Streaming services with + in the title continue to be released. For those keeping score, we now have Disney+, Apple TV+, CBS All Access soon to become Paramount+ and AMC+. Have we missed any?
You can charge whatever you want for a subscription service, but $9/month may seem a bit on the pricey side compared to Disney+ at $7.99. AMC+ doesn’t have Star Wars or Marvel, but it does have Shudder, which costs $6/month just for that and The Walking Dead TV show, so maybe the subscription isn’t as expensive as it seems.
AMC+ is a $9-a-month bundled offering showcasing programming from across AMC Networks’ streaming and linear portfolios, from Shudder, Sundance Now and IFC Films Unlimited to AMC, BBC America, IFC and SundanceTV. Key titles include The Walking Dead Universe, Gangs of London, Riviera, Soulmates and marquee library titles like Mad Men. Prior to reaching Roku, the service was on Amazon Prime Video Channels, Apple TV, Comcast and Dish Network and Sling TV.
The good news is for those who haven’t tried it that have Amazon Prime Video there is a 30 day free trial available for AMC+. That should be ample time to try and decide if it’s worth continuing to subscribe.
Anybody reading subscribed already? What do you think? What are you watching on AMC+?
Weekend #47 of 53 (11/19 – 11/22/2020) for 2020 Picks By Streaming Service
As Thanksgiving inches closer, Netflix continues to feed us with new Christmas-oriented content, including a Dolly Parton musical and an animated movie called Alien Xmas.
For non-holiday movies: Body Cam (2020) on Amazon Prime Video and Hulu, Machete Kills (2013) on Netflix. Who can ever get enough of Danny Trejo as Machete? The trailer for that is below. Run is a Hulu Original.
Just past the weekend on Monday comes a new Bruce Willis movie called, Hard Kill that went straight to VOD. It has the absolute worst 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, so could be evidence that a once mighty action hero has completely bottomed out, but mentioning for those who want to check out the newest movie Willis has appeared in. I will turn it on and give it a try. Not sure if I’ll stay for it all, similar to what I’ve done with some other action stars of the past like Steven Seagal’s recent movie output.
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*Title with asterisk – newly released Title is linked and has star rating – already watched, rated and reviewed Title bolded – on our schedule to watch/rewatch, rate and review (or in progress)
NOTE: If you’re coming to these posts weeks or months later, some and/or all of the picks listed below may no longer be on the streaming services indicated. Anything marked as “Original” typically doesn’t expire on the streaming services.
Weekend #46 of 53 (11/12 – 11/15/2020) for 2020 Picks By Streaming Service
Only 7 weekends in 2020 remain, counting this weekend, and contrary to the movie theaters, it’s been a very active and productive year for streaming — and it continues. That’s not saying there haven’t been good new movies in theaters, because there have been, just not very many.
Streaming, on the other hand just keeps having more and more new movies and TV shows for us to choose from. The selection in 2020 has been staggering to cover, much less watch and, even much less, review. A couple like us simply cannot watch everything new. One person would basically never be able to sleep to be able to watch everything.
So, then, it becomes what interests you to watch. Every week, usually on Thursday, we cover a good portion of what’s new on many of the streaming services. We can’t cover everything new, and don’t even try to do so, but we try to hit the high points and share so you can tune into these posts and see what interests you most.
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*Title with asterisk – newly released Title is linked and has star rating – already watched, rated and reviewed Title bolded – on our schedule to watch/rewatch, rate and review (or in progress)
NOTE: If you’re coming to these posts weeks or months later, some and/or all of the picks listed below may no longer be on the streaming services indicated. Anything marked as “Original” typically doesn’t expire on the streaming services.
Filed in the Did Not Know that The Simpsons parodied Stephen King’s “Survivor Type” before the serious, horror animated Shudder Creepshow adaptation in 2020 (see: FIRST LOOK: Creepshow (Animated TV Special) – Shudder).
In 2017, The Simpsons released “Treehouse of Horror XXVIII”, the 28th installment of the anarchic cartoon comedy’s annual Halloween specials. Like all “Treehouse of Horrors”, which frequently kill off the eponymous Simpsons, the special was a non-canon outing that parodied Coraline, The Exorcist, and bizarrely, “Survivor Type”. This being The Simpsons, their version of events is a bit different from King’s original story. For one thing, it’s Homer doing the self-cannibalizing. For another, he does have other food available to him — he’d just prefer to eat himself rather than vegetables or lunch with Flanders. Finally, the segment is set in the family’s Springfield home rather than on a desert island.
