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Extraterrestrial influencers making social media content about human food, a scientist producing genetically modified fruits and the soul-sucking dangers of capitalist hustle culture all come together in “Boys Go to Jupiter.” Inherently unexpected in the landscape of American independent film, Julian Glander’s idiosyncratic delight is the rare animated feature made outside of this country’s major studios. With his hilariously offbeat, uniquely stylized and surreptitiously profound debut, Glander joins a small but notable list of directors daring enough to try their hand at indie animation in the U.S., joining the ranks of Bill Plympton, Dash Shaw and Don Hertzfeldt.

Billboards preaching threatening Bible verses and orange groves with sinister origins proliferate in the Florida beach town where “Boys Go to Jupiter” unfurls. There resides brooding 16-year-old Billy 5000 (Jack Corbett), who has left his childish interests behind to become preoccupied with making money delivering food via an app called...

The upcoming animated film Boys Go to Jupiter has tunnel vision when it comes to being odd, different, and eccentric; you might even call it avant-garde, as it refuses to fit within the box of cinematic norms. The film possesses a winsome awkwardness that’s hard to resist, drawing you in with its enchanting quirkiness.

Along with a fantastic voice cast that includes stars such as Elsie Fisher, Janeane Garofalo, Cole Escola, Julio Torres, and Joe Pera, who help bring out the heart of the story in Boys Go to Jupiter, there is something poignant and, above all, human.

Boys Go to Jupiter Review and Synopsis The new animated film Boys Go to Jupiter (2024) | Image via Cartuna and Irony Point Pictures The new animated film Boys Go to Jupiter (2024) | Image via Cartuna and Irony Point Pictures The new animated film Boys Go to Jupiter (2024) | Image via Cartuna and Irony Point...

Boys Go to Jupiter, an animated feature directed and written by Pittsburgh-based 3D artist Julian Glander, is truly a product of its time. And that time is now. As the press notes mention: “[The film] was self-produced and animated entirely over 90 days on the free open-source 3D modeling program Blender. Peisin Yang Lazo executive produced.” Running about 85 minutes and featuring an impossibly stellar voice cast, this film is often funny and sometimes introspective about this land of screens we find ourselves trapped inside. A bit long in the tooth at times, it is undeniably engaging and reliably weird.

Billy 5000 (Jack Corbett) is a teenager living in Florida and determined to gig work his way to five-thousand dollars. His main gig is delivering food for the DoorDash-like company Grubster (“Have a Grubby Day!”). He hangs out with his friends around an empty swimming pool and at local chain restaurants surrounded by empty construction spaces.

Theatergoers are in for a treat as a vibrant lineup of films hits screens from August 5 to August 10, 2025. With genres spanning from chilling horror to heartfelt dramas and colorful animations, this week offers something for every movie lover.

Dive into a mix of new stories, re-releases, and thought-provoking tales. Here’s a rundown of every film arriving in cinemas, complete with details to help you choose your next big-screen adventure.

1. What If… (2010) 10 West Studios

On August 5, Fathom Events brings back ‘What If…’ for its 15th anniversary in a limited release. This 1-hour-51-minute drama, starring Kevin Sorbo, Kristy Swanson, John Ratzenberger, and Debby Ryan, blends fantasy and romance. A businessman faces an alternate life guided by an angel, making it a touching pick for fans of emotional stories.

2. Sketch (2025) Morphan Time

‘Sketch’ arrives on August 6 in a limited release from Angel. This 1-hour-32-minute adventure-comedy stars Tony Hale, D’Arcy Carden,...

“Flow” winning an Oscar for Best Animated Film has been celebrated — specifically by us here at IndieWire — for its use of the free-to-download software Blender, which enabled the film’s Latvian animation team to craft a lush, human-free world of staggering beauty and rising water.

Practically at the other end of the spectrum of what’s possible, director Julian Glander has created a lo-fi, distanced, painfully, poignantly pastel vision of Florida in “Boys Go to Jupiter.” The film was also made in Blender, but this vaporwave coming-of-age story couldn’t look or feel more different.

The story follows intrepid (and intensely sleep-deprived) teenaged deliverista Billy 5000 (Jack Corbett) as he tries to hustle for the $5,000 he hopes will give him the independence he craves, even as absurd and miraculous things keep happening around him, his friends, and an orange juice factory run by Janeane Garofalo and Julio Torres. In the exclusive clip above,...

Exclusive: Jack Haven (I Saw the TV Glow) and actress/comedian Janeane Garofalo (Wet Hot American Summer) are set to star in Grind, a darkly comedic thriller from filmmaker Peter Collins Campbell that shoots in New York City in October.

In the indie, Haven plays Ricky, a hustle-culture-obsessed Manhattan food delivery biker on a mad dash to make all of his rent in one night. No word on the role to be played by Garofalo.

