Entertainment
15 Best Shampoos and Conditioners for Thinning Hair on August 2, 2023 at 7:39 pm Us Weekly

Branded content. Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services.
Anyone who has experienced thinning hair knows how frustrating it can be. If you’ve noticed that you’ve been losing more hair than usual, one of the first steps you can take is to swap out your shampoo and conditioner for high-performance, targeted products made with proven ingredients. We’ve reviewed some of the most talked about products on the market, and have created the ultimate guide to the best shampoos and conditioners for thinning hair.
What Causes Thinning Hair?
Unfortunately, there’s no single answer to this question. Hair thinning is multifactorial, and any thinning that you’re experiencing may be caused by factors like stress, diet, illnesses, hormonal fluctuations, or something else entirely.
While pinpointing the exact root cause of your thinning hair may be a tricky task, there is one thing we are certain of, using well-developed formulas can help restore hair health so that you are better equipped to get hair thinning under control. They’ll nourish the follicles to encourage the growth of healthy, strong hair, and will also fortify current strands to minimize the risk of thinning, split ends and breakage.
The Best Ingredients for Thinning Hair
There are a few different types of ingredients that you’ll want to look out for when picking the right hair care products for your thinning hair. First, you’ll want to seek out strengthening and nourishing ingredients that fortify the strands and follicles. These types of ingredients ensure the strands are less prone to breakage, split ends and hair fall, and also support the follicles so that they are better able to grow new healthy hairs. Some top ingredients to keep an eye out for include biotin, keratin, amino acids, plant proteins, nutrient-dense oils (such as jojoba, avocado and argan oils) and zinc.
You may also want to look for ingredients that stimulate the follicles to promote new growth. Caffeine, rosemary and peppermint oil are all great options.
Ingredients that block dihydrotestosterone (also known as DHT) are also particularly ideal. While not responsible for all forms of thinning hair, this hormone is commonly a cause for hair loss. Two particularly great ingredients for defending against the effects of DHT include saw palmetto and pumpkin seed oil.
Last but not least, we also suggest looking for formulas that are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants defend the hair against harmful free radicals from aggressors like pollution and UV rays. These free radicals can damage the strands and scalp and contribute to thinning. Ginseng, vitamin E, aloe and green tea extract are all excellent antioxidant-powered options.
The Best Shampoos and Conditioners for Thinning Hair
If you’re ready to finally put an end to excess hair shedding, here are our recommendations for the best shampoos and conditioners for thinning hair.
1. Blu Atlas Shampoo and Conditioner
Blu Atlas
The shampoo and conditioner from premium grooming company Blu Atlas are packed with nutrient-dense ingredients that revive the follicles and strands to stop thinning in its tracks and promote strong, resilient hair. We are also impressed by the top-quality, clean formulas, which are vegan, cruelty-free and formulated without sulfates, parabens, phthalates or synthetic fragrances.
The star of the Blu Atlas Shampoo is vegan biotin, which fortifies the strands and defends them against harmful aggressors so that they are less prone to breakage, split ends and fallout. The biotin also replenishes hydration levels, ensuring the hair is left feeling soft and smooth. It works alongside saw palmetto, which is one of the most effective ingredients for blocking the hair loss effects of DHT. Antioxidant and vitamin-rich aloe barbadensis leaf juice also nourishes and moisturizes, while jojoba protein heals damaged strands. Gentle, coconut-derived surfactants also thoroughly cleanse without aggravating the scalp and follicles or stripping away natural moisture.
The accompanying conditioner is made with some of our favorite nutrient-rich oils for strengthening, moisturizing and smoothing the hair, including avocado and argan oils. It also contains barley protein to promote the growth of resilient hair and strengthen existing strands. White tea extract supports scalp health (which is key for healthy hair growth) by providing antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
2. Virtue Flourish Shampoo and Conditioner for Thinning Hair
Amazon
These hair care products from Virtue are formulated with some of the best ingredients for promoting growth and fortifying the strands. They also reduce flakiness and calm irritation in the scalp for optimal hair health – which is crucial for creating a hospitable environment for new hair growth. The brand gets bonus points for these clean formulas, which are vegan, cruelty-free and made without sulfates, parabens or phthalates.
