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Reader, you have been lied to! Film history is littered with unfairly maligned classics, whether critics were too eager to review the making of rather than the finished product, or they suffered from underwhelming ad campaigns or general disinterest. Let’s revise our takes on some of these films from wrongheaded to the correct opinion.

When “Madhouse,” a comedy about a happily married couple besieged by out of control house guests, was released in early 1990, it met with immediate hostility from critics. How hostile were they? So hostile that “Madhouse” is currently in the select group of movies sitting uncomfortably at 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, not a single positive review to its name.

The irony is that not only is “Madhouse” not bad, it’s great. And not only great, but all-time great, a comedy so flawless in its construction and so precise in its timing that it ranks alongside the best work of Howard Hawks,...

The Brat Pack dominated the 1980s with their presence in coming-of-age films, yet one creative has always stood out as one of their favorite partners—John Hughes. Though the writer-director is a defining voice in comedy from the era, delivering classics like Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Home Alone, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, some of his best work has come with the young, fast-rising stars. Their defining achievement, The Breakfast Club, set a particularly high bar for teen movies, with Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, and Anthony Michael Hall coming together for a story all about overcoming differences to find understanding in each other. From the stars' experience, that inclusionary message was reflected in how Hughes treated them while shooting their big hit.

Chevy Chase, Bruce Dern and Joey Lauren Adams are to star in the comedy thriller 'CATnip'.The indie movie from writer-director Nyle Cavazos Garcia centres on how a struggling family's fresh start in a run-down apartment becomes a fight for survival as terror is unleashed by a horde of feral cats – revealing the dark and deadly horrors lurking within the walls.Other cast members include Jake Busey, Geoffrey Arend, Keli Price, Lorelei Linklater, Charlotte Kirk, Brooke Bundy, Kylee Levien and River Jose.Price is producing for his Price Productions banner alongside Garcia for his Small Town Pictures company. Javier C. Ortiz and Amado DeHoyos both serve as executive producers.The picture is set to begin shooting in Los Angeles this month.Meanwhile, director Jason Reitman revealed how Chevy, 81, jokingly told him that he should be "embarrassed" about his movie 'Saturday Night' – which tells the story of the premiere of the...

The cast of "The Big Bang Theory" were in an extremely bright spotlight during the show's 12-season run. As such, many of the actors have found it fairly easy to keep busy since the Chuck Lorre-created hit sitcom came to a close in 2019. Jim Parsons (who played Sheldon Cooper) -- a classically-trained theater actor -- has been busy with stage projects both on and off-Broadway, as well as the "Big Bang Theory" spinoff "Young Sheldon." Kaley Cuoco (who played Penny Hofstadter) has likewise starred in a string of live-action movies and TV shows while voicing the titular character on Max's animated "Harley Quinn" series. Cast members like Simon Helberg (whose character was Howard Wolowitz), Kunal Nayyar (Raj Koothrappali), Melissa Rauch (Bernadette Rostenkowski), Mayim Bialik (Amy Farrah Fowler), Sara Gilbert (Leslie Winkle), and Kevin Sussman (Stuart Bloom) have also found plenty of work since the show ended.

Not every member...

With the holiday season now behind us, the weeks set aside for watching movies centered around the most wonderful time of the year have come to an end. Films like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story are certainly only meant for the days leading up to – and perhaps directly following – December 25, but there are other holiday titles that we’d argue could be watched year-round. One of those movies will graduate to a new streaming home next month, as Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers lands on Peacock on February 28.

Christmas week brought a bounty of viewing to streaming platforms, with eight titles crossing the billion-minute mark in Nielsen’s streaming ratings. Netflix’s Squid Game, however, stood well apart from the pack.

The Korean hit posted the highest single-week viewing tally for any streaming title in the United States in 2024 with 4.92 billion minutes of viewing for the week of Dec. 23-29. Season two of Squid Game premiered Dec. 26.

The show’s premiere week was the best for any title in two years, in fact — since Wednesday delivered about 5.3 billion minutes of viewing for the week of Nov. 28-Dec. 4, 2022. Squid Game also smashed its own previous high of 3.26 billion minutes during season one’s run in 2021. Netflix had earlier said season two set a worldwide record for a premiere week, based on the streamer’s internal data.

Coming in second overall was Virgin River, Squid Game‘s tonal opposite, at 2.25 billion minutes of viewing,...

Viewers praised Walker Hayes on Today, as he appeared on the show to participate in Hoda Kotb’s final day.

