Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 12

Original BLUES’ CLUES Host Steve Burns Launches ALIVE Podcast for Adults

Steve Burns left hosting duties on Blue’s Clues way back in 2002, but he never really left the show behind. Over the last few years he’s found new ways to reconnect with his (now grownup) audience. Now he’s set to take on a very different type of hosting duty. Only, he wants to still capture the spirit of the Nickelodeon show that made him a beloved part of so many childhoods. He’s launching a podcast for adults that will serve as a “continuation” of Blue’s Clues. Steve Burns’ podcast, Alive, will officially release on September 17.

This September, Steve Burns will host Alive, his own original weekly podcast. Burns is producing it in conjunction with Lemonada Media. He says his show will “continue what we started decades ago,” an obvious reference to the Nickelodeon series that made him famous. Each week Burns and guests will discuss “what it means to stay human in a complicated world.”

Burn shares, “Sick of all the shouting and noise out there? Then good news. Steve Burns is back and he’s making a podcast with you. Not for you — with you. Starting September 17, tune in as Steve sits down with some really smart folks for genuine and respectful conversations about all the big, messy questions of being alive in an ever-harder world. There are a thousand podcasts you can listen to. This one listens back.”

Burns said his show will be different from many other podcasts. It’s not going to focus on creating something you merely listen to. He says Alive “will be a podcast that listens back,” which is what “Steve” on Blues’ Clues did. He “listened” to kids calling out answers to his questions.

Alive With Steve Burns

His YouTube video announcing the show also provides insight into what his audience (who, for the record, will still have to actually listen) can expect from the show’s inaugural year:

Season 1 will tackle issues near and dear to Steve’s fans. As millennials navigate an ever-changing world, Steve will host conversations on topics ranging from personal finance to spirituality and modern love.

For the Alive podcast to match Steve Burns’ run on Blue’s Clues, it will have to last for at least six seasons and more than 100 episodes. Will his kids-turned-adults fans stick around that long? We wouldn’t bet against it. After all these years they haven’t left behind the show anymore than he has.

Alive releases on September 17.

Originally published on June 25, 2025.

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Beyond Fest 2025 Releases Full Schedule of 90 Movies

Movie buffs in Los Angeles know it isn’t officially autumn until Beyond Fest starts. The annual celebration of wild and weird genre cinema has grown to one of the most prestigious in such programs in the country. A gleeful mix of repertory favorites and new premieres. Having attended several years myself, I can tell you it’s an enormous blast. The latest festival will begin September 23 and span a whopping 15 days. The full slate announcement just dropped and it’s packed with 90 movies, so get ready to go Beyond.Beyond Fest

Not only does Beyond Fest show movies—the bare minimum for a film festival, if we’re honest—but many, many filmmakers, actors, and other such fame-os will be in attendance for the various screenings. Like who? Well, how about the likes of Guillermo del Toro, Luca Guadagnino, John Carpenter, Jafar Panahi, Karyn Kusama, Al Pacino, William Petersen, Tim Robbins, Butthole Surfers, and Japanese icon, Meiko Kaji. That do anything for ya?

Opening and Closing Night honors are bestowed upon two of contemporary Cinema’s most beloved auteurs: Park Chan-wook and Yorgos Lanthimos, with No Other Choice (Opening) and Bugonia (Closing) bookending this year’s exhaustive program.

Focus Features

Major premieres anchor the festival once again with a blend of star power and genre thrills, including U.S. Premieres of Aziz Ansari’s Good Fortune starring Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, and Keke Palmer, genre maestro Bryan Fuller’s Dust Bunny starring Mads Mikkelsen and Sigourney Weaver.

West Coast Premieres include the triumphant and terrifying return of Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill with Black Phone 2. The maestro, Luca Guadagnino, exposes uncomfortable truths with After the Hunt. Gore Verbinski brings the theatrical debut with a very special screening of his action comedy Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die. Mary Bronstein will be joined by stars Rose Byrne and Conan O’Brien as she debuts her revelatory If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.

Action Cinema is hyper-violently represented with the most electrifying films of the year. Stunt icon Kenji Tanigaki brings his instantly infamous epic-fight-fest, The Furious, to the Egyptian Theatre for its U.S. Premiere. Sisu: Road to Revenge sees Jalmari Helander dispatch his bullets and bombs to the Red Army, and Psycho Goreman’s Steven Kostanski reinvents the iconic Deathstalker with an abundance of practical effects and gore galore.

Shout! Studios

“This year, we’re celebrating the full spectrum of genre filmmaking that intentionally ranges from the arthouse to the grindhouse,” said Evrim Ersoy, Beyond Fest Head of Programming. “Our goal has always been to connect film communities with the greatest variety of filmmakers, and the vast diversity of this year’s slate, featuring an unprecedented array of premieres and restorations, is a steadfast commitment to this mission and the power of genre Cinema.” 

Beyond Fest continues its tradition of honoring Cinema icons with unforgettable in-person events. Complementing the previously announced Guillermo del Toro retrospective, Japanese icon Meiko Kaji takes center stage with her first-ever U.S. appearance, celebrating decades of legendary performances. Beyond Fest will honor her career with a rare series of 2K restorations, including Lady Snowblood, Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion, and Blind Woman’s Curse. Oscar-winner Sean Baker will join Kaji in conversation, offering audiences a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the charisma, ferocity, and enduring influence of one of Japanese Cinema’s most electrifying figures. 

Arrow Video

For the whole list of films, venues, and guests. Check out the list below. Check out more at BeyondFest.com.

BEYOND FEST 2025 PROGRAM
EGYPTIAN THEATRE
BUTTHOLE SURFERS: THE HOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUTT
West Coast Premiere
Director: Tom J. Stern
Country: United States
Runtime: 106 minutes Year: 2025

PRIMATE
West Coast Premiere
Director: Johannes Roberts
Country: United States
Runtime: 89 minutes
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Year: 2025

GOOD BOY
West Coast Premiere
Director: Ben Leonberg
Country: United States
Runtime: 102 minutes
Distributor: Shudder
Year: 2024
Guests: Ben Leonberg, Shane Jensen, Dog Actor Indy

SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE
West Coast Premiere
Director: Jalmari Helander
Country: Finland / United States
Distributor: Sony Pictures’ Stage 6 Films & Screen Gems
Runtime: 88 minutes
Year: 2025

EXIT 8
U.S. Premiere
Director: Genki Kawamura
Country: Japan
Runtime: 95 minutes
Distributor: NEON
Year: 2025

THE FURIOUS
U.S. Premiere
Director: Kenji Tanigaki
Country: Hong Kong, China
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2025
Guests: Kenji Tanigaki

FUCK MY SON!
West Coast Premiere
Director: Todd Rohal
Country: United States
Runtime: 94 minutes
2025
Guests: Todd Rohal, Johnny Ryan

TO LIVE AND DIE IN LA
Special Screening
Director: William Friedkin
Country: United States
Runtime: 123 minutes
Distributor: Park Circus
Year: 1985
Guests: William Petersen

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA — 70mm Presentation
Special Screening
Director: John Carpenter
Country: United States
Runtime: 99 minutes
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Year: 1986
Guests: John Carpenter, Dean Cundey

MANHUNTER
Special Screening
Director: Michael Mann
Country: United States
Runtime: 120 minutes
Distributor: Rialto Pictures
Year: 1986
Guests: William Petersen

THE PLAYER
Special Screening
Director: Robert Altman
Country: United States
Runtime: 124 minutes
Distributor: Janus Films
Year: 1992
Guests: Tim Robbins

JACOB’S LADDER
World Premiere – 4K Restoration
Director: Adrian Lyne
Country: United States
Runtime: 113 minutes
Distributor: Rialto Pictures
Year: 1990
Guests: Tim Robbins

