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Looking for something to watch tonight? Netflix has a huge library of films, but we’re here to help. Here are 21 underrated films available to stream now…

There’s a lot of streaming services out there and their libraries have seemingly an unending amount of films, which means that a lot of gems get buried under bigger, better known films. It’s become a little scary trying to find something to watch, especially if you’re already familiar with the blockbuster-y films on the front page.

We’ve taken a deep five into the depths of Netflix and dug out lots of films you may not have come across, or even if you have, deserve another watch.

Here are 22 underappreciated films on Netflix UK that are well worth your time, in our humble view.

Unicorns Credit: Signature UK

Ben Hardy’s single dad Luke falls for a drag queen Aysha...

Connie Britton and her longtime boyfriend David Windsor are not seen in public that often, but they made a rare appearance together to celebrate her new Hallmark Channel series!

The cute couple was seen sharing a kiss at a luncheon for Connie‘s new show The Motherhood on Thursday afternoon (May 1) at Glasshouse on the Park in New York City.

The Motherhood is a new unscripted series in which Connie, along with three experts in parenting, style, and home, will help single mothers create more balanced and fulfilling lives for themselves and their families. Together, they form: The Motherhood.

The new show debuts on Hallmark Channel on Monday, May 5 at 8/7c and will be available to stream on Hallmark+ the next day.

Connie received support at the event from celeb friends Mariska Hargitay, Carla Gugino, Padma Lakshmi, Rosanna Arquette, and Camryn Manheim. See more photos in the gallery!

In an...

Yes, the synopsis for The Friend sounds like a discarded Friends subplot, but there’s emotional truth in this tale of a New Yorker bonding with a massive dog in their shared sadness. Familiar tropes resurface in this adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s 2018 novel — alongside occasional implausible moments — but the graceful sensitivity of Naomi Watts’ performance as protagonist Iris is what you will remember. That and Apollo, the mighty harlequin canine she looks after in her poky West Village flat.

Iris is mourning her best pal, revered writer and professor Walter when his third wife Barbara (a steely Noma Dumezweni) insists she take care of Apollo because Walter apparently wanted her to. Apollo, a magnificent beast unsuited to inner-city living, is as bereft at his owner’s suicide as Iris and lies on her bed looking sad, only perking up when Iris reads aloud some of Walter’s old emails.

Una buddy movie de comedia y acción del director de ‘Nadie’. © Prime Video

Prime Video ha desvelado el primer tráiler y póster de su nueva película original Jefes de Estado, dirigida por Ilya Naishuller (Nadie).

En Jefes de Estado, los líderes de las dos naciones más poderosas del mundo, el Primer Ministro británico Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) y el Presidente estadounidense Will Derringer (John Cena), no son precisamente amigos. Su rivalidad, muy pública, pone en peligro la delicada relación entre sus países. Sin embargo, cuando se convierten en el objetivo de un enemigo extranjero poderoso y despiadado, que demuestra ser más que un rival para las fuerzas de seguridad de los dos líderes, ambos se ven obligados a confiar a regañadientes en las únicas dos personas en las que pueden confiar: el uno en el otro. Con la ayuda de la brillante agente del MI6, Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas...

“Heads of State” is a new comedy feature, directed by Ilya Naishuller, starring John Cena, Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra, Jack Quaid, Paddy Considine, Stephen Root and Carla Gugino, streaming July 2, 2025 on Prime Video:

“…the ‘UK Prime Minister’ (Elba) and ‘US President’ (Cena) have a public rivalry that risks their countries’ alliance.

“But when they become targets of a powerful enemy, they’re forced to rely on each other as they go on a wild, multinational run.

“Allied with ‘Noel’, a brilliant ‘MI6 agent’ (Chopra) they must find a way to thwart a conspiracy that threatens the free world…”

Click the images to enlarge…

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Gold Derby's top news stories for April 23, 2025.

Die, My Love and The Chronology of Water added to Cannes lineup

The Cannes Film Festival announced several additions to its 2025 lineup, including Lynne Ramsay's psychological thriller Die, My Love starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson, which will screen in competition, and Kristen Stewart's feature directorial debut, biographical drama The Chronology of Water, which will premiere as part of Un Certain Regard.

Other additions include Ethan Coen’s Honey Don’t in the midnights section; Saeed Roustaee’s Mother and Child in competition; Anna Cazenave Cambet’s Love Me Tender, Simón Mesa Soto’s Un Poeta and Pedro Pinho’s O Riso E A Faca (Le Rire et le Couteau) in Un Certain Regard; Kōji Fukada’s Renai Saiban, Hlynur Pálmason’s Ástin Sem Eftir Er, Lav Diaz’s Magalhães in premiere; and Vincent Maël Cardona’s Le Roi Soleil in midnights.