He performed the song, Wednesdays, as a tribute to Hoda, who announced last year that she was leaving Today after 17 years.

During the final Hoda & Jenna episode, Hoda sat beside her friend, Jenna Bush Hager, who has co-hosted the Today 4th hour show with her since 2019.

In an Instagram clip captured during the moment, Jenna had a hand on Hoda’s leg, and they became emotional as Hayes finished singing and performing.

Individuals in the room cheered and applauded as a teary-eyed Hoda got up to hug Hayes.

“@walkerhayes surprised @hodakotb at her Hoda-bration with a performance of “Wednesdays,” the song they wrote together with @lorimckennama ❤️ #hodaandjenna,” a caption on the Ig post said.

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A post shared by Today with Hoda & Jenna (@hodaandjenna)

Hayes co-wrote...

‘Twas the season to be thrilled with action. As people settled in and got cozy with their kith and kin this past Christmas, sometimes watching classics like Home Alone, A Christmas Story and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation just isn’t enough. Many viewers checked out some newer movies that incorporated action with their holiday theme. The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Dwayne Johnson’s Red One on Prime Video became a big hit in homes after its brief theatrical run that grossed $186 million globally. His Santa action flick would be followed by Netflix’s Carry-On, which stars Taron Edgerton as a Tsa agent working on Christmas Eve when he’s faced with a terrorist plot.

Red One faced much criticism for its content, but the newest live-action film from megastar Dwayne Johnson topped the streaming charts in December with 2.1 billion minutes of viewing. Meanwhile, while finishing in second overall, Carry-On was...

It took a minute for audiences to catch on to Bill Murray when he replaced Chevy Chase on Saturday Night Live. But after a few months, Murray finally broke through thanks to his old Second City characters like Nick the Lounge Singer.

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Nick’s trashy covers of popular songs like “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” and “That’s the Way I Like It” sent up Vegas’ worst, a parody of the cheesiest kind of entertainer. “Billy’s performance was so over-the-top,” remembered Paul Shaffer in SNL oral history Live From New York. “I never knew what his criteria were (for choosing songs), but whatever he wanted to do was just right.”

Fast-forward nearly 50 years, and parody has become reality. Bill Murray and His Blood Brothers, a dad-rock cover band, just launched a U.S. mini-tour, according to Consequence. The tour kicked off in Chicago last week,...

This past holiday season, we shared some unconventional Christmas movie recommendations, like The Silent Partner, Anna and the Apocalypse, The Ref, and my own recommendation, Trancers. But even though I love Trancers and also watch Anna and the Apocalypse every December, my two favorite Christmas movies are not unconventional choices at all: every December 25th, I watch A Christmas Story and Christmas Vacation. Very common choices. Someone else with very common choice for their favorite Christmas movie is filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, who revealed to BFI that his holiday favorite is It’s a Wonderful Life.

Directed by Frank Capra, who crafted the screenplay with Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, and Jo Swerling, the 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life was based on the short story The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern (which was loosely based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol) . Here’s the synopsis: George Bailey has so many...

Audiences flocked to a healthy mix of streaming original content and familiar, older titles during Thanksgiving week.

Nielsen’s latest streaming report, which was delayed due to the holidays, puts Netflix’s The Madness at the top of the charts with 1.3B minutes viewed from November 25 to December 1. The Colman Domingo-led crime thriller series was one of four billion-minute titles during this interval — three of which were from the same streamer.

Bluey was the outlier, putting up another monster week with just under 1.1B minutes viewed, good enough for third place. Second place was Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey with 1.2B minutes viewed, while fourth place went to Our Little Secret with Lindsay Lohan and Ian Harding.

Netflix’s A Man On The Inside also made it on the list with 933M minutes viewed, as did Prime Video’s Cross with 801M viewing minutes.

The rest of the...

Clint Eastwood's 2024 movie with a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score, but was buried in theaters, has become a streaming success. Eastwood made his acting debut back in 1955, but broke through with a lead role in the Western series Rawhide and rose to fame in Sergio Leone's Dollars trilogy of spaghetti Westerns during the 1960s. Eastwood became known for much more than Westerns during the 1970s and 1980s, starring as the antihero cop Harry Callahan in five Dirty Harry movies and playing against type in the comedies Every Which Way But Loose and Any Which Way You Can.

