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At 14, Coco Jones was catapulted into stardom thanks to a role as teen singing sensation Roxie in the 2012 Disney movie Let It Shine. That rush of fame was short-lived. Jones was signed then dropped from a label before she was 16. The industry didn’t know what to do with the young girl with the big voice. She was too sultry, too confident, too Coco.

But in that short time, Jones had already managed to touch another girl halfway around the world. A young Nigerian named Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe was looking...

For a long time Naomi Watts seemed destined to be known as Nicole Kidman‘s less successful close friend. Born in the United Kingdom but raised in Australia, Watts struggled for many years to find her footing as an actress. While her friend rose to fame, Watts just couldn’t seem to catch a break.

She did work some what steadily, but it wasn’t until she signed on for the lead in a television pilot by David Lynch that Watts found fame and acclaim. “Mulholland Drive” never made it as a television series but the pilot was released as a feature film, becoming an either love it or hate it classic. The film was named Best Picture by both the New York and National Society of Film Critics Awards, and Watts won the Best Actress Award from the National Society. Shockingly Watts was cast on the basis of a photo that the director saw.

Gotham is expanding in “The Penguin” and that means a lot of familiar names, but new faces. In some cases, it means new names too.

Premiering on HBO on Thursday, September 19, “The Penguin” takes place just a few weeks after the events of “The Batman,” but centers on crime boss Oz Cobb — better known as the Penguin. With Gotham effectively in ruins, it’s a race to see who can control the streets, and he thinks his time has come.

That becomes a bit harder, though, when Sofia Falcone, daughter of Carmine Falcone, unexpectedly returns from Arkham Asylum.

We won’t spoil anything, but here are the major players you’ll need to keep up with.

“The Penguin” (Max) Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell)

He makes a total hair and makeup transformation for the role, but yes, that’s Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb, a.k.a The Penguin. The Oscar-nominated...

Melissa McCarthy started her career doing improvisational comedy at The Groundlings Theater in Los Angeles, which is also where she met her husband Ben Falcone. She then went on to a successful run on the TV series “Gilmore Girls” for seven seasons. She followed that up with other TV shows and small movie roles but it would be a return to The Groundlings crew that would launch her into super-stardom. Her former castmates Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo wrote a female gross-out comedy called “Bridesmaids” and cast McCarthy along with other Groundlings veterans Maya Rudolph and Wendi McLendon-Covey. The film would become a surprise hit in the genre which was usually dominated by men and even earn McCarthy an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress.

McCarthy found herself in a unique position in show business as just as “Bridesmaids” made her a movie star she had also just begun a...

At the Greek Theatre Friday night, St. Vincent, a.k.a. Annie Clark, dedicated All Born Screaming’s “The Sweetest Fruit,” a tribute to queer trailblazers lost too soon, to anyone in the audience who’s ever felt different or excluded—everyone in the audience, the singer and multi-instrumentalist speculated. Despite the song’s tragic subject matter, and the darkness cast across Clark’s latest album, the show was, as she put it, a party.

The show was a challenge of stamina and musicianship, comprising 20 tightly paced songs that demanded Clark’s full vocal range and near-constant guitar playing. Vocally, she was in peak form, closing her eyes and pulling in close to the mic to gnash on every last lyric of “Flea”: “Drip you in diamonds, pour you in cream/You will be mine for eternity.” And when she played the snarling, seductive “Surgeon,” Clark’s fingers blazed...

In 2014, Naomi Watts voiced an animated version of herself in the “BoJack Horseman” episode “One Trick Pony.” The Watts in Hollywoo — the “BoJack” stand-in for the entertainment industry’s epicenter, inhabited mostly by anthropomorphic animals — is starring opposite BoJack in a biopic about his frenemy, Mr. Peanutbutter. She appears on set preparing to play Diane, a burgeoning writer. The meta joke is the actress accepted the part to get a break from emotionally draining, praiseworthy performances.

“I just keep getting pigeonholed as these complex characters in highly acclaimed movies,” the animated Watts bemoans to a character who is a parody of host Ryan Seacrest (A Ryan Seacrest Type). “For once, I would just love to phone it in and play a two-dimensional girl in a rom-com with no inner life of her own. That’s kind of the reason I got into this business.”

Ten years later, that tongue-in-cheek guest appearance now feels almost prophetic.

If you’re trying to figure out what movie to watch on Netflix, an easy way to whittle down the choices is to find out what movies are soon leaving the streaming service. To that end, we’ve got the full list of movies leaving Netflix in May 2024, and there are some bangers on here.

The entire original “Hunger Games” franchise will depart at the end of the month, while the critically acclaimed sequel “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” expires on May 9. And if you’re hankering for some stress, “Uncut Gems” leaves on May 8, while the bestseller adaptation “Where the Crawdads Sing” will depart Netflix on May 11.

See the full list of what’s leaving Netflix in May 2024 below.

Leaving May 1

Bennett’s War

Magic Mike’s Last Dance

Leaving May 2

Survive the Night

Leaving May 3

Arctic Dogs

Leaving May 8

Uncut Gems

Leaving May 9

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish...

Netflix has released their monthly list of every movie and TV show that will be expiring from the streaming service soon.

