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A Reddit short story is making the jump to the big screen. Sydney Sweeney is attached to star in I Pretended to Be a Missing Girl, an upcoming movie based on a Reddit short story by Joe Cote.

Per Deadline, Sweeney will also produce I Pretended to Be a Missing Girl through her Fifty-Fifty Films. The movie is set up at Warner Bros., with Eric Roth set to adapt Cote's Reddit short story. Roth is best known for scripting Forrest Gump (1994), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), and Denis Villeneuve's 2021 movie Dune. He also provided additional literary material for the 2024 sequel Dune: Part Two. The short story centers around a drifter who "impersonates a missing girl to rob the girl’s family — only to realize she’s made a terrible mistake."

Sweeney is currently one of Hollywood's most in-demand actors, with several projects in various stages of development.

Sydney Sweeney’s new movie announcement suggests a shift in how Hollywood sources its stories. The Emmy-nominated actress, known for her roles in Euphoria and Anyone But You, is set to star and produce a movie based on a popular Reddit short story.

Sydney Sweeney | Credit: Jay Dixit/Cc-by-sa-4.0/Wikimedia Commons

While using internet-sourced stories may seem innovative, it raises concerns about the future of traditional storytelling, the role of professional screenwriters, and whether this shift marks the evolution of Hollywood or the beginning of its decline.

Sydney Sweeney to star and produce a movie based on a Reddit story

Ahead of the release of her new film, Eden, Sydney Sweeney has landed another project, I Pretended To Be A Missing Girl, which she will also produce under her production house Fifty Fifty Films.

The film is based on a popular Reddit story by a Massachusetts-based educator, Joe Cote. The Oscar-winning screenwriter,...

Sydney Sweeney is set to star in 'I Pretended to Be a Missing Girl'.The 'Anyone But You' star will also produce the movie - which is based on a Reddit short story by Joe Cote - through her Fifty-Fifty Films firm.The story, which is being adapted for the big screen by 'Dune' writer Eric Roth, follows a drifter who impersonates a missing girl in order to rob her family, only to realise she's made a terrible mistake.As well as Sydney, Vertigo’s Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Trevor Engelson and Aaron Folbe at Underground will also serve as producers.The 'Euphoria' actress has a busy period ahead as she has 'The Housemaid' - a thriller that also stars Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar - opening in December.A synopsis for that movie stated: "Millie (Sydney Sweeney) is a struggling young...

Sydney Sweeney is adding another new movie to her growing plate!

The 27-year-old actress will be starring in and producing a new film based on a four-year-old short story on Reddit, shared by a high school English teacher, THR reports.

Keep reading to find out more…

Oscar-winning Forrest Gump writer Eric Roth is set to write the script for the movie, based on Joe Cote‘s Reddit story, titled, “I pretended to be a missing girl so I could rob her family.”

The movie “centers on a young woman who shows up at a family’s doorsteps ten years after their 18-year-old daughter went missing. Her plan is to convince the family she is their missing child, and stay just for one night — long enough to steal some valuables and get away.”

Sydney is actually the one who brought the writer on board, and Warner Bros has won the rights to distribute the film.

Sydney Sweeney is turning a chilling Reddit story into a film. I Pretended to Be a Missing Girlis in the works at Warner Bros. after the company won the rights to the package, beating out its competition. Not only is Sweeney set to star in the film, but she's also adding the project to her list of productions she will produce via her Fifty-Fifty Films. Along with her, Oscar-winning Forrest Gump American screenwriter Eric Roth is expected to write the script.

Written by Joe Cote, a high school Massachusetts English educator, "I Pretended to Be a Missing Girl So I Could Rob Her Family" is about the consequences of greed with intense twists and turns. Ten years after a family's daughter disappeared, a young woman shows up at the house of her family with the intention of pocketing valuable items. Initially, she was supposed to just stay for one night; however,...

You never know when something you post on Reddit will be transformed into a Hollywood movie. THR reports that Sydney Sweeney is set to star in a new thriller based on Joe Cote’s Reddit short story titled “I pretended to be a missing girl so I could rob her family.”

No director is attached to the project yet, but Eric Roth (Forrest Gump) is writing the script. In addition to starring, Sweeny will produce the film through her Fifty-Fifty Films banner. The story centers on “a young woman who shows up at a family’s doorsteps ten years after their 18-year-old daughter went missing. Her plan is to convince the family she is their missing child, and stay just for one night — long enough to steal some valuables and get away.”

Warner Bros. acquired the rights to the project in a “competitive situation,” and now that Sweeney is involved,...

Sydney Sweeney is getting further into the thriller genre.

