Reese Witherspoon has been a consistent presence on our screens for years, giving us iconic characters from Election’s Tracy Flick to Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods to Walk the Line’s June Carter Cash (the latter of which earned her an Oscar). As the actress approaches a milestone birthday, she’s taking a sweet look back at her decades in Hollywood and exploring how she’s grown personally and professionally over time.

It’s hard to believe that Reese Witherspoon is turning 50 on March 22, or that she’s been entertaining us for so long after starting her acting career at just 15 years old (1991’s The Man in the Moon). Spending the majority of your life in the entertainment industry will undoubtedly shape who you are, and the actress took a trip down memory lane in an Instagram post that began:

It was in her 40s that Reese Witherspoon boasted TV series and movies like Little Fires Everywhere, The Morning Show and You’re Cordially Invited, not to mention the projects she produced but didn’t star in, including Where the Crawdads Sing and Daisy Jones & The Six. (Her affinity for book-to-screen adaptations is both obvious and appreciated.)

She continued her walk down memory lane, writing:

Wild is without a doubt one of Reese Witherspoon’s best movies, earning her a second Academy Award nomination, and it was one that — along with the HBO series — she considers a turning point in her 30s. As for the decade that came before, she wrote:

It’s really interesting to look back on these stages of Reese Witherspoon’s life and career, and how she went from being a young mother juggling a demanding schedule to a producer whose passion is to tell women’s stories. Her children have even followed in her footsteps, with Deacon Phillippe co-starring in a Liam Neeson action flick that’s set to hit the 2026 movie calendar this summer, and Ava Phillippe making her acting debut last year on Doctor Odyssey.

Her children’s careers may be part of what makes Reese Witherspoon’s 50s special, but she’s not slowing down either, as she concluded her post by saying there are “more stories to tell, more women to cheer on, and more ways to keep learning and growing.” Bring on the new decade!

One thing I’ve always appreciated about Reese Witherspoon is her love of Christmas. Whether she’s sharing her always-excellent holiday decor or showing off her adorable (and now very college-aged) children, it comes off like the actress appreciates both the aesthetic and the coziness of the holiday season, something I also very much identify with. So, I wasn’t surprised when she took to social to give everyone an update on Deacon and Ava, not to mention the younger Tenn, but I was surprised by the fun Laura Dern cameo that popped up.

‘Tis the season for sparkly fashion, big Christmas trees, fancy charcuterie boards, snow, and plenty of shopping sprees. Witherspoon looks like she’s been a busy lady the last few weeks, “making merry,” as she herself put it. There’s a bunch of cute photos from her celebrity holiday, including one semi-matching fashion photo with Ava, but if you scroll to the end you’ll see the actress shopping with her Big Little Lies pal Dern.

The two are fairly frequent collaborators in Hollywood, with projects like Wild, Big Little Lies and the producing collaboration Tiny Beautiful Things under their collective belt.

Reese famously said Dern taught her so many wonderful things. They cemented their friendship during their time together promoting Wild, where they initially grew close. She famously told the New York Times that it was the taller actress who taught her to “love red vines” and how to correctly wear “brown lipstick.”

A lot of times when actors spend a ton of time together on a set, they then move on to other projects and may not hear from one another for years, if ever. It’s nice to see this hasn’t been the case with Reese Witherspoon and her Wild pal, who are clearly bffs still. The two absolutely make time for one another, even during the busy holiday season. The whole thing makes my holiday heart grow three sizes larger (not that it needed to get any bigger; I’m no grinch, y’all.)

Anyway, there’s nothing I love more than the holidays, and there’s nothing I love to report on more than celebrities making the best of their own holiday seasons. I’m so glad we got these pics, and if you haven’t taken a look yet, yes, they also include a lot of commenters talking about how Reese and Ava are “twins.” Though, we all know how dad Ryan Philippe actually feels about who looks like who.

There are a ton of dramatic and funny stories that come from the lives of single parents. Movies and TV shows have often leaned into relationships like this across basically every genre. Sometimes they are fun and funny, and sometimes, just like real life, they are serious or heartbreaking. This list doesn't separate them, as it all adds to the rich tapestry of life. Here's our list of great movies and TV shows about the lives of single parents.

Jerry Maguire

Jerry Maguire is a movie that kind of defies genre, but at its heart, it's certainly a romance story. One of the best parts of the movie is the performance of child actor Jonathan Lipnicki, who plays an only child living with his single mother (at least at the beginning of the movie). Renée Zellweger, of course, plays his mother, whose faith in Jerry (Tom Cruise) pays off big time for everyone.

Diff'rent Strokes

In Diff'rent Strokes, Mr. Drummond (Conrad Bain) is already a widowed parent of two kids when he takes in two more kids, Willis (Todd Bridges) and Arnold (Gary Coleman). The two kids upend the lives of the rich family on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, much to the delight of audiences of the Gen X classic.

The Sound Of Music

If all you know about The Sound of Music is that the hills are alive, you might not realize that it's about a single father raising his seven children in Austria. Maria, played by the legendary Julie Andrews, is hired to help Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), and she brings so much more to the table.

Gilmore Girls

One of the most popular TV shows about a single mom and her relationship with her daughter is unquestionably Gilmore Girls. The show gained a very loyal following over its seven-season run, and it remains incredibly popular with the people who were drawn to it in the first place.

Mom

There are really two kinds of family sitcoms in TV history, one side is the idyllic family with perfect relationships, personified by shows like The Cosby Show and The Brady Bunch, and the other is more dysfunctional families, like Married with Children. Mom, starring Allison Janney and Anna Faris, definitely falls into the latter category. Still, at least until Faris left the show, it was hilarious.

Sleepless In Seattle

Rom-coms like the '90s classic Sleepless in Seattle are always fertile ground to explore single-parent/child relationships. In the movie, Tom Hanks is a widower raising his son who grabs the attention of a journalist (Meg Ryan) after his son calls a radio talk show looking for a partner for his dad. It's a sweet story, of course, and the dynamic between father and son is so darn wholesome! It helps make it one of the best rom-coms of all time.

The Single Moms Club

The Tyler Perry joint The Single Moms Club is a unique take here. It doesn't follow one single mom, but five. The five, who have little in common beyond their marital status, find themselves thrown together planning an event at their kids' school because all of their kids keep getting in trouble. It plays out pretty much as you expect, but it is charming at times.

Forrest Gump

I'll be the first to admit that I don't care for Forrest Gump. I think it's overwrought Boomer nostalgia (albeit with a great soundtrack). However, the one piece of the story I do think is well done is the relationship between Forrest (Tom Hanks) and his mother, played by Sally Field. Forrest's mom's determination to give Forrest as normal a life is actually inspiring, despite all the silliness that follows in Forrest's life. D- movie, A+ relationship.

Arrested Development

The dynamic between Michael (Jason Bateman) and his son George Michael (Michael Cera) is one of the key components that makes Arrested Development one of my favorite sitcoms of all time. Bateman plays the straight man in the show, surrounded by completely ridiculous family members, and George Michael is definitely among them, even if he is trying a little harder than the rest of the family to be a good person.

Erin Brockovich

Julia Roberts plays the real-life Erin Brockovich in the movie of the same name, and while her status as a single mother is only tangentially explored in the movie, it's the whole reason the character (and the real woman) ended up in a position to do what she did. Never underestimate a determined single mother!

Stranger Things

I have a complicated relationship with Stranger Things. I think the plot is brilliant and I love the stories, but I am on record as a Gen Xer who is annoyed with Gen X nostalgia. Obviously, the show, available with a Netflix subscription, fits the bill for this list, no matter how I feel about it.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

"Single Parent" might not be the first thing that pops into your head when you think about the Terminator franchise, but the relationship between Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and John (Edward Furlong) is critical to the series, and no more so than in the second installment, Terminator 2: Judgment Day. It's certainly not a traditional mother/son relationship.

Julia

You might not be familiar with the ABC sitcom Julia, but it was one of the most groundbreaking television shows of all time. Diahann Carroll, who played Julia, a single mother of a son, changed TV forever, both as a female lead in a sitcom and as an African-American actor as the lead in any show. The fact that she was a single mom is yet another way she broke new ground.

Mamma Mia!

Like a few other movies on this list, Mamma Mia! might not jump off the page as a single-parent story, but, of course, it is. Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried play mother and daughter, and, like others on this list as well, it's about the daughter hoping to set up the parent with a new partner.

The Parent Trap

I just had to include The Parent Trap. It's not about one single parent, but two! Sure, they were once married to each other, and sure, the plot, when you really look at it, is, frankly, disturbing. Like, why were two twins separated at birth and never told of the other one? How was this the deal that the demented parent came up with? Still, whether it's the original or the remake, everyone loves the movies, including me.

Maid In Manhattan

The Jennifer Lopez hit Maid in Manhattan is one of the trope-ier movies on this list. It kind of checks all the boxes for a standard rom-com, yet somehow it is still incredibly fun. Lopez plays a single mom trying to make it in the big city and... well... there's a rich guy, and yadda yadda yadda.

Ginny And Georgia

Almost immediately, Ginny & Georgia drew comparisons to The Gilmore Girls, and it's easy to see why. The dynamic between teen daughter Ginny and her mother, Georgia, is very similar to the one between Rory and Lorelai.

Reba

Not only was Reba one of the best shows set in the South, it also firmly belongs on this list as a great show about a single parent. The show stars Country music icon Reba McEntire as a mother of three whose husband leaves her for a younger woman, and she is left to pick up the pieces.

Panic Room

One of the more underrated David Fincher movies, Panic Room is a true thriller about a mother and daughter. Jodie Foster plays a mother who moves into a new house with her young daughter after a divorce. On their first night in the new (very nice) brownstone, some burglars break in. Luckily, there's a panic room! Okay, it doesn't sound great when you break it down like that, but like most of Fincher's movies, it's actually pretty great.

Parenthood

While it's loosely based on the 1989 movie of the same name, the television show Parenthood is quite a bit different from the movie. On the show, Lauren Graham plays Sarah, the single mother of two working on a bartender's salary. There are other parents, of course, Sarah's siblings, who aren't single, but Lauren's story is key to the show.

One Day At A Time

One Day At A Time, which was later rebooted in the 2010s, starred Bonnie Franklin as a single mother struggling to raise her teenage daughters in a small apartment in Indianapolis. It was a cornerstone show for anyone who grew up in the '70s and '80s, as it was a staple of reruns in syndication after its nine-season run on CBS.

Full House

Well, you knew I had to include Full House on this show. Even though I was personally a little too old to get into this show when it was on, I certainly recognize the cultural impact of the Tanner family and the stars that this show produced, including Bob Saget as Danny Tanner, the widowed father of DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle.

One Fine Day

Just when George Clooney was really becoming George Clooney, he starred in the rom-com One Fine Day alongside Michelle Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer plays a single mom struggling with her ex to raise their child. Enter Clooney's character, Jack, who is also recently divorced, and after a series of hijinks, the two end up finding love with each other. Yeah, it's as cheesy as it sounds, but Pfeiffer and Clooney make it work better than it should.

Shameless

Shameless was never ashamed to show the dark side of a dysfunctional family, and no family in TV history has been as messed up as the Gallaghers. At the top of the heap of screwups is Frank, the hapless, drunk father played brilliantly by William H. Macy. You can't help but love this group of misfits.

Overboard

One of the most enduring relationships in Hollywood is the one between Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. In the '80s, they teamed up a few times, and one of the best has to be Overboard. Hawn plays a snobby, rich woman with amnesia, and Russell plays a working-class guy who is raising his kids on his own. He devises a plan (that is quite disturbing in hindsight) to trick Hawn into living with the family. Hilarity ensues.

The Andy Griffith Show

The Andy Griffith Show is the quintessential show based in the South, and it's easy to forget, unless you watched it, that Andy was a single father raising Opie (Ron Howard). Sure, he had Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier) there to help out, but he was a single dad, and that was pretty rare on TV in the '60s.

No Reservations

Yet another rom-com on this list, No Reservations, is about Kate, a hard-charging chef played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, who becomes guardian for her niece (Abigail Breslin) when her sister is killed in a car crash. She finds a way through her grief with a new sous chef who threatens her job, but opens up her heart, played by Aaron Eckhart.

My Three Sons

One of the earliest examples of a TV show about a single parent is the 1960s classic My Three Sons, starring Fred MacMurray as a single dad with, you guessed it, three sons. It's all right there in the title!

Mommie Dearest

When I was a kid, my mom loved to make fun of Joan Crawford (hey, it was a thing), and that was in large part due to this movie, Mommie Dearest. While the movie hasn't held up, it certainly tells a disturbing story of a single mom (Crawford, played by Faye Dunaway), raising her two kids in terror. I watched it too many times as a kid, and I still hate wire hangers.

Who's The Boss?

There isn't just one single parent in Who's The Boss?, there are two. Tony Danza plays...Tony, a single father to Sam (Alyssa Milano), who becomes a live-in maid for Angela (Judith Light,) who is helped by her mother Mona (Katherine Helmond) in raising her son Jonathan (Danny Pintauro). It may not be one of the best sitcoms ever, but it's a classic show for anyone in Gen X.

Big Little Lies

Big Little Lies is filled with complicated family dynamics, including Shailene Woodley as a single mom to Ziggy (Iain Armitage).

We Bought A Zoo

I simply had to include this one. Most people don't really like the Matt Damon movie We Bought A Zoo, but I must have been in just the right mood for it's syrupy sweet vibe when I first saw, so I love it. It's not the best movie on this list, but I really do find it cute. And like every other movie and TV show on this list, it's about a single parent!

Ted Lasso won’t be the only show to come back from the dead after seemingly being done. After years of discussions and hope, Big Little Lies is finally making a comeback. The mystery dramedy aired for two seasons on HBO, with Season 2 wrapping up in 2019. The door wasn’t necessarily closed on a third season, but with the long wait it didn’t look like it was happening. However, the cast have remained hopeful about Season 3 of BLL, now, despite nearly turning down the show, Shailene Woodley is getting hyped for Season 3, as am I.

As one of several HBO shows that have the world talking, it’s not surprising that Season 3 is still being talked about, even six years after Season 2. Following Deadline's news that Big Little Lies’ third season is officially in development at HBO, with Francesca Sloane set to write the first episode, the excitement is being turned up a notch.

Woodley even celebrated on her Instagram Stories, sharing a fun photo of her reunion with co-stars Laura Dern and Zoë Kravitz during New York Fashion Week. And just seeing a photo of the three of them has me ecstatic, as well as confirmation on Season 3:

Considering Big Little Lies Season 3 has been talked about for so long, it’s kind of hard to believe that it’s actually happening. Or at the very least, close to finally happening. The wait has been a long one, but the expensive HBO show has a good reason for taking so long, as HBO and HBO Max Content Chairman and CEO Casey Bloys previously said he wasn’t sure about another season. But then they told Variety in 2024 that he was optimistic it would move forward. Now getting Woodley’s confirmation that it is has me so incredibly excited.

That being said, just because the new season is finally moving forward doesn’t mean that HBO is only now working on it. Technically, Season 2 of Big Little Lies wasn’t the official final season, hence why Season 3 has always been in play. Bloys shared that it’s been hard to line up schedules, and with the show based on Liane Moriarty’s novel of the same name, he was waiting for her to write a follow-up. The wait has been worth it, and seeing the cast reunite and getting confirmation from them has me as pumped as ever.

Even though a third season is in development, it’s unknown how much longer it will take. It’s taken six years for the season to officially move forward, who knows how long it will be until production starts. Of course, fans have been waiting over five years already, so having to hold off for a little bit longer will be like nothing. At least the first two seasons of Big Little Lies are available with an HBO Max subscription.

When it comes to specific channels on television, there is but one that has produced television shows that have genuinely taken the world by storm and got people talking for years on end. And that, my friends, is HBO. The premium channel – known as “Home Box Office” – has created some of the biggest shows of the last thirty years or so. And here are some that truly got the world talking.

Game of Thrones

You knew Game of Thrones would be on here somehow. The series, based on the novel series “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin, was the biggest show for years on HBO, with several huge Game of Thrones shocking moments and a Game of Thrones cast that exploded onto the scene and became household names. It’s one of the best shows of the last decade.

Westworld

Running for three seasons, Westworld was a sci-fi western based on the novel of the same name. It was a huge show when it first came out. The Westworld cast was large and impressive, and the story took so many twists and turns that it was almost hard to keep up with it.

The White Lotus

Did you ever think a series about guests at a five-star hotel resort would become the phenomenon that it’s become? Because I sure didn’t. The White Lotus, which began as a limited series, has run for three seasons so far and has captured the hearts and attention of viewers worldwide, with views growing steadily with each new season.

Insecure

Created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, Insecure is the kind of comedy-drama that everyone needs to see. With five seasons total, the series followed two young Black women who are navigating their twenties and just trying to survive everyday life. It’s hilarious, won several awards, and was popular for all the right reasons.

True Detective

With a new cast each season and a new mystery to solve, True Detective kept coming back with even better stories and excellent acting. From the lands of California to the snow landscape of Alaska, this series finds new ways to surprise its audience each time, making viewers return for more whenever a new season is confirmed.

The Last of Us

Based on the video game franchise of the same name, The Last of Us ended up becoming one of the biggest shows on the channel, as well as on Max, the streaming platform for HBO. The series follows the life of Joel, a smuggler in the apocalypse, and Ellie, a girl who is immune to the virus. They journey across the United States, where her immunity might be the cure to this whole thing. The series is beloved by most, and is one of the best video game adaptations out there.

Deadwood

Considered one of the best Western shows, Deadwood is the series to watch if you want a good, classic crime drama with some of the best acting. Featuring an all-star cast with so much to love, the show was so popular that it spawned a movie after it ended, which also premiered on HBO.

Euphoria

While there have been years between seasons of this show, there’s no denying that Euphoria is one of those series where, when it premieres, the world stops to watch. Starring an impressive Euphoria cast led by Zendaya, the dark teen drama altered pop culture when it premiered and has remained iconic years later.

Big Little Lies

Based on the novel of the same name, Big Little Lies is a mystery and dark comedy in which you never truly know who to trust. With two seasons and cast members who are mega-stars like Meryl Streep, Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and more at the helm, this series got people talking and more.

House Of The Dragon

While the Game of Thrones universe has continued to expand, the first series that came out after the main show concluded was House of the Dragon, based on the novel Fire and Blood. With more dragons than ever before, a civil war that has fans on the edge of their seats, and acting that takes your breath away, this series was primed to become one of the biggest shows out there the moment it premiered.

Six Feet Under

For five seasons, one of the biggest shows on HBO was Six Feet Under, a series that followed the lives of a family who ran a funeral parlor. I know, at first, that kind of premise sounds like it wouldn’t mean much entertainment, but this was a very well-received series and one that fans absolutely loved.

The Wire

Whenever anyone thinks of an HBO show, one of the first that comes to mind is always this one. The Wire was a crime drama set in Baltimore and told a different storyline each season about a new institution of the city, from drugs to the lack of education in the city. It’s extremely well-told.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

There are some comedies out there that become huge, and then there’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, a show that ran for twelve seasons, 120 episodes, and continued to remain critically praised for years. Fans could not get enough of Larry David in the lead role and the hilarity of the story that his fictional self would get into in this iconic HBO series.

Mildred Pierce

A miniseries on HBO, Mildred Pierce, is based on a book by the same name and stars Kate Winslet. Through five episodes, we watch a divorcee of the Great Depression trying to find herself again and establish a business within the restaurant industry while also dealing with her problems. The miniseries was a massive hit for HBO and earned several Emmy nominations – and a couple of wins.

Big Love

Running for five seasons, Big Love was a drama that took the world by storm. It followed the story of a Mormon man and his three wives who lived in modern-day Utah. The series was another huge hit for the channel and earned several major awards during its run.

The Sopranos

I mean, obviously, I have to include The Sopranos. I feel like The Sopranos is as synonymous with HBO as Game of Thrones is. The series made the channel huge and won many awards. The Sopranos cast is filled to the brim with incredible talent, and even now, years later, it has a long-lasting legacy.

Girls

Created by Lena Dunham, Girls was a comedy-drama that aired over six seasons and followed the lives of four women living in modern-day New York City. It had some hilarious storylines but wasn’t afraid to dive deeper into modern themes and darker subjects, which made the show such a hit.

Chernobyl

When I think of some of the best miniseries on HBO, Chernobyl is one that comes up every time. The series tells the true story of the Chernobyl disaster and was critically praised for its acting, accuracy, and fantastic cinematography. Once you watch Chernobyl, you’ll never return to who you were before.

Veep

I could go on and on for hours about Veep and how amazing it was. Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the Veep cast was hilarious. It told the story of a U.S. vice president and how she tried to deal with the modern-day politics of America while also working with an idiotic president next to her. It’s hysterical in every way, shape and form.

Watchmen

Based on the same comic series, Watchmen is an HBO miniseries that truly redefines the superhero drama of television. It tells bold and dark tales of a world of crime and justice. It also has an incredible cast that only cemented its legacy on HBO. I always wished there was a Season 2, but I’m content with it running for the one miniseries we got.

Barry

For four seasons, Barry was the best dark comedy on the channel – and later, it really turned into more of a drama than anything else. The series, starring Bill Hader as the lead of the spectacular Barry cast, tells the story of a hitman who finds some purpose in acting in L.A. and begins to question his life. The show takes twists and turns you would never expect.

Mare Of Easttown

This miniseries, Starring Kate Winslet, was a huge hit for HBO. With seven episodes, it tells the story of a detective who investigates a murder in a small town outside of Philadelphia while also dealing with her own personal life. The series won several Emmy Awards and was talked about for weeks.

The Leftovers

The Leftovers ran for three seasons, but it cemented itself on HBO’s roster the moment it did, and people still talk about it today. The series follows the lives of people on Earth who were left behind when 2% of the entire population of the world vanished. Now, it’s up to the leftovers to survive.

The Righteous Gemstones

The Righteous Gemstones is one of those series that has a cast that is too good to be true. The show stars Danny McBride, Adam DeVine, John Goodman, Walton Goggins, and so many other major stars – and what makes it better is that it’s so funny. With four seasons, the series follows a family of televangelists and their personal lives, and it’s just as hysterical as you can imagine it would be.

Band Of Brothers

The miniseries Band of Brothers was based on the novel of the same name and is a war drama that was praised for its impressive Band of Brothers cast, as well as how realistic the series was. The show was so popular that it spawned two spinoff shows years later – The Pacific and Masters of the Air.

Succession

Oh, you knew this show would be on here somehow. Succession was a huge HBO show that followed the story of a family fighting for control over their father’s media conglomerate when his health was put into question. The series was praised for its acting, from the incredible Succession cast, as well as its storyline that anyone could get into.

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

While it’s not a scripted series like many of the others on this list, this talk show has become a massive hit for HBO and has won several Emmys throughout the years. Starring John Oliver, the talk show covers what has happened in the world in a funny way, mostly regarding politics, and always features clips that end up becoming huge on social media.

Silicon Valley

Running for six seasons, Silicon Valley is a comedy series that is exactly what you expect it to be—a series about tech bros in the iconic Silicon Valley of California and the struggles of working there. The series earned plenty of award nominations during its run, including Emmys, and was a major hit.

Oz

If you’re looking for a prison drama, then Oz is one that you have to check out, and it became a huge deal for HBO. The series follows the lives of prisoners and guards and everyone else involved in a maximum security prison, with enough drama to last a lifetime that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

I May Destroy You

This single-series show took the world by storm. I May Destroy You is a black comedy about a young writer who is trying to rebuild who she is and her life after suffering a horrible sexual assault. The show was nominated for many awards and was a significant success for the channel.

Sharp Objects

Starring Amy Adams and based on the novel of the same name, Sharp Objects is about a reporter who is covering the murder of two girls and has to return to her hometown. Her hometown is filled with memories of her past that haunt her to this day. The miniseries was an award-winner and earned several acting nominations.

Mr. Show With Bob And David

While it’s one of the oldest shows on this list, Mr. Show with Bob and David was what kickstarted the careers of Bob Odenkirk and David Cross. The series was a sketch comedy that ran for four seasons with hilarious bits and moments that really cemented the two lead stars in the world of comedy.

There are so many other great HBO shows that people loved, but these are just a few of the ones that I enjoy watching every time I get the chance. If you haven’t checked them out, you need to now!

The ensemble that filled out Big Little Lies, HBO's hit series based on Liane Moriarty’s book of the same name, is arguably one of TV's best and went far beyond the world of the original source material. Each actress is as good as the last, and it’s hard to imagine that this cast could have looked quite different. Shailene Woodley, who played the young new mother in the two seasons of the series, nearly turned down the role until one of her costars convinced her to accept the part.

Woodley has been on a press tour for the new Starz series in the 2024 TV schedule, called Three Women, based on Lisa Taddeo’s book of the same name. She stopped in at Vanity Fair to participate in their popular "Scene Selection" segment to rewatch and share some stories of her most popular titles.

During the Big Little Lies segment, the 32-year-old revealed she was interested in finding herself and nearly turned down the hit HBO show even though she wanted to work with the show’s director. Woodley shared:

It’s no surprise that she wanted to take some time to soul search at the young age of 23. She already had a heavy-hitting resume with parts in The Secret Life of the American Teenager, The Fault in Our Stars, and The Descendants to name just a few. Woodley was fine to step away from Hollywood.

The Divergent alum then shared that if it weren’t for Laura Dern she would’ve been in India and we would’ve had someone else take on Jane Chapman. She revealed:

I think it’s safe to say, thank goodness for Laura Dern! If Woodley wasn’t a part of the coastal drama, it would have changed the tone of the show entirely. The relationship amongst the ensemble was key to both seasons, and the ensemble of course only got stronger with the addition of Meryl Streep.

It’s great to see the friendships among these women were there from the start. The Spectacular Now star praised Dern for her honesty and bravery in the pivotal moment:

Honestly, this bit of BLL behind-the-scenes information just makes me hope that Season 3 is coming someday, especially with the cast buzzing about why it's been taking so long. The passing of Jean-Marc Vallée may have something to do with it since it was heartbreaking for all involved, with many honoring his memory.

I’m very glad that Woodley ultimately listened to Dern, as it wouldn’t have been the same if the Three Women star had turned it down. You can watch Big Little Lies with a Max subscription and catch Three Women on Fridays with a Starz subscription.

Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern are two Oscar-winning actresses, and they just happen to have a close friendship. Fans loved watching them share the screen in Big Little Lies (which is streaming with a Max subscription), which had two popular seasons on the air. Witherspoon just shouted out her "BFF" Dern after her latest movie hit #1 on Netflix, but give us Big Little Lies Season 3 already!

Laura Dern's new movie Lonely Planet has been super popular on Netflix since it hist the streamer, with audiences all over the world watching the film. To celebrate just how many people with a Netflix subscription are watching it, Reese Witherspoon shouted out her bestie on Instagram story. Check it out below:

How cute is that? Good friends celebrate each other's victories, and that's exactly what Reese Witherspoon is doing here. Lonely Planet's success on its streaming service is definitely notable, given just how many people must be watching the steamy Netflix movie in order to go to #1. Although anytime I see Witherspoon and Dern together, I have to admit that my mind goes to Big Little Lies.

Over the years, Nicole Kidman and other Big Little Lies stars have hinted that they'd be down to continue the story of the Monterey Five on another season, but there's been no real information since the Season 2 finale aired back in 2019. While the second season got some criticism, there's a clear interest in seeing more of this outstanding cast... and I'm including myself.

Sine Big Little Lies was based off the book of the same name by Liane Moriarty, Season 2 had to craft a new story in order to continue the narrative. The women bonded together while keeping the truth of Perry's death under wraps, while they got a new adversary with Meryl Streep's Mary Louise. Although we never got to see that viral scene with Reese Witherspoon throwing ice cream at her.

The Season 2 finale saw Bonnie turning herself in for pushing Perry and ultimately causing his death. Fans are definitely curious about what came next, as well as the state of Madeline's marriage. Hopefully development on Season 3 of Big Little Lies happens sooner rather than later.

While it remains to be seen if Laura Dern ever gets to play the iconic Renata Klein again, the Jurassic Park icon has plenty to celebrate. Namely the wild success of her latest movie Lonely Planet, which she stars in opposite Liam Hemsworth. The romantic comedy follows her protagonist Katherine, who finds love with a younger man while writing in Morocco.

Lonely Planet is streaming now on Netflix, and both season of Big Little Lies are available on Max. Be sure to check out the 2025 movie release dates to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.

Presumed Innocent branches from an age-old trend of TV shows based on movies. These days, limited series inspired by novels that were previously adapted for cinema are more popular, and one of the more recent and most notable examples is developer David E. Kelley's adaptation of Scott Turrow's novel, which is available with an Apple TV+ subscription.

The series stars Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal as a married lawyer suspected of murdering his lover — a role previously portrayed by Harrison Ford in Alan J. Pakula’s 1990 film. The show was well-received by critics and has been promoted from a limited series to an ongoing drama, having been renewed for a second season by Apple TV+. If you also plead guilty to wanting more sexy, suspenseful tales such as this while you await its return, take a look at these other shows like Presumed Innocent.