In addition to his iconic onscreen roles, Eastwood is just as famous as a filmmaker, making his directorial debut in 1971 with the indie film, Play Misty For Me. Over the years, while a two-time Oscar nominee for acting, Eastwood won Best Director for his 1992 Western Unforgiven and his 2004 boxing drama Million Dollar Baby,...

Even though they aren’t technically Christmas movies, the Harry Potter film series has become a staple in the holiday viewing season. There’s nothing better than enjoying a solid movie marathon, and stepping into the Wizarding World and strolling into The Great Hall in all of its Christmassy goodness takes it to an entirely different level. Perhaps that’s why the movie that started it all — Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone — is currently casting a spell on Max’s Top 10. Sure, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story may seem like the logical content to indulge in during the week between Christmas and the New Year, but a Harry Potter marathon will give you not one, not two, but eight feature-length bits of entertainment.

Over the years, there have been many stories about allegedly being difficult to work with actor Chevy Chase. A few days ago, filmmaker Chris Columbus was the latest person to add to the stories.

Columbus revealed that he gave up National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, even though he needed the work because he didn't get along with the actor. Although he gave generic information at the time, he called the actor "a complete jerk." In a new interview with Vanity Fair, the Home Alone director fully detailed why for the first time.

Related 'There Were a Bunch of Things': Doctor Who Christmas Special Writer Reveals Some Easter Eggs Fans Missed

Steven Moffat details some of the Easter eggs you might have missed in the new Doctor Who Christmas special.

Columbus, who is now a producer on the recently released horror Nosferatu, has always had a flair for Christmas-set films. Following his...

In a recent chat on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, “Home Alone” director Chris Columbus talked about some interesting things that went into making the film. He talked about the history of the rich McCallister family and the strange event that made him decide to direct the movie.

Columbus, who is making the future film “Nosferatu,” explains where the McCallister family’s money comes from. He said the mother, Kate McCallister, was a famous fashion designer. The appearance of mannequins in their basement was a subtle hint at this aspect of the film. Columbus didn’t say for sure what Peter McCallister did for a living, but he did say that the character might have worked in advertising, which was a nod to the background of writer-producer John Hughes. Even though Chicago had a bad reputation at the time, he flatly denied a common fan theory that Peter was involved with organized crime.

Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York director Chris Columbus was almost at the helm of a different Christmas classic.

On this week’s episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, the veteran filmmaker — who most recently produced the new version of Nosferatu, which hits theaters on Christmas Day — reflected on how a “bizarre” meeting with Chevy Chase led him to the franchise in the first place.

It all started, Columbus recalled, when fellow Chicagoan John Hughes sent him the script of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, which Hughes was set to produce, and asked him to direct it. Columbus, who badly needed the gig after a couple of box office disappointments left his future directing prospects up in the air, enthusiastically said yes and began shooting second-unit footage over Christmas.

Then he sat down with the film’s star, Chevy Chase, and things quickly got very awkward.

Chris Columbus is the director of some of the most beloved movies of all time and he was originally set to direct National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, but quit due to Chevy Chase‘s alleged behavior on set.

Columbus is best known for movies like Adventures in Babysitting, Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, Stepmom, and the first two Harry Potter films.

In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Chris opened up about why he quit Christmas Vacation and what actually happened between him and Chevy.

Keep reading to find out more…

“I was signed on… and then I met Chevy Chase. Even given my situation at the time, where I desperately needed to make a film, I realized I couldn’t work with the guy,” Chris said.

He added, “I was one of the many who couldn’t work with him. And I called John [Hughes] and I said, ‘This is really hard for me,...

If there's one thing that families and friends all over the world like to do in this final week of the year is to re-watch their favorite holiday movies. One title that tends to resurface is the 1989 comedy National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. The comedy starred comedian Chevy Chase (Caddyshack) at the height of his career and was directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik (Reginald the Vampire). But when the movie was taking shape, Harry Potter director and producer Chris Columbus was supposed to helm it. Now, 35 years after the movie was released, Columbus opened up and revealed the "bizarre" events that led him to walk away from the project.

Chris Columbus, the Hollywood director of films like Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, and the first two Harry Potter films, recently spilled some hot Christmas tea, revealing more details about when he signed up to direct the holiday classic, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. It didn't work out for the young director in 1989 because he had to deal with someone who is often considered the most difficult and soul-crushing actor to work with — National Lampoon franchise star Chevy Chase. Columbus said he called it quits before things escalated.

