How to Build a Girl

Director Coky Giedroyc

Genre Comedy

Cast Beanie Feldstein, Alfie Allen, Paddy Considine, Chris O'Dowd

Rating R

Release Date May 8th, 2020 (Limited & On-Demand)

“A sassy, sexy, and a profoundly touching coming-of-age comedy that traces the rocky road to womanhood through the lens of a unique and wildly hilarious protagonist”

Based on the best-selling novel by Caitlin Moran, How to Build a Girl is a sassy, sexy, and a profoundly touching coming-of-age comedy that traces the rocky road to womanhood through the lens of a unique and wildly hilarious protagonist. Check out the official trailer below!!

Arkansas

Director Clark Duke

Genre Crime | Drama | Thriller 

Cast Clark Duke, Liam Hemsworth, Vince Vaughn, John Malkovich 

Rating R

Release Date May 5th, 2020 (Limited & On-Demand)

“Kyle and Swin live by the orders of an Arkansas-based drug kingpin named Frog, whom they’ve never met. But when a deal goes horribly wrong, the consequences are deadly.”

Co-written and directed by comedic actor Clark Duke, best known for over-the-top comedies like Hot Tub Time Machine and his recurring role on The Office, Arkansas is a dark comedy thriller that tells the story of Kyle and Swin who live by the orders of an Arkansas-based drug kingpin named Frog, whom they've never met. But when a deal goes horribly wrong, the consequences are deadly. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Arkansas:

• Based on the novel "Arkansas," written by John Brandon, published by McSweeney's Rectangulars in 2009.

• Originally scheduled to debut at SXSW before the film festival was cancelled.

Valley Girl

Director Rachel Lee Goldenberg

Genre Comedy | Musical | Romance

Cast Chloe Bennet, Logan Paul, Jessica Rothe, Peyton List

Rating PG-13

Release Date May 8th, 2020 (On-Demand)

“Set to a new wave ‘80s soundtrack, a pair of young lovers from different backgrounds defy their parents and friends to stay together. A musical adaptation of the 1983 film.”

From director Rachel Lee Goldenberg, Valley Girl is set to a new wave '80s soundtrack, and follows a pair of young lovers from different backgrounds who defy their parents and friends to stay together. A musical adaptation of the 1983 film. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Film Facts, Valley Girl:

• This movie was shelved by MGM three months before it was originally supposed to release due to its involvement with Logan Paul. Paul is a YouTube sensation who came under fire for uploading a vlog to his YouTube channel showing the recently deceased corpse of a man who had died by hanging himself in Japan’s "suicide forest".

• Most people will recognize Jessica Rothe from her lead role in the Happy Death Day films.

With New Rule Exemption Direct To VOD Movies Will Qualify For Oscars

Unless you’ve been living under a rock you know that the movie landscape has changed dramatically as of late, with films that were meant to be big theatrical releases instead going straight to VOD (Video On Demand) for us to watch in the comfort of our pajamas for roughly $19.99. Now this change is big in a number of ways, but one thing people haven’t heard much about is the fact that traditionally films that do not receive any sort of theatrical release are not eligible for the Academy Awards - but that has now changed. According to an official press release from Oscars.gov as it pertains to the COVID-19 pandemic dated 4/28/20, films forced to released in the digital format exclusively can qualify for the red carpet with a few eligibility requirements:

1. The film must be made available on the secure Academy Screening Room member-only streaming site within 60 days of the film’s streaming or VOD release;

2. The film must meet all other eligibility requirements.

Now this is HUGE news which right out of the gate benefits releases like Trolls World Tour and Scoob! which opted for VOD releases. Many other films decided to push back their release dates with many films without a date right now, so it remains to be seen whether or not this change will force other studios to change their minds as it relates to releases currently on the back burner.

