Tag: Streaming

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Christopher Nolan Slams HBO Max And Warner Bros. For 2021 Release Strategy

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Christopher Nolan has been making movies with Warner Bros. for nearly two decades, but now it looks like their relationship has soured.

As we told you earlier this month, Warner Bros. revealed a new release plan for the upcoming 2021 movie season. They plan to release all their upcoming blockbusters on HBO Max at the same time they enter theaters.

They claimed it was because they knew 2021 would still be a turbulent year and they wanted to get ahead of the curve. But others say it was more of a protective move.

Surprisingly to some in the industry, sources say the idea was the brainchild of Warner Bros. COO Carolyn Blackwood who, looking at a relatively weak 2021 slate, saw an opportunity to avoid the humiliation of potentially bad grosses while currying favor with streamer-obsessed higher-ups. 

Well, Nolan talked to The Hollywood Reporter about this move by Warner Bros., and it’s safe to say he was not happy.

Some of our industry’s biggest filmmakers and most important movie stars went to bed the night before thinking they were working for the greatest movie studio and woke up to find out they were working for the worst streaming service.

Warner Bros. had an incredible machine for getting a filmmaker’s work out everywhere, both in theaters and in the home, and they are dismantling it as we speak. They don’t even understand what they’re losing. Their decision makes no economic sense, and even the most casual Wall Street investor can see the difference between disruption and dysfunction.

Ouch. Now we all know Nolan has a pretty strong theater fetish. I mean, I do as well. I love going to the movies, but Nolan is like…IT DOESN’T COUNT UNLESS IT’S INSIDE A THEATER!

This is kinda similar to the political world right now. You have extremes on both sides. You have people like Nolan, and then you have people who seem to believe theaters are dead and we should just forget about them.

There is room in the middle, and honestly, I’m not thrilled with Warner Bros. decision either. I think it’s a big hit to theaters when they can’t afford to take any other hits.

So, hey, I guess I’m all for this rant by Nolan. But at the same time, you can’t just stick your fingers inside your ears and pretend everything is going to be back to normal in a few months.

Things may not be “normal” until August, so studios have to make a plan. You can’t just keep pushing movies back. I don’t know what the solution is.

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‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Will Debut Both On Streaming And In Theaters

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Everyone assumed ‘Wonder Woman 1984′ would be pushed back until 2021 along with nearly every other major blockbuster.

But in a surprising move, Warner Bros. announced the superhero sequel will debut on HBO Max on December 25th, 2020. It’ll also be released inside theaters the same day.

Internationally, where HBO Max is not available, ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ will premiere in cinemas one week earlier, on Dec. 16. The film will stream on HBO Max for a month at no additional cost to subscribers.

It’s an interesting decision. The first film, released back in 2017, made over $800 million at the box office. Most experts believed this sequel could push $1 billion.

So the fact that they’re doing a limited released inside theaters alongside a streaming release is a very surprising move.

Ann Sarnoff, chair and CEO of WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group, released the following statement:

This is an amazing film that really comes to life on the big screen and, working with our partners in the exhibition community, we will provide that option to consumers in the U.S. where theaters are open. We realize that a lot of consumers can’t go back to the movies due to the pandemic, so we also want to give them the option to see Wonder Woman 1984 via our HBO Max platform.

We’ll have to see how this decision works out for them. if it’s a success, you may find more studios doing the same thing, even with huge blockbuster films.

Although, with a vaccine coming in Spring 2021, it’s likely (HOPEFULLY) that movie theaters will be back to “normal” by summer 2021.

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You Can Now Stream ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ On Hulu

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You probably haven’t heard much about ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire‘ but that should change. The film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, won the Queer Palm award and the award for Best Screenplay.

It was also nominated for best foreign language film at the Golden Globes.

The film, set in 1770, stars Noémie Merlant as Marianne, who is commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), a young woman who has just left a convent — they fall in love.

It has been praised by critics, and it was set to sweep the nation with its wide release on Valentine’s Day, but unfortunately its time in theaters was cut short, due to the coronavirus.