The actress/producer is set to lead the adaptation of a short story that first originated on Reddit, “I Pretended to Be a Missing Girl,” which was written in 2021 by high school English teacher Joe Cote. The viral short story is now getting a big screen adaptation by way of Oscar-winning “Forrest Gump,” “A Star Is Born,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon” scribe Eric Roth, with Sweeney starring and producing, an individual with knowledge of the project told IndieWire.

Cote’s story, titled “I pretended to be a missing girl so I could rob her family,” centers on a drifter (Sweeney) who impersonates a missing girl ten years after she went missing to rob her family, only to realize it’s a terrible mistake. The drifter plans to convince the family she is their missing child, and stay just for...

Another Reddit tale comes to life in the upcoming thriller I Pretended to Be a Missing Girl, which has Sydney Sweeney (Immaculate) attached to both star in and produce.

The Hollywood Reporter lets us know today that Warner Bros. has picked up the rights to the hot package, which all began with a tale posted on Reddit by English teacher Joe Cote.

The full title of Cote’s Reddit tale was I pretended to be a missing girl so I could rob her family, and it was published in the popular channel reddit/nosleep four years ago.

THR details that the original Reddit short story “centers on a young woman who shows up at a family’s doorsteps ten years after their 18-year-old daughter went missing.

“Her plan is to convince the family she is their missing child, and stay just for one night — long enough to steal some valuables and get away.

Here’s a cool one in the works at Warner Bros: Sydney Sweeney is attached to star in and produce I Pretended to Be a Missing Girl, via her Fifty-Fifty Films.

The movie project is based on a Reddit short story by Joe Cote. Fifty-Fifty notched Oscar-winning Forrest Gump and Dune scribe Eric Roth to adapt it.

In the short story, a drifter impersonates a missing girl to rob the girl’s family — only to realize she’s made a terrible mistake.

Vertigo’s Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Trevor Engelson and Aaron Folbe at Underground are attached to produce.

Sweeney, the White Lotus and Euphoria star, is taking a bigger hand in producing the projects she stars in. She was an executive producer on Sony’s 2023 romantic comedy hit Anyone But You ($220.3 million global box office gross and $103M net profit after ancillaries), and she shepherded the nun horror...

Four years ago, a high school English teacher posted a short story to Reddit, a tale with Gone Girl-worthy twists and turns. Now, Joe Cote is in the midst of his own real-life plot twist.

The Massachusetts-based educator’s project is in development as a feature, with Sydney Sweeney attached to star and produce, and Oscar-winning Forrest Gump scribe Eric Roth penning the script.

Warner Bros. has won the rights to the package in a competitive situation that now puts the teacher on Hollywood’s radar. He first landed representation after manager Aaron Folbe of Underground Entertainment stumbled upon the story and sought Cote out for a meeting.

Sweeney’s involvement on the project then pushed it into overdrive, with her bringing Roth aboard.

Cote’s story, titled “I pretended to be a missing girl,” centers on a young woman who shows up at a family’s doorsteps ten...

The 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival kicked off Friday, March 7 in Austin with world and North American premieres of movies in 11 sections, TV shows in three sections and several short film and virtual reality programs.

This year’s festival launched with opening-night film Another Simple Favor reteaming Paul Feig, Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, with other notable world premiere titles including Chad Hartigan’s The Threesome, Kate Mara‘s two entries The Astronaut and The Dutchman (the latter also starring André Holland), the Ben Affleck-Jon Bernthal sequel The Accountant 2, the Nicole Kidman-starring Holland and Death of a Unicorn starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega.

Check out Deadline’s reviews recaps below as films premiere at the fest, which runs through March 15, and click on the titles for the full reviews.

The Accountant 2 ‘The Accountant 2’

Section: Headliner

Director: Gavin O’Connor

Cast: Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Daniella Pineda,...

One of the unexpected pleasures of this year’s vast SXSW slate of movies is Bunny, a kind of zany comic throwback to extreme indie New York City-centric movies that find a manic energy and rhythm that lets them exist on their own breathless cloud, with a cast of wacky characters moving in and out of frame in action that takes place almost entirely in an East Village tenement, or outside just in front of it.

In some ways Bunny is an oddball cross of Weekend at Bernie’s, Abbott & Costello, Cheech & Chong and a new-age Marx Brothers movie, plus films of the Safdie brothers (particularly Uncut Gems) all the way back to Hal Ashby’s wonderful directorial debut with 1970’s The Landlord, another NYC tenement movie I kept thinking about watching this stew. Throw them all into a blender and you might have something resembling what first-time director...

Once upon a time, mostly in the 1980s and 90s, the downtown Manhattan indie movie was a thing. Films like Jim Jarmusch’s Permanent Vacation, Edo Bertoglio’s Downtown 81, Larry Clark’s Kids and, later on, early Safdie brothers efforts like The Pleasure of Being Robbed were gritty off-the-cuff street features made on tiny budgets, shouldered by directors looking to capture the weird and wild world below 14th Street.

