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Surprises can be good or bad, but in this case, it’s definitely a welcome one. Netflix has just added a beloved CBS classic to its library, and we had no idea it was coming!

On July 31, the streaming giant released the drama series Touched by an Angel on its platform. This show was not included in Netflix's original July 2025 slate of new releases, so its arrival comes as a surprise, albeit a pleasant one.

As of today, you can watch all nine seasons of Touched by an Angel on the streaming platform. That's 211 episodes of heartfelt stories that have personally touched so many lives, including mine. It's the perfect show to turn on when you need a little comfort or inspiration. Or simply when you need a break from the chaos of everyday life. Touched by an Angel is definitely a show worth revisiting or discovering for the first time,...

Former President Barack Obama won the presidency twice, but the 22nd Amendment prevented him from going for the hat trick. The same rules don't apply to the Emmy race, where the 42nd commander in chief is closing in on his third individual Primetime Emmy. Obama's name was included among the Best Narrator nominees when nominations were announced on Tuesday for lending his voice to the Netflix docuseries Our Oceans, made in collaboration with Higher Ground, the production company run by the former Potus and his Flotus, Michelle Obama.

Obama is no stranger to this particular category having been nominated — and won — twice before. He received his first Best Narrator statuette in 2022 for narrating the Netflix-Higher Ground collab Our Great National Parks, and repeated the following year for another joint effort, Working: What We Do All Day. He and Michelle also won two Daytime Emmys in 2022 for producing animated children's shows.

THR reports that Doug Liman is set to direct The Stand for Paramount Pictures. The novel, which is considered to be one of Stephen King’s best, deals with a deadly pandemic that kills nearly the entire population. The survivors are drawn to two opposing communities, one led by the kind, prophetic Mother Abagail and the other by the sinister, demonic Randall Flagg. This all leads to a final battle between good and evil. The search is now on for a writer to tackle the project. In addition to directing, Liman will also produce alongside Tyler Thompson of Cross Creek Pictures.

At 1,152 pages, The Stand is King’s longest book. While you might think that Paramount will be viewing this as something that will span multiple films, sources tell THR that “Liman and the studio have a particular take and that the feature would be a one-off, not a multi-movie endeavor.

Before she sets foot in Radio City Music Hall this Sunday, actor Kara Young will have already made Tony Award history by becoming the first Black person to receive Tony acting nominations in four consecutive years, and only the second person overall. If she wins this Sunday, she will be the first Black person to win two consecutive Tonys.

And yet, the records don’t do Kara Young justice. The treasure is in each performance, one as different, complex and unfailingly compelling. In Lynn Nottage’s Clyde’s (2022) she played a former criminal who finds redemption as, of all things, a cook in a truck stop diner. The following season in Martyna Majok’s Cost of Living, she played Jess, a broke young woman who becomes a caregiver to a young man with cerebral palsy; and in 2024 she received a Tony Award for her featured role as Lutiebell Gussie Mae...

Leslie Odom Jr. will return to Broadway this fall to reprise his Tony Award-winning role as Aaron Burr in Hamilton. His limited engagement will run from September 9 through November 23 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, where the musical first opened in 2015.

Odom’s return was announced during his appearance on NBC’s Today Show, coinciding with the release of a new block of tickets now on sale through late November. His participation comes nine years after he exited the production in July 2016 and arrives just ahead of Hamilton’s tenth anniversary on Broadway, which takes place in August 2025.

“Returning to Hamilton is a deeply meaningful homecoming,” Odom said in a statement. “I’m so grateful for the chance to step back into the room—especially during this anniversary moment—and to revisit this brilliant piece that forever changed my life and the lives of so many.”

Odom played Burr in both...

Leslie Odom, Jr. will return to Broadway’s Hamilton this fall in a reprise of his Tony Award-winning role as Aaron Burr. A member of the original cast, Odom’s return to Hamilton comes nine years after he took his final bow in July 2016.

Odom begins performances on Tuesday, September 9, for a strictly limited engagement through Sunday, November 23 at Broadway’s Richard Rodgers Theatre.

The announcement was made this morning during Odom’s live appearance on NBC’s The Today Show. A new block of tickets has been released and is now on sale through November 23.

The announcement of Odom’s return engagement comes as Hamilton nears its tenth anniversary on Broadway on August 6.

“Returning to Hamilton is a deeply meaningful homecoming,” said Odom. “I’m so grateful for the chance to step back into the room—especially during this anniversary moment—and to revisit this brilliant piece that forever...

Bubba Ho-Tep is a silly good time. It’s an unorthodox take on genre cinema that features a great showing from Bruce Campbell as an aging, undead Elvis. I like the film (and Campbell) so much that I once dedicated an installment of the Dread Central newsletter, The Harbinger, to the Don Coscarelli-directed effort. Though the picture has its fans, I think it’s actually a bit underrated. However, the feature has at least one high-profile fan. During a recent look at Mike Flanagan’s Letterbox profile, I learned that the Absentia director is also a die-hard Bubba Ho-Tep enthusiast.