Fatal Attraction (2023)

Starring: Joshua Jackson, Lizzy Caplan

What it's about: Married lawyer Dan Gallagher's one-night fling with Alex Forrest, who also works in the legal system, comes back to haunt him in shocking ways.

Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: The Oscar-nominated 1987 film, Fatal Attraction, is another dark, sexy thriller detailing the consequences of an attorney's extramarital affair that was later reimagined as this miniseries from Alexandra Cunningham and Kevin J. Hynes and was originally exclusive with a Paramount+ subscription.

How to watch Fatal Attraction

• Buy Fatal Attraction on Amazon

Defending Jacob (2020)

Starring: Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery, Jaeden Martell

What it's about: A successful district attorney struggles to keep his family and his career together when his latest client becomes his teenage son, who has been accused of murdering a classmate.

Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: From developer Mark Bomback, the Emmy-nominated Defending Jacob is another intense, star-studded, Apple TV+ original legal drama based on a novel (by William Landay) about a lawyer whose personal life is affected by a horrific case.

How to watch Defending Jacob

• Stream Defending Jacob on Apple TV+

Your Honor (2020-2023)

Starring: Bryan Cranston

What it's about: New Orleans judge Michael Desiato is faced with the greatest challenge of his career when his son falls into trouble with a local mafia family after a hit-and-run accident.

Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: Based on an Israeli series called Kvodo, developer Peter Moffat’s Your Honor — which is also a show like Breaking Bad in many ways — is another critically acclaimed legal drama involving a protagonist working in the legal system whose morality is put in question in light of a horrific event.

How to watch Your Honor

• Stream Your Honor on Netflix
• Stream Your Honor on Paramount+ with Showtime
• Buy Your Honor on Amazon
• Buy Your Honor on Blu-ray on DVD

Suspicion (2022)

Starring: Uma Thurman, Kunal Nayyar, Tom Rhys-Harries, Georgina Campbell, Elizabeth Henstridge

What it's about: When the son of a prominent, American public figure goes missing, a group of ordinary British people are forced to go on the run when they become prime suspects.

Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: Based on an Israeli series called False Flag, developer Rob Williams’ Suspicion is yet another Apple TV+ original series that, in this case, follows a whole group of individuals struggling to prove their innocence in a shocking investigation.

How to watch Suspicion

• Stream Suspicion on Apple TV+

The Night Of (2016)

Starring: Riz Ahmed, John Turturro

What it's about: A Pakistani-American student becomes a prime suspect after waking up to find a woman he picked up the night before brutally murdered.

Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: When it comes to miniseries courtroom dramas, among the absolute cream of the crop is The Night Of — Richard Price and Steve Zaillian’s addictive, Emmy-winning adaptation of the British series, Criminal Justice, that, like Presumed Innocent, involves a man accused of killing a woman he was romantically linked to.

How to watch The Night Of

• Stream The Night Of on Max
• Buy The Night Of on Amazon
• Buy The Night Of on Blu-ray on Amazon

Goliath (2016-2021)

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton

What it's about: Disgraced attorney Billy McBride takes on a case that could rejuvenate his career or, perhaps, allow him the opportunity to achieve vengeance on the firm that fired him in the first place.

Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: David E. Kelley was a perfect person to develop Presumed Innocent, given his reputation for creating great legal dramas, such as Goliath — another series about a lawyer whose personal demons affect his career and family.

How to watch Goliath

• Stream Goliath on Amazon Prime

The Undoing (2020)

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant

What it's about: The lives of a wealthy New York therapist and her husband are thrown into upheaval when they become involved in a brutal murder case.

Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: Based on Jean Hanff Korelitz’s novel, You Should Have Known, The Undoing an acclaimed, Emmy-nominated, HBO-original, whodunnit-style legal drama that was also developed by Kelley and features Lily Rabe in a supporting role.

How to watch The Undoing

• Stream The Undoing on Max
• Buy The Undoing on Amazon
• Buy The Undoing on Blu-ray on Amazon

Anatomy Of A Scandal (2022)

Starring: Sienna Miller, Rupert Friend

What it's about: A woman learns that her politician husband has had an affair with one of his aides but things get worse when the other woman accuses him of assault.

Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: Based on the novel by Sarah Vaughn, Anatomy of a Scandal is a British legal drama available with a Netflix subscription developed by Kelley with Melissa James Gibson that, like Presumed Innocent, also involves the consequences of an extramarital affair.

How to watch Anatomy of a Scandal

• Stream Anatomy of a Scandal on Netflix

Big Little Lies (2017-2019)

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz, Shailene Woodley

What it's about: The lives of a group of upper-class women are unexpectedly changed by the arrival of a single mother who moves into their California neighborhood.

Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: Based on the novel by Liane Moriarty, the Emmy-winning Big Little Lies — which has yet to receive a third season — is one of the most acclaimed series to ever be developed by Kelley and, while not a legal drama, does deeply involve consequences of dark secrets affecting the lives of ordinary people.

How to watch Big Little Lies

• Stream Big Little Lies on Max
• Buy Big Little Lies on Amazon
• Buy Big Little Lies on DVD on Amazon

Better Call Saul (2015-2022)

Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn

What it's about: Struggling attorney Jimmy McGill plays loose with the rules in hopes of getting ahead.

Why it is a great choice to watch if you are a fan of Presumed Innocent: Widely considered to be a spin-off series as good as its predecessor, Better Call Saul — Vince Gilligan’s prequel to Breaking Bad following the origins of “Saul Goodman” — is also, like Presumed Innocent, a legal drama following a morally questionable protagonist, but is far lighter in tone.

How to watch Better Call Saul

• Stream Better Call Saul on Netflix
• Buy Better Call Saul on Amazon
• Buy Better Call Saul on Blu-ray on Amazon

While we find these TV shows perfect for fans of Presumed Innocent, the jury will still be out until you watch them yourself.

If you enjoy reading or watching the source material before its adaptation comes out, chances are you’ve been disappointed a few times over when a movie or series based on a book comes out. However, in the case of these TV shows, their creators actually found ways to go beyond what was originally told and build out stories that have become larger than their original intentions. Have you seen all these and what did you think about how they compare? 

Bridgerton 

If you’ve read the Bridgerton books in order before or between seasons of the massive Netflix series, chances are you’ve had some thoughts about the differences between them. While each of Julia Quinn’s novels pretty much stands alone and doesn’t have to be read in order to enjoy each romance, the series was adapted to have all the stakes, side plots and cliffhangers a hit TV show should have. The series even inspired the spinoff, Queen Charlotte, which involved Bridgerton characters but was not based on one of Quinn’s works.

Game of Thrones

George R.R. Martin’s fantasy novels were adapted in a big way. While the first few seasons follow the source material rather closely, the last few seasons were in development as Martin was completing the rest of the series, and a ton of plotlines were completely invented by the showrunners and staff writers. Perhaps that’s why the finale is so divisive among fans. 

The Office 

After Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s The Office became a hit in the U.K. across its two seasons, Greg Daniels and NBC adapted an American version of the workplace mockumentary sitcom. While it was certainly inspired by the source material, the series starring Steve Carell earned a whole life of its own across over 200 episodes, and remains one of the most-streamed shows even a decade after its finale. 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

It’s often forgotten that genre favorite Buffy The Vampire Slayer is actually based on a 1992 movie of the same name. The series’ creator originally wrote it as a movie that wasn’t nearly as popular as the TV adaptation of the idea he cooked up a few years later. With seven seasons to the WB show’s name, it’s safe to say that it went way beyond its source material. And wow, are we happy Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Buffy Summers was on our televisions for so long! 

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power 

J.R.R. Tolkien gifted the fantasy genre with four classic novels set in Middle-earth, The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Following Peter Jackson's adapting of all of them beautifully (and set to make another one), Amazon Studios decided to go beyond the source material with its super expensive series, The Rings Of Power. The series primarily builds upon Tolkien’s appendices on Middle-earth as it depicts the world’s Second Age. 

Big Little Lies

Liane Moriarty’s bestselling novel Big Little Lies brought together stars like Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley and Zoë Kravitz to tell the story of five women living in Monterey, California who become part of a murder investigation. It was initially supposed to be a miniseries, but following its success, a second season built on the story from Season 1. 

Riverdale

CW’s Riverdale was inspired by the pages of Archie Comics, an ongoing comic book series that started back in 1941. The series developed by the comic publisher’s CCO Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is a much darker take on the universe as it begins as a murder mystery in the town of Riverdale. The series not only went beyond its source material across its seven seasons, but the comic book had a gritty reboot in recent years as well. 

Watchmen  

The Watchmen comic book series has long been thought of as one of the best the medium has ever put to paper. The HBO miniseries of the same name lived up to the series by being an all-time great adaptation, but it certainly took quite a few creative liberties and built upon the ‘80s comic book to reflect the time it was made, by changing and fleshing out its characters more and boldly discussing racism and extremism with its storyline. 

Fargo

In 1996, the Coen Brothers made a classic with the black comedy, Fargo. Across five seasons Noah Hawley has built on the filmmakers’ vision with an anthology series that takes place in a new location, era and with a new cast of characters each time. While the Fargo series has deep roots in its movie, it has become so much bigger and fuel for so much more storytelling. 

Killing Eve

BBC’s Killing Eve is based on Luke Jennings’ Villanelle, which was a series of novellas about a Russian orphan who is trained as a hitwoman and the MI5 agent who starts to catch her trail. While the series is a lot more character-driven than the much more procedural novels, the series goes beyond the source material in this context by only teasing the romance Eve and Villanelle have in the books. Fans are still mad at the finale years later! 

Good Omens 

The first season of Good Omens adapted Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s 1990 novel, however when it came to the second season, which came out four years after the initial series, moved away from simply telling the main events of the novel. The entire season was co-written by Neil Gaiman and allowed the world-renowned author to delve further into Michael Sheen’s Aziraphale and David Tennant’s Crowley stories. 

The Leftovers

HBO’s The Leftovers adapted the novel it's based on in its first season. Following its success, two more seasons were made for the supernatural fiction series about a global event that leaves 2 percent of the world’s population missing. Interestingly enough, the last two seasons were even more acclaimed than its debut season featuring the prime source material.  

The Witcher

Rather than Netflix adapting Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher fantasy novels, the differences are so major between the TV series and the source material that it feels a lot more like an inspiration for the series starring Henry Cavill than anything else. The popular series, also known for being a video game franchise, also inspired the 2022 spinoff The Witcher: Blood Origin.  

House of Cards

Netflix’s hit drama, House of Cards, was adapted from a BBC series and novel before it. However, in the case of the source material, the show was about politics in the United Kingdom. The series starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, however, took the material and adapted it to be set about U.S. politics, particularly regarding Frank Underwood’s ruthless race to become president. 

The Man In The High Castle

Philip K. Dick's 1962 novel The Man In The High Castle was adapted into an Amazon series across four seasons. Dick’s daughter, who was heavily involved in the series, told SYFY WIRE that she encouraged the writers to use the source material as an “inspiration and a spiritual guide” rather than a literal interpretation. That’s very much true for the science fiction storyline that imagines an alternate ending for World War II. 

The Handmaid’s Tale

Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, is the source material for the Hulu hit starring Elisabeth Moss. While the first season leaves things where things wrap up in the book, the Emmy-winning series has continued to follow Offred’s life in the dystopian world past those events through four more seasons and is set to end with the sixth and final season. By building upon the story further, Offred and its other characters have had longer storylines that tell more than 300 pages could. 

Ted Lasso

Before AppleTV+ had a hit on their hands with Ted Lasso, its source material came from a very peculiar source. Jason Sudeikis’ beloved fictional coach came from the SNL alum being part of a slew of promotional coverage for NBC Sports’s coverage of England's Premier League. The streaming series very much went past where it started from given the storylines told across three seasons of the heartwarming comedy. 

The Haunting Of Hill House

Mike Flanagan beautifully adapted Shirley Jackson’s 1959 gothic horror novel, but at face value the two The Haunting Of Hill House titles are very different from one another. The source material mainly focuses on Eleanor (who Victoria Pedretti plays in the series) and her descent into madness whilst the show takes a deeper look into her entire family’s deep-seated trauma. 

Justified

FX’s Justified is based on the Elmore Leonard short story Fire In the Hole, allowing creators of the Western series to build out the world of the work across six seasons. Through Timothy Olyphant’s Raylan Givens, Justified allowed for Leonard’s ideas the author thought often “got the characters better” than he put to paper, per THR. 

The Magicians

Syfy’s series, The Magicians, is based on Lev Grossman’s trilogy of fantasy novels. While the source material certainly guides the storyline, it's told completely out of order and involves post-grad students rather than high schoolers. The series went on for five seasons. 

Bates Motel

One of the best horror movies of all time is Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (also a novel), which became the inspiration for A&E’s Bates Motel. The five-season series told a contemporary story regarding the origin story of Norman Bates and his complicated relationship with his mother through the performances of Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga. 

13 Reasons Why 

Years prior to Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why being the subject of numerous controversies throughout its run, it began as a 2007 novel by Jay Asher about a high school freshman who shares the reasons why she died by suicide. The series went beyond the source material by making the story a lot longer and building out many more characters. For example, a major plotline of the show is Hannah’s parents decide to sue the school, which is not part of the novel at all.

What We Do In The Shadows

In 2014, Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi offered a unique and rather hilarious take on vampires with What We Do In The Shadows. Years later, the duo decided to adapt their mockumentary further by making it into a TV show that went on for five seasons, ending in 2023. 

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off 

Over a decade after Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. The World adapted Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel series, O’Malley decided to team up with Wright and Netflix to build upon the story in the format of an anime and reunite the original actors from the movie in the voice roles. The series follows Ramona Flowers trying to find a missing Scott Pilgrim. 

Ratched

Among Ryan Murphy’s many TV shows, he made a series out of Nurse Mildred Ratched, a character originally from Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and portrayed by Louise Fletcher in the 1975 movie adaptation. The series starring Sarah Paulson as the titular character depicts Ratched prior to the events of the original story. It was canceled after one season. 

The 100

The CW series, The 100, is based on the YA science fiction novel series by Kass Morgan. However, across the show’s seven seasons, it went beyond the source material by telling a much different story that took a more mature approach and focused a lot more on the survival element of the series. 

The Fall Of The House Of Usher

Mike Flanagan took inspiration from a myriad of Edgar Allan Poe short stories to bring together one storyline for his excellent Netflix horror show, The Fall of the House of Usher. The show pays tribute to the iconic author by telling a new story revolving around the Usher family, the CEO of a corrupt pharmaceutical company, as each member of the family starts to die one by one. 

The Night Manager

John le Carré’s 1993 espionage novel, The Night Manager was turned into a BBC miniseries starring Tom Hiddleston in 2016. As the author wrote in The Guardian at the time of its release, he spoke about the many changes from the source material, which at first took him aback but then had him saying he wishes he would have “written Mrs. Burr into my novel instead of her ponderous husband.” 

Under The Dome

Stephen King’s Under The Dome novel was turned into a CBS sci-fi series of the same name by Brian K. Vaughan, but was often talked about for being quite different from the source material. Back in 2013, King wrote on his website that he found the adaptation to be “very good” and was a “necessity” that he “approved of” “wholeheartedly.” 

Lessons In Chemistry 

Bonnie Garmus’ best-selling novel, Lessons In Chemistry was turned into a series starring Brie Larson to much success. While it’s a stunning adaptation fans of the book can appreciate, that’s particularly because the showrunner, Lee Eisenberg decided to not make it a straight adaptation and add some things the book didn’t have. One particularly great addition was the character development of Harriet Sloane, who is a black civil rights activist in the series rather than a 55-year-old white woman. 

The Haunting Of Bly Manor

Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting Of Bly Manor is an amalgamation of numerous great horror stories by Henry James, centrally through his novella Turn Of The Screw, but also through some other of his short stories like The Romance of Certain Old Clothes, The Beast in the Jungle and The Jolly Corner. Flanagan used the works as inspiration to tell a larger, new storyline about a young au pair who begins to witness hauntings as she takes care of two young children. 

The Midnight Club 

Christopher Pike famously wrote a ton of mystery-thrillers for young adults from the 80s and so on. For Mike Flanagan’s The Midnight Club, the filmmaker drew from over 20 of them to make the 10-episode Netflix series about a group of eight terminally ill young adults who form a storytelling club. 

So many series go beyond their source material, the question is whether they go too far. Most of these picks are well-loved TV shows that were made better by their additions!

As one of the best shows on Max, Big Little Lies has slowly been making its way back to the surface for a pretty good reason. The hit HBO drama had its Season 2 finale in July 2019, and while there have been rumors of a third season and HBO never officially ended the show, nothing happened. However, in recent months, stars such as Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley have teased the highly-anticipated Season 3. Since it definitely seems to be coming, why has it taken so long?

Where We’re At With Big Little Lies Season 3

Earlier this month, Reese Witherspoon confirmed to Variety that she and Nicole Kidman “have been working on it a lot.” Kidman, meanwhile, has mostly kept her lips pretty tight when it comes to details, but was previously open to a Season 3 of Big Little Lies. The actress did tell the same outlet though that the two of them are “texting every day.” Not too many details have been released as of now regarding their conversations about the HBO show returning, but Kidman stresses something’s happening:

Meanwhile, Shailene Woodley also opened up about the third season, telling Harper’s Bazaar that it’s “been a dream” for them to do another installment. 

However, back in 2019, after Season 2 had aired, HBO and Max Content Chairman/CEO Casey Bloys wasn’t too sure about another season, noting that there was no “obvious story.” However, he was open to any and all possibilities. Fast forward almost five years, and his sentiments remain the same.

Why Big Little Lies Season 3 Has Taken So Long

Bloys told Variety in 2024 that he’s heard “a little bit about the idea," and he thinks "it could be great.” Considering it’s been so long since the expensive HBO series was last in production and everyone’s been busy with other projects, it may not be as easy as one would hope to get Season 3 going. However, Bloys is optimistic about the long-awaited season:

With the new season still being in its early stages, it probably won’t be happening for a while. Luckily, once it gets going and schedules start to line up, then hopefully, more information will be released. Even though interest in shows dies down the longer they’re on hiatus, with Big Little Lies’ characters and cast, it’s hard to not get excited about the thought of Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Zoë Kravitz, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, and more reuniting once again.

It's hard to tell how long it will be until Season 3 is out, or at the very least, officially confirmed by HBO. They may be working on it, but things could always change in terms of story, interest, and the like. Five years is a long time to wait, but the fact that there seems to be new information coming out about Big Little Lies every so often builds that excitement back up. So you never know what could happen. 

For now, fans will want to watch the first two seasons of Big Little Lies with a Max subscription to prepare, just in case.

If you love The White Lotus and you're looking for shows like it, we have you covered. 

So you've been waiting for Season 3 of The White Lotus – same here. Since the first season of The White Lotus came out, fans worldwide have turned to this excellent anthology series about guests who stay at various locations of a resort chain, known as The White Lotus. The first season's cast was amazing, as was The White Lotus Season 2 cast. 

But now, it's been a year since The White Lotus Season 2, and while filming and production was delayed for Season 3 due to the SAG-AFTRA and Writers Strike, both of those have thankfully come to an end, and Season 3 will hopefully be on the way soon. However, you can watch plenty of shows like The White Lotus to pass the time. Let's talk about them. 

Nine Perfect Strangers (2021 – Present)

Released on Hulu, Nine Perfect Strangers is based on the book of the same name, and it will truly be the craziest ride of your life. 

It follows the story of strangers who are at different points of their lives who all gather at a health and wellness resort that aims to solve everything wrong in their lives, but everything is turned upside down by its unconventional methods. 

I could go off about Nine Perfect Strangers for some time. The Nine Perfect Strangers cast is filled to the brim with talent, and the story will capture your interest in seconds. If you love the idea of people getting stuck at strange resorts such as The White Lotus and escalated tensions, this is the show for you. 

Stream Nine Perfect Strangers on Hulu.

The Flight Attendant (2020 – 2022)

In one of Max's best original shows, The Flight Attendant, Kaley Cuoco stars in one of her best roles, where she plays a flight attendant who wakes up in a hotel bed next to the dead body of a passenger and no memory of the night before. Now, it's up to her to figure out what happened. 

The White Lotus Season 1 featured a great murder mystery that people tried to figure out as time passed, as everyone wanted to figure out who was in that coffin that went on the plane. While The Flight Attendant isn't as dramatic as The White Lotus can be, it's still just as well-told and hilarious with Cuoco as its lead. 

Stream The Flight Attendant on Max. 

Succession (2018 – 2023)

Ooh, you like family drama? Succession is the show for you. The HBO series features the story of the Roy family, a wealthy crew of billionaires constantly at each other's throats because they all want a piece of the family fortune and their chance to run it all when their patriarch starts to show health problems. 

There are many reasons to watch Succession if you like The White Lotus, but the main one is that both feature heavily on family drama and the impacts of certain decisions on people's lives that lead to how they live later. The Succession cast is brilliant, and the story is second to none. 

Stream Succession on Max. 

Fleishman Is In Trouble (2022)

Fleishman is in Trouble is an excellent series about a middle-aged man named Toby who is learning to date again. He suddenly finds his world upside down when his separated wife suddenly vanishes without a trace after dropping off their children one morning. 

Season 2 of The White Lotus talked a lot about love, jealousy, and manipulation within couples, and Fleishman is in Trouble is the perfect show that embodies that in many ways and more. The Fleishman Is in Trouble cast is excellent, led by outstanding performances from Jesse Eisenberg and Claire Danes. 

Stream Fleishman is in Trouble on Hulu.

Yellowjackets (2021 – Present)

Yellowjackets is a Showtime series that tells the story of a soccer team whose plane goes down in the woods of Canada while traveling to a national championship game. To survive, they have to do drastic and dangerous things – which come back to haunt them more than two decades later. 

While Yellowjackets and The White Lotus have very different premises, one thing connects them – the fact that fans debate over who was murdered and use every little detail they can find to get some clue. The murder mystery is real with this one – and guess what? There's even a Yellowjackets Season 3 confirmed. 

Stream Yellowjackets on Showtime.

Enlightened (2011 – 2013)

Mike White created The White Lotus, but before that, he started Enlightened. This HBO series tells the story of a young woman who suffers a breakdown and goes to a spiritual retreat. And from there, she decides to rejoin her company from the bottom and take it all down to rebuild her life. 

If you love the humor and drama of The White Lotus, then you have to check out Enlightened. Arguably, it features one of Laura Dern's best performances and has a great story that anyone could relate to about wanting to move forward and make better choices. 

Stream Enlightened on Max. 

Big Little Lies (2017 – 2019)

Like The White Lotus Season 1, this show uses a murder mystery as the inciting incident that gets the plot going. Big Little Lies follows the story of a community thrown right into a murder investigation. 

The show has many stars and two seasons, but what makes it like The White Lotus is how it subtly addresses significant issues. From domestic abuse to classism to much more, it won't be long before you're captured by the incredible story Big Little Lies tells. 

Stream Big Little Lies on Max. 

Dynasty (2017 – 2022)

More family drama comes in the form of Dynasty. This popular CW show is based on the 1980s show of the same name and follows the daily lives of the Carringtons, a wealthy family constantly at each other's throats.

While I think Dynasty is a bit more forward with its drama than Succession is, it's still a fun show that fully details what money can do to a family and how it can lead to corruption, which The White Lotus touches on a lot. Plus, you have an outstanding leading performance from Elizabeth Gillies. 

Stream Dynasty on Netflix.

The Resort (2022)

In this Peacock original, The Resort follows a married couple who go on a trip to Yucatan while working on their marriage. While there, they find a flip phone that could lead to figuring out a long-unsolved mystery regarding two teenagers who went missing. 

While The White Lotus uses mystery as one of its crucial storytelling factors, The Resort dives fully into it, making it the primary source of entertainment. But let me say it's one of the best mysteries you'll watch this year, with twists and turns around each corner. Not only that, but William Jackson Harper and Cristin Milioti are fantastic. 

Stream The Resort on Peacock.

Severance (2022 – Present)

Lastly, we have Severance. This great Apple TV+ show tells the story of a dystopian world where people can split their consciousness between their work lives and their personal lives so they do not intersect, which causes massive problems and conspiracies down the line. 

The setting of Severance is quite different, but it's the fact that you will be theorizing about this show for hours that makes it such a great binge, just like you would for The White Lotus. You can binge the first season while we wait for Severance Season 2. 

Stream Severance on Apple TV+. 

You can check out these great shows while waiting for The White Lotus Season 3. Hopefully, with the 2024 TV schedule about to start rolling out, we will soon get the following story of the famous resorts, but until then, you have these shows to turn to. 

Moms always deserve more credit than they get, and that goes for the wonderful matriarchs who have graced our television screens over the years. Characters like Carol Brady and Clair Huxtable are names that easily come to mind when thinking about the best TV moms, but there are so many more that deserve to be mentioned.

Sometimes mothers make mistakes despite trying their best. Others show their love in more unconventional ways, and some just seem to always get outshined by other members of their family. For one reason or another, below are some fantastic TV moms who never got enough credit.

Ruth Fisher (Six Feet Under)

Ruth Fisher’s whole life changed when her husband was killed in a car accident in the Six Feet Under series premiere. Not only was she tasked with continuing to run her family’s funeral home business, and come to terms with her own guilt, loneliness and identity, she had to help guide her grown children through their own grief. Ruth (Frances Conroy) wasn’t perfect — no issue on the HBO drama was black-and-white — but there was no question that she had put her children’s needs first for her whole life. 

Beth Pearson (This Is Us) 

When your mother-in-law is the indomitable Rebecca Pearson, it’s pretty easy to get overshadowed as a mom, and that’s precisely why Beth Pearson (Susan Kelechi Watson) on This Is Us never got enough credit. Her husband Randall was definitely a good partner, but Beth was the real MVP of the parenting dynamic duo, often able to anticipate her family’s emotions and sniff out any scheming going on with their three daughters. She even became a mother figure to many more by opening her own dance studio. 

Sarah Braverman (Parenthood) 

Parenthood gave viewers plenty of different family dynamics to dissect, and Kristina Braverman was tough to beat as a mother, going so far as to open up a charter school for children with special needs. So it's no wonder that her sister-in-law, former wild child Sarah Braverman (Lauren Graham), was never given much credit. Sarah struggled to raise Amber and Drew as a single mother, and boy did they not make it easy on her. She may not have always had all the answers, but she loved her kids first, and in the end they figured it out together. 

Rainbow Johnson (black-ish) 

Rainbow Johnson (Tracee Ellis Johnson) on black-ish deserves all the flowers, serving as the model of a successful working mom. Rainbow juggled being a doctor and raising five children, whom she respected as individuals. She put their problems ahead of her own to make sure they had a better life than she did as a kid. 

Lorelai Gilmore (Gilmore Girls) 

Lorelai Gilmore’s daughter Rory could always count on her mom for a snappy joke or pop culture reference, but Lorelai (Lauren Graham) certainly didn’t have it easy. Her relationship with her own parents was strained after getting pregnant at just 16 years old, making it all the more impressive when she made a life for her and Rory in Stars Hollow. She struggled at times to be patient with her own daughter’s mistakes, but she wasn’t too proud to accept her parents’ help when it benefited Rory. 

Marge Simpson (The Simpsons) 

Would the Simpson family even survive without Marge? Easily the most underappreciated of the family of five, Marge never got any help from Homer over the decades, as she raised three extremely different and never-aging children. In fact, Homer was more of a fourth child in that equation, and still Marge loved her husband and her kids. I don’t think there’s a person in the world who could blame her for the occasional frustrated grunt. 

Michonne (The Walking Dead) 

Despite her own trauma of losing a child in the walker outbreak, The Walking Dead’s Michonne (Danai Gurira) adopted Carl and Judith as her own (before going on have her own child with Rick Grimes), and she never hesitated to put her own life at risk to save them. 

Penelope Alvarez (One Day at a Time) 

Despite being a war veteran struggling with her own PTSD and depression, Penelope Alvarez (Justina Machado) was always able to give her children the attention they needed on One Day at a Time. She made the time, even while working as a nurse and living with her traditional Cuban mother. 

Morticia Addams (The Addams Family) 

Morticia Addams (portrayed in the 1964 sitcom The Addams Family by Carolyn Jones) was the epitome of unconventional, but was there ever a TV mom who encouraged her children to be themselves more than her? Never bending to the expectations and societal norms of those around her, Morticia was always loyal to and protective of her family, if not a bit macabre. 

Jane Villanueva (Jane the Virgin) 

Talk about life taking you in unexpected directions! Gina Rodriguez’s Jane Villanueva on Jane the Virgin had her own matriarchs to thank for being able to figure things out when she got pregnant by accidental artificial insemination. Such grace in the most unique of situations. 

Claire Dunphy (Modern Family) 

Nobody said you had to have everything together in order to be a good mom. Claire Dunphy (Julie Bowen) of Modern Family often struggled with how to approach the myriad hurdles of her blended and extended family, but fans found her relatable, and she deserved a lot more credit than she got. 

