Dark Matter Season 2: Release date speculation, cast and plot details – Everything we know so far
Dark Matter, the gripping sci-fi thriller on Apple TV+, has captivated audiences with its mind-bending multiverse narrative and stellar performances. Following the success of its debut season, fans are eagerly anticipating Dark Matter Season 2. With the show officially renewed, speculation is rife about its release date, returning cast, and potential plot developments. Here's everything we know so far about Dark Matter Season 2. Dark Matter Season 2 Release Date Speculation
While Apple TV+ has not announced an official release date for Dark Matter Season 2, speculation points to a premiere between autumn 2025 and spring 2026. This timeline is based on the production schedule and industry patterns. Filming began in early February 2025, as confirmed by showrunner Blake Crouch and star Joel Edgerton. Given that Season 1 took approximately 20 months from the start of production (October 2022) to its premiere (May 2024), a similar timeline suggests a late 2025 or early 2026 release. Dark Matter Season 2 Expected Cast
The cast of Dark Matter Season 2 is expected to feature most of the core actors from Season 1, with potential new additions to expand the multiverse narrative. Based on available information, here's who we anticipate will return: Joel Edgerton as Jason Dessen (and his alternate reality counterparts), the physicist at the heart of the multiverse journey. Edgerton also serves as an executive producer.
Jennifer Connelly as Daniela Dessen, Jason's wife, whose emotional arc is central to the story.
Alice Braga as Amanda Lucas, Jason #02's girlfriend, who played a pivotal role in helping Jason #01 navigate alternate realities.
Oakes Fegley as Charlie Dessen, Jason and Daniela's son, whose decisions in the Season 1 finale set the stage for new adventures.
Jimmi Simpson as Ryan Holder, a scientist whose storyline in the futuristic Chicago reality could be explored further.
Dayo Okeniyi as Leighton Vance, a key figure in the multiverse technology, with a larger role in the series compared to the novel.
Amanda Brugel as Blaire Caplan, promoted to a recurring role for Season 2, suggesting a more significant presence. Dark Matter Season 2 Potential Plot
While specific plot details for Dark Matter Season 2 remain under wraps, the Season 1 finale provides clues about the direction of the upcoming season. The first season concluded with Jason #01 reuniting with his family but choosing to enter the Box—a multiverse access point—to escape alternate versions of himself. The family, including Daniela and Charlie, allowed Charlie to select their new universe, leaving their destination ambiguous. This cliffhanger sets up several potential storylines:
Exploration of the New Universe: Season 2 will likely focus on the Dessen family's adjustment to their chosen reality. Blake Crouch has teased that the season will dive deeper into the 'mysteries of the multiverse,' exploring new worlds with unique challenges, such as the futuristic Chicago where Amanda and Ryan remain.
Consequences of Multiverse Travel: The psychological and emotional toll of navigating alternate realities will continue to be a central theme. Questions of identity, choice, and ethics—core to Crouch's novel—will be further examined.
Amanda and Ryan's Storylines: Amanda's decision to stay in a futuristic Chicago and Ryan's stranding in the same reality open avenues for new narratives. These characters, more prominent in the series than in the book, could drive subplots exploring their new world.
Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at BusinessUpturn.com
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hypebeast
an hour ago
- Hypebeast
'ONE OF ONE' Film and Book Offer Intimate Glimpse Into Naito Family Legacy
Summary Springmaker Films has announced the release of One of One, a feature-length documentary uncovering the story ofNaito Auto Engineering, a family-run restoration shop in Tokyo that has quietly become one of Japan's best-kept secrets. The film premieres September 1, 2025, on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Google Play and Vudu. Founded in the aftermath of WWII by Shinichi Naito, a self-taught mechanic who once worked on bomber planes, the workshop has thrived under the leadership of his son Masao, who transformed it into an internationally renowned destination for classic car restoration. From Porsches and Ferraris to Lotus and Alfa Romeos, the Naito family has built its reputation on meticulous craftsmanship and an unshakable dedication to detail. Directed by first-time filmmakerBen Bertucci, the 85-minute documentary combines new footage from Tokyo's backstreets and expressways with the family's archival film and photographs. It explores Masao's looming retirement and the question of whether the next generation can preserve both the artistry and unity of the family legacy. Alongside the film, a limited-edition companion book was created and is available forpre-ordernow. The 250-page hardcover expands the story through unseen workshop moments and Bertucci's raw, intimate photography, offering readers a deeper look into the Naitos' generational journey. See the official trailer for ONE OF ONE below:
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Best TV Shows to Watch on HBO Max Right Now
If you're wondering what to watch on HBO Max, you're in the right place. With so many TV shows available, it can be overwhelming to pick the best ones. From gripping dramas to laugh-out-loud comedies and thrilling mysteries, HBO Max offers a variety of content for every taste. Whether you're catching up on popular hits or discovering hidden gems, our list of the best shows to watch on HBO Max right now will help you find something perfect for your next binge. Looking for more streaming recommendations? Check out our guides to the best TV shows available on Netflix, AppleTV, and Hulu, plus the best movies on Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, and Tubi. COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess. The Rehearsal Creator: Nathan FielderCast: Nathan FielderGenre: ComedyRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 2 In this off-beat, wholly-inventive comedy docu-series, Nathan Fielder helps everyday people rehearse for big life moments through elaborately staged roleplaying scenarios. It's an uproarious premise that's perfectly executed, whether Nathan is helping folks simulate various parenting scenarios or staging a birthday party. Season 2 of Nathan Fielder's absurdist, cringey, ambitious comedy takes new heights (quite literally). In the first episode alone, he sets his sights on solving aviation safety, an issue that many Americans share concerns about. Watch on max The Pitt Creator: R. Scott GemmillCast: Noah Wyle, Tracy Ifeachor, Patrick BallGenre: Drama, MedicalRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 1 Were you a fan of the OG medical drama, ER? Controversies with the Chrichton estate notwithstanding, The Pitt is just the fix for fans of television's beloved 15-season medical drama. While plenty of medical dramas have come and gone in the past few decades, what makes The Pitt so special is that the season takes place over the course of one 24-hour shift in a hospital in Pittsburgh. Featuring Noah Wyle at the helm of a winning ensemble cast, the show is both gripping and realistic. Watch on max Last Week Tonight With John Oliver Creator: John OliverCast: John OliverGenre: Comedy, Talk ShowRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 12 Need to cut your news with a hefty side of humor just to get through the headlines? You're not alone, and John Oliver is here for you. Now in its 12th season, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is the rare late night take show that can get serious (and sobering) fast. That's even as the satirical jokes come rapid fire, as well-researched as they are likely to leave you crying from laughter. Most in debt to the work of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Trevor Noah, Last Week Tonight offers tongue-in-cheek recaps of some of the latest current events, along with deep dives into particularly t h**nytopics, with everything ranging from Facebook and Bigfoot to tipping practices, ICE detention facilities, and, yes, of course, Donald J. Trump. As Colbert's uncermenoious cancellation shows, it's a dangerous time for late night comics and talk shows. That just makes the presence of voices like John Oliver all the more important. Watch on max The White Lotus Creator: Mike WhiteCast: Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Walton GogginsGenre: Drama, Dark ComedyRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 3 Season 3 of The White Lotus just launched. Aside from changing up Cristobal Tapia de Veer's banger of a theme song, the third season seems to offer everything the previous seasons did. An exotic locale? Welcome to Thailand. Affluent hotel guests with a variety of neuroses and secrets? Just wait until you meet the Ratliff family. So far, the third season is darker and more deliberately paced than its predecessors. Knowing Mike White's penchant for interesting twists and turns, things are only going to get wilder. Watch on max The Last of Us Creator: Craig Mazin, Neil DruckmannCast: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Nico ParkerGenre: Drama, ThrillerRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 1 Adapted