That’s right; Flanagan added the flick to a Letterboxd list chronicling his favorite horror movies. Nice work, Mike.

The setup for this Mike Flanagan-approved horror-comedy goes like this:

After falling into a lengthy coma following a freak accident involving hip gyration, an aged Elvis Presley (Campbell) wakes up...

I’m old enough to remember when Jacques Rivette films were the domain of dark-web networks and substandard DVD rips, a conspiratorial network worthy of his cinema. It’s still a little strange seeing that April will feature a 10-film, one-short Criterion Channel program that combines of his canonized masterpieces with decidedly lesser-seens––plus Va Savoir, which I really hope is the recently unearthed four-hour cut for which there’s no substitute. Penélope Cruz is also subject of a retrospective in April, which––more than making me pine for a Rivette collab that never was––will include both Abre Los Ojos and Vanilla Sky, some Almodóvar, and another in the Channel’s ongoing let’s-add-a-Woody-Allen-movie campaign, Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

For themed series, J. Hoberman has curated a series on the dangers of ’60s and ’70s New York that runs from Michael Roemer’s recently restored The Plot Against Harry and...

Every studio has its hits, and Disney is no exception. Despite the studio’s massive influence, it’s still prone to producing pop culture duds. Yet, many of those “flops” are important stepping stones. They help the studio learn what works and — more importantly — how to create something better. One of the studio’s most unappreciated stepping stones hit theaters in May 2000. Dinosaur’s rubbery behemoths may not have aged gracefully, but their uncanny appearances highlighted the studio’s lofty ambitions.

Fans should think twice before judging the visuals of Dinosaur too harshly, as the world’s first feature-length CGI film, Toy Story, debuted just five years earlier. Though the former film’s visuals have undoubtedly aged, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The “outdated” effects of Dinosaur are a CGI time capsule, and they reflect what was once considered the most advanced technological achievements in digital animation.

Disney...

Netflix announced 12 new titles for the first of the month and then added a dozen more to the mix. The stealth release slate was at least as good as the previously announced group. Happily, it included one of my favorite films ever. If you haven't seen it yet, this is your chance to add it to your list.

I saw this movie at the theater when it came out in 1989. It was astonishing, amazing, and absolutely brilliant. Sounds like an especially arrogant LLC, doesn't it? Well, it truly was and still is all of those things. From the opening frame to the last, I was riveted, as was the entire audience. As soon as it was available on DVD, I had my own copy. That was followed by the Blu-ray, then the digital version. And lucky you, you get to watch it now on Netflix.

When I say this is...

As the days are getting longer and the temperature is starting to rise, Netflix has decided to stream the perfect movie for heading into the warmer months.NYU legend Spike Lee's famous 1989 film — set on the hottest day in Brooklyn — Do The Right Thing, has found a streaming home on Netflix as of March 1, 2025. Written by the She's Gotta Have It director in less than two weeks, the film is a beautiful love letter to Brooklyn that simultaneously exposes the deep racial tensions of New York City. Lee also stars in the film as the story's middle man, Mookie, a person torn between his Italian-American employer and the Black residents of his community.

While the stylized '80s film might seem like a snapshot of a time gone by, the film's themes of racial relations in the American melting pot are more pertinent now than ever. The film has...

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This March, Netflix is bringing you a lot of entertainment, from the highly anticipated murder mystery series The Residence to the star-studded sci-fi adventure film The Electric State. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Netflix this month and have an 85% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the seven best films that are coming to Netflix in February 2025 with an 85% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Beginners (March 1) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86% Credit – Focus Features

Beginners is a romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Mike Mills. The 2010 film follows Oliver, a young man still grieving the recent death of his father. He soon meets the irreverent and unpredictable Anna and tries to use the memories of his father to motivate himself to open himself up to the...

Stephen King is one of the most prolific and influential authors of all time, and the authority on the horror and sci-fi genre. His books have been adapted into countless films and television projects, some of them even more than once.

Many iconic filmmakers have attempted to adapt King's works, and some of them were successful, like frequent collaborator Mike Flanagan, and others were not on King's favorite list due to the many changes to their material. One horror veteran auteur who hasn't attempted to adapt one of King's works is James Wan, famous for works like Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring. In a new appearance on The Kingcast, Wan revealed that the "only" novel for him to adapt is one of King's most ambitious works: The Stand.

Related'Just Perfect': Stephen King Shares Exciting Update for Mike Flanagan's Delayed The Dark Tower Series

Although there aren't any real development news about The Dark Tower,...