Beginning on May 1, 2024, Netflix will be removing 39 total titles. Unfortunately, there are some fan favorites included here. Notably, all four Hunger Games films will be removed next month! Other title leaving are one of the Magic Mike movies, You’ve Got Mail, The Great Gatsby, Split, and more.

Head inside to see the full list of movies and TV shows being removed from Netflix in May 2024…

Everything Leaving Netflix in May 2024:

Leaving 5/1/24

Bennett’s War

Magic Mike’s Last Dance

Leaving 5/2/24

Survive the Night

Leaving 5/3/24

Arctic Dogs

Leaving 5/8/24

Uncut Gems

Leaving 5/9/24

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Leaving 5/10/24

St. Vincent

Leaving 5/11/24

Where the Crawdads Sing

Leaving 5/14/24

Fifty Shades of Black

Leaving 5/19/24

Rosario Tijeras (Mexico): Seasons 1-3

Leaving 5/11/24

Sam Smith: Love Goes – Live at Abbey Road Studios

Leaving 5/22/24

The Boxtrolls...

St. Vincent is tired of singers covering Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” while stripping away its original meaning. In a recent interview with BBC Radio, she called such covers “the worst thing in the world.”

Speaking to host Jo Whiley, the artist born Annie Clark praised “Hallelujah” as an “absolute masterpiece” and referenced how it took Cohen “many years to write” the song.

Get St. Vincent Tickets Here

“[It’s] about the complication that it is to be alive — and the agony and the ecstasy and everything and all of the inherent conflict therein,” she continued, before blasting awful covers of “Hallelujah” on televised singing competitions.

“Then you know how for a period of time it became a song that people would, like, cover on American Idol? People would sing it on American Idol and just be like [imitates vocal fry tone], ‘Haaalelujah! Halleluuuujah!’ And it’s just the worst thing in the world. Like, it’s...

James “Rhodey” Rhodes is a central character in the MCU—having appeared in eight films to date. The character has also featured in the miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) and is poised to be the main focus in Armor Wars, which is in production now. And Don Cheadle is all set to wield the suit of War Machine.

Don Cheadle as James Rhodes in a still from The Falcon And The Winter Soldier

Terrence Howard was supposed to keep playing War Machine in the Marvel movies, but he got replaced by Cheadle in Iron Man 2. It was partly due to decrease in pay. The actor didn’t get along well with Robert Downey Jr., which also added to the tension.

Suggested“This is objectively meaner than anything Scorsese has said”: Robert Downey Jr. ‘Trashing’ Iron Man Yet Again After BAFTA Win Upsets Fans Terrence Howard’s...

Actress Naomi Watts poses for "Tatler" magazine, wearing Giambattista Valli, Valentino, Stéphane Rolland and a whole lot more, photographed by Daniel Sachon:

Watts made her film debut in the Australian drama "For Love Alone" (1986), then appeared in the Australian TV series "Hey Dad..!" (1990), "Brides of Christ" (1991), "Home and Away" (1991), followed by the film "Flirting" (1991).

In the US, Watts obtained parts in the films "Tank Girl" (1995), "Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering" (1996), "Dangerous Beauty" (1998) and the TV series "Sleepwalkers" (1997–1998).

Watts played an aspiring actress in director David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive" (2001) and starred in the horror remake of "The Ring" (2002).

She subsequently received an Oscar nomination as a grief-stricken mother in Alejandro González Iñárritu's "21 Grams" (2003). Her next films include "I Heart Huckabees" (2004), "King Kong" (2005), "Eastern Promises" (2007) and "The International" (2009).

For her role as 'Maria Bennett' in the disaster film "The Impossible" (2012), Watts received another Academy Award nomination for 'Best Actress'.

What’s new on Amazon’s Prime Video in February 2024?

In light of Valentine’s Day, Prime Video nailed it. This February, the platform is bringing a variety of new shows and movies for you and yours. There is something for everyone — from the latest releases to classic romantic comedies to thrillers and more.

Rom-com “Upgraded,” starring Camila Mendes and Archie Renaux, hits the streamer on Friday, while a series adaptation of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s steamy spy thriller “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” is already taking the world by storm since its Feb. 2 debut with stars Donald Glover and Maya Erskine.

The platform will also debut 2015’s “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” with Tom Cruise and Rebecca Ferguson, last year’s animated “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” and the well-liked 2014 indie “St.Vincent” with Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts and Chris O’Dowd.

And don’t forget about...

Prime Video’s big February drop is Mr. & Mrs. Smith! No, not the 2005 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie action movie, but a new TV series kinda based on it starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine. The set up for the show version? Glover and Erskine are two strangers who both get jobs at a shady spy agency and are asked to get married so that they can pretend to be a couple undercover, but things get more complicated when they start falling in love for real. Uh oh!

If you’re in the mood for a movie or two this month, you can also check out the Prime debuts of Strays, Bottoms, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. In the meantime, here’s everything coming to Amazon Prime Video and Freevee this month. Amazon Originals are accompanied by an asterisk!

