News

Mary Neely first came to the world’s attention during the pandemic with her viral videos, earning praise from Lin-Manuel Miranda and Andrew Lloyd Webber, as well as being named “Best Theater of 2020” by The New York Times and The Washington Post. Since then, she has been delivering great work on both sides of the camera, such as the TV pilot Stars Diner which premiered at SXSW this year, Valley Girl, Lyle Lyle Crocodile and Netflix’s Happiness For Beginners. Now, she and Kareem Rahma (“Subway Takes”) co-wrote and co-star in the true New York low-budget indie film Or Something. On […]

Source...

Exclusive: Writer-director Vicky Wight (Happiness for Beginners) has set the cast for her new film, The Body Is Water, a project described as a cross-cultural story about loss, healing, and the strangers who refuse to let you disappear.

The list includes Isiah Whitlock Jr. (The Residence), Saoirse-Monica Jackson (Derry Girls), Academy Award nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (Origin), Academy Award nominee Stephen Rea (The Crying Game), Aidan Quinn (Legends of the Fall), Eva Birthistle (Bad Sisters), Allen Leech (Downton Abbey), Fionnula Flanagan (Waking Ned Devine), Maria Doyle Kennedy (Orphan Black), and Bronagh Gallagher (The End).

Set between Houston, Texas, and the weathered coastline of West Cork, Ireland, The Body Is Water follows a grieving man who vanishes to a remote Irish village, only to find that disappearing is the one thing the town — and Lou, an eccentric young woman with a curious dog — won’t let him do.

Wight also produces alongside Geoff Linville, Syndey Augusta Huynh, and John Norton of Red Ted Media. Executive producers include Stephen Hall and Mike Jones of Dark Day Pictures, and Coert Voorhees.

Best known for directing Happiness for Beginners, a Netflix rom-com starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes, Wight has also previously helmed romantic drama The Lost Husband, starring Leslie Bibb and Josh Duhamel, and drama The Volunteer, starring Ellis-Taylor and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. She is repped by Zero Gravity Management and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.

Whitlock Jr. is repped by Innovative Artists, Liebman Entertainment, and Schreck Rose Dapello; Jackson by Independent Talent Group; Ellis-Taylor by CAA and Tmt Entertainment Group; Rea by CAA, Independent Talent Group, and Barking Dog Entertainment; Quinn by Curtis Brown Group, Framework Entertainment, and Schreck Rose Dapello; Birthistle by 42; Leech by The Way, Untitled Entertainment, and Felker Toczek Suddleson; Flanagan by Lisa Richards Agency and Felker Toczek Suddleson; Kennedy by United Agents and Atlas Artists; and Gallagher by Hamilton Hodell, Macfarlane Chard, and Nb Management.

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

La Dolce Villa is a romantic comedy film directed by Mark Waters from a screenplay co-written by Elizabeth Hackett and Hilary Galanoy. The 2025 film follows Eric, a successful businessman who travels to Italy to stop her daughter from pouring all her savings into restoring a cheap Italian villa. Still, he soon falls in love with the laid-back lifestyle and a beautiful woman. La Dolce Villa stars Scott Foley, Violante Placido, Maia Reficco, and Giuseppe Futia. So, if you loved the laid-back vibes, romantic story, and charming characters in La Dolce Villa, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

A Good Year (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – 20th Century Studios

A Good Year is a romantic comedy-drama film directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by Marc Klein. Based on the 2004 novel by author Peter Mayle,...

Exclusive: Fusion Entertainment has signed actor, writer, and director Mary Neely for management, Deadline has learned.

Neely rose to prominence during the Covid lockdowns with her viral reenactments of love duets from classic musicals. Singing both the male and female parts, her lip-syncs caught the attention of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Andrew Lloyd Webber and were named by The New York Times and The Washington Post as among The Best Theater of 2020.

Neely most recently completed production on 20th Century Studios’ untitled Bumble Movie opposite Lily James, Myha’la, Jackson White, and Dan Stevens, which is slated to premiere on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ in all other territories in 2025. She will also appear alongside Bob Odenkirk in Acting for a Cause’s rendition of Tommy Wiseau’s cult classic The Room.

Next month, Neely will see the SXSW premiere of Stars Diner, an indie TV pilot that she co-wrote...

Yellowstone brought Luke Grimes massive success in his career. However, a life in the spotlight can still be overwhelming sometimes. Grimes has remained a key part of the Yellowstone cast ever since the show started airing in 2018. Although he is quite different in real life from the character he plays, there is one aspect of their lives that connects them both.

Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton in Yellowstone | Credit: Paramount+

According to him, that connection led him to take a huge risk for his career. But the actor states that he is satisfied with choices he made regardless. In a recent interview after the airing of the Season 5 finale of Yellowstone, Like Grimes finally opened up about exactly what that is.

Luke Grimes delved into his character from Yellowstone

After the finale episode of Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone’s Season 5 aired on December 15th, Luke Grimes appeared for an interview with Men’s Health.

Exclusive: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Teri Polo and Blythe Danner are in early talks to return for a new film in the Meet the Parents franchise, in development at Universal Pictures.

