Wendi McLendon-Covey was fired from a movie for not being 'pretty enough': 'I was put on a plane crying'

Wendi McLendon-Covey was fired from a movie for not being 'pretty enough': 'I was put on a plane crying'

Elyse Jankowski/WireImage Wendi McLendon-Covey, a series regular onThe GoldbergsandReno 911!and the current NBC comedySt. Denis Medical, and also seen in movies likeBridesmaids,Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, and the criminally underdiscussed jazz-world melodramaSylvie's Loveis — and we need to state this loud and clear — awesome and hilarious and gorgeous. But some schmuck producer somewhere out there in Hollywood doesn't agree, and hopefully some internet sleuths will figure out who the person is and shame them. McLendon-Covey made a recent appearance on theOffice Ladiespodcast hosted byJenna FischerandAngela Kinsey. If you recall, Wendi played Marie, a Winnepegian hotel concierge that hooks up withSteve CarellonThe Office's season 5 episode "Business Trip." Though she shot her (very memorable) scenes rather quickly, her time onThe Officeset was sandwiched between two slaps in the face. Amanda Edwards/Getty "I had just been fired off a movie," McLendon-Covey recalled. "I had auditioned. I had done all these things. They flew me out to Michigan. I was there one night, got in the passenger van to go to set, and the money guy decided I was not pretty enough to do the role. So I was put on a plane crying to go right back to L.A." After gasps, forehead smacking and a "Holy crap!" from Fischer, McLendon-Covey decided to rise above the incident and not mention the name of the film or the "money guy" who fired her. She even framed the story in a positive way. "It was pretty brutal and yet a blessing because that movie went nowhere," she added. "And I would have had to be in Michigan for seven weeks waiting to film for only five days, on intermittent days." She theorized that "sometimes you're in the wrong place, and something horrible has to happen to get you in the right place." And that right place was with Michael Scott. "When I land in L.A.," she explained, "I look at my phone, and my phone's blowing up because I had gotten an offer to doThe Office.The next day. So thank god I got fired, right? Because nobody saw that movie, but everybody saw this." Mic drop! NBC McLendon-Covey then talked about how much fun it was to work with (and kiss) Steve Carell, but added that there were other troubles happening in her career at the time. "[We began on] a Friday. The weekend goes on. Monday, I come back, and during lunch, I'm in my trailer eating. I get a call that I'm not gonna be onRenoanymore," she said. "So, I am sobbing in my trailer. I was like, ugh. I mean, I was like, 'Well, now I'm gonna get fired fromthisjob because I can't collect myself. It was terrible." Comedy Central Rough week! Who can't relate? McLendon-Covey, whose career has more than bounced back ever since, concluded, "But the experience was so [much] fun, and Steve Carell is a doll. I love the way the episode turned out." Sign up forEntertainment Weekly's free daily newsletterto get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. For more of Wendi McLendon-Covey's stories onOffice Ladies, which are not all tales of woe, you can check out the link below. Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byAlpha World

in

September 01, 2025

Wendi McLendon-Covey was fired from a movie for not being 'pretty enough': 'I was put on a plane crying'

Wendi McLendon-Covey was fired from a movie for not being 'pretty enough': 'I was put on a plane crying' Elyse Jankowski/Wir...

Read More

Cate Blanchett Beams as Jim Jarmusch’s Family Tale ‘Father Mother Sister Brother’ Scores 5-Minute Venice Ovation

Cate Blanchett Beams as Jim Jarmusch's Family Tale 'Father Mother Sister Brother' Scores 5-Minute Venice Ovation