Amazon MGM Studios has released the official trailer for Heads of State, offering an action-packed first look at the their upcoming summer action comedy starring John Cena (Peacemaker; The Suicide Squad; Fast X) and Idris Elba (Luther; Beasts of No Nation; The Suicide Squad) in the lead roles, as the leaders of the United States and United Kingdom, respectively, with Priyanka Chopra (Don: The Chase Begins Again; The White Tiger; Citadel) serving as their MI6 bodyguard.

As per the synopsis, "The UK Prime Minister and US President have a public rivalry that risks their countries’ alliance. But when they become targets of a powerful enemy, they’re forced to rely on each other as they go on a wild, multinational run. Allied with Noel, a brilliant MI6 agent, they must find a way to thwart a conspiracy that threatens the free world."

The film will reunite Elba and Cena for...

The Suicide Squad‘s John Cena and Idris Elba reunite for Heads of State, a buddy action comedy that finds the duo playing the US President and UK Prime Minister. The two-minute trailer shows what begins as an adversarial relationship transforms into a formidable team after they’re attacked and forced to run for their lives. Thankfully, Priyanka Chopra Jonas shows up to keep them safe from killers … and themselves.

The film also stars Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid, Stephen Root, Sarah Niles, Richard Coyle, and Paddy Considine. Per Prime Video: “The film is an action-packed comedy about the U.S. President (Cena) and the UK Prime Minister (Elba), who must set aside their rivalry to thwart a global conspiracy and save the world — if they can work together.”

Directed by Ilya Naishuller (Nobody), Heads of State will premiere on Prime Video on July 2, 2025.

John Cena and Idris Elba in ‘Heads of State...

Jon Hamm has just made his post-Mad Men return to TV, and now he's set to lead another series. The Your Friends and Neighbors star will headline the first season of American Hostage, a new anthology series on MGM+. Deadline reports that Hamm will reprise the role he played on the scripted podcast of the same name that the TV show will adapt. The series is set to film in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in the fall.

Hamm will star on the series as Fred Heckman, a well-liked Indianapolis radio reporter who finds himself in a life-or-death situation in 1977 when local man Tony Kiritsis takes his mortgage broker Richard O. Hall, who he believes has scammed him, hostage at the point of a sawed-off shotgun. Kiritsis held Hall hostage in his apartment for 63 hours, during which time he made frequent calls to Heckman's radio station. Kiritsis' demands and rants were...

Prime Video has released the first trailer for Heads of State, an upcoming action comedy starring Dcu actors John Cena and Idris Elba as Will Derringer, the President of the United States, and Sam Clarke, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, respectively. The footage teases the "debut duet" of the two characters, and they might just be the duo that we never knew we needed or, at least, the one we needed again following their previous team-up as Peacemaker and Bloodsport in James Gunn's 2021 superhero film The Suicide Squad.

Cena and Elba are seen entering new territory as world leaders in the action-packed trailer for Heads of State (shared below). The clips reveal a rivalry between Derringer, a former fame-hungry Hollywood star, and Clarke, a straight-talking government leader, which, according to the synopsis for the movie, could "risk their countries' alliance." However, they realize that two heads are...

First off, today is John Cena’s birthday, so Happy Birthday! The professional wrestling superstar won a record-setting 17th World Championship by beating Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes on April 20 at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas. And don’t sleep on John Cena…. he’s taking a page out of the Dwayne Johnson play book and making a pretty big name for himself outside of the ring.

Heads Of State reunites Cena and Idris Elba, ya know, they guys in The Suicide Squad — but this time, they’re not trying to kill each other…probably. The two played Bloodsport and Peacemaker in James Gunn’s 2021 movie.

The film is an action-packed comedy about the U.S. President (played by John Cena) and the UK Prime Minister (played by Idris Elba), who must set aside their rivalry to thwart a global conspiracy and save the world — if they can work together.

Motley Crue...

Photo Credit: Amazon MGM Studios

New Priyanka Chopra Jonas movie alert! Her new action comedy, which features Idris Elba and John Cena, is getting ready for its premiere on Amazon Prime on July 2nd. Directed by Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry and Nobody), Heads of State is a global adventure blending explosive action and sharp comedic banter that, from what we have seen so far, takes audiences on the run and for a thrilling ride.

One of the hallmarks is that Heads of State combines fast-paced action sequences and creative stunts with a heavy dose of nostalgia, all with the 90s charm of the golden era of buddy action comedies. See, the film reunites John Cena and Idris Elba since The Suicide Squad — but this time, they’re not trying to kill each other…probably.