The Bubba Ho-Tep soundtrack is available on vinyl for the first time from Waxwork Records.

Composed by Brian Tyler, the score is pressed on Egyptian Sand & Silver Swirl colored vinyl.

It’s housed in heavyweight gatefold packaging with matte satin coating featuring artwork by JJ Harrison with an 11×11 art print insert.

Priced at $32, the album is expected to ship in April.

Based on the novella by Joe R. Lansdale, the 2002 horror-comedy is written and directed by Don Coscarelli (Phantasm). It stars Bruce Campbell as Elvis Presley and Ossie Davis as John F. Kennedy.

The post Waxwork Records Is Taking Care of Business with ‘Bubba Ho-Tep’ Vinyl appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation kicked off Black History Month by launching the fourth season of its Legacy Collection, a series of more than 200 never-before-seen career retrospective interviews.

This season focuses on trailblazing Black film and TV actors — beginning with the late Bill Walker, whose career spanned nearly 50 years and more than 100 films and TV shows, including “The Killers,” “The Long Hot Summer” and “Our Man Flint.” Remember Reverend Sykes, who urges Scout a.k.a. Jean Louise to “stand up, your father’s passin’” as Gregory Peck’s Atticus Finch leaves the courtroom near the end of “To Kill a Mockingbird”? That’s Walker in action.

The veteran actor, who also served on the board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild from 1952 to 1971 (only the third Black person to do so), was interviewed about his life and career just seven weeks before he died in January 1992. Then 95 years old, Walker...

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This January, Prime Video is bringing you a lot of entertainment from the Will Ferrell comedy film You’re Cordially Invited to the beloved romantic action comedy film The Fall Guy. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Prime Video this month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the 10 best films that are coming to Prime Video in January 2025 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Boogie Nights (January 1) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94% Credit – New Line Cinema

Boogie Nights is a drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The 1997 film is set in Los Angeles’s San Fernando Valley, and it follows Eddie Adams, a high school dropout working as a dishwasher as he becomes one of the biggest adult film stars,...

There's something sort of mythical about the state of Texas. It's one of the biggest states in the United States, both in terms of its geographical size and population, but it has an equally big reputation. Movies set in the state tend to be just as big, whether they're the laid-back ensemble comedies of Richard Linklater or one of the many gritty Westerns to which Texas has played host. But which among them is the best film set in Texas? Figuring that out is a pretty gargantuan task given the sheer number of truly great movies set in Texas, but I gave it my honest best. 

That being said, David Byrne's wacky musical comedy "True Stories," Ivan Reitman's farcical "Twins," Brian Robbins's soapy football drama "Varsity Blues," James L. Brooks's family tragicomedy "Terms of Endearment," and David Mackenzie's hard-boiled neo-western "Hell or High Water" all make the honorable mentions list.

Politics can be scary, and today is Election Day. Whether you’re in need of a distraction from the news or simply looking for themed viewing inspiration, here’s a handy guide to Election Day horror movies to keep your mind preoccupied. These eight horror movies feature politicians, presidents, political divides, and capitalism, all filtered through the lens of horror.

Consider this your reminder to go vote, then come home and escape into the faux universes where aliens have invaded, governments sanction full-blown murder holidays, and more.

Here are eight Election Day horror movies to watch today…

The Dead Zone

Directed by David Cronenberg, this adaptation stars Christopher Walken as John Smith, a young school teacher who slips into a coma for five years due to a car accident. When he comes to, he finds his lady love has moved on and has a new psychic ability that gives him insight into anyone he touches.

The comedy genre has delivered audiences some of the best stories of all time, from cult classics like The Big Lebowski to the absurd antics of Airplane!. The genre has seen some of the best legends in Hollywood come and go, from dramatic actors like Clint Eastwood and Liam Neeson to hilarious stars like Seann William Scott and Will Ferrell, who built a career there. While accolades for good acting often go to stars of dramas, thrillers, science fiction and Westerns, comedy has no shortage of brilliant, career-defining performances.

Comedy movies are often overlooked when it comes to the performances of actors, largely due to its tendency towards zany, over-the-top and sometimes campy performances that lack the subtlety and weight of dramas. The genre has as much range as its best stars, and some of the more nuanced and immersive roles from a variety of stars have showed it deserves...

The American TV-movie has gained a bad rap over the years, but there was a time when folks looked forward to these flicks — and not in an ironic sense or a need to hate-watch.

That period of kinder and less cynical viewership was surely in the 1970s and ’80s when the made-for-television movie became more widespread. The “movie of the week” format took off in the former decade, with the major networks at the time devoting blocks in their schedules to these standalone, small-screen features. And one of the more revisited genres was horror. Duel, The Night Stalker and The Night Strangler, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Trilogy of Terror, Are You in the House Alone?, The Initiation of Sarah. These are just a few of the classic telefilms that scared a whole generation of viewers.