Cate Blanchett's newest movie, "Father Mother Sister Brother" from indie auteur Jim Jarmusch, premiered at Venice Film Festival on Sunday night to a five-minute standing ovation. Blanchett, who plays a pair of sisters with Vicky Krieps in the slice-of-life tale of three different families, positively beamed as the applause roared in the Sala Grande theater. As the credits rolled, director Jarmusch paused to give each of his leading ladies — including Blanchett, Krieps, Charlotte Rampling, Mayim Bialik and Indya Moore — a kiss on the hand. Luka Sabbat was representing the men in the film at the premiere, as Adam Driver and Tom Waits — who play a father and son in the film — were unable to attend. After five minutes of clapping, the director gave a nod to his cast and they began to file out of the theater. More from Variety Jude Law Commands Venice as Putin in 'The Wizard of the Kremlin,' Earning 10-Minute Ovation 'Father Mother Sister Brother' Review: A Starry Cast Excels in Jim Jarmusch's Charming Triplicate Portrait of Familial (Mis)Understanding Variety's Venice Digital Daily, Day 3: Del Toro & Co. Dissect 'Frankenstein' The movie is a triptych, following three separate stories set in different countries and revolving around relationships between adult children, their somewhat distant parents and each other. The first part, "Father," is set in the Northeastern U.S., "Mother" is in Dublin, Ireland and "Sister Brother" takes place in Paris, France. The premiere marks Jarmusch's first time on the Lido in 22 years since debuting "Coffee & Cigarettes" at the festival in 2003. A Cannes regular, Jarmusch has presented many films on the Croisette, including "The Dead Don't Die" in 2019, which played on opening night. Producers on "Father Mother Sister Brother" are Charles Gillibert ("Annette"), Joshua Astrachan, Carter Logan and Atilla Salih Yücer. The film is produced by Saint Laurent Prods., Mubi and the Apartment (a Fremantle company) with Jarmusch's Badjetlag and Gillibert's CG Cinema. Ireland's Richard Bolger and Conor Barry of Hail Mary co-produced. The film was also backed by Fís Éireann/ Screen Ireland and received equity financing from Cinema Inutile. Mubi will distribute the film theatrically in North America, Latin America, the U.K., Ireland, Benelux, Turkey and India. Cinéart will release it in Benelux in collaboration with Mubi. Best of Variety Samsung, Sonos, Criterion Collection Among Top Brands on Sale for Labor Day - See Running List Here What's Coming to Disney+ in September 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

byAlpha World

in

September 01, 2025

Cate Blanchett Beams as Jim Jarmusch’s Family Tale ‘Father Mother Sister Brother’ Scores 5-Minute Venice Ovation

Cate Blanchett Beams as Jim Jarmusch's Family Tale 'Father Mother Sister Brother' Scores 5-Minute Venice Ovation Cate Blanchett...