NIRVANNA THE BAND, THE SHOW, THE MOVIE
West Coast Premiere
Director: Matt Johnson
Country: Canada
Runtime: 100 minutes
Distributor: NEON
Year: 2025
Guests: Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol

THE RING
Special Screening
Director: Gore Verbinski
Country: United States
Runtime: 115 minutes
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Year: 2002
Guests: Gore Verbinski

SHELBY OAKS
West Coast Premiere
Director: Chris Stuckmann
Country: United States
Runtime: 99 minutes
Distributor: NEON
Year: 2024
Guests: Chris Stuckmann

DREAM EATER
L.A. Premiere
Director: Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm, Alex Lee Williams
Country: United States
Runtime: 86 minutes
Distributor: The Horror Section
Year: 2025
Guests: Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm, Alex Lee Williams, Eli Roth

DUST BUNNY
U.S. Premiere
Director: Bryan Fuller
Country: United States
Runtime: 106 minutes
Distributor: Lionsgate
Year: 2025
Guests: Bryan Fuller

MAG MAG
World Premiere
Director: Yuriyan Retriever
Country: Japan
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2025
Guests: Director Yuriyan Retriever, lead actress Sara Minami, producer Daisuke Takahashi

GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE
Special Screening
Director: Gore Verbinski
Country: United States / Germany
Runtime: 100 minutes
Distributor: Briarcliff Entertainment
Year: 2026

LADY SNOWBLOOD
Special Screening
Director: Toshiya Fujita
Country: Japan
Runtime: 97 minutes
Distributor: Janus Films
Year: 1973
Guests: Meiko Kaji

LADY SNOWBLOOD: LOVE SONG OF VENGEANCE
Special Screening
Director: Toshiya Fujita
Country: Japan
Runtime: 89 minutes
Distributor: Janus Films
Year: 1974
Guests: Meiko Kaji

FEMALE PRISONER #701: SCORPION
Special Screening – 2K Restoration
Director: Shun’ya Itō Country: Japan
Runtime: 87 minutes
Distributor: AGFA
Year: 1972
Guests: Meiko Kaji

BLIND WOMAN’S CURSE
Special Screening
Director: Teruo Ishii
Country: Japan
Runtime: 85 minutes
Distributor: AGFA
Year: 1970
Guests: Meiko Kaji

In The Mood For Love
CRIMSON PEAK – 4K Restoration
World Premiere
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Country: United States
Runtime: 119 mins
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Year: 2015
Guests – Guillermo Del Toro

NIGHTMARE ALLEY – VISION IN DARKNESS AND LIGHT
Special Screening
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Country: United States / Mexico / Canada
Runtime: 159 mins
Distributor: Searchlight Pictures
Year: 2021
Guests – Guillermo Del Toro

THE SHAPE OF WATER – 4K Restoration
World Premiere
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Country: United States
Runtime: 123 mins
Distributor: Searchlight Pictures
Year: 2017
Guests – Guillermo Del Toro

From Sketch to Screen
HELLBOY
Special Screening – format: N/A
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Country: United States
Runtime: 122 mins
Distributor: Park Circus
Year: 2004
Guests – Guillermo Del Toro

HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY
Special Screening – format: N/A
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Country: United States
Runtime: 120 mins
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Year: 2008
Guests – Guillermo Del Toro

BLADE II
Special Screening – format: N/A
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Country: United States
Runtime: 117 mins
Distributor: Warner Bros
Year: 2002
Guests – Guillermo Del Toro

CRONOS – 4K Restoration
World Premiere
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Country: Mexico
Runtime: 92 mins
Distributor: Janus Films
Year: 1993
Guests – Guillermo Del Toro

THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE
Special Screening – format: N/A
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Country: Spain/Mexico
Runtime: 106 mins
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Year: 2001
Guests – Guillermo Del Toro

MIMIC – Director’s Cut
Special Screening – format: N/A
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Country: United States
Runtime: 105 mins
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Year: 1997
Guests – Guillermo Del Toro

The Revolution
PAN’S LABYRINTH
Special Screening – format: N/A
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Country: Spain/Mexico Runtime: 120 mins Distributor: Warner Bros. Year: 2006
Guests – Guillermo Del Toro

GOOD FORTUNE
West Coast Premiere
Director: Aziz Ansari
Country: United States
Runtime: 98 minutes
Distributor: Lionsgate
Year: 2025
Guests: Aziz Ansari

AERO THEATRE PRESENTED BY NEON
NO OTHER CHOICE
U.S. Premiere
Director: Park Chan-wook
Country: South Korea Runtime: 139 minutes
Distributor: NEON
Year: 2025

BOORMAN AND THE DEVIL
North American Premiere
Director: David Kittredge
Country: United States
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2025
Guests: David Kittredge, Linda Blair, Garrett Brown, Travis Stevens

EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC
Special Screening – 35mm Print Courtesy of the Martin Scorsese Collection at the George Eastman Museum Director: John Boorman
Country: United States
Runtime: 117 minutes
Distributor: Park Circus
Year: 1977
Guests: None listed

BARRIO TRISTE
West Coast Premiere
Director: Stillz
Country: Colombia / United States
Runtime: 84 minutes
Distributor: EDGLRD
Year: 2025

THE RED SPECTACLES
World Premiere – 4K Restoration
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Country: Japan
Runtime: 106 minutes
Distributor: Arbelos Films
Year: 1987

IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU
West Coast Premiere
Director: Mary Bronstein
Country: United States
Runtime: 113 minutes
Distributor: A24
Year: 2025
Guests: Rose Byrne, Conan O’Brien, Danielle Macdonald, Mary Bronstein

URCHIN
West Coast Premiere
Director: Harris Dickinson
Country: United Kingdom
Runtime: 99 minutes
Distributor: 1-2 Special
Year: 2025

DRACULA
West Coast Premiere
Director: Radu Jude
Country: Romania
Runtime: 125 minutes
Distributor: 1-2 Special
Year: 2025

DICK TRACY
Special 35th Anniversary Screening
Director Warren Beatty
Country United States
Runtime 105 minutes
Distributor: Disney
Year: 1990
Guests Al Pacino

THE DAY OF THE DOLPHIN – Cinematic Void Presents
World Premiere – 4K Restoration
Director: Mike Nichols
Country: United States
Runtime: 104 minutes
Distributor: Rialto Pictures
Year: 1973

SALEM’S LOT
World Premiere – 4K Restoration
Director: Tobe Hooper
Country: United States Runtime: 183 minutes Distributor: Warner Bros.
Year: 1979

HOUSE
Special 40th Anniversary Screening
Director: Steve Miner
Country: United States
Runtime: 93 minutes
Distributor: AGFA
Year: 1985
Guests: William Katt

NIGHT PATROL
West Coast Premiere
Director: Ryan Prows
Country: USA
Runtime: 104 minutes
Distributor: RLJE Films/ Shudder
Year: 2025
Guests: Ryan Prows, RJ Cyler, Flying Lotus

V/H/S/HALLOWEEN
West Coast Premiere
Directors: Bryan M. Ferguson, Casper Kelly, Micheline Pitt-Norman & R.H. Norman, Alex Ross Perry, Paco Plaza, Anna Zlokovic
Country: United States
Runtime: 115 minutes
Distributor: Shudder
Year: 2025
Guests: Micheline Pitt-Norman, RH Norman, Anna Zlokovic, Casper Kelly, Josh Goldbloom

THE SECRET AGENT
West Coast Premiere
Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Country: Brazil
Runtime: 120 minutes
Distributor: NEON
Year: 2025
Guests: Kleber Mendonça Filho, Udo Kier