There have been great strides to archive and restore these past horror TV-movies,...

Bruce Campbell and director Don Coscarelli are celebrating 21 years of that nasty, Egyptian soul-sucking mummy matching wits with the King of Rock and Roll and JFK. Some kind of Bubba Ho-Tep is terrorizing the residents of Shady Rest, and its up to a presumed Elvis Presley impersonator (Campbell) and former United States President John F. Kennedy Jr. (Ossie Davis) to save the day in the hilarious horror comedy, Bubba Ho-Tep. Campbell jumped on social media to share an image and post written by Coscarelli, in which the actor added by emphasizing just how much of an independent venture the 2003 release was. Campbell wrote:

Lots of talk about Indie this and Indie that. Don [Coscarelli] not only financed Bubba himself, he self-distributed. THATs an Indie.

Lots of talk about Indie this and Indie that. Don not only financed Bubba himself, he self-distributed. THATs an Indie. https://t.co/TmAWZqAnLR pic.twitter.com...

Bruce Campbell and Don Coscarelli are celebrating 21 years of Bubba Ho-Tep. It's an indie film through and through, as the two say, proud of the accomplishments the project managed to achieve.

On the social media platform X, Bubba Ho-Tep director Don Coscarelli shared poster art for the cult classic film. The art features Campbell in the role of Elvis Presley, now living in a nursing home after faking his death decades prior. Behind him is the silhouette of the ancient mummy who's been resurrected, leaving it up to Elvis and JFK (Ossie Davis) up to stop him. With such an outlandish concept, the movie is not the kind of project that would typically be put out by a major movie studio, leaving it up to the Bubba Ho-Tep team to not only make the film, but handle its distribution as well.

Lots of talk about Indie this and Indie that.

Do The Right Thing is a modern American classic that examines racial tension, police brutality, and gentrification. Spike Lee's film masterfully showcases the realities of systemic division in the US and offers valuable lessons transcending time. The movie's narrative captures a poignant climax, emphasizing the consequences of racial tension and the need for societal healing.

Gritty, unapologetic, and uncompromising, Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing is a gripping, emotional tale that mirrors the combative, racially divided nature of America. Released in 1989, and notoriously snubbed at that year's Oscars, Do The Right Thing provided one of cinema's most brutally honest portrayals of America's quarrelsome tendencies. Exploring topics like gentrification, police brutality, and morality, the film sheds light on the lives of the often-overlooked lower class and the tragic dynamics of racial tension that plague American communities. Upon release, many believed that the film was too coarse and would incite racial riots.

Bubba Ho-Tep is a unique and fun twist on Elvis' story, with Elvis teaming up to fight a mummy. The movie features Elvis living a peaceful life without his music, giving a fresh portrayal. Despite being underrated, Bubba Ho-Tep gained cult classic status due to Campbell's performance and originality.

The life and career of Elvis Presley have been the subject of many movies and TV shows, but theres one horror comedy starring Bruce Campbell that gave a twist to the kings story. Many music icons have had their lives and careers portrayed in various forms of media, whether due to their great success, the tragedies they went through, or their many achievements. Among them is the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, whose story has fascinated fans and artists alike, getting different interpretations over the years.

Some of the most recent and successful takes on the life of Elvis Presley are Baz Luhrmanns Elvis,...

Tom Hanks' underrated films showcase his diverse talent and captivate viewers with unique narratives and characters. Joe Versus the Volcano, Road to Perdition, and The 'Burbs are prime examples of Hanks' ability in lesser-known projects. These movies explore themes of personal transformation, morals, and resilience, highlighting Hanks' versatility and depth as an actor.

Tom Hanks is one of Hollywood's most beloved and accomplished actors, renowned for his blockbuster hits like Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, and Toy Story. His talent for bringing depth and humanity to his characters has earned him a place in the hearts of audiences worldwide. However, despite his fame, some of the best scenes of Tom Hanks' entire career, have flown under the radar, overshadowed by his more iconic ones. These underrated films showcase his versatility and ability to captivate viewers, even in lesser-known projects.

Tom Hanks' underrated movies offer a glimpse into his talent. From dramas to comedies,...

B-movie legend Bruce Campbell is one of a handful of actors to play late singer Elvis Presley in a feature film. However, Campbell's version might have been the strangest of them all, but it wasn't the plot that weirded out the actor by taking on the role.

In a post on the social media platform X, Campbell shared a video of Elvis from his final concert in 1977. The video was shared on the 47th anniversary of the "Jailhouse Rock" singer's passing in honor of keeping his memory alive. Campbell also included an image from the set of Bubba Ho-Tep, the 2002 film in which he played an older version of Elvis. As the Evil Dead star noted, he was 42 when he played the role, and that just so happened to be the same age Elvis died, which was a "weird" feeling for the actor.

