Shannon LaNier, sixth great-grandson of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, reflects on the contradiction between Jefferson's ideals and his ownership of enslaved people as the US approaches its 250th anniversary. LaNier emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the full history, including the contributions and resilience of enslaved people.
The trailer for 'Alpha,' starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, has been released. The YRF spy thriller features high-octane action and introduces a young assassin's origin story, with Bobby Deol as the antagonist and Anil Kapoor in a key role. The film releases July 3, 2026.
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, releasing May 22, 2026, offers an open-world Gotham, advanced combat inspired by the Arkham series, and a humorous retelling of Batman's origins, drawing from various films and comics.
YouTube creators are increasingly finding success in feature films, particularly in the horror genre. Directors like Kane Parsons (Backrooms), Curry Barker (Obsession), and Markiplier (Iron Lung) have achieved significant box office success in 2026, challenging traditional film school pathways and demonstrating the platform's potential as a training ground.
Derrick Downey Jr., a content creator known for his million-follower squirrel videos on Instagram and TikTok, built DualShot Recorder — an app that captures vertical and horizontal video simultaneously using the full iPhone sensor. With no prior coding experience, he used AI tools including ChatGPT and Claude to develop the app over 3-4 months. The app launched at $6.99 and reached the #1 paid app spot on the App Store within 12 hours, remaining there for eight days. It now costs $9.99 with no subscription or data collection.