BACURAU
Special Screening
Directors: Kleber Mendonça Filho, Juliano Dornelles
Country: Brazil
Runtime: 132 minutes
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Year: 2019

THE INVITATION
Special Screening – 10th Anniversary
Director: Karyn Kusama
Country: United States
Runtime: 100 minutes
Distributor: AGFA
Year: 2015
Guests: Karyn Kusama, Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi, Logan Marshall-Green

DEATHSTALKER
West Coast Premiere
Director: Steven Kostanski
Country: Canada / United States
Runtime: 102 minutes
Distributor: Shout! Studios
Year: 2025

RESURRECTION
U.S. Premiere
Director: Bi Gan
Country: China
Runtime: 160 minutes
Distributor: Janus Films
Year: 2025

SIRT
West Coast Premiere
Director: Oliver Laxe
Country: Spain, France
Runtime: 120 minutes
Distributor: NEON
Year: 2025
Guests: Oliver Laxe, Sergi Lopez

GODZILLA FINAL WARS
Special Screening – 4K
Director: Ryuhei Kitamura
Country: Japan
Runtime: 125 minutes
Distributor: Toho/GKIDS
Year: 2004
Guests: Ryuhei Kitamura

AFTER THE HUNT
West Coast Premiere
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Country: USA
Runtime: 139 minutes
Distributor: Amazon MGM Studios
Year: 2025
Guests: Luca Guadagnino

STRAY CAT ROCK: DELINQUENT GIRL BOSS
Special Screening – 2K Restoration
Director: Toshiya Fujita
Country: Japan
Runtime: 90 minutes
Distributor: AGFA
Year: 1970
Guests: Meiko Kaji

STAND BY ME
Special Screening
Director: Rob Reiner
Country: United States
Runtime: 89 minutes
Distributor: Sony Repertory
Year: 1986
Guests: Rob Reiner

MISERY
Special Screening
Director: Rob Reiner
Country: United States
Runtime: 107 minutes
Distributor: Disney
Year: 1990
Guests: Rob Reiner

THE BOULET BROTHERS’ DRAGULA: TITANS – SEASON 2, EPISODE 1
World Premiere
Directors: Dracmorda Boulet & Swanthula Boulet
Country: United States
Runtime: 65 minutes
Distributor: Shudder
Year: 2025
Guests: Dracmorda Boulet and Swanthula Boulet

QUEENS OF THE DEAD
West Coast Premiere
Director: Tina Romero
Country: United States
Runtime: 99 minutes
Distributor: Shudder
Year: 2025
Guests: Tina Romero, Nina West

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST
World Premiere – 4K Restoration Uncut
Director: Ruggero Deodato
Country: Italy
Runtime: 96 minutes
Distributor: Grindhouse Releasing
Year: 1980
Guests: None listed

BLACK PHONE 2
West Coast Premiere
Director: Scott Derrickson
Country: Canada
Runtime: 114 minutes
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Year: 2025
Guests: Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill

THE DEVIL’S REJECTS
4K Restoration – Co-Presented with Rucking Fotten!
Director: Rob Zombie
Country: United States
Runtime: 107 minutes
Distributor: Lionsgate
Year: 2005
Guests: Rob Zombie, Sherri Moon Zombie

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
West Coast Premiere
Director: Jafar Panahi Country: Iran
Runtime: 105 minutes
Distributor: NEON
Year: 2025x
Guests: Jafar Panahi

CRIMSON GOLD
Special Screening
Director: Jafar Panahi
Country: Iran
Runtime: 95 minutes
Distributor: KimStim
Year: 2003
Guests: Jafar Panahi

BUGONIA
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Country: United Kingdom
Runtime: 120 minutes
Distributor: Focus Features
Year: 2025

NEON THEATRE at LOS FELIZ 3
KILLING FAITH
World Premiere
Director: Ned Crowley
Country: United States
Runtime: 104 minutes
Distributor: Shout! Studios
Year: 2025
Guests: DeWanda Wise, Bill Pullman, Neil Crowley

MS. 45
International Premiere – 4K Restoration
Director: Abel Ferrara
Country: United States
Runtime: 80 minutes
Distributor: Arrow Films
Year: 1981

IN A COLD VEIN
International Premiere
Director: Eric Owen
Country: USA
Runtime: 90 minutes
Year: 2025
Guests: Eric Owen

HELLCAT
Us Premiere
Director: Brock Bodell
Country: United States
Runtime: 91 minutes
Year: 2025
Guests: Dakota Gorman, Todd Terry, Liz Atwater, Elise Horn, Brock Bodell

SUNDAY PRINT EDITION – JULIE PACINO
DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB
Special Screening
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Country: United Kingdom / United States
Runtime: 95 minutes
Distributor: Sony Repertory
Year: 1964

BULK
West Coast Premiere
Director: Ben Wheatley
Country: United Kingdom
Runtime: 95 minutes
Year: 2025
Guests

ICE TOWER
West Coast Premiere
Director: Lucile Hadžihalilović
Country: France
Runtime: 118 minutes
Distributor: Yellow Veil Pictures
Year: 2025

BURY YOUR DEAD
West Coast Premiere. Premiere
Director: Marco Dutra
Country: Brazil
Runtime: 128 minutes
Distributor: Dark Star Pictures
Year: 2024

THE PYTHON HUNT
West Coast Premiere – Co-Presented with Killer Films
Director: Xander Robin
Country: United States
Runtime: 91 minutes
Distributor: Oscilloscope Films
Year: 2025

I LIVE HERE NOW
US Premiere
Director: Julie Pacino
Country: United States
Runtime: 92 minutes
Distributor: Utopia Distribution
Year: 2024
Guests: Julie Pacino

THE SERPENT’S SKIN
LA Premiere
Director: Alice Maio Mackay
Country: Australia
Runtime: 83 minutes
Distributor: Dark Star Pictures
Year: 2025
Guests: Alice Maio Mackay, Vera Drew

THE KIRLIAN FREQUENCY
World Premiere
Director: Cristian Ponce
Country: Argentina
Runtime: 45 minutes
Year: 2025

NEW GROUP
U.S. Premiere
Director: Yuta Shimotsu
Country: Japan
Runtime: 82 minutes
Distributor: Shudder
Year: 2025

HOLD THE FORT
U.S. Premiere
Director: William Bagley
Country: United States
Runtime: 78 minutes
Year: 2025
Guests: William Bagley

WILD STYLE
West Coast Premiere – 4K Restoration
Director: Charlie Ahearn
Country: USA
Runtime: 82 minutes Year: 2025 Guests:

EVERY HEAVY THING
US Premiere
Director: Mickey Reece
Country: USA
Runtime: 89 minutes
Distributor: Firebook Entertainment
Year: 2025
Guests: Mickey Reece, Peter Kuplowsky MAN FINDS TAPE
West Coast Premiere
Directors: Paul Gandersman & Peter S. Hall
Country: United States
Runtime: 84 minutes
Distributor: Magnet Releasing
Year: 2025

REFLECTION IN A DEAD DIAMOND
West Coast Premiere
Director: Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani
Country: Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, France
Runtime: 87 minutes
Distributor: Shudder
Year: 2025

SILENT DEATH – TERROR VISION LOST & FOUND
World Premiere – 4K Restoration
Director: Vaughn Christion
Country: USA
Runtime: 71 minutes
Distributor: Terror Vision Records & Video Year: 1981 Guests:

SUNDAY PRINT EDITION – FRANKENSTEIN – PRESENTED BY CODA
Director: James Whale
Country: United States
Runtime: 71 minutes
Distributor: Universal Pictures Year: 1931 Guests:

ANGEL’S EGG
West Coast Premiere – 4K Restoration
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Country: Japan
Runtime: 71 minutes
Distributor: GKIDS
Year: 1985

100 METERS
US Premiere
Director: Kenji Iwaisawa
Country: Japan
Runtime: 102 minutes
Distributor: GKIDS
Year: 2025
Guests: Kenji Iwaisawa

LONE SAMURAI
World Premiere
Director: Josh C. Waller
Country: Indonesia, Portugal, United States, United States
Runtime: 95 minutes
Distributor: Well Go USA Entertainment Year: 2025 Guests:

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.

