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When Martin Short Zoomed in for our interview, he was backstage at the Javits Center in New York City getting ready for Hulu’s Upfront presentation. He volunteered this information willingly, likely to explain the colossal gray curtains hanging all around him, or the director’s chair he was perched in, or the beauty station just over his shoulder.

That should’ve been that, but my Midwestern manners got the best of me, and my first question to the two-time Emmy winner, one-time Tony winner, and all-time comic great became nothing more than polite, near-rhetorical, small talk. “How are you feeling about the Upfronts?,” I said. “Are you excited?”

“Oh, I’m very excited,” Short said. “I’m very excited.”

Reading his statement in print, Short’s answer may seem neutral. But the context implied otherwise. His unflinching smile, flat tone, and pointed repetition of the word “excited” — plus the...

The Oscars In Memoriam tribute, set to Mozart’s “Requiem in D Minor,” began with a tribute from Morgan Freeman to his “Unforgiven” and “Under Suspicion” co-star Gene Hackman. Hackman, who was 95, was found dead last week in his Santa Fe home along with his wife, Betsy Arakawa.

“I had the pleasure of working alongside Gene on ‘Unforgiven’ and ‘Under Suspicion.’ I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone’s work,” said Freeman. “He received two Oscars. He won the hearts of film lovers all over the world. Gene always said, ‘I don’t think about legacy, I just think people remember me as someone who tried to do good work.'”

Hackman won Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1993 for playing a sadistic sheriff in Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven.” He also won Best Actor in a Leading Role for playing a broken...

We lost some entertainment giants in 2024.

Among the big-screen legends who died during the past 12 months were Donald Sutherland, James Earl Jones, Maggie Smith, Carl Weathers, Shelley Duvall, Dabney Coleman, Teri Garr, Louis Gossett Jr., Anouk Aimée, Marisa Paredes and Gena Rowlands.

Related: Saying Goodbye: A Video Tribute To The Hollywood And Media Figures We’ve Lost In 2024

The TV world mourns the likes of Bob Newhart, John Amos, Phil Donahue, Linda Lavin, David Soul, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Martin Mull, Shannen Doherty, Michael Cole, Richard Lewis, Richard Simmons, James B. Sikking, Peter Marshall and Joe Flaherty.

Filmmakers and producers who left us include Norman Jewison, Roger Corman, Al Ruddy, Jon Landau, Lynda Obst, Jim Abrahams, Charles Shyer, Irv Wilson and Paolo Taviani.

The industry also paid tribute to such top executives as Charles Dolan, Paula Weinstein, Jamie Kellner, Richard Parsons, Gerald Levin and Paul Fox.

Broadway’s lights were a...

The Oscars will continue their long-running tradition of honoring celebrated filmmakers with their "In Memoriam" segment on Sunday. ABC will broadcast the event hosted by Conan O'Brien with Hulu streaming the ceremony live at 7 p.m. Et; 4 p.m. Pt.

Among the Oscar winners and nominees who will have their lives celebrated are Teri Garr, Louis Gossett Jr., James Earl Jones, Jon Landau, David Lynch, Joan Plowright, Gena Rowlands, Albert S. Ruddy, David Seidler, Richard M. Sherman, Maggie Smith, Robert Towne, and honorary recipients Roger Corman, Quincy Jones, and Donald Sutherland.

There are more than 100 movie professionals who died since the last Academy Awards ceremony. Each person who was an Academy member is designated below with **. Keep in mind that producers usually choose between 40 and 50 for the segment and that a performer has not yet been confirmed.

Edited to add two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman.

Jim Abrahams — Director/Writer

Anouk Aimée...

Since the 1980s, Dennis Quaid has been one of Hollywood's most talented stars, leading everything from science fiction to thriller movies. The actor is at his best in more lighthearted and relatable roles, which have endeared him to generations of moviegoers as a great, average Joe-style performer. That has been reflected through his many roles, leading some of the best blockbusters and best-written films of the last forty years.

Quaid's career includes a variety of movies from different genres, but the actor is best known for his common sense, wholesome and relatable all-American characters. Quaid's endlessly optimistic persona shines through in virtually every movie in which he stars, making him especially suited to family movies. From epic disaster blockbusters to heartfelt dramas, Quaid continues to be one of the most compelling stars of his generation.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on February 22, 2025: Dennis Quaid is still as relevant as...

The bittersweet drama is streaming on-demand this weekend.

It’s been a while since we saw Michael Keaton — the star of 1983’s “Mr. Mom” — learn to be a good parent. In the new movie “Goodrich,” which premieres on Max on Friday, Jan. 31, the iconic movie star is getting another chance at fatherhood… but he’s going to need some help. The movie stars Keaton as a father who is suddenly tasked with connecting with two nine year olds, which does not come naturally to him. So, he turns to his estranged daughter from his first marriage for help. You can catch this heart-warming, star-studded film with a subscription to Max.

How to watch ‘Goodrich’ When: Premieres on Friday, Jan. 31 at 3:01 a.m. Et on Max, 8 p.m. Et on Saturday, Feb. 1 on HBO. TV: Max, HBO Stream: Watch with a subscription to Max. From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a Vpn.