But living in that part of the city soon became expensive, and more expensive, and even more expensive — to the point that many writers, artists and filmmakers were priced out of their neighborhoods. Shooting in Manhattan also became exorbitantly costly, leaving room for only well-funded TV shows like Law & Order, Billions or Succession. Even the latest NYC-set Safdie joint (directed by Josh Safdie in his first solo effort) is an epic period piece, starring Timothée Chalamet, with a budget estimated between $50-$70 million.

Netflix produced its first non-documentary feature in 2015. It was called Beasts of No Nation, and it was fine. However, the film did not get nominated for an Academy Award. Lots has changed in the last decade.

Your favorite streamer often gets nominated for major awards each year. 2025 is no different. Emilia Pérez has 13 nominations alone, including one for Best Picture. So far, Netflix has yet to get a win in that category, and Emilia Pérez is not the favorite this year, either.

In fact, Netflix has also almost been entirely shut out of wins in the acting categories. Only Laura Dern won, and that was for Best Supporting Actress in 2020. But the streamer does do well in some other categories. Those might not be part of the Big 6, but when it comes to documentaries, Netflix knows what it is doing. Just see below, and you'll know.

The 2025 Oscars will be held on Sunday,...

Quick LinksAre the Remaining 'Dune' Novels Too Esoteric for Cinema?Gareth Edwards Is Worthy of Taking Over for Villeneuve With 'Dune'The Future of 'Dune'Relies on the Third Installment

When Denis Villeneuve signed on to adapt Frank Herbert's magnificent Dunenovel series, he envisioned a trilogy focusing on the first two books, Dune and Dune: Messiah, of the six-book series. His sole focus was on Paul Atreides and the story of his rise to power as the Emperor of the Imperium. From there, he believes the story becomes even more convoluted to adapt into film and keep the audience engaged.

He split the first book, Dune, into two parts, Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024), but for the third installment, the visionary director plans on making a single film from the second book, Dune: Messiah. The film will be a drastic shift in tone from the first two as the...

The most hilariously named character in all of Dune-dom is set to return to the Dune-iverse. That's right, folks: Duncan Idaho himself, a.k.a. Jason Momoa, is allegedly set to reprise his character in the third installment of Denis Villeneuve's trilogy of films, currently titled Dune: Messiah. This is a big deal if you're a fan of the movies and/or the Frank Herbert novels, because — if true — it would essentially confirm that a very wild character arc from the books is coming to the big screen. Especially when you consider the fact that Momoa wasn't in the last film.

It's a fascinating prospect that sets up what is said to be Villeneuve's last Dune film (despite rumors that Warner Bros. is working on a fourth installment regardless) in a big way, but one that — if we explained — would absolutely spoil some major plot points. Which...

Pacific Palisades residents Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have pledged to help their neighbors who were impacted by the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Hanks and Wilson, who have been married since 1988, are donating $1 million toward LA fire relief across several aid organizations.

The couple collaborated on an Instagram post on Feb. 21 to share the news of their donation. The post read: “Hey friends, Like so many of us, we see the loss and devastation wrought by the Altadena and Palisades fires. The challenges to the future of these communities is immense. We are so very grateful for the First Responders and Firefighters, from all over, who fought with all they had in order to save homes and people.”

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Tom Hanks (@tomhanks)

RelatedTom Hanks' 2024 Box Office Flop With 37% Rt Score Becomes a Hit on Streaming

Not even the Forrest Gump...

The potential next collaboration between Martin Scorsese and his longtime muse and lead actor Leonardo DiCaprio has just been revealed. Also, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is part of it for some wild reason.

According to an exclusive report from Deadline, the pitch for Scorsese's latest project following his Oscar-nominated film "Killers of the Flower Moon" has DiCaprio, Johnson, and Emily Blunt attached to star. Deadline also provided the pitch's "thumbnail description," which reads, "Imagine Robert De Niro's Jimmy the Gent character from 'Goodfellas,' but as a ruthless Hawaiian crime boss, based on a real figure, who battled encroaching rivals for control of organized crime in Hawaii." The outlet also notes that the film will be written by Nick Bilton (a Vanity Fair editor who directed the 2021 documentary "Fake Famous") and says that the "film focuses on a turbulent time on the island paradise when an aspiring...

Dune: Messiah is expected to be the last Dune movie directed by Denis Villeneuve. With plans to continue the franchise beyond Messiah, Warner Bros. and Legendary will need a new filmmaker to take the reigns and the studio reportedly already has somebody in mind for the job.

