Latest news with #AreYouThereGod?It'sMe
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Netflix to remove 'underrated' film with 99% rating this week as it's last chance to watch
The 2023 film has a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is being described as 'devastatingly underrated' Netflix fans are set for disappointment as the streaming giant is pulling the plug on a family comedy that's been hailed as "devastatingly underrated". The platform is giving users only a short window to catch the heartwarming 2023 film. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret will soon be unavailable to watch for good. The delightful film is based on Judy Blume's classic novel, and has won over viewers with its authentic storytelling and genuine charm, earning an impressive 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie, set in 1970, tells the story of 11-year-old Margaret Simon, after her life is turned upside down when her parents, Barbara and Herb, break the news that they are moving away from New York to a new neighbourhood. As Margaret struggles to adjust, she begins to ponder life's big questions, navigating the complexities of friendship and growing up. The film brings the iconic novel to vibrant life, starring Abby Ryder Fortson as the lead character, alongside Rachel McAdams, Elle Graham, Benny Safdie, and Kathy Bates, as reported by the Express. After premiering at the San Francisco International Film Festival on April 23, 2023, the film opened in the US on April 28, 2023, courtesy of Lionsgate. Although it garnered critical acclaim, it underperformed at the box office, pulling in just $21 million worldwide. The verdict from Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus is unanimous: "Effervescent and refreshingly frank about the travails of puberty, this long-awaited adaptation does full justice to Judy Blume's seminal novel." The admiration is echoed by a Reddit user who believes Rachel McAdams, who plays Margaret's mum, is Oscar-worthy. The critic penned: "Are You There God? It's Me Margaret is a masterpiece and Rachel McAdams deserves an Oscar." Popcornmeter, awarding the film an impressive 94%, remarked: "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. stays true to the classic book right down to its '70s setting, but the story still feels totally current and relatable." Despite showered praise from critics, the movie faces removal by Netflix as part of their broad cull of films this month. The final opportunity to view this touching movie on Netflix is slated for June 16. For those keen to experience this charming movie, it remains available on platforms such as Amazon Prime, Apple TV, YouTube, and Sky Store. Elsewhere, if you are looking for something to binge-watch Netflix have thrilled viewers with the new "gripping" Scots crime drama Dept Q. The new series is filmed in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is highly-anticipated to break viewing records upon its release at the end of last month. It's based on Danish book series of the same name by author Jussi Adler-Olsen. Despite several films adapted from thebooks, Dept. Q is the first English-language take on the popular series.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Netflix is about to remove ‘most underrated film of last five years'
Netflix is removing a large selection of titles in June 2025, including the most underrated film of the last five years. While the streaming service releases a bursting list of titles each month, it also takes many down without warning, meaning things can suddenly vanish from your watchlist. Fortunately, The Independent is on hand with a compilation of every movie and TV series falling victim to the culling, including certain Original titles, which we've listed below. Some acclaimed films are also being struck from the service include The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson, Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and 2023 family comedy Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. The Judy Blume adaptation follows an 11-year-old girl (Abby Ryder Fortson) who is forced to grow up in a new neighbourhood after her parents (Rachel MacAdams and Benny Safdie) relocate them. It became a modest critical hit upon its initial release. The movie, which was directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, was a box office flop, grossing $21.5m. The film's addition to streaming service has since led to a cult fanbase – and has seen it branded a 'devastatingly underrated' film by viewers perplexed it didn't receive enough plaudits. Find the full list of every movie and TV show being removed from Netflix in June 2025 below. NB: The Independent put this list together with help from What's on Netflix. Movies 1 June Accident Man: Hitman's Holiday – UK Attarintiki Daredi – US Batman Begins – US Big Game – UK Black Holes:The Edge of All We Know – UK/US Blackfish – UK Blue Lagoon: The Awakening – UK Burlesque – US Brahms: The Boy II – US The Client List – UK Closer – US Cult of Chucky – US Daddy Day Care – US The Dark Knight– US The Dark Knight Rises – US The Deep End of the Ocean – UK Den of Thieves – US Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas – UK Dr Seuss' The Grinch – UK The DUFF – UK From Prada to Nada – US GoodFellas – US Harriet – UK The Hatton Garden Job – UK The Holiday – UK Home Invasion – UK La Bamba – UK Legend – UK Little Women (1994) – UK Ma – US Magic Mike XXL – US The One – UK 100 Days with Tata – UK/US Open Season Scared Silly – US The Pretty One – UK Pride & Prejudice (2005) – US Ramachari – US Ramayya Vasthavayya – US SWAT: Under Siege – UK The Sweeney – UK Tarzan (2013) – UK Ted – US Ted 2 – US Transformers: The Last Knight – UK Two Weeks Notice – US Unhinged – US 4 June Doubt – UK Girls Will Be Girls – US 5 June The Contractor – UK Dark Places – UK 6 June Ambush – UK Sordid Lives – US 7 June I Am Woman – US Squaring the Circle – UK 8 June Almost Christmas – UK Hikaru Utada Live Sessions from AIR Studios – UK/US Margot at the Wedding – UK Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – UK Sahasam Swasaga Sagipo – US Spy – UK Srimannarayana – US 9 June Hikaru Utada Laughter in the Dark Tour 2018 – UK/US 2020 – UK/US The Bling Lagosians – UK/US Breaded Life – UK/US Camellia Sisters – UKUS Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema – UK 11 June Axone – US Big Eden – US Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story – US Trap – US 12 June Back to Black – UK The Best Man Holiday – UK Your Highness – UK 13 June Milea – UK 14 June Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire – US Hakkunde – UK Knock at the Cabin – UK Source Code – UK 15 June Black Christmas (2019) – UK Fatal Attraction – UK Last Holiday – UK Material – UK/US The Spy Next Door – UK Terminator: Dark Fate – UK 16 June Wira – US Atonement – UK Bohemian Rhapsody – UK The Dead Don't Die – UK Four Good Days – UK Inglourious Basterds – UK The Inspection – UK Mortal Engines – UK Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – UK Won't You Be My Neighbor? – US 17 June Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret – UK The Batman – UK Carol – US El límite infinite – UK Mobile Suit Gundam I – UK/US Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow – UK/US Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space – UK/US Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack – UK/US The Nan Movie – UK Operation Mincemeat – UK 18 June A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon – UK Lola Igna – UK 19 June Migration – US 65 – UK 20 June Father Figures – US 21 June American Sniper – US Blood Will Tell (Netflix Original) – US 22 June Brain on Fire (Netflix Original) – US 26 June Ordinary People (2016) – US Television 1 June Alvinnn!!! And The Chipmunks season three and four – US Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom season two – US 45 rpm (Netflix Original) – UK Haikyu!! – UK/US Muster Dogs – UK/US 2 June Bashar Shorts – UK 3 June The Footballer, His Wife and the Crash – UK 5 June Ben 10 season one to three – US The Hour – UK 6 June RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked season one – UK 10 June Al Hayba – UK/US 12 June Car Crash: Why's Lying? – UK Hannibal season one to three – UK 14 June Angela Black – UK 15 June Beyblade Burst QuadDrive season one – US Cold Case Files – US Forged in Fire – US 100 Days to Indy season one and two – US 16 June The Equalizer season one to three – US 17 June Shameless season one to 11 – UK 19 June Boomers – UK Dexter season one to eight – US 24 June Star Trek: Prodigy season one – US 25 June Stateless (Netflix Original) – US 26 June Signs season one and two (Netflix Original) – US
Tom's Guide
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
The best Bella Ramsey movie you've (probably) never seen is on Prime Video — and it's a joyful coming-of-age comedy
Bella Ramsey's star is very much on the rise. While most viewers were probably introduced to Ramsey via 'Game of Thrones,' where they played the pint-sized-but-fierce Lyanna Mormont, it's their turn as Ellie in HBO's 'The Last of Us' that has catapulted Ramsey to stardom. However, it was Ramsey's performance in the overlooked 'Catherine Called Birdy' that convinced me they would eventually become a household name. This Amazon original movie debuted in October 2022 and remains available on Prime Video to this day. Directed by Lena Dunham, it's best described as a farcical medieval spin on Judy Blume's coming-of-age classic 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.' Ramsey plays the eponymous role, a precocious young noble navigating growing up in 13th-century England. It's a fun concept for a comedy, and Ramsey shines in the lead role of Lady Catherine (but she prefers to be called Birdy). Plus, there's also an excellent supporting cast with 'Doctor Who's' Billie Piper and 'Sherlock's' Andrew Scott adding to the star-studded British cast. If you missed out on 'Catherine Called Birdy,' and I suspect many people did as it's a movie that seems to have largely sunk in the Prime Video abyss over the years, now is the perfect time to circle back, particularly if you've been enjoying Bella Ramsey's work in 'The Last of Us' on HBO. Based on the 1994 novel of the same name by Karen Cushman, and set in 13th-century Lincolnshire, this comedy focuses on Catherine (Bella Ramsey), otherwise known as Birdy. Birdy is a rebellious and free-spirited 14-year-old. Daughter of Lord Rollo (Andrew Scott), she's forced into an unwanted arrangement when her family's financial situation takes a turn for the worse. The Rollo plans to marry Birdy off to a wealthy suitor, but this is a plan that she's not on board with. Determined to retain her independence and stick by the side of her mother, Lady Aislinn (Billie Piper), as she carries out a difficult pregnancy, Birdy resolves to drive away any suitor that attempts to woo her. Under the guidance of her stern but caring nursemaid (Lesley Sharp), Birdy is forced to face growing up, and also face the responsibility that comes with her place within the medieval society, even if that means leaving behind her family. 'Catherine Called Birdy' is an intentionally silly movie at its core. Its historical setting is used as a playground for all sorts of farcical hijinks, and each new character is introduced with an on-screen profile that offers comedic traits like 'has a very sweaty handshake.' It's wonderfully irreverent throughout, and Ramsey very much steers into the skid in the eponymous role. While Birdy is often immature, she's also plucky and headstrong, and easy to root for. Despite squabbles, Birdy's love for her family is evident, and Ramsay manages to make the protagonist both relatable and charming. Plus, they have great comedic timing. However, the movie's secret comedic weapon is actually Andrew Scott, who leads my favorite gag in the flick where he inadvertently suggests that Birdy is suffering from 'a little bit of pox' to excuse her rudeness during a banquet. This results in panicked cries of 'smallpox' spreading. It's a hilarious moment and sums up the movie's largely wacky tone. Very little is taken seriously. The movie's biggest drawback is the bloated runtime. Clocking in at almost 110 minutes, it probably should have been a tighter 90, and the early portions start to drag as viewers observe Birdy's day-to-day existence without much in the way of narrative driving things forward. However, the pace quickens towards the end, and the conclusion is heartwarming and fitting. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie holds a very strong 89% score from more than 130 reviews and has earned a coveted 'Certified Fresh' seal of approval. 'Bringing a beloved book brilliantly to life, Catherine Called Birdy proves a well-told coming-of-age story can feel fresh regardless of the period setting,' reads the site's 'Critics Consensus.' 'Catherine Called Birdy' is a silly and charming comedy. The movie doesn't give Ramsey the material to showcase their dramatic depth, but it does let them off the chain when it comes to comedy (and they do say comedy is harder than drama!). It's saggy pacing holds it back from true greatness, but it's an endearing coming-of-age story with a likable lead at its heart. However, if you need some alternative watching recommendations this week, here's a round-up of the top new movies across streaming services. And be sure to check out this surprisingly enjoyable comedy-drama with Mark Wahlberg that has just gone to No. 1 on Netflix. Watch "Catherine Called Birdy" on Prime Video now
Vogue
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Judy Blume Is So Back (Yet Again)
When I was growing up, the proper way to enjoy Judy Blume was in complete privacy, ideally in a forgotten corner of the library or at the house of a family I was babysitting for, curled up with a bag of gummy sharks from the candy store and a mind ready to puzzle out what scoliosis was (Deenie forever!) or how, exactly, an extramarital affair worked (let us not forget about the eyebrow-raising majesty of Wifey). Now, though, we're in the middle of yet another Judy Blume renaissance. While the first was kicked off by the release of the film version of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret in 2023, this one is anchored by Netflix's present-day adaptation of Blume's 1975 novel Forever, and I'm a massive fan of the update that legendary screenwriter and producer Mara Brock Akil has given to Blume's story. Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. are adorably cast as each other's teenaged first loves, and setting the show in Los Angeles instead of the book's New Jersey genuinely works to refresh the material (and make me wonder if high-school kids in LA actually hang out on Fairfax instead of, like, the mall). True to the spirit of Blume's novel, there's a lot of sex on the show—or, more accurately, a lot of awkward fumbling and dancing around the topic of sex, which feels very cinéma vérité for two teens—but it's dealt with in a way that feels of the moment without trying desperately to conjure capital-Y Youth. Yes, teenage girls these days have to deal with the potential virality of their intimate moments in a way that makes me want to cry for about six hours straight when I think about it, but there's nothing exploitative about Forever's investigation of just how deep those wounds can cut. (Besides, I love the idea of a whole new generation of kids absorbing Blume's still-progressive views on sex and romance while also enjoying plotlines about Naruto and Instagram hashtags.) All in all, it feels safe to say that Blume's spirit is alive and well on Forever (as it should be, given that she's a producer on the show). Focusing the series on a love affair between two Black teenagers also leans into the universality of Blume's narrative—though her characters were predominantly white and upper-middle-class—and tells a new and sorely needed story about class status in LA and Black girlhood.