Photo Credit: Amazon MGM Studios

In the action-packed comedy, the U.S. President (played by John...

Prime Video has released the trailer, poster, and photos for Heads of State, the action comedy premiering globally on July 2, 2025. The film has been rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence/action, language, and some smoking.

In Heads of State, the UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) and U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) have a not-so-friendly and very public rivalry that jeopardizes their countries’ “special relationship.”

But when they become the targets of a powerful and ruthless foreign adversary—who proves more than a match for the two leaders’ security forces—they are begrudgingly forced to rely on the only two people they can trust: each other.

Ultimately allied with the brilliant MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), they must go on the run and find a way to work together long enough to thwart a global conspiracy that threatens the entire free world.

In addition to Idris Elba,...

Prime Video has debuted the trailer for the upcoming action-comedy ‘Heads of State’ featuring Idris Elba and John Cena.

The UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) and U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) have a not-so-friendly and very public rivalry that jeopardises their countries’ “special relationship.” But when they become the targets of a powerful and ruthless foreign adversary, who proves more than a match for the two leaders’ security forces, they are begrudgingly forced to rely on the only two people they can trust: each other. Ultimately allied with the brilliant MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), they must go on the run and find a way to work together long enough to thwart a global conspiracy that threatens the entire free world.

Directed by Ilya Naishuller, the cast also includes Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid, Stephen Root, Sarah Niles, Richard Coyle and Paddy Considine.

Idris Elba and John Cena reunite for the first time since The Suicide Squad to headline Heads of State. The first trailer for the upcoming action comedy has just been released ahead of its streaming debut on Prime Video this July.

"The UK Prime Minister (Elba) and US President (Cena) have a public rivalry that risks their countries’ alliance. But when they become targets of a powerful enemy, they’re forced to rely on each other as they go on a wild, multinational run. Allied with Noel, a brilliant MI6 agent (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), they must find a way to thwart a conspiracy that threatens the free world," reads the synopsis for the buddy cop movie." Check out the official trailer and poster for Heads of State below.

Image via Prime Video

Heads of State was first announced in October 2020, with Ilya Naishuller coming aboard the project two years later as director.

The trailer for Heads of State is here!

Here’s the synopsis: The UK Prime Minister (Idris Elba) and US President (John Cena) have a public rivalry that risks their countries’ alliance. But when they become targets of a powerful enemy, they’re forced to rely on each other as they go on a wild, multinational run. Allied with Noel, a brilliant MI6 agent (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), they must find a way to thwart a conspiracy that threatens the free world. Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid, and more also star!

Head inside to watch the trailer…

The film will hit Prime Video on July 2, 2025. Be sure to watch when it’s released! And until then, enjoy the action-packed trailer.

Watch the trailer, embedded below, and see photos in the gallery of this post as well!

"Who's the action hero now?" Prime Video has unveiled an official trailer for an action comedy movie called Heads of State, arriving to watch in July this summer - though streaming only (not in theaters). A wild, totally bonkers fun action comedy movie from Russian filmmaker Ilya Naishuller, behind the action hits Nobody and Hardcore Henry previously. "Let's see what he's been cooking up!" Two heads are better than one. Idris Elba plays the UK Prime Minister and John Cena plays the US President – the two "Heads of State" have a public rivalry that risks their countries' alliance. But when they become targets of a powerful enemy, they’re forced to rely on each other as they end up on a crazy multinational run. Allied with Noel, a brilliant MI6 agent, they must find a way to thwart a conspiracy that threatens the free world. The film also stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas,...

It’s been a while since we have heard much chatter on Heads of State – the buddy action-comedy starring John Cena and Idris Elba – but now Amazon MGM Studios has unveiled the first teaser trailer.

Here is the official plot of Heads of State: “The UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) and U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) have a not-so-friendly and very public rivalry that jeopardizes their countries’ “special relationship.” But when they become the targets of a powerful and ruthless foreign adversary—who proves more than a match for the two leaders’ security forces—they are begrudgingly forced to rely on the only two people they can trust: each other. Ultimately allied with the brilliant MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), they must go on the run and find a way to work together long enough to thwart a global conspiracy that threatens the entire free world.

It's been a long time since the action-comedy movie that promised to reunite John Cena (Jackpot!) and Idris Elba (Hijack) was first announced. The good news for fans of both actors is that the wait is almost over. Today, Prime Video finally decided to unveil a trailer for Heads of State, which provides some insights into the story and reveals some of its characters. The streamer also announced a release date: it debuts on July 2, just in time for Independence Day.

The timing of the release is not random. In the story, Cena plays Will Derringer, the President of the United States, and Elba plays UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke. The two leaders have a very public feud, which is a huge problem for the nations' relationship. Their connection doesn't get any better when they are forced to spend time together during a diplomatic event. However, they need to put...

