Russell Crowe is wasting no time starting his movie year in 2026, thanks to his new release, Beast, which is now playing in select theaters around the world. The thriller draws on DNA from other notable MMA movies like Warrior (starring Tom Hardy) and The Smashing Machine (starring Dwayne Johnson), and it stars Crowe as a legendary coach who helps a fighter train for his big comeback. Crowe is still growing from the success of his biggest hit of 2025, the WWII legal thriller Nuremberg (co-starring Rami Malek and Michael Shannon), which performed well at the box office before going on to dominate Netflix. When you’ve been acting in blockbuster movies as long as Crowe, it’s only natural that some are going to be met with better reception than others — it’s fair to say he’s been in some polarizing films over the years.
One of the most controversial films in Crowe’s filmography came 12 years ago when he teamed up with director Darren Aronofsky for Noah. The film cost a whopping $125 million to make, leaving it with a colossal break-even point of over $250 million, but it stunned the world by turning a profit thanks to its $359 million worldwide box office gross. Noah was met with a solid critical reception, leading to it earning a Certified Fresh 75% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but it was panned by fans, who rated it a Rotten 41% on the audience-driven Popcornmeter. Fans around the world continue to rewatch Noahand visit the film for the first time, and those looking to do so will have to turn to Peacock, the film’s new streaming home. It’s also available to watch for free on Pluto TV.
What Is ‘Noah’ About?
The official synopsis for Noah reads as follows:
“Noah (Russell Crowe) is chosen by God to undertake a momentous mission before an apocalyptic flood cleanses the world.”
Fans were especially critical of Noah for his departure from how the title character and his story are portrayed in the Bible. Crowe brings a much darker and more complex vision to the role, whereas in the original text, Noah is a much more righteous figure. Fans also criticized the film for leaning too much into the elements of fantasy, including giant rock monsters as antagonistic figures.
Check out Noah on Peacock and Pluto TV and stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates and coverage of Crowe’s future films.
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.
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