Watched The Simpsons episode and it’s a very loose parody. The only part worth comparing is Homer trying to eat himself, but of course it’s comedy so he isn’t stranded on an island, he’s just home and runs out of food. Why doesn’t he go to the Kwik E Mart? That’s never really answered, but perhaps that’s the part of the joke(?)
Whatever you think of this episode, I’m a fan of these yearly Treehouse of Horror. They aren’t constrained by keeping the characters alive in the regular stories, which makes them unpredictable and fun.
Weekend #45 of 53 (11/5 – 11/8/2020) for 2020 Picks By Streaming Service
Now that we’re getting into November, Netflix is starting to drop new Christmas movies. We watched a bunch of holiday-oriented movies last November and December. It’s a good time of year to get into those movies, but they can become very repetitive and formulaic.
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*Title with asterisk – newly released Title is linked and has star rating – already watched, rated and reviewed Title bolded – on our schedule to watch/rewatch, rate and review (or in progress)
NOTE: If you’re coming to these posts weeks or months later, some and/or all of the picks listed below may no longer be on the streaming services indicated. Anything marked as “Original” typically doesn’t expire on the streaming services.
Weekend #44 of 53 (10/29 – 11/1/2020) for 2020 Picks By Streaming Service
Bring on the horror because Halloween 2020 weekend is here. Sunday is also the first of the month which means a bunch of different movies rotated into various streaming services. Alphabetical lists are included below.
The biggest even is on the streaming TV front with Season 2 of Star Wars: The Mandalorian. Oh yeah, this weekend is going to cook!
Also looking forward to the animated Creepshow special on Shudder. It’s there to tide us over until Creepshow Season 2 hits in 2021.
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*Title with asterisk – newly released Title is linked and has star rating – already watched, rated and reviewed Title bolded – on our schedule to watch/rewatch, rate and review (or in progress)
NOTE: If you’re coming to these posts weeks or months later, some and/or all of the picks listed below may no longer be on the streaming services indicated. Anything marked as “Original” typically doesn’t expire on the streaming services.
NETFLIX Movies
*Nobody Sleeps In The Woods Tonight (Oct 28)
*Holidate
*Secrets of The Saqqara Tomb – Documentary
*Bronx (Oct 29)
*The Day of the Lord
*His House
*The 12th Man (Oct 31)
NETFLIX TV
Somebody Feed Phil – Season 4
Suburra – Season 3
The Garfield Show – Season 3 (Nov 1)
M’entends-tu? / Can You Hear Me? – Season 2
60 Days In – Season 5
Dawson’s Creek – Seasons 1-6
Forged in Fire – Season 6
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath – Seasons 1-3
Movies rotating into NETFLIX as of November 1
A Clockwork Orange Boyz n the Hood Casper Christmas Break-In Easy A Elf Pets: A Fox Cub’s Christmas Tale Elf Pets: Santa’s Reindeer Rescue Elliot the Littlest Reindeer Jumping the Broom Knock Knock Little Monsters (1989) Mile 22 Ocean’s Eleven Paul Blart: Mall Cop Piercing Platoon School Daze Snowden The Impossible The Indian in the Cupboard The Next Karate Kid Wheels of Fortune Yes Man
Disney+
*The Mandalorian – Season 2, Episode 1 (Oct 30)
HBO Max Movies
*John Lewis: Good Trouble (Oct 27)
*Black Christmas (Oct 31)
It Chapter Two
HBO Max TV
*The Soul of America – Documentary Premiere
Ghosts – Season 2
Vida Perfecta – Season 1
Burning Ojai: Our Fire Story (Oct 28)
Movies rotating into HBO MAX as of November 1