It was weird to play Elvis when...

The Stephen King TV adaptations of the 90s have their legion of fans despite the varying qualities. The most famous mini-series of the bunch is the 1990 adaptation of It with Tim Curry in one of his many cultural defining roles as Pennywise. Many other adaptations include Storm of the Century and The Langoliers. One of the adaptations that has a cult following is the TV adaptation of The Stand from 1994. Blu-ray.com has recently reported that Paramount Home Media Distribution will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Mick Garris’ The Stand with a Limited SteelBook edition of the film, which is set to be sold exclusively at Walmart on September 24.

The description reads,

“In Stephen King’s epic vision of an apocalyptic future, the few survivors of a plague-ravaged world must choose sides in the ultimate battle of good vs. evil that will decide the fate of humanity. As the followers...

It’s the summer of “Blaxploitation, Baby!,” the latest festival hosted by Film Forum.

The indie theater announced the upcoming festival which will take place August 16 through August 22. The program celebrates the early ‘70s genre of Black cinema, and features films wth iconic movie stars Pam Grier, Richard Roundtree, Ron O’Neal, Tamara Dobson, Jim Brown, Vonetta McGee, Fred Williamson, Isaac Hayes, and more.

“Blaxploitation, Baby!” is dedicated to author and pioneering film historian Donald Bogle, who collaborated on Film Forum’s first Blaxploitation festival in 1995. Bogle credited Melvin Van Peebles’ filmography for helping to establish the genre. “Blaxploitation, Baby!” additionally ranges from works from directors such as Ossie Davis, Gordon Parks, and Gordon Parks Jr.

As well as the screenings, the festival will include the sales of critic and historian Odie Henderson’s “Black Caesars and Foxy Cleopatras: A History of Blaxploitation” and Donald Bogle’s acclaimed TCM book “Hollywood Black” at concessions.

Martin Lawrence began his career as a stand-up comedian in Washington D.C. and eventually transitioned into acting, making a name for himself. Lawrence's role in the monumental film "Do the Right Thing" marked his feature-film debut and helped launch him into superstardom. Despite not being the main character, Lawrence's involvement in "Do the Right Thing" alongside other talented actors was a key moment in his career.

During his father's service in the U.S. military, Martin Lawrence was born in Frankfurt, Germany before his family moved to America. They decided on the Washington D.C. area, where Martin proceeded to grow up specifically, in Landover, Maryland. Undersized as a kid, Martin was often involved in fist fights growing up, and during his teen years, he decided to hone his punching prowess in the realm of amateur boxing.

He even became a Golden Gloves contender, but transitioned to a new vocation fairly soon thereafter.

The early 2000s saw a shift from hand-drawn to computer-generated animation, challenging Disney's reign in the genre. While some iconic animated movies emerged, many others were either forgotten or never discovered by audiences. From forgotten gems like "Dinosaur" and "Treasure Planet" to flops like "Sinbad," the decade had a mix of hits and misses.

Early 2000s animated movies created an exciting decade for the genre. It saw the traditional hand-drawn animation style being mostly replaced by computer-generated animation. It was also a period in which Disney's reign as the best in the genre was challenged by other studios. While several iconic animated movies arrived that decade from Pixar and DreamWorks, there are also even more movies audiences either forgot about or never knew about in the first place, some better than others.

Looking back on the animated movies of the 2000s, there are a number that have cemented their status...

No awards show makes it to the end without a few surprises, and tonight’s Tony Awards on CBS had a whopper: It went off without a hitch.

The Pluto TV pre-show, not so much. But more on that in a bit.

With Ariana DeBose returning to host for the third time, the 77th Annual Tonys was like a how-to for awards shows, with nearly all of the performances by the Best Musical nominees (and the year’s Best Play winner Stereophonic) showcasing each production at its best. (Which one fell a bit short? Read on.)

DeBose kicked things off with a made-for-the-show musical number, sounding terrific even if a performance from one of the actual Broadway shows might have been a wiser option. DeBose has said this will be her final Tony hosting gig, at least for a while, and she’ll be missed: She knows how to hold the spotlight,...

Giancarlo Esposito recreates iconic Buggin' Out scene from Do The Right Thing, capturing the essence of his beloved character. Esposito's talent was first recognized in early career-defining role in 1989 Spike Lee film. The actor's in Do The Right Thing helped propel Esposito's career, leading to success in projects like Breaking Bad.

Giancarlo Esposito recreates a Do The Right Thing scene years later. A Spike Lee movie from 1989, Do the Right Thing featured a standout ensemble cast that included Lee himself, Samuel L. Jackson, Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Martin Lawrence, Rosie Perez, Ruby Dee, John Turturro, Bill Dunn, and Richard Edson, among others. One of such cast members was Breaking Bads Esposito, who played Mookies eccentric friend Buggin Out.