from one of the most acclaimed video games of the past century, The Last of Us is a thrilling drama about a zombie outbreak in 2003 spawned from a parasitic fungus. While Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal raised some fans' eyebrows on their initial casting as Ellie and Joel, once the pilot dropped, all doubts were definitively cast away. Across the first season's nine episodes, The Last of Us showcases the kind of prestige writing, acting, and directing that HBO has become synonymous with since its original programming launch–and Season Two just dropped. Watch on max Succession Creator: Jesse ArmstrongCast: Hiam Abbass, Nicholas Braun, Brian CoxGenre: Drama, Dark ComedyRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 4 In Jesse Armstrong's Succession, the familial drama to come up with a succession plan for a media mogul's empire becomes practically Shakespearean. Thanks to sharp writing and a pitch-perfect cast — including stand-out performances from Jeremy Strong, Kiernan Culkin, and Sarah Snook — this is a series that grabs you and doesn't let go. Even when you don't quite understand the inner machinations, corporate lingo, and double-crossing, Succession is still a thrilling watch. And with a fitting finale in the books, this is one show you won't regret starting if you missed the boat when it was airing. Watch on max Euphoria Creator: Sam LevinsonCast: Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Angus CloudGenre: DramaRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 2 Euphoria is one of HBOMax's most talked about series, and for good reason. It's totally enthralling, sketching the lives of its teenage characters in stylish, raw detail. At the same time, it's got some of the most inventive camera work and editing in a television series to date — as if Requiem for a Dream was an A24 film. All of this works even better thanks to a completely game ensemble of actors. With young heavy-hitters like Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Hunter Schafer breaking out into major films since the series's debut in 2019, it's no secret that the show's cast is one of its major strengths. Watch on max The Sopranos Creator: David ChaseCast: James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie FalcoGenre: Crime, DramaRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 6 HBO's history when it comes to original programming fits neatly into two eras: before The Sopranos and after The Sopranos. Debuting in 1999 and running for six seasons, watching patriarch Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) juggle family issues alongside the problems of his mob family was the kind of must-see television and fodder for watercooler talk that would have set Twitter/X ablaze were the platform around when the show was running. To put it bluntly: if you haven't watched it yet, what are you waiting for? Watch on max The Wire Creator: David SimonCast: Dominic West, John Doman, Idris ElbaGenre: Crime, DramaRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 5 A traditional writing adage in Hollywood is to 'write what you know,' and The Wire proves just how potent that advice can be. Created by David Simon, a former police reporter, this crime drama is detailed, methodical, and engrossing. Set in Baltimore and exploring everything from narcotics to the education system and the media, each season is anchored by a strong ensemble cast and impressive writing. HBOMax has a lot of shows that land on top ten lists of the best series of all time, and The Wire frequently breaks into those lists. Watch on max The Yogurt Shop Murders Creator: Margaret BrownCast: Beverly Lowry, Claire Huie, John JonesGenre: Documentary, CrimeRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 1 On an early December day in 1991, four girls were murdered at a I Can't Believe It's Yogurt shop in Austin, TX. That murder is at the heart of this true crime docuseries, which chronicles the event and its impact on the victims' family members and the surrounding community in gripping detail. Director Margaret Brown focuses on the human impact of this crime every step of the way, showcasing how the event has shaped the lives of those affected by the murder more than thirty years after the fact. It's every bit as gripping and emotionally raw as some of the best true crime series, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre. Watch on max True Blood Creator: Alan BallCast: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Alexander SkarsgårdGenre: Drama, Fantasy, HorrorRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 7 Are you a fan of fantasy and melodrama? If so, this pulpy vampire drama is likely right up your alley. An acquired taste (pun intended), True Blood tells the story of Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress in small-town Louisianna who falls for a 170-year old vampire. Based on the novels by Charlaine Harris, True Blood is a drama with tons of sex, blood, and violence — the things that HBO has become synonymous with over the years. At the same time, its combination of comedy, horror, drama, romance, and action is a genre mashup capable of winning over almost anyone. Watch on max Game of Thrones Creator: David Benioff, D. B. WeissCast: Kit Harington, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Sophie TurnerGenre: Action, Adventure, FantasyRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 8 Game of Thrones is one of the biggest cultural phenomena in television. Don't believe us? Just consider the fact that baby names like 'Arya' rose in popularity by almost 90% in the wake of HBO's high fantasy action epic. Full of twists, surprising violence, and plenty of double-crossing, Game of Thrones combines dragons and armies with geopolitics to create one of the deepest, most impressive television shows ever created. With such an ardent fan base, even in the