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The long-anticipated music biopic Michael arrives in theaters this Friday, but the first reviews are online today and are mixed in their appreciation. Jaafar Jackson stars as his eponymous uncle in the movie, which only follows the King of Pop’s life until the end of the 1980s. As a celebration of Michael Jackson’s music and star power, Antoine Fuqua’s film reportedly delivers, but many audiences will likely have trouble with its generic and selective storytelling.

Here’s what critics are saying about Michael:

Is it worth seeing?

If you’re even remotely nostalgic for the time when his songs were ubiquitous on pop charts, at parties, and on dance floors worldwide, the movie will be a warm rush of transporting pleasure.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

If you’re here for the music, the movement, and that larger-than-life energy that made him who he was, this absolutely delivers.
— Patrick Beatty, See it or Skip It

Michael stands as an entertaining experience that fans are going to have a blast with.
— Yasmine Kandil, Discussing Film

It’s a solid movie that will captivate fans worldwide.
— Allison Rose, FlickDirect

It succeeds where it should… Michael illuminates a moment in time that should be celebrated.
— Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today

The primary performances, production design, and entertainment value are objectively good here… You leave the theater wanting to hit the dance floor.
— Julian Roman, MovieWeb

Although the film’s musical performances galvanize, director Antoine Fuqua reduces The King of Pop to a blandly inspirational cipher.
— Tim Grierson, Screen International

Michael does the impossible: It makes the King of Pop boring.
— Siddhant Adlakha, IGN Movies

(Photo by Bruce Talamon/©Lionsgate)

Does it honor Michael Jackson’s legacy as a pop icon?

Simply as a celebration of Jackson’s songs and stagecraft, it’s phenomenal… The music has never sounded louder or better.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

The movie, in its rather familiar way, conducts the electricity of Michael Jackson.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety

From the casting to the costumes to the full-fledged concert performances, Michael lives up to the legendary status of its namesake.
— Liz Declan, Screen Rant

It celebrates more than it questions, remembers more than it reveals.
— Linda Marric, HeyUGuys

It’s just feature-length publicity, and it plays like damage control.
— William Bibbiani, The Wrap

It betrays its own subject, whose stated desire to creatively express himself honestly and without external restraints isn’t echoed by this meticulously disingenuous affair.
— Nick Schager, The Daily Beast

How deeply does it portray its subject?

Michael is a masterclass in what a biopic should be… The movie will leave audiences feeling as though they truly know the legendary superstar.
— Liz Declan, Screen Rant

What is most striking about the film is the intimate look into the man behind the music. He could be vulnerable, demanding, intimidated, isolated, professional, or caring depending on the situation.
— Allison Rose, FlickDirect

The portrait here is of a damaged man, whose sharp professional instincts seemed at odds with his gentle demeanor.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

By denying any contradictory views of its subject, Michael seems disconnected from reality — a problem the massively famous and troubled Jackson would himself come to embody.
— Tim Grierson, Screen International

No matter where you come down on Jackson as a person, this film is entirely the opposite of what he was, both as an iconic performer and a controversial tabloid figure.
— Siddhant Adlakha, IGN Movies

(Photo by Glen Wilson/©Lionsgate)

Will the movie surprise skeptics?

The surprise of Michael is how well it plays, and what an engrossing middle-of-the-road biopic it is.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety

The film leaves itself open to accusations of making Michael a saint, which will not sit well with the cancel crowd. If you are unwilling to separate the art from the artist, this will not be a movie for you.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

For anyone hoping for a deeper, more daring exploration of Michael Jackson, it ultimately feels like a missed opportunity to push beyond the surface.
— Patrick Beatty, See it or Skip It

Is it mostly for die-hard fans?

For lifelong fans who cherish the music, the movie delivers.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

Fans especially are going to eat this up; it’s built for them.
— Patrick Beatty, See it or Skip It

Michael is the film fans will line up for more than once, a chance to see this genius up close and in IMAX like never before.
— Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily

Even longtime, diehard fans will be taken aback by the level of detail on display.
— Yasmine Kandil, Discussing Film

As someone who found comfort in Michael Jackson’s art growing up, I was moved—but I also wanted more honesty.
— Linda Marric, HeyUGuys

It’s a film about how great Michael Jackson was and how great you are if you’re still a fan.
— William Bibbiani, The Wrap

(Photo by Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/©Lionsgate)

How is John Logan’s script?

