The Rain

Genre Sci-Fi | Thriller

Cast Alba August, Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Lukas Løkken

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere May 17th, 2019 (Netflix)

“After a brutal virus wipes out most of the population, two young siblings embark on a perilous search for safety.”

“The world as we know it has ended. Six years after a brutal virus carried by the rain wiped out almost all humans in Scandinavia, two Danish siblings emerge from the safety of their bunker to find all remnants of civilization gone. Soon they join a group of young survivors and together set out on a danger-filled quest through abandoned Scandinavia, searching for any sign of life. Set free from their collective past and societal rules the group has the freedom to be who they want to be. In their struggle for survival, they discover that even in a post-apocalyptic world there’s still love, jealousy, coming of age, and many of the problems they thought they’d left behind with the disappearance of the world they once knew.”

Check out the official trailers for the upcoming Netflix series below!!

Catch-22

Genre Comedy | Crime | Drama

Cast Christopher Abbott, Kyle Chandler, George Clooney, Martin Delaney

Rating Unrated

Series Premiere May 17th, 2019 (Hulu)

“Incomparable artful dodger Yossarian, a U.S. Air Force bombardier in World War II, is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him; if he attempts to avoid his military assignments, he will be in violation of Catch-22.”

A limited series adaptation of the classic Joseph Heller novel, Catch-22 tells the story of incomparable artful dodger Yossarian, a U.S. Air Force bombardier in World War II, is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him; if he attempts to avoid his military assignments, he will be in violation of Catch-22. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Catch-22:

• "Catch-22" was a book (pub 1961) and then a 1970 movie starring Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam (George Clooney's ex father in law, who played the character Kyle Chandler now plays), Richard Benjamin, Orson Welles, Art Garfunkel etc.

All Creatures Here Below

Director Collin Schiffli

Genre Drama

Cast Karen Gillen, David Dastmalchian, Jennifer Morrison, David Koechner

Rating Unrated

Release Date May 17th, 2019 (Limited & On-Demand)

“Desperate for money, Gensan and Ruby impulsively commit a crime which sets in motion a series of dire events. Now on the run, the couple seek refuge in Kansas City, Mo., a place filled with dark secrets that still haunt them.”

From director Collin Schiffli, All Creatures Here Below is a drama that tells the story of Gensan and Ruby who while desperate for money impulsively commit a crime which sets in motion a series of dire events. Now on the run, the couple seek refuge in Kansas City, Mo., a place filled with dark secrets that still haunt them. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, All Creatures Here Blow:

• David Dastmalchian and Karen Gillan have both appeared in Marvel Cinematic Universe. Dastmalchian as Kurt in Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Gillan as Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Avengers: Infinity War.

Chernobyl

Genre Drama | History

Cast Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson, Paul Ritter

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere May 6th, 2019 (HBO)

“In April 1986, an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics becomes one of the world’s worst man-made catastrophes.”

From creator Craig Mazin, the 5-part HBO miniseries brings us back to April 1986, when an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics becomes one of the world's worst man-made catastrophes. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Series Facts, Chernobyl:

• Before his untimely death, master composer Jóhann Jóhannsson was set to score this miniseries.

• The first responders of firefighters, Chernobyl workers, and medical professionals who arrived were poorly equipped with only firefighter's equipment as unprotected from radiation.

Avengers: Endgame

Director Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Genre Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Cast Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Pratt, Brie Larson

Rating PG-13

Release Date April 26th, 2019

“After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe.”

Directors Anthony & Joe Russo return for the latest installment of The Avengers films after a hugely successful Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. Avengers: Endgame is the highly anticipated sequel to Infinity War, the film that left fans gasping for air. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Avengers: Endgame:

• According to producer and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, this film is the finale of all three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

• Evangeline Lilly and Paul Rudd were filming Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and this film at the same time.

• Reportedly, Marvel Studios has twenty more films planned after this film.

Pokémon Detective Pikachu

Director Rob Letterman

Genre Animation | Adventure | Family

Cast Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, Rita Ora

Rating PG

Release Date May 10th, 2019

“In a world where people collect pocket monsters (Pokémon) to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent monster who seeks to be a detective.”

Co-written and directed by Rob Letterman, the man behind Shark Tale, Monsters vs. Aliens, and Gulliver’s Travels, Pokémon Detective Pikachu is based on the popular trading card “pocket monsters” game that has swept the nation in epic proportions. If you haven’t heard of Pokémon you have been living under a rock. In a world where humans collect pocket monsters (Pokémon) to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent Pokémon who has dreams of becoming a detective. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Pokémon Detective Pikachu:

• This is only the second time that Nintendo has allowed one of their franchises to be licensed to Hollywood for a live action movie. The first franchise Nintendo allowed to be licensed by Hollywood for a live action movie was Super Mario Bros. (1993) 26 years prior, based on the Mario Franchise, which was a failure and hardly based on the games, which caused Nintendo to be super protective of all of its franchises.