10,000 BC, 2008 13 Going On 30, 2004 2 Fast 2 Furious, 2003 (HBO) Above The Rim, 1994 All Is Bright, 2013 America, America, 1964 Anchors Aweigh, 1945 Another Cinderella Story, 2008 The Arrangement, 1969 Austin Powers In Goldmember, 2002 Autumn In New York, 2000 (HBO) Baby Doll, 1956 Battleship, 2012 (HBO) Beasts Of The Southern Wild, 2012 (HBO) Billy Madison, 1995 (HBO) Blast From The Past, 1999 Blood Work, 2002 The Bridge Of San Luis Rey, 2005 (HBO) Broadway Danny Rose, 1984 (HBO) The Bucket List, 2007 The Children, 2009 A Christmas Carol, 1938 Chronicle, 2012 (Director’s Cut) (HBO) City Island, 2010 (HBO) City Slickers, 1991 (HBO) Clash Of The Titans, 2010 Critical Care, 1997 Cruel Intentions, 1999 (HBO) The Dancer Upstairs, 2003 (HBO) The Dark Knight, 2008 David Copperfield, 1935 Dead Man Walking, 1995 (HBO) Desperately Seeking Susan, 1985 (HBO) The Devil’s Advocate, 1997 Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, 2003 (HBO) Dolphin Tale, 2011 Dumb And Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, 2003 The Eagle, 2011 (HBO) East Of Eden, 1955 Eight Legged Freaks, 2002 Elf Pets: Santa’s Saint Bernard’s Save Christmas, 2018 The Enforcer, 1976 A Face In The Crowd, 1957 The Fast And The Furious, 2001 (HBO) Femme Fatale, 2002 The Five-Year Engagement, 2012 (Extended Version) (HBO) A Flintstone Christmas, 1977 A Flintstone Family Christmas, 1993 Free Willy, 1993 Friday The 13th, 2009 G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra, 2009 The Gauntlet, 1977 Genius, 2016 (HBO) Get Santa, 2014 Girl In Progress, 2012 Grumpier Old Men, 1995 Grumpy Old Men, 1993 Guys And Dolls, 1955 Hacksaw Ridge, 2016 (HBO) Happy Gilmore, 1996 (HBO) Heidi, 2006 High Fidelity, 2000 (HBO) High Society, 1956 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, 2012 The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies, 2014 The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug, 2013 Hollidaysburg, 2014 House On Haunted Hill, 1999 Ice Age: Continental Drift, 2012 (HBO) Impractical Jokers: Inside Jokes The Iron Giant, 1999 J. Edgar, 2011 Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday, 1993 Jason X, 2002 King Kong, 1976 (HBO) The Last King Of Scotland, 2006 (HBO) The Lego Batman Movie, 2017 The Lego Movie, 2014 The Lego Ninjago Movie, 2014 License To Wed, 2007 Life Stinks, 1991 Linda And The Mockingbirds, 2020 (HBO) Little Man Tate, 1991 (HBO) Looney Tunes: Back In Action, 2003 The Losers, 2010 Lowriders, 2017 (HBO) Made, 2001 (HBO) The Madness Of King George, 1994 (HBO) Magic Mike, 2012 The Magical Wand Chase: A Sesame Street Special, 2017 Magnum Force, 1973 Malibu’s Most Wanted, 2003 The Man With The Golden Arm, 1955 The Mask, 1994 Menace II Society, 1993 Miss Julie, 2014 (HBO) Money Talks, 1997 Mr. Nanny, 1993 Music And Lyrics, 2007 Must Love Dogs, 2005 Mystic River, 2003 National Lampoon’s Loaded Weapon 1, 1993 Needful Things, 1993 The Neverending Story, 1984 The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter, 1991 New York Minute, 2004 Nights In Rodanthe, 2008 Nothing Like The Holidays, 2008 Now And Then, 1995 Ocean’s 11, 1960 Old School, 2003 On The Town, 1949 Once Upon A Sesame Street Christmas, Special Premiere A Perfect World, 1993 Pleasantville, 1998 The Pledge, 2001 Popstar, 2005 Practical Magic, 1998 The Prophecy, 1995 (HBO) The Prophecy 2, 1998 (HBO) The Prophecy 3: The Ascent, 2000 (HBO) Prophecy 4: The Uprising, 2005 (HBO) Prophecy 5: The Forsaken, 2005 (HBO) Radio Days, 1987 Red Tails, 2012 (HBO) Rick And Morty, Season Four PremiereThe Right Stuff, 1983 Rock Star, 2001 Rosewood, 1997 Rumor Has It, 2005 Salvador, 1986 (HBO) Scoop, 2006 (HBO) The Sea Of Grass, 1947 The Secret Garden, 1993 Sesame Street, 1969 Sesame Street: Elmo’s Playdate, Special Premiere Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, Special Premiere Sinbad Of The Seven Seas, 1989 (HBO) The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants, 2005 The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants 2, 2008 Smurfs Christmas Special, 1982 Some Came Running, 1958 Space Cowboys, 2000 Splendor In The Grass, 1961 Sudden Impact, 1983 Summer Catch, 2001 Swingers, 1996 (HBO) Swordfish, 