The folks at Amazon have released a brand new trailer for the upcoming action/comedy "Heads of State." This is a two-hander that reunites Idris Elba and John Cena, who previously starred in "The Suicide Squad" together. This time, instead of playing villains turned heroes, they're playing government officials at the highest levels. Elba is the U.K. Prime Minister, and Cena is the U.S. President — and they don't like each other. Let the comedy ensue.

The new film, which is going straight to Prime Video in July, was directed by Ilya Naishuller, best known for his work on 2021's "Nobody" starring Bob Odenkirk. So this seems to be right in his wheelhouse. Much of the trailer focuses on the dynamic between Elba and Cena, which is very contentious, not unlike Peacemaker and Bloodsport in "The Suicide Squad." It doesn't look particularly original, but it certainly looks like the...

Original Night at the Museum star Jacob Cherry opens up about his heartwarming experiences on the movie set.

Speaking to People, Cherry, who portrayed Nick Daley, the son of Ben Stiller's Larry, sang high praises of his Night at the Museum co-star. "[Ben] was really, the best way to put it is, just a normal guy," Cherry said. "One of my core memories – he showed me a Tenacious D music video, and he has a cameo in it. And he was so hyped that he was in this cameo… so just stuff like that. I got to see him as just like a normal person. There was no mask or anything like that."

Based on Milan Trenc's 1993 children's book, Night at the Museum premiered in 2006 and quickly established itself as a fan-favorite, family-friendly comedy. The film starred Stiller as Larry Daley, a night-shift security guard at the American Museum...

The Friend is gaining traction at the box office through sheer word of mouth; it continues to garner overwhelmingly positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. The reason is immediately evident in the film's premise, exploring themes of grief and friendship with the help of an adopted, mischievous dog.

The Friend is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, based on critic and audience consensus; it currently has high 80% ratings on the Tomatometer and Popcornmeter scores. Directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, The Friend follows its main protagonist Iris (played by Naomi Watts) coming to terms with her close friend's passing; Walter (Bill Murray) made that all the more challenging, however, when he entrusted his dog Apollo to Iris before his death. The Friend is a heartwarming story about grief and friendship, a tearjerker for pet parents and everyone who has experienced loss.

At the heart of The Friend is its Great Dane...

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A Minecraft Movie is a fantasy adventure comedy film directed by Jared Hess from a screenplay co-written by Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer, Neil Widener, Gavin James, and Chris Galletta. Based on the popular video game Minecraft developed by Mojang Studios, the 2025 film follows a group of misfits who find themselves transported into the cubic world known as the Overworld and now they must set out on a perilous journey to find their way back home. A Minecraft Movie stars Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, and Sebastian Hansen. So, if you loved the wonderous adventure, entertaining story, and lovable characters in A Minecraft Movie, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Prime Video) Credit – Universal Pictures

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is an animated adventure comedy film co-directed...

Five years after 300 and two years before Man of Steel, director Zack Snyder co-wrote and directed a 2011 dark fantasy adventure film that caused a bit of controversy. Now, Sucker Punch, which Snyder co-wrote with Steve Shibuya, is streaming on Paramount+.

Sucker Punch stars Emily Browning (American Gods) as Babydoll, who accidentally shoots her sister during a struggle with her abusive stepfather - who also murdered Babydoll's mother. When he finds out that the mother left everything to her daughters in her will, he takes Babydoll to a mental hospital where he tries to have her lobotomized. Babydoll retreats into her own fantasy world where, instead of an asylum, she is in a brothel and the other patients are sex slaves.

Babydoll makes friends with four other women, namely, Rocket (Jena Malone), Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens), Amber (Jamie Chung), and Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish). Blue (Oscar Isaac), who actually works in the mental institution,...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson for Wbgr-fm on April 3rd, 2025, reviewing the new film “The Friend,” featuring Bill Murray, Naomi Watts and a Great Dane named Apollo. In select theaters beginning April 4th.

Murray portrays Walter, an iconic New York City-based author who commits suicide. This gathers his current wife and two ex-wives together and a former student named Iris (Naomi Watts), who was also a lover. Walter leaves behind Apollo, a horse-like Great Dane, a dog which Iris somehow ends up with while she is collecting Walter’s letters for publication, with the help of his daughter Val (Sarah Pidgeon). Can Iris handle the leash, even though her rent controlled apartment doesn’t allow dogs?

”The Friend” is in select theaters on April 4th. See local listings. Featuring Bill Murray, Naomi Watts, Noma Dumezwani, Constance Wu and Carla Gugino. Screenplay adapted by Scott McGhee,...

