New this week: 'Black Bird,' Lizzo and 'The Rehearsal'
This week’s new entertainment releases include a new album from Lizzo, the crime drama “Black Bird” from the mind of novelist Dennis Lehane, and a tearful roadtrip when a single father played by John Cho drives his teenage daughter across the country in “Don’t Make Me Go.”.
10 rom-coms to watch this February
I consider myself an avid lover of rom-coms — that is, I have watched so many that I lost track of them a long time ago. Watch “When Harry Met Sally” on HBO Max. My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)A bittersweet love story, “My Best Friend’s Wedding” follows Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) and Michael O’Neal (Dermot Mulroney), childhood friends who formed a deal to marry each other if they were still single at 28. Watch “My Best Friend’s Wedding” on Amazon Prime Video. Watch “Valentine’s Day” on HBO Max.
themiamihurricane.comNew this week: 'Ice Age,' Kevin James and 'The Gilded Age'
This week’s new entertainment releases include a new album from the legendary group The Temptations, the latest addition to the animated “Ice Age” franchise and a new series on HBO by “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes called “The Gilded Age” and starring Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski.
And just like that, ‘And Just Like That’ is finally starting to get good
We’re six episodes into the reboot of “Sex and the City” series called “And Just Like That,” and after a bit of a rough start, the new show is finally starting to feel like the show that viewers fell in love with over 20 years ago.
New this week: Will Smith, 'Tick, Tick... Boom!' and Adele
This week’s new entertainment releases include a much-anticipated album from Adele, a documentary about Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction during the 2004 Super Bowl half-time show and Will Smith playing father and tennis guru to Venus and Serena Williams.
For years, Black girls have been stuck on the sidelines of teen dramas. A new wave of shows is changing that.
As reboots like "Gossip Girl" become the norm and streaming flings open the gates, the teen drama script we've grown accustomed to — made popular by shows such as "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "The O.C." — might finally be flipping.
washingtonpost.comNew this week: 'Cry Macho,' McCreery and 'The Morning Show'
This week’s new entertainment releases include new music from Lindsey Buckingham and Scott McCreery, as well as the return of Clint Eastwood, who has gone back to his Western roots with “Cry Macho,” starring as a former rodeo star hired to bring a young man in Mexico back to his father in the U.S. Fans of TV's “The Morning Show” will also get to see Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carell and Billy Crudup kick off Season 2.
“Batman: The Audio Adventures” To Release On HBO Max As Streamer Expands Podcasting Efforts
WASHINGTON — Streaming platform HBO Max is expanding into the podcast market. The company will release its upcoming podcast “Batman: The Audio Adventures” exclusively on the streaming platform as it continues to expand its audio offerings beyond companion podcasts. Streaming platform HBO Max launched its first podcast program in 2019. Written and helmed by Dennis McNicholas, “Batman: The Audio Adventures” will be produced by Warner Bros. and D.C. Comics in partnership. “For scripted originals, our working theory now is that they should sit aside our other scripted original content exclusively within the HBO Max environment,” said Walker.
thewestsidegazette.comHBO Max May Release 10 Warner Bros Titles Straight-To-Streaming
WASHINGTON – After deciding to release its full slate of 2021 Warner Bros. films on HBO Max under a hybrid streaming and theatrical model, it seems WarnerMedia is prepared to continue using its Warner Bros. assets for luring subscribers to the service in 2022. During AT & T’s second-quarter earnings call this week, the company’s executives were asked how the pandemic release model would shape a more permanent release strategy as they advance, particularly as it relates to theaters, said reports. ”He went on to say that Warner Bros. will be producing ten films that will debut on HBO Max the same day they’re released. WarnerMedia faced significant backlash when it announced earlier this year that its 2021 slate of films would debut under its same-day streaming and theatrical release model. All through the second quarter, Home Box Office (HBO) and HBO Max saw growth of 47 million United States subscribers, which is 2.8 million greater than the first quarter.
thewestsidegazette.comNew this week: Godzilla vs Kong, 'Concrete Cowboy' & Mahalia
This combination photo shows poster art for the film "Godzilla vs Kong," premiering on HBO Max on March 31, left, "Concrete Cowboy," premiering April 2 on Netflix and "Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia," premiering April 3 on Lifetime. (HBO Max/Netflix/Lifetime via AP)Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES— Two of cinema’s most famous giants are headed for an old-fashioned big budget clash in “Godzilla vs. Kong,” available on HBO Max for 31 days starting Friday. After a pandemic-induced blockbuster drought, Henry told the AP that the film will be a welcome change of pace. Ad— Legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson gets overdue biopic attention in a Lifetime film debuting Saturday.
