Latest news with #Mindhunter
Irish Daily Star
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
I'm a TV writer and these are Netflix's biggest hidden gems that deserve more attention
With a constant influx of new shows and films added to Netflix's extensive library each day, it can be challenging for anyone to stay updated. Every week, dozens of new films and series from around the globe are added, creating a fresh buzz. Consequently, some titles may not receive as much attention as they deserve, even though they might eventually become hidden gems. As a TV writer, my job essentially involves watching television. Therefore, I need to stay on top of current trends, monitor what's climbing the Netflix charts, and understand what audiences are focusing on. However, there are a few titles that I believe warrant more attention. Here are my top three recommendations for overlooked Netflix hidden gems. Mindhunter is one of the best Netflix original series (Image: Netflix) Mindhunter You've likely heard quite a few people discuss this one. This crime thriller ranks 16th on IMDB's top 100 list of Netflix originals. The show was created by writer Joe Penhall, with renowned filmmaker David Fincher serving as the showrunner and director of several episodes. The series narrates the story of FBI Agents who are investigating and profiling serial killers for the first time, drawing inspiration from real-life events. With an almost perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, it is undoubtedly one of the best Netflix originals ever produced. Regrettably, since the release of its second season in 2019, the future of the show appears uncertain. Initially, Netflix indicated that a third season was doubtful as Fincher was engaged with other projects, which turned out to be Netflix films Mank and The Killer. By 2023, the company essentially confirmed the show would not be returning. However, cast members like Holt McCallany have expressed their hopes for a potential revival of the series. Therefore, it merits inclusion on this list because the more Netflix fans discuss and rediscover the series, the greater the likelihood it receives the finale it deserves. Mindhunter is currently available for streaming on Netflix. I Think You Should Leave needs to be seen to know what it's really all about (Image: Netflix) I Think You Should Lea ve with Tim Robinson This is an easy recommendation for anyone seeking something fresh to watch on Netflix, particularly if they're weary of true crime documentaries and thriller series. Even if someone has only sampled it, seen a clip, or tried part of the first episode and wasn't quite sure... give it another shot. This is likely my most frequently revisited Netflix series ever. The fact that episodes are relatively short, around 15 minutes each, certainly helps. The challenge lies in preparing viewers for what awaits them. In simple terms, it's a sketch show from comedian Tim Robinson, a former writer and performer on Saturday Night Live, and produced by The Lonely Island. When I Think You Should Leave debuted on Netflix, it felt as though Robinson had almost singlehandedly revived the sketch series format. Netflix describes the show as a humorous take on life's most peculiar and everyday situations. Robinson, along with some of his celebrity pals, tackle awkward office politics, stage an intervention in a Garfield-themed house, and even talk their way out of a fabricated hit-and-run by a babysitter - and that's just one season. The show has since produced three seasons, and while Robinson is slated to star in a comedy film alongside Paul Rudd, fans are hopeful he'll return for more episodes. If you're currently enjoying Tom Segura's Bad Thoughts, I Think You Should Leave is definitely worth a watch. It can be equally dark, but it's smarter and relies less on pure innuendo for its punchlines. I won't claim that the humor in the show will appeal to everyone - it won't. But it's surprising that more people aren't adopting phrases like 'shirt brother', complaining about not being able to skip lunch, or admitting they're just there for the zipline (if you know, you know). I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson is available for streaming on Netflix. Lilyhammer is like The Sopranos meets a Nordic drama (Image: Netflix) Lilyhammer There's been some debate over whether Lilyhammer was actually Netflix's first original series. A quick Google search might suggest House of Cards holds that title, but this crime-comedy-drama actually predates the political thriller. Its release close to House of Cards means that most people probably only heard chatter about the latter and not Lilyhammer. The latter premiered in 2012 and was touted as the first time Netflix offered exclusive content. Lilyhammer is a unique blend of The Sopranos and Nordic crime drama. Steven Van Zandt, known for his role as Silvio Dante in the HBO sensation, stars as Frank Tagliano, a former New York mobster attempting to start afresh in a secluded Norwegian town after ratting out his mafia boss back home. Despite many fans likening the show to a mashup of Goodfellas and Norsemen, it's surprising that it isn't more frequently hailed as a Netflix classic. Those who have watched it often express a higher regard for the series than its 60% rating on Rotten Tomatoes might imply. Lilyhammer is streaming on Netflix.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix Fans Erupt in Anger Over Show Cancellations