Columbus recalled the event when speaking to Vanity Fair about his participation in Robert Eggers' Nosferatu (he's a producer on the film). In the late '80s, Columbus had already worked as a writer on Steven Spielberg productions like Gremlins, The Goonies and Young Sherlock Holmes. Naturally, he would eventually jump into the director's chair, and genre mastermind John Hughes saw Columbus' potential for his next script.

Don’t stress out trying to find your favorites – we’ve got them all right here!

Streaming is hard sometimes, especially when it comes to finding all those feel-good holiday movies you want to binge for the rest of the week. You won’t really find one streamer that has all of the big Christmas movies in one place; rather, they are quite spread out across the board.

We’ve scoured through endless lists of Christmas content to find all of the best streamers where you’ll find all of your favorite flicks. From “Home Alone” to “Elf” and everything in between. Here’s where you can stream the best Christmas movies in 2024.

Where to stream the best Christmas movies

Disney+: Chock-full of Christmas content this year, with greats like “Home Alone”, “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” and “The Santa Clause” series.

Hulu: A great option for Christmas movies this year,...

While looking back at past projects, Chris Columbus, the director behind holiday classics Home Alone and Gremlins, shared a not-so-merry holiday recollection involving comedian Chevy Chase.

Speaking to Vanity Fair for a recent interview, Columbus said John Hughes had sent him the script for 1989’s Christmas Vacation, starring Chase. Columbus said he signed onto the film before meeting the actor, and didn’t actually meet Chase until he began second unit shooting.

“I probably have never told this story,” the director told the publication, before detailing his first of two encounters with Chase.

While wholesome Christmas movies tend to be the go-to choice for most looking to binge on good flicks during the holiday season, unconventional Christmas films have also become known to become favorites to break up the typical genre fare. There is no reason you can't watch Home Alone or Love Actually and then mix it up with a little Die Hard and Gremlins. Christmas horror movies have become some of the best of the unconventional bunch, with films such as Black Christmas and Silent Night, Deadly Night becoming annual viewing for fans. Since being released in 2015, the Christmas black comedy horror film Krampushas been added to that list, and it looks like it's seeing strides again on streaming as the holiday approaches.

Krampus is currently ranked at number six on Max's Top 10 films. In their current Top 10, the film finds itself ahead of Elf (ranked seventh) and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation...

“Home Alone” director Chris Columbus said during an interview with Vanity Fair that it was ultimately Chevy Chase who opened the door for him to helm the 1990 Christmas comedy classic. That’s because Columbus was originally working with screenwriter John Hughes on 1989’s “Christmas Vacation,” starring Chase. Columbus was hired to direct the comedy and was in the middle of second unit shooting when he met Chase for the first time.

“I was signed on…and then I met Chevy Chase. Even given my situation at the time, where I desperately needed to make a film, I realized I couldn’t work with the guy,” Columbus said. “I was one of the many who couldn’t work with him. And I called John and I said, ‘This is really hard for me, but I can’t do this movie with Chevy Chase.’ We were in the midst of shooting second unit.

Tom Hanks' divisive Christmas adventure film finds renewed streaming success just in time for its 20th anniversary. Though his most frequent collaborator is Steven Spielberg, Hanks is also well known for his various collaborations with director Robert Zemeckis, starting with 1994's Forrest Gump, for which he won his second Academy Award for Best Actor. In 2000, Hanks reunited with Zemeckis for Cast Away and earned another Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

Some of Hanks' latest movies have also been directed by Zemeckis, including 2022's live-action Pinnochio, in which he played Geppetto, and 2024's Here, in which the actor was digitally de-aged. In addition to his onscreen roles that have made him one of the most recognizable movie stars, Hanks has also lent his voice to a few animated characters throughout his career, most famously Woody in the Toy Story movies. Tom Hanks' collaborations with Robert Zemeckis also extend to the animated realm with the 2004 Christmas film,...

The holidays are upon us, so you'd expect the major streaming services' top titles to be yuletide classics that the whole family can enjoy. This is hilariously not the case, however, and it's either a sign of broadening tastes or coarsening sensibilities.

I'm not going to take issue with viewers getting into the Christmas spirit by watching such violent delights as "Die Hard," "Silent Night, Deadly Night" or any of the Shane Black classics set around the holiday. I might just plop down and run a marathon of "Lethal Weapon," "The Last Boy Scout," "The Long Kiss Goodnight," and "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" myself on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day is when you bust out "It's a Wonderful Life" (a remarkably dark movie itself) or any one of the adaptations of "A Christmas Carol."