Naomi Watts and Bill Murray in Bleecker Street’s The Friend. Credit: Bleecker Street

Bill Murray and Naomi Watts star as best friends in The Friend, a comedy-drama about a friend leaving his beloved pet, a Great Dane named Apollo, to his best friend. The friend didn’t let the bestie know about this plan, leaving the friend both grieving and trying to find a place for a dog that is not allowed in her no-pets apartment.

There even seems some doubt about whether that was really ever said out loud. But it is what the friend’s second ex-wife, who has the dog now, tells her he wanted. Naomi Watts plays Iris, the friend who is left the dog when her best friend Walter (Bill Murray) suddenly dies.

This smart, human comedy/drama is set in New York among writers, academics and literary types but it finds common ground...

Glen Powell picked up CinemaCon’s Star of the Year award Thursday night, and he dedicated a piece of his acceptance speech to sharing a story about one of his early jobs when he was, well, not the movie star he is today.

The gig came courtesy of Robert Rodriguez’s 2003 franchise effort, Spy Kids 3: Game Over, and it marked Powell’s first film role. The part was so small that he’s listed on IMDb as “Long-fingered boy.” But something happened on set that Powell has never forgotten.

“I don’t know if Cheech Marin is in the room,” Powell said as he scanned the crowd seated inside the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. “Hey, my boy Cheech.”

Marin happened to be seated next to his longtime creative partner Tommy Chong as they were on the honoree program as well. The duo picked up a career...

I know how much our readers love Stephen King and Mike Flanagan individually. So, it’s an extra special treat when the talented creators team up on a project. When that unholy pair comes together, they make magic. Doctor Sleep is a great showcase of the beloved storytellers combining their powers. But that’s far from their only team-up.

This June, we’ll get to see King and Flanagan’s latest collab, The Life of Chuck. If you don’t think you can wait until then, I have another Flanagan/King crossover in mind that you may want to check out. I’m talking about the Netflix horror-thriller, Gerald’s Game. It’s an emotionally charged, self-contained effort that needs to be seen.

Gerald’s Game plays out like this:

Jesse (Carla Gugino) accidentally kills her husband (Bruce Greenwood) during foreplay. They drove out to a remote area in an attempt to reignite their flailing relationship.

Naomi Watts stars in ‘The Friend’ (Photo Credit: Bleecker Street)

Based on Sigrid Nunez’s bestselling novel, The Friend is a poignant and powerful story of grief and the unexpected ways that we heal. Following the sudden death of her friend and former professor, Walter (a pitch-perfect Bill Murray), Iris finds herself the guardian of Apollo, his beloved—and ginormous—Great Dane. What begins for Iris as a completely overwhelming arrangement gradually evolves into a life-changing experience.

Naomi Watts (Feud) delivers a touching performance as Iris, a writer and teacher who grapples with the absence of her mentor while also caring for his giant, grieving dog in a small, rent-controlled, no-pets-allowed apartment. A cat person, Iris never expected to be responsible for a dog, let alone one the size of a small horse who misses Walter as much as she does. No one, including herself, believes this arrangement will work out.

Bill Murray is currently making the rounds, promoting his new films Riff Raff and The Friend. The Friend is based on the novel of the same name by Sigurd Nunez, who won the National Book Award for her work. Outside of Murray and his co-star, Naomi Watts, the supporting cast features Sarah Pidgeon, Carla Gugino, Constance Wu, Ann Dowd, Noma Dumezweni, Felix Solis, Owen Teague, and more. The movie is directed by the longtime team of Scott McGehee and David Siegel, whose first film Suture came over 30 years ago.

Variety reports that Murray appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Watts and he reflected on his friend, Bruce Willis. Murray and Willis became friends while making Moonrise Kingdom together and the former Ghostbusters star talked about being at Saturday Night Live and Willis working at NBC as a page. Murray started off by saying, “Moonrise Kingdom was a really beautiful,...

Denzel Washington stands as one of the most respected names in Hollywood. Spending decades mastering his craft, his talent is unique in so many ways. His name holds value, and a film automatically enters a new league if he is in it. With this, one cannot help but wonder what his highest-grossing film of all time is.

Although 2024’s Gladiator 2 changed this, grossing almost $500 million at the worldwide box office, a different project kept this title for seventeen years. While this sounds quite impressive, a more careful analysis showcases quite a disappointing pattern in Washington’s career.

Denzel Washington in a still from Gladiator II | Credits: Paramount Pictures Denzel Washington’s reigning champion wasn’t always Gladiator 2

In 2007, Denzel Washington starred in Ridley Scott’s American Gangster. The film very quickly became iconic and rose through the ranks in the most impressive ways possible. Not only was it nominated for two Academy Awards,...