New this Week: 'Tina,' 'Runaway Bunny' & 'City on a Hill'
This combination of photos shows key art for "The Runaway Bunny," premiering March 25 on HBO Max, left, "Tina," a documentary about Tina Turner premiering March 27 on HBO Max, center, and "City on a Hill," a new series premiering March 28 on Showtime. He has grasped, at least for a proud man like Anthony, how one’s ego keeps fighting a battle it doesn’t know is already lost.”Ad— In Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin's revealing documentary “Tina,” Tina Turner surveys her tumultuous and extraordinary life. The film, which debuts Saturday on HBO and HBO Max, includes intimate interviews with the 81-year-old “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll," along with previously unseen footage, audio tapes and personal photos. The piercing Romanian documentary “Collective” was nominated for both best documentary and best international film — something only one previous film ( "Honeyland," in 2020) — has ever managed to do. Ad— AP Film Writer Jake CoyleMUSIC— Carrie Underwood’s upcoming album features gospel hymns important to the "American Idol" winner.
AT&T raises HBO Max subscriber forecast, sees 120 million to 150 million by the end of 2025
AT&T increased its subscriber forecast for HBO Max and HBO on Friday. The telecommunications company, which owns WarnerMedia, said it now expects global subscribers of between 120 million and 150 million for HBO Max and HBO by the end of 2025. The company also expects to see between 67 million and 70 million HBO Max subscribers worldwide by the end of 2021. AT&T had previously set a forecast of between 75 million and 90 million subscribers globally by 2025. Of the 37.7 million HBO Max-eligible subscribers, around 30 million came from wholesalers and 6.8 million were through retail channels.
cnbc.comPopcorn With Zenger: ‘Tom & Jerry’ Fails To Understand Its Audience
Why a “Tom & Jerry” movie in 2021? Audiences old enough to remember the original “Tom & Jerry cartoons” are likely old to seek out a “Tom & Jerry” film in 2021. There are various segments to this niche audience, and it only takes seconds to realize “Tom & Jerry” (2021) doesn’t satisfy any of them. See or Skip: Better to watch the old “Tom & Jerry” cartoons on HBO Max with your family, as this incarnation offers nothing new. (Edited by Fern Siegel and Carlin Becker)The post Popcorn With Zenger: ‘Tom & Jerry’ Fails To Understand Its Audience appeared first on Zenger News.
thewestsidegazette.comHow to tell who's winning — and who's losing — the streaming wars
Each streaming service is different. Discovery's Discovery+ wants to be a "complement to other streaming services," according to CEO David Zaslav. Disney+ has already predicted it will have as many as 260 million global subscribers by 2024. "Not every streaming service deserves to exist or win," Kevin Mayer, former head of Disney+ and ex-CEO of TikTok, told CNBC. "All of these media companies were running commercials for their streaming services on television."
cnbc.com'Babylon 5' gets remastered and is now available to rent or buy online
J Michael Straczynski's epic sci-fi saga "Babylon 5" has finally received a long overdue upgrade to HD-of-sorts and is now available as a digital download from Amazon and iTunes where available globally, and on HBO Max. According to Warner Brothers , "Babylon 5 Remastered" has been scanned from the original camera negative. Babylon 5 Season 1 Remastered. Then there's the [ahem] connection between "Babylon 5" and " Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ," but you can read all about that here . Check with your service provider because if you already subscribe to HBO, then it's quite possible HBO Max is free to watch.
space.comNetflix once again dominates Golden Globe TV nominations
(Liam Daniel/Netflix via AP)NEW YORK – Netflix rode the voracious hunger for TV content during a year of pandemic viewership to a dominant showing at the Golden Globe nominations. The streaming giant scooped up 20 small-screen nods — nearly three times as many as its closest competitor, HBO, and beating the 17 TV nominations it got last year. Streaming newcomer HBO Max scored two nominations with “The Flight Attendant,” a best comedy TV berth and also earned “The Big Bang Theory” veteran Kaley Cuoco her first Globe nod. Little-known Pop TV earned five nominations — all for the Canadian comedy “Schitt’s Creek,” which swept the comedy Emmy Awards last year. Ad“The Great” now faces “The Flight Attendant,” “Schitt’s Creek,” “Emily in Paris” and “Ted Lasso” for bragging rights to best comedy TV series.