According to trusted scooper Daniel Richtman (via X), Gareth Edwards is being considered to direct Dune 4, which is expected to be an adaptation of Frank Herbert's third Dune novel, 1976's Children of Dune. Edwards is perhaps best known for directing the Star Wars spinoff Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), which remains one of the more well-received entries in the sci-fi franchise since Disney acquired Lucasfilm. Edwards also directed the first installment in the MonsterVerse, Godzilla (2014), a sci-fi monster franchise also produced by Legendary. His other directorial credits include Monsters (2010), The Creator (2023), and the upcoming Jurassic World Rebirth (2025).

RelatedDune Stars Timothée Chalamet...

Providing the perfect date night option for those who love romantic comedies and festive slashers, Josh Ruben's Heart Eyes is now slicing into theaters, and Lakeshore Records will release Jay Wadley's score for the festively frightful film digitally beginning February 14th, giving horror-loving couples the chance to add the movie's music to their Valentine's Day playlists. As an early treat for Daily Dead readers to enjoy ahead of the soundtrack's holiday digital release, we have the chilling Heart Eyes track "Forgive Me" that you can listen to right now!

You can listen to Jay Wadley's "Forgive Me" below, and we also have the full track listing with additional details! To learn more about the digital release of Heart Eyes—Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, visit:

https://lnk.to/heart-eyes

From the Press Release: Lakeshore Records is set to release Heart Eyes--Original Motion Picture Soundtrack digitally [on] February 14, featuring music...

Tom Hanks is arguably one of the most beloved actors of all time and his 1994's Forrest Gump is one of his most popular films. The movie has continued its popularity long after its premiere but replicating the formula of the six-time Oscar-winning film didn't work.

In 2024, Hanks reunited with his Forrest Gump co-star Robin Wright, and director Robert Zemeckis for Here. The new drama Here had a series of Forrest Gump connections, but, unlike their first team-up, received mixed reviews after little promotion, failing to impress both critically and commercially. Luckily, the film has experienced new success on Netflix, as Reelgood singled out Here as the ninth most popular film between the week of Jan. 30 and Feb. 5 across all streaming platforms.

RelatedWill Ferrell's New Movie With 48% Rt Score Tops Streaming Charts

You can count on Will Ferrell to lead to a commercial hit.

The drama Here premiered at the AFI Fest on Oct.

Here, an ambitious and centuries-spanning film, reunited Forrest Gump stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright and director Robert Zemeckis. While that certainly sounds promising given the trio's previous Academy Award-winning film, and the drama's interesting premise (more on that later), Here tanked at the box office and failed to impress critics. The movie, however, has found new life on Netflix, sitting in the streamer's U.S. Top 10 charts since its debut. Here landed in theaters on Nov. 1 before making its way to the streaming platform on January 30, where it now holds the number nine spot. It debuted at the number 2 spot, which is its streaming peak.

The drama's sudden popularity is vastly different from its theatrical run: it grossed just $15.7 million worldwide against a $50 million production budget. Critically speaking, Here also didn't garner much acclaim, as the film currently holds a 37% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Based on a 2014 graphic novel by Richard McGuire,...

2024 may be over, but some of last year's releases will stick with viewers for a long time. Even without a cultural craze like "Barbenheimer", 2024 shows that people are still eager to go to movie theaters and check out what's new, from long-anticipated sequels like Dune: Part Twoto small indie movies that scored big audiences like Anora. Beyond the box office, 2024 also delivered exciting straight-to-streaming releases such as The Idea of You and Música.

Audiences are ready for what 2025 has to offer, with eagerly awaited movies like Superman andMission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning set to release this year. But while viewers wait for these movies to come out, it's worth looking back into 2024 and checking out some great movies that might have slipped under the radar. These are just some of the best films to be released in 2024.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on February 3, 2025: 2024 may be over, but now the awards season begins.

The writer, director, and stars of "Forrest Gump" regroup after 30 years for a new high-concept drama. You can imagine this premise being easily sold to salivating studio execs. And yet, Robert Zemeckis' "Here" was an abject critical and commercial dud when it debuted in November 2024. What happened? Well, according to critics, the movie is just bad. More specifically it is, according to The Times' Kevin Maher, "like watching the Sims get dementia." What does that mean? You'll have to watch the movie to find out, which you can now readily do over on Netflix.

If, out of pure curiosity, you do decide to stream Zemeckis' misfire, you won't be the only one. Netflixers are currently giving the ill-fated drama a modest reprieve over on the streamer, with "Here" working its way up the most-watched charts. The film's streaming success caps off a month that saw the similarly sentimental sports drama...

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Tubi might not be as big as some of the other popular streaming services, but it does have some of the best movies and TV shows of recent times, and that too for absolutely free. The Fox-owned streaming service adds a ton of new monthly content to its ever-expanding library. So, we thought of compiling a list of the best movies coming to Tubi in February 2025.