2001 A Tale Of Two Cities, 1935 Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines, 2003 Terminator Salvation, 2009 Terms Of Endearment, 1983 Thief, 1981 (HBO) Thirteen Ghosts, 2001 Tightrope, 1984 The Time Traveler’s Wife, 2009 Tis The Season To Be Smurfy, 1987 Titans, Seasons 1 & 2 Torque, 2004 Tower Heist, 2011 (HBO) The Town That Santa Forgot, 1993 Troll, 1986 (HBO) Troll 2, 1990 (HBO) True Crime, 1999 Tweety’s High-Flying Adventures, 2000 Twilight Zone: The Movie, 1983 (HBO) Una Semana (HBO) Unaccompanied Minors, 2006 Untamed Heart, 1993 (HBO) Veronica Mars, 2014 A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, 2011 (Extended Version) (HBO) We Bought A Zoo, 2011 (HBO) When You Wish Upon A Pickle: A Sesame Street Special, 2018 Wild Wild West, 1999 Win A Date With Tad Hamilton!, 2004 (HBO) Witches Of Eastwick, The, 1987 The Wood, 1999 Wyatt Earp, 1994 Yogi Bear’s All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper, 1982 Yogi’s First Christmas, 1980 Young Justice, Seasons 1-3 Zoo Animals (HBO)
Amazon Prime Video Movies
*Soorarai Pottru (2020)
Amazon Prime Video TV
Truth Seekers – Season 1 – Original
Movies rotating into AMAZON PRIME VIDEO as of November 1
28 Days Later (2003) A Christmas Movie Christmas (2019) A Christmas Switch (2018) A Majestic Christmas (2018) (Hallmark Movies Now) Arizona Whirlwind (1944) Article 99 (1992) As Good As It Gets (1997) Boyz N’ The Hood (1991) Breathless (1983) Country Strong (2011) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Dead Poets Society (1989) Deja Vu (2006) Did You Hear About The Morgans? (2009) Firewalker (1986) I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003) Marrying Father Christmas (2018) (Hallmark Movies Now) Me, Myself & Irene (2000) More Than A Game (2009) Mr. Majestyk (1974) Next Day Air (2009) Platoon (1986) Rock N’ Roll Christmas (2019) Romancing The Stone (1984) Ronin (1998) Silverado (1985) Step Up (2006) Thank You For Smoking (2006)
Hulu Movies
*Bad Therapy (2020)
Movies rotating into HULU as of November 1
12 Rounds (2009) 3 Ninjas (1992) A Christmas Solo (2017) A Nanny For Christmas (2010) A View to a Kill (1985) Alien Nation (1988) Antwone Fisher (2002) Article 99 (1992) Beerfest (2006) Big Daddy (1999) The Blair Witch Project (1999) The Bourne Identity (2002) The Bourne Supremacy (2004) The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) Breathless (1983) Bringing Down The House (2003) Broadcast News (1987) Children Of The Corn (2009) Christmas In Compton (2012) Christmas In Vermont (2016) Christmas on Holly Lane (2018) The Christmas Tale (2005) Crimson Tide (1995) Dead Presidents (1995) Diamonds Are Forever (1971) The Dog Who Saved Christmas (2009) The Expendables (2010) The Expendables 2 (2012) The Expendables 3 (2014) Firewalker (1986) For Your Eyes Only (1981) Foxfire (1996) From Russia with Love (1964) Fun in Acapulco (1963) The Horse Whisperer (1998) Hud (1963) I Heart Huckabees (2003) I Spy (2002) Johnny Mnemonic (1995) Jumping The Broom (2011) The Kingdom Of Heaven (2005) Kiss The Girls (1997) Knocked Up (2007) The Last Waltz (1978) License to Kill (1989) Little Giants (1994) Live and Let Die (1973) The Living Daylights (1987) Lord Of War (2005) Lost In Space (1998) Love Hurts (1990) The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) Maverick (1994) Moonraker (1979) Mr. Majestyk (1974) Much Ado About Nothing (1993) The Net (1995) Next Day Air (2009) Octopussy (1983) On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) Once Upon A Time At Christmas (2017) Pacific Heights (1990) Paws P.I. (2018) Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2009) Platoon (1986) The Prestige (2006) Ronin (1998) School Dance (2014) Slumdog Millionaire (2008) Spy Next Door (2010) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (2007) The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) Thunderball (1965) Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) Universal Soldier (1992) W. (2008) Wanted (2008) The Waterboy (1998) Wetlands (2019) Wild Hogs (2007) Wild Things (1998) Working Girl (198) The World is Not Enough (1999) You Only Live Twice (1967)