Logan’s narrative is conspicuously selective… [His] dialogue often feels overly scripted and predictable, leaning into cliché rather than complexity.
— Linda Marric, HeyUGuys

The story is completely hollow and lacking any intriguing conflict to make Jackson a compelling character.
— Josh Parham, Next Best Picture

The screenplay is occasionally overly sanitized, with heavy-handed dialogue and an over-reliance on recreation rather than re-envisioning.
— Yasmine Kandil, Discussing Film

The one exception to [the] mind-numbing routine is “Beat It,” which John Logan’s screenplay turns into a genuine opportunity to explore Jackson’s creative impetus, and the way he sees not only his immediate environment, but Black culture at large.
— Siddhant Adlakha, IGN Movies

How does it compare to other biopics?

Unlike the at-times-cartoonish depiction of Elvis Presley in Elvis, for example, Michael offers viewers a deeper look at Michael Jackson’s complex inner world in a narrative that could stand on its own, separate from the music.
— Liz Declan, Screen Rant

It’s basically an ’80s-TV-movie version of the Michael Jackson story with sharper acting and snazzier photography.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety

Michael suffers from the same pitfalls as so many modern biopics, dutifully hitting all the genre clichés.
— Derek Smith, Slant Magazine

Does this film do anything different from what we’ve seen done in just about every music biopic? No. This is a very safe movie.
— Patrick Beatty, See it or Skip It

In the panoply of biographical motion pictures, Michael occupies a space between The Babe Ruth Story, which claimed Babe Ruth cured diseases by hitting homers, and Back to Black, which argued that Amy Winehouse’s family and record label were blameless for her ongoing, life-ending substance abuse.
— William Bibbiani, The Wrap

It’s one of the most vapid hagiographies that this subgenre has seen in quite some time.
— Josh Parham, Next Best Picture

(Photo by ©Lionsgate)

Should we look past the negative elements?

If you zero in on what’s standard about Michael, or what the movie leaves out, you may miss the compelling urgency of what it gets in: Michael Jackson’s journey to become himself by freeing himself from the past.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety

If Michael has flaws, they are few and far between.
— Liz Declan, Screen Rant

How is Jaafar Jackson’s portrayal of Michael Jackson?

Jaafar Jackson, the son of MJ’s brother Jermaine, is nothing short of remarkable… Watching him perform those iconic tracks was unexpectedly emotional for me. It didn’t feel like imitation; it felt like memory.
— Linda Marric, HeyUGuys

The King of Pop is brilliantly portrayed by his nephew… Jafaar Jackson dazzles.
— Julian Roman, MovieWeb

Jaafar Jackson as Michael is as close to resurrecting the King of Pop as a movie can get, and it’s easy to forget that he isn’t actually Michael Jackson.
— Liz Declan, Screen Rant

The voice, the charisma, the dance moves, he has it down to a T. It really does seem like this is going to be a performance that is talked about all year long, and deservedly so.
— Yasmine Kandil, Discussing Film

[It’s] what holds the movie together and gives it meaning… Does he ever nail the look, the voice, the electrostatic moves — and, more than that, the mixture of delicacy and steel that made Michael who he was.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety

The young actor pulls off an uncanny recreation of Michael’s dance skills… The unique combination of fluidity and snappy angularity that helped make him one of the all-time great stage entertainers.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

The stretches of the film that are most captivating are almost solely due to Jaafar’s ability to embody both Michael’s timid awkwardness off stage and his magnetic exuberance on stage.
— Derek Smith, Slant Magazine

(Photo by Glen Wilson/©Lionsgate)

What about Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson?

Colman Domingo shines as the best member of the cast with his ability to infuse nuance in his characterization.
— Josh Parham, Next Best Picture

Colman Domingo brings a commanding presence… No doubt Domingo will be nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
— Patrick Beatty, See it or Skip It

Domingo’s fiery but one-note performance quickly grows tiresome.
— Tim Grierson, Screen International

Domingo’s Joe… becomes buffoonishly one-dimensional — practically moustache-twirling.
— Siddhant Adlakha, IGN Movies

Does the movie look good enough to warrant seeing it on the big screen?

It’s shot by Dion Beebe with visual electricity in the performance sequences.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

The visual effects, primarily used to replicate audiences during massive concert sequences, are often unrefined.
— Yasmine Kandil, Discussing Film

One of the few elements of Michael that fully takes audiences out of the story is Bubbles’ CGI design, which looks distractingly out of place in a movie that is otherwise so visually stunning.
— Liz Declan, Screen Rant

Too bad the blatant CGI versions of a llama, giraffe, python and yes, Bubbles the chimp, are so cringeworthy that you forget to have empathy for Jackson, the lonely man-boy.
— Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today

Is it frustrating that it only covers Part One of Michael Jackson’s life?