2012 (February 1) Credit – Sony Pictures

2012 is an epic sci-fi disaster film directed by Roland Emmerich, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Harald Kloser. The 2009 film follows Jackson Curtis, a writer, as he tries to protect his family from a series of apocalyptic natural disasters that threaten to destroy all humanity. 2012 stars John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thandiwe Newton, Danny Glover, and Woody Harrelson.

Blue Beetle (February 1) Credit – Warner Bros. Pictures...

David Lynch has been named the recipient of the Writers Guild of America West’s 2025 Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement, the organization announced on Wednesday.

According to the WGA, the late filmmaker behind “Eraserhead,” “The Elephant Man,” “Blue Velvet,” “Wild at Heart,” “Mulholland Drive” and co-creator of “Twin Peaks” accepted the award in late 2024, weeks before his death on Jan. 16.

“Writer-director David Lynch’s uncompromising vision pushed the boundaries of filmmaking,” Wgaw president Meredith Stiehm said. “We are proud to honor him and his legacy.”

The award will be presented by Lynch’s frequent collaborator, actor Kyle MacLachlan, at the 77th annual WGA Awards on Feb. 15.

The Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement is presented to members who have “advanced the literature of motion pictures and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the screenwriter.”

Past Screen Laurel Award recipients include Walter Hill, Charlie Kaufman, Nancy Meyers, James L. Brooks, Elaine May,...

One of the best science fiction blockbusters of all time is all set to stream for free next month. Released in 2021, Dune, Aka Dune: Part One, is director Denis Villeneuve’s first foray into the epic world of author Frank Herbert, and introduces audiences to the expansive universe of the distant future, following the noble heir Paul Atreides as he and his family are tasked with taking charge of the hostile desert planet Arrakis.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve with a screenplay by Jon Spaihts, Villeneuve, and Eric Roth, Dune is led by Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, with the stellar supporting cast comprised of Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem. Dune is due to land on the streaming platform Tubi from February 1, and you can check out the official synopsis below.

Update: Not having read Josh Brolin’s recently published memoir, I am unsure how much of a poker player the No Country for Old Men actor is. However, after raising the Academy with the threat that he would retire from acting if Denis Villeneuve was not nominated for Best Director for Dune: Part Two, the actor may have had his bluff called, as the filmmaker was not called during this morning’s nomination announcement for the 97th Academy Awards.

With it time to show his hand, Josh Brolin has not yet revealed if he was being hyperbolic or if his time as Gurney Halleck has ended. Brolin has had a storied career on the big screen and may not be quite ready to throw in the towel yet, but we will have to see if he makes any comments on his social media accounts in the coming days.

Will Josh...

Paris-based Reel Suspects has acquired international sales rights toLilly Hu’s teenage love triangle drama 1 Girl Infinite about two young women in southern China whose relationship is shaken up when one falls in with a drug dealer.

The film set in Changsha, China will world premiere at International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in the Bright Future section on January 31, and Reel Suspects will launch sales at EFM in February.

Hu’s debut feature is produced byLatvia-based Trickster Pictures with Singapore’s Vanilla Films and US-based Ogi Film. It is executive produced by Eric Roth, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Forrest Gump,...

Set in the same spot – from prehistory onwards – Zemeckis’s sentimental drama is an odd combination of cosmic ambition and domestic intimacy

Robert Zemeckis’s sentimental family heartwarmer, adapted by him and co-screenwriter Eric Roth from the graphic novel of the same name by Richard McGuire, is the movie equivalent of a book club choice; the star is a family home, the “here” of the title. Or rather: it’s the living room in a Philadelphia house where so much generational drama plays out. Here is an odd combination of cosmic ambition and hyper-local domestic intimacy, clearly influenced at some level by Noël Coward’s play and movie This Happy Breed, about scenes in the life of a London family in the same house. The dreamy quirkiness keeps you watching and the folksy warmth of performances from Tom Hanks and Robin Wright encourage you to cut it some slack.

The...

Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese's Western thriller of 2023, is still one of the most popular films on the platform where it's exclusively streaming. Ever since its release on Apple TV+, the film has comfortably stayed among the most-watched films, and by the time of writing, it sits in the sixth spot.

Per FlixPatrol, Killers of the Flower Moon has remained on the prestigious list for nearly a year after its premiere on the streamer on January 12, 2024. Such love from Apple TV+ subscribers doesn't exactly match that of audience members who felt the film was too long to see in theaters. Whether the 206-minute movie by one of America's greatest directors will be revered as a cinematic treasure remains to be seen. Only time will tell.

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Brendan Fraser, and more, Killers of the Flower Moon takes viewers to 1920s Oklahoma,...