Read More

Explainer-The slow train from North Korea: How Kim Jong Un travels to China

Explainer-The slow train from North Korea: How Kim Jong Un travels to China

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un left Pyongyang by train on Monday on his way to Beijing, Yonhap news agency reported, relying on a slow but specialised form of transport that the reclusive country's leaders have used for decades. It was not clear which train he used, but in the past he has used bulletproof trains that offer a safer and more comfortable space for a large entourage, security guards, food and amenities, and a place to discuss agendas ahead of meetings, experts say. Since becoming leader in late 2011, Kim has used a train to visit China, Vietnam, and Russia. WHAT'S INSIDE THE TRAINS? It is unclear how many trains North Korean leaders have used over the years, but Ahn Byung-min, a South Korean expert on North Korean transportation, has said multiple trains were needed for security reasons. Ahn said those trains have 10 to 15 carriages each, some of which are used only by the leader, such as a bedroom, but others carry security guards and medical staff. They also usually have space for Kim's office, communications equipment, a restaurant, and several car transportation carriages for two armoured Mercedes, he added. A video released in 2018 by North Korean state TV showed Kim meeting with top Chinese officials in a wide train car ringed with pink couches. The video also showed the carriage housing Kim's office, with a desk and chair, and a map of China and the Korean peninsula on the wall behind it. In 2020, state TV footage showed Kim riding a train to visit a typhoon-hit area, offering a glimpse of a carriage decorated with flower-shaped lighting and zebra-printed fabric chairs. In the 2002 book "Orient Express", Russian official Konstantin Pulikovsky described a three-week journey to Moscow by Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un's father and predecessor. In that train, cases of Bordeaux and Beaujolais wine were flown in from Paris, as were live lobsters, according to the book. HOW DOES IT CROSS BORDERS? When Kim Jong Un took the train to Russia, including in 2023 for a summit with President Vladimir Putin, its wheel assemblies had to be reconfigured at a border station because the two countries use different rail gauges, Ahn said. While there is no such requirement for China, a Chinese locomotive pulls the train once it crosses the border, because a local engineer knows the rail system and signals, said Kim Han-tae, a South Korean former train engineer who has written a book on North Korea's railways. To travel to previous summits with Xi, Kim's specially equipped string of train carriages was usually hauled by matching green DF11Z locomotives, Chinese-made engines sporting the emblem of the state-owned China Railway Corporation, with at least three different serial registration numbers, according to a review of media images. Ahn noted the serial numbers were either 0001 or 0002, suggesting China was providing him with engines reserved for the most senior officials. And when Kim travelled across China to his 2019 summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Vietnam, his train was pulled by a red-and-yellow locomotive emblazoned with China's national railway logo. The train can reach speeds of up to 80 kph (50 mph) on China's network, compared with a maximum of about 45 kph (28 mph) on North Korea's tracks, Ahn said. WHO USES THE TRAINS? North Korea's founding leader, Kim Il Sung, Kim's grandfather, travelled abroad by train regularly during his rule until his death in 1994. Kim Jong Il relied solely on trains to visit Russia three times, including a 20,000 km trip to Moscow in 2001. He died of a reported heart attack in late 2011 while on one of his trains and the carriage is on display at his mausoleum. The train has been at the centre of state propaganda around the ruling Kim family's embarking on long train journeys to meet ordinary North Koreans across the country. In 2022 state television showed Kim Jong Un taking what it termed an "exhaustive train tour" around North Korea to inspect corn crops and promote a "communist utopia". (Reporting by Ju-min Park and Josh SmithEditing by Frances Kerry)

byAlpha World

in

September 01, 2025

Explainer-The slow train from North Korea: How Kim Jong Un travels to China

Explainer-The slow train from North Korea: How Kim Jong Un travels to China SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un left Pyongyang ...

Read More

Leading genocide scholars organization says Israeli action in Gaza is genocide

