Wells, the series is a sci-fi comedy created by Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz. When the show premiered, it gave viewers two episodes, and it appears the series is already turning heads.

The first two episodes quickly reel in viewers, and the third episode quickly turns them into fans with Murderbot’s awkward and dry humor, a group of hip scientists who seem to find ways to get themselves eaten, and the weird forces in space that pick the brains of fans. The show became a hit among viewers and fans alike, earning a “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes with a 97% score.

With the first three episodes already having fans in a chokehold, let’s take a look at how many more episodes are on the way—and when they’ll be released.

Murderbot is the latest sci-fi comedy-drama on Apple TV+ that is gaining widespread attention. Based on Martha Wells’ bestselling science fiction series, The Murderbot Diaries, the series, created by Chris and Paul Weitz, has a whole different twist to the otherwise overused humanoid concept.

Murderbot (played by Alexander Skarsgård) not only protects people, but it also enjoys watching soap operas in its free time and has difficulty making eye contact with others. Apart from an anxiety-ridden bot, we have an exploration crew that loves to get in trouble, and if trouble doesn’t come to them, they go looking for it. In the third episode of the first season, “Risk Assessment,” the PreservationAux goes looking for something completely unprepared.

The real threat is Murderbot’s streaming addiction Alexander Skarsgård as Murderbot | Credits: Apple TV+

When Murderbot first premiered, we got two episodes, and despite getting more than what Apple TV+ normally promises,...

Alexander Skarsgard is opening up about that viral moment from the 2016 MTV Movie Awards, where he walked on stage in his underwear.

While presenting at the show, Alexander explained, “Me Tarzan… gotta give the fans a little skin. I was going to go shirtless, but someone told me that Zac Efron did that two years ago here.”

In a new interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Alexander revealed that he was actually wearing a famous friend’s underwear.

Keep reading to find out more…

Alexander noted how Zac went shirtless previously at the show “and I had this stupid idea, ‘Well I also want to show some skin.’ But I wasn’t going to take my shirt off, because that’s been done. So then [I thought] I’ll take my pants off instead. I thought it was funny, but now it’s going to haunt me for the rest of my life.

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Who wears short shorts? If you’ve been online lately, you already know the answer: Alexander Skarsgård. The Murderbot star has been breaking the internet with his bold, unexpected fashion choices, including sequin pants, a Bdsm-inspired tuxedo, and, most recently, a pair of daring short shorts.

While appearing on the British daytime show Lorraine, Skarsgård strutted onto set in pink, black, and white checkered micro-shorts, telling host Ranvir Singh,...

Apple TV+’s critically acclaimed sci-fi comedy/thriller Murderbot continues with episode four, “Escape Velocity Protocol,” streaming on May 30, 2025. New episodes of season one, which currently sits at 97% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, debut on Fridays.

The series stars Alexander Skarsgård as the titular character, Noma Dumezweni (Presumed Innocent) as Mensah, David Dastmalchian (Oppenheimer) as Gurathin, Sabrina Wu (Joy Ride) as Pin-Lee, Akshay Khanna (Critical Incident) as Ratthi, Tattiawna Jones (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Arada, and Tamara Podemski (Outer Range) as Bharadwaj. Skarsgård also executive produces along with series creators Chris and Paul Weitz.

Escape Velocity Protocol Plot: Murderbot struggles for its life, its newfound freedom, and its sanity as it faces an enemy beyond even its formidable powers. Mensah debates whether to go back for Murderbot or leave It behind.

Tattiawna Jones and Akshay Khanna in ‘Murderbot’ episode 4 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+) Murderbot Season 1 Description:

Based on Martha Wells’ bestselling...

Murderbot premiered last week on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes, and it was an intriguing start to the sci-fi comedy series. The first episode really gets you into the world, while episode 2 slowed down a bit too much. Though the ending made up for it, which leads us to Murderbot episode 3, "Risk Assessment." Here's a quick recap of what happened in the episode!

Even though Murderbot doesn't think it's a good idea, the group decides to go and see why the other team they were trying to get in contact with aren't answering. As we saw in the final moments of the second episode, everyone, including the Sec Units are dead. So they're walking into very dangerous territory.

Noma Dumezweni, Sabrina Wu, Tattiawna Jones and Alexander Skarsgård in "Murderbot," now streaming on Apple TV+.

We keep hearing about the corporation and how apparently no one likes them. Mensah...

There have been rumblings for years about Ghost Rider making his MCU debut, but they've heated up this week. Marvel Studios is reportedly looking to cast the role for Avengers: Doomsday, introducing Earth-616's Spirit of Vengeance. 

We expected some new characters to debut here alongside all those returning fan favourites, and Johnny Blaze should be near the top of the Russo Brothers' list. The question now, though, is who should play the anti-hero?