The Hustle

Director Chris Addison

Genre Comedy

Cast Anne Hathaway, Rebel Wilson, Tim Blake Nelson, Ingrid Oliver

Rating PG-13

Release Date May 10th, 2019

“Two con women - one low rent and the other high class - team up to take down the men who have wronged them.”

From director Chris Addison, The Hustle is a gender-swapped remake of the 1988 comedy classic in which two down-and-out con artists engage in a "loser leaves town" contest. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Hustle:

• This is advertised as a remake of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" (1988) with Michael Caine, Steve Martin and Glenne Headly. "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" is actually a remake of "Bedtime Story" (1964) with David Niven, Marlon Brando and Shirley Jones.

• Because the film's PG-13 rating was originally an "R," Rebel Wilson had to go out and argue with the board that the film was no raunchier than similar comedies that had received PG-13 ratings featuring male actors. Her efforts prevailed.

Poms

Director Zara Hayes

Genre Comedy

Cast Diane Keaton, Pam Grier, Charlie Tahan, Jacki Weaver

Rating PG-13

Release Date May 10th, 2019

“POMS is a comedy about a group of women who form a cheer leading squad at their retirement community, proving that you’re never too old to ‘bring it!’”

Directed by Zara Hayes, who also wrote the story, Poms is a comedy about a group of women who form a cheer leading squad at their retirement community, proving that you're never too old to 'bring it!'Check out the official trailer below!!

Tolkien

Director Dome Karukoski

Genre Biography | Drama

Cast Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins, Mimi Keene, Genevieve O’Reilly

Rating PG-13

Release Date May 10th, 2019

“Tolkien explores the formative years of the orphaned author as he finds friendship, love and artistic inspiration among a group of fellow outcasts at school.”

From director Dome Karukoski, Tolkien is a biography drama that explores the formative years of the orphaned author as he finds friendship, love and artistic inspiration among a group of fellow outcasts at school. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Tolkien:

• Star Nicholas Hoult's second outing as a famous author, having previously portrayed J.D. Salinger in "Rebel in the Rye."

• Tolkien is Finnish director Dome Karukoski's first English language film.

The Biggest Little Farm

Director John Chester

Genre Documentary

Cast John Chester, Molly Chester

Rating PG

Release Date May 10th, 2019

“Documentarian John Chester and his wife Molly work to develop a sustainable farm on 200 acres outside of Los Angeles.”

From documentarian filmmaker John Chester, The Biggest Little Farm follows Chester and his wife Molly as they work to develop a sustainable farm on 200 acres outside of Los Angeles. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Biggest Little Farm:

• The film premiered at TIFF in Toronto in September 2018.

Wine Country

Director Amy Poehler

Genre Comedy

Cast Amy Poehler, Emily Spivey, Liz Cackowski, Tina Fey

Rating R

Release Date May 10th, 2019 (Netflix)

“When a group of longtime girlfriends goes to Napa for the weekend to celebrate their friend’s 50th birthday, tensions from the past boil over.”

Directed by actress Amy Poehler, Wine Country tells the story of a group of longtime girlfriends who go to Napa for the weekend to celebrate their friend's 50th birthday and eventually tensions from the past boil over. Check out the official trailer below!!

The Society

Genre Drama

Cast Gideon Adlon, Sean Berdy, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Michael Cassata

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere May 10th, 2019 (Netflix)

“A group of teenagers struggles to survive after they’re mysteriously transported to a replica of their wealthy town with no trace of their parents.”

The Society is a new Netflix exclusive drama series that tells the story of a group of teenagers that struggle to survive after they're mysteriously transported to a replica of their wealthy town with no trace of their parents. Check out the official trailers below!!

Charlie Says

Director Mary Harron

Genre Biography | Crime | Drama

Cast Hanna Murray, Suki Waterhouse, Grace Van Dien, Marianne Rendón

Rating R

Release Date May 10th, 2019 (Limited)

“The tragic tale of an all-American girl who was transformed into a cold-blooded killer in the summer of 1969.”

From director Mary Harron, the talented filmmaker behind the cult classic American Psycho (2000), Charlie Says is a crime drama based on true events that tells the story of three young women who were sentenced to death in the infamous Manson murder case, but when the death penalty was lifted, their sentence became life imprisonment. One young graduate student was sent in to teach them - and through her we witness their transformations as they face the reality of their horrific crimes. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Film Facts, Charlie Says:

• Charles Milles Manson was an American criminal and cult leader. In mid-1967, he formed what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune based in California. Manson's followers committed a series of nine murders at four locations in July and August 1969, in the hopes of starting a race war.

• The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

Long Shot

Director Jonathan Levine

Genre Comedy

Cast Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, Alexander Skarsgård, Andy Serkis

Rating R

Release Date May 3rd, 2019

“When Fred Flarsky reunites with his first crush, one of the most influential women in the world, Charlotte Field, he charms her. As she prepares to make a run for the Presidency, Charlotte hires Fred as her speechwriter and sparks fly.”

