Movies

A great example of how the Reacher TV series diverges from the original books is the character Frances Neagley, played by Maria Sten. She’s become a fan favorite and will even star in her own spin-off show, while still appearing in the main Reacher series. Interestingly, Neagley only appears in a single book by Lee Child, which has been adapted into the show. Another adjustment made for television – Jack Reacher actually has to speak more! Despite these changes, Prime Video’s Reacher is a hit with both viewers and critics, and it shows how adaptations of books into TV series can be done successfully.

The 1998 crime drama was well-received by critics, earning a 91% ‘Fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes and two Oscar nominations. Despite this praise, the film didn’t make much money – it grossed $16.3 million against a $17 million budget – and has largely faded from view in Sam Raimi’s impressive body of work. Still, many fans consider A Simple Plan to be his greatest achievement.

Good news for fans of the 2010 comedy MacGruber! Both the original movie and the unrated cut will be available to stream on HBO Max starting February 1st.

Before the TV show finished, she appeared on Broadway in the play John Proctor is the Villain, and her performance earned her a nomination for a Tony Award.

The TV adaptation of the critically acclaimed comic book series Sex Criminals, created by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, will be led by Kumail Nanjiani (known for Silicon Valley), Emily V. Gordon (The Big Sick), and Tze Chun (Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai). Nanjiani will also be a star in the show.

The Netflix series Bridgerton, inspired by Julia Quinn’s novels, focuses on a different Bridgerton sibling’s love story each season. It’s filled with glamorous balls, juicy gossip, and modern pop songs reimagined as classical pieces—think Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande, but with strings! As Season 4 gets underway, viewers are eager to find out what happens next for Colin and Penelope, and other lingering questions are starting to emerge.

Get ready to watch Team America: World Police on Paramount+ starting next month! The famously outrageous puppet movie arrives on the streaming service February 1st. It’s no surprise the film comes from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. While South Park constantly pushes boundaries with its controversial humor (helped by a weekly stream of current events), Team America: World Police remains brilliantly satirical and politically incorrect, even years later.

The 2004 movie Troy is based on the classic story of The Iliad by Homer, which comes before the tale of The Odyssey. Speaking of The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan, the director of many acclaimed films, is planning to make a new adaptation. Troy tells the story of the legendary Trojan War and focuses on the Greek hero Achilles, played by Brad Pitt. The film also features Orlando Bloom as a skilled archer, a role many consider even more impressive than his famous character, Legolas.

House M.D. had a remarkable ability to feature actors just as their careers were taking off. The show often gave these performers challenging roles – far more nuanced than the roles they’d later become famous for in big-budget movies. These guest appearances, whether as patients, captives, or emotional triggers for House, were often the highlight of entire episodes. House M.D. unexpectedly became a platform for launching the careers of talented actors who were poised for stardom.

Paramount+ really delivers when it comes to thrilling dramas. Shows like Tulsa King and Mayor of Kingstown are consistently gripping, and now is a great time to dive into the intense crime thriller starring Tom Hardy and created with Guy Ritchie. It’s easily one of the best dark shows available on the platform.