Netflix | Know It All Nev

Prime Movie & TV Manufacturing Corporations Are the Unsung Heroes of the Streaming Wars

Amazon, Apple, disney, HBO Max, Hulu, mgm, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, ViacomCBS, Warner Bros. | 25/08/202125/08/2021

Hyperactive production companies are the engine behind Hollywood’s current content feeding frenzy. Pixabay
Right now, nearly every major conglomerate with a toe in Hollywood is trying desperately to attract a large subscriber base to their streaming service in order to appease Wall Street. To do that, these companies need to build out their SVOD platforms with prodigious libraries of both exclusive original films and television series as well as pre-existing catalogues to keep those subscribers on the hook. As a result, Hollywood finds itself in a content consolidation craze as this feeding frenzy is spurring the merger and acquisition market.
This cascading feedback loop has elevated the value of production companies. Why? Because studios are hungry for the mass production framework and talent relations they bring to the table. For the most part, each major studio — Netflix, Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, etc. — has an in-house production arm. But there are still independents working the market and increasing their own value in the process.
Here are the top movie and television production companies in the United States in terms of their contributions to major SVOD platforms, according to Reelgood’s Q2 2021 SVOD Catalog and Viewing Insights report.
Top Movie Production Companies in the United States
Top 10 U.S. Production Companies by SVOD Movie Viewing Share Reelgood
Top 10 U.S. Production Companies by Movies Available via SVOD Reelgood
While studios are often the owners of high-profile intellectual property, production companies can also come complete with their own war chest of IP. Amazon dropped $8.45 billion on MGM primarily for a library that includes Rocky, Legally Blonde, and partial rights to the James Bond franchise.
Looking at viewing shares among SVOD platforms in the United States during Q2 2021, Reelgood — a streaming aggregator that tracks every TV show and movie available online for its 2 million-plus users — determined which production companies’ libraries are generating the most attention among streaming audiences at the moment.
On the film side, Warner Bros.’ contributions to HBO Max are attracting the most views for the production company’s movies. That’s what happens when a studio releases its entire 2021 film slate day-and-date in theaters and on streaming. From Godzilla vs. Kong and Mortal Kombat through Space Jam: A New Legacy and The Suicide Squad, WB’s films have helped HBO Max recover from a rocky start. The streamer is on pace to add more than 11 million new subscribers in 2021.
Films from Walt Disney Pictures, the majority of which can be found on Disney+, dropped three places in the ranking compared to Q2 of last year. Universal Pictures and Columbia Pictures (Sony) went up in ranking, with the most views coming from Netflix even though most of both companies’ content are on Peacock Premium and STARZ, respectively. Sony is the only major studio without a premium SVOD platform, enabling them to sign lucrative licensing and content deals with the likes of Netflix, Disney, and Amazon. Paramount remained in second place, with Prime Video logging the most views for the company, although Paramount+ holds most of its catalog. ViacomCBS’s split content endeavors has put a ceiling on Paramount+, which likely could be performing better in the streaming arena.
Top TV Show Production Companies in the United States
Top 10 Prod Companies by TV Shows Available via SVOD as of June 30, 2021 Reelgood
Top 10 Prod Companies by SVOD TV Show Viewing Shares in Q2 2021 Reelgood
In terms of TV shows, Warner Bros. remains the most popular among streaming audiences. However, Netflix is the platform garnering the most eyeballs for the production company’s titles, as the streamer currently has the most series from Warner Bros. Television compared to other SVODs. These include saved originals such as Lucifer, licensed content such as Riverdale and Gotham, as well as day 1 originals such as The Kominsky Method.
Universal Television, whose small screen library is mostly are streaming on Peacock, and 20th Century Television rounded out the top three, buoyed by views from Hulu. Hulu’s licensed library remains one of the most in demand in the streaming field. The same is true for MGM and Paramount Television, though the latter’s catalog is mainly available through Paramount+.
Surprisingly, content from the British Broadcasting Corp. did not have enough viewing share to make the top ten, even though it currently has the most TV shows licensed by SVOD platforms, including its own BritBox streaming service, Prime Video, Hulu, and Netflix.

Nifty Nev

Aarmy of the Dead, Bruised, Netflix, Red Notice, Tick Tick Boom, Worth | 24/08/202124/08/2021

Netflix’s Army of Thieves. Stanislav Honzik/Netflix
In the endless battle for content and eyeballs, Netflix loves itself some original movies. The voluminous streamer announced in January that it planned to release a minimum of 70 new feature films in 2021 alone. That’s more than one per week for you cinephiles out there. Ever the over-performer, however, Netflix has already dropped 85 original films this year with more on the way.
The streamer has announced release dates for its entire Fall film slate, which includes Michael Keaton’s 9/11 drama Worth, a prequel to Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead, Dwayne Johnson’s original action blockbuster Red Notice (co-starring Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot), Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature directorial debut tick, tick…BOOM!, Halle Berry’s feature directorial debut Bruised, and Adam McKay’s star-studded dramedy Don’t Look Up. Proud couch potatoes now have a tidal wave of content to keep up.
Here’s the upcoming schedule:
September

Afterlife of the Party (9/2)
Worth (9/3)
Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali (9/9)
Kate (In select theaters and on Netflix 9/10)
Nightbooks (9/15)
Schumacher (9/15)
Intrusion (9/22)
The Starling (In select theaters 9/17, on Netflix 9/24)
My Little Pony: A New Generation (9/24)
Sounds Like Love (9/29)
No One Gets Out Alive (9/29)

October

The Guilty (In select theaters 9/24, on Netflix 10/1)
Diana: The Musical (10/1)
There’s Someone Inside Your House (10/6)
Found (10/20)
Night Teeth (10/20)
Stuck Together (10/20)
Army of Thieves (10/29)
Hypnotic (October)
Fever Dream (In select theaters and on Netflix this October(

November

The Harder They Fall (In select theaters 10/22, on Netflix 11/3)
Love Hard (11/5)
Passing (In select theaters 10/27, on Netflix 11/10)
Red Notice (11/12)
tick, tick…BOOM! (In select theaters 11/12, on Netflix 11/19)
Bruised (In select theaters 11/12, on Netflix 11/19)
Robin Robin (11/24)
14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (11/29)
7 Prisoners (In select theaters and on Netflix this November)
A Boy Called Christmas (November)
A Castle For Christmas (November)
The Princess Switch 3 (November)

December

The Power of the Dog (In select theaters 11/17, on Netflix 12/1)
Shaun The Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas (12/3)
The Unforgivable (In select theaters 11/24, on Netflix 12/10)
The Hand of God (In select theaters 12/3, on Netflix 12/15)
Don’t Look Up (In select theaters 12/10, on Netflix 12/24)
The Lost Daughter (In select theaters 12/17, on Netflix 12/31)
Back to the Outback (December)
Mixtape (December)
Single All The Way (December)

The following films will be shown at The Paris theater in New York City:

Worth (8/27)
Kate (9/3)
The Starling (9/17)
The Guilty (9/24)
Fever Dream (October)
Found (10/13)
The Harder They Fall (10/20)
Passing (10/27)
tick…tick, BOOM! (11/10)
The Power of the Dog (11/17)
The Unforgiven (11/24)
The Hand of God (12/1)
Don’t Look Up (12/10)
The Lost Daughter (12/17)

*The Paris screening dates are subject to change.

Nifty Nev

Amazon, box office, disney, Marvel, MCU, Netflix, Sony, Spider-Man | 22/08/202122/08/2021