Film director and producer whose hit comedies, co-written with his second wife Nancy Meyers, drew on their relationship

Charles Shyer, who has died aged 83, co-wrote a string of bubbly and often female-focused comedies with his second wife, Nancy Meyers. The couple, so closely linked that they were known affectionately in the industry as the Shmeyers, were not yet married when their first script together turbo-boosted Goldie Hawn’s career: the star found her biggest success playing a pampered young widow duped into joining the army in Private Benjamin (1980), which Shyer and Meyers also produced.

The screenplay, co-written with Harvey Miller and nominated for an Oscar, had been turned down by most of Hollywood. In the wake of its success, an executive at Paramount, which had rejected the script, sent Shyer a letter admitting: “When we fuck up, we fuck up big.”...

The writer and director worked on a string of successful comedies in the 1980s and 90s, including Private Benjamin and The Parent Trap, frequently with then wife Nancy Meyers

Charles Shyer, the director of Father of the Bride and Baby Boom, who formed a successful comedy film-making partnership with his then wife Nancy Meyers, has died aged 83. His family confirmed his death in a statement to Deadline, and his daughter, film-maker Hallie Meyers-Shyer, told the Hollywood Reporter he died in hospital in Los Angeles “after a brief illness”.

Shyer had a hand in a string of successful comedies made over four decades, often in conjunction with Meyers, whom he married in 1980. The son of studio executive Melville Shyer, he cut his teeth as a writer on the TV series The Odd Couple (starring Tony Randall and Jack Klugman), before breaking into movies with a writing credit on Smokey and the Bandit.

Charles Shyer, an Oscar-nominated screenwriter who penned numerous successful films and TV series, including Private Benjamin, The Parent Trap, and Father of the Bride, reportedly passed away on Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at the age of 83, with no cause of death disclosed by the family. The late screenwriter and filmmaker, who began his career with Barefoot in the Park in 1970, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Screenplay for Private Benjamin in 1981.

Following the untimely demise of Charles Shyer, the Meyers-Shyer family issued a heartfelt statement to Deadline on Friday, outlining how Shyer's legacy will carry on with his children for years to come. Here is the official statement:

"It’s with an indescribably heavy heart that we share the news of our beloved father, Charles Shyer’s passing. His loss leaves an unfillable hole in our lives, but his legacy lives on through his children and the...

Charles Shyer has sadly passed away.

The Academy-Award nominated screenwriter, director and producer passed on Friday (December 27) at the age of 83, his family confirmed.

“It’s with an indescribably heavy heart that we share the news of our beloved father, Charles Shyer’s passing. His loss leaves an unfillable hole in our lives, but his legacy lives on through his children and the five decades of wonderful work he’s left behind. We honor the extraordinary life he led and know there will never be another quite like him,” the Meyers-Shyer family told Deadline.

Keep reading to find out more…

His daughter, writer-director Hallie Meyers-Shyer, told THR her father dealt with a brief illness before his death at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, but an official cause of death was not given.

“1941-2024...

Charles Shyer, director of Father of the Bride and Baby Boom and cowriter of the Oscar-nominated Private Benjamin, died Friday, as Variety reports. He was 83. The cause of death was not disclosed.

“It’s with an indescribably heavy heart that we share the news of our beloved father, Charles Shyer’s passing,” his family said in a statement to Deadline. “His loss leaves an unfillable hole in our lives, but his legacy lives on through his children and the five decades of wonderful work he’s left behind. We honor...

After a historic career that led to numerous box office successes and an Oscar nomination, Private Benjamin's director and writer Charles Shyer has reportedly passed away. The creator worked on over a dozen films throughout his decades-long career. He achieved prominence with Private Benjamin, where he helped to turn Nancy Meyers into a box office star in her debut film. The two often worked together on Shyer's other renowned projects, including The Parent Trap (1998), Father of the Bride (1991), and Irreconcilable Differences (1984).

According to a report by Deadline, Shyer has passed away at 83 years old on Friday, December 27. The cause of death has not been released, and it is not expected that it will be made public. It is not known if the acclaimed director was working on any projects. If so, none have have been announced. He is survived by four children, who have shared their pain and grief. His...

A polarizing MonsterVerse installment has been one of the most-watched movies on Netflix since Christmas Day. Earlier this year, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire debuted to mixed critical reviews but was financially successful, becoming the highest-grossing MonsterVerse film to date.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is currently third on Netflix's Top 10 chart, only behind Carry-On and Kerry Washington's The Six Triple Eight. Directed by Adam Wingard, the film is a direct sequel to 2021's Godzilla x Kong and is the fifth film in the shared Monsterverse franchise. In Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Kong encounters more of his species in the Hollow Earth and must again ally with Godzilla to stop the tyrannical Skar King and the powerful, frost-breathing Shimo from invading the Earth's surface. Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and Kaylee Hottle all reprise their roles from the previous film and are joined by Dan Stevens,...

