News

Peter Jackson is the master of Middle-earth adaptations. The director and producer helmed the award-winning "Lord of the Rings" trilogy that launched a golden age of fantasy cinema. He returned a decade later to put together a less perfect but still epic trilogy for "The Hobbit" book that preceded Tolkien's Ring epic. The legendary filmmaker has also agreed to executive produce Warner Bros upcoming "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" anime prequel to "The Two Towers" and is busily helping put together a prequel film for Gollum.

While he spent most of his time behind the camera, Jackson also slipped into a scene here and there. In fact, while it remains to be seen if he'll do so with movies going forward, Jackson managed to get a cameo in each of the six Middle-earth movies he created across his two great trilogies. Here are those cameos,...

This article contains discussions of addiction, assault, and mental health.

When the pilot of "Lost" aired on ABC in September of 2004, it became an instant hit for the network and catapulted its sprawling cast to stardom in the process. Created by J.J. Abrams alongside Jeffrey Lieber and Damon Lindelof — the last of whom would eventually become a co-showrunner with Carlton Cuse — "Lost" begins in the immediate aftermath of a massive plane crash on a deserted island, but things quickly get very, very complicated. When Oceanic flight 815 crashes on that island while traveling from Sydney to Los Angeles, the audience is introduced to the survivors ... and throughout the first season, they all get a closer look through flashbacks set before they ever boarded the doomed flight.

I should say this up-front: the cast of "Lost" is huge, so not every single important character will get a spotlight here. As far as the core cast is concerned,...

It’s never a bad time for a “Lord of the Rings” rewatch, but the trouble can be tracking them down.

With both standard and extended editions for both the “Lotr” trilogy and “The Hobbit” trilogy, finding where to stream them from home can be a chore. But now that a new season of “The Rings of Power” on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to reacclimate to Middle-earth with a long binge.

Here’s where to stream all “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” movies.

Where can you stream “The Lord of the Rings” movies?

There are a few places to stream “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and extended editions. Here’s where you can find them all:

“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001) – Max, Prime Video “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” Extended Edition – Max “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers...

The late legend Michael Gambon was a long, long fan favorite for many years, and one of the greatest reasons behind this was his outstanding portrayal of the Headmaster of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter saga, Professor Albus Dumbledore. As dear as the character was to Harry, the actor held an equally special place in fans’ hearts due to the same.

Michael Gambon in Layer Cake. | Sony Pictures Classics.

But while he was the only Dumbledore (after the late Richard Harris), he often got mistaken for one other actor who embodied a similar-looking character in The Lord of the Rings saga: Sir Ian McKellen, famous for his wizarding role of Gandalf. And Gambon was so fed up with the mix-up that he started giving autographs to strangers in McKellen’s name until his death!

Michael Gambon Had Enough of Being Mistaken for Sir Ian McKellen

Since both Professor Albus Percival...

Prime Video is the place to be in August with an incredible month of new releases. The month kicks off with the premiere of the animated series Batman: Caped Crusader on Aug. 1. The series was produced by J.J. Abrams and The Batman‘s Matt Reeves. We also return to Middle Earth this month with the premiere of The Rings of Power season 2 on Aug. 29.

As far as movies go, the Amazon original Jackpot! arrives on Aug. 15 starring Awkwafina and John Cena. This comedy is set in a world where Lottery winners have to survive until sundown in order to claim their multi-billion dollar jackpot – anyone who kills them before that gets to claim their prize.

The Hobbit trilogy also joins the Prime Video library this month, as do 21 and 22 Jump Street, Superman I-iv, Superman Returns, Night Swim, Drive Away Dolls, and 10 Cloverfield Lane.

Here’s everything coming...

In his enduring career as an actor, Benedict Cumberbatch had a lot to contend with while trying to make it big in Hollywood in his early years in the industry. But while impressing the right person at the right opportunity may have been a crucial part of his plan, one could hardly imagine the actor being up for whatever challenges the industry might throw at him.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) [Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures]

As such, Benedict Cumberbatch’s delightful habit of seizing an opportunity by its ears, so to speak, has made him an unpredictable actor, willing to surprise at every turn. However, nowhere in the realm of possibilities did Cumberbatch ever think that playing an actual dragon would one day fit the bill.

Benedict Cumberbatch Gets Introduced to Smaug Smaug in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug [Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures]

Peter Jackson‘s Lord of the Rings franchise is a...

Benedict Cumberbatch burst into the Hollywood scene after a ridiculously successful stint in the BBC series, Sherlock. Soon after, his successive roles as a dragon in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, one of the Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and a villainous Khan in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot turned him into a pop culture icon.