Despite what you may have heard, Disney isn’t buying Sony’s roster of Marvel characters. Sony
A quick perusal around the internet over the last 24 hours will reveal a juicy yet baseless rumor making the rounds: Disney is going to buy Sony Pictures specifically to acquire the remainder of the Marvel Comics character library. As enticing as this gossip may sound for comic book obsessives who would love to see the Disney-owned Marvel Studios complete its collection, logic has other plans.
Here’s every reason why Disney will not be buying out Sony when it comes to Marvel.
Sony isn’t for sale
Sony Pictures has long been a source of speculation when it comes to Hollywood’s ravenous merger and acquisition appetite. Sony Group, which was once rumored to be eyeing an exit from Hollywood to better focus on its core businesses, could make a pretty penny on the open market by dangling the entertainment division. But in May, CEO Yoshida Kenichiro shot down that possibility by reaffirming that Sony Pictures is not for sale. Definitively.
The CEO is happy with Sony Pictures’ position as the lone major content arms dealer in Hollywood, which has led to big money licensing deals with the industry’s biggest studios. Speaking of which…
Sony and Disney have already struck a licensing deal
Back in April, Sony and Netflix agreed to a massive Pay 1 window licensing deal rumored to be worth $3 billion. Two weeks later, the company struck a Pay 2 licensing pact with Disney. You simply don’t lock in those two long-term agreements if a sale is in the near-term future. (You also don’t go out and spend $1.2 billion to acquire anime streaming service Crunchyroll, as Sony did in April, if you want to rid yourself of your entertainment division). It’s just not a sound strategy and would further complicate a future sale, not expedite it.
And if you’re Disney, you don’t fork over a massive licensing sum for the less valuable Pay 2 window if you’re angling to buy the joint. Double dipping may be common at Super Bowl parties, but not at the corporate executive levels of Hollywood.
Disney probably couldn’t buy Sony
Disney has become known for its splashy acquisitions during the Bob Iger era. This include Pixar ($7.4 billion), Marvel ($4 billion), Lucasfilm ($4.05 billion), and Fox ($71 billion). Sony Pictures Entertainment could fetch around $30 billion, a tall order after such a spending spree over the last 15 years, even for a company with a market cap of $315 billion. While Disney isn’t going to turn away from a competitive advantage, the company doesn’t appear to be in the market for a major addition at the moment.
More importantly, the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission would have a conniption if such a move was proposed. Disney has already absorbed one major studio in Fox. Would regulatory powers really allow the company to acquire a second? Chair of the FTC Lina Khan has been vocal about her desire to crack down on monopolies. Though she’s mostly focused on big tech companies such as Amazon and Apple, a Disney power play of this magnitude would elicit backlash.
Sony is banking on its Marvel roster
The other reason Disney is unlikely to buy out Sony and acquire its roster of Marvel characters is because Sony is, uhh, using them! The studio is all in on its terribly named Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters (SPUMC).
Tom Hardy’s Venom somehow earned $856 million worldwide back in 2018, Jared Leto’s Morbius and Venom: Let There Be Carnage are due out in the near future despite COVID-related delays, and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man may very well be reclaimed exclusively for Sony’s burgeoning continuity. Plus, there’s a Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sequel in the works.
In 2019, Sony tapped Phil Lord and Chris Miller (21 Jump Street, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) to create a Marvel TV universe for the studio with a five-year, nine-figure deal. Amazon Prime Video is expected to be the on-screen home for the upcoming deluge of series.
Spider-Man: Far From Home ($1.1 billion) is Sony’s highest-grossing film worldwide of all time. The studio isn’t throwing away its most prized asset(s) in a one-off deal when it can instead leverage them for lucrative recurring revenue and value long-term. As the lone high-profile third-party film and TV provider to an industry desperate for streaming success, Sony finds itself in a unique position cushioned with payment potential.

Nifty Nev

best Netflix movies, Home Theater, Movies & TV, movies and TV, Netflix, streaming, what to watch | 21/08/202121/08/2021

Movie night is easy with a Netflix subscription, thanks to the enormous collection of new and classic films available on the popular streaming service. Whether you’re in the mood for a tense thriller, a raunchy comedy, an exciting adventure, or a thought-provoking documentary, there’s something for everyone in the Netflix library. In order to make your decision even easier, we’ve searched through the entire collection and put together a list of the best movies available on Netflix right now.
Looking for something else? We’ve also rounded up the best shows on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime, and the best movies on Disney+.

Misha and the Wolves (2021)
Move over, Tiger King, Netflix has another wild documentary you need to see to believe. The film chronicles the far-reaching investigation that took place after the publication of Misha Defonseca’s widely circulated 1997 memoir Misha: A Mémoire of the Holocaust Years, in which the author describes her experiences as a young Holocaust survivor who was raised by wolves while searching Europe for her parents. It’s best not knowing any of the twists and turns the story takes ahead of time, so just sit back and let this true, stranger-than-fiction story unfold. You won’t be disappointed.
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%Genre: DocumentaryStars: N/ADirector: Sam HobkinsonRating: PG-13Runtime: 90 minutes
Watch on Netflix

A Ghost Story (2017)
In the wake of a fatal car crash, C (Casey Affleck) returns to the earth as a white-sheeted phantom. After a spiritual pilgrimage back to the suburban ranch he shared with M (Rooney Mara), C’s spirit begins to haunt the home. Time seeps away as minutes, months, and years pass. M grieves, new families come and go, but the house (and the ghost) remain. Director David Lowery shot the project in relative secrecy, using the same VFX crew that lent their talents to Lowery’s Disney-financed remake of Pete’s Dragon. A cinematic experience like no other, A Ghost Story explores love, life, and loss in ways seldom seen onscreen.
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%Genre: Drama, Romance, FantasyStars: Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara, Will OldhamDirector: David LoweryRating: RRuntime: 90 minutes
Watch on Netflix

Bad Trip (2021)
Eric André and Lil Rel Howery headline this hidden-camera prank film that has them playing two friends, Chris and Bud, who embark on an ill-fated road trip so Chris can tell his high school sweetheart he loves her. As they stumble from one ridiculous scenario to another, they’re pursued by Bud’s convict sister (Tiffany Haddish), whose car they stole for the trip. Raunchy, shocking, and relentlessly funny, the film blends scripted scenes with wild hidden-camera pranks and its duo’s signature comedy for a film that’s all about the journey, not the destination.
Rotten Tomatoes: 75%Genre: ComedyStars: Eric André, Lil Rel Howery, Tiffany HaddishDirector: Kitao SakuraiRating: RRuntime: 84 minutes
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The Devil All the Time (2020)
Written and directed by Antonio Campos, The Devil All the Time is American Gothic at its most perverse. Set in rural southern Ohio and West Virginia after World War II, the story follows Arvin Russell (Tom Holland), a young man who is determined to protect his loved ones against the corruption and violence that plagues his town. From complete strangers to the most powerful institutions in the area, brutality is pervasive as everyone seeks desperately to assert their own small bits of power in a broken — but recovering — world. Things aren’t getting better for everyone, however, and The Devil All the Time takes its time exploring the generational trauma and cold truths that inhabit this sinister town.
Rotten Tomatoes: 65%Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, ThrillerStars: Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Sebastian StanDirector: Antonio CamposRating: RRuntime: 138 minutes
Watch on Netflix

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
What’s better than a new Western from the Coen brothers? How about six? The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is a sextet of short films, all set in the Wild West. They follow different characters through wild plots that explore the themes of human depravity and cosmic justice (or injustice) that recur so often in the Coens’ works. The stories and protagonists vary wildly. The eponymous sequence follows Buster Scruggs (Tim Blake Nelson), a sharpshooting, guitar-slinging cowboy roaming the West and singing of his adventures. In another, a lonely prospector (Tom Waits) digs for his fortune. The stories in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs fall on the surreal end of the Coen spectrum — they’re somewhat comical, occasionally brutal folk tales that don’t always leave the viewer feeling they’ve learned a lesson. Here’s our list of the best comedies on Netflix to browse if you’re looking for more in this genre.
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%Genre: Comedy-dramaStars: Liam Neeson, James Franco, Tim Blake NelsonDirector: Ethan Coen, Joel CoenRating: TV-MARuntime: 133 minutes
Watch on Netflix

Stowaway (2021)
After the three-person crew of a manned mission to Mars discovers a fourth, accidental occupant of their ship, a crisis occurs when a related equipment failure leaves only enough oxygen to support the original crew. That’s the heart-wrenching premise of this sci-fi drama that Netflix won the right to distribute in the U.S. after a bidding war. The moral quandary posed by the film is supported by a small but impressive cast, with Anna Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim, and Toni Collette portraying the ship’s crew and Shamier Anderson portraying the engineer who wakes up inside the ship shortly after takeoff.
Rotten Tomatoes: 74%Genre: Drama, Sci-FiStars: Anna Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim, Shamier Anderson, Toni ColletteDirector: Joe PennaRating: TV-MARuntime: 116 minutes
Watch on Netflix

Vivo (2021)
The first musical animated feature from Sony Pictures Animation, Vivo follows a musically gifted kinkajou — a long-tailed, raccoon-like mammal usually found in tropical regions — as he embarks on a journey from Havana, Cuba, to Miami, Florida, in order to bring a message of love to his guardian’s former partner. Hamilton and In the Heights mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda created the songs for the film and voices Vivo the kinkajou, with Ynairaly Simo voicing Gabi Hernández, the young girl who helps Vivo on his quest. A long list of popular Cuban musicians and performers — including Gloria Estefan — fill out the film’s cast and contribute to a musical score rooted in the region’s history and culture.
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%Genre: Musical, FamilyStars: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldana, Juan de Marcos González, Gloria EstefanDirector: Kirk DeMiccoRating: PGRuntime: 98 minutes
Watch on Netflix