New on Amazon Prime Video – February 2024

February 1

12 Angry Men...

Actress Naomi Watts poses for the February 2024 issue of “Marie Claire” (Australia) magazine:

Watts made her film debut in the Australian drama "For Love Alone" (1986), then appeared in the Australian TV series "Hey Dad..!" (1990), "Brides of Christ" (1991), "Home and Away" (1991), followed by the film "Flirting" (1991).

In the US, Watts obtained parts in the films "Tank Girl" (1995), "Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering" (1996), "Dangerous Beauty" (1998) and the TV series "Sleepwalkers" (1997–1998).

Watts played an aspiring actress in director David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive" (2001) and starred in the horror remake of "The Ring" (2002).

She subsequently received an Oscar nomination as a grief-stricken mother in Alejandro González Iñárritu's "21 Grams" (2003). Her next films include "I Heart Huckabees" (2004), "King Kong" (2005), "Eastern Promises" (2007) and "The International" (2009).

For her role as 'Maria Bennett' in the disaster film "The Impossible" (2012), Watts received another Academy Award nomination for 'Best Actress'. She appeared in "Birdman" (2014), "St. Vincent...

by Nathaniel R

Annette Bening and Jodie Foster in "Nyad". Photo by Kimberley French for Netflix

The Screen Actors Guild announced their annual nominations this morning and there are some minor plot twists. They rejected May December in totality (Todd Haynes movies do continue to struggle with non-critic based movie awards bodies), embraced Nyad just like the Globes did, and threw new question marks around both Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. No major plot twists this year, though, like an I Smile Back, Woman in Gold, or St. Vincent.

The SAG Awards will stream live on Netflix this year – a first! – as we’ve long suspected awards shows will move to streaming like everything else has. Comments and a full list of nominees after the jump…...

Exclusive: Skydance has taken on the challenge of turning the bestselling YA fantasy novel series Ranger’s Apprentice into a live action film, with the hope it can become a franchise. Skydance has gotten control of the John Flanagan book series, and has closed a big deal with Hidden Figures helmer Ted Melfi to adapt, direct, and produce the film. Kim Quinn will also be producer.

Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger will produce alongside Melfi and Quinn. Flanagan will be executive producer, and Matt Grimm will oversee for Skydance.

I’ve heard that Melfi has made a deal worth high 7-figures if the movie gets made. His task will be to take the first two volumes – The Ruins of Gorlan & The Burning Bridge – and get a franchise off the ground that focuses on an orphan named Will who becomes an apprentice to a group of mysterious protectors known as the Rangers.

Actress Naomi Watts poses for the November 2023 issue of "Tatler" magazine, wearing Giambattista Valli, Valentino, Stéphane Rolland and a whole lot more, photographed by Daniel Sachon:

Watts made her film debut in the Australian drama "For Love Alone" (1986), then appeared in the Australian TV series "Hey Dad..!" (1990), "Brides of Christ" (1991), "Home and Away" (1991), followed by the film "Flirting" (1991).

In the US, Watts obtained parts in the films "Tank Girl" (1995), "Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering" (1996), "Dangerous Beauty" (1998) and the TV series "Sleepwalkers" (1997–1998).

Watts played an aspiring actress in director David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive" (2001) and starred in the horror remake of "The Ring" (2002).

She subsequently received an Oscar nomination as a grief-stricken mother in Alejandro González Iñárritu's "21 Grams" (2003). Her next films include "I Heart Huckabees" (2004), "King Kong" (2005), "Eastern Promises" (2007) and "The International" (2009).

For her role as 'Maria Bennett' in the disaster film "The Impossible" (2012), Watts...

What will the people choose?

In its final stretch, on Sunday, the Toronto International Film Festival will announce the film chosen by the public for the People’s Choice Award of its 48th edition. After “Poor Things” took home the Golden Lion at Venice, we look to the Canadian awards season staple to boost a film in the hunt for best picture.

The top prize has become one of the most vital predictors of awards season success. In past years, best picture winners such as Peter Farrelly’s “Green Book” (2018) and Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland” (2020) made a winning stop at TIFF before getting Oscar glory. Other TIFF Audience Award recipients such as “The Fabelmans” (2022), “Belfast” (2021), “Jojo Rabbit” (2019), “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (2017) and “La La Land” (2016) are among the movies that went on to receive noms.

So, which movies are buzzing with support? The movie that wins at TIFF is...

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first scripted TV series, the Jennifer Lopez-starring action film The Mother and documentaries featuring Anna Nicole Smith and Barack Obama are among the high-profile projects hitting Netflix this month.

At the end of May, the streamer is dropping the Schwarzenegger-starring spy comedy Fubar, in which the former California governor and Top Gun: Maverick’s Monica Barbaro play a father and daughter who discover they’ve each been secretly working as CIA operatives as they’re forced to team up and get to know each other’s true selves.

And earlier this month, in time for Mother’s Day, Lopez plays an assassin who emerges from hiding to protect a daughter she gave up for adoption years earlier in The Mother, streaming this Friday. The Niki Caro-directed action movie also stars Joseph Fiennes, Lucy Paez, Omari Hardwick, Paul Raci and Gael Garcia Bernal and was written by Andrea Berloff,...

Melissa McCarthy will be honored with the Cinema Vérité Award at the 2023 CinemaCon. This is the second time CinemaCon has recognized McCarthy with an award. In 2013, McCarthy was named CinemaCon’s Female Star of the Year.