Plot details are being kept inside the circle of trust. John Hamburg — who co-wrote all three prior films in the franchise, and produced the most recent, Little Fockers — is set to write the screenplay. No word yet on who’s directing.

Jane Rosenthal and De Niro are returning to produce through Tribeca Productions, along with Jay Roach — who directed the first two films and produced all three past installments — through Delirious Media. Stiller and John Lesher will also produce through Red Hour Films. Executive Vice President of Production Development Matt Reilly and Director of Production Development Jacqueline Garrell will oversee the project for the studio.

A comedy juggernaut hinging on uncomfortable situations with in-laws, Meet the Parents centers...

Nico Santos is headed to “St. Denis Medical” and “Night Court” Season 3.

The “Crazy Rich Asians” star will reunite with “Superstore” team Justin Spitzer and Eric Ledgin as well as stars Kaliko Kauahi and Josh Lawson as he takes on a guest starring role in NBC’s upcoming medical mockumentary.

Santos will guest star in “St. Denis Medical” as Rene, “a veteran Rn, and leader of a clique of nurses that give off a ‘Mean Girls’ vibe — which makes Rene the ‘Regina George’ of St. Denis,” according to his official character description. It that “his intimidating demeanor” will present a challenge for Allison Tolman’s Alex, who is the head nurse.

Nico Santos and Wendi McLendon-Covey in “St. Denis Medical.” (Ron Batzdorff/NBC) Nico Santos, Allison Tolman and Wendi McLendon-Covey. (Ron Batzdorff/NBC)

In addition to Kauahi and Tolman, “St. Denis Medical” also stars Wendi McLendon-Covey, David Alan Grier, Mekki Leeper and Kahyun Kim.

Exclusive: Nico Santos is set as a lead opposite Lauren Graham and Madison Shamoun in The Z-Suite, Tubi‘s upcoming comedy series, starring and executive produced by Graham (Gilmore Girls, Parenthood). The multi-generational workplace comedy, from writer, executive producer and showrunner Katie O’Brien, is AVOD service’s first homegrown live-action original series.

The Z-Suite is set at a boutique New York ad agency where generational divides see the established C-Suite and rising Gen Z employees collide. After a company decision spirals out of control, the agency’s reigning executives are pushed out and the Z-Suite employees are suddenly put in charge, ultimately testing both generations’ skills and patience.

Santos plays Doug, the exuberant and loyal right hand man to his CEO, Monica (Graham), at the Atelier Advertising Agency.

The series is also executive produced by Lance Samuels, Samantha Levine, and Daniel Iron...

Ellie Kemper is an actress known for several projects like Bridesmaids, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and, Happiness for Beginners. Before she found worldwide fame and love, however, Ellie Kemper was a struggling actress.

Ellie Kemper (far right) in a still from Bridesmaids | Apatow Productions

From not getting roles to getting roles that were overtly se*ual in nature, Ellie Kemper has seen a whole lot of ups and downs in her life and in Hollywood. She started her career in Hollywood with an ‘American’ style.

It All Started With Ellie Kemper’s American Style

It was the year 2005 when Kemper finally found a role to portray in a television series. The actress picked up the role of Cindy in the TV series Sexual Intercourse: American Style.

The TV series had eight episodes to its name and Ellie Kemper was featured in two of the episodes. She later portrayed the roles of...

Exclusive: To commemorate the launch of production on its untitled film starring Lily James as Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, 20th Century Studios has unveiled a first look photo of James from set, which you can view below.

At the same time, the studio has confirmed that the film will premiere on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ in all other territories in 2025. As part of today’s announcement, 20th additionally confirmed the addition of a number of cast members, including Ben Schnetzer (3 Body Problem), Ian Colletti (The Hot Zone), Mary Neely (Happiness for Beginners), Ana Yi Puig (Goosebumps), Aidan Laprete (The Wilds), Pedro Correa (My Dead Dad), Coral Peña (Thelma) and Hunter Sansone (Stargirl).

Currently shooting in Los Angeles, the film on Herd’s life and career journey will also star Myha’la, Jackson White, Dan Stevens and Pierson Fode, as previously announced. Plot details for the film remain vague,...

Comedy is an industry largely dominated by men. And while many of those men are genuinely hilarious, several women are just as funny but far less lauded. Some have earned their rightful praise and lots of money, too.

Comedian Profiles Leslie Jones – $7 million Sarah Silverman – $8 million Molly Shannon – $8 million Samantha Bee – $8 million Ellie Kemper – $9 million Kate McKinnon – $9 million Wanda Sykes – $10 million Alex Borstein – $14 million Lily Tomlin – $20 million Chelsea Peretti – $20 million Kristen Wiig – $25 million Amy Poehler – $25 million Mindy Kaling – $35 million Whitney Cummings – $35 million Chelsea Handler – $35 million Kathy Griffin – $35 million Amy Schumer – $45 million Carol Burnett – $45 million Whoopi Goldberg – $60 million Tina Fey – $75 million Roseanne Barr – $80 million Melissa McCarthy – $90 million Rosie O’Donnell – $120 million Julia Louis-Dreyfus – $250 million Ellen DeGeneres – $500 million

Here are the world’s richest female comedians:

25. Leslie Jones – Net Worth: $7 Million

Stand-up extraordinaire Leslie Jones has been part of the industry for many years but truly made a splash in 2013 when she joined...

