Director Nadia Hallgren
Genre Documentary
Cast Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Phoebe Robinson
Rating PG
Release Date May 6th, 2020 (Netflix)
“Join former first lady Michelle Obama in an intimate documentary looking at her life, hopes and connection with others as she tours with “Becoming.””
Join former first lady Michelle Obama in an intimate documentary looking at her life, hopes and connection with others as she tours with "Becoming." Check out the official trailer below!!
Genre Biography | Drama | History
Cast Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Sebastian De Souza, Sacha Dhawan
Rating Unrated
Series Premiere May 15th, 2020 (Hulu)
“A royal woman living in rural Austria during the 18th century is forced to choose between her own personal happiness and the future of Russia, when she marries an Emperor.”
Based on true events, The Great tells the story of a royal woman living in rural Austria during the 18th century who is forced to choose between her own personal happiness and the future of Russia, when she marries an Emperor. Check out the official trailers below!!
Genre Action | Drama | Sci-Fi
Cast Jennifer Connelly, Daveed Diggs, Mickey Sumner, Sheila Vand
Rating TV-MA
Series Premiere Sunday May 17th, 2020 (TNT)
“Set more than seven years after the world has become a frozen wasteland, Snowpiercer centers on the remnants of humanity, who inhabit a gigantic, perpetually-moving train that circles the globe.”
A TNT original series, set more than seven years after the world has become a frozen wasteland, Snowpiercer centers on the remnants of humanity, who inhabit a gigantic, perpetually-moving train that circles the globe. Check out the official trailer below!!
Ted Takes Fun Facts, Snowpiercer:
Renewed for a second season a year before the first season even aired, as the show was originally set to air in 2019, but due to its move to TBS, it was delayed to 2020. The show, however, was moved back to TNT, still set for a 2020 release.
Genre Drama | Mystery
Cast Laura Haddock, Juan Diego Botto, Marta Milans, Pedro Casablanc
Rating Unrated
Series Premiere May 15th, 2020 (Netflix)
“A woman tries to solve the mysterious death of her brother, a famous DJ who disappeared from Ibiza many years ago.”
From creator Alex Pina (Money Heist), White Lines is a mystery thriller picking up when the body of a legendary Manchester DJ is discovered twenty years after his mysterious disappearance from Ibiza. When his sister returns to the beautiful Spanish island to find out what happened, her investigation leads her through a thrilling world of dance clubs, lies and cover-ups, forcing her to confront the darker sides of her own character in a place where people live life on the edge. Check out the official trailer below!!
Director Nisha Ganatra
Genre Drama | Music | Romance
Cast Dakota Johnson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kelvin Harrison, Jr., Ice Cube
Rating PG-13
Release Date May 8th, 2020 (Limited & On-Demand)
“A superstar singer and her overworked personal assistant are presented with a choice that could alter the course of their respective careers.”
From director Nisha Ganatra (Late Night), The High Note tells the story of a superstar singer and her overworked personal assistant who are presented with a choice that could alter the course of their respective careers. Check out the official trailer below!!
Genre Animation | Comedy | Sci-Fi
Cast Sean Giambrone, Mark Mack, Justin Roiland, Wendi McLendon-Covey
Rating TV-MA
Series Premiere May 8th, 2020 (Hulu)
“A family of aliens move to middle America, where they debate whether life is better there or on their home planet.”
From creators Mike McMahon and Justin Roiland (Rick and Morty), Solar Opposites is an animated comedy that tells the story if a family of aliens who move to middle America where they debate whether life is better there or on their home planet. Check out the official trailer below!!
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!!
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.
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.
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:
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;
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
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.”
Check out the official trailer below!!
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.
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!!
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!!
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!!
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.
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.
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”
Check out the official trailer for The Wretched below!!
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!!
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!!