Benedict Cumberbatch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

But beyond the popular franchises and iconic IPs, it is his work in dramatic pieces of theater, film, and television that established Cumberbatch as one of the finest actors of this generation. Through projects such as The Imitation Game, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Hawking, The Power of the Dog, Hamlet, Patrick Melrose, and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar – Cumberbatch has carefully curated a career that is worthy of his 2 Oscar nominations.

Avengers Actor Puts a Journalist in His Place

Benedict...

Evangeline Lilly is an actress known around the world for portraying roles in iconic films like Ant-Man, Real Steel, and, The Hobbit Trilogy. Being an amazing actress, Lilly reprised her role of Janet Van Dyne in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Evangeline Lilly and Paul Rudd in the MCU | Marvel Studios

However, starring in the 2023 MCU film came at a personal cost to the actress. Earning fame and love worldwide with her roles, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania became a complete disaster and as per the recent reports, Lilly has decided to retire from acting!

Evangeline Lilly Is Allegedly Retiring From Acting!

The Lost actress has quite an iconic filmography to her name. Portraying the role of Tauriel in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy, Lilly received worldwide fame and acclaim for her role. Lilly became a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe when she portrayed the role of Janet...

Evangeline Lilly announced on Instagram that she has stepped away from Hollywood for the foreseeable future and “might return one day.” Lilly, best known for playing Kate Austen in ABC’s drama series “Lost,” re-shared a video recorded in 2006 in which she expressed her desire to be a “retired actress” by the next decade.

“Ten years from now, where would I like to be? I am terrified to admit this to the rest of the acting world but ideally 10 years from now I’d like to be a retired actress and have a family,” Lilly said in the video. “I’d like to be writing and influencing people’s lives in humanitarian ways.”

In her caption to the video posted June 3, 2024, Lily writes: “I am so filled with joy and contentment today as I live out my vision. Praise God, I feel so grateful for my blessings. Stepping away from...

Updated with working title, film details: The first of two new Lotr films at Warner — working title Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum — will be directed by and star Andy Serkis, with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens set to write the screenplay, along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou (Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim). The film will be executive produced by Ken Kamins, with Serkis and The Imaginarium’s Jonathan Cavendish.

Peter Jackson will produce along with Walsh and Boyens, Wbd said in a release that fleshed out comments on the project by Wbd CEO David Zaslav earlier today.

Said Warner Bros. Motion Pictures heads Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, “For over two-decades, moviegoers have embraced the Lord of the Rings film trilogy because of the undeniable devotion Peter, Fran and Philippa have...

Peter Jackson’s iconic The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is probably one of the greatest trilogy ever made. Starring an ensemble cast of several actors and a thousand extras, Jackson had an ambitious project on his hands.

During the auditioning of the film, MCU star Jake Gyllenhaal also auditioned for the role of a Hobbit in the film. Not putting effort into his acting and not doing a British accent, Peter Jackson had some harsh words for Gyllenhaal back in the day!

Screenshot from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Production Diary | Peter Jackson – YouTube

Peter Jackson Had Some Harsh Advice For Jake Gyllenhaal!

Starring Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Viggo Mortensen, Sir Ian McKellen, and several others in lead roles, The Lord of the Rings was quite something to witness. With the production being chaotic with several hundred extras as Uruk-hai or Orcs, the project was a nightmare.

Jake...

British actress Amy Tara has been cast in a leading role in the U.S. mystery-thriller “Dream.”

The film tells the story of a group of friends who are led by a dream to uncover what they believe might be a trafficking industry in their small working-class town.

“Dream” is written and directed by Ben Pauling, and co-directed by Sam Pauling. The film is financed through ArchAge Pictures. Executive producers are Jon Pauling, Micheal Flaherty, co-founder of Walden Media, and producer of “Everest” and a production executive on “Chronicles of Narnia,” Brian Rogers, producer of Legendary’s “Godzilla” franchise, and Samuel Rodriguez.

Other cast include Ben Pauling, Steven Cox, Christopher Ammanuel and Cameron Hanes.

Tara, who previously appeared in stage play “Indigo Giant,” will next be seen in Stuart Brennan’s action-fantasy feature film “Assassin’s Guild,” in which she plays alongside Ryan Gage (“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug...

The Lord Of The Rings trilogy films of the 2000s won fans’ hearts across the globe. While the story was already popular among readers of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy adventure books, the films introduced the epic Middle Earth saga to millions more.