Zack Snyder's 'Justice League' will debut March 18 on HBO Max
The long-awaited "Snyder Cut" of "Justice League" will arrive on HBO Max on March 18. When "Justice League" was released in 2017, it was marred by harsh critical reviews. The telecommunications company, which owns WarnerMedia, reported that HBO and HBO Max now have a combined 41.5 million domestic subscribers, up 20% from 34.6 million a year prior. Of the 37.7 million HBO Max-eligible subscribers, 30 million came from wholesalers and 6.8 million were through retail channels. This means that nearly half of HBO subscribers who were eligible to get HBO Max have not signed up yet.
cnbc.comWarnerMedia reportedly planning Harry Potter TV series for HBO Max
Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Attention witches and wizards, a new live-action Harry Potter series could be coming to HBO Max. "There are no Harry Potter series in development at the studio or on the streaming platform," representatives from Warner Bros. and HBO Max told CNBC in a statement. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling has spawned spinoff books, 10 box-office features and theme park lands at Universal Studios in Florida and California. The author has come under scrutiny for comments made about the trans community and has faced backlash from even the most loyal of Harry Potter fans.
cnbc.comSundance adds Coogler-produced ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’
The Ryan Coogler-produced Fred Hampton film will have its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival before heading to HBO Max and theaters, programmers announced Tuesday. (Glen Wilson/Warner Bros. Entertainment via AP)The Ryan Coogler-produced Fred Hampton film “Judas and the Black Messiah” will have its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival before heading to HBO Max and theaters, programmers announced Tuesday. The 2021 Sundance Film Festival, which kicks off Jan. 28, is going largely virtual this year due to the pandemic. “Judas...” is among the 2021 Warner Bros. films that are debuting simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. It’ll be available for HBO Max subscribers in the U.S. starting Feb. 12.
A new "Sex and the City" chapter is happening — without Kim Cattrall
This year just got a little better for "Sex and the City" fans — a "new chapter" of the iconic series is in the works at HBO Max, parent company WarnerMedia announced Sunday in a press release. Kim Cattrall, who portrayed high-powered publicist Samantha Jones, "is not part of this project," a representative from HBO Max confirmed to CBS News in an email. Parker, Davis and Nixon all shared a promo for the new series on social media on Sunday. The trailer opens with scenes of New York City, interposed with shots of the words, "And just like that…the story continues…" being typed on a computer. Parker, Davis and Nixon will all executive produce the show alongside Michael Patrick King, according to the release.
cbsnews.comPopcorn with Zenger: ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ is All Filler and No Action
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An argument can be made that the most anticipated film of 2020 is “Wonder Woman 1984.” In 2017, “Wonder Woman” opened to positive reviews and strong box office results. Diana (Gal Gadot) spends her days at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., studying artifacts. The Takeaway: If the character of Wonder Woman is a symbol of love, peace and hope, “WW84” represents the death rattle of the superhero genre. “WW84” shows audiences that the wrong people are in charge of the “Wonder Woman” franchise. See or Skip: Warner Bros. may want premium pricing to watch “Wonder Woman 1984” on their new streaming service, but that doesn’t mean this film deserves it.
thewestsidegazette.com'Soul' and 'Wonder Woman 1984' arrive on Christmas. Here's how to watch:
Here's how to watch them:How do I watch "Soul? Gal Gadot stars as Wonder Woman in "Wonder Woman 1984." Warner Bros.How do I watch "Wonder Woman 1984?" HBO Max can also be procured through these TV services: AT&TCoxDIRECTVHuluOptimumPrime Video ChannelsSpectrumVerizon FiosXfinityYouTube TVWhat time does "Wonder Woman 1984" arrive on HBO Max? Does "Wonder Woman 1984" cost extra money?