Because of this, Hulu has decided to make it available to stream a little earlier than expected. So, starting today (the 27th) you can watch the film on Hulu.

It was one of the best reviewed films of the year. It sits at a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a very impressive 95% on Metacritic.

Check it out this weekend. Watch it with your bae/boo/lover/partner/spouse/gf/bf/friend, but probably not your parent.

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Disney Is Releasing ‘Frozen 2’ Three Months Early On Disney Plus

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Disney, one of the biggest companies in the world, could be doing a lot more to help out with coronavirus relief. In fact, all companies (Amazon included) could be doing a lot more.

We know Amazon started a $5 million relief fund to aid small businesses, but Jeff Bezos is worth over $100 billion. BILLION! A $5 million fund is nice, but that sh*t is pocket change to him. It’s nothing.

But hey, at least Amazon is doing more than Disney. The studio announced this week that they’ll be releasing ‘Frozen 2‘ three months early on their Disney Plus streaming service. They claim to be doing this for all the people stuck at home.

‘Frozen 2’ has captivated audiences around the world through its powerful themes of perseverance and the importance of family, messages that are incredibly relevant during this time, and we are pleased to be able to share this heartwarming story early with our Disney+ subscribers to enjoy at home on any device,

It sounds like they’re giving us a gift, but really it’s likely just a marketing strategy. Their hope being more people sign up for Disney+ right now while they’re stuck at home, and releasing Frozen 2 early might entice them more.

So yeah, there you go. Thanks, Disney for releasing Frozen 2 early! YOU ARE DOING THE LORD’S WORK! PRAISE BE!

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Still Haven’t Watched ‘Parasite’? It’s Coming To Hulu In April

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As we’ve mentioned several times before, ‘Parasite‘ was the best movie of 2019, by far. The South Korean film won the Best Picture award at the Oscars. It was the first foreign language film to take home the award.

And even though we believe everyone should have watched it by now, we understand if it wasn’t in a theater near you.

That will be changing soon though. Starting April 8, you’ll be able to stream Parasite on Hulu.

Hulu’s streaming rights to “Parasite” come under a multiyear licensing pact it struck with Neon back in 2017, under which all of the distributor’s films and content become available to stream exclusively on Hulu following their theatrical release.

I’m pretty sure a basic Hulu package is only like $7.99 a month, so you know, get on that. Or just wait and time your free trial accordingly. Or sign in with someone else’s account. Find a way to watch this movie.

In total, the film has made nearly $50 million in the states and over $150 million worldwide.

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The Criterion Streaming Channel Will Premiere In April, Get The Details Inside!

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If your favorite movie is Fast & Furious and you’re always confused at the Oscars, thinking, “What are these films?” then this news will probably not excite you.

But if you’re a lover of cinema and art-house films, then you might want to listen. The Criterion Collection announced that the Criterion Channel will launch on April 8, 2019. The new streaming service will be stocked with over 1,000 classic and contemporary art-house films.

The channel will be available on computers, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, iOS and Android devices. It’ll cost $10.99 a month or $99.99 for the entire year. They’ll also offer a 30-day free trial.

And while they didn’t say what titles will be available on the streaming service, they certainly have a lot to choose from…

“Movies in Criterion Collection’s catalog include Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Pan’s Labyrinth,’ Spike Lee’s ‘Do the Right Thing,’ David Lynch’s ‘Mulholland Drive,’ Akira Kurosawa’s ‘The Seven Samurai,’ Sidney Lumet’s  ’12 Angry Men,’ Robert Altman’s ‘3 Women,’ George Sluizer’s ‘The Vanishing,’ Fritz Lang’s ‘M,’ Charles Laughton’s ‘The Night of the Hunter,’ Wong Kar-wai’s ‘In the Mood for Love,’ Ingmar Bergman’s ‘Persona,’ the Beatles’ ‘A Hard Day’s Night,’ and Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Dr. Strangelove.'”

Criterion also promises to update their list constantly, so it’ll probably be a Netflix type situation. Every month there will be new titles available to stream.