They also made director Peter Jackson and lead actor Elijah Wood, household names. However, many are unaware that at a point, the trilogy’s visionary director had almost been cut out of the project. The Lord Of The Rings trilogy was almost doomed when Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax held its film rights.

Screenshot from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Production Diary | Peter Jackson – YouTube Harvey Weinstein Continually Threatened to Fire The Lord Of The Rings Director

The Lord Of The Rings’ Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson and disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein’s vision for the epic fantasy saga’s big-screen adaptation could not be more different. The...

In our age of sprawling, ostentatious multi-film sagas about threats to imperial rule, Damsel’s mere existence as a completely standalone fantasy film almost feels like a blessing. Even better, the film is a welcome twist on the traditional princess narrative simply for giving its protagonist her agency without saddling her with too many archetypes.

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo’s film, written by Dan Mazeau, still treads through familiar fantasy terrain for its first 20 minutes, during which we meet Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown), a peasant girl whose father (Ray Winstone) and stepmother (Angela Bassett) have accepted an offer from a neighboring kingdom to marry her off to a handsome prince (Nick Robinson) in exchange for riches. The marriage goes off without a hitch. Elodie even has chemistry with the prince. But then the other shoe drops, and it becomes clear that the match is part of a grim ritual that’s...

At last count, there have been nine studio-sanctioned feature films to have been adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy novels. 

"The Hobbit," the first book in the series, was published in 1937, while a follow-up trilogy called "Lord of the Rings" was published in 1954 and 1955. Tolkien was both a linguist and a pacifist, so the books tended to lean toward elaborately constructed fantasy languages as well as antiwar themes. The mythology of Middle-earth was so vast and complex, Tolkien also wrote a book called "The Silmarillion" in which deep-cut details from within the "Rings" universe were laid out in excruciating, mythological detail. 

For many years, multiple filmmakers and producers attempted to adapt the first book, "The Hobbit" to film. According to Brian J. Robb's and Paul Simpson's 2013 book "Middle-earth Envisioned: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: On Screen, On Stage, and Beyond," Walt Disney had considered...

Outlander star John Bell has opened up about his aspirations and the profound influence of his co-stars, Sam Heughan and Caitríona Balfe. Bell, known for his portrayal of Young Ian Murray, offered a deep dive into his experiences on set and his admiration for his fellow actors.

Bell highlighted the lessons he learned from Heughan and Balfe and expressed his admiration for them professionally and personally. Bell’s reflections offer insights into his character’s development, behind-the-scenes stories, and thoughts on the series’ impending conclusion.

John Bell | Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Scad John Bell says he wants ‘to be like’ his co-stars Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe

Bell shared a heartfelt acknowledgment to his fictitious aunt and uncle, Jamie and Claire Fraser, portrayed by Heughan and Balfe, respectively.

In an interview with Express, the Outlander star expressed his gratitude and recounted the significant insights he’s gained from collaborating with Balfe and Heughan.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is expanding its membership.

According to a press release, the organization that hands out Oscars each year at the Academy Awards has extended invitations to join the Academy to 398 artists and executives who have made notable contributions to the motion picture industry.

“The Academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership. They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang in a joint statement.

Read More: The Academy Announces 2024 Oscars Date As Well As Submission Deadline

There are some big names and familiar faces among the invitees, including musicians Taylor Swift and David Byrne, and numerous actors, ranging from Selma Blair to Keke Palmer to “Elvis” Oscar nominee Austin Butler.

“Everything Everywhere All At Once” Oscar winners Ke Huy Quan, Daniel Kwan, and Daniel Scheinert, recent acting nominees Austin Butler, Paul Mescal, and Stephanie Hsu, and bold-face names for the extremely online like Taylor Swift, Abel Tesfaye (a.k.a. The Weeknd), and Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav were among the 398 people announced as new members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday.

“The academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership. They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide,” said academy CEO Bill Kramer and academy president Janet Yang in a joint statement.

This year’s class of new members is heavy on 2022 breakouts, like the aforementioned Kwan and Scheinert – invitees in both the directors’ brand and the producers’ branch. In keeping with academy practice,...

It’s that time of year again — the break between Cannes and the fall festivals, when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences makes its membership invitations. The Oscars group said today that it has extended offers to 398 artists and execs — one more than last year — who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to motion pictures.

The list includes actors, directors, writers, producers, musicians, executives, artist reps, publicists and below-the-liners such as casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, production designers and sound pros.

“The Academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a statement. “They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide.”

As usual, the invitees include newly minted Oscar winners,...