Netflix has a new series in development called Black Rabbit, and several new names have been revealed for its cast. The hourlong drama will be a limited series, though it doesn't yet have a premiere date.

Newcomers officially announced for the starring cast include Academy Award winner Troy Kotsur; Abbey Lee; Odessa Young; and Robin de Jesus. New actors announced for recurring roles include Amir Malaklou (The Old Man), Don Harvey (Better Call Saul), Forrest Weber (Law & Order), Francis Benhamou (Prayer for the French Republic), Gus Birney (Happiness for Beginners), John Ales (American Fiction), and Steve Witting (Killers of the Flower Moon).

Related The Big Bang Theory Co-Creator Sets Up New Sitcom at Netflix Details have been revealed for Chuck Lorre's next sitcom with its lead star announced. Close

There were also several cast members previously announced for Black Rabbit. Those include Jason Bateman (Ozark) as Vince Friedkin...

Netflix’s new limited series Black Rabbit has added 11 to its cast, led by stars and executive producers Jude Law and Jason Bateman. The additions include Academy Award-winning actor Troy Kotsur, Abbey Lee, Odessa Young and Robin De Jesus.

From Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, Black Rabbit follows the owner of a New York City hotspot (Law) who allows his turbulent brother (Bateman) back into his life, opening up the door to escalating dangers that threaten to bring down everything he’s built.

In addition to Law and Bateman, Cleopatra Coleman, Amaka Okafor, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Dagmara Dominczyk and Chris Coy also star.

Kotsur will play “Joe Mancuso,” a local bookie with ties to organized crime and the brothers’ past. Lee will play “Anna,” a formidable NYC bartender. Young will play “Gen,” an...

Belgian Oscar Entry ‘Omen’ Opens In France, Director Baloji Releases Soundtrack Inspired By Film

Filmmaker-musician Baloji has released a five-track EP with McA Records (under Universal Music Group) in support of the French release of his feature Omen. The film, set primarily in the Congo, is a braided narrative of four main characters, who are all accused of witchcraft or sorcery and must contend with the social implications of this denouncement. Baloji has said the soundtrack “is a complementary backstory of the characters and a musical piece in its own right.” The EP contains the tracks ‘La Tâche,’ ‘Arcade (Feat Swazzi),’ and ‘Auto Psy (Feat Chrystel),’ along with ‘Matrone (feat. Maya Andrade).’ Baloji is represented by UTA (U.S.) and As Talents (France).

Ellie Kemper To Narrate Audiobook Edition Of Katherine Center’s ‘Happiness For Beginners’

Exclusive: Ellie Kemper has signed on to...

Netflix's new movies, Old Dads and Pain Hustlers, have both received a score of 23% on Rotten Tomatoes. This result makes them the second-lowest scoring English-language releases on the platform this year. Despite their low ratings, both Old Dads and Pain Hustlers have topped Netflix's global Top 10 English-language movies chart for the week of October 23 to October 29.

Netflix's new movies Old Dads and Pain Hustlers have cemented an unfortunate record for the platform. Old Dads, a comedy about fathers who feel behind the times, was directed by Bill Burr, who co-stars with Bobby Cannavale and Bokeem Woodbine. Pain Hustlers, about a young dropout who is drawn into a pharmaceutical conspiracy, was directed by Harry Potter stalwart David Yates and stars Emily Blunt and Chris Evans.

Netflix has released their global Top 10 English-language movies chart for the week of October 23 through October 29, revealing Old Dads at No. 1 and this week's new movie Pain Hustlers at No.

The return of Futurama found a place on the streaming charts for the final week of July. Suits spent another week as the overall No. 1, though it declined (slightly) for the first time since it hit the charts in late June.

Futurama’s revival on Hulu (along with the rest of its catalog) delivered 506 million minutes of viewing time for the week of July 24-30, tying for third place among original series with Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer. Sweet Magnolias remained the top original for a second week with 1.42 billion minutes of viewing, up from 1.22 billion a week earlier.

Suits tallied 3.6 billion minutes of watch time for the week, its sixth straight as the top overall title. Since first hitting the charts in the week of June 19-25, the series has racked up 20.31 billion minutes of viewing time on (mostly) Netflix and Peacock. That’s the second largest total for...

Comedian Bill Burr makes his directorial debut with "Old Dads," a comedy that explores the challenges of middle age and fatherhood. The film, set to premiere on Netflix on October 20th, stars Burr as the central figure, Jack, who faces a pivotal moment with his friends as they sell their company to a younger generation. "Old Dads" features a diverse cast and is backed by experienced producers, ensuring a comedic and heartfelt exploration of cultural shifts, career transitions, and modern parenting.

Comedian Bill Burr is taking the leap behind the camera with his directorial debut, Old Dads, which is now set to grace screens courtesy of Netflix on October 20th. His stand-up comedy and standout roles in movies and TV shows have solidified the actor's reputation in the industry. Fresh from the ever-evolving cinematic carousel of Netflix comes a new comedy that promises to tickle your funny bones and perhaps...