Michael may be the first biopic that’s been set up to be a franchise. Normally, I’d be cynical about that. But if the filmmakers choose to continue Michael Jackson’s story, it will not be just a brand extension but an opportunity: to maybe get into that dark side after all.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety

If I didn’t know any better, based on this movie, I’d assume Michael Jackson died shortly after Bad was released. And I suspect this movie would be just fine with people thinking that’s what happened.
— Mike Ryan, The Hard Pass

Whether the story really continues depends I suppose on whether the Jacksons want to keep cashing in, even if it gets unsavory.
— Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily

This climactic promise of the story potentially continuing feels like a threat.
— Siddhant Adlakha, IGN Movies

Michael opens in theaters on April 24, 2026.

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Ten years ago, when Disney began its very own Star Wars adventure, the promise to fans was different: a new film every year. That initially took the form of biannual mainline “saga” pictures and standalone “Star Wars Anthology” films in the off years. The anthology initiative eventually became the “Star Wars Story” subtitle while the mainline films, starting with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, continued the episodic structure of the Original and Prequel Trilogies.

But when Solo: A Star Wars Story arrived in theaters six months after Star Wars: The Last Jedi and underperformed, the yearly schedule was upended. Meanwhile, Disney+ needed more original offerings and some Lucasfilm projects were converted to television series. The results of that pivot led to the well-received The Mandalorian and other programs of varied success.

Now, Disney is resting its cinematic hopes on The Mandalorian himself, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), and his lovable ward Grogu in a film appropriately titled Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. Will it restore some of Star Wars’ prestige in the theaters? Will the Clan of Two leap to the big screen as well as they took the lead in the streaming wars? Let’s take stock of everything we know about the film and see if we can’t see a little into the always-in-motion future of Star Wars.

“I Can Bring You In Warm Or I Can Bring You In Cold”

(Photo by Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Thanks to the presentation at last year’s Star Wars Celebration in Japan and the more recent trailers, we know some details of the film’s plot. Djarin and Grogu are still independent bounty hunters, but after the events of , their ties to the New Republic have never been stronger. Djarin is well aware of the threat the Imperial Remnant represents to his little family, the re-established Mandalorian presence on Mandalore, and the galaxy at large. Consequently, he told his contacts in the Republic he would be ready to earn some coin working for their cause.

And it seems the Republic is receptive to this, as Djarin and Grogu now take missions from a Galactic Civil War X-Wing pilot who now has a leadership position in the Outer Rim territories. It is unclear how extensive her duties are, though, as her primary objective may just be to destabilize the Remnant wherever they appear. And with the Mandalorian, she has a pretty effective tool in that mission.

Oh, and she also knows how to stop Grogu from snacking… Well, sort of, anyway.

Djarin and Grogu’s latest mission also brings them into contact with the Hutts, the slug-like rulers of organized crime in certain parts of the galaxy. But why, after all this time, is the Republic concerned about the Hutt cartel? And will Djarin have to take another dip in the Living Waters on Mandalore to remove the shame of being unmasked in their presence? The trailer indicates as much, although the Dragonsnake in that shot suggests Mando might be in a different body of water.

And while we’re asking questions, where did the Clan of Two find another Razorcrest? Also: what became of the Naboo fighter they used throughout The Mandalorian season 3?

Along The Hyperspace Routes

(Photo by Francois Duhamel/Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Djarin and Grogu’s newest adventure takes them to various environments. One we know from the footage shown at Celebration is an ice world similar to The Empire Strikes Back’s Hoth. Consequently, Djarin will take on an AT-AT or two in a scene that, we have to say, was pretty cool.

The tangle with the Hutts will likely take them to the moon Nar Shaddaa, a city world — like galactic capital Coruscant — known for being a hive of scum and villainy. Famous in games, comics, and novels, Nar Shaddaa has only received a name-check in live action Star Wars, but that could change with The Mandalorian and Grogu, since the recent trailer depicts the characters on a city planet. Of course, this could be Coruscant, as we know the Remnant has a presence there. Nonetheless, the prominence of the Hutts in the story would suggest Nar Shaddaa the more likely locale.

Mando may even find himself on Nal Hutta, a planet Nar Shaddaa orbits and the home world of the Hutt species.

The Marks And The Hunters

(Photo by Nicola Goode/Lucasfilm)

Pascal returns as Djarin, both in voice and body — a relative rarity, as the actor’s schedule means the Mando suit is often worn by actors Lateef Crowder and Brendan Wayne. The pair were even credited alongside Pascal in The Mandalorian’s third season. But things are different for Djarin, now, when compared to the series. He has a home on Nevarro with Grogu and a purpose to root out the Remnant. It’s a far cry from the lone wanderer who supported a struggling band of Mandos with his inconsistent earnings as a bounty hunter.