Supported by Cinereach, Grind will be produced by Bethany McHugh for Affects Next Day’s Work, with Philipp Engelhorn serving as executive producer. Allison Estrin is casting the project.

In a statement on Haven’s casting, Campbell told Deadline, “Jack is the kind of chameleonic actor that you don’t see very often anymore, and having them anchor this film and go up against actors like Janeane who have such commanding, magnetic presence is going...

Julian Glander is a 3D artist whose work ranges from children’s books to video games, and the influence of the former on his feature-length directorial debut, Boys Go to Jupiter, is especially evident in the film’s isometric vision of the world. In the right light, his simple, rounded characters could pass for clay figures. Glander isn’t exactly emulating stop-motion, but the characters’ minute movements evoke it all the same, bringing a hand-crafted quality to a medium that’s typically viewed as impersonal. Every cut to a distant camera perspective asks us to ruminate over every detail that’s gone into composing the film’s scenes.

At a gentle, ambling pace that’s punctuated by dreamy musical numbers, Boys Go to Jupiter follows Billy 5000 (Jack Corbett), a high school dropout and “human calculator.” Billy, who’s growing apart from his friends, lives out of his sister’s garage...

One of Pixar’s best animations of all time has found success once more, years after it landed in theaters, and it’s a well-deserved one at that. Produced by the animation studio for Disney, Ratatouille was a critical and commercial hit upon its release in June 2007 and was a recipient of multiple accolades at major awards events. Now with the pic available on streaming, it's reminding fans and showing newcomers what a brilliant watch it is, as proven by its status on the global charts.

Per FlixPatrol, Ratatouille has entered the top 5 movies on Disney+ globally, taking the #5 spot, right below Elio and above 2005’s Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch. At the same time, Snow White, Captain America: Brave New World, and Sharks Up Close With Bertie Gregory are in the first three spots. Brad Bird wrote and directed the animated comedy, with Brad Lewis producing from...

The theatrical trailer for the new indie animated film “Boys Go to Jupiter,” which will hit select theaters in New York City on August 8 and Los Angeles on August 15, has been released. After those initial screenings, it will expand into a limited release nationwide. The movie will be distributed by Cartuna and Irony Point, which picked up the project in May after a successful festival run.

From the mind of debut director Julian Glander, the movie is billed as a “coming-of-age absurdist comedy” led by an impressive cast of voice actors, including recent Tony-winner Cole Escola and “SNL” star Sarah Sherman. The primary cast features Jack Corbett, Janeane Garofalo, Elsie Fisher, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, J.R. Phillips, and singer-songwriter Miya Folick (who also provides an original song), plus Escola, Sherman, Tavi Gevinson, Julio Torres, Joe Pera, Eva Victor, Max Wittert, River L. Ramirez, Chris Fleming, and Demi Adejuyigbe.

“People in ‘the industry...

"Is this really how you want to spend your whole life, just bumming around forever?" Whoa this looks fun. Cartuna has revealed the trailer for an indie animated film called Boys Go to Jupiter, the first feature by animator / 3D artist Julian Glander. This first premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival last year, and played at many other festivals including Nashville and Denver. A teenager in suburban Florida desperately hustles to make $5,000 in this dreamy and surreal animated flick. Billy is forced to make hard choices about love, friendship, and how far he'll go for financial security in a world ruled by capitalism in this absurdist, musical take on a coming-of-age comedy. With the voices of Jack Corbett, Tavi Gevinson, Elsie Fisher, Janeane Garofalo, Julio Torres, Max Wittert, & Demi Adejuyigbe. Inspired by Google Street View excursions through the streets of Tampa, Florida, the nostalgia of youth and growing up in the suburbs,...

Friends: The Hit Sitcom Had A Totally Different Name ( Photo Credit – Facebook )

Before Joey ever asked how you doin’, or Monica stressed over another Thanksgiving dinner, Friends that became a cultural monolith nearly launched under a completely different title. One that would’ve made the theme song feel way less catchy.

Back in the early ’90s, creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane were still shaping what would become Friends. The chemistry was there, the coffee shop was there, but the name was still brewing. In fact, they cycled through multiple options, trying to pin down the tone. At one point, the show was pitched under a name that hardly sounds sitcom-worthy today.

What Was The Original Title Of Friends?

Now for the twist, during the filming of the pilot, Friends wasn’t even called Friends. It was officially titled Six of One. That name stayed through early development until...

Lord have mercy! With an anticipated re-release around the corner for the film’s 25th anniversary, Kevin Smith is full of surprises regarding his 1999 comedy classic Dogma. Considered by many to be one of Smith’s most excellent films (my wife loves this movie), Dogma skirts the line between blasphemy, sinful comedy, and clever observation that could sway someone teetering on the edge of re-evaluating their allegiances to a higher power. Speaking with Smith for an upcoming interview, JoBlo’s Tyler Nichols inquired about plans for Dogma’s re-release on physical media. Smith answered by blessing us with confirmation about a 4K Steelbook release for Dogma in the coming months (watch the clip above!).

