Denis Leary (The Moodys) headlines Fox’s new comedy series Going Dutch, premiering on January 2, 2025 at 9:30pm ET/PT. Leary stars as a U.S. Army Colonel assigned to take over a base in the Netherlands.
The season one cast also includes Taylor Misiak as Captain Maggie Quinn, Danny Pudi as XO Major Abraham Shah, Laci Mosely as Sergeant Dana Conway, and Hal Cumpston as Corporal Elias Papadakis. Joe Morton, Catherine Tate, and Dempsey Bryk appear in heavily recurring roles.
“Pilot” Plot: The Colonel is reassigned to take emergency command of USAG Stroopsdorf in the Netherlands, a small and combat-less base, as punishment for his unfiltered rant about General Davidson. Upon arrival, Sergeant Conway provides The Colonel and Major Shah with a tour of the things Stroopsdorf is known for: cheese, laundry, and bowling. The Colonel demands to know who is in charge and is introduced to Captain Quinn, his estranged daughter. Captain Quinn briefs The Colonel and Major Shah on her upcoming and crucial operation of the soldiers marching in the town’s Tulip Festival.
The arrogant, loudmouth U.S. Army Colonel Patrick Quinn — after an epically unfiltered rant — is reassigned to the Netherlands, where he is punished with a command position at the least important army base in the world, notable for its Michelin Star-commissary, top-notch bowling alley, lavender-infused laundry and the best (and only) fromagerie in the U.S. Armed Forces. Surrounded by a diverse group of military misfits, the colonel tries to reinstate discipline and professionalism with the help of the base’s previous interim leader, who just happens to be his estranged daughter.
Cobra Kai never dies, but the series has to wrap up sometime – and that sometime is February 13, 2025. Part one of the show’s sixth and final season premiered on July 18, 2024, followed by part two on November 28, 2024. Part three’s release date announcement was accompanied by a teaser trailer and new photos.
The Karate Kid franchise will carry on with a new movie, Karate Kid: Legends, releasing in May 2025.
The cast is led by Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso and William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence. Martin Kove plays John Kreese, Thomas Ian Griffith is Terry Silver, Xolo Maridueña stars as Miguel Diaz, Jacob Bertrand is Hawk, Mary Mouser is Samantha LaRusso, and Tanner Buchanan plays Robby Keene. Peyton List stars as Tory, Gianni Decenzo is Demetri, Courtney Henggeler is Amanda LaRusso, Vanessa Rubio is Carmen, and Dallas Dupree Young plays Kenny.
Rounding out the ensemble are Yuji Okumoto as Chozen, Alicia Hannah-Kim as Sensei Kim Dae-Un, Griffin Santopietro as Anthony, Oona O’Brien as Devon, Rayna Vallandingham as Zara, Patrick Luwis as Axel, and Lewis Tan as Sensei Wolf.
“After a shocking result in the Sekai Taikai, Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai must reckon with their pasts while facing an uncertain future both on and off the mat,” reads Netflix’s synopsis. “Almost 40 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, it’s all been leading to this.”
Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg guide the series as showrunners, writers, and executive producers. Additional executive producers include Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Will Smith, James Lassiter, Caleeb Pinkett, and Susan Ekins.
Adam Pearson and Sebastian Stan in ‘A Different Man’ (Photo Credit: Matt Infante / Courtesy of A2)
Ah, the year is coming to a close. And with that comes the obligatory year-end top 10 list. So here are the top 10 movies of 2024 according to me, James Jay Edwards. Remember – this is my list and does not claim to reflect the opinions of anyone else.
10 – A Different Man
As a fan of Adam Pearson’s, I was thrilled to see him in a role he could really sink his teeth into. Bonus points to writer/director Aaron Schimberg for including a scene that addresses the question of representation vs. exploitation.
(Irish musical biopic Kneecap is sort of a 10.5 here. On any given day, it could flip spots with A Different Man.)
Colman Domingo in ‘Sing Sing’ (Photo Credit: A24)
9 – Sing Sing
A movie about the transformational power of the theater in the most unlikely of places – a prison. Sing Sing reeks of authenticity, not only because many of the characters are played by actual formerly incarcerated men, but it was based on the story of prison theater alumni Clarence Maclin, who portrays himself in the film.