Netflix has acquired comedian Bill Burr’s feature directorial debut Old Dads, which we were first to report on, slating the comedy for an October 20th premiere.

Hailing from Miramax, Burr’s All Things Comedy, and All of Us Productions, the film in which Burr also stars centers on his middle-aged father, Jack, and his two best friends (Bobby Cannavale and Bokeem Woodbine), who after selling their company to a millennial, find themselves out of step and behind the times as they hilariously struggle to navigate a changing world of culture, career and fatherhood.

Also starring in the pic written by Burr and Ben Tishler are Katie Aselton, Reign Edwards, Rachael Harris, Miles Robbins and Jackie Tohn. The producers are Burr, Tishler, Bill Block, Monica Levinson and Mike Bertolina.

Notable recent releases from Netflix include Juel Taylor’s sci-fi comedy They Cloned Tyrone...

Netflix releases a trailer for Reptile, a crime thriller directed by Grant Singer, starring Benicio del Toro, Justin Timberlake, and Alicia Silverstone. Reptile follows a detective investigating a brutal murder and facing his own illusions about life. With exciting cast of stars and a promising directorial debut, Reptile is prepped to be another hit for Netflix.

The Reptile trailer reveals Netflix's new crime thriller and its cast of stars. From Grant Singer, a veteran music video director making his feature directorial debut, Reptile follows a New England detective investigating the brutal murder of a real estate agent and in the process, has several realizations about his own life. The film's cast is led by Oscar winner Benicio del Toro, Justin Timberlake, and Alicia Silverstone alongside Michael Pitt, Ato Essandoh, and The Wire's Domenick Lombardozzi in supporting roles.

Today, Netflix released the official trailer for Reptile. Watch it below:

The...

Gal Gadot has made her Netflix return after starring in the streamer’s most popular film of all time, Red Notice.

Her new film, Heart of Stone, was No. 1 on the English-language film list for the week of August 7 to August 13 with 33.1M views.

Speaking of the most popular list, remember that Jennifer Lopez thriller The Mother? The action thriller entered Netflix’s all time most popular list in June after dominating the Top 10 for several weeks.

Well now it’s 91-day premiere window is officially over, and it has cemented itself in seventh place among Netflix’s biggest English-language films with 136.4M views, bumping Extraction and Glass Onion down a spot.

This is one of the first high-profile Netflix projects to complete its measurement window since the streamer updated its viewership metrics in June. A few weeks ago, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story solidified itself at No. 10 on the...

Netflix’s latest limited series starring Matthew Broderick and “Orange is the New Black” alum Uzo Aduba, “Painkiller” opened atop the top 10’s English TV list with 7.2 million total views. Thus, ending “The Lincoln Lawyer” Season 2’s second run in first place following the release of part 2. The procedural drama moved to No. 2 with 5.2 million total views as Season 1 came in at No. 8, earning 2.2 million views during the Aug. 7-13 viewing window.

Gal Gadot’s “Heart of Stone” led the Netflix Top 10 as the action-thriller opened to 33.1 million views. Elsewhere on the film chart is “Untold: Johnny Football,” which landed in third with 7.7 million and “Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, The Movie” (5.6 million views) and “Happiness for Beginners” (5 million views), maintaining their three-week runs on the list.

Meanwhile, Season 8 of “Gabby’s Dollhouse” cracked the English TV list at No. 3 with 4.1 million total views. With a runtime of 2 hours and 26 minutes,...

Two Chris Pratt blockbusters, one crown.

That’s the situation we’re looking at after both “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” made their streaming debuts last week on Disney+ and Peacock, respectively. But which Pratt vehicle came out on top?

That honor went to “Guardians Vol. 3,” in a reversal of the movies’ box office fortunes.

The Marvel movie, featuring a cast that included returning stars like Zoe Saldana and Vin Diesel alongside Pratt, was the most-streamed movie in the U.S. last weekend, according to the latest Whip Media movie ranker, which is based on viewership data from TV Time, its TV show and movie tracking app with more than 26 million global registered users.

Of course, that means “Super Mario Bros.” grabbed the silver medal for the week.

Top streaming movies, Aug. 4-6, 2023, U.S. (Whip Media)

And that may come as a...

Netflix has revealed some viewership statistics for its original series, and it's good news for fans of The Lincoln Lawyer and The Witcher.

The Lincoln Lawyer Season 2 returned to the top spot with the debut of the second half of its season.

After premiering Thursday, the David E. Kelley series managed 6.7 million views, bringing the total views for the sophomore season to 23.3 million.

The series was once in the works at CBS but was canceled ahead of a formal series order.

Thankfully, Netflix understood the project was worthwhile, and it has thrived.

The Lincoln Lawyer beat the previous week's #1 show, The Witcher Season 3.

The Henry Cavill-led Witcher has performed well, but not as well as prior seasons, fueling concerns about the imminent cast change.

As previously reported, Liam Hemsworth will replace Cavill for The Witcher Season 4.

The fantasy drama slipped to #3 for the week, coming in behind Heartstopper Season...