Also along for the ride is Grogu. Although Force-senstive — and still capable of using Jedi abilities, as seen in the trailers — he made a choice in The Book of Boba Fett to live as a Mandalorian. It remains to be seen, though, if he will get a full suit of armor; the recent trailer indicates he has some more Beskar of his own at this point, though. In the meantime, he continues to be a little stinker, stealing snacks and causing trouble where he can. That said, it is interesting to hear Djarin recognize that his ward will outlive him by centuries and that he needs to secure some peace in the galaxy for Grogu’s sake. Still a youngling himself, Grogu can’t speak just yet, and while former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy recently mentioned the child will not speak in the film, we’ll be very surprised if the story ends without him uttering his first word.

(Photo by Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Alien’s Sigourney Weaver makes her way to the Star Wars galaxy as Colonel Ward, Djarin’s new Republic contact. Beyond her previous role as a X-Wing pilot, little is known about her. But her mention of revenge in the newest trailer — if even just to decry the suggestion — indicates some of her campaign against the Remnant is personally motivated. Also, we expect her to suit up and fly her old X-Wing at some point in the story.

Steve Blum once again lends his voice to Garazeb Orrelios — aka Zeb — the fan-favorite character from Star Wars Rebels. Zeb also made a brief appearance at the end of The Mandalorian’s most recent season to establish his place in the Republic. Additionally, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’s diminutive Babu Frik is said to make an appearance.

Representing the Hutts this time around is The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White as Rotta, Jabba’s son. The character first debuted in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars feature film as a much younger Huttling Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) dubbed “Stinky.” Decades later, though, he is a buff Hutt who enjoys getting in the ring and battling opponents. We know from the plot description of the film that Rotta becomes an integral part of the story when Mando is tasked with rescuing him in exchange for vital information on another Imperial target.

(Photo by Francois Duhamel/Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Eagle-eyed viewers of the trailer also identified the Kyuzo bounty hunter named Embo. His silhouette bears a resemblance to deceased bounty hunter Cad Bane (Corey Burton) and that could cause some confusion for those familiar with the more famous Star Wars face. Certain comic books see Embo working as a bounty hunter during the film’s time period, although subsequent adventures reveal he retires to a farm on Felucia around this time, too. The character was voiced on The Clone Wars by supervising director Dave Filoni — more on him later — but it remains to be seen if he will reprise that role here.

Another antagonist is Jonny Coyne’s Remnant warlord. His unnamed character previously appeared in The Mandalorian as part of the Shadow Council looking to put Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) at the top of a restored Empire. That may still be his objective here, but does he have his own Imperial aspirations? He is interested in playing pirate on the hyperspace lanes, after all. Actor Hemky Madera’s unnamed Shadow Council member from The Mandalorian can also be glimpsed in the newest trailer.

One curious addition to the cast is legendary director (and savior of Turner Classic Movies) Martin Scorsese as an Ardennian shopkeeper — the same species as Solo’s Rio Durant (voiced in that film by Jon Favreau). It is unclear how large his role is, though, as he declines to help Djarin learn anything about the Hutts.

The Planners

(Photo by Nicola Goode/Lucasfilm Ltd.)

The Mandalorian executive producer and showrunner Jon Favreau takes the helm as director. It is a chair he is quite familiar with, having made films like Iron Man, Chef, and the live action Lion King remake. He knows how to make a movie, and his stewardship of The Mandalorian proves he can make Star Wars, but will it all translate into a successful Star Wars movie?

Joining him at the writers’ desk is long-time collaborator and newly-appointed Lucasfilm co-president Dave Filoni. The pair have been working together since Favreau first came to the company with his Mandalorian pitch. Now, with the duo in prime creative positions, The Mandalorian and Grogu represents the next big step in their Star Wars story.

The pair are also producers on the film, alongside Kathleen Kennedy, long-time Transformers producer Ian Bryce, and frequent Favreau collaborator Karen Gilchrist.

Lighting the film is constant Kevin Smith cinematographer Dave Klein. He first came to Star Wars in The Book of Boba Fett, though he has worked on Pushing Daisies and Deadwood: The Movie. His lighting also offers the film a visual continuity with the Mando TV series, as he joined that production in its third season. Other crew include editors Dylan Firshein and Rachel Katz, production designer Doug Chiang — another dependable Lucasfilm name — costume designer Mary Zophres, and Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson. Considering he already scores The Mandalorian, his musical contributions also offer a certain continuity.

Launch Window

(Photo by Nicola Goode/Lucasfilm Ltd.)

The Mandalorian And Grogu arrives in theaters on May 22 — a traditional launch window for a Star Wars film. Its release also ends a seven-year absence of Star Wars from theaters. The Rise of Skywalker was, in fact, released in 2019. That pause could be in the film’s favor. Of course, audiences are familiar with both the Mandalorian and Grogu thanks to the Disney+ series, so it remains to be seen if their big screen debut will conjure up nostalgic memories of the Clan of Two for moviegoers.