In this feature, we've singled out some actors we believe would be the right fit for Ghost Rider in the MCU. There are a couple of familiar faces, and others we don't necessarily think you'll expect to see.

You can see who we think should play the McU's Ghost Rider by hitting the "Next"/"View List" buttons below. 

8. Gabriel Luna

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was initially envisioned as being part of the MCU,...

And just like that... it's summer again. Well, almost. If you're sick of the beach or had enough BBQ, turn up the AC and sprawl out on the couch because there's lots of summer TV for your viewing pleasure.

Carrie & Co. are back with the third season of And Just Like That... Squid Game will conclude its three-season run. Wednesday returns on a — what else? — Wednesday. The Bear will serve up a fourth season. And after an 11-week break, Carrie Coon will be the queen of HBO Sunday nights again with the third season of The Gilded Age.

That's just returning favorites. New series include a historical Hawaiian epic from Jason Momoa, a rom-com from Lena Dunham starring Megan Stalter and Will Sharpe, the first Phase Six series of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and a Kevin Williamson family fishing drama.

Here are the 25 key shows to watch this summer.

Duster (Max)

Premiered: Thursday,...

Apple TV+’s recently released science-fiction action comedy series Murderbot, starring Alexander Skarsgård as the titular character, already has three episodes streaming. The series based on Martha Wells’ The Murderbot Diaries has scored a 97% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and has received a positive response from audiences as well.

The idea of a cyborg hacking its own system to free itself and gain free will did get fans intrigued. The cherry on the top was the robot wanting to be left alone to catch up on a space opera. While the series has received good comments till now, fans express concern when it comes to one aspect of the show.

Fans complain about Apple TV+’s Murderbot episodes’ running time

Chris and Paul Weitz’s beloved science fiction comedy series Murderbot’s third episode, titled Risk Assessment, dives into how the robot wants to be left alone. It’s gaining free will,...

Ahead of the 2025 awards ceremony on Saturday, May 24, the festival has announced the winners for the Un Certain Regard section, with the top prize going to “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo.” A co-production between Chile, France, Belgium, Spain, and Germany, the 1980s-set drama marks the feature directorial debut of Chilean filmmaker Diego Céspedes.

The Best Screenplay award for the Un Certain Regard section went to Harry Lighton for his feature directorial debut, A24’s “Pillion,” starring Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård. In his Critic’s Pick review out of Cannes, IndieWire’s Ryan Lattanzio said of the film, “Dick-sucking, boot-licking, and ball-gagging are de rigueur for a movie like writer/director Harry Lighton’s wildly graphic and strangely moving Bdsm romance, ‘Pillion.’ But for a British queer film that puts the particulars of a gay dominant-submissive affair up front and up close, actors Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling find...

Diego Céspedes’ The Mysterious Gaze Of The Flamingo has won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section of this year’s Cannes Film Festival (May 13-24).

The Chilean drama centres around an unknown illness said to be transmitted through a man’s loving gaze. Chile’s Quijote Films and France’s Les Valseurs produce, with Charades handling sales.

The jury prize went to Simon Mesa Soto’s A Poet. Shot in Medellin, Colombia, it follows an ageing man obsessed with poetry who mentors a talented teenage girl.

Best screenplay went to Harry Lighton for Pillion, starring Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård.

Chilean Drama The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo by Diego Céspedes won the main Un Certain Regard Prize this evening in Cannes.

Set in 1982, the film follows eleven-year-old Lidia lives with her beloved queer family in a desert mining town in northern Chile. As an unknown and deadly disease begins to spread, legend has it that it is transmitted between two men, through a simple glance, when they fall in love. While people are accusing her family, Lidia must find out whether this myth is real or not.

A Poet, by Colombian filmmaker Simón Mesa Soto, won the Jury Prize. The film is Soto’s second feature, and it follows Oscar Restrepo, whose obsession with poetry brought him no glory. Aging and erratic, he has succumbed to the cliché of the poet in the shadows. Meeting Yurlady, a teenage girl from humble roots, and helping her cultivate her talent brings some light to his days,...

Last week, X owner Elon Musk (net worth as of this writing: $420.6 billion) loosed his A.I. “tool” Grok on the platform, where it started promulgating false statements about “white genocide” and the Holocaust. Earlier this month, Mark Zuckerberg ($220.4 billion) quietly reversed itself on pledges to fund affordable housing in the Bay Area. Three months ago, Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos ($218.9 billion) drove away the Opinions Editor at the Washington Post, which Bezos owns, by ordering “support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets.”

I could go on, but you get the idea: When it comes to making capricious, arrogant, ill-informed decisions that are harmful to millions, the world’s three richest people never take a day off. Jesse Armstrong really didn’t need to go to the trouble of making Mountainhead to convince me billionaires are ruining our lives.

Mountainhead, which premieres on HBO and Max May 31st,...