Smith says he’s working closely with a “popular physical media distributor” to get a 4K Steelbook version of Dogma ready for a December release. He says the 4K restoration of the comedy that makes some Catholics cringe looks fantastic,...

If anyone else but Sylvester Stallone starred in "Rocky V," then in the critically-maligned "Oscar," and then got tricked into starring in "Stop! Or my Mom will Shoot," their career would be over. But just like Rocky Balboa himself, Sly has always risen from the ashes and the early '90s was a prime example of his ability to stay the course. In 1993, a year after "Stop! Or my Mom will Shoot," Stallone fronted "Cliffhanger" and "Demolition Man," which helped put things back on track. 1995's "Judge Dredd" — the stupidest sci-fi movie to predict our terrifying present — didn't exactly help, but the ever-determined Stallone kept working, and in 1997 led a crime drama that turned out to be a modest hit and a critical success.

"Cop Land" was written and directed by "A Complete Unknown" filmmaker James Mangold, and starred Stallone as Freddy Heflin, the sheriff of a small New Jersey...

Not every hero wears a cape — some curse, cheat, and still save the day.

I’ve always been more of an anti-hero guy than a full-blown superhero fan. Don’t get me wrong, I respect the capes — but there’s just something way more interesting about characters who break the rules, bend the line between right and wrong, and still manage to save the day (sort of). That’s why I’m genuinely excited for “Thunderbolts*.” It looks like Marvel is finally embracing the messier side of heroism. So if you’re like me and prefer your heroes a little rough around the edges, here are my top seven anti-hero action movies you can stream right now, ranked.

Top 7 anti-hero action movies on streaming right now.

No. 7: ‘Mystery Men’

No. 6: ‘Joker’

No. 5: ‘Kick-Ass’

No. 4: ‘The Suicide Squad’

No. 3: ‘Logan’

No. 2: ‘The Dark Knight’

No.

Cartuna and Irony Point have acquired the North American distribution rights to Julian Glander’s feature debut, “Boys Go to Jupiter.” The animated feature bowed at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.

Cartuna and Irony Point plan to release the film theatrically, kicking off Aug. 8 at New Your City’s IFC Center, followed by an Aug. 15 bow at the Laemmle Glendale in Los Angeles and rollout nationally.

Glander’s “Boys Go to Jupiter” is described as a surreal coming-of-age story set in suburban Florida. The film follows Billy 5000, a teenage delivery driver who stumbles into a cosmic mystery after a routine gig leaves him caretaker of a mysterious alien egg.

The voice cast includes Janeane Garofalo, Julio Torres, Sarah Sherman, Cole Escola, Eva Victor, Elsie Fisher, Tavi Gevinson, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Jack Corbett and Joe Pera.

The film was produced by Glander under his Pittsburgh-based studio, Glanderco, with Peisin Yang Lazo serving as executive producer.

Ratatouille is another brilliant animated film from Brad Bird, who directed films like The Iron Giant and The Incredibles. In the film, Remy, a young rat, dreams of becoming a chef at Auguste Gusteau’s restaurant and seeks help from the garbage boy Alfredo Linguini. The film is weirdly delicious and won over our hearts.

However, many don’t realize that Ratatouille lacks a significant female presence and fails the Bechdel test. It is out of character for a Pixar film, which always tries to maintain the gender balance in its films. When you look back at it, you only remember Gusteau’s rôtisseur Colette Tatou as the main female character.

Ratatouille, the masterpiece from Brad Bird, represents the kitchen as a boys’ club

Not only does Ratatouille take its place among one of the most brilliant animated films, but it also fares well as a cooking-based film. The film...

It’s been a relatively quiet year for A24 so far, but one of the studio’s upcoming films just got an exciting new look. A24 has debuted the first trailer for Sorry, Baby, the upcoming drama starring Eva Victor, who will also make her screenwriting and directorial debut on the film. Sorry, Baby follows Agnes (Victor), a woman who deals with the troubles in her life while watching everyone else go about their daily lives as if nothing is happening. In addition to Victor, Sorry, Baby also stars Naomi Ackie, who opened the year by starring opposite Robert Pattinson in Mickey 17. Sorry, Baby premiered at Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, and earned a 95% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, including an 8/10 review from Collider’s Ross Bonaime.

In addition to Victor and Ackie, Sorry, Baby also stars Louis Calcemi, Lucas Hedges, John Carroll Lynch, and Kelly McCormack. The...

For all its shortcomings, the Arrowverse mostly hit it out of the park with its casting, and John Constantine’s case was no different. Although the series itself wasn’t originally part of the Arrowverse, and the character was later incorporated into the Legends of Tomorrow, similar to Grant Gustin’s Barry, Matt Ryan was perfect in the boots of Constantine.

