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Netflix has brought out a Little House on the Prairie reboot(Image: GETTY)
It’s one of the most beloved TV shows of the 1970s – and now it’s getting a modern makeover. Netflix has finally released its highly anticipated reboot of Little House on the Prairie today (July 9), with fans eager to see whether it can live up to the original.
Based on the iconic books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the new series promises to retell the family’s story for a new generation while staying true to its roots. Netflix’s official synopsis reads: “Part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West, this fresh adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s iconic semi-autobiographical Little House books offers a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier.”
Set in 1869, the reboot followed the Ingalls family as they left their cabin in Wisconsin’s Big Woods and headed to Kansas in search of a better life.
Along the way, they built new friendships, overcame hardships and worked to create a home in the town of Independence.
While the new cast steps into some of TV’s most iconic roles, many viewers have been left wondering what happened to the original stars who made the 1970s series such a success.
Here’s what became of the Little House on the Prairie cast:
While Little House on the Prairie was based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Michael Landon quickly became the driving force behind the hit TV series.
As well as starring as Charles ‘Pa’ Ingalls, the devoted husband, father and hardworking farmer, Landon also worked behind the scenes as a producer, writer and director, helping shape the show throughout its nine-season run.
However, fans were surprised when he stepped away as a main cast member ahead of the final season, despite continuing to work behind the scenes.
Before finding fame, Landon shot to stardom as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza after landing the role at just 22 years old.
His acting career had started a few years earlier with I Was a Teenage Werewolf and several guest appearances on TV.
After Little House came to an end, Landon went on to star in the popular TV series Highway to Heaven. He was also due to write, direct and star in a new CBS drama called Us, but sadly never got the chance.
In 1991, Landon died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 57, before the show’s two-hour pilot had aired.
Away from acting, Landon was married three times. His third wife was Little House makeup artist Cindy Clerico, who he met on set.
He was also a father to nine children, including filmmaker Christopher Landon and Jennifer Landon, who is best known for playing Teeter in Yellowstone.
Karen Grassle became a household name playing Caroline ‘Ma’ Ingalls, the loving matriarch of the Ingalls family and Charles’ devoted wife.
While Little House on the Prairie remains by far her best-known role, Grassle was already an experienced theatre actress before landing the part and returned to the stage after the series ended.
She later stepped away from mainstream Hollywood, moving out of Los Angeles to focus on theatre work around the US.
Although she appeared in a handful of films over the years, including Wyatt Earp alongside Kevin Costner, as well as Lasso and Not to Forget, she largely stayed out of the spotlight after Little House ended.
Away from acting, Grassle has been married three times and is mum to two children – a son and a daughter.
In 2021, she released her memoir, Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss, and Love from Little House’s Ma, which revealed she and Michael Landon had a difficult working relationship during parts of the show’s run.
However, she has since said the pair reconciled before his death in 1991.
Melissa Gilbert was just 10 years old when she was cast as Laura Ingalls Wilder, the adventurous, animal-loving daughter at the heart of Little House on the Prairie.
She remained on the show until it ended nine years later, by which point she was 19. Her performance made her one of the series’ biggest breakout stars, earning her a Golden Globe Awards nomination in 1981.
While starring in Little House, Gilbert also built an impressive career away from the show. She appeared in TV adaptations of The Diary of Anne Frank and Splendor in the Grass, while her portrayal of Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker earned her an Primetime Emmy Awards nomination.
After Little House came to an end, Gilbert remained a familiar face on television for decades, starring in numerous TV films and series. She also served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 2001 to 2005 and even launched an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2016.
She later returned to her Little House roots by taking on the role of Ma Ingalls in the touring production of Little House on the Prairie, The Musical, before appearing on Dancing with the Stars.
More recently, Gilbert made headlines in 2025 after responding to comments from Megyn Kelly about Netflix’s upcoming Little House reboot, after Kelly said she hoped the streaming giant wouldn’t “wokeify” the beloved series.
Gilbert replied: “Ummm… watch the original again,” arguing the show had always tackled difficult subjects including racism, addiction, misogyny and domestic abuse.
Away from acting, Gilbert has two sons – one with her first husband, Bo Brinkman, and another with her second husband, Bruce Boxleitner.
She has been married to Timothy Busfield since 2013 and is also stepmother to his five children.
Melissa Sue Anderson played Mary Ingalls, Laura’s intelligent older sister whose life changed forever after losing her sight following a bout of scarlet fever.
The emotional storyline earned Anderson an Primetime Emmy Awards nomination and remains one of the most memorable moments from the series.
Mary endured some of the show’s toughest storylines, including blindness, being held hostage, suffering a miscarriage and tragically losing her baby in a fire.
Away from Little House, Anderson starred in Midnight Offerings and Happy Birthday to Me, while also appearing in TV favourites including Murder, She Wrote, The Equalizer and X-Men: The Animated Series.
In more recent years, the actress has largely stepped away from the spotlight, making only the occasional on-screen appearance.
She married TV writer and producer Michael Sloan in 1990 and the couple had two children before becoming Canadian citizens. Sloan sadly died in 2025.
Identical twins Rachel Lindsay Greenbush and Sidney Greenbush shared the role of Carrie Ingalls, the youngest member of the Ingalls family until baby Grace arrived in season four.
The sisters were just three years old when they joined the show. Before landing their breakthrough role on Little House on the Prairie, the twins appeared in the TV film Sunshine.
After Little House came to an end, the pair stepped away from acting to focus on school and have largely stayed out of the spotlight ever since.
Away from Hollywood, Sidney married veterinarian and horse breeder William “Rocky” Foster in 2000 before he sadly died in 2009.
Rachel later reconnected with childhood friend Danny Sanchez – who she first met on the Little House set – and the pair married in 2014, more than 30 years later.
Dean Butler joined Little House in season six as Almanzo Wilder, the farmer who eventually won Laura Ingalls’ heart.
Butler landed his first major role in the 1978 adaptation of Forever by Judy Blume.
After Little House ended, he went on to star in The New Gidget, performed on Broadway in Into the Woods and later appeared in Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Buffy’s father, Hank Summers.
Away from acting, Butler has been married to actress Katherine Cannon since 2001. The couple first met while auditioning for Michael Landon’s TV series Father Murphy.
Katherine MacGregor became one of Little House’s most memorable stars thanks to her portrayal of Harriet Oleson, the shopkeeper who quickly became one of TV’s most love-to-hate villains.
Harriet was originally only meant to appear as a guest character, but proved so popular with viewers that she was promoted to a series regular.
Prior to Little House, MacGregor performed on and off Broadway and she appeared in a handful of TV movies and guest starred on All in the Family and the original Ironside.
She was a convert to Hinduism and very devoted to her faith. She was unable to appear in the Little House finale because she was on a pilgrimage to India at the time.
She died in 2018 at the age of 93.
Victor French played Isaiah Edwards, the ‘rugged mountain man’ and one of Charles Ingalls’ closest friends.
Although fiercely loyal and kind-hearted, the character also battled depression and alcoholism, giving viewers some of the show’s most emotional storylines.
After Little House ended, French reunited with Michael Landon to co-star in Highway to Heaven.
He enjoyed a long television career, with roles in popular series including Gunsmoke, Carter Country and Get Smart.
French also appeared on the big screen alongside Elvis Presley in Charro! and starred opposite John Wayne in Rio Lobo.
Away from Hollywood, French was married twice and had three children. He died from lung cancer in 1989 at the age of 54.
Richard Bull played Nels Oleson, the long-suffering husband of Harriet Oleson and the patient co-owner of Oleson’s Mercantile.
While the pair constantly clashed on screen, Bull and Katherine MacGregor were said to be close friends in real life.
Little House on the Prairie was one of Bull’s longest-running television roles, alongside his stint as Doc on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
Across a career spanning more than four decades, Bull appeared in countless hit TV shows, including The Fugitive, The Andy Griffith Show, Bewitched, Mission: Impossible and Hill Street Blues.
He also appeared in films including The Thomas Crown Affair, The Andromeda Strain, High Plains Drifter and The Parallax View.
Away from acting, Bull was married to actress Barbara Collentine for more than 65 years, from 1948 until his death.