From director Jonathan Levine, the man who brought us The Wackness, 50/50, and The Night Before, Long Shot is a comedy about unlikely relationships telling the story of Fred Flarsky as he reunites with his first crush, one of the most influential women in the world, Charlotte Field, and charms her. As she prepares to make a run for the Presidency, Charlotte hires Fred as her speechwriter and sparks fly. Check out the official new trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Long Shot:

• This is the fifth film collaboration between Seth Rogen and Randall Park, following Neighbors, The Interview, The Night Before and The Disaster Artist although the majority of these films, Rogen & Park don't appear onscreen together.

• Charlize Theron starred in Atomic Blonde (2017) which co-starred Bill Skarsgard, Alexander's younger brother.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

Director Joe Berlinger

Genre Biography | Crime | Thriller

Cast Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Angela Sarafyan, Sydney Vollmer

Rating R

Release Date May 3rd, 2019 (Netflix)

“A chronicle of the crimes of Ted Bundy, from the perspective of his longtime girlfriend, Elizabeth Kloepfer, who refused to believe the truth about him for years.”

Directed by Joe Berlinger, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile is a chronicle of the crimes of Ted Bundy, from the perspective of his longtime girlfriend, Elizabeth Kloepfer, who refused to believe the truth about him for years. Check out the official teaser trailer below!!

Ted Takes Film Facts, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile:

• Award winning director Joe Berlinger also directed the Netflix docuseries Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes.

• Acting debut of Metallica frontman James Hetfield. Director Joe Berlinger had previously worked with Hetfield and his band on the documentary Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004).

UglyDolls

Director Kelly Asbury

Genre Action | Adventure | Comedy

Cast Emma Roberts, Nick Jonas, Janelle Monáe, Gabriel Iglesias

Rating Unrated

Release Date May 3rd, 2019

“An animated adventure in which the free-spirited UglyDolls confront what it means to be different, struggle with a desire to be loved, and ultimately discover who you truly are is what matters most.”

From director Kelly Asbury, the man who brought us Shrek 2, Gnomeo & Juliet, and Smurfs” The Lost Village, Ugly Dolls is an animated adventure where the free-spirited UglyDolls confront what it means to be different, struggle with a desire to be loved, and ultimately discover who you truly are is what matters most. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, UglyDolls:

• Nick Jonas' 2nd time voice acting in a theatrical film, after Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009).

• STX Entertainment's first animated film by their "family and animation" division.

The Intruder

Director Deon Taylor

Genre Thriller

Cast Michael Ealy, Meagan Good, Dennis Quaid, Joseph Sikora,

Rating PG-13

Release Date May 3rd, 2019

“A psychological thriller about a young married couple who buys a beautiful Napa Valley house on several acres of land only to find that the man they bought it from refuses to let go of the property.”

From director Deon Taylor (Meet the Blacks, Traffik), The Intruder is a psychological thriller that tells the story of a young married couple who buys a beautiful Napa Valley house on several acres of land only to find that the man they bought it from refuses to let go of the property. Check out the official trailer below!!

Dead to Me

Genre Comedy | Drama

Cast Christina Applegate, Linda Cardellini, James Marsden, Brandon Scott

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere May 3rd, 2019 (Netflix)

“A powerful friendship blossoms between a tightly wound widow and a free spirit with a shocking secret in this darkly comic series.”

Dead to Me is a new comedy/drama series exclusive to Netflix that tells the story of a tightly wound widow who forms an unlikely relationship with a woman who holds some dark and damaging secrets. The show is very well-written, well directed, and includes a stellar cast (I binged the entire season already on the day of release) so I can definitely recommend giving this one a try - each episode will leave you wanting more. Check out the official trailer below!!

El Chicano

Director Ben Hernandez Bray

Genre Drama

Cast Raúl Castillo, Jose Pablo Cantillo, David Castañeda, Kate del Castillo

Rating R

Release Date May 3rd, 2019 (Limited)

“A pair of twin brothers from East L.A. choose to live their lives differently and end up on opposite sides of the law.”

Co-written and directed by actor/stuntman turned director Ben Hernandez Bray, the man who helped create Smokin’ Aces and The Grey, El Chicano is a drama that tells the story of a pair of twin brothers from East L.A. choose to live their lives differently and end up on opposite sides of the law. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, El Chicano:

• Premiered at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Otherwise known as The LATC.

The Last Summer

Director William Bindley

Genre Comedy | Drama

Cast K.J. Apa, Maia Mitchell, Jacob Latimore, Halston Sage

Rating TV-14

Release Date May 3rd, 2019 (Netflix)

“A group of young people in Chicago come together during the summer before they head off to college.”

From director Willam Bindley who co-wrote the film with his brother Scott, The Last Summer is a coming-of-age comedy drama that tells the story of a group of young people in Chicago who come together during the summer before they head off to college. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Last Summer:

• Tyler Posey and Gage Golightly previously worked together on Teen Wolf (2011).

• Skateboard scenes were filmed at Crooked River Skatepark on Merwin Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio.