TV & movies

The latest news and reviews of TV shows and movies.

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Watch the official trailer for Netflix's 'Top Boy' revival
Netflix announced back in 2017 that it was planning on reviving popular UK drama Top Boy -- now you can finally watch its first proper trailer. The long-awaited third season -- made a reality thanks to Canadian megastar Drake --- will pick up from where it left off, with Dushane returning to the gritty streets of London to reclaim his crown as king of the underground drug business. From the looks of the trailer, things aren't going to go according to plan. Catch it on Netflix on September 13th.
Netflix has shipped 5 billion discs
Streaming dominates Netflix's universe, but don't think its disc-based service is dead yet -- in fact, it just marked a big milestone. The other part of Netflix's business just shipped its 5 billionth disc (Rocketman, if you're curious) 21 years after deliveries began. Many of those discs shipped back when streaming was just a nice-to-have bonus at Netflix, but it's still a significant achievement at a time when fewer and fewer people have disc players.
Netflix thriller 'Clickbait' will explore the dark side of social networks
Netflix isn't leaning solely on Black Mirror to comment on the perils of the digital age. The company has snapped up Clickbait, a thriller series that will tackle both the dangers of social networking and the ever-growing gap between our real and online identities. The casting, availability and other key details will have to wait, but there's already some pedigree behind the show.
Google search pays tribute to 'Wizard of Oz' with a dizzying Easter egg
Google isn't reserving its movie-themed Easter eggs for the latest blockbusters. The internet giant is marking the 80th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz with an Easter egg that reflects the rather turbulent ways Dorothy enters and exits Oz. Search for the movie title and you'll find a certain pair of red slippers Tap those and you'll be spun into a world of sepia search results much like Dorothy's version of Kansas. All the links still work, too. If you'd rather go back to a Technicolor landscape, a certain tornado will take you back if you don't mind a little dizziness.
The 'Breaking Bad' movie comes to Netflix on October 11th
At last, Netflix's Breaking Bad movie has a name -- and importantly, a release date. The service has released a teaser revealing that El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie will premiere on October 11th, 2019. The clip (which revolves around a questioning with Skinny Pete) unsurprisingly doesn't say much, but does confirm that the plot will revolve around Jesse Pinkman escaping captivity. Authorities weren't exactly kind to him, to put it mildly.
A fourth 'Matrix' movie is happening
Yes, you read that correctly. About 16 years after the last movie in the series, Warner Bros. has confirmed work on a fourth movie in The Matrix universe. And it doesn't appear to be a spinoff -- Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss will star in the picture. Only one of the Wachowski sisters (Lana) is involved, but she'll direct, co-write and co-produce.
Spotify is getting its own TV mini-series
The music business has been through a turbulent decade, with dwindling sales, record labels pushing "360 deals" on artists and concert venues beginning to take cuts of merchandise sales. The debates around the ethics of streaming apps are a high-profile example of the industry trying to regain traction, with the rise of Spotify itself soon to be detailed in a scripted TV miniseries, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Interactive murder mystery game 'Erica' gets a surprise release
Flavourworks' interactive game/movie hybrid Erica flew under the radar for a long time while its developers spent years working on the underlying technology. But following the launch of the new trailer at Gamescom this week, the studio made the surprise announcement that the game is available now.
Netflix gives new and upcoming releases their own tab
Netflix has debuted a new tab in its TV app's sidebar that could make it a lot easier to find new things to watch in the coming days. According to Variety, the new "Latest" tab has already started rolling out to subscribers accessing the service through their smart TVs, streaming devices and game consoles on Monday. It's a similar but separate feature to its "Coming Soon" tab for mobile, and it will list all the service's new releases, along with the shows and movies coming out the next week and the week after that.
Apple finally releases a trailer for 'The Morning Show'