face of a divisive series finale, you knew it was going to make the cut. Watch on max House of the Dragon Creator: Ryan Condal, George R. R. MartinCast: Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Emma D'ArcyGenre: Action, Adventure, FantasyRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 2 A prequel to the events of Game of Thrones focused on the conquests of the dragon-riding Targareyn clan, House of the Dragon had big shoes to fill as the first spin-off of GoT. We're happy to report that it fills those shoes quite nicely, thanks to a game cast including Milly Alcock, Olivia Cooke, and an especially exciting Matt Smith. Filled with more secrets, political intrigue, and, of course, dragon, this is one show we can't wait to come back. Too bad it looks like we'll have to wait until 2026 for the next season. Watch on max Big Little Lies Creator: David E. KelleyCast: Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene WoodleyGenre: Drama, MysteryRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 2 Based on the novel by Liane Moriarty, this drama set in Monterey, California combines the high stakes of motherhood with murder and mischief for a winning combination. If you want any more proof that television has just as much prestige as film these days, look no further than the absolutely stacked cast of Big Little Lies. Across its two seasons, viewers get to witness the talents of Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, and Zoe Kravitz as they dig in to some seriously juicy material. Watch on max Hacks Creator: Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen StatskyCast: Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-HopkinsGenre: Comedy, DramaRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 3 In this comedy about the inner workings of jokes and comedy, Jean Smart plays Vegas comic Deborah Vance, who must reinvent her image with some help form an on-the-outs comedy writer played by Hannah Einbinder. It's been a tight race for television comedies when it comes to the Emmy awards, and 2024 was the year that Hacks finally pulled ahead of other greats like The Bear and Abbott Elementary. With Season 3 as a recent high for the series, this well-deserved win makes us even more psyched for Season 4 to launch. Watch on max Silicon Valley Creator: Mike Judge, John Altschuler, Dave KrinskyCast: Thomas Middleditch, T.J. Miller, Josh BrenerGenre: ComedyRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 6 If you need a palate cleanser from a news cycle full of stories about the dangers of TikTok and power of Meta, look no further than Silicon Valley. This hilarious comedy follows the misadventures of some brilliant but bumbling computer programmers as they build their business from the ground up and get swept into the hustle and bustle of the San Francisco tech world. At its heart, Silicon Valley is like Office Space crossed with The Social Network. Remember when start-ups could be cool and fun? Watch on max Veep Creator: Armando IannucciCast: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky, Tony HaleGenre: Satire, Comedy, PoliticalRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 7 In Veep, Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays Selina Meyer, a senator who becomes the vice president (and later, president) over the course of the show's seven seasons. The show, like many other HBO comedies, has great acting — which it pares with a hysterical mixture of political satire and workplace comedy. Tonally similar to other great series like 30 Rock, Arrested Development, and The West Wing, this is the perfect comedy cleanser for what is sure to be a chaotic administration under Trump. We won't judge how many times you rewatch it in the next four years. Watch on max Curb Your Enthusiasm Creator: Larry DavidCast: Larry David, Jeff Garlin, Cheryl HinesGenre: SitcomRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 12 This spiritual successor to the 1990s hit sitcom Seinfeld follows Larry David as a fictionalized version of himself. Like Seinfeld, much of the humor in Curb Your Enthusiasm centers around the absurdity of everyday life and interacting with others. Also, like Seinfeld, the show is as laugh-out-loud funny as it is relatable. From 'spite stores' to arguments about the injustice of abusing the free sample policies at a frozen yogurt shop, Larry David never seems to lack material. And with cameos from Wanda Sykes to Michael J. Fox, he's always got ways to surprise you. Watch on max Insecure Creator: Issa Rae, Larry WilmoreCast: Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Jay EllisGenre: Comedy, DramaRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 5 Inspired, in part, by Issa Rae's webseries Awkward Black Girl, Insecure delves into the awkward and often hilarious lives of modern Black women. From career ups and downs to dating ups and downs, Rae's story of two friends in their late 20s navigating life is realistic while still being really funny. Whether episodes of Insecure are detailing the trials and tribulations of dating apps or mining the drama from pool parties and Coachella, it always stays true to its (and Issa Rae's) singular voice. Don't sleep on its five seasons. Watch on max Common Side Effects Creator: Joseph Bennett, Steve HelyCast: Dave King, Emily Pendergast, Mike Judge, Martha KellyGenre: Adult Animation, ComedyRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 1 Every so often, a new series hits the world of adult animated series that shows just how much potential for innovation the genre still has. Common Side Effects is one such show. Featuring heady thematic ideas and a truly unique animation style, this show from Joseph Bennett and Steve Healy follows two friends, Marshall and Frances, who discover a mushroom with healing medicinal properties. Part comedy, part paranoid thriller, Common Side Effects is ambitious, messy, and