Interestingly, his tenure as the occult DC detective wasn’t Ryan’s first rodeo into the realm of crimefighting, as prior to his DC debut, the actor appeared in the star-studded spin-off to Criminal Minds, which never took off.

Matt Ryan’s Criminal Minds venture was short-lived Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior | Credit: CBS

Similar to most high-profile procedural shows of the 2010s, Criminal Minds didn’t shy away from branching out with spinoffs, starting with Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, which starred Forest Whitaker at the forefront. In addition to Whitaker,...

After more than 25 years, it truly feels like one of Ben Stiller's best films, "Mystery Men," could have been the band of underdogs that surpassed even the likes of "The Suicide Squad" or "Guardians of the Galaxy." Riffing on comic book superheroes before "Deadpool" made it cool, "Mystery Men" is adapted from a team of misfit heroes that debuted in "Flaming Carrot" #16 and showcases an array of comedic talent. These low-level and incredibly odd crimefighters consist of Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller), The Shoveller (William H. Macy), fork-throwing Blue Raja (Hank Azaria), the superhuman fart factory The Spleen (Paul Reubens), Invisible Boy, who can only disappear when no one is looking (Kel Mitchell), and The Bowler (Janeane Garofalo), whose weapon of choice is a bowling ball containing the skull of her late father.

Fighting the good fight for laughs, the film received a mixed reception both critically and financially, having...

"Two tickets to New Jersey, please." The two fallen angels are back! Kevin Smith has revealed a brand new trailer for the 25th Anniversary of Dogma, his celebrated religious comedy classic that first opened in 1999. I remember hearing about this movie growing up because it was so edgy and provocative, and the religious world didn't want anyone to watch it. Dogma is being re-released in theaters this June in the middle of the summer with a new 4K restoration, along with a nationwide screening tour featuring Kevin Smith + special guests (starting April 20 in LA). Two fallen angels who were ejected from paradise find themselves banned in Wisconsin. They are now headed for New Jersey where they find a loophole that can get them back into heaven. The only catch is that it will destroy humanity. A group bands together to stop them. The ensemble cast features Ben Affleck & Matt Damon as Bartleby & Loki,...

For the past few years, it’s been near impossible to watch Kevin Smith’s 1999 religious comedy Dogma because Harvey and Bob Weinstein personally owned the rights, and they’ve faced more pressing matters in recent years than finding a new home for it. But The Hollywood Reporter reports that Smith has finally regained the rights to his film, and it’s returning to theaters on June 5. Prior to that, Smith will appear at special Dogma screenings all across the country, kicking off April 20 at the Grove in Los Angeles.

A few months ago, writer/director Kevin Smith confirmed that his 1999 film Dogma, which he had said was being “held hostage” by the infamous Harvey Weinstein for years, has been “bought away” from that guy by a company that was interested in having Smith take it on tour in theatres around the country. Now, we know which company has purchased Dogma – it’s Iconic Events – and they have announced that they’re giving the film a theatrical re-release to celebrate its 25th anniversary! (Or 26th.) And yes, they’re also having Kevin Smith tour with it. A trailer, which you can watch in the embed above, has dropped online to let us know that the re-release is officially scheduled for June 5th – but Smith will be touring the film ahead of that date!

Variety informs us that Smith will kick off the tour with a screening of Dogma at “the...

The superhero has now taken over cinema thanks to the likes of the MCU and the SnyderVerse but, believe it or not, there was a time when this wasn’t the case. While superhero movies were more of a rarity, a unique send-up of the genre did emerge way, way back in 1999. And it was well ahead of its time...as the divisive response proves. Starring an all-star cast that includes Ben Stiller and William H. Macy, Mystery Men is now headed to free streaming. And, perhaps in this golden age of superhero movies, the comedy can finally get the recognition it deserves.

Directed by Kinka Usher in his feature-length directorial debut, and written by Neil Cuthbert, Mystery Men is loosely based on the "Flaming Carrot Comics" by Bob Burden. Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, William H. Macy, Greg Kinnear, Claire Forlani, Kel Mitchell, Paul Reubens,...

There may be trouble in "Paradise," but that's just how we like it. The hit Hulu series (created by "This Is Us" showrunner Dan Fogelman) landed on the streamer in 2025 to positive reviews and much buzz, quickly making a case for itself as one of James Marsden's best TV shows ever. The "X-Men" alum plays slain U.S. President Cal Bradford, whose sudden death sends Secret Service agent Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) on a winding mystery through a post-apocalyptic America.

Along the way, Xavier comes across hidden clues, government secrets, and deep state conspiracies, all hallmarks of a story rooted in a subgenre that is perhaps the guiltiest of pleasures -- the speculative political thriller. Stories under this umbrella can just as easily be titillating, smartly written, and dramatically engrossing as they are oblivious, self-important, and totally ridiculous. Sometimes, a story can be all these things at once,...