Demi Moore in ‘The Substance’ (Photo Credit: MUBI)
8 – The Substance
At first, The Substance is just a scathing indictment of consumerism and the shallowness of celebrity. But as it moves on, it turns into a full-blown Cronenbergian nightmare. And if it wasn’t a schlocky horror movie, Demi Moore’s performance would win all the awards. And it still might win some of them.
A still from ‘Flow’ (Photo Credit: Janus Films)
7 – Flow Flow is this year’s Robot Dreams. And I loved Robot Dreams. Flow is a sweet little animated movie about a cat and a bunch of their furry and feathered companions that have to navigate through a catastrophic flood. It’s a Latvian film, but that doesn’t matter much because, just as with Robot Dreams (which was Spanish), there’s no dialogue. Just beautiful visual storytelling.
Maika Monroe stars in ‘Longlegs’ (Photo Credit: Neon)
6 – Longlegs Longlegs is what you get when you sprinkle a little of the occult into The Silence of the Lambs, add Nicolas Cage in a creepy transformative villain role, and set it to the music of T-Rex. Slim and weak, the teeth of the Hydra upon you indeed.
Cailee Spaeny and Kirsten Dunst in ‘Civil War’ (Photo Credit: Courtesy of A24)
5 – Civil War
Due to recent events in the U.S., Civil War may be more prescient now than it was when it was released back in April. Kudos to writer/director Alex Garland (who is, incidentally, English) for never letting the movie pick a side. It tells the story of the war itself without letting the politics get in the way.
Katy O’Brian and Kristen Stewart in ‘Love Lies Bleeding’ (Photo Credit: Anna Kooris / A24)
4 – Love Lies Bleeding
Not only does Love Lies Bleeding re-affirm Kristen Stewart as one of the best actors of her generation, but it also continues to keep audiences hungry for whatever director Rose Glass does next. Proving that action star Katy O’Brian can also act is just icing on the cake.
Ariana DeBose in ‘I.S.S’ (Photo Credit: Bleecker Street)
3 – I.S.S. ISS raises the stakes on the contained thriller genre. Six astronauts – three American and three Russian (so really three astronauts and three cosmonauts) – are aboard the International Space Station when a nuclear war breaks out between their countries. Who to trust, who to trust?
2 – Nosferatu
Robert Eggers is a meticulous filmmaker, so it’s no surprise that Nosferatu is such a beautiful movie. It is a bit surprising that it breathes fresh life into a story that is over 100 years old. It’s both modern and classic at the same time. And Willem Dafoe aping over the old Dracula motif is never not fun.
A scene from ‘Strange Darling’ (Photo credit: Magenta Light Studios)
1 – Strange Darling Strange Darling is one of those movies that just came out of nowhere blew me away. It’s about a serial killer’s last few murders…and that’s all you should know going in. It’s packed full of twists and surprises. And it’s even more fun the second time around after you already know its secrets.
Manifest‘s Melissa Roxburgh stars in NBC’s new midseason crime drama The Hunting Party. Debuting on February 3, 2025 at 10pm ET/PT, the new series finds Roxburgh leading a team who’ve been charged with finding escaped murderers.
Season one also stars Nick Wechsler (Shades of Blue) as Oliver Odell, Patrick Sabongui (The Flash) as Ryan Hassani, Josh McKenzie (La Brea) as Shane Florence, and Sara Garcia (Ride) as Jennifer Morales. JJ Bailey created the series and serves as a writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner with Jake Coburn.
Thor Freudenthal directs and executive produces, with Keto Shimizu writing and executive producing.
Poster for ‘The Hunting Party’ (Photo by: NBCUniversal)
NBC offers this description of the new series:
“This dynamic and suspenseful thrill ride of a crime procedural follows a small team of investigators led by former FBI profiler Rebecca ‘Bex’ Henderson (Roxburgh). They’ve been assembled to track down and capture the most dangerous serial killers the world has ever seen, all of whom have just escaped from the Pit, a top-secret government prison that’s not supposed to exist. As Bex races to catch these killers before it’s too late, she’ll discover the one thing more twisted than the dangerous fugitives she’s chasing is the prison itself that they just escaped from, because the Pit wasn’t just a prison.”