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Widely considered one of the best films of celebrated filmmaker John Hughes, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off casts Matthew Broderick as the movie’s titular teenage slacker, whose decision to skip school one day kicks off an adventure with his best friend and girlfriend that could either be the best day of their lives or the worst. Alan Ruck and Mia Sara deliver wonderful performances as the pair swept away in Ferris’ plans, but it’s Broderick who steals the show as the fourth-wall-breaking hero of the story. While the film served as Hughes’ love letter to Chicago, it was Broderick’s portrayal of Ferris that made the character one of Hollywood’s most iconic teenage rebels of ’80s cinema.
Rotten Tomatoes: 80%Genre: ComedyStars: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia SaraDirector: John HughesRating: PG-13Runtime: 108 minutes
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Ravenous (2017)
Ravenous (originally titled Les Affamés) begins after a mysterious plague has annihilated much of Quebec, turning its victims into shrieking, flesh-eating monsters. The story follows various survivors who eventually band together to fight back the horde, but despite the familiar plot, this isn’t a typical zombie movie; it is a deliberately paced, eerily beautiful horror movie. The protagonist is a man named Bonin (Marc-Andre Grondin), who wanders the countryside, finding other survivors and slaying zombies. As the group grows, the film gives each character proper development, so they feel fully fleshed out, unlike the stock survivors of many a zombie film. While the film has its gory moments, Ravenous frequently employs an atmosphere of dread built through uncanny imagery, such as when the zombies congregate before a shrine made of furniture.
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%Genre: HorrorStars: Marc-Andre Grondin, Monia ChokriDirector: Robin AubertRating: TV-MARuntime: 103 minutes
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Django Unchained (2012)
In Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, the barrage of spaghetti-western bullets is never-ending. When Django (Jamie Foxx) is rescued from enslavement by the mysterious Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), the unlikely duo forms a partnership. Django agrees to help Schultz track down bounties. In return, Schultz will help Django locate his wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington). After some winter bounty hunts, Django and Schultz track Broomhilda to the plantation of a notorious slaver named Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). He’s a charismatic host, but cunning like no other, and it’s not long before Candie and his cohorts begin sniffing out Django’s true intentions. Big, bold, and bloody, Django Unchained is Tarantino’s second collaboration with actor Christoph Waltz and the first with the late composer, Ennio Morricone.
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%Genre: Western, Drama, ActionStars: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprioDirector: Quentin TarantinoRating: RRuntime: 165 minutes
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The Beguiled (2017)
The tension just keeps getting higher in this Civil War-era drama from filmmaker Sofia Coppola, based on Thomas P. Cullinan’s novel of the same name. Colin Farrell portrays a Union soldier who’s forced to take refuge in a Southern boarding school for women, only to have his presence there upset the institution’s delicate balance of power. Sexual tension and dark secrets flame the fires of drama, pitting the women against each other while a terrible war rages outside the school’s doors.
Rotten Tomatoes: 79%Genre: Drama, ThrillerStars: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle FanningDirector: Sofia CoppolaRating: RRuntime: 94 minutes
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The Old Guard (2020)
Netflix goes superhero in this action-packed flick about a secret organization of immortals that has protected the Earth from extinction for centuries. But when they are set up on an emergency mission, their powers are mistakenly exposed to the world. Now they must work together to ensure none of the various powerful competing interests can control them for personal or monetary gain.
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%Genre: Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & FantasyStars: Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Chiwetel EjioforDirector: Gina Prince-BythewoodRating: RRuntime: 125 minutes
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Midnight Special (2016)
Jeff Nichols’ Midnight Special is a brilliant love letter to sci-fi chase films like Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind and John Carpenter’s Starman. The film follows Roy (Michael Shannon), Lucas (Joel Edgerton), and Roy’s son Alton (Jaeden Martell), a trio on the run from the FBI and religious extremists. Why? It turns out that Alton has otherworldly abilities. Glowing blue eyes, literal earthquakes, and satellite explosions are just a few of his tricks. Roadbound by night, it’s up to Roy and Lucas to get the boy to a predetermined latitude-longitude destination in Florida, coordinates spoken in tongues by Alton that the zealots have deciphered as scripture. In essence, Alton is their messiah, and he’s missing. Gripping from start to finish and featuring one of Sam Shepard’s last performances as the prolific cult leader, Midnight Special is a perfect weekend watch.
Rotten Tomatoes: 84%Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery, ThrillerStars: Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten DunstDirector: Jeff NicholsRating: PG-13Runtime: 121 minutes
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I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020)
Writer-director Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Synecdoche, New York) is at his most delightfully weird in this Netflix original movie. This time- and the perspective-bending story follows a young, nameless woman on a road trip to her new boyfriend’s parents’ house in the middle of a blizzard. When she gets there, she finds the parents (Toni Collette, David Thewlis) are extremely weird, and the house seems to exist in some kind of surreal alternate reality where time and character morph with abandon. Alternatively strange and hilarious, and constantly thought-provoking, I’m Thinking of Ending Things is powered by strong writing and outstanding performances from all the actors involved.
Rotten Tomatoes: 82%Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery & SuspenseStars: Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, Toni Collette, David ThewlisDirector: Charlie KaufmanRating: RRuntime: 134 minutes
Watch on Netflix

Fear Street Part One: 1994 (2021)
This retro slasher feature based on R.L. Stine’s book series of the same name follows a group of teenagers in fictional Shadyside, Ohio, who find themselves terrorized by a supernatural killer with a link to the town’s dark history. Dripping with ’90s nostalgia and plenty of blood, the movie is the first installment of a trilogy that explores Shadyside’s deadly reputation as the murder capital of the country, with each chapter unfolding in a different era. Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Julia Rehwald, and Fred Hechinger star in the terrifying tale.
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%Genre: HorrorStars: Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Julia Rehwald, Fred HechingerDirector: Leigh JaniakRating: RRuntime: 105 minutes
Watch on Netflix

Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)
Karen Gillan plays a lethal assassin who finds herself on the run after she refuses to kill a young girl in this fast-paced, beautifully choreographed thriller. While fleeing the mysterious organization out to end her contract, Gillan finds an unexpected ally in the mother she thought she lost (played by Game of Thrones actress Lena Headey) and a trio of brutally effective hitwomen (Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, Carla Gugino). With nonstop action and an impressive ensemble of leading ladies, the film gives new meaning to smashing the patriarchy.
Rotten Tomatoes: 69%Genre: Action, ThrillerStars: Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, Carla Gugino, Chloe ColemanDirector: Navot PapushadoRating: RRuntime: 114 minutes
Watch on Netflix

The Karate Kid (1984)
Before Cobra Kai was all the rage, there was The Karate Kid, the film that made actor Ralph Macchio an unlikely martial arts icon and allowed Pat Morita to deliver one of Hollywood’s most inspirational performances of the era. The film casts Macchio as a bullied California teenager who finds an unexpected ally and mentor in the quiet Okinawan handyman at his family’s new apartment. Not only did the film earn Morita an Academy Award nomination for his performance, but it spawned three sequels, a 2010 remake, an animated series, and the aforementioned Cobra Kai revival series, which brought back many of the original franchise’s stars.
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%Genre: Drama, ActionStars: Ralph Macchio, Pat MoritaDirector: John G. AvildsenRating: PGRuntime: 126 minutes
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Wildling (2018)
Life has never been normal for Anna (Bel Powley). Confined to an attic bedroom, her adolescence is spent on empty days of staring out the window, longing for the wilderness. Cared for by a man she refers to as “Daddy” (Brad Dourif), he warns Anna that lurking in the world outside her bedroom is a terrifying creature called the Wildling. Traumatic events unfold, and a teenage Anna awakens in a hospital. When Ellen Cooper (Liv Tyler), the local sheriff, agrees to take Anna in, the dark mythos of the Wildling starts spreading. Is Anna losing her mind, or is something evil truly afoot in the woods? Director Fritz Böhm delivers a gripping yet morose fairytale about the coming-of-age process, a time where we lose touch with our mind and body when we need them most.
Rotten Tomatoes: 70%Genre: Fantasy, Mystery and Thriller, HorrorStars: Liv Tyler, Brad Dourif, Bel PowleyDirector: Fritz BöhmRating: RRuntime: 93 minutes
Watch on Netflix

I Care a Lot (2020)
Rosamund Pike portrays a diabolical con artist who poses as the legal guardian for elderly people in order to seize their assets in this dark, satirical thriller. Her highly profitable scam takes a dangerous turn when her latest victim turns out to be the mother of a powerful mob boss, leading to a deadly battle of wills between Pike’s character and a ruthless criminal kingpin played by Peter Dinklage. Eiza González and Dianne Wiest play supporting roles in the film, which earned praise from critics and led to Pike taking home a Golden Globe Award for her performance.
Rotten Tomatoes: 80%Genre: Drama, Comedy, ThrillerStars: Rosamund Pike, Peter DinklageDirector: J BlakesonRating: RRuntime: 118 minutes
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Midnight Run (1988)
Robert De Niro plays a bounty hunter tasked with bringing in a shifty accountant portrayed by Charles Grodin in this classic comedy directed by Beverly Hills Cop filmmaker Martin Brest. Dubbed “the Casablanca of buddy comedies” by Rolling Stone, the film was a surprise hit based on the memorable chemistry between De Niro and Grodin, whose characters must deal with one setback after another on their cross-country journey, as well as corrupt cops, overzealous FBI agents, mafia hitmen, and a host of other threats. Nominated as one of the year’s best films at the 46th Golden Globe Awards, Midnight Run remains a truly underappreciated gem of ’80s cinema featuring two actors who bring the best out of each other’s performances.
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%Genre: Action, ComedyStars: Robert De Niro, Charles GrodinDirector: Martin BrestRating: RRuntime: 122 minutes
Watch on Netflix