Kevin McDonald, one of the rock-star comics in Kids in the Hall, is ready to sing his heart out in Kevin McDonald: Superstar, a hilariously autobiographical rock opera alongside Janeane Garofalo, Frank Conniff and Dave Hill. The musical recounts some of the most shameful moments in McDonald’s life, including an epically drunken caper with fellow Kid Dave Foley and an ongoing relationship with a woman who wouldn’t stop cheating on him.

I recently talked to McDonald about how Catholic school influenced his rock opera, the difference between writing for Kids in the Hall and Saturday Night Live and how his group of Canadian kids made Lorne Michaels cool again.

“People always say you should call it Kevin McDonald's Stupid Rock Opera. But the producer wanted something more commercial. And because the first song is about how much I liked Jesus Christ Superstar when I was a kid, I thought,...

Emmy-winner Ben Stiller is currently riding the wave of the recent success of Apple TV+’s Severance, on which he serves as an executive producer, but in 1999 he starred in the star-studded and underrated superhero action-comedy movie Mystery Men. The movie, which also stars William H. Macey, Hank Azaria, and Greg Kinnear, will stream for free on Tubi starting April 1.

Set in the fictional Champion City, Captain Amazing (Kinnear) is captured by the villainous Casanova Frankenstein, played by Oscar-winner Geoffrey Rush, which gives the perfect opportunity for a group of wannabe misfit superheroes to prove themselves. Upon its release in 1999, Mystery Men was a box office flop and did not turn a profit, earning just $33.4 million against a budget of $68 million.

Stiller is “Furious” in Mystery Men

Stiller stars as Mr. Furious, a junkyard worker with a bad temper, who, with his friends Eddie and Jeffrey, decide to become superheroes.

On the eve of their standup comedy takeover of the 2025 South By Southwest festival in Austin, TX, The Stand Group, Inc. announce a partnership with leading independent entertainment studio, Cineverse and their fast-growing podcast arm to maximize distribution platforms, sponsorships, programmatic demand and additional avenues. The partnership also includes the creation of a development slate for the companies to build new IP together through podcasts and live entertainment.

After successfully launching the Witz Comedy-tv Fast channel and digital content library in 2022 with partners Best Ever Channels (Bec), The Stand Group is now expanding its reach through podcast creation and distribution. Through the launch of the Witz Podcast Network – a new comedy label operated through the Cineverse Podcast Network – Bec partners Barry Gordon and Jonathon Barbato matched The Stand/Witz sensibilities with Cineverse’s ability to support and build brands.

“Together we will maximize marketing, promotional and sales initiatives for shows...

The great child actress Michelle Trachtenberg died today, Feb. 26, 2025. This follows a liver transplant the actor received, along with several Instagram posts which had alarmed some friends and fans, with the images portraying an extremely gaunt Trachtenberg. As The New York Post writes, "Trachtenberg was found by her mother at around 8 a.m. Wednesday at One Columbus Place, a 51-story luxury apartment complex in Manhattan’s Central Park South neighborhood, the sources said [...] The NYPD confirmed Trachtenberg was found 'unconscious and unresponsive' by police and pronounced dead by Ems workers."

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Michelle Trachtenberg (@michelletrachtenberg)

Trachtenberg, born on Oct. 11, 1985, began her career as a child actor, eventually joining a live-action Nickelodeon series, The Adventures of Pete & Pete, at the age of nine. That series began as little interstitial shorts in 1989, which became popular enough to warrant a handful of TV specials. Going from...

Claire Danes (Homeland) is re-teaming with her My So-Called Life creator and producer for a new HBO TV series, per Variety. The Applebaum Curse will star Danes, while Winnie Holzman (Wicked) will write and act as showrunner. Both she and Danes are executive producers on the show, which is in early development. The logline says the show is an "ongoing one-hour drama series about a dysfunctional family with Claire Danes as the lead role."

When recently asked why no one has tried to reboot or remake My So-Called Life, Holzman replied:

"It’s interesting that you’re asking me that. I am writing something that I’m hoping to do with Claire. It’s not a reboot in the traditional sense, but I think Claire Danes and I back together would be a kind of version of that. … It’s a completely different story, but we’re hopeful that we’re gonna work together again.

It all starts with a slap. After getting into a fight at school, Marielle (Laeni Geiseler) spontaneously develops the capacity to eavesdrop on her parents’ lives. Whether the teenage girl wants to or not, she can sense what her mom and dad are doing at every moment — an uncanny (and highly inconvenient) ability that disrupts the tidy sense of mutual respect her family had been maintaining until that point. Come to find, most of the things Julia (Julia Jentsch) and Tobias (Felix Kramer) tell one another around the kitchen table aren’t true, a subtle yet essential observation keenly revealed by “What Marielle Knows.”

In nearly all families, it’s the adults who have the upper hand, monitoring how their children behave, while carefully filtering which details they choose to share. But in writer-director Frédéric Hambalek’s intriguing thought experiment, that dynamic is reversed, and a young girl inexplicably gains the upper hand,...