The post Beyond Fest 2025 Releases Full Schedule of 90 Movies appeared first on Nerdist.

HBO Max Password-Sharing Crackdown Will Get ‘More Assertive’—Though Not ‘Yet’

Who is ready for more password-sharing crackdowns? I know they are my favorite thing. In a streaming landscape filled with price increases, ads, and more, the password-sharing crackdowns still feel like the most egregious overtures made by streamers. Will you not just let us live? But no. Following in the footsteps of Netflix’s (sadly successful) password-sharing crackdown, we now have HBO Max ramping up its own war on password sharing. We’ve been hearing about HBO Max’s password-sharing crackdown for a little while, but it sounds like things are about to get serious in the next year or so. HBO Max recently followed in Netflix’s footsteps and has added the ability to add an “extra member” to one’s account. Read: continue to share passwords, but pay for it. Here’s what we know.

HBO Max’s Password Sharing Crackdown Is About to Press the Gas (But Not Yet)

HBO Max is planning to crackdown on password sharing HARD in the next 12-18 months. JB Perrette, CEO and president of global streaming and games, noted that the efforts will begin with a gentle nudge but become “more assertive” later in 2025. HBO Max expects the full crackdown to take about a year to a year and a half to fully ramp up. CEO David Zaslav noted that the HBO Max password sharing crackdown “will create another boost of both subscriber and [average revenue per user] growth through the extra member add-on.”

Zaslave further noted, “We haven’t been pushing on the password sharing and the economics yet,” but did follow up with a note that, “over time…with the password sharing, we’re going to begin to push on that.

The Current Steps in HBO Max’s Password Sharing Crackdown

As of April 22, HBO Max has added an “Extra Member” Add-On feature for subscribers in the US. These “Extra Members” cost $7.99/month. Subscribers can use them to let someone not in their household create a separate account under the same subscription. Here, HBO Max defines “household” as “the account owner (the person who created the account) and the people they live with.” We’d just like to remind everyone that ‘streaming household’ is a made-up term created by HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, and other streamers only for password-sharing crackdown purposes, but we digress.

HBO

Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that it will soon notify its subscribers that sharing passwords with users outside their household is no longer permitted. And, as part of HBO Max’s password-sharing crackdown, use will be futurely restricted to the household only unless an Extra Member account is in place.

HBO Max additionally shares, “Your HBO Max account is for you and the people you live with. With the Extra Member Add-On, WarnerMedia-billed subscribers can share their HBO Max plan with a friend or family member who doesn’t live with them.” And notes that with the Extra Member Add-On, the extra member can:

Stream from anywhere that HBO Max is available (they don’t need to live with the account owner).Stream on any supported device (1 device at a time).Have their own account, password, and 1 profile.Enjoy the same plan features as the account owner (e.g. if the owner has the Premium plan, the extra member can enjoy 4K Ultra HD video quality on select titles).HBO

Currently, you can only have one add-on member per HBO Max account. Those who create Extra Member profiles will be able to transfer their single adult profile, and thus retain watch history, recommendations, and other settings from their previous account. Basically, the advantage to conforming to this password-sharing crackdown feature is that you won’t have to start your HBO Max account from scratch.

Read Next

Netflix’s Ad Tier Hits 70 Million Users, Spurred by Password-Sharing Crackdown and Price Shifts

JB Perrette, CEO and president of global streaming and games at Warner Bros Discovery commented on this password-sharing crackdown evolution, previously noted that “Extra Member Add-On and Profile Transfer are two key HBO Max advancements, designed to help viewers with a new way to enjoy our best-in-class content at an exceptional value, and offer subscribers greater flexibility in managing their accounts. These updates provide a simple way for subscribers to add-on a new member to their account, or for existing subscribers who have users outside of their household to smoothly, and in an uninterrupted fashion, transition their profile so that extra member can continue to access HBO Max.”

Streamers always frame password-sharing crackdown measures with such generosity. We’ll have to wait and see how intense HBO Max‘s password-sharing crackdown is and how fast it ramps up.

Originally published on April 22, 2025.

The post HBO Max Password-Sharing Crackdown Will Get ‘More Assertive’—Though Not ‘Yet’ appeared first on Nerdist.

David Zaslav Says People Are So in Love with HBO’s Content They’ll Embrace Price Increases

It’s an interesting theory. People DO fall in love with fandoms every day and end up spending A LOT of money on them. But the question of whether people fall in love with streaming channels is a bit of a different one. At least… fall in love with them enough not to mind the cost of streaming going up. Price increases have become a necessary evil of our consumption these days. It feels like every day, another platform is increasing its subscription prices. In most cases, these price increases are treated with a groan and a tolerating sigh at best. But there’s something almost poetic about the picture that David Zaslav is painting of HBO Max’s consumers and their reactions to potential price hikes on the platform. It’s a romantic vision. But is it realistic? We feel, probably not. Jessica Miglio/HBO Max

Here’s what David Zaslav had to say about HBO Max, its subscribers, and price increases on the platform:

People are really starting to love HBO Max. That’s the key. We want them to fall in love with our content, with our series, with the differentiated offering outside the U.S. and then over time, it’s a little tricky, with the password sharing, we’re going to begin to push on that. And I think our ability to raise price as people become more and more in love with the quality that we have and the series that we have and the offering that we have will have a real ability because I think the pricing across the board — not only is there too many players, in order to stay alive, a lot of the players have just decided to drop prices aggressively.

Consumers in America would pay twice as much 10 years ago for content. People were spending, on average, $55 for content 10 years ago, and the quality of the content, the amount of content that we’re getting, the spend is 10 or 12 fold and they’re paying dramatically less. I think we want a good deal for consumers, but I think over time, there’s real opportunity, particularly for us, in that quality area, to raise price.

First, we have to say, HRMMMM. Because we haven’t seen anyone outside of McDonald’s even MENTION a price decrease. I’d like to meet these players that are dropping their prices aggressively. Are they in the room with us? Apple TV+: Price Increase. Netflix: Price Increase. Even Dropout.tv has raised its streaming subscription costs. The idea that everyone else is undercutting HBO Max by reducing their prices is laughable at best. But it’s also interesting that Zaslav considers the quality of HBO Max to be so far and beyond the quality of other streamers that it has almost a right to raise its prices. At least, that’s what we’re taking away from the discussion.

HBO

The question of whether Americans are paying less for more is also a tricky one. More content absolutely exists, that feels true. But with pricing constantly increasing, it feels like there is no longer any ceiling on what one COULD potentially pay to subscribe to all the streamers. And that does not feel good. How does one mark increasing quality and what it is worth? Where does the price rise end? In some ways, it feels like quality can only continually increase so far, but, pricing, that can increase forever.

Which brings us to the idea of love. People do love content. I personally LOVE content. Nerds wouldn’t be nerds if they didn’t have intense love affairs with TV shows, movies, and more. But should you raise prices as people become more and more in love with your product? We guess capitalism suggests you should. But, in the end, love also has a ceiling. And the more folks have to pay for HBO Max, the less far their love will go. We feel like, in the end, keeping quality and price at a reasonable place and maintaining a welcoming environment that caters to the user experience will go farther than a price increase ever could. But that’s just us.

