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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 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...

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.

The Christmas Chronicles – Picture: Netflix

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and if you’re wondering what Netflix’s most popular original Christmas movies and series have been, we’ve got the top 50 from the past few years.

All data below was provided to What’s on Netflix exclusively from the excellent team at FlixPatrol, with whom we’ve collaborated on a number of articles, and they also power our top 10 hub page.

We’re going to split this list into two parts. First, we’ll cover the Christmas movies, shows, and specials that have picked up the most points in the United States, and then we’ll move onto the global list. The global list collects the points for 80+ Netflix countries.

As a quick refresher, points are picked up every time a show or movie gets featured in the daily top 10. If you’re a movie that ranks #10 for one day,...

Squid Game: The Challenge may not be as big as the show that inspired it, but the competition series still got off to a very strong start.

Netflix’s unscripted offshoot of its most popular series of all time scored a strong opening in the Nielsen streaming rankings for Thanksgiving week. Adam Sandler’s animated movie Leo claimed the top spot overall, and Young Sheldon also joined the top 10 after making its Netflix debut.

Squid Game: The Challenge drew 1.42 billion minutes of viewing in the United States for the week of Nov. 20-26. It was the top streaming series for the week, beating out Bluey (1.17 billion minutes) on Disney+, and finished second overall behind the 1.53 billion minutes for Leo.

The Crown, which finished first overall the previous week, slipped to second among originals with 835 million minutes of viewing, an 11.5 percent decline from a week earlier. Disney+’s The Santa Clauses...

A new Netflix Christmas movie, Holiday in the Vineyards, has made it onto the Global Top 10 chart. Previous Netflix Christmas movies, such as Best. Christmas. Ever! and Christmas as Usual, were poorly received by critics and audiences. While Holiday in the Vineyards may be slightly better than other recent festive movies, it still falls into the category of cheesy and forgettable Christmas films.

Netflix has a new Christmas movie, Holiday in the Vineyards, on the Global Top 10 chart, and it appears to be slightly better than the streamer's other recent holiday fare. Released December 13 on Netflix, the Christmas rom-com follows a familiar premise involving a widow who, while struggling to run the local vineyard and raise two boys, falls for a big city playboy sent to scout a new vineyard location in the area over the holidays. The Holiday in the Vineyards cast includes Josh Swickard, Sol Rodriguez, Eileen Davidson,...

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.

Ben Affleck's action movie Triple Frontier, released on Netflix in 2019, has found new success and popularity. The film features an ensemble cast of actors such as Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal. Four years after its initial release, Triple Frontier has recently entered the Netflix Top 10, indicating new interest.

Ben Affleck’s Triple Frontier finds success on Netflix. Released in 2019, Triple Frontier is a Netflix original action movie starring Affleck as one of five former special forces operatives who join forces with his friends to take down a South American drug lord. In addition to Affleck, Triple Frontier stars Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal.

Four years after its release, Triple Frontier makes its way into the Netflix top 10. The action film came in at no. 6 on the Netflix global top 10 for the week of November 20-November 26, with 3.6 million views. Topping the charts this week were Leo (no.

Best. Christmas. Ever! is a Netflix original Christmas comedy that has become a huge hit on the streaming service, despite receiving negative reviews from critics and audiences. In its first week on Netflix, Best. Christmas. Ever! was watched for 22.3 million hours and had a total of 16.3 million views, ranking second in the Global Top 10. However, the movie has been criticized for its poor quality, with a 33% score on Rotten Tomatoes and negative reviews highlighting its failure to meet the standards of even mediocre holiday movies.

Best. Christmas. Ever! is a huge hit on Netflix despite the bad reactions from critics (and audiences). Released on November 16, the new Netflix original Christmas comedy follows two longtime frenemies who are reunited over the holidays in a twist of fate. The Best Christmas Ever cast is led by Boogie Nights star Heather Graham and singer Brandy Norwood alongside Matt Cedeño and Jason Biggs. The...

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,...

Some might say they don’t want a lot for Christmas, but who’s going to turn down a Christmas movie starring rapper-actor Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and comedian Lil Rel Howery?

Directed by Tim Story, and produced by Will Packer’s Will Packer Productions, comes the comedic fantasy film “Dashing Through the Snow,” which carries the title of the classic Christmas jingle “Dashing Through the Snow (Jingle Bells).”