Either way, Star Wars continues its return to theaters in 2027 with Star Wars: Starfighter, a film set decades after The Mandalorian and Grogu. Additional projects beyond that include long-in-development films focusing on Daisy Ridley’s Rey, the first Jedi some 30,000 years prior to the Skywalker Saga, and Filoni’s feature film debut. Rebels executive producer Simon Kinberg is also working on a trilogy of his own, set after Rise.

For Djarin and Grogu, though, a fourth season of The Mandalorian may one day materialize, as Favreau mentioned the scripts are on his desk. Then again, a wildly successful feature debut may leave Djarin and Grogu as movie stars.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu opens in theaters on May 22. Get your tickets here.

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If you’ve been waiting for Marvel to take a real swing on something new, “Spider-Noir” needs to be on your radar. The upcoming live-action streaming series — based on the “Spider-Man Noir” comics – follows Ben Reilly (Nicolas Cage), a jaded private investigator in 1930s New York who also happens to be his world’s Spider-Man. After abandoning his post years prior, Reilly has to don the mask once more when his past rears its ugly head.

In the latest trailer, it’s clear that the tone of “Spider-Noir” won’t be quite like anything we’ve seen from Marvel recently. This is a hard-boiled noir, full of dark alleys and seedy characters — just set in a world full of superpowered individuals. We get a sneak peek at a few of the villains Reilly will face off against, such as Megawatt (Andrew Caldwell), Sandman (Jack Huston), Tombstone (Abraham Popoola), and the Irish mob boss Silvermane (Brendan Gleeson).

Ben Reilly might not be an Avenger, but he does have some friends on his side. They include Lamorne Morris as freelance journalist Robbie Robertson, Li Jun Li as nightclub singer Cat Hardy (aka Black Cat), and Karen Rodriguez as Reilly’s secretary, Janet. Based on the strength of his foes in this trailer, he’ll need all the help he can get.

Nic Cage is becoming a Marvel mainstay

Aaron Epstein/Prime Video

Cage made his Marvel debut in 2007’s “Ghost Rider,” just one year prior to the dawn of the MCU. He would reprise the role of Johnny Blaze in 2011’s “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance,” though it also was not part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His next Marvel role would be the catalyst for the Prime Video series, voicing Spider-Man Noir in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018). Of note, the live-action character isn’t the same as the one from Sony’s animated movie.

While Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) is seemingly on ice following the tepid response to “Kraven the Hunter” in 2024, “Spider-Noir” could be a useful reset for the shared universe. It has certainly had to overcome its fair share of hurdles since being announced in 2023, but the eight-episode series looks to be a fun, unique take on the Spider-Man story. Whether or not it will actually prompt a revival of the SSU remains to be seen.

“Spider-Noir” debuts on MGM+ in the United States on May 25, 2026. Two days later, on May 27, 2026, all eight episodes of the series will drop on Prime Video globally. As seen in the trailer, the show will be available to watch in “True-Hue Full Color” or “Authentic Black & White,” for those who prefer the old-school look.

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Stop your Supergirls and turn off your Lanterns. The most interesting character from the DC Universe getting their own new story could be Matt Hagen, aka Clayface (Tom Rhys Harries), who just made his debut in a brand-new and undeniably gross trailer. Be warned: those of you who are somewhat squeamish and prefer to avoid body horror might want to look away now.

Directed by horror aficionado James Watkins (“Eden Lake,” “Speak No Evil”), the new film — from a script penned by Mike Flanagan (“Midnight Mass,” “The Haunting of Hill House”) and Hossein Amini — will shine a light on one of Batman’s longtime foes and how he came to be. Almost akin to the Joaquin Phoenix-starring “Joker,” “Clayface” is an origin story introducing us to Hagen, an aspiring actor whose life is changed forever when a gangster’s attack leaves him permanently disfigured.

In an effort to address the matter, Hagen turns to science, transforming himself into clay and giving himself the ability to alter his appearance. Unfortunately, this isn’t a simple process, as the preview clearly indicates, harking back to some of the classics of yesteryear and getting us even more excited for what’s in store.

Look fear in the face this October

DC Comics

Sparking memories of “The Dark Knight” and Aaron Eckhart’s bandaged-up Harvey Dent, it’s clear that Hagen has had a much more horrific experience, as we see him bandaged up in bed. Things take a turn for the worse, though, when the star who’s lost his shine gets pumped full of chemicals, turning him into the monstrous villain we know he’ll become.

From there, it’s a flurry of brilliantly creative and creepy shots that show Hagen at one point in a bath, quite literally washing his face away, and at times missing key facial features as he handles his new powers. One shot that will especially get comic book fans giddy is a silhouette of Hagen using his signature move, turning his fist into a mace. Look, a guy can change, okay?