Gemma Teller Morrow (Sons of Anarchy) 

The characters in the world of Sons of Anarchy all knew one thing: Don’t mess with Gemma Teller Morrow (Katey Sagal) or her family, including any of the members of SAMCRO. Gemma was willing to kill or die for her son Jax, and boy did she prove it.  

Laurel Park (The Summer I Turned Pretty) 

Often the less-fun mom in comparison to her BFF Susannah, Laurel Park (Jackie Chung) was undoubtedly more responsible of the two in the book-to-screen adaptation of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Even when grief drove her and Susannah’s kids to make some pretty bad decisions, she handled the teens with understanding and grace. 

Skyler White (Breaking Bad) 

Boy did people give Skyler White (Anna Gunn) grief during Breaking Bad’s run on AMC. Sure, she was complicit in some of Walter White’s money laundering, but it’s not like she was left with much of a choice. Always doing what she thought was best for her family, she was fiercely protective of her kids — even when that meant standing up to her husband when he was at his most dangerous. 

Peggy Bundy (Married… With Children) 

Peggy Bundy (Katey Sagal) had a lot of qualities you might not look for in a good TV mom on Married… with Children. She was lazy, obsessed with the television and didn’t exactly set the best example for the kids. She still deserves more credit than she gets, though, because she was unapologetically herself and nurturing in her own way. 

Roseanne Conner (Roseanne) 

Roseanne Conner (Roseanne Barr) wasn’t perfect on her self-titled sitcom, but what family is? Her and Dan’s struggles to make ends meet while still wanting more for their kids was what made her relatable to so many. Her blunt and brutal honesty was what made her so funny.  

Chilli Heeler (Bluey) 

Chilli, better known as “Mum” to the Bluey viewing audience, definitely doesn’t get as much credit in the fun department as Bluey and Bingo’s dad Bandit, but somebody’s got to remember to pack the goggles, towels and sunscreen for a day at the pool, right? Chilli takes care of a lot of the “boring” stuff, which apparently is not just a thing for human moms. 

Harriette Winslow (Family Matters)  

Harriette Winslow (played by Jo Marie Payton until the middle of the final season) may not get brought up in the “Best TV Moms” conversation all that often, but she definitely should. If for no other reason, she kept her patience with Family Matters fan favorite Steve Urkel a lot longer than many would have. 

Linda Belcher (Bob’s Burgers) 

Sometimes when it comes to moms and their eccentric families, it’s hard to understand how they fit in. That’s not the case with Linda Belcher on Bob’s Burgers, who may be the matriarch, but she’s as big a mess as any of them, and I mean that in the best way. Linda is wild and funny while still being incredibly loving and supportive. 

Jean Weir (Freaks and Geeks) 

Helping your children navigate their formative years is not an easy task, and Jean Weir (Becky Ann Baker) on Freaks and Geeks definitely had her work cut out for her with her polar-opposite kiddos Lindsay and Sam. While her efforts were hit-and-miss, she wanted to connect with them so badly, and you just had to appreciate her goofy, sometimes-overbearing personality. 

Rebecca Donaldson Katsopolis (Full House) 

Of course Rebecca Donaldson (aka “Aunt Becky”) would go on to have twins with “Uncle Jesse” Katsopolis, but Lori Loughlin’s character on Full House was earning mom points years before that, as she gave motherly advice to Michelle, Stephanie and especially DJ after their own mom’s passing. The importance of her role to them can’t be overstated. 

Jessica Huang (Fresh Off The Boat) 

Jessica Huang (Constance Wu) may be the queen to her kids’ pawns in the chess game of life, but the high expectations the Fresh Off the Boat matriarch set for her children just showed how much she believed in them. She was firm but devoted, and sometimes we forget those tough moms have just as much love to give. 

Carol Foster-Lambert (Step By Step) 

Anybody who successfully blends families the way the Fosters and Lamberts did on Step by Step deserves some major mom snaps, especially given the spectrum of personalities Carol Foster-Lambert’s children and stepchildren exhibited. There were growing pains, of course, but it couldn’t have worked without the endless love and support of Suzanne Somers’ character. 

Jane Chapman (Big Little Lies) 

Given the trauma that Jane Chapman endured on Big Little Lies, there’s no wondering why she’s slow to trust people, or why she’s so protective of her son Ziggy. Never as perky or interesting or seemingly perfect as the other moms around her, her strength to survive and provide for Ziggy shouldn’t go unheralded. 

Kitty Forman (That ‘70s Show) 

We all know that one mom who unofficially adopts all of her kids’ friends as her own, and on That ‘70s Show, it was Eric and Laurie’s mother Kitty Forman (Debra Jo Rupp). It speaks volumes that everybody always felt at home there, despite her husband Red’s eternally grouchy disposition. She may not get enough credit as a great TV mom, but she’s unrivaled in infectious laughter. 

Carmela Soprano (The Sopranos) 

All moms have a lot on their plates, and let's face it: Parenting is just plain hard. So Edie Falco's Carmela Soprano on The Sopranos probably deserves some extra credit for also being married to a mob boss. Even if she didn't deserve it, I'd give it to her anyway.

Annie Marks (Good Girls) 

Good Girls shows just how far moms will go when they’re desperate to provide for their children. Mae Whitman played young single mother Annie Marks, but despite Annie's dangerous lifestyle, she prioritized her child and was a beacon of support during an emotional coming out story. 

Christy Jolene Plunkett (Mom) 

A special shoutout to the moms who are figuring it out after not having a particularly good role model themselves. This was the case for Christy (Anna Faris) on Mom, who always did her best as she faced her own struggles with sobriety and the complex relationship with her mom Bonnie. 

Amy Sosa (Superstore) 

Amy Sosa’s kids may not have been the central focus of Superstore, but America Ferrera’s character gave a voice to many mothers out there through her storyline about having to return to work after 48 hours because the store didn’t offer maternity leave. 

Cindy Walsh (Beverly Hills, 90210) 

Good role models seemed to be severely lacking on Beverly Hills 90210, so that should have made Cindy Walsh (Carol Potter) stand out more as one of TV’s greatest moms. She kept Brandon and Brenda grounded, while providing support as needed to their friends. Cindy put her own pain aside, only rarely showing that she, too, had struggled with the move from Minnesota to the sunny West Coast. 

Samantha Stephens (Bewitched) 

It can’t be easy being a witch living in a non-magical world, but that’s the reality Elizabeth Montgomery’s Samantha Stephens was faced with on Bewitched. Both of her and Darrin’s children also had the nose-twitching powers, and while it’s debatable whether those abilities were best kept under wraps or not, it’s obvious that Samantha just wanted to keep her husband happy and do what was best for the kids. 

Sam Fox (Better Things) 

Loosely based on Pamela Adlon’s own life as a single mom of three daughters, Better Things’ Sam Fox was the perfect combination of protective but not overbearing. She was willing to lay down the law, but the lines of communication were always open for honest conversations about real — and sometimes tough — issues. 

Nora Walker (Brothers & Sisters) 

Nora Walker (Sally Field) isn't often mentioned in the same sentence as TV mom icons like June Cleaver or Clair Huxtable, but she should be. In the wake of her cheating husband's death, Nora didn't have just her own problems to deal with, but she took on those of her grown children as well. In addition to being graceful, honest and loving through all the ups and downs, Nora knew how to keep the wine flowing too.

This is really just a handful of TV moms who don't get enough credit, because if we're being honest, can we ever really show too much appreciation for the women who doled out life lessons from the television screen? I didn't think so. 

When it comes to the latest and greatest in streaming services, there’s no one doing it quite as well as Max, originally known as HBO Max, which is certainly one of the best streaming services to subscribe to. If you happen to have a Max subscription, you’re certainly going to want to take advantage of any of these shows that are on there available to binge right now, some of which are coming out as part of the 2025 TV schedule whether you’re into high-stakes dramas or something that’s a little more family friendly. Let’s get into it.

Fun For The Whole Family

From Teen Titans to some of the best sitcoms out there, here are the best family friendly shows that you can watch on Max right now.

Friends

Probably one of the most iconic TV series of all time, Friends follows a group of friends in their mid-twenties living in New York City and trying to just survive and find their own paths, all while relying on each other along the way. The Friends cast is filled to the brim with talent and all went on to have great careers, and while some of the jokes can be a bit risque, the show still has plenty for families to enjoy.

Stream Friends on Max.

Abbott Elementary

You’ll be feeling that Philly love by the end of this hilarious series. Abbott Elementary takes place at the fictional school in Philadelphia, and follows both the professional and personal lives of the teachers and employees there in a classic mockumentary way. The series has earned several awards, and is absolutely hilarious for the whole family.

Stream Abbott Elementary on Max.

The Big Bang Theory

Think Friends, but with socially inept physicists. The Big Bang Theory follows a group of Caltech graduates who try to solve the mysteries of the universe, but they can’t really do much from their little apartment while struggling to even talk to women. However, when a new neighbor moves in across the hall, everything changes.

Stream The Big Bang Theory on Max.

Adventure Time

I really don’t think I can recommend Adventure Time enough. This show is probably one of the best kids/family shows of the two decades, following the tales of Jake the Dog and Finn the Human as they travel across vast lands to take on the ultimate adventures. The series was so popular it inspired a spinoff series called Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake – but that one is more for adults. Stick to the original Adventure Time for the kids.

Stream Adventure Time on Max.

Full House

It doesn’t really get more family friendly than Full House. Starring the wonderful Full House cast, the show mainly focuses on the widowed Danny Tanner (Bob Saget) and his three daughters, as he raises them from little girls to beautiful young women with the help of his friends.

Stream Full House on Max.

Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

In West Philadelphia, born and raised, a legend was born with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Starring Will Smith, the iconic sitcom follows a native Philadelphian who travels to Bel-Air in order to stay out of the trouble he was getting into at home, and live with his uncle and his family, causing mayhem as time goes on.

Stream The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on Max.

Looney Tunes

I mean, obviously. This iconic series is probably one of the most known cartoons of all time and it pretty much shaped my childhood. Looney Tunes follows a cast of cartoon characters on the most wacky adventures, like Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, and many more that I’m sure everyone reading this article knows about. Do I even need to get into why you should watch it? Just watch it. Your family will laugh your butt off.

Stream Looney Tunes on Max.

Regular Show

Hailing originally from Cartoon Network, Regular Show follows the day to day lives of Mordecai and Rigby, anthropomorphic animals who have jobs at the local park as groundskeepers and have to deal with their intense boss, Benson, on a daily basis. As someone who watched this show as a kid, it’s hilarious.

Stream Regular Show on Max.

Big Drama, Crimes Of Passion, And More

Backstabbings, intense fantasy, and so much more – here are the best dramas on the platform that you can watch.

True Blood

Based on the novels, The Southern Vampire Mysteries, this series was a HUGE hit for HBO when it came out. True Blood follows the lives of vampires who are able to live amongst the general public when a synthetic blood product helps them, and how they fight for fair rights while several humans fight against them – all while a human and a vampire fall in love.

Stream True Blood on Max.

Succession

One of the most successful dramas of the last few years is Succession. With four seasons to watch, it follows the story of the wealthy Roy family and the patriarch's work to figure out who is the next one best fit to run their media conglomerate, Waystar Royco. With the great Succession cast, there is so much to love about this show.

Stream Succession on Max.

The West Wing

In this political drama, we mainly follow the (fictitious) U.S. presidency of Josiah Bartlet. Throughout seven seasons, we see what truly happens in the west wing of the White House – and the drama that goes on behind the scenes.

Stream The West Wing on Max.

The Pitt

Starring Noah Wyle, The Pitt is the kind of medical drama that I think all of us love, and since it’s so new, I need to talk about it as much as possible, especially since it was just renewed for Season 2. The series is done incredibly well on Max, and follows a single work-night at an emergency department in Pittsburgh, where each episode is one hour of the 15-hour shift. Yeah, this is serious, and every episode is so incredibly well-done.

Stream The Pitt on Max.

Love And Death

What would you do for love? Kill someone? Love and Death, starring Elizabeth Olsen, is the true story of Candy Montgomery, and how she supposedly murdered the wife of the man she was having an affair with, and the criminal case that came from it.

Stream Love and Death on Max.

Boardwalk Empire

Taking place during the 1920s and ‘30s, Boardwalk Empire mainly follows the life of Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, who controls Atlantic City during the Prohibition era and the people (and criminals) he runs into during the time period there. The series earned critical acclaim for its five seasons.

Stream Boardwalk Empire on Max.

The Wire

One of the most popular HBO original shows of all time, The Wire is a crime drama that takes place in the city of Baltimore, and details how crime affects the city, with the stories of a number of criminals, cops, and civilians all explored.

Stream The Wire on Max.

Dune: Prophecy

Oh, you knew this would be on here somehow. Set in the same universe as the Dune films and set as a prequel, the series follows the story of the Bene Gesserit, a group of powerful individuals who gain abilities after years of laborious training. There’s already a Season 2 in the works after the successful first season.

Stream Dune: Prophecy on Max.

The Last Of Us

With Season 2 coming out in 2025, now’s the time to watch The Last of Us. The show, starring the talented The Last of Us cast, follows Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal), a man who is assigned to bring a special young woman all the way across the United States in a world that is infested by monsters and creatures that can kill you in seconds flat, all of which used to be humans.

Stream The Last of Us on Max.

Game of Thrones

What can I say about Game of Thrones that hasn’t already been said? When the king of Westeros suddenly dies, it’s an all out war to see who is the next to sit on the Iron Throne. There are backstabbers, betrayals and so much more in this epic HBO series that made the Game of Thrones cast incredibly popular.

Stream Game of Thrones on Max.

House Of The Dragon

So you’ve watched Game of Thrones but you’re not that satisfied by that ending and you’re still looking for that dragon fix – then this is the show for you. House of the Dragon takes place about two hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones, and follows the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of Dragons, where two heirs to the throne fight for power. There are two full seasons you can watch as we all wait for House of the Dragon Season 3.

Stream House of the Dragon on Max.

The Outsider

This limited series is the kind of show that will make you shudder. The Outsider is based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, and is a psychological thriller-horror that follows the story of how a local town tries to solve a young boy’s brutal murder, but there are strange forces surrounding it that turn everything upside down.

Stream The Outsider on Max.

Big Little Lies

When a murder occurs in a small town, it turns the lives of a group of mothers who never thought this would ever happen upside down – especially when they get tangled up in the murder investigation.

Stream Big Little Lies on Max.

Watchmen

Based on the comics of the same name, Watchmen is the kind of dystopian drama that you will absolutely love because I adored it. The series takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma and follows a detective as she looks into the resurgence of a white supremacist group that leads to her finding conspiracy after conspiracy about vigilantes and the plans that run deeper than she ever could have imagined.

Stream Watchmen on Max.

The Sopranos

Arguably one of the best TV shows of all time, The Sopranos is a crime drama mainly following Tony Soprano, a mafia leader, and how he struggles to somehow be a normal everyday man for his family while also keeping the criminals who work for and with him in line.

Stream The Sopranos on Max.

Comedies Of All Kinds

Max has plenty of comedies to laugh at, whether you want something lighter or as dark as comedy can get. Here are the best.

The Boondocks

Based on a comic strip, The Boondocks is an animated show and mainly follows Huey and Riley Freeman as they live their lives in a dysfunctional family after settling into a white neighborhood, offering different takes on social commentary such as stereotypes, social classes and more.

Stream The Boondocks on Max.

Sex And The City

Starring the impeccably talented Sex and the City cast, the show mainly follows Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), a sex/relationship column writer, and her escapades in NYC with her friends (who are in their thirties and forties) as they navigate life, love, and their professions. There’s even a spinoff series called And Just Like That…

Stream Sex and the City on Max.

Barry

Starring Bill Hader, Barry tells the story of the titular character, Barry Berkman, a former Marine who turns to a life of crime in order to make money, but when he travels to Los Angeles for a target that he must kill, he finds his life completely turned upside down by the theater community. The series is entirely complete, so you should check it out.

Stream Barry on Max.

Rick And Morty

Get in on all the inside jokes and Rick Sanchez being the absolute worst. Rick and Morty follows the titular characters as they travel through the galaxy together as grandfather and grandson – while getting into tons of hilarious trouble along the way.

Stream Rick and Morty on Max.

The White Lotus

With two complete seasons and a third one currently airing, The White Lotus is the perfect show to get into if you’re looking for a great comedy that’s a little more mature. Originally a limited series but turned into an anthology because of how popular it was, each season follows vacationers who travel to The White Lotus, a luxurious hotel chain across the world, and the drama they get into. The first season takes place in Hawaii, while the second is in Italy, and the third is currently in Thailand.

Stream The White Lotus on Max.

Veep

Veep is the political satire show that you want to see. Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, as well as the incredible Veep cast, the show mainly follows her Selina Meyer as the Vice President of the United States, and how she has to deal with a ridiculous president, and all her crazy political co-workers in a modern day America.

Stream Veep on Max.

South Park

Come on down to South Park, we’ll have ourselves a time! South Park is the iconic animated dark comedy that has gone on for many, many years now, mainly following Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and Cartman, fourth-graders who get into trouble consistently at home, whether that means starting the whole COVID-19 pandemic, impersonating Hitler, or something else crazy.

Stream South Park on Max.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Last but not least, we need to take a look at Curb Your Enthusiasm. Starring Larry David, the show takes a fictionalized look at his life, following the man as a semi-retired writer and producer living in L.A., as he gets up to trouble with his former co-workers, other actors, and so much more – all while making you laugh your butt off. There are twelve seasons in its entirety, so check it out.

Stream Curb Your Enthusiasm on Max.

There are truly so many shows to watch on Max, and this is just the beginning of what you could check out. No matter what you pick, you will be entertained for hours.

Even though she is not the first person to assume the role of Scott Lang’s daughter, Cassie, I still believe Kathryn Newton’s debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as part of the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania cast, is a means for celebration. Her first foray into superhero movies is a really long time coming, as far as I am concerned, since she has already been proving herself to be one of the most talented actors of her generation time and time again for more than a decade. See what I mean for yourself by taking a look at this exploration of some of her most notable career highlights so far.

Alex - Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)

Just a year after making her feature film debut with Bad Teacher, Newton landed her first leading role in a movie, which was also served as the first step toward reaching her current status as one of the top horror Scream Queens of her time. The then-15-year-old actor is as charming as she is compelling in the Christopher Landon-penned fourth of installment of the Paranormal Activity movies as Alex — a teen suddenly plagued by unexplainable circumstances after a new family moves into her neighborhood.

Millie - Freaky (2020)

Newton would reunite with Landon (as both co-writer and director this time) for this fun, old school teen slasher comedy (and one of Blumhouse’s best movies yet) which also takes inspiration from Mary Rodgers’ seminal novel, Freaky Friday, in more ways than just the eponymous title. Freaky boasts one of the actor’s more complex and layered performances as of late, tasking her with playing both the young, innocent hero, Millie, and the vicious, homicidal antagonist, The Butcher, after magically switching bodies with the killer (Vince Vaughn).

Claire Novak - Supernatural (2014-2018)

Newton’s second major contribution to the horror genre was also one of her first major roles on a TV show and saw her give one of the most emotionally gripping portrayals of her career at the time. She joined the cast of Supernatural in the recurring role of Claire Novak, who became a hunter of paranormal activity herself after her father, Jimmy, became a human vessel for the brothers’ angelic ally, Castiel (Misha Collins), and — as she mentions in an EW interview — almost reprised the role on a spin-off called Wayward Sisters before the idea was scrapped.

Allie Pressman - The Society (2019)

Soon after her tenure as Claire on Supernatural ended, Newton returned to small-screen horror, but that of a whole different kind of tone, in creator Christopher Keyser’s short-lived Netflix TV show, The Society. She is heartbreaking as Allie Pressman — one of several teens who are suddenly forced to establish and maintain a community of their own when every other member of their small town mysteriously vanishes and a violent power struggle among the young survivors begins to emerge.

Julie - Blockers (2018)

A year before co-starring on The Society, Newton also shared the screen with co-star Gideon Adlon in a movie about unsupervised teens, but of a far more grounded and light-hearted variety, called Blockers. Newton is as charming as ever in this surprisingly funny and endearing coming-of-age comedy as one of three young women whose parents (Leslie Mann, John Cena, and Ike Barinholtz) discover that they have plans to lose their sexual innocence on prom night and set out to prevent their daughters from doing the deed.

Darlene Bell - Lady Bird (2017)

One of Newton’s first major departures from the horror genre into more grounded coming-of-age stories came when writer and director Greta Gerwig cast her as bespectacled Immaculate Heart of Mary student Darlene Bell in the Academy Award-nominated A24-produced sleeper hit, Lady Bird. Her otherwise brief appearances, opposite Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan in “the titular role” and Beanie Feldstein as Julie, still left an impact on the thought-provoking dramedy and, especially, on the trajectory of her career.

Angela - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

Lady Bird was not the only acclaimed 2017 dramedy (that also happened to star Lucas Hedges) featuring a brief appearance by Newton, but her sole scene in writer and director Martin McDonagh’s bold and brutal satire, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, is of much greater importance. She is unforgettably fierce as Angela — the sister of Hedges’ character, Robbie, and daughter of Oscar winner Frances McDormand’s Mildred — in a flashback to the angry last conversation she had with her mother before she was found raped and murdered.

Ivy Burns - Ben Is Back (2018)

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri would not be the last time that Newton played Lucas Hedges’ sister in a powerful, acclaimed drama about crime and its fracturing effect on a family, with the release of writer and director Peter Hedges’ Ben is Back the following year. Oscar nominee Hedges plays the title role of a recovering teenage addict, Oscar winner Julia Roberts plays his mother, Holly, who struggles with how his troubled past continues to haunt him, and Newton gives an Oscar worthy performance as Ivy, who has her own challenges with the situation.

Abigail Carlson - Big Little Lies (2017-2019)

Newton would also share the screen with (and hold her own wonderfully) opposite multiple Oscar darlings when she was cast on HBO’s Big Little Lies — developer David E. Kelley’s adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s scandalous novel — as Abigail Carlson. Her scenes with Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon as her mother, Madeline McKenzie — such as when a clash over Madeline’s expectations of Abigail concludes with an admission of her past infidelity — easily qualify as some of the Emmy-winning series’ most powerful moments, thanks in part to Newton’s ever-believable approach to depicting modern teen angst.

Now, the world is seeing Newton take on her most ambitious challenge as an actor yet by starring in one of the most visually bizarre new Marvel movies, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. However, considering what challenges she has tackled in the past in the roles above, navigating the Quantum Realm as Cassie Lang should be a breeze.

As Nicole Kidman continues with her AMC ads and taking over the film industry, she’s getting ready for a return to HBO a few years after her big hit Big Little Lies ended. And she’s doing it with a thriller limited series.

Kidman has been tapped to star in and executive produce HBO’s upcoming limited series, The Perfect Nanny, based on the Leila Slimani novel of the same name, according to Deadline. Along with Kidman, Maya Erskine, co-creator and co-lead of Hulu’s hit comedy Pen15, will also star and executive produce while serving as the creator and writer. 

The Perfect Nanny follows a couple hiring a seemingly, well, perfect, nanny to watch over their two young children. However, unfortunately, there’s something more wicked than meets the eye as the three become more dependent on each other. The novel is inspired by the murders of two white American children in 2012 and was originally published in 2016. Thrillers based on true stories are always intriguing, and how Kidman and Erskine bring the story to life in a different way will be something to look forward to.

Nicole Kidman and Per Saari will executive produce for the Eyes Wide Shut star's company Blossom Films, along with Maya Erskine and Pascal Caucheteux for Why Not Productions, and Philippe Godeau for Pan-Européenne. Not much else is known about the series, but hopefully, in the midst of Warner Bros. Discovery’s issues, this one keeps going because it definitely sounds like an interesting plot.

Meanwhile, aside from The Perfect Nanny and her ongoing stint as AMC’s spokeswoman, Nicole Kidman is keeping plenty busy. In 2022, she was part of the cast for Apple TV+’s Roar as Robin and starred alongside many A-listers in the cast of The Northman as Queen Gudrun. She has three other movies set to be released this year alone, with two additional shows coming out at a later date. She is definitely keeping fans fed on both the big and small screens, and soon she’ll be able to add The Perfect Nanny to that. 

One of the other shows Kidman locked down recently was Lioness, which comes from Taylor Sheridan, who just can’t stop creating successful content for Paramount. She joins an already impressive cast, which includes Zoe Saldaña, Dave Annable LaMonica Garrett, and Morgan Freeman. Lioness follows a Marine tasked with befriending the daughter of a terrorist the CIA is after. From where I stand it feels like Kidman is taking over the 2023 TV schedule, and it is something to look forward to as the year goes on.

An estimated premiere date for The Perfect Nanny has not been revealed, but make sure you’re signed up for an HBO Max subscription, so you’ll be able to watch the series when it finally does premiere, hopefully later this year.

The Skarsgårds have been around for quite a while and are an acting legacy, beginning with the powerhouse that is Dune’s Stellan Skarsgård. Alexander Skarsgård is the eldest of Stellan’s four actor sons, and he has a resume of pretty epic roles himself. While he feels he's sometimes fallen into being type-cast as the “Dude who takes his shirt off” in the past (and certainly looks great in shirtless roles), the eldest Skarsgård brother has also proven his worth in Hollywood as a man with range and superb acting chops. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best Alexander Skarsgård movies and TV shows, and how you can watch them streaming at home or add them to your own permanent Skarsgård collection. 

True Blood (2008 - 2014)

If you’re anything like me, you first fell in love with Alexander Skarsgård in HBO’s racy vampire drama, True Blood. Skarsgård plays the moody, bad boy Viking vampire who owns a popular vampire club in the series. His performance and character is top notch, and is one of the many favorites in the series. 

Alexander Skarsgård is a pivotal character throughout True Blood, and the series pretty much a must-see for any fans of the actor. Not only is Skarsgård’s Eric Northman blood thirsty and completely alluring, but the series’ setting of Louisiana brings an entirely immersive experience to the series and really plays on that modern vampire aesthetic. 10/10 vampire series; would binge again.

Stream True Blood on HBO Max.
Buy/Rent True Blood digitally on Amazon.
Buy True Blood on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Kill Your Darlings (2006)

Not to be confused with Daniel Radcliffe’s later film of the same name, Kill Your Darlings centers around five very different individuals and their joint journey from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Alexander Skarsgård plays a trans woman who, after attempting to light herself on fire, meets up with two other travelers heading to Sin City to see the very same celebrity psychiatrist. 

If you were looking for a hidden gem of a performance from Alexander Skarsgård to even out the number of his impressive and well-known roles, Kill Your Darlings should fit the bill perfectly. Although set in America and spoken a fair amount in English, the film features a number of Swedish actors and was made by a Swedish director. It’s a niche movie and you’ll be hard pressed to find it streaming, but you can buy it pretty cheap on DVD - and it’s worth it. 

Buy Kill Your Darlings on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

While it was kind of hard to get Disney’s animated version of Tarzan and Brendan Fraser’s George of the Jungle out of my head when thinking about shirtless, loincloth-clad men swinging through trees in a jungle, seeing Alexander Skarsgård completely dominate the role of Tarzan in The Legend of Tarzan certainly did the trick. This was made for a little bit of an older audience, and Skarsgård’s take on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ character totally stands up, and he’s backed by an all-star cast that includes the lovely Margot Robbie and Christoph Waltz. 

Buy/Rent The Legend of Tarzan digitally on Amazon.
Buy The Legend of Tarzan on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

The Northman (2022)

Alexander Skarsgård is close to his Scandinavian roots in The Northman, in which he plays a Viking prince set on avenging his murdered father. The Northman was brutal for the cast, especially Skarsgård, to film and that brutality certainly shows in the finished product. 

The Northman is Alexander Skarsgård’s most recently released film and is currently available to watch in a theater near you. While it isn’t streaming just yet, according to The Wrap there is a good chance you’ll be able to catch it at home with a Peacock subscription once its theatrical window is over, as it is a Universal picture. 

Big Little Lies (2017 - 2019)

Based on the best selling novel of the same name, Big Little Lies was a big deal. It had an enormous budget and cost pretty much the same as Game of Thrones to make, per episode. While Alexander Skarsgård is not one of the main characters, he is surrounded by some of Hollywood’s most renowned leading ladies, like Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman.

Big Little Lies is a dark, comedic series that centers on a murder in a high class, beach front neighborhood. It’s funny and dramatic, and with Season 1 having over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, a pretty solid watch.

Stream Big Little Lies on HBO Max.
Buy Big Little Lies digitally on Amazon.
Buy Big Little Lies on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

The Stand (2020 - 2021)

Who doesn’t love a good Stephen King film/TV adaptation? There have been a ton, and new ones are being made pretty much all the time. Paramount’s limited The Stand series is one of the handful of adaptations that have been made of King’s most lengthy stand alone work, and it’s definitely a must see for fans of both the horror writer and of Alexander Skarsgård.

Alexander Skarsgård plays the antagonist of The Stand, and his performance of Randall Flagg is pretty spot-on. Even with an all-star cast, Skarsgård stands out in the newest version of Stephen King’s The Stand. His character tends to pop up in other King novels as well, so the possibility for Skarsgård’s version of the character to live on in future projects is, to me, reason enough to hone in on Skarsgård’s Randall Flagg and check out the Paramount limited series.