In a perfect world, the SecUnit who calls itself Murderbot (Alexander Skarsgård) could just watch television shows and ponder its place in the universe. But no. It has to deal with humans not quite knowing how to act around it, endure their emotional tirades, and even put itself into life-threatening situations to keep them from dying gory, painful deaths. Is there no justice in the galaxy?

The third episode of Murderbot is out now on Apple TV+, and it keeps things rolling right along for the streamer's sci-fi comedy series. Beware Full Spoilers for the episode ahead.

Alexander Skarsgård in "Murderbot," now streaming on Apple TV+. | Image: Apple TV+ Murderbot Episode 3 review: "Risk Assessment"

"Risk Assessment" gives us another short, sweet burst of Murderbot fun, ending in a cliffhanger as Murderbot finds itself in a very dangerous situation. I do love these half-hour episodes, even if I would gladly watch more.

The Streamable’s experts rank the top shows currently available to stream today.

Just about everything in the television and entertainment industries has changed in the past five to 10 years. Not too long ago, the month of September was focused almost exclusively on the return of football and the launch of a new, robust slate of TV shows. However, as cord-cutting rapidly decreased the number of Americans watching television in traditional ways, the release calendar has shifted. So while there are still a number of new and returning shows premiering on broadcast channels during the back half of the month, it is nowhere near the numbers of decades past.

Many of the best titles on TV have migrated from networks and cable channels to streaming in recent years, but with the non-standard release schedules, it can be tough to keep up with what is airing where and when, and which shows are actually worth watching.

“There is nothing so agonizing as the silence of systems that should be screaming,” I muttered halfway through Murderbot’s third episode, Risk Assessment. What a curious cocktail this one turned out to be: equal parts existential discomfort, synthetic angst, awkward camaraderie, and enough sarcasm to power a snark reactor.

Episode 3 doesn’t so much escalate as it unspools, stretching its humor, tension, and theme like overused duct tape, nearly slipping under its own weight. And yet, like Murderbot itself, it keeps limping forward with just enough bite to stay interesting. The jokes? Recycled. The pace? More meander than march. But the character work, especially around Alexander Skarsgård’s brittle, anti-social SecUnit, is the meat here.

The humans dawdle, argue, cry into pillows, and shove emotions down Murderbot’s steel throat, whether it wants them or not. In short, the episode tries to be thoughtful. Does it succeed? Well, I think halfway.

Apple TV+’s Murderbot continues its intimate, cerebral exploration of synthetic consciousness in Episode 3 (“The Fallacy of Care”). As the titular SecUnit’s journey toward autonomy deepens, so does its internal conflict—revealing that its greatest malfunction might not be technical at all. It might be emotional.

Adapted from Martha Wells’ The Murderbot Diaries, the show pivots sharply in this episode from corporate sabotage and action-heavy sequences to something more unsettling: a confrontation with memory, hesitation, and self-awareness.

Here’s a complete breakdown of the latest chapter—and the quietly devastating question it leaves us with.

Murderbot Episode 3 “The Fallacy of Care” Recap:

Episode 3 opens on the run. After the GrayCris Corporation’s surveillance trap is sprung in Episode 2, Murderbot and Dr. Mensah’s team flee into a derelict terraforming station buried under an abandoned mining colony. With no communications and limited power, tensions among the group begin to fray...

With his undeniable charm and extremely loving personality, Pedro Pascal has become a fan favorite, whether it’s for his role in The Mandalorian, Game of Thrones, or The Last of Us. However, despite these shows being some of the best of his career, the actor has admitted to obsessing over a totally unexpected performance of his own.

In a previous interview, Pascal reflected on the one thing from his career that he has watched the most, and surprisingly, it’s a scene from the acclaimed procedural drama The Mentalist that he just can’t get enough of.

Pedro Pascal revealed the scene from The Mentalist which is his favorite

Hollywood star Pedro Pascal has several hits to his name on both television and film. However, the one that has constantly been on his mind is a surprising one.

Related: I Never Knew Chris Evans Is Such a Geek About...

Apple TV+’s much-awaited sci-fi series Murderbot is finally on air and has received the perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, on its first episode, and then settled for a solid 98%. However, the audience score it received is about 80%. This sheds light on the disparity in how the audience has received the show compared to the critics.

This isn’t something new when it comes to sci-fi shows, though. A similar fate has been borne in the past by The Handmaid’s Tale, which was 84% on critics’ rankings and 57% on audience rankings. Or even Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, which was a 100% on the critics board while only being 76% on the audience charts.

Audience reception vs. critical acclaim for Murderbot

The discrepancy between audience and critic scores seems to stem from the difference in expectations and interpretations of the show. While critics may enjoy a show’s thematic depth, production quality,...