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Focus Features Giving Out $200 Merch Gift Cards If You See Its 5 New Movies

“You couldn’t pay me to see that movie?” Maybe you’ve said that before. Maybe you even meant it when you did. Focus Features doesn’t care. It thinks it can pay you to do exactly that. The distribution company is partnering with AMC Theaters to offer gift cards to anyone who sees more than one of Focus Features’ upcoming slate of films.

And if you see all five you will get an online gift card worth a whopping $200.

This fall cinema’s most loyal fans can turn their favorite past time into free merchandise. The Ultimate Focus Features Experience Sweepstakes will reward those who make multiple trips to theaters. Anyone who buy tickets at AMC Theaters to see two or more of Focus Features five upcoming films will earn gift cards for Focus Features online shop. The participating movies include Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, Anemone, Bugonia, Hamnet, and Song Sung Blue.

Going to just two different screenings will earn you a gift card for $15 gift card. Three movies comes with a big jump, as you’ll get one for $50. Four films doubles that to $100. And if you attend all five you get a $200 gift card, a free exclusive hat, and and entry for the sweepstake’s grand prize. Focus Features calls that reward the ultimate “red carpet experience.” Sounds pretty good!

Focus Features

Honestly, though, even without the grand prize a $200 gift card is more than enough incentive to do something we already love to do. Especially because the Focus Features Shop has merch for lots of amazing movies. We’ll probably our $200 to get four standees of the mustachioed Count Orlok from Noseferatu. That way we don’t waste this bonus.

The promotion ends 1/19/2026, three weeks after the release of the final film in the bunch, the Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson-led Song Sung Blue. Can anyone pay you to see that film, or any of its four predecessors, even if you don’t really want to? Focus Features is probably going to prove that it can.

The post Focus Features Giving Out $200 Merch Gift Cards If You See Its 5 New Movies appeared first on Nerdist.

Hugh Jackman Shines as a Neil Diamond Impersonator in SONG SUNG BLUE Trailer

There’s an old post about Hugh Jackman I think about every single time he’s in a new movie. Doesn’t matter if it’s an action, thriller, drama, musical, or any other genre. It’s a joke about how every time someone tells him to bring his “big ass muscles over here” to “punch this guy,” Mr. Wolverine quietly thinks to himself, “I just want to sing.” It’s the best because it feels so true. That’s why I’m always so happy when he gets to do exactly that, just like he will in his next film Song Sung Blue. He stars opposite Kate Hudson as a Neil Diamond impersonator interpreter. That might sound funny, but the film’s first trailer shows why this story is way more emotional than you might expect.

No, we didn’t expect a movie where Hugh Jackman plays a guy pretending to be Neil Diamond would be both heartbreaking an uplifting. But that’s the magic of movies, baby! This is a fun-yet-touching trailer that promises a story about never giving up full of love, hope, and pain.

And it’s all set to the music of Neil Diamond. Sung by a guy with a leaf blower in his face. Here’s the film’s official synopsis from Focus Features:

Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it’s never too late to find love and follow your dreams.

Focus Features

Song Sung Blue comes from writer-director Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow, Black Snake Moan). It also stars Michael Imperioli, Ella Anderson, King Princess, Mustafa Shakir, Hudson Hensley, Fisher Stevens, and Jim Belushi.

I hope Hugh Jackman doesn’t punch a single person in the film when it hits theaters on Christmas 2026. I know that’s what everybody else wants from him and his big ass muscles. But I like when he gets to loudly sing.

The post Hugh Jackman Shines as a Neil Diamond Impersonator in SONG SUNG BLUE Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Can’t Trust Anyone in THE RIP’s Intense Trailer

Childhood friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have a long and impressive track record on screen together. You’d think after decades of being in each others’ live both personally and professional they’d be able to trust one another completely. But in their next cinematic foray trust will be in short supply while danger is everywhere. The first intense trailer for Netflix’s The Rip sends the Massachusetts natives to Miami for a police raid gone wrong. They just don’t know who it’s going wrong for and why.

You’d think finding $20 million in cash inside the walls of a rundown home would be a real bonanza for cops whose entire job is about finding illicit money. Yet that shocking discovery is anything but a boon in this first heart-thumping look at The Rip. Here’s the film’s official synopsis from Netflix:

Upon discovering millions in cash in a derelict stash house, trust among a team of Miami cops begins to fray. As outside forces learn about the size of the seizure, everything is called into question — including who they can rely on.

Netflix

The Rip comes from writer-director Joe Carnahan (The A-Team, The Grey). He told Netflix’s Tudum the film is an extension of the cop film genre and that its DNA can be found in “Serpico, Prince of the City, and Michael Mann’s Heat.” It also stars Teyana Taylor, Steven Yeun, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Kyle Chandler, Scott Adkins, and Sasha Calle.

So who are the good guys going to be? Could the answer be none of them? At least one of these people is going to leave us all devastated. “If the audience falls in love with the characters, you got them,” Carnahan told Tudum, “Because at some point you’re going to get your heart broken, you just don’t know by whom.”

Maybe Matt Damon will betray Ben Affleck. Maybe Ben will betray Matt. Or maybe they’ll each betray the other. Whatever their fate, the breaking of hearts will commence on January 16, 2026 at Netflix.

The post Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Can’t Trust Anyone in THE RIP’s Intense Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

ALIEN: EARTH Gave Us the Franchise’s Grisliest Synth Death

In the Alien franchise, the grisly deaths are usually reserved for the flesh-and-blood humans. But a few of the synthetic beings in the franchise have met horrible and gory ends too. In Ridley Scott’s original Alien, they decapitated Ash (Ian Holm) and then immolated him. In Aliens, the Xenomorph Queen ripped Bishop (Lance Henricksen) in two. In this universe, synths are pretty close to human. So even though they’re robots (for lack of a better term), it’s all still pretty gross. Their “blood” is milky white and not red, but it’s still icky. Now, Alien: Earth just gave us our nastiest demise for a non-human synthetic yet, in episode six, “The Fly.”

FX

Technically, the death in this episode is not of a synth, it’s one of the Prodigy Corporation’s new hybrids. Hybrids are what Prodigy calls human consciousnesses downloaded into synthetic bodies. All the hybrids, nicknamed by Samuel Blenkin’s CEO character Boy Kavalier as “the Lost Boys,” are children who had terminal illnesses whose parents volunteered them for this experimental procedure. One of the main hybrid synths we’ve met on Alien: Earth is “Tootles,” portrayed by Kit Young. Tootles was the oldest of the children downloaded into a new body, on the verge of adolescence. He’s the big brother of the group, and the one tasked with the most adult responsibilities.

FX

In episode six, the Prodigy synth Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant) tasks Tootles with “feeding and watering” the alien specimens when he’s on a mission away from the Neverland facility. Tootles jumps at the chance to have some adult responsibilities, and goes to feed the creatures alone. As he’s tending to the alien specimens, he enters the so-called fly alien’s habitat. Then things go terribly wrong. He accidentally rips off the door hatch to the feeding slot for the fly specimens with his superior robotic strength. So he enters the habitat, and that’s when the eye octopus/T. Ocellus alien, now living inside a very menacing sheep, bumps his head against the glass to startle Tootles. This forces him to lose his footing, locking him inside.

RELATED ARTICLE

How ALIEN: EARTH Reimagined the Original Ridley Scott ALIENFX

Once Tootles finds himself accidentally locked in, one of the bloodsucking bugs emerges out of the hive built on the cell wall. Two of the giant-sized insect aliens attack Tootles, spitting a form of corroding acid onto his face. He doesn’t scream out in pain, however. It seems synthetics don’t have pain receptors or a true nervous system the way humans do. But we see his skin slowly melt off, exposing his synthetic musculature underneath. This occurs as his system shuts down as he shakes and convulses, spitting up his nutrients. Despite not being human, the flies begin feeding on his corpse, drinking in his juices. It’s pretty disgusting, despite poor Tootles not being an organic human.