Stream The Stand on Paramount+.
Buy The Stand digitally on Amazon.
Buy The Stand on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

What Maisie Knew (2012)

While Alexander Skarsgård plays the brooding, morally gray character pretty often, his role in What Maisie Knew is refreshingly nice and very endearing. The film centers on the titular child of two freshly divorced parents who have new partners. Skarsgård is Maisie’s new caretaker and her mother’s new husband. The film is about Maisie and her new circumstances, and the relationship she forms with Skarsgård’s character. 

Stream What Maisie Knew on Peacock.
Stream What Maisie Knew digitally on Amazon.
Buy What Maisie Knew on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Melancholia (2011)

Melancholia is a visually stunning film. While the movie is far from a feel-good watch, it’s moving nonetheless. Melancholia explores the depths of depression with the story of two sisters as the world hurdles to an end as a planet is set to crash into Earth. Alexander Skarsgård plays the groom of one sister, played by Kirsten Dunst, who are getting married amid the impending disaster. The interesting plot line mixed with how artistically the film is approached is reason enough to watch this movie, and the performances from the stars are on point, as well. 

Stream Melancholia on Roku.
Buy/Rent Melancholia digitally on Amazon.
Buy Melancholia on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

On Becoming A God In Central Florida (2019)

Alexander Skarsgård and Kirsten Dunst team ups are killer, as On Becoming a God in Central Florida is the second which to make the list. I can only describe this series as a wild ride from start to finish. Set in the early ‘90s, this dark comedy handles the toxicity of pyramid schemes and the unexpected happens at pretty much every turn.

Alexander Skarsgård is pretty much unrecognizable in the TV series, but he gives a spectacular performance. He is only really in the first episode, but he is very much memorable. It’s a must see, and you’ll probably stick around even after Skarsgård makes his exit; it’s that good.

Stream On Becoming a God in Central Florida on Showtime.
Buy On Becoming a God in Central Florida digitally on Amazon.
Buy On Becoming a God in Central Florida on DVD on Amazon.

Disconnect (2012)

While Disconnect came out 10 years ago, it’s still very much relevant today. The film centers around three stories as a group of people navigate solving very real problems that result from living in a world where the internet runs everything. It’s a reflective film and speaks to the dangers of having your whole life being online. Alexander Skarsgård is acting opposite Jason Bateman and a whole cast of fantastic performers.

Buy/Rent Disconnect digitally on Amazon.
Buy Disconnect on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

While a lot of the Alexander Skarsgård performances in this “Best of” list showcase some serious talent in serious roles and prove he’s way more than just a man who takes his shirt off, the actor also has some wild range and does a great job in comedic roles as well. This can be seen in his smaller, yet awesome roles in Zoolander, Eastbound & Down, and Drunk History. They are totally worth checking out too, but just didn’t quite make the list. 

With The Northman having recently hit theaters and gaining some massively positive attention for Alexander Skarsgård, I can’t help but think there may be some great things on the horizon for the actor. While he’s been in the business and in Hollywood for a good two decades, I can’t wait to see what the next ten years look like for the talent, as he, arguably, still has lots of places where he can go in what is sure to be a very long career.

I’m sure that for a lot of people, when they hear the name ‘Kravitz,’ they think of Lenny Kravitz, the famous musician, but for me, I think of his daughter, Zoë Kravitz. With her 2022 roles in KIMI and The Batman, Kravitz has become more of a star now than ever and her future is bright. However, that doesn’t mean she hasn’t had previous successful roles that you should check out. 

From Big Little Lies to Divergent, Kravitz has quite the catalogue of movies. Here are some of the best Zoë Kravitz movies and TV shows that are streaming or available to rent right now. 

Big Little Lies (2017, 2019)

Big Little Lies pulls back the curtain on what it looks like to be a perfectionist, when three seemingly perfect mothers end up getting involved in a murder investigation that changes their lives forever. 

Kravitz played Bonnie Howard Carlson, the wife of Nathan, and received critical acclaim for her role. While there’s been no confirmation that a Season 3 is on the horizon for the popular show (which has won several awards), there has been talk from the leads, who would be interested to continue the story. Here’s hoping that we  get to see Kravitz as Bonnie once again. 

Stream Big Little Lies on HBO Max.

X-Men: First Class (2011)

One of Kravitz’s first big roles was portraying Angel Salvadore in X-Men: First Class. This movie basically acts as an origin story for the beginning of X-Men and how the mutant team came to be, as they faced an international threat. 

Kravitz’s character was a mutant with dragonfly wings who had acidic saliva that was able to burn through anyone’s skin - talk about a pretty scary power. While some of the X-Men films can sometimes be hit or miss, I’ve always really enjoyed watching this one, as it introduces a lot of new characters to the X-Men: First Class cast that I enjoy, including Kravitz’s character, which she plays perfectly. 

Stream X-Men: First Class on Disney+.
Rent X-Men: First Class on Amazon.

Divergent Series (2014-2016)

Remember when young adult dystopian movies were all the rage? Divergent was a part of that trend. These movies tell the story of a society where everyone is split into different factions where they remain for the rest of their lives. Except one girl, Tris, feels like she doesn't fit in anywhere. With a dark conspiracy about her home rising to the surface, it’s up to her and her friends to save everyone. 

Kravitz, for her time in the series, portrayed Tris' friend Christina, who aimed to help her. While Divergent was never my favorite film series to emerge from this genre of teen movies, I do enjoy Kravitz's performance throughout, and her interactions with Shailene Woodley’s character, Tris, are fun to watch. I’ll never understand why they stopped making Divergent movies, though. 

Rent The Divergent Series on Amazon.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (2018)

The Wizarding World continued on in this spinoff. Fantastic Beasts, acting as a prequel to Harry Potter, mainly follows Newt Scamander and his adventures in the Wizarding World, from his interactions with wizards that we know, and to legendary villains such as Gellert Grindelwald, as we see in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. 

Zoë Kravitz portrays Leta Lestrange (you know, from that crazy family in the Harry Potter universe), and I personally really liked her portrayal of the character, showing just how lost she was as not only a witch, but a human, after years of ostracization from society. While I’m not sure if Leta will be making a comeback in the upcoming Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, I can at least re-watch this movie and admire her performance again. 

Stream Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald on HBO Max.
Rent Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald on Amazon.

High Fidelity (2020)

Now this was a series that deserved more time. High Fidelity, based on the book and the 2000 movie of the same name, takes place in Brooklyn, NY and follows Robyn Brooks, otherwise known as Rob, who owns a vinyl store, is obsessed with music and is struggling with her own dating life. 

Fun fact - even though Kravitz stars in the TV show, High Fidelity, her mother, Lisa Bonet, actually stared in the original film back in 2000. Talk about the ultimate tribute to your mother. And, Kravitz rocks it in her role as well, capturing the audience with her screen-presence and proving that she’s leading lady material. If only this show hadn’t been cancelled so quickly. 

Stream High Fidelity on Hulu.

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)

Now this is one of my favorite superhero movies. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse tells the story of Miles Morales, a young man who gets bitten by a spider and takes on the role of Spider-Man in his universe - but when a portal to the multiverse is opened, and Miles has to take on villain after villain, with the help of other Spider-People from other worlds. 

While Kravitz didn’t voice one of the Spider-heroes, she did voice the famous girlfriend/wife of Peter Parker, Mary Jane Watson, who plays an essential part in Peter Parker’s character arc in the movie - plus, her voice fits the character perfectly. Into the Spider-Verse is my personal favorite Spider-Man movie, and I can’t wait until the sequel comes out. If only time could move quicker.  

Rent Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse on Amazon.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

This very popular movie had a ton of stars. Mad Max: Fury Road is a post-apocalyptic film set in a world where food and water are limited and humans have divided up into factions. And now, Max Rockatansky has been dragged into a lengthy battle that changes the course of his life forever. 

Kravitz portrays one of the five wives of Immortan Joe, the main antagonist of Mad Max, and by God, she and everyone else who plays a wife is badass as hell. I absolutely loved her scenes in this movie, showing that she is capable of being a full-fledged action star. It makes me even more excited to see her as Catwoman in The Batman. 

Stream Mad Max: Fury Road on HBO Max.
Rent Mad Max: Fury Road on Amazon.

Dope (2015)

In this fun film from 2015, Dope follows Malcolm, a high schooler who ends up on the guest list for a big party alongside his friends. However, when this party turns violent and he has to run, he finds that there’s suddenly ecstasy in his backpack. Hilarities begin to occur as he and his friends try to avoid getting killed by people who want his mysterious stash. 

Zoë Kravitz played Nakia, one of the main characters, and I loved her interactions with Malcolm, played by Shameik Moore. They had great chemistry and really gave that coming-of-age vibe where they’re sort of dancing around each other, but you can tell that they like each other, as well. With all the craziness that happens in this movie, their friendship was a nice constant that I really enjoyed watching. 

Rent Dope on Amazon.

Gemini (2017)

This independent movie really showcases Kravitz's acting talent. Gemini is a mystery thriller that tells the story of a movie star and her assistant. But, when this movie star is found dead one morning, the assistant has to find a way to clear her name as she is dragged through the mud and accused of murder. 

Kravitz plays Heather, the main movie star of the film who is murdered, and I personally think it’s roles like this where she shines the most. She does a great job of showing that mysterious woman that has so many secrets, only for all of them to be revealed at the end. And, let me say that this movie is also really pretty. The cinematography is excellent and catches your eye instantly.  

Stream Gemini on Hulu.
Rent Gemini on Amazon.

Rough Night (2017) 

Lastly, we have Rough Night. This fun comedy is exactly what I love to watch - as we see five college friends who come back together again. What does this lead to? A crazy and eventful weekend in Miami during a bachelorette party. 

Let me tell you first that Kravitz isn’t the only big name on this list. She co-stars with big names such as Scarlett Johansson, Jillian Bell, Kate McKinnon, and so many more. And, to be honest, I love them all so much together. Kravitz is great as Blair and really lets herself have fun with this role, but the rest of the cast is so joyful to watch, too. Rough Night is one of those films you watch when you just need a laugh, and every time, it’ll succeed in giving you that. 

Rent Rough Night on Amazon.

It’s kind of cool to think that Zoë Kravitz voiced Catwoman for a little bit in The Lego Batman Movie, and is now going to be portraying her in The Batman cast. Talk about fate. I, for one, can’t wait to see her rock that role, too. But for now, until her new 2022 movie releases come out, you have some of her other awesome films and TV series to watch to keep you occupied. 

Jean-Marc Vallée, the Canadian filmmaker behind critically-acclaimed dramas such as Dallas Buyers Club, Wild, and Big Little Lies died this week at the age of 58. Vallée was found dead in his cabin on the river outside Quebec City, likely due to a heart attack. He was reportedly preparing to host guests there for the Christmas holiday. Following the tragic news, his close collaborators, including Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon are paying tribute to him. 

Nicole Kidman took to her Instagram to honor the late director, speaking about how she is “shattered” by Jean-Marc Vallée’s passing. You can check out her post below: 

Nicole Kidman worked closely with Vallée on the challenging role of Celeste Wright in Big Little Lies, which earned them both Primetime Emmys in 2017. The actress said the late filmmaker was responsible for “some of the most rewarding professional experiences” of her career. As Kidman grieves the loss, colleagues, including Naomi Watts and Rita Wilson took to the comment section to offer their sympathies. 

Reese Witherspoon also worked with Jean-Marc Vallée on Big Little Lies, along with their work on the 2014 film, Wild. Her tribute to the filmmaker included a number of on-set photos of the pair: 

Their mutual co-star, Laura Dern (also in Big Little Lies and Wild), shared a sweet photo with her and Jean-Marc Vallée laughing together. She called him one of “our great and purest artists and dreamers”: 

The filmmaker touched many of his collaborators in Hollywood, including Matthew McConaughey, who starred in his film, Dallas Buyers Club, in 2013 and would go on to win an Oscar for the role. The actor said that “love stories were everywhere in his eye” when speaking about Vallée's work. 

Alongside McConaughey on Dallas Buyers Club was Jared Leto, who also took some time to pay tribute to the filmmaker. Leto shared that Jean-Marc Vallée changed his life with the role of Rayon. The actor shared a photo of him on the night he won a Golden Globe for their movie.

Jean-Marc Vallée was a director, film editor, screenwriter, and producer. He was born in Montreal in 1963, and got his start making short films in his home of Canada. His early films were C.R.A.Z.Y. and The Young Victoria, before finding his most acclaimed film in Best Picture nominee, Dallas Buyers Club. In the years following, he made Wild and Demolition and worked closely with Reese Witherspoon’s production company to develop Big Little Lies for HBO, along with making the miniseries, Sharp Objects, with Blumhouse and Amy Adams. 

Vallée left behind an incredible body of work we’ll look to for generations to come. The Hollywood community and fans of his movies and TV projects will miss him. Here at CinemaBlend, we send our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, colleagues, and fans. 

Whether you know the actress best as the pregnant high schooler in ABC Family's The Secret Life of the American Teenager, the grieving, self-dependent young woman in The Descendants, the traumatized single mother in HBO's Big Little Lies, the smitten cancer-stricken 16-year-old in The Fault in Our Stars, or the freedom fighter in Divergent, there's a good chance that you've seen Shailene Woodley throughout the past decade.

On screens both big and small, the versatile performer has proven her talents many times over, and that will hopefully remain true in the years moving forward. If you love the Emmy-nominated actress and activist and you want to see some of her best work, you're in luck. Here are Shailene Woodley's best or most notable movies and TV shows.

Big Little Lies (HBO Max)

The well-to-do lives of affluent upper-class mothers start to unravel when a single mother (Shailene Woodley) moves to their quaint Californian suburban beach town.

Why You Should Stream If You Love Shailene Woodley: In what's easily the young actress' most acclaimed performance to date, Shailene Woodley deservedly got an Emmy nomination for her mesmerizing portrayal of Jane Chapman, a single mother living with the lasting trauma of her sexual assault, in Big Little Lies. Gently showcasing the deep-seated sadness and loneliness of her pain, Woodley gives one of her most empathetic and engaging performances, one that is given ample time to breathe and live through the expanded narrative. Even when she must act opposite Oscar-winning heavyweights like Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, Woodley holds her own quite spectacularly, demonstrating her quietly powerful ability to play tender characters trying to make peace with their torment and terror. While we've seen Woodley performances that are equally as soulful, HBO's prestigious drama really allows the actress to flourish.

Stream Big Little Lies on HBO Max.

Rent Big Little Lies on Amazon.

The Spectacular Now (Showtime/Kanopy)

A hard-drinking, hard-partying high schooler (Miles Teller) gets a new lease on life when he falls for a girl (Shailene Woodley).

Why You Should Stream If You Love Shailene Woodley: Most high school dramas crumple under their own artifice, their innate inability to connect with the emotional reality of their young protagonists. That's not the case for The Spectacular Now, an immensely perceptive, wistfully sensitive character piece that finds even more honesty through its extraordinary lead performances from Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley. Though it's easy to celebrate Teller's bravado and charisma, it's ultimately Woodley's complex performance that takes the cake here. She provides so much raw, invigorated intimacy and integrity to this young role, bringing a wealth of depth and clarity to this teenager trying to find her own sense of self within a surely ill-fated and appropriately intoxicating relationship. Thanks to her compassion and conviction, this punch-drunk and hazy-eyed romance is given some clear and devastating bits of sobering realism.

Stream The Spectacular Now on Showtime.

Stream The Spectacular Now on Kanopy. 

Rent The Spectacular Now on Amazon.

The Fault in Our Stars

Two teenage cancer patients (Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort) travel to Amsterdam to visit a reclusive author.

Why You Should Stream If You Love Shailene Woodley: Based on the best-selling weeper by John Green, The Fault in Our Stars provided Shailene Woodley with a moving and emotional character to embody with Hazel Lancaster, a 16-year-old cancer patient who finds unexpected love from a similarly affected teen boy (Ansel Elgort) in a love story that's, at once, traditional and unconventional. While the novel was quick to fall into some predictable tropes, Woodley's wise-beyond-her-years performance brings a lot of humane pathos to her ailing character, thus providing the actress with another great opportunity to shine at playing hard-pressed characters who shine through their struggles with their wit, dignity, and unsuspecting moments of bleeding tenderness. Her chemistry with her leading man is natural and reflexive, further showcasing the actress' naturalism and emotional intensity. It's a stunning performance, arguably among her best, and it's certainly one of her most celebrated to date as well.

Rent The Fault in Our Stars on Amazon.

The Mauritanian (Showtime)

A man (Tahar Rahim) fights for his freedom and sanity when he's detained and imprisoned without charge in Guantanamo Bay.

Why You Should Stream If You Love Shailene Woodley: Though hindered by its conventional storytelling approach, one that sometimes robbed the movie of its affecting rawness that's core to the movie's devastating emotional core, The Mauritanian remains impactful through its strong central performances, especially from Tahar Rahim and Jodie Foster. Additionally, Shailene Woodley holds her own as Teri Duncan, a young, eager lawyer who wants to do what's right, even when she's left in doubt about the man she's been hired to protect. The weighted conscious that she brings to this mentally tormented character is well-suited for the actress, as she conveys the layers of insecurity and determination well to provide a complex look at this young law-abiding woman who wants to push back against oppression, even when she's not certain of who she's representing or what she needs to do in order to protect an incarcerated man's lost freedoms.

Stream The Mauritanian on Showtime.

Buy The Mauritanian on Amazon.

White Bird In A Blizzard (Tubi, Crackle And More)

The life of a teenage girl (Shailene Woodley) spirals when her mother (Eva Green) disappears.

Why You Should Stream If You Love Shailene Woodley: Though it doesn't always gel with Eva Green's broader, campier performance, Shailene Woodley gives another acclaimed performance at the center of White Bird in a Blizzard, writer-director Gregg Araki's adaptation of Laura Kasischke's 1999 novel. Certainly, the actress and the arthouse director were a natural fit. The provocative, soul-searching filmmaker and the emotionally vulnerable and physically open actress are well-suited for each other's tastes, and its most well-liked moments come when their sensibilities are harmonious. Alas, while the narrative storytelling wasn't widely praised, White Bird in a Blizzard continued to showcase the depths of this dedicated actress.

White Bird In a Blizzard is streaming on several platforms: Stream it on Tubi, Crackle, PlutoTV, Kanopy, Plex, Vudu and Amazon Prime.

Adrift (Netflix)

A young, adventurous couple (Shailene Woodley, Sam Claflin) face uncertain waters during one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history.

Why You Should Stream If You Love Shailene Woodley: As a movie, Adrift sinks more than it swims. Its melodramatic approach doesn't play well to the inherent humanity of its story, and it can be lost at sea when it comes to navigating its true-life story into blockbuster mode. Nevertheless, the dramatic movie is often kept afloat through the undying commitment of its lead actress and producer, Shailene Woodley. In the role of Tami Oldman, Woodley gives yet another visceral, versatile lead performance, one that demonstrates her natural talents at commanding the screen — even when she must act opposite herself. It's an incredibly challenging role that Woodley tackles without fear or reservations, yet the tenderness that she brings to her character remains vibrantly on display. Though Adrift battles rocky waves and soggy sentimentalism, it's anchored by the shining empathy and invigoration that Woodley provides on both sides of the lens.

Stream Adrift on Netflix.

Rent Adrift on Amazon.

The Secret Life Of The American Teenager (Hulu)

Following a one-night stand at band camp, 15-year-old Amy (Shailene Woodley) winds up pregnant, throwing her life upside down.

Why You Should Stream If You Love Shailene Woodley: Though it was hardly a critical sensation, The Secret Life of the American Teenager was a major hit for ABC Family (now Freeform), resulting in one of the station's most well-watched shows and paving the way for Shailene Woodley's career ascension. While the show was often derided for its corny sensibilities and its less-than-accurate writing, audiences were quick to notice Shailene Woodley's growing talent as a lead actress, and how she would fine-tune her skills in the seasons to follow. Certainly, as her profile grew and Woodley got even more opportunities to prove herself, this hit TV series developed with its star, becoming more challenging over time. It's not her finest hour, but it was an important one for Woodley.

Stream The Secret Life of the American Teenager on Hulu.

Rent The Secret Life of the American Teenager on Amazon.

The Last Letter From Your Lover (Netflix)

An ambitious modern-day journalist (Felicity Jones) attempts to discover the truth behind a trove of love letters dated back to 1965.

Why You Should Stream If You Love Shailene Woodley: Given a quiet Netflix release earlier this year, The Last Letter From Your Lover didn't make a big impression upon its release, but select critics and audiences were quick to praise the central performances, including another exceptional turn from Shailene Woodley as a young woman lost in her time and yearning for the affections of another man. The sentimental movie didn't appeal to everyone, but Woodley's performance had its fans.

Stream The Last Letter From Your Lover On Netflix.

The Descendants

A dysfunctional dad (George Clooney) struggles to reconnect with his daughters (Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller) after his wife is injured in a grave boating accident.

Why You Should Rent If You Loved Shailene Woodley: While ABC Family's The Secret Life of the American Teenager was the lead performance that made Shailene Woodley something of a household name, her emotional, exquisitely aching turn in Alexander Payne's The Descendants is the one that turned her into a critical darling. While some critics were quick to dismiss her work in the aforementioned show due to its hackneyed premise and hokey sensibilities, the assured balance of humor and heart in this darkly comedic dramedy demonstrated a bright young performer with range, depth, wit and cutting precision. It's not easy to stand toe-to-toe with George Clooney, but Woodley held her own, even from a young age, to be arguably the scene-stealing star of this Oscar-winning movie. While she's strictly in supporting character mode here, this is arguably the performance that turned the actress into the movie star that she is today.

Rent The Descendants On Amazon.

Divergent

In a futuristic world in which society is divided into five factions, a young woman chooses to be Dauntless — pursuing bravery above all else.

Why It's Worth Renting If You Love Shailene Woodley: Compared to other YA movie franchises like Harry Potter or The Hunger Games, Divergent doesn't stand out — especially with the less-than-stellar sequels to follow. Yet, despite its middling reviews and lackluster follow-ups, the first film isn't without its high points. Most notably, Shailene Woodley's headstrong performance as Tris Prior. Through her grounded performance, the up-and-coming actress demonstrated herself to be a dependable screen presence; she breathes some gravitas into this outlandish, teen-centric sci-fi world and brings more life to the screen than its rote screenplay might otherwise provide. She can only do so much, of course, but it's easy to see why this adaptation found an audience. Woodley has a wry assurance that's earthbound, providing a fine mix of assurance and vulnerability that makes it easy to see why she became a star.

Rent Divergent on Amazon.

Also, check out SXSW's award-winning favorite, The Fallout, whenever it premieres!

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Betrayal. Heartbreak. Drama. All of this already sounds like something a show like Pretty Little Liars would have on a daily basis. And honestly, it did, which is why the original show became so popular. I swear the amount of times someone would be metaphorically stabbed in the back in this show would sometimes put Game of Thrones to shame. And now, years later, a reboot is coming soon on HBO Max.

However, just because a reboot is coming of the once-popular teen show on ABC Family (now Freeform), that doesn’t mean there are still plenty of other options for fans like you to enjoy that will have your head spinning and yelling at the TV. From riveting dramas to high school cliches, here are some of the best shows to watch streaming right now that just might remind you of Pretty Little Liars.

Riverdale (Netflix)

You want to talk about the epitome of a show that will remind you of Pretty Little Liars, look no further than Riverdale. In this CW show, we get to learn the history of the town of Riverdale, a little place north of New York City, where dastardly things happen often, surrounded by a veil of mystery, where friends from high school must come together to try and solve it.

On the surface level, this sounds like a fun little series where friends get to solve mysteries, but let me just say that the show is so much more than that, to the point where the ridiculousness of some of these plots almost feels like too much. However, once you get into it, you’ll find yourself entertained by even that. It’s definitely a great show to watch if you give it a shot.

Stream Riverdale on Netflix.

Buy Riverdale on Amazon.

Gossip Girl (HBO Max)

Another iconic teen show that is coming back with a vengeance into society is Gossip Girl. In this popular drama series, we get to see the lives of privileged teenagers in the Upper East Side of New York City, and the world of Serena Van der Woodsen and the friends around her, while the whole series is narrated by an unknown “gossip girl.”

The show made its mark in television for its not only ridiculously rich characters (I mean, this is the Upper East Side), but plenty of love triangles, twists, and the mystery of who exactly “gossip girl” is for the time the series aired. With a sequel series coming soon to HBO Max, it’s not a surprise that new fans are going to get introduced to the world of Gossip Girl, but to me, I don’t think anyone could ever quite replace that original Gossip Girl cast.

Stream Gossip Girl on HBO Max.

Buy Gossip Girl on Amazon.

Dexter (Amazon Prime)

Ah, Dexter, the show with the finale that apparently was so bad, they’re doing a whole new limited series now. I wish the creators of Game of Thrones would do that too. Either way, Dexter was an iconic series about Dexter Morgan, a blood spatter analyst in Miami who lives a double life – as he helps investigate murders in the homicide division, he hunts and kills murderers who have escaped from the justice system.

Let me just start by saying that Dexter (the character himself) is a messed-up dude, but I really think that’s what makes this series so much fun and a great choice for Pretty Little Liars fans. It has that air of suspense surrounding it constantly, causing viewers to wonder if people will ever find out what he’s doing, and the story itself is intriguing and interesting to watch.

Stream Dexter on Amazon Prime.

Buy Dexter on Amazon.

You (Netflix)

Honestly, and some may disagree, but You is one of my favorite shows of all time and I can’t wait until You Season 3. In this Netflix original (formerly a Lifetime series), we follow Joe Goldberg. a man who falls in love very easily and crosses the line between love and obsession easily as well, often going to extreme lengths so he can keep the woman he wants and provide for her – even if that includes murder.

It’s just so good and one of the best shows on Netflix, in my opinion. I’ve watched this show’s two seasons several times now and I can’t get over the drama, the story – and just how creepy Joe is. But the thing that really draws me into this drama series is, while Joe is a horrible person, sometimes, you actually want to root for him, showing the strange and complex relationship Joe has with the idea of “love” in his mind. It’s perplexing, engrossing, and drama-filled to the point where you’ll want to re-watch the show again too.

Stream You on Netflix.

Buy You on Amazon.

Big Little Lies (HBO Max)

Sometimes, your life seems absolutely perfect, with nothing going on that could distract you. And then, all of a sudden, a murder happens and unravels your life to the point where you don’t think you could ever return to normalcy. That’s exactly the storyline that Big Little Lies follows, based on the Lisa Moriarty book of the same name.

For fans of Pretty Little Liars, this is an amazing show for you. Not only does the plot revolve around mystery and murder, something Pretty Little Liar fans know quite well, but the cast is absolutely amazing. I mean, Legally Blonde and The Morning Show’s Reese Witherspoon? Divergent’s Shailene Woodley? The Prom's Nicole Kidman? It’s no wonder this show was nominated for so many Emmys with that acting talent. Trust me, you’ll most certainly want to check out this show. It’s seriously that good. Release your inner detective and try to solve the mystery yourself.

Stream Big Little Lies on HBO Max.

Buy Big Little Lies on Amazon.

Dynasty (Netflix)

Family dramas have to be one of the oldest TV genres since the invention of the television set, and Dynasty certainly capitalizes on that. In this popular drama (a modern reboot of the classic primetime soap), a wealthy heiress, Fallon Carrington, is extremely unhappy to find out that her father (who is also a billionaire) is engaged to a rival employee at the family company. The series starts out with her wanting to find a way to separate them.

Dynasty to me is almost like how Gossip Girl is regarding wealth, but with extremely rich people. So rich to the point where it seems almost bonkers that they have this much money. But what really makes Dynasty stand out above the rest is the great casting for this, just as Pretty Little Liars had. I literally cannot picture anyone else besides Elizabeth Gillies playing Fallon. She fits the role incredibly and rocks it with flying colors, alongside her amazing castmates.

Stream Dynasty on Netflix.

Buy Dynasty on Amazon.

Desperate Housewives (Hulu)

I also felt that this was one of those shows our mothers watch religiously and I thought it was weird back then – but ever since I decided to give it a shot, I finally realized how awesome Desperate Housewives actually is. In this well-known series, Wisteria Lane is where we are, in a fictional town and state, where we get to see the lives of a group of women, seen through the eyes of their friend and neighbor who took her life in the first episode.

Let me say that if you think Pretty Little Liars is dramatic, just wait until you get a hold of the cast of Desperate Housewives. They do not hold back the drama from you. You are thrown right into the thick of it in the first episode, and it does not let go until the series finale. With eight seasons to binge, I promise you that if you begin watching this show, you won’t be able to stop.

Stream Desperate Housewives on Hulu.

Buy Desperate Housewives on Amazon.

The Society (Netflix)

For fans of teenagers who basically run the world – and let’s be honest, Pretty Little Liars is like that, where the heck are the parents? – The Society is for you. In this Netflix original, the teenagers in a town in West Ham, Connecticut must learn to try and somehow run their community when out of nowhere, the rest of their population disappears.