The Virtue Flourish Shampoo is formulated with gentle surfactants that clean the hair shafts and clear away debris around the follicles to allow for healthy growth. Alpha and gamma keratin proteins reinforce hair strength and boost elasticity and flexibility to reduce thinning and breakage. These proteins work alongside biomimetic signal peptides that nourish and soothe the scalp, as well as rice-based humectants, which lightly hydrate the hair while smoothing down the shaft. Sodium hyaluronate and red algae extract also work in tandem to create a moisture barrier around the strands to boost thickness.
The accompanying Virtue Flourish Conditioner is also made with biomimetic signal peptides and alpha and gamma keratin proteins to ensure the strands and scalp are getting the maximum support from these powerful ingredients. It is also made with a probiotic ferment that reduces irritation and supports oxygen consumption of the cells to boost growth, as well as cyperus plant rool oil, which enhances the hair’s softness and shine.
3. Briogeo Destined For Density Peptide Shampoo and Conditioner for Thicker, Fuller Hair
Amazon
With a name like Destined for Density, you know these products will help you achieve your fullest hair yet. Both of these formulas are designed to stimulate circulation at the scalp to encourage growth while strengthening and thickening strands for denser, more voluminous hair. They’re vegan and cruelty-free, and made without sulfates, parabens or phthalates.
The Briogeo Destined For Density Peptide Shampoo is crafted with an energy complex, which features CoQ10, caffeine and green coffee oil. These ingredients stimulate and nourish the follicles, encouraging the growth of healthy and strong hair to counteract thinning. They’re joined by copper peptides that further reduce thinning by promoting a healthy hair life cycle, as well as biotin, which fortifies the strands and boosts elasticity while supporting overall follicle health. Antimicrobial zinc chloride cleanses and enhances scalp health, while vitamin E provides antioxidant protection to defend the hair against damaging free radicals.
The Briogeo Destined For Density Peptide Conditioner is also made with these powerful ingredients to encourage thicker, denser hair. It also contains lightweight conditioners that moisturize and detangle the hair without weighing it down. The result is touchably soft, easy to manage hair that looks fuller and more voluminous.
4. Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
Vegamour has quickly become a leader in the world of hair growth products, so it was no surprise that the company’s shampoo and conditioner are seriously impressive. These clean, vegan and cruelty-free formulas are infused with clinically proven active ingredients that support growth and nourish the strands while promoting shinier, fuller hair. The company even promises visible results in as little as three months.
The sulfate-free Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Shampoo is powered by red clover and mung bean, which have been shown to defend the hair against some of the key causes of hair loss. The citrus-scented formula also contains the company’s proprietary vegan keratin, which creates a silk-like barrier around the strands to smooth and enhance shine, as well as biotin to strengthen the strands and follicles.
Additionally, marula oil, baobab oil and murumuru butter work in tandem to hydrate and nourish the strands while protecting them against damage from free radicals. In order to clear away pore-blocking residue that may hinder hair growth, the formula uses mild surfactants that gently cleanse without stripping away natural moisture.
The GRO Revitalizing Conditioner is also powered by the same active ingredients to stimulate the follicles and boost strand resilience. It has an ultra-rich texture that penetrates deep into the strands, leaving the hair feeling silky and soft after washing.
5. Avalon Organics Biotin B-Complex Thickening Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
If you’re looking for budget-friendly hair care products that will help you reverse thinning hair, we recommend checking out the Biotin B-Complex Thickening Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner from Avalon Organics. These formulas are crafted with some of the most effective ingredients for strengthening and thickening existing strands, and nourishing the follicles to encourage new growth and minimize hair loss. They’re also vegan and cruelty-free, and made without sulfates, phthalates or synthetic fragrances.
Both of these formulas are made with biotin to strengthen the strands and follicles to prevent breakage and thinning. Biotin also helps improve hydration levels in the hair. It works alongside saw palmetto extract, which calms the scalp and blocks the hair loss causing effects of DHT to create a healthy environment for new growth.