“Melissa McCarthy has had audiences around the world howling in the theaters with such unforgettable performances in films like Bridesmaids, The Heat, and Spy and has left them on the edge of their seats with her memorable roles in Can You Ever Forgive Me?, and St. Vincent to name just a few,” stated Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director of CinemaCon. “Her upcoming turn in the iconic role of Ursula is sure to entertain audiences across the globe and we couldn’t be more honored to present her with this year’s CinemaCon Cinema Vérité Award.”

CinemaCon, the annual meeting of the National Association of Theatre Owners, runs April 24 – 27, 2023. McCarthy will be presented with the Cinema...

Oscar-nominated actress, writer and producer Melissa McCarthy has been named as CinemaCon’s Cinema Vérité Award recipient for 2023.

The NATO convention’s awarding of the prize at its Big Screen Achievement Awards ceremony, taking place at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas the night of April 27th, comes a little less than a month ahead of the release of Disney’s new live-action take on The Little Mermaid, from filmmaker Rob Marshall, which has McCarthy playing the sea witch, Ursula.

Others to be honored alongside the multi-hyphenate include Oppenheimer‘s Christopher Nolan & Emma Thomas, who will receive the NATO Spirit of the Industry Award; the cast of Lionsgate’s Joy Ride, which will accept the Comedy Ensemble of the Year Award; the Dune franchise’s Zendaya, who has been set for the Star of the Year Award; and the Transformers: Rise of the Beasts duo of Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback,...

Melissa McCarthy will soon make a splash at CinemaCon.

The Oscar-nominated actress is set to receive a Cinema Vérité Award in Las Vegas, an honor that comes ahead of her next starring turn in Walt Disney Studios’ The Little Mermaid on May 26. McCarthy stars as Ursula for filmmaker Rob Marshall opposite Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian, Awkwafina as the voice of Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay as the voice of Flounder and Javier Bardem as King Triton.

McCarthy will be handed the trophy during the Big Screen Achievement Awards on April 27, a ceremony to be held inside The Colosseum at Caesars Palace and hosted by official presenting sponsor The Coca-Cola Company.

“Melissa McCarthy has had audiences around the world howling in the theaters with such unforgettable performances in films like Bridesmaids, The Heat and Spy and has left them on the...

Exclusive: Hot on the heels of their historic Oscars sweep with Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Whale, A24 has set the cast for Y2K, a dial-up disaster comedy to be directed for the studio by SNL alum Kyle Mooney.

Jaeden Martell (It), West Side Story breakout Rachel Zegler and Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2) lead a stacked ensemble that also includes Lachlan Watson (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Mason Gooding (Scream VI), 5x Billboard Music Award-winner The Kid Laroi, Tim Heidecker (Us), Eduardo Franco (Stranger Things), Miles Robbins (Blockers), Alicia Silverstone (The Killing of a Sacred Deer), Fred Hechinger (Fear Street Trilogy) and Daniel Zolghadri (Funny Pages).

Related Story Michaela Coel And Anne Hathaway To Star In Pop Music Epic ‘Mother Mary’ For David Lowery And A24 Related Story A24 Reteams With 'Shuggie Bain' Author Douglas Stuart For 'Young Mungo' TV Series Related Story 'Shazam! Fury Of The...

In February 2023, Netflix will remove a bunch of movie and TV series from its library,

Netflix UK and Netflix US takes down numerous titles each month without fanfare, meaning that many things on your watchlist could suddenly disappear.

These removals are due to licencing deals coming to an end. Often, the titles make their way back to Netflix in the following year, but sometimes they leave to go to other platforms.

This month sees a selection of Netflix Originals being taken down, also.

To minimise surprise, we have put together a comprehensive list of everything being removed in both Netflix UK and US.

Find a full list of every movie and TV series being added to Netflix this month here.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

UK

Movies

1 February

Amélie

Biking Borders

Christmas Under Wraps

The Cider House Rules

Collateral (2004)

Equilibrium

Event Horizon...

In February 2023, Netflix will remove a bunch of movie and TV series from its library,

Netflix UK and Netflix US takes down numerous titles each month without fanfare, meaning that many things on your watchlist could suddenly disappear.

These removals are due to licencing deals coming to an end. Often, the titles make their way back to Netflix in the following year, but sometimes they leave to go to other platforms.

This month sees a selection of Netflix Originals being taken down, also.

To minimise surprise, we have put together a comprehensive list of everything being removed in both Netflix UK and US.

Find a full list of every movie and TV series being added to Netflix this month here.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

UK

Movies

1 February

Amélie

Biking Borders

Christmas Under Wraps

The Cider House Rules

Collateral (2004)

Equilibrium

Event Horizon...

In February 2023, Netflix will remove a bunch of movie and TV series from its library,

Netflix UK and Netflix US takes down numerous titles each month without fanfare, meaning that many things on your watchlist could suddenly disappear.

These removals are due to licencing deals coming to an end. Often, the titles make their way back to Netflix in the following year, but sometimes they leave to go to other platforms.

This month sees a selection of Netflix Originals being taken down, also.