He died from pneumonia in 2014 at the age of 89.
Netflix is going bite-sized. In a pivot toward the short-form content dominating TikTok and YouTube, the streaming giant announced it will start hosting three- to 20-minute videos from top digital publishers right on its homepage starting Aug. 3.
The streamer said U.S. customers will see “fan-favorite videos” from brands run by digital publishers, including BuzzFeed Studios, Condé Nast, Hearst Magazines, PMX (a subdivision of Penske Media), People Inc. and Tastemade. The videos will cover a variety of topics, including gardening tips, travel and celebrity profiles.
The rollout comes as Netflix competes for audience time from YouTube and social media platforms such as TikTok that have viral videos that can occupy users for hours. By bringing series such as BuzzFeed Celeb’s “30 Questions,” on which celebrities provide answers, or Vanity Fair’s “Lie Detector,” on which celebrities are hooked up to polygraph machines, Netflix users can learn more information about the people they already watch on the streamer, but in shorter videos.
“Members don’t just want to watch a show or film and move on. They want to keep exploring the stories and personalities they love long after the final credits roll,” said John Derderian, a Netflix vice president overseeing the initiative. “These partnerships help us deepen fandom and create more ways for members to carry those stories with them throughout their day.”
Netflix said it will offer licensed archival and ongoing series, including Harper’s Bazaar’s “Burning Questions,” Billboard’s “24 Hrs With” and People’s “My Life in Pictures” that provide an inside look at celebrities.
The videos from digital publishers will also be available to Netflix customers in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand on Aug. 3.
The Los Gatos, Calif., streamer over time has been expanding its library of content, adding games, live programming such as boxing matches and football games, alongside movies and TV shows.
Fans say it is the best true crime series ever (Image: Netflix )
Fans are begging for even more episodes of a true crime drama sitting quietly in Netflix‘s library.
Viewers might have missed a harrowing docuseries that is hiding in plain sight on the streaming platform.
Homicide first hit screens in 2024 with five episodes diving into chilling murders that have taken place in Los Angeles. Seasons 2 and 3 closely followed with a fresh focus on New York crimes.
The series comes from Law & Order creator Dick Wolf and examines gruesome killings from the perspectives of those directly impacted. Viewers hear from detectives and prosecutors, as well as the families of the victims.
It offers a complete overview of how law enforcement approached the cases, and how citizens were forced to mourn their loved ones.
Season 3, which is titled Homicide: New York, focuses on a serial offender who targeted victims in Central Park, a suspicious drowning at Soho House, and an unfiltered recounting of 9/11 from the officers who were at Ground Zero.
While many Netflix subscribers may have missed the show, those who caught it upon its release were thoroughly impressed.
An IMDb user raved “we need more,” before writing: “Amazing!! The editing was simply perfect, but the true stories oh my they were so sad but very interesting to hear.
“The people behind all the hard work to find out the results were brilliant and very well spoken about the cases and families involved! Need another 5 episodes!!!”
Get Netflix free with Sky
Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.
This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.
Someone else agreed with the praise, adding: “In True Crime Drama…This one STANDS ABOVE. There are a lot of documentaries out there regarding true crime. Dick Wolf has done an extraordinary job on bringing this one to the screen. I would say it’s one of the best written, true crime dramas ever made.”
While an X, formerly Twitter, user urged others to tune in. “If anyone’s looking for a good murder mystery, definitely recommend Homicide New York on Netflix,” they said.
Yet another fan agreed, stating: “Homicide: New York is insaneeeeeee. if you’re into true crime, you definitely want to watch it.”
All fifteen episodes of Homicide are available to stream now on Netflix
Hayley Anderson Screen Time TV Reporter
07:58, 06 Jul 2026
A “mind blowing” romantic drama is coming to Netflix. (Image: NETFLIX)
A “magnificent and sexy” Netflix drama is poised to star two Hollywood icons.
Book and film fans were captivated by Andre Aciman’s Call Me By Your Name, and now another of his bestselling novels is being transformed for television.
Aciman’s 2017 work Enigma Variations centres on “Paul, a man remade by the lovers who ignite and undo him across six transformative years”.
Netflix further describes it as an “intimate yet sweeping portrait of masculinity, sexuality and modern love.
“And in a world of endless choices, it asks the question: will we know when we’ve found the one?”
Taking the lead role as Paul is none other than Aaron Taylor-Johnson, renowned for 28 Years Later, Kicka**, Nosferatu and Nocturnal Animals.
Taylor-Johnson has also remained consistently amongst the bookmakers’ top picks to be cast as the next James Bond, alongside other contenders such as Callum Turner and Jacob Elordi.
He’ll be appearing opposite Alicia Vikander, celebrated for The Danish Girl and Tomb Raider, who plays Claire, one of Paul’s principal love interests throughout this period.
An official launch date hasn’t been revealed yet, but the Netflix adaptation is anticipated to mirror the books by being set across multiple locations including Italy, New York and New England.
Enigma Variations was hailed as a “magnificent living thing” by The New York Times Book Review, which added that “Aciman writes arousal so beautifully”.
The book has also garnered enormous praise from readers, with one commenting on Good Reads: “This book is staggeringly beautiful. Powerfully emotional, haunting, frank in its sexuality and its romanticism, this is a book about love, infatuation, longing, and lust.”
Another agreed that the “book blew me away”, while a third added: “Evocative, poetic and hopelessly romantic, Andre Aciman has written a cerebral narrative of love undefined.”
Enigma Variations is arriving on Netflix
NETFLIX host Natalie Joy, best known for presenting Age of Attraction, has given birth to twins with her Bachelor star husband Nick Viall.
The couple took to Instagram to announce the safe arrival of the babies, revealing their names in their heartwarming post.
Under an adorable snap of the babies lying together asleep, the caption read: “Dove Tomlin Viall & Iris Parker Viall – our rainbow babies!!!!!”
The couple are already parents to daughter River Rose, who was born two months before they got married in April 2024.
Nick gained fame through his appearances on The Bachelorette and as The Bachelor himself, with him meeting his wife through Instagram years later.
The happy news comes after Nick revealed that Natalie suffered a third devastating miscarriage last year on his podcast, The Viall Files.
Natalie was absent from the episode, usually featuring alongside her husband during recording.
Nick addressed Natalie’s unusual absence, saying: “As you can see, Natalie is not with us.
“There’s no really easy way to talk about this…”
He then got candid with his listeners as he revealed the heartbreaking news.
“Sadly, Natalie experienced another miscarriage. It is her third this year, our third this year…
“There’s no really good way to say it, it f**king sucks.
“She’s obviously at home resting, healing, both physically and emotionally.”
Natalie first suffered a miscarriage in January 2025, before enduring a second pregnancy loss just two months later.
Nick explained to his listeners: “When it happens the first time, the doctors and everyone kind of acknowledge that, while terrible, this is that something that can happen.
“And everyone’s just… don’t freak out, there’s nothing wrong, it sadly can be a part of this process.”
Nick went on: “And then it happened the second time, you know, obviously we have a lot of amazing blessings in our life, first and foremost being River, minus like some morning sickness and things like that, we were very lucky to have a fairly easy pregnancy…
“Really no complications, which was such an amazing blessing.
“Despite what’s going on right now with us, our doctor keeps reminding us that that is the best sign of our future ability to grow our family.
“But right now obviously there’s a little bit of uneasiness. It’s far less normal to have two and three back to back.
“Now we’re kind of in that very scary process of running tests and finding out more about ourselves, and it’s like this weird thing of like you want them to find something, but you don’t want them to find something.
“Because if they find something, you don’t know what that means. We’re in this kind of very uncharted territory of fact finding. Which sucks.”
Nick also said: “I really just wanted to be transparent with you guys ’cause I know she wasn’t there yesterday, people started to notice, and we’re already getting messages with like a lot of concern.
“So overall, Natalie is doing OK physically and healing and she’s OK in that respect and emotionally, we’re currently dealing with that.”
The film tells the story of two young girls found abandoned(Image: Universal Pictures)
There are now just days left to stream a film viewers believe “everyone should watch” once in their lifetime.