Landing somewhere between “Darkman” and “The Fly,” “Clayface” appears to be setting up a tragic tale, not unlike the aforementioned Oscar-winning movie that gave us a different Clown Prince of Crime, without a Caped Crusader to stop him. Unlike that movie, however, the misfortune of Hagen and his inevitable loss of humanity have appeared in plenty of comics over the years. The question is whether Watkins, with the help of Flanagan and Amini, will paint Hagen as a misunderstood monster or an outright villain. We’ll have to see when Harries, along with Naomie Ackie (“Mickey 17”) and Max Minghella (“The Handmaid’s Tale”), bring “Clayface” to life on October 23, 2026

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Did you recently buy a brand-new Xbox controller, only to find that it didn’t come with any batteries? Microsoft has confirmed (via X) that a limited number of controllers have erroneously shipped without batteries since December. If you were affected by this shipping issue, you can visit Xbox’s dedicated support page to request a free Xbox Rechargeable Battery and USB-C Cable as an apology. All you need is your controller’s serial number; the support page includes instructions on how to find this number.

Official Xbox Wireless Controllers are supposed to ship with a set of AA batteries so you can start playing right away without any additional purchase. While it’s true that you could just buy your own batteries if your controller didn’t come with any, you should definitely take advantage of Microsoft’s apology offer if you’re eligible. The Xbox Rechargeable Battery is a nice upgrade that you can use with one of the coolest Xbox gadgets: a controller charging station that will improve your quality of life as a gamer.

The latest in a series of Microsoft missteps

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The battery-less Xbox controller issue is admittedly a minor one in the grand scheme of things, though it is concerning that it took multiple months for Microsoft to address the problem. However, it’s just one event in a series of missteps that’s tanking the company’s image. Outside of the Xbox sphere, Windows 11 is still a broken mess that Microsoft is trying to fix. To make matters worse, Microsoft rolled out an invasive Copilot feature that you should disable.

In the realm of gaming, rising prices and mass studio layoffs have given longtime fans ample reason to consider other platforms. Adding poor quality assurance to the pile certainly does not help to win back trust. Whether you’re a fan of Microsoft or not, buying an Xbox controller actually remains a generally good choice. There are cool things an Xbox controller can do beyond the Xbox itself, ranging from PC gaming to drone piloting. And despite the recent hiccup, Xbox Support promises that all controllers will include batteries going forward.

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Those with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription are about to save some money, though it will come at a cost. Originally announced back in July 2025, Microsoft told consumers that prices were going to rise for those who subscribe to the services, and the company also announced that it was eliminating its previous models in place of a new three-tiered system. Now, the company is lowering the price of two of these services, though it comes at the price of accessing the latest release for a popular gaming series.

While prices for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass are dropping, players will no longer be able to access the latest “Call of Duty” title from the streaming platforms in the future. Considering modern day gaming titles can range anywhere in price from $59.99 to $69.99, some gamers may find themselves determining if the cost of a subscription outweighs the cost of getting the latest entry in the popular first-person shooter series.

Other than the price and the removal of future “Call of Duty” games, Microsoft notes that virtually everything about PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate will stay the same. The company promises that users will still have day-one access to other gaming titles, and they will still be able to access online multiplayer and in-game perks. Considering the service hit over 20 million users back in November 2022, the news is likely to have an impact on a number of players.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate drops in price, loses Call of Duty

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In a press release, Microsoft has announced that the price for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has dropped from $29.99 a month to $22.99 a month. Additionally, the price of PC Game Pass is dropping from $16.49 a month to $13.99 a month. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will need to decide for themselves if the new deal is too good to be true.

While the price of Game Pass Ultimate is now lower, Microsoft has also announced that future “Call of Duty” releases will no longer be joining these services at launch. While users can still find past “Call of Duty” titles available on PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate, future releases will now join these services “during the following holiday season.” However, Microsoft clarifies that this essentially means gamers can expect the latest “Call of Duty” about a year later.

Subscribers will now be faced with the choice of purchasing the latest game in the “Call of Duty” franchise outright or waiting about a year before getting to play the game. Additionally, this news arrives after a report from The Verge noted that the new Chief Executive Officer for Microsoft Gaming, Asha Sharma, released a memo to Xbox employees at the start of April that the services have become too expensive for subscribers.

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Google has been under fire, facing allegations that mobile devices with its operating system transmitted data to the company without user permission. To close this case, Google reached a $135 million settlement, though the company denies any wrongdoing. However, if you use an eligible device, you might actually be entitled to some of that money. Basically, anyone who has used an Android device from brands like Google, Samsung, and Motorola since late 2017 through today could qualify for a portion of that sum.

All you would need to do after confirming if you’re eligible is file a claim through the settlement website for the case Joseph Taylor, et al., v. Google LLC, then wait to hear back and determine how much you might receive. If you don’t know if you meet the criteria, you can review the settlement’s website and details to figure out if you fall within the right window.