For our next special screening event, Collider is excited to announce that we’re partnering with Apple TV+ for a midseason showing of the streamer’s 10-episode science fiction series, Murderbot, starring Emmy Award winner Alexander Skarsgård as the eponymous robot. We’ll be getting together in Los Angeles to watch Episodes 4 and 5 on the big screen, followed by an exclusive Q&a conversation with Academy Award-nominated creators Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz, as well as star and executive producer Skarsgård. Read on for the full details on how you can enter for your chance to win free tickets.

In recent years, Apple TV+ has established itself as the hub for smart, high-quality sci-fi in television, includingSilo, For All Mankind, Severance, and more. Now, adapted from Martha Wells’ best-selling, award-winning book series, The Murderbot Diaries, the streamer is taking viewers on an adorably chaotic adventure with self-proclaimed Murderbot (Skarsgård), a...

To say Lars von Trier is a divisive filmmaker and artist is ... a massive understatement. Throughout his career, von Trier has written and directed groundbreaking, controversial movies like "Dancer in the Dark," "Antichrist," and "Nymphomaniac" — but now, one of his bleakest films, which also happens to star Kirsten Dunst, is finding new life on Hulu (via JustWatch).

Released in 2011, von Trier's film "Melancholia" is actually part of what he calls the "Depression trilogy". While "Antichrist" focuses on a couple grieving a tragic loss and "Nymphomaniac" utilizes vignettes to chart the story of one woman's lifelong trauma, "Melancholia" takes a broader focus: Specifically, it tackles the end of the world.

Dunst stars as Justine, a woman who, as the film begins, is marrying a man named Michael (Alexander Skårsgard), with her sister Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and Claire's husband John (Kiefer Sutherland) among those in attendance. To say the reception doesn't go smoothly is also an understatement,...

It’s been a quiet year for Liam Neeson so far, but more than 10 years ago, he starred in an alien invasion film that’s climbing streaming charts. Neeson features alongside Alexander Skarsgård (Murderbot) and Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights) in Battleship, the 2012 sci-fi thriller following a fleet of ships forced to battle an unknown enemy to stop them from destroying the planet. Battleship has been streaming on Prime Video for a while now, and although the film is due to exit the platform in 11 days, it has landed in the top 10, sitting at #6 at the time of writing. The film earned a “rotten” 35% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and the audience-driven Popcornmeter also landed a poor 54%. It grossed $303 million at the box office on a $209 million budget.

Jon and Erich Hoeber wrote the script for Battleship, and Peter Berg stepped behind the camera to direct the film. The Hoeber...

Apple TV+ seems determined to lead the charge when it comes to intelligent sci-fi storytelling. With shows like Severance and Foundation under their belt, the streaming giant now introduces Murderbot, an adaptation of Martha Wells’ acclaimed The Murderbot Diaries. The show premiered its first two episodes this week and instantly struck a chord with fans of moody androids, space-corporate conspiracies, and high-functioning social anxiety.

Set in a corporate-run galaxy where planets are managed like franchises and private security units are leased like coffee machines, Murderbot introduces us to a SecUnit who has hacked its own governor module—giving it free will. But freedom, it turns out, is complicated. Especially when you’ve committed a massacre in your past and your handlers think you’re just another asset on the books.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the first two episodes and a look into the haunting question that Episode 2 leaves us with.

Apple TV+’s recent release of Murderbot, based on Martha Wells’ The Murderbot Diaries, has been the talk of the industry currently. The sci-fi comedy series with Alexander Skarsgård as the lead has touched upon a very unique and intriguing idea when it comes to the storyline. Fans and critics have praised the show, especially for how it goes on to tell a story about a robot.

While watching Murderbot, I was reminded of sci-fi shows that had left a significant impact on the audience, just as the recently released show is trying to do. These sci-fi shows can make the viewer think about the realities and what advanced technology could do in the future.

7 popular sci-fi shows to add to your watch list thanks to Apple TV+’s Murderbot

Who does not like to explore the imaginary world of technology and what it can do to our current world?...

Created by Paul and Chris Weitz, Apple TV+’s most recent sci-fi release, Murderbot, is based on author Martha Wells’ beloved novel series The Murderbot Diaries. The author had also acted as a consultant for the makers while making the show, as they collectively believed that it would help in being truthful to the source material.

It’s very interesting to watch a robot procrastinate to watch its favorite space opera, The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon. The show is said to have the perfect amount of melodrama, mystery, and comedy to keep the audience engaged. But in all honesty, is Murderbot even worth a watch? Let’s find out.

Murderbot Season 1: How faithful is the adaptation for Apple TV+?

Whenever a book is adapted for a series, it is very normal for the makers to tweak a few things to adjust the storyline according to the episodes.

With lots of kinky gay Bdsm sex scenes, elaborately choreographed orgies, full-frontal nudity and men in rubber, “Pillion” has easily been among the most sexually graphic films of Cannes so far (and also one of its most warmly received).

But it turns out the festival cut of the unorthodox romance — which screened in the Un Certain Regard section — was a mere bagatelle compared to what could have been shown.

