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The 75 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now (December 2021)

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The 75 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now (December 2021)

Trying to find the best movie to watch on Netflix can be a daunting challenge. We’ve all been there. You’ve decided you’re going to watch something. You have the entirety of Netflix at your disposal, including even a pared-down list of films you’ve already bookmarked to watch at a future date. But then there’s the choosing. You’ve gotta find something that fits your mood, or something you and your friend/significant other/couch companion can agree on. You spend hours browsing, and by the time you stumble on something you think maybe is the one, it’s too late, you’re too tired, and indecision has won out.

Never fear, though, because we here at Collider have a guide to help you find the perfect Netflix movies available in the U.S. We’ve thumbed through the library and assembled a list of some of the best films currently available for streaming, from classics to hidden gems to new releases and beyond. This list of the best movies on Netflix is updated weekly with all-new choices, so be sure to return the next time you’re looking for something great to watch.

Editor’s note: This post was last updated on December 22.

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  • Recently Added: The Power of the Dog, Closer, Tick, Tick… Boom!, Gladiator, 21 Jump Street
  • Recently Expired: School of Rock, A Single Man, Inception, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
  • Expiring Soon: The Guest, Gladiator, Pan’s Labyrinth, Magnolia, Snowpiercer, A Ghost Story

RELATED: Here’s What’s New on Netflix in November 2021

The Power of the Dog

Director/Writer: Jane Campion

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee

The Power of the Dog is a slow, sly movie that reveals itself to you in subtle, measured glimpses at tenderness that are otherwise caked in grit, cruelty and crudity. Set in 1920s Montana, Jane Campion‘s awards contender stars Benedict Cumberbatch, giving one of his best performances yet as Phil Burbank; a gruff and bitter cowboy who takes an immediate disliking to his brother’s (Jesse Plemmons) new wife, Rose (Kirsten Dunst). In turn, her son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) takes a disliking to him, determined to protect his mother, setting the stage for fascinating, subtle power plays and dynamic shifts as the contentious new family attempts to settle in together. As with all Campion films, you can expect exquisite shots and stunning glimpses into small moments of human vulnerability, but The Power of the Dog is also a challenging, often caustic film about tracing the ripples of toxicity. It certainly isn’t your average Neo-western, so don’t go in expecting standoffs our shootouts, but even without those flashy calling cards, The Power of the Dog makes a striking impact that seems to land all in one final blow. – Haleigh Foutch

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Closer

Director: Mike Nichols

Writer: Patrick Marber

Cast: Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen

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Directed by the great Mike Nichols with a script by original playwright Patrick Marber, the 2004 romantic drama Closer is both a tender and talky character piece about four desperately lonely people falling in and out of love with each other, and constantly searching for moments of truth in their litany of lies. As the lovers, exes, and enemies in question Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen make for a remarkable ensemble, each as radiant as their characters are repugnant, fully capable of tackling the dialogue-forward demands of Marber’s script and translating its moments of melodramatic flourish into believable and searing vulnerability. Having Nichols behind the camera only enhances the human element amidst the soapy treachery and toxicity, and the fact that Closer feels so emotionally cinematic while retaining so much of its stageplay syntax only further proves what a uniquely empathetic filmmaker he was, and a master of his craft at that. – Haleigh Foutch


Minority Report

Director: Steven Spielberg

Writers: Scott Frank and Jon Cohen

Cast: Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton, and Max von Sydow

There’s no shortage of excellent sci-fi films on Steven Spielberg‘s resume – or excellent films in general, for that matter – but for my money, Minority Report is one of his very best. And his most prophetic, as the fairly terrifying surveillance-centric documentary All Light Everywhere reaffirms. Of course, that was on purpose. In creating his exceptional Philip K. Dick adaptation, Spielberg assembled a group of the world’s foremost futurists and scientists to predict what lies ahead, and unfortunately for use, they were fairly on the mark. But it also made for one of the great contemporary sci-fi films, and while there’s much to ponder in the accuracy of Minority Report‘s predictions, none of that heaviness translates to the film itself, which is a firecracker of action-packed sci-fi intrigue from start to finish. – Haleigh Foutch

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Tick, Tick… Boom!

