Six TV shows to stream with your pals to celebrate Galentine's Day
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'The Way We Met'
(season 1, episode 25)
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Could you ask for any more comforting company than these grand dames of TV sitcoms? No, I think not. Treat yourself to this flashback episode, which tells the origin story of how Rose, Blanche, Dorothy (and her mother) came to live together in the first place.
Available to stream on Hulu.
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'St. Mark's'
(season 2, episode 10)
I could happily spend a whole weekend marathoning 'Broad City,' Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer's ode to female friendship, New York City, and all the ridiculous ways the twain can meet. But 'St. Mark's' is especially apt for Galentine's, with Ilana working her tail off to make Abbi's birthday extra special, to increasingly wild effect.
Available to stream on Hulu, Paramount+.
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'Injured'
(season 1, episode 15)
'Galentine's' may have originally been intended just for women, but why shouldn't men get to appreciate the bonds of friendship, too? Bonus points if they're as thoughtful and (perhaps overly) committed as the loft inhabitants of 'New Girl,' who come together in this episode to support one of their own while he waits for a potentially scary diagnosis.
Available to stream on Hulu, Peacock.
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'Some of My Best Friends Are Rhoda' (season 2, episode 23)
Mary's odd couple friendship with Rhoda formed a crucial spine for 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show.' Few episodes show why more than this one, in which Mary realizes that anyone who treats her friends badly — and/or outright discriminates against them — can be no friend of hers at all.
Available to stream on Hulu.
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'Ladies Lunch' (season 2, episode 13)
Amy, the jaded floor manager of NBC's big box store comedy, spent years resisting friendships with her co-workers. But when she needs her spirits lifted after separating from her husband, they nonetheless rise to the occasion with a 'ladies lunch,' albeit one that quickly unravels.
Available to stream on Hulu.
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'The Agony and the Ex-tacy' (season 4, episode 1)
'Sex and the City' had its fair share of relationship catastrophes; this episode alone features divorce, birthday no-shows, and a failed seduction of a Franciscan priest (Samantha, obviously). But there may be no more fitting line to sum up the spirit of Galentine's than Charlotte's heartfelt ask to her best friends that maybe, just maybe, 'we can be each other's soul mates.'
Available to stream on Max.
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USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Every 'John Wick' movie, ranked (including new spinoff 'Ballerina')
Every 'John Wick' movie, ranked (including new spinoff 'Ballerina') Show Caption Hide Caption Ian McShane talks working with Ana de Armas in 'Ballerina' Ian McShane shares why it was smart to bring Ana de Armas into the "John Wick" franchise in the new film "Ballerina." Love movies? Live for TV? USA TODAY's Watch Party newsletter has all the best recommendations, delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now and be one of the cool kids. "John Wick" is the one movie franchise beloved by action movie nerds and dog lovers alike. It seems like the original film has been around for much longer than 11 years, given the influence it's had on Hollywood, from those awesome "gun fu" stunt sequences to Keanu Reeves' movie star revival. The scrappy indie thriller cast Reeves as an ex-hitman who puts retirement on hold for a righteous revenge mission, and since then there have been three more "Wick" flicks, a prequel TV series and now a new cinematic spinoff. "Ballerina" features Ana de Armas as a dancer/assassin raised in the same criminal organization that unleashed Wick. In honor of the latest outing, here are all the "John Wick" franchise movies, ranked. (For those catching up: "Ballerina" is in theaters now, while the four "Wick" films are streaming on Peacock and video-on-demand platforms.) Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox 5. 'John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum' (2019) Excommunicated from his assassin's guild and with a $14 million bounty on his head, courtesy of the all-powerful High Table, John gets into nasty blade-throwing brawls and even rides a horse through New York to escape a city full of secret killers. He makes his way to Morocco, seeking help from friend and fellow dog lover Sofia (Halle Berry), and winds up back in the Big Apple for a climactic throwdown with martial-arts master Zero (Mark Dacascos). The operatic action and intriguing exposition is there, but this solid third installment winds up a good but not great effort, owing to a convoluted last act and underdeveloped supporting characters. 4. 