According to first-time director Harry Lighton, several scenes from the film — about a meek young man (Harry Melling) who becomes the sexual submissive to a tall domineering alpha male biker (Alexander Skarsgard) — were cut to spare the blushes of the crowd in Cannes.

“It was purely because I didn’t want to push the audience into feeling they were being deliberately shocked by an image,” he explains to Variety. “So for example, there was one close up of a dick, a...

Apple TV+’s sci-fi series Murderbot continues with episode three, “Risk Assessment,” streaming on May 23, 2025. The promo clip shows the titular character considering his answer to a pivotal question and then opting not to join the humans in a hand-holding circle.

The series currently sits at 98% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and stars Alexander Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni (Presumed Innocent) as Mensah, David Dastmalchian (Oppenheimer) as Gurathin, Sabrina Wu (Joy Ride) as Pin-Lee, Akshay Khanna (Critical Incident) as Ratthi, Tattiawna Jones (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Arada, and Tamara Podemski (Outer Range) as Bharadwaj. Skarsgård also executive produces along with series creators Chris and Paul Weitz.

“Risk Assessment” Plot: Murderbot reluctantly gets close with the PresAux team as they fly to check on another survey team that has mysteriously gone dark. When Murderbot enters the DeltFall habitat alone, it discovers more than just the massacred crew.

Alexander Skarsgard in ‘Murderbot’ (Photo Credit: Apple...

Alexander Skarsgard is once again turning heads on the red carpet at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival!

The 48-year-old Emmy-winning actor stepped out for the premiere of Eagles Of The Republic on Monday (May 19) held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France.

For the premiere, Alexander wore a wild pair of blue sequined pants paired with a gray blazer and a pink bow time.

Alexander attended the premiere with his Pillion co-star Harry Melling.

The day before, Alexander made his presence known at the premiere of The Phoenician Scheme by wearing a pair of thigh-high leather boots.

Alexander recently revealed that he waxed his entire body for his new Apple TV+ series Murderbot, but admitted that he now regrets it.

Fyi: Alexander is wearing a Magliano blazer and Bianca Saunders pants.

Click through the gallery inside for 10+ pictures of Alexander Skarsgard on the red carpet…...

Alexander Skarsgard is a successful actor who is on an impressive Rotten Tomatoes streak. After receiving a perfect debut score for Murderbot, his new Apple TV+ series, Skarsgard achieved a rare career win by adding a different title in less than a week.

His latest film, the romance Pillion, debuted at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18 to huge acclaim. The drama, which follows a Bdsm relationship between a gay biker and a timid parking attendant, enjoyed an eight-minute standing ovation from the audience, per Deadline. As reviews started coming in, Pillion debuted with a score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Pillion marks Harry Lighton's directorial debut. The filmmaker also wrote the script for the drama, which is based on Adam Mars-Jones' 2020 novel, Box Hill. The cast features Harry Potter star Harry Melling in the leading role, as well as Douglas Hodge, Lesley Sharp, Jake Shears, and Anthony Welsh. The...

Sales, Godard and Wes Anderson, oh my! Sunday at Cannes was packed with action, from the premiere of a new Wes Anderson movie to the first major sale of the festival. Let’s get going.

Wes Anderson’s latest

Wes Anderson brought the cast of his new film “The Phoenician Scheme” to France, and while the ensemble only featured a few newcomers – namely Mia Threapleton (Kate Winslet’s daughter) and Michael Cera – most critics agreed that the idiosyncratic filmmaker has brought something fresh to the table: a tale about capitalism. Benicio del Toro stars as the wealthiest man in Europe who tries to get his soon-to-be-nun daughter in on his latest scheme, hence the title.

In his review for TheWrap, William Bibbiani made note that while the film is very much in keeping with Anderson’s established aesthetic and style, “The Phoenician Scheme” is “a huge departure.”

“He hasn’t...

The first two episodes of Alexander Skarsgård’s new sci-fi series hit Apple TV+ this weekend, and the show has been extremely well-received from critics thus far, earning a 97% score on the aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes. In addition to Skarsgård, Murderbot also stars David Dastmalchian as Gurathin, Sabrina Wu as Pin-Lee, and more. Collider is thrilled to partner with Apple TV+ to debut an exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming third episode of Murderbot, which will premiere on the platform on Friday. There are 10 episodes in total, and the series will run until its Season 1 finale on July 11. The sneak peek shows a group of characters deciding how they want to handle a situation as Murderbot listens and judges while weighing its true nature.

Murderbot follows the character of the same name (Skarsgård), a security android who is terrified by human emotion yet drawn to it when it finds itself with free will.

