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The official YouTube channel for singer-songwriter Reira Ushio started streaming a new video for "Miso Soup and Butter," the ending theme song for the spring 2025 TV anime Food for the Soul . The theme of this song is "the ordinary happiness you feel when you eat a delicious meal." In this newly filmed video, she shows off her solo performance at a variety of eateries, including Yashiro Koenji, Tearoom R-za Dokushokan, and 247 Diner Mitaka while playing an acoustic guitar. Reira Ushio "Miso Soup and Butter" Playing Video Food for the Soul Anime Creditless Ending Video Reira Ushio made her major debut from Sony Music Labels in August 2023, and "Miso Soup and Butter” was originally released as her eighth digital single in October 2023. This is the first time her song has been used as the theme for a TV anime series. A CD single of "Miso Soup and Butter” was also released...

Kevin Bacon has cropped up just about everywhere over the past five decades, from raucous teen comedies to Hollywood blockbusters ("Apollo 13") and challenging indie projects. Indeed, his roles have been so varied across so many genres that a whole game emerged called Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon (you can try to beat it at The Oracle of Bacon). Yet there was a period in the 1980s when it wasn't going so well for the hard-working actor, to the extent that he thought one of his best-loved movies might totally tank his career.

That movie was Ron Underwood's "Tremors," a light-hearted yet suspenseful throwback to the classic creature features of the 1950s. Set in the tiny Nevada desert town of Perfection (Population: 14), Bacon starred as Val McKee, one half of a hapless handyman duo with his best friend, Earl Bassett (Fred Ward). Their attempt to move onto better things is...

Exclusive: Steve Guttenberg, Jana Kramer, and Rachel Stubington (Shrinking) are set to lead the new Lifetime “ripped from the headlines” film Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story.

Based on the true story of Robinson, who was abducted as a baby and raised by the family of a serial killer who was convicted of murdering her mother. The movie will premiere on Saturday, June 7, at 8/7 c.

Heather (Stubington) grew up in a loving family in Illinois. By the time she was a teen, she had long known that she had been adopted as an infant by her parents. But in 2000, the then-15-year-old’s world was shattered when she learned that the man she knew as her uncle, John Robinson (Guttenberg), was a serial killer accused of murdering multiple women in the Kansas City area,...

Just two days into his UK Celebrity Big Brother stint, actor Mickey Rourke is finding himself under fire for homophobic remarks aimed at housemate JoJo Siwa. The incident led to a formal warning from the show's production team. During a conversation with Siwa, who is openly queer and in a relationship with a nonbinary person, Rourke made several offensive comments. He reportedly joked that if he remained in the house for more than four days, Siwa "won't be gay anymore," and later added a disturbing remark about wanting to "tie" her up.

Later, while talking to housemate Chris Hughes (Love Island) within Siwa's earshot, he stated he was "going to vote the lesbian out real quick." When Siwa called him out for the homophobic nature of the comment, Rourke used a derogatory anti-gay slur, directing it in Siwa's direction while claiming he was referring to a cigarette (in the British...

Mickey Rourke began his career as one of the hottest young actors of the 1980s with roles in Body Heat, Diner, The Pope of Greenwich Village and 9 1/2 Weeks. Among the directors he worked with during that period: Stephen Spielberg, Michael Cimino, Francis Ford Coppola, Nicolas Roeg, Barry Levinson and Alan Rudolph.

While his near 50-year career has had its ups and downs (and ups and downs again), the actor has continued to do remarkable work. That includes playing Charles Bukowski in Barfly, Marv in Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City and his Oscar-nominated turn in Darren Aronfosky’s The Wrestler.

Scroll through the photos below to see a selection of photos from Rourke’s extraordinary life and career.

If you’re one of those people who prefer a good book to the boob tube, AMC is about to make you feel conflicted.

On Monday, AMC Networks announced it is developing a new TV franchise produced by AMC Studios and “built on iconic American stories.” Up first: John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath.

“Each season of the anthology series will be devoted to a different celebrated work, historical moment, or individual narrative celebrating and highlighting the American spirit,” the company said. The Great American Stories anthology will air on the AMC cable channel and stream on AMC’s primary streaming service (out of a bunch), AMC+.

If you want to Anne Rice-ify classic American literature, who better to adapt the novel than Rolin Jones, who did the same thing with Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire (and Friday Night Lights, and Boardwalk Empire)? Jones will take...

Heo’s Diner is a South Korean time-slip fantasy romantic comedy series that premiered on March 24, 2025. Based on the web novel by Jeon Seon-yeong, the drama follows Heo Gyun, a Joseon Dynasty figure who unexpectedly finds himself in modern-day Korea. As he navigates this unfamiliar era, Heo Gyun’s passion for food leads him to open a unique restaurant, blending traditional flavors with contemporary cuisine. The series stars Xiumin as Heo Gyun and Chu So-jung as Bong Eun-sil, the daughter of a small restaurant owner. With its intriguing plot and charming cast, Heo’s Diner has captured the attention of viewers both domestically and internationally.