The second half of Season 2 of “The Lincoln Lawyer” put the popular crime drama back atop the Top 10 charts for the week of July 31, as far as the English TV list, but how did “Heartstopper” Season 2 fare after its August 3 debut? Read on for this week’s analysis.

It seems appropriate that we start with the TV chart this week, since two returning shows topped the English series list with the second half of the second season of “Lincoln Lawyer” receiving 6.7 million views, followed by “Heartstopper” in second place with 6.1 million views. “Lincoln Lawyer” was the #1 watched show in the United States, Canada, four European countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand, while “Hearstopper” was #1 in Mexico and a few other European countries, including the United Kingdom.

“The Witcher” Season 3 took third place on that chart with 5.4 million views, followed by Season 3 of “Sweet Magnolias” with 2.9 million views. The...

Netflix‘s adaptation of Alice Oseman‘s Heartstopper makes hearts flutter after debuting on Netflix’s Top 10 TV List, with The Lincoln Lawyer returning to the top spot. The chart tabulating Netflix’s English-language series shows Heartstopper drawing 6.1M views, with fans returning to see Nick and Charlie’s trip to France and witness the evolution of their new relationship. Meanwhile, after debuting its final episodes, The Lincoln Lawyer found 6.7M views approaching the bench from July 31 to August 6.

The Witcher, featuring Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia for the last time before Liam Hemsworth assumes the role, fell from number one to number 3, tossing 5.4M views to its coffers. Completing the top five were Sweet Magnolias Season 3, in fourth place, and How to Become a Cult Leader, debuting in fifth with 2.3M views.

On the English Films list, Hidden Strike, an action-adventure flick starring Jackie Chan and John Cena,...

The second half of “The Lincoln Lawyer” Season 2 has pushed its way to the top of Netflix’s top 10 English-language TV list.

Since its return on Thursday, Part 2 of the legal drama has secured 6.7 million views for the week, bringing the season’s total views to 23.3 million. The first half of this installment was released over a month ago on July 6. Season 1 of the David E. Kelley series also reappeared on the list, securing the No. 6 spot with 2.1 million views.

“The Lincoln Lawyer” was then followed by the romantic return of Nick and Charlie thanks to Season 2 of “Heartstopper.” The young-adult series has received 6.1 million views since its Thursday premiere, putting it right ahead of last week’s TV leader, “The Witcher” Season 3 Part 2. The Henry Cavill fantasy thriller only secured 5.4 million views compared to last week’s 7.8 million views.

As for the rest of the English-language TV list, “Sweet Magnolias...

Court was back in session last week as The Lincoln Lawyer Season 2 climbed back into first place among Netflix’s English-language series.

Following the release of the final episodes, the sophomore season drew 6.7M views for the week of July 31 to August 6. That brings Season 2’s total since launch to 23.3M views. The buzz around the remaining episodes was also enough to boost Season 1 back into the rankings at No. 6 with 2.1M views.

Audiences were also eager to jump back into Nick and Charlie’s love story in Heartstopper Season 2. The second installment flew to No. 2 on the English-language list with 6.1M views.

The Witcher Season 3 fell from the top spot into third place, collecting another 5.4M views this week. Rounding out the top five were Sweet Magnolias Season 3 at No. 4 and How to Become a Cult Leader, which debuted in fifth place with 2.3M views.

Fatal Seduction, Too Hot to Handle,...

Key takeaways: Luke Grimes has found success in both movies and TV shows, with notable roles in blockbusters like the Fifty Shades franchise and Taken 2. Grimes has demonstrated his versatility as an actor, showcasing his range in indie films like Assassination of a High School President and more understated movies like Freeheld. The TV series Yellowstone has been a major career milestone for Grimes, allowing him to showcase his dramatic talents and elevate the show's popularity.

Though he is best remembered for starring in Yellowstone, Luke Grimes' movies and TV shows have helped him become one of the biggest rising stars in Hollywood. A constant presence on both the large and small screens since the early 2000s, Grimes is a rare example of an actor who has found equal success in both. Known for his rugged and roguish parts, Grimes has proven himself to be an action star and...

For Sony, a big win this week: The studio has announced that “Insidious: The Red Door” ($19.99) is now the biggest-grossing horror film worldwide for 2023. That’s a little surprising, but a $182 million take tops both “M3GAN” and “Scream 6” for the honors.

However, it’s faring a little differently on VOD. Released to PVOD after its fourth weekend, the latest entry in the horror franchise had an uneven debut over three different platforms. It is #1 at Vudu (which ranks by revenue) but is currently only #5 at iTunes and #7 at Googleplay (which calculate by transactions). It got as high as #3 at iTunes after its Tuesday release.

Two other films placed atop the others: “The Little Mermaid” (Disney), also $19.99, repeated at #1 on iTunes, while “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” (Paramount), just reduced to $5.99, leads at GooglePlay.

“Insidious” was the only new entry on the charts this week. Along with “Mermaid” and “Transformers,...

"Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" are rightfully the talk of the town these past weeks, as both movies have been filling up multiplexes in a clear sign that the American theatrical experience isn't quite dead yet. While "Barbie" is set to cross the billion dollar mark this weekend and "Oppenheimer" screenings are so full that even Steven Soderbergh apparently couldn't nab a ticket, another movie also proved to be a hit with audiences who stayed home. According to The Wrap's data from Samba TV, Netflix's "They Cloned Tyrone" was the most-streamed movie for the last week of July, reaching more households than any other film on streaming or linear TV.

While Netflix is historically known for less-than-transparent viewership data (an issue that the Hollywood unions on strike are hoping to correct in their fight for streaming residuals), it's worth noting that The Wrap pulled from a much more reliable third-party analytics company.

Netflix’s adaptation of Katherine Center’s “Happiness for Beginners” has arrived, eight years after the novel was published in 2015.

Directed and written by Vicky Wright, the film follows main characters Helen (Ellie Kemper) and Jake (Luke Grimes) as they embark on a camping trip hiking the Appalachian trail. Helen and Jake know each other through Helen’s brother Duncan, but their romantic chemistry didn’t stand a chance when Helen married Mike (Aaron Roman Weiner). Now that she has divorced Mike after infidelity and a miscarriage as well as his alcoholism, Helen wants to start over with her life. She just didn’t plan for Jake to be a part of that refresh.

Center wrote the book right before she struck gold on the New York Times best-selling list with her next book “How to Walk Way,” so the movie adaptation gives both Katherine Center fans and first-time viewers...

Made-for-streaming movies still don’t seem to be clicking with viewers — unless they’re on Netflix. Three original films, the Jamie Foxx-produced-and-starring “They Cloned Tyrone,” action film “Hidden Strike,” and rom-com “Happiness for Beginners,” were notable new entries for Netflix this week, placing second, fifth, and seventh, respectively, on this week’s Wrap Report for the week of July 24-30.

The Wrap Report provides an exclusive first look at the most-watched movies and TV series from the past week across both streaming and linear television sourced from viewership trends collected from Samba TV’s panel of more than 3 million households drawn from over 25 million connected TVs, balanced to the U.S. Census.

Demographic details for “They Cloned Tyrone,” July 24-30, 2023, U.S. (Samba TV)

“Tyrone” is one of the latest examples of Netflix leaning into diverse casts within its programming. Data shows that greater on-screen representation has the potential...

“Haunted Mansion” Walt Disney Pictures tried another stab at their “Haunted Mansion” property so is the 2023 update better than the 2003 Eddie Murphy version? (See review below) “Talk to Me” Scary, creepy, moody! See why “Talk to Me” is worth your time and money. (See review below) “Happiness for Beginners” Ellie Kemper leaves her

The post Movie Reviews: “Haunted Mansion,” “Talk to Me,” “Happiness for Beginners” appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.

Although a few movies have been dominating Netflix’s film charts for weeks, the Top 10 English film chart for the week of July 24 had a new entry in the action-comedy “Hidden Strike,” starring Jackie Chan and John Cena. Meanwhile, “The Witcher” returned to first place for TV. Read on for this week’s analysis.

Directed by Scott Waugh (“Need for Speed”), “Hidden Strike” was produced independently and sold to Netflix for worldwide streaming rights, a wise purchase considering that the film received 22 million views since quietly hitting the streamer last Friday. It was the #1 watched movie in roughly 50 territories worldwide, and made the Top 10 in 73 countries. Oddly, the United States was not one of them, since that honor went to “They Cloned Tyrone,” which received 11.1 million views worldwide in its first full week on Netflix, enough for third place.

See Grab the popcorn and sound off in our movie forums...

You are reading an exclusive WrapPRO article for free. Want to level up your entertainment career? Subscribe to WrapPRO now.

“The Witcher” Season 3: Volume 2 debuted to the top spot on Netflix’s most-watched TV list.

After the first half of Henry Cavill’s last season as Geralt also premiered at No. 1 on the list in July, the second installment of Season 3 also climbed the list by logging 7.8 million views since its July 27 debut. With its two-part release, “The Witcher” Season 3 has now brought in 47.7 million views since initially premiering on June 29.

Behind “The Witcher” on the list, “Sweet Magnolias” Season 3 took the No. 2 spot with 5.3 million views, while “Too Hot to Handle” Season 5 came in third place with 3.2 million views and “The Lincoln Lawyer” Season 2 took the fourth spot on the list with 3 million views this week. As Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” continued to dazzle at the box office,...

The Witcher Season 3 has reclaimed its spot atop Netflix’s English-language TV list for the week of July 24 to July 30.

The second volume of Season 3 episodes dropped on the streamer on July 27, helping the third installment amass 7.8M views. To date, Season 3 has tallied 47.7M views since the first half of the season premiered on June 29.

The season still has a long way to go before it might join Season 1 on Netflix’s all-time most popular list, though it has plenty of time to do so since the second half of the season still has more than 80 days in its measurement window.

Sweet Magnolias Season 3 was bumped to No. 2 with the hype surrounding The Witcher, but those episodes still managed to draw 5.3M views. Meanwhile, Season 5 of Too Hot To Handle came in third place with 3.2M views, while Season 2 of The Lincoln Lawyer fell to fourth with 3M views.

Unlike their just opened “Haunted Mansion”, Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” might ultimately break even. If it does, its performance on PVOD could be make or break.