Sara Garcia as Jennifer Morales and Melissa Roxburgh in season 1 (Photo by: David Astorga/NBC)Melissa Roxburgh as Rebecca Henderson (Photo by: David Astorga/NBC)Patrick Sabongui as Jacob Hassani and Melissa Roxburgh as Rebecca Henderson (Photo by: David Astorga/NBC)
Investigation Discovery (ID) delves back into Hollywood’s dark side with season three of Death by Fame. The new season will premiere on January 13, 2025, with new episodes of the eight-episode season airing on Mondays at 9pm ET/PT.
Season two examined the murder of Judging Amy‘s Tara Correa-McMullen, Run-D.M.C.’s Jam Master Jay (real name: Jason William Mizell), and lawyer-turned-legal reality star Loredana Nesci. Season three dives into the murders of aspiring actress Adriana Pinon, aspiring model Mei Li, fashion designer to the stars Sylvie Cachay, and Valerie Dowden.
Poster for ‘Death by Fame’ (Photo Credit: ID)
“The series delves into the dark side of fame and celebrity, uncovering the shocking true stories behind the murders of some of Hollywood’s most promising stars. Each episode features the expertise of criminal trial attorney Sara Azari, who provides unique insights into these tragic endings. This season, viewers can look forward to eight gripping episodes that chart the rise, fall and untimely deaths of budding talent whose promising futures were cut short,” reads ID’s synopsis. “Through interviews with victims’ families, friends, investigators and journalists along with Sara Azari’s expert commentary, each episode sheds light on a shadowy world lurking behind the pursuit of fame.
In the season premiere, aspiring actress Adriana Pinon is thrilled to land a recurring role as a background actor on the hit soap opera The Young and The Restless. It’s the perfect stepping stone for her dream career. However, her rising star is abruptly extinguished when a jealous individual decides they cannot bear to see her succeed.”
Poster for ‘Creature Commandos’ (Photograph by Courtesy of Max)
Creature Commandos earned a 95% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and now it’s also officially earned a season two renewal from Max. The streamer wants more of the adult animated series that marks the beginning of a new chapter in the DC Universe.
The popular animated series is written and executive produced by DC Studios Co-Chair James Gunn and features the voices of Steve Agee as Economos, Maria Bakalova as Princess Ilana, Anya Chalotra as Circe, Zoe Chao as Nina Mazursky, Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., and Sean Gunn as GI Robot & Weasel. David Harbour voices Frankenstein, Alan Tudyk is Dr. Phosphorus, Indira Varma is The Bride, and Viola Davis is Amanda Waller.
“We’re thrilled to team up with Max for another season of Creature Commandos mayhem. From our spectacular first season of Peacemaker to the astonishing run of The Penguin to the record-breaking launch of Creature Commandos, Max has consistently delivered above industry expectations and beyond our wildest imaginings. Thank you, Casey, Sarah, Pia, Sono, and the entire team for your tremendous support of DC Studios. We are proud to call Max home,” stated Gunn and DC Studios Co-Chair Peter Safran.
Season one premiered on December 5, 2024 and will wrap up on January 9, 2025. Gunn, Safran, Dean Lorey, and Sam Register executive produce, with Rick Morales serving as a supervising producer.
Per Max: “Creature Commandos tracks a secret team of incarcerated monsters recruited for missions deemed too dangerous for humans. When all else fails… they’re your last, worst option.”
Commenting on the renewal, Amy Gravitt, Executive Vice President, HBO & Max Comedy Programming said, “Only James Gunn could have conjured this wild band of misfit monsters who tug at your heart and force you to root passionately for them. We couldn’t be more delighted to continue their stories with James, Dean Lorey, Peter Safran, and our fantastic partners at DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation.”
“Thanks to the brilliant imagination of James and the talent of our amazing artists, DC fans fell in love with this new family of heroes,” said Peter Girardi, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Warner Bros. Animation. “We are excited to continue this wild ride with our partners at Max. You want more monsters, you’re getting more monsters!”