Additionally, both formulas contain quinoa protein to promote fullness and stronger hair. A blend of nutrient-dense jojoba, argan and sunflower seed oils nourishes the hair and follicles while adding weightless moisture. Vitamin E provides antioxidant benefits, while aloe further soothes scalp irritation while adding additional moisture to the strands and scalp.
The sulfate-free shampoo is made with mild surfactants that effectively cleanse without causing irritation or dryness. Meanwhile, the conditioner is made with additional ingredients that soften and smooth for beautiful, easily managed hair.
6. Viviscal Thickening Shampoo and Strengthening Conditioner
Amazon
This duo of hair care products from Viviscal work together to promote denser, thicker hair while stimulating the follicles to encourage growth. These budget-friendly formulas are packed with high-performance ingredients, and are made without harsh sulfates or parabens.
Both the Thickening Shampoo and Strengthening Conditioner are made with marine-derived collagen, which strengthens the hair roots to minimize hair loss. It also penetrates deep into the hair shafts to fortify and minimize breakage and split ends. It’s joined by biotin and keratin, both of which further nourish and reinforce the strands and follicles for maximum strength and resilience. Additionally, seaweed nourishes the strands and scalp with hair-loving nutrients.
The shampoo is made with gentle surfactants that effectively cleanses away buildup. The conditioner has a lightweight texture, and is able to effectively smooth and add moisture to the strands without weighing the hair down.
What we also love about these products is the scent. Both the shampoo and conditioner are made with the company’s signature fragrance, a fresh, flower-forward scent with notes of greens and ocean breeze.
7. Bumble and Bumble Full Potential Hair Preserving Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
Bumble and Bumble has long been considered one of the top hair care brands on the market, and these expertly made products do not disappoint. These products invigorate the follicles and reduce breakage for denser, healthier hair that is less prone to fallout. They are also cruelty-free, and made without parabens or phthalates.
The exfoliating Full Potential Hair Preserving Shampoo is made with the company’s Hair Preserve Blend to keep the strands and follicles strong and healthy. It removes buildup that can clog the pores, helping to create an ideal environment for growth. It contains caffeine and rosemary extract, both of which are known to stimulate the follicles to encourage the growth of new hair. It also contains soothing centella asiatica extract, as well as panthenol, which plumps the strands with moisture to boost softness and thickness.
The Full Potential Hair Preserving Conditioner is also made with rosemary, caffeine and centella asiatica extract to support follicle health. It also contains vitamin E, which provides antioxidant benefits to effectively defend the hair against harmful free radicals. Hydrolyzed wheat protein also moisturizes and smooths, promoting soft and silky strands.
8. BondiBoost HG Shampoo and Conditioner for Thinning Hair
Amazon
These formulas from Australia-based BondiBoost are specifically made to tackle the needs of those with thinning and aging hair. Powerful active ingredients nourish the follicles and encourage growth while defending the hair against aggressors that can cause damage. Both formulas are vegan and cruelty-free, and formulated without parabens, sulfates, phthalates or synthetic fragrances.
Both the shampoo and conditioner are made with peppermint and rosemary essential oils. These oils stimulate scalp circulation to boost hair growth. They work alongside horsetail extract, which strengthens and rejuvenates the strands, as well as saw palmetto extract, which combats thinning by blocking the effects of DHT. The formulas also contain additional nourishing and moisturizing ingredients that support both scalp and strand health, including aloe leaf juice, sunflower seed oil, macadamia seed oil and hydrolyzed quinoa.
In addition to these ingredients, the HG Shampoo is made with olive fruit and sea buckthorn oils, both of which further nurture thinning strands while sealing in moisture. It also has a sulfate-free cleansing power that effectively gets rid of buildup that can clog the follicles and inhibit growth. The HG Conditioner is also made with nutrient-dense jojoba seed oil, as well as panthenol, which plumps the strands with moisture for a thicker appearance and softer feel.
9. Pura D’Or Original Gold Label Anti Hair-Thinning Biotin Shampoo and Deep Moisturizing Biotin Conditioner
Amazon
These products from Pura D’Or have long been regarded as some of the best solutions for those dealing with hair thinning or loss. The clinically tested formulas have been proven to reduce thinning while boosting strength, volume and shine. They’re vegan and cruelty-free, and made without parabens or harsh sulfates.