But if FlixPatrol's report on the most popular movies currently streaming on Max is to be believed,...

When Christmas time comes around, most have their rotation of A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, or Elf to get them into the holiday spirit. But I go for different fare. Because what are the holidays for if not for uncomfortable family drama. A crumbling marriage isn’t usually a plot point of a Christmas movie but that’s what makes The Ref so unique. Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis play Lloyd and Caroline, a married couple clearly on the path to divorce. But everything is turned upside down when criminal Gus (played by Denis Leary) holds them hostage until the citywide manhunt for him chills out, and he can escape. Denis Leary is at his absolute peak, with even the teaser trailer for this film just being him ranting, standup-style about Christmas. This is crude so it may make for some awkward moments with family, but what are the holidays...

It is very rare for comedy sequels to be successful, as it can be challenging to craft a follow up that avoids repeating the same jokes. While there are plenty of notorious disasters like Airplane II and Caddyshack II, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is one of the rare examples in which the sequel managed to surpass the original in terms of its cultural impact. The first Vacation film from 1983 was certainly a hilarious dark comedy, but National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation became a film that is rewatched every year in celebration of the Christmas season. Ironically, the connective tissue between the films is relatively thin, as Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo are the only two actors who appeared in all five installments within the franchise. Despite giving terrific performances, Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki didn’t return after National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation due to the gap between sequels.

We all know that Chris Columbus directed one of the greatest Christmas movies ever in Home Alone, but did you know it may never have happened if he didn’t clash with the star of another holiday essential? Let’s check out how Columbus was not only drawn to Nero’s Pizza but why he filled in the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation pool with cement.

Chris Columbus was actually set to direct National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, with none other than John Hughes recruiting him for the job. As Columbus remembered, “John Hughes sent me the script for Christmas Vacation. I love Christmas, so to do a Christmas comedy had been a dream.” So what kept Columbus from the gig? “I went out to dinner with Chevy Chase [the movie’s star]. To be completely honest, Chevy treated me like dirt. But I stuck it out and even went as far as to shoot...

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation remains one of the most beloved holiday comedies ever made, though stories have since emerged about the alleged difficulties of working with star Chevy Chase. For his part, director Chris Columbus, who was originally set to direct the classic film, can still remember his own experience he had with Chase, which led to the filmmaker exiting the project.

In an interview with Empire Magazine (per Screen Rant), Columbus shared how Christmas Vacation seemed like a promising project for him at the start. He'd even started shooting some of the establishing shots to be used for the film. However, after he met Chase, Columbus' interest in working on the project dwindled dramatically, and he chose to walk away. However, as Columbus explained, it worked out for the best, as an offer for a certain other holiday classic came his way very quickly thereafter.

Related Arnold Schwarzenegger's...

If you were a kid (or an adult) in the 1990s, then you know how huge the Christmas comedy Home Alone was back then. Everywhere you went, people talked about Macaulay Culkin and how he became Hollywood’s biggest child star overnight. To this day, Home Alone remains a movie that you have to watch during the holidays.

But unlike Kevin McCallister, who makes a Christmas wish and suddenly all things are solved, Home Alone is not exactly a product of magic. It is the result of a bitter clash between its director and a Hollywood star. Many don’t know it, but Home Alone director Chris Columbus only made the film because writer John Hughes was kind enough to make him an offer after Columbus refused to direct National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Why did he refuse? Well, Chevy Chase, of course.

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’Twas the weekend before Christmas… With the holiday season upon us, many of us are starting to revisit some of our of Christmas favourites. I actually went to see a 4K re-release of the original Black Christmas last night here in Montreal. There’s something comforting upon returning to our old favourites every year, whether they be traditional Christmas classics, or perhaps something a little more modern, like Die Hard, which, despite many claiming otherwise, has totally established itself as a Christmas classic over the years.

Whatever the case, there are certainly Loads of Christmas movies, with everything from old-time classics like It’s A Wonderful Life or some of the many versions of A Christmas Carol (the Alistair Sim version is the best Imo), or something like Love Actually, which is virtually inescapable at this time of the year.

With that in mind, we’d love to figure out just...

With the holiday season in full swing, people are watching their favorite Christmas classics, like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Miracle on 34th Street, Die Hard, and others. A more recent classic is Elf, the unexpected 2003 hit film starring Will Ferrell and directed by Jon Favreau. It's a highly quotable movie and full of fun and memorable scenes. One was supposed to be a quick, one-liner moment that ended up becoming a fan favorite. But Favreau had to fight to keep the scene in after the producers wanted to cut it.