In the lighthearted tale, Bridges stars as Eddie Garrick, a social worker who no longer believes in the magic of Christmas due to a traumatic childhood experience. But, with the help of his Christmas-loving daughter Charlotte (Madison Skye Validum) and good ol’ Saint Nick — who just goes by Nick (Lil Rel Howery) — the group is on a mission to restore Eddie’s faith in Christmas while evading wicked politician Conrad Harf (Oscar Nuñez).

The film lands exclusively on Disney+, and here’s...

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...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Best. Christmas. Ever!

Best. Christmas. Ever! is set in the fictional town of Hadley Falls, which is reminiscent of Bedford Falls from It's a Wonderful Life. It portrays the All-American charm of a quaint Christmas town and teaches life lessons about forgiveness and friendship. The movie features notable locations such as the Harvard University Library in Cambridge, Ma, which is depicted in Jackie's newsletter showcasing her daughter's admission to Harvard. The picturesque mansion where Jackie and Valentino live is actually the Summerhouse Farms mansion in Charleston, Utah. With beautiful gardens and country land, it is a popular venue for weddings and events.

Adding to the roster of the best Christmas movies on Netflix, Best. Christmas. Ever! shows what happens when envy threatens the bonds of friendship in the picturesque town of Hadley Falls. After receiving yet another glowing newsletter from her college friend Jackie...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Best. Christmas. Ever!

In "Best. Christmas. Ever!", jealousy wreaks havoc on the bonds of friendship as Charlotte investigates Jackie's seemingly perfect life. The film teaches valuable lessons about forgiveness, gratitude, and not taking things for granted during the holiday season. Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, Jason Briggs, and Matt Cedeño deliver memorable performances in this hilarious and poignant comedy.

Christmas trees aren't the only thing green in Netflix's Best. Christmas. Ever!, a festive comedy directed by Mary Lambert whose cast of colorful characters showcases the havoc jealousy can wreak on the bonds of friendship. It begins with Charlotte and her husband Rob receiving their friend Jackie's annual newsletter extolling the triumphs of her family's year, which inevitably makes Jackie feel unaccomplished by comparison. Through a navigation snafu on their way to her sister's, Charlotte's family winds up on Jackie's doorstep just days before Christmas,...

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,...

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,...

Let’s-a go! “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” Universal and Illumination’s spring box office smash, is landing on Netflix in time for the holidays.

It will debut on the streaming service on Dec. 3, months after grossing $1.36 billion in global ticket sales. The animated adventure will still be available on Peacock, the platform owned by NBCUniversal, where it premiered in August. Universal struck a licensing deal to let “Mario” play on Netflix, which has far more subscribers than Peacock.

A collaboration between Universal, Illumination and Nintendo, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” became a four-quadrant hit and the first movie of the year to cross the $1 billion mark. (“Barbie” has since joined the club.) It’s the second-highest-grossing movie of the year behind “Barbie” ($1.44 billion) as well as the most successful video game adaptation of all time. It’s also the biggest movie ever from Illumination, the animation empire behind “Despicable Me” and its “Minion” spinoffs,...

AMC and AMC+ have more than 650 hours of holiday programming planned for this year’s “Best Christmas Ever” lineup kicking off on November 26 and running through December 26, 2023. The lineup includes classic Christmas films, including Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, Elf, and Christmas Vacation. For those who like to celebrate their winter holidays with a serving of horror, Shudder’s offering a new Joe Bob’s Creepy Christmas Special and the original film The Sacrifice Game.

This year’s “Best Christmas Ever” schedule also features Christmas with the Campbells, The Apology, and marathons of John Candy, Reese Witherspoon, and Bill Murray films.

Best Christmas Ever 2023:

The Sacrifice Game – Debuts December 8 on Shudder and AMC+

It’s bad enough that boarding school students Samantha and Clara can’t go home for the holidays, but things take a deadly turn when a murderous gang arrives at their doorstep – just in time for Christmas.

November is loaded with some of your favorite movies, streaming on some of the services you probably are subscribed to already. Wondering what movies are coming out in November 2023 that you could stream? We have curated for you a list of the top 10 best new movies in November 2023.

‘Locked In’

November is about to begin with a romantic crime thriller from Netflix. Unhappy newlywed Lina goes at loggerhead with her rich, coldhearted mother-in-law Katherine. It all begins with an affair that sets off a chain reaction which will result in a weird triangle of love, murder and a plot to bring Lina down. Who is the victim and who can Lina trust? You’re about to find out when “Locked In” hits Netflix on November 1, 2023.