Check out the full breakdown of the rule changes courtesy of Oscars.org

All Day and a Night

Director Joe Robert Cole

Genre Drama

Cast Jeffrey Wright, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Andrea Ellsworth, Ahston Sanders

Rating R

Release Date May 1st, 2020 (Netflix)

“A young man who committed a homicide deals with the repercussions of his action.”

“As soft-spoken Jahkor Abraham Lincoln (Ashton Sanders) struggles to keep his dream of rapping alive amidst a gang war in Oakland, his ill-fated life and real-world responsibilities drive him further and further across the line of right and wrong with tragic consequences. Landing in prison beside his father, J.D. (Jeffrey Wright) whom he never wanted to be like, Jahkor embarks on an unlikely journey of self-discovery, exploring the events that unite them, in hopes of helping his newborn son break a cycle that feels unavoidable. A powerful film from Black Panther co-writer Joe Robert Cole, ALL DAY AND A NIGHT co-stars Isaiah John, Kelly Jenrette, Shakira Ja’Nai Paye, Regina Taylor, Christopher Meyer and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.”

— Netflix

Check out the official trailer below!!

The Personal History of David Copperfield

Director Armando Iannucci

Genre Comedy | Drama

Cast Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, Ben Whishaw

Rating PG

Release Date May 8th, 2020 (Limited & On-Demand)

“A film based on the novel by Charles Dickens.”

From director Armando Iannucci, The Personal History of David Copperfield is a comedy drama based on the novel by Charles Dickens. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Personal History of David Copperfield:

• The Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds is featured in the film. Charles Dickens once stayed here and part of the book The Pickwick Papers is set there.

The Half of It

Director Alice Wu

Genre Comedy | Romance

Cast Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Collin Chou, Catherine Curtin

Rating TV-14

Release Date May 1st, 2020 (Netflix)

“A shy, introverted student helps the school jock woo a girl whom, secretly, they both want.”

Written and directed by Alice Wu, The Half of It is a coming-of-age romantic comedy that tells the story of a shy, introverted, Chinese-American, straight-A student who finds herself helping the school jock woo the girl they both secretly love. In the process, each teaches the other about the nature of love as they find connection in the most unlikely of places. Check out the official trailer below!!

Normal People

Genre Drama

Cast Daisy Edgar-Jones, Paul Mescal, Desmond Eastwood, Sarah Greene

Rating Unrated

Series Premiere April 29th, 2020 (Hulu)

“Follows Marianne and Connell, from different backgrounds but the same small town in Ireland, as they weave in and out of each other’s romantic lives.”

A Hulu Original drama series that tells the story of Marianne and Connell, two people from different backgrounds but the same small town in Ireland, as they weave in and out of each other's romantic lives. Check out the official trailer below!!

Upload

Genre Sci-Fi

Cast Andy Allo, Robbie Amell, Kevin Bagley, Owen Daniels

Rating Unrated

Series Premiere May 1st, 2020 (Amazon Prime)

“A man is able to choose his own afterlife after his untimely death.”

From Greg Daniels (The Office, Parks and Recreation) comes Upload, a new sci-fi comedy. In the near future, people who are near death can be “uploaded” into virtual reality environments. Cash-strapped Nora works customer service for the luxurious “Lakeview” digital afterlife. When party-boy/coder Nathan’s car crashes, his girlfriend uploads him into Nora’s VR world. Check out the official trailer below!!

The Last Kingdom: Season 4

Genre Action | Drama | History

Cast Alexander Dreymon, Eliza Butterworth, Ian Hart, David Dawson

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere April 26th, 2020 (Netflix)

“As Alfred the Great defends his kingdom from Norse invaders, Uhtred - born a Saxon but raised by Vikings - seeks to claim his ancestral birthright.”