Netflix fans are furious about the streamer's years of cancelled shows, and they're unloading about it on a social media thread. Fans expressed anger over the cancellations of a variety of shows on a Reddit thread that was first posted on May 8, 2025, and titled, "I will never forgive you for this 💔" People then listed the shows they are most upset that Netflix has cancelled over the years. Netflix has cancelled multiple shows in 2025 alone, but the Reddit thread wasn't limited to this year. Rather, it turns out that fans have long memories when it comes to their favorite shows being killed, especially if storylines are left hanging. The original poster on Reddit included a collage with photos from Netflix's cancelled shows, including 1899, Gypsy, I Am Not Okay With This, and First Kill. How does Netflix decide which shows to keep and which to cancel? Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos told Vulture, "It's 70 percent gut and 30 percent data.' According to Wired, Netflix has to take a show's cost into consideration. In January 2023, Wired reported that 1899 wasn't continuing "despite debuting at the end of 2022 to positive reviews and a place on the streamer's top 10 list." "When mysterious events change the course of an immigrant ship headed for New York in 1899, a mind-bending riddle unfolds for its bewildered passengers," the Netflix blurb for the show says. Fans offered up a variety of other shows that they're still angry at Netflix for cancelling. "Mindhunter!!" one Reddit user declared. "We lost Mindhunter but got a billion reality shows no one asked for," another wrote. Several others agreed that 1899 didn't deserve the axe. "1899 had so much potential," a fan of the show opined. "1899 was the only one of these I watched, and I was gutted when I finished it to find out there would be no more. It was a slow burner, so definitely not for everyone, but it was so unique and I really wanted to see where it would go," another person agreed. A fan explained, "I wish when shows like this get cancelled, the show runners would just come out and tell us what the end game, twist, secret, mystery was. Especially if after a time it's clear no one else is picking it up, just give us a summary, the cliff notes, whatever." Other Netflix shows receiving mentions on the thread included Spinning Out, The Society, Black Summer, Dead Boy Detectives, Lockwood & Co., Santa Clarita Diet, 1670, Nobody's Watching, Teenage Bounty Hunter, Archive 81, Inside Job, Marco Polo, Kaos, and OA.
Metro
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Fans annoyed ‘most ridiculous TV show ever' is getting another spin-off
It can be a pretty frustrating feeling to see one of your favourite series get cancelled just as it is about to hit its stride. Fans of shows such as Mindhunter, The OA and The Punisher still can't seem to get over their respective cancellations. But for Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone, which stars Kelly Reilly and Wes Bentley, that certainly does not seem to be the case. Following the Dutton family, who own the largest contiguous ranch in America, the show depicts their constant conflict with various groups, such as Native American tribes and the National park, who are seeking to encroach upon their land. Yet, despite being described by a critic at the Guardian as a 'bloated ranch-based soapy mess', a new series centred on Kayce Dutton has been greenlit at CBS. Titled 'Y: Marshalls', the spin-off will be written by Spencer Hudnut while Yellowstone mastermind Sheridan, who is known for writing season 1 of True Detective, will be an executive producer. Responding to the news, there was some mixed feedback to say the least. On X, @Brandi74950103 said: 'He was a really complex, conflicted character. If they do this right, it could be a great show.' However, @nikkibluvs responded by saying: 'How many does that make🙄🙄' Despite hundreds of thousands of cowboy fans over the world watching Yellowstone, it seems no one can agree whether it is good or not. Even on the Yellowstone section of Reddit – where you'd expect to find the series's most devout followers – people have labelled the it 'the most ridiculous TV show I've ever watched'. Dmick74 said: 'I watched the first season a couple years ago and I had a hard time believing that people were calling it a great show considering it's nothing more than a daytime soap