Charles Shyer, the American film director, screenwriter, and producer behind films such as “Private Benjamin” and “Baby Boom,” passed away on Friday, December 27, at the age of 83.

In a statement given to Deadline, his family wrote, “It’s with an indescribably heavy heart that we share the news of our beloved father, Charles Shyer’s passing. His loss leaves an unfillable hole in our lives, but his legacy lives on through his children and the five decades of wonderful work he’s left behind. We honor the extraordinary life he led and know there will never be another quite like him.”

Born on October 11, 1941, in Los Angeles, California, Shyer was the son of Lois Delaney and Melville Shyer, a production executive and film director who co-founded the Directors Guild of America. Shyer later benefited from his father’s work, participating in the guild’s apprenticeship program following his studies at UCLA.

Charles Shyer, the writer/director behind films like Private Benjamin, Father of The Bride (1991), and Father of the Bride Part II (1995) has died at the age of 83. Per Deadline, no cause of death was revealed.

The Meyers-Shyer family did provide a statement to Deadline about Shyer’s death that read: “It’s with an indescribably heavy heart that we share the news of our beloved father, Charles Shyer’s passing. His loss leaves an unfillable hole in our lives, but his legacy lives on through his children and the five decades of wonderful work he’s left behind. We honor the extraordinary life he led and know there will never be another quite like him.”

Shyer Was Nominated for an Oscar for Private Benjamin

Shyer earned an Oscar nomination in 1981 for writing on 1980’s Private Benjamin, which starred Goldie Hawn, an honor he shared with Nancy Meyers and Harvey Miller.

Charles Shyer, who was Oscar-nominated for co-writing “Private Benjamin” with Nancy Meyers and went on to direct a string of hit comedies including “Father of the Bride” and “Baby Boom,” died Friday. He was 83.

His family said in a statement to Deadline, “It’s with an indescribably heavy heart that we share the news of our beloved father, Charles Shyer’s passing. His loss leaves an unfillable hole in our lives, but his legacy lives on through his children and the five decades of wonderful work he’s left behind. We honor the extraordinary life he led and know there will never be another quite like him.”

After Shyer’s collaboration with Meyers, whom he married the same year as “Private Benjamin” was released, the pair were Oscar-nominated for original screenplay along with Harvey Miller, kicking off a fruitful professional and personal relationship that produced some of the 1980s and ’90s most successful comedies.

Charles Shyer, the writer and director behind some of the most memorable comedies of their eras, has passed away at the age of 83.

Charles Shyer’s first film credit – after penning episodes of The Odd Couple and Happy Days – came with 1977’s Smokey and the Bandit, lending to what would become a fast-paced, quip-filled comedy that would be one of the highest-grossing movies of the year. Shyer would garner more industry attention with the following year’s House Calls, sharing a WGA nomination.

He would go on to win a Writers Guild of America Award for Private Benjamin, which found Goldie Hawn as a privileged 20-something who joins the army. Shyer, along with a team that also included frequent collaborator and one-time wife Nancy Meyers, would be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

While Private Benjamin would end up being Charles Shyer’s most defining work (it...

Charles Shyer, the director and Oscar-nominated writer who teamed with then-wife Nancy Meyers on such audience-pleasing, feel-good comedies as Private Benjamin, Irreconcilable Differences, Baby Boom and Father of the Bride, has died. He was 83.

Shyer died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after a brief illness, his daughter Hallie Meyers-Shyer, writer and director of the 2017 Reese Witherspoon comedy Home Again, told The Hollywood Reporter.

The son of veteran assistant director Melville Shyer, one of the founders of the DGA, Shyer started out writing for sitcoms like The Odd Couple and The Partridge Family with then-partner Alan Mandel before they broke into the movies with the box office smash Smokey and the Bandit (1977), starring Burt Reynolds and Sally Field.

Shyer’s career skyrocketed when he joined forces with Meyers and Harvey Miller to pen the screenplay for Private Benjamin (1980), directed by Howard Zieff and featuring Goldie Hawn in her first big-screen starring role.

Oscar-nominated film director Charles Shyer, known for adding a funny touch to classic Hollywood films like “Private Benjamin” and “Father of the Bride,” has passed away at 83. He died on Friday, but the reason for his death has not been made public.

He died, and his family said, “His loss leaves an unfillable hole in our lives, but his legacy lives on through his children and the five decades of wonderful work he’s left behind.” Thank you for the wonderful life he lived. There will never be another person like him.

From the beginning, Shyer’s path in Hollywood seemed set in stone. He was born in Los Angeles to Lois Delaney and Melville Shyer, who worked as a production assistant and film director with D.W. Griffith. He started working in the movie business after going to UCLA to study. He started his career as an apprentice at the DGA.

Oscar nominated screenwriter, director, and producer Charles Shyer whose films include Private Benjamin, Baby Boom, and the 1991 remake of Father Of The Bride and its 1995 sequel Father Of The Bride II died Friday. No cause of death was given. He was 83.