Who is eligible for payment?

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According to the official court notice of settlement, you are eligible as part of the class action lawsuit if you are a natural person in the U.S. who has used a device running the Android OS with an active cellular plan at the time in question, from November 12, 2017, through to the date of final approval for the settlement. A final approval hearing is scheduled for June 23, 2026. If you’re still unsure, you can reach out to the settlement administrator in Philadelphia at 1-844-655-4255.

To be eligible, you cannot be part of the Csupo v. Google LLC case taking place in Santa Clara County Superior Court, which is a similar case to this one. That case received a verdict in July 2025 in favor of the class and resulted in a $350 million cash settlement, with the final approval hearing taking place in late February 2026. Google also denied wrongdoing in this case but confirmed it would update its materials to request user consent and better disclose information.

What could you get?

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If you are eligible for this settlement, you’ll likely receive a small sum of no more than $100, though how much is not known yet. However, with the claim form, you must confirm your preferred payment method to receive the payout. If you wish to exclude yourself from the settlement and file your own private claim, you’d need to do so by May 29, 2026. If you do not respond at all, the assumption will be that you agree with the settlement and cannot pursue your own lawsuit. This is also the deadline to write to the court and object to the settlement if you don’t agree with it. If you’d like to address the court, you can do so at the hearing on June 23, 2026, if you’re in the area.

Note that the settlement has not yet received official court approval, so payments will only be sent if and when this happens. If any appeals are filed, for example, that needs to be dealt with first. “This process can take time,” the official notice reads. “Please be patient.” Ultimately, all you need to do is enter your information if you’re eligible, then wait and hope the payment comes in.

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After spending nearly 15 years as the chief executive at Apple, Tim Cook is stepping down to take on the role of executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors on September 1, 2026. John Ternus, who currently serves as Apple’s senior VP of hardware engineering, will take his place. It’s a move that has long been rumored to be in the works, but is now officially confirmed.

“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” Cook said in a statement on Monday, April 20. “I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world.”

Given the timing of the transition, it sounds like Ternus will be leading the charge when it comes to Apple’s hardware slate this fall. For more than a decade, we’ve become accustomed to Cook being the first and last face we see at every Apple event, but with the first foldable iPhone rumored to launch this fall, Ternus will have a chance to be the face of a new generation of products.

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Many people like to look up at the night sky, admire the stars, and wonder if humans are alone in the galaxy or universe. Sure, many like to imagine that they’re not, as demonstrated by the countless shows and movies about alien invasions and galactic civilizations, but many people want definitive proof. The Pentagon might hold the answer, but the people in charge are dragging their feet despite being told not to.

On March 31, U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna requested full disclosure from the Pentagon regarding “Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)” – better known as UFOs. She was concerned about the “continued lack of transparency surrounding these anomalies and the potential national security threat they pose,” according to her letter (via House.gov), and gave the Pentagon until April 14 to provide information on over 40 videos that allegedly captured UFOs on tape. Needless to say, that date came and went, and the silence from the Pentagon was deafening.

You might wonder what’s so important about these videos. Yes, inquiring minds would love to know if, why, and how extraterrestrials visited Earth. However, as Representative Luna pointed out, these sightings took place around “sensitive airspaces of U.S. military installations” and other areas of conflict. Do these UFOs come in peace, or are they here to probe (no, not that kind of alien probe) for weaknesses? Or like those UFO sightings over the New Jersey coast, are the explanations more mundane and just the result of misidentified UAVs and other Earthborne vessels?

Just what is on the tapes?

Representative Luna demanded more information on the aforementioned videos because the Pentagon is keeping them under wraps. And since she knows little about the videos, the public knows even less. However, some inferences can be made.

In the letter Luna sent to the Secretary of Defense, she lists all of the videos by name, including plain but descriptive titles. Some mention locations, such as Syria, Kabul, and Kazakhstan, while others describe the UAPs, including “spherical,” “Tic Tac,” and “cigar-shaped.” All classic descriptions of UFOs. But then there are the titles that describe how the UAPs acted. Some moved fast or erratically, and one title is of particular note: “USAF ANG F-16C (callsign AESIR11) shoots down UAP over Lake Huron with AIM-9X.” That would imply there is (or was) a UFO wreckage out there that could hold the secret to building a functional faster-than-light warp engine. That’s potentially more exciting than all the other videos combined.

Of course, the general public is no stranger to UFO videos released by the Pentagon, such as one from 2020 that depicted an odd-moving craft. However, even though many people assumed it was a UFO, one of the pilots who recorded the video speculated that the UAP was, in fact, a run-of-the-mill drone. While people would love it if the Pentagon videos actually did provide proof of life on other planets visiting Earth, everyone should temper their expectations.