Heo’s Diner Plot Overview:

Heo Gyun, portrayed by Xiumin, is recognized as the first food columnist of the Joseon Dynasty. Known for his genius and keen eye for aesthetics, Heo Gyun’s life takes an unexpected turn when he is transported 400 years into the future. In modern-day Korea,...

Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson has enjoyed success on the big and small screens throughout his five decades. Take a tour of our photo gallery ranking his 12 greatest feature films from worst to best.

Levinson began his career as a comedy writer on various variety shows in the 1970s ultimately landing a steady job writing for 72 episodes of “The Carol Burnett Show,” for which he won Emmys in 1974 and 1975, competing again in 1976. When that show ended he began writing screenplays and had a remarkably successful run co-writing two Mel Brooks movies -- “Silent Movie” and “High Anxiety” -- as well as two acclaimed dramas “Inside Moves” and “and Justice for All.” He would receive his first Oscar nomination for the screenplay of “And Justice for All.”

That success led Levinson to a feature film directing career. His semi-autobiographical film “Diner,” about a group of young men hanging out in his native Baltimore,...

During Covid-19, many Japanese communities organized fireworks to cheer people up and strengthen the collective spirit while being isolated. Emiko Hiramatsu, an industry veteran and regular writer for Yoji Yamada, uses this as a premise to tell a heartwarming story about her hometown, Kurashiki.

The Tales of Kurashiki is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival

After her husband destroys her paintings, Natsuko leaves behind her family and heads for the big city to continue her art. Not only does she leave behind her daughter Beniko and her autistic brother Kyosuke but also an unfinished family portrait. Years later, Beniko aims to be accepted into an Arts college. Obsessed with the unfinished piece of art by her mother, she is determined to submit the once-finished version as an application work. However, her determination is hindered by her alcoholic father and her sense of responsibility for her brother.

The second storyline is...

1982’s Diner was the comedy that dared to ask: What if some dudes hung out in a greasy spoon restaurant and just talked about stuff?

The movie starred Steve Guttenberg, Mickey Rourke, Daniel Stern, Kevin Bacon, Ellen Barkin and Paul Reiser, just to name a few. It followed a group of friends in the late ‘50s who routinely meet at the local diner to chat about the music, sex and the minutiae of their day-to-day lives.

While that concept may not sound all that novel today, at the time, it was so unusual for mainstream entertainment, that some found it tough to grasp. According to writer-director Barry Levinson, during the editing process, a studio executive tried to get him to cut an argument over a roast beef sandwich because it didn’t do anything to “advance the story.”

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Diner, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay,...

Park Bo-Young Smoking Scene (Photo Credit – Instagram)

South Korean actress Park Bo-Young’s recent drama Melo Movie has some scenes that sparked controversies among the viewers. Read on to know more.

In the newly released Netflix series Melo Movie, Park Bo-Young plays Kim Moo-Bi, an aspiring assistant director who transitioned into a director’s role. While the actress has returned to the rom-com era after a long time, she has shown a different side of herself while portraying Moo-Bi. One of the most talked-about scenes that has garnered much attention from the audience is where she can be seen smoking cigarettes.

Before this drama, Bo-Young has always played a good girl’s character, portraying her pure image. However, this time, her character’s arc has made her fans go crazy as they have seen her smoking on-screen. Recently, she opened up about her smoking scenes. Scroll ahead to read about...

The Broadway musical, written by Bareilles and Jessie Nelson, was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Love, dreams, chosen family, and strength— all mixed up and baked in a beautiful pie. Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson’s musical adaptation of “Waitress” may have closed up shop on Broadway in 2021, but Joe’s Pie Diner is back open for business. The filmed production, which stars Bareilles in the lead role, premieres this Friday, Feb. 14, bringing the Tony Award-nominated musical to streaming for the first time.

See what baking can do: watch “Waitress: The Musical” this Friday with a subscription to Max!

How to Watch ‘Waitress: The Musical’ When: Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. Et Where: Max Stream: Watch with a subscription to Max. From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a Vpn. Everything you need to know to watch ‘Waitress: The Musical’

How to Watch ‘Waitress: The Musical...

I was born into David Lynch's world, and in some ways, I mean that literally. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, a metropolis where Lynch lived and worked and felt inspired by local artists and the city's patina and grunge. While my mother was still recovering from my birth in the hospital, she watched the episode of "Twin Peaks" where — spoiler alert, I guess? — Leland Palmer (Ray Wise) stuffs the dead body of Maddy Ferguson (Sheryl Lee) into a golf bag, horrifying any nurses who walked into the room at inopportune moments. This is all to say that, over the past 30-odd years, I've grown up in a world where Lynch — a director and visionary who passed away on January 16, 2025 — has always been a part of the conversation.

This probably makes it all the more surprising that I didn't watch "Mulholland Drive" for the first time until I was 30 years old,...