Last Updated on January 6, 2025

Well, Schmoes, as 2024 finally draws to a close, we reflect on a year full of ups and downs, box office shocks and surprises, and many unexpected hits and misses. If there is one thing for sure, there are always movies highly overrated and underrated by critics and fans alike. As the UnPopular Opinion Guy, I felt it was only fitting to issue my list of the movies I felt the masses got wrong. Some of these may shock you, and some may piss you off, but these are my honest-to-goodness perspective on the movies of 2024. If you disagree with any of the choices, please voice your opinion in the comments below. After all, the only opinion that really matters is yours, and I am just here to share mine.

The Most Underrated Films of 2024 Here

Robert Zemeckis has gotten a lot of flak for his use...

This weekend, Apple TV+ is free.

It’s a brilliant marketing move and reminds us of the time when, back when Disney Channel was a premium cable channel, they would do special free weekends, complete with cutaways to a fake call center to see people signing up in real time.

And while there might not be hosted segments previewing the channel’s upcoming programs, you have free reign over all of Apple TV+ – including their original film library.

To that end, we chose nine movies that you should definitely check out during the free preview weekend, everything from documentaries about the Beastie Boys to new classics from Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott to a movie about the formation of “Tetris” (yes really).

Apple “Beastie Boys Story”

Apple TV+ has a robust lineup of music documentaries, with Todd Haynes’ “The Velvet Underground,” plus docs dedicated to Billie Eilish, Bruce Springsteen, Louis Armstrong and Selena Gomez.

It's Tom Hanks vs. Tom Cruise as beloved film Forrest Gump has beaten several Mission: Impossible movies on Pluto, per Flix Patrol. As film lovers around the world celebrate New Year's Day, what could be better than streaming some classic movies?

Forrest Gump is number one on Pluto's streaming charts, followed by the first four Mission: Impossible films. It's Hanks vs. Cruise, with one Tom taking the streaming crown. Also topping the chart on the first day of the year are two John Travolta classics, Grease and Pulp Fiction.

Hanks' film was an instant and beloved classic when it debuted during a fairly busy summer of 1994. Among the box office hits were Forrest Gump, The Lion King, True Lies, and The Maverick. Directed by Robert Zemeckis from a script by Eric Roth (Dune: Part One), who adapted the novel by Winston Groom, the movie follows Forrest Gump, a man with a low Iq,...

2024 has had quite an interesting mix of films to come out. Whether at the theaters or on streaming, there has been a lot to enjoy and be entertained by. Blockbuster sequels like Denis Villeneuve's Dune II, or Ridley Scott's Gladiator II brought spectacular action with beautiful cinematography. Clever thrillers like Anora and The Substance showcased some exceptional breakthrough performances from the likes of Mikey Madison and Margaret Qualley.

With a sprinkling of romantic comedy, beloved family animation, and a highly anticipated musical, there have been movies to cater to any tastes. The way viewers take in their films is also something that can add more to the experience. Sitting in the comfort of one's own home watching a streaming release can be a great experience. Others prefer to venture out to see the effect on the big screen, surrounded by other film buffs who share their passion. There's...

The Billy Crystal-starring Apple TV+ series Before is not only a dramatic turn for the actor-comedian, but it also marks a rare TV-starring gig for the veteran performer known for his roles in movies like When Harry Met Sally and Analyze This.

Crystal, who also executive produces the show, had been working on the project with screenwriter Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, Killers of the Flower Moon), exploring the idea of a “pediatric psychiatrist dealing with a troubled kid whose trauma is something unexplained,” Crystal said.

But it wasn’t until Roth brought on writer Sarah Thorp, who would go on to serve as showrunner and an executive producer, alongside Roth and others, on the series, that Crystal thought of playing the psychiatrist character Eli.

“When she pitched her vision for Eli and his world and what the world might be, I instantly said, ‘Sarah, stop, I’m going to do this.

The Apple TV+ series Before ended its run today, Dec. 20, 2024, with the back half of the supernatural thriller becoming increasingly intense. Billy Crystal gives a great dramatic performance as a widowed child psychiatrist who becomes dangerously obsessed with the strange case of a young foster child (Jacobi Jupe) and the many creepy coincidences and connections between them. In many ways, Before became a different show (and arguably a much better one) than many people expected after the first two episodes of the series. But as Crystal told MovieWeb, the whole series was almost completely different. "It really started as a whole different show," said Crystal in our interview, explaining:

"It started out as a show called Death Bed, which was about a 100-year-old guy who was working with a gerontologist aid, and he gives him a list of people that he wants to see, and the people then come in and out of his life.

As excitement grows for Robert Zemeckis’ new film, Here, actress Lisa Kudrow has expressed serious worries about artificial intelligence’s growing influence in the film business. She believes that this technology could jeopardize performers’ careers.

Advanced digital de-aging technology is used in “Here,” which reunites Zemeckis with “Forrest Gump” actors Tom Hanks and Robin Wright. This permits actors to portray themselves as different ages throughout the film. In a recent episode of the “Armchair Expert” podcast, Kudrow criticized this method. She referred to it as “an endorsement for AI” and warned that it might significantly alter the entertainment industry.