Leading genocide scholars organization says Israeli action in Gaza is genocide

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The largest professional organization of scholars studying genocide said Monday that Israel is committing genocidein Gaza. The determination by the International Association of Genocide Scholars — which has around 500 members worldwide, including a number of Holocaust experts — could serve to further isolate Israel in global public opinion and adds to agrowing chorusof organizations that have used the term for Israel's actions in Gaza. Israel has repeatedly rejected the accusation. "Israel's policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide," as well as crimes against humanity and war crimes, according to group's resolution, which was supported by 86% of those who voted. The organization did not release the specifics of the voting. "People who are experts in the study of genocide can see this situation for what it is," Melanie O'Brien, the organization's president and a professor of international law at the University of Western Australia, told The Associated Press. Genocide was codifiedin a 1948 convention drawn up after the horrors of the Holocaust that defines it as acts "committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group." The United Nations and many Western countries have said only a court can rule on whether the crime has been committed. A case against Israel is before the U.N.'s highest court. Israel — founded in part as a refuge in the wake of the Holocaust, when some 6 million European Jews were murdered — has vehemently denied it is committing genocide. It has called the accusation an antisemitic "blood libel," and said thatHamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attackthat sparked the war was itself a genocidal act. In that attack, Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251.Forty-eight hostagesremain in Gaza, around 20 of whom Israel believes are alive. The scholars organization's resolution begins with an acknowledgment that the attack "constitutes international crimes." Israel's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In Israel's offensive since Oct. 7, 2023, large swaths of Gaza have been leveled and most of the territory's 2 million people have been displaced. More than 63,000 Palestinians have died, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters or civilians but that around half have been women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. The U.N. and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on war casualties. Israel disputes the figures but has not provided its own. Israel says it makes every effort to avoid harming civilians and blames Hamas for their deaths because the militants fight in densely populated areas. It says Hamasis prolonging the warby not surrendering and releasing the hostages. Israel's supporters point out that its powerful military could kill far more Palestinians if it wanted to. Genocide scholars say there is no numerical threshold for the crime. The scholars group, founded in 1994, has previously held thatChina's treatment of the minority Muslim Uighursand Myanmar's brutal crackdown onRohingya Muslimsmeet the threshold for genocide. In 2006, the organization said statements by then-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in which he called for Israel to be "wiped off the map," had "genocidal intent" and called for urgent action to be taken. In July, two prominent Israeli rights groups — B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel — said their country is committing genocide in Gaza. The organizations do not reflect mainstream thinking in Israel, but it marked the first time that local Jewish-led organizations have made such accusations. International human rights groupshave also leveledthe allegation. Meanwhile, South Africa hasaccused Israel of breaching the Genocide Conventionat the International Court of Justice — an allegation Israel rejects. A final ruling could take years. The courtdoes not have a police force to implement its rulingsbut if a nation believes another member has failed to comply with an ICJ order, it can report that to the U.N. Security Council. The council has tools that range from sanctions to authorizing military action, but all actions require support from at least nine of 15 council nations and no veto by a permanent member — the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France. U.S.President Donald Trump, whose country is Israel's staunchest backer, has said he does not believe genocide is taking place.