Warner Bros. is finally ready for the world to see The Alto Knights. The first trailer has just dropped for the long-delayed biographical crime movie about Italian-American mob bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, both of whom will be played by Robert De Niro.

Unlike the 2015 biopic Legend, which saw Tom Hardy in the dual role of English gangster twins Reggie and Ron Kray, Genovese and Costello are not twins, nor are they related, making De Niro's casting as both somewhat of a stunt casting. Announced under the title Wise Guys, Warner Bros. had originally set a February 2024 release for the movie. However, in November 2023, the studio retitled Wise Guys to Alto Knights — the name of a popular mob club in New York City's Little Italy district and one of the haunts that Genovese often frequented with his lieutenants — and delayed the movie to November 2024. This release date stuck...

Barry Levinson is not a name one would usually associate with the horror genre. The Academy Award-winning director — best known for "Rain Man," "Wag the Dog," and "Diner" — has mostly leaned toward satirical comedies or tense drama-thrillers throughout his career. While prepping for a documentary about the pollution plaguing the Chesapeake Bay in 2012, Levinson decided to forego the project in favor of a found-footage eco-horror that would mix fact with fiction to disturbing effect. This endeavor was "The Bay," a mockumentary-style exploration of a contagion premise that feels almost prescient within the context of our post-pandemic world. Despite being the director's sole foray into horror, Levinson re-invigorates the found-footage subgenre by injecting it with one of the most primal fears accompanying a pandemic: the callous cruelty of wilful inaction.

It is worth noting that Levinson incorporated the scientific research for the abandoned Chesapeake documentary into the film's narrative framework, and...

The ‘80s were a wild time for Kevin Bacon. The blossoming star had just caught his first major wave at the tail end of the last decade thanks to National Lampoon’s Animal House and was feeling out what type of actor he’d be. As we know now, the answer is every type, as Bacon has seamlessly hopped from one genre to the next, flexing his skills along the way. After a few smaller roles that would lead to a larger one in the franchise starter, Friday the 13th, the steam really started to roll for Bacon after being cast in Barry Levinson’s Diner alongside a dynamite ensemble that included names like Paul Reiser and Steve Guttenberg. But everything would change for Bacon when he danced into the role of Ren McCormack in Herbert Ross’ 1984 musical drama, Footloose. The film fully launched Bacon into the spotlight, blasting him towards superstardom.

Prior to turning to acting in the mid-70s, Mickey Rourke was a notable prodigy in the amateur boxing landscape in Miami. But to the shock of his peers, the Robert Downey Jr-led Iron Man 2 star opted to leave boxing behind for Hollywood fame, and it didn’t take him long to garner notoriety on the silver screen with releases, Diner, Rumble Fish, among others.

Mickey Rourke in Iron Man 2 | Credit: Marvel Studios

However, his rise to stardom in the ’80s was far from smooth sailing, as only a decade after his breakthrough, Rourke returned to his roots, which resulted in his face getting thrashed.

Mickey Rourke’s return to boxing took a toll on his face 9½ Weeks | Credit: 20th Century Fox

While the ’80s were a roaring period for The Wrestler star, Rourke confessed that he was surrounded by “guys from the street, goofballs and villains,...

A key location in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones made its debut two years before the movie in a Star Wars Legends property. After Zam Wesell’s death, Obi-Wan Kenobi visited Dexter Jettster, an old friend of his who helped him trace Wesell’s murder weapon – a Kamino saberdart – back to Jango Fett. Dex’s Diner is one of the most unique locales in the Star Wars films, taking inspiration from classic 1950s and 60s style diners and perhaps reminding viewers of America Graffiti.

While this was something brand-new for audiences at the time, it actually made its first appearance elsewhere prior to the release of Attack of the Clones. In 2002, Star Wars Legends was known as the Expanded Universe, and it was the franchise’s official canon. The Expanded Universe would sometimes introduce elements in books, comics, and more that would then go on to...

You’d be hard-pressed to name a Daniel Stern movie from this century, but the guy was all over in the ‘80s and ‘90s. From Diner to Hannah and Her Sisters to Home Alone to City Slickers, Stern starred in some of the defining movies of many of our upbringings. And now, those are just wonder years because Stern is living well outside of Hollywood and enjoying his life as a different kind of artist.

While he still lives in California, Daniel Stern has retreated to a ranch. Despite being far away from the studio system, he does see similarities between that and both working a ranch and creating sculptures, an art he took up. “It takes all these people. So I love living in all these different worlds. It’s the same in my sculpture world. I make these fun sculptures, but I’m dealing with a city and...

It's rare for a movie scene to capture the essence of an entire movie, but scenes which pull this off can become instantly iconic. It's normal for these types of scenes to take place at the beginning or end of a movie, since this is typically when filmmakers deliver their heaviest blows on the themes of the story. However, it can often be more surprising and powerful for these scenes to pop up unexpectedly in the middle of a movie.