FX

Episode six closes with the judgiest sheep gloatface huggering over his handiwork, as the five specimens attempt their escape from captivity. The facehugger attaches to Prodigy scientist Arthur Sylvia, and we know how that always goes. As the corpse of poor Tootles lies on the floor, we hear a voice-over from Boy Kavalier paraphrasing Peter Pan, reminding the viewers that in the story, the Lost Boys were of no use to Peter once they became adults. As the oldest mind of the hybrids, Tootles became a liability to Prodigy, and they were more than willing to sacrifice him. Now, we must wait and see if the rest of the humans and other synths and hybrids can survive the combined terror of five predatory alien species on the loose.

Alien: Earth drops new episodes on FX and FX on Hulu every Tuesday.

The post ALIEN: EARTH Gave Us the Franchise’s Grisliest Synth Death appeared first on Nerdist.

Is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Worth the Money?

Every August, while we’re desperately clinging to the last days of summer, Walt Disney World starts celebrating all things spooky. That’s when Magic Kingdom conjures up a festive fall transformation highlighted by Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. From the middle of the month all the way until October 31, guests can purchase tickets to the special event held on select nights. It’s not a cheap party, though. Prices for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party range from $119 to $229 before tax. That’s on par (or even more) than a normal Magic Kingdom ticket, yet a party pass only gets you in from four p.m. until midnight.

With a shorter amount of time in the park, Magic Kingdom’s ghoulish(y) gala—which only actually runs for five hours—raises an obvious question: is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party worth it? Is it worth spending the money to go? To find out, I recently went to my very first Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) during Walt Disney World’s Play ‘n’ Preview media event. I tried to do, eat, see, and ride as much as I could, including all of the unique opportunities only available on party nights. What I learned—along with some reviews, highlights, critiques, and tips—will hopefully help you determine if Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is worth your time, effort, and money.

We Cover: Park Decor // Spectacles // Special Halloween Activities, Performances, and Characters // Attraction Overlays // Halloween Food and Drink Menu // Trick-or-Treating // Ride Wait Times // Atmosphere // Halloween Merchandise // What You Don’t Get To See // Can You Do “Everything” During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?

Park DecorLots of pumpkins. Lots.

Everyone who visits Magic Kingdom from the middle of August until the end of October will see the park’s Halloween decor. It doesn’t disappear on non-party days, and you’ll find it everywhere. That’s a little jarring on a hot, muggy Orlando summer day/night, as it was when I recently attended. It’s a little less weird during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, but obviously, the closer you go to the actual holiday, the less that will matter. (Not that Orlando can’t be very hot in October.)

No surprise the Mouse House knows how to decorate for the holiday. It’s easy to miss a lot of the seasonal adornments and touches if you don’t pay attention, but that’s always true at Disney World. I wish I’d had even more time to really explore all of the Halloween elements. (Wishing I had more time is about to become a running theme in this post.)

TIP: If your trip involves multiple visits to Magic Kingdom, try to take in a lot of the Halloween decorations during your non-Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party visit. If you only go during the party, walk with your head up and not on your phone. That’s easier than normal since you won’t need to look at your phone to check ride wait times, like you do during a normal park visit.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Spectacles

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party features three signature spectacles. I made sure to see each one, both to review and to get the “full party experience,” a concept I came to realize doesn’t really exist.

Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade

The Headless Horseman during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party did not disappoint. It's as cool as everyone says.

— Michael Walsh, Verified #1 Criston Cole Hater (@burgermike.bsky.social) 2025-09-04T18:18:02.751Z

Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade begins with an early warning from the Headless Horseman, who rides through the park on a real horse. The character has long been a signature part of the parade, and in person, it’s easy to see why. It’s a very cool, very eerie moment. There’s a hushed awe that comes over the crowd as he approaches that is then replaced by palpable excitement.

As for the parade itself, my only regret is that I didn’t see it twice. It runs twice on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party nights, and I opted for the later one. I loved it so much I wished I had picked the first, so I could have watched it again. It’s primarily a parade of Disney villains and performers/dancers in costume. A lot of floats aren’t especially memorable, but that’s the point. You’re supposed to pay attention to the people in the parade. And you should, because they do not disappoint.

Mickey's Boo-To-You Halloween Parade at Magic Kingdom is fantastic, but no surprise the Haunted Mansion portion is the best part.

— Michael Walsh, Verified #1 Criston Cole Hater (@burgermike.bsky.social) 2025-09-04T16:15:57.634Z

My personal favorite act was the Grave Diggers from the Haunted Mansion portion of the parade. They dance with shovels, which they also use drag on the ground during a sparkling, choreographed display.

TIP: Do. Not. Miss. The. Parade. Aim for the first run of Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade in case something unexpected causes you to miss it. Also, it begins in Frontierland, so if you watch there, you can then easily head to a ride when it passes. But those who watch from Main Street get to see the Headless Horseman go down that iconic road. They also get to see Powerline perform before. I missed out on that because I watched at a nice, convenient spot between Frontierland and Liberty Square. That involved less time waiting to grab a good place along the route, but I traded time for extra experiences and setting.

Jump To: Park Decor // Spectacles // Special Halloween Activities, Performances, and Characters // Attraction Overlays // Halloween Food and Drink Menu // Trick-or-Treating // Ride Wait Times // Atmosphere // Halloween Merchandise // What You Don’t Get To See // Can You Do “Everything” During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?

Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular Fireworks Show

Magic Kingdom’s nightly fireworks show, “Happily Ever After,” might be my single favorite experience at Walt Disney World. It’s the best. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party’s fireworks show with projections and lasers….is not. It’s a totally fine, but mostly forgettable, display that seems even less impressive in comparison to the park’s normal version.

While the show itself is just fine, the Jack Skellington puppet that hosts Disney's Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks is really incredible.

— Michael Walsh, Verified #1 Criston Cole Hater (@burgermike.bsky.social) 2025-09-04T16:20:10.583Z

I’d say skip it entirely if not for the massive Jack Skellington puppet (not a person in a costume) that serves as host. He performs from the stage in front of Cinderella’s Castle. The giant puppet moves just like Jack in The Nightmare Before Christmas. It’s an absolute A+ addition. I’m glad I didn’t miss Jack even if I thought the show itself was pretty “meh.”

TIP: With a limited number of tickets available, the party crowd to see the Halloween fireworks show is nothing like a normal night at Magic Kingdom. It wasn’t empty, but it felt like I could have walked up as close to the castle as I wanted when it started. You don’t have to rush to get a good spot for the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party fireworks show.

Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular Stage Show

Didn't have any expectations good or bad for the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular Stage Show during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween party. Couldn't have loved it more.

— Michael Walsh, Verified #1 Criston Cole Hater (@burgermike.bsky.social) 2025-09-04T16:24:31.642Z

I’m not a huge Hocus Pocus fan, but I absolutely loved this highly entertaining show. It’s a short musical full of Disney villains, including a fantastic Oogie Boogie costume. I went in with almost no expectations and left liking the movie Hocus Pocus itself more.

TIP: Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular runs multiple times during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, including at midnight. Go in with a plan to “extend” your party time. You can always get in line for a ride right before midnight, as Walt Disney World lets guests into any ride’s queue until the moment the park closes. That’s what I did, getting in line for Seven Dwarves Mine Train at 11:59 p.m., right after I’d just walked off it. Or you can opt to watch the final Hocus Pocus show at midnight.