After years of build-up and a cryptic teaser, Apple is ready to offer an honest-to-goodness trailer for its flagship TV+ series The Morning Show -- and it's clear that power struggles will take center stage. The streaming-only drama stars Jennifer Aniston as a veteran morning show anchor who starts by delivering news of her co-host's (Steve Carell) sudden firing over mysterious allegations, but it soon becomes clear that not everything is as it seems. Carell says Aniston is "throwing me under the bus," for a start -- and then there's the introduction of Reese Witherspoon, who plays a field reporter destined to shake up the power structure at the fictional show.
Best Buy’s weekend sale takes up to $200 off the pricey iPad Pro (updated)
Best Buy is running another massive 3-day weekend sale. If that sounds familiar, it's because the retailer slashed prices just a few weeks ago. This time around, Best Buy is cutting prices on the latest entry-level MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. It's offering steep discounts on iPads, Surface notebooks and some of our favorite headphones. The sale runs through Sunday.
Netflix's 'To All the Boys' sequel debuts February 12th
It seemed just about everyone was talking about To All The Boys I've Loved Before when Netflix released its highly enjoyable adaptation of Jenny Han's teen romance novel almost a year ago. Netflix said last October it was "one of our most-viewed original films ever with strong repeat viewing" and it greenlit a sequel that December. Just in time for Valentine's Day, To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You will hit Netflix on February 12th.
Who are you and why are you leaving old TVs on porches in Virginia?
Residents in Virginia remain bewildered after a mysterious person with a TV on their head placed out-dated televisions on the doorsteps of more than 50 homes in Henrico County. The bandit (of sorts) struck this weekend, The Washington Post reports. Police have yet to identify the person behind the screen, even though he (or she) was spotted in action by several doorbell cameras.
Facebook movie ads now offer premiere reminders and showtimes
Facebook is hoping you'll do more with movie ads than give them the occasional click or tap. The internet giant is rolling out support for upgraded ads that include premiere reminders. Much like events, you can press an "Interested" button to get a notification when an upcoming blockbuster or heartfelt indie flick is about to reach theaters. The alert will take you straight to the movie page so that you can find showtimes and (through a third-party service) score tickets.
Final ‘13 Reasons Why’ trailer asks 'who killed Bryce Walker?'
Netflix has dropped the final trailer for the third season of 13 Reasons Why ahead of its August 23 premiere. (Spoiler warning: we talk about the content of the trailer as well as events of past seasons in the rest of this post!)
OnePlus' upcoming TV will simply be called the 'OnePlus TV'
OnePlus doesn't have a release date or any specs for its upcoming TV, but it does have a name: OnePlus TV. The company announced that it chose the very simple moniker from multiple winners of a contest on its forums. "We believe there's no other name that can best represent our value, vision and pride than naming it with our own brand," said a representative.
CBS and Viacom agree to sign $30 billion merger deal
CBS and Viacom have reached a long-rumored merger agreement. The two companies announced today that they will reunite as ViacomCBS. According to The Wall Street Journal, CBS and Viacom hope that, together, they'll be better positioned to fight against cable TV competition and streaming services.
‘Brave Father Online’ is a ‘Final Fantasy’ movie with heart
Brave Father Online is a gem of a movie. It's charming, funny and has plenty to say about empathy, the value of community and why you should forge deeper connections with loved ones. And even though much of the action takes place inside a video game, the film's giant beating heart speaks volumes about the careful craft involved its creation.
Roku's latest free TV channels include Fubo Sports and USA Today
The Roku Channel just became more enticing if you crave as-it-happens TV. Roku has added five live and linear networks to its free offerings, most notably the Fubo Sports Network. The live network provides event coverage, sports talk and sports-related entertainment. You won't confuse it with ESPN given the dearth of live sports (though that may change in the future), but it could be helpful if you want to catch up on your favorite leagues at the end of the day.
Apple's 'The Morning Show' teaser reveals drama behind the camera
Apple is finally ready to offer a peek at its TV+ tentpole series The Morning Show... if only a brief one. The tech giant has released a teaser trailer that doesn't reveal any actual scenes, but makes it patently clear that there will be a lot of tension beyond the superficial pleasantness of the show-within-a-show. The characters played by Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carell and Reese Witherspoon all talk about wanting honesty. However, there's an undeniable power struggle at work -- don't expect them to find peace any time soon.

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