The mystery in of itself would be enough to draw in any Pretty Little Liars fan, but what keeps you in the story that follows and the reveals that come not that long after. But as always, The Society fell victim to Netflix’s chopping block too soon, so because of that, you might get left on some cliffhangers. Even so, the series is still worth a watch and super fun.

Stream The Society on Netflix.

Tiny Pretty Things (Netflix)

When I was first composing this list, the new Netflix series, titled Tiny Pretty Things, was one of the first shows that popped up in my mind for Pretty Little Liars fans. In this original, the premise is set in a ballet school in Chicago and focuses on the students, instructors, and everyone else that surrounds it. However, like with any high school, there is plenty of drama, alongside some love triangles and mysteries galore.

A fun fact I always like to point out with this show is that the dancing is also performed by the actors, according to Marie Claire, so not only are they great at their acting, but they can dance their butts off too. Even so, this is the series for you if you enjoy shows like Pretty Little Liars. It has everything you would expect, from the mystery of a strange death to secret relationships to scandalous secrets. The hits keep coming with this Netflix original.

Stream Tiny Pretty Things on Netflix.

Revenge (Hulu)

As the last item on this list, Revenge is certainly not the least. In this popular drama, we follow the story of Emily Thorne, a young woman who makes it her mission to avenge her father after he is thrown in prison for treason when she was a little girl, and later died while behind bars. Now, she returns to the Hamptons to get revenge for her father, starting with the Graysons.

Revenge is the perfect show for fans of Pretty Little Liars because the whole entire plot revolves around one woman trying to get revenge, going to crazy lengths to do so. However, what really makes Revenge tick is the chemistry between actors. Emily VanCamp and Madeleine Stowe are absolutely amazing in their scenes together, and the rest of the cast shines. Plus, there are some insane twists later on down the series, but of course, I can’t say those now. You have to watch the show for yourself.

Stream Revenge on Hulu.

Rent Revenge on Amazon.

I swear, with all these Netflix TV shows and Hulu TV shows, and everything else on this list, we are truly never going to run out of television to watch. Even so, now you can see just how many options there are for Pretty Little Liars fans to enjoy. Hopefully you can find something to binge and bide your time until the new series comes out – it’s only a matter of time.

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When it comes to the epitome of Hollywood stars, one of the first actresses that always pop up in my mind is Reese Witherspoon. I feel like we have all seen her in at least one movie that we all adore. Maybe it’s her portrayal of a badass lawyer in Legally Blonde, or maybe it’s her turn in dramatic shows like Little Fires Everywhere. Regardless, Reese Witherspoon never seems to fail.

It makes me wonder what exactly is out there in the streaming world for you to enjoy if you have a bit of a craving for the Hollywood star. Well, look no further than this list, as these are the best Reese Witherspoon movies and TV shows for you to check out the next time you’re on your favorite streaming service.

A Wrinkle In Time (Disney+)

Starting off this list, we take a look at one of Reese Witherspoon’s more recent entries, the Disney film, A Wrinkle in Time. This movie, based on the famous book of the same name, follows the story of Meg Murray, a girl who is able to travel through time in order to save her father from evil forces that surround them, and gets help along the way from various (sometimes magical) characters.

It’s a classic novel for a reason, and the movie is just as fantastically beautiful as you would expect it to be. Reese Witherspoon is great as Mrs. Whatsit, and the costuming in A Wrinkle in Time is absolutely spot on. You can barely tell who Witherspoon is. For fans of fantasy, this is definitely your way to go.

Stream A Wrinkle in Time on Disney+.

Rent A Wrinkle in Time on Amazon.

Mud (HBO Max)

Moving into the drama category, which Reese Witherspoon has tackled so effortlessly, we take a look at Mud. The plot revolves around two Arkansas teenagers finding a boat that was stuck high in a tree on a small island, who actually end up discovering that someone is living in there, a man who goes by the name Mud.

The story, while it can be strange at times, is extremely compelling, and the characters really carry you from scene to scene thanks to the great acting talent of Reese Witherspoon and Matthew McConaughey. You want to know so much about who they are and where they came from – especially Mud. It’s such a crazy scenario but works so well.

Stream Mud on HBO Max.

Rent Mud on Amazon.

Four Christmases (Netflix)

I mean, we can’t have a Reese Witherspoon list without this classic movie for you all to watch. Four Christmases, starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn, tells the age-old tale of Christmas at home – except it’s about a couple visiting all four of their divorced parents' homes on Christmas Day. Talk about crazy.

I mean, you can watch a Christmas movie at any time of the year, in my opinion. I absolutely love Witherspoon in this. It’s quintessential Reese, and she shines in her comedic role, as always, but there’s something warm about it, too. I always seem to move towards it when I’m feeling down, because Christmas movies always bring a certain amount of joy into your life. Plus, the comedy really nails.

Stream Four Christmases on Netflix.

Rent Four Christmases on Amazon.

Big Little Lies (HBO Max)

One of Reese Witherspoon’s most talked-about roles as of late has been this amazing HBO show, which took the world by storm. In Big Little Lies, a death has happened in the town of Monterey, California, and five women get dragged into the murder investigation.

It’s a real whodunit, and Big Little Lies does it fantastically well. This show was nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, and more, especially for the acting. And, I mean, with an all-star cast alongside Witherspoon, such as Nicole Kidman, Zoe Kravitz, and the amazing Meryl Streep, how can this show not be amazing?

Stream Big Little Lies on HBO Max.

Rent Big Little Lies on Amazon.

Walk The Line (Cinemax Go)

Did you know that Reese Witherspoon is also an Academy-Award winner? Did you ever want to see the movie that she actually won the award for? Well, look no further than Walk the Line. This biographical musical covers the story of the famous country singer, Johnny Cash, and his romance with June Carter, whom Reese plays.

Once you see this film, you can really understand why Witherspoon won the Oscar. Her acting is absolutely phenomenal in this film. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that this is the same woman I just watched in Four Christmases, because she is transformative as June Carter. Even the music was fantastic and I’m not even a huge country fan. You won’t regret streaming this Witherspoon classic.

Stream Walk the Line on Cinemax Go.

Rent Walk the Line on Amazon.

Sweet Home Alabama (Peacock)

When I think of Reese Witherspoon, this is always one of the first movies that come to mind, just for how sweet and adorable it is. Sweet Home Alabama follows the story of a young woman, who, after reinventing herself as a New York City socialite, has to return home to Alabama to obtain a divorce from her husband after several years of separation.

It’s about as standard as you would expect from a rom-com, but the charm still works no matter what. It makes you laugh and smile and wish that you had that special someone to love and hold while viewing the film. No matter what you do, you’re always going to love your first love, and that’s really what this film speaks about. It’s super sweet in every way.

Stream Sweet Home Alabama on Peacock.

Rent Sweet Home Alabama on Amazon.

Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)

Reese Witherspoon has been on her game lately in the TV industry, because we are taking a look at another role that had her buzzed about as one of the best TV actresses of 2020. Little Fires Everywhere is set in the 1990s, in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, where Witherspoon and Kerry Washington both play mothers from two completely different socioeconomic backgrounds.

From the premise, it doesn’t sound that crazy, but let me tell you that this show gets intense. Like, so much more intense than you would expect it to be. The acting from Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington takes the cake, but the story is engrossing and will have you binging the series from not being able to stop.

Stream Little Fires Everywhere on Hulu.

Rent Little Fires Everywhere on Amazon.

Election (Amazon Prime)

Now we travel all the way back in time to the 1990s, with one of Reese Witherspoon’s many early breakout roles. Election is all about the politics of high school, and Witherspoon plays an overachieving student who is running for class president, when a social studies teacher (played by Matthew Broderick) who doesn’t like her tries to tamper with her ballot count.

At the time, the movie wasn’t a blockbuster (it has since become a classic), but it received positive reviews from critics, as well as several nominations for Reese Witherspoon. This is often credited as one of the films that really put her on the map for stardom, and it’s so much fun – it’s like a classic high school movie mixed in with a pretty compelling story.

Stream Election on Amazon Prime.

Rent Election on Apple TV.

Cruel Intentions (HBO Max)

As we take a look at another movie from the '90s, we see Reese Witherspoon really wanted to do as many classics as possible. Cruel Intentions is a romantic drama film that follows the story of two wealthy step-siblings, both quite manipulative, who agree to a bet of sexual conquest without any form of punishment.

Look, if you haven’t heard of Cruel Intentions, you’ve either been living under a rock or haven’t watched movies. While it is a bit sexy and has moments where things would most certainly not fly today, I believe that it’s worth the watch for just the craziness, even if you only see it once. It's even cooler to find out that Witherspoon actually helped with writing it.

Stream Cruel Intentions on HBO Max.

Rent Cruel Intentions on Amazon.

The Morning Show (Apple TV+)

The final TV show on our list with Reese Witherspoon is a doozy, and the whole cast list for The Morning Show almost makes me want to rewatch it. This Apple TV+ original follows the story of what the news is really like in the morning from those who bring it to us, from the daily rituals they go through to the struggles that they may face.

The show itself is super interesting and very realistic to what an actual morning show is like, especially in the last couple of years as they constantly try to revamp everything. But, the story of The Morning Show is really what captures you. While the stars are there, with Jennifer Anniston as the lead and Reese Witherspoon at her side, you barely remember that they are big-time celebrities. They’re only amazing news reporters at that moment.

Stream The Morning Show on Apple TV+.

Fear (HBO Max)

For the earliest entry on this list, Reese Witherspoon really took the world by storm with Fear, fully becoming a national sensation when this film became a sleeper hit at the theaters. This classic psychological thriller is all about a wealthy family whose lives are seemingly changed overnight and threatened when their daughter begins to date an attractive yet mysterious young man.

Does the plot sound like it’s been done twenty times over? Yes. But, let me tell you that Fear is still as much fun as you would expect it to be. It’s almost strange to see Reese Witherspoon practically look the same as she did all the way back in 1996, but she does a fantastic job in the lead, and Mark Whalberg also has great chemistry with her, becoming a chilling villain for the movie to root against.

Stream Fear on HBO Max.

Rent Fear on Amazon.

Legally Blonde (Netflix)

I mean, it’s the reason you’re here, right? Legally Blonde follows the story of Elle Woods, a college graduate who decides that she’s going to work and study to get into Harvard so she can prove to her ex-boyfriend that she’s just as smart as he is when he dumps her after saying he needs a smarter girl.

It’s a classic for a reason. If you haven’t heard of Legally Blonde, I don’t know where you’ve been. There’s romance, comedy, and some of the best one-liners in movies ever (“I object!”). With a sequel, and a third movie coming out, hopefully, soon, watching Legally Blonde now while it is on Netflix would be the best decision you could make.

Stream Legally Blonde on Netflix.

Rent Legally Blonde on Amazon.

Now that’s enough hours worth of television to last you for ages. Reese Witherspoon has been in so many amazing films, from the best movies on Netflix to some of the best movies on Amazon Prime. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us in the next couple of years.

Big Little Lies became a runaway hit for HBO when it first premiered on the channel back in 2017, so much so that the “limited series” ultimately spawned a second season in 2019. And as you would expect fans would love to see a third season. A potential Season 3 is far from a sure thing at this point, and there are a few obstacles standing in its way. One just so happens to be Warner Bros. and DC Films’ The Batman, and Big Little Lies showrunner David E. Kelley has now shed some light on why this is the case.

David E. Kelly definitely isn’t giving up on the idea of “bringing the band back together” for a third season of Big Little Lies, as he recently told TV Line. However, the producer is realistic in noting that scheduling the series would be incredibly difficult especially when stars like Zoe Kravitz are working on massive projects like The Batman:

One of the things that propelled Big Little Lies to critical acclaim was the work of its star-studded ensemble cast, headlined by Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley and Zoe Kravitz. And in the second season, the five stars were joined by none other than Meryl Streep. The only downside to having so many A-List stars is that they’re more than likely booked solid for long periods of time. With this in mind, getting all of them back together again would definitely be a feat.

Productions that are very involved can tie up actors for quite a while. In the case of Zoe Kravitz, The Batman’s filming schedule has been somewhat of a rollercoaster ride. The movie originally began shooting early last year before it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sometime after filming started back up again, filming was briefly delayed again due to someone on set testing positive for COVID-19. This person was later revealed to be the film’s star, Robert Pattinson.

Even though making Big Little Lies Season 3 could be an uphill battle due to scheduling, it’s good to see Kelley is still feeling optimistic about its chances. Nicole Kidman echoed his positivity in a separate interview, even confirming that “a story is being concocted.”

We’ll have to wait and see if plans for a Big Little Lies Season 3 actually come to pass, but fans still have plenty of reason to be hopeful. In the meantime, fans can stream the first two seasons of the show on HBO Max.

Nicole Kidman is well-known for taking on roles in a variety of big and small screen dramas. One thing many of those roles have in common is a penchant for Kidman taking on deeply emotional and sometimes disturbing characters. While she makes gigs like The Undoing and Big Little Lies look easy, she recently revealed the “disturbing” side effects she deals with often with those heavy roles.

During a recent appearance on the WTF Podcast, Nicole Kidman touched on a variety of the popular roles in her career. One particularly fascinating thing she talked about was her process with inhabiting characters. Nicole Kidman is not an actress who is easily able to separate herself from the character she is playing, though she said this is not something all actors struggle with.

Things have gotten so bad with her immune system on set that she’s actually gotten physically ill. This apparently happened on HBO’s Big Little Lies and again when Nicole Kidman played Masha in The Undoing. (Surprisingly, though, it hasn't stopped Kidman from being excited about potentially doing more Lies if the opportunity arises.)

It’s not just TV roles that have forced Nicole Kidman into this stressful space. She also mentioned to Marc Maron her role in Destroyer also made her feel “unpleasant” to be around and it’s all because she finds ways to deeply inhabit the role. She says she always looks to the director and the dialogue for where to start with a character, but it’s fascinating to hear her talk about how she gets from point a to point b to point c emotionally.

Seemingly, the solution to not feeling like crap on set would probably be to take some more lighthearted fare every now and again, and occasionally we do see Nicole Kidman in lighter projects such as Aquaman or Paddington. However, we really do get to see her chewing the scenery (in a good way) a lot more than many other actors. Her recent incursion into television has also been a gift, as well. Next up, Nicole Kidman has a TV gig in Nine Perfect Strangers, based on the book by Liane Moriarty. In addition, the flicks The Northman and Being the Ricardos are in the works.

Big Little Lies’ future is a not-so-small question that has hung in the air ever since its initially unplanned second season aired. There have been numerous comments on the topic, including a pretty hopeful update from Nicole Kidman not too long ago. Well, as it turns out, Kidman has some great news about the potential of Season 3.

So will there be a Season 3, after all? Hope has shifted back and forth since Big Little Lies’ second season wrapped last summer. The seesaw included HBO’s Casey Bloys pouring some pretty chilly water on the possibility of a Season 3. At the time, Bloys was open to a potential third season while simultaneously pointing to a lack of story. Cut to the present, and Nicole Kidman told Australia’s JAM Nation with Jonesy & Amanda:

Nice! Nicole Kidman says that Liane Moriarty, the author behind the novel Big Little Lies is based on, is creating potential source material for Season 3. Plus, Kidman reports that she and her fellow co-stars all want to proceed with making another season. Kidman's enthusiasm really isn't too surprising since she's always sounded open to one. All of these developments are considerably big moves towards making Season 3 a reality, but things are still far from being set in stone.

A lot can change and, while Nicole Kidman’s update will undoubtedly leave a lot of Big Little Lies fans upbeat, it could go another way. Should Season 3 happen, I hope the HBO drama learned its lesson from the last time and kept all of the set décor on-hand. It would also be quite the accomplishment for the big-budget series to receive a third season, especially when you consider the resistance it faced.

At first, Big Little Lies’ creator David E. Kelley was not the biggest fan of moving forward with another season following its initial success. Remember, the Nicole Kidman starrer was supposed to be a one-and-done adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s novel and not a returning series that saw its star-studded cast continue sifting through the rubble of their characters’ messy lives.

If (and it is still an if) Big Little Lies returns, it will have to contend with its popular cast’s busy schedules and the new normal. Any production that's done on a third season in the near future will have to deal with the COVID protocols that are facing many series. Though based on Nicole Kidman’s statement, it sounds like it is still a viable possibility.

You can stream the first two seasons of Big Little Lies on HBO Max. While you wait to see if a Season 3 actually happens, you can check out this fall’s premieres for further entertainment. Among the new offerings this season is Nicole Kidman’s thriller, The Undoing, in which she stars opposite Hugh Grant. New episodes of The Undoing air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and are also available to stream on HBO Max.

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Over the past few years, television has become a place for film actors to dive deeply into a character, and get some serious acclaim in the process. HBO's Big Little Lies is a prime example, as it featured a stellar cast of actresses including Reese Witherspoon, Zoe Kravitz, and Meryl Streep. Fans of the Emmy winning show have been hoping that Season 3 might be coming, and now Nicole Kidman has spoke about this possibility.

Big Little Lies was based of the novel of the same name, with author Liane Moriarty brought in to help shape the story as the movie extended off the page for Season 2. As such, HBO subscribers have been holding out hope for a third season of the acclaimed drama. Producer/star Nicole Kidman was recently asked about a possible Season 3, saying:

Do you hear that sound? It's Big Little Lies fans everywhere jumping for joy. Because while there's nothing confirmed about Big Littles Lies Season 3, it seems that the cast and crew are interested in returning to the series. We'll just have to see if the show gets the green light over at HBO, and if scheduling works out for the show's A+ cast.

Nicole Kidman's comments to Marie Claire is an exciting update from the creative minds behind Big Little Lies. While Season 2's story came to a satisfying end, there are certainly narrative threads and lingering questions surrounding the show's characters. And it's intriguing to hear that Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon are developing a future, and keeping the rest of the cast in the loop.

Big Little Lies is currently streaming in its entirety on HBO Max. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

Given the massive success of Big Little Lies, it makes sense that the team might want to reunite for yet another season in Monterey. The HBO series was nominated for a whopping 16 Emmy nominations for Season 1, winning eight. The show was also massively popular for both of its seasons on the air, so there is clearly an audience available. As such, HBO might be convinced to bring Big Little Lies back for a third season.

Spoilers ahead for Big Little Lies Season 2.

Big Little Lies' second season ended with Celeste winning the custody battle with Meryl Streep's Marie Louise. And as her mother-in-law departed the town, Zoe Kravitz's Bonnie finally turned herself into the police for her involvement in Perry's death. Fans are eager to see what consequences the women might be facing for previously lying, and what Bonnie's punishment is. Additionally, the fandom wants to see more about Renata's divorce and Madeline's marriage.

CinemaBlend will keep you updated on all things Big Little Lies as more details become public. In the meantime, check out our fall premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

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2020 is only a third of the way over, and yet the Blu-ray and Digital release calendar has already been a hub of activity. With movie theaters closed we've seen movies hitting digital storefronts faster than ever before, and we now have word from at least one studio that this will become the new normal. As theaters have continued to remain closed, the last films that did see a theatrical release in 2020 have continued to trickle out on physical media. Although, with most of them getting released in May, there won't be much left to release after this month is over.

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January

We’re heading into 2020, but the New Year still has 2019 on the brain, at least in terms of DVD, Blu-ray and Digital releases. For the next few months, we’ll be seeing some big 2019 content coming out on these platforms, both of the big budget and indie variety.

In fact, the first week of January in 2020 is a huge one for DVD and Blu-ray releases. Todd Phillips’ behemoth hit Joker is hitting those platforms for the first time after hitting Digital just in time for the holidays. It also comes with the “miserable to make” flick The Lighthouse, which is hitting homes just as we head into awards season. (And also was one of our favorite horror movies in 2019.)

HBO’s Big Little Lies Season 2 is also getting a big release at the beginning of January 2020, so it won’t be a light kickoff to the month at all. Diving in deeper, we have family favorites like Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, The Addams Family and more hitting homes. We also have critical favorites like Parasite and some big budget releases like Terminator: Dark Fate coming, as well.

It’s not a bad way to kick off the year, particularly given January is usually a little light on new theatrical releases. So, you and your family can cozy up with some hot chocolate (maybe that only happens in Hallmark movies?) and pick and choose from some excellent releases.

As usual, Digital releases are the same day as the DVD and Blu-ray releases, unless otherwise noted. Take a look at what’s coming up, below.

Tuesday, January 7 DVD, Digital And Blu-ray Releases

Joker

The Lighthouse

Big Little Lies: The Complete Second Season

A Million Little Pieces

Girl on the Third Floor

The Shed

Imprisoned

Crown Vic

Bulletproof 2

Cosmos

Mine 9

Paradise Hills

Tuesday, January 14 DVD, Digital And Blu-ray Releases

Gemini Man

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

Jexi

Krypton: The Complete Second & Final Season

Running with the Devil

The Big Trip

Veep: The Final Season

Beyond the Law

Code 8

The Death and Life of John F. Donovan

Line of Duty

Macgyver: Season 3

Turkey Bowl

YOU: The Complete First Season

Mister America

Beverly Hills Cop: 3 Movie Collection

Early Digital Releases

Terminator: Dark Fate

Parasite

Motherless Brooklyn

Harriet

Tuesday, January 21 DVD, Digital And Blu-ray Releases

The Addams Family

Zombieland: Double Tap

Jay And Silent Bob Reboot

Countdown

Black and Blue

I See You

Pain and Glory

The Knight of Shadows

The Courier

Early Digital Releases

Playing with Fire

Tuesday, January 28 DVD, Digital And Blu-ray Releases

Terminator: Dark Fate

Parasite

Motherless Brooklyn

My Life Is Murder

Roswell, New Mexico: The Complete First Season

Harriet

Ballers: The Complete Fifth Season

Early Digital Releases

Ford v. Ferrari

We’re just getting the year started, so stay tuned and keep an eye out for the other home entertainment releases coming in 2020!

February

The first month of 2020 brought with it some of 2019’s biggest movies on DVD and Blu-ray. The second month will be no different. Some of the big movies that closed out last year will finally be making their way to our homes so we can enjoy them as frequently as we like.

The end of every year is always so full of potentially great movies looking for awards consideration that it’s close to impossible to see everything, so now we can all catch the great films we missed at a leisurely pace.

The beginning of the month sees the release of Doctor Sleep, a film most critics loved but most clearly didn’t see, so perhaps this will be the movie’s change to find an audience. We’ll also see the release of awards darlings like Jojo Rabbit, and Knives Out, as well as big blockbusters like Frozen II.

As usual, Digital releases are the same day as the DVD and Blu-ray releases, unless otherwise noted. Take a look at what’s coming up, below.

Week Of Tuesday, February 4 DVD, Digital And Blu-ray Releases

Playing With Fire

Last Christmas

Doctor Sleep

The Good Liar

Arctic Dogs

Waves

The House That Jack Built

Dragonheart: Vengeance

Grand Isle

Keeping Faith: Series 2

Mon Mon Mon Monsters!

Rabid

The Nightengale

Trauma Center

Early Digital Releases

Jojo Rabbit

Midway

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

21 Bridges

Knives Out (February 7)

Week Of Tuesday, February 11 DVD, Digital And Blu-ray Releases

Ford v Ferrari

After She Wakes

Greener Grass

Hell on the Border

In Fabric

Line of Descent

Preacher - The Final Season

Roma

Swamp Thing: The Complete Series

Shutter Island: 10th Anniversary Steel Book

First Love

Early Digital Releases

Frozen II

Week Of Tuesday, February 18 DVD, Digital And Blu-ray Releases

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Midway

21 Bridges

Jojo Rabbit

Frankie

Disturbing the Peace

The Twilight Zone: Season One

Scandalous: The Untold Story of The National Enquirer

Warriors of the Nation

The Good Karma Hospital

The Dawn

Early Digital Releases

Charlie’s Angels

Dark Waters

Queen & Slim

Week Of Tuesday, February 25 DVD, Digital And Blu-ray Releases

Frozen II

Knives Out

Color Out of Space

Norm of the North: Family Vacation

The Corrupted

The Climbers

The Hunt For the Red October (30th Anniversary Edition)

Early Digital Releases

Uncut Gems

Bombshell

March

The third month of 2020 will take care of nearly every remaining film released in 2019 that had not yet seen a home release. This means a great combination of both awards caliber films and crowd favorite holiday releases are on the way, as well as a few films that may have been looking for awards season recognition but found themselves overlooked.

March opens with a pair of those movies as both Queen & Slim and Dark Waters, which reviewed well but didn’t make many year-end short lists, hit Blu-ray. Perhaps they’ll find their audience at home. We will, however, see the digital release for Jumanji: The Next Level, which is impressive considering the film is still in some theaters.

A few big Oscar movies will be hitting throughout the month of March, including, Bombshell and 1917. But the major release for March, of course, will be Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which will see a Digital release in the middle of the month with the physical release coming on the last day of March.

Check out the full list of March releases below. Everything comes out on Tuesday of the listed week unless noted otherwise.

Week Of Tuesday, March 3 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Queen & Slim|

Dark Waters

Playmobil: The Movie

2 Graves In The Desert

Ana

I Am Fear

The Furies

The Sonata

Titans: The Complete Second Season

No Offence: Complete Collection

Nezha

Early Digital Releases

Jumanji: The Next Level

Richard Jewell

Black Christmas

A Hidden Life

The Jesus Rolls (March 6)

Week Of Tuesday, March 10 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Spies in Disguise

Uncut Gems

Bombshell

Charlie’s Angels

Chesapeake Shores: Season 4

Inherit The Viper

John Henry

The Affair: The Final Season

A Quiet Place (Mondo Steelbook)

The Ten Commandments (Special Two-Film Collector's Edition)

The Witch: Subversion

Little Joe

Early Digital Releases

1917

Little Women

Spies In Disguise

The Grudge

Week Of Tuesday, March 17 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Jumanji: The Next Level

Richard Jewell

Black Christmas

Abigail

Crashing: S3

Superman: Red Son

The Dustwalker

Early Digital Releases

Cats (March 16)

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Just Mercy

The Invisible Man (March 20) (Rental Only)

Emma (March 20) (Rental Only)

The Hunt (March 20) (Rental Only)

Week Of Tuesday, March 24 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

1917

The Grudge

The Song of Names

Clemency

Treadstone: Season One

Early Digital Releases

Clemency (March 23)

Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 10 ( March 23)

Dolittle

Bloodshot

The Way Back

I Still Believe (March 27)

Birds of Prey

Call of the Wild (March 27)

Downhill (March 27)

Week Of Tuesday, March 31 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker

The Current War: Director's Cut

Mr. Robot: Season 4

The Purge: Season Two

VFW

Coda

Standing Up, Falling Down

Early Digital Releases

Sonic the Hedgehog

Bad Boys For Life

Impractical Jokers: The Movie (April 1)

April

What a difference a month makes. At the end of February, as we were looking forward to what March had to offer on the home entertainment front, everything looked like business as usual. And now, it's anything but. The calendar got reshuffled multiple times over the course of the month, as several releases, mostly digital, were released early to take advantage of the fact that large swaths of the nation are being asked to shelter in place. Even films that were in theaters a month ago are on that list.

While Hollywood is largely at a standstill theatrically, there are still, for the moment, a few months worth of films from the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2019 still waiting for their digital and/or physical home release. This includes Oscar nominees from last year, like Little Women, and what is, largely due to the fact that theaters are closed for business, still the highest grossing movie of the year, Bad Boys for Life.

With so many movies having released digitally already, the pickings for April are now a bit slim, but, early in the month will see the unprecedented release of Trolls World Tour, a film that was originally scheduled for a theatrical run, and rather than simply delaying that release with theaters closed, as other films have done, the movie will debut on Digital platforms April 10.

Here's everything else April has to offer.

Week Of Tuesday, April 7 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Little Women

Dolittle

Cats

Escape From Pretoria

Madam Secretary: The Final Season

Swift

The Cold Blue

The Night Clerk

Strike

Early Digital Releases

The Turning

Ip Man 4: The Finale

Like a Boss

Gretal and Hansel

The Last Full Measure

Citizen K

Paris Wine And Romance

Trolls World Tour (April 10) (Rental Only)

Week Of Tuesday, April 14 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Underwater

Just Mercy

Criminal Minds: The Final Season

Final Kill

The Righteous Gemstones: Season 1

Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge

The Cat and the Moon

Unintended

Inside the Rain (Available April 15)

Early Digital Release

The Rhythm Section

The Gentlemen

Week Of Tuesday, April 21 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Bad Boys For Life

The Gentlemen

Like a Boss

The Turning

Ip Man 4: The Finale

The Last Full Measure

Looking For Alaska

Promare

Fatal Attraction

King Creole

To Catch a Thief

Week Of Tuesday, April 28 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

The Rhythm Section

The Assistant

Guns Akimbo

Arrow: The Eighth and Final Season

Just One of the Guys (35th Anniversary)

Early Digital Releases

The Photograph

May

May is here, and with it comes, basically, the last batch of Blu-ray releases of any movies that have yet seen a theatrical release. March saw the release of movies like Pixar's Onward, Vin Diesel's Bloodshot and the well regarded horror movie The Invisible Man and while, at this point, basically everything has seen its digital release, already, for those people who want to own the physical discs, you'll now have your chance. Assuming you're cool with ordering them online, of course.