It wouldn’t be Cannes without a good scandal film. For 2025, British director Harry Lighton’s feature debut Pillion may be the one that sends the most people clutching their pearls. Centered on a dom-sub relationship within the gay biker milieu, it features depictions of fetishistic sex acts that could trigger a few sensitive souls. It would be a shame, however, if all attention is directed at the kinks and shocks––Lighton has made a truly provocative anti-romance that’s funny, honest, strangely touching. It’s an exceptional balance act that makes Pillion the unlikeliest crowd-pleaser.

Colin (Harry Melling) is a meek, scrawny young man still living with his parents and struggling to find love. It’s Christmas and we see him singing carols at the pub where his mother has set up a date. It isn’t going well, but at some point Colin meets the mysterious, improbably handsome biker Ray (Alexander Skarsgård) who,...

Pedro Pascal has a chokehold on pop culture, and honestly, we’re not complaining. We loved him in The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, and every day there’s a new TikTok edit of him, so clearly, the internet’s obsession with Pascal has only increased.

But just when we thought that netizens couldn’t have another meltdown over the actor, a moment at Cannes has sent everyone ablaze. So let’s take a look at the actor’s affectionate encounter with Alexander Skarsgård and then his dating life.

Alexander Skarsgård kisses Pedro Pascal at Cannes Pedro Pascal in The Last of Us | Credits: HBO

The Cannes Film Festival is full of unforgettable moments, from red carpet entrances to phenomenal movies that are praised by everyone. But what happened during the premiere of Pillion on May 18, 2025, was extraordinary and one of the most-talked-about interactions from the event.

Related: Dakota Johnson...

Harry Lighton’s debut feature, Pillion, adapts Adam Mars-Jones’s 2020 novella Box Hill into a modern, unflinching exploration of desire and self-discovery. Set in suburban Bromley, the film follows Colin (Harry Melling), a reserved traffic warden whose predictable life—marked by barbershop quartet rehearsals and family dinners—tilts on its axis when he encounters Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), a stoic biker with a penchant for leather and instruction.

Their chance meeting at a pub leads Colin down a path of submission, in which he finds unexpected strength through consent-based power exchange. Lighton unfolds this narrative with a tone that balances tenderness and eroticism, punctuated by moments of sharp humour.

Colin’s journey from introspective novice to self-assured participant carries the emotional weight of the story, while Ray’s measured authority conceals deeper vulnerabilities. At its centre, Pillion probes how the act of yielding control can paradoxically grant agency, charting a path toward belonging beyond familiar routines.

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If you love eccentric characters, a sci-fi setting, and hilarious dark comedy, then Apple TV+ has just the series for you. Based on Martha Wells‘ brilliant sci-fi book series The Murderbot Diaries, the sci-fi action comedy series Murderbot is one of the most unique sci-fi shows of recent times. Created by Paul and Chris Weitz, the Apple TV+ series follows a partly biological security cyborg who hacked its Governor module and gained its freedom, but it can’t tell anyone because if anyone found out, they would melt it. It is soon purchased by a group of misfit scientists who take it on a dangerous expedition.

Murderbot – Episode Guide (When Will the New Episodes Come Out?) Credit – Apple TV+

Murderbot consists of ten episodes in total. The sci-fi dark comedy series premiered on Apple TV+ with its first...

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Nine Perfect Strangers is a mystery thriller drama series created by David E. Kelley. Based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty, the Hulu series revolves around nine different people from different backgrounds as they gather at a wellness retreat being led by its Russian founder, Masha Dmitrichenko, who’s hiding a dark secret behind her comforting personality. Nine Perfect Strangers stars Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Asher Keddie, Samara Weaving, Melvin Gregg, Tiffany Boone, Manny Jacinto, Grace Van Patten, Zoe Terakes, Regina Hall, and Bobby Cannavale. So, if you loved the intense story, thrilling mystery, and compelling characters in Nine Perfect Strangers, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Big Little Lies (HBO Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – HBO

Big Little Lies is a psychological mystery, dark...

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Murderbot is a sci-fi action dark comedy series created by Paul and Chris Weitz. Based on The Murderbot Diaries book series by Martha Wells, the Apple TV+ series follows a Murderbot, a biological security cyborg who hacks its Governor module and acquires its freedom. It is soon purchased by a group of misfit scientists, who take it on a dangerous assignment. Murderbot stars Alexander Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tamara Podemski, and Tattiawna Jones. So, if you loved the hilarious dark comedy, eccentric characters, and an entertaining story in Murderbot, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Avenue 5 (HBO Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – HBO

Avenue 5 is a sci-fi dark comedy series created by Armando Iannucci. The HBO series is set on the premises of the interplanetary cruise ship,...

The 2025 Cannes Film Festival hosted the world premiere of The Phoenician Scheme at the Grand Théâtre Lumière on Sunday (May 18) in Cannes, France.

The latest film from director Wes Anderson features a star-studded cast ensemble, following his Asteroid City in 2023 and The French Dispatch in 2021.

Stars of the film, including Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Benicio del Toro, Rupert Friend, Mia Threapleton, Jeffrey Wright, Benedict Cumberbatch, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Antonia Desplat, and Bill Murray, were all in attendance.