During his time in the spotlight, pop singer Robbie Williams fell into all of the typical rock star trappings of sex, drugs, and alcohol. And with the popularity of music biopics like Rocketman, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Back to Black, why not make a movie about his life, right? Well, someone did. But there’s a catch.
Better Man is the story of Williams’ rise to fame as a member of the boy band Take That, his dismissal from the group due to substance abuse and unruly conduct, and his eventual rise to success as a solo artist. All typical rock star movie stuff.
The thing is, in this movie, Williams is portrayed as a chimpanzee. In his own words, he’s showing the audience how he sees himself.
Surprisingly, this approach works. More than works, actually. It turns a rudimentary rock star biopic into something unique and worth watching. And despite what one might think, the chimp angle doesn’t really get old. In fact, by the time Robbie is singing “My Way” with his father during the movie’s epilogue, the viewer half expects simian Robbie to morph into human Robbie but hopes that he doesn’t. Because the chimp is what they want to see. Frankly, it’s the best part of the movie.
Director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) co-wrote the screenplay for Better Man with Simon Gleason and Oliver Cole (both actors making their feature debut as writers), but with Williams playing himself (at least the voice), the pop star seems to have signed off on the story. And, indeed, everything at least seems to follow the public impression of his life fairly closely, warts and all. Williams may not be proud of some of the situations he put himself in over the years, but he at least seems to not be ashamed anymore. He owns his past. He even seems to find some humor in it.
As a musical, Better Man most closely resembles something like Rocketman, where the songs of the primary subject are not just used in diegetic ways, but also as full-blown production numbers. More than once, the cast breaks into song and dance routines, running around city streets or floating aboard luxury cruise ships like no one is watching. Or maybe like everyone is watching. It’s all quite a spectacle.
The problem is that Robbie Williams’ music is not nearly as recognizable (nor as good) as Elton John’s, so while the musical numbers are impressively shot and choreographed, they don’t quite have the kinetic energy or emotional impact as those in Rocketman. They’re just not as much fun, even with a monkey leading the festivities.
Now, the chimp thing is not all laughs and giggles. It does have its serious moments. As the movie goes on, Robbie starts to see his past self everywhere he goes, always as the chimp of course. Even this is somewhat humorous, as the chimp goes through bleached hair and shaved head phases just as the real Robbie did, but the symbolic imagery of Robbie’s illicit past chasing him is unmistakable. It all comes to a head in a Planet of the Apes-style scene as his troubled history catches up with him just as he happens to be playing the biggest show of his life at Knebworth. It’s outrageous, but it’s also kind of creepy. Just like the movie as a whole. Outrageous and creepy.
Maybe having a chimp as the focus would make every mediocre movie better. Would Madame Web have benefited from a Dakota Johnson chimp lead? How great would Twisters have been if the “Tornado Wrangler” had a chimp on his team? What if Robert Zemeckis had used Here’s de-aging budget to turn Tom Hanks into a chimp? The possibilities are endless. Let’s hope this trend continues. Because in the case of Better Man, the chimp doesn’t exactly save it from mediocrity, but it at least makes the mediocrity more entertaining.
GRADE: C+
MPAA Rating: R for nudity, drug use, pervasive language, sexual content, and some violent content
Release Date: December 25, 2024 limited release, January 10, 2025 wide release
Running Time: 2 hours 11 minutes
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Taylor Dearden, Patrick Marron Ball, and Noah Wyle in ‘The Pitt’ (Photograph by Max/Warrick Page)
Max is kicking off the new year with the series premiere of The Pitt, a medical drama that puts ER star Noah Wyle back in scrubs and playing the chief attendant in Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital’s emergency room. Max’s January 2025 lineup also includes the season five premiere of the critically acclaimed, comic book-inspired animated series Harley Quinn, and the series debut of Isadora Moon, based on the bestselling book series.
Season 23 of Real Time with Bill Maher and the premieres of A24’s The Front Room, Look Into My Eyes, and A Different Man stream on Max in January.