There’s no right or wrong choice, but if you think you’ll be pretty exhausted by midnight, watch the last show. You’ll be close to the park’s exit when it ends. Plu,s you can get as close as you want to the stage in front of the castle, as it’s the least attended show. (Though I didn’t have any problem getting close at an earlier one.)

Special Halloween Activities, Performances, and Characters From Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Another personal highlight during MNSSHP was seeing the Hitchhiking Ghosts "in the flesh."

— Michael Walsh, Verified #1 Criston Cole Hater (@burgermike.bsky.social) 2025-09-04T16:27:36.639Z

There are so many special party events and performers at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party that I didn’t even know about all of them until after I attended. Even then, I didn’t see all of the ones I had hoped to catch. I thankfully saw Mother Gothel (who greets you at the start), the Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet, and the Hitchhiking Ghosts out in the park. But I missed the pirates singing in Adventureland; same with the “live” ghosts at the Haunted Mansion. (Yeah, yeah, I know. I’ll explain how I missed them later.)

There’s just a lot going on during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, way more than I can list. And if you care about taking photos with characters, it’s sort of overwhelming. People line up for hours just to take a picture with Jack Skellington and Sally. They’re so popular, they arrive at 4 p.m. even though the party doesn’t officially start until 7 p.m. (Anyone without a Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party bracelet who entered before 6 pm has to leave after that unless already in line for a ride or at a sit-down meal.)

TIP: Prioritize which, if any, characters you want to meet and be prepared to wait for the most popular ones. Jack and Sally can mean standing in line for hours. You also have to make an effort to seek out street performers or activations you care about, or you can easily miss them. But you have to realize you can’t do “everything” at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, even if you just focus on the special Halloween stuff. Know which ones you care about most and do them first. At a minimum, make sure to walk through every part of the park at least once. You’ll see a lot of great, unexpected stuff that way.

Jump To: Park Decor // Spectacles // Special Halloween Activities, Performances, and Characters // Attraction Overlays // Halloween Food and Drink Menu // Trick-or-Treating // Ride Wait Times // Atmosphere // Halloween Merchandise // What You Don’t Get To See // Can You Do “Everything” During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?

Attraction Overlays

The outside of the Haunted Mansion during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is so cool in person. They also play the ride's music throughout Liberty Square.

— Michael Walsh, Verified #1 Criston Cole Hater (@burgermike.bsky.social) 2025-09-04T16:31:08.982Z

Three Magic Kingdom attractions get special “Halloween Twists.” The highlight is a nearly pitch-black Space Mountain. With the lights turned off (and spooky music playing), the ride takes place in what is essentially complete darkness. That might not sound like anything special, but it’s very different from the normal Space Mountain. It’s super creepy and unsettling, and I loved it.

Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor also hosts a continuously running show with a Halloween bent that is very fun even if you only spend a couple minutes in there. The Tea Cups also get special Halloween lighting and music, but when I went by, it just felt like the Mad Tea Party, so I skipped it.

The Mad Tea Cups during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party gets a spooky music and lighting overlay.

— Michael Walsh, Verified #1 Criston Cole Hater (@burgermike.bsky.social) 2025-09-04T16:34:34.644Z

This is the only aspect of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party that really feels like it gets shortchanged. I know it’s not easy to do overlays that only last for five hours, but even just a couple more rides with “Halloween Twists” would be a great addition.

TIP: Don’t skip Space Mountain in the dark. Just don’t wait in line for it. It was a walk-on at many points during the party.

Special Halloween Food and Drink Menu at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween PartyReal good platter of special Halloween food right here.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party features a massive, special menu of spooky meals, snacks, desserts, and drinks sold throughout the park. I went in with the goal of trying at least 10. I got to seven. (A couple of days later, I added an eighth, as a handful of items are available all day when there’s a party that night.) If I hadn’t been alone, I would have hit my goal, but even then, it was a much harder goal than I expected. It’s really difficult to keep stopping to buy food while also trying to do a lot of other stuff. Plus, you know, you get full.

Considering a party ticket can get you into the park as early as four, I really wish the special food and drink menu for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party was available then, rather than starting to go on sale at six. It’s fine if people with normal park tickets get them! I also found it frustrating that some of the most enticing options were only available at select sit-down restaurants. I can’t think of anything I wanted to do less with my limited party time than sit down for a whole meal.

TIP: 1) Know which of the few Halloween food options are sold all day and get them before the party starts. 2) Have your list of must-haves ready and written down along with the times those locations close. I missed out on something I wanted because I didn’t realize that particular food booth closed at 10 p.m. 3) Show up hungry! The Halloween menu items I did try were overwhelmingly delicious.

In fact, here’s a photo gallery of everything I ate with quick reviews in the caption. Full menu descriptions can be found in the alt text.)

Click To View Gallery u0022Ursula Coneu0022 LOVED it minus the chewy coral candy – 10/10 u0022Pumpkin Pie Mini Churrosu0022 Fantastic. Want to bathe in this sauce – u0022S’mores Cupu0022 Tasty but way too dense – 5/10 u0022Madame Leota Séance Candleu0022 Very fun, very good – 8/10 u0022DOLE Whip Mango and Chamoy Floatu0022 Love DW but tossed this asap – 1 Chocolate-Caramel Tartu0022 Made me so happy – 9.5/10 u0022Spicy Pork Spring Rollu0022 Best savory snack I had. Perfect – 10/10 u0022Grilled Masa Flatbreadu0022 Filling, delicious, but bread soggy – 7/10 Trick-or-TreatingI cared so little about candy that I didn’t take a relevant picture. So here’s a cool one from Liberty Square.

Your ticket gets you a special little Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party bag to use for Trick-or-treating in the park. They only hand out regular Mars Wrigley candy, though, nothing special. It’s a thing, but not a thing I had any desire to do while already eating my face off in 187% humidity.

TIP: There are a million spots to trick-or-treat all over the park, and you should never, ever wait in line at any spot. Veterans also say late at night, they’ll give you more at each spot as they try to clear out their bins. But honestly, unless you have kids who specifically want to do I don’t know why you would.

Ride Wait Times During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween PartySparing you seeing a photo of a sweaty me smiling after riding Tron.

One of the best reasons to attend Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is the low, sometimes non-existent wait times for rides. Most are walk-ons (or close enough) all evening. Wildly popular rides like Tron Lightcycle Run, Seven Dwarves Mine Train, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure have much shorter waits than usual during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Same with notoriously slow load attractions like Peter Pan. All of them have very reasonable queues for most of the party. During the parades, fireworks, stage show, and late at night, they drop even more. The party is the perfect opportunity to ride everything as quickly as possible without buying pricey Lighting Lanes, the park’s line-skipping system. (In that way, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party can actually be cheaper than a typical park visit.)

TIP: Don’t wait more than 30 minutes for anything, not even Tron. Aim for show times to do the most popular attractions. Also, try to be extra efficient and ride everything you want in a particular area at the same time. And if you are going to be in the park for a normal day, either before or after your party night, don’t bother doing rides during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party that always have a short wait time anyway. The Little Mermaid ride will still likely be a walk-on during a non-party event, you know?

Jump To: Park Decor // Spectacles // Special Halloween Activities, Performances, and Characters // Attraction Overlays // Halloween Food and Drink Menu // Trick-or-Treating // Ride Wait Times // Atmosphere // Halloween Merchandise // What You Don’t Get To See // Can You Do “Everything” During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?

Atmosphere (Costumes, Music, Energy)MNSSHP doubles as a Disney cosplay party.

As the kids might say, the “vibes” are impeccable during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. It’s a festive environment full of music (both fun and eerie) and merriment, which makes sense since people literally paid to attend a party. Everyone is excited to be there.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party also doubles as a Disney cosplay convention. Some guests, of all ages, go all out. I wore a Disney Halloween t-shirt, and that was good enough for me, but I enjoyed seeing all of the elaborate costumes others wore.