A second reunion is coming. Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow are in talks to reprise their roles in a sequel to Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the pair will return as the titular Romy and Michele and serve as executive producers. Tim Federle is set to direct the movie, which will likely start shooting in June. The sequel was written by Robin Schiff, who wrote the original film and is also the showrunner for Emily in Paris.

Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion...

Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino are in final negotiations to reprise their roles in the long awaited sequel to Romy And Michele’s High School Reunion.

It isn’t the focus of this article, but as we’re on the subject of 1990s high school reunion films, Grosse Point Blank is very much worth your time, featuring one of John Cusack’s finest performances. It’s also got a brilliant punch up between Cusack and his real life martial arts teacher Benny ‘The Jet’ Urquidez, who was still very much in fine fettle over a decade after his two iconic bouts with Jackie Chan in Wheels On Meals and Dragons Forever.

What is the focus of this article is the underrated 1997 comedy Romy And Michele’s High School Reunion, which saw Mira Sorvino and Friends alum Lisa Kudrow play the titular pair, outcasts who decide to lie about their success in life at their high school reunion.

Nearly three decades after former high school outcasts Romy and Michele attended their 10-year high school reunion, a sequel to the 1997 movie Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion is moving forward at 20th Century Studios. The original film, which is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, starred Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow as Romy White and Michele Weinberger. The titular duo are in talks to reprise their roles in the sequel.

Oscar-winner Sorvino and Emmy-winner Kudrow will also serve as executive producers on the Romy and Michele sequel, which is set to be directed by Tim Federle (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series). Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that the movie is expected to start filming in June, likely in Los Angeles.

Sorvino posted to the social media site Threads after news broke about the sequel film, saying “We’re pretty excited about it.”

Post by @mirasorvino View on Threads...

Martha Stewart shared a surprising backstage story from her past during a recent appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” revealing how her parole restrictions prevented her from hosting “Saturday Night Live” in 2005.

The lifestyle entrepreneur disclosed that NBC had approached her about hosting the iconic comedy show immediately after her release from the Alderson federal prison camp. However, her parole conditions—which limited her to just eight hours outside her home each day—made it impossible to meet the show’s intense rehearsal and production requirements.

Stewart expressed clear frustration about the missed opportunity, even remembering her parole officer’s name and contact information. “That bastard!” she said, indicating her lingering disappointment. Despite the setback, she remains hopeful about potentially hosting the show, even encouraging fans to “start a campaign” for her appearance.

The conversation also highlighted Stewart’s unique place in pop culture. She has been one...

Martha Stewart could’ve hosted Saturday Night Live after she spent time behind bars.

The entrepreneur and television host said that she was invited to host SNL in 2005 after spending give months in prison for lying about a stock trade but her parole officer stopped her from doing the show.

“I wanted to and they asked me as I was coming out of Alderson — that camp that I was in for a while,” Stewart joked on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. “And my parole officer wouldn’t give me the time to do it.”

Stewart noted that she was only allowed to be out of her house eight hours a day.

“The parole officer said, no?” Fallon asked Stewart which prompted her response, “No, that bastard!”

Stewart added that she still had the name and number of her parole officer, adding, “I’m so pissed,” about not being able to do it.

For many celebrities, there's a relatively small window in which they are considered for hosting Saturday Night Live. One celebrity had that window slammed shut, not by SNL, Lorne Michaels, or the network, but by their parole officers.

Television personality Martha Stewart revealed Lorne Michaels asked her to host Saturday Night Live in 2005. The SNL boss likely wanted to capitalize on the timing, as Stewart had just been released from serving five months in prison for a fraud conviction.

"I wanted to, and they asked me as I was coming out of Alderson, that camp I was in for a while,” Stewart said on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “And my parole officer wouldn’t give me the time to do it … That bastard! I still have his name and his number.”

According to Stewart, the parameters of her parole limited her time outside of the house to eight hours per day.

Martha Stewart has obviously had a very successful career, changing the way we view both the lifestyle industry and the Comedy Central roast industry.

But despite all of her accomplishments and undeniable cultural contributions, the 83-year-old star has never once hosted Saturday Night Live. But that doesn’t mean that she hasn’t been invited to host. As Stewart recently told Jimmy Fallon, Lorne Michaels asked her to host the show decades ago, but unfortunately, she was legally prevented from doing so.

“I wanted to, and they asked me as I was coming out of Alderson — that camp that I was in for a while,” Stewart explained. Of course, the “camp” in question was a federal prison camp, where Stewart served a five-month sentence beginning in late 2004. “My parole officer wouldn’t give me the time to do it,” Stewart recalled. “I was allowed to be out of my house eight hours a day,...

Seinfeld remains to date one of the most famous TV sitcoms ever made. The 90s show aired between 1989 to 1998, but its tremors are felt even now. As many have stated, the show completely changed the world of sitcoms by turning the genre on its head.