The scene in question is when Buddy Elf (Ferrell) is sent to the mailroom by his biological father, Walter (played memorably by James Caan) to essentially get out of the way. While there, Buddy meets the way-older-than-he-looks "Mailroom Guy," played by character actor Mark Acheson. The moment between Buddy and Mailroom Guy was supposed to be short, but it grew into a hilarious,...

There might be a bucket full of comedies and Christmas movies out there that have become a holiday staple for audiences. But over the years, nothing could compete with National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Born on the night of December 1, 1989, the movie saw its national debut and quickly became a new holiday favorite for fans.

A still from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) | image: Warner Bros.

But now, it has been 35 years since its release. And a lot can change within that span of time—careers grow and fall, people retire and some even tragically pass away. So let’s check out where the cast of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is now.

1. Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold

The 1989 movie Christmas Vacation was the third installment in a series of 1980s vacation films starring Chevy Chase in the role of family patriarch Clark Griswold.

He had previously appeared as the father figure in...

Among a top 10 list mostly populated by holiday films, this year's Cuckoo has claimed the fourth position on Hulu's most-viewed feature list. The horror landed on the streamer on December 17. The underrated flick, starring Hunter Schafer (Euphoria) and Dan Stevens (Legion), follows 17-year-old Gretchen (Schafer) who moves to the German Alps to live with her estranged father, Luis (Marton Csokas), and his young wife and their child. Once there, Gretchen realizes nothing is as it appears and soon finds herself ensnared in a dangerous game — one that often seems like a mind-bending nightmare — orchestrated by her father's boss, Mr. König (Stevens).

Cuckoo is a blend of psychological horror, family drama, and body horror, exploring themes of family, identity, and autonomy. Directed by German filmmaker Tilman Singer (Luz), the Neon film failed to impress at the box office, grossing only $6.7 million against a $7 million budget, but fared fairly well with critics.

Hallmark Channel movies can have quite a bit in common with indie movies: Small budgets and tight shooting schedules averaging two weeks. In terms of cinematic values, though, these highly watchable festive gems can also share quite a bit with indies: They’re character-driven, they’re script-driven, and they’re usually about the smaller but more important things in life — meeting someone new, seizing an unexpected opportunity, reviving a long-forgotten passion. They’re about connection and fulfillment. They’re about intimacy rather than production value and spectacle.

By no means are all of the new Hallmark holiday movies each year good. Far from it. Some very much are, though, and cut through the noise. They’re often the ones that end up being re-aired again and again year after year. And, yes, Hallmark movies may have certain repeated tropes. But don’t a good number of Sundance movies, also?

They...

The original director of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation addresses leaving the movie over a fight with Chevy Chase, calling him "a complete jerk." Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik, with a script written by John Hughes, the classic 1989 comedy and the third Vacation movie follows Clark Griswold's attempt to have a good-old-fashioned family Christmas, though his plans spiral hilariously out of control. Chevy Chase led Christmas Vacation's cast as Clark Griswold alongside Beverly D'Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, Randy Quaid, and many more.

During a recent interview with Empire Magazine, the original National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation director Chris Columbus addressed leaving the movie over a fight with Chevy Chase. The original director shot second-unit establishing shots for the movie, but after meeting with Chase, who "was a complete jerk," Columbus decided to leave the movie, even though he desperately needed the job. Soon after, John Hughes sent him the script for Home Alone,...

Just three months ago, Hollywood was heading into awards season with the expectation that Todd Phillips' "Joker: Folie à Deux" (read /Film's review) would be both a runaway blockbuster and a serious Oscar contender like its predecessor "Joker," which was nominated for 11 Academy Awards. It had Joaquin Phoenix, one of Hollywood's most formidable talents returning to the role that earned him the Best Actor trophy, and a splashy franchise addition in Lady Gaga, whose wild-eyed variation on Joker's love interest Harley Quinn was expected to get her in the running for her second Best Actress nomination.

None of this came to pass.

After opening weekend projections were gradually downsized from $100 million to $45 million, "Joker: Folie à Deux" flopped in its first frame at the box office with a paltry $38 million (whereas "Joker" made $40 million on its first day of release in 2019). Reviews were awful, while moviegoers graded it a deadly D via pollster Cinemascore.

“Hot! Hot! Ooh, we got it! Hot! Hot! Hey, we got it!”