The Impossible (2012)
On Christmas vacation in Thailand, the Bennett family, consisting of Maria (Naomi Watts), Henry (Ewan McGregor), Lucas (Tom Holland), Thomas (Samuel Joslin), and Simon (Oaklee Pendergast), are thrust right in the middle of the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The onslaught ravages the resort and separates the family. Maria and Simon awaken together, with Maria having sustained serious injuries. Henry, Thomas, and Simon have also survived but must wade through the chaos and literal ruins of the tsunami to try to find Maria and Simon. Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, from a script by Sergio G. Sánchez, The Impossible features bold performances from its main ensemble, incredible set pieces, and a powerful true story at its core.
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%Genre: DramaStars: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom HollandDirector: Juan Antonio BayonaRating: PG-13Runtime: 114 minutes
Watch on Netflix

Over the Moon (2020)
Fei Fei (Cathy Ang), grieving the loss of her mother, clings to a legend about a moon goddess named Chang’e. Much to the dismay of her father and his new family, the girl aims to prove that the goddess does indeed exist. To do so, she begins work on a rocket that will take her to the moon to prove Chang’e’s existence. Filled with heart and mesmerizing animation, Over the Moon often looks and feels like your standard Disney epic, but the familiar structure and dazzling music are enough to keep everyone glued to the screen.
Rotten Tomatoes: 80%Genre: Adventure, Musical, Fantasy, Comedy, Kids And Family, AnimationStars: John Cho, Sandra Oh, Ken JeongDirector: Glen KeaneRating: PGRuntime: 100 minutes
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Fruitvale Station (2013)
Before he was one of Marvel Studios’ most celebrated filmmakers, Black Panther director Ryan Coogler wrote and directed this 2013 biographical film that cast Michael B. Jordan as Oscar Grant, who was murdered by police officer Johannes Mehserle in 2009 while traveling on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system in Oakland, California. The film chronicles the events of Grant’s day leading up to his fatal encounter with BART officers that was caught on video and ignited months of protests that — after similar incidents were recorded in the years that followed — would eventually coalesce into the Black Lives Matter movement for racial justice. A powerful, personal film that puts a face on one of the many victims of deadly police misconduct in recent years, Fruitvale Station launched Coogler’s career and earned a long list of awards for both its director and star while bringing wider attention to Grant’s story.
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%Genre: DramaStars: Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, Kevin Durand, Chad Michael MurrayDirector: Ryan CooglerRating: RRuntime: 85 minutes
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The Dig (2021)
Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan), a widowed landowner, decides to tackle the Sutton Hoo burial mounds on her sprawling Suffolk estate. To do so, she hires amateur archaeologist Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) to tackle the job. As he and his crew begin the work, they unearth profound treasures that spark a national call to arms for prominent British historians. As a hierarchy of high-class excavators steamrolls Edith’s private operation, Edith argues for Brown’s position as the higher-ups try and force him out. A brilliant ensemble cast and picturesque cinematography make The Dig one of the best new historical dramas on Netflix.
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%Genre: DramaStars: Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James, Ben ChaplinDirector: Simon StoneRating: RRuntime: 112 minutes
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Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Adapted from Matthew Quick’s 2008 novel of the same name, David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook is an ensemble tour de force with a stripped-down Bradley Cooper as its lead. When Patrick Solitano Jr. (Bradley Cooper) is released from eight months of intensive psychiatric care, he moves back in with his parents, Pat Sr. (Robert De Niro) and Dolores (Jacki Weaver). Intent on getting his wife back, Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a widowed woman with an unspecified disorder of her own. As she and Pat begin to bond, Tiffany asks Pat to enter a dance competition with her, a move that Pat is convinced will get him his wife back. A romantic comedy turned on its head and injected with emotional realism, Silver Linings Playbook explores love, family, and psychosis in ways that other filmmakers would never dare to.
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%Genre: Drama, Romance, ComedyStars: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De NiroDirector: David O. RussellRating: RRuntime: 121 minutes
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His House (2020)
After suffering a major tragedy on their pilgrimage from South Sudan to the U.K., Bol (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) and Rial (Wunmi Mosaku), married refugees fleeing their war-ravaged country, are placed in a decrepit tenement home. As Bol does his best to acclimate to a new life of racial discrepancy, a series of horrific ghouls make themselves known to the grieving man. Blending a socio-political immigration story with a haunted house story, His House bends both sub-genres in a way we’ve never seen pulled off before. An exciting and unsettling directorial debut from Remi Weekes, His House should definitely fill your screen this weekend.
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%Genre: Mystery, Thriller, HorrorStars: Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Wunmi Mosaku, Matt SmithDirector: Remi WeekesRating: RRuntime: 93 minutes
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Stand by Me (1986)
Rob Reiner helmed this critically acclaimed adaptation of Stephen King’s novella The Body, which follows four young friends who embark on a hike through the Oregon wilderness in 1959 in the hopes of finding a dead body of a lost boy and claiming the reward. The film features an all-star cast of actors who went on to become household names, with Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell portraying the childhood friends and Kiefer Sutherland playing the leader of a local teenage gang. A powerful, funny, and occasionally heart-wrenching coming-of-age story, Stand by Me was nominated for an Academy Award for its screenplay and a pair of Golden Globe Awards as the year’s best film and for Reiner’s directing.
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%Stars: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, Kiefer SutherlandDirector: Rob ReinerRating: RRuntime: 89 minutes
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The White Tiger (2021)
Based on Aravind Adiga’s 2008 novel of the same name, The White Tiger follows the rags-to-riches story of Balram Halwai (Adarsh Gourav), an impoverished Indian villager that, through hard work (and a little manipulation), pushes himself into a much-lauded driver position for Ashok (Rajkummar Rao) and Pinky (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), two highly influential business magnates. Coming to love his position, a tragic misstep places Balram in the crosshairs of Ashok’s family. Unwilling to serve as a scapegoat, Balram chooses to fight back against the corrupt forces at play. A gripping class-drama akin to Parasite mates with Joker, The White Tiger is one of the greatest dramas you can stream today.
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%Genre: DramaStars: Adarsh Gourav, Rajkummar Rao, Priyanka Chopra JonasDirector: Ramin BahraniRating: RRuntime: 126 minutes
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Finding ‘Ohana (2021)
Uprooted from her Brooklyn life, Pilialoha “Pili” Kawena (Kea Peahu) and her family travel to Oahu to care for her ailing grandfather. Initially disappointed by the lack of big-city buzz and activity, they discover a pirate journal that alludes to an ancient treasure buried somewhere on the island. As Pili and her older brother begin their quest for the trove, their journey takes them on a Hawaiian odyssey that connects them with their ancient island heritage. A loving family drama, Finding ‘Ohana is The Goonies meets visually breathtaking Hawaii.
Rotten Tomatoes: 85%Genre: Adventure, Action, ComedyStars: Kea Peahu, Alex Aiono, Lindsay WatsonDirector: Jude WengRating: PGRuntime: 123 minutes
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Always Be My Maybe (2019)
Childhood friends Sasha (Ali Wong) and Marcus (Randall Park) cross paths as adults, years after a teenage fling, and soon find themselves navigating life and love while maintaining two very different career paths and social circles. She’s a celebrity chef who hangs out with Keanu Reeves and he installs air conditioners. Can they ever find common ground? You probably know the answer to that already, but watching how they get there is where the fun lies — particularly when it comes to Reeves’ memorable performance.
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%Stars: Ali Wong, Randall Park, Keanu ReevesDirector: Nahnatchka KhanRating: PG-13Runtime: 102 minutes
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Space Sweepers (2021)
Widely regarded as Korea’s first blockbuster space adventure, Space Sweepers is set in the year 2092 and follows the colorful crew of The Victory, a salvage ship that retrieves debris from space and sells it to the megacorporation that owns humanity’s last hope for survival, an orbiting space station high above the toxic surface of Earth. When the crew encounters a young girl in their latest salvage haul, it kicks off a wild adventure that pits them against powerful forces intent on steering mankind’s future. Filled with gorgeous visual-effects sequences, fascinating characters, and plenty of comedy — and a memorable robot named Bubs — the film is a fast-paced, fun throwback to classic space adventures with some wonderfully modern twists.
Rotten Tomatoes: 59%Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, ComedyStars: Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, Jin Seon-kyu, Yoo Hae-jinDirector: Jo Sung-heeRating: TV-MARuntime: 136 minutes
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Moonlight (2016)
2016’s Best Picture winner established Mahershala Ali as a tour de force actor and introduced the world to the brilliant Ashton Sanders. Moonlight attempts to convey the Black experience through three defining chapters of one man’s life. Chiron (Sanders) grows up in Miami, surrounded by a community that is full of love and support despite the crack epidemic that is ravaging it. As Chiron is pulled from his biological family by drug abuse and misunderstanding, he’s guided into manhood by Juan (Ali), a man who recognizes the struggles Chiron will face as a gay Black man. Juan tries to help Chiron find peace with his identity.
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%Genre: Drama, RomanceStars: Mahershala Ali, Ashton Sanders, Alex R. LittleDirector: Barry JenkinsRating: RRuntime: 111 minutes
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Sleight (2016)
In this tense drama from director and co-writer J.D. Dillar, a brilliant young street magician in Los Angeles finds himself in over his head when he gets entangled with a violent drug supplier and must use every trick he knows to save himself and his sister. A surprise hit, Sleight won over audiences at the Sundance Film Festival with its unexpected twist on conventional thrillers, as well as star Jacob Latimore’s compelling performance.
Rotten Tomatoes: 78%Genre: Drama, ThrillerStars: Jacob Latimore, Seychelle GabrielDirector: J.D. DillardRating: RRuntime: 90 minutes
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The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021)
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the duo that gave us The Lego Movie and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, return for this animated feature about a dysfunctional family that ends up becoming humanity’s last, best hope against a robot uprising. Mike Rianda (Gravity Falls) makes his directorial debut with the film, which also features an impressive voice cast that includes Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Eric Andre, Olivia Colman, Fred Armisen, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Blake Griffin, and Conan O’Brien, among other familiar names (and voices). An early favorite for the year’s best animated feature — and one of the best movies of the year — The Mitchells vs. The Machines has quickly become a surprise hit for Netflix.
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%Genre: Comedy, Family, Sci-FiStars: Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Mike RiandaDirector: Mike RiandaRating: PGRuntime: 114 minutes
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The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
Hollywood stalwart Aaron Sorkin rises to the occasion once more with his blistering interpretation of the 1969 Democratic National Convention trials, where seven Vietnam protestors were charged with crimes well beyond their intent. As peaceful demonstrations turn caustic, prejudice bleeds into testimony and eyewitness accounts of what took place the day of the riots. Featuring performances from Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baren Cohen, Alex Sharp, and John Caroll Lynch, Sorkin’s big-budget historical drama takes liberties here and there, but the result is a spellbinding examination of American history.
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%Genre: Drama, HistoryStars: Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baren Cohen, Yahya Abdul-Mateen IIDirector: Aaron SorkinRating: RRuntime: 130 minutes
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The Social Dilemma (2020)
Director Jeff Orlowski’s The Social Dilemma is an eye-opening docudrama that puts big tech like Google, Facebook, and Instagram under the microscope. Various talking heads (many ex-employees of big tech) weigh in on social media’s harmful implications — from algorithmic data mining to mental health detriments. The more one watches Orlowski’s film, the more questions one begins asking about their own social media exposure. The Social Dilemma doesn’t stray from its intent, leaving us with all kinds of things to think about (particularly our own social media accounts) once the credits roll.
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%Genre: Documentary, DramaStars: Tristan HarrisDirector: Jeff OrlowskiRating: PG-13Runtime: 94 minutes
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My Octopus Teacher (2020)
The Academy Award winner in the Best Documentary Feature category at the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony, My Octopus Teacher chronicles the year filmmaker Craig Foster spent free-diving off the South African coast and forging a relationship with a wild octopus he discovered there. In following the octopus’s life and experiences, Foster learns lessons about his own life and relationship to the world around him and his family.
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%Genre: DocumentaryStars: Craig FosterDirector: Pippa Ehrlich, James ReedRating: GRuntime: 85 minutes
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Shadow (2018)
Legendary Chinese director Zhang Yimou followed up his misbegotten The Great Wall with 2018’s Shadow, a beautiful return to form. The film begins when Commander Ziyu (Deng Chao) is defeated in a duel with enemy commander Yang Cang (Hu Jun), losing an important city in the process. This infuriates Ziyu’s king, who demotes Ziyu to commoner status and tries desperately to reclaim the city. Unbeknownst to the king, the actual Ziyu is on the verge of death after the duel, replaced by a body double who must now train to beat Yang Cang. Shadow is a historical epic of grand scope, heavy on intrigue and stylish combat sequences accented by a stark color palette.
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%Genre: DramaStars: Deng Chao, Sun Li, Ryan ChengDirector: Zhang YimouRating: TV-MARuntime: 116 minutes
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Total Recall (1990)
Acclaimed filmmaker Paul Verhoeven directed this 1990 adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s short story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale and filled it with his trademark blend of over-the-top violence, sex, and dark social satire. One of the most expensive films ever made at the time of its release, Total Recall cast Arnold Schwarzenegger as a construction worker in humanity’s far-flung future who suddenly finds himself at the heart of an interplanetary conspiracy that may or may not even be real. Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox, Rachel Ticotin, and Michael Ironside play supporting roles in this brutal — and occasionally brutally funny — adventure that brings Schwarzenegger’s character from Earth to Mars in pursuit of the truth about himself and his past. Along with being a critical and commercial success when it was released, the film also won a Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects at the Academy Awards.
Rotten Tomatoes: 82%Genre: Sci-Fi, ActionStars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox, Rachel Ticotin, Michael IronsideDirector: Paul VerhoevenRating: RRuntime: 109 minutes
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Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Widely regarded as one of the funniest movies ever made, this parody of Arthurian legend was written and performed by the famous Monty Python comedy troupe and directed by troupe members Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones. The film chronicles various elements of King Arthur’s quest to find the Holy Grail and those of his fellow Knights of the Round Table as they encounter one ridiculous scenario after another in pursuit of the relic. If you’ve ever wondered about the airspeed of a swallow, the best ways to determine whether someone is a witch, or how a fuzzy bunny could be the most terrifying creature in the world, well … you might not get all the answers in this film, but you’ll definitely find plenty of laughs.
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%Genre: ComedyStars: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael PalinDirector: Terry Gilliam, Terry JonesRating: PGRuntime: 90 minutes
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Loving (2016)
Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, and inspired by the 2012 HBO documentary The Loving Story, Loving depicts the trials and tribulations of Richard (Joel Edgerton) and Mildred Loving (Ruth Negga), an interracial couple who wanted nothing more than to be wed. But after traveling from Virginia to Washington D.C., to get married, the couple is tracked down by their hometown authorities and charged with violating Virginia’s segregation laws. For their prison sentences to be thrown out, the couple must agree to vacate Virginia and not return for 25 years. But the couple doesn’t want to give up on their love. Ruth writes to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, which sets into motion one of the most vital Supreme Court cases in civil rights history.
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%Genre: Biography, Drama, HistoryStars: Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga, Nick KrollDirector: Jeff NicholsRating: PG-13Runtime: 123 minutes
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If Anything Happens I Love You (2020)
From writer/director duo Michael Govier and Will McCormack, If Anything Happens explores a world of profound grief in a beautifully illustrated and meditative manner. Navigating the emotional aftermath of one family’s tragic loss, the short animation begins in a dark and near-unforgiving place, but through the power of love and the will to move forward, the film progresses into a place of love, forgiveness, and hope. Not the easiest watch in this roundup, but worthy of attention for its emotional bravery and stellar composition.
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%Genre: Drama, AnimationStars: N/ADirector: Michael Govier, Will McCormackRating: RRuntime: 12 minutes
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Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Based on Donn Pearce’s novel of the same name, Cool Hand Luke stars Paul Newman as the titular war veteran, Luke Jackson, a man sentenced to a chain gang after a night of drunken revelries. Testing the waters with the hot-headed authorities in charge of the prison detail, Luke quickly rises to prominence as an inspirational figure among his jail peers. But as the hot-headed vet grows ever-more comfortable with his pedestal prominence, events transpire that test his resilience and resolve. Cool Hand Luke would go on to inspire countless prison dramas over the years, thanks in part to the film’s rich acting ensemble and Gordon’s precise directing.
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%Genre: DramaStars: Paul Newman, George Kennedy, J.D. CannonDirector: Stuart RosenbergRating: PGRuntime: 126 minutes
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Uncut Gems (2019)
Uncut Gems is not for the faint-hearted. The Safdie Brothers’ drama about a gambling-addicted jeweler is a relentlessly intense, high-stress ride through the world of high-stakes gambling. Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) is a charismatic New York City jeweler who is always on the lookout for the next big score. When NBA All-Star Kevin Garnett takes an interest in Howard’s most recent high-value acquisition, believing it brings him luck, Sandler makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. Unfortunately, not everyone in his life is willing to wait for that windfall. Howard has to perform a precarious balancing act between business, family, debt collectors, and more to get the payoff.
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%Genre: DramaStars: Adam Sandler, LaKeith Stanfield, Kevin GarnettDirector: Josh Safdie, Benny SafdieRating: RRuntime: 135 minutes
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Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Pan’s Labyrinth is a breathtakingly beautiful and heart-wrenchingly tragic film. Winner of three Academy Awards (on six nominations), Pan‘s Labyrinth launched director Guillermo del Toro onto the American awards show radar and introduced audiences to the blend of sci-fi, horror, and surrealistic elements that characterize his style. Set in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, the film follows an imaginative young girl who also may just be a princess of an underground kingdom. Cast aside by her cruel, militaristic stepfather and isolated from her mother, Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) entertains herself on the grounds of their home in the Spanish countryside. When she stumbles upon a stone labyrinth presided over by a suspicious faun named Pan (Doug Jones), she is asked to complete three life-threatening tasks to prove she is the mythical princess, returned to reclaim her kingdom. Ofelia’s journey is expertly foiled by a guerrilla resistance to the rule of fascist Francisco Franco and the crumbling fragility of her newly formed family.
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%Genre: Drama, fantasyStars: Ivana Baquero, Sergi LópezDirector: Guillermo del ToroRating: RRuntime: 115 minutes
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Roma (2018)
Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma opens quietly, the camera staring, motionless, at a tile floor as the credits play; eventually, water pours over the floor, as the sound of a mop spills in from just offscreen. It’s a boldly mundane opening, fitting for a film about an ordinary woman. Roma follows Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a maid working in the household of a wealthy doctor, Antonio (Fernando Grediaga) and his wife, Sofia (Marina de Tavira). Cleo cleans the house, tends to the children, and keeps the household running as Antonio and Sofia’s marriage strains. Cleo is the type of character typically relegated to the background of stories like this, but Cuaron makes her the focus, depicting her daily labor and struggles with a surprise pregnancy and unreliable lover. It’s a beautiful Netflix film, delicately composed and shot in stark black and white.
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%Genre: DramaStars: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de TaviraDirector: Alfonso CuarónRating: RRuntime: 148 minutes
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The Disaster Artist (2017)
James Franco directs, produces, and stars in The Disaster Artist, an adaptation of Greg Sestero (portrayed in the film by Dave Franco) and Tom Bissell’s non-fiction book of the same name. Both the novel and film are a chronicle of Sestero’s rollercoaster friendship with infamous cult film legend Tommy Wiseau (Franco), an enigmatic actor with Hollywood dreams and plenty of money to pursue them — although no one can figure out why he’s so rich. After being turned down for role after role, Tommy decides to write, direct, and star in his own film called The Room, a bizarre and disjointed melodrama that he also casts Greg in. As the film runs into continued troubles and delays (mostly because of Tommy’s inabilities as a filmmaker), tensions rise between Greg and Tommy, along with the rest of the cast and crew. Whether you’ve seen The Room or not, The Disaster Artist is a mesmerizing examination of one of the strangest film productions of all time.
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%Genre: Comedy, DramaStars: James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Alison BrieDirector: James FrancoRating: RRuntime: 103 minutes
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The Babysitter (2017)
Cole (Judah Lewis) loves his babysitter, Bee (Samara Weaving). She’s fun, good-looking, and worships the dark lord of all dark lords. Behind Bee’s charming smile is a sinister satanist with a thirst for blood. As members of a creepy cult begin their descent over Cole’s life, it’s up to the preteen to outsmart their efforts before he becomes Bee’s next victim. A Netflix original film, The Babysitter doesn’t surprise in many ways but follows the genre formula to a tee, and we love the dedication. It’s campy, edgy, and a joyride through and through.
Rotten Tomatoes: 72%Genre: Horror, ComedyStars: Bella Thorne, Judah Lewis, Samara WeavingDirector: McGRating: TV-MARuntime: 85 minutes
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The Florida Project (2017)
Just miles away from “the happiest place on earth” is a wonderland far from a dream come true. But seen through Moonee’s (Brooklynn Prince) eyes, the Magic Castle Inn and Suites is a home filled with family, friends, and unrequited love. Sean Baker’s The Florida Project looks past the palm trees and theme parks of Orlando for a series of impoverished day-in-the-life vignettes. Featuring powerful performances across the board, the film paints an emotional but authentic picture of life on the fringe, as seen through the eyes of an adventurous and inquisitive child.
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%Genre: Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi, Mystery, ThrillerStars: Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, Valeria CottoDirector: Sean BakerRating: RRuntime: 111 minutes
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Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2017)
Based on Barry Crump’s novel Wild Pork and Watercress, Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople stars Sam Neill and Julian Dennison as an unlikely foster-father/foster-child duo. After his adoption by the Faulkner family, Ricky (Dennison) attempts to settle into his new family, but tragic events scare the boy into the dense New Zealand wilderness. Hec (Neill), Ricky’s foster-parent, tracks the boy down but suffers a debilitating injury in the process. Bonding over their pasts and hope for a freer future, the pair decide to hide away in the brush together. But with a national manhunt underway to find the man and boy, how long can their odyssey truly last? Hunt for the Wilderpeople lives and breathes through Neill and Dennison’s onscreen chemistry, an acting partnership only deepened by Waititi’s rich and emotive script.
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%Genre: Adventure, ComedyStars: Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te WiataDirector: Taika WaititiRating: PG-13Runtime: 101 minutes
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Yes, God, Yes (2020)
Stranger Things alum Natalia Dyer stars in writer-director Karen Maine’s Yes, God, Yes, a coming-of-age take on religious repression and burgeoning sexuality. Alice (Dyer) and her friend Laura (Francesca Reale) decide to attend their Catholic school’s annual Kirkos retreat. On their pilgrimage, Alice inadvertently enters into a promiscuous AOL chat when she tries to look up a particular sex act. This puts into place a daisy chain of rumors among Alice’s peers, with Alice’s genuine innocence and curiosity put uncomfortably in the middle. Based on her 2017 short film of the same name, Maine’s Yes, God, Yes is a nuanced and mature story of one teenager trying to wade her way through the stigma of sex, featuring a powerful lead performance from Dyer.
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%Genre: ComedyStars: Natalia Dyer, Alisha Boe, Francesca RealeDirector: Karen MaineRating: RRuntime: 78 minutes
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Editors’ Recommendations