The most impactful movie scenes can stick in the memory long after the movie is over, and they become the moments that people remember most vividly when they talk about certain movies. It makes sense that moments of explosive action or chilling horror would be the most memorable, but this isn't always the case. Sometimes, a scene which makes people think is more memorable than one which merely shocks them.

Episode 6 of The Penguin has dropped, and fans are absolutely buzzing to uncover all the Easter eggs and DC references sprinkled throughout! But here’s a fun little tidbit that might have slipped past some, there’s a possible nod to Tim Burton’s Batman Returns!

This Episode 6 scene might be a reference to Tim Burton’s Batman Returns Credits: HBO

This episode is also packed with a bunch of easter eggs that fans might have missed! Here’s the scoop on all the moments that are worth a second glance.

Was This an Obvious Nod to Batman Returns or Just a Stretch?

So far we see our main man, Oz Cobb making waves as he builds his drug empire right under Gotham’s nose.

Related The Penguin Episode 6 Recap and Spoiler Review — What is the Gold Summit?

With business booming, new faces are joining the fray as Oz prepares...

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Abigail)

The start of the home invasion in The Strangers (2008)

I don’t think anyone took a breath the entire scene. We collectively gasped when he appears behind her and we all screamed when she opens the shades and sees him up close on the other side of the window. It’s a masterfully orchestrated scene, from the use of handheld long takes to the haunting Joanna Newsom song and Liv Tyler’s pitch-perfect performance. From this scene on, all the idle whispering and chatter disappeared as the movie held the audience by the throat.

Leigh Whannell (Wolf Man)

The blood test in The Thing (1982)

The Thing (1982)

The blood test scene in John Carpenter’s The Thing is a high water mark of terror for me. Kurt Russell’s character MacReady is using a flamethrower to heat up a wire and then stab it into...

General Hospital (Gh) spoilers tease that Lucky Spencer (Jonathan Jackson) is finally back in Port Charles after a decade away.

Right now, romance is the last thing on Lucky’s mind, but that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from running wild with speculation. And one rumored pairing has several fans going ballistic. But first, let’s discuss what Lucky’s return means for those who love him.

General Hospital Spoilers – Lucky Spencer Came Home To Save His Sister!

The reason Lucky has come back after all these years is because his comatose sister, Lulu Spencer (Alexa Havans) needs a liver transplant, and Lucky is the best and only hope of being a match.

Lucky was in danger, so Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) sent Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) and Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) to rescue Lucky and bring him home.

Ultimately, they were successful so now Lucky is undergoing all...

Ellen Barkin has been acting in movies and TV shows for decades and has the impressive net worth that comes with a successful and long career in the film and television industry. Barkin first appeared in a professional role in an uncredited performance in Up in Smoke (1978). It wasn't until her next role, as Beth Schreiber in the 1983 Diner, that fans, critics, and filmmakers began to take notice. Barkin's career is filled with notable performances in movies and television, and there are few years when she isn't in something.

She appeared alongside Johnny Depp in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, played one of Steven Soderbergh's best female characters in Ocean's 13, and starred in the TV adaptation of Animal Kingdom. Barkin is one of the most powerful characters in Animal Kingdom as the fearsome Smurf, bringing all the gravitas, danger, and charm she has to the role. She...

Star Wars Outlaws sees an up-and-coming scoundrel, Kay Vess, interacting with a plethora of new characters as she assembles her crew to embark upon one of the biggest heists the Outer Rim has ever seen. While some of these characters provide Kay with contracts or intel, those known as "Experts" are invaluable to upgrading Kay's abilities.Unlike many past Ubisoft titles with skill trees and Xp points, Star Wars Outlaws uses its experts as a way to unlock new skills, with these skills being unlocked through each character by having Kay perform specific feats in the open world. However, in order for the experts' skills to be unlocked, players must first find them either as part of the main campaign or through specific quests.

Related Star Wars Outlaws Review: Dazzling Hives Of Scum & Villainy

Star Wars Outlaws focuses on a grimier, seedier side of the universe with a rich, detailed...

Before The Shield and The Wire, there was Homicide: Life on the Street. The NBC crime drama is widely considered among genre fans to be the cream of the crop, but it never reached the level of success it deserved. Now a whopping 31 years after the first episode aired in 1993, audiences old and new are finally able to stream the series on Peacock and understand why it still matters. Even with how television and the world have evolved since the 1990s, Homicide is still an elite piece of TV drama.

Homicide: Life on the Street Season 1 lasted just nine episodes, as the network didn't quite know what to do with it. Based on David Simon's acclaimed book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, the first season hewed understandably closer to the real-life personalities and crimes outlined across those pages. Yet iconic director Barry Levinson, a crack team of...

Leonard Nimoy directed Robin Curtis to play Lt. Saavik as a traditional Vulcan, different from Kirstie Alley's emotional portrayal. Curtis worked closely with Nimoy to bring out Saavik's Vulcan side. Star Trek: Picard season 3 gave an update that Saavik was promoted to Captain of the USS Titan.