“As a child, Uhtred witnessed his father being killed and the Saxon army defeated by invading troops. Danish warlord Earl Ragnar captured Uhtred and raised him in a Danish camp alongside fellow captive Brida, a sharp-tongued girl. Years later, Uhtred is a valiant warrior who is dealt another tragic blow when his home is deliberately set on fire, killing his surrogate family, including Ragnar. Now exiled — alone except for Brida by his side — he vows to avenge Ragnar’s death and reclaim his homeland”

Check out the official trailer for the new season of the extremely underrated and intense Netflix series The Last Kingdom below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Last Kingdom:

• The series, which blends elements of history and fiction together, follows the Bernard Cornwell books.

• Unlike most other English language productions dealing with the viking age, the Danes are almost exclusively played by Scandinavian actors. Additionally, all of the Anglo-Saxon characters of the series are played by English actors to reinforce a cultural divide between Saxon and Danish characters.

Defending Jacob

Genre Mystery | Thriller

Cast Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery, Betty Gabriel, Jaeden Martell

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere April 24th, 2020 (Apple TV+)

“After a shocking crime rocks a small town, an assistant district attorney finds himself torn between his sworn duty to uphold the law and his unconditional love for his son.”

Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney in his suburban Massachusetts county for more than twenty years. He is respected in his community, tenacious in the courtroom, and happy at home with his wife, Laurie, and son, Jacob. But when a shocking crime shatters their New England town, Andy is blindsided by what happens next: His fourteen-year-old son is charged with the murder of a fellow student. Defending Jacob is a eight-episode miniseries premiering exclusively on Apple TV+ April 24th. Check out the official trailer below!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Defending Jacob:

• Based on the 2012 New York Times best selling novel of the same name by William Landay.

• Actor Jaeden Lieberher, who starred in Stephen King’s It, decided to change his last name to Martell, his mothers last name.

The Wretched

Director Brett Pierce, Drew T. Pierce

Genre Horror

Cast John Paul Howard, Piper Curda, Jamison Jones, Azie Tesfai 

Rating Unrated

Release Date May 1st, 2020 (Limited & On-Demand)

“A defiant teenage boy, struggling with his parent’s imminent divorce, faces off with a thousand year-old witch, who is living beneath the skin of and posing as the woman next door.”

“Following his parents’ separation, a rebellious teenage boy, Ben, is sent to live with his father for the summer and work at the local marina in order to gain some form of discipline. The idyllic tourist town offers little solace for him, however, as he is forced to deal with the local, privileged teens and his father’s new girlfriend. Ben’s problems grow increasingly disturbing when he makes a chilling discovery about the family renting the house next door. A malevolent spirit from the woods has taken a hold of the parents and starts playing a sinister game of house, preying upon the children and wiping away any trace of their existence. Ben’s suspicions of the supernatural horrors go unheeded and he launches a perilous crusade in order to put an end to the skin-walking witch’s reign of terror”

— IFC Midnight

Check out the official trailer for The Wretched below!!

Bad Education

Director Cory Finley

Genre Biography | Comedy | Crime

Cast Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney, Ray Romano, Welker White

Rating TV-MA

Release Date April 25th, 2020 (HBO)

“Based on a true story, a student reporter starts to trace embezzlement at the Roslyn School District, in Long Island after the assistant superintendent makes a crucial mistake that hints at corruption that spans over a decade.”

From director Cory Finley, the man behind the drama Thoroughbreds, Bad Education tells the story of the beloved superintendent of New York's Roslyn school district and his staff, friends and relatives as they become the prime suspects in the unfolding of the single largest public school embezzlement scandal in American history. Check out the official trailer below!!

Happiness Continues

Director Anthony Mandler

Genre Documentary | Music

Cast Joe Jonas, Kevin Jonas, Nick Jonas, Priyanka Chopra

Rating Unrated

Release Date April 24th, 2020 (Amazon Prime)

“A live concert experience and exclusive look into life on the road with The Jonas Brothers during their sold out ‘Happiness Begins’ concert tour in 2019.”

From director Anthony Mandler, Happiness Continues is a live concert experience and exclusive look into life on the road with The Jonas Brothers during their sold out 'Happiness Begins' concert tour in 2019. Check out the official trailer below!!