In an era before Netflix, B-tier action movies used to come out in theaters, rather than being ported straight to streaming. Think "Timecop," "Under Siege," "Kickboxer," or pretty much any other movie starring Jean-Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal. You could even add some Sylvester Stallone movies like "Cobra" into that mix. By 2001, a lot of the camp style of the late '80s and '90s was fading from the genre, but that didn't stop Jet Li and Jason Statham from adding one more ridiculous, critically panned, but still fun sci-fi actioner.

"The One" is a movie about the multiverse long before that was cool. Directed by frequent "X-Files" scribe James Wong, it follows Li as Gabe Law, a regular police officer on a regular version of Earth. Li also plays Gabriel Yulaw, an evil version of Gabe from another universe. Yulaw was once an agent of the MultiVerse Authority,...

Spy Kids star Carla Gugino looks back on one major problem she had with her role in the film franchise. She played the kids' mother, Ingrid Cortez, alongside Antonio Banderas as their father.

Gugino told People that she felt too young to be the mother of two preteen children when filming Robert Rodriguez's Spy Kids movie, which was released back in 2001. "I was 27 when I did that role, so I was way too young to play the part, because I was supposed to have been a spy for 10 years, and then I had two kids, who were like 9 and 11," she said.

She was given some wise advice by Antonio Banderas, with the seasoned action star telling her not to worry about her concerns too much. "Robert looked at me and was like, 'You do your job and no one will notice.'" Banderas' words of wisdom worked, and the...

Editor’s Note: This review was originally published during the 2024 Telluride Film Festival. “The Friend” opens from Bleecker Street Friday, March 28, 2025.

There’s no way to play this part cool: for the entire second half of David Siegel and Scott McGehee’s “The Friend,” this critic was reduced to a blubbering, sobbing, heaving mess, clutching damp paper towels and alternating between choking and laughing. While the filmmaking pair’s latest might sound squarely aimed at Naomi Watts super-fans and intense animal people, what they actually present in “The Friend” isn’t so very niche at all: instead, it’s the sort of witty, wise, and warm character study we seem to be running out of these days. And that’s just when it comes to its standout dog star, the Great Dane (emphasis on great) Bing.

The film opens both before and after the arrival of Apollo, the Great Dane at its center.

“What’s going to happen to the dog?”

This sentence is repeated close to a dozen times in The Friend, an adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s novel about a woman, a ghost, and a 180-pound Great Dane, and it’s the second biggest question that haunts this gently funny, deeply mournful movie. (It opens in New York and Los Angeles on March 28, and hits wide-release theaters on April 4.) For starters, there’s the dog’s owner, Walter (Bill Murray). Out for a jog one morning, he spies the solo pooch...

Naomi Watts has her family’s support at the premiere of her new movie, The Friend!

The Oscar-nominated actress was joined by her husband Billy Crudup and her 16-year-old daughter Kai Schreiber at the premiere on Monday night (March 24) at the iPic Theater in New York City.

Also in attendance at the event were Naomi‘s co-stars Bill Murray, Sarah Pidgeon, Constance Wu, Noma Dumezweni, Felix Solis, Owen Teague, Carla Gugino, and Josh Pais.

Based on the bestselling novel, writer and teacher Iris (Watts) finds her comfortable, solitary New York life thrown into disarray after her closest friend (Murray) leaves her his beloved 150 lb. Great Dane Apollo, immediately creating practical problems, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with Apollo, she begins to come to terms with her past, and her own creative inner life in this story of healing,...

Those who live in the Tri-State area—or are masochistic voyeurs of Manhattan real estate—may experience writer-directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel’s The Friend more like a home-invasion horror film than a drama. Writer and professor Iris (Naomi Watts) can afford to live in the West Village off of Washington Square Park thanks to inheriting a rent-controlled unit from her father. But that sweet deal comes under threat when she’s forced to assume custodianship of Apollo, a Great Dane belonging to her recently departed mentor, Walter (Billy Murray), as her apartment building has a rule against pets.

Discount some of those localized stakes, though, and this adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s source novel plays more like a standard-issue story about learning to live with grief. Murray is perfect casting for a character like Walter, who only appears in a few scenes. His larger-than-life persona casts a long shadow even in his absence.

Sometimes, a movie just needs to be brought back from the dead. Or at least that's the case for 2024's romantic comedy Lisa Frankenstein, the brainchild of Diablo Cody (fun fact: a pen name), and the directorial debut of Zelda Williams. Cody is the Academy-Award-winning writer of Juno, as well as many other female-empowering films like Young Adult, Ricky and the Flash, and, of course, the cult horror classic Jennifer's Body. Infamously, Jennifer's Body, which stars Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried, suffered an egregious case of mismarketing prior to its release. The explicitly feminist, satirical film was packaged by the marketing team as a raunchy sex comedy to cater to male audiences, causing it to be panned by critics for not meeting expectations. Over time, Jennifer's Body has come to be loved for the hilarious and salient movie it always was.