‘Tis the season for Christmas streaming – but only if you know where to look! Figuring out where you can stream your favorite Christmas movies can be a chore, so we’ve done the hard work for you. From Netflix to Peacock and Paramount+ to Prime Video, we’ve scoured all of the major streaming services to find the best holiday films for you and your family to enjoy!

“Elf,” “Home Alone,” “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” “Polar Express,” and many many more are all right here. So sit back, relax, and grab a steaming cup of hot chocolate as you settle in with the best Christmas movies of all time.

Where to stream your favorite holiday films:

Animated, stop-motion, and Muppet Christmas movies

Classic Christmas movies (pre-2000)

Modern Christmas movies (post-2000)

Live-action Scrooge movies

Christmas action movies

Black Christmas...

While a sequel to Tommy Wirkola’s action-thriller Violent Night was confirmed almost two years ago, updates have been scarce. That’s likely about to change. David Harbour delivered a holiday treat on Instagram that seems to confirm that Violent Night 2 is gearing up to shoot next year.

Harbour posted a picture with Santa Claus and a caption that reads, “Merry Xmas, ya filthy animals.” But it’s what’s in his hand that’s most intriguing: the script for Violent Night 2.

In Violent Night, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Last we heard, Pat Casey and Josh Miller will be back to write Violent Night 2.

When it comes to the most beloved holiday classics, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is at the top of everyone's watchlist each December. It's one of the funniest films of its era and still extremely relatable with its pitch-perfect display of festive family chaos. However, one of the comedy’s best moments involved a reference to the definitive horror franchise of the 80s, Friday the 13th. Now Fright-Rags has honored that all-time moment with a killer Christmas Vacation and Friday the 13th mashup t-shirt.

You’ll find some big hits on Max, but not enough to justify picking up the streamer just for the holidays.

While Max has some great programming year-round, the selection of Christmas movies is a bit limited, but there are some absolute holiday gems mixed in with the blockbuster movies, prestige TV, and unscripted shows that you will traditionally find on the platform. Max is the home to classics like “The Polar Express,” “Elf,” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” but there’s not a ton of variety beyond this handful of hits; except for “Gremilins” which I’m throwing in for the crowd that considers “Die Hard” a Christmas movie.

While Max might not be the best streamer if you are looking to sign up for a new service specifically for Christmas magic, you will find some holiday staples. That being said, if you’re already a Max subscriber, there...

With the yuletide season in full swing, one movie that will be played repeatedly throughout many households during the holidays is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. The third entry in the Vacation movie franchise turns 35 years old this December and still holds up as one of the most amusing and rewatchable Christmas comedies of all time.

Instead of traveling cross-country to Wally World, overseas to Europe, or Las Vegas to experience Sin City, what sets Christmas Vacation apart is witnessing the Griswolds at home in their Chicago element while hosting several family members for the holidays. As such, there's no better gift than catching up with the Griswolds and finding out what those still alive are up to in 2024 and beyond.

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*Availability in US Release Date  December 1, 1989Runtime  97 minutesCast  Chevy Chase,...

'Tis the season for streaming ourselves into holiday movie oblivion, and we've already seen a bunch of festive films shoot to the top of streaming charts everywhere. Among the usual suspects such as "Elf" and "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," we've seen a Bruce Willis action classic predictably climb the Prime Video charts, while over on Netflix, Keira Knightley's Christmas-themed spy thriller "Black Doves" comfortably triumphed in the Top 10.

We've also seen a Christmas movie which Jack Black completely forgot about (even though he's in it) dominate the Prime Video charts, and now it looks like Black has been usurped by an opponent no less formidable than Queen Latifah. Yes, the queen herself has now taken over the Prime Video rankings with a forgotten holiday movie that's currently enjoying a nice little streaming resurgence.

"Lady Holiday" stars Latifah as department store assistant Georgia who is diagnosed with a terminal brain...

A great Christmas movie will not only make the grade for the test of time, but it can become a beloved part of a person’s life. Ask 15 people which is their favorite holiday film, and you may get 15 different titles. Our photo gallery above focuses on the 15 titles we believe are the best of all time. Scroll through the gallery, read our descriptions, and debate with us the order, ranked best to worst, and which ones you think are missing.

SEETop 20 Greatest Christmas TV Episodes, Ranked Worst to Best

Our list is led off by the classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” starring James Stewart, a film that was deemed a box office bomb when it was first released. It was the relentless airings on television over the past few decades that made it a favorite for many families. Stewart is also featured in the lesser-known but still wonderful “The Shop Around the Corner.