Currently available on Netflix, the story centres around two children, Victoria and Lily, who are found abandoned in a dilapidated house in the woods years after the death of their parents. Experts are left completely baffled as to how they have survived with seemingly no food or resources around them.
The sisters are brought in to a safe facility where they are monitored by childhood behaviourists who believe they have likely been alone for five years.
In order to reintroduce them into society, the girls are taken in by their uncle Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and his partner Annabel (Jessica Chastain) who intend to provide them a safe and loving environment at home. However, they soon learn there is more to the case than first meets the eye.
The film in question is 2013 horror, Mama, which will be leaving Netflix at the end of the month. Viewers have until July 25 to stream it before it’s gone for good.
As per the official synopsis: “Annabel and Lucas are faced with the challenge of raising his young nieces that were left alone in the forest for five years…. but how alone were they?”
Alongside Oscar-winner Chastain and Game of Thrones alum Coster-Waldau, the cast also includes revered horror actor Javier Botet. Mama was directed by Andy Muschietti, famed for his work on the IT horror franchise, with Guillermo Del Toro also on board as an executive producer.
At time of writing the film has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 63 per cent from critics and 55 per cent from audiences.
“Mama expands a chilling short film into a full-length feature exploring the dark, twisted depth of maternal love,” penned one viewer, as a second declared: “Everyone should watch this movie at least once.”
“This is actually a pretty good movie,” said another. “I don’t understand the hate from some critics. I haven’t seen this movie in many years, but it has aged very well. It also has a lot of great scenes and creepy moments.”
Meanwhile a fourth watcher added: “I don’t know what it is about it, but this film somehow stuck with me. In my opinion, it does not get the credit it is due. Very atmospheric movie.”
Mama is now streaming on Netflix. It will leave the platform on July 25.
‘Dark mystery’ thriller based on ‘perfect’ novel coming to Netflix(Image: GETTY)
Another bestselling thriller is coming to screens soon.
Netflix has lined up an adaptation of Lucy Clarke’s bestselling thriller The Surf House with a familiar name behind the scenes.
No casting has been announced just yet, but the upcoming drama is being helmed by director Ed Lilly, who was behind episodes of major TV titles such as Industry and Tell Me Lies.
Clarke’s novel is set in Morocco and follows a woman named Bea seeking sanctuary amongst a community of travellers.
However, Bea’s travels soon take a dark turn when she uncovers a sinister secret at the heart of the commune.
A synopsis via Deadline reads: “The Surf House is set high on the cliffs of Morocco and is based in a sanctuary for surfers and travellers chasing sunshine and waves.
“But the idyll hides a dark mystery, and when Bea washes in, seeking refuge after a dangerous encounter in Marrakesh, she soon gets caught in the current.
“A woman her age – who stayed in the same area, walked the same beaches, met the same guests – disappeared one year earlier, vanishing without trace, and her last known whereabouts was The Surf House.”
Author Clarke is quickly becoming a household name for thriller fans, with Deadline’s report describing her as a “British Liane Moriarty” (author of Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers).
Two of her novels, The Castaways and No Escape, have already been adapted by Paramount+, the former starring Sheridan Smith.
Another book, The Hike, has also been optioned by Urban Myth Films, which is backed by Studiocanal, so a big screen adaptation could be imminent.
In the meantime, The Surf House is shaping up to be another must-watch thriller for Netflix based on the original novel’s rave reviews from readers.
One Goodreads user gushed: “This is the perfect thriller. It had everything going on. The scenic beach front hostel in Morocco as the setting was amazing.”
Watch Unchosen on Netflix
Another wrote: “I felt like I could not put this one down. I needed to keep reading to see what was going to happen. Also the last 60 percent has several twists and turns. Once I thought I had it figured out it kept changing up on me.”
“I could not get enough of this book,” someone else said. “I am going to buy all of this author’s books now. Such a perfect 5 star for me.”
And a final fan recommended: “If you like fast paced thrillers, multiple mysteries wrapped up in one story all in the back drop of a gorgeous destination and travel setting then this is absolutely for you.”
Netflix’s The Surf House does not yet have a release date.
Taylor Swift’s ‘painful to watch’ period drama is on Netflix (Image: GETTY)
It has its fair share of defenders but scored just 32 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
A 2022 period drama with an all-star cast including pop star Taylor Swift is currently available to stream on Netflix – but it’s not some of the star’s most acclaimed work.
The 1989 chart-topper has just tied the knot with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce on Friday, July 3 at a lavish ceremony in Madison Square Garden in New York.
Attended by around 1,000 guests and officiated by Hollywood A-lister Adam Sandler, it’s become one of the most publicised celebrity weddings in history.
For those looking to Netflix for their Swiftie fix to mark the occasion, you can currently stream her acclaimed behind-the-scenes documentary Miss Americana, a Netflix Original released in 2020.
However, she is also known for infrequent movie roles, including the critically maligned musical Cats and lending her voice to animated film The Lorax.
Her only acting role currently streaming on Netflix in the UK may be a surprise to fans as it’s David O Russell’s critical and commercial flop Amsterdam, a mystery thriller set in the 1930s.
Based on the real-life Business Plot case from 1933, an investigation into the death of a retired US general, Swift has a supporting role as Elizabeth Meekins alongside an all-star cast that also includes Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington and Anya Taylor-Joy.
Made on a budget of $80 million (£59 million), it was a box office bomb for 20th Century Studios with an estimated loss of more than $100 million (£74.9 million).
While it was critically panned, Amsterdam does have some defenders with one fan even claiming: “An instant classic. Given time, it will be regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. The cast is outstanding.
“I can’t remember ever seeing so many talented actors in one film like this before. Everyone brought their A-Game and absolutely nailed their respective performances.”
Unfortunately, not everyone shares their opinion as a Rotten Tomatoes user branded the film “A confused mess that was painful to watch”.
“An incoherent mess. A waste of the stellar cast,” another viewer slammed, and someone else wrote: “Honestly in contention for the worst movie of the 2020s.”
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The film continues to be eviscerated on IMDb, with one user slamming Amsterdam as “Quite literally one of the most worthless movies I’ve ever seen.
“The first few scenes set up what could only be anticipated as an action packed murder mystery type movie, only to be followed by a nearly pointless flashback with categorically pointless scenes attempting to make you feel something for characters that make absolutely no sense.
“This movie had serious potential, with an amazing cast. I took three friends and I feel like I owe them several hours of wasting their life.”
Swifties have been warned to stick with Miss Americana this weekend, or perhaps stream her concert extravaganza The Eras Tour, which was filmed and released by Disney+.
Amsterdam is available to stream on Netflix.
Olivia Colman’s film has been called phenomenal(Image: NETFLIX)
Olivia Colman fans don’t have long left to watch her “emotional, silly and joyful” film.
Fans of The Crown star Olivia Colman are running out of time to catch her “phenomenal” film before it disappears from Netflix. The 2022 movie, set in Ireland, centres on a 12 year old boy, Mully (played by Charlie Reid) who lives with his father in County Kerry following his mother’s death from cancer.
Upon uncovering his father’s dark secrets, the youngster runs away and encounters a woman named Joy (Colman) and her newborn baby. Gradually, the unlikely pair begin to form a bond during a chaotic, emotional road trip across Ireland, finding healing, friendship and redemption along the way.
Joyride is the film in question, and it is available to stream on Netflix until July 31.
Viewers flocked to IMDb to share their opinions on the film, with one describing it as “phenomenal, funny and moving”.
They wrote: “This is one of those films that I didn’t want to end, terrific from start to finish, it was moving, funny, and in this day and age where stories seem to be frequently repeated and copied, it felt original.”
“A couple of times it made me tear up, so moving, what was so good, was seeing the effects the unlikely duo had on each other.
“Olivia Colman is one of my all-time favourites, and she’s phenomenal here, her accent was spot on, equally matched by young Charlie Reid, who was superb.”
Another viewer praised it as “emotional, silly and joyful”, adding: “Fantastic chemistry with the cast, and a wonderful balance of emotions throughout. At times it’s a little confusing, but it all makes sense in the end. And isn’t that what life is like?
“Olivia Colman shines as always, but the real star is Charlie Reid. Some wonderful interactions between them and excellent continuity touches and themes – the dialogue is as entertaining as it is raw.