Jerry Seinfeld in a still from Seinfeld | Credits: NBC

Sitcoms at the time used to be a legacy of wholesomeness with morals suitable to the time sprinkled throughout the episodes. However, Seinfeld introduced characters difficult to like that ended up being relatable to many. Not only that, it was the first show to utilize situational comedy as one of its key elements.

Something that has become a crucial trend for current sitcoms. As a result, it came as quite a surprise when the show concluded its run after nine seasons. Admittedly, at its peak. Incidentally, turning down an unprecedented $100 million paycheck for it. However, there...

Lisa Kudrow is sharing an update on the Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion sequel that is in the works.

The No Good Deed star is set to reprise her role as Michele Weinberger opposite Mira Sorvino in a sequel to the 1997 comedy.

“We’re as close as we’ve ever been,” Kudrow said on The Drew Barrymore Show. “There’s a script that’s really good, [by] Robin Schiff.”

Barrymore, a fan of the film, added, “Oh my God, I just got chills. I really did,” with Kudrow noting, “So it’ll happen, I mean, we’ll see.”

In the same interview on the daytime talk show, Kudrow revealed that the film was based on a play by Schiff, saying, “So they had to do a backers audition for the play to see if they could even mount the play. And they went to all the [acting] teachers, ‘Who do you recommend to audition?...

An unfairly criticized Jim Carrey movie has gotten a new streaming home. As of Jan. 1, The Cable Guy is now available to stream on Max.

Released in 1996, The Cable Guy was directed by Ben Stiller and written by Lou Holtz Jr. The movie features Sonic the Hedgehog 3 star Jim Carrey as a cable TV installer who aggressively befriends a customer played by Matthew Broderick. While it was expected to reach greater heights financially with Carrey in the lead, the film was still profitable at the box office, earning over $102 million against a budget of $47 million — $20 million of which reportedly went straight into Carrey's pocket. Its reception was also divisive, garnering mixed reviews and respective critics and audiences scores of 55% and 51% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Related Jim Carrey's $484 Million Comedy With Morgan Freeman as God Gets a New Streaming Home

This comedy classic from Sonic the Hedgehog's Jim Carrey featuring Morgan...

The Cable Guy, Jim Carrey's outstanding dark comedy thriller directed by Ben Stiller, will land on Max next January. Don't pay attention to its 55% score on Rotten Tomatoes, as The Cable Guy is one of the best comedies of its time.

Starring Carrey in one of his most underrated performances, The Cable Guy will stream starting January 1 on the Warner Bros./Discovery platform, just in time to get a laugh during the post-holiday blues. While the film is certainly unsettling due to Carrey's maniacal performance and his character’s warped idea of a friendship, The Cable Guy is still one of the funniest ways to ring in the New Year. It's also a damning critique of television itself.

The Cable Guy tells the story of Steven Kovacs (Matthew Broderick), a yuppie who moves to an apartment by himself after a marriage proposal to Robin doesn't end well. Steven gets cable,...

Winona Ryder rose to prominence immediately after making her film debut in 1986.Stranger Things/YouTube; Sony Pictures Home Entertainment/YouTubeAbigail Williams in 'The Crucible'mega

Winona Ryder plays the role of Abigail Williams in the 1996 film The Crucible. Directed by Nicholas Hytner and written by Arthur Miller, the film explores the Salem Witch Trials involving girls in a small community. Ryder's character, who had an affair with Daniel Day-Lewis' John Proctor, tries to get revenge on his wife by framing her.

The Crucible also stars Paul Scofield, Joan Allen, Bruce Davison, Rob Campbell and Jeffrey Jones, to name a few.

Beth Macintyre in 'Black Swan'SearchlightPictures/YouTube

Starring as Beth Macintyre, also known as The Dying Swan, Ryder takes on the role and paves the way for Natalie Portman's Nina, a talented ballet dancer, in the film Black Swan. The 2010 flick also sees the rivalry between Nina and newcomer Lilly (Mila Kunis).

Following filming,...

Saturday Night Live isn’t the easiest show to work for thanks to the stressful hours, relentless competition and the constant fear that Alec Baldwin will randomly pop by and take your only speaking role.

A lot of former cast members have talked about this problem over the years. Janeane Garofalo called her time at SNL “the most miserable experience of my life.” Bill Hader routinely suffered from panic attacks, even while on the air. Hey, at least they got… shockingly little money.

The most vocal critic of the bunch may be Harry Shearer, who said of his brief SNL career, “I was fully prepared for a difficult situation. I wasn’t prepared for how difficult. I was pretty fucking miserable for virtually the entire season.” He also called producer Lorne Michaels “an expert at manipulating people, and playing psychological games with people.”

The latest ex-SNL employee to weigh...

Break out the Post-It Notes because Romy and Michele may be headed towards another reunion. While a sequel to Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion may not have been officially greenlit, star Mira Sorvino (that’s Romy) has hopes that it’s the closest it’s ever been to being ready to go.