Other Blu-rays hitting the street in May include the popular Sonic the Hedgehog movie as well as the far less popular Fantasy Island movie. But at this point, can you really argue? You've seen all the good movie by now, only the bad ones are left. Here's the rundown of everything hitting Blu-ray in may 2020.

Week Of Tuesday, May 5 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Gretel & Hansel

Bloodshot

I Still Believe

The Lodge

Greed

Ordinary Love

Tigers Are Not Afraid

Arkansas

Lancaster Skies

Ray Donovan: The Seventh Season

The Jesus Rolls

Early Digital Release

Emma

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War

Week Of Tuesday, May 12 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Birds of Prey

Fantasy Island

The Photograph

Lost Transmissions

Lucifier: The Complete Fourth Season

Narcos: Mexico

Redcon-1

Shameless: Season 10

Stray Dolls

The Traitor

Vivarium

All for Nikki

The Voices

The Queen's Corgi

Early Digital Release

The Invisible Man

Capone

Week Of Tuesday, May 19 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Sonic the Hedgehog

Onward

The Way Back

Brahms: The Boy II

Emma

Wildlife

Behind You

Buffaloed

Call the Midwife: Season Nine

Creepshow Season 1

Fear The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War

Last Moment of Clarity

The Good Place: The Final Season

The Postcard Killings

International Falls

Penance Lane

Zombies 2

Week Of Tuesday, May 26 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

The Invisible Man

Adventures Of Rufus: The Fantastic Pet

Endings, Beginnings

Once Were Brothers: Robby Robertson and the Band

Debt Collectors (May 29)

Wildlife

Queen of the South: The Complete Fourth Season

Silicon Valley: The Complete Sixth Season

The Deuce: The Complete Third Season

June

With June we reach the mid point of the year, but we're reaching the bottom of the barrel when it comes to Blu-ray and DVD releases in a lot of ways. While there are still a few items of note if you're a fan of certain TV shows, there's very little left when it comes to theatrical releases. With so many theatrical releases being rushed onto Digital and physical formats much faster than usual due to theater closures, almost everything is already out, leaving just the direct-to-video items, though there one can frequently find a diamond in the rough there from time to time.

If you are looking to pick up some of the last films to see theatrical releases, you're choices are basically Blumhouse's The Hunt, or Portrait of a Lady on Fire. The former was a somewhat controversial film that saw its release date delayed into the worst possible timing. The latter is a French film from 2019, but it didn't see a wide North American theatrical release until 2020. Beyond that, you can pick up HBO's Wachmen limited series as well as the most recent season of Doctor Who.

If, however, you're not so much looking for new films to own as you want to pick up some of your favorite older films in bright, shiny modern formats, there are a few different options there. The John Hughes classic Pretty in Pink is hitting Blu-ray for the first time in June. You can also pick up a new 4K edition of Jaws celebrating the film's 45th anniversary. And if you really love seeing classic movies in new ways, there's the Columbia Classics Collection, which includes a wide range of films from the history of the studio, starting with Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and going to Jerry Maguire. All of the films are hitting 4K UHD, and if this is the only way to see Lawrence of Arabia in glorious 4K, it might be worth it to get the whole set.

Week Of Tuesday, June 2 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Jaws (45th Anniversary Limited edition)

1BR

Abe

Clickbait

Creepshow: Season 1

Debt Collectors

Extra Ordinary

Harley Quinn: The Complete First Season

Robert the Bruce

Rogue Warfare: The Hunt

Watchman: An HBO Limited Series

Witches in the Woods

Week Of Tuesday, June 9 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

The Hunt

Doctor Who: The Complete Twelfth Season

Outback

Power: Season 6

Think Like a Dog

We Summon the Darkness

Modern Family: The Complete Eleventh Season

Week Of Tuesday, June 16 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Impractical Jokers: The Movie

Pretty in Pink

2 Minutes of Fame

A Soldier's Revenge

Bad Therapy

Kill Mode

LEGO DC Shazam: Magic and Monsters

Project Blue Book Season 2

Saint Francis

Sniper: Assassin's End

The Etruscan Smile

The Marshes

The Quarry

Colombia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection

• Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
• Lawrence of Arabia
• Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb
• Gandhi
• A League Of Their Own
• Jerry Maguire

Week Of Tuesday, June 23 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Corpus Christi

Inheritance

Pennyworth: The Complete First Season

South Park: The Complete Twenty-Third Season

The Legion

Burden

Phoenix, Oregon

Early Digital Release

Trolls World Tour

July

It's July, which means summer is in full swing. Normally, that means beating the heat by hiding out in an air-conditioned movie theater checking out this year's biggest blockbusters, but that's certainly not happening any time soon. Failing that, you could catch up on the movies you missed earlier this year on Blu-ray, but...that's not really an option either. The last theatrically released movies before everything shut down were released in June, and while the flow of digital and Blu-ray films haven't stopped entirely, the calendar looks quite different.

There are a few movies hitting Blu-ray in July, but all we have are those few films that were originally going to be theatrical releases, which instead made the decision to release on digital platforms. The first week of July we'll see Trolls World Tour hit Blu-ray, so if you're not one of the people who grabbed the digital rental early, you can now own the movie for around the same price that rental once cost.

In addition, in mid-July we'll see Scoob! hit Blu-ray. Of course, if you're a subscriber to HBO Max, you already have access to it. If family movies aren't your thing, July 14 will also see the release of Josh Trank's Capone.

Beyond that, there's a fair amount of TV hitting physical media, which at least has the benefit of giving you several hours of content, so if you need to complete your collection of NCIS, Orange is the New Black, or Hawaii Five-0, you'll be able to do that.

Week Of Tuesday, July 7 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Trolls World Tour

Belzebuth

Blood and Money

Hope Gap

Proximity

Sorry We Missed You

Sweetness in the Belly

The Lost Husband

The Wild Goose Lake

Mighty Oak

Inmate #1

Slay the Dragon

Early Digital Release

The High Note

Week Of Tuesday, July 14 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Body Cam

Castle in the Ground

Enter the Fat Dragon

The Magicians: Season 5

The Swing of Things

VHYes

Week Of Tuesday, July 21 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Capone

Castle Rock: The Complete Second Season

Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 10

Scoob!

DeadTectives

Marriage Story

Resistance

Airplane! (40th Anniversary)

Survive the Night

The Room

Samurai Marathon

Week Of Tuesday, July 28 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

End of Sentence

Fisherman's Friends

Hawaii Five-O: The Final Season

Legacy of Lies

NCIS: The Seventeenth Season

Orange is the New Black: Season 7

The Other Lamb

The Outsider: The First Season

Early Digital Release

Sometimes Always Never

August

If this keeps going much longer one really wonders if there will even be new DVDs to write about by the end of the year. While there are always movies that are planned to go direct to digital platforms and Blu-ray, eventually those movies, just like feature film releases and new television, will stop being produced. We haven't seen a new movie in theaters since March and so there's nothing left to come out from that channel. At the same time, there was a feeling that theaters might be opening up soon, and so it seems that most movies that might have gone that route have decided to hold off on the "premium VOD" plan.

As was the case in July, a lot of what's coming to DVD in August is made up of the TV shows that wrapped up their most recent seasons in the spring coming to physical media for those that still collect every season of their favorite show. There's NCIS: Los Angeles and New Orleans as well as new seasons of The Good Doctor and Blue Bloods and The Blacklist. When it comes to movies, we are seeing home video releases for those couple of films that, in a parallel reality, could have been theatrical films, like The High Note and The King of Staten Island. Here's the full list of what's coming home in August.

Week of Tuesday, August 4 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Dead Ringer

Dispatches From Elsewhere, Season 1

His Dark Materials: First Season

NCIS: Los Angeles: The Eleventh Season

The Good Doctor - Season 3

Swallow

The Resistance Fighter

The Soul Collector

Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan - Season Two

House of Hummingbird

Early Digital Release

Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons

Week of Tuesday, August 11 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Archive

Are You Afraid of the Dark?

G-Loc

Gold Digger, Season 1

How to Build a Girl

I am Vengence: Retaliation

Max Reload and the Nether Blasters

NCIS: New Orleans: The Sixth Season

The Blacklist - Season 7

The High Note

The Wretched

Valley of the Gods

Michael (Warner Archive Collection)

Week of Tuesday, August 18 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Batwoman: The Complete First Season

Blue Bloods: The Tenth Season

Cursed Films

Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons

Emperor

Military Wives

Open 24 Hours

Prevenge

S.W.A.T - Season 3

Sometimes Always Never

The Terror: Infamy: The Complete Second Season

Clara's Heart (Warner Archive Collection)

Week of Tuesday, August 25 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

The Burnt Orange Heresy

Chicago Fire: Season Eight

Chicago Med: Season Five

Deep Blue Sea 3

Infamous

One Night in Bangkok

SEAL Team: Season Three

The Flash: The Complete Sixth Season

The King of Staten Island

The Trip To Greece

Yes, God, Yes

Pat and Mike (Warner Archive Collection)

September

It's September and, while movie theaters are still closed in many major markets, theaters are opening back up in some places, and some of the major film releases that have been delayed for months are finally set to come out. That's ultimately good news on the DVD and Blu-ray front because it means that films like Tenet and Mulan will be coming to home media sometime down the road. This is good, because it really feels like there's not a lot left to be released when it comes to brand new DVDs.

That's not to say that there's absolutely nothing coming out on DVD in September. TV fans will continue to have their hands full with box sets of new seasons of everything from Bull to Young Sheldon to Supergirl. We'll also see a few recent movies, like First Cow, which was one of the many films that saw its theatrical release squashed by the pandemic, and the well-received HBO movie Bad Education. If there's a highlight to the September release schedule, however, it may be the underseen horror movie Blood Quantum, which is worth checking out.

If you're looking for some classic movies to revisit. September sees new Blu-ray and UHD releases of everything from Full Metal Jacket to Roman Holiday. It's also the 20th anniversary of Battlefield Earth, so do with that what you will.

Week of Tuesday, September 1 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Blood Quantum

Cut Off

Irresistible

Magnum P.I.: Season Two

Rogue

Young Sheldon: The Complete Third Season

Z

Early Digital Release

Robin's Wish

Week of Tuesday, September 8 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

The Big Ugly

First Cow

A Nice Girl Like You

Bad Education

Bull: Season Four

Chicago P.D.: Season Seven

Mighty Oak

Mr. Mercedes: Season 03

Prodigal Son: The Complete First Season

Retaliation

Supergirl: The Complete Fifth Season

Superman: Man of Tomorrow

True History of the Kelly Gang

Vitalina Varela

Waiting For the Barbarians

Ghost in the Shell (25th Anniversary 4K)

Week of Tuesday, September 15 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Weathering With You

No Safe Spaces

Becky

Killing Eve, Season 3

Outlander - Season 05

Succession: The Second Season

Outpost: Season 2

Tommaso

Battlefield Earth (20th Anniversary Edition)

Roman Holiday (Blu-ray Debut)

Shivers

Little Monsters

21 Jump Street (4K UHD)

22 Jump Street (4K UHD)

Week of Tuesday, September 22 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Babysplitters

Babyteeth

Beckman

DC's Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Fifth Season

Rick & Morty: Season 4

Sanctuary, Season 1

The Good Fight: Season Four

Full Metal Jacket (4K UHD)

Whiplash (4K UHD)

Week of Tuesday, September 29 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels Season One

DC"s Stargirl: Complete First Season

Welcome to Sudden Death

October

With October the year begins to draw to a close, which is usually a hot time for home entertainment releases because this would be the point where we would start to see the big summer theatrical films brought home. Of course, in 2020 that's a tad difficult as there were no big summer movies. The entire summer movie season was effectively canceled going to hit extra hard now as it means the secondary revenue stream of home entertainment releases is also missing in action.

Of course, that doesn't mean there's nothing at all on the horizon. In fact, there's quite a bit coming out, at least if you're a fan of television. There are some solid series getting dropped in the first part of October, including the first season of the CBS All Access show Picard. as well as the first volume of Season 6 of Vikings.

And there are even a few movies coming out as films that would have seen theatrical release but instead went to VOD, like David Ayer's The Tax Collector with Shia Lebeouf and The Secret Garden starring Colin Firth. We'll also bsee the Blu-ray release of El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie which is great for the 10 people who don't have Netflix.

Week of Tuesday, October 6 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

The Tax Collector

American Pie Presents: Girls Rule

Eli Roth's History of Horror, Season 1

Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo

Nancy Drew: Season 1

Save Yourselves!

Star Trek: Picard - Season 1

Tales From the Hood 3

The 2nd

The Last Kingdom: Season 4

The Pale Door

The Secret Garden

Valley Girl

Yummy

To Your Last Death

Early Digital Release

Ben 10 vs. the Universe (October 11)

Week of Tuesday, October 13 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Broil

Cats & Dogs 3: Paws Unite!

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

The Good Witch: Season 6

The American West, Season 1

Doorman

Vikings Season 6: Vol. 1

Batman: Death in the Family

District 9 (4K/UHD)

Requiem For A Dream: Director's Cut (4k/UHD)

Week of Tuesday, October 20 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Cut Throat City

The Secrets We Keep

No Escape

Spree

Alone

NOS4A2, Season 2

Quiz, Season 1

Scare Package

The Great: Season 1

The Owners

The Vanished

Tremors: Shrieker Island

Early Digital Release

Bill & Ted Face the Music

Week of Tuesday, October 27 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising

Attack of the Unknown

Black Lightning: The Complete Third Season

Friendsgiving

Rambo: The Complete Steelbook Collection (4K/UHD)

Ben 10 vs. the Universe

November

With the end of the year fast approaching, and the fact that we've now officially spent most of 2020 with theaters largely closed and every major theatrical release pushed off for some nebulous 2021 date, Wonder Woman 1984 notwithstanding, it's perhaps more than a little shocking that, somehow, November actually has a few more movies of note hitting DVD and Blu-ray than we've seen in months. This is largely due to the fact that in the last couple months we've seen more studios simply give up on waiting and release movies through whatever means were available.

This means more movies have been dropped as Premium VOD offerings or handed off to streaming services. But if you weren't willing to drop $20 for what was essentially a digital rental, or simply didn't right subscribe to the right service to get access to the movie you want to see. You know have more options. Movies like Bill and Ted Face the Music, Antebellum, and even The New Mutants will be making their home debut in November. If you didn't actually know these movies never really got the wide release they were expecting, you might think things were actually getting back to normal. Here's what's hitting physical and digital media in November 2020.

Week of Tuesday, November 3 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Antebellum

Blackbird

Hard Kill

Misbehavior

The Crown - Season 03

Kick-Ass (4K UHD)

V For Vendetta (4K UHD)

Early Digital Release

Possessor Uncut

Week of Tuesday, November 10 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Bill and Ted Face the Music

A Day in New York

Dark Figures

Guest House

I Met a Girl

Mortal

Schitt's Creek Complete Collection

Spontaneous

Upside-Down Magic

Early Digital Release

Jungleland

Week of Tuesday, November 17 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

The New Mutants

Unhinged

The Broken Hearts Gallery

Words on Bathroom Walls

Relic

Summerland

2067

Death of Me

Iron Mask

Paydirt

Pokemon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution

The Devil Has a Name

Westworld S3: The New World

The Resident Evil Collection (4K UHD)

Mission: Impossible - The Original Series (Blu-ray)

Week of Tuesday, November 24 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

After We Colided

Peninsula

Ava

Better Call Saul - Season 5

The Irishman

December

And so we come to the end of another year, and one unlike any other when it comes to DVD and Blu-ray releases, While 2020 was, in some ways, a huge year for watching movies at home, because of the lack of theatrical releases that lasted for most of the year, we simply did not see the same big releases that we have in previous years. That's not to say there was nothing worth picking up, and even December has one very high profile release that's going to be potentially big for a lot of people, Christopher Nolan's Tenet.

Because Tenet actually did release in theaters, the biggest movie of 2020 to do so after theaters initially closed, a lot of people who otherwise would have likely gone to see the film in theaters did not do so. Maybe theaters still weren't open near them, or perhaps they still weren't ready to venture out into theaters in early September when Tenet arrived, but for anybody who wanted to see the time-bending feature from Christopher Nolan, they'll finally have the chance to do so from the comfort of home in December. Here's everything hitting DVD, Blu-ray and Digital this month.

Week of Tuesday, December 1 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

The Rental

Made in Italy

Blindspot: The Complete Fifth Season

The Neighborhood: Season 2

Blade (4K UHD)

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (4K UHD)

The Hobbit Trilogy (4K UHD)

Top Gun (4K UHD)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (4K UHD)

Chernobyl (4K UHD)

Perry Mason: The Complete First Season

Popeye (Blu-ray debut)

Week of Tuesday, December 8 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone

Possessor Uncut

She Dies Tomorrow

Faith Under Fire

Proxima

Smiley Face Killers

Yellowstone: Season Three

Collateral (4K UHD)

Hawaii 5-0: The Complete Series

Early Digital Release

Honest Thief

Week of Tuesday, December 15 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Tenet

Infidel

Alone

The Call

The Dark and the Wicked

Avenue 5: The Complete First Season

Aviva

Chick Fight

Echo Boomers

The Beach House

The Expanse: Season Four

The Opening Act

The Reason

The Wolf of Snow Hollow

Week of Tuesday, December 22 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

The War with Grandpa

Kajillionaire

Jiu Jitsu

The Craft: Legacy

The Place of No Words

Shortcut (December 25)

Early Digital Release

Yellow Rose

Week of Tuesday, December 29 DVD, Digital, and Blu-ray Releases

Honest Thief

The Last Shift

Triggered

It’s been over a year since Big Little Lies began airing Season 2 on HBO. It’s no secret that the cast of the popular show enjoy each other’s company outside of work. Laura Dern even appeared on Reese Witherspoon’s YouTube channel to discuss a variety of different topics, including which Big Little Lies characters they’re most like. Now, Witherspoon has shared a behind-the-scenes picture, and it’s a reminder of a pre-social distancing times.

Reese Witherspoon posted a picture to Instagram that had the cast — Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz, and Shailene Woodley — alongside the director and cinematographer posing in very close quarters. The picture was a throwback to when they were filming Big Little Lies Season 1 and the contrast to our lives now is very different. Oh, the nostalgia. Check out Witherspoon’s post below:

Social distancing is still very much in effect, despite the fact that many businesses are reopening. In a time when friends haven’t seen each other in some time and happy hours are conducted over Zoom calls, one would hope that the Monterey Five are enjoying their wine and chit chat from a safe distance. Perhaps Meryl Streep’s Mary Louise Wright is even attempting to eavesdrop on the video call. I can definitely imagine her doing something like that given how nosy she is.

Big Little Lies Season 1 ended with the death of Celeste’s abusive husband Perry. Season 2 followed up on that life-changing night for the Monterey Five by exploring their feelings, the aftermath, and their need to keep it all a secret from the authorities. The Season 2 finale saw the group of friends headed into the police station together, presumably to tell the truth of what really happened the night of Perry’s death.

Will the Monterey Five reunite for Season 3 of the HBO series? It did return for Season 2 despite it being meant as a limited series adaptation, so I’d like to think that Big Little Lies could come back for another season. However, nothing has been confirmed yet.

All that said, HBO president Casey Bloys didn’t think there was an “obvious way to go” for the story. However, he said he was more than willing to listen to the show’s creative team if they had a good enough take for Season 3. Until anything official is announced (if at all), we’ll always have Reese Witherspoon’s lovely Instagram photo to come back to and enjoy simpler times.

Both seasons of Big Little Lies are currently available to stream on HBO Max. For more on what to watch, be sure to check out our 2020 summer TV premiere guide. If you want to skip ahead to find out what’s debuting later this year, then swing by our handy fall premiere schedule for more options.

Big Little Lies Season 1 was so acclaimed and popular that HBO ordered Season 2 of the show, despite its initial promotion as a miniseries. It’s been a year since the Season 2 premiere, but series stars Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern have got us covered with Big Little Lies content by revealing which characters they’re most like from the show.

Since the end of Big Little Lies Season 2, Reese Witherspoon has gone on to star in another book-to-TV adaptation, Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere. Meanwhile, Laura Dern has appeared in movies like Marriage Story and Little Women. The two actresses remain friends and reunited on Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine YouTube channel to discuss several topics. When asked which Big Little Lies characters they were most similar to, the pair made some interesting assessments. Here’s what they said:

Reese Witherspoon describing herself as being like Jane and Madeline, but with a “filter sometimes,” is definitely a fascinating combination. Meanwhile, Laura Dern’s refusal to stray too far away from her love of Renata despite being “nothing” like her is on point. I also think Dern’s love of her character comes through loud and clear in Big Little Lies.

Later on in the video, Laura Dern said that her drink of choice is wine, just “like Renata.” Reese Witherspoon is shocked that Dern does not have a preferred cocktail (nor does she drink cocktails) and that she’d only recently had tequila while in quarantine. Cocktails and tequila aside, Dern’s love of wine is clearly in line with Renata’s drinking preferences.

What’s more, both actresses expressed interest in wanting to do Big Little Lies Season 3. Reese Witherspoon made note that they’re “trying to come up with the right story.” That sounds pretty hopeful to me. When asked if the series would get a third season last year, HBO president Casey Bloys was definitely open to it, but there was no “obvious story” at the time. However, as of this writing, Season 3 has not been confirmed.

Both seasons of Big Little Lies are now streaming on HBO Max. For more on what to watch in the coming months, be sure to check out our summer TV premiere guide.

Fashionista Reese Witherspoon is known for starring in the upcoming Legally Blonde 3, along with TV projects like Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere, but she’s also in the fashion industry, spearheading her brand Draper James to the masses. As teachers everywhere working from home were faced with new challenges, Draper James decided to do something to nice, but it backfired and now Witherspoon’s company has had to backtrack.

Back at the beginning of April, Draper James sent out a nice Instagram post paying tribute to teachers. The post included information on how to redeem the free dress and more:

If you notice, the offer does say while supplies last, but in general there seemed to be some confusion from educators who entered not realizing it was a contest or that only a small number of people would receive a free dress. Some commenters on social media mentioned they signed up but never heard back from Draper James. Others had to deal with the website crashing as over a million teachers tried to apply.

Most in general on that platform seemed to be a combination of “bummed” but also happy for other teachers, as this one Instagram comment sums up:

On Facebook, users were less positive about the whole experience, noting their disappointment in various comments, often echoing something similar to this comment:

Others chimed in that it was all simply to get their email addresses, which is common when coupons and the other ilk are offered online. But the real problem with this particular giveaway, according to one user?

Draper James later tried to explain that way more people were interested than they had anticipated in a statement to the New York Times. Per Senior VP Marissa Cooley:

Eventually, Draper James strove to do a little damage control, revealing 250 dresses were ultimately given out before the supplies were out, as it were.

Still, by then there were a lot of confused teachers out there. Giveaway language can be tricky and ultimately this seems to be a case of good intentions but poor execution. Founded in 2013, Reese Witherspoon's Draper James has only been around for a few years and we’re still in a world where a lot of companies (and people) are figuring out where they fit into social media. The brand said it is working to “navigating the world of remote learning,” so perhaps we'll have to chalk it up to that this time.

Beyond the fact that they're both on HBO, you'd think that the operatic white collar mystery-drama Big Little Lies and the high courts fantasy drama Game of Thrones would share few similarities. Especially when it comes to their budgets. Yet, would you believe that both shows have the same, very expensive budgets per episode? According to a new study, it would appear that both Big Little Lies and the recently-concluded Game of Thrones cost the same to produce per episode. Because let's face it, it's not cheap to get Meryl Streep, Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman all together. Those dragons don't have three Oscars!

All joking aside, how did this happen? How is it possible that Big Little Lies, which is a very grounded, naturalistic show with realistic settings, intimate human interactions and placed primarily in the households of its central characters, could cost as much as the fantastical, high-stakes world we see in Game of Thrones? Even taking the A-list stars into account, one would think that Game of Thrones would still cost way more than any given episode of Big Little Lies. Alas, the numbers provided by Onward suggest otherwise. And they provide a few more surprising factoids about how to make TV.

How Much Does It Cost To Make A Season Of Game Of Thrones And Big Little Lies?

Television isn't necessarily cheap. While TV shows don't often cost the same high rates as some big screen movies, it cost a lot of money to make upwards of eight to ten hours of television. Sometimes more, sometimes less, obviously. Sure enough, Game of Thrones is certainly a very expensive show to make, with the study posted above claiming that the average episode costs £11.8 million per episode, which is roughly $14.5 million. While it is not surprising that the show costs that much per episode (if anything, some people might expect it to cost more than that), it is surprising to know that the budget of Big Little Lies per episode is nearly the same. How does it mathematically make sense that the two shows cost roughly the same?

So where does all the money go? We know Renata Klein (Laura Dern) will not be poor. But surely, there must be an explanation for how much money goes into this relatively low-scale series. Indeed, it appears that the explanation is a relatively easy one: Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and Meryl Streep, along with the other lead stars, aren't cheap talent. When it came time to shoot a second season, their contracts asked for far higher salaries.

How Much Did Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman Want Per Episode For Big Little Lies Season Two?

According to a report from Vulture, Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon each reportedly requested to make one million each per episode. This is a very high demand, as you would expect, but it's also understandable that they'd want more money with the additional season. Originally, these stars made $250,000 to $350,000 per episode during season one, but that original contract was back when Big Little Lies wasn't planning to have a second season. Based on the popularity of season one, it became clear that season two was going to be a much bigger deal, and Witherspoon, in particular, was allegedly hoping for more money. She reportedly received her spike thanks in part to the forthcoming new Apple series, The Morning Show, which also stars Jennifer Aniston.

On The Morning Show, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston are reportedly making $1.25 million per episode. That's a whole lot of cash, and the new contract for Big Little Lies season two reflected that pay increase. And naturally, if one star is going to make a million an episode, everyone wants more money. Nicole Kidman, similarly, found herself in the million-per-episode club, while Zoe Kravitz, Shailene Woodley and, presumably, Laura Dern (at least, hopefully, because she's amazing on the show) also earned a "sizable" raise in their contracts. Add up the paychecks, and that's big money.

How Much Did Meryl Streep Make For Big Little Lies Season Two?

Certainly the biggest change between season one and two (besides the obviously decreased role of Alexander Skarsgard) was the introduction of the great Meryl Streep, playing the role of Mary Louise Wright, the mother of Skarsgard's character. Even in today's Peak Television ™ era, it was a huge deal to get Meryl Streep for a television series. She's not an easy get, to say the least, and there was no question that HBO would cough up a lot of dough to get the actress on their side, especially for a commitment as big as a whole season of TV. Therefore, Streep's paycheck was no big surprise.

According to The Cheat Sheet, Meryl Streep reportedly made about $800,000 per episode. While that isn't quite as steep as one million, it's worth noting that Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon were also producers on Big Little Lies, and therefore that extra duty was accounted into their cost.

The Houses On Big Little Lies Cost A Pretty Penny!

The numbers as far as shooting locations on Big Little Lies aren't entirely clear, as there are no publicly announced costs when it comes to the budget required to shoot in these fancy places, but it's apparent from their asking prices (compiled by TV Over Mind) for these lavish and lovely homes that production costs were likely high. For instance, Madeline (Reese Witherspoon) and Ed Mackenzie's (Adam Scott) abode cost $14.8 million. Celeste (Nicole Kidman) and Perry Wright's (Alexander Skarsgard) lakeside house cost $6 million. The absolutely gorgeous, picturesque house owned by Renata (Laura Dern) and Gordon Klein (Jeffrey Nordling) cost a whopping $12.4 million. These are very rich people; they live in expensive places.

Therefore, it's easy to see why these very gorgeous places might cost a lot of money to shoot in, even for a limited amount of time. Getting them all again for season two, when the asking prices were almost certainly higher after television exposure, was probably even harder, and more costly too. It is hard to know without the exact numbers what it cost to get the houses again for filming, but it's clearly something that cost more than a great deal.

With that in mind, not to mention all the other expenses that go into making Big Little Lies season two, it makes more sense why this second season was so damn costly. So, to sum up, you can spend your production budget on dragons or the Monterey 5. Was it worth the investment? Well, let us know below.

Every actor has their own methods. It's a craft with many different possibilities and sensibilities, often fluctuating based on the project, the fellow collaborators and what is required for the role. There is no simple style when it comes to acting. Everyone has their process, and that's certainly true for Shailene Woodley. The young actress has proven herself in a variety of film and TV projects in her early career, and the ways through which she gets into character — be it Jane Chapman in Big Little Lies, Alexandra King in The Descendants or Tris in The Divergent Series — are... peculiar.

More specifically, Shailene Woodley gets herself into character through astrology. While normally, people might use astrology to get a sense of their own fates or their own personalities, Woodley uses this pseudoscience to garner a lasting understanding of her characters and how she can relate to them on a psychological level. Clearly the results speak for themselves when it comes to the number of terrific performances from Woodley's rising career, but it's certainly intriguing, to say the least, to know that she relies on this method to get in-tune with the characters she plays on-screen.