Of note, suggesting Disney’s much-revised strategy, this release came after nine weekends in theaters (60 days) and ahead of future Disney+ streaming.

With a reported production cost of $250 million and the usual added expense, its ultimate worldwide gross of $600 million, though otherwise impressive, means post-theatrical revenues need to be substantial. Opening #1 on all charts its initial week is a good first step.

What it will need is multiple weeks of strong play beyond a default first week #1. Last week “The Flash” (Warner Bros.), a far smaller performer in theaters, did debut at the top. But this week it’s only #2 on one chart (Vudu), while third and fourth elsewhere. The bounty for PVOD comes from long term, and high end charts (with the...

Hidden Strike becomes a big reveal on Netflix as the recently-released action flick starring Jackie Chan and John Cena leads the streaming service's Top 10 Movies list.

Per Comicbook.com, Hidden Strike is the number-one film on Netflix following its Jul. 6 release despite its mixed reviews online. The movie outdid Netflix originals such as Happiness for Beginners and They Cloned Tyrone to take the top spot on the streamer.

Related: Jackie Chan May Return for a New Karate Kid Movie

Helmed by Expend4bles director Scott Waugh, Hidden Strike sees Chan and Cena play Luo Feng and Chris Van Home, respectively. They are a pair of former special forces soldiers tasked with helping a group of civilians through the "Highway of Death" in Baghdad to the safe haven known as the Green Zone. However, the duo faces constant life-threatening obstacles along the way, putting their fate and the fate of those they're...

Happiness for Beginners' ending features a Pablo Neruda poem that reveals Jake's hidden attraction to Helen, finally bringing them together. Although Helen doesn't complete all her goals, she realizes that the arbitrary certificate is not as important as her deeper connection with nature and her personal growth. Jake's rare eye disease, retinitis pigmentosa, adds uncertainty to his future. However, his relationship with Helen offers optimism for what's to come.

Happiness for Beginners’ ending features a Pablo Neruda poem, which has a deeper meaning in relation to Jake and Helen’s story. Netflix's Happiness for Beginners is a romantic comedy starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes as Helen and Jake. Adapted from Katherine Center’s 2015 novel of the same name, Happiness for Beginners opens with Helen trying to get over her divorce by hiking the Appalachian Trail. Things immediately go awry when she realizes her brother friend, Jake, is hiking...

Thrown action heroes Jackie Chan and John Cena together, and you are surely guaranteed action movie success. And that success has now been proven, with Chan and Cena’s Hidden Strike taking the number one spot on Netflix in just 24 hours. The streaming platform recently refreshed its Top 10 list, making way for new and trending titles, with Hidden Strike now sitting proudly in the top spot. After a troublesome development, Hidden Strike finally released on 29 July 2023 in the United States and internationally on Netflix, and clearly action movie fans were ready and waiting for Chan and Cena to unite.

Led by action movie and martial arts legend Jackie Chan as Luo Feng and Fast X and Peacemaker star John Cena as Chris Van Home, Hidden Strike follows the pair as two ex-special forces soldiers who must escort a group of civilians along Baghdad’s “Highway of Death” to the safety of the Green Zone.

Happiness for Beginners, a feel-good drama, takes viewers on a picturesque journey through beautiful real-world locations as Helen reclaims her life. Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, serves as the primary filming location for the opening scenes and Helen's visit to her grandmother's place. The movie also showcases the real Appalachian Trail, where Helen and her hiking team embark on their survivalist course, covering a significant portion of the trail.

Happiness for Beginners' primary appeal lies in all the picturesque landscapes it walks through while unfolding its romantic plot - hence, here's a breakdown of its filming locations. Adapted from a book of the same name, Happiness for Beginners is a feel-good drama that focuses on a divorced woman, Helen. After feeling stuck and lost following her failed marriage, Helen decides to grab her life by the horns and sets out on a survivalist course, where she finds her brother's best friend,...

Luke Grimes considers Hugh Grant his North Star when it comes to acting in romantic comedies.

Grimes, known for his role as Kayce Dutton in “Yellowstone,” stars as Jake in Netflix’s romantic comedy “Happiness for Beginners,” adapted from the novel of the same name by Katherine Center. The film, which is currently streaming, marks a shift in genre for the drama actor.

“[Hugh]’s absolutely incredible at the genre, and I could never be as good as him at that. But, you know, that was where I was trying to land the plane,” Grimes told TheWrap in an interview conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike. “I just think he’s so good at being the straight guy, also being sort of quirky and funny enough in himself to carry it. He also lets the funny people be funny. A lot of my favorite rom-coms have Hugh Grant, and I talked to Vicki [Wight] the director,...

Happiness for Beginners is a feel-good movie with lighthearted themes and romantic drama, offering something for everyone. The movie features stunning visuals of the wilderness and uplifting musical scores that enhance the narrative. The soundtrack includes a variety of songs that play throughout the movie, adding to the development of Helen and Jake's romantic relationship.