'Ballerina' (2025) Although Wick is a master of various weaponry, Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) is down to use everything but the kitchen sink. (And probably would use that if a sink was just hanging out somewhere.) A rookie assassin, Eve goes rogue from her crime family to track down the cult who murdered her father. Her path of vengeance includes an amazing flamethrower shootout and a brawl involving dinner plates as she makes new friends and enemies, plus faces off with Wick himself. It's a spinoff movie that both feels like a "John Wick" noir thriller as well as something interestingly original. 3. 'John Wick: Chapter 4' (2023) In this very globetrotting installment, Wick's had enough and goes on the offensive against the High Table. The Marquis (Bill Skarsgård), a sadistic new antagonist, sends Wick's old friend, blind martial-arts master Caine (Donnie Yen), after him and their tussle lands both in a finale for all the marbles in Paris. The fourth "Wick" is the best in terms of sheer jaw-dropping action sequences. The festival of bangers includes a waterfall-filled throwdown in a German nightclub, a "doll house" fight seen from overhead where Wick lights people up with fire bullets, and a most excellent and electrifying traffic jam at the Arc de Triomphe. 2. 'John Wick' (2014) The first "Wick" is high up for any fan, either for the sheer action-movie chutzpah or the fact that it's the one where the bad guys kill a puppy. And especially because they murdered the adorable last gift given to John by his late wife, it's completely understandable why he'd re-enter the fray he worked to get out of and just wreck a whole bunch of enemies. We would, too, Johnny! Willem Dafoe and John Leguizamo are the recognizable faces, Reeves turns in a terrific performance as our hero hunts down the canine-murdering culprit – a Russian crime boss' son (Alfie Allen) – and the legend of the relatable hard-luck assassin begins in memorable fashion. 1. 'John Wick: Chapter 2' (2017) As good as the first movie was, "Chapter 2" packs in all the great stunts and jaw-dropping gunfights but is really where the rules and mythology of John's world begin to fill out and become this epic story. For one, viewers learn more about the High Table, the assassin hotel The Continental and John's long history in it. Wick is forced to fulfill a blood oath "marker" held by underworld boss Santino D'Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio), the man who helped him retire, and much chaotic ruckus ensues as Wick returns full bore into this dangerous world. John winds up murdering the guy on Continental grounds – a huge no-no – and sets the stage for him being a wanted man through two more movies.
Tom's Guide
4 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
The best movie of 2025 (so far) you missed in theaters just arrived on streaming — and it's a hilariously heartfelt watch
I have a well-documented love of all things dark, from twisting crime thrillers to brutal horrors. My favorite movies of the year list usually ends up stuffed with flicks that can be considered pretty bleak in tone. But, I do have a slightly sappy side as well, and my love for 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' proves it. I caught this British comedy-drama in theatres last weekend, and while my expectations were relatively low ahead of watching, after 100 joyful minutes I walked out of my screening with a broad smile on my face, convinced I'd just seen a frontrunner pick for the most overlooked movie of 2025 (so far). 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' received only a limited theatrical release in the U.S. back in March, which means an awful lot of people didn't get to see it on the big screen. That's a real shame. But fortunately, life is all about second chances (a theme of the movie itself), and now this heartfelt movie is available to stream on Peacock or via PVOD on platforms like Amazon and Apple. If you were one of the many who didn't get to catch 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' in cinemas earlier this year, I strongly implore you to seek it out on streaming, because it's something very special. Here's why I love it so much. Charles Heath (Tim Key) is a reclusive lottery winner, living on the eponymous Wallis Island off the coast of Wales. He's also the world's biggest superfan of folk music duo McGwyer Mortimer. Unfortunately, the band, made up of Herby McGwyer (Tom Basden) and Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan), who were previously romantically involved, broke up 10 years ago, and haven't played a show together live since. Using his lottery winnings, Charles convinces them to both come to the island, reunite, and play a very intimate concert for an audience of one. Once on the island, old tensions flare up, and McGwyer and Mortimer find themselves grappling with their past and their present. They also have to tolerate Charles' fawning fandom and personality quirks. Eventually, the increasing tensions between the pair put the dream gig under threat. 