To minimise surprise, we have put together a comprehensive list of everything being removed in both Netflix UK and US.

Find a full list of every movie and TV series being added to Netflix this month here.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

UK

Movies

1 February

Amélie

Biking Borders

Christmas Under Wraps

The Cider House Rules

Collateral (2004)

Equilibrium

Event Horizon...

In February 2023, Netflix will remove a bunch of movie and TV series from its library,

Netflix UK and Netflix US takes down numerous titles each month without fanfare, meaning that many things on your watchlist could suddenly disappear.

These removals are due to licencing deals coming to an end. Often, the titles make their way back to Netflix in the following year, but sometimes they leave to go to other platforms.

This month sees a selection of Netflix Originals being taken down, also.

To minimise surprise, we have put together a comprehensive list of everything being removed in both Netflix UK and US.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

UK

Movies

1 February

Amélie

Biking Borders

Christmas Under Wraps

The Cider House Rules

Collateral (2004)

Equilibrium

Event Horizon

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Guest House

Holmes & Watson

Hostel

The King’s Speech

Letters to Juliet

Love Happens...

by Nathaniel R

Babylon

Beyond the Golden Globes, the most unpredictable of the major awards historically, in terms of nominations, has been the Screen Actors Guild. Their nominations will be announced on January 11th which is just a few days away. The nominating committee rotates each year so it's never the same group of people doing the judging. Sometimes they'll spring for a performance no one (at all) saw coming ("Naomi Watts in St Vincent" / "Sarah Silverman in I Smile Back") and sometimes they'll stump for a major star and give us false hopes that their delicious work won't be too outré for Oscar voters. Sometimes they seem a month or two behind the general Oscar buzz or contrarian and other times they fall right in line like they've been studying prediction charts from pundits. In short, which kind of year will it be for them?

You won't want to...

Take a look at actress Naomi Watts posing for "Harper’s Bazaar (Taiwan)” magazine:

Watts made her film debut in the Australian drama "For Love Alone" (1986), then appeared in the Australian TV series "Hey Dad..!" (1990), "Brides of Christ" (1991), "Home and Away" (1991), followed by the film "Flirting" (1991).

In the US, Watts obtained parts in the films "Tank Girl" (1995), "Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering" (1996), "Dangerous Beauty" (1998) and the TV series "Sleepwalkers" (1997–1998).

Watts played an aspiring actress in director David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive" (2001) and starred in the horror remake of "The Ring" (2002). She subsequently received an Oscar nomination as a grief-stricken mother in Alejandro González Iñárritu's "21 Grams" (2003). Her next films include "I Heart Huckabees" (2004), "King Kong" (2005), "Eastern Promises" (2007) and "The International" (2009).

For her role as 'Maria Bennett' in the disaster film "The Impossible" (2012), Watts received another Academy Award nomination for 'Best Actress'. She appeared in "Birdman...

Click here to read the full article.

In the latest film adaptation of one of his works, Stephen King again demonstrates his uncanny knack for deriving tension from the unlikeliest sources. In this case, it’s technology, specifically cell phones, one of which proves an instrument of communication between the living and the dead. Unfortunately, despite its intriguing premise, Mr. Harrigan’s Phone lacks the necessary ingredient to make it truly memorable; it simply isn’t very scary.

Based on a novella from King’s 2020 collection If It Bleeds, the film, premiering on Netflix, takes place in the sort of seemingly idyllic, small New England town that has provided the backdrop for so many of his works. In the prologue set in 2003, we’re introduced to the young boy Craig (Colin O’Brien), who is left to be raised alone by his loving, working-class father (Joe Tippett) after his mother dies.

Take a look at actress Naomi Watts posing for "Harper’s Bazaar" (Taiwan) magazine:

Watts made her film debut in the Australian drama "For Love Alone" (1986), then appeared in the Australian TV series "Hey Dad..!" (1990), "Brides of Christ" (1991), "Home and Away" (1991), followed by the film "Flirting" (1991).

In the US, Watts obtained parts in the films "Tank Girl" (1995), "Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering" (1996), "Dangerous Beauty" (1998) and the TV series "Sleepwalkers" (1997–1998).

Watts played an aspiring actress in director David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive" (2001) and starred in the horror remake of "The Ring" (2002). She subsequently received an Oscar nomination as a grief-stricken mother in Alejandro González Iñárritu's "21 Grams" (2003). Her next films include "I Heart Huckabees" (2004), "King Kong" (2005), "Eastern Promises" (2007) and "The International" (2009).

For her role as 'Maria Bennett' in the disaster film "The Impossible" (2012), Watts received another Academy Award nomination for 'Best Actress'. She appeared in "Birdman...

Jaeden Martell made his acting debut in 2014's "St. Vincent" before landing his biggest role to date as Loser Club resident Bill in 2017's big-screen adaptation of Stephen King's "It." Since then, Martell has had his hands full with numerous projects, including Apple TV+'s suspense miniseries "Defending Jacob," eerie psychological-thriller "The Lodge," and Oscar-nominated "Knives Out."