“Criterion Channel also will include a Sunday Spotlight feature, focusing on a different director, star, genre, or theme as well as exclusive content like guest programmer series Adventures in Moviegoing, Tuesday’s Short + Feature, the Friday Night Double Feature, Meet the Filmmakers, Art-House America, and Observations on Film Art (billed as a 15-minute-per-month film school).”

As mentioned above, the channel will start streaming on April 8, 2019.

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What’s Coming To Netflix In January 2019? Check Out The Titles Inside!

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Movie news is always slow at the start of the year, but we do have some Netflix news to share with you all. It’s a new month, which means new titles will be coming to the streaming service.

From superhero flicks to a series of unfortunate events, check out the list below…

JAN. 1ST

Mona Lisa Smile
Mr. Bean’s Holiday
The Mummy
The Mummy Returns
Pan’s Labyrinth
Pinky Malinky
Pulp Fiction
The Strangers
Swingers
Tears of the Sun
Tidying Up With Marie Kondo
Watchmen
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XXX: State of the Union

Across the Universe
The Addams Family
A Series of Unfortunate Events: Season 3
Babel
Black Hawk Down
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
City of God
Comedians of the world
The Dark Knight
Definitely, Maybe
The Departed
Godzilla

Happy Feet
Hell or High Water
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
It Takes Two
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Jersey Boys
Mona Lisa Smile

JAN. 9TH

Godzilla: The Planet Eater
Solo: A Star Wars Story

JAN 11TH

Friends From College: Season 2
ReMastered: Massacre at the Stadium
Sex Education
Solo
The Last Laugh

JAN 18TH

Carmen Sandiego
Close
Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
Girl
Grace and Frankie: Season 5
IO
Soni
Trigger Warning Wth Killer Mike
Trolls: The Beat Goes On!: Season 5
The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes: Season 2 Part B

JAN 24TH

Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

JAN 25TH

Animas
Black Earth Rising
Club de Cuervos: Season 4
Kingdom
Medici: The Magnificent
Polar
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Season 4 Part 2

JAN 29TH

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias: One Show Fits All
Ant-Man and the Wasp

JAN 30TH

The Incredibles 2

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Check Out What’s Coming To Netflix In December 2018

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There will be a lot of Netflix streaming in December as people get some time off work for the holidays. Plus, it’s too damn cold to go outside. Your only choice is some Netflix action by the fire.

Netflix will be adding a bunch of new titles to their library this December. Let’s go through some of them.

On December 1, they’ll be adding 8 Mile, Bride of Chucky, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Friday, Friday After Next, Shaun of the Dead and The Big Lebowski.

On December 4, they’ll add District 9, and on December 10, Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’ will be available to stream.

Baby Mama and The Theory of Everything on December 16, Ellen DeGeneres’ stand-up special on the 18th, and on Christmas you can find Avengers: Infinity War and the 11th season of Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown.

If you want to check out the full list of shows and movies coming to Netflix this December, click on this link.

Merry Netflix watching! Make sure you take a few breaks to stretch, eat, and use the restroom.

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Good News, Netflix Will Allow You To Download Movies & TV Shows To Watch Offline On Your Mobile Device

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Christmas is coming early for all you Netflix users out there. The streaming service announced on Wednesday that users all over the world can download some of their favorite movies & TV shows to their mobile devices for offline viewing.

This means you won’t have to use up all that delicious data when you’re traveling without Wi-Fi. Before your trip, you can now download the movies and shows you want to watch, and then enjoy them offline while you’re on that long flight or car ride.

Not every title in Netflix’s library will be available to download. In order to do something like this, there are copyright issues and other legal issues that must be addressed, so just be patient if the show or movie you want to watch isn’t available to download yet.

The good news is that there is a lot of great content already available for offline playback. The Office, Parks & Rec, Orange Is the New Black, Narcos, 30 Rock, Minions, Dazed and Confused, Boyhood, and many more.

It’s a great move by Netflix. People have been wanting this for a long time, and it didn’t look like they were going to get it. Netflix previously stated they had no plans to offer a feature like this.

Also, you’ll have two options for downloading. You have the “standard” quality and “higher” quality. Neither option will match the quality you get on your TV or computer, but you’re not allowed to complain when you’re flying in a freaking plane while watching The Office. Just enjoy that. It’s amazing.