“A joyful escapade that’s a welcome break from the rinse and repeat action and romcoms.”
One devoted fan added: “It warmed my heart, made me laugh, and cry a little… what more could you ask of any movie?”.
Filmed on location in County Kerry, Colman opened up to Yours magazine about taking on the role: “I loved the character of Joy.
“I couldn’t get her out of my head once I’d read the script. I loved how it was all put together. I loved the story and I really wanted to do it.”
Joyride is leaving Netflix on July 31.
Worst Neighbor Ever can be streamed on Netflix(Image: Netflix)
A “disturbing” true crime series that gives viewers nightmares is available to stream in full.
Earlier this week (July 1), streaming giant Netflix released four part series Worst Neighbor Ever, which comes from the same creators of shows Worst Ex Ever and Worst Roommate Ever.
Spanning across four episodes, it plunges viewers into real life neighbour disputes that often escalate to violence, and even murder. Through chilling body cam and CCTV footage as well as heartbreaking interviews with victims, the series also offers a unique approach by using animated re-enactments.
Promising to show cases that are “more shocking than ever”, an official synopsis teased: “You think you know your neighbors? Think again.
“This new series features first-hand accounts of violence, intimidation, and harassment that are more shocking than ever. Through compelling testimonials, startling body cam footage, and animated re-enactments, Worst Neighbor Ever proves the people next door aren’t just a nuisance – they’re lethal.”
The cases included a huge insurance scam explosion that had a catastrophic impact on one community, as well as a suspect’s chilling moves before a brutal shooting that left one dad dead.
Already, Worst Neighbor Ever has found itself in the top 10, surpassing other new releases taking the top spot.
Viewers cannot stop binge watching the four part anthology series, with some having “nightmares” from the harrowing cases shown.
Taking to X, one person wrote: “Episode 3 of #WorstNeighborEver has in my tearssssss. J**** man.” Another said: “#worstneighborever is crazy.”
A third fumed: “this #WorstNeighborEver series is ridiculous. there’s really some evil people out here.”
A fourth added: “These #WorstNeighborEver cases get worse and worse omg.” A fifth commented: “Episode 3 of worst neighbor ever just ruined my mf dayyyyyy!!!!!”
Another stated: “Every single episode of #WorstNeighborEver has made me cry, episode 3 especially.”
Over on TikTok, one true crime fan said the show was “unbelievably shocking” as they said in a video: “It did not disappoint, it was absolutely fantastic and I am shocked beyond belief.” They added it made then “so sad and so angry”.
One person replied: “just watched it the first episode was gut wrenching”, as another echoed: “OMG just finished watching it, I was bawling my eyes out he didn’t deserve that.”
A third added: “Thought it was so good, and so disturbing.” In another video, one reviewer stated the ‘Worst Ever’ collection has them “locked in every time”, as another said they were “not prepared” when watching the heartbreaking episode. A third penned: “It gave me nightmares.”
Worst Neighbor Ever can be streamed on Netflix
Decades of Hollywood empire-building ended with a quake in 2017 when Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch decided to sell much of his Fox entertainment holdings amid the rise of Netflix and other tech giants.
This week, another titan who has been instrumental in shaping American media and telecommunications began to unwind his Hollywood holdings.
Brian L. Roberts — who with his father built Comcast into a cable TV and internet colossus — announced his company would spin off its prestigious NBCUniversal unit into a separate publicly traded company sometime next year.
The move reverses Roberts’ purchase of NBCUniversal in 2011 — a bold bet that created a behemoth with popular programming and cable pipes to pump that content into consumer homes.
Comcast’s breakup marks the close of a Hollywood era, one dominated for 40 years by a class of maverick moguls: Murdoch, CNN founder Ted Turner, Viacom’s Sumner Redstone, cable titan John Malone and the Philadelphia-based Roberts family.
Now, a new crop of leaders has emerged, reflecting Silicon Valley’s vast influence over the film and and TV business, which has been upended by streaming and, now, artificial intelligence.
“There was a time that Murdoch, Malone and Brian were really industry leaders who could affect change,” said Bank of America managing director Jessica Reif Ehrlich in an interview. “That’s not true any longer.”
Analysts widely believe Monday’s announcement is a prelude to eventual sales of both Comcast and NBCUniversal, a theory that Comcast rejects.
Roberts, 67, told analysts he will remain involved in both NBCUniversal and Comcast after the separation. Still, he plans to relinquish his chief executive role after 25 years and a half century at Comcast. Roberts has picked trusted associates to run each firm, and his family will continue to hold controlling shares of both companies.
But the shift underscores a dramatic loss of clout by Comcast and other traditional media enterprises. Netflix, Apple, Amazon and Google’s YouTube have diminished the industry’s financial pillars — box office receipts and cable programming fees — and given consumers control over when and how they watch programming.
Murdoch was the first to flee. In 2014, he was rebuffed in his $80-billion bid to beef up his 21st Century Fox by buying HBO, CNN and other Time Warner assets. Murdoch’s defeat led to the Fox asset sale to Walt Disney Co.
Last fall, Comcast made a run for the same properties with a plan to unite NBCUniversal with Warner Bros.
Instead, 43-year-old tech scion David Ellison — with help from his billionaire father, Oracle software co-founder Larry Ellison — scooped up the prize for a staggering $111 billion.
The pending blockbuster merger of Ellison’s Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to reshape the industry and leave NBCUniversal increasingly vulnerable to a takeover.
“It looks like Comcast’s NBCUniversal was left standing on the dance floor without a partner,” MoffettNathanson media analyst Robert Fishman wrote in a Tuesday note to investors.
Paramount’s play for Warner Bros. came a month after Ellison finalized his family’s purchase of cash-strapped Paramount from Shari Redstone. The one-two acquisition punch would propel the Ellison family to top-tier moguls with influence over CNN, CBS News, HBO, Turner Classic Movies and two historic Hollywood studios.
“It’s a flagging industry. … The industry will have to consolidate to survive,” said C. Kerry Fields, a USC Marshall School of Business economics professor. “Those who have content plus [streaming] distribution are going to be the winners.”
Roberts knows distribution. His father in 1963 bought his first cable TV system in Tupelo, Miss. It was a quirky bet for Ralph Roberts, who figured his belts and suspenders business would soon be toast as beltless polyester pants became the rage.
Brian Roberts joined Comcast as a high school intern, setting up supermarket promotions. In 1975, he became a trainee cable installer, climbing poles and stringing cables. He joined Comcast full time in 1981 after graduating the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
For more than 30 years, he worked in tandem with his dad. With key associates, they built the nation’s foremost cable TV service — then the entertainment gateway — and grew stronger by offering internet, phone and then wireless service.
Analysts credit the 2011 purchase of NBCUniversal as a huge success; Comcast rescued a company that was on the ropes due to General Electric’s under-investment.
Over the years, Comcast rebuilt NBC and Spanish-language Telemundo, writing big checks for the best sports rights, including the FIFA World Cup, NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball.
Comcast also recognized value in theme parks and invested heavily, building Universal Studios as a formidable rival to Disney. NBC finished the season in first-place among traditional TV broadcasters and its L.A. film studio is an industry leader.
But the world has changed.
“One of the defining characteristics of this company has always been our willingness to look ahead, embrace change, and position ourselves for the future,” Roberts told analysts during a Monday call.
Reif Ehrlich, the Bank of America analyst, said Comcast needed to do something — or watch its stagnant stock sink farther.
Wall Street has punished the company amid steep losses in its cable TV and broadband internet units, and because NBCUniversal has historically generated its biggest profits from its cable channels.
In January, Comcast spun off those networks, including CNBC, MS NOW, USA Network and Golf Channel, to create a new entity called Versant.
But the move failed to boost Comcast’s battered stock, which dropped 3.3% on Wednesday to $23.73.
Five years ago, Comcast stock topped $50 a share.
“It was just a very challenged market on both sides, and it’s getting worse, not better,” Reif Ehrlich said.
Comcast faces competitors beyond traditional telecommunications firms, including AT&T and T-Mobile. SpaceX’s Starlink provides satellite internet service.