opera with a bigger budget. It's ridiculous.' Reddragon105 also wrote: 'It might be the dumbest show I've watched in years. We powered through the first season waiting for it to get good and it was a straight up joke. 1883 1923 6666 The Madison 1944 Y: Marshalls* 'When season 2 started and Costner's colon cancer (which he had feet of intestines removed) was suddenly diagnosed as a blood clot by a horse vet, I turned it off for good.' Meanwhile, Massive-Device-1200 highlighted some of the most bizarre reoccurring themes such as that all people from California are 'evil, vegan, land buyers' and they 'must be shot or driven out or bullied… only true rangers can buy land'. Not everyone dislikes the Dutton family's misadventures, though. Dragonsmilk commented: 'Extremely popular soap opera for men with cowboys. No more, no less.' AuntieEvilops similarly echoed: 'It's a western soap opera. Folks shouldn't go in expecting anything more than that.' If fans can agree on one thing, it's that Yellowstone is divisive. But when it came to the show's finale in December last year, there was pretty much unanimous agreement that it wasa 'letdown that never should have happened'. More Trending The latest series was first said to be in the works at the network back in March, but CBS has now given the show a 13-episode order, according to Variety. There are plans for the series to begin shooting this summer to launch at midseason 2026. Luke Grimes will once again play Kayce, who is the youngest of the Dutton siblings and a former Navy SEAL. View More » Yellowstone is available to stream on Paramount Plus. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: David Beckham makes unexpected career move to launch his own chat show
Los Angeles Times
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
They shot their movie in 7 days for $7,000. They're bringing it to theaters themselves
When filmmaker Joe Burke talks about his microbudget indie film 'Burt,' he can't stop saying the word 'magic.' He seems to chase that magic, perhaps rooted in his days as a teenage magician working at Outback Steakhouse in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio. 'I want to make people laugh, I want to make people cry,' says Burke, 41, who used to perform tableside card tricks. 'I love entertaining, and if I'm not doing it, I don't feel satisfied.' 'Burt,' his second feature, was shot over seven days for $7,000, though the project had been gestating for seven years by the time cameras rolled. The movie, which he made with longtime friend and collaborator Oliver Cooper, was borne of a lot of heart and DIY resourcefulness, but they like working that way. 'Everything is so alive,' Burke says of their no-budget process, 'the electricity of getting in there and finding these magical moments,' ones that remind them of their origins, making movies in the backyard. 'Burt' has its Los Angeles premiere on Saturday at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills. For now, this is the only L.A. screening 'Burt' might have — it doesn't have distribution yet. But Burke and Cooper have realized that it's up to them to forge the path for it. Burke is jovial and chatty, passionately delivering the story of 'Burt' over coffee in West Hollywood, while Cooper, 35, is a bit more laid-back, though the duo have an easy rapport thanks to their decades of friendship and collaboration. They became creative partners when Cooper's mother hired Burke to direct a video for her son's bar mitzvah. Years later, Burke set out for the American Film Institute while Cooper, pursuing his acting dream, moved to Los Angeles at 19, quickly landing a role in the 2012 party movie 'Project X' on his first audition. Since then, he's acted in the Prime Video series 'Red Oaks' and he played David Berkowitz in David Fincher's 'Mindhunter.' But despite pursuing their own career paths, Burke and Cooper are still each other's favorite collaborators. In 2011, they shot their first feature, 'Four Dogs,' directed by Burke, starring Cooper as Oliver (yes, we're in the realm of autofiction), an aimless aspiring actor who lives with his aunt and spends his days with an older friend from acting class (Dan Bakkedahl, later of 'Veep'). Ever the resourceful indie filmmakers inspired by real life, they cast Cooper's aunt, Rebecca Goldstein, who had never acted before, as Oliver's aunt, and shot the film in her Encino home, where Cooper, a struggling young actor himself, was living at the time. Both Burke and Cooper are inspired by real people — their lives, their dramas, their homes — and seek to capture that authenticity in their films. 'I just love characters,' says Cooper. 'All the characters we've explored are people that are kind of forgotten, on the outskirts.' Burke believes that his own interest in these people, often played by nonprofessional actors in his work, can translate to audiences. 