bizarre. In a word? It's addictive. Watch on max Industry Creator: Mickey Down, Konrad KayCast: Marisa Abela, Myha'la Herrold, Harry LawteyGenre: DramaRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 3 Leave it to HBO Max to find multiple ways to capitalize on the high-stakes world of business, industry-specific jargon and all. In Industry, a variety of young graduates compete for permanent roles at a prestigious London investment firm. It's a lot like Succession meets Euphoria, with plenty of pulp to complement the forex trading. Each season, the show gets more and more cutthroat, with its third season providing some of the most ruthless material yet for a more-than-game ensemble of actors. If you love surprising dramas (where some of the dialogue will likely go over your head), look no further than Industry. Watch on max The Gilded Age Creator: Julian FellowesCast: Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia NixonGenre: History, DramaRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 3 Now in its third season, The Gilded Age is in many ways an HBO-ized version of Downton Abbey. Set in the late 1800s, the series follows a variety of upper and lower-class characters as they navigate the social and economic clashes of new and old money. Tonally, it's a bit more tongue-in-cheek than Downton, and each season offers more and more material for its dynamic ensemble to sink its teeth into. Highlights include performances from Carrie Coon as a woman trying to use her money to break into a new social echelon as well as Christine Baranski as an old-money matriarch. The writers do a great job of plumbing the historical period for a host of issues (both small and large), making it all the more enjoyable whether you tune in for soap or substance. Watch on max The Righteous Gemstones Creator: Danny McBrideCast: Danny McBride,Adam DeVine, Edi PattersonGenre: Dark Comedy, CrimeRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 3 In this uproarious, irreverent, and totally binge-able dark comedy from Danny McBride, you're never quite sure what you're going to get. Following the exploits of a family of wealthy televangelists, The Righteous Gemstones takes all sorts of twists and turns as it explores the ostentatiously wealthy lives of Dr. Eli Gemstone (John Goodman) and his three children — Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin. Even though this is a show you'll laugh out loud watching, it still packs plenty of drama. Bursting with conflict, blackmail, and old secrets, The Righteous Gemstones is a sterling example of the kinds of risks HBO often takes with its programming — and just how often the streamer reaps the rewards of those risks. Watch on max The Sex Lives of College Girls Creator: Mindy Kaling, Justin NobleCast: Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur, Reneé RappGenre: Comedy, Teen DramaRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 3 Similar in formula to HBO's other hit series, Lena Dunham's Girls, The Sex Lives of College Girls is a tale of female friendship while navigating the ups and downs of collegiate life. Created by Mindy Kaling, the series is set in Vermont and follows four incoming freshman: Kimberly, Bela, Leighton, and Whitney. Featuring strong performances from Reneé Rapp and Alyah Chanelle Scott, the series is just a much a send-up of the pressures young women face as it is a comedy about finding your place in college. For fans of shows like Girls and New Girl, it's a must-watch. Watch on max Somebody Somewhere Creator: Hannah Bos, Paul ThureenCast: Bridget Everett, Jeff Hiller, Mary Catherine GarrisonGenre: Drama, ComedyRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 3 Somebody Somewhere trades the traditional HBO playbook of sex and violence for a different playbook: subtlety and veracity. Set in Kansas, the series follows Sam (Bridget Everett) as she navigates the death of her sister and her return to the small town she grew up in. Devastatingly gentle even as it fines the humor in navigating small-town life, Somebody Somewhere is a real winning character study with tons of heart. Its performance and writing are pitch-perfect. Watch on max Watchmen Creator: Damon LindelofCast: Regina King, Don Johnson, Tim Blake NelsonGenre: Drama, SuperheroRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 1 Not to be confused with the divisive Zack Snyder film of the same name, HBO's original drama series Watchmen stars Regina King in an impressively layered take on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's acclaimed graphic novel. Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this alternate take on history deals with deep-seated issues of white supremacy and what it means to be American—even as it offers superhero action sequences, too. Dark, dystopian, and with plenty of relevance in our current political climate, Damon Lindelof's impressive 'remix' of the original Watchmen formula is as audacious as it is impressive. With only one season to binge (although we'd love a continuation after that cliffhanger!). this is the kind of show you can watch in a weekend and think about for months after. Watch on max Barry Creator: Alec Berg, Bill HaderCast: Bill Hader, Stephen Root, Sarah GoldbergGenre: Dark Comedy, Crime DramaRating: TV-MANumber of Seasons: 4 Barry is to Bill Hader what Breaking Bad was to Bryan Cranston. Both crime dramas are deep dives into character, made all the more successful thanks to their stars playing against type in a way that further deepens our collective understanding of the show's protagonists. In Barry, Hader plays an assassin who signs up for an acting class in Los Angeles as a way to get closer to a mark—only to find that acting might be his true passion. The series takes plenty of turns along the way, but it's its sharp writing and equally-sharp acting that makes it such a thrill to watch. Aside from Hader, Henry Winkler gives a fun turn as endearingly smarmy acting teacher Gene Cousineau. Watch on max Related News Travis Kelce Shares His 'Only Goal': And It Has Nothing to Do With Taylor Swift Eddie Murphy Says Turning Down 'Rush Hour' for 'Holy Man' Was a 'No-Brainer' COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess. Making Culture Pop. Find the latest entertainment news and the best in music, pop culture, sneakers, style and original shows. Solve the daily Crossword