The Meyers-Shyer family shared this statement with Deadline: “It’s with an indescribably heavy heart that we share the news of our beloved father, Charles Shyer’s passing. His loss leaves an unfillable hole in our lives, but his legacy lives on through his children and the five decades of wonderful work he’s left behind. We honor the extraordinary life he led and know there will never be another quite like him.”

Shyer’s Oscar nomination, as well as a WGA awards win, came for the original screenplay for 1980’s comedy hit, Private Benjamin starring Goldie Hawn which he co-wrote with Nancy Meyers and Harvey Miller. His next...

Lindsay Lohan recalled a time where she playfully questioned her pay at the 1998 premiere of The Parent Trap while appearing on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live.

The actress, who starred as twins Hallie “Hal” James Parker and Annie “Ann” James Parker in the comedy film, revealed that former Disney CEO Michael Eisner approached her at the premiere and asked, “Where’s your twin?” Lohan, who was 12 years old at the time, clarified that she did not have a twin and told Eisner she should have received a pay bump for playing two roles.

“I was so young, I don’t even know how I thought to say this, but I’ll never forget what I said. I said, ‘Well you should’ve paid me double, because I don’t have [a twin],’” Lohan recalled on Wednesday’s Watch What Happens Live. Host Andy Cohen high-fived her after hearing her response.

Lohan...

In addition to her on-screen triumphs, the beloved Hollywood star Julia Roberts is also known for her complicated relationships with some of the industry figures, including her brother Eric Roberts, the Shakespeare in Love producer Edward Zwick, and the Hook director Steven Spielberg.

Julia Roberts in Leave the World Behind | Credit: Netflix

Another name that could fall under the same category is that of her former co-star Nick Nolte, who shared the screen with the actress in the 1994 romantic comedy I Love Trouble. Roberts openly discusses the behind-the-scenes tensions with Nolte, even describing him as “disgusting,” a remark that Nolte later reflects on years later.

Julia Roberts Had a Hard Time Getting Along With Nick Nolte on I Love Trouble

Directed by Charles Shyer, the 1994 romantic comedy, I Love Trouble, follows two rival reporters, Peter and Sabrina, who are forced to work together on the same story and eventually fall in love despite their differences.

At 86, Ridley Scott is on the cusp of releasing one of the biggest films of his career — “Gladiator II” — and already has at least two additional projects lined up for 2025, a reteam with Paul Mescal and a Bee Gees biopic. With no signs of slowing down.

He’s not the only Hollywood veteran who’s still making movies: Martin Scorsese, who turned 82 this year, made one of the best films of his career with “Killers of the Flower Moon” while Clint Eastwood (94) has what might be his final film, “Juror #2” in theaters now.

Here are 15 directors over 80 who are still busy making movies.

Photo credit: Getty Images Martin Scorsese, 82

The prolific director of “Goodfellas,” and “The Departed” was Oscar-nominated again for his 2023 historic epic, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and is now developing two films: “The Life of Jesus” and a movie about Frank Sinatra. He also returned to documentaries...

Despite his many memorable leading man performances over the years, Jude Law has at least one regret in his filmography.

The 2x Oscar nominee recently reflected on director Charles Shyer’s 2004 remake of Alfie as a “bad move” for his career following Academy Award-nominated performances in Cold Mountain (2003) and The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999).

“I was in a really strong position [at that time] because I’d just had another [Oscar] nomination on the back of Cold Mountain, and for Alfie to be the film I chose to do quite soon after that, I think was a bad move,” Law told British GQ.

After Michael Caine portrayed the titular playboy in the original 1966 film, followed by Alan Price in the 1975 sequel Alfie Darling, Law was left underwhelmed by an early screening of his own rendition.

“I just felt it hadn’t elevated [the material] and felt a little light, a little too cheesy,” he admitted. “I think...

In the late '90s and early 2000s, Jude Law was at the top of his game. Films like Gattaca and Existenz helped propel him into the limelight, and hed follow them up with The Talented Mr. Ripley and Cold Mountain. Those two movies earned him the only Academy Award nominations of his career thus far, and while most actors would choose their roles carefully after receiving such a prestigious honor, Law says he regrets the "cheesy" film he decided to do next: Alfie.

Released in 2004, Law starred in the romantic comedy as Alfie Elkins Jr., a womanizing limo driver who exploits his job to sleep with countless beauties, only to cause harm to those around him, such as his single-mom girlfriend (Marisa Tomei), and best friend (Omar Epps). In a recent interview with GQ, Law told the magazine that taking on the role first made famous by Michael Caine...

Jude Law’s most beloved character Mr. Napkin Head almost had a very different origin story.

While fans of Nancy Meyers’ 2006 “The Holiday” are well-versed in the lore of Law’s single father character donning a white napkin over his face and wearing glasses, it turns out that the bit was originally for an entirely different movie: “Alfie.”

Law told Variety that the Mr. Napkin Head scene was cut from the 2004 feature, and Meyers took inspiration from it.

“I’d actually done Mr. Napkin Head before,” Law says. “I did ‘Alfie’ with Charles Shyer, who had been married to Nancy Meyers. And Charles included Mr. Napkin Head in ‘Alfie,’ but the scene got cut. And then I did Nancy’s film, and Mr. Napkin Head was in that.”

