See which stars ranked highest on the IMDbPro STARmeter chart throughout 2025.

The Most Popular Stars of 2025

As 2025 comes to a close, we present the top 10 series that were most consistently popular on IMDb this year.

The Most Popular Series of 2025

Stream festive holiday films, heartwarming specials, and seasonal TV episodes perfect for celebrating with family and friends.

Holiday Movie & TV Picks on Paramount+

The newly inaugurated President of the United States must deal with an approaching alien fleet of spaceships and determine whether to welcome them or destroy them, based on limited information.

A compelling commentary on the state of human affairs and trust

Newly appointed President Halsey is just getting acclimated to his position, when word comes down that an unidentified flying object is on a direct path with Earth. Fresh from his inauguration dinner, he and his wife, First Lady Halsey, are escorted to an underground bunker where an ensemble of military, scientific, and philanthropic experts have been assembled to assess the situation and offer the new Commander-in-Chief their two cents. WIth each passing moment, they second guess one another with their differing points of view. The military adviser suggest that the blow up the travelers, no questions asked, as they are uninvited guests. Scientists in the bunker are slow to act, because they want more information. Philanthropic experts question the hostility of the beings, since they are picking up a visual transmission from space in which the creatures appear to be trying to communicate. As zero hour approaches, and the invading craft grows closer to the surface, President Halsey is bombarded from all sides, and feels pressure to decide on a course of action in a situation for which there is no precedent. All eyes on him, neighboring nations ponder what there response should be. Some want to act more quickly than others, feeling threatened by the aliens&#39; presence in general. Still, the one lone voice of reason, Janet Preston, insists that they take the time to decode the message from the alien race before acting rashly and provoking a violent response. After all, she precludes, they could be peaceful. Suddenly, a flash in the sky appears, and an object plummets to the surface, disappearing into the ocean depths. Now people begin to panic. In the bunker, the President sits on a corner stair with his head in his hands, contemplating the world outside. His wife, the only calming force in the room, sits next to him and advises him to go with his instincts. This situation and how he handles it will be his legacy, and will usher in a new era for the human race. In the end, Halsey makes the only decision he can justify given the information available - he gives the command to fire at the craft. We strike. The craft comes down. Around the world, other nations do the same to similar crafts in there respective spaces. Suddenly, another message begins transmitting. An arguably more angry message from the sound of the alien&#39;s voice. Janet Preston, whose task all along was the decode the message, is able to translate a portion... &quot;We wanted to be your friends.&quot; Suddenly, another flash in the sky..a bigger flash. Radar shows its target, Russia. Suddenly, Russia disappears from Radar. Then Australia. Then China. Other flash. Radar shows the target. Closing in 10000 miles..3000 miles..500 miles..100 miles..20 miles. President Halsey stands up from his stair, crosses to his wife, and embraces her for the last time.

tt0667994

Trial by Fire

Every time I watch this episode I&#39;m disappointed not in the outcome but in the ending itself. Instead of just a last minute revelation of the translation of the message, would&#39;ve rather the whole thing been a staged scenario to teach new presidents about the responsibilities of the office they now hold.

User reviews

Trial by Fire

The Outer Limits

A compelling commentary on the state of human affairs and trust

Needed a better ending

More from this title

More to explore

Recently viewed