The Original Gold Label Anti Hair-Thinning Biotin Shampoo features a blend of 17 active ingredients, extracts and nutrients that deeply nourish the hair and follicles. This blend includes biotin to support follicle health and fortify the strands so that they are more resilient against breakage. Anti-inflammatory nettle leaf extract also reduces inflammation and defends against DHT while nurturing the strands and follicles with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for optimal health. Nutrient-dense pumpkin seed oil moisturizes and thickens hair, while black cumin seed oil smooths and adds shine while helping to repair damaged hair.
The Deep Moisturizing Biotin Conditioner is equally as impressive. It also contains pumpkin seed oil, as well as rosemary oil to stimulate the follicles and encourage growth. Argan, sunflower, avocado and olive oils seal moisture into the strands and boost shine and softness while nourishing the hair with nutrients, while vitamin E defends against damaging free radicals.
10. R+CO Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
R+Co is known for developing high-performance formulas, and the company’s Dallas line is the perfect match for anyone dealing with thinning. These formulas thicken and add volume and bounce to the hair, and at the same time nourish the strands and follicles to minimize shed and encourage growth. Both are vegan and cruelty-free and made without parabens or sulfates.
The Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner are both made with pro-vitamin B5 (AKA panthenol), which boosts moisture levels in the hair and adds shine. Biotin further improves hydration while strengthening the strands and nourishing the follicles.
The formulas also contain saw palmetto extract, which encourages growth by inhibiting the effect of DHT on the follicles. Coconut oil also helps soften the strands and reduce breakage and split ends, while vitamin and mineral-rich loquat fruit extract nourishes the hair.
Beyond the excellent ingredients, we can’t get enough of the scent of these products. They feature an inviting, citrusy fragrance, with notes of tangerine, pineapple, lavender, cardamom, bamboo and woods.
11. Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
Let’s go over another top-quality budget-friendly recommendation: the Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner from Mielle. These nutrient-dense formulas strengthen the strands and support the follicles to promote long, full and healthy hair. They are also both cruelty-free and made without parabens or sulfates.
As it says in the name, both of these formulas are powered by rosemary and peppermint essential oils, which stimulate circulation at the scalp. This in turn delivers nutrients to the follicles, helping to promote the growth of strong, healthy hair. The rosemary also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties, and works to ensure the scalp is as healthy as possible and best able to support new growth. Both formulas also feature biotin to fortify the strands and follicles, as well as coconut oil to nourish and moisturize.
In addition to these ingredients, the Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo also contains moisturizing and nurturing honey and babassu seed oil. It also features horsetail grass extract to rejuvenate the strands. The accompanying conditioner is made with avocado oil and shea butter, both of which deeply moisturize and soften the hair while nourishing the scalp and strands with much-needed nutrients.
12. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Scalp Care Anti-Thinning Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
Paul Mitchell’s tea tree oil-infused formulas have always been a hit. For those with thinning hair, we particularly recommend the company’s Tea Tree Scalp Care Anti-Thinning Shampoo and Conditioner. These products partner powerful tea tree oil with other ingredients that dramatically improve scalp health while nourishing the follicles and strands to minimize loss and maximize strength.
These formulas are powered by an exclusive botanical blend of five active ingredients that work together to slow down thinning. It includes pea peptides, which stimulate follicles to encourage growth and prevent loss while smoothing and thickening the strands. Clover flower extract further defends against hair loss, while antioxidant-rich kakadu plum, turmeric and ginseng protect against damaging free radicals while supporting follicle health and boosting circulation.
The shampoo and conditioner also contain rosemary leaf extract to maximize hair growth potential. Of course, as it says in the name, they are also powered by tea tree leaf oil, an antimicrobial, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredient that promotes scalp health and creates an ideal environment for hair growth.
Both of these products also have an incredibly uplifting and refreshing scent, with notes of basil, lemon, fir, vanilla, patchouli and amber. They’re also made without sulfates or parabens.