Martell, who recently appeared in the Netflix teen dramedy "Metal Lords," is currently gearing up for the upcoming release of "Mr. Harrigan's Phone." The forthcoming horror offering adapts one of King's eponymous short stories published in his 2020 novella, "If It Bleeds." Written and helmed by John Lee Hancock, the chilling story follows Martell's Craig, a young teenager who strikes up an uncanny friendship with reclusive billionaire John Harrigan (Donald Sutherland). Soon after Craig gifts Mr. Harrigan a new phone, the old man passes away, leaving Craig all alone and grief-stricken. However, things...

Take a look at new images of Australian actress Naomi Watts posing for the latest issue of "As If" magazine, photographed by Tatijana Shoan:

Watts made her film debut in the Australian drama "For Love Alone" (1986), then appeared in the Australian TV series "Hey Dad..!" (1990), "Brides of Christ" (1991), "Home and Away" (1991), followed by the film "Flirting" (1991).

In the US, Watts obtained parts in the films "Tank Girl" (1995), "Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering" (1996), "Dangerous Beauty" (1998) and the TV series "Sleepwalkers" (1997–1998).

Watts played an aspiring actress in director David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive" (2001) and starred in the horror remake of "The Ring" (2002). She subsequently received an Oscar nomination as a grief-stricken mother in Alejandro González Iñárritu's "21 Grams" (2003). Her next films include "I Heart Huckabees" (2004), "King Kong" (2005), "Eastern Promises" (2007) and "The International" (2009).

For her role as 'Maria Bennett' in the disaster film "The Impossible" (2012), Watts received another...

The 64th Grammy Awards moved from January in Los Angeles to April in Las Vegas this year thanks to another Covid surge. Trevor Noah, who made his Grammy debut last year, returned to host a show that included performances by Silk Sonic, Lady Gaga, Chris Stapleton, Billie Eilish, BTS, and Olivia Rodrigo. Here’s a rundown of all the Grammy winners.

Best Pop Vocal Album: Sour — Olivia Rodrigo

Best R&b Album: Heaux Tales — Jazmine Sullivan

Best Rap Performance: “Family Ties” — Baby Keem feat. Kendrick Lamar

Best New Artist: Olivia...

Exclusive: Hailey Kilgore (Power Book III: Raising Kanan), David Iacono (The Flight Attendant) and Jeremie Harris (Legion) have signed on to star in the noir film Cinnamon, which will stream exclusively on Fox’s free service, Tubi.

The feature currently in production in Atlanta follows a struggling small-town gas station attendant and aspiring (and truly gifted) singer, Jodi Jackson (Kilgore), whose life is sent into a tailspin when there’s a robbery at work. Iacono is playing Jodi’s fiercely devoted hustler boyfriend turned music manager, Eddie, with Harris as James Walker, a young gangster in the drug running business.

Cinnamon is the first movie in production under Tubi’s recently announced film deal with Village Roadshow Pictures to produce multiple films from its “Black Noir Cinema” initiative. Rising filmmaker Bryian Keith Montgomery Jr. is directing from his script, with Oz Scott producing alongside Kevin Garnett via his Content Cartel,...

Take a look at actress Naomi Watts posing for "Harper’s Bazaar (Taiwan)” magazine:

Watts made her film debut in the Australian drama "For Love Alone" (1986), then appeared in the Australian TV series "Hey Dad..!" (1990), "Brides of Christ" (1991), "Home and Away" (1991), followed by the film "Flirting" (1991).

In the US, Watts obtained parts in the films "Tank Girl" (1995), "Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering" (1996), "Dangerous Beauty" (1998) and the TV series "Sleepwalkers" (1997–1998).

Watts played an aspiring actress in director David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive" (2001) and starred in the horror remake of "The Ring" (2002). She subsequently received an Oscar nomination as a grief-stricken mother in Alejandro González Iñárritu's "21 Grams" (2003). Her next films include "I Heart Huckabees" (2004), "King Kong" (2005), "Eastern Promises" (2007) and "The International" (2009).

For her role as 'Maria Bennett' in the disaster film "The Impossible" (2012), Watts received another Academy Award nomination for 'Best Actress'. She appeared in "Birdman" (2014), "St. Vincent...

“Ghostbusters: Afterlife” (Sony/$5.99) leads all VOD charts for the third straight week since its price reduction. That’s two weeks longer than its hold on the top spot when it initially was released at $19.99 in early January.

Sony as a studio continues on a roll. This weekend “Uncharted” took in a stronger than expected $44 million in U.S./Canada theaters. Impressive as that was, it also is critical as the highest opening gross for a non-franchise or sequel release in over two years and it comes, like “Afterlife,” from a studio that has no direct streaming platform.

That makes its reliance on traditional strategies – first in theaters, then PVOD at a reduced but still sufficient six week period, later reduced price – before streaming critical. And they seem to be succeeding is the most important recent event in the evolving theater rebound story that is still unsettled.

“Afterlife” held off the...

Take a look at new images of actress Naomi Watts posing for the latest issue of "Harper’s Bazaar (Taiwan)” magazine:

Watts made her film debut in the Australian drama "For Love Alone" (1986), then appeared in the Australian TV series "Hey Dad..!" (1990), "Brides of Christ" (1991), "Home and Away" (1991), followed by the film "Flirting" (1991).