Director: Lin-Manuel Miranda

Writers: Jonathan Larson and Steven Levenson

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, Joshua Henry, Judith Light, Vanessa Hudgens

Hamilton and In the Heights creator Lin-Manuel Miranda directs the long-awaited film adaptation of RENT creator Johnathan Larson‘s Tick, Tick… Boom! The result is an excellent movie musical that’s every bit a love letter to theater itself as much as it is to Larson and his tragic tale of short-lived genius. Which is perhaps what makes Miranda such an exceptional fit for the material in his filmmaking debut, and not just because his every-damned-award-winning musical Hamilton is all about capturing the beauty and tragedy of short-lived genius: the Broadway polymath has also been vocal about how Tick, Tick… Boom! influenced and inspired him as a creator, and he even starred in a production of the show several years ago. Equally at home is Andrew Garfield as Larson himself, showcasing a hell of a singing voice and yet another outstanding performance that will lift you up, rake you through the anxiety of excellence, before absolutely breaking your heart. It’s a beautiful film based on a beautiful piece of writing, and whether you’re a fan of Garfield’s, Miranda’s, Larson’s, or just the theater dahling, it’s a moving testament to those who openly embrace ambition, earnestly love performance, and believe that both give them the power to change lives. – Haleigh Foutch


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Gladiator

Director: Ridley Scott

Writers: David Franzoni, John Logan, William Nicholson

Cast: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Richard Harris, Tommy Flanagan

Between The Last Duel and The House of Gucci, Ridley Scott is having a hell of a year, which might have you in the mood to revisit some of the prolific filmmaker’s best movies. In that regard, you can never go wrong with Gladiator. The Oscar-winning 2000 historical drama is one of Scott’s finest works, epic in every sense of the word, from the breathtaking sword-and-sandals action to the extraordinary scope and command of Scott’s filmmaking, which transports you to the Roman empire and makes the ancient politics feel present and palpable. No small credit for that is also due to the tremendous performances, and Gladiator is full of them, but especially Russell Crowe, who stars as General Maximus Decimus Meridius, a soldier and confidante to the Emperor who returns from victory only to wind up fighting for his life again – this time in the gladiator ring. Gladiator is a massive film and Crowe carries it all with an impeccably balanced performance, both tough and tender. And wisely understated. In less expert hands, this type of role easily becomes a broad portrait of heroics, but Crowe’s nuanced performance always bleeds through the broad strokes, grounding the epic saga in small moments of humanity. Oh, and the tiger fight remains a bonafide banger of cinematic action that hasn’t lost a beat of its breathless intensity, all these years later. – Haleigh Foutch


21 Jump Street

Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

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Writer: Michael Bacall

Cast: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Rob Riggle, Ice Cube, Ellie Kemper, Jake Johnson

Nobody takes a “terrible on paper” idea and turns it into a winning movie quite like Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The duo behind Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and The LEGO Movie reinvented the 80s crime comedy 21 Jump Street into one of the funniest new comedies of the 21st Century. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum star as police officers who are tasked with going undercover at a high school to take down an emerging designer drug. It’s one of those genre hybrids that accomplishes everything it wants to, an action-comedy that’s as propulsive as it is laugh-out-funny, and a high school comedy that’s as heartwarming as a John Hughes film. – Haleigh Foutch


Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Writer: James V. Hart

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Cast: Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, Richard E. Grant, Cary Elwes, Sadie Frost, Billy Campbell, Tom Waits, Monica Bellucci

Among the most stunning, sumptuous, heck – downright decadent – horror romances ever put on film, Francis Ford Coppola‘s take on Dracula is both one of the most faithful to Bram Stoker’s text and one of the most imaginative in its adaptation. Gary Oldman stars as the title blood-sucker, a fearsome warrior turned seductive living dead who sets his sights on Winona Ryder‘s Mina, believing her to be the reincarnation of his long-lost love. It’s a technical marvel of a movie, from the striking costumes to the luxurious sets and finely-crafted miniatures Coppola used to bring such a sense of scale and otherworldliness. And it also happens to based on one of the most enduring, enchanting horror stories of all time. – Haleigh Foutch


King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Director: Guy Ritchie

Writers: Joby Harold, Guy Ritchie, Lionel Wigram

Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey, Djimon Hounsou, Aidan Gillen, Jude Law, Eric Bana