In case there’s any doubt, Ed Sheeran is well aware of the fact that he’s … Ed Sheeran.

“I’m not an idiot,” he says, early in our acquaintance. “When you say in your office, ‘I’m gonna go and interview Ed Sheeran,’ you must get sneers. I’ve always been that guy.”

The state of being that guy, at the least the public version of him, is a paradoxical one. Sheeran is, on the one hand, unquestionably among the 21st century’s very biggest global pop superstars. That...

Ahead of the 2021 Oscars, the academy combined their Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing categories into one. The films vying for the third annual Best Sound prize are “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “The Batman,” “Elvis,” and “Top Gun: Maverick.” Our current odds indicate that “Top Gun: Maverick” (16/5) will be victorious, followed in order of likelihood by “All Quiet on the Western Front” (19/5), “Avatar: The Way of Water” (9/2), “Elvis” (9/2), and “The Batman” (9/2).

The 23 craftspeople included in the current lineup have collectively amassed a whopping 72 previous nominations and 16 wins for their sound work. The one responsible for the largest chunk is Andy Nelson, whose dual bids for “The Batman” and “Elvis” bring him to a record-fortifying career total of 24. He is now the third person to receive two nominations at once in this consolidated category, after “Mank” and “Soul” sound engineers Ren Klyce and...

Somewhere out there in the multiverse of every possible Marvel movie ever, Evangeline Lilly is flying around as an X-Woman rather than the Wasp. It could have happened in our world, but even with Hugh Jackman — Wolverine himself — extending Lilly an offer to join the X-Men, she turned it down, according to the actress herself in a new interview.

In the past, Lilly has spoken about how she was uncomfortable being thrust into the spotlight with her first movie or TV speaking role as Kate on ABC's "Lost." In 2018, while promoting "Ant-Man and the Wasp," Lilly told The Hollywood Reporter, "I ended up deciding to retire after I finished 'Lost.' I did a film called 'Real Steel' with Hugh Jackman and then I walked away."

It was only after two years of "having no contact with Hollywood at all" that director Peter Jackson lured Lilly...

Netflix is getting rid of a load of movies and TV shows from its service in January.

The next 31 days may bring plenty more titles for subscribers to stream, but there are several things that may suddenly disappear from your watchlist throughout the month.

This was set too include one of the service’s most-streamed titles. until bosses managed to reverse the removal following outcry from users.

To minimise surprise, we have put together a comprehensive list of everything being removed.

Find a full list of everything being added to Netflix in January 2023 here.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

Shows And Films Leaving Netflix UK:

1 January

The Accidental Golfer

Adult Behaviour… It’s All in the Mind

Angel (2008)

Annabell’s Spectacularities

The Apple War

Artificial Svensson

As Seen On TV

The Assault

Bang

Barbie: A Fairy Secret

The Bells in Old Town...

Netflix is getting rid of a load of movies and TV shows from its service in January.

The next 31 days may bring plenty more titles for subscribers to stream, but there are several things that may suddenly disappear from your watchlist throughout the month.

This was set too include one of the service’s most-streamed titles. until bosses managed to reverse the removal following outcry from users.

To minimise surprise, we have put together a comprehensive list of everything being removed.

Find a full list of everything being added to Netflix in January 2023 here.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

Shows And Films Leaving Netflix UK:

1 January

The Accidental Golfer

Adult Behaviour… It’s All in the Mind

Angel (2008)

Annabell’s Spectacularities

The Apple War

Artificial Svensson

As Seen On TV

The Assault

Bang

Barbie: A Fairy Secret

The Bells in Old Town...

Netflix is getting rid of a load of movies and TV shows from its service in January.

The next few weeks may bring plenty more titles for subscribers to stream, but there are several things that may suddenly disappear from your watchlist throughout the month.

This was set to include one of the service’s most-streamed titles. until bosses managed to reverse the removal following outcry from users.

To minimise surprise, we have put together a comprehensive list of everything being removed.

Find a full list of everything being added to Netflix in January 2023 here.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

Shows And Films Leaving Netflix UK:

1 January

The Accidental Golfer

Adult Behaviour… It’s All in the Mind

Angel (2008)

Annabell’s Spectacularities

The Apple War

Artificial Svensson

As Seen On TV

The Assault

Bang

Barbie: A Fairy Secret

The Bells in Old...

Netflix is getting rid of a load of movies and TV shows from its service in January.

The next few weeks may bring plenty more titles for subscribers to stream, but there are several things that may suddenly disappear from your watchlist throughout the month.

This was set to include one of the service’s most-streamed titles. until bosses managed to reverse the removal following outcry from users.