Happiness for Beginners features feel-good tunes and romantic songs in the background while walking through every milestone in Helen's journey toward finding herself. Based on Katherine Center's 2015 novel of the same name, Happiness for Beginners follows middle-aged Helen, who feels lost and old after her divorce. Hoping to turn her life around and find happiness again, she enrolls in a survivalist hiking adventure, where she runs into her brother's best friend, Jake. While she initially becomes suspicious about Jake's reasons for being on the hiking trip, she later learns about some of his secrets...

Adapted from the 2015 novel by Katherine Center, Netflix’s “Happiness for Beginners” largely takes place in the wilderness, where different kinds of people are forced to bond while braving the elements as they hike the Appalachian Trail. Led by “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and “The Office” alum Ellie Kemper, the gaggle of goofballs provides laughs of all kinds as well as some heartfelt moments.

Zealous camp guide Bennett (Ben Cook) keeps everything interesting, especially when he scolds Helen (Kemper) for her careless mistakes on the hike and praises Jake (Luke Grimes) for all of his perfect moves in setting up and taking down camp. Nico Santos and Gus Birney even more humor to this romantic comedy story.

Here’s who plays who in “Happiness for Beginners”:

Helen (Ellie Kemper)

Ellie Kemper portrays Helen, who wants to start over after she divorces her husband. She experienced infidelity and a miscarriage during their marriage.

Known for playing optimistic characters like the title role in “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” or Erin, the bright secretary substitute for Pam on “The Office,” Ellie Kemper tells TheWrap she enjoyed the challenge of playing a less-positive person in “Happiness for Beginners.”

In the Netflix film, which is now streaming, Kemper plays main character Helen Carpenter, who decides to go on an intense wilderness camping trip to reset her life after a divorce.

“I drew on a lot of the strength and tenacity that Kimmy Schmidt embodied. I think there was a lot of determination in Helen,” she said. “But I also think what was a great and exciting challenge was to play a character who did not have the sunniest outlook on life and who was a bit cranky, for lack of a better word, and had to move through that and chose to move through that. That was...

Plot: Helen has always lived her life as far from the edge as possible. Finding herself newly divorced and a little lost, Helen decides she needs a reset and signs up for the “Adventure of a Lifetime!” The adventure is a backcountry survival course hiking the Appalachian Trail with a group of oddball strangers. From the beginning, Helen’s plan to be the best hiker is tested and she finds more than just herself in the wilderness.

Review: Call them schmaltzy, cheesy, dopey, or whatever other of Snow White’s pals you like, but romantic comedies tend to earn a bad rap. For every classic romcom like When Harry Met Sally or Notting Hill, there are countless of cliche and rote takes on the genre out there. With the popularity of Lifetime and Hallmark original movies, it has become increasingly challenging for quality romantic films that are also funny to...

Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the [series/movie/etc] being covered here wouldn't exist.

Happiness for Beginners follows Helen (Ellie Kemper), a woman who hasn’t ever really lived life to the fullest. After a lifetime of maintaining a vast distance away from the edge, the newly divorced schoolteacher sets out on a survival course hiking an Appalachian Trail with a quirky band of characters, hoping the adventure helps her learn how to live and love again. Her ideal plans are somewhat disrupted when her younger brother's good friend, Jake (Luke Grimes), who obviously harbors feelings for Helen, also appears on the course.

Based on the novel of the same name by Katherine Center, Happiness for Beginners lives up to the charming reviews of the book. Many have touted it as a heartwarming page-turner,...

Vicky Wight’s “Happiness for Beginners” asks a question that it answers with more authority than just about any other film I’ve ever seen: Can something still be considered a Hallmark movie if it was made by Netflix? Legally, not so much. In every other sense, however, there’s no longer even a shred of doubt.

A flat and glossy film about a newly divorced woman who decides to walk the pain away on the Appalachian Trail (a two-week excursion that finds her tripping over tree trunks and falling for a hunky ex-doctor who looks like the human manifestation of a Home Depot), this veritable “Eat, Pray, Hike” leaves no trace of originality or dramatic consequence. The advantages it has over the likes of “We Wish You a Married Christmas” and “Royally Ever After” are twofold: A likable cast, and dignified source material.

“Happiness for Beginners” is the second...

The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star keeps her freak flag hidden for a bland trip through the wilderness with predictably sappy results

In early 2021, when it emerged that Ellie Kemper had participated, as a St Louis teenager, in the Veiled Prophet ball, a debutante party run by a group founded by former Confederate officers, the comedian took to Instagram. “I was not aware of the history at the time, but ignorance is no excuse,” went her apology. The remorse she exhibited was only the beginning of what can only be viewed as an extended self-flagellation tour.

First, the beloved mainstay of The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt appeared as a co-host of The Great American Baking Show, a feelgood program that might have felt bad to the contingent of her fanbase that reveres Kemper’s family-friendly yet absurdist bent. And now she is still steering well clear of the edge, and...

It’s always a pleasure talking to Ellie Kemper. From “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” to her current Netflix rom-com “Happiness for Beginners,” the actress has always been warm and sweet. In “Happiness for Beginners,” Kemper is Helen, a recent divorcee who goes on a wilderness survival course. Little does she know, it’s the beginning of her happiness.

The post “Happiness for Beginners” Interviews with Ellie Kemper, Nico Santos appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.