A great Christmas movie will not only make the grade for the test of time, but it can become a beloved part of a person’s life. Ask 15 people which is their favorite holiday film, and you may get 15 different titles. Our photo gallery focuses on the 15 titles we believe are the best of all time. Scroll through the gallery, read our descriptions, and debate with us the order, ranked best to worst, and which ones you think are missing.

Our list is led off by the classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” starring James Stewart, a film that was deemed a box office bomb when it was first released. It was the relentless airings on television over the past few decades that made it a favorite for many families. Stewart is also featured in the lesser-known but still wonderful “The Shop Around the Corner.” While that movie is uplifting, other...

It’s the time of year most TV fanatics hate — when all of our favorite Primetime series go on break.

We’ve got tips for fighting the fall finale funk to help you get through the next few weeks of reruns and missing series. These ideas are meant to be fun and festive.

If you’re struggling with seasonal withdrawals and feel out of sorts without anything to do until your favorite shows come back on, try these funk-fighting tips. You can always catch a rerun of one of your series favorites, like NCIS: Origins.

(Greg Gayne/CBS) Check Out the Late Start Series

Many of today’s popular TV shows go on a multi-week hiatus around the end-of-year holidays, giving TV networks time to fill with seasonal specials and holiday favorites.

However, the break in regular programming is also the perfect time for other shows to try to capture an otherwise distracted audience.

A 2009 martial arts movie produced by the Wachowskis is performing well during its run on streaming. The Wachowskis made their directorial debut with the crime thriller Bound in 1996, after penning the screenplay for 1995 Sylvester Stallone movie Assassins. But the siblings shot to global fame when they wrote and directed the 1999 science fiction action film The Matrix starring Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, and Hugo Weaving. The movie was met with widespread critical acclaim, and is considered a modern classic, as well as one of the greatest and most influential science-fiction films ever made.

Following the unexpected success of The Matrix, the duo wrote and directed The Matrix Reloaded, and The Matrix Revolutions (both 2003), as well as expanding The Matrix franchise in the realm of video games and animation. Branching out from the series, they also wrote dystopian action movie V For Vendetta, as well as making sports action-comedy Speed Racer,...

The holiday season isn’t complete without binge-watching Christmas movies, and the 2024 streaming charts are proof that the old favorites never go out of style. December is the perfect time to curl up on the couch, grab some hot cocoa, and lose yourself in these iconic films that bring laughter, nostalgia, and festive spirit. From Jim Carrey’s unforgettable performance in How the Grinch Stole Christmas to the Griswolds’ chaotic holiday antics, these beloved movies are not only topping the charts but also becoming essential holiday viewing for families everywhere. Here are five Christmas movies that are trending this year.

1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

This live-action masterpiece starring Jim Carrey reimagines the beloved Dr. Seuss tale. The Grinch, a grumpy recluse with a heart two sizes too small, plots to steal Christmas from the cheerful Whos of Whoville. But his plan unravels as he learns that Christmas isn’t...

Quick Links What is Santa Claus Conquers The Martians? Why Tim Burton is Perfect for a Remake of Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Why Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is the Gift That Keeps on Giving

As the holiday season kicks off and people revisit their favorite movies, one infamous Christmas cult classic screams for a Tim Burton remake. From traditional fare like It's a Wonderful Life to unconventional picks like Die Hard and Batman Returns, the holidays are filled with beloved films, but on the fringes lies something stranger and undeniably funny: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. This kooky kids' film has entertained audiences for decades as a lesser-known gem, deserving more love and recognition. Whether through its campy charm or the potential of a visionary remake, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is a gift that keeps on giving, making spirits brighter than the lights on a flying saucer.

Some of the best moments in Christmas movies are the ones where classic Christmas carols are included to make a moment stand out. This happens in some of the best Christmas movies of all time, making them even more memorable. Christmas carols are an integral part of the Christmas season, so a Christmas film without them always feels like it's missing something.

These songs, while appearing in plenty of media that aren't just Christmas movies, are instantly recognizable for their connection to the Christmas season and widespread appeal. They even appear in movies that are perfect for the holiday season, despite not being Christmas movies.

The Twelve Days Of Christmas Eloise At Christmastime (2003)

An often overlooked Disney Christmas classic, Eloise at Christmastime features a young girl and her quest to unite a hotel heiress with her true love. The film is goofy and good fun for all ages, detailing Eloise's...