In an Instagram video from lethalshooter, Esposito recreates an iconic Buggin Out scene. In the video, Esposito sees his white Air Jordan shoes run over by a bicycle, who in this case,...

As the Tony Awards approach in June, theatre fans are getting the opportunity to watch one of the best-reviewed shows of the season from home. On Friday, May 24 at 9 p.m. Et, PBS will broadcast “Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch” as part of its “Great Performances” annual Broadway’s Best lineup. Starring Leslie Odom Jr., Kara Young, Billy Eugene Jones, Jay O. Sanders, Heather Alicia Simms, and more, the show is nominated for six Tonys, including Best Revival Of A Play. You can watch PBS with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. You can also watch with Hulu Live TV or YouTube TV.

How to Watch 'Great Performances': 'Purlie Victorious' When: Friday, May 24, 2024 at 9:00 Pm Edt TV: PBS Stream: Watch with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. 5-Day Free Trial$79.99+ / month directv.com/stream

Subscribe Now and get Max, Paramount+, Starz, and MGM+...

Terrifier 3's cast sheet receives an exciting new update, this time in the form of Matlock actor and The Munsters star Daniel Roebuck. A first look photo has also been revealed for the actor in his role as Santa Claus.

Per genre fan site UpcomingHorrorMovies, Roebuck has officially joined the cast of the upcoming Terrifier 3. He will appear alongside returning Terrifier 2 stars Lauren Lavera and Elliot Fullam, as well as Art the Clown actor David Howard Thornton and longtime series performer, Samantha Scaffidi. Bloody Disgusting has also shared a first look photo of Roebuck as Santa Claus, which can be seen below. Of his casting, Roebuck said, "I’ve been holding this secret for a long time! I’ve been really excited about it. I’m actually entering into the movies that I watch. It’s extraordinary. This is Terrifier bigger, badder, best.”

Related James McAvoy's Speak No Evil,...

Broadway said goodbye last week to two well-regarded but underperforming productions, with both Harmony and Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch posting better-than-usual weekly box office as last-chancers grabbed seats.

Harmony, the Barry Manilow-Bruce Sussman musical about the real-life 1920s German singing group the Comedian Harmonists, filled a robust 99% of seats at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, grossing $853,055 for the week ending February 4. That’s a bump of $145,978 over the previous week.

Purlie Victorious, the universally acclaimed revival of the Ossie Davis comedy starring Leslie Odom Jr. and Kara Young, grossed $706,882, a boost of $58,090 over the previous week. Still, the production filled only 81% of seats at the Music Box.

In all, the 25 Broadway productions grossed $23,493,675, a slight 5% bump over the previous week (and nearly identical to last year’s gross for the week). Total attendance was 213,281, about 2% over the previous week and 9% over last year at this time.

Perhaps no single theatrical image sums up Broadway’s 2023 more effectively than Jessica Chastain’s Nora leaving her dreary, unfulfilled doll house life to exit directly into the unlimited possibilities of an honest-to-god New York City street.

Unless maybe it’s that huge tree that sprouts up smack dab in the middle of an abandoned Southern plantation home after the Appropriate cast has left the stage, a gut-punch reminder that the sins of a nation’s past don’t just wither away because we don’t want to see them.

Or maybe it was Leslie Odom Jr. delivering that eulogy-coda in Purlie Victorious, blessing his “Africanic brothers” — and the audience — with the words “Now may the Constitution of the United States go with you; the Declaration of Independence stand by you; the Bill of Rights protect you; and the State Commission Against Discrimination keep the eyes of the law upon you,...

SNL closed out its season with the annual Weekend Update joke swap, featuring a special mystery guest: Dr. Hattie Davis. Colin Jost and Michael Che write jokes for each other and swap them, creating anticipation and laughter. This year, Che upped his game by introducing Dr. Hattie Davis, who turned out to be a made-up character, adding an extra layer of hilarity to the joke swap.

As is tradition, Saturday Night Live closed out its season with its annual Weekend Update joke swap, and this year, it featured a special mystery guest: Dr. Hattie Davis. Kate McKinnon returned to host the SNL Christmas episode, which also saw the return of another beloved show fixture. SNL resumed the joke swap for the first time after three years of extenuating circumstances, like cast goodbyes and the Covid-19 pandemic, derailed plans, and it was great to see it return. The tradition is one...

Horror movies are an excellent choice for viewers who love jump scares, disturbing imagery, and all things gory. While many fans have more or less become accustomed to the genre's gimmicks, there are other movies outside the horror genre that are morbidly creative with their content.