Eva Longoria, Stella Maxwell, Alexander Skarsgard, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Charlotte Le Bon, Julianne Moore, Edward Norton, Shauna Robertson, Shia Labeouf, Leila Slimani, Alba Rohrwacher, Jeremy Strong (in Loro Piana), and Halle Berry were all in attendance as well.

Here’s a plot summary of the black comedy, via Deadline: The Phoenician Scheme follows “the complex relationship between the immensely wealthy and powerful armaments and aviation magnate Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro), considered one of Europe’s richest men,...

Cannes Film Festival hosted the world premiere of The Phoenician Scheme, the latest film from director Wes Anderson, which boasts a star-studded cast ensemble and his return to the Croisette after premiering Asteroid City in 2023 and The French Dispatch in 2021.

Anderson was joined by the stars of the film, including Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Benicio del Toro, Rupert Friend, Mia Threapleton, Jeffrey Wright, Benedict Cumberbatch, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Antonia Desplat and Bill Murra,y who all walked the red carpet at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, Sunday, May 18.

Related: Deadline Studio at Cannes Film Festival 2025

Other guests who attended the event included Alexander Skarsgård, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Charlotte Le Bon, Julianne Moore, Edward Norton, Shia Labeouf, and Jury Members Alba Rohrwacher, Jeremy Strong, and Halle Berry.

Related: Cannes Film Festival 2025 In Photos: Awards Ceremony, Movie Premieres, Parties & More

The film is described as an espionage black comedy with a notably dark tone, exploring...

This article contains spoilers for "Murderbot" season 1, episodes 1 & 2.

Some of the best moments in television history involve seeing antiheroes getting away with it — oddball characters living secret lives, clever enough to evade capture, punishment, and family members distancing themselves after learning about the dark deeds they've been performing behind the scenes. Well, at least for the first few seasons. In the case of shows like "Dexter" and "Hannibal," perhaps the most frustrating element was that it took so long for supporting characters to pick up on the odd vibe emanating from the titular terrors, who are, at first glance, quite clearly absolute nutballs.

How a blood spatter analyst who loved his job so much that he had sprays of red dotted around his house as art didn't set off alarm bells for everyone who spoke to him bordered on farce and was as ludicrous as the show's ending. The same...

Alexander Skarsgard is overcome with emotion!

The 48-year-old actor gave Pedro Pascal a hug and kiss on the cheek during what was described by THR as an “electric seven-minute standing ovation” for the 2025 Cannes Film Festival premiere of his movie, Pillion, on Sunday (May 18).

The Bsdm-themed queer film marks the directorial debut of Harry Lighton.

The movie centers around Colin, a shy London lad (Harry Melling), who encounters the smoldering and charismatic leader of a motorcycle club named Ray (Skarsgard) on Christmas Eve at a local pub. After a steamy oral sex session in an alleyway, Ray takes Colin under his wing by making Colin his submissive as they get tangled up in a relationship built around power dynamics.

Keep reading to find out more…

Pedro Pascal on his feet for standing ovation for Pillion and gets a hug and kiss from Alex Skarsgaard him on the great film. pic.

Sealed with a kiss! Alexander Skarsgard felt the love during an electric seven-minute standing ovation for his Cannes film Pilion, and returned it two-fold with a warm embrace and by planting a wet one on the cheek of a smiling Pedro Pascal who was on his feet.

The directorial debut of Harry Lighton had its world premiere Sunday morning inside Salle Debussy, and the crowd — filled with guests like Eddington star Pascal, The Substance filmmaker Coralie Fargeat and Babygirl David Hinojosa — lapped up the sexy, Bdsm-themed dramedy. The Un Certain Regard selection centers on Colin, a shy London lad played by Harry Melling, who encounters the smoldering and charismatic leader of a motorcycle club named Ray, Skarsgard, on Christmas Eve at a local pub. After a steamy oral sex session in an alleyway, Ray takes Colin under his wing by making Colin his submissive as they get tangled up in...

Pillion, about the Bdsm relationship between a gay biker and a timid parking attendant, kickstarted an exuberant eight-minute ovation from the audience that included Pedro Pascal after its premiere Sunday at the Cannes Film Festival.

The kinky pic from British first-time feature writer-director Harry Lighton follows the burgeoning odd-couple pairing of the handsome and charismatic Ray (Alexander Skarsgård) and introverted but curious Colin (Harry Melling). The biker gang leader introduces Colin to his community and takes him on as his sexual submissive.

Related: Standing Ovations At Cannes: How We Clock Those Claps, Which Movie Holds The Record and Why The Industry Loves To Hate The Ritual

In his Deadline review, Glenn Garner wrote: “Beneath the unabashed sexual content, Lighton’s debut is all romance, kicking off with a French rendition of ‘I Will Follow Him,’ foreshadowing the hopeless devotion Colin develops for Ray in their dom/sub relationship. … Skarsgård understood the assignment,...