Max January 2025 Lineup
January 1
5 Things with Kate Bolduan (CNN)
A Star is Born (1937)
Act of Valor (2012)
All Elite Wrestling: 2019 PPV Events (5 Episodes) (2024)
All Elite Wrestling: Collision 2024 (5 Episodes), Season 2
All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite 2019 (12 Episodes), Season 1
All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite 2024 (7 Episodes), Season 6
All Elite Wrestling: Rampage 12/13/2024, Season 4
Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
Annabelle: Creation (2017)
Balls Out (2015)
Batkid Begins: The Wish Heard Around the World (2015)
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)
Best Of Enemies (2015)
Bitter Creek (1954)
Black Gold (1947)
Blue Velvet (1986)
Buffaloed (2020)
Calamity Jane (1953)
Call Me by Your Name (2017)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Cow Country (1953)
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
Destination Tokyo (1943)
Diggers (2007)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
Each Dawn I Die (1939)
Eat Pray Love (2010)
Fast & Furious (2009)
Floyd Norman: An Animated Life (2016)
Free Birds (2013)
Green Lantern (2011)
Heaven Help Us (1985)
HGTV Dream Home 2025
Home Again (2017)
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (2015)
House at the End of the Street (2012)
I Am Love (2009)
Injustice (2021)
Iris (2015)
It Follows (2015)
It: Chapter Two (2019)
Jason Bourne (2016)
Johnny Angel (1946)
Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2016)
Justice League: Doom (2012)
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (2015)
Justice League: War (2014)
Keeping Up with the Joneses (2016)
Kept Husbands (1931)
Kicks (2016)
Lemon (2017)
Mad Max (1980)
Matilda (1986)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
Morgan (2016)
Mortdecai (2015)
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
My Favorite Wife (1940)
Mystic Pizza (1988)
Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016)
Night and Day (1946)
Nocturne (1946)
Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band (2020)
Paddington (2014)
Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Red Light (1949)
Reframed: Next Gen Narratives, Season 1 (2025)
Room for One More (1952)
School Life (2017)
Sex and the City 2 (2010)
Shining Vale, Season 1
Shining Vale, Season 2
Showing Up (2023)
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
St. Vincent (2014)
Steel Magnolias (1989)
Stephen King’s It (1990)
Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine (2015)
Sully (2016)
Supergirl (1984)
Superman & Lois, Season 4
Tangerine (2015)
Task Force (1949)
Teen Wolf (1985)
Tennessee Johnson (1942)
The Accountant (2016)
The Addams Family 2 (2016)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
The Big Year (2011)
The Birth of a Nation (2016)
The Boondock Saints (1999)
The Cable Guy (1996)
The Conjuring 2 (2016)
The Craft (1996)
The Curse of La Llorona (2019)
The Imitation Game (2014)
The Leopard Man (1943)
The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)
The Mouthpiece (1932)
The Narrow Margin (1952)
The Prince and the Pauper (1937)
The Prisoner of Zenda (1952)
The Purge: Election Year (2016)
The Red Badge of Courage (1951)
The Student Prince (1954)
The Usual Suspects (1995)
The Whistlers (2020)
The Wrong Man (1957)
Volunteers (1985)
Warcraft (2016)
Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic (2008)
Whitey: United States of America V. James J. Bulger (2014)
Wild Boys of the Road (1993)
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Woman in Gold (2015)
World Without End (1956)
January 2
Expedition Files, Season 1 (Discovery)
My 600-lb Life, Season 13 (TLC)
The Deep 3, Episode 227 (TNT)
Isadora Moon, Season 1A (Max Original Series)
Based on the globally best-selling beloved book series by Harriet Muncaster, Isadora Moon follows the delightful adventures of a half-vampire, half-fairy girl, her friends at human school, and her wider magical family.