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Arthurian legend gets a full Guy Ritchie makeover in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, and it’s some of the most delightful nonsense in recent memory. Charlie Hunnam stars as the reimagined Once and Future King; all snark, swagger, brawling with the boys, the rest of the Ritchie signatures. Reinventing the legendary ruler as a London – nay, Londinium – street kid who discovers a world of magic and begins his journey to the throne, Legend of the Sword never takes itself too seriously and relishes in the kinetic street fights, heightened melodrama of royal affairs, and the world of wild creatures in equal measure. And Daniel Pemberton‘s score freaking rips – almost five years later and it’s still on my regular Spotify rotation. There are plenty of dark and dense Arthurian adaptations out there, but if you’re looking for one that lets loose and enjoys the most heightened, fantastical parts of the saga, Legend of the Sword is a blast, and as a longtime defender, I’m thrilled the film is finally having a moment on streaming. – Haleigh Foutch


Mars Attacks!

Director: Tim Burton

Writer: Jonathan Gems

Cast: Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Natalie Portman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Jack Black

A strikingly nihilistic, extremely goofy, and underneath it all, very clever and wickedly enjoyable sci-fi spectacle, Tim Burton‘s Mars Attacks! might be the last time the filmmaker did something really, truly weird. And it’s a hoot! A self-righteous cabal of US leaders find themselves up against the universe’s shittiest most bellicose little aliens and everything that ensues is pure pandemonium. Equal parts a send-up of vintage B-movie sci-fi and real-world politics, Mars Attacks! Is as funny as it is mean-spirited, and it’s a movie folks just hated when it first came out. But don’t buy into the bad hype on this one, because it rips, and while cultural sensibilities might not have matched up with the film’s outrageous, campy satire at the time (see also: Starship Troopers), modern audiences might find themselves more ready to laugh along as the bumbling fools in charge to Burton’s chaotic intergalactic creatures of carnage. – Haleigh Foutch

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Hairspray

Director: Adam Shankman

Writer: Leslie Dixon

Cast: Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, John Travolta, Michelle Pfieffer, Christopher Walken, James Marsden, Amanda Bynes, Queen Latifah, Brittan Snow, Elijah Kelley, Allison Janney

Inspired by John Waters’ 1988 film of the same name, Adam Shankmans film adaptation of the Broadway musical Hairspray is a full-on fun time that knows just how to make the best of its cast’s many, many talents. Set in 1962 Baltimore, during the age of integration, the film stars Nikki Blonsky (who made her film acting debut on the film and walked away with a Golden Globe nomination) as Tracy Turnblad, who lands a spot on the Corny Collins Show and learns some tough but sweet life lessons along the way. Blonsky is a force of good energy, and Christopher Walken and John Travolta are impeccably, improbably matched as her loving parents. The ensemble is fabulous across the board, including an oh-so-swoon-worthy Zac Efron as her paramour Link Larkin, and Adam Shankman directs the hell out of the musical numbers, making Hairspray a wall-to-wall blast to watch that will undoubtedly have you tapping your toes. — Haleigh Foutch


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Zodiac

Director: David Fincher

Writer: James Vanderbilt

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Chloe Sevigny, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox, and John Carroll Lynch

Whether you’re inspired by the latest news surrounding the case or just looking for one of the best thrillers of all time, Zodiac is a movie where you can never go wrong. David Fincher‘s 2007 true crime film is pretty much a masterpiece, from its exceptional soundtrack and cinematography to the outstanding ensemble that includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr., all doing some of their career-best work. From Se73n to Mindhunter, Fincher’s fascination with the subject matter of serial killers and blurring the lines between genres has brought about some of the most compelling storytelling on film and TV alike, but Zodiac not only sets the bar for this particular set of his works, it might just be the best dang thing he’s made yet. – Haleigh Foutch


The Holiday

Writer/Director: Nancy Meyers

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Cast: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, Eli Wallach, Edward Burns, Rufus Sewell