Robin Curtis says that her version of Lieutenant Saavik in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock was less emotional than Kirstie Alley's because of director Leonard Nimoy. Kirstie Alley originated the role of Lt. Saavik in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, which was directed by Nicholas Meyer. Saavik was a protg of Captain Spock's (Leonard Nimoy), and she served on the USS Enterprise under Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) during the conflict that resulted when Khan stole the planet-creating Genesis Device,

When Star Trek III: The Search for Spock's production wouldn't meet Kirstie Alley's fee to return,...

The peak television renaissance didn't happen overnight. A decade prior to the epochal debut of "The Sopranos" on HBO, series as disparate in their aims as "The Simpsons," "Twin Peaks" and "The Larry Sanders Show" were challenging the industry's notions of what the broadcast medium could accomplish. Dramatic story arcs began to stretch out over a season or longer, while sitcoms got edgier and less hidebound to the multi-camera format. These successes emboldened major filmmakers to try their hand at episodic TV, which didn't always pan out. But it was always thrilling to see great artists romp about in a medium Hollywood once considered beneath them.

Of these efforts, it's possible none had a greater influence on the peak era than NBC's "Homicide: Life on the Street." When Baltimore Sun reporter David Simon began shopping his book "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets," an account of his time...

One of the most memorable SNL “Digital Shorts” found Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake singing about celebrating Christmas — not to mention Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and “every single holiday” — by gifting women their junk wrapped up in festive parcels.

“Dick in a Box” aired nearly 20 years ago, back in 2006, which was such a long time ago, apparently you couldn’t even say the word “Dick” on television without being bleeped?

The song proved so successful that Samberg and Timberlake revived the characters for the latter’s concert at Madison Square Garden in 2007, performing “Dick in a Box” for a sold-out crowd that included future President Donald Trump and Diddy. In retrospect, it’s pretty wild that the characters crooning about surprising people with their genitals were less creepy than some audience members.

So where did the idea for “Dick in a Box” come from? In a recent episode of The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast,...

Kevin Bacon stars in two of the biggest releases of 2024, MaXXXine and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Looking back on his career, he admits he should've taken more advice. Bacon says he "was completely cocky and self-assured" and wishes he had stopped to take the time and seek out advice. Bacon did point to one hilarious piece of advice he indeed did listen to, courtesy of Elliot Gould.

When someone has been in the film industry for nearly 50 years the way Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F and MaXXXine's Kevin Bacon has, they've likely been the recipient of as much advice as the amount of actors they've worked with. And, in Bacon's case, he wishes he had been a more willing recipient early on. Sitting down with CinemaBlend to discuss Ti West's trilogy-capper, Bacon had the following to say about his early days as an artist:

"When I started out,...

Kevin Bacon returns to horror genre in MaXXXine, set in 1985. Bacon enjoys high stakes in horror films and acknowledges their role in his career. MaXXXine features a nostalgic setting for Bacon, reflecting his early Hollywood experiences.

One of the most iconic actors of his generation, Kevin Bacon has been a standout in films of every genre for decades now. This includes his first three notable roles, all of which are now considered cinematic classics. He was there for the "I'm a zit. Get it?" line in National Lampoon's Animal House, he was there for a moving coming-of-age story in Diner, and, perhaps most notably, he was there for the most iconic death scene in the entirety of the Friday the 13th franchise.

And, while Sean S. Cunningham's iconic slasher was the actor's only horror film of the '80s, he's back not just in the genre, but in the decade as well,...

Kevin Bacon returns to horror genre in MaXXXine, set in 1985. Bacon enjoys high stakes in horror films and acknowledges their role in his career. MaXXXine features a nostalgic setting for Bacon, reflecting his early Hollywood experiences.

One of the most iconic actors of his generation, Kevin Bacon has been a standout in films of every genre for decades now. This includes his first three notable roles, all of which are now considered cinematic classics. He was there for the "I'm a zit. Get it?" line in National Lampoon's Animal House, he was there for a moving coming-of-age story in Diner, and, perhaps most notably, he was there for the most iconic death scene in the entirety of the Friday the 13th franchise.

And, while Sean S. Cunningham's iconic slasher was the actor's only horror film of the '80s, he's back not just in the genre, but in the decade as well,...

On Monday, June 24, Live with Kelly and Mark welcomes Steve Guttenberg, the beloved Hollywood actor known for his roles in films such as “Diner,” “Police Academy,” and “Three Men and a Baby.” Guttenberg will discuss his new book, “Time to Thank: Caregiving for My Hero,” which reflects on his experience caring for his father […]

Live with Kelly and Mark: Steve Guttenberg, Farnoosh Torabi, Corey B.

Kevin Bacon's career spans a range of films, but he will always be remembered as an '80s icon. Bacon's most iconic role was Ren McCormack in Footloose, representing youthful rebellion through dance. Bacon's nostalgia for the film is evident in his reflections on his audition tape and continued appreciation for the movie's impact.