In the US, Watts obtained parts in the films "Tank Girl" (1995), "Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering" (1996), "Dangerous Beauty" (1998) and the TV series "Sleepwalkers" (1997–1998).

Watts played an aspiring actress in director David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive" (2001) and starred in the horror remake of "The Ring" (2002). She subsequently received an Oscar nomination as a grief-stricken mother in Alejandro González Iñárritu's "21 Grams" (2003). Her next films include "I Heart Huckabees" (2004), "King Kong" (2005), "Eastern Promises" (2007) and "The International" (2009).

For her role as 'Maria Bennett' in the disaster film "The Impossible" (2012), Watts received another Academy Award nomination for 'Best Actress'.

It’s cold outside in the Northern Hemisphere. Thankfully, the magic of streaming means you’ll never have to go outside again! Netflix’s list of new releases for February 2022 is full of original titles that could make a quick month go by even quicker.

The biggest Netflix original series in February is undoubtedly Vikings: Valhalla. This Vikings spinoff premieres Feb. 25 takes a time jump to bring our Nordic friends into conflict with Western Europe and a burgeoning Christian movement. Before that, however, Netflix will be premiering Raising Dion season 2 (Feb. 1), Murderville (Feb. 3), Inventing Anna (Feb. 11), and exciting video game adaptation The Cuphead Show. (Feb. 18).

Read more TV Vikings Season 6: Where in the (New) World are Ubbe and Floki? By Jamie Andrew TV Vikings: Valhalla – What The Timeline Reveals By Jamie Andrew

There are some intriguing Netflix original movie options this month as well. Documentary The Tinder Swindler premieres on Feb.

February brings a Kanye West documentary, masked monsters and much, much more to Netflix. Below we’ve compiled a complete list of what’s new on Netflix in February 2022, and it includes the Kanye West documentary trilogy “jeen-yuhs,” which will roll out one part each week for three weeks starting on Feb. 16.

February also brings a brand new “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” movie to the streaming service on Feb. 18, and if it’s Valentine’s Day content you’re looking for, the second season of reality series “Love Is Blind” launches on Feb. 11 while the spinoff “Love Is Blind Japan” arrives on Feb. 8. New installments of the animated series “Disenchantment” and “Kid Cosmic” as well as “Steel Magnolias” and “Space Force” are also due in February, and the new Will Arnett comedy series “Murderville” launches on Feb. 3.

In terms of library titles, February brings the Tom Cruise-fronted “The Last Samurai,...

The Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, along with the longlist for the BAFTA Awards, are major precursors to the Academy Awards, so let’s take a look at how the nominations may land.

Netflix’s “The Power of the Dog” has won the most awards in five categories: picture (18), director for Jane Campion (27), actor for Benedict Cumberbatch (16), supporting actor for Kodi Smit-McPhee (19), adapted screenplay (24). It’s also in second place for cinematography for Ari Wegner (10) and score for Jonny Greenwood (7), both of which are behind Warner Bros.’ “Dune.”

With it comes to Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction epic, it has a stronghold in multiple artisan races, including cinematography for Greig Fraser (12), editing for Joe Walker (3), sound (4), visual effects (9) and score (14). It’s also second behind Guillermo del Toro’s “Nightmare Alley” in production design, which just took the lead after wins from Austin and Chicago Indie Critics in the last week.

Based on the 2009 British miniseries “Unforgiven” and directed by Nora Fingscheidt, “The Unforgivable” sees Viola Davis return to Netflix in 2021, which means the queen of the Screen Actors Guild Awards could extend her reign.

Davis, who will be competing in the supporting actress category for “The Unforgivable,” is very much a long shot for a nomination, but she has jumped from just inside the top 40 to 14th place in our combined SAG Awards odds since the film hit Netflix on Dec. 10 following two weeks of limited theatrical release. “The Unforgivable,” which skipped all the fall festivals, received, uh, mixed review after mixed review, and faces internal Netflix competition from top Oscar contenders, including “The Power of the Dog,” “Don’t Look Up,” “The Lost Daughter” and “Passing” — all of which are also contending in supporting actress. Even though these circumstances will make Davis’ path to a nomination quite difficult, she wouldn...

The Grammy for Best Alternative Album has been awarded to some of the most critically acclaimed albums of the past couple of decades. Winners like Radiohead’s “In Rainbows,” Bon Iver’s “Bon Iver,” David Bowie’s “Blackstar,” and most recently Fiona Apple’s “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” remain classics for music lovers. This year the race is one of the tightest ever, with a group of contenders including past Grammy nominees and exciting new bets. But all five were showered with praised by music journalists. Let’s take a look at each nominee.

Fleet Foxes’ “Shore” starts the list. This album came out at the start of the eligibility season, so it’s safe to say it carries some passion to have edged out more recent contenders for the nomination. The album earned an 87 on Metacritic, which is the second highest score out of the nominees this year. Fleet...

Chris O’Dowd is set to star in the upcoming Apple comedy series “The Big Door Prize,” Variety has learned exclusively.

The series 10-episode series is based on the M.O. Walsh novel of the same name. It tells the story of a small town that is forever changed when a mysterious machine appears in the grocery store, promising to reveal each resident’s true life potential.