Elle
10 hours ago
- Elle
The Best Showgirl-Inspired Movies to Watch Before Taylor Swift's New Album Drops
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Although the popularity of live showgirls has waned through the years, their iconic presence still looms large in our collective imagination. So, it's no surprise that Taylor Swift has tapped into their glamorous imagery and rich history with her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, which is due October 3. Fans will naturally want to immerse themselves not only in Swift's music, but also in her muse(s). Luckily, many other artists have been inspired by the ostentatious productions of Las Vegas, Broadway's Ziegfeld Follies, vaudeville, burlesque, and every other iteration of the showgirl, and there are many films out there dedicated to the art. Under the glitz, feathers, and coordinated ensembles, each individual showgirl has her own story to tell—just like Swift herself. As she recently explained on Travis Kelce's podcast, 'This album isn't really about what happened to me on stage [during the Eras Tour]. It's about what I was going through offstage.' Below are some of the best movies about the inner life of the showgirl (and other similar performers), and who she is both on stage and off. Scroll through for inspiration on how to shine in the spotlight, no matter what's happening in the wings. This campy dramatic thriller stars Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, and Gina Gershon. It focuses on a young woman named Nomi Malone who hitches a ride to las Vegas to find fame as a dancer. The film's original NC-17 rating did not stop it from being frequently aired on cable with certain key moments censored for impressionable audiences. However, the movie does contain some extreme sexual violence in addition to graphic nudity, so approach with care. Watch Now on Hulu Set in Las Vegas, Pamela Anderson plays a showgirl who has to make some hard life decisions after her show of 30 years abruptly closes. The film, directed by Gia Coppola, co-stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Kiernan Shipka, Billie Lourd, and Brenda Song. Based on a wildly popular Broadway play, this classic film follows four actresses in a show beset with issues and bankrolled by a secret millionaire. The movie was produced in the heyday of the showgirl era, which coincided with the Great Depression, showing a pretty accurate portrayal of how people escaped their grim reality with spectacle. Watch Now on Prime Video Christina Aguilera should be enough of a draw in this classic story of a small town girl with big dreams, showing the world what she's got. (Of course, Cher and Stanley Tucci are wonderful additions too.) Tune in for the songs, stay for the cast chemistry. Watch Now on Apple TV+ American chorus girl Elsie Marina, played by Marilyn Monroe, catches the eye of a foreign prince while prancing on stage. Their encounter naturally leads to issues for them both, but with a surprisingly romantic conclusion. Set in Paris, this romantic and melodramatic musical stars Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor as two star-crossed lovers who inevitably come to a tragic end. But watching Kidman soar across the stage as the doomed Sabine is worth the ride. Again set in and produced during the Great Depression, 42nd Street follows a group of people trying to get a show up on its feet. While highlighting the challenges of producing such a collaborative work, the movie ends with a celebration of the showgirl over the rest of the team. Most people remember White Christmas as a holiday film about putting on a last minute show to save a very special resort in the post-WWII era. But before that happens, Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye meet Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen playing two sisters who make a living on stage. The movie's musical sequences will always be memorable, but the Haynes Sisters' act might be one of the biggest highlights. The Muppets have done a lot in their many decades on screen, but if there's one thing the merry puppets love to comment on, it's show business. The Great Muppet Caper is a comedic crime thriller, but the film contains a long and loving musical sequence honoring showgirls, starring none other than Miss Piggy herself. Watch Now on Disney+ You might consider Sister Act to be a fish-out-of water story about a woman hiding amongst a bunch of nuns and putting them on the map with musical numbers. What many forget is that Whoopi Goldberg starts her turn in the movie as a showgirl who gets sucked into mafia business and then witness protection. In a way, she makes the rest of her nun friends into showgirls, too. And the Lord approves. While she's not wearing traditional showgirl attire, Marilyn Monroe's turn as a gleeful gold digger singing 'Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend' remains an iconic entry into the oeuvre. The entire film is a delight and offers plenty of other stunning musical numbers. Gypsy Rose Lee is not exactly a showgirl—she dabbles more in the art of burlesque—but her story is arresting. The famous Stephen Sondheim musical was adapted for film and starred Natalie Wood as the child vaudeville star forced into the spotlight by her show monster mother (played by Rosalind Russell). The costumes are stunning, the music is catchy, and Wood is timelessly charming.