As she explained to Vulture, Shailene Woodley told a crowd at 92nd Street Y that she often connected to her characters, including Big Little Lies' Jane Chapman, through astrology, and The Fault in Our Stars actress builds an entire star chart for her characters. Woodley claims that this process allows her to understand the psychology of these characters, whether real or fictional, and she gains an understanding of how, for instance, they're shy, outspoken or anything else. Thankfully, it sounds like this process has found few faults when it comes to aligning the stars and providing great work.

While she didn't disclose the chart for all of her popular characters, Shailene Woodley revealed that Jane Chapman is a "Taurus with a touch of Sagittarius and Aquarius." In the conversation, here's how Woodley described the process of finding out Jane's chart and learning to become her:

Admittedly, Shailene Woodley knows there are people who aren't going to understand why she does what she does. It's an unusual method, even for the typically kooky folks in Hollywood, but Woodley doesn't mind those poking fun at her methods. Whether people understand it or not, she loves it. As she put it:

In addition to helping the actress find her process through her characters, astrology has helped Shailene Woodley through bouts of depression and times of personal struggle. Clearly even if some folks don't really understand it, it is a meaningful and lasting part of the actress' life and well-being.

Meanwhile, Shailene Woodley continues to impress audiences and critics alike through her performances. Most recently, Big Little Lies Season 2 garnered a mixed reception as a continuation of the acclaimed HBO series, but Woodley's performance was once again acclaimed for his vulnerability and emotional rawness. Additionally, Woodley received good notices for her lead performance in the real-life survival drama, Adrift, released last year.

And hopefully, we can count out lucky stars that Shailene Woodley will continue to impress audiences with her impressive and daring on-screen work.

Big Little Lies just ended its second season, and there are already many wondering about Season 3. Could the HBO series make a third run for it? Well, HBO president Casey Bloys has weighed in on the possibility, and his answer addresses many of the angles. Bloys said:

Unlikely, yet theoretically within the realm of possibility? That seems to be the answer Casey Bloys gave reporters, per TVLine. He has quite a few sound reasons for why Season 3 would not instinctively happen. First, he indicates there is really no creative impetus for the story to continue. Big Little Lies has managed to overcome that before, though.

Originally slated to be a limited series adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s novel of the same name, Big Little Lies ended up returning. The show’s creator, David E. Kelley, previously revealed he did not want to continue beyond Season 1, but the second season did end up happening, and the ratings for the premiere proved many were anticipating it.

Could that be enough to continue? Well, HBO’s president is clearly not opposed to doing another season of Big Little Lies. You would have to big little crazy not too, right? If a show is successful and the megastars involved want to continue, why not? But, that all-star cast might turn out to be a not so little issue that stands in its way.

Last year, Nicole Kidman weighed in on the potential of a Big Little Lies Season 3 well before Season 2 had even begun airing. The actress sounded very open to the idea. However, she pointed out that it would be challenging to get the entire group of actors back together, but added that they would “love to do it.”

In truth, everything that made Nicole Kidman decide to return for Season 2 remains the same. Storylines have shelf lives, but good characters do not. There is still a chance to dig into the Monterey 5’s lives, who they are, et cetera, for another season. A lot would have to come together to make it happen, though.

Hopefully, no one is making any decisions that would make it difficult to do a Season 3. Big Little Lies’ production designer previously revealed that the show ran into some issues following its Season 2 renewal. So, coming back required some extra effort.

There was a lot of wait-and-see when it came to Big Little Lies’ Season 2 renewal, only to have the cast return and add Meryl Streep. Hence, it all worked out. Even if fans did not get to see that epic ice cream scene between Streep and Reese Witherspoon's characters. It would seem the door is still open, if only a bit. Stay tuned!

Big Little Lies is over, but new summer television is still raging on.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for Big Little Lies Season 2. Read at your own risk

Big Little Lies Season 2 is just about done, and there's been a lot to love. It's been a season of awards-worthy performances as Meryl Streep and Laura Dern definitely have made cases for future Emmy recognition with scenes that captured why this series is so addictive to begin with. Additionally, the drama is as tense as ever, and it's hard to predict just where the HBO drama is headed next.

With that said, there have been some parts of this season that have irked me personally, and others have expressed that the season hasn't been as strong as Season 1. Below are some of the broader reasons this season hasn't been quite as amazing as I've wanted it to be, and may be why others are feeling the same way as well.

The Season 2 Finale Is A Week Away, And It Feels Like We're Only Halfway There

Was it just me, or did the penultimate episode of Big Little Lies feel like the tease to a midseason finale? In a season where all the women are trying to hold their lives and their shared secret behind Perry's death together, the big tease was that Celeste will be cross-examining Mary Louise (which must be a dream for Nicole Kidman) in an ill-advised courtroom throwdown?

As cool as that sounds, it feels like Big Little Lies is headlining in a sub-plot resolution for its Season 2 finale, and saving any bigger drama that may come from re-opening Perry's case for a future season. A future season, by the way, which hasn't been guaranteed and seems difficult to make happen given the level of talent attached (though some stars are receptive to the idea).

Don't get me wrong, Meryl Streep absolutely deserves the spotlight for her work on Big Little Lies, and tying her into the Season 2 finale in a major way is a great call. At the same time, there are so many other things going on with other characters that it feels almost negligible to extend this courtroom drama any longer while other characters we care about watch from the sideline. If this might be the final season; we need resolution for all characters.

Madeline And Ed's Relationship Drama Is Played Out

I love the fact that Big Little Lies is showcasing Madeline and Ed's relationship drama and not acting like everything was suddenly fine following her infidelity, and will frequently praise every minute the typically geeky and humorous Adam Scott is given to showcase his skills as a serious actor. Things got off to a great start when Ed finally learned of Madeline's cheating, but as the season progressed, things quickly fizzled out.

After the reveal things quickly stagnated to where it was a constant back and forth in which Madeline was sad and asking for forgiveness, and Ed just said "I can't trust you." It's not necessarily inaccurate to a real-life spat between a couple, but some of the scenes feel repetitive to the point where maybe it would've been best to write in a scene for someone else instead of beating the dead horse once again.

It's far less dynamic than the relationship troubles between Renata and Gordon, which has had far more powerful scenes in comparison. Their relationship has really taken a nosedive in comparison, while Ed and Madeline's recently felt like it ultimately hit the reset button after Madeline got drunk and put on her wedding dress. C'mon Ed, that can't be the "magic wand" that makes everything alright.

What's With Bonnie's Whole Supernatural Story?

Bonnie's entire arc in Season 2 of Big Little Lies has been solid, and Zoë Kravitz has done a superb job of portraying the internal struggle within her character. Unfortunately, that performance has been somewhat marred by the introduction of Bonnie's mother and her vision that showed Bonnie "drowning." The vision has continued to pop up in flashes even after her mother's stroke, and seems to be leading up to something.

I think a lot of Bonnie's story for Season 2 of Big Little Lies would've been completely fine without the introduction of this supernatural element. It's jarring to have in a show that never strayed into that type of territory in its first season, and feels remarkably out of place in the overall story for Season 2. Did it really take a prophecy to tease Bonnie is struggling following the events of Season 1?

Sure, it gave an excuse to bring Bonnie's parents and her difficult childhood into the picture, but it feels the whole drowning prophecy could've collapsed with Bonnie's mother. Instead, it's continuing to be dragged out for some big reveal that, regardless of how telling it is, includes a mystical element that really had no place in Big Little Lies to begin with.

Jane's Bangs Are Legitimately Distracting

For the record, there is a pretty valid reason Jane Chapman's bangs are a hot mess. Big Little Lies wanted to signal a change in Jane's character following Perry's death, and THR reported Shailene Woodley suggested the haircut. They're supposed to look bad by design, as the point is for it to look as though Jane cut her hair herself.

I can appreciate that attention to detail and symbolism for what it means for the character, but man, those bangs are legitimately distracting. It's a sentiment shared by several in the Big Litlte Lies fanbase, many of whom likely wish one of her friends would've had the decency to tell her to fix that situation after a period of time.

That said, it's not like much can be done about the bangs besides growing them out, which takes time. In the grand scheme of things, this is a relatively minor gripe compared to the other issues with Big Little Lies Season 2, and is meant to be more tongue-in-cheek than anything. Still, there's that small bit of me that quietly wants to blame the bangs for all of my issues with Season 2.

Meryl Streep Shocked To Learn Big Little Lies Cut Ice Cream Scene, But Fans Will Still Get To See It

Big Little Lies still has a Season 2 finale get through, which is set to air on HBO Sunday, July 21. Stick with CinemaBlend for news on a potential Season 3, and to stay up to date with what else is happening in the world of television and movies.

Big Little Lies has been one of the most highly-anticipated TV returns of the summer, as the show once sold as a limited series (and scored a bunch of awards in that category) would go beyond the novel source material for Season 2. Legendary actress Meryl Streep signed on for the second season, and one of the scenes fans were most looking forward to was supposed to go down between Streep, Reese Witherspoon, and an ice cream cone. Specifically, the ice cream cone Witherspoon would throw at Streep.

A scene featuring Reese Witherspoon's Madeline heaving a full ice cream cone at Meryl Streep's Mary Louise was spoiled via set photos that leaked last summer. Naturally, fans wanted to know what was happening, and it didn't take long for the memes to hit social media. The fifth episode of Season 2 was the one that seemed like it would feature the big throw, but it was nowhere to be seen, and Meryl Streep was as surprised as anybody to learn that it was axed from the season. She weighed in, saying this:

Well, the ice cream shot heard round the Twitter-verse may not have aired in the latest episode of Big Little Lies, but it's not going to remain a mystery forever. Meryl Streep revealed in her chat with ET that fans will just have to wait for the DVD of Season 2 to release so they can get their hands on the extras. She didn't reveal whether or not there were any bloopers from the scene, but we can always hope, right?

When the photos first leaked, there was no context for what was happening, although it seemed pretty likely that it was for the show and not Reese Witherspoon hurling ice cream at Meryl Streep just because.

In the pics, Reese Witherspoon throws the treat at Meryl Streep as Streep walks away. Not very sporting of Madeline, but now that the first five episodes of Season 2 have aired, it's easy to understand why some of the Big Little Lies ladies might be ready to throw things at Mary Louise. Waste of ice cream, though, if you ask me!

There's plenty of tension between Mary Louise and other Big Little Lies characters even without food fighting, and it's possible that including the ice cream cone would have ruined some of that tension. After all, even if the scene wasn't played for a joke, we can bet that people would be laughing and meme-ing ASAP, and it might overtake the rest of the episode.

Remember that Game of Thrones coffee cup gaffe? It almost feels like more people will think fondly of Game of Thrones Season 8 for the coffee cup mistake than... well, most of the series finale.

That's not to say that Big Little Lies Season 2 is as divisive as Game of Thrones Season 8 to the point that one minor event would take over the narrative, but the episode was no worse for not featuring Meryl Streep getting smacked by an ice cream cone.

What's in store next for Mary Louise, Madeline, and the rest on Big Little Lies? Find out when new episodes air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

If there's one thing Big Little Lies does well, it's drama -- very stylish drama -- and Reese Witherspoon's effervescent Madeline Martha Mackenzie is the drama queen bee. Laura Dern's Renata got to sing "It's My House," but Big Little Lies is really Madeline's floral print house and we all live at her stilettoed feet.

It's hard to rank just five great Big Little Lies fashion moments from Reese Witherspoon, so in the tradition of Maddie herself, I'm being a little extra to add some honorable mentions at the end. Warning: Plot spoilers ahead from Season 1 and the start of Season 2 are all up in this article.

5. Madeline's Floral Suno Dress At Bonnie And Nathan's House, Season 1, Episode 6

Big Little Lies costume designer Alix Friedberg tends to dress Reese Witherspoon's Madeline Martha Mackenzie in classic feminine flower prints -- fitting for her sunny looks, but a perfect contrast to her usual f-fomb fury. In Season 1's "Burning Love," Madeline and husband Ed (Adam Scott) went for a horrible dinner at Bonnie (Zoë Kravitz) and Nathan Carlson's (James Tupper) house. Madeline puked all over the food, and then had an even more awkward talk with daughter Abigail (Kathryn Newton) about her "secret project." Madeline used the talk to reveal to Abigail that she had cheated on Ed.

Maddie came to regret that decision -- not only cheating on Ed, but also revealing it to Abigail. But she should have no regrets about the dark flower-print dress she wore in the dramatic episode. The stretch silk floral dress by Suno -- which was also worn by the character of Mandy Baxter on Last Man Standing -- was selling for $595 at Saks Fifth Avenue, but Yoox currently has it for $292.

4. Madeline's Play Opening Night Dress, Season 1, Episode 6

Ed actually said "kazowie" when he first saw Madeline in this pink cap sleeve sheath dress, adding that she looked fantastic. Madeline attended the opening night of her Avenue Q play in this gorgeous "Casson" dress by Roland Mouret. An exact match had been selling on Farfetch for over $2,000 but it's currently sold out. You can find similar versions elsewhere.

Big Little Lies costume designer Alix Friedberg told Vogue Reese Witherspoon's Madeline loves bold colors, prints, and feminine silhouettes. "That perfectly put together Madeline look is a mask for what’s happening in her personal life. Her marriage is crumbling and her daughter is making poor choices."

3. Madeline's Trivia Night Audrey Hepburn Look, Season 1, Episode 7

The Big Little Lies Season 1 finale was set at the ill-fated trivia night, with the ladies all dressed as Audrey Hepburn. Madeline went for a more risqué take on Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Even before we saw Maddie's final look, we got to see her prepping for the night, with a gorgeous teal robe that matched her later sleep mask. Don't miss her pink earrings and slippers with the Audrey look. It's easy to miss them when gaping at her bare legs under the very short shirt dress.

Big Little Lies costume designer Alix Friedberg told EW they bought the sleep mask on Etsy and enhanced it with trim and eyelashes; the shirt was a reworked Céline piece; and the tassel earrings were custom-made. Apparently it was freezing through two weeks of night shoots, but Reese Witherspoon was game to commit to the very exposing look.

2. Madeline's Yellow Floral Dress, Season 1, Episode 2

Madeline wore her sunniest outfit across the second episode of Big Little Lies. As usual, the bright sunshine colors contrasted perfectly with Madeline yelling at her daughter Abigail, plotting to sabotage Renata, and fighting for her play. As she told Tom the coffee shop guy in this episode: "Everyone's making me angry." But at least she looked happy on the surface.

The yellow floral print dress Reese Witherspoon wore is by Caroline Herrera. Madeline also carried her beloved small "Alice" leather satchel from Chloe, which sells for $480 (per Shop Your TV), along with her $798 camel hair jacket from Brooks Brothers (per Worn On TV.) Side note: Do you think Madeline named her daughter Chloe after the bag designer?

1. Madeline's Rosy Premiere Look, Season 1, Episode 1

My favorite Reese Witherspoon fashion moment is the first we ever saw from her Maddie, on the first day of school in Big Little Lies Season 1. We met Madeline Martha Mackenzie as she stormed out of her car wearing this $1,795 Burberry Kensington mid-length trench coat over a short flower-printed dress, topped by a matching cardigan. The rose print brocade dress -- which Celeste (Nicole Kidman) gave Maddie, we were told -- is by Dolce & Gabbana. Her Arabella suede pumps were by Ralph Lauren, and of course she had her Alice satchel by Chloe.

Big Little Lies costume designer Alix Friedberg told Variety Madeline's style is a portrayal of a perfect exterior. "She’s got this competitive edge that comes out in the choices she makes with her clothes." To achieve Madeline's looks, Friedberg turned to designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Red Valentino, Zara, Prada, and Burberry, along with more accessible brands like J. Crew and Tory Burch. As Freidberg added to Vogue, "Madeline mixes high and low end. It doesn’t need to be at Renata’s level of fashion."

Honorable Mention: Madeline's Tweed Jacket, Season 1, Episode 5

Floral, feminine Madeline doesn't always wear pants, but she had the perfect look for this chic cliffside hike. The opening scene of "Once Bitten" showed Madeline driving to a spot overlooking the ocean. It turned out to be part of a nightmare scenario where Renata pushed her off a cliff. But at least she looked good falling into the sea -- rocking the blue tweed Helene Berman jacket she wore across several episodes. It was selling for $278 at Nordstrom but apparently it sold out. Not shocked.

Honorable Mentions: Madeline's Floral Skirt and Houndstooth Coat, Season 2, Episodes 1- 2

The dramatic events of the Season 1 finale affected our Monterery Five in different ways. Big Little Lies Season 2 saw Bonnie deeply affected by what she did, and Jane got herself a darker new look and a new job. Season 2 showed Madeline in a new job too -- a real estate agent where she's basically printing money. The premiere showed her in a classic floral print skirt that closely resembled the full dress she wore in Season 1 when revealing her affair to Abigail. This time, she paired the silk floral pencil skirt by Dolce & Gabbana with a frilly pink top and the highest of pink heels from Christian Louboutin ($675), and she even got herself a new pink Prada bag.

But I'm particularly fond of the pink and blue houndstooth coat she wore in Season 2, Episode 2, "Tell-Tale Hearts." That was apparently custom made by the Big Little Lies costume department.

Big Little Lies isn't done with Season 2 and I have zero doubt Madeline and the rest of The Monterey Five will continue to serve up fabulous fashion moments. Big Little Lies Season 2 has seven episodes and continues Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO.

After two years of waiting, Big Little Lies is back on the TV screen. The show was renewed by HBO after the first season won a slew of Awards, and became a pop culture sensation. With an award winning cast that includes the likes of Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, and Shailene Woodley and a killer soundtrack to boot, the world of Monterey came jumping out of the screen. And what started as a limited series has become an integral part of the network's programming, with Big Little Lies Season 2 kicking off rather strong.

Still, there are a ton of questions that Big Little Lies must answer in its sophomore run on the small screen, and I'm taking a look at five major plot points that need to be wrapped up before Season 2 is completed. Luckily, Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty helped to craft Season 2's story.

Which Big Little Lies Character Will Break The Pact In Season 2?

The titular fibs of Big Little Lies went from big to much larger in the show's second season, largely due to how everything went down during Trivia Night in Season 1's finale. The women of Monterey found common ground and sisterhood in their shared trauma in the "final" Big Little Lies episode, with Bonnie pushing Perry Wright to his unexpected death in order to stop him from beating Celeste and the other ladies. Their lie to protect Bonnie has been slowly eating the women of the group from the inside -- in particular Zoe Kravitz's signature character.

Detective Quinlan and Meryl Streep's Celeste Wright are just two major Big Little Lies characters who are investigating what happened on Trivia Night. They both realize the stories told by the Monterey Five are too similar, and something just isn't adding up. As The Five's respective personal lives continue to spiral out of control, it feels like a matter of time before one of them breaks, and spills the beans sometime in Big Little Lies Season 2.

While Bonnie originally might have gotten off with self-defense or manslaughter, the communal lie surrounding Perry's death makes all the women criminals. And when things go from bad to worse throughout the course of Season 2, it'll be fascinating to see which of the main characters finally tells the truth about Trivia Night.

What’s Up With Bonnie’s Backstory?

Zoe Kravitz's Bonnie was one of the lesser-explored characters in Big Little Lies' first season. Now, she's emerged as an even more complicated figure during Season 2. Nathan's wife and Skye's mother has become super distant in the time leading up to Big Little Lies Season 2. She's clearly working through a ton of trauma and guilt as a result of stepping in at Trivia Night and accidentally killing Alexander Skarsgard's villainous character. While she saved Celeste in that moment, she wasn't intending on murdering the abusive husband and stripping the twins of their father.

Something tells me the handling of her guilt and trauma has to do with Bonnie's parents, who made their debut in Big Little Lies Season 2. There's a strange family dynamic going on, including alcoholism and spiritual practice. In Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies novel, Bonnie's father was abusive toward her mother, which is what triggered her response to Perry. This hasn't yet been seen on the show, although every episode of Season 2 is slowly pulling back layers from Bonnie's history and character. Let's just hope she can find some peace and keep it together.

What Will Detective Quinlan Do In Big Little Lies Season 2?

Detective Quinlan might not have had a major role in the first season of Big Little Lies, but she's got a presence that continues to motivate and terrify the women this year. She was featured in brief clips throughout Season 1, revealing details about the mysterious murder victim. In the Big Little Lies finale, she's shown watching the Monterey Five give their respective statements about Perry's death. Quinlan doesn't buy any of it, claiming their stories are too similar for them to be true. And while she had no evidence, she was seen watching the women on the beach in the final sequence.

The tough character is back for Big Little Lies Season 2, and is once again shown watching the women from afar. While Renata maintains that the case is basically closed, it's clear that Quinlan isn't backing down from her search for the truth. She'll presumably have an ally in Meryl Streep's newcomer Mary Louise, who is similarly searching for the truth about her son's death. Big Little Lies characters like Renata think Quinlan is out to get them all, so it should be interesting to see what that paranoia does to them, and how it affects the detective's investigation.

Is Someone Else Going To Die During Big Little Lies Season 2?

Season 1 of Big Little Lies was centered around Trivia Night and the mysterious circumstances that resulted in an Otter Bay School parent dying. Who died and how/why wasn't revealed until the very final moments of the finale, and it was a set of plot twists that didn't fail to impress and take the wind out of audiences. In contrast, Big Little Lies Season 2 doesn't have the same framing device; there isn't one event the entire season is leading to-- at least not from what we've seen in the first few episodes.

Yet, that doesn't mean that the cast of Big Little Lies is safe. Tensions for the show rise every single episode, and will likely get much more escalated as we get into the meat of Season 2. As such, it sees like another death might happen before the second season of Big Little Lies comes to a close. It would certainly make sense given the contents of Season 1. And since the second installment isn't framed around a mysterious murder, another death might take people by surprise and be extra effective emotionally.

What Are Mary Louise's True Intentions?

During the long wait between Big Little Lies Season 2 and the first season's finale, there was one bit of information that helped the fandom deal with the hiatus. Namely, that Meryl Streep would be joining the cast of icons, playing the mother of the late Perry Wright. This is a groundbreaking move in Streep's long career, as she isn't typically seen on the small screen. While most of the narrative seemed wrapped up in the Season 1 finale, Mary Louise's arrival in Monterey provided a clear conflict for the second batch of Big Little Lies episodes.

Throughout her first few episodes, Mary Louise has proven herself to be a fierce woman, staunchly dedicated to the memory of her son. She's also the most mysterious character in Big Little Lies Season 2, as the audience isn't sure what her intentions are, and which characters she does/ doesn't like. She's the true wild card of the season, and smart money says she's going to be given some epic scenes as the episode count continues on. You just don't cast Meryl Strep without giving her plenty to do.

Are there any Big Little Lies questions I left out? Let me know in the comments section below. Be sure to check out our Summer Premiere List to plan your next binge watch.

My dad recently asked for some TV recommendations, now that Game of Thrones is over. My dad, my stepmom, and I were all hooked on GoT and had similar complaints about the final season. That's not to say we have similar tastes overall, but my dad wanted a new show to get hooked on. With GoT as a base, I started suggesting some dramas.

My very first response was the first show below, followed by the second, and then the non-drama third. Things derailed a bit from there, thanks to his issues with Netflix, but I also thought of a few more options in case the others don't pan out.

So, in honor of Father's Day weekend, here's the list of shows I'm trying to get my dad to watch -- in between his trips here to try and fix things around the house.

The Expanse, Amazon

My immediate response when asked for a Game of Thrones follow-up was The Expanse. That's partly because I always recommend The Expanse to anyone who will listen. It does actually fit well as a post-Game of Thrones series, though.

The series has even been compared to "Game of Thrones in space." The book series it's based on was co-written by GoT author George R.R. Martin's own former assistant, Ty Franck. GRRM himself called the first book, "Leviathan Wakes," a kickass space opera. And Steven Strait's lead character James Holden definitely has a Jon Snow thing going on. I'm currently caught up on the first three seasons, reading the first book, and anxiously awaiting The Expanse Season 4 when it comes to Amazon.

I might've stopped my recommendations here, because it will take a while to get through The Expanse's three seasons so far, but my dad and stepmom expressed some concerns about the sci-fi/space angle. They're not into sci-fi with monsters or various creatures. I assured them The Expanse isn't that kind of show, and they seemed willing to give The Expanse a try. But if the sci-fi genre just isn't their thing, I came up with backup suggestions.

Big Little Lies, HBO

My dad and stepmom live in Southern California, and this Monterey, California-set drama seems like something they'd both like. My dad is a pretty typical meat and potatoes kind of guy -- loves sports, tends to lean more on the conservative side -- but he's not the type who would see a TV show following several women as the main characters and think it's not for him. Plus, I think the slow-burn murder mystery of Big Little Lies Season 1 would be a great hook.

Once they finish the seven episodes of Big Little Lies Season 1, they can head right into the new batch of Season 2 episodes that just premiered on HBO last week. This is actually the series I think they're going to start with, so if my dad doesn't like it, I think that'll be the end of all future recommendations from me.

The Santa Clarita Diet, Netflix

Since my dad is in SoCal, I thought he'd get a kick out of The Santa Clarita Diet. It's not a drama, but I think he and my stepmom would enjoy the addictive horror comedy following Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as two realtors who try to stay their usual sunny selves after she mysteriously transforms into a (functional) zombie. Netflix recommended this one to me enough times that I finally went ahead and tried it. I didn't think I'd care for it, but I loved the first three seasons so much, I joined the angry mob to blast Netflix for cancelling it before Season 4.

But this recommendation died a quick death when I ask my dad if he'd seen The Santa Clarita Diet on Netflix and he said "never" to Netflix. Apparently he had a free 30-day trial for Netflix and when he wanted to cancel the automatic renewal, they made it difficult. So he said he's holding a grudge. There went every Netflix recommendation, including Dead to Me, which I just started myself. I was even thinking of building up to a few Black Mirror episode suggestions. Out the window!

Succession, HBO

Since my dad just watched Game of Thrones, and said he'd try Big Little Lies, I know he has HBO. I considered recommending Westworld, but I don't think it's fair to ask anyone to sit through Westworld Season 2. Succession definitely has the power moves of GoT, with Brian Cox's Logan Roy as the king his son Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) repeatedly tries to dethrone. Succession also has witty one-liners galore, usually from Kieran Culkin's Roman Roy, who could be considered the show's own Tyrion Lannister.

Most of the Succession characters are pretty unlikable, I'll be honest, but don't forget about Greg Hirsch (Nicholas Braun). He's like a wide-eyed Sansa Stark dropped into this viper pit, but -- like Sansa -- he slowly learns the ropes across Season 1 and makes some sly moves of his own. I think he may end up ruling this family someday. I can't wait to see how things turn out -- especially for the love/hate bromance of Greg and Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) -- in Succession Season 2, which premieres August 11.

I'm hoping my dad naturally segues from Big Little Lies to Succession, mostly so I can have someone to talk to about the show. I don't know anyone -- beyond a small Twitter following -- who watches Succession, and I'm worried that means it won't last beyond Season 2.

Castle Rock, Hulu

I currently live in Southern Maine, and I've always had an affinity for Stephen King books, movies, and TV shows. (Side note: The ill-fated CBS series Under the Dome was even partly filmed in Southport, NC when I lived there. I know you don't really care, but that fact is now yours). My dad asked me for post-Game of Thrones recommendations during a cross country visit, and it seems like this Uncle Stevie series would be a good way of keeping him connected to Maine. Plus, Castle Rock Season 1 is just an intriguing watch, and I imagine it still works for non-Stephen King fans.

I haven't gotten around to suggesting Castle Rock yet, because I don't even know if my dad has Hulu. He did say he has Amazon. I regularly sign up for Hulu and then cancel it after I'm done watching whatever I want to watch. (Sorry!) It used to be The Handmaid's Tale, and then I got hooked on the amazing Harlots, then Castle Rock Season 1. I will sign on again when Castle Rock Season 2 arrives. The cast looks amazing for the new season, but we don't know when it will premiere yet.

There are so many potential options. I considered adding NBC's Manifest to the list, since it has some Lost vibes, but I'm worried the show will get canceled on a major cliffhanger and I don't want anyone else to have to suffer that with me. I could see if he'd want to dive in to AMC's Breaking Bad and then the Cinnabon wonders of Better Call Saul, but for some reason I got it in my mind that he wouldn't be into them. I should at least ask.

He could possibly take on FX's Fargo, or head over to History for Vikings, or Paramount for Kevin Costner's Yellowstone. He's not a big superhero guy, so I'm not considering any of those Marvel/DC shows. I had considered getting him an Avengers-based Father's Day gift, but he showed no interest in the Marvel movies (so I went with Game of Thrones).

All tastes are different, but it's possible your dad will like some of these options as well. At least suggest he watch The Expanse, because that show deserves all the viewers.

Big Little Lies returned for its second season this past Sunday. The star-studded series kicked Season 2 off with its returning cast and new addition in the form of Meryl Streep. How did the premiere do in the ratings? Well, they were an improvement over the series premiere.

