Emma Watson

Emma Watson's 13-year-old true-crime drama will leave streaming soon

Some movies age into cult favorites because they feel timeless. Others get more fascinating because they’re such a perfect snapshot of a very specific moment in pop culture. The Bling Ring is definitely the second kind. Sofia Coppola’s glossy, chaotic true-crime drama still feels like one of the sharpest movies about fame obsession, celebrity worship, and empty Los Angeles aspiration in the social-media era.

That’s why now is a good time to revisit it. The Bling Ring is currently available on Pluto TV, and it appears in the platform’s rotating “Leaving Soon” section, which usually means its free-streaming window is nearing the end. Pluto also currently lists the film in its on-demand catalog in the U.S.

Released in 2013, The Bling Ring was written and directed by Sofia Coppola and based on the real-life group of fame-obsessed teens who burglarized celebrity homes after tracking their targets online. The film stars Emma Watson as Nicki Moore, Katie Chang as Rebecca Ahn, Israel Broussard as Marc Hall, Taissa Farmiga as Sam Moore, Claire Julien as Chloe Tainer, Leslie Mann as Laurie Moore, and Georgia Rock as Emily Moore. The cast also includes Carlos Miranda as Rob Hernandez and Gavin Rossdale as Ricky.

Is ‘The Bling Ring’ Worth Watching?

Taissa Farmiga, Israel Broussard, Emma Watson, Katie Chang, and Claire Julien in The Bling Ring (2013)

Collider’s review stated that The Bling Ring offers a sharp but ultimately surface-level critique of celebrity obsession and entitlement culture. While Sofia Coppola accurately captures the narcissism and fame fixation that drove the real-life crimes behind the story, the film struggles to say anything particularly new about the culture it’s attempting to critique. Visually, Coppola captures the glamorous, hollow world her characters inhabit with stylish cinematography and party scenes that blur together in a haze of music, flashing lights, and excess.

“The Bling Ring has an opportunity to lessen or at least re-evaluate our open disgust and pity towards celebrity culture. Instead, Coppola has made what could easily be a slightly artsy made-for-VH1 movie. The Bling Ring isn’t patient zero when it comes to obsessing over celebrities. That obsession came from somewhere. Perhaps it was mass media; perhaps it was being spoiled; perhaps it was an outgrowth of a desire for popularity (I harbor a suspicion that those who are interested in celebrity culture are those who always wanted to be in the popular crowd but never were); or perhaps it was a combination of factors. Despite missing these more interesting questions, The Bling Ring is still a valid critique, but it’s also as shallow as its characters.”

The Bling Ring is streaming on Pluto TV until the end of the month.

Unexpected Team-Up: Prince William and Emma Watson Unite for Change

Prince William had plenty to celebrate this weekend, but his latest public appearance quickly turned heads for a very different reason. After marking his 44th birthday and Father's Day with his family, the future king returned to royal duties—and made a surprisingly personal confession about the emotional toll of climate change.

William joined Hollywood stars Emma Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch at a United for Wildlife forum in London, an initiative he launched with the Royal Foundation in 2013. The organization works around the world to combat wildlife trafficking, environmental crime, and the destruction of endangered species.

But it was William's candid admission about his own fears that stole the spotlight.

The Prince of Wales revealed that climate change has caused him "sleepless nights," admitting he has struggled with anxiety about what the future could look like. Yet instead of allowing those fears to overwhelm him, William said seeing real progress through conservation efforts has helped keep his environmental anxiety under control.

He also delivered a powerful message to business leaders, urging them to become the kind of leaders they admired when they were children. With technology and innovation transforming the world at an incredible pace, William challenged CEOs to use their influence to create meaningful change.

The event launched London Climate Action Week, with more royal appearances expected, including the Earthshot Prize assembly.

Emma Watson also delivered a surprising revelation of her own. The Harry Potter star highlighted the fashion industry's enormous environmental impact, pointing out that it produces more emissions than aviation and ranks behind only oil among major polluting industries.

Watson, who is also pursuing a doctorate in philosophy at Oxford, shared a hilarious story about mistakenly believing paparazzi were following her. After spotting photographers with telephoto lenses, she arranged a distraction and escaped through another exit. The twist? They weren't photographing her at all. They were waiting to capture a red kite.

Meanwhile, Benedict Cumberbatch praised William as "a great guy" and urged businesses and individuals to recognize that they can still make a difference, even when global environmental challenges appear overwhelming.

With William, Watson, and Cumberbatch joining forces on the issue, the London forum delivered a clear message: the fight against environmental destruction is becoming impossible for the world's biggest names to ignore.

Alex

Alex

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