NBCUniversal must jockey alongside other well-capitalized players, including Amazon, Netflix and Disney. NBC’s streaming service, Peacock, has struggled to get traction. It counted 46 million paying subscribers as of the first quarter, a fraction of Netflix’s 325 million and the nearly 132 million subscribers of Disney+.
“It’s kind of a subscale player,” Reif Ehrlich said. “It’s just a real battle, and NBC has expensive sports rights.”
Roberts conceded the difficult landscape on the analyst call.
“The world is changing faster than ever,” Roberts said. “Technology, consumer behavior, competition, capital requirements are all evolving at an unprecedented pace … When we acquired NBCUniversal, more than 15 years ago, the industry looked very different.”
He will retain control for at least three years. The NBCUniversal spin-off is envisioned as a tax-free transaction for shareholders, providing a short-term buffer from deal-making to preserve that structure.
NBCUniversal could be up for grabs by 2029 — a pivotal year when the NFL is expected to open negotiations for a new round of broadcast rights. That auction is expected to draw heavy interest from Amazon and other streamers — not just veterans Fox, NBC, Disney’s ESPN and Paramount’s CBS.
“Brian Roberts has already proven his willingness to play the long game and with continued control should be the end decision maker,” Fishman said.
Much like Murdoch, who is now 95 and partially retired.
“Rupert was the smartest guy in Hollywood — he got out at the top,” Reif Ehrlich said.
He entrusted power to his 54-year-old son, Lachlan, who has been busy remaking Fox after the 2019 sale to Disney, which included Fox’s film and TV studios, streaming service Hulu and the FX and National Geographic channels. Fox also unloaded its regional cable sports networks — a savvy move before that business cratered.
The Murdochs kept Fox Sports, the Fox broadcast network, TV stations, Fox News Channel and the studio lot.
The company has been expanding. Lachlan Murdoch led Fox’s purchase of Tubi, which provides free TV channels and movies for smart televisions, keeping Fox in the streaming game. The company launched Fox News and weather products, and subscription service Fox One, which streams the company’s sports and news.
Earlier this month, Lachlan Murdoch stunned the industry by agreeing to pay $22 billion for Roku, a leading streaming platform that reaches 100 million viewers worldwide. Murdoch called the proposed purchase “a defining moment for Fox.”
Worst Neighbor Ever is available to stream on Netflix(Image: Netflix)
The chilling calls to emergency services after a huge insurance scam explosion have been revealed in a brutal true crime documentary series.
This week, Netflix dropped anthology series Worst Neighbor Ever, which follows on from Worst Ex Ever and Worst Roommate Ever.
This time, it explores real life neighbour disputes that take a fatal turn. Plunging viewers into a series of events including intimidation and violence, it uses real life bodycam footage and CCTV to highlight what occurred.
As well as hearing heartbreaking accounts from victims, the true crime series also stands out with its use of animated re-enactments to tell the stories.
An official synopsis reads: “You think you know your neighbors? Think again. This new series features firsthand accounts of violence, intimidation, and harassment that are more shocking than ever.
“Through compelling testimonials, startling body cam footage, and animated reenactments, Worst Neighbor Ever proves the people next door aren’t just a nuisance – they’re lethal.”
The second episode plunges viewers back to 2012 when a huge explosion wreaked devastation on one tight knit community in Indiana. On November 10, 2012, Monserrate ‘Moncy’ Shirley’s home exploded, leaving two people in the vicinity dead and many others injured, destroying dozens of homes.
But when investigators find the real cause, lives were changed forever. The episode hears from the neighbours who were at home that evening as well as revealing what Moncy was really like, as well as her new boyfriend at the time Mark Leonard.
Following the huge explosion, one neighbour can be heard saying: “At first, we thought we were being bombed. Our whole house lifted up off the foundation.”
Another said: “It was like one of those mortar fireworks going off right next to your house.”
Showing chilling video footage of the explosion and the flames, the documentary also showcased some of the heartbreaking calls made to the emergency services.
In one phone call, a neighbour said: “Something literally just exploded”, as another asked: “What just happened?” A third said: “We had a large boom, I don’t know if it was a bomb, a gun went off or what.”
Detailing the aftermath, one resident said: “The flames were just massive. The street looked like it had snowed, but this bright light of fire is in the distance.”
A call between emergency services continued: “We’ve had an explosion at a house, we’re going to need medics, IFD, it’s going to be a major incident control.”
The episode explores how Moncy, her boyfriend Mark and his brother had plotted to start a fire that would result in an insurance payout, however, their plan resulted in a huge explosion that wreaked devastation for years afterwards.
Worst Neighbor Ever can be streamed on Netflix
It is a prequel of the film series of the same name(Image: Peacock)
Fans claim that the prequel series is even better than the movie it is based on.
An ‘absolutely genius’ show that has just been added to Netflix has been labelled as the ‘funniest show ever’. Containing eight episodes in total viewers should be able to binge watch the title in record time.
The first season of Ted is now available on the platform as of today (July 1). It serves as a prequel for the film of the same name written and directed by Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane.
McFarlane returns to voice the titular character Ted as well as serving as one of the show’s writers. He also directs every episode of the show.
According to its synopsis, the comedic prequel event series to the films begins in 1993. Ted the bear’s moment of fame has passed.
He’s now living back home in Framingham, Massachusetts with his best friend, 16-year-old John Bennett, along with John’s parents, Matty and Susan and cousin Blaire. Ted may be a lousy influence on John, but at the end of the day, he’s a loyal pal who’s always willing to go out on a limb for friendship.
MaxBurkholder takes over the role of John, which was previously played by Mark Wahlberg in the films. Meanwhile, Euphoria’s Alanna Ubach plays John’s mother and The Punisher’s Giorgia Whigham plays his cousin.
Scott Grimes, who has appeared in multiple MacFarlane projects including American Dad, The Orville plays John’s dad.
A second season released earlier this year but the future of the show is up in the air. McFarlane has said there aren’t any plans for a third season saying its production costs might be too high, although he’s also hinted there could be a film in the future with the series cast.
For now Netflix users can enjoy all episodes of the first season. The second is currently only available via Sky or NOW streaming platform.
Fans are full of praise for the series that boasts a rating of 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is higher than the original film. One person labelled it a “hilarious masterpiece.”
They added: “The CGI for the bear is insanely good, you almost forget he isn’t real. Seth MacFarlane does an incredible job bringing Ted to life, and the chemistry between the entire cast makes the show feel effortless. The cast bounce off the absurdity perfectly, and the dialogue never stops being funny. It’s one of those comedies that’s just pure fun to watch from start to finish.”
Someone else claimed they still love it just as much after multiple watches. They said: “I’ve watched Ted at least 10 times, and it still makes me laugh every single time. The jokes are sharp, the timing is perfect, and the cast is just amazing. it’s absurd, honest, and perfectly delivered. Shows like this don’t come around often, and it’s my ultimate rewatchable series.”
While one person posted: “It’s absurd, a little bit chaotic, and somehow still incredibly charming, much like the bear himself. The show cleverly balances raunchy humour with an oddly heartfelt coming-of-age story, proving that even a foul-mouthed, beer-loving teddy bear can provide surprisingly good life advice—albeit sandwiched between jokes that would make your grandmother faint.”
The go on to say: “Seth MacFarlane’s voice work is as sharp as ever, delivering laugh-out-loud moments with the kind of deadpan brilliance usually reserved for grumpy old men at the pub. In the end, Ted Season 1 is exactly what you’d expect: hilarious, ridiculous, and strangely heartwarming.”
Others warned that as soon as you watch one episode, you will quickly find yourself breezing through the whole series. They said: “Seth is a comedy genius and this project is no different after putting it on with the intention of watching one at 12.30am at night I binge watched it and was left wanting more.”
Ted is streaming on Netflix and NOW
The series shows Emile Cilliers (left) arriving at court(Image: Channel 4)
Where the soldier who tried to kill his wife twice is now.
A three part docuseries retelling a remarkable story of Victoria Cilliers is now streaming on Netflix. Across its three episodes, it shows how Victoria, an experienced skydiver somehow survived a 4,000ft fall after bother her parachutes failed to open.