13. Superzero Thinning/Aging Hair Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
Amazon
If you’ve ever been curious about trying shampoo and conditioner bars, we have the perfect recommendation for you. Superzero is leading the hair care bars industry, and has developed highly-effective formulas that are specifically made to address thinning and aging hair. These bars are vegan and cruelty-free, and made without sulfates.
The Superzero bars are both crafted with rosemary oil, caffeine and peppermint oil, which all work in tandem to promote circulation and bring nutrients to the follicles to encourage growth. They also contain panthenol and shea butter, which seal moisture into the hair and plump for thicker strands.
The Thinning/Aging Hair Shampoo Bar is also made with biomimetic peptides that enhance hair color and protect the strands against UV exposure. Avocado oil also nourishes while deeply moisturizing the strands, leaving them soft and silky.
In order to maximize its conditioning power, the Thinning/Aging Hair Conditioner Bar contains moisturizing cocoa seed butter. It is also infused with hemisqualane to increase moisture levels and smooth down frizz.
14. Amika 3D Volume and Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
These products from Amika plump and nourish the hair from root to tip, helping to promote serious volume and optimal hair health. These clean, vegan and cruelty-free formulas (which are free of sulfates, parabens or phthalates) also weightlessly moisturize the strands while boosting shine and manageability.
Both the shampoo and conditioner are infused with a hair growth complex that is powered by larch wood and green tea extracts. It’s designed to stimulate growth for denser hair. The formulas also contain sea buckthorn oil, which is a rich source of fatty acids. The oil hydrates the hair and scalp while enhancing elasticity for strands that are less prone to breakage.
Additionally, these formulas contain hydrolyzed rice and vegetable proteins. The proteins lightly moisturize while boosting thickness and shine. Saw palmetto and nettle leaf extracts also minimize inflammation in the scalp while protecting against hair loss, while nutrient-dense avocado oil nourishes and moisturizes. Green tea leaf extract adds an extra antioxidant punch, ensuring the hair is protected against the harmful effects of free radicals.
15. Biolage Advanced Full Density Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
Biolage’s Full Density Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner are both made to build the hair’s resiliency while boosting volume, helping you achieve thicker, stronger hair that is less prone to thinning in the long-run. When used together, the products have been shown to boost fullness and promote healthier-feeling strands after just one use.
These vegan, cruelty-free and paraben-free formulas are infused with biotin to strengthen and increase hair density, minimizing the risk of breakage, split ends and fallout. They are also powered by zinc PCA, an antibacterial ingredient that rebalances sebum production and purifies the scalp. This leads to hair that feels fresher, and also creates a better environment for healthy hair growth. The zinc PCA also blocks the effects of DHT on the follicles, reducing the risk of hair loss.
In addition to these ingredients, the Full Density Thickening Conditioner is infused with additional moisturizers that boost the hair’s hydration levels. The result is hair that is not only thicker and more voluminous, but softer, silkier and shinier.
This post is brought to you by Us Weekly’s Shop With Us team. The Shop With Us team aims to highlight products and services our readers might find interesting and useful, such as wedding-guest outfits, purses, plus-size swimsuits, women’s sneakers, bridal shapewear, and perfect gift ideas for everyone in your life. Product and service selection, however, is in no way intended to constitute an endorsement by either Us Weekly or of any celebrity mentioned in the post.
The Shop With Us team may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. In addition, Us Weekly receives compensation from the manufacturer of the products we write about when you click on a link and then purchase the product featured in an article. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product or service is featured or recommended. Shop With Us operates independently from the advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback at ShopWithUs@usmagazine.com. Happy shopping!
Branded content. Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Anyone who has experienced thinning hair knows how frustrating it can be. If you’ve noticed that you’ve been losing more hair than usual, one of the first steps you can take is to swap out your
Us Weekly Read More
Entertainment
Vertical Films Changed Everything. Are You Ready?

People don’t watch films the way they used to—and if you’re still cutting everything for the big screen first, you’re losing the audience that lives in your pocket.