Weekend #43 of 53 (10/22 – 10/25/2020) for 2020 Picks By Streaming Service
Staying home this weekend and looking to watch some higher profile movies? You’re going to have a selection of several feature films, including:
HBO Max – Roald Dahl adaptation Witches originally intended as a theatrical release
Amazon Prime Video – the sequel to that bizarre Sacha Baron Cohen character Borat most easily titled Borat 2, but the actual title is: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Netflix – They are still making Tremors movies? You know those graboid creatures that tunnel underground? Yeah, they are still making those movies. Tremors: Shrieker Island available to watch right now. There’s also Rebecca.
Hulu – the wild, weird Bad Hair let’s down its spooky locks
Netflix: Oct 21
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*Title with asterisk – newly released Title is linked and has star rating – already watched, rated and reviewed Title bolded – on our schedule to watch/rewatch, rate and review (or in progress)
NOTE: If you’re coming to these posts weeks or months later, some and/or all of the picks listed below may no longer be on the streaming services indicated. Anything marked as “Original” typically doesn’t expire on the streaming services.
NETFLIX Movies
*Tremors: Shrieker Island
*Rebecca
Bending The Arc (2019)
Cadaver
The Hummingbird Project
Yes God, Yes
Move
Over The Moon
NETFLIX TV
*My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: Season 3
Barbarians (Oct 23)
The Queen’s Gambit
HBO Max Movies
*The Witches – Roald Dahl adaptation (Oct 22)
HBO Max TV
*The Undoing – Season 1, Episode 1: “The Undoing” (Oct 25) Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant
Amazon Prime Video Movies
*Borat Subsequent Moviefilm AKA Borat 2 (Oct 23)
Hulu Movies
*Bad Hair – Original (Oct 22)
Cyrano My Love (Oct 19)
Shudder Movies
*32 Malasana Street (Oct 22)
Them (Oct 19)
Sleep Tight (Oct 19)
*Joe Bob’s Halloween Drive-In Special Shudder TV LIVE Friday October 23, 2020 @ 6pm PT (GMT-8)
Premieres live Friday October 23 and available for streaming Monday October 26
The Trial of The Chicago 7, originally intended as a theatrical release, was picked up by Netflix. Blumhouse continues their horror movies Q&A with directors watch party this Saturday, but you can see the movies on Amazon already: Evil Eye and Nocturne. Also on the horror front, Shudder will premiere The Mortuary Collection.
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*Title with asterisk – newly released Title is linked and has star rating – already watched, rated and reviewed Title bolded – on our schedule to watch/rewatch, rate and review (or in progress)
NOTE: If you’re coming to these posts weeks or months later, some and/or all of the picks listed below may no longer be on the streaming services indicated. Anything marked as “Original” typically doesn’t expire on the streaming services.
NETFLIX Movies
*The Trial of The Chicago 7
*A Babysitter’s Guide To Monster Hunting – Original
Weekend #41 of 53 (10/8 – 10/11/2020) for 2020 Picks By Streaming Service
Halloween and October in general is Christmas for horror fans. Since the movie theater landscape is ravaged, we continue to turn to streaming for the bulk of new movies to watch. Thank you to the various streaming channels for stepping up and giving us new content to watch.
Watch parties! We’ve attended a few virtual watch parties and they are fun. There are several coming up this weekend and next.
A Blumhouse watch party event in association with Fangoria and for those with Amazon Prime Video on Saturday and Sunday including a Q&A with directors following the viewing.