O’Dowd will star as Dusty, a good-natured teacher and family man whose deeply average life has followed a safe and predictable path, until the appearance of the mystifying machine forces him to question his own happiness.

O’Dowd’s recent TV starring credits include the “Get Shorty” series at Epix and the short form series “State of the Union,” the latter of which earned him an Emmy in 2019. His other TV roles include “The It Crowd,” “Moone Boy,” and “Girls.” On the film side,...

Exclusive: Makeready has brought in Collin Creighton to be a producing partner alongside founder Brad Weston and oversee the company’s production slate. Creighton most recently served as Director of Original Studio Film at Netflix, where during his tenure he was instrumental in building out the company’s original film division, overseeing high-profile features including The Irishman, Okja, 22 July, The Laundromat, Spenser Confidential and Velvet Buzzsaw.

Prior to joining Netflix, Creighton was VP Production & Development at The Weinstein Company, where he oversaw titles including Southpaw, St. Vincent, Lee Daniels’ The Butler and both seasons of the Netflix original series Marco Polo.

“Collin’s invaluable experience from his many years at Netflix and his overall skill set are very complimentary for our needs at Makeready. I’m excited to partner with him to make awesome films and series together,” Weston said.

Makeready and Endeavor Content recently announced a multi-year joint venture...

For the first time in Grammy history, the race to accrue nominations and ultimately the final contest itself may come down to a battle of the teenaged girls. Olivia Rodrigo, a newcomer at 18, and Billie Eilish, veritably a veteran now at 19, are the leading contenders to pick up multiple nods when the nominees for the 2022 Grammy Awards are announced Nov. 23. Yes, Eilish, whose birthday is Dec. 18, will officially have graduated out of her teens by the time the ceremony takes place Jan. 23, but it’ll still be a prodigy-vs.-prodigy contest in which we can be assured that not many elder voters will be holding their preternaturally talented superstars’ youth against them.

Rodrigo and Eilish may be the only two stars who can be considered 100% locks to be nominated in the top three categories — album, record and song of the year — but the odds also favor Taylor Swift and Lil Nas X...

Debra Moore Muñoz, a co-executive producer and writer on FX’s “Mayans M.C.,” has signed an overall deal with FX Productions. She will develop new content for FX through her company, Apogee Films, Inc.

Muñoz is a first-generation Mexican-American who was born and raised in Los Angeles. She attended Columbia University in New York City, then returned to Los Angeles to begin her career in film development. She worked on projects such as “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” “The Heat” and “St. Vincent” before transitioning into television, serving first as a general assistant, then as a writers’ assistant on “Westworld” from 2016 to 2018. In 2019, Muñoz was included on the 2019 Black List for her script “Refuge,” which follows a brother and sister through Central America as they seek safety in the United States.

In 2021, Muñoz joined the writing staff of “Mayans M.C.,” which stars Jd Pardo as Ezekiel “Ez” Reyes, a...

Debra Moore Muñoz, co-executive producer and writer on FX’s Mayans M.C., is expanding her relationship with the show’s producer, FX Productions. Moore Muñoz has signed an overall deal with the studio to develop new content for FX through her company Apogee Films, Inc.

“Debra has emerged as one of the brightest writers and producers in the industry and FX was fortunate to have her on the writing staff of Mayans M.C. since its inception,” said Grad. “We look forward to collaborating with her for new projects that draw on her enormous talents.”

Following graduation from Columbia University, Moore Muñoz worked in film development in Los Angeles, amassing credits on films such as Exodus: Gods and Kings, The Heat, and St. Vincent. She then segued to television, working on the first two seasons of Westworld. Moore Muñoz joined the writing staff of Mayans M.C. in its...

As theaters await “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” (Paramount) and “No Time to Die” (United Artists) over the next two weeks, home viewing options are similarly on the rise. “Free Guy” (Disney), honoring a 45-day window, debuts on Premium VOD September 28. Friday sees two theatrical openers: “Addams Family 2” (United Artists) and “The Many Saints of Newark” (Warner Bros.), also available at home.

That left a more routine week on the charts we follow, although some recent releases got attention as they made their first appearances. But price reductions, led by “F9” (Universal), were also important.

The latest entry in the “Fast” series, which opened in domestic theaters in early June, and then at $19.99 on PVOD in late July, just had its price cut to $5.99 (consistent with the timing of past Universal moves). The just-released director’s cut remains at the higher price. The result is a return to #1 at...

This review of “The Starling” was first published after the film’s premiere at the 2021 Toronto Film Festival.

Sometimes things aren’t always what they seem: “The Starling,” for example, is an impressively credited drama that premiered at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival on its way to Netflix. So viewers may be surprised to find they’ve happened upon a movie that would feel far more at home on the Hallmark Channel.

Then again, sometimes things are exactly what they seem. And in nearly every other way, predictability defines Ted Melfi’s disappointing follow-up to his widely-admired Oscar nominee “Hidden Figures” and his enjoyably prickly indie “St. Vincent.”

Just as its name announces, “The Starling” is all about learning to fly. This increasingly blunt metaphor includes an actual avian, who swoops through the opening credits in a clunky effect that simultaneously recollects the plastic bag from “American Beauty” and the “Forrest Gump” feather.