Every swipe on TikTok is a tiny festival: new voices, wild visuals, heartbreak, comedy, and chaos, all judged in under three seconds. In that world, vertical films aren’t a gimmick. They’re the new front door to your work, your brand, and your career.

The movie theater is now in your hand
Think about where you’ve discovered your favorite clips lately: your phone, in bed, in an Uber, between texts. The “cinema” experience has shrunk into a glowing rectangle we hold inches from our face. That’s intimate. That’s personal. That’s power.
Vertical video fills that space completely. No black bars. No distractions. Just one story, one face, one moment staring back at you. It feels less like “I’m watching a movie” and more like “this is happening to me.” For storytellers, that’s gold.
The old rules still matter—but they bend
Film school taught you:
- Compose for the wide frame.
- Let the world breathe at the edges.
- Save the close-up for maximum impact.
Vertical filmmaking says: bring all of that craft… and then flip it. You still need composition, rhythm, framing, and sound. But now:
- The close-up is the default, not the climax.
- Depth replaces width—what’s in front and behind matters more than left and right.
- Micro-scenes—60 seconds or less—must feel like complete emotional beats.
It’s not “less cinematic.” It’s a different kind of cinematic—one that lives where people already are instead of asking them to come to you.
Your characters can live beyond the film
Here’s the secret no one tells you: audiences don’t just fall in love with stories; they fall in love with people. Vertical video lets your characters exist outside the runtime.
Imagine this:
- The day your trailer drops, your lead character is already a recurring presence on people’s For You Pages.
- There are 10 short vertical scenes—arguments, confessions, jokes—that never made the final cut but live as their own mini-episodes.
- Fans aren’t asking “What is this movie?” They’re asking, “When do I get more of her?”
When someone feels like they “know” a character from their feed, buying a ticket or renting your film stops feeling like a risk. It feels like catching up with a friend.
Behind the scenes is no longer optional
Vertical films thrive on honesty. Shaky behind-the-scenes clips. Laughing fits between takes. The director’s 2 a.m. rant about a shot that won’t work. The makeup artist fixing tears after a heavy scene. That’s the texture that makes people care about the final product.
You don’t have to be perfect. You have to be present.
Ideas you can start capturing tomorrow:
- “What we can’t afford, so we’re faking it.”
- “The shot we were scared to try.”
- “One thing we argued about for three days.”
When you show the process, you’re not just selling a film—you’re inviting people into a journey.
Think in episodes, not posts
Most people treat vertical video like a one-off blast: post, pray, forget. Instead, think like a showrunner.
Ask yourself:
- If my project were a vertical series, what’s Episode 1? What’s the hook?
- How can I end each clip with a question, a twist, or a feeling that makes people need the next part?
- Can I tell one complete emotional story across 10 vertical videos?
Suddenly, your feed isn’t random. It’s a season. People don’t just “like” a video—they “follow” to see what happens next.
The attention is real. The opportunity is bigger.
We’re in a rare moment where a micro-drama shot on your phone can sit in the same feed as a studio campaign and still win. A fearless 45-second monologue in a bathroom. A quiet scene of someone deleting a text. A single, wordless push-in on a face that tells the whole story.
Vertical films give you:
- Low cost, high experimentation.
- Immediate feedback from real viewers.
- Proof that your story, your voice, your world can hold attention.
You don’t have to wait for permission, a greenlight, or a perfect budget. You can start where you are, with what you have, and let the audience tell you what’s working.

So, are you ready?
Some filmmakers will roll their eyes and call vertical a phase. They’ll keep making beautiful work that no one sees until a festival says it exists. Others will treat every swipe, every scroll, and every tiny screen as a chance to connect, teach, provoke, and move people.
Those are the filmmakers whose names we’ll be hearing in five years.
The question isn’t whether vertical films are “real cinema.” The question is: when the next person scrolls past your work, do they feel nothing—or do they stop, stare, and think, “I need more of this”?
Entertainment
What Kanye’s ‘Father’ Says About Power, Faith, and Control

Kanye West’s “Father” video looks like a fever dream in a church, but underneath the spectacle it’s a quiet argument about who really runs the world. The altar isn’t just about God; it’s about every “father” structure that decides what’s true, who belongs, and who gets cast out.