Nancy Meyers’ 2006 romance The Holiday isn’t just a top-tier delightful holiday rom-com, it’s one of those feel-good movies that hits the right spot, no matter what time of year it is. Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet star as two women on opposite sides of the globe, fed up with their lives, who decide to do a house swap. Hollywood producer Amanda (Diaz) sets off for the quiet cottage life while British journalist Iris (Winslet) prepares to soak up some California sun, and once they settle in, they both unexpectedly fall in love. Naturally. Jude Law has never been more radiant or dangerously charismatic, Jack Black has never been more endearing, and those Nancy Myers’ dream homes? Well, they’re just as stunning as ever. It’s a no-fail good time that always makes you feel better after you watch it, and a fantastic example of why Myers is one of the greats. – Haleigh Foutch


Nightbooks

Director: David Yarovesky

Writers: Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis

Cast: Winslow Fegley, Krysten Ritter, Lidya Jewett

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A delightful “gateway horror” film for the whole family (ok, maybe not the super young kids), Nightbooks is adapted from the book of the same name and follows two kids trapped by a vicious (but fabulous) witch who demands a new scary story each night. Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23 and Jessica Jones star Krysten Ritter is giddily glamorous and genuinely menacing as the big bad witch in question, and director David Yarovesky (Brightburn) does a fantastic job translating horror staples into family-friendly fare, making for a film that’s genuinely spooky, but still a whole ton of fun. Further credit to Yarovesky, Nightbooks is also one of the best and most distinct-looking Netflix originals in recent memory and it takes care to build out its world of magic and horror with a stylish flourish. Speaking of style, don’t even get me started on Ritter’s glittering costumes because I could write a novel of praise. Whether you’re looking for a new spooky season favorite, or you’re just looking for a good spooky movie regardless of the season, Nightbooks is a creepy, creative treat. – Haleigh Foutch

Watch Nightbooks on Netflix

Jaws

Director: Steven Spielberg

Writers: Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb

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Cast: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gray, and Murray Hamilton

There are few directors who exploded onto the scene as fully formed as Steven Spielberg. At 29 years old, with his third feature film, Spielberg gave us the masterwork that is Jaws. Stack this up against the work of any filmmaker in the history of cinema, and the filmmaking prowess and storytelling genius on display at least matches the best of the best. This simple story of a shark terrorizing a small beach town during summer not only originated the “Summer Movie Season” but also served to make legions of moviegoers terrified to go into the water. It’s just as effective today as it was in 1975, making this all-timer a great watch at any given moment. – Adam Chitwood

Watch Jaws on Netflix

Worth

Director: Sara Colangelo

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Writer: Max Borenstein

Cast: Michael Keaton, Amy Ryan, Stanley Tucci, Tate Donovan, and Lauren Benati

I know a drama set in the wake of 9/11 is a tough sell, but Worth is absolutely one of the best films of 2021. Based on a true story, it follows an attorney in Washington D.C. who is tasked with figuring out exactly how much each of the 9/11 victims’ families will receive as part of insurance payouts, literally deciding each person’s worth. He battles bureacracy and cynicism at every turn, and is touched by his interactions with the victims’ families. Michael Keaton and Amy Ryan give terrific performances here, and Stanley Tucci is a scene-stealer as always. — Adam Chitwood

Watch Worth on Netflix

Silver Linings Playbook

Writer/Director: David O. Russell

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Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, and Julia Stiles

While Silver Linings Playbook was billed as an “Oscar movie,” scoring eight nominations including Best Picture, at heart it’s really just a solid romantic comedy. Bradley Cooper plays a man suffering from bipolar disorder who moves back in with his parents after being released from a psychiatric hospital. He meets a recently widowed young woman (Jennifer Lawerence) who vows to help him get back with his ex-wife, but wouldn’t you know it, while training for a big dance competition Cooper and Lawrence accidentally fall in love. It’s charming and offbeat, owing to filmmaker David O. Russell’s unique sensibilities, and Cooper and Lawrence (in an Oscar-winning performance) have tremendous chemistry. – Adam Chitwood

Watch Silver Linings Playbook on Netflix

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Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Director: George C. Wolfe

Writer: Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Cast: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo, and Michael Potts

The 2020 film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is a powerhouse showcase for the acting talents of all involved, including Chadwick Boseman in his final live-action performance. Based on the stage play of the same name, the film chronicles a day in the life of iconic recording artist Ma Rainey as she assembles her team to record a new album on a hot summer day in 1927. Tensions rise and the dialogue crackles between these various characters, as Boseman’s trumpeter dreams of making it big on his own while the temperamental Ma Rainey knows what lies ahead all too well. This is an excellent performance-driven drama. – Adam Chitwood