Saturday October 10 @ 5:30pm PT – The Lie Sunday October 11 @ 5:3pm PT – Black Box
Amazon Prime Video: Oct 8
Welcome to the Blumhouse which is an upcoming collection of new original horror films, hailing from Amazon Studios and Blumhouse Television. The watch party event is scheduled to begin this Saturday, October 10 which will also include an after Q&A session with each of the films’ directors.
*Title with asterisk – newly released Title is linked and has star rating – already watched, rated and reviewed Title bolded – on our schedule to watch/rewatch, rate and review (or in progress)
NOTE: If you’re coming to these posts weeks or months later, some and/or all of the picks listed below may no longer be on the streaming services indicated. Anything marked as “Original” typically doesn’t expire on the streaming services.
*The Haunting of Bly Manor – Season 1 – 9 episodes (Oct 9) Horror, loosely based on Turning of the Screw
*Fast and Furious Spy Racers Season 2: Rio
From Doctor Sleep director Mike Flanagan comes this new Netflix TV Series on October 9
HBO Max Movies
*Charm City Kings – Original
Not recommended, except if you truly want to see how incredibly awful it is: Cats will be available Oct 10 on HBO Max. They should have offered a director’s cut, something to see if they could improve this abomination. It’s one of those slow down and watch an accident mentality watches and mentioned only for that moment.
HBO Max TV
*The Lovecraft Country – Season 1, Episode 9: “Rewind 1921” (Oct 11) Lovecraftian Horror
#1 on Netflix Top List; as of 10/1 – American Murder: The Family Next Door (RECOMMENDED)
Weekend #40 of 53 (10/1 – 10/4/2020) for 2020 Picks By Streaming Service
We all know these are unprecedented times right now. Earlier in the comments area we were having a discussion about the theatrical window. It’s such a polarizing topic with the big three theater chains and it’s stupid.
You can just click on the tag theatrical window and see all kinds of past posts on the topic. I’ve been heavily in favor of reducing the theatrical window and in some cases eliminating it altogether. Not for the big budget movies like Tenet, but for independent films, smaller to medium-sized budget films and streaming tie-in films. Keep reading what I mean by streaming tie-ins.
Hulu (TV): October 2
Meanwhile, we have Netflix chugging along during the pandemic releasing more new movies, more content than these mega million, er billion, dollar theater chains every single week. In some cases every few days. Netflix looks absolutely genius for investing so heavily in new content. They have been doing it not because they predicted the pandemic, but because they feared the day when there were no movies from studios they could license any more because the studios have their own competing streaming services. Here we are in 2020 and a lot of them have.
Back to the anemic number of movies by comparison being released theatrically right now. Sure, it might not make sense for some movies to release domestically with only 70% of theaters reopened and moviegoer confidence shaken over safety in some (many?) areas, but having a screen that can show movies that only/primarily shows classic movies isn’t going to drive moviegoers to the theater. They need more new movies.
How can they get them?
The answer is obvious. We write about and share new movies coming out every Thursday here. There are plenty to choose from to show in theaters. Plenty. Why aren’t theaters interested?
Is it ego? They think if they show a bunch of non-theatrical release movies in their theaters it will diminish the overall theater experience? That if they break their long standing rules about day and date releases, it will forever tarnish the business cycle?
We’re in a pandemic. There are no established movie theater rules that apply to this new situation. So, make up the rules that benefit your customers — moviegoers, us — and when the pandemic is over, you can go back to some pre-pandemic rules. Maybe you won’t want to? Maybe the new rules you create will be even better for your business.
Your product is movies. It’s like a hamburger stand that doesn’t sell hamburgers. You need new movies coming into your theaters every week.
Why haven’t the theater chains gone to studios and Netflix and other streamers and asked to screen their new movies until this pandemic is over? Let people see these movies in theaters that want to see them on the big screen. Maybe it doesn’t work for every single movie, but certainly this is better than showing a bunch of classic movies for $5, yes/no? Why is the stupid “respect for the theatrical window” the battle cry for the big three theaters?
They won’t listen to me. I’m just a spec of dust somewhere in a vast internet desert, but business survival 101 means being open to other creative visions, plans and ideas. Since these are unprecedented times, the movie theaters need to treat them accordingly and do things differently.
Maybe just possibly someday some movie theater owner will read this and say, “you know what, we should have tried something like this.”
We can always dream
Since we won’t be seeing any of the movies and TV shows below on the big screen (at least in the near future), we’ll have to continue to enjoy from the comfort of our homes, offices, computers, etc. My oh my, it’s quite the selection of new and classic content to watch.
As a final incidental note, October is my favorite entertainment
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*Title with asterisk – newly released Title is linked and has star rating – already watched, rated and reviewed Title bolded – on our schedule to watch/rewatch, rate and review (or in progress)
NOTE: If you’re coming to these posts weeks or months later, some and/or all of the picks listed below may no longer be on the streaming services indicated. Anything marked as “Original” typically doesn’t expire on the streaming services.
NETFLIX Movies
*American Murder: Family Next Door (9/30)
*The Outpost
*We Have Always Lived In The Castle
*You’ve Got This
*The Binding
*Dick Johnson Is Dead
*All Because of You
Human Nature (2019)
This movie dropped on Netflix and, while very predictable, has a fresh presentation style for true crime
A lot of interest is around Welcome To Sudden Death (FIRST LOOK), but have seen it and it’s not worth watching (nope, mini-spoiler: no Penguin battle in the kitchen battle) Yes, it’s available on Netflix.
NETFLIX TV
*Oktoberfest – Beer & Blood – Season 1
Bakugan: Armored Alliance: Season 2? (Oct 1)
Carmen Sandiego Season 3 (Netflix Family)
Code Lyoko Seasons 1-4
Evil Season 1
Familiar Wife Season 1
The Parkers Seasons 1-5
The Unicorn: Season 1
The Worst Witch Season 4
You Cannot Hide Season 1
Movies rotating into NETFLIX as of October 1
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls All Because of You (Netflix Original) Along Came a Spider A.M.I. Basic Instinct Black ’47 Cape Fear Carlos Almaraz: Playing with Fire The Dukes of Hazzard (2005) Employee of the Month Enemy at the Gates Fargo Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma: The Second Plate Free State of Jones Ghost Rider Ghosts of Girlfriends Past Good Morning, Verônica (Netflix Original) Gran Torino Her House of 1,000 Corpses Human Nature Hunt for the Wilderpeople I’m Leaving Now The Longest Yard (1974) Oktoberfest: Beer & Blood (Netflix Original) The Outpost The Pirates! Band of Misfits Poseidon (2006) The Prince & Me Stranger than Fiction Superman Returns Sword Art Online: Alicization Troy WarGames We Have Always Lived in the Castle Yogi Bear
HBO is starting out the month with their weekly new theatrical release movie with two horrible films. Since October is a notoriously spooky month, this seems timely. Sometimes it’s worth watching these films to see if they’re so bad, they’re good. Downhill is a lifeless, cold comedy with Will Ferrell and next week the worst film we’ve seen in quite time, Cats. Neither is recommended viewing, but maybe one or both work for you.
HBO Max TV
*The Lovecraft Country – Season 1, Episode 8: “Jig-a-Bobo” (Oct 4) Lovecraftian Horror
Movies rotated into HBO MAX on October 1
Bolded titles recommend quick picks we recommend:
A World of Calm: Documentary Series Premiere Akeelah And The Bee (HBO) All-Star Superman American Dynasties: The Kennedys American Reunion (HBO) Analyze That Analyze This The Angriest Man In Brooklyn (HBO) Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Ball of Fire Beavis And Butt-Head Do America (HBO) Beef Beginners Best in Show BLOW Bombshell Boogie Nights Boomerang The Bush Years: Family. Duty. Power. The Butterfly Effect Cats & Dogs Catwoman Cellular Cheech & Chong’s Up In Smoke The Chronicles Of Riddick (Director’s Cut) (HBO) City Slickers 2: The Legend of Curly’s Gold Clean and Sober The Client Collateral Beauty The Color Purple Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind (HBO) Constantine Cradle 2 the Grave Critters 2 Critters 4 The Curse of Frankenstein Day Of The Dead (HBO) Death Sentence (Extended Version) (HBO) Deerskin (HBO) Dirty Dancing (HBO) Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (HBO) Deliverance Dracula Has Risen from the Grave Dreamcatcher Edge of Darkness Empire of the Sun The End: Inside The Last Days of the Obama White House Endings, Beginnings (HBO) Enter The Dragon Eraser Firewall Frantic Frequency (HBO) Friday The Friday After Next Galaxy Quest The Golden Compass Gothika Grudge Match (HBO) Hairspray Hairspray (Musical Remake) Harina (aka Flour) (HBO) The Haunting The Hills Have Eyes (Extended Version) (HBO) The Hills Have Eyes II (Extended Version) (HBO) Horror of Dracula The Hunting Ground I Am Sam Infamous The Informer The Invisible War Jonah Hex The Last Kiss (HBO) The Last Mimzy Laws of Attraction Lethal Weapon Lethal Weapon 2 Lethal Weapon 3 Lethal Weapon 4 Libeled Lady Life as We Know It Little Baby Bum Little Big League Madea’s Big Happy Family Malcolm X Man of Steel Marie: A True Story The Matrix Reloaded The Matrix Revolutions The Matrix Million Dollar Baby Miracle of Morgan’s Creek Mister Roberts Monsters Vs. Aliens The Mummy Mutiny on the Bounty Next Friday Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always (HBO) Nothing Sacred Open Water (HBO) Open Water 2: Adrift (HBO) Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures The Pelican Brief A Perfect Murder The Perfect Storm The Phantom of the Opera Presumed Innocent Race for the White House: Season 1 Raised By Wolves: Season 1 Finale Revolutionary Road (HBO) Roger & Me Sands of Iwo Jima Scanners (HBO) Scooby-Doo! Haunted Holidays Se7en Semi-Pro Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird Shame (HBO) Sherlock Holmes Sleight (HBO) Son of Batman South Park: The Pandemic Special Steel Superman vs. the Elite Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Superman/Batman: Public Enemies Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3 They Were Expendable A Thin Line Between Love and Hate The Thin Man The Thing (HBO) A Time to Kill Tin Cup TMNT Training Day Tricky Dick Turistas (Extended Version) (HBO) U.S. Marshals Us (HBO) Vampire in Brooklyn A Very Brady Sequel We Will Rise: Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire? When Harry Met Sally Where the Wild Things Are The Whole Ten Yards (HBO) The Wings of Eagles You’ve Got Mail
Amazon Prime TV
*Sons of the Soil – Season 1
Bug Diaries Halloween Special (Oct 2)
Savage X. Fentry Show (Oct 2)
Movies rotating into AMAZON PRIME VIDEO as of October 1
30 Days Of Night A Knight’s Tale Battlefield Earth Blood Ties Drugstore Cowboy Eight Millimeter Funny Girl Girl, Interrupted Guess Who Joe John Carpenter’s Vampires Killers Kindred Spirits La Sucursal Madea’s Big Happy Family Mud National Security Next Level Noose For A Gunman Nurse Quantum Of Solace Raging Bull Señorita Justice Southside With You Spaceballs Species Thanks For Sharing The Big Hit The Da Vinci Code The Departed The Gambler Wore A Gun The Grudge 3 The Mask Of Zorro The Pianist The Wedding Planner Triumph Of The Spirit The Mothman Prophecies
Peacock TV
Saturday Night Live – all 45 seasons! Comedy, Live, Improv
Hulu TV
*Monsterland – Original Anthology, Horror
Hulu is going all out for Halloween with their focus on Huluween.
Movies rotating into HULU as of October 1
31 A Beautiful Mind Across The Line After Life Anti-Trust(Tech geek guilty pleasure!) Blade Blade 2 Blade: Trinity Blood Ties Blue City The Curse Of Downers Grove Deep Blue Sea The Do-Deca-Pentathlon Double, Double, Toil and Trouble Drugstore Cowboy The Executioners The Express The Eye Fallen Girls Against Boys Good Hair Guess Who Hostel Hostel: Part II House Of 1000 Corpses The Hurt Locker Ice Age: The Meltdown Interview With the Vampire Joe Judy & Punch Kicking & Screaming Killers Lady in a Cage Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome Martyrs Mud Nurse 3D The Pirates! Band Of Misfits The Portrait of a Lady The Quiet Ones Raging Bull The Sandman Senorita Justice Sk8 Dawg The Skull Snakes On A Plane Spaceballs Species Superbad Thanks for Sharing Tooth Fairy Triumph of the Spirit Vampire Wayne’s World 2 When A Stranger Calls William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet Zombie Killers: Elephant’s Graveyard