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5 Great Documentaries You Can Watch On Netflix Right Now!

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Are you one of those people who say things like, “Hell yeah! I love documentaries!” But then when someone asks you for suggestions, you freeze up and say, “Uh…Blackfish?” for the millionth time. It’s a great documentary and all, but it’s about time you update your box of suggestions.

The list below should get you started. I tried to spread things out a bit, so hopefully everyone will be able to find something they enjoy.

(If you have a favorite documentary that is not Blackfish, then drop a message in the comment section. I’m always looking out for new things to watch.)

 

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No. 5 – “Tig” – Netflix Link

I’ve always thought the best books, films and songs are the ones that can make you laugh and cry. Tig Notaro’s documentary made me laugh and cry. The 44-year-old comedian had a pretty terrible 2012, and if you’re thinking, “I bet it wasn’t as miserable as mine!” You’re wrong. Unless you’re dead, or you lost both your legs in a freak accident while playing Dance Dance Revolution, then your 2012 was nothing compared to Tig’s.

While filming In A World…, she had to be hospitalized for a potentially fatal bacterial infection called C. diff. After barely recovering from that, she was forced to deal with the unexpected death of her mother.

But wait, there’s more! While trying to mourn the loss of her mother, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which led to a double mastectomy.

When does this story start getting funny? Watch it and you’ll see exactly how Tig made cancer her bitch.

Netflix description: Not everyone would respond to a cancer diagnosis with a comedy set about it. But Tig Notario isn’t everyone.

 

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No. 4 – “Fed Up” – Netflix Link

This is probably one of the more popular documentaries on this list, so I probably don’t need to spend too much time explaining why you should watch it. One of your co-workers/friends/family members have probably already told you how great this documentary is. Some might have even claimed it changed their lives.

And maybe you rolled your eyes at them, but it truly is a wonderful documentary. If you have been avoiding this one, I suggest you give it a chance.

Netflix description: “Childhood obesity has become an ever-more serious medical issue in the United States. This eye-opening documentary examines the underlying causes behind the epidemic, including the marketing strategies of major U.S. food producers.”

 

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No. 3 – “Rich Hill” – Netflix Link

This one surprised me when I watched it. I didn’t know what to expect, but after I watched it I couldn’t stop thinking about it. As someone who grew up poor in a smallish town, I felt like I knew the three main kids in this movie. I’ve lived through some of the same experiences, had some of the same conversations, and watched friends go through the same struggles as Harley.

I realize this means nothing to those who haven’t watched the documentary, so I’ll quit rambling and just tell you that this film won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary Award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.

And I really love this quote from Indiewire‘s Katie Walsh…

“A truly moving and edifying film, Rich Hill is the type of media object that could and should be put in a time capsule for future generations.”

 

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No. 2 – “Pentatonix: On My Way Home” – Netflix Link

This is the documentary to watch if you just want to smile and watch some talented people live their dreams. Maybe this film means more to me since I’ve followed the group’s career since their days on The Sing-Off, but I believe anybody who is a fan of well-deserved success will enjoy Pentatonix’s story.

If you like watching good things happen to great people, then grab some popcorn and click on that link up there.

 

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No. 1 – “Cowspiracy” – Netflix Link

We all know sometimes it’s possible to be brainwashed by certain documentaries. Most of the time, you’re only getting one side of the story. And while that holds true for Cowspiracy, the important thing to remember is that this is a side no one ever talks about. It’s too controversial. People don’t want to feel bad, they don’t want to think about the issues raised in this documentary because it would require them to change parts of their life they don’t want to change.

And while some reports in the documentary might be amplified to get the point across, it’s nothing compared to the lies that have been shoved down our throats from the other side.

Anyway, it’s an interesting documentary, even if you don’t agree with all the points made. This film was crowdfunded on IndieGoGo, receiving almost $120,000 from over 1,400 contributors. The new cut of the documentary that you see on Netflix was executive-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio.

Netflix description: Learn how factory farming is decimating the planet’s natural resources — and why this crisis has been largely ignored by major environmental groups.