Kevin Bacon has had a long, respectable career that's done nothing short of show an incredible range. But in a way, he'll always be seen primarily as an '80s icon. And for good reason, as he was a part of two John Hughes movies, the underrated Diner, and had one of film history's most famous death scenes in the original Friday the 13th.

But his greatest contribution to the decade's cinematic output would undoubtedly be his lead performance as Ren McCormack in Footloose. A big-city teen transplanted to a small town (to paraphrase the...

Quick Links Some Guys Walk Into a Diner... Jocelin Donahue's Diner Jim Cummings Is a Star

There's a rare type of film that breaks halfway through or so, where the story we've been following suddenly shifts into something totally unexpected, or outright cuts to new characters completely. Of course, Alfred Hitchock's Psycho is famous for this, and it seems to be most prominent in horror films like that Audition, One Cut of the Dead, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Empty Man, and Zach Cregger's recent film, Barbarian. Now add Francis Galluppi's feature film debut, the deliciously tense Western thriller, The Last Stop in Yuma County, which has finally hit the masses this week. Its success on the festival circuit led to Galluppi being tapped to helm one of the next installments in the timeless Evil Dead franchise.

The great director Jim Cummings stars in the film alongside...

Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall's The Judge is set in a small town in Indiana, but it was mostly filmed on-location in Massachusetts. The film extensively used Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts to portray the fictional town of Carlinville, Indiana. The Palmer family house in "The Judge" is a real house in Milton, Massachusetts.

Hank's hometown in Indiana is a major part of 2014's The Judge, but the movie's filming locations told a different story. The Judge received mixed reviews when it came out, and while it may not be one of Robert Duvall's best movies, it did still earn him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 2015. The Judge has also received a second wind on streaming, where it's entered the running ot become one of the best dramatic movies on Netflix. A large part of its success comes from how effective it is in several different areas,...

Eco-horror isn’t a sub-genre that gets talked about a ton unfortunately. It can be anything from animals attacking due to their sudden craving of human flesh like Grizzly or even just due to man not putting enough respect on the name of nature like in Long Weekend. The hey day of these is undoubtedly the 70s with things like Prophecy, The Swarm, Piranha, Phase 4, and a few other standouts. While the output certainly slowed down, there are more than a few standouts in the late 90s and even 21st century. We can’t seem to stop screwing up the planet and as we do, we get reminded that the planet may just fight back in ways like what is shown in Day After Tomorrow or to a hilarious degree in The Happening. A unique one that failed to make its budget back, even with good reviews and scores, is...

Clarence “Frogman” Henry, the New Orleans R&b singer whose 1956 hit “Ain’t Got No Home” showcased a vocal range that could soar to falsetto and plummet to the croak that provided his nickname, died Sunday. He was 87.

His death was announced by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation on social media. No cause of death was disclosed, but Henry reportedly had been in declining health and recently underwent surgery.

The Heritage Foundation said the “beloved icon of New Orleans music” was surrounded by friends and family at his passing Sunday night.

“Frogman’s absence at the upcoming 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will be deeply felt, as he was scheduled to grace the stage on local’s Thursday with the New Orleans Classic Recording Revue,” the Foundation said. “Rest in peace, Frogman.”

The very catchy song that rocketed Henry to nationwide fame would eventually secure its place among the era’s novelty classics like “Love Potion No. 9” by the Clovers and “Alley Oop” by The Hollywood Argyles. The song would be used in various films and TV shows, notably Barry Levinson’s Diner (1982) and Martin Scorsese’s Casino (1995). A version recorded by The Band was used for a notable scene in Joel Schumacher’s The Lost Boys (1987), with Corey Haim singing along while taking a bubble bath.

Born in New Orleans on March 19, 1937, Henry began playing piano as a child, picking up trombone and playing both instruments in his high school band. He played with local groups during and after high school, and was overheard singing in the jokey croak style by a Chess Records exec who encouraged Henry to record the song. Catching the attention of New Orleans DJ Poppa Stoppa, who christened Henry “Frogman,” the song rose to number 3 on the national R&b chart and number 20 on the US pop chart.

Henry had a big follow-up hit in 1961 with “(I Don’t Know Why) But I Do” and, to a lesser extent, “You Always Hurt the One You Love,” both in 1961. He was chosen by The Beatles as an opening act for the band’s 1964 North American tour.

While national fame was fleeting, Henry would maintain decades of popularity in New Orleans and among fans of R&b and Cajun-style music. He retired from the club circuit in 1981 but long continued annual appearances at the Jazz & Heritage Festival.

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of Clarence "Frogman" Henry's passing. A beloved icon of New Orleans music, he passed away at the age of 87 on Sunday night, surrounded by friends and family. pic.twitter.com/IB8pXAunSy

— New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation (@Jazznheritage) April 8, 2024...