“Alfie,” which was a remake of the Michael Caine-led original, starred Law as the titular ladies’ man who cheats on his...

Andy Goodrich (Michael Keton) is a jerk. He moves through his namesake movie with solipsistic blinders. He doesn't even notice that his wife, Naomi (Laura Benanti), isn't in bed beside him. One day, Naomi calls Andy in the middle of the night to inform him that she's checked herself into Journeys: a 90-day rehabilitation program for substance abuse, and, it's implied, Andy's neglect. Naomi is an addict; she takes pills to wake up, go to sleep, and likely throughout the day to maintain an even keel. Andy had, and continues to have, no idea. He was entirely unaware of Naomi's pill-popping and much more beyond the purview of his self-aggrandizing art gallery, Goodrich: a boutique operation that has been Andy's favorite child for nearly 30 years.

Andy pleads with Naomi not to leave him, but the decision has been made. Now, Andy suddenly finds himself as the sole caretaker of two 9-year-old children,...

Unexpected phone rings received in the middle of the night aren’t usually the bearer of good news. In “Home Again” writer-director Hallie Meyers-Shyer’s middling LA-based dramedy “Goodrich,” the title character (played by Michael Keaton) learns it the hard way. A call from his wife wakes Andy Goodrich up in the wee hours, informing this shocked, aloof husband (who hasn’t even noticed that she wasn’t home) that she’s checked into a Malibu rehab for 90 days to address her addiction problem, leaving Andy to care for their 9-year-old twins. Also, she tells him she’ll be leaving him as soon as she’s out.

Affecting with his mournful gaze, expressively arched eyebrows and the signature mystique of his husky voice, an understated Keaton carries this insightful and generously composed opening, proving that the septuagenarian actor is as game for material grounded in earthly concerns as he is...

These days, every time I see a relatable, character-driven comedy about actual human beings I think, “Wow they sure don’t make ’em like this anymore.” It is like a shock to the system that someone managed to get one made and released. It makes me sad since this was once a popular genre with with major studios regularly filled theaters. Now at best it is left to streamers, or an occasional example that somehow sneaks onto a studio release schedule, or, in the case of writer-director Hallie Meyers-Shyer’s exceptionally smart and endearing Goodrich, it is being delivered to theaters by an independent (in this case Ketchup Entertainment) and sporting an endless list of “executive producers” (I counted 24 with that title) who put up enough money to get a deserving film on the screen against all odds.

I also find it heartening that Meyers-Shyer, the daughter of two of...

The absolute epitome of what another critic I know refers to as “gas leak cinema,” Hallie Meyers-Shyer’s sweetly deranged “Home Again” — starring Reese Witherspoon as a single mom who invites three cute and aspiring young filmmakers to stay in the guest house of her palatial Brentwood home — is the kind of rom-com that feels like it was made by aliens whose only exposure to our species was an intercepted satellite feed of the Hallmark Channel. Everyone is beautiful, no one’s decisions make sense, and the only remotely pressing conflict is whether Reese’s new houseguests will be able to attend her daughter’s school play.

In other words, “Home Again” is exactly what I hoped to see from the offspring of Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer; leave normal movies to normal people, I want to know what the world looks like through the eyes of a bright-eyed nepo...

When Hallie Meyers-Shyer thinks about directors, she thinks about women — women like herself, or like her own mother, Nancy Meyers. When asked about the continued conversation around nepotism in Hollywood — or, more pointedly, the rise of second- and third-generation filmmakers in the current landscape — she thinks about her mother, too.

“I have a different experience than other people, because I think a lot of the people [in this conversation], their fathers are filmmakers,” Meyers-Shyer said during a recent interview with IndieWire. “For me, the benefit was I saw directing my whole life as a woman’s job, and that’s really powerful and unique. I feel very grateful for it.”

That’s only half the story, as Meyers-Shyer is in the somewhat unique position of being not only the child of a female filmmaker and a male filmmaker (her father is Charles Shyer), but also a second- and third-generation director. She’s certainly got perspective,...

After getting to see Michael Keaton reprise his role as Beetlejuice later this year, the Oscar nominee will be shifting to something much harder than trying to come back from the afterlife: parenthood.

Keaton stars alongside Mila Kunis in “Goodrich,” a heartwarming dramedy written and directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer (“Home Again”) in which Keaton needs to learn to be a father to two different sets of kids at very different ages.

According to the synopsis, Keaton plays Andy Goodrich, “whose life is upended when his wife and mother of their nine-year-old twins enters a 90-day rehab program, leaving him on his own with their young kids. In order to get by, he leans on the help of his adult daughter from his first marriage, Grace (Kunis), ultimately evolving into the father Grace never had.”

The first trailer for “Goodrich,” which you can watch below, shows Keaton trying to convince his...

The Parent Trap 2 would miss the point of the first movie by having Annie and Hallie, now adults, try to fool their parents again. The challenge of bringing back Elaine Hendrix's character, Meredith Blake, presents a significant obstacle to The Parent Trap 2. A potential twist in The Parent Trap 2 could involve Annie and Hallie swapping places again, this time with their own families, but would require a believable and engaging story.