Nifty Nev

Netflix, The Defeated | 20/08/202120/08/2021

Netflix’s The Defeated arrives with an impressive cast. Netflix
The Defeated, originally titled Shadowplay, arrived on Netflix on Thursday, August 19, with little fanfare. These days, if you aren’t a live-action adaptation of a beloved animated series, an A-list fronted blockbuster movie, or a new season of an existing hit, you may not get much of a marketing push from Netflix. The streamer releases more than 350 originals per year, after all. But The Defeated has put together an eye-catching cast of underrated talents and coupled it with a unique concept that is worthy of a perusal.
Netflix’s official synopsis reads: “Max McLaughlin is an American cop who arrives in Berlin in the summer of 1946 to help create a police force in the chaotic aftermath of the war.”
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Taylor Kitsch, he of Friday Night Lights fame and True Detective Season 2 infamy, plays protagonist Max McLaughlin. Max is attempting to institute new reforms and improvements in Berlin’s police force, but must deal with the traumatic aftermath of war and internal opposition. Michel C. Hall (Dexter) plays Tom Franklin, a fellow officer helping to set up the new police force. Hall’s role is small, likely as he was busy filming the Dexter revival. Logan Marshall-Green (Upgrade) plays Moritz McLaughlin, Max’s brother, who can be both foil and ally.
Nina Hoss (Homeland) is cast as Elise Garten, a former linguistics teacher who joins the police force and must contend with gender politics from small-minded colleagues. She’s joined by Tuppence Middleton (Mank), who plays Claire Franklin, Tom’s daughter.
Is it a bit jarring to see Max, an NYPD detective from Brooklyn, flaunt about post-WWII Berlin to organize a makeshift police force? Yes. But there’s a grittiness there as he assumes command of untrained civilians armed with sticks and pipes who are attempting to curtail the chaos of Berlin. Not every streaming drama needs to be a blockbuster superhero series or set in Middle Earth to wring out a drop of drama.

Nifty Nev

Amazon, box office, HBO, HBO Max, Netflix, Showtime | 20/08/202120/08/2021

Dwayne Johnson is among the highest-paid stars in all of Hollywood. Frank Masi/NETFLIX © 2021
The entertainment industry is currently trapped in a vortex of attention, skepticism and hard fought negotiations as it pertains to talent compensation, but its highest earners are still cashing colossal paychecks. As the ways in which major studios distribute their biggest products changes, so too must the ways in which Hollywood’s biggest stars are paid. In the pandemic, that has forced both sides to navigate the ever evolving landscape of shortened theatrical windows, premium video on demand, straight-to-streaming, and hybrid releases. This has led to some high-profile headlines surrounding Warner Bros.’ decision to send its entire 2021 film slate to HBO Max and Scarlett Johansson’s ongoing lawsuit against Disney over Black Widow.
But what does the actual top-tier A-list hierarchy look like in terms of Hollywood salaries? From the outside looking in, pretty darn comfortable! The envy-inducing totals these highly paid stars receive may sour your mood for the rest of the day. But thanks to Variety‘s reports on the biggest film and TV salaries, we at least have an understanding of modern talent compensation at the highest levels. Here’s the Top 10 for both mediums.
Film Salaries:

Daniel Craig ($100 million for two Knives Out sequels)
Dwayne Johnson ($50M for Red One)
Will Smith ($40M for King Richard)
Denzel Washington ($40M for The Little Things)
Leonardo DiCaprio ($30M for Don’t Look Up)
Mark Wahlberg ($30M for Spenser Confidential)
Jennifer Lawrence ($25M for Don’t Look Up)
Julia Roberts ($25M for Leave the World Behind)
Sandra Bullock ($20M for The Lost City of D)
Ryan Gosling ($20M for The Grey Man)

(Note: these sums include streaming backend buyouts)
Netflix’s $469 million acquisition of two Knives Out sequels from filmmaker Rian Johnson netted Daniel Craig a mind-boggling windfall. Who would have thought Benoit Blanc might out-earn James Bond? Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has often been among Hollywood’s highest-paid stars and his upcoming universe-building collaboration with Amazon, the Christmas-themed Red One, is no exception.
What’s interesting to note about the film list is that five titles — Knives Out sequels, Don’t Look Up, Spenser Confidential, Leave the World Behind, The Grey Man — all belong to Netflix. Perhaps it’s no surprise that the Netflix Model of talent compensation, large upfront sums that buyout the backend, are becoming the norm across the industry.
TV Salaries:

Chris Pratt ($1.4M per episode for Terminal List)
Jeff Bridges ($1M per episode for The Old Man)
Bryan Cranston ($750k per episode for Your Honor)
Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis ($650k-$750k per episode for And Just Like That…)
Kate Winslet ($650k per episode for Mare of Easttown)
Viola Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Gillian Anderson ($600k per episode for The First Lady)
Pedro Pascal ($600k per episode for The Last of Us)
Steve Martin, Martin Short ($600k per episode for Only Murders in the Building)
Alec Baldwin ($575k for Dr. Death)
Brian Cox ($400k-$500k for Succession)

Not a single series among television’s Top 10 salaries hails from broadcast. Instead, the list is dominated by streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video (Terminal List), Hulu (The Old Man) and HBO Max (And Just Like That…) as well as premium cable such as HBO (Mare of Easttown, Succession, The Last of Us) and Showtime (The First Lady). It goes to show you where the small screen power lies these days. Variety also reports that Robert Downey Jr. is rumored to have earned $2 million per episode for A24’s Vietnam War thriller The Sympathizer on HBO, though the outlet did not include this on its official list.

Nifty Nev

Army of the Dead, Bridgerton, Cobra Kai, Emily in Paris, Enola Holmes, extraction, Fatherhood, Murder Mystery, Netflix, Nielsen, Outer Bankgs, Project Power, Shadow and Bone, Sweet Tooth, The Crown, The Old Guard, The Queen's Gambit, The Umbrella Academy, The Witcher, Tiger King, Virgin River | 19/08/202119/08/2021

The viewership for Netflix’s top films, in the millions. Photo-illustration: Eric Vilas-Boas/Observer via Netflix
I’ve begun comparing the streaming industry to Leave It to Beaver‘s resident sycophant Eddie Haskell. In both cases, it’s nigh impossible to elicit a straight answer on anything.
Recently, I dove deep to explore why streaming services feel the need to guard their viewership data like a government hiding its black ops efforts. Back in April, I also attempted to paint a picture of Netflix’s most popular original TV series for Q1 2021. And in December I tried to peg down Netflix’s most watched TV series throughout all of 2020. Am I just a millennial Don Quixote? No, the reason I beat my head against these particular walls is because the popularity of Netflix originals is such a malleable and nebulous concept. We, the viewing public, want to know what’s a hit and what isn’t.
So in a continued effort to bridge this impasse, let’s use Netflix’s self-reported viewership data and Nielsen’s streaming consumption metrics to define what constitutes a “hit.” This will be done using Netflix’s public self-reported ratings (big thanks to What’s on Netflix), Nielsen data provided to Observer, and Nielsen data analyzed by Entertainment Strategy Guy.
Note: Prior to 2020, Netflix counted a user that watched 70% of a movie or TV series as a view. Now, viewership is determined by whether or not a user watched at least two minutes of a title.
Chris Hemsworth in Extraction Jasin Boland/Netflix
Top 10 Most-Watched Netflix Original Movies
As of July, here are Netflix’s 10 most-watched English language original movies in their first month of availability, according to the streamer’s own viewership data:

Extraction – 99 million views
Bird Box – 89 million views
Spenser Confidential – 85 million views
6 Underground – 83 million views
Murder Mystery – 83 million views
The Old Guard – 78 million views
Enola Holmes – 76 million views
Project Power – 75 million views
Army of the Dead – 75 million views
Fatherhood – 74 million views

Recently, Netflix’s global film chief Scott Stuber revealed that his team wants big budget films to draw an audience of “more than 70 million viewers,” giving us a floor for tentpole audience performance with Netflix’s data. (But not all highly-watched Netflix blockbusters are created equally, as Stuber also conceded that Ryan Reynolds’ 6 Underground will not be getting a sequel despite 83 million views)
According to Nielsen data analyzed by Entertainment Strategy Guy, the average streaming exclusive film loses 63% viewership per day from week one to week two. Netflix’s self-reported viewership data measures consumption within the first four weeks of availability. But due to this decay rate and the lack of long-term footprint Netflix original films have been found to have, we’re looking at film performance in the first two weeks of release. (Note: Nielsen only began tracking U.S. streaming viewership in April 2020).
In terms of hours watched, per Nielsen data, we can further study a handful of the above films:
Extraction (31.6 million hours watched within its first two weeks of availability)Fatherhood (29.3 million hours)Enola Holms (29 million hours)The Old Guard (28.8 million hours)Army of the Dead (28.3 million hours)Project Power (27.8 million hours)
For additional context, The Christmas Chronicles 2 garnered 61 million Netflix views within its first four weeks of availability, failing to make Netflix’s self-reported top 10, yet generated a whopping 36 million hours within its first two weeks. George Clooney’s The Midnight Sky received 72 million Netflix views and 26.7 million hours watched in the same time frame. Netflix did not release a “datecdotes” (a phrase coined by ESG) for Adam Sandler’s Hubie Halloween, but the film did draw 26.3 million hours watched in its first two weeks. All are among Netflix’s most-popular original films.
Now Nielsen’s data is far from perfect. The service measures weekly viewership and films like The Christmas Chronicles 2, The Midnight Sky, Enola Holmes and Hubie Halloween were all released on Wednesdays while the others debuted on Fridays. Running time also plays a role in hours-watched.
But the trend is clear: Netflix original films that open to at least 25 million hours watched in their first two weeks of availability are generally considered to be “hits.” Surpassing 30 million hours in two weeks is a concrete victory. (Opening to 20 million-plus hours in Week 1 is a runaway success as only The Christmas Chronicles 2 managed to accomplish this among these Netflix features). We can add this data benchmark to Netflix’s goal of at least 70 million views for bigger budget titles to help determine wins and losses moving forward.
Regé-Jean Page in Bridgerton LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
Top 10 Most-Watched Netflix Original TV Series
As of July, here are Netflix’s 10 most-watched English language original TV series in their first month of availability, according to the streamer’s own viewership data:

Bridgerton S1 – 82 million views
The Witcher S1 – 76 million views
Stranger Things S3 – 64 million views
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness – 64 million views
The Queen’s Gambit – 62 million views
Sweet Tooth – 60 million views
Emily in Paris – 58 million views
Fate: The Winx Saga – 57 million views
Shadow and Bone – 55 million views
You S2 – 54 million views

Based on the above list, we can safely assume that any Netflix original series that earns in the vicinity of 50 million views in its first month is a commercial win. (Apologies to non-English original hits such as Lupin, Money Heist, and Elite).
For English-language TV series, we’re looking at Nielsen data for the first four weeks to better align with Netflix’s own measurement span. But hours watched is also impacted by episode lengths and the volume of episodes available. Longer-running series such as The Crown (four seasons) have a distinct advantage. In addition, COVID-enforced lockdowns of 2020 likely inflated viewership for certain series. We’re also hamstrung a bit by Nielsen’s evolving tiered lists. The company offered only a single Top 10 list among all streaming for months before introducing Top SVOD All, Top Original Series, Top Movies, and Top Licensed.
With those caveats in mind, here’s how we can build on applicable titles from the above list in terms of hours-watched:
Tiger King (141 million hours-watched in its first four weeks of availability)Bridgeton S1 (115.1 million hours)The Queen’s Gambit (87.2 million hours)Sweet Tooth (47.2 million hours)Shadow and Bone (45.9 million hours)
Both Sweet Tooth and Shadow and Bone are getting second seasons. Bridgerton has been renewed for two additional seasons and Tiger King is also getting a follow up.
Emily in Paris debuted on October 2, when Nielsen was still offering a single Top 10 list. It didn’t pop up on Nielsen’s weekly rankings until the Oct. 5-Oct. 11 list. In that span, it garnered 11.2 million hours in the available time frame. Other comparable “Week 1” debuts include Sweet Tooth (13.2 million), The Crown S4 (13.5 million) and The Queen’s Gambit (9.2 million). Netflix renewed Emily in Paris for a second season in November. Fate: The Winx Saga, which debuted January 22, earned 30.6 million hours in its first three weeks of availability before falling out of Nielsen’s Top 10 lists. It has since been renewed for a second season.
Other 2021 Netflix originals that have also been renewed include Firefly Lane, which garnered 49 million Netflix views and 62.4 million hours watched in its first month, and Ginny & Georgia, which earned 52 million Netflix views and 56.1 million hours in its first month. Now, let’s compare these numbers to two high-profile 2021 series that were notably cancelled:
Jupiter’s Legacy (38.7 million hours in its first four weeks of availability)The Irregulars (22.2 million hours in its first three weeks of availability before falling out of Nielsen’s Top 10 lists).
Let’s throw in some added context that includes some of Netflix’s best performers in terms of total viewership.
The Crown S4 (29 million Netflix views, but 130.7 million hours watched)The Umbrella Academy S2 (43 million Netflix views, 141.2 million hours watched)Cobra Kai S3 (45 million Netflix views, 107.4 million hours watched)Virgin River S2 (No Netflix data, 78.7 million hours watched)Outer Banks S1 (No Netflix data, but 72.1 million hours watched)
Reminder: Nielsen only covers U.S. viewership and it benefits series with longer-running episodes and more total episodes. Netflix’s selective self-reported data doesn’t always correlate with Nielsen’s for those reasons and more.
But looking at the Nielsen data, it appears as if shows that earn at least 70 million hours watched in their first four weeks of availability are “hits.” Anything working in that 80 million range are mega hits and anything that surpasses 100 million hours watched are supernovas. For first-season shows that don’t benefit from a library of pre-existing episodes in the bank, it appears as if garnering around 50 million hours in their first month of availability should secure a Season 2 renewal more often than not.
There are other comprehensive ways of breaking down Nielsen data (Entertainment Strategy Guy examines it across total viewership, total viewership per episode, and total viewership per adjusted hour). But this at least provides a base understanding of Netflix original wins and losses.