Earlier this year, another horror satire written by Cody,...

John Cena didn’t have a great year at the movies in 2024. His films like Ricky Stanicky and Jackpot! were nothing more than time-killers. However, he had a couple of interesting cameo appearances, notably in the third season of The Bear and the 36th season of The Simpsons. Hopefully, he is about to change that with his upcoming films.

We’re going to see Cena more in WWE instead of the movies this year, as he has announced his retirement from professional wrestling after 2025. However, fans will eventually get to see him in some action-packed and comedy films.

John Cena in a still from Peacemaker | Credits: HBO Max

His movie slate ranges from the action-comedy film Heads of State to the long-gestating The Janson Directive. He will also reprise his DC anti-hero role in the second season of James Gunn’s Peacemaker. Cena is set to appear in the following movies next.

You need something to watch, don't you? And yet, somehow, you have missed most of the six Netflix series that follow. No worries! Your favorite streamer still has them.

In fact, once you are finished reading this, go check one of them out. But before you go, remember to bookmark this article for what to watch next. (And not just because you want to show your friends what bad writing looks like.)

Below, there are thrillers, horror, and one that will warm your hardened heart. You will love them all. In what order you choose to stream these Netflix winners is up to you.

Six Netflix series you should be binge-watching in March 2025Black Doves

This thriller is a bit tighter than even shows such as The Night Agent. There is much more of a James Bond-type bent, and it simply feels more adult. Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw also...

One of Ridley Scott and Denzel Washington's most notable 2000s films lands another streaming home 18 years after its theatrical premiere. The duo's acclaimed yet polarizing crime drama, American Gangster, is now available on Amazon Prime Video.

Prime Video recently confirmed American Gangster as one of their latest additions, allowing fans to catch up with the Universal Pictures thriller. The film's Prime Video debut comes after Netflix launched the film via its platform in September 2024, while Peacock added the movie to its streaming lineup in February. American Gangster chronicles the life of notorious North Carolina gangster and drug trader Frank Lucas (Washington).

Related'Still Breaks My Heart': Antoine Fuqua Recalls Losing Acclaimed Denzel Washington Film to Ridley Scott

Training Day and The Equalizer franchise director Antoine Fuqua reveals how he lost out on another film collaboration with Denzel Washington.

The story examines Frank's rise up the ranks in the heroine trade...

The universe can be a pretty crummy place sometimes, so it's important to seek out every last nugget of joy or, absent something so extravagant, just a smile here and there to ward off total despair. You could argue that we don't even deserve the latter in extraordinarily crummy times such as these, and maybe this is true, but I like getting out of bed in the morning, so I'll afford myself the privilege of hope however it materializes. Did the Cleveland Cavaliers win last night? That's one foot on the floor. Did I text with some out-of-town friends I haven't personally seen in months or years? There's another. Did John Carpenter just win a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association? Oh baby, we're up and headed for that first cup.

The New Hollywood era produced more commercially successful and critically acclaimed filmmakers than the man who gave us "Halloween,...

Since the Golden Age of Hollywood, gangsters have dominated the crime genre, with films like The Untouchables and Scarface exploring the lives of notorious mob bosses and drug kingpins. For some, these films represent the pinnacle of genres like thriller, crime, and drama, typically thanks to the great alignment of cast, writer, and director. Despite their violent nature, these films appeal to people of all stripes, often reinventing cinema altogether through their success.

Gangster movies vary in scale, with modern classics like Sexy Beast and A History of Violence making great use of relatively small casts. Other movies have reeled in audiences through their assembly of some of the biggest and most talented stars of their era, often turning in career-best performances. Through these movies, fans have been shown the inner workings of some of America's most dangerous criminal organizations -- even if they play fast and loose with the facts.

Stephen King is an incredibly prolific modern author, best known for his works in the horror genre. King's novels and novellas have landed on the New York Times Best Seller list multiple times, and several have been adapted into critically acclaimed films. He is renowned for his ability to craft a chilling atmosphere and infuse his scares with a compelling sense of mystery and intrigue.

Luckily, even after they've exhausted his filmography, King's fans have plenty of options for entertainment. A consistent part of the media landscape for decades, he's been an inspiration for horror auteurs. And with the rise of horror television, King's influence can be seen across the TV landscape.