The church as power, not comfort
The church in “Father” doesn’t behave like a safe, sacred space. It feels like a headquarters. The aisle becomes a catwalk for power: brides, a knight, a nun, a Michael Jackson double, astronauts, Travis Scott, all moving through the frame while Kanye mostly sits and watches. The room doesn’t change for them—they’re the ones being processed.
That’s the first big tell: this isn’t just about religion. It’s about systems. The church stands in for any institution that claims moral authority—governments, platforms, labels, churches, media—places where identity, status, and “truth” are negotiated behind the scenes. Faith is the language; control is the product.
Kanye as the unmanageable outsider
In this universe, Kanye isn’t the leader of the service. He’s a problem in the pews. The wildest scene makes that explicit: astronauts move in, pull off his mask, expose him as an “alien,” and carry him out. It’s funny, surreal—and brutal.
That moment plays like a metaphor for what happens when someone stops being useful to the system. If you’re too unpredictable, too loud, too off‑script, the institution finds a way to unmask you, label you, and remove you. But here’s the twist: once he’s gone, the spectacle continues. Travis still shines, the ceremony rolls on, the church keeps doing what the church does. The message is cold: no one is bigger than the machine.
Faith vs obedience
The title “Father” is doing triple duty: God, parent, and patriarchal authority. The video leans into a hard question—are we following something we believe in, or something we’re afraid to disappoint?
Inside this church, people don’t react when things get strange. A nun is handled like a criminal, cards burn, an alien is dragged away, and the room barely flinches. That’s not devotion, that’s conditioning. The deeper critique is that many of our modern “faiths”—political, religious, even fandom—have slid from relationship into obedience. You’re not invited to wrestle with meaning; you’re expected to sit down, sing along, and accept the script.
Who gets meaning, who gets sacrificed
The casting in “Father” feels like a visual ranking chart. The knight represents sanctioned force: power that’s old, armored, and legitimated by history. The cross and church setting evoke sacrifice: whose pain gets honored, whose story gets canonized, whose doesn’t. The Michael Jackson lookalike signals how even fallen icons remain useful as symbols long after their humanity is gone.
In that context, Kanye’s removal reads as a sacrifice that keeps the system intact. Take the problematic prophet out of the frame, keep the music, keep the ritual, keep the brand. The father‑system doesn’t collapse; it adjusts. Control isn’t loud in this world—it’s quiet, procedural, dressed like order.
A mirror held up to us
The most uncomfortable part of “Father” is that the congregation keeps sitting there. No one storms out. No one screams. The church absorbs aliens, icons, arrests, and weddings like it’s a normal Sunday. That’s where the video stops being about Kanye and starts being about us.
We’ve learned to scroll past absurdity and injustice with the same blank face as those extras in the pews. Faith becomes content. Outrage becomes engagement. Power becomes invisible. “Father” takes all of that and crushes it into one continuous shot, asking a bigger question than “Is Kanye back?”
It’s asking: in a world where power wears holy clothes, faith is filmed, and control looks like normal life, who is your father really—and are you sure you chose him?
Entertainment
The machine isn’t coming. It’s aleady the room.

The machine isn’t coming. It’s already in the room.
Picture this: you spend two years writing a script. You hustle funding, build a team, reach out to casting. Then somewhere inside a studio, a software platform analyzes your concept against fifteen years of box office data and decides—before a single human executive reads page one—that your film is too risky to greenlight.
This isn’t a Black Mirror episode. This is Hollywood in 2026.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
The generative AI market inside media and entertainment just crossed $2.24 billion and is projected to hit $21.2 billion by 2035—a 25% annual growth rate. Studios like Warner Bros. are running platforms like Cinelytic, a decision-intelligence tool that predicts box office performance with 94–96% accuracy before a single dollar of production money moves.
Netflix estimates its AI recommendation engine saves the company $1 billion per year just in subscriber retention. Meanwhile, over the past three years, more than 41,000 film and TV jobs have disappeared in Los Angeles County alone.
That’s not a trend. That’s a restructuring.