‘Sly’

“Sly” puts the spotlight on the nearly five-decade acting career of the Oscar-nominated actor-writer-director-producer, Sylvester Stallone. The retrospective documentary will tell the inspiring story...

Best. Christmas. Ever! is a new holiday film from Netflix starring Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, and Jason Biggs. The trailer showcases a comedic premise of a friend trying to prove that her friend's Christmas letter is not accurate. The film straddles the line between comedy and drama, with a focus on the reconciliation of friendship.

A friend is out to prove her friend’s Christmas letter wrong in the trailer for Best. Christmas. Ever!. A new holiday film from Netflix, Best. Christmas. Ever! stars Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, and Jason Biggs. Best. Christmas. Ever! is set for release on Netflix on November 16.

Now, Netflix has released the trailer for Best. Christmas. Ever!.

In the trailer, Graham’s Charlotte becomes outraged upon receiving her friend Jackie’s annual Christmas letter. Simply not believing that Jackie’s life is as idyllic as her letter would make her out to be, Charlotte decides...

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.

Fall Film Preview: 60+ Most Anticipated Movies To Watch

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.

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is swinging to Netflix in time for Halloween.

Months after dominating at the box office, the superhero sequel will premiere Oct. 31 on the streaming service only in the U.S.

Sony Pictures, which has a licensing deal with Netflix, released “Across the Spider-Verse” in theaters this May. The animated adventure collected a staggering $381 million in North America and $690 million globally to stand as the sixth-highest grossing film of the year. It managed to surpass the entire box office run of its predecessor, 2018’s Oscar-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” ($384 million worldwide) after less than two weeks on the big screen. A third installment, “Beyond the Spider-Verse,” opens theatrically in 2024.

Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson and Kemp Powers directed the film, which picks up with Miles Morales — this universe’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man — as he catapults across the Multiverse and encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence.

Exclusive: After a stellar run in theaters that saw it come in as the highest-grossing film in the history of Sony Pictures Animation, Sony’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has set its Netflix premiere date. One of the top grossers of the year at a take of over $690M worldwide, the film bows in the U.S. on October 31. Details as to rollout in other territories haven’t been disclosed.

The first of two sequels to Sony’s 2018 Best Animated Feature Oscar winner Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, starring Shameik Moore and Hailee Steinfeld, Across the Spider-Verse comes to Netflix as part of the studio’s five-year pay-one licensing deal with the streamer, which has seen myriad Sony titles arrive to top the service’s charts. Pic joins a fall slate of titles made for the whole family that includes Best Christmas Ever (November 16) starring Heather Graham, the new animated Adam Sandler...

A24 has tapped Brandy Norwood, Andrew Burnap and Kathryn Hunter to star in the “The Front Room,” with Neal Huff also joining the cast.

The Eggers Brothers – consisting of director Robert Eggers’ twin younger brothers Max and Sam – will make their directorial debut with the psychological horror film. They will also write the screenplay.

Adapted from Susan Hill’s short story of the same name, “The Front Room” revolves around a young, newly pregnant couple who is forced to take in a sickly stepmother who has long been estranged from the family.

Also Read:

Phoebe Bridgers, Fred Durst and Lindsey Jordan of Snail Mail to Appear in A24 Horror Movie ‘I Saw the TV Glow’

A24 is set to produce and handle the film’s global release. Lucan Toh, Babak Anvari and Bryan Sonderman of Two & Two Pictures and Julia Oh and David Hinojosa of 2Am will also produce.

Exclusive: Heather Graham (Half Magic), Brandy Norwood (Queens), Jason Biggs (Outmatched) and Matt Cedeño (Power) have signed on to star in the Netflix holiday film Best. Christmas. Ever. from director Mary Lambert.

The film written by Charles Shyer (Father of the Bride) and Todd Calgi Gallicano (Sam London Adventure book series) centers on Jackie (Norwood), who every Christmas, without fail, 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, her husband Rob (Biggs), and their family on Jackie’s and her husband Valentino’s (Cedeño) snowy doorstep just days before Christmas, Charlotte seizes the opportunity to prove her old friend’s “perfect” life can’t possibly be that perfect. But in her overzealous attempt to expose Jackie, Charlotte nearly ruins Christmas for both families and must team...