USA Today
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'Forever' gives modern refresh to Judy Blume novel: Biggest changes in Netflix series
'Forever' gives modern refresh to Judy Blume novel: Biggest changes in Netflix series Show Caption Hide Caption Exclusive clip from 'Judy Blume Forever' Author Mary H.K. Choi reflects on the complex theme of Judy Blume's "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" in the documentary "Judy Blume Forever." USA TODAY Handout Spoiler alert! We're discussing major plot details from the new series adaptation of 'Forever' (all episodes on Netflix now). 'Forever...' was controversial when Judy Blume published it in 1975. The young adult novel follows a high school girl navigating her first love and first time. 'Forever' talks candidly about sex, consent, mental health and depression. When it came out 50 years ago, the book was deemed too sexually explicit and faced criticism and bans. Now, as a series streaming on Netflix, the latest 'Forever' adaptation meets a culture that's more prepared to openly talk about sex in modern media. Mara Brock Akil's adaptation reimagines Blume's classic with a contemporary Black cast, dealing with identity, expectations, race and class as much as it does with losing one's virginity. 'Forever' adapts Judy Blume novel with all-Black cast Brock Akil's 'Forever' is loosely adapted from the Blume book, so many of its key plot points have been changed or given a modern refresh. The characters' names are no longer Katherine and Michael but Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.). The story takes place in Los Angeles, not in New Jersey. Both characters are Black and their place in predominantly white schools – especially Justin – is a major theme. 'Other shows have tried to showcase this nuanced experience of growing up Black in a white environment, but none have succeeded as pitch-perfectly as Forever does,' Nadira Goffe, a culture writer from Slate who is Black, wrote in a review. With eight episodes, 'Forever' has time to sink into much more than Blume's book could at less than 230 pages. The series is also told from both Justin and Keisha's perspectives (the book is just Katherine), and we get a more full view of their family life, friends and communities. Class plays a bigger role in this adaptation than it did in the book – Justin's family is well-off and summers on Martha's Vineyard while Keisha's single mom struggles to make ends meet. Some aspects are the same, including awkward sexual experiences, the thrill of first love and a brief mention of the couple's friends seeing each other. In the book, Katherine and Michael's friends Erica and Artie try their hand at dating but Artie's struggles with his sexuality and eventual suicide attempt prevent it from going further. The series skips that, but still has candid conversations about mental health. Keisha tells Justin about her depression before she switched schools. Later, she and her mom have a breakthrough after therapy. 'Forever' gets a modern refresh with technology, social media pitfalls Gone are the letter-writing chapters from Blume's 1975 novel, replaced with the agony of waiting for a text reply and the will-they-won't-they blocking and unblocking of modern young love. Justin even gets his friends to post #UnblockJustin to campaign for Keisha's attention after they have a falling out. When they rekindle it's in the form of Daft Punk and Tyler, The Creator lyrics. And in a world all too familiar with revenge porn and sextortion, the new adaptation shows Keisha in crisis after her ex-boyfriend shares a sex tape they made. Keisha is humiliated and forced to leave her current school, transferring to another, more expensive one. Her reputation among former peers, Justin's missteps to understand what she's going through and her reappearing ex add major strife to the relationship. Ralph is still, well, Ralph If you've read the Blume book, you might remember that Michael affectionately referred to his genitals as 'Ralph.' It's only mentioned once in the adaptation (unlike the book, where the moniker appears frequently), but Brock Akil told The New York Times she kept Ralph to thank Blume 'for her blessing to translate the book.' Jokes aside, the new Netflix adaptation is faithful to Blume's book in that it portrays the complications of coming into sexuality without condemning it as bad, unnatural or dangerous. Keisha and Justin work through hovering parents and technical difficulties before they get to their first time. It's awkward at times, but it's human. Blume originally wrote the book for her daughter, she writes on her website, to present a story where two teenagers fall in love and have sex without anyone's life being ruined. In the book, Katherine goes to Planned Parenthood to get birth control. In the series, Justin has an important conversation (and cucumber demonstration) with his father about contraception. 'Forever' ending stays broadly faithful to Blume book Blume's novel ends, despite their planning and wishing, with Katherine and Michael breaking up. After a summer apart (in the book, Katherine kisses another guy at camp in the wake of her grief after losing her grandfather), the two decide maybe they weren't each others' forevers after all. The same happens in Brock Akil's adaptation. While his mom expects him to go to a prestigious college to play basketball and study a profitable major, Keisha helps Justin realize that what he really wants to do is pursue music. The pair part on amicable, albeit heartbreaking, terms. By the last scene, they understand that there are bigger things in store for each of them as Keisha goes to Howard University and Justin saves up on his gap year. Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, check out her recent articles or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