Directors are lining up left and right each month to share their favorite films from the TCM lineup, and the latest is Jason Reitman. He follows Steven Spielberg going deep on “Meet Me in St. Louis,” Martin Scorsese praising “Madonna of the Seven Moons,” Guillermo del Toro making the case why overlooked “Suspicion” is top-tier Hitchcock, and so many more.

IndieWire simply loves directors sharing their favorite films and paying tribute to the directors and screenwriters behind them. And that enthusiasm comes across loud and clear in “SNL 1975” director Reitman’s picks. First up, Reitman, whose always had an ear for dialogue himself, talks about what’s so great about the patter in Barry Levinson’s “Diner.”

“[‘Diner’] is probably one of the best first movies for a filmmaker of all time,” Reitman said. “And the dialogue is delicious. You can’t look at a Quentin Tarantino movie and...

"Star Trek" has never been the most popular show on television and the films, while generally successful, have only cracked the yearly box office top 10 five times (out of 13 total releases), but the major characters and tropes of the long-running franchise are instantly identifiable to most people around the world. Just about everyone knows Kirk and Spock, and they've probably heard of at least Bones, Sulu, and Uhura. They know what the Enterprise and Klingons are, and have surely heard the phrase "Beam me up, Scotty" a multitude of times. If someone couldn't tell you what a phaser is, you'd probably consider them sheltered.

Beyond these elements, however, people might be a tad hazy on the particulars. Romulans? Maybe. The highly intoxicating properties of Romulan ale? Not so much. The Kobayashi Maru? That's the hot dog eating dude, right?

Still, there are those who, through no fault of their own,...

Back in 1999, no cinema event was as hotly anticipated as the return of Star Wars. Thus the prequel trilogy began, unfolding George Lucas’ epic tragedy – vastly expanding the galaxy that fans loved, while pioneering the future of digital production. Now, to celebrate 25 years of the prequels, Empire presents an epic new look back at the trilogy that changed everything – packed with brand new interviews, rarely-seen concept art, and explorations of the greatest set pieces.

The issue hits newsstands on Thursday 15 February, with collectible light side and dark side covers – but in the meantime, here’s a sneak peek inside the mag.

Star Wars: 25 Years Of The Prequels

This is where the fun begins. Empire celebrates the Star Wars prequels on a landmark anniversary in a massive special – packed with brand new interviews. Including…

Hayden Christensen

Anakin speaks! The man who would become Darth Vader revisits his wild ride with Star Wars,...

When you take a peek at Mark Johnson‘s resume, you’re immediately astounded. Consider this partial list of projects he’s been attached to as a producer or executive producer during a career that’s exceeded four decades: “Rain Man” (which won Johnson his lone Oscar), “Good Morning, Vietnam,” “Diner,” “Tin Men,” “The Natural,” “Bugsy,” “Galaxy Quest,” “The Notebook,” “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.” And now, add “The Holdovers” to the list, for which Johnson has landed his third Academy Award nomination (this one for Best Picture).

“Every day, I still feel like a young boy who can’t believe he’s allowed to do this,” Johnson admits. “Somebody asked me if the Oscar nomination was old hat to me, and I’m like, ‘Are you kidding? I’m thrilled.’ I’m very humbled by it. There are a number of movies I’ve made that I think...

Christmas comes early on Max, as the streamer adds a bevy of holiday movies to its library for the month of November, alongside new TV debuts, a noteworthy documentary and more. “Elf,” “Christmas Vacation,” “Arthur Christmas,” “The Shop Around the Corner” and “Four Christmases” are some of the holiday films arriving on the streaming platform on Nov. 1.

This month also sees the Season 2 premieres of “Rap Sh!t” (on Nov. 9) and “Julia” (on Nov. 16) and the series premiere of “Two and a Half Men” creator Chuck Lorre’s new sitcom “Bookie” starring Sebastian Maniscalco (on Nov. 30).

On Nov. 11, check out the documentary “Albert Brooks: Defending My Life” in which the comedian, actor and filmmaker’s best friend Rob Reiner peppers him with questions about his life and career.

And Chip and Joanna Gaines renovate a 100-year-old building in “Fixer Upper: The Hotel,” which premieres on Nov. 8.

Check out the full list...

It’s a lean month for new original content on HBO/Max. November will see the return of two scripted series in Julia and Rap Sh!t, both of which are debuting their respective second seasons, but this month’s fresh highlight is likely to be Bookie, a new comedy series from the partnership of The Big Bang Theory creator Chuck Lorre, and Nick Bakay. The show tracks an LA bookie called Danny (Sebastian Maniscalco), whose business is in peril as California movies to legalize sports gambling.

Elsewhere in November, there quite a few interesting documentaries to keep an eye on, and two that jump out as “must watch”. The first is Albert Brooks: Defending My Life, which chronicles the aging comedian’s life and career. The second is the previously-released Little Richard: I Am Everything, which tries to peel back the whitewashed canon of Richard Penniman in a true...