To minimise surprise, we have put together a comprehensive list of everything being removed.

Find a full list of everything being added to Netflix in January 2023 here.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

Shows And Films Leaving Netflix UK:

1 January

The Accidental Golfer

Adult Behaviour… It’s All in the Mind

Angel (2008)

Annabell’s Spectacularities

The Apple War

Artificial Svensson

As Seen On TV

The Assault

Bang

Barbie: A Fairy Secret

The Bells in Old...

Netflix is getting rid of a load of movies and TV shows from its service in January.

The next 31 days may bring plenty more titles for subscribers to stream, but there are several things that may suddenly disappear from your watchlist throughout the month.

This includes one of the service’s most-streamed titles.

To minimise surprise, we have put together a comprehensive list of everything being removed.

Find a full list of everything being added to Netflix in January 2023 here.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

Shows And Films Leaving Netflix UK:

1 January

The Accidental Golfer

Adult Behaviour… It’s All in the Mind

Angel (2008)

Annabell’s Spectacularities

The Apple War

Artificial Svensson

As Seen On TV

The Assault

Bang

Barbie: A Fairy Secret

The Bells in Old Town

Best Before

Beware of the Jonsson Gang

Bit by Bit

Bitch Hug

Bitter Sweetheart...

Netflix is getting rid of a load of movies and TV shows from its service in January.

The next 31 days may bring plenty more titles for subscribers to stream, but there are several things that may suddenly disappear from your watchlist throughout the month.

This includes one of the service’s most-streamed titles.

To minimise surprise, we have put together a comprehensive list of everything being removed.

Find a full list of everything being added to Netflix in January 2023 here.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

Shows And Films Leaving Netflix UK:

1 January

The Accidental Golfer

Adult Behaviour… It’s All in the Mind

Angel (2008)

Annabell’s Spectacularities

The Apple War

Artificial Svensson

As Seen On TV

The Assault

Bang

Barbie: A Fairy Secret

The Bells in Old Town

Best Before

Beware of the Jonsson Gang

Bit by Bit

Bitch Hug

Bitter Sweetheart...

Four top film visual effects Oscar contenders will reveal secrets behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2023 awards contenders. They will participate in two video discussions to premiere on Tuesday, January 10, at 4:00 p.m. Pt; 7:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Joyce Eng and a roundtable chat with all of the group together.

RSVP today to our entire ongoing contenders panel series by clicking here to book your free reservation. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.

This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following Oscar contenders on the 2023 shortlist:

All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix)

Synopsis: A young German soldier’s terrifying experiences and distress on the western front during World War I.

Bio: Frank Petzold’s career has included “The Golden Compass,...

Netflix is getting rid of a load of movies and TV shows from its service in January.

The next 31 days may bring plenty more titles for subscribers to stream, but there are several things that may suddenly disappear from your watchlist throughout the month.

This includes one of the service’s most-streamed titles.

To minimise surprise, we have put together a comprehensive list of everything being removed.

Find a full list of everything being added to Netflix in January 2023 here.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

Shows And Films Leaving Netflix UK:

1 January

The Accidental Golfer

Adult Behaviour… It’s All in the Mind

Angel (2008)

Annabell’s Spectacularities

The Apple War

Artificial Svensson

As Seen On TV

The Assault

Bang

Barbie: A Fairy Secret

The Bells in Old Town

Best Before

Beware of the Jonsson Gang

Bit by Bit

Bitch Hug

Bitter Sweetheart...

Netflix is getting rid of a load of movies and TV shows from its service in January.

The next 31 days may bring plenty more titles for subscribers to stream, but there are several things that may suddenly disappear from your watchlist throughout the month.

This includes one of the service’s most-streamed titles.

To minimise surprise, we have put together a comprehensive list of everything being removed.

Find a full list of everything being added to Netflix in January 2023 here.

Nb: The Independent compiled this list with help from What’s on Netflix.

Shows And Films Leaving Netflix UK:

1 January

The Accidental Golfer

Adult Behaviour… It’s All in the Mind

Angel (2008)

Annabell’s Spectacularities

The Apple War

Artificial Svensson

As Seen On TV

The Assault

Bang

Barbie: A Fairy Secret

The Bells in Old Town

Best Before

Beware of the Jonsson Gang

Bit by Bit

Bitch Hug

Bitter Sweetheart...

In 1937, English author J.R.R. Tolkien penned a children’s book called “The Hobbit,” or “There and Back Again,” which ignited what would become one of the most popular franchises of all time across books, film and television. That means there’s a whole lot to watch, so we’ve put together a handy guide for anyone wondering how to watch all the “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” movies in chronological or release date order.