It was originally made for Channel 4 a couple of years ago but is now available on the popular platform. It means more viewers will find out how police investigated the incident and gathered evidence that Victoria’s parachute was tampered with.
They soon suspected her husband Emile. Born in South Africa he moved to the UK in the early 2000s. While he had two children from a previous marriage, he met Victoria later in 2009, after receiving treatment where she was working as a physio.
The pair eventually married and had two children of their own. However, during their marriage, Emile exhibited some worrying behaviour.
This included spending Victoria’s money and racking up debt while Victoria also suspected him of having an affair.
But what happened to Emile Cillers? Where is he now and what sentence did he receive? Here is all you need to know?
Following their investigation, police charged Emile Cilliers with the attempted murder of his wife. They put forward that he deliberately tampered with the parachute before the jump.
Officers investigating believed that Emile wanted to cash in Victoria’s life insurance to pay off his debts and begin a new life with his girlfriend, who was apparently under the impression he had split from his wife.
Before the jump, Emile tried to kill Victoria by leaving the gas on in their home. Thankfully, her and their children escaped after harm after Victoria smelt the leak.
The case first went to trial in October 2017. However, the jury failed to reach a verdict. The docuseries goes into detail about the reasons this may have happened.
There was then a second trial in May 2018. Following this he was found guilty on two counts of attempted murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years.
BBC News reported that during sentencing, Mr Justice Sweeney told Cilliers he was “of quite exceptional callousness and a person who would stop at nothing to gratify your own desires”.
He described the evidence against him as “overwhelming” and added: “You continued to pursue your selfish financial, emotional, and sexual desires.”
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson at the time said: “The evidence all pointed to Emile Cilliers as the man with the motive and the opportunity to commit these calculated attempts to murder his wife.”
Cilliers is serving his sentence at HM Dovegate Prison in Staffordshire.
The Fall: Skydive Murder Plot is streaming on Netflix, Disney+ and Channel 4.
Netflix has come under fire for apparently using artificial intelligence to recreate Gene Wilder’s voice in their new series based on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The late actor, who died in 2016 at the age of 83, famously played the title character in the 1971 adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic.
Now, the streaming service is set to launch Wonka’s The Golden Ticket, a reality series that invites players to step inside the famous factory and complete challenges.
A voiceover, which sounds very much like that of Wilder, says: “A whole new generation of real-life golden ticketholder will compete for a life-changing prize, or say a most unfortunate goodbye.
“Marvel at the magic you remember, and delight in my newest wonders beyond imagination…The most extraordinary competition on earth is about to begin. There’s no turning back now.” A group of entrants were then seen locking shocked and the trailer confirmed that the series will be released on September 23.
Fans were left unimpressed as they instantly recognised what sounded almost the late actor’s voice, assuming that it had been generated by AI. One fan wrote on X: “It almost sounds like gene wilder, but not really and is a plastic substitute that people will eat up because the robots have made them stupid, This is an obscenity.”
Another said: “Ain’t no way they ruining one of my favourite movies of all time with a show and a AI Gene Wilder,” whilst a third wrote: “I’m sure Gene Wilder who died 10 years ago gave his permission to use his voice for AI slop.”
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was first published in 1964 and followed an impoverished boy as he won the chance to visit Wonka’s chocolate factory and watched as four other spoiled children met their grisly end over the course of the day. The 1971 adaptation was filmed as a musical and featured songs like Pure Imagination, I Want It Now and The Candyman.
In 2005, Tim Burton released a remake with Johnny Depp as Wonka and Freddie Highmore as Charlie. The story was then adapted for the stage in 2013, and ran for a short period of time on both Broadway and the West End but closed amid mixed reviews.
In 2024, Timothée Chalamet stepped into the role of the factory owner in a prequel film, alongside an all-star cast made up of Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Colman, and Hugh Grant.
The celebrated children’s author was also behind other classics such as Matilda, The Twits, and James’ Giant Peach, and Netflix acquired The Roald Dahl Story Company in 2021.
Earlier this year, Netflix revealed that upcoming animation feature due was to release sometime in 2027. At the time, it was confirmed that Heartstopper star Kit Connor is set to lead the voice cast.
He will be joined by comedic actor and filmmaker Taika Waititi, known for directing and starring in Jojo Rabbit and Thor Ragnarok. They will both feature in Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory.
The Netflix original is directed by experienced animated filmmakers Jared Stern and Elaine Bogan. Between them they have previously helmed The Lego Batman Movie, Spirit Untamed and Trollhunters.
According to the synopsis, Willy Wonka has spent the years since the Golden Ticket contest behind bars for the crime of turning a child into a blueberry. Having served his time, Wonka returns to his factory determined to add a little sweetness to a bitter world. But one thing stands in his way: teenager Charlie Paley and his friends.
Facing eviction, this next generation of “rotten” kids plot to break into the factory, nab a priceless Wonka Bar, and save their homes. But like many before them who enter the fantastical world of the factory, these kids are in for a bit more than they can chew.
The story is said to be set in modern day London, and the makers hope it retains the quintessential British charm synonymous with Roald Dahl’s original work while featuring a new adventure, original songs, brand new characters and some surprises. Netflix hopes this new chapter set in the world of Wonka will introduce a new generation to its universe and characters.
Kit Connor said: “I’m so excited to enter the wonderful world of Wonka. I was immediately caught by the early concept art, and the directors’ vision for the film – capturing the spirit and heart that made the original story so special, whilst imbuing it with something so fresh and unique. It’s such a fun representation of the London that I know. This new adventure is going to surprise audiences around the world, you’re in for a treat!”
The Mirror has reached out to Netflix for comment
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Carl Erik Rinsch, the director of the 2013 Keanu Reeves action film “47 Ronin,” will serve more than two years in federal prison for defrauding Netflix of $11 million.
U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff on Monday sentenced 48-year-old Rinsch to 30 months in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York, announced. Federal prosecutors convicted Rinsch in December of wire fraud, money laundering and other counts. A legal representative for Rinsch did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
Federal prosecutors indicted Rinsch in March 2025, alleging the $11 million went into Rinsch’s personal accounts. The filmmaker “quickly transferred” the money from the Rinsch Co. account, where it had been deposited March 6, 2020, by Netflix, through additional accounts until about $10.5 million wound up weeks later in a personal brokerage account. He lost more than half of that money in less than two months via risky investments in the stock market, the indictment said.
Though Rinsch told the streamer that his sci-fi show “White Horse” was progressing nicely, the filmmaker allegedly moved the remaining money into cryptocurrency and profited from crypto speculation over the next couple of years. The streamer had invested around $44 million in the show. Rinsch was accused of spending around $10 million on five Rolls-Royces, a Ferrari, watches, clothing, luxury bedding and linens, credit card bills, attorneys to sue Netflix for more money, and lawyers to work on his divorce.
He was arrested in West Hollywood and released the same day after agreeing to post a $100,000 bond to guarantee his appearance in a New York federal court.
Rinsch never finished the Netflix show.
During his sentencing, Rinsch and his legal team told the court his behavior was a result of mental health struggles and medication problems and they are working to address those issues with a new care provider, the Associated Press reported.
“I failed to recognize the danger of the state I was in,” Rinsch said, though his mental issues were not described in court, and his attorneys declined to provide further detail.
Ahead of the sentencing, Reeves — the star of Rinsch’s most notable project to date — penned a letter in May requesting “leniency and mercy as well as justice” in the filmmaker’s sentencing.
In addition to prison time, Rinsch must serve three years of supervised release, forfeit the $11 million and pay $700 in mandatory special assessments, according to Monday’s announcement. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said in the announcement: “Today’s sentence sends a deterrent message: fraud will not be tolerated.”
The Associated Press and former Times assistant editor Christie D’Zurilla contributed to this report.
It’s been about a month into the all-important summer box office season, and already, there is a noticeable boost in optimism.
I wrote last week about how the massive debut of Walt Disney Co. and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” was a promising sign; many analysts and movie theater operators believe the summer’s theatrical revenue could finally reach pre-pandemic levels.
The cinema business has been propelled by the likes of Paramount Pictures and Miramax‘s “Scary Movie,” Universal Pictures’ “Disclosure Day” and, of course, A24’s “Backrooms” and Focus Features’ “Obsession.”
