The pandemic threw the entertainment industry into chaos, and a number of movie and TV projects were affected/pushed back. Josh Greenbaum's Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar was one such title, being pushed from 2020 to 2021 and arriving in theaters before folks were completely back at the movies. I recently did my annual re-watch of the zany comedy, and I still don't understand why it's not Anchorman-level of quotable and beloved by moviegoers.

Barb & Star's cast absolutely crushes the ridiculous nature of this film, which I personally think is one of the best comedies of all time. While I can quote the movie back and forth a la The Rocky Horror Picture Show, I'm constantly frustrated by people who have never seen this comedy in all of its culotte glory. Seriously go watch it now, it's streaming with a Hulu subscription.

While comedy is a tried and true genre, few titles are just as ridiculous as Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar. That's why I put it on the same level as Anchorman. This movie is dumb, but in the smartest, funniest way. It's downright ridiculous from its opening scene to its credits, which is why CinemaBlend's Barb & Star review was so overwhelmingly positive. We weren't the only publication to think so, as the movie sits at 81% and is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

While not enough people have seen Barb & Star (get it together. Seriously put it on right now), everyone I've shown the project to has instantly become obsessed like me. Indeed, I have entire friend groups who constantly quote the movie. I just wish that more people would join the club and help make the the comedy a bonafide cult classic. And then hopefully we can get a sequel, where Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo's title characters can take a trip to another destination.

Another standout performance in Barb & Star comes from Jamie Dornan, who filmed the comedy after finishing his tenure in the Fifty Shades franchise. He perfectly fits into the movie's bonkers tone, and keeps up with comedy legends like Wiig and Mumolo. This is especially true in the movie's two musical numbers, one of which is a solo for the 43 year-old actor.

Jamie Dornan is open for a Barb & Star sequel, which is truly music to my ears. But he admitted that the movie's release in the midst of COVID meant that far few people saw the project than anticipated. But if we all keep spreading the word of this delightfully ridiculous title then perhaps the chatter will get loud enough that we'll get some sort of follow-up project. Hey, a guy can dream.

As I've mentioned, Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar is streaming now on Hulu. No sequel is on the 2025 movie release list or beyond, so I'll just keep re-watching and quoting back each line.

What 2025 movies will we be talking about this year? As we’re just a few weeks into January, it’s too early to tell, but I was so pleased with my first trip to the movie theater in the new year. I went to see One Of Them Days, and had so much fun with the Keke Palmer and SZA pairing. As my One Of Them Days review notes, it’s a blast of a buddy comedy about two women who have to wander around their neighborhood in Los Angeles to make their rent money in a matter of a handful of hours. Along with other critics loving it too, I’m so happy it won the box office during its opening weekend, because I’ve seen too many movies in the subgenre go unnoticed in recent years.

Keke Palmer and SZA (along with executive producer Issa Rae and writer Syreeta Singleton) absolutely deserve this moment of being one of the few female-driven comedies to break into the mainstream and make bank during its theatrical release. It’s genuinely such a fun time, and I know I missed laughing out loud in a theater with strangers. In honor of its release, I want to highlight five other female buddy comedies that have come out in recent years that I don’t think had the same buzz.

Joy Ride (2023)

One movie that made it high on our list of best comedies of 2023 is Adele Lim’s Joy Ride. When it came out the summer of 2023, I found it to be such a hilarious movie with an ensemble cast. Starring Broadway’s Ashley Park, Everything Everywhere All At Once’s Stephanie Hsu and newcomers Sherry Cola and Sabrina Wu, the movie follows Park’s Audrey and her best friend Lolo as they travel to China to meet her birth family (she’s adopted) for the first time and close a business deal all at once. However, during the trip things go very awry, and so raunchy that a K-pop version of “WAP” is involved.

While it’s very R-rated, it also includes a refreshing take on female friendship. CinemaBlend even gave the movie 4 out of 5 stars in our Joy Ride review. However, it totally bombed at the box office, making $15 million worldwide. It’s time to give it some love!

Stream Joy Ride on STARZ.
Rent/Buy Joy Ride on Amazon.

Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar (2021)

If you’re a fan of SNL, chances are you’re also a fan of Kristen Wiig, and her comedic shenanigans. The comic co-wrote and starred in a movie called Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar that is right up her alley of hilarity. It has Wiig and her co-writer/star Annie Mumolo playing middle-aged best friends who leave their home in Nebraska for a vacation in Vista Del Mar, Florida. Wiig pulls double duty as a ridiculous but very funny villain named Sharon Fisherman, who has a vendetta against Vista Del Mar, who sends her agent Edgar (played by Fifty Shades of Grey’s Jamie Dornan) to assist her in her master plan.

Barb and Star then get caught up in Sharon and Edgar’s plot amidst their holiday, and it’s just tons of goofy fun. The reason why a lot of people likely missed out on it is because it’s one of those movies that came out at the wrong time. The comedy was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then released on premium VOD in early 2021.

Stream Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar on Hulu. Stream Barb & Star for free on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Barb & Star on Amazon.

Unpregnant (2020)

Another solid female buddy comedy that has come out in the last few years that I loved was Max’s Unpregnant. The movie is specifically a road trip comedy starring The White Lotus’ Haley Lu Richardson as Veronica and Euphoria’s Barbie Ferreira as Bailey. The movie is about a teen whose life-plans get sidetracked when she gets pregnant and can’t get an abortion in her state of Missouri. So, Veronica and her former best friend Bailey drive to the closest clinic, all the way in New Mexico to get the procedure done.

Even though this movie came out five years ago at this point, I still think about it every so often for the on point chemistry and fun between its leads and the important social commentary it has on abortion access in the U.S. Its writer/director Rachel Lee Goldenberg had her own experience with abortion and the topic is handled with honesty and care. The movie came out exclusively for Max in 2020, so I think it just wasn’t on a lot of people’s radars.

Stream Unpregnant on Max.

Plan B (2021)

In a similar vein to Unpregnant, I’d also recommend checking out Hulu’s Plan B. This is also a coming-of-age comedy about two women navigating the troubling waters of contraception access in the U.S. In this movie, helmed by actress Natalie Morales, two teenaged friends, a sheltered Indian teen unexpectedly loses her virginity at a party her more outgoing friend Lupe has pressured her to throw while her parents are out of town. When she realizes the condom they used might not have been effective, they rush to find a Plan B pill. However, the closest they will be able to track down is in another city in South Dakota.

The leads in this, Kuhoo Verma and Victoria Moroles, are not well-known actresses, but they absolutely crush in this very funny buddy comedy. As a streaming release, we truly have no idea if this has been watched a lot or not, but considering I don’t often hear it mentioned, it deserves a place on this list as well.

Stream Plan B on Hulu.

Babes (2024)

Last but not least, is a comedy that came out last year, but also seemed to slip through the cracks. As a huge fan of Broad City, I was so excited to see Ilana Glazer in Babes and it does not disappoint. While the last two buddy comedies on this list were about two women trying not to be pregnant, this one is about a single woman who decides to have her baby after having a whirlwind one night stand.

I appreciated Babes, not only for its blast of a pairing with Glazer and Michelle Buteau, but because of the honest conversations underneath about what happens during pregnancy (from a hilarious woman’s perspective – Glazer wrote it after getting pregnant herself) along with it really honing in on the complicated friendship between its two leads. But, Babes also sadly bombed at the box office, with a haul of just $3.9 million.

Stream Babes on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Babes on Amazon.

I’m so happy to see a lot more female-driven buddy comedies in recent years – including the likes of more mainstream buddy comedies like Booksmart, Do Revenge and Bottoms, which are also amazing! In honor of One Of Them Days showing these comedies have a theatrical audience, I can’t wait for Hollywood to make more of these movies. If you want to see more of these types of stories like I do, go out of your way to watch them in theaters or right when they hit streaming.

There are few (if any) movies released in the last few years that have made me laugh quite as hard as Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar. Ranking fifth on my personal Top 10 of 2021, it is a comedy that puts zero limitations on extreme silliness, and it works for multiple viewings because there are a lot of jokes one can miss while stuck in a fit of hysterics. I feel as though I can speak for a lot of fans in wishing that we will someday get a sequel featuring the main characters (the opportunities for a new rhyming title are boundless, but the chances for it feel slim, and star Jamie Dornan's past comments about the potential project succinctly explain why.

While Dornan is best known to audiences for playing the serious, domineering Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades trilogy, he shows a completely different side of himself in Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar playing Edgar Pagét – the passion-filled henchman for supervillainess Sharon Fisherman who ultimately becomes a hero thanks to the influence of the titular characters. He is hilarious in the role, and he has previously revealed in an interview with Collider that he has reached out to brilliant co-writers Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo about a potential follow-up, but he isn't particularly optimistic that we'll ever get to see a sequel. He told the site in spring 2024,

As Jamie Dornan references, the release that Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar got in 2021 was not what was planned for the film when it was first developing. Lionsgate produced the comedy with the expectation of giving it a theatrical release in the summer of 2020... but then the world shut down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many other notable titles during that time, the movie was delayed but never got a wide release on the big screen, as distribution instead pivoted to premium video-on-demand.

Jamie Dornan laments the fact that Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mara never got the exposure that it deserved, and he feels that if it hadn't been for the pandemic, the tone of conversation surrounding a potential sequel would be wholly different. He continued,

Given the way the world works and media is discovered these, it's not impossible that Barb And Star could someday get a proper discovery a la the passion for Suits that erupted with the show streaming on Netflix, and such an event could reignite discussions of a sequel. For now, however, we'll just have to revel in the magic that is the singular movie and do their part of share it with others who will love it (and on that note, I'll point out that it's currently available to stream with a Hulu subscription).

Timing is everything, no matter what the subject at hand may be. Releasing a potential blockbuster is certainly one of those fields where strategy is key, and when it comes to the movies we’re about to discuss, it just was sadly a case of wrong place, wrong time.

Watchmen

If co-writer/director Zack Snyder’s adaptation of Watchmen had been released at any point other than the start of the MCU’s boom, it might have seen better box office returns. While the movie still holds up, one has to wonder if an era with larger IMAX capacity would have done this movie better.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

2015 was a good year for spy movies, with Kingsman: The Secret Service and Spectre both doing rather well at the box office. So maybe Guy Ritchie’s beloved The Man from U.N.C.L.E. should have thought about releasing in early 2016 instead, as the film’s breezy antidote to Daniel Craig’s James Bond arc could have been better appreciated.

The Rocketeer

The Rocketeer is one of the classic examples of a movie that had too much competition. With summer 1991 offering the likes of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Terminator 2: Judgement Day, there was little room in people’s hearts for an underrated Disney take on comic book heroism. 

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

It was almost instantaneously decided that Edgar Wright’s cinematic adaptation of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World would eventually be a cult classic. Flopping in theaters, the people who actually saw it kept the torch lit for future fans to discover. Perhaps Inception had better legs than Universal had thought. 

Alita: Battle Angel

There’s still a dedicated fan base who want to see a sequel to Robert Rodriguez’s adaptation of Alita: Battle Angel. This would-be blockbuster’s debut saw it as the final 20th Century Fox movie to be released before the 2019 Disney/Fox merger’s completion; an event that would see various projects cancelled, sold off, or get lost in the shuffle.  

Tron

Nobody knew just how white hot E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial was going to be in the summer of 1982. Dominating the box office for a stretch that’s unheard of in the current market, Disney’s experimental sci-fi movie Tron was a casualty during that reign. Moved from a Christmas slot staked out in that same year, the arcade game wound up making more money than this cult classic would take at the movies.

The Last Voyage Of The Demeter

If you’re trying to craft a horror hit, even if you’re uncertain about the IP, a Halloween release date is your best chance at success. While director André Øvredal’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark bucked that trend with its well played August 2019 release, 2023 would see his film The Last Voyage of the Demeter crash into the rocks of misfortune.

Gremlins 2: The New Batch

Six years can make a difference when you’re trying to follow the next big thing. Gremlins 2: The New Batch taught the world that lesson as it failed to capture its 1984 predecessor’s box office bonanza in 1990. Between a crowded year at the box office, and the arrival of so many imitators throughout that stretch of time, it was hard for this actually well-liked picture to last past midnight.

The Thing

Maybe a major studio with two alien-centric movies should be a bit careful in how they release them. As if John Carpenter’s The Thing wasn’t disturbing enough on its own, the fact that the movie shared cinematic air with E.T.: the Extra-terrestrial not only buried the picture, it made it look even more frightening. Lucky for the world The Thing found its feet on VHS, and all was right with the world. 

Blade Runner

Sometimes a classic needs to give the world a little more time to catch up. Thanks to the meteoric rise of E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial in 1982’s box office calendar, director Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner seemed destined to obscurity. However, when the picture landed in rental stores quicker than Steven Spielberg’s cinematic phenomenon, people were ready to dive in. 

The Last Action Hero

Believe it or not, heading into the theatrical release of The Last Action Hero, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s meta action/comedy was being touted as “the big ticket for ‘93!” And then a scrappy upstart student film called Jurassic Park was unleashed, just two days earlier, and the rest was history faster than you could say “Big mistake.” 

Doctor Sleep

November 2019 didn’t do many movies favors when it came to cashing in on existing IP. While Mike Flanagan’s Doctor Sleep had a good head of steam heading into its release into multiplexes, its arrival was met by the surprising box office victory of Midway. If only it had gone toe to toe with Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, perhaps the Halloween season could have booked more butts at The Overlook. 

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was a movie that underperformed so horribly, it closed Square Pictures’ doors not that long after they first opened. While one could debate when the right time was to release an ambitious video game tie-in flick, it certainly wasn’t in the same stretch where Legally Blonde was conquering in pink and Shrek was making its name. 

Surviving Christmas

Long before the Hallmark Channel somehow convinced people it’s ok to watch Christmas movies year long, the Ben Affleck-led holiday comedy Surviving Christmas was a huge example of releasing a movie way out of season. Opening on October 22nd, 2004, the only defense this forgotten flameout has is that it was probably trying to beat The Polar Express and Christmas with the Kranks to the punch. 

Black Widow

Marvel’s Black Widow should have been the massive homecoming for the MCU that the early pandemic world was looking for. Unfortunately, this was also the time that Disney+’s short-lived Premier Access program was tested, in order to entice audiences to enjoy the film at home. Scarlett Johansson’s eventual lawsuit was only the beginning of the fallout, as the film performed nowhere near the level the MCU brass expected.

Turning Red

A week after 2022’s The Batman crushed it at the early pandemic box office, Disney/Pixar’s Turning Red tried to make a savvy pivot as a Disney+ streaming original. Though the film had an eventual theatrical re-release, the picture still failed to make a proper stamp on the box office.

Tenet

Literally the first movie that reopened movie theaters after the 2020 COVID-19 shutdowns, Christopher Nolan’s Tenet became a champion of post-shutdown cinema. It also did as well as it could in the earlier, much more limited market that was available to theatrical titles; which only made it an eventual IMAX 70mm repertory favorite. 

Jersey Girl

Gigli was a theatrical bomb that was so devastating that its effects weren’t only felt by Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s ill-advised rom-com. With fears that Kevin Smith’s Jersey Girl would also crater as a result, the picture was tweaked to limit the appearance of Bennifer 1.0 in the film. It didn’t matter, because Smith’s heart on its sleeve family dramedy still tanked. 

The Village 

There’s a case to be made that M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village should have either been his first project, or a later career release. Riding the wave of “twist” laden movies like The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs, the film was marketed as a spooky, twisted movie…which hides the actually sweet nature of its cerebral drama. 

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar

In a more traditional period of release, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar could have been a surprise hit that raked in box office gold. But as a 2021 release that was eventually turned into a PVOD exclusive debut, Kristen Wiig and Anne Mumulo’s sunny fun seekers weren’t given the spotlight they truly deserved. 

Crossroads

Ok, get all the jokes out now. No, Crossroads isn’t a movie that never should have been released. While it was a decent hit at the 2002 box office, this could have been a white-hot hit if it was produced and released earlier in Britney Spears’ career as a pop princess.

Haunted Mansion

20 years after the Eddie Murphy starring spin on the same Disneyland attraction arrived, Haunted Mansion was the reboot that hoped to get it right. But with a critical drubbing, and a non-Halloween release date, director Justin Simien’s new tale in an old haunt was barely a ghost by spooky season.

Tron: Legacy

When all was said and done, Tron: Legacy actually did pretty well for itself in a December 2010 release slot. However, in the era where Pirates of the Caribbean, and eventually the MCU, would become Disney’s preferred ATMs, the legacy-quel would act as a minor point of light before another franchise dark age.

Solo: A Star Wars Story

While Star Wars started as a summer-based franchise, the Sequel Trilogy era saw The Force Awakens relocate the series to its current Christmas holiday tradition. So by the time 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story became a reality, its attempt to return to the May release slot of its youth was seen as a massive misstep. 

Star Trek: Nemesis

In 2002, Star Trek’s movies were on a bit of a roll. At least, the franchise was in a comfortable enough position that Paramount Pictures brass decided that releasing Star Trek: Nemesis against The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was a calculated risk worth taking. It was not, even with the presence of baby Tom Hardy playing a clone of Patrick Stewart.

UHF

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Batman, Ghostbusters II, and Honey, I Shrunk The Kids all came out in the summer of 1989. Weird Al Yankovic’s UHF…also happened. That pretty much sums up how audiences reacted to the cult classic in its initial release phase, but history only went on to prove that maybe Al should have sold his bologna in another space on the calendar.

Brightburn

Points have to be awarded to Brightburn, as the James Gunn-produced mashup of The Omen and Superman not only predated superhero fatigue, it actually happened before both of those franchises would make resurgences in popular culture. If only this R-rated thrill ride had opened with a little more distance from Avengers: Endgame’s debut almost a month prior.

The Core

It was bad enough that 2003’s The Core was unceremoniously delayed from its original release date in late 2002. But when the Columbia shuttle disaster killed all seven astronauts aboard roughly a month before the movie actually made it into the world, the timing couldn’t have been worse. 

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Between The Matrix Revolutions and Return of the King was a window that should have worked for potential 2003 blockbusters. Yet between potential Russell Crowe fatigue, and inflated production costs, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World saw the wind unjustly robbed from its sails. 

The Matrix Resurrections

The Matrix Resurrections was a curious prospect from day one, as The Wachowski’s original trilogy seemed pretty open and shut. That unexpectedly meta approach, meshed with a controversial day-and-date streaming debut in 2021, marked a supposed low point in a once-dominating franchise. 

West Side Story

December 2021 was a bloodbath when it came to the glut of movies released in that very month. With the Disney/Fox empire pushing a lot of movies out in this early pandemic season of cinema, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake found itself crushed up against The King’s Man, Nightmare Alley, and Spider-Man: No Way Home…and that was just the competition from its siblings.

Steve Jobs

Part of Steve Jobs’ struggles manifested early, as a David Fincher-directed/Christian Bale-starring version of the Aaron Sorkin scripted biopic fell apart, despite holding great promise. The movie that resulted, with Danny Boyle directing an all-star cast led by Michael Fassbender, is a magnetic opus that deserves more love than it got.

Unfortunately, the ill-advised Ashton Kutcher vehicle Jobs may have played a part in sinking this beaut; along with an odd awards season release strategy…rolled out in the month of October. Which, just like a lot of the films we've just discussed, is prime proof that a movie at the wrong place in time can be unjustly seen as a failure. 

Contrary to what we’d guess by looking at even the most recent picture of Jamie Dornan, the Irish actor has just turned the big 4-0. Following the Fifty Shades Of Grey lead turning a year older on Sunday, he shared how he was celebrating and it’s honestly legendary. It looks like Dornan had a backyard bull ride, cowboy hat and all. 

Jamie Dornan took to Instagram this week to share a short video of himself on a mechanical bull having a spin round before falling off the saddle. Take a look: 

The actor posted the video with the caption “This is 40,” and I’m absolutely here for this being the way he rang in his latest birthday. The mechanical bull is in a blown-up arena and looks to be placed in the middle of a backyard party. Yes, you can rent such a  mechanical bull in certain places for hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on where you rent it from. It looks like the perfect way to feel young again, whilst also challenging yourself with a difficult and daring activity.   

Jamie Dornan has had a heck of a 39th year, between his hilarious role Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar finding a loving audience, starring in Belfast and releasing his series The Tourist. 2021’s Belfast allowed the actor to portray a role from his homeland of Ireland alongside director Kenneth Branagh. The movie, and Dornan’s role in it, went on to receive awards buzz and win the Best Original Screenplay Oscar amongst six other nominations from the Academy. 

Dornan’s return to television in The Tourist also had audiences raving about his acting chops. The series that is available to stream with an HBO Max subscription is a thriller about a man who wakes up in an Australian outback with amnesia and his past ready to catch up quickly catching up to him. 

Among his 40 years on Earth, Jamie Dornan has spent just shy of half his life as an actor in Hollywood films and television, starting with a role in 2006’s Marie Antoinette and then catapulting higher with the popular series Once Upon a Time and The Fall. Oh, and of course in 2013, he was cast as Christian Grey in the adaptation of the popular erotica novel Fifty Shades of Grey. 

While you’d think the actor might have a chip on his shoulder about starring in the sultry films in hindsight, he's shared that he does not regret starring in Fifty Shades of Grey. Jamie Dornan also recently said that it “transformed” his life, fans loved it and it
ultimately helped provide for his family. Next, the actor will star alongside Gal Gadot in Netflix’s action film Heart of Stone. While we wait for more news on his roles, happy birthday, Jamie! 

You want to know someone that I’ve come to really enjoy over the last decade? Kristin Wiig. From her time on Saturday Night Live to some of her latest movie releases, she’s always been an actress that has steadily made me laugh no matter what role she’s in. 

But even with everything she’s done, there are surely some roles that stand out amongst the rest. So if you’re looking for the ultimate ranking of Kristen Wiig’s best movies, here are my personal picks. 

10. Whip It (2009)

Whip It is a coming of age sports comedy starring a variety of famous faces like Elliot Page, Drew Barrymore and others. It might be hard to believe that Kristen Wiig was also a part of this film, but she played Maggie, a rollerblader as part of a roller derby team and forms a close bond with Bliss, a young teenager who lies about her age to join the team. 

The reason why I put Wiig’s performance on here versus some of her others is that I really like her role as almost the caregiver. Her scenes are few and far between within the film, but they stand out amongst the rest. I especially love the moments where Bliss (played by Elliot Page) goes to live with her for some time and they have a genuine conversation about the aspects of parenting. 

Wiig’s acting in this film was genuinely really good and showed her skills as a dramatic actor mixed in with comedy. The only reason why it’s so low is because with so many stars, she didn’t get as much screen time as she should have. 

9. Adventureland (2009)

As someone who grew up only twenty minutes away from the actual park this movie was based on, I’m a teensy bit biased, but I love Kristen Wiig in Adventureland. This coming of age flick is all about young adults working at the park over the summer, but boy does she and her regular on-screen co-star, Bill Hader, steal the show. 

Seriously, Adventureland is one of Bill Hader’s best roles, but it’s also one of Wiig’s best roles too. Their chemistry is to die for and they make the perfect pair in running this theme park with an iron grip and yet at the same time creating hysterical moments that stick with you for hours. I genuinely loved the heck out of his movie and trust me, if you’re a fan of these two, you’ll live this film too. 

However, they do have another spot on this list together, so keep an eye out for that. 

8. Mother! (2017)

It might be strange for me to put a Darren Aronofsky psychological horror film down here for Kristin Wiig, but hear me out - she’s actually terrifying in Mother!

She’s barely in the film, which is why it's down here so low, but her few interactions with Jennifer Lawrence’s character chill me. Her line delivery is such a stark contrast from her usually repertoire of movies that it makes me feel really weird. You’d never picture Wiig to be in a situation where they are literally destroying the home of someone but here we are. 

Wiig definitely has the potential to be great in more psychological horrors, and I think that Mother! proves that. It’s a shame she didn’t get as much screen time as she deserved. 

7. How To Train Your Dragon Series (2010-2019)

I’m not the only one who ugly cried when the How To Train Your Dragon series ended, right? This series was such a shining light in the world of animation and the score was phenomenal as well. The voice cast was also stellar, but one that always stood out to me was Wiig’s voice as Ruffnut. 

While Wiig is no stranger to lending her voice to projects, I personally love her in How To Train Your Dragon, considering she was in all three movies. Her character was not smart but damn, was she a warrior and a capable dragon fighter, and Wiig’s voice was perfect for that. She delivered those lines exactly as they should be and made Ruffnut a character to remember. 

It also helps that she was hilarious whenever she would try and get with Eret. You have to love her dedication. 

6. The Martian (2015)

The Martian was a fantastic film with another stellar cast, most of which you all know about, from Matt Damon to Donald Glover to Sebastian Stan, but Kristen Wiig was also a huge part of this film and played the NASA media relations director. 

Again, this film only continues to prove my point that Wiig should be in more dramatic roles. While you can still clearly tell that she delivers her lines with a bit of that comedic flair, she really shined in this role, showing the difficulties of being the head of something as big as the media for NASA.

The Martian was one of 2015's best films, and she, alongside its great cast, was a big reason why. 

5. The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty (2013)

This movie always makes me cry a little because I relate to Walter Mitty so much. He’s someone who just lives in his head and has all these fantasy worlds all painted out, but he’s still a normal human being with normal crushes, and he happens to have a crush on Kristen Wiig’s character, Cheryl. 

This is such an underrated gem for Wiig, because she and Ben Stiller have such great chemistry. Not only is this one of Ben Stiller’s best roles, but Wiig is rocking it here too. Watching them feels like viewing a real relationship. It doesn't feel forced and the pacing is just right. They have their own problems that they work through to find their happy ending. 

I just love them together in this, from the moment their scenes start. 

4. The Skeleton Twins (2014)

While Adventureland was the first time we got to see the chemistry between Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader, The Skeleton Twins capitalize on that. The film stars the two as twin siblings who are both going through the worst times of their lives and have to rely on each other to get better somehow.

This was one of the first Kristen Wiig films that genuinely made me cry. As someone who grew up with an older brother and having that special sibling relationship, this movie paints it perfectly how sometimes it’s awesome and sometimes it’s not, and both Wiig and Hader act their butts off to show it - and it works out beautifully. 

If I could, I’d erase my mind and watch this again for the first time just to experience their excellent chemistry, but I can’t do that. However, if you’re looking for a film where both Wiig and Hader are amazing, check this one out. 

3. Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar (2021)

This movie is just the best. 

This release not only made me laugh so much but remind me of how great of a comedic actress Kristen Wiig is. 

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is a comedy about lifelong friends leaving their hometown and going on a crazy adventure, running into ridiculous situations that will surely make you snicker. But what really makes this film so great is the comedic timing of both Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, who both wrote the film. 

They’re just so funny. I wish this film had been released into theaters instead of going to streaming because it deserved to be a box office hit. While I do think that Wiig is great in more dramatic roles, these comedic ones have always been where she’s showing her prowess as an actress. 

2. Despicable Me Series (2013-2017)

How To Train Your Dragon is a fantastic series in and of itself, but I feel like there are so many characters that a lot of the fantastic voice actors can get overshadowed. In the Despicable Me series, Kristen Wiig doesn't get overshadowed at all voicing Lucy, the love-interest, and later wife, of Gru. 

There’s just something about her voice that makes me smile every time, from how she speaks with the little girls to her action scenes where she kicks butt to her awkward yet cute dates with Gru in Despicable Me 2, she played the perfect badass woman in animated form and showed off how great she is as a voice actor. 

1. Bridesmaids (2011)

You knew this was coming from the beginning, don’t lie. Bridesmaids is the best Kristen Wiig movie, no doubt. While the Bridesmaids cast is iconic in every way, Wiig is the person who starred and made this movie so freaking funny. 

Written by Wiig and Annie Mumolo (who also wrote Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar), this film has some of the funniest moments in a romantic comedy, from the breakout performance of Melissa McCarthy to Maya Rudolph’s wedding dress scene to Wiig’s drunk performance on the airplane, it just always makes you laugh. 

But there’s something so compelling about Wiig’s character, Annie, that I relate to on a personal level. She’s someone who was given a crap hand in life and just wants to try and turn that around, but it’s up to her to make that change - in hilarious ways, of course, and still become a better person regardless. The whole entire story is so funny and Wiig only makes it funnier with her acting, leading this to be her best movie so far. 

I’m sure that over time, this list will change and we’ll see Wiig in even more amazing roles, but for now, these are some of the best that you should definitely watch right now. I, for one, am going to rewatch Bridesmaids for the millionth time. 

In reflection, 2021 was a bizarre year for the film world. Thanks to the rollout of vaccines, movie-going became a real thing again (a joyous return for cinephiles around the world), and it created a release calendar featuring a mishmash of long-delayed blockbusters and features that managed to successfully complete production amid the restrictions created by the pandemic. The end result is a 12-month slate that, if I’m being honest, isn’t one of my favorites since I started working for CinemaBlend over a decade ago – but all the same, there were some precious diamonds to excavate from the rough.

Including both theatrical and streaming releases, I watched over 100 new films that were released since January, and with a bunch of pruning and swapping I’ve culled together my list of the 10 best movies of 2021. A number of excellent films didn’t make the cut (you’ll find my honorable mentions at the bottom), but these, in my personal opinion, are the greatest of the great.

10. Swan Song

There is an extent to which fiction has taught us to fear technology. Stories about the future have certainly demonstrated the magic inherent in advancement, but simultaneously it is regularly held up to exemplify mankind’s arrogance and is depicted as a gateway to downfall. Because of this, I went into Benjamin Cleary’s Swan Song with specific expectations about how it would handle a plot centering on a terminally ill man being replaced with a clone, unbeknownst to his friends and family… but then I was delightfully surprised.

Cleary demonstrates an awareness of this kind of expectation, and he plays with it in incredible fashion – unfolding a science-fiction drama that is filled with both tension and emotion. It’s a challenging project for Mahershala Ali, playing two characters who have a fair amount of face-to-face time, but every moment of his turn is beautiful, awesome, and subtle.

9. Nightmare Alley

Any project made by a filmmaker coming off a Best Picture win at the Academy Awards earns inherent curiosity. The clout of winning the prestigious trophy often provides the opportunity to attempt something one is particularly passionate about. In the case of Guillermo del Toro, he has followed up the remarkable The Shape Of Water with Nightmare Alley, and it’s a phenomenal neo-noir venture from the exceptional writer/director.

Bradley Cooper is at the top of his game as the dangerously ambitious Stanton Carlisle, but the real show-stopper in the cast is Cate Blanchett, who was born to play a femme fatale of this caliber. The world depicted by del Toro is not at all one you want to live in, but it’s fascinating and compelling all the same.

8. The Night House

I had one of my stranger cinematic experiences of 2021 watching David Bruckner’s The Night House, in that I saw it in a screening room all by myself. Typically I prefer to watch horror movies with a crowd, as it’s fun to feel the energy of the room after a big scare – but in this case it felt like a personal 4D theater. Like Rebecca Hall’s Beth, I was all alone, and it perfectly enhanced the haunting themes of the story and the main character’s feelings of isolation. It wasn’t just how I watched it, though: the film is in and of itself outstanding, and the best example of its genre from 2021.

There are a couple of moments in The Night House that sufficiently freaked me out far more than horror movies typically can, and the same can be said for the conclusions that it reaches in its meditations on death, mourning, and the afterlife. Rebecca Hall is phenomenal – both capturing the