The Parent Trap 2 seems likely now thanks to Lindsay Lohans return and the ongoing legacy sequels trend, but its facing two unavoidable problems. Lindsay Lohan rose to fame in 1998 when she starred in Disneys The Parent Trap as twins Annie and Hallie. Directed by Nancy Meyers, The Parent Trap is a remake of the 1961 movie of the same name and an adaptation of the 1949 novel Lisa and Lottie, by Charles Shyer. The Parent Trap was a critical and commercial success,...

Mother of the Bride is a romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mark Waters from a screenplay by Robin Bernheim. The Netflix film follows the story of Lana Winslow as she is surprised, to say the least by her daughter Emma’s bombshell wedding at a resort in Phuket, Thailand. But the surprises don’t stop there as when she gets to the wedding she finds out that the groom’s father is the man who broke her heart years ago. Mother of the Bride stars Brooke Shields in the lead role with Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Chad Michael Murray, Sean Teale, Rachel Harris, Wilson Cruz, and Michael McDonald starring in supporting roles. If you loved all the feels and situational comedy in Mother of the Bride here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Ticket to Paradise (Peacock & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Working Title Films

Ticket to Paradise...

Mila Kunis is set to star in 'The 47 Night Stand'.The 40-year-old actress will also produce Skydance's new movie, which is being written by 'Friends' and 'How I Met Your Mother' writer Greg Malins.As reported by Deadline, the film is still in its early stages with a synopsis and logline being kept closely under wraps for now.However, the outlet noted that it's been described as a "fresh and funny take on romance in the tradition of classic favorites".Kunis will serve as producer through her Orchard Farm Productions, along with Ruben Fleisher and Skydance trio David Eillson, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger.It won't be former 'That 70s Show' star's first foray into a big screen romantic comedy, having previously appeared in the likes of 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' and 'Friends With Benefits'.Her next movie role will be in indie comedy 'Goodrich',...

Cr. Colleen Hayes/Netflix © 2023.

The holiday season is upon us. That means the release of brand-new Christmas-themed movies, series, and specials. Below, we’ll track everything coming to Netflix over the next several weeks.

If you want help picking out a Christmas movie, series, or special, you can sift through all of Netflix’s Christmas titles here or use category codes to sort through them on Netflix itself.

Please note that this list was originally a coming soon post and has been updated to reflect other licensed new movies that have dropped on Netflix in the US and UK.

Table of Contents New Global Netflix Original and Licensed Christmas Movies in 2023 New Christmas Movies and Specials on Netflix US Motion Picture Corporation of America Collection Added to Netflix Internationally New Christmas Movies Coming Soon - 2024 & Beyond New Global Netflix Original and Licensed Christmas Movies in 2023 Love at First Sight...

Best. Christmas. Ever! Movie Review Rating:

Star Cast: Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, Jason Biggs, Matt Cedeño, Wyatt Hunt

Director: Mary Lambert

Writers: Todd Calgi Gallicano, Charles Shyer

Best. Christmas. Ever! Movie Review Out! (Picture Credit: IMDb)

What’s Good: Clocking in at 80 minutes, the film resembles a festive TV special, embracing familiar Christmas themes. The primary setting, Jackie’s suburban McMansion, exudes comfort, adorned with holiday decorations. Brandy’s musical performance adds a lively touch, and the absurd final act nearly ventures into “so-bad-it’s-good” territory.

What’s Bad: Despite a more interesting pedigree with Charles Shyer co-writing, the film descends into mediocrity, lacking wit and cohesiveness. Unremarkable performances by Jason Biggs and Matt Cedeño, coupled with a lackluster script, contribute to the film’s mundane nature. The set decorations fail to camouflage its shortcomings, and under Mary Lambert’s direction, the potential for dark comedy transforms into a saccharine family movie.

Stars: Brandy Norwood, Heather Graham, Jason Biggs, Matt Cedeño, Wyatt Hunt, Abby Villasmil, Madison Skye Validum, Nadia Sine | Written by Todd Calgi Gallicano, Charles Shyer | Directed by Mary Lambert

I will start this review by declaring that that title annoys me much more than it should. Why the full stops and the exclamation mark? It just feels very unnecessary. Now that is out of the way, let’s talk about the movie.

When Jackie sends out her annual ragging Christmas newsletter (I don’t think that’s a thing here in the UK – not to my knowledge – but they always seem to be a thing in American movies), it includes an invite for any of the readers (and friends) to join her at Christmas. Her high school best friend then accidentally ends up at her house after a long drive and they are forced to spend Christmas together.

If you...

It was nice while it lasted: David Fincher’s “The Killer” opened to #1 on the Netflix Top 10 last week and it’s now #3. Another high-profile Netflix Original took its place with Mary Lambert’s “Best. Christmas. Ever!” Trivia ensues: Much earlier in their careers, Fincher and Lambert each directed high-profile Madonna videos.