Watch Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom on Netflix

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Magnolia

Director/Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson

Cast: John C. Reilly, Julianne Moore, Jeremy Blackman, Tom Cruise, Philip Baker Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ricky Jay, William H. Macy, Alfred Molina, Jason Robards, and Melora Walters

If you’re in the mood to watch a really intense drama, it doesn’t get much more intense than Magnolia. After Boogie Nights put him on the map in a big way, filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson next decided to craft an intimate drama on the scale of a sprawling epic. The result is a three-hour opus following a variety of different characters on different emotional journeys that intersect in some way or another – Tom Cruise is a misogynistic self-help guru; William H. Macy is a former game show wiz kid; Julianne Moore is the trophy wife of a famous producer. By PTA’s own admission the film is a bit overstuffed, but it’s still one of the biggest and boldest swings of the 90s and almost certainly will make you cry. – Adam Chitwood

Watch Magnolia on Netflix

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The Sum of All Fears

Director: Phil Alden Robinson

Writers: Paul Attanasio and Daniel Pyne

Cast: Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, James Cromwell, Liev Schreiber, Philip Baker Hall, and Colm Feore

Once upon a time, Ben Affleck made a Jack Ryan movie – and it was pretty good! 2002’s The Sum of All Fears was released at a time when audiences were turning their backs on Affleck, but the film has aged really well. It’s a taught Tom Clancy thriller in which Affleck plays a CIA analyst racing against the clock to stop nuclear war between the U.S. and Russia, which is being triggered by an Austrian Neo-Nazi. It’s a tense governmental thriller, but also genuinely shocking when you get into the third act. – Adam Chitwood

Watch The Sum of All Fears on Netflix

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Django Unchained

Director/Writer: Quentin Tarantino

Cast: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Johnson, Walton Goggins, and James Remar

Quentin Tarantino’s most financially successful film to date remains his 2012 Western epic Django Unchained, which is set in 1858 and tells the story of a freed slave’s (Jamie Foxx) quest to save his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) from the clutches of a ruthless plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio) – with the help of a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz), of course. Django Unchained is tremendously unsettling in terms of providing an unflinching glimpse at the lives of slaves in America (and the cruelty inflicted upon them), but it also has that Tarantino touch that makes it wildly entertaining – a combination that may strike some as odd or in poor taste. However you fall, DiCaprio’s menacing performance is undeniably among his very best, Foxx’s arc is particularly impressive, and it’s hard to argue with Waltz’s Oscar win for his supporting turn. – Adam Chitwood

Watch Django Unchained on Netflix

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Wait, Is Warner Bros Scrapping Its $70 Million Batgirl Movie? Rumors Are Swirling

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Wait, Is Warner Bros Scrapping Its  Million Batgirl Movie? Rumors Are Swirling

After years of anticipation from DC fans, Warner Bros finally found a way to introduce Barbara Gordon to live-action, announcing a solo movie for the hero with the developing Leslie Grace-led film. Batgirl, which finished filming earlier this year, has been scheduled to hit HBO Max sometime this year, however according to a number of new reports, Warner Bros doesn’t want Batgirl to see the light of day. Outlets are reporting that $70 million project is being scrapped after test screenings scared off the studio on the movie. 

Batgirl has been called “irredeemable” by a reported “top Hollywood source” found by The NY Post. Per the report, the movie will be “shelved,” but it has yet to be confirmed by the studio if it’s purely a rumor or a bombshell piece of news for one of Warner Bros’ upcoming DC movies.  

The Wrap backed up this report, sharing it had additionally heard via insiders that the movie “did not work” for studio executives – made by Bad Boys For Life and Ms. Marvel directors Adil El Arbi and Billal Fallah for a reported budget of over $70 million (though it may have ultimately cost the studio $90 million by the time cameras finished rolling). 

The news could perhaps be the product of the recent change in Warner Bros’ leadership, with CEO David Zaslav becoming the new big boss since WB merged with Discovery. There was some rumored talk of the previous WB chair Toby Emmerich considering Batgirl for a theatrical release rather than a HBO Max exclusive, however, but the new reports suggest the film isn’t testing to the level of a big-screen project and may be removed from getting any kind of release. 