cnbc.com'Wonder Woman 1984' could have the best pandemic opening if HBO Max doesn't cannibalize ticket sales
"'Wonder Woman 1984' represents the first test of a simultaneous big screen/small screen release of a title of this magnitude," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. On the same day that "Wonder Woman 1984" debuts on the big screen, it will also be available to stream on HBO Max . "Wonder Woman 1984" seeks to answer that question. Still, there is pent-up demand for "Wonder Woman 1984." In non-pandemic times, "Wonder Woman 1984" could have opened at between $100 million and $150 million, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter said.
cnbc.comHBO Max launches on Roku Thursday
(L-R) TNT, TBS, truTV, HBO & HBO Max Content Acquisition EVP Michael Quigley, HBO Max CCO and TNT, TBS, & truTV President Kevin Reilly and HBO Max Head of Original Content Sarah Aubrey appear onstage during the HBO Max executive session segment of the 2020 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 15, 2020 in Pasadena, California. WarnerMedia's HBO Max will be available on Roku starting Thursday. The app had not been available on Roku while the two companies worked out an agreement. For users with the current HBO app, the channel will automatically update to HBO Max. Otherwise, Roku users will be able to download the HBO Max channel on their Rokus.
cnbc.comWarnerMedia won't cause an industry shake-up: Other studios unlikely to end theatrical window in 2021
Don't expect other streaming services to follow suit — at least not yet. There are several reasons other media companies will be happy to watch WarnerMedia bust through the theatrical window without immediately following suit. HBO Max's higher ARPUWarnerMedia charges $14.99 per month for HBO Max. That means those streaming services would need even more people to sign up for their services to make up for lost box office revenue than HBO Max. Learning from HBO Max
cnbc.comWarner Bros. CEO defends hybrid film release model, says studio is in talks with top talent
On Tuesday, Ann Sarnoff, the chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Entertainment, defended that decision. Like many film studios, Warner Bros. has been forced to postpone blockbuster features due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now, it's looking for a way to have theatrical releases but also bolster its HBO Max streaming service. "It's a unilateral decision that the studio took," Christopher Nolan, a notable filmmaker and frequent Warner Bros. collaborator, told the Associated Press on Monday. Nolan famously pressured Warner Bros. to release his film "Tenet" on the big screen instead of making it available for purchase on premium video on demand.
cnbc.comAT&T has added 4 million HBO Max subscribers since Sept. 30, CEO John Stankey says
AT&T's WarnerMedia added 4 million HBO Max signups since the end of the third quarter, chief executive John Stankey said Tuesday. HBO Max now has 12.6 million activated users, up from 8.6 million on Sept. 30, Stankey said during UBS' Global TMT conference. Stankey and WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar are aggressively stocking HBO Max with new content in an effort to get to 50 million U.S. subscribers, the streaming service's 2025 goal. He said while live news and sports won't initially be part of HBO Max, that decision could change when HBO Max subscribers roughly equal the number of traditional pay-TV households. WATCH: WarnerMedia CEO: 'Not at all' worried about the success of HBO Max
cnbc.comChristopher Nolan calls Warner's streaming plan ‘a mess’
Christopher Nolan, one of Warner Bros.’ most important filmmakers, has come out strongly against the company’s decision to debut its films on HBO Max and in theaters in 2021. The “Tenet” filmmaker told The Associated Press Monday that it’s not a good business decision and criticized how the company handled it. “I’ve never seen everybody so upset about one particular decision,” Nolan said. And it’s not a good business decision," Nolan said. With major markets like Los Angeles and New York closed, domestic ticket sales fizzled, and Warner Bros. and other studios responded by delaying the year’s remaining major films.