Max out your November viewing with Max! The streamer is starting the new month with a wide variety of additions to its combined library of HBO and Max exclusives, plus titles from Food Network, Cartoon Network, HGTV, and more.

While also racing toward the official holiday season with dozens of Christmas classics like “A Christmas Story” and “Elf,” you can also stream new documentaries on Albert Brooks and Little Richard, catch the premieres of new seasons of “Rap Sh!t” and “Julia,” and much more.

Check out The Streamable’s top picks for what’s new this month on Max, and then continue below to see the full list of everything new in November!

7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com

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What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Max in November 2023? “Rap Sh!t” Season 2 | Thursday, Nov. 9

Issa Rae is back on her “Rap Sh!

Sarah Lancashire and David Hyde Pierce in ‘Julia’ season 2 (Photograph by Sebastein Gonon/Max)

Max’s November 2023 schedule includes season two of Julia starring Sarah Lancashire as Julia Child and the return of Rap Sh!t with Aida Osman and Mia KaMillion. Bookie, a new comedy about sports gambling created by Chuck Lorre, makes its debut on November 30th with Sebastian Maniscalco starring as an LA bookie.

HBO documentaries Albert Brooks: Defending My Life and South to Black Power will stream on Max this November, along with CNN Films’ Little Richard: I Am Everything.

Series & Films Arriving On Max In November 2023:

November 1

Act of Valor (2012)

After the Thin Man (1936)

Aliens (1986)

The Ant Bully (2006)

Arthur Christmas (2011)

The Avengers (1998)

The Bachelor (1999)

The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

Bells Are Ringing (1960)

Black Beauty (1994)

Boys’ Night Out (1962)

Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984)

Brigadoon (1954)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

A Christmas Carol (1938)

Christmas Cookie Challenge, Seasons...

Exclusive: Tim Daly (Wings) and Veronica Ferres (Hector and the Search for Happiness) have been tapped for roles in Unholy Trinity, rounding out the ensemble for the Western helmed by Robert the Bruce‘s Richard Gray. The actors join an ensemble that also includes Pierce Brosnan, Samuel L. Jackson, Brandon Lessard, and Q’orianka Kilcher, as previously announced.

Currently shooting under an Interim Agreement, the film written by Lee Zachariah is set against the turbulent backdrop of 1870s Montana. It picks up in the moments before the execution of Isaac Broadway, as he gives his estranged son, Henry (Lessard), an impossible task: murder the man who framed him for a crime he didn’t commit. Intent on fulfilling his promise, Henry travels to the remote town of Trinity, where an unexpected turn of events traps him in town and leaves him caught between Gabriel Dove (Brosnan), the town’s upstanding new sheriff,...

Legendary film director Barry Levinson has given us such movies as Diner, Rain Man and Sleepers, while legendary screenwriter David Mamet penned such classics as The Untouchables, Glengarry Glen Ross and Ronin. The two are reportedly set to team up for a new film about the JFK assassination, which will star another cinema legend, Al Pacino. The film, Assassination, was first reported out of Cannes and is set to feature a cast including Viggo Mortensen, John Travolta, Shia Labeouf, Rebecca Pidgeon and Courtney Love.

Back when the film was revealed at Cannes, Mamet was set to direct his screenplay, which he co-wrote with Nicholas Celozzi. Now, Deadline is reporting that Barry Levinson is stepping in as the director for the film. According to Deadline, the plot of Assassination “tells the story of how infamous Chicago mobster Sam Giancana arranged the assassination of President John F. Kennedy as payback for trying...

Exclusive: Oscar winning filmmaker Barry Levinson is stepping in to direct the David Mamet-scripted drama Assassination, we hear, and is putting his own stamp on the project. Deadline first reported about the movie out of Cannes.

Two-time Oscar nominee and Pulitzer Prize winner Mamet originally was set to direct the movie, which tells the story of how infamous Chicago mobster Sam Giancana arranged the assassination of President John F. Kennedy as payback for trying to bring down organized crime after the mob helped put JFK in the White House.

BAFTA winner Shia Labeouf and Oscar winner Al Pacino remain attached to the film, the latter playing Tony Accardo, a senior mob boss.

The pic is being produced by Corey Large (It Follows), Jason Sosnoff (Wise Guys) and Giancana’s grandnephew Nicholas Celozzi (The Class). Executive producer are John Burnham (Atlas Artists) and Jordan Nott. Finance comes from 308 Enterprises.

In Lifetime’s Amish Stud: The Eli Weaver Story, Luke Macfarlane portrays a philandering husband ready to risk it all for his side piece.

In the above sneak peek at the upcoming film, premiering Saturday, Sept. 30 at 8/7c, Eli Weaver (played by Killjoys vet Macfarlane) asks his mistress Barb (Criminal Minds‘ Kirsten Vangsness) to kill his wife by any means necessary — even at the expense of his own children.

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