We’re still waiting on the PVOD releases of October titles “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (already streaming on Peacock), and “Killers of the Flower Moon” (soon to be streaming on Apple TV+). That left a sweet spot for Disney to debut Gareth Edwards’ “The Creator” at $19.99 — a rare film that’s not part of a franchise, and budgeted under $100 million.

The sci-fi thriller was a modest box office performer (just over $100 million worldwide), so its post-theatrical earnings are critical for potential profit. It is #1 at Vudu, which ranks by revenue. It was #1 during the week at iTunes,...

Best. Christmas. Ever! is a holiday comedy on Netflix that follows two longtime frenemies reuniting during the holidays. Heather Graham and Brandy Norwood discuss their characters in an interview, with Graham relating to her Scrooge-like character. The film has a satisfying conclusion where Graham's character learns to embrace the good things in her life and let go of negativity.

The time for holiday movies is upon us and Netflix is looking to spread some holiday with their recently released Best. Christmas. Ever! The holiday comedy follows longtime frenemies, portrayed by Heather Graham and Brandy Norwood, who are reunited during the holidays in a twist of fate. Their characters are polar opposites; Norwood's Jackie is festive and optimistic, while Graham's Charlotte is a self-critical skeptic who is not Christmastime's biggest fan. As it turns out, both Graham and Norwood felt connected to their Best. Christmas. Ever! characters, something they discussed during an interview with MovieWeb.

Best. Christmas. Ever! is a heartwarming holiday movie on Netflix that showcases the delightful chemistry between Heather Graham and Brandy as old friends who reconnect during a Christmas vacation. The film also features a fun dynamic between Jason Biggs and Matt Cedeño as the husbands who go along for the ride, along with a talented cast of child actors who bring depth and entertainment to the movie. Director Mary Lambert brings her exceptional experience working with kid actors to Best. Christmas. Ever!, creating an ensemble effort where the kids shine alongside the adult actors, making for a cozy and enjoyable viewing experience.

The latest holiday movie from Netflix has arrived! Co-written by Charles Shyer and directed by Mary Lambert, Best. Christmas. Ever! stars Heather Graham and Jason Biggs as a couple who accidentally reunite with an old friend (Brandy) and her husband (Matt Cedeño). Old resentments and jealousies quickly bubble up to the surface,...

Best. Christmas. Ever! is a standout Christmas movie this year, with a star-studded cast and directed by Mary Lambert. It follows a couple who reconnect with old friends during a Christmas trip mishap. Unlike other Christmas films, Best. Christmas. Ever! has enough depth and pathos to stand out. The performances from the cast elevate it above typical holiday fare. Heather Graham, the lead actress in the movie, discusses her recent projects, including horror films and her dream project of directing a rock and roll biopic about a famous singer/songwriter. She also talks about her experience working with Mary Lambert.

With the holiday season upon us, it's time for the annual outpouring of Christmas movies flooding the theatrical, streaming, and television markets. A standout entry this year is Best. Christmas. Ever!, starring Heather Graham, Brandy, Jason Biggs, and Matt Cedeño. Directed by Mary Lambert (Pet Sematary), Best. Christmas. Ever! follows...

Best. Christmas. Ever! is a serviceable Christmas movie on Netflix, with soft chuckles, tears, and sentimentality. Brandy's performance is a highlight, and there's even a musical number. The story emphasizes the risks of projecting insecurities onto others. Charlotte's self-critical nature blinds her to the importance of nurturing positivity and appreciating what she has. While the movie's directing is fun, the script drags and the conversations are flat. The film relies on Graham and Brandy to build a believable relationship, but falls short of doing so.

Fellow movie watchers, it’s the most wonderful time of year — the Netflix Christmas movies are here. The on-the-nose named Best. Christmas. Ever! brings us Brandy Norwood and Heather Graham in a sweet, sentimental Christmas adventure directed by Pet Sematary’s Mary Lambert. In this latest holiday offering, we have Brandy’s Jackie Jennings beaming with festive joy and Graham’s Charlotte Sanders as the skeptical,...

Best. Christmas. Ever! is a Christmas romantic comedy film directed by Mary Lambert, from a screenplay by Todd Calgi Gallicano and Charles Shyer. The Netflix film revolves around two friends Jackie and Charlotte, and their families. Jackie’s life seems too perfect to Charlotte and when fate brings both Jackie and Charlotte together on Christmas, Charlotte tries to prove that Jackie’s life is not perfect. Best. Christmas. Ever! stars Heather Graham, Brandy, Jason Biggs, and Matt Cedeño in the lead roles. So, if you loved the Netflix film here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Deck the Halls Credit – 20th Century Fox

Synopsis: Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito are hilarious as two neighbors trying to put the “win” in “winter” in one of the year’s funniest comedies! Determined to unseat Steve Finch’s (Broderick) reign as the town’s holiday season king, Buddy Hall (DeVito) plasters...

“Best. Christmas. Ever!” is a movie directed by Mary lambert, written by Todd Calgi Gallicano and Charles Shyer, and starring Brandy Norwood, Heather Graham, Jason Biggs, and Matt Cedeño.