Batgirl would not only introduce Leslie Grace’s Barbara Gordon, but is features a stacked cast including the return of Michael Keaton as Batman and J.K. Simmons as James Gordon. Brendan Fraser plays the film’s villain, Ted Carson a.k.a. Firefly. It’s arguably unheard of for a project as high-profile as this one to lose any form of avenue for distribution. 

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Apparently, a move like this is not uncharacteristic for Warner Bros’ new CEO, however, who previously shut down the failed streaming service CNN+ weeks after it launched (it reportedly cost $300 million to put together). There is some restructuring of DC projects currently underway behind the scenes, with David Zaslav on the search for a someone to fill a role much like Marvel boss Kevin Feige has at Marvel Studios. 

Coming off San Diego Comic-Con late last month, Marvel Studios announced and showcased a lineup of projects planned until 2025 including two more Avengers films, whilst DC did not bring anything from Batgirl to its panel. Instead, Warner Bros chose to only focus on Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Black Adam, both of which have set release dates later this year. Warner Bros. Discovery is set to report its earnings for this past business quarter on Thursday; it’s possible we’ll learn more then. 

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High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: 5 Feelings I Had While Watching The Season 3 Premiere

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High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: 5 Feelings I Had While Watching The Season 3 Premiere

What time is it? Summer time!

Well, that’s what the students of East High are saying in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. I know, the name is a mouthful, but honestly, this show is a whole lot of fun and if you haven’t watched it, you definitely should. The first two seasons were great, from the songs in Season 1 to the drama in Season 2, and when it was announced that the series would be getting a Season 3 and 4, I was all on board. 

Now that I have watched the first episode of Season 3, I am even more excited for the next episodes to come, and that premiere has me all in my feelings – specifically these five. 

Nostalgic  

Man, this show makes me so nostalgic for when I was younger. 

Don’t get me wrong, I would never travel back in time to then, just because I was so young and didn’t know half the stuff I know now, but there is just something about listening to the soundtrack of some of these original songs from the High School Musical movies that just get me. While we don’t get many songs in the first episode, we get the classic, “What Time Is It” from High School Musical 2 within the few three minutes of the show and ugh, the memories. 

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If you were a tween or kid back in 2007 and watched HSM2 when it premiered on Disney Channel, you know this song just as well as I do. And for years, I sang this song on the last day of school – heck, I still sing it now whenever warm weather comes around and I’m two years out of college. I love this music, and I can already tell from just this first episode that this season is going to make me so nostalgic. 

Curiosity

I’m really curious to see what they’re going to do with this camp in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. 

For those who don’t know, the first two seasons of this series were pretty much based around the first film’s premise. The show takes place in a world where the movies exist, but instead of the actors from the High School Musical cast that we’re familiar with, we are introduced to students who are auditioning for those iconic roles. And over the last two seasons, we’ve watched them grow into brilliant performers while singing in productions of both High School Musical and Beauty and the Beast, with covers and original songs all along the way. 

But the whole entire point of the first two seasons was that this show took place in the same high school where the movies were filmed. So it’s only natural to think that the second season might end up happening at the country club that was in High School Musical 2, but nope – we are at a summer camp, something that was never talked about in the original movies. 

The arrival of everyone coming to this summer camp is fun, but it makes me wonder how they’re going to include the songs from High School Musical 2 into this season when it’s not at the same location as the film, but it’s still interesting to watch, nonetheless. 

Proud 

Dude, I love Olivia Rodrigo – and I mean that. This girl has done so much these last two years and watching her in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is always a joy. 

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But what really makes me so proud of her is that I’m not even just proud of the actress, but the character as well. Nini is this young star who is a little afraid to take these big risks but she does so anyway, knowing that she has this big break she can’t lose, which was the big theme of this first episode. She goes away on this road trip with a producer over the summer so she can record songs, giving her that shot, and I am so proud of her for doing that. 

Olivia Rodrigo plays her perfectly, and while I know that her character was demoted to a guest role thanks to Rodrigo’s budding music career, I can’t help but be proud, because wow, she has blown up. It makes me want to watch her documentary on Disney+ again

Eagerness 

I know I said earlier on that I was curious as to how they’re going to really change up this season with this new location. But, about twenty minutes in, I genuinely was feeling eager to see where this show would go – specifically the dynamics of new characters. 