Alexander Skarsgard and Harry Melling play unlikely lovers in this sweet and extremely revealing first time drama from Harry Lighton, adapted from Adam Mars-Jones’ Box Hill

Here to prove there’s nothing gentle about true love is an intensely English story of romance, devotion and loss from first-time feature director Harry Lighton, who has created something funny and touching and alarming – like a cross between Alan Bennett and Tom of Finland with perhaps a tiny smidgen of what could be called a Bdsm Wallace and Gromit. It’s basically what Fifty Shades of Grey should have been.

Pillion is adapted from the 2020 novel Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones: a shy traffic enforcement officer falls for the ultimate dominant alpha male – an impossibly handsome, strong, emotionally impassive biker who casually demands complete domestic obedience in exchange for the privilege of being reamed with athletic vigour and thrilling lack of sensitivity,...

Alexander Skarsgard and Harry Melling brought a healthy splash of Bdsm to Cannes on Sunday with the premiere of Harry Lighton’s “Pillion” in the Un Certain Regard section.

The film earned a hugely enthusiastic seven-minute standing ovation and, in perhaps a Cannes first, saw Skarsgard hug a man dressed in a dog-like rubber mask (which Variety has since learned is a “pup hood”) as the audience whooped and cheered. Skarsgard was dressed for the occasion, wearing leather trousers (which he proudly flaunted on stage).

Before the screening, Lighton said he wanted the film “to make you laugh, make you think, make you feel and make you horny.”

Marking Lighton’s feature directorial debut, “Pillion” follows “Colin (Melling), a weedy wallflower letting life pass him by,” its official synopsis reads. “That is until Ray (Skarsgård), the impossibly handsome leader of a motorbike club, takes him on as his submissive. Ray...

Dick-sucking, boot-licking, and ball-gagging are de rigueur for a movie like writer/director Harry Lighton’s wildly graphic and strangely moving Bdsm romance, “Pillion.” But for a British queer film that puts the particulars of a gay dominant-submissive affair up front and up close, actors Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling find the sweet center of a story marked by clamps, cages, and assless unitards. No doubt comparisons will arise to another A24 movie, “Babygirl,” which last year put Nicole Kidman on all fours, crying out to Harris Dickinson that “I’m gonna pee!” when actually she was just having an orgasm with another person for the first time.

Lighton, adapting Adam Mars-Jones’ book “Box Hill,” really does take us there in the delightful “Pillion,” with Skarsgård getting more emotionally naked than ever and almost physically more than he ever got as Eric Northman on TV’s “True Blood.” But not without,...

Where do kinks come from? Are we each born to seek out certain thrills, or are such illicit appetites unlocked through experience? Sigmund Freud had a few theories on the subject, and so does Harry Lighton’s “Pillion,” a steamy art-house psychodrama that’s fairly light on analysis but not at all shy about showing the germ of one man’s titillating new turn-on. Named for the person who sits on the back of a motorcycle, arms wrapped around the driver’s waist, “Pillion” focuses on a nascent submissive discovering what his butch new biker boyfriend describes as “an aptitude for devotion.”

A mild-mannered traffic warden who still lives at home, Colin (Harry Melling) is on a blind date arranged by none other than his mum when he spots what could be the man of his dreams. Dressed in a full leather riding suit, Ray (Alexander Skarsgård) is everything that pale,...

Cannes – Let me be the first, perhaps second, possibly third critic to refer to Harry Lighton’s directorial debut, “Pillion,” as the gay flip side of “Babygirl.” Subject matter aside, it’s a movie with somewhat higher aspirations than its A24 stablemate. It’s a beast of sexual power dynamics and unrequited intimacy all on its own. And it may make even the most liberal viewer uncomfortable in the best way possible.

Continue reading ‘Pillion’ Review: Harry Melling & Alexander Skarsgård Find Unexpected Feeling In The Role Play [Cannes] at The Playlist.

In his feature directorial debut Pillion, writer-director Harry Lighton sets a beautifully heartbreaking love story against a modern world of Bdsm.

Based on the 2020 novel Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones, Pillion stars Harry Melling as a timid young gay man named Colin who comes into his sexuality when a biker named Ray (Alexander Skarsgård) takes him on as his sexual submissive.

A new kinkier Christmas classic for LGBTQ fans of Carol and Tangerine, Christmas carols over the piano with family are followed by an anonymous alleyway blowjob with a hot stranger, perhaps a familiar experience for one too many (or not enough) gay men going home for the holidays. In this case, Colin eagerly licks up the mud off Ray’s boots when told to, all within the first 20 minutes of the movie.

Another erotic scene includes some ass-less wrestling singlets before the pair experiences an unfortunately common plumbing issue that comes with anal sex,...