Do you fancy a really cheesy Christmas movie? Well, here it is! Fresh from the oven, we present “Best. Christmas. Ever!”, promising to delight those with the sweetest and most festive spirits.

In terms of cinematography, storyline, and acting prowess… it falls a bit short.

But you know these holiday productions all come out around Christmas and are barely distinguishable from one another.

Plot

Two childhood friends reunite, almost by chance. One’s life is picture-perfect while the other’s… far from it. They and their partners have to spend Christmas together due to a snowstorm, the perfect excuse to rekindle their undying friendship.

Best. Christmas. Ever! Review of “Best. Christmas. Ever!”

Heather Graham takes the lead role and looks just...

Director Mary Lambert delivers yuletide warmth and heartfelt cheer to Netflix subscribers with “Best. Christmas. Ever!” The story centered on two women rediscovering their strength and sparkle by mending their fractured friendship finds the correct balance of cynical and saccharine without upsetting the scale. The streamer’s practically patented brand of holiday hijinks is amped up to a ridiculous degree as the hyperbolic title would suggest. Even so, its absurdist lunacy acts as a Trojan Horse containing genuinely meaningful sentiments on forgiveness, happiness and bittersweet sorrows — universalities people tend to reflect on as their year comes to a close.

Charlotte Sanders (Heather Graham) dreads Christmastime because it means her former college bestie Jackie Jennings’ (Brandy Norwood) annual newsletter is on its way. It’s filled with obnoxious lingo and humblebrags about the Jennings family’s successes, and Charlotte can’t help but feel inferior, unfavorably comparing it to her own harried life as a wife,...

Heather Graham is an uninvited guest who wants to reveal imperfections in Brandy Norwood’s impressive life in the first trailer for Netflix’s Best. Christmas. Ever!

The holiday-themed feature from filmmaker Mary Lambert hits the streaming service Nov. 16. Best. Christmas. Ever! centers on Charlotte (Graham) dealing with jealousy over her college friend Jackie (Norwood) sending boastful holiday newsletters every year. After unexpectedly ending up on her former pal’s doorstep days before Christmas, Charlotte hopes to prove that Jackie’s life is more flawed than it appears.

The trailer shows Graham’s character dealing with her complicated feelings about her past with her erstwhile bestie. “Being here reminds me of everything I wanted to do with my life and didn’t,” Graham explains.

Later in the footage, Norwood’s Jackie tells her friend, “I knew you were sneaking around. What is your problem, girl?”

Jason Biggs and Matt Cedeño co-star,...

It wouldn’t be that time of year without a new Lifetime-looking Xmas movie to warm your heart a little bit. Is it a movie, is it a film, or is it content? It’s hard to say, but Netflix’s “Best Christmas Ever” releases globally on Netflix on November 16, and it looks a bit standard-issue, tbh.

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Directed by Mary Lambert and written by Charles Shyer and Todd Gallicano, “Best Christmas Ever” stars Heather Graham and Brandy Norwood, with a supporting cast that includes Matt Cedeño, Jason Biggs, Wyatt Hunt, Abby Villasmil, and Madison Skye Validum.

Continue reading ‘Best Christmas Ever’ Trailer: Heather Graham & Brandy Norwood Star In Netflix’s New Xmas Comedy at The Playlist.

Brandy and Heather Graham are old college friends in the upcoming movie Best. Christmas. Ever!

The ladies are starring in the upcoming Netflix holiday movie, which debuts this holiday season, and the first look has been revealed on Wednesday (October 11).

From the looks of the first look stills, it seems we’ll also be getting a musical performance from Brandy in the movie!

Get more details and see more photos inside…

Here’s a synopsis: Every Christmas Jackie (Brandy) sends a boastful holiday newsletter that makes her old college friend Charlotte (Graham) feel like a lump of coal. When a twist of fate lands Charlotte and her family on Jackie’s snowy doorstep just days before Christmas, she seizes the opportunity to prove her old friend’s life can’t possibly be that perfect.

Also starring in the upcoming holiday flick are Matt Cedeño, Jason Biggs, Wyatt Hunt, Abby Villasmil and Madison Skye Validum.

When Joel and Ethan Coen released Barton Fink in 1991, it turned a lot of heads.

The film, set in 1941, follows naive and principled New York City playwright Barton Fink (impressively realized by John Turturro), who moves to Los Angeles after accepting a job to write a wrestling picture for Capital Pictures. Fink sets up shop in the dilapidated and eerie Hotel Earle to begin work on the script, but quickly hits a mental impasse given the unfamiliar subject (one that Fink also views as beneath him). As his writer’s block gets worse, Fink rapidly descends into a waking Kafkaesque nightmare.

Barton Fink is both ambiguous yet impressively layered; a surreal and twisted pitch-black comedy that is brimming with symbolism and metaphors. The film also bears a lot of similarities to the Coen Brothers’ own creative struggles. Here’s how writer’s block inspired Barton Fink, arguably the most underrated film in the filmmakers’ cannon.