byAlpha World

in

September 01, 2025

Leading genocide scholars organization says Israeli action in Gaza is genocide

Leading genocide scholars organization says Israeli action in Gaza is genocide THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The largest professional organi...

Read More

30 Best Movies on HBO Max to Stream Now (Including Box Office Hits and Oscar-Winning Films!)

30 Best Movies on HBO Max to Stream Now (Including Box Office Hits and Oscar-Winning Films!)

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Despitemultiplerebrands, one thing's remained the same: HBO Max's movie catalog never disappoints. From critically acclaimed A24 indies to blockbuster hits, the streamer offers a massive film library you can't help but browse. If endless scrolling isn't your idea of a good time, we've done the work for you. Whether you're afterAcademy Awardcontenders likeThe Zone of Interest, popular franchises likeThe Hunger GamesandThe Lord of the Ringsor box-office sensations such asBarbieandDune, there's something for everyone. Keep reading for the best flicks streaming on HBO Max. Warner Bros. InRyan Coogler'ssupernatural thriller set in 1932,Michael B. Jordanpulls double duty as twins Elijah "Smoke" and Elias "Stack" Moore, who return to their Mississippi hometown from Chicago to rally old friends and launch a juke joint for their community. However, on opening night, the music and revelry are cut short when evil sneaks through the door. WatchSinnerson HBO Max Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Bong Joon Ho's first directorial feature since 2020'sParasiteis a sci-fi black comedy starringRobert Pattinsonas Mickey Barnes, a disposable crew member on a mission to colonize the ice planet Niflheim. As an "Expendable," Mickey isreprinted with his memoriesevery time he dies. However, after his 17th version unexpectedly survives a mission, a new 18th clone is already in rotation — leaving two Mickeys alive and one slated for annihilation. WatchMickey 17on HBO Max UFO Distribution This Oscar-winning,dialogue-free animated feature— thefirst Latvian film ever recognized by the Academy— follows an orphaned cat forced to flee their home as rising waters engulf a post-apocalyptic world. Along the way, the cat joins forces with former foes of various species aboard a boat in search of dry land and a new beginning. WatchFlowon HBO Max Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstock HBO Max isstreaming the entireHunger Gamesfilm franchisefor your viewing. Based on the best-selling young adult series, these adaptations starJennifer Lawrenceas Katniss Everdeen, a young woman living in the dystopian country of Panem. In the first two installments, Katniss is forced to take part in a televised survival competition, whereas theMockingjaymovies focus on an underground rebellion. WatchThe Hunger Gamesfilms on HBO Max A24 Married with children, tech CEO Romy Mathis (Nicole Kidman) finds her world turned inside out when she meets Samuel (Harris Dickinson), a mysterious yet commanding intern nearly 30 years her junior. The two then dive headfirst into a steamy affair centered around a submission kink, with Samuel using it to leverage control over Romy's career and personal life. WatchBabygirlon HBO Max Dominic Leon/A24 Wrongfully imprisoned, John "Divine G" Whitfield (Colman Domingo)finds an unexpected sense of purposein a small prison theater group. After recruiting a reluctant inmate (Clarence "Divine Eye" Maclin), Divine G stages a production ofA Midsummer Night's Dreamand proves that art not only brings joy but holds a rehabilitative power. WatchSing Singon HBO Max Courtesy of A24 In John Crowley's drama,Andrew GarfieldandFlorence Pughportray a couplereflecting on their unorthodox love story. Brought together by a not-so-romantic encounter, they fall in love and build a happy dream life — until time plays its cruel trick, showing them a brutal truth that pushes them to hold tight to what they have. WatchWe Live in Timeon HBO Max Yannis Drakoulidis/Courtesy of A24 William Lee (Daniel Craig) — a middle-aged American expat in 1950s Mexico City — spends his days lost in a haze of parties and one-night stands with younger men. That is, until he meets Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey), an American soldier whosparks a new infatuationin William. As the chase turns into a meaningful relationship, William begins to believe that genuine intimacy might finally be within his reach. WatchQueeron HBO Max A24 When two young Mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), visit the home of reclusive Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), they believe his interest in the Church of Latter-day Saints is genuine, and their time hasn't been wasted. However, they soon discover they've fallen into his trap, as hesubjects them to psychological tormentmeant to undermine their faith and belief systems. WatchHereticon HBO Max A24 As a blissfully unaware 11-year-old, Sophie (Frankie Corio, with Celia Rowlson Hall playing the older version) makes core memories basking in the Turkish sun with her lively and kind father, Calum (Paul Mescal) — who hides his inner struggles from her. Two decades later, Sophie revisits their last holiday through her miniDV recordings and an adult perspective, finding the nuances she once overlooked