Trying

Genre Comedy

Cast Jackie Mouzo, Esther Smith, Rafe Spall, Imelda Staunton

Rating Unrated

Series Premiere May 1st, 2020 (Apple TV+)

“All Jason and Nikki want is a baby, but it’s the one thing they just can’t have. So, they decide to adopt. With their dysfunctional friends, screwball family, and chaotic lives will the adoption panel think they’re ready to be parents?”

All Jason and Nikki want is a baby, but it's the one thing they just can't have. So, they decide to adopt. With their dysfunctional friends, screwball family, and chaotic lives will the adoption panel think they're ready to be parents? Check out the official trailer below!!

Hollywood

Genre Drama | History

Cast Darren Criss, Patti LuPone, Jake Picking, Jeremy Pope

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere May 1st, 2020 (Netflix)

“A group of aspiring actors and filmmakers in post-World War II Hollywood try to make it big - no matter the cost.”

From creators Ian Brennan (Glee, Scream Queens) and Ryan Murphy (Glee, Eat Pray Love, American Horror Story), Hollywood is a Netflix original drama series that tells the story of a group of aspiring actors and filmmakers in post-World War II Hollywood trying to make it big - no matter the cost. Check out the official trailer below!!

The Secret: Dare to Dream

Director Andy Tennant

Genre Drama | Romance

Cast Katie Holmes, Josh Lucas, Jerry O’Connell, Celia Weston

Rating PG

Release Date April 17th, 2020 (Amazon Prime July 31st)

“A feature film adaptation of the self-help book, ‘The Secret’, which focuses on the power of positive thinking.”

From director Andy Tennant (Sweet Home Alabama, Hitch, Fool’s Gold), The Secret: Dare to Dream is a feature film adaptation of the self-help book, 'The Secret', which focuses on the power of positive thinking. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Secret: Dare to Dream:

• Based on the worldwide best-selling book The Secret.

The Willoughbys

Director Kris Pearn, Cory Evans

Genre Animation | Comedy | Family 

Cast Will Forte, Martin Short, Alessia Cara, Jane Krakowski

Rating PG

Release Date April 22nd, 2020

“Convinced they’d be better off raising themselves, the Willoughby children hatch a sneaky plan to send their selfish parents on vacation. The siblings then embark on their own high-flying adventure to find the true meaning of family.”

Convinced they'd be better off raising themselves, the Willoughby children hatch a sneaky plan to send their selfish parents on vacation. The siblings then embark on their own high-flying adventure to find the true meaning of family. Check out the official trailer for The Willoughbys below!!

Rick and Morty: The Other Five

Genre Animation | Adventure | Comedy

Cast Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke

Rating TV-14

Series Premiere May 3rd, 2020 11:30 PM EST (Adult Swim)

“An animated series that follows the exploits of a super scientist and his not-so-bright grandson.”

The animated comedy series Rick and Morty which follows the exploits of a super scientist and his not-so-bright grandson returns with the rest of the 4th season, The Other Five. Check out the official trailer below!!

Sergio

Director Greg Barker

Genre Drama

Cast Wagner Moura, Ana de Armas, Brían F. O'Byrne, Garret Dillahunt

Rating R

Release Date April 17th, 2020 (Netflix)

“A sweeping drama set in the chaotic aftermath of the US invasion of Iraq, where the life of top UN diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello hangs in the balance during the most treacherous mission of his career.”

From director Greg Barker, known for political documentaries such as Manhunt: The Inside Story of the Hunt for Bin Laden and The Final Year, Sergio is a based on actual events sweeping drama set in the chaotic aftermath of the US invasion of Iraq, where the life of top UN diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello hangs in the balance during the most treacherous mission of his career. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Sergio:

• Based on the 2009 HBO documentary of the same name also directed by Greg Barker.