Not every project needs buckets of blood to be disturbing, and these films are stellar examples of that. Dramas like Nocturnal Animals reveal realistic scenarios no one would ever want to find themselves facing. Similarly, films like Saving Private Ryan may not fall under the horror genre, but they still evoke terrifying visuals that resonate with audiences. While most of these projects feel like classic horror stories, more often than not they fall into thriller or drama categories. Even so, fans shouldn't take these types of movies lightly, as they've been proven to produce truly nightmare-worthy scenes.

Dinosaur

Dinosaur

An orphaned dinosaur raised by...

During a time in American history when Black artists and performers were seldom being platformed by major studios in the film industry, Gordon Parks, a photojournalist and documentarian, adapted a detective novel by Ernest Tidyman into a film of the same name, Shaft. Recently departed, Richard Roundtree portrayed the titular detective in Parks' 1971 film which, despite mixed reception from early critics, spoke to many different audiences and cemented Roundtree's legacy as an icon of American cinema. The Blaxploitation genre was still in its infancy, with works from filmmakers such as Melvin Van Peebles and Ossie Davis establishing the style as a popular form for Black filmmakers.

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It was only a few days ago that the Criterion Collection had a surprise flash sale. The home video company’s entire catalog was slashed down to 50% off list prices. While that sale only lasted for 24 hours, there are a number of titles that are still on sale for half-off at Amazon.

We rounded up the best deals on Criterion Collection releases, including Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing,” Dennis Hopper’s “Easy Rider,” Whit Stillman’s “The Last Days of Disco” and much more. In fact, even a few boxed sets are half off, such as Krzysztof Kieślowski’s “The Dekalog” and Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” anthology.

Ahead, check out the best Criterion Blu-ray discs currently on sale for 50% off at Amazon:

‘Do the Right Thing...

Walt Disney Studios has captured the hearts of families with its fairytales for generations. The global powerhouse is especially regarded for its feats in animation. In 1937, Disney released Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, which was the first fully animated feature-length film brought to the big screen. The studio's accomplishments since then have extended from hand-drawn animation to 3D animation.

Since its collaborations and eventual acquisition of Pixar, Disney has churned out some of the most groundbreaking 3D animated films in history. Classics like Toy Story reveal the possibilities 3D animation has to offer. Furthermore, films such as Elemental combine complex tactics which consist of expertise in both hand-drawn animation and CGI. Whether they were blockbuster successes or quieter achievements, these projects each played a part in cementing Disney as the top dog in animation.

Related: The 20 Best Animated Films of All Time

Dinosaur Was a Creative Risk for Disney...

Long before Slave Play, decades before Ain’t No Mo, there was Purlie Victorious, the Ossie Davis comedy masterwork that, like those descendant plays, fused broad comedy, satirical minstrelsy, racial satire and still-relevant social commentary to create a play that is so encompassing in its views of history and legacy, so generous in its humanity and pinpoint sharp in its take on debts long owed and now demanded that Kenny Leon’s revival, opening tonight on Broadway, feels as current and bracing as a folding chair.

More about that folding chair later.

Starring a magnificent Leslie Odom, Jr., in the title role, and featuring equally fine performances by an enchanting Kara Young, Billy Eugene Jones, Vanessa Bell Calloway and more, Purlie Victorious – full title (and one of the few signifiers of its 1961-era creation): Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch – has been given an urgent – and,...

“Segregation is a ridiculous institution and it makes decent people do ridiculous things,” playwright, actor-director, and activist Ossie Davis told the New York Times on September 24, 1961, four days before his play Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch opened on Broadway, co-starring himself and his wife, Ruby Dee. “Maybe if they can be made to laugh at it they can see how absurd it is.”

Especially on a Great White Way where actors played predominantly to white audiences that had seen few comedies by Black playwrights, let alone satires on segregation, Purlie Victorious must have been a jolting event. Though the play, which ran for nearly eight months on Broadway, begat a film adaptation in 1963 (Gone Are the Days!) and the successful musical Purlie in 1970, Davis’s comedy about an aggrieved “self-made minister” righteously “disembezzling” a racist plantation owner has largely faded from popular memory.

Opening one day...

Just hours after Lizzo was hit with a second lawsuit with claims of creating a hostile work environment, the star accepted the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award at the Black Music Action Coalition (Bmac) gala in Los Angeles.

After skipping the red carpet portion of the evening, Lizzo took the stage at the Beverly Hilton hotel following an introduction by a group of her Big Grrrl dancers. Wiping away tears, she told the crowd, “I really needed this right now. God’s timing is on time.”

“I didn’t write a speech because I don’t know what to say in times like these,” Lizzo continued, thanking Bmac for the honor and noting that this award was different than others she has won because “humanitarianism in its nature is thankless, it’s selfless. To be kind to someone isn’t a talent; everyone can do it, it’s a gift that you give.

A trio of new shows joined Broadway last week to mostly decent box office figures as the fall season begins to take shape.