With more potential blockbusters on the way, my colleagues David Viramontes, audience editor for arts and entertainment, and Cerys Davies, who covers the business of the entertainment industry, joined me to give our best predictions for how this summer will shape up.
What will be the biggest movie of the summer?
Masunaga: After seeing how family movies — specifically, PG-rated films — were the winners of the last two years, I think we’ll be seeing “Toy Story 5” emerge at the top. The movie has already brought in more than $585 million worldwide less than two weeks after it opened, and if its billion-dollar-grossing predecessors are any indication, this franchise may still have a long life at the box office.
Viramontes: After the R-rated, three-hour drama “Oppenheimer” made nearly $1 billion at the worldwide box office in 2023, it would be professional malpractice not to pick Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” as the biggest movie of the summer — and possibly the year. 70-millimeter IMAX screenings were sold out a year in advance and premium format tickets are still hard to come by in Los Angeles. Not to mention tentpole movies like this attract repeat viewings and even encourage viewers to seek out screenings in every format. And we haven’t even talked about how the film boasts one of the most stacked casts in recent history.
Davies: In an effort to play it safe, I’m going to pick a family movie and bet on “Toy Story 5.” Think about the dog days of summer — when the air gets heavy, a sense of inexplicable boredom takes over and it’s almost too hot to do anything. Deep down, you know the only reprieve is sitting in the comfort of your local theater chain’s air conditioning. But, at this point, you already saw “The Odyssey” with all your friends at the earliest available IMAX showing. What else will scratch that box office itch? I’m willing to bet it’ll be none other than the familiar faces of Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear, as they fend off technology in their home.
Samantha Masunaga delivers the latest news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.
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Which movie’s marketing campaign will be the talk of the summer?
Masunaga: The marketing for “The Odyssey” has been less overt than that of other summer releases, giant Trojan horse in Venice Beach notwithstanding. But a film helmed by Nolan and starring a plethora of A-list actors basically markets itself. After all, both official trailers for the film have garnered more than 30 million views on YouTube.
Viramontes: I’m prepared for Spider-Man to be everywhere. From buses and billboards to talk shows and TikTok, the movie will reach full saturation. While “Brand New Day’s” marketing campaign hasn’t reached fever pitch just yet, I’m prepared to be inundated with activations, posters and commercials for the four-quadrant fave that’s poised to be one of Marvel’s biggest successes in years.
Davies: A massive orange monster named Irene with dozens of eyeballs has nearly engulfed the historic Carney’s restaurant on Sunset. A giant inflatable “Rich” minion, sporting a goatee and a blinged out chain, popped up on Fairfax. And minions have taken over Wendy’s frosty machines with a new banana flavor. At this point, Universal and Illumination could put a minion on every Los Angeles street corner, and I wouldn’t grow tired of them. (The ominous, goggle-wearing eye overlooking the 101 freeway just isn’t enough.)
What will be the biggest wild card of the summer?
Masunaga: The biopic “Young Washington” could make waves. Distributed by Provo, Utah-based Angel Studios, the movie has the backing of the studio’s 2 million Angel Guild members, who determine its slate and get other perks, including free movie tickets. That support proved crucial for 2023’s “Sound of Freedom,” which ended up grossing more than $250 million worldwide, and could end up being a factor here, too.
Viramontes: “The End of Oak Street” has been teasing a dinosaur adventure in trailers, but can the mystery box movie starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor attract audiences? There’s also potential counter programming to blockbuster hopefuls dotted throughout the summer with “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.” But I’m putting my money on “Evil Dead Burn.” Horror movies put butts in seats, and this summer doesn’t have many other straight-down-the-middle scares in store for audiences.
Davies: There’s an Anthony Bourdain biopic called “Tony” hitting theaters in August. These days, it feels like Hollywood will make a biopic about just anyone, but something about seeing Dominic Sessa channel the chef’s undying passion for food and effortless swag on screen seems irresistible. Plus today’s audiences love stories about intense kitchens (“The Bear”) and debatable biopics (“Michael”) — let’s see what happens when the two marry.
Both Warner Bros.-owned DC Studios’ “Supergirl” and Sony Pictures‘ “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” are part of this summer’s lineup. Will we see a turnaround from the recent superhero fatigue at the box office?
Masunaga: This past weekend marked a disappointing debut for “Supergirl,” which brought in just $37.1 million in the U.S. and Canada and about $62.6 million worldwide on a reported budget of $170 million. Box office analysts had been expecting a domestic opening of about $47 million to $50 million. On the other hand, pre-sales for “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” have been extremely strong. Not every superhero movie prints money anymore, so even with a potentially big haul for “Spider-Man,” I don’t know that it’ll signify a complete turnaround for the genre as a whole.
Viramontes: If there’s any superhero with enough pull to rescue the genre from fatigue after “Supergirl’s” poor performance, it’s your friendly neighborhood box office king Spider-Man.
Davies: Tom Holland’s Spider-Man definitely has the potential to cure superhero fatigue, at least for a few months. But as soon as the internet’s favorite couple, Zendaya and Holland, stop walking red carpets and doing press together, audiences are likely to put superhero movies on the back burner once again.
Analysts and theater owners have predicted that this summer’s box office will reach pre-pandemic levels. Will that momentum continue for the rest of the year?
Masunaga: Yes. The lineup of movies this year is more plentiful and varied than in years past, and with massive blockbusters slated for the holiday season, I think it’s very possible we could see a year-end domestic box office total of $9 billion or more.
Viramontes: Yes. We’ll have an action horror in September with “Resident Evil,” Zach Cregger’s follow-up to “Weapons.” In October, Tom Cruise’s long-awaited “Digger” might hit pay dirt. Following that in November is the new “Hunger Games” movie, “Sunrise on the Reaping.” And I don’t even have to mention “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Dune: Part Three,” the juggernauts waiting for us in December, do I?
Davies: Given the overall excitement from audiences of all ages and the variety this summer’s box office has to offer, this season will definitely be the one to do it. When Christopher Nolan, Spider-Man, the minions and the toys from “Toy Story” join forces, there’s no stopping them.
As film and TV production has fled the Golden State in search of cheaper locales, HBO Max medical drama “The Pitt” stands out as a major contributor to California’s economy.
My colleague Meg James wrote about the economic impact of the show, which films almost entirely on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank and has provided jobs for about 1,000 people. The show’s first season alone contributed $125 million to California’s gross domestic product, according to an estimate from Oxford Economics.
“We’re old men who didn’t want to go away from our homes any longer,” series star Noah Wyle, who also serves as an executive producer and writer on the show, said, half-joking. “We’ve all been plying our trades out of state, chasing tax credits and being away from our families for a really long time.”
Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” continued its dominance this weekend, pulling in $70 million in the U.S. and Canada to stay on top at the box office.
The animated film has now grossed more than $585 million worldwide in less than two weeks. The haul for “Toy Story 5” helped push Disney past the $3-billion mark at the global box office, making it the first studio so far this year to hit that milestone.
I feel like I’m always catching up on shows, and this week was no exception. I’m just now starting Season 2 of Netflix’s “A Man on the Inside,” which continues the hilarious exploits of retired engineering professor-turned-private-investigator Charles, played by Ted Danson. As a fan of “The Good Place,” I’ve loved the similar humor of this latest Michael Schur show.
DRAMA queen Michelle Keegan has seen her earnings shoot up to £5.4million a year.
The former Coronation Street star took a substantial amount of time off work last year after she became a first time mum with husband Mark Wright.
But new figures for her company, Rosia Productions, show that in the year up to September 2025, Michelle, 39, earned £1.4m more than the £4m she banked the previous year.
A financial expert said: “This shows Michelle still has massive earning power, and her career is going from strength to strength after 18 years on our TV.
“Despite taking time off to become a parent it hasn’t made any difference to her income and she’s still clearly one of the most in-demand stars of British TV”.
It comes after she enjoyed massive success with Harlen Coben’s Fool Me Once in 2024, which was one of Netflix‘s biggest hits, reaching the top spot around the globe.
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She announced in December 2024 she was having a baby.