Brandy in ‘The Front Room’ (Photo Credit: A24)
January 3
Beachfront Bargain Hunt Renovation, Season 10 (Magnolia Network)
Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Season 49 (Food Network)
The Front Room (A24)
Everything goes to hell for newly pregnant Belinda (Brandy) after her mother-in-law (Kathryn Hunter) moves in. As the diabolical guest tries to get her claws on the child, Belinda must draw the line somewhere…
January 4
Belle Collective, Season 5 (OWN)
January 5
Craig of the Creek, Season 6B (Cartoon Network)
Mecum Top 10, Season 10
Totally Spies, Season 7A
January 6
Worst Cooks in America Celebrity Edition: Heroes vs. Villains (Food Network)
January 7
Cleats & Convos with Deebo Samuel, Episode 111 (B/R)
How It Really Happened, Season 8 (CNN Original Series)
Kids Baking Championship, Season 14 (Food Network)
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter, Season 3 (ID)
The Edge with Micah Parsons, Episode 219 (B/R)
January 8
7 Little Johnstons, Season 15 (TLC)
CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute (2024)
Fixer to Fabulous, Season 6 (HGTV)
Wildcard Kitchen, Season 2 (Food Network)
January 9
Aaron Hernandez and the Untold Murders of Bristol (ID)
Sons of Ecstasy (Max Original)
At the epicenter of the 1990s ecstasy drug trade in Arizona sits an unusual rivalry. English stockbroker, Shaun Attwood, faces off against Gerard Gravano, the son of notorious New York mobster-hitman Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano. For the first time, the Gravanos tell their side of the story. Through riveting first-hand accounts from inside both factions, the film unravels the unexpected showdown between the British business guru and the mafia heir apparent in the Arizona desert. Guns, gangsters and underground raves set the stage in a deadly battle for control of an Ecstasy Empire.
The Pitt, Season 1 (Max Original) THE PITT is a realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in today’s America as seen through the lens of the frontline heroes working in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Each episode follows an hour of Dr. Robby’s (Noah Wyle) 15-hour shift as the chief attendant in Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital’s emergency room.
January 10
Black Butterfly (2017)
Holla (2006)
Vinnie Jones: In the Country, Season 1-2 (discovery+)
Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This? (HBO Original)
This marks Maher’s 13th comedy special for the network. The comedian, writer, and host of Real Time with Bill Maher will tape his special in front of a live audience at the CIBC Theater in Chicago, Illinois.
Look Into My Eyes (A24)
A group of New York City psychics conduct deeply intimate readings for their clients, revealing a kaleidoscope of loneliness, connection, and healing.
January 11
Road to NHL Winter Classic, Episode 204
The Steam Room with Ej and Chuck 125 (TNT)
January 12
Naked and Afraid Spain (Aventura En Pelotas Espana), Season 1 (Discovery International)
January 13
Barney’s World, Season 1B
January 14
Baylen Out Loud, Season 1 (TLC)
Death by Fame, Season 3 (ID)
The Curious Case of…, Season 1 (ID)
The Last Party: Death on Tresco, Season 1 (discovery+)
January 15
Cult of Fear: The Asaram Bapu Story (discovery+)
Marshall (2017)
Uncharted (2022)
An Update On Our Family (HBO Original) AN UPDATE ON OUR FAMILY explores the complex and symbiotic world of family vlogging – a phenomenon in which parents post a steady stream of lifestyle videos on their social media channels to be consumed by loyal subscribers whose views in turn generate money for the vloggers themselves. After controversy around former family vloggers Myka and James Stauffer went public, new scrutiny arose around the industry. The documentary raises questions about what motivates vloggers to expose their lives to the world and examines the issues surrounding making their children’s lives public. The three-part series exposes the hidden-in-plain-sight, unregulated family vlogging industry.
Max renews ‘Harley Quinn’ for season 5
January 16
Becoming Hitchcock: The Legacy of Blackmail (2024)
Divided By Design, Season 1B (HGTV)
Murder Under the Friday Night Lights, Season 4 (ID)
My Sesame Street Friends, Season 15 (Max Original)
Sesame Street, Season 55 (Max Original)
Harley Quinn, Season 5 (Max Original)
The fifth season of HARLEY QUINN finds Harley (Kaley Cuoco) and Ivy (Lake Bell) in a new location: Metropolis! – the home of all things Superman, Lois Lane, and the Daily Planet. Harley and Ivy discover that something sinister is at play and all is not what it seems. Looming threats include Lex Luthor and his sister, Lena Luthor, plus fan-favorite Brainiac. But of course, Harley’s crew of misfits and allies will join her on this irreverent journey that takes no prisoners in having fun in the DC sandbox.
January 17
Better Off Dead (1985)
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
A Different Man (A24)
Aspiring actor Edward undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance. But his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare, as he loses out on the role he was born to play and becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost.