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' wormed its way into my affections almost immediately. That's thanks in large part to the comedic brilliance of Tim Key. The flick opens with McGwyer arriving on the island in a small boat with a giddy Charles welcoming his hero, and this brilliant scene sets the tone. From the off, one thing becomes immediately apparent: Charles just cannot shut up. He is a persistent babbler and fills every silence with a running stream of nonsense. Loads of his lines had the entire audience in my local theatres laughing out loud, but as the movie progresses, we slowly peel back the layers and learn there's more to Charles than just his extreme levels of fandom. Charles very quickly became my favorite character of the movie, partially because he's just hilariously funny, with Key's sense of comedic timing second to none. But also because when it becomes clear exactly why he loves McGwyer Mortimer's music so much, I almost shed a tear (almost, I swear). The folk music duo themselves have more than a little bit of Fleetwood Mac about them. And when they are reunited on Wallis Island for the first time in a decade, there's a heavy distance between them. But this slowly erodes as they get back into the swing of playing music together and fondly reminisce on the past. However, the fact that Mortimer now has an American husband (Akemnji Ndifornyen) only adds to the underlying tension. I'm not a folk music fan per se (Taylor Swift's Folkmore duology is about as far into the genre as my Spotify playlists dip), but the musical element fits the tone perfectly. The original McGwyer Mortimer tunes are a surprise highlight and are performed by Basden and Mulligan. There's a lot more to 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' than just cringetastic humor from Charles' foibles and inability to stop talking for even a moment; there's a real melancholic nature about the movie. This element shines through most brightly via McGwyer, a cynical character, whose solo career is stalling, forcing him to create 'commercial' music he has no passion for. His time on Wallis Island and the chance to reconnect with his old partner begin to change his outlook and his sweetheart slowly starts to shine through. This arc, while hardly original, really works wonders. I also have to give kudos to 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' for not playing out exactly as I expected. In the first act, I rather arrogantly, perhaps, assumed I had the whole movie mapped out beat-for-beat, but instead, it takes a more unexpected (and very welcome) route. There's no shocking twist or anything of that nature, but the ending is a little more wistful than I anticipated. 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' is a tender comedy-drama, filled with likeable characters (even if they take a little while to warm up), beautifully understated music and a heartfelt story. Basden, Mulligan and especially Key are all fantastic, and by the end, you'll be wishing that you could take a trip to the remote (fictional) Wallis Island to nourish your soul and meet Charles. You don't need to just take my word for it that 'The Ballade of Wallis Island' is worth streaming. The movie currently holds a near-perfect 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This rating comes from more than 100 reviews and has earned the movie a Certified Fresh seal. 'The Ballad of Wallis Island hums along a sweet melody without lapsing into outright sentimentality, mining a great deal of warmth from its humble premise,' reads the site's 'Critics Consensus,' and viewers agree, rating it an equally impressive 93%. These scores speak to the movie's quality and how effectively it charms you. It's such a special little movie, and I'm hoping its arrival on streaming opens it up to a richly deserved wider audience. I can't wait to rewatch it on Peacock, and it's now entered my rotation of comfort movies I turn to on rainy days. If somehow all this praise hasn't convinced you to give 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' a watch (do you have a heart made of stone?), check out my full roundup of the top new movies arriving across streaming services. But if you want to save some time, just go watch this one now, it's a comfort blanket of a movie that will have you reflecting on your life and lost loves.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
When 'Real Housewives' Makes Women Want to Be More Than Housewives