Tolkien followed the success of “The Hobbit,” which features a Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins and his adventures in the Third Age of the fictional, mystical world of Middle Earth, with a sequel series called “The Lord of the Rings.” Set 60 years after “The Hobbit,” “The Lord of the Rings” follows an ensemble of different characters traveling to defeat the evil One Ring. The “Hobbit” and “Lord of the Rings” books later spawned some of the...

And just like that, winter has come again. HBO Max’s list of new releases for August 2022 is highlighted by the return of the king. Or more accurately: the return of the queen … of the Seven Kingdoms.

Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon is set to premiere on HBO and HBO Max on Aug. 21, just over three years after Game of Thrones concluded in controversial fashion with “The Iron Throne.” This new series is a prequel, depicting the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons from George R.R. Martin’s lore. When dragon fights dragon, the realm will be torn asunder. But the viewer will certainly delight in all the Targaryen action.

Read more TV How House of the Dragon Is Approaching the Game of Thrones Ending Backlash By David Crow TV House of the Dragon: What Rickard Stark Means for the Game of Thrones Spinoff...

Taika Waititi isn’t beating around the New Zealand bush when it comes to the true story behind his favorite party quip.

The “Thor: Love and Thunder” writer-director revealed on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert that his 2014 vampire mockumentary “What We Do in the Shadows,” er, borrowed, from fellow NZer Peter Jackson’s big-budget “Lord of the Rings” epic “The Hobbit.”

“When I did ‘What We Do in the Shadows,’ when Jemaine [Clement, the film’s co-writer and star] and I were shooting that, we didn’t have much money to do that film, and ‘The Hobbit’ had just wrapped,” Waititi explained. “And, so, our production designer — man, I don’t know if I should tell this. Ok, but I will — our production designer, in the dead of night, took his crew to ‘The Hobbit’ studios and stole all of the dismantled, broken-down green screens and took all of the timber, and we built a house.

Hollywood is about to stampede into Middle Earth. An array of movie, merchandising, gaming and live event rights to “Lord of the Rings,” “The Hobbit” and other titles from author J.R.R. Tolkien are coming up for auction now that the Saul Zaentz Co. has decided to sell its Tolkien holdings.

Zaentz Co. has hired Acf Investment Bank to handle the sale process, which is unfolding this week as bankers make the rounds of the logical Hollywood buyers. The Tolkien properties are projected to fetch at least $2 billion, based on recent high valuations for top-tier IP and content producers.

Representatives for Zaentz Co. and Acf declined to comment.

The timing of the sale process is not accidental. Amazon is set to premiere its long-awaited, mega-budgeted TV series rendition of the enduring “Lord of the Rings” saga, “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” on Sept. 2. Amazon is at the top...

“The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug.”

Winner of six Academy Awards,The Hurt Locker arrives February 22 on 4K Ultra HD SteelBook from Lionsgate, exclusively at Best Buy.

Directed by Academy Award winner Kathryn Bigelow, the critically acclaimed film The Hurt Locker features Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Primetime Emmy Award winner Guy Pearce, Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes, and Golden Globe nominee Evangeline Lily. Featuring all-new artwork by Olivia Barrett, The Hurt Locker will be available on 4K Ultra HD SteelBook at Best Buy for the suggested retail price of $27.99.

War is a drug. Nobody knows that better than Staff Sergeant James, head of an elite squad of soldiers tasked with disarming bombs in the heat of combat. To do this nerve-shredding job, it’s not enough to be the best: you have to thrive in...

A new year has finally arrived and HBO Max is set to open it with a bang. With its list of new releases for January 2022, HBO Max is rolling out some intriguing original series and an absolutely packed slate of library titles.

The real highlight this month comes on Jan. 13 with the release of Peacemaker. Developed by James Gunn, this series spins off John Cena’s titular character from last years’ The Suicide Squad. The show will delve into the pathology of a superhero who will achieve peace regardless of how many people need to be killed to attain it.

Also of note this month are second seasons for two major HBO series. Euphoria season 2 and The Righteous Gemstones season 2 both premiere on Jan. 9, making for quite the odd double feature. Meanwhile, the fifth and final season of superb comedy Search Party arrives on Jan. 7.

January 2022 is light as far as original movies go.

Not even remotely interested in seeing Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes or The Weeknd do their thing at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium?

We’ve got you. Instead of watching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs go helmet-to-helmet for a shiny Vince Lombardi, head to these platforms and channels to get your Sunday evening fix of series and flicks.