Movie Math is an armchair analysis of Hollywood’s strategies for big new releases.

Nifty Nev

Bridgerton, comfortable shoes, Fashion, Malone Souliers, Netflix, Regencycore, shoes, Shondaland, sustainable brands, sustainable fashion | 18/08/202118/08/2021

Regencycore has truly taken over. LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
When Bridgerton first hit Netflix last December, viewers were immediately obsessed with the romantic, ultra-feminine costumes showcasing Regency-era fashion. That, and anything involving Regé-Jean Page.
It seemed no one was immune from Bridgerton fever, as fashionistas flocked to flowing silhouettes, dreamy color palettes and delicate jeweled accessories. If you’re not yet convinced of the power of Regencycore (yes, that’s a thing now) fashion, look no further than the recent Bridgerton-inspired nap dress collection from the Hill House Home x Phenomenal collab, which sold out in just one day.
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While it’s going to be a little while before the second season of the hit show debuts (minus the Duke of Hastings), it is about to get that much easier to embrace your inner Daphne, as Shondaland and Netflix have partnered up with sustainably-focused luxury footwear designer Malone Souliers on a collection of Bridgerton-inspired shoes and accessories.
Think lots of feathers, floral appliqué and plenty of jewel embellishments.
The 15-piece capsule collection is composed of men’s and women’s shoes and accessories, all of which are influenced by the whimsical aesthetic of iconic Bridgerton ensembles. The collab is a modern take on Regency fashion, with lots of bejeweled details, lush satin fabrics, jacquard materials and even a Duchess-worthy plume here and there. After all, why shouldn’t one wear a feather-accented shoe?
The collection is also sustainably-minded, as earlier this year, Malone Souliers pledged to work towards a zero-waste approach. The brand is also known for its extra-comfy shoes (yes, even the heels), in a happy departure from the corset-wearing fashions of early 19th-century London.
“I’m a huge fan of Bridgerton,” said Malone Souliers’ founder and creative director, Mary Alice Malone. “It revisits the past with a sense of revolution and joy, which is exactly how I approach shoemaking. This partnership has been fascinating from a design perspective, allowing us to embrace the pomp and unabashed splendor of Regency fashion.”
You’ll have to wait a while to get your next dose of Bridgerton. LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
Sadly, you’re going to have to wait a bit to get your hands on the Bridgerton x Malone Souliers capsule, as the collection isn’t expected to launch until early next year. For now, you’ll just have to tide yourself over by rewatching season one of Bridgerton, and wait for an alert from Lady Whistledown.

Nifty Nev

Amazon Prime Video, apple tv, HBO, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, Peacock, streaming | 17/08/202117/08/2021

Brooklyn Nine-Nine NBC
Conspiratorial mystery is the name of the game this week for Observer Entertainment’s watch list, and there are an abundance of players to choose from. If your interest lies in high-tension political thrillers, look no further than Beckett or The Kingdom. For those who want to dissect the mind of a serial killer who got away with double-digit murders, turn your attention to Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes. If you are a skeptic who knows that when things seem too good to be true, they probably are, you’ll find yourself riveted with Nine Perfect Strangers. When you’re finished with these nail-biting, action-packed films, take a breather with feel-good dramedy CODA. Whatever you’re looking for, we have you covered.
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Brooklyn Nine-Nine (August 12)
After eight years, the Nine-Nine is going out in a blaze of glory with its final season that promises to meet and exceed fans’ high expectations, bringing all the inside jokes and iconic references to the briefing table (as the teaser trailer notes, there have been seven heists, 32 impromptu sex tape titles and 4,279 “cools”). Nonetheless, even with all the familiar tones of adventure and comedy that make up the fundamentals of the series, the show will look different than previous seasons, a choice that was influenced by the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality and racism. The show attempts to balance lighthearted comedy, such as Jake (Andy Samberg) and Charles’ (Joe Lo Truglio) socially distanced high-five, with more serious topics, and while there are moments of inevitable awkwardness that come with navigating such a space, it adds to the depth of the characters we’ve come to know and love throughout these years. Watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Hulu.
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CODA (August 13)
As a child of deaf adults, or CODA, Ruby Rossi (Emilia Jones) is the only hearing member of her deaf family. A teenager who is torn between her passion for music and her dedication to her family’s well-being, Ruby faces the toughest, coming-of-age challenges in her life. CODA skillfully balances the line between heartstring-tugging, emotional catharsis and clever comedy from the most unexpected places, making it no surprise that the film made splashing waves among audiences and judges alike at the Sundance Film Festival. The dramedy is also notable for its extensive use of sign language and its casting of deaf actors, including Oscar winner Marlee Matlin. Watch CODA on Apple TV+.
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Brand New Cherry Flavor (August 13)
What do you get when a filmmaker travels to Hollywood in the early 1990s? In the case of Brand New Cherry Flavor, the answer entails a kaleidoscopic rabbit hole filled with revenge, magic, gore — and kittens. While the eight-episode series draws much of its off-kilter allure from the plethora of spine-tingling horror interlaced with frankly bizarre situations that will leave audiences unsure of whether to be frightened or amused, it’s the way in which the main characters just roll with the flow of all this disturbing drama that ties together this mystifying show. Watch Brand New Cherry Flavor on Netflix.
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Beckett (August 13)
This conspiracy thriller reminiscent of the 1970s slow-burn political paranoia films stars its namesake, played by John David Washington, as he becomes entangled in a tragic accident in Greece. An American tourist who involuntarily finds himself the target of a governmental manhunt, Beckett is desperate to reach the American embassy and clear his name, a goal that becomes complicated amid the broader context of political unrest throughout Greece, which is portrayed in the film as a dynamically troubled nation amid political and economic friction. Watch Beckett on Netflix.
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The Kingdom (El Reino) (August 13)
The boundaries of the state and the church are blurred and mixed with drama, mystery and murder in this Netflix series, which stars Diego Peretti as Emilio Vázquez Pena, candidate for vice president of Argentina. During the campaign closing ceremony, his running mate is assassinated. This creates an opportunity for him to rise in political power as the next president of the nation, but the situation becomes more labyrinthian due to Emilio’s commitments to his family and religion given his position as lead pastor of the Church of Light. Watch The Kingdom on Netflix.
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Gone for Good (August 13)
Based on Harlan Coben’s best-selling book, Gone for Good is a French mystery and thriller miniseries that follows the gripping journey of Guillaume Lucchesi (Finnegan Oldfield), whose closest loved ones are taken away from him in one way or another — quite a tragic irony considering the show is set in none other than the city of love, Paris. Lucchesi, whose character is given introductory depth by the deaths of his first love and his brother that happened 10 years ago, finds himself plunged into a gripping, mind-twisting mystery after his now-girlfriend goes missing. Watch Gone for Good on Netflix.
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Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes (August 18)
Dennis Nilsen, or the notorious “Muswell Hill Murderer” who confessed to killing 15 men and boys in the 1970s and 80s, is the next to receive Netflix’s true-crime documentary treatment. Using investigative tactics such as never-before-published voice recordings of Nilsen himself, the documentary attempts to dive into not only how the mind of a serial killer works but how it developed to be that way. The documentary chronicles the life of Nilsen, shedding light on just how chillingly and cunningly he orchestrated the horrific murders. Watch Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes on Netflix.
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Nine Perfect Strangers (August 18)
The wellness industry reveals its dark side at Tranquillum House, a therapeutic retreat located on a picturesque estate that is run by enigmatic guru Masha (Nicole Kidman). As the title of the series alludes, nine strangers enter this seemingly perfect centre in hopes of overcoming their personal challenges and dissolving their egos over the course of 10 days. However, not everything is as it seems, most of all Masha, whose witchy charisma progresses from charmingly serene to hauntingly unnerving as the story unfolds. The series illuminates just how far some individuals are willing to go to achieve wellness, and the questionable ethics that underlie such motivations. Watch Nine Perfect Strangers on Hulu.

Keeping Watch is a regular endorsement of TV and movies worth your time.

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