in her youth. WatchAftersunon HBO Max A24 Sebastian Stan(in aGolden Globe-winning performance) is Edward, a struggling actor living with extreme facial disfigurement. After a groundbreaking medical procedurecompletely changes his features, Edward assumes the new identity of "Guy Moratz." However, his well-constructed facade is tested when Oswald (Adam Pearson) — another actor with the same condition — arrives at the theater where "Guy" performs and secures the role Edward has spent his life already being. WatchA Different Manon HBO Max Parisa Taghizadeh/Warner Bros. "The Juice is loose!" Over three decades since the 1988 classic, the long-awaitedBeetlejuicesequelbrings back some familiar faces, includingMichael KeatonandWinona Ryder— whilesprinkling plenty of nods to the original— and welcoming fresh flesh likeJenna OrtegaandJustin Theroux. Step once more intoTim Burton's macabre universe as a grown-up Lydia Deetz (Ryder) whodesperately conjures up Beetlejuiceto help save her daughter, Astrid (Ortega), from the Afterlife. WatchBeetlejuice Beetlejuiceon HBO Max A24 Civil Warpresents a dystopian, alternate reality of the United States. Written and directed by Alex Garland — the filmmaker behindEx Machina(2014),Annihilation(2018) andMen(2022) — this A24 thriller follows a team of journalists making the perilous journey from New York City to Washington, D.C., as a fictional American civil war reaches its final, chaotic days. The movie features an all-star ensemble, includingKirsten Dunst,Cailee Spaeny, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson andNick Offerman(as well asDunst's real-life husband,Jesse Plemons, ina terrifying confrontation sequence). WatchCivil Waron HBO Max Studio Ghibli From the studio that brought you animated classics likeSpirited Away(2001),Howl's Moving Castle(2004) andPonyo(2008) comes a tale about the companionship between 12-year-old Mahito and a talking bird. When Mahito struggles to adjust to life after his mother's death, he meets a heron who reveals that his mother is still alive, leading him to an abandoned tower that opens the door to a fantastical world. The film is available in both English and Japanese, with its English voice cast boasting Luca Padovan, Pattinson,Gemma Chan,Christian Bale,Mark Hamill, Pugh,Willem Dafoe,Dave Bautistaand more. WatchThe Boy and the Heronon HBO Max Warner Bros. Pictures Nearly a decade after 2015'sMad Max: Fury Road,George Millerreturns with 2024'sFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga, revealing the origins ofCharlize Theron's iconic apocalyptic warrior before she became the fierce Imperator we know now. This thrilling prequel starsAnya Taylor-Joyas Furiosa and Alyla Browne as young Furiosa, who is abducted by the savage warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) — leader of the Biker Horde — and spends the next decade in captivity plotting her revenge and escape. WatchFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagaon HBO Max Anna Kooris/A24 Set in 1989 New Mexico,Rose Glass' 2024 neo-noir romantic thriller starsKristen Stewartas Lou, a withdrawn gym manager raised by a local crime lord and gunrunner. However, when Lou develops a hefty infatuation with Jackie (Katy O'Brian) — a go-getting bodybuilder making a pitstop before competing in Las Vegas — she must shield her from her father's grid of corruption and violence. WatchLove Lies Bleedingon HBO Max Niko Tavernise Adapting the second half ofFrank Herbert's 1965 sci-fi tome,Denis Villeneuve'sDune: Part Tworesumes on planet Arrakis as Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) rallies Chani (Zendaya), Stilgar (Javier Bardem) and the Fremen against the Harkonnens, the household who wrecked Paul's family and murdered his father in the first film. With the fate of the known universe at stake, Paul has to choose between love and the prevention of a dire future. The movie also features a star-studded ensemble, includingJosh Brolin,Austin Butler,Christopher Walken, Bautista and Pugh. WatchDune: Part Twoon HBO Max A24/Twitter A24's 2023 sports dramachronicles the real-life sagaofthe Von Erich brothers, who body-slammed their way into professional wrestling esteem in the 1980s while shouldering multiple family tragedies and the burden of their father's (Holt McCallany) towering legacy in the ring. Helmed by Sean Durkin,The Iron Clawfeatures a stacked cast, includingZac Efron,Jeremy Allen White, Dickinson,Stanley Simons,Lily Jamesand more. WatchThe Iron Clawon HBO Max Courtesy of A24 Jonathan Glazer's unsettling historical drama masterfully employs sound — whichearned it an Oscarin 2024 — and what remains unseen to depict the horrors of the Holocaust.The Zone of Interestdelves into the lives of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller) and their children as they enjoy domestic paradise directly next to the concentration camp. WatchThe Zone of Intereston HBO Max Courtesy of A24 Have you ever found yourself meetingNicolas Cagein your dreams? Well, in this 2023 fantasy comedy, he's popping up in everyone's.Dream Scenariofeatures Cage as biology professor Paul Matthews, who unexpectedly becomes a viral sensation when his likeness starts showing up in people's subconscious. WatchDream Scenarioon HBO Max Moviestore/Shutterstock Based on theScott Pilgrimgraphic novels, this 2010 action