In March daughter Palma Elizabeth Wright came into the world.
Her BBC series, Ten Pound Poms, was cancelled after two series last year, and her other big show, Sky comedy Brassic, also ended.
But last year Michelle also announced last year she was returning to ITV, where her career was launched on Corrie in 2008 playing Tina McIntyre.
She revealed she was making big budget thriller The Blame, starring opposite movie star Douglas Booth, 33, who plays her love interest and colleague.
The cop drama is due to air later this year with the actress playing DI Emma Crane in the six-parter. Booth plays DI Tom Radley.
Discussing coming back to work earlier this year, Michelle said: “Coming back to work after having a baby is quite daunting.
“The production were so supportive and I was so looked after and it was like working with family.”
Agent Kim Reactivated is climbing the Netflix chart(Image: NETFLIX)
Netflix fans are eager to find out what happens next following Agent Kim Reactivated’s jaw-dropping premiere.
Netflix has just unveiled a new action thriller starring So Ji-sub in the titular role of Agent Kim, and it is already climbing the UK Top 10 chart.
Based on the webtoon Manager Kim, the series, which is one of many Netflix k-dramas, follows an ordinary, hardworking father who is forced to reveal his secret identity to rescue his missing daughter.
The series premiered on SBS TV on June 26 and the episodes are also streaming on Netflix, however, only two instalments have been released so far. The epic premiere introduced Kim Do-hyeon, a former North-South Korean covert operative who retired to fulfil his late wife’s wishes.
But when his daughter, Min-ji, is kidnapped, Kim jumps back into action and he quickly draws the attention of the National Special Missions Bureau. Here is all you need to know about how many episodes are in the series.
As the series continues, Kim comes across two other fathers who are also former operatives: Seong Han-su (Choi Dae-hoon) and Park Jin-cheol (Yoon Kyung-ho). Together, they face opposition from various figures, including a construction executive and a North Korean agent.
Fans have already been left hooked after two episodes and they are keen to find out how many there are in total.
The entire series is made up of 10 episodes, with two episodes airing each week, on Fridays and Saturdays. The final two episodes are expected to drop on July 24 and 25.
Viewership figures have been released for the first two episodes, with 1.9million people watching episode one and 3.2million people watching episode two.
The huge jump in viewership is expected to continue as fans eagerly await the next two episodes on July 3 and July 4. The weekly release approach is unusual for Netflix as the streamer tends to drop all episodes at the same time for most shows.
Fans have taken to IMDb reviews to share their thoughts on the series so far, with one saying: “One of the most brutal k-dramas. Emotional as well.
“I have watch a lot of Action-thriller film and series from Korea, most of them were the same. Thrilling, yes, but not emotional in a way that makes my heartbeat escalated. Yet this k-drama gave me that feeling.”
Another said: “I think the first episode was already superbly done, it was so much fun to finally watch it, and I’m already looking forward to the next episodes of the series.”
A third shared: “Agent Kim Reactivated has already pulled me in completely. The story starts on a strong note, setting up an intriguing plot with excellent pacing, suspense, and enough mystery to keep you wanting the next episode immediately.”
Agent Kim Reactivated airs on Netflix with two episodes airing each week, on Fridays and Saturdays.
Crooks returned to Netflix for Season 2 in 2026(Image: NETFLIX)
Fans of crime dramas on the hunt for their next binge-worthy series should give this Netflix show a go.
Crooks follows the chaotic exploits of Charly (played by Frederick Lau), a man desperately trying to rescue his kidnapped family after his murky past comes back to haunt him, reports the Express.
Charly is forced, alongside getaway driver Joseph (Christoph Krutzler), to attempt the theft of a priceless gold coin.
When the heist unravels spectacularly, Charly and Joseph find themselves hurtling across the Continent in a bid to save his family, coming up against organised crime outfits from Berlin to Vienna to Marseilles. Netflix described Crooks as “an adventurous and action-packed road trip across three national borders begins”.
The series has earned widespread acclaim on IMDb, with one viewer awarding it a perfect 10/10 review, declaring: “The Story is Perfect.”
They concluded: “I haven’t had such an intense series experience in a long time. For me, it’s easily one of the best series I’ve ever watched.”
A second reviewer gave Crooks 9/10, calling it an “excellent series” that “keeps you engaged”.
They added: “The series captivates with its compelling narrative, keeping viewers glued to their screens.”
While a third viewer hailed Crooks a “fantastic series” in their own 9/10 review, explaining: “Brilliant show – elements of Dogs of Berlin with a Guy Ritchie edge.
“Very well done and hits the mark of a gangland action drama, but with an under thread of a real friendship story with a very human touch.”
A fourth viewer titled their review: “Entertaining thriller with action and suspense.”
They elaborated: “Crooks is a good crime, action show which lulls you into binge watching all eight episodes without much thought. Thoroughly enjoyable!”.
Get Netflix free with Sky
Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.
This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.
Crooks initially arrived back in 2024, with Season 2 recently dropping on Netflix this April.
Season 2 unfolds in Thailand as Crooks expands internationally.
This time around, Charly finds himself compelled to steal the same gold coin from the government, which is threatening to jail him and his family for a crime he didn’t commit.
Crooks Season 2 is streaming on Netflix now.
The Leopard is a sumptuous 19th century period drama(Image: NETFLIX)
Fans who are missing Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age ought to give this sumptuous Netflix period drama a go.
Adapted from Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s 1958 novel of the same name, The Leopard is a lavish period drama set in 19th century Sicily, reports the Express.
The six-part Italian series charts the fortunes of the Prince of Salina and his aristocratic family during a turbulent era of great change.
The Leopard unfolds against the backdrop of the Risorgimento, or the unification of Italy, as various states across the Italian peninsula were brought together to form the Kingdom of Italy.
During this momentous period, widespread political and social upheaval, along with rebellions and revolutions, preceded the formation of the Kingdom of Italy.
A synopsis of the show from Netflix reads: “Based on what many consider to be one of the greatest Italian novels of all time, The Leopard is a dazzlingly sensuous epic, set against the backdrop of revolution in 1860s Sicily.
“At its heart is Don Fabrizio Corbera, the Prince of Salina, who leads a life surrounded by beauty and privilege. But as Italy moves towards unification and the old aristocratic order is threatened, he realizes that his family’s future is in jeopardy.
“New allegiances must be made, each one a threat to his principles. Eventually Don Fabrizio is faced with an impossible choice.
“He has the power to engineer a marriage, between the rich and beautiful Angelica and his nephew Tancredi, that could secure his family’s legacy, but doing so he would break his favorite daughter, Concetta’s heart.
“The series will be a modern exploration of timeless themes – power, love, and the cost of progress.”
The Leopard boasts an outstanding ensemble cast, including Everybody Loves Diamonds star Kim Rossi Stuart as Don Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina, Benedetta Porcaroli from Netflix’s Baby as Concetta Corbera di Salina, Love & Gelato’s Saul Nanni as Tancredi Falconeri, and The Beautiful Summer star Deva Cassel as Angelica Sedara.
Further cast members include Astrid Meloni, Paolo Calabresi, Gaetano Bruno, Francesco Di Leva, Alessandro Sperduti, Jozef Gjura, and Romano Reggiani.
One viewer posted in their 10/10 review: “Cinematography is absolutely stunning. What a beautiful period piece ; costumes magical, This is a stunningly visually crafted masterpiece of a series.”
A second glowing review proclaimed it a “masterpiece”, with the critic stating: “This is an absolute must-see series! It could have actually been a cinema film, this is the perfection of its film making. An epic construction of story telling, acting, costumes, scenery and music offers an utter delight to watch.”
Get Netflix free with Sky
Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.
This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.
A third top-rated review described it as an “absolute masterpiece”, elaborating: “The journey is beautiful, poignant, and brutally honest.”
Yet another awarded it 10/10 and celebrated it as a “masterpiece”, writing: “I wish there were MORE series like this: based on literature, ravishingly beautiful and (99%) aesthetically accurate.”
They went on to draw a comparison with Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes’ other notable series, remarking: “The Gilded Age could learn a lesson from “The Leopard’s” creative team.”
The Leopard is available to stream on Netflix now.