It’s easy to miss a deadline if you don’t know there is one

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If you have been paying attention to global news, you might assume the Pentagon and Hegseth didn’t disclose any information on the UAP videos because they were too busy waging a war in Iran (a potentially illegal one according to organizations such as the ACLU). In reality, almost nobody at the Pentagon knew Representative Luna had requested this information. After the Pentagon failed to respond, Representative Luna reached out on X to inquire about the delay. According to Representative Luna, nobody sent her initial letter to the “appropriate authorities” (i.e., Pete Hegseth).

However, she did confirm that the Pentagon will send the requested videos and information and claims that the fault doesn’t lie with Hegseth but the person who was responsible to act as his mail courier. Despite what happened, Representative Luna still trusts the Pentagon, even though she was only given a promise for information at “an unspecified future date.” Commenters in the thread, however, do not share her optimism and say this event reflects poorly on her, Congress, and the U.S. government as a whole.

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Marvel ran a massive promo campaign for “Avengers: Doomsday” in mid-December and early January, releasing four short teaser trailers for the highly anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) crossover that focused on some of the film’s key Avengers team members. However, Marvel didn’t release a full “Avengers: Doomsday” trailer at the time, nor did it show Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom in the clips. Instead, the studio took advantage of the “Avatar: Fire and Ash” theatrical run to drum up excitement for the upcoming “Avengers” movie.

Fast-forward to April 16, and Marvel has finally shown off Doctor Doom. The first “Avengers: Doomsday” trailer premiered at CinemaCon 2026. Marvel’s segment at CinemaCon featured Marvel president Kevin Feige, “Doomsday” directors Anthony and Joe Russo, and two of the most important and beloved MCU stars: Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans. The two have played Tony Stark/Iron Man and Steve Rogers/Captain America in several MCU titles, including all “Avengers” movies made to date. 

After fighting on opposite sides in “Captain America: Civil War,” they’ll be at odds again in “Doomsday.” This time, Steve Rogers and the Avengers will have to fight Victor von Doom, played by RDJ. The two actors also offered a humorous moment during the event, as Evans said he doesn’t like Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom.

What happens in the Avengers: Doomsday trailer?

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“This trailer was insane, far more explosive and thrilling than any other first teaser Marvel Studios has ever kicked off a movie with,” YouTube channel New Rockstars said about the “Doomsday” teaser. The trailer opens with a shot from the X-Men mansion, while Doctor Doom’s voice (notably different than Iron Man’s) is heard in voiceover, saying: “Something is coming. Something we may not be able to deter. Before this day is done, we shall be faced with an unthinkable decision.”

From the start of the trailer, Marvel sets the gloomy tone of the film. The multiverse is in danger, and the audience is shown the first glimpses of an incursion, or worlds colliding. It so happens that it’s the Fox X-Men universe experiencing this phenomenon, which is where Doctor Doom seems to appear first in the trailer. The clip gives us a look at the costume, complete with mask and cape. Kevin Feige confirmed that the action in “Doomsday” picks up where “Avengers: Endgame” left off, and that the X-Men from the Fox universe will face off against the Avengers, something MCU fans have been dying to see. 

Some of the fight scenes in the trailer reinforce this idea. The clip shows Gambit (Channing Tatum) and Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) fighting, but also Mystique (Rebecca Romijn) facing off against Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), whom she quickly impersonates. The most exciting fight sequence in the trailer involves Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Doctor Doom. The God of Thunder attacks the film’s villain with Stormbreaker outside of X-Mansion, but Doom stops the powerful hero with two fingers, a display of power not yet seen from MCU villains.

Which heroes appear in the Doomsday trailer?

The Avengers seem to be divided in the movie, considering what Thor says in an angry speech in voiceover (via The Hollywood Reporter), attempting to reunite the heroes for the greater fight at hand. “Put aside your petty squabbles. Presume nothing except this: If you return, you will return as brothers and sisters,” Thor tells the heroes. “Mark my words: We are going to need a miracle.” That miracle may very well be Chris Evans, who appears at the end of the clip, giving Thor a “Hey, pal” greeting. “It’s not possible,” Thor exclaims, as Evans grabs Thor’s Mjolnir, a scene that will remind fans of the final fight in “Endgame,” where Captain America first grabbed the hammer to battle Thanos (Josh Brolin).

The “Doomsday” trailer features plenty of other MCU heroes and Fox X-Men characters, including Professor X (Patrick Stewart), Magneto (Ian McKellen), Cyclops (James Marsden), Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), Namor (Tenoch Huerta), Shuri (Letitia Wright), and M’Baku (Winston Duke).

The film’s cast is even larger than that, featuring plenty of superheroes that appeared in previous MCU adventures. On that note, here’s everything we know about Marvel’s “Avengers: Doomsday.”

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