comedyknows how to pack a punch. After falling for Manic Pixie Dream Girl Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), musician Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) has to defeat all seven of her evil exes through arcade-style fight sequences. The critically acclaimed film also features an ensemble cast, includingKieran Culkin,Chris Evans,Brie Larson,Anna Kendrick,Aubrey Plazaand more. WatchScott Pilgrim vs. the Worldon HBO Max Warner Bros./Everett Collection Craving a sweet escape? Inhis first-ever musical role— which later served him wellplaying the iconic singerBob Dylanin 2024'sA Complete Unknown— Chalamet slips into the comically large top hat of the titular chocolatier first introduced inRoald Dahl's 1964 novel,Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. With the help of unexpected allies, a mix of ambition and a sprinkle of genius (and giraffe milk?), the young Wonka wields his "pure imagination" to carve his place in the confectionery world in this 2023 prequel movie. WatchWonkaon HBO Max Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures Almost two decades after her 2004 stint onAmerican Idol— and reprising a role she played on Broadway —Fantasia Barrinomade her feature film debut in 2023 as Celie Harris, a compassionate Black woman navigating a lifetime of harrowing challenges in the early-1900s U.S. South. Based on the stage musical (inspired byAlice Walker's seminal 1982 novel),The Color Purpleboasts stellar performances from an ensemble cast, includingTaraji P. Henson,Danielle Brooks, Domingo,Corey Hawkins,H.E.R.,Halle BaileyandPhylicia Pearl Mpasi, among others. WatchThe Color Purpleon HBO Max Philippe Le Sourd/A24 In contrast toBaz Luhrmann'sacclaimed 2022 biopicElvis— which focused on the rise and fall of theKing of Rock and Roll's career — the following yearoffered another side of his storythrough a different perspective. Drawing fromPriscilla Presley's 1985 memoirElvis and Me,Sofia Coppoladelves into the lesser-known, more uncomfortable facets of Priscilla's (Spaney)sensationalized relationship with Elvis(Jacob Elordi). Despite its lack of recognition at the Oscars, the biographical dramadazzles with its evocative cinematography, detailed costumes and asoundtrack devoid of Elvis' hits. WatchPriscillaon HBO Max Warner Bros. Pictures Hi Barbie! In this$1.4 billion-earning fantasy adventurefromGreta Gerwig,Margot Robbiesteps into the high heels of Stereotypical Barbie, who travels to the Real World to find her owner and prevent their existential musings from rubbing off on her. Oh, and Ken (Ryan Gosling) is there, too — getting a crash course on the patriarchy. Join the fun inBarbie Land, whereBarbies and Kens(and Cera's Allan) are played by stars likeIssa Rae,Kate McKinnon,Simu Liu,Ncuti Gatwa,Dua Lipaand more. WatchBarbieon HBO Max Villeneuve's 2021 film adaptation is sprawling. With a star-studded cast that includes Chalamet, Zendaya,Oscar Isaac,Jason Momoaand more,Dunefollows Paul (Chalamet), the heir of House Atreides, as he's thrust into a war over a life-extending drug, "the spice." However, Paul has trouble focusing on politics when he begins to have powerful visions of his own. WatchDuneon HBO Max Settle in for a movie marathon withTheLord of the Ringstrilogy(and it will be a marathon — in total, the three films span over 11 hours).J.R.R. Tolkien's classic tales of Middle-earth follow hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and the Fellowship of the Ring as they embark on a quest to destroy the One Ring. Featuring performances fromOrlando Bloom,Sir Ian McKellenandCate Blanchett, theLord of the Ringsfranchise is a necessary binge for any fantasy lover. WatchThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy on HBO Max Joaquin Phoenix's harrowing depiction of the classic DC villainearned him an Oscar for Best Actorin 2020. His celebrated performance also led to the 2024 musical sequelFolie à Deux,costarringLady Gagaas Harley Quinn.Jokertracks Arthur Fleck, a feeble clown and struggling stand-up comedian, as he descends into madness and slowly becomes the famed criminal mastermind. WatchJokeron HBO Max Stanley Kubrick's trippy2001: A Space Odysseyexplores the meaning of humanity itself. Known for its pioneering special effects and scientifically accurate portrayal of space flight, the 1968 epic sci-fi film zeroes in on a group of astronauts (Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood and William Sylvester) and the sentient supercomputer named HAL (voiced by Douglas Rain) as they investigate an alien monolith on Jupiter. Watch2001: A Space Odysseyon HBO Max In one of the greatestmusical filmsof all time,Gene Kelly,Debbie Reynoldsand Donald O'Connor star as three silent film stars working on their first "talkie" to keep up with the industry's transition to sound. With iconic numbers like "Make 'Em Laugh," "Broadway Melody" and, of course, "Singin' in the Rain," the film is sure to put a smile on your face. WatchSingin' in the Rainon HBO Max Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

in

September 01, 2025

30 Best Movies on HBO Max to Stream Now (Including Box Office Hits and Oscar-Winning Films!)

30 Best Movies on HBO Max to Stream Now (Including Box Office Hits and Oscar-Winning Films!) Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Despitemultip...

Read More