Britt Hayes is a writer, movie lover, and sensible sweater enthusiast living in Austin, Texas. She watches too much TV and never eats her vegetables.
Britt Hayes
What’s Leaving Netflix Instant: March 2017
Just as dozens of new titles are being added to the Netflix Instant library each month, so must several others disappear. As you get ready for all the great new films and TV shows arriving in March, now would be a good time to make some room in your queue — starting with all the titles that are expiring from the streaming service next month, including favorites like Jaws and a pair of DC’s animated Justice League films.
This iPhone ‘Theatre Mode’ Update Sounds Like a Threat
It’s hard to pass judgment on iPhone’s new “theatre mode” because, well, it doesn’t exist out in the real world just yet. But according to a new report, that might be changing sooner rather than later, as Apple’s latest update is said to include this mysterious function. What is it, exactly? What does it do? Is this good news or bad news? Is the sanctity of the theatrical experience facing a new, insidious threat? Whatever it is, we’ll probably find out on January 10, when the iOS 10.3 beta rolls out to iPhone users.
Jimmy Kimmel Will Host the 2017 Academy Awards
Not long after setting Mike DeLuca and Jennifer Todd as showrunners, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has officially selected the host of the 2017 Oscars telecast. Drumroll please…oh, forget it, you saw the headline. It’s Jimmy Kimmel, comedian, host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and, most importantly, the guy who brought you celebrities reading mean tweets about themselves for your entertainment.
New Netflix Instant Releases: August 2016
It’s a little later than usual, but Netflix has finally announced their upcoming streaming releases for August — which is next week, by the way. Among this month’s offerings are new Netflix Original titles, like Baz Luhrmann’s series The Get Down and the animated adaptation of The Little Prince. As usual, there are several new films hitting the streaming library, including contemporary favorites like Blue Is the Warmest Color and No Country for Old Men. Read on for our full guide to August’s new Netflix Instant Releases.
New Movie Releases: August 2016
After a pretty disappointing summer, our hopes are high (but not, like, too high) for August to swoop in and deliver at least one or two entertaining blockbusters before the season ends. Fueling that optimism is the release of Suicide Squad, David Ayer’s comic book villain team-up that promises to inject a little fun in the DC movie universe. Next month also brings a new stop-motion adventure from Laika, an R-rated animated movie about talking food (you know, for the grown-ups) and Meryl Streep’s latest Oscars power play. Read on for our complete guide to next month’s new movie releases.
We’re All Criminals Now: Sharing Netflix and HBO Go Passwords Is a Federal Crime
Chances are, you or someone you know either shares their Netflix and HBO Go passwords or benefits from using someone else’s account. It’s such a common occurrence that, when asked about it, even the CEO of HBO was like, “No big deal,” then he tipped his shades and sent out a memo with a shrug emoticon — okay, I made that last part up, but if even that guy doesn’t care, then what’s the problem? Oh, just a little something called Federal Law.
Netflix to Officially Begin Streaming New Disney Films in September
Way back in 2012 (or at least it feels way back), Netflix and Disney struck a deal for all of Disney’s movies — including Marvel, Pixar and Lucasfilm — to stream exclusively on Netflix Instant. According to the terms of their agreement, the deal wouldn’t kick in until 2016, which just so happens to be the year in which we are currently living. As announced today, Netflix will officially begin streaming Disney films in September, but that doesn’t mean the studio’s entire library will magically appear in your Instant browser.
Alamo Drafthouse CEO Tim League Has a Predictably Great Response to Texting in Theaters
The Alamo Drafthouse is built on a simple concept: great movies, good food, and most important of all — don’t talk or use your cell phone in the theater, or they will not hesitate to kick you out without a refund. Drafthouse CEO Tim League has devoted his brand to focusing on why we go to theaters in the first place, which is to watch movies, despite what some movie-goers and major corporate chains would have you believe. Following AMC’s briefly disastrous flirtation with allowing people to text in their theaters, League delivered a very thoughtful response, but if you’d rather watch a TL;DR version, you can see his predictably great reaction to this ill-conceived concept in the video above.
Erik Bauersfeld, Voice of Admiral Ackbar in ‘Star Wars,’ Has Died at 93
You may not immediately recognize the name Erik Bauersfeld, but you are undoubtedly familiar with his most famous line. The actor was the voice of Admiral Ackbar in Return of the Jedi, helping to popularize the alien’s signature phrase, “It’s a trap!” Bauersfeld has passed away at the age of 93, and though he’ll be remembered most for his role in Star Wars, the actor also worked with great directors like Guillermo del Toro and Steven Spielberg.
‘Batman vs. Superman’ Breaks a Bunch of Opening Records With $424 Million Worldwide
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice had quite the weekend — not only did it break the March opening record previously held by The Hunger Games, but with $424 million worldwide, Zack Snyder’s epic now boasts the highest opening weekend for a Warner Bros. superhero movie. All those negative reviews predictably had zero effect on audiences, who flocked to see the long-awaited showdown between the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel.
Legendary Actor Abe Vigoda, Star of ‘The Godfather’ and ‘Barney Miller,’ Dead at 94
Veteran actor Abe Vigoda has enjoyed a career more vast and varied than many of his fellow performers, with a resumé that spans 65 years and includes everything from masterpieces like The Godfather to classic television like Barney Miller. Vigoda has reportedly passed away today at the age of 94, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy of film and television work.
‘The Force Awakens’ Reveals a Couple of Hidden ‘Star Wars’ Cameos
By now, you probably know all about some of the cameos in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, like Daniel Craig’s secret appearance and the actors behind the voice of BB-8. But there are a couple more hidden cameos you most likely didn’t notice — as it turns out, Luke, Leia, Han and Admiral Ackbar aren’t the only classic characters from the original trilogy who appear in The Force Awakens, but J...
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