The Moment That Changed Everything
In February 2026, ByteDance’s AI generator Seedance 2.0 produced a hyper-realistic deepfake video featuring the likenesses of Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Leonardo DiCaprio. It went viral instantly. SAG-AFTRA called it “blatant infringement.” The Human Artistry Campaign called it “an attack on every creator in the world.”
Then came Tilly Norwood—a fully AI-generated actress created by production company Particle 6—who was seriously considered for agency representation in Hollywood. The first synthetic human to knock on that door.
Matthew McConaughey didn’t mince words at a recent industry town hall. He looked at Timothée Chalamet and said:
“It’s already here. Own yourself. Voice, likeness, et cetera. Trademark it. Whatever you gotta do, so when it comes, no one can steal you.”
James Cameron told CBS the idea of generating actors with prompts is “horrifying.” Werner Herzog called AI films “fabrications with no soul.” Guillermo del Toro said he would “rather die” than use generative AI to make a film.
But here’s the thing—not everyone agrees.
The Indie Filmmaker’s Double-Edged Sword
At SXSW 2026, indie filmmakers made something clear in a packed panel: they don’t want AI to make their movies. They want AI to “do their dishes.”
That’s the real conversation happening at the ground level.
Independent filmmaker Brad Tangonan used Google’s AI suite to create Murmuray—a deeply personal short film he says he never could have made without the tools. Not because he lacked talent, but because he lacked budget. He wrote it. He directed it. The AI executed parts of his vision he couldn’t afford to shoot.
In Austin, an independent filmmaker built a 7-minute short in three weeks using AI-generated video—a project that would have taken 3–4 months and cost ten times more the traditional way. That’s the version of this story studios don’t want you focused on.
At CES 2026, Arcana Labs announced the first fully AI-generated short film to receive a SAG-approved contract—a milestone that proves AI-assisted production can operate inside union protections when done right.
The Fight Coming This Summer
The WGA contract expires May 1, 2026. SAG-AFTRA’s expires June 30. AI is the headline issue at the bargaining table—and the last time these two unions went to war with studios over it, Hollywood shut down for 118 days.
SAG is expected to push the “Tilly Tax”—a fee studios pay every time they use a synthetic actor—directly inspired by Tilly Norwood’s emergence. The WGA already prohibits studios from handing writers AI-generated scripts for a rewrite fee. Now they want bigger walls.
Meanwhile, the Television Academy’s 2026 Emmy rules now include explicit AI language: human creative contribution must remain the “core” of any submission. AI assistance is allowed—but the Academy reserves the right to investigate how it was used.
The Oscars and Emmys are essentially saying: the robot didn’t get nominated. The human did.
What This Means for You
If you’re an indie filmmaker between 25 and 45, you’re operating in the most disruptive creative environment since the camera went digital. AI can cut your post-production time by up to 40%. It can help you pre-visualize shots, generate temp scores, clean up audio, and pitch your project with a sizzle reel you couldn’t afford six months ago.
But the machine that helps you make your film is the same machine that could make studios decide they don’t need you to make theirs.
Producer and director Taylor Nixon-Smith said it best: “Entertainment, once a sacred space, now feels like it’s in a state of purgatory.”
The question isn’t whether AI belongs in your workflow. It’s whether you’re the one holding the wheel—or whether the wheel is slowly being handed to an algorithm that has never once felt what it means to have a story only you can tell.
News2 weeks agoThe Timothée Chalamet Guide to Ruining Your Image
Entertainment4 weeks agoThis scene almost broke him. And changed his career.
Entertainment4 weeks ago7 Filmmaking Lessons From Michael B. Jordan’s Oscar Moment
Entertainment2 weeks agoThe machine isn’t coming. It’s aleady the room.
Advice4 weeks agoStop Waiting for Permission — The Film Industry Just Rewrote the Rules
Entertainment2 weeks agoWhat Kanye’s ‘Father’ Says About Power, Faith, and Control
News4 weeks agoHow ‘Sinners’ Won The Oscars: Filmmaker Notes
News3 weeks agoHow She Earns $40M+ In 2026



