'If they're onscreen, people are going to be entertained by this person,' he insists. It had been more than a decade since 'Four Dogs,' and Burke was itching to make a second film, sustaining himself by teaching at the New York Film Academy campus in Burbank and making Instagram sketches and short films with Cooper. There was one person who had caught Burke's attention: Burt Berger, a late-60s-ish musician he'd seen playing guitar table-to-table at the Old Place restaurant in Malibu. Burke was a brunch regular there, and he was taken with Berger's folksy tunes and warm, quirky presence. Coincidentally, Cooper also had met Berger separately at an open mic at the Cahuenga General Store. It became obvious they'd happened upon a real Los Angeles character in Berger, and they wanted to cast him in something. While shooting a short in 2016, the duo thought of Berger to play a small part. They drove to the Old Place the next day, asked him if he had any acting experience (just a few commercial auditions) and cast him. He was a standout, and they even used one of his songs, 'Improvin' On,' for the end of the film (he also performs the song in 'Burt'). Burke and Berger stayed in touch. They frequently hung out for hours, talking about Berger's life and family, their Hollywood dreams and mulling ways to make a narrative film that could feature Berger's open heart and big dreams. 'I wanted it to be about Burt's essence — his soul, his spirit and his music,' Burke says. 'That was so important to me.' When Burke brought up the idea of a whole film about him, Berger says he was stunned. 'I started to cry a little bit,' Berger, 71, says by phone, 'because here I am, my dreams are slowly unfolding in front of me after all the years of pursuing them.' In 1977, after college, Berger drove to Los Angeles in a van with his best friend to chase music stardom. 'I'm stupid because I think I'm going to make it big and stubborn because I'm never going to give up,' he says. The recognition from Burke was gratifying. 'At first I couldn't believe Joe sees that in me,' says Berger, 'but then I realized I gotta trust this guy. He knows what he's talking about.' While Burke toiled to get other film projects off the ground, he continued working with Cooper and Berger on what would ultimately become 'Burt,' the fictionalized story of Sammy (Cooper), who comes to L.A. looking for his estranged dad, Burt (Berger), thrilled to finally experience fatherhood. It soon becomes clear, though, that Sammy's intentions aren't entirely virtuous, as Burt shares he has money from an inheritance stashed away. The final piece of the 'Burt' puzzle was Steve Levy, Berger's roommate of a decade. They planned to shoot the film at their house, Levy's childhood home in Sun Valley, and a test shoot revealed Levy and Berger's screen chemistry, with Levy bringing a singular delivery and sharp comedic edge of blunt skepticism that provides a foil to the sweetly trusting Burt. While Cooper scraped together the tiny budget from his own money, with help from family, and finessed Levy's cooperation, Burke promised him they could shoot the film in a week. He brought on his college pal Daniel Kenji Levin as cinematographer and called on their network of friends to fill supporting roles, including Cooper's 'Mindhunter' acting coach Catlin Adams, an Actors Studio alum who plays Sammy's scheming aunt Sylvia. It wasn't just the financial constraints of indie filmmaking driving Burke's urgency to get the film going but Berger's Parkinson's disease as well. He had been diagnosed during their years of friendship, and Burke noticed his friend's tremor while they were hanging out. The disease hits close to home for Burke, whose father also has Parkinson's; he was caring for him during the shoot. So as he was directing his father-son film, Burke was living a parallel version of the story himself. The black-and-white 'Burt' is an earnest, stripped-down dramedy, filled with sly humor and surprising twists that harks to classic indie films of the early '90s in its raw, low-key elegance. Burt is simply a character living with Parkinson's. The film is not about his disease, which is just a part of his reality. However, in the two years since shooting, Berger has moved back to the East Coast to live with family as his disease has progressed. Burke knew he had to capture his star exactly at the right moment, when he was still able to play and sing and chase a dream. 'I can't play the guitar as well as I used to,' says Berger, 'but I'm still not giving up.' ('Burt and I are both exactly the same in that way,' says Burke. 