Speaking with People, Sorvio said that the Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion sequel isn’t entirely ready but just needs a few more tweaks before cameras are ready to roll. “They’ve done his deal, they’ve done Lisa [Kudrow] and my deals as executive producers. [Original screenwriter Robin Schiff] has written multiple drafts of an amazing funny script, which checks all the boxes for all the fans.” As for a time frame, Sorvino noted, “And they’re just going back and forth, tweaking things here and there, and [there are] rumors of shooting it second quarter next year…...

Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion is getting a promising update regarding a sequel.

Mira Sorvino says that a follow-up to the 1997 hit comedy, co-starring Lisa Kudrow, is “so close to being greenlit,” via People.

The actress revealed that a deal has been done with a director, and that both she and Lisa are already on board as executive producers, while original screenwriter Robin Schiff “has written multiple drafts of an amazing funny script, which checks all the boxes for all the fans.”

Keep reading to find out more…

Not only would the two main costars return, but she also confirmed that “Almost every single character from the original that was important is coming back….This is all pending, them making deals, them saying yes, but they’re all in there.”

The sequel could begin shooting in “second quarter next year,” Mira said.

“But, it’s not officially greenlit, so...

One of the most underrated ‘90s action dramas, and most underrated performances from Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone is now available to stream on Prime Video. From the director behind Logan and featuring an all-star cast that includes Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Peter Berg, Janeane Garofalo, and Robert Patrick alongside Stallone, 1997’s Cop Land deserves to be seen by a much wider audience.

Written and directed by James Mangold who, alongside Logan, is also known for the likes of 3:10 to Yuma, The Wolverine, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and the upcoming A Complete Unknown, Cop Land sees Stallone shed some muscle to portray a bulky, bumbling, broken local sheriff who finds himself having to step up and become the hero he always wanted to be after coming into conflict with the corrupt New York City police officers living in the community he polices. Cop Land...

Sylvester Stallone played the one-man army archetype to a tee in Judge Dredd, Cobra, and the Rambo films. Cop Land flips the script by casting the actor as the underdog protagonist.

Prime Video adds Cop Land to its streaming library this December. James Mangold's 1997 crime thriller featured a powerhouse ensemble starring Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, and Harvey Keitel. The film grossed more than $63 million against a $15 million budget, stoking then-up-and-coming director James Mangold's career. Cop Land is also one of Stallone's most underrated films, overshadowed by the Rambo and Rocky series. Stallone confirmed this in a THR interview; despite the film's success, he considered the reception for Cop Land underwhelming.

Related Logan Director Calls Cinematic Universes the 'Death of Storytelling'

Director James Mangold says multi-movie universes defeat the purpose of storytelling as an emotional experience audiences should invest in.

Cop Land follows Sheriff Freddy Heflin's...

Romy & Michele's High School Reunion went from being a modest box office performer in 1997 to a true cult classic in the years since its release. Thanks to home video and many viewings on cable TV, the comedy found a new audience that has boosted its profile and made the notion of a sequel a strong possibility. We've gotten multiple updates on a potential follow-up over the years, but Romy & Michele star Mira Sorvino just provided the biggest update on the sequel to date.

During a chat with People, Sorvino confirmed that she and co-star Lisa Kudrow are on board for a sequel to the film, and that it's "so close to being greenlit." The actress revealed that a deal has been closed with a director for the project and that she and Kudrow are also on deck as executive producers. Sorvino added that the writer of the first film,...

It’s been nearly 30 years since Romy and Michele attended their 10-year high school reunion in 1997, but talks of a sequel film to Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion are heating up once again. One of its stars, Oscar-winner Mira Sorvino, who played Romy White in the original movie, told People that a sequel is “close” to becoming a reality.

Sorvino, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1996 for her role in Mighty Aphrodite, said that a follow-up to Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion is “so close to being greenlit,” and added that a director has already been hired for the project.

They’ve done his deal, they’ve done Lisa (Kudrow) and my deals as executive producers.

“They’ve done his deal, they’ve done Lisa (Kudrow) and my deals as executive producers,” Sorvino said. In the film, Kudrow (Friends) played Romy’s best friend,...

Romy and Michele are getting ever closer to another reunion: In a new interview, Mira Sorvino says a follow-up to the 1997 hit comedy Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion starring herself and Lisa Kudrow is “so close to being greenlit.”

In the exclusive interview with People, Sorvino reports that a deal has been done with a director, and both she and Kudrow are on board as executive producers for a sequel. The original screenwriter Robin Schiff “has written multiple drafts of an amazing funny script, which checks all the boxes for all the fans,” Sorvino says.

In addition to Sorvino and Kudrow returning, Sorvino also confirmed that “Almost every single character from the original that was important is coming back….This is all pending, them making deals, them saying yes, but they’re all in there.”

The sequel could begin shooting in “second quarter next year,” she says.

“But,...