Your movie theater experience is going extinct
People walk outside the newly boarded AMC 34th Street 14 movie theater as the city continues Phase 4 of re-opening following restrictions imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus on September 4, 2020 in New York City. (WarnerMedia previously announced that "Wonder Woman 1984" will debut on HBO Max on Christmas Day.) With the rise of streaming video, interest in going to a theater and spending all that time and money to watch a two-hour movie plummeted except for the biggest blockbusters. Early on in the pandemic, Disney released its Pixar animated movie "Onward" directly on its Disney+ streaming service, for example. "And the move into HBO Max undoubtedly will have downstream impacts on home video and rental revenue streams, as well."
cnbc.comIn seismic shift, Warner Bros. to stream all 2021 films
This image released by Warner Bros. Entertainment shows Timothee Chalamet, left, and Rebecca Ferguson in a scene from the upcoming 2021 film "Dune." The move follows Warner Bros.' decision to put “Wonder Woman 1984” on HBO Max in December, along with a concurrent theatrical run. Warner Bros.' move amounts to an acknowledgement that any full rebound for theaters is still a year or more away. Warner Bros. confirmed the films will be available to subscribers with no further charge. After a rocky rollout, HBO Max said in October that nearly 9 million people were using HBO Max, though 29 million had access to the streaming service as part of their HBO subscriptions.
Zemeckis’ ‘The Witches’ heads to HBO Max for Halloween
The Robert Zemeckis adaptation of “Roald Dahl’s The Witches” has found a new home on HBO Max this month just in time for Halloween. Warner Bros. said Friday that “The Witches” will debut on the subscription streaming service, owned by parent company WarnerMedia, on Oct. 22. Dahl’s 1983 novel about an orphaned boy who discovers a coven of witches that hate children was previously adapted for the big screen in 1990 by director Nicolas Roeg. It starred Angelica Huston, Mai Zetterling and Rowan Atkinson and was a box office flop, despite its critical acclaim. This new version has actor Jahzir Bruno playing the boy who must try to stop the witches from turning the world's children into mice.
HBO Max goes 'all in' on its big genre-driven streaming bet
Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for WarnerMedia(CNN) - With spotlights shining on soon-to-debut streaming services from Apple and Disney, WarnerMedia sought Tuesday to offer audiences a reminder: Set aside a few bucks for us. Not surprisingly, Warner Bros. stressed animation and programs like "Sesame Street" as a means of reaching kids a key component of the streaming business. Similarly, HBO Max will pad that portfolio of established fare for young adults via deals to stream "South Park" and "Doctor Who." That's a particularly good way of expressing what is, despite the meticulous planning by all these media companies, a great big gamble. The-CNN-Wire & 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company.
Here are the movies and shows coming to HBO Max
Tony Goncalves, CEO of Otter Media, speaks onstage at HBO Max WarnerMedia Investor Day Presentation at Warner Bros. Studios on Oct. 29, 2019, in Burbank, California. (CNN) - HBO Max is debuting in May 2020 with a vast library of TV shows and films. HBO Max costs twice as much as Disney+ and Apple TV+, which cost $6.99 and $4.99 per month, respectively. HBO Max costs the same as HBO Now, the company's standalone streaming service that launched in 2015, but offers a much larger library of TV shows and films. So what will HBO Max subscribers get for $15 a month?
'Gossip Girl' is being rebooted
Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images(CNN) - "Gossip Girl" is ready to dish again. HBO Max, the new streaming service from WarnerMedia due to launch in 2020, has given a direct-to-series order for a "Gossip Girl" reboot. The service has given the show an order of 10 one-hour episodes from the original "Gossip Girl" team, including executive producers Joshua Safran, Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz, according to details released by HBO Max. "Gossip Girl," based on the book series by Cecily von Ziegesar, ran for six seasons on the CW from 2007-2012. The "Gossip Girl" reboot comes at a time when networks are looking to beloved teen shows and franchises for opportunities.
WarnerMedia banks on HBO's brand name for new streaming service
By bringing it in-house, WarnerMedia is banking that "Friends" fans will migrate for a new streaming service. The streaming service will also include brand-new shows, called "Max Originals," and movies. The forthcoming streaming service has been a top priority ever since AT&T took control of WarnerMedia, then known as Time Warner, last summer. Reilly has been green-lighting new shows for the forthcoming streaming service for several months. Netflix tweeted on Tuesday, "We're sorry to see Friends go to Warner's streaming service at the beginning of 2020 (in The US).