Real Time with Bill Maher, Season 23 (HBO Original)
Allowing Maher to offer his unique perspective on contemporary issues, the show continues with its opening monologue, one-on-one interviews with notable guests, roundtable discussions with panelists, and its signature “New Rules.”
January 21
Contraband: Seized at the Airport, Season 1 (Discovery)
January 22
Expedition X, Season 8 (Discovery)
January 23
C.B. Strike: The Ink Black Heart (HBO Original)
Strike and Robin are hired to investigate a murder involving a creator of a cult TV cartoon and an anonymous online troll known as “Anomie.” With a complex web of online aliases, business interests and family conflicts to navigate, our heroic pair find themselves in a case that stretches them to their limit with the threat of this mysterious killer around every corner.
January 24
Harpoon Hunters, Season 1 (Discovery)
January 25
Bugs Bunny Builders, Season 2B (Cartoon Network)
January 27
Scars of Beauty (Beleza Fatal), Season 1 (Max Original, Brazil)
Two families, two devastating injustices, and one shared plan for revenge. A daughter who loses her mother is unjustly imprisoned and murdered in jail; a mother who loses her daughter is the victim of medical malpractice. Both join forces to take revenge on those who destroyed their families.
January 28
Chopped, Season 60 (Food Network)
January 29
The Flip Off, Season 1 (HGTV)
January 30
The Other Side (Del Otro Lado Del Jardín) (Max Original, Colombia)
Mermicorno: Starfall, Season 1A (Max Original) MERMICORNO: STARFALL invites audiences into a dazzling underwater world where a team of Mermicornos (enchanting mermaid-unicorns) embark on exciting, hilarious and stylish adventures to save the ocean from the evil Ika Inkblot. During their epic mission, our heroes unlock the magic of creative self-expression, discover new depths of friendship, and find the best bowl of ramen in the sea.
January 31
Guy’s Ultimate Family Cruise (Food Network)
The Eastern Gate (Przesmyk), Season 1 (Max Original, Poland)
After losing her pregnancy while in action, Ewa, a Polish spy, wants to withdraw from the secret service to start a normal life. But when her lover is exposed by Russian intelligence and disappears without a trace, she goes on a rescue mission. The suspense thriller series explores the high stakes battle between intelligence agencies on the global stage during an emerging conflict and international unrest.
Former New York City Assistant District Attorney and legal analyst Beth Karas lends her expertise to Investigation Discovery’s new series The Curious Case Of…. The series kicks off on January 13, 2025 with an episode focusing on the controversy surrounding Jackass star Bam Margera’s conservatorship. Additional season one episodes WILL look at a missing persons case that takes a weird twist and a self-proclaimed prophet obsessed with cats.
New episodes air on Mondays at 10pm ET/PT on ID.
Poster for ‘The Curious Case Of’ (Photo Credit: ID)
The Curious Case Of… Episode Guide
The Curious Case Of… The Girl Who Died Twice
Premieres Monday, January 20 at 10/9c on ID
In 1981, 13-year-old Mary Day vanishes, and investigators suspect her stepfather may have killed her, but they never recover her body. Decades later, a woman claiming to be Mary appears, stirring suspicion and debate. Is this Mary Day or an imposter?
The Curious Case Of… The Orphan Impostor
Premieres Monday, February 3 at 10/9c on ID
Master conman Nicholas Rossi fakes his death to evade justice, adopts new identities and leaves a trail of alleged crimes across continents. Now resurfaced as “Arthur Knight,” he spins his most audacious con in court.
The Curious Case Of… The Funeral Home of Horrors
Premieres Monday, February 10 at 10/9c on ID
Jon and Carie Hallford’s “Return to Nature” promises eco-friendly care but instead leaves bodies decomposing in filth and provides families with concrete instead of ashes. When investigators arrive, the Hallfords flee, leaving families demanding justice and answers.