Most impressive was Gutenberg! The Musical! starring Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells under the direction of Alex Timbers. For the first three previews of its run, the musical filled 96% of seats at the James Earl Jones Theatre. The performances grossed $376,300, with an average ticket price at a solid $122.65. Opening night is Oct. 12.

The subscription-based Manhattan Theatre Club unveiled its production of Jocelyn Bioh’s Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, directed by Whitney White. The play took in $165,345 for six previews, with the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre at 97% of capacity. Average ticket was $44.51. Opening night is Oct. 3.

Melissa Etheridge began her autobiographical songs-and-stories show Melissa Etheridge: My Window with four previews at Circle in the Square, with attendance at 80% of capacity and a gross of $184,162. Average ticket was $79.38. Opening night is Sept.

If there’s one thing we hope that this year’s ‘80s Week package better illuminates, it’s the incredible depth and range on display in the films of the decade. While the iconic movies and stars of the totally radical ‘80s tend to most easily remembered for neon-tinted, big-haired, Tangerine Dream-set turns, consider this: the decade included all-time work from major performers like Meryl Streep, Ossie Davis, Jessica Lange, Robert De Niro, Gena Rowlands, Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Newman, Jackie Chan, and Whoopi Goldberg.

These are the kind of stars who show up and show out no matter the year, but it’s in the ‘80s in which they all captured the incredible essence of what makes them greats.

But they’re hardly alone on this list, which also includes indelible work from stars like David Byrne, Sandrine Bonaire, Babak Ahmadpour, Seret Scott, Mieko Harada, Ken Ogata, and even Divine...

William Friedkin, the Oscar-winning director behind The Exorcist, The French Connection, To Live and Die in L.A., The Boys in the Band, and more, is dead at 87. Friedkin died in Los Angeles, said his wife, former producer and studio head Sherry Lansing.

Born on August 29, 1935, in Chicago, Friedkin started directing television before disgusting audiences with projectile pea soup and dealings with demons. In the mid-’60s, Friedkin shot an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Hour and helmed various telefilms. Before the era was over, he got behind the camera for features like Good Times (1967), The Birthday Party (1968), and The Night They Raided Minsky’s (1968).

He started the ’70s off with a band by directing The Boys in the Band. With his name already on the lips of executives everywhere, he moved on to The French Connection, a show-stopping thriller starring Gene Hackman as Detective Popeye Doyle. The French Connection won multiple Oscars,...

The Bubba Ho-Tep episode of Wtf Happened to This Adaptation? was Written and Narrated by Andrew Hatfield, Edited by Mike Conway, Produced by Lance Vlcek and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian. Here is the text of Hatfield’s script:

Sometimes you find out that your favorite movies were adaptations of novels. While everyone knows when they are getting a Stephen King adaptation, a lot of the time you won’t know that a movie is based on an existing story until you get hit with it in the credits. Bubba Ho-Tep (watch it Here) is one of those properties. All of the advertising and certainly the feeling of the movie is that it’s a Bruce Campbell and Don Coscarelli movie, but the short story was written by Joe R. Landsdale. The movie was the little indie that could that was destined for cult fame and make...

The previously announced Broadway revival of the Ossie Davis comedy Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch starring Leslie Odom, Jr. will begin previews on Thursday, September 7, at The Music Box Theatre, with an opening date to be announced.

The preview date was announced today, along with complete casting details. In addition to Odom, the revival will star Vanessa Bell Calloway, Billy Eugene Jones, Noah Pyzik, Noah Robbins, Jay O. Sanders, Heather Alicia Simms, Bill Timoney, and Kara Young. Kenny Leon directs.

The play marks Odom’s return to Broadway after winning the Tony for his performance as Aaron Burr in Hamilton.mThe creative team will feature scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Emilio Sosa, lighting design by Adam Honoré and sound design by Peter Fitzgerald.

Purlie Victorious tells the story of a Black preacher’s machinations to reclaim his inheritance and win back his church.

Singer, actor, and activist Harry Belafonte has passed away at the age of 96. Along with his rich, prolific musical career, Belafonte leaves behind an impressive legacy on screen. From one of his earliest roles in Otto Preminger's "Carmen Jones" to his last appearance in Spike Lee's "BlacKkKlansman," Belafonte left an unforgettable impression. The actor worked with talented filmmakers like Robert Altman, Robert Wise, Ava DuVernay, and Sidney Poitier, and appeared in Lee's 2006 look at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, "When The Levees Broke." But he and Lee would also work together one more time, in a role that the then-elderly Belafonte had to get approved by a doctor.

Belafonte's scene in "BlacKkKlansman" gives the darkly funny movie about a Black cop infiltrating the KKK a sense of gravity and history; in a nine-minute scene, Black students and activists sit rapt and engrossed around a seated Belafonte as he...