Kudrow said, “What work will there be for human beings?” Her interests extend beyond Hollywood. She cautioned that emerging actors would be forced to license their likenesses for unlimited digital use.

Tom Hanks, who stars in “Here,” has also spoken on the implications of this technology. On “The Adam Buxton Podcast,...

Despite the nostalgia factor of Robert Zemeckis‘ Here, reuniting him with Forrest Gump stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in a multi-generational tale, its use of AI bodes for a frightening future to some.

Lisa Kudrow recently criticized the film’s use of digital de-aging to depict the cast as their characters over several time periods as “an endorsement for AI” after the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes called for efforts to regulate the technology.

“They shot it, and they could actually shoot the scene and then look at the playback of them as younger, and it’s ready for them to see,” she explained on a recent episode of the Armchair Expert podcast.

“And all I got from that was, this is an endorsement for AI and oh, my God. It’s not like, ‘Oh, it’s going to ruin everything,’ but what will be left? Forget actors, what about up-and-coming actors?...

Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series spotlighting the year’s most talked-about scripts continues with Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures’ Dune: Part Two, the anticipated follow-up to 2021’s six-time Oscar-winning Dune. Denis Villeneuve directed from a screenplay he and Jon Spaihts wrote based on Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi novel.

The first film’s writing team of Spaihts, Villeneuve and Eric Roth were nominated for the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar, making expectations high for sequel, which has delivered, grossing $714 million worldwide since its global release in March.

Set thousands of years in the future and picking up where Dune left off, Dune: Part Two again follows the mythic journey of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a young man propelled by fate into an intergalactic power struggle. Paul was given the ultimate test after the murder of his father, Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac), in Dune: to conquer his fears when...

In 1999, filmmaker and screenwriter Michael Mann released what would become one of the greatest dramas of its time. Starring Al Pacino, Russell Crowe, and Christopher Plummer, Mann and co-writer Eric Roth adapted the story of chemistry teacher and whistle-blower Jeffrey Wigand (portrayed on screen by Crowe) into a feature film that went on to garner seven Academy Award nominations. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Insider, Collider's Steve Weintraub had the pleasure of speaking with the esteemed director about his experience throughout the tumultuous production.

Thanks to Apple TV+, we're excited to share with Daily Dead readers a sneak peek clip from this week's episode of the psychological thriller, Before, starring Billy Crystal. The ten-episode limited series is available exclusively on Apple TV+, with Episode 8 premiering on Friday, December 6th, followed by new episodes every Friday through December 20.

“Before” stars Crystal as Eli, a child psychiatrist who, after recently losing his wife, Lynn (Judith Light), encounters a troubled young boy, Noah (Jacobi Jupe), who seems to have a haunting connection to Eli’s past. As Eli attempts to help Noah, their mysterious bond deepens, sparking haunting memories and unearthing unsettling secrets about the past. The ensemble cast also includes Rosie Perez, Maria Dizzia and Ava Lalezarzadeh.

The upcoming ten-episode atmospheric and character-driven psychological thriller is created by Sarah Thorp (“The Bounty Hunter”) who also serves as showrunner, writer and executive producer. Crystal executive produces alongside Eric Roth,...

Denis Villeneuve confirmed Dune: Part One fulfilled a lifelong passion. He took on the challenge knowing his first Dune film could be an open-ended one-and-done.

Denis Villeneuve's Dune saga hinged on the breakout success of Dune: Part One. He knew that film would define his career; despite opportunities, he didn't rush at the prospect of helming an adaptation. "I waited many years before accepting the challenge," he told IndieWire. "I agreed to do it when I felt I was ready to bring it to the screen. And I did it with people who absolutely believed in the novel." Fans agree Frank Herbert's story is almost unfilmable, but Villeneuve proved otherwise with Dune: Part One's mass appeal and faithfulness to the source material. He recalled waiting for the studio to greenlight his follow-up installment.

Related 'That's My Problem': Denis Villeneuve on Why Dune: Part Two Won't Get a Direct Sequel...

Movies about gambling follow a simple mantra: A character or characters go up against the odds, eschewing safe bets for a risky, life-changing move. The stakes are high, but the rewards are plentiful. Our protagonists encounter numerous obstacles during their journey and often incur severe losses. They almost always experience a moment of self-reflection and are faced with the ultimate choice: go all in or fold. Rinse and repeat.

Hundreds of movies about gambling exist to tell this same story time and again, with slight variations on the formula. Audiences turn up in droves to watch these powerful morality tales play out on the silver screen. And why not? The gambling genre presents the hero's journey in its purest form. It's the quintessential underdog tale, except rather than score the final shot in the big game, characters risk life and limb for a chance to beat the house, upend the establishment,...