Teacup Is the Perfect Binge King Gave it His Seal of Approval

Adapted from Robert R. McCammon's novel Stinger, Teacup centers on the Chenoweth family. Veterinarian Maggie (Yvonne Stahovski) and her husband James (Scott Speedman) live on...

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Alexandra Daddario is one of the most gorgeous and talented actresses working in the film industry right now. The American actress started her career in Hollywood early with the role of Laurie Lewis in All My Children. In the past, she has starred in many projects, such as San Andreas and Percy Jackson film series. Now, she is starring in AMC’s Mayfair Witches, which is based on Anne Rice’s popular book trilogy Lives of the Mayfair Witches. So, if you love Daddario’s performance, here are the best movies and TV shows starring Alexandra Daddario that you should check out right now.

10. The Layover Credit – Vertical Entertainment

The Layover is a sex comedy film directed by William H. Macy from a screenplay co-written by David Hornsby and Lance Krall. The 2017 film follows Kate and Meg, two...

"I could feel him missing Walter in the same way I did." Bleecker Street has revealed an official trailer for The Friend, one of the best dog movies ever made, based on the book. Directed by Scott McGehee & David Siegel, The Friend first premiered at the 2024 TIFF & NYFF festivals last fall to mostly positive reviews (I loved it). Adapted from the bestselling novel also titled "The Friend" by Sigrid Nunez, it's a story about love, friendship, grief and healing, following a writer who adopts a Great Dane that belonged to a late friend and mentor. Naomi Watts stars as Iris, who takes in this massive, 150lbs Great Dane named Apollo (played by a real doggie named Bing). He immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones, his looming presence constantly reminding her of her friend's problematic choices in both life and death.

The Friend received strong reviews out of its Telluride Film Festival debut last year, further building its reputation at TIFF. It was here that word grew enough that it seemed a sure thing it would get a respectable release. And after Bleecker Street nabbed the rights, it was on its way to 2025. It flew a bit under the radar there for a while but now, ahead of its debut in a couple of months, we have the first trailer.

Here is the official synopsis, as per Bleecker Street, who will be distributing the drama: “In The Friend, adapted from the bestselling novel, Iris (Naomi Watts) finds her comfortable New York life upended when her friend and mentor Walter (Bill Murray) bequeaths her his Great Dane, Apollo. The regal yet intractable beast is a constant reminder of Walter and causes various problems— yet as Iris bonds with Apollo, she begins to cope with her past,...

In the trailer for The Friend, the emotional support animal comes in a large package.

Based on the Sigrid Nunez novel, The Friend follows Iris (Naomi Watts), a writer and teacher, who is grieving the loss of her friend and mentor Walter (Bill Murray) when she learns that he has left her his dog, a Great Dane named Apollo.

“What’s going to happen to the dog,” Murray’s Walter asks in the trailer. After taking in the dog, Watts’ Iris has to contend with the realities of having a new massive companion in a New York City, where Apollo destroys her apartment, takes over her bed and drags her down city sidewalks. All the while, she continues to work through the loss of her friend.

Scott McGhee and David Siegel directed and adapted the book for the screen. Constance Wu, Carla Gugino and Ann Dowd star alongside Watts and Murray.

“The Friend” is almost here.

The drama from directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel opens exclusively in New York on March 28 before its wide release on April 4. And you can watch a brand-new trailer for the Naomi Watts-led film below.

“The Friend,” based on Sigrid Nunez’s 2018 book of the same name, stars Bill Murray as a man who leaves his beloved Great Dane to his friend (Watts). Wouldn’t you know it, she learns more from the dog than the dog could ever learn from her? Sarah Pidgeon, Constance Wu, Ann Dowd, Noma Dumezweni, Owen Teague and Carla Gugino also star.

The movie premiered at last year’s Telluride Film Festival and screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and New York Film Festival. Bleecker Street acquired the North American rights to the film, which tentatively planned an early 2025 release. Now we know the release isn’t quite...

This article discusses real-life crimes and criminals.

Movies based on or loosely inspired by real criminals are captivating for their gritty realism and the exploration of the dark sides of society. They offer audiences a glimpse into the lives of notorious criminals, showcasing their chaotic rise to power and eventual downfall. These movies' appeal lies in the fascinating true stories of the world's most infamous criminals.

Goodfellas is a quintessential example of a gangster film that mesmerizes audiences with its vivid depiction of the Mafia underworld. The Martin Scorsese film offers an intimate look at the inner workings of organized crime in New York City based on the true story of the mobster-turned-informant Henry Hill. However, plenty of other crime movies grip audiences with their compelling and almost unbelievable narratives.

Updated on February 6, 2025, by Robert Vaux: Gangster movies have a long and proud tradition in Hollywood, and the "ripped from...