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. For some, the Real Housewives is a means to achieve their 15 minutes of fame, but for other cast members, it has been a vehicle to break free from traditional roles expected of women and take financial control of their lives. "They're finding their independence through the show," Frances Berwick, chairman of Bravo & Peacock unscripted, told Newsweek. "It's given a lot of them the ability to fulfill a dream or to evolve into something and realize their full potential." When Real Housewives started filming, Andy Cohen didn't believe it had what it takes to become a success. He didn't even think it was worth putting "Orange County" in the title because he didn't see it expanding to other areas. So, highlighting the location wasn't necessary, and it felt clunky. Nearly 20 years later, the franchise has expanded to 11 cities, and more than 150 women have been cast for the show. Generally speaking, the women cast have the kind of money that many people dream of having, often fueled by their husbands' business ventures. They're women who are predominantly focused on raising their families and caring for their husbands, who, often, are blunt about calling the shots in the relationship. But just because they start out in those roles doesn't mean they stay in them. Over the years, viewers have witnessed the evolution of these stars as they transitioned from traditional "housewife" to breadwinner. As one of the original Orange County housewives, Tamra Judge was among those who launched the entire franchise—and after a brief hiatus, she remains on people's screens each week. When Tamra was first on the show, she went by the name Tamra Barney, a last name she shared with her husband, Simon. During the early seasons, viewers saw Tamra kowtowing to Simon's domineering manner. The two said they didn't travel without each other. Simon would question the appropriateness of the Judge's outfits and berate her for the demands of her Housewives career taking her away from time with her children. "He controlled everything," Tamra told Newsweek. "He didn't want me outside of the house. He did not want me to have any life outside of this house and with the kids and that was it. And I really thought that's how it was." At the end of Season 5 of RHOC, viewers watched as Tamra hit her breaking point, declaring in a limousine ride to a party that she wanted a divorce. Then, when Season 6 returned, viewers watched her navigate life as a single mom and a 43-year-old woman who suddenly only had herself to depend on. Tamra Judge attends KIIS FM's Jingle Ball in Los Angeles on December 2, 2022. Tamra Judge attends KIIS FM's Jingle Ball in Los Angeles on December 2, returned to real estate, started selling her clothes on eBay to pay the rent, and eventually opened a gym that would become her primary business for a decade. While she ultimately partnered with her now-husband, Eddie Judge, she retained the majority stake in the company. And, unlike her first marriage, she doesn't rely on Eddie financially. "Being able to take care of yourself and your children is the most amazing feeling in the entire world," Tamra said. "I do credit the show for giving me the platform, the courage to move on and get out of this marriage that I was very unhappy with." The couple has since partnered on a successful CBD business, made smart investments, and Tamra hosts a very popular podcast with former castmate Teddi Mellencamp. Tamra still keeps her real estate license active in case she ever needs it again. While Housewives has been her identity for years, it could end at any time, and when that day comes, she wants a diversified source of income. "The show has been incredible to me and the platform is it's not gonna be there forever," Tamra said. While Tamra was finding her way out of her bad marriage, her castmate, Alexis Bellino, was embarking on a new role as well. A woman who once called her husband, Jim, her "king," viewers watched her step outside her Leave It to Beaver life to create a fashion line and appear on a morning news show. She said that she was initially happy about giving up her career to take on the traditional role, but after joining Housewives, she wanted to pursue a career again. The couple ended up divorcing, something that Alexis said likely would have happened regardless of whether she was cast on Housewives or not, because of their changing definitions of what a marriage should look like. She told Us Weekly that changing the "agreement" of who is going to be the breadwinner and who is going to take care of the kids requires a couple to either grow together in their new roles or face the possibility of breaking up. In Season 11 of Real Housewives of New Jersey, viewers saw that dynamic play out with Melissa and Joe Gorga. Melissa had become a staple of the franchise, with numerous appearances and Envy, a boutique she opened 10 years ago that has since expanded to multiple locations. From what viewers saw, it wasn't necessarily an easy shift for Joe to make, and the tension viewers saw was the culmination of years of changes in the dynamics of their marriage. Having gotten married young, Melissa and Joe started as a very traditional couple. Melissa stayed home with the kids, had dinner on the table when Joe got home and supported him by running the household while he was the breadwinner. "I would have to ask him sometimes for a $100 bill," Melissa told Newsweek. "Sometimes I would say to Joe, like, 'I wanna go to the mall today and like push Antonia around in the stroller, like, can I get some cash?' And I hate that." Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Bravo Melissa lost her father at a young age, forcing her to work to support herself through college. When she met Joe, she was already working three jobs. While she always wanted a traditional family, her work ethic was one of the things that drew Joe to her, and that didn't change when they got married. Always receiving compliments on what she wore, Melissa realized she could monetize her sense of style by opening a boutique and selling her own clothing. Viewers watched as Joe had to take on more of the child-rearing while Melissa opened the store and famously said she "makes the crumbs" with her business, while his is the "cake." "I showed my whole journey with that and how it wasn't husband was used to me being home, me being there after school, me getting them to school, you know? The whole thing," Melissa said. "People really gravitated and rooted for me and it was inspiring to a lot of the moms out there who do have hopes and can do both. We can be great moms. We can be great wives and we can also own a business." Women wanting to work and also raise a family isn't a desire confined to reality television shows. It's reminiscent of a shift that's happening in American culture, as well. The number of working moms has doubled since 1975, and the expansion of social media and telework has given women more opportunities than ever before to build flexible work schedules. And as the share of women working rose, so did the number of women who were earning as much or more than their husbands. In 1972, 85 percent of men were the primary or sole breadwinners, according to Pew Research, and by 2022, that number had dropped to 5 percent. During the same time period, the number of women who are the primary or sole breadwinners more than tripled, increasing from 5 percent to 16 percent. But women are still the main caretakers of children, whether they're working or not, and the COVID-19 pandemic showed how fragile that balance can be. Working mothers experienced a greater rise in unemployment during the pandemic when their children transitioned to remote education than working fathers. Women are also more likely than men to take time off work to care for sick kids, according to polls. Unlike Alexis and her husband, Melissa and Joe were able to redefine their roles, offering viewers a glimpse into how couples can successfully navigate the shift. And since opening Envy, Melissa's has started a podcast and launched Let's Sprinkle, a dessert line that has become a runaway success. Joe has been there every step of the way, championing his wife. Melissa Gorga is seen behind the desk at her store "Envy By Melissa Gorga" where she was wearing a hat from the merchandise line of her fellow Housewives star and friend Luann de Lesseps on... Melissa Gorga is seen behind the desk at her store "Envy By Melissa Gorga" where she was wearing a hat from the merchandise line of her fellow Housewives star and friend Luann de Lesseps on March 11, 2025 in Ridgefield, New Jersey. MoreYes, the shift these housewives have undergone has benefited them, but they all agree that it could also be creating generational change. They're women who had a drive to work, and their kids now are getting a firsthand look at what goes into building a business and raising a family. Tamra's teenage daughter caught the entrepreneur bug and has started buying and selling clothes online. Melissa loves that her daughter, Antonia, got to see her build Envy and that her sons, Gino and Joey, got a firsthand look at what it took to get her dessert line off the ground. "I love that my children see the kind of time I put into it, but then they also see the success. So, they see I'm not just missing a game here or there, I'm trying to build something for all of us later in life," Melissa said. "Joe and I were explaining to them that there's a financial part of this learning that it's not all fun and games." Transitioning from a traditional housewife to the breadwinner isn't as simple as getting on a reality television show, although the platform certainly helps. For most women who appear on the show, their success doesn't transcend the franchise—building an empire off the back of reality television requires drive and hard work. Both Melissa and Tamra worked before the show and said they probably would have gone back to work eventually with or without it. But, being on Real Housewives opened doors they never thought possible, and the key to their success is harnessing their brand and being authentic. It's not enough to slap your name on a product; you need to connect with fans in a real way. Berwick said it's not for everyone because it means you're never off the clock. Bravo stars are stopped on the streets to hear what fans of the show think about their lives and give unsolicited advice, because once you let people into your life, like reality stars do, it's hard to turn the tap off. For the women who harness that celebrity, the opportunities are life-changing. "I think there is a school of thought for people who don't watch Bravo that this is a sometimes negative representation of women," Berwick said. "I think we are showing a lot of women being incredibly successful and doing powerful things and using their voices."