'We never give up on dreams.') It's a challenge to make a film like 'Burt'— and quite another to bring such a handmade film to audiences. In 2024, Burke went 0 for 28 in film festival acceptances, which made him question if 'Burt' might be the final chapter of his career instead of a launching pad. He even considered an offer from his mom to move back to Ohio. But a word of encouragement (and a crucial co-sign) from one of Cooper's mentors, filmmaker David Gordon Green, helped them press on. They sent the 'All the Real Girls' indie veteran a screener, and he wrote back hours later, in the middle of the night, expressing his love for the movie. When they asked him via email to come on board as an executive producer, he replied with one word: 'Duh.' (Green will also be moderating a Q&A with the filmmakers at the Saturday screening.) This year, the film's fortunes have changed on the festival circuit, winning jury awards at Cinequest, the Phoenix Film Festival and the Florida Film Festival. 'You really don't need that much to make something great,' says Cooper of their DIY approach, now beginning to yield dividends if not quite a deal. 'If you have the story, if you have the characters, that's all that matters. We didn't have anything for this and we were able to make something that's moving.' After their success at Cinequest, the duo decided to embrace self-distribution as well. 'We realized this is a theater movie — the laughter together, the crying together,' says Burke. Inspired by 'Hundreds of Beavers' as well 'Anora' director Sean Baker's impassioned awards-season speeches about seeing movies in theaters, they decided to pursue a theatrical run on their own, booking screenings in L.A., Toledo, Cincinnati and hopefully Denver and New York, renting theaters and selling tickets themselves. In an industry that seems in dire straits, is there room for a small, heartfelt film featuring a classic L.A. character like Burt? For dreamers who still cling to hope in the City of Angels, there needs to be. 'I don't know why I felt so compelled to make sure this guy was seen before it was too late,' Burke says. 'I don't know why the universe brought me into this guy's life, but it did. Maybe the movie is why.' Cooper adds, 'We did something good for this guy, and I feel like my heart is fuller as a performer.'
Irish Daily Star
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
Streaming service Peacock cancels show after two seasons - and fans are devastated
A Peacock comedy series has been axed after only two seasons, and fans are calling it one of the "worst things to ever happen". Viewers are up in arms over the abrupt conclusion of the show, part of a spate of cancellations by NBC impacting their Peacock streaming service. Four shows have been cancelled recently, but the termination of 'Based on a True Story' has particularly incensed its audience. Social media users expressed their disappointment with Peacock's confirmation that the show's second season would be its last. The NBC streaming service has so far removed four shows from its 2025 roster, leaving many wondering if more cancellations are on the horizon. This move mirrors actions by other major platforms like Netflix , Amazon Prime, and CBS, which have also ended fan favorites such as 'Mindhunter' and 'Blue Bloods'. The decision to discontinue 'Based on a True Story' after just two seasons has left fans in shock, prompting them to air their grievances on social media. The show featured Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina as a financially struggling couple who launch a true crime podcast about their plumber. Although specific viewership data for Peacock shows isn't public, 'Based on a True Story' was well-received by both audiences and critics, earning Cuoco a nomination at the Astra TV Awards for her performance. Fans of the show are still reeling from its cancellation. One user fumed: "ARE YOU KIDDING ME. ARE YOU ACTUALLY KIDDING ME?! IS NOTHING SACRED ANYMORE? IS THE WORLD OUT TO GET ME????? WHATS THE POINTTTTT." Another fumed: "This was my favorite show, why did Peacock have to get rid of it??" A third shared their disappointment, adding: "Damn that was a fun good show. Yes season two wasn't as good as the first. It deserved a third season though. The cast was great and funny. It will be missed." Messina and Cuoco starred in the much-loved show for two seasons (file) (Image: Peacock, Colleen Hayes/PEACOCK via Getty Images) However, some viewers were less shocked by the show's end, noting the diminished reach of its second season. A commenter admitted: "I completely forgot season 2 came out. Is it worth catching up on? Like was there at least some kind of resolution." Curiosity about the second instalment came from another fan: "There's a second season? I need to watch." A few opined that the series might have improved over time if given the chance. A user noted: "The sad thing Based On A True Story was like the perfect example of a show having a middling first season and picking up as it progressed. Like we could've had something here." 'Based On A True Story' became one of several victims in this year's pilot season cull, with networks clearing schedules to make way for new options. 'Mr. Throwback' also faced the axe by Peacock. Peacock has been approached for comment.