The one-time limited series returned with 1.4 million linear viewers, per TVLine. That marks a 27% increase from the number that watched the series premiere. It is down from the audience that watched Big Little Lies’ Season 1 finale. That installment pulled in an audience of 1.86 million.

Things get even better for the Season 2 premiere’s ratings when you total in HBO Go, HBO Now, and a replay. Armed with those numbers, Big Little Lies’ season opener gets a lot bigger. It jumps from 1.4 million to 2.5 million viewers, easily besting the Season 1 finale. Not bad at all. In fact, it means that the HBO hit is going in the right direction.

It definitely hints that the series has had some staying power in the pop culture conscious. There was a considerable gap between Season 1 and Season 2. Big Little Lies made its debut more than two years ago in February 2017. Buzz definitely died out for a while.

Initially planned to be a single-season limited series drama, Big Little Lies ended up making a return. Due to the expectation of it being one-and-done, it led to a significant issue when Season 2 was given the go-ahead. Season 1 was a success with critics and viewers alike.

The high-profile cast led by Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon returned. Kidman recently opened up about why she decided to do Season 2, and I think her reason was a good one. Meanwhile, the critics have had a lot to say about the sophomore season. Whether they will end up chatting about Season 3 remains to be seen.

Last year, Nicole Kidman seemed open to the possibility. She also acknowledged how challenging it would be to get the cast together again to do one. Better savor this season while you can! Big Little Lies’ second season will be comprised of seven episodes. Following the premiere, only six are left.

Now, some spoilers ahead for the Season 2 premiere. In the season opener, Madeline worried about Bonnie’s behavior. Celeste's cruel mother-in-law (a.k.a. Meryl Streep’s character) showed up and Jane learned about the "Monterey Five" moniker. If you thought all of that was eventful, just stay tuned. The teaser for the season hinted at more posh parties and vigilant secret keeping. End premiere spoilers.

Stay tuned to find out if many more big lies will come to the surface. Something tells me that the Monterey Five will manage somehow. New episodes of Big Little Lies Season 2 will be airing this summer on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

Back when Season 1 of Big Little Lies first aired, there was a sense that it was going to be a one-and-done series. Even series production designer John Paino was under that assumption, which he recently revealed in an interview on Season 2 with CinemaBlend's Corey Chichizola.

Then came award show season for television, and after Big Little Lies scooped up a hefty amount of accolades for HBO, Season 2 was announced and Meryl Streep was brought on board to make this all-star cast even bigger. While it was great news, this created a big problem for John Paino. For him, the renewal meant recreating and finding all the things from Season 1 they assumed they'd never use again. Here's how he put it:

So while fans were busy getting pumped to see Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz, and everyone else back together again, John Paino was working on recreating and finding a bunch of set pieces he probably didn't keep tabs on prior. What this means, of course, is that a lot of the familiar things audiences see in Season 2 of Big Little Lies was carefully re-constructed, fetched, or painstakingly sought out to use again.

It sounds like a pretty big deal, although John Paino assured CinemaBlend that none of what was lost or had to be re-created directly affected what could and couldn't be done for Season 2 of Big Little Lies. With that said it may seem that way in the first few episodes, as the show takes Jane, Celeste, and Madeline different places that weren't seen as much in Season 1.

John Paino also revealed Jane's got a new condo in Big Little Lies Season 2. After a rough go of it in Season 1, she has a place in an apartment complex near the water for the second season (along with a new look), and while her surroundings have changed other things haven't. Audiences will notice Jane's still sleeping on the pullout while Ziggy gets the room. For all the things that have changed, apparently some things haven't.

Big Little Lies Season 2 Reviews Are In, Here's What Critics Are Saying

Big Little Lies returns to HBO for Season 2 Sunday, June 9 at 9:00 p.m. ET. Stick with CinemaBlend to stay up to date on what else is happening in movies and television.

Big Little Lies is only days away from returning to the small screen for its second season. The series that was originally touted as a limited series -- and swept the awards circuit in that category -- scored a renewal that would take the story beyond the original source material. Author Liane Moriarty penned some new material, David E. Kelley returned to write the new episodes despite earlier misgivings, and Andrea Arnold signed on as director.

The big question was whether Season 2 could be a worthy follow-up to the first batch of episodes that won so many fans. Season 2 brought in Meryl Streep, kept the key members of the original cast, and was hyped by an intense trailer. The second season doesn't premiere until June 9, but critics have seen the first few episodes, and they weighed in.

The consensus based on the first few episodes seems to be that Season 2 is shaping up to be intriguing and well-acted, but not necessarily... well, necessary. Although Washington Post's Hank Stuever positively stated that Big Little Lies "can still work itself up into a delectably roiling state of privilege and anger," he also said this:

The second season of Big Little Lies scored an order for seven episodes, so it's possible that it just needs some time to warm up and transition from the killer ending of Season 1 into the meat of Season 2. Vanity Fair's Sonia Saraiya suggests that Meryl Streep is going to win an Emmy for her performance but acknowledges that Season 2 might not be able to pay off with "a satisfying conclusion." That said, she also doesn't "much care," saying this:

It sounds like Big Little Lies might not be able to dominate the awards circuit again (especially since it can no longer compete as a limited series), but it's still an enjoyable ride. While Boston Globe's Matthew Gilbert didn't exactly sing the praises of Big Little Lies Season 2, he didn't come down too hard on it. Here are his thoughts:

Hey, just because "not unnecessary" isn't the most ringing endorsement doesn't mean the review is altogether negative! Vulture's Jen Chaney suggests that Season 2 gets off to a slow start that picks up as the episodes pass. Here's how she put it:

Big Little Lies Season 2 deliver a winning combination: what worked about Season 1 with a new direction that fans didn't necessarily see coming. Darren Franich of EW reserves his highest praise for the acting, especially for Meryl Streep as Mary Louise. Streep has of course shown off her versatility as an actress time and time again over the years of her career, but Big Little Lies' gives her an opportunity to try something new. Here's Franich's evaluation:

You'll be hard-pressed to find a critic who has anything bad to say about the performances. In the opinion of Alan Sepinwall in his Rolling Stone review, the killer cast is a good enough reason for Big Little Lies to run for a second season. In his words:

"Bumps and stumbles" are undoubtedly not what HBO was going for with Big Little Lies Season 2, but none of those bumps or stumbles sound like they'll come from shaky performances. There's a reason why the cast scored so many acting nominations for the first season and Meryl Streep is already being listed as a likely winner for the second! Variety's Caroline Framke's words were less glowing, although not overall discouraging. Take a look:

If the show was going to be messy, at least the mess works! Amanda Bell's summary of the series for TV Guide should be reassuring to fans of the first season who are a little concerned about the second not living up to their expectations. Here's how she put it:

CinemaBlend's own Corey Chichizola shared his feelings about Big Little Lies about Season 2, and his review suggests that you should stock up on tissues before tuning in. Take a look:

Are you ready to tune in for Big Little Lies Season 2, or are you feeling like maybe you should watch something else in the summer TV lineup? The critics generally seem to think Season 2 is worth watching, for the performances if nothing else. Fortunately, the wait for Season 2 -- which has been quite long, considering the Season 1 finale aired more than two years ago -- is almost over.

Big Little Lies Season 2 premieres on Sunday, June 9 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

Big Little Lies Season 2 is coming to a television screen near you this summer, as fans of the first season are well aware. That was not always supposed to be the case, though. Initially set to be a standalone miniseries – or the currently popularized "limited series" distinction – Big Little Lies was supposed to be one and done.

As those who could not get enough of Season 1 know, the limited status did not remain the case. Big Little Lies is on the verge of returning for the previously unplanned Season 2. What made Nicole Kidman reconsider and decide to do a second season? At a recent panel (via BuzzFeed News), Kidman explained the thought process, saying:

The opportunity to explore things after what happened at the end of Season 1 proved creatively intriguing to Nicole Kidman, considering the Big Little Lies novel also limits its character aftermath. That a male friend championed Season 2 also influenced Kidman to get back into Celeste Wright's mindset.

When Big Little Lies’ first season began, it was all about the lead-up to finding out who was dead and how that death came to be. By comparison, Season 2 has a much broader playing field. As Nicole Kidman points out, there is a chance to find out what happens next for the "Monterey Five," and viewers probably shouldn't hope for anything too nice and neatly explained.

Spoilers for Big Little Lies Season 1 are discussed below the image.

In Season 2, Nicole Kidman’s Celeste will be dealing with the repercussions of Season 1 in a significant way. Her abusive husband Perry was revealed to be dead after Zoë Kravitz’s Bonnie pushed him down a flight of stairs in an effort to save Celeste.

Perry may be gone, but he is far from forgotten. His mother, played by the legendary Meryl Streep, will be coming to Monterey to for a presumably uncomfortable visit with her daughter-in-law and twin grandsons. As the trailer showed, she is suspicious of Celeste after learning some details were left out of her story about what happened before his death.

As Nicole Kidman indicated, there is a lot of drama for Season 2 to sift through. The decision for the series to come back for a third season has yet to get officially made. Last year, Kidman sounded pretty open to the idea, acknowledging it would be challenging to get the whole cast together again before saying she would “love to do it.”

Big Little Lies’ first season was a massive hit with critics and viewers alike. If Season 2 follows in its footsteps, a third installment will likely be a topic of conversation. HBO should want it to continue for as long as possible.

As a fan, there is only one reason I can think of to fight against a show continuing beyond its original expiration date. That is if the plot does not allow for it. Otherwise, if it is popular with fans, and critics don't think the quality has slid, why not try for more?

Big Little Lies’ real test is arguably ahead. A series’ first season has the benefit of limited expectations, and the novel's popularity definitely helped. Season 2 is where are all the pressure tends to live as those involved hope to avoid the “sophomore slump.”

Find out if the drama can do it! Big Little Lies Season 2 will premiere Sunday, June 9 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

The Monterey 5 are back for Big Little Lies Season 2, and Meryl Streep can't handle the truth. She plays new character Mary Louise Wright, mother of Alexander Skarsgård's Perry Wright, and mother-in-law of Nicole Kidman's Celeste Wright. Perry died in Season 1, but he didn't accidentally die. Mom may have her suspicions, but she doesn't know the truth. Yet. The Monterey 5, as they are called, are all complicit in what happened and they will do whatever it takes to lie their way around it.

HBO just revealed the official Big Little Lies Season 2 teaser, which announced the premiere date as Sunday, June 9:

So much screaming! It's a good thing the HBO teaser trailer just showed but didn't give audio to all of those screams or your eardrums might not survive to watch the new season.

There's clearly a lot of fear and tension in the group, which includes Reese Witherspoon as Madeline Martha Mackenzie, Shailene Woodley as Jane Chapman, Zoë Kravitz as Bonnie Carlson, and Laura Dern as Renata Klein, in addition to Nicole Kidman as Celeste.

I love the scene with Meryl Streep and Reese Witherspoon, as Meryl's Mary Louise Wright gently interrogates Madeline on what happened to her son:

Gasp! But ... she's right.

Writer/producer David E. Kelley said Season 2 starts with the ladies seeming "very well put together, but then the fissures and fractures begin to emerge. Once the crevasses start to widen, it escalates pretty quickly."

Big Little Lies, based on the novel by Liane Moriarty, was initially expected to be a one-and-done limited series. But it was a big success, and a massive awards darling at the Emmys and the Golden Globes -- especially for Nicole Kidman, Alexander Skarsgard, and Laura Dern.

So maybe it wasn't too much of a surprise when the main stars all returned for Season 2, with several new additions even beyond Meryl Streep. Other newbies include Crystal Fox as Elizabeth Howard, Douglas Smith as Corey Brockfield, Mo McRae as Michael Perkins, Martin Donovan as Martin Howard, Poorna Jagannathan as Katie Richmond, and Denis O'Hare as Ira Farber.

At the TCAs winter press tour in February (via TVLine), David E. Kelley said Season 1 "ended on a very open note" that led naturally to Season 2. However, he said there were no plans for Season 3:

However, as Reese Witherspoon pointed out, that's what they said last time too. Nicole Kidman previously sounded open to the idea of Season 3.

HBO shared the Big Little Lies Season 2 trailer a few hours before Game of Thrones Season 8's premiere. That final season will last for six episodes. So there will be a couple of Sunday nights in between Game of Thrones' ending and Big Little Lies' return.

Big Little Lies Season 2 has seven episodes, and they start airing Sunday, June 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO; this is just one of the many shows ready to entertain us on TV this summer.

As Oscars night looms near, HBO seems dead set on having cinephiles discuss a bit of television while watching the awards be doled out. The network just dropped a big mega-trailer for its 2019 programming. In addition to a litany of other things, we've been treated to some fresh footage from Game of Thrones' final Season 8. Take a look below, and see what could be Arya's reaction to seeing a dragon for the first time.

Well, Arya seems rightfully impressed by that sight. That said, one would really have to question what's going on in this girl's head had she reacted to one of Dany's dragons with anything less than astonishment with a small smile. Now, there's a chance these two Game of Thrones scenes don't air back to back and are two separate sequences, although those folks scattering behind her make it seem as though they've seen a dragon as well.

Drogon flies ahead of the troops, and appears to be flying without a rider on his back. It's possible Dany and Jon put the kibosh on that after watching Viserion get sniped by that ice spear, or they're just choosing to ride down amongst the troops. The latter makes sense, especially considering it might be slightly calming if frightened villagers see this terrifying beast is in Jon's corner.

Game of Thrones isn't the only returning series to HBO this year, as footage rolled for Veep, Barry, Ballers, Divorce, Succession, Silicon Valley, and Big Little Lies. Out of the returning shows, Big Little Lies got a bit of a longer look, perhaps due to the all-star cast and to highlight the addition of Meryl Streep. Veep also got a decent cut, which makes sense considering it's the acclaimed comedy's final season.

With shows leaving, HBO is already planning on premiering some new quality content before the year is up, with Zendaya's Euphoria the first mention of the exciting trailer. Watchmen and His Dark Materials are seen later on, but are definitely given the Game of Thrones level of screen time in their glimpses. We get shorter looks at The Righteousness Gemstones, Mrs. Fletcher, Gentleman Jack, and Los Espookys, which all look great even in those brief shots.

Of course, we'd be remiss to leave out the footage from the Deadwood film, which is something folks have waited a long time for. There's also a brief look at Westworld actor Jeffrey Wright's O.G. Several other projects and specials are teased in this jam-packed trailer -- including Native Son and Catherine The Great -- and they're evidence enough HBO has a lot in store for 2019. The question is, will these all be as good as this trailer makes them look?

Audiences can find out with an HBO subscription, or a subscription to the digital streaming services HBO GO. CinemaBlend will provide updates for many of those shows in the meantime, as well as keep audiences informed on the great things headed to television. For a look at new shows on the horizon, visit our midseason premiere guide.

Big Little Lies' second season has not even premiered yet and hopes for Season 3 already abound. The good news for those wanting Season 3 is that one of the series' stars sounds open to it. In a new interview, Nicole Kidman discussed the potential of doing a third season, saying:

When you have stars as busy as the cast of Big Little Lies, it makes sense that scheduling a third season would be difficult. Of course, they managed to get everyone back together for a second installment. So it will be interesting. The good news is that what Nicole Kidman told Variety does not exclude the possibility.

Big Little Lies was initially planned as a limited series or one-shot. The first season was an adaptation of Liane Moriarty's novel of the same name. Following the critical success and viewer response to Season 1, a second season eventually came to fruition. This season added Meryl Streep. Nicole Kidman shared how she felt about working with the new addition to the cast, saying:

Elsewhere in the interview, Nicole Kidman shared that Meryl Streep had not even read a script before signing on. Streep joins the second season of Big Little Lies as the mother-in-law of Kidman's Celeste. So expect lots of screen time between the critically acclaimed actresses.

Reese Witherspoon shared a still from the upcoming season featuring Meryl Streep's character interacting with Nicole Kidman's. In the picture, it appears that Celeste and her sons are spending some quality time with her deceased husband's mother. There does not seem to be any tension between the women in the picture. Is it an indication that some positive things lie ahead for Celeste in Season 2?

If there is a third season of Big Little Lies, it will be compelling to see if Meryl Streep returns. It is interesting to read Nicole Kidman talk about working with Streep. Having accomplished so much in her own career, and proven herself as such a remarkable talent, Kidman still remains ever humble about her abilities.

Before fans can anticipate a third season of the HBO hit, they still have the second to look forward to. It is one of the most highly anticipated returns of 2019. The season is expected to mark another awards windfall for its stars and the series as a whole.

With Meryl Streep on-board, all eyes will be on the series to see how it unfolds. The accolades the first season brought have undoubtedly added a lot of expectations. Time will tell if Big Little Lies Season 2 lives up to them.

Big Little Lies Season 2 will premiere at some point in 2019 on HBO. So you will have to get through this fall and possibly the midseason before it arrives. Albeit, there is still time for it to join the latter release window.

Big Little Lies is switching some things up in Season 2, and while the high-profile casting of Meryl Streep has captured a fair few headlines, there are other changes worth mentioning. The latest of which was spotted in an Instagram post by Reese Witherspoon, which appeared to reveal Shailene Woodley's Jane is rocking a new look in the upcoming season:

Jane Chapman is sporting some bangs and some longer hair in the first and second photo of Reese Witherspoon's photo collage, which would appear to indicate she's got a new hairdo for Big Little Lies Season 2. It's not 100% confirmed, however, as the second photo appears to be at a bowling party separate from filming and features Nicole Kidman not sporting Celeste's red hair. That said, the first picture certainly looks to be a set photo with Witherspoon and Zoë Kravitz dressed up as Madeline and Bonnie, so it seems more likely than not Jane's got a new look for Season 2. Additionally, Shailene Woodley's social media is chock full of pictures of her sporting the hairstyle throughout the production of Season 2, which leaves us little doubt the new hairstyle isn't just a fluke.

It's certainly a change of pace for Jane, who in Season 1 of Big Little Lies kept her hair quite a bit shorter. Perhaps the character's new hairstyle is her further adapting to the Monterey lifestyle, or something to distract her from the fact that she's harboring a dark secret and possibly a suspect in an investigation. Then again, one would imagine Jane's not losing any sleep over the death of Perry, as her fear of her attacker and quest for revenge was a significant plot point in the first season. The new hairstyle might represent a fresh start for her character, as Jane is free from fear and can move forward with her life for the first time in a long time.

The freedom from fear might be temporary, unfortunately, as Jane and the rest of the girls aren't entirely out of the woods yet. Big Little Lies Season 2 will see Perry's mother, played by Meryl Streep, come to town. She'll no doubt want some answers regarding her son's death, and with Detective Quinlan not buying the girls' story at the end of Season 1, she might be willing to do some more digging to get to the bottom of what really happened that night.

Fans will get to see the fallout and how Jane's hair comes into play when Big Little Lies comes to HBO in 2019. For a look at shows that will be arriving on television before then, head on over to our summer and fall premiere guides.

The current TV renaissance is showing no signs of slowing down. With so much great content being produced on the small screen, we've seen a bevy of A-list film actors recently make the transition over to TV. Perhaps no show proves this more than HBO's Big Little Lies, which has an outstanding cast including Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, and Laura Dern. While originally billed as a limited series, BLL ultimately got renewed for a second season on HBO after winning a slew of Emmy and Golden Globe Awards. But it turns out that creator/writer David E. Kelley was originally nervous about bringing the series back. He recently spoke to this dichotomy, saying:

It appears that Big Little Lies' gorgeous Season 1 finale originally was the perfect ending for David E. Kelley. But there were certainly strings to pull from for the sophomore season, and he eventually changed his mind.

David E. Kelley's comments to THR should come to no surprise for Big Little Lies fans, especially if you've been paying close attention to the development of Season 2. While no one expected to come back for Season 2, the series became massively popular and picked up a series of awards. Just like Kelley, Season 1 director Jean-Marc Vallée was originally against bringing the show back, although he'll ultimately be serving as producer in Season 2. The first season (and therefore the original book) had a beautiful ending, and both the writer and director didn't want to mess with a good thing.

Then again, there did seem like plenty of dynamics to mine from in a potential second season. While the five mothers ultimately put their differences aside, there are plenty of consequences. They'll all have to keep the secret of Perry's death, which should be made especially challenging with the arrival of his mother (played by Meryl Streep). Additionally, Perry's identity as Jane's attacker mean that Ziggy and Celeste's twins are half brothers, which should make for another fascinating change. And with Detective Quinlan still not buying their collective story, the drama has only begun.

Considering the trumphant firt season that Big Little Lies had on HBO, the pressure is on to deliver an equally emotional and fascinating experience with Season 2. Be sure to check back with CinemaBlend for all the updates on what's happening in Monterey.

Big Little Lies will return to HBO sometime in 2018. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch. Plus our superhero premiere list and Amazon premiere list to ensure you don't miss a single episode.

Fans of HBO's Big Little Lies recently got their first glimpse of new Season 2 cast member Meryl Streep, and like many of the series' leading ladies, you may have heard of her before. The award-winning drama landed Streep in the wake of the drama's massive success last year. In a new interview, HBO's president of programming Casey Bloys explained what that success means for the network and its future programming.

One of HBO's more vocal execs, Casey Bloys' comments came during an interview with THR, when he was asked what the most surprising element regarding Big Little Lies' success has been. Originally planned for a single season, the adaptation of author Liane Moriarty's novel of the same name was eventually green-lit for a second season after much discussion, both within the fanbase and at the network. That announcement did not come as a major surprise. It was a massive hit with viewers and critics alike, which is a rare combination for any series to pull off, and the producers capitalized on it by adding yet another iconic female star known for playing complex, complicated characters.

Big Little Lies is not the only female-centric drama HBO has in its arsenal. At some point this year, the cabler will unveil its latest limited mystery drama, Sharp Objects, which is an adaptation of Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn's novel. Casey Bloys also explained how the success of Big Little Lies has only reaffirmed the network's commitment to the upcoming female-driven project.

The chances are good that HBO's bet on Sharp Objects will pay off in big ways. While Big Little Lies and Sharp Objects both boast significant star power in front of the camera, these are not just everyday TV stars. Both series hinge on the fact they are led by largely big screen trailblazers. Throughout their film careers, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, and Amy Adams have given masterful portrayals of complicated women. Because of that, each actress has made TV a likelier landscape for similar personas to find a rapt reception. Again, Meryl Streep, people!

All that being said, the scripts also make a significant difference, so here is hoping Amy Adam's troubled crime reporter in Sharp Objects goes over better than another female lead in a recent high-profile HBO series. True Detective Season 2 featured a similarly tortured protagonist in the form of Rachel McAdams' detective Ani Bezzerides, but the role only served to frustrate for most of the season, and in an installment that did largely the same thing. It was not a good situation, but after Big Little Lies, it's only getting better.

One positive element that Sharp Objects will share with Big Little Lies Season 1 is that Jean-Marc Vallée served as director for both. They also share something else in common: HBO has yet to set a premiere date for Big Little Lies Season 2 or Sharp Objects. To pass the time in between dramas, check out our midseason and summer premiere guide to find out what's coming up next on TV.

Big Little Lies is returning for Season 2, and it looks as though all the show's leading ladies will be back with it. Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon confirmed their returns a couple months ago, and now it has been announced that Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, and Laura Dern will all be back for what could be another award-winning season of the series. I mean, this season has Meryl Streep added to the cast, so awards are mandatory right?

Shailene Woodley's return is the least surprising of the bunch, as much of Season 1 of Big Little Lies hinged on her story. Season 2 will show her character Jane Chapman attempting to start a new life following the dramatic conclusion to the season, and hopefully her son Ziggy (Young Sheldon actor Iain Armitage) won't get blamed for any sort of trouble this coming season to prevent that from happening.

Zoë Kravitz will once again portray the second wife of Madeline's ex-husband Bonnie, who may not be as free-spirited as she once was in Season 1. Bonnie's character description would imply (spoiler alert) she's not over her role in the killing of Perry, whose death was ultimately ruled an accident by the detectives. Bonnie will struggle with what happened that night, and EW reported Kravitz character will also be faced with some demons from her past.

Bonnie's issue with the cover-up of Perry's death could pose a problem for the women down the road, as revealing the truth behind what happened could land them in trouble with the law. Big Little Lies fans may remember there was one detective still skeptical about what happened, and with Meryl Streep coming into the town as Perry's mother, there's another person that Bonnie could foreseeably spill the beans to about what actually went down that night.

Laura Dern will also come back to play the amazing Renata Klein, who is said to be facing some marriage challenges with her husband Gordon in Big Little Lies Season 2. Given Renata's fire and fury she rained down on Monterey when her daughter Amabella was being bullied, I don't like Gordon's odds of survival if he's in the wrong in this situation. Dern won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for her role as Renata in Season 1, so naturally, all eyes will be on her and whatever's next for her character when Season 2 premieres.

Season 2 of Big Little Lies is expected to air sometime in 2019. For more information on shows set to premiere in 2018, head on over to our midseason premiere guide.

It's no secret that we're in the midst of a TV renaissance at the moment. Between streaming services, premium channels, and traditional networks, there is a wealth of fantastic content being produced. The big hits of last year were Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale and HBO's Big Little Lies, which both cleaned up at the Emmy Awards. The latter was originally meant to be a limited series, although its wild success inspired the network to renew BLL for a second season. Season 2's contents are largely a mystery, although it was recently announced that the great Meryl Streep will be playing a role when Big Little Lies returns. Now star and producer Nicole Kidman has opened up about the process, saying:

It looks like Meryl Streep's upcoming Big Little Lies stint is a role that was made just for her. This is enough to excite most cinephiles, and makes the anticipation around the show's sophomore run even stronger.

When Big Little Lies eventually returns for Season 2, Meryl Streep will be playing the role of Mary Louise Wright, the mother of Alexander Skarsgard's late character Perry. She will likely enter Monterey in the wake of Perry's death, and likely try to piece together her son's final moments. With the five women attempting to keep their secret (and innocence) after Bonnie accidentally killed the abuser, it seems that things are about to get very tense.

In her same conversation with Entertainment Tonight, Nicole Kidman spoke about what it meant to have Meryl Streep join Big Little Lies' second season. Because Kidman believes that Streep's enthusiasm is a message of support for female stories and producers, she's going to make sure that the living legend enjoys her time onset. Kidman said,

Now the question is: where exactly will Big Little Lies go narratively when it returns? While the stunning Season 1 finale saw the women finally uniting and enjoying each other, the watching eyes of Detective Adrienne Quinlan seemed to spy on the ladies. The motley crew of characters will have to keep a very big secret, which will no doubt bring their tension to a boiling point-- especially when Perry's mother comes calling.

It's currently unclear when Big Little Lies will return for Season 2, but check back with CinemaBlend for more updates. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch, and our cancellation list to see if your favorite show got the chop last year.

Spoilers ahead for the first season of Big Little Lies.

There are two TV shows that absolutely dominated during this past awards season. Hulu made history for cleaning house with The Handmaid's Tale, and HBO's Big Little Lies took home a ton of statues for the limited series categories. Almost immediately after the series concluded with its gorgeous finale, fans have been wondering whether BLL could return for a second season. And while the series is out of material from Liane Moriarty's novel of the same name, HBO ultimately brought back Big Little Lies for another set of episodes. Now another surprise has hit: Alexander Skarsgard's will be back to reprise his role as Perry in the series.

News of Alexander Skarsgard's inclusion is sure to excite and confuse the many fans who devoured Big Little Lies' first season. Perry was the central villain of the show's first season; we saw as he physically, emotionally, and even sexually abused Nicole Kidman's character Celeste. Ultimately Perry met a grisly end at the end of the finale, as Zoe Kravitz' Bonnie pushed him down the stairs and he ultimately died. So how exactly is he going to fit into Season 2?

Narratively, it would make sense that Alexander Skarsgard to return in a flashback capacity. Celeste will no doubt continue struggling with the domestic abuse she suffered for years, and will therefore be dealing with a mixture of freedom and guilt over his untimely death. Additionally, Bonnie should be feeling similarly distressed, after accidentally killing Celeste's husband. She's a sensitive character, and having blood on her hands will no doubt haunt the yoga teacher.

Perhaps the most important reason for Perry's return to Big Little Lies has to do with Shailene Woodley's Jane Chapman. The back half of Season 1 saw Jane try to track down the man who assaulted her and impregnated her with little Ziggy. When Perry showed up to confront Celeste at Trivia Night, Jane realized that it was her friend's husband who had attacked her all those years ago-- she didn't even need to search outside of Monterey.

Given how Big Little Lies' finale ended, we never got to see Jane process this revelation, and see how the knowledge of her abuser affected her life, friendship with Celeste, and relationship to her son. In order for that to possibly explore that in Season 2, Big Little Lies is going to need Alexander Skarsgard.

TV Line's announcement of Alexander Skarsgard's return to Big Little Lies doesn't necessarily mean he'll be a series regular. Instead, it stands to reason that HBO would make this announcement so they can film his guest role without Game of Thrones levels of security. The news is out, and now fans will have to wait and see how Perry will show up in Season 2.

It's currently unclear when Big Little Lies will return for Season 2, but be sure to check back with CinemaBlend for all the updates. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch, and our cancellation list to see if your favorite show got the chop last year.