For two seasons, we have pretty much been surrounded by the same characters, and while we have grown to love them, I think this season was the one where we truly needed a change in not only scenery, but characters as well. And this first episode brought a ton of them in. 

One of the scenes that got me really eager to see what happens with these new characters was when Gina, Ashlyn and Kourtney, three clear as day theater kids, find out they have to share a cabin with Gadget (a new character) and two other girls – and you can clearly tell at first that they are not feeling the vibe, and you can almost smell the problems from a mile away. 

That screams great television, and it’s got me wondering how much more drama this show is going to produce over the next episodes with these new dynamics. I’m so eager to see. 

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Excitement

Seeing Corbin Bleu in the premiere episode made me very excited to see where this fictionalized version of him is going to go next. 

Usually, when it comes to the original members from the High School Musical movies, we’ll get some pictures from them from the old high school – like Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron both recently taking pics there in 2022 – but I didn’t think anyone would come back to the show. We had Lucas Grabeel and Kaycee Stroh in Season 1 but no one in Season 2, so I’m super pumped to see Corbin Bleu back for this season.

Not only that, but Jason Earles. Do you guys know who he is? The moment I saw him as Dewey, the director of Camp Shallow Lake, I practically screamed. This man is Disney Channel royalty. He was not only a co-star on Hannah Montana but also on Kickin’ It and I can’t believe he is in another Disney show and it has me so excited. 

I’m not sure how often he and Bleu are going to be on the show, but I know for a fact that those two appearing on that stage has me excited for what this season holds and I can’t wait to see what’s next. Could Zac Efron be next?

What are you guys looking forward to with Season 3 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series? All I know is that if I don’t get a cover of “Fabulous” by Carlos in this season, I will riot. I demand it, Disney+!

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The School For Good And Evil: 6 Quick Things We Know About The Netflix Movie

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The School For Good And Evil: 6 Quick Things We Know About The Netflix Movie

Book adaptations of big-time novels always seem to go over well with audiences, and have for plenty of years, with movie sagas such as Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings taking over the box office. But, a newcomer is arriving on the movie scene, one which should have been adapted almost as soon as it came out, if you ask me.

The School for Good and Evil, an amazing addition to the fantasy genre, is finally getting its own adaptation into the film world – but not in theaters. However, it will be appearing as a Netflix movie, on the popular streaming website. However, what else do we know about this upcoming film? What is it going to be about? Who is going to be in it? There are plenty of things that you might not know, but we do. Here are some quick things we know about the upcoming Netflix film.

(Image credit: Netflix)

The School For Good And Evil Release Date Is Set For October 21

Mark your calendars, fantasy lovers, as The School for Good and Evil is going to be coming out as part of the 2022 movie release schedule! Announced with the official poster from the Netflix Twitter page, it was confirmed that The School for Good and Evil would release on the popular streaming platform in Fall 2022, specifically on October 21. 

Talk about a great addition to all the fun Halloween movies we’ll be watching during that time of year – I can always use a little good and evil in my life. 

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Sofia Wylie in The School for Good and Evil.

(Image credit: Netflix)

The School For Good And Evil Has A Star-Studded Cast

With an adaptation like The School for Good and Evil, we all knew that the cast needed to be amazing. And, luckily, there’s no shortage of amazing additions to this Netflix movie. First, let’s take a look at the two leads characters of the film, Sophie and Agatha, where the story begins. These two roles will be played by Sophia Anna Caruso, known for her role in the Broadway musical Beetlejuice, and Sofia Wylie, who stars on a Disney+  show you really should watch, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

Wylie is especially excited for her role in The School for Good and Evil. In an interview with MTV, she talked about her part as Agatha and how she’s excited to “bring some realness” to the character that hadn’t been seen before. She described Agatha’s struggles with internal and external beauty through her own experience, saying that it’s something she can relate to and that it’s an important message to teach.

That’s something that I personally can really relate to, that voice inside of your head, how much power it has. I deal with those doubts and those insecurities. And I think I can really bring some realness to Agatha in that sense because I know, as a teenage girl, it can be very difficult to overcome that voice.