The Curious Case Of… The Doomsday Cat Cult
2-Hour Episode Premieres Monday, February 17 Beginning at 10/9c ID
Preacher Sheryl Ruthven, a self-proclaimed prophet, beguiles her followers into subservience and uses them to settle personal scores. As her beliefs grow increasingly bizarre, she demands her congregation adopt cats, believing the animals’ souls will save them in the impending apocalypse. Her manipulation drives followers into intense isolation, financial ruin, and bizarre rituals, tearing families apart and exploiting loyalty – all under the promise of salvation.
The Curious Case Of… Jodi Hildebrandt
Premieres Monday, February 24 at 10/9c on ID
Therapist Jodi Hildebrandt’s crusade against masturbation drives a wedge between couples in crisis. She forms a dark alliance with Mormon mommy vlogger Ruby Franke, but a horrifying 911 call exposes the depths of their bizarre beliefs.
Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce in ‘The Brutalist’ (Photo Credit: A24)
A24’s The Brutalist, an epic, powerful, and brilliantly crafted film, is a rare cinematic achievement. Its three-plus-hour running time is fully justified by the richness and depth of its storytelling. Every aspect of the incredible cinematic experience created by director and co-writer Brady Corbet showcases the exceptional talent of the artists involved.
Corbet and co-writer Mona Fastvold set their film in the 1940s and center it on László Tóth (Oscar winner Adrien Brody, The Pianist), a Jewish architect who barely escapes Budapest with his life. He’s forced to leave his wife, Erzsébet (Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything), and niece, Zsófia (Raffey Cassidy, White Noise), behind when he flees to America with just the shirt on his back.
He’s briefly taken in by his cousin, Attila (Alessandro Nivola, The Room Next Door), who owns a furniture store. Harry Van Buren (Joe Alwyn, Conversations with Friends) commissions the cousins to redesign a library for his incredibly wealthy father, Harrison (Guy Pearce, Memento). Unfortunately, Harrison dislikes surprises, and Attila holds László responsible when the Van Burens refuse to pay. László’s prospects seem dim after being booted from his cousin’s employment. He’s stuck doing manual labor while living in a shelter. Compounding matters, he’s addicted to heroin after suffering an injury while escaping Budapest.
The stars finally align for László once Harrison’s opinion dramatically shifts. The tycoon learns about László Toth’s Pre-Holocaust reputation in Hungary where Toth’s buildings are architectural marvels. When Harrison discovers articles featuring László’s work, the ultra-rich industrialist is uncharacteristically contrite. More importantly, Harrison has the ambition and resources to move forward on a massive community center in memory of his dear, recently departed mother.
The Van Buren Center is so important to Harrison that he invites László to live on the property. He also introduces the talented architect to a friend with the connections to bring László’s wife and niece to America. In short, he controls all aspects of László’s life and ensures his complete attention to the massive community center. Everything László does depends on the whims of Harrison Van Buren, a situation that leads to an unimaginable conclusion.
The Brutalist wouldn’t work without Adrien Brody’s or Guy Pearce’s career-defining performances. Talk about your awards-caliber work. Both Brody and Guy Pearce can expect to have full dance cards come awards season.
Brody delivers a performance as László Tóth that is powerful, raw, and deeply affecting, a physical and emotional commitment to the role that resonates long after the credits roll. Brody’s László is vulnerable to manipulation, and Guy Pearce’s Harrison Van Buren is the sociopathic, charismatic tycoon who seizes the opportunity. Dressed in fine clothing and true nature hidden behind dollar signs, Harrison’s desire to possess László is only matched by his resentment of his artistic genius. However, although Harrison has the money and power, László is the one who holds the Van Buren family legacy in his hands.
The Brutalist includes some of the most unforgettable, stunning shots of any 2024 feature. Impeccably shot by Lol Crawley, The Brutalist is a brutally honest depiction of the American dream. The film explores antisemitism, racism, and classism in all their ugliness. It also depicts sexual violence and, without being graphic, makes its impact clear.
The Brutalist offers an unflinchingly honest portrayal of the immigrant experience, highlighted by its amazing production design and a subtle yet powerful score. As László’s magnificent buildings did in the world Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold created, The Brutalist will stand the test of time.
GRADE: A
MPAA Rating: R for graphic nudity, drug use, rape, some language, and strong sexual content
Release Date: December 20, 2024 limited
Running Time: 3 hours 35 minutes
