Latest news with #Brick
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix fans obsessed with wild documentary dubbed their 'best one yet'
It has already become the most watched film on Netflix Netflix fans are 'obsessed' with a new documentary dubbed 'wild' and is said to be the 'best one yet'. The latest feature film doc in the Trainwreck series was released on the streaming platform earlier this week. Available for streaming from Tuesday (July 15), it has already proved popular among subscribers. At the time of writing, the film has surged right up the charts to instantly become the most watched title among UK users. It has leapfrogged ahead of new releases K Pop Demon Hunters, Brick and is proving more popular than Oscar winning Oppenheimer. According to the synopsis, the documentary takes viewers back to October 15, 2009, when a father in Fort Collins Colorado calls 911, claiming that his home-made flying saucer has escaped from the family's back yard. However, he believes that inside is his six-year-old son. This stranger-than-fiction claim is backed up by footage from a news helicopter, which catches up with the balloon and is live-streaming the chase. What starts as a local story and unusual emergency situation quickly escalates into a national one, as everyone from the National Guard, to the Sheriff, and Homeland Security, struggles to come up with a plan to safely rescue the child who is quickly named Balloon Boy. As the balloon eventually lands, people praying for a miracle but instead something else and very unexpected is revealed. Public sympathy quickly turns into righteous outrage, as Balloon Boy and his family become one of America's most infamous, and bizarre news stories. Balloon Boy is the latest in Netflix's Trainwreck documentary series that explores various modern disasters and media-fueled events. Previous instalments have focused on the Astroworld tragedy, the rise and fall for American Apparel and Canadian politician Rob Ford. The latest feature film examines the extraordinary story by looking at archive footage. It also interviews some of the key people involved including authorities who attended the incident, reporters who covered the story and the family at the centre of it all. Fans have been quick to react to Balloon Boy on social media, with one posting: "Obsessed with Netflix Trainwreck.. but the Balloon Boy episode has me thinking.. how awesome would a giant Spacex Starship balloon be." Another simply stated they had put this latest Trainwreck instalment at the top of their list. They said: "New Trainwreck on Netflix. Balloon boy, best one yet." Someone else added: "Watching this wild documentary on Balloon Boy on Netflix, this is craaaaazy wild." One critic recommended that viewers should definitely stream it. In their review, they pointed out several issues that the doc seems to highlight and multiple viewings could reveal some thing new each time. They wrote: "Questions spring out of the narrative about child manipulation and the ethics of media frenzies, fringe thematics that might take deeper root in a documentary series that's more concerned with journalistic integrity than Trainwreck's pursuit of amusement." Another reviewer said: "So why do we need to see the Netflix series if the story was so well reported at the time? For one reason: Balloon Boy is the first time we're getting an in-depth look at the full story from the family's point of view. We're getting sit-down interviews with them all, including the now grown up Falcon, who still seems pleased that he was once at the centre of a national news storm as a little boy." They continue: "I can't wait to get the inside story straight from the source. If you're wondering what to stream this week, make it this as it has the potential to be one of the best Netflix shows."
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
7 of the best new movies to stream on Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon Prime
Caroline Westbrook Published July 14, 2025 4:17pm Link is copied Comments Looking for something new to watch? Given the time of year there's no shortage of blockbuster movies taking up space on our cinema screens - but what if you're looking to stream something in the comfort of your own home? Well, the good news is that Netflix, Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video have got you covered. From recent cinema releases through to original content, our favourite streaming platforms aren't letting a heatwave get in the way of bringing you some equally hot new content. Why not try one of these seven recent releases tonight? (Picture: Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) This German sci-fi thriller might not have had the best reviews, but that hasn't stopped it being a huge hit with viewers, with Comic Book Resources reporting that it soared to the top of the global film charts just two days after its release. Brick follows couple Tim and Olivia, who find themselves trapped in their apartment block after a mysterious, impenetrable brick wall springs up outside their door. When they discover their neighbours are facing the same fate they are forced to work together to find an escape route - and figure out just what is going on (Picture: Sasha Ostrov) Tyler Perry's on a roll at the moment following the enormous success of his psychological thriller Straw - but his latest release for Netflix couldn't be more different. The actor/director is once again slipping into the role of mouthy matriarch Medea, this time heading to the Bahamas, as the daughter of Madea's nephew Brian (also played by Perry) prepares to tie the knot with a rapper. Plenty of slapstick and hi-jinks ensue, along with a healthy dose of heartwarming family drama (Picture: Perry Well Films 2/Netflix) Moving on, here's a franchise most of us will recognise in an instant. It's been around since the mid-80s after all. This movie, the sixth instalment in the series, follows kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) as he moves to New York with his mother, only to find himself at odds with a local karate champion. Thankfully the original Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and kung fu master Mr Han (Jackie Chan) are on hand to help. A nostalgic treat for fans of the original, and a great intro to the series for those too young to remember it (Picture: CTMG/Sony Pictures/Jonathan Wenk) Moving on to Amazon Prime Video, here's a fun action thriller boasting a string of familiar faces - notably Idris Elba and John Cena. The pair play, respectively, the UK Prime Minister and the US President, who are locked in a public rivalry that might just threaten the 'special relationship' of the two countries. Until Air Force One is shot down over enemy territory and they end up having to join forces to save the world from a global conspiracy (Picture: Amazon Content Services LLC) If you're a fan of U2 this is one you won't want to miss - and even if the Irish rockers aren't your cuppa this documentary film still makes for compelling viewing. Stories of Surrender brings Bono's 2023 one-man show at New York's Beacon Theatre to the screen, as the U2 frontman performs some of his classic hits and talks candidly about his life, faith and personal relationships. Shot in black and white, the movie received a seven-minute standing ovation when it premiered at Cannes earlier this year. And if that's not enough to convince you we don't know what is (Picture: AP) Wes Anderson's latest effort has landed on streaming just weeks after it was released in cinemas, and it's another gem from the quirky cult director, full of dazzling visuals, eccentric characters and some very familiar faces. Benicio del Toro takes the lead as Zsa Zsa Korda, one of the richest men in Europe who tries to mend his relationship with his only daughter (Mia Threapleton) while at the same time embarking on a new enterprise, one fraught with peril. The likes of Riz Ahmed, Michael Cera, Scarlett Johansson, Bryan Cranston, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright and Benedict Cumberbatch all show up to join in the fun (Picture: AP) The Trainwreck series has been keeping us all hooked in recent weeks, covering everything from the infamous Carnival 'poop cruise' of 2013 to the Travis Scott Astroworld disaster, and the rise and fall of American Apparel. And here's another jaw-dropper. Project X refers to an incident in the small Dutch town of Haren in 2012, when a teenage girl planning her 16th birthday party on Facebook accidentally made the invite public. Cue the inevitable mayhem as it went viral and thousands of uninvited guests showed up (Picture: Netflix)
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix fans claim most popular film is 'so painful' to watch
It is one of the most watched films right now One of Netflix's most popular films right now is a 'mind bending' sci-fi thriller that fans say is 'so painful' to watch. The movie titled Brick was only just added to the streamer earlier in the week. After just a couple of days it has already become one of the most watched films among subscribers. At the time of writing, the German produced movie is currently third in the top ten films among UK users. It sits just behind anime hit K Pop Demon Hunters and documentary Trainwreck The Real Project X. According to the synopsis provided by Netflix, the film's story picks up when a mysterious brick wall encloses a couple's apartment building overnight. Tim and Olivia must unite with their wary neighbours to get out alive. Despite its immediate popularity on the major streaming platform, its critical reception has been considerably mixed. It has only managed to register a score of 31% on Rotten Tomatoes. One review addressed the fact the film was compared to cult classic Cube, when the first trailer was released. That film saw a group of strangers wake up in a strange giant cube all armed with deadly traps. The critic claimed: "It seems clear that Brick has more in common with a bottom-tier Black Mirror episode than it does a true sci-fi puzzle-box movie like Cube . It does a lot of little things competently, but doesn't do any one thing exceedingly well, leaving it feeling like a genre exercise in search of a story worth telling." One fan had a more damning verdict as they posted: "Watching this was actually painful.. Holy its so bad.. and the actors are terrible... Do not watch.. you will regret it." However, there are viewers who actually enjoyed and recommend the title. One such person suggested: "A pretty amazing and exciting contained thriller with a sci-fi twist. The ensemble and the camera work sticks out, with the plot taken twists you don´t see coming. Fun and cool with that little German hint of weirdness!" Another added: "This movie was so amazing. Great cast, great acting. I had no clue what was going to happen next. It is Escape Room on steroids. Great movie, great story, great cast, great direction." Someone else commented: "Netflix's German sci-fi chiller imprisons a couple in a high-rise overtaken by an ominous black barrier. The director masterfully evokes claustrophobia through tight shots and escalating dread, turning everyday spaces into nightmares." They continued: The lead stars shine with raw vulnerability, their relationship strains amplifying the horror. The film's exploration of isolation and survival resonates, though some twists veer into familiarity. Pacing keeps viewers hooked, building to a poignant climax. A smart, contained thriller that punches above its weight, Brick is a worthy addition to Netflix's genre lineup." Brick is streaming on Netflix.
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Loved ‘Brick' on Netflix? Here's how to find global thrillers like it
There's an effective German thriller streaming on Netflix called 'Brick,' about a couple that wakes up one morning to find that their windows and doors have been replaced by brick. They have no running water, no access to food, and their only possible means of escape is to team up with their neighbors in their apartment building, who are similarly trapped. The movie is fascinating enough in its own right, but it gets even better once you realize its source of inspiration: the worldwide lockdown brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. It's one of the first movies to deal poetically and imaginatively with the sense of panic that was everywhere in those days. But 'Brick' is just one of many new international films that are easily streamable that you probably don't know about. That's OK — to a large extent, neither do I. There's an understandable tendency to look back on the 1950s, '60s and '70s as the good old days for foreign cinema, when movies by directors such as François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, Michelangelo Antonioni, Federico Fellini, Vittorio De Sica, Luis Bunuel, Akira Kurosawa, Sergei Bondarchuk and Rainer Werner Fassbinder were not only seen but also highly influential. Yet for the average viewer, were the old days really better? Yes, those films got released, but only in major cities. They were influential only within a small circle. And once films played for a few weeks or a month, they disappeared, only to show up — occasionally — at repertory houses. Basically, we've traded in one set of problems for a new set of problems. But I like our problems better. Today, there are thousands of films from around the globe available on streaming services, such as Netflix, Prime Video and Apple TV+. Indeed, we are in a golden age of accessibility, and our only problem now is one of curation, which is barely a problem at all. With just a little effort, we can do our own curating. This is how I do it (feel free to try this at home): Let's say I want to find out what's going on in Spanish cinema. I get on the internet and look up the Goya Awards, Spain's equivalent of the Oscars. I will write down which films won the award for either best actor, best actress or best picture. Then I look up the titles on to see if any of the streaming services have them. They usually do. It was in this way, I discovered ' The Fury of the Patient Man ' (2016), an amazing Spanish thriller that's only about 90 minutes long and is absolutely riveting. (It's now on Apple TV+.) I follow the same process with regard to the Cesar Awards in France, the Donatello Awards in Italy, etc. Another way to find movies worth watching is to follow a performer you might like. For example, I got interested in the French actress Virginie Efira after reviewing her in ' Benedetta ' (2021) and ' Sibyl ' (2019). So I went on and discovered more than a dozen of her films available for streaming, including 'Revoir Paris.' Available on Prime Video, among other streamers, it's a really good movie about a woman recovering from the terror of a mass shooting. I made the same search for Sophie Marceau and found 'Anthony Zimmer' (2005), a brilliant thriller (on Apple TV+) that became the awful 2010 American remake, ' The Tourist.' Or maybe there's a director you find interesting. Catherine Corsini has made a number of films I've liked (1999's ' The New Eve,' 2009's ' Leaving '), so I watched 'Summertime' (2015), which I've since shown to classes of students, who've loved it. I did the same with Dutch director Paul Verhoeven, the maker of not only "Benedetta" but 'Elle' (2016), and got to see a terrific film called 'Tricked' (2012). It never gets played in theaters because it's only 55-minutes long, but it's available to stream on Apple TV+ and other platforms. So, this is my instruction to you: Follow the trail of what you already like, and it will lead you to more things you'll like. There are insights to be gained from watching movies from outside one's own culture that you just can't get from domestic products. Great movies are rare, in every country and in every language. And you can start tonight.
Metro
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Now I want to watch Netflix's 'ultimate grandmother of all bad movies ever made'
A new Netflix film has been causing a lot of chatter after being added to the streaming platform yesterday – but mainly for all the wrong reasons. However, when an early viewer described this psychological thriller as 'the ultimate grandmother of all bad movies ever made', it actually made me keen to see it and find out whether or not I agree with that bold description. Brick, a German-language release, does have an intriguing central conceit: A couple wakes up to find an ominous brick wall has been built overnight, surrounding their apartment building and trapping them inside. They must then unite with their wary neighbours to uncover the secrets of the wall and try to find a way out alive. Written and directed by Philip Koch, Brick stars Oppenheimer actor Matthias Schweighöfer, Ruby O. Fee, Frederick Lau and Salber Lee Williams. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. It's not charmed critics, as it currently sits on a dismal rating of just 29% on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, with FandomWire's account complaining that the movie 'isn't over-the-top enough to be fun or intense enough to be gripping'. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'Even a perfectly workable thriller premise needs engaging writing, directing and performances to bring it to life, and in this capacity, Netflix's new feature Brick is as utterly inert as its title,' Paste Magazine's review added, which was published with the headline 'Netflix's new sci-fi thriller is dumb as a Brick'. Collider suggested that in Brick's final act 'the wall feels less like a fascinating puzzle to solve and more like a monotonous problem to overcome', while Clint Worthington for wrote: 'It's frustrating to see such high-concept potential, some decent production design, and a couple of game leads fall victim to a mystery that unfolds with thudding obviousness'. Others were more positive, with Allan Hunter for Screen International acknowledging that, while Brick is more conventional in its later stages, it's 'still a satisfying and watchable audience-pleaser'. But it's the early audience reactions where the gloves truly came off and Brick started to sound like it could be in so-bad-it-could-be-entertainingly-good territory – or at least so-bad-you-should-watch-it-to-see-if-you-agree territory. 'Brick is the ultimate grandmother of all bad movies ever made. So bad you can hardly believe it,' seethed Jim H in a challenge I will probably have to take up. 'Watching this was actually painful…Holy [sic.] it's so bad and the actors are terrible,' moaned another fan, adding: 'Do not watch… you will regret it.' Again, this makes me think that maybe I should watch it. Could this perhaps be 2025's answer to The Room, which was infamously dubbed 'the Citizen Kane of bad movies'? Or maybe we're at least in the same ballpark as 2019's Cats or even last year's superhero stinker Madame Web or Disney horror rip-off Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey. Maybe it could even be as bad as Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis, currently one of the worst films I've ever seen. In another half-star reaction, Shiv D called Brick 'one of the WORST movies in the whole world' and wondered 'why did they waste so much money and time for such garbage'. 'Not gonna lie, I just enjoyed when the characters died for the first time in my life. It felt like they deserved it for wasting my time,' they added. 'I don't want you guys to waste your time so just delete it from your library and never watch it.' 'I've rarely seen such a bad, pointless film. Luckily, there's a fast-forward button,' sniped Andrea K on Google. However, others have shared their enjoyment of Brick, with Philipp Rabe calling actor Freddy Lau's performance 'an 11/10'. 'Contrary to my expectations (the reviews and criticism almost put me off watching it), I really liked the film,' shared Ma Bau in a five-star Google review. 'A neat, futuristic idea that might not be so far-fetched in 20 years. Anyone who likes films like Cube will probably be well-served here.' Benjamin M was another rave reviewer, calling Brick 'a pretty amazing and exciting contained thriller with a sci fi twist'. More Trending 'The ensemble and the camera work sticks out, with the plot taking twists you don´t see coming. Fun and cool with that little German hint of weirdness!' he added. Curiosity could just get the better of me this weekend and see me hitting play on Brick. Brick is streaming now on Netflix. 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: All 4 films in iconic horror series hailed 'a cinematic masterpiece' coming to Netflix MORE: Dark period drama that 'instantly hooked' viewers is now streaming on Netflix MORE: A new high-speed train is set to link three of Europe's coolest capital cities