All showtimes listed below are in Eastern Standard Time.

Streaming Alternatives Netflix

Shows: “Kid Cosmic,” “Firefly Lane,” “Hache” (Season 2), “Invisible City,” “The Sinner” (Season 3)

Films: “The Bank Job,” “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” “Zathura: A Space Adventure,” “Shutter Island,” “The Patriot,” “Little Big Women,” “Space Sweepers,” “Strip Down, Rise Up,” “The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity”

Amazon Prime

Shows: “Little Coincidences,” “What’s New, Scooby-Doo?,” “Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men,” “The White Princess” (Season 1), “Billions” (Seasons 1-3), “Black in Latin America” (Season 1), “Finding Your Roots” (Season 1)

Films: “Kiki,” “Dazed and Confused,...

There are only two months left to go in this truly hellish year and relatively new streaming service HBO Max is trying to make the best of them. While most other streamers recover from Halloween and get prepared for Christmas, HBO Max is using November 2020 to fill out its servers.

Things are pretty light not the new original series front this month with only Industry (Nov. 9) and His Dark Materials season 2 (Nov. 16) making a splash. But the streamer has a couple of notable original films to complement them. Between the World and Me, based on the book by Ta-Nehisi Coates, arrives on Nov. 21 and Melissa McCarthy comedy Superintelligence arrives on Nov. 26. That’s not even to mention two intriguing projects that don’t have dates yet: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion Special and The Mystery of Db Cooper.

Thankfully, the real appeal in November 2020 is all the fresh library...

We might be stuck indoors this Halloween weekend, but thankfully, the various major streaming services are on hand to keep us occupied with a monumental mountain of new content heading our way over the next few days. As it’s both the end of the month and the beginning of November, the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu and Prime Video are adding a mix of seasonal movies and TV shows today and tomorrow, and a whole load of freshly licensed titles on Sunday.

First of all, Netflix is dropping five new originals this Friday, October 30th, including a couple of horrors, like The Day of the Lord and His House. Disney Plus, meanwhile, debuts The Mandalorian‘s season 2 premiere today, along with a new episode of The Right Stuff and Nicolas Cage movie The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Elsewhere, on the 31st, HBO Max adds last year’s Black Christmas...

As we have just about a week left to go of October, let’s take a look at everything that’s due to arrive on HBO Max in November. It’s a big month for the WarnerMedia streaming service, with countless new movies from their legendary library being added and plenty of fresh originals dropping throughout the following weeks. A few upcoming releases have yet to be dated, but otherwise, here’s the full list of what’s coming to HBO Max next month.

Released November Tba

12 Dates Of Christmas, HBO Max Original Series Premiere

Colin Quinn & Friends: A Parking Lot Comedy Show, HBO Max Original Special Premiere

Crazy, Not Insane, Documentary Premiere (HBO)

The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air Reunion Special, HBO Max Original Special Premiere

Full Bloom, HBO Max Original Series Premiere

I Hate Suzie, HBO Max Original Series Premiere

The Mystery Of Db Cooper, Documentary Premiere (HBO)

Sesame Street,...

With a new month quickly approaching, it’s time to look ahead and see what’s coming to all your favorite streaming services this November. That’s Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and, of course, HBO Max.

Halloween will soon be behind us and given that Christmas isn’t too far off, we’re beginning to see some holiday titles pop up, with all the major platforms getting into the festive spirit. That’ll continue in December as well, of course, but for November, there’s certainly tons on offer for those looking to start the celebrations early.

There’s a lot of other great stuff on the way, too, though, be it classic films, underrated gems, brand new releases and much more, and you can check out the entire lineup, sorted by date, down below. Ready to dive in?

November 1

Netflix

60 Days In: Season 5

A...

Burbank, CA, October 8, 2020 – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment announced today that The Hobbit Trilogy and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, from Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson, will be available for the first time on 4K Uhd on December 1.

From New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, the two epic trilogies include the theatrical and extended versions of the six films in 4K Uhd with Hdr. The Hobbit Trilogy includes The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy includes The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which won Academy Awards® for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Both trilogies will also include Digital copies of both versions of each film.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Announces Peter Jackson’S The Hobbit Trilogy And The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy To Be Released In 4K Uhd For The First Time On December 1St

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment announced today that The Hobbit Trilogy and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, from Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson, will be available for the first time on 4K Uhd on December 1.

From New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, the two epic trilogies include the theatrical and extended versions of the six films in 4K Uhd with Hdr. The Hobbit Trilogy includes The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy includes The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,...