Mother Gothel welcoming guests to MNSSHP and making a compelling case for why she was right to hoard the Sundrop Flower.

— Michael Walsh, Verified #1 Criston Cole Hater (@burgermike.bsky.social) 2025-09-04T16:58:57.038Z

TIP: This event takes place in Orlando. Real good chance it’s going to be hot and muggy during your party visit. Remember that when putting together your costume. Aladdin’s attire is a better choice than Kristoff’s.

Halloween MerchandiseIf you like orange you’re gonna go freaking nuts for MNSSHP merch.

If you want unique Halloween merch there’s a whole lot of it, including some party exclusives. I bought a single pin as a memento, but I liked a lot of what they had.

TIP: I’m told some exclusives can sell out quickly on party nights, so if there’s something you really want, get it immediately. But you can buy most stuff after the party ends, as stores on Main Street, U.S.A. remain open longer.

What You Don’t Get To See

The special party spectacles mean missing out on the normal Magic Kingdom shows. So you won’t see the greatest fireworks show ever, “Happily Ever After.” You’ll also miss out on the fantastic new nighttime electrical parade, Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away. If you’ve seen both before or will see them later on your trip, that’s not a big deal. But if MNSSHP will be your only visit to the Magic Kingdom, it certainly might be. If you’re not there early enough you won’t even see the pianists performing at Casey’s Corner, one of my favorite Magic Kingdom touches.

TIP: Get to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party as early as you can. If you can be there at 4 when your ticket gets you through the door get there at 4. If you also have a regular ticket for that day, go even earlier, as early as you physically can, while knowing your day ends after midnight. Party days are always much slower at the park because many visitors opt not to buy tickets to a place they have to leave by six p.m. Both the morning and the 2-4 p.m. stretch seem extra slow. They’re perfect times to get a lot of non-Halloween stuff done, especially rides.

Jump To: Park Decor // Spectacles // Special Halloween Activities, Performances, and Characters // Attraction Overlays // Halloween Food and Drink Menu // Trick-or-Treating // Ride Wait Times // Atmosphere // Halloween Merchandise // What You Don’t Get To See // Can You Do “Everything” During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?

Can You Do “Everything” During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?

Magic Kingdom's Liberty Square is the real standout land during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

— Michael Walsh, Verified #1 Criston Cole Hater (@burgermike.bsky.social) 2025-09-04T17:05:19.647Z

No, not even close. You can do A LOT, for sure, but not “everything.” If you take advantage of the low wait times to go on all the rides, you’ll miss the spectacles. If you take time to trick-or-treat, you’ll have even fewer opportunities to see and try all the Halloween experiences. Eating your way through the special party menu takes time, too. Same when it comes to waiting for and watching the parade, fireworks, or stage show. Eight hours—let alone the party’s official five hours—go by fast. Really fast.

That’s how I ended up missing the live ghosts at Haunted Mansion. For obvious reasons, it tends to have a slightly longer wait time during the party night compared to other rides. (Though it was a walk-on shortly before close.) So I made the decision to just walk by and see it all lit up with extra spooky lights and fog. It looked awesome, but by not riding I missed something I wish I saw. I’m bummed out about that even if it made total sense in the moment. If I could go back, I’d ride it.

In that way, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is like any trip to Magic Kingdom or Walt Disney World. Every time you decide to do one thing, it means you can’t do something else.

Depending on how much you enjoyed yourself this goodbye is either sweet or threatening.

TIP: Before you go familiarize yourself with everything you can do during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, both normal activities and special party ones. Then know what you consider a “must do,” what you’d describe as a “would like to do,” and what you don’t care about missing/want to skip. When you accept you can’t see, ride, or eat everything, you can relax and enjoy what you do accomplish. But that doesn’t mean you want to leave with any regrets. Not trying that banana Skull Cake filled with dulce de leche will haunt me forever.

Forever.

Is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Worth It?Nerdist

“Is it worth it?” is always the question at Disney, isn’t it?

Only you know if spending hundreds of dollars per-person for eight hours at a single theme park is worth it for you. That’s a tall ask for most people. (Though, again, you do save a little on Lightning Lanes, which you simply do not need to buy for the event.) What I can tell you is that I really enjoyed Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party because it’s not only a fun experience on its own, it offers a way to experience a place I already love in a very different way. Everything was familiar yet new. The energy wasn’t the same either, and that applies to both the energy of the park and from my fellow attendees. It was looser, less stressful, and really did feel like attending a party.

I’m genuinely glad I went and plan to go again with my wife and son some day. I had a lot of fun, even if I made “mistakes” in how I approached it. I wasn’t nearly as efficient and smart as I could have been, as I didn’t have a plan for what I most wanted to do and eat. Part of that was because I wanted to experience Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party as a guest more than a member of the media, but on a normal non-work trip, I totally would have made a plan, so I don’t know what I was thinking.

However, my recommendation does come with one big caveat. I absolutely think Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is worth your time and money if you can afford it, just not if it will be your first-ever visit to Magic Kingdom. One of the best reasons to attend this party is to experience the park in a different way. But you can’t appreciate any of that if you haven’t experienced the park normally first.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is best enjoyed as a party for people who already know and love what the Magic Kingdom has to offer every other day.

Jump To: Park Decor // Spectacles // Special Halloween Activities, Performances, and Characters // Attraction Overlays // Halloween Food and Drink Menu // Trick-or-Treating // Ride Wait Times // Atmosphere // Halloween Merchandise // What You Don’t Get To See // Can You Do “Everything” During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who isn’t joking about the banana Skull Cake. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post Is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Worth the Money? appeared first on Nerdist.

Stephen King Reveals His 10 Favorite Movies of All Time

Few American authors have been as successful or influential in popular culture as Stephen King. Since his first novel Carrie, was published over 50 years ago, he’s left an imprint on our shared cultural imaginations like no writer since maybe Mark Twain (yes, we went there). As someone who has had incredible films made from his works (and a few stinkers), it’s fitting that King is a massive movie buff. Via Deadline, we learned that King recently shared on social media what his top ten favorite movies of all time are. As you can see, there’s not one bad film in the bunch.

My 10 favorite movies (excluding MISERY, SHAWSHANK, GREEN MILE, STAND BY ME). In no particular order:
SORCERER
GODFATHER 2
THE GETAWAY
GROUNDHOG DAY
CASABLANCA
TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE
JAWS
MEAN STREETS
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE 3rd KIND
DOUBLE INDEMNITY

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) September 8, 2025

King’s choices are pretty solid all around. Of course, almost all come from a certain era. Stephen King was born in September 1947, a mere nine months after another very influential American Steve, Steven Spielberg. So it’s fitting there are two stone-cold Spielberg classics on King’s top ten. So his taste runs very Boomer. It’s mostly films he grew up watching, like Casablanca and Double Indemnity. Also, others that were released in his twenties and thirties. Let us not knock him for that. After all, it’s likely your all-time favorites came from your childhood to your mid-to-late twenties, when one is at their most impressionable.

PBS

There’s only one straight-up comedy film in King’s top ten, and it’s the 1993 Bill Murray time loop movie Groundhog Day. It truly is one of the funniest movies of all time. So we can see why it made it on his list. Stephen King excluded anything based on his own work, which seems fair. So no Shawshank Redemption, no Stand By Me, no Green Mile, no Misery. And needless to say, no The Shining. Which, if we’re being honest, might actually wind up on a list of King’s most hated films. But definitely not ours. Sorry about it, Steve.

The post Stephen King Reveals His 10 Favorite Movies of All Time appeared first on Nerdist.