Adding on to this cast, Deadline reported that two megastars, Charlize Theron and Kerry Washington, signed on for two of the main roles in the upcoming film. Theron is set to play Lady Lesso, and Washington will portray a teacher at the school, Professor Dovey.

In addition to these two, in another article, Deadline reported that Laurence Fishburne, known for his roles in The Matrix trilogy and many other films, as well as action star Michelle Yeoh, from movies such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Crazy Rich Asians, and her TV role in Star Trek: Discovery, have stepped up to be in The School for Good and Evil. Fishburne will play the Schoolmaster – a role that sounds quite fitting for someone of his talents, and Yeoh will portray another teacher, Professor Anemone.

Also for the film, Demi Isaac Oviawe, Kaitlyn Akinpelumi, and Freya Theodora Parks will play Anadil, Dot and Hester, three young women who are a part of The Coven in The School for Good and Evil, as confirmed by a behind-the-scenes look with the author of the original novel, Soman Chainani on YouTube.

Already, this film is shaping up to be filled to the brim with some of the Hollywood elite. I, for one, can’t wait to see what they do with the material they are given, because it’s about to get magical.

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Charlize Theron in The School for Good and Evil.

(Image credit: Netflix)

The School For Good And Evil Will Follow The Bestselling Book Series

For those who don’t know, The School for Good and Evil is composed of several novels in a series. Netflix confirmed that this new movie will be based on the series by Soman Chainani, and from the premise of the film, it’s looking to be exactly like the first novel.

As confirmed by the description from the trailer for the new movie on YouTube, The School for Good and Evil is going to follow two best friends, Sophia and Agatha, who are swept into a world of trying to balance both good and evil when they are given different roles, but this in turn causes their lives to turn upside down. 

I’m already on board for a story like this. Two opposing personalities who end up being trained in styles that they thought they weren’t aligned with? Thrown into unlikely situations? Fantasy elements? My god, I can almost feel the franchise coming. Netflix has a great addition with this one.

Bridesmaids Director Paul Feig Is Directing The School For Good And Evil

I don’t think there could have been another perfect choice for the director for The School for Good and Evil than Paul Feig. The legendary director has produced some of the biggest comedic hits in the last ten years. For example, Feig directed the smash-hit Bridesmaids back in 2011, the 2016 remake of Ghostbusters, the Emilia Clarke Christmas comedy Last Christmas, the comedy thriller, A Simple Favor, and so many others.

Besides movies, Paul Feig has also directed multiple episodes of several incredible sitcoms, such as The Office, Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and 30 Rock. The School for Good and Evil novels have an amazing comedic element to them, and I can only imagine what a comedic director like Paul Feig will bring to the table in this new film.

The castle in The School for Good and Evil.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Finding Neverland Screenwriter David Magee Wrote The Screenplay For The School For Good And Evil

When it comes to an adapted screenplay, you always have to make sure that you find the right person to do it, because with novels, there are so many details that need to somehow make it into the movie. The School for Good and Evil found its screenwriter in David Magee.

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Magee is a perfect choice, because not only has he been around the business for some time, he’s had plenty of experience in writing fantasy, working on films such as the Academy-Award winning Life of Pi, the Disney sequel Mary Poppins Returns, and wrote the screenplay for Finding Neverland, the story of the author who created the legendary character, Peter Pan. Truly, he has great experience up his sleeves, and I’m eager to see what he’ll do with the fantastic story that is The School for Good and Evil.

The bit apple in The School for Good and Evil.

(Image credit: Netflix)

The School For Good And Evil Has Finished Filming 

As you can expect for a film that already has a trailer, The School for Good and Evil finished production for their film not too long ago. From a tweet on Twitter from Netflix Geeked, it was confirmed back in July of 2021 that filming had wrapped on the film and was entering into the post-production phases. 

Watch The Trailer For The School For Good And Evil 

If you haven’t yet seen the trailer for The School for Good and Evil, be sure to watch it now, as you won’t want to miss out on the magic. 

With an amazing cast, awesome story, and some really cool looking set pieces featured in the trailer, The School for Good and Evil is looking to be an amazing addition to Netflix’s original film line-up. I can’t wait for this movie to pop up as part of the 2022 Netflix movie schedule. I’m practically counting down the days. 

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