HBO Max has a major job on its hands to justify its approximately $15 a month subscription fee, especially given the strong competition out there from established names like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Disney Plus faced a similar challenge last year in arriving onto an already-saturated streaming marketplace, but at least had the advantage of major series like The Mandalorian to promote. While HBO Max will eventually be home to the Snyder cut of Justice League, and has some originals for its first week of availability, the big draw right now is its enormous back-catalogue of movies.

Given the various corporate elements that are going into HBO Max, including the Warner Bros. library, owners AT&T will be hoping that the combination of brand recognition for HBO programming, and a deep bench of movies, will convince people to add a new subscription to their list. To this end, HBO Max have added 122 films today,...

Do you like lists? Well, here’s a doozy. Below is everything coming to Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu and Amazon Prime in June 2020.

Though the summer sun is starting to beat down, most of us are still being encouraged to stay indoors for Covid-19 related reasons. It’s not much fun, but at the very least, there’s an absolute ton of stuff landing in June that should distract you from the call of the beach.

Of particular note is the newly launched HBO Max, which is trying to catch the eye of potential subscribers with a red-hot first month. There’s an excellent selection of movies coming on June 1st, with horror titles like An American Werewolf in London (still the best werewolf movie ever made), Final Destinations 1-4, From Dusk til Dawn and Lifeforce.

Later in the month, there are some more recent films showing up, including...

To help you anticipate and navigate all that HBO Max has to offer, TVLine presents this comprehensive list of all the TV series, movies, documentaries and specials making their debut on the new streaming service this month — all as a 100-percent free supplement to our daily and handy What to Watch and weekly TVLine-Up columns, and our monthly New on Netflix roundup.

Among Max Originals coming in June are a new Adventure Time special, Doom Patrol Season 2 and Search Party Season 3. You’ll also be able to stream the most recent episodes of HBO original series, including Insecure, I Know This Much Is True...

Welcome to the HBO Max era! WarnerMedia’s streaming giant arrived on May 27 and is absolutely bursting with Warner movies, TV shows, and other titles. But time waits for no man or streaming service and each new month HBO Max will be expected to bring new content to the table. Things get started in June 2020 with the first batch of HBO Max new releases.

To be clear, the majority of the original series coming to HBO Max actually belongs to HBO. Shows like I May Destroy You (June 7), Perry Mason (June 21), and I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (June 28) all belong to HBO…which now just happens to be a part of HBO Max. Confusing stuff, we know, but rest assured that if you have HBO Max you’ll get these shows…and if you only have HBO, you can go ahead and just get HBO Max for the same price anyway.

HBO Max launches May 27 with a whole lot of content ready to stream immediately. But throughout the nascent streamer’s first month, even more titles will be added, from HBO Max originals like “Adventure Time: Distant Lands Bmo,” to old favorites like “Amelie,” “Black Beauty” and “The Bucket List.”

Other brand-new HBO Max originals include the third season of comedy “Search Party,” and the second seasons of “Doom Patrol,” and “Esme & Roy,” all coming June 25, and on June 18, the second season of “Summer Camp Island” and the series premiere kids competition series “Karma.”

For a list of everything that will be available on launch day, look here.

Below is the full list of everything new coming to HBO Max in June.

Also Read: Chelsea Handler Sets First Standup Comedy Special in 6 Years at HBO Max

June 1

4th & Forever: Muck City, Season One

Adventures In Babysitting, 1987 (HBO)

Amelie, 2001 (HBO)

An American Werewolf in London,...

Before HBO Max even launches — it goes live May 27 — WarnerMedia is trying to lure new subscribers by revealing what’s coming next month to the streamer.

The June lineup highlights on HBO Max include all 23 seasons of “South Park,” snapped up in a multiyear, $500 million-plus deal; James Cameron’s Oscar-winning “Titanic”; and the “Adventure Time: Distant Lands” special featuring lovable robot Bmo.

HBO Max, regularly priced at $14.99 per month (the same as HBO Now), will be available on multiple platforms and distributors through deals including with Apple, Google, Charter, Xbox, PlayStation, and AT&T/DirecTV. As of this writing, however, WarnerMedia has not locked in HBO Max deals with Comcast, Roku or Amazon.

New Max Originals this June include kids’ adventure competition series “Karma,” Season 3 of comedy “Search Party” and the second seasons of “Doom Patrol,” “Esme & Roy” and “Summer Camp Island.”

Movie highlights include “Titanic,” “Veronica Mars,” “Magic Mike” starring Channing Tatum,...