Stephen King shares his praise for a new Apple TV+ thriller, matching the audience's sentiment. Apple TV+ has been on a run of consistently releasing new original shows over the past few years, with the genre frequently falling into the thriller category. Oftentimes, those thrillers will have a sci-bent, with Silo, Dark Matter, and Severance. But the preference for tense stories also extends beyond the science fiction realm.

Lady in the Lake, led by Natalie Portman, was a murder mystery presented as a thriller. The same is true for The Crowded Room, starring Tom Holland and Amanda Seyfried, which was a crime drama that often veered into the direction of a paranoid and shaky narrative with an unreliable protagonist at the center. One of the newest thrillers from the streamer continues the trend, including another big actor, though responses have been split.

King Is A Fan Of Before The New...

Denis Villeneuve's major sci-fi blockbuster Dune: Part Two is hoping to make a major splash at the 2025 Oscars, but how many nominations and wins will it actually get? Frank Herbert's iconic novel's return to the big screen turned it into a major awards contender in 2022 thanks to how Villeneuve executed his vision. The result was Dune received 10 Oscar nominations and won six categories. That put significant pressure on Dune 2 to replicate the awards season success of the first film or even surpass it by securing Villeneuve a Best Director nomination.

Thanks to the reception to Dune 2, there is every expectation that the movie will be nominated at the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025. It's a major box office hit - grossing $714 million worldwide - and well-received by critics and audiences with 92% and 95% scores on Rotten Tomatoes. Although it came out almost exactly one year before the 2025 Oscars,...

Dennis Villeneuves Dune and Dune: Part Two have been smash hits, both critically at the box office, but that didnt happen without great sacrifice from the cast and crew. The director discussed the hardships of shooting on location for the sandy epic, and how that may be different in the third film.

Deadline interviewed the director about his love for Frank Herberts work, and how he feels about fulfilling a lifelong dream: to bring Dune to the big screen. "I loved the idea of how Frank Herbert used biology to create and to go deep into the description and creation of the ecosystem on this planet," Villeuneuve says, explaining why he was enamored with Herberts oeuvre at age 14. "He brought so much detail and reality and love into it that it felt so real, so rich. And the way he explored the impact of this ecosystem on the culture, and...

2021's Dune was a huge success, but Dune: Part Two came to improve an already high-quality film series. It was bigger, spicier, and tougher than the first one. Now, one of the stars of the series wants the director's efforts recognized by the Academy.

Speaking to Variety about the film and Denis Villeneuve's creativity, Josh Brolin noted he wants the director to get an Oscar. Brolin is one of the several MCU actors from Dune, and he played Gurney Halleck in both installments. The actor noted that, if Villeneuve didn't get recognized with at least a nomination for Best Director, he would "quit acting."

Related 'That's a Huge Difference': Dune: Prophecy Star Explains What Separates the Show From the Movies

The film adaptations merely alluded to Dune: Prophecy's main premise.

2021's Dune received many nominations (and awards), but failed to recognize Denis Villeneuve for Best Director. This year,...

Edward Berger’s papal thriller Conclave and the upcoming Timothée Chalamet-starring Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown lead the nominations for the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards, which annually champion movies for grownups, by grownups and encourage films and TV shows that resonate with older viewers.

Focus Features’ Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes, scored a leading six nominations, while Searchlight’s James Mangold-directed Complete Unknown, which hits theaters on December 25, had five noms. The two pics are nominated for the Mfg’s marquee Best Picture/Best Movie for Grownups Awards, alongside Paramount’s Gladiator II and September 5 (which had four noms apiece) and Netflix’s Emilia Pérez, (three noms).

Last year’s Best Picture winner, Killers of the Flower Moon, went on to nab 10 Oscar nominations.

Other notable nominees include Robert Zemeckis’ Miramax-produced, Sony-distributed generation-spanning Here, starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright and penned by Eric Roth in...

On Sunday night, per annual tradition, dozens of the current crop of top Oscar contenders — among them Maria lead actress Angelina Jolie, Gladiator II lead actor Paul Mescal, The Substance lead actress Demi Moore, The Brutalist lead actor Adrien Brody and Emilia Pérez supporting actress Selena Gomez — turned up at Ovation Hollywood for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Governors Awards ceremony, a black-tie dinner at which the organization presents special awards to industry legends.

The 15th Governors Awards’ highest profile honoree, composer-producer Quincy Jones, was celebrated posthumously, having died Nov. 3 at the age of 91. The most moving part of the evening came toward the end, when Jones’ honorary Oscar statuette was accepted by his daughter, actress-writer Rashida Jones, who, flanked by some of her siblings, tearfully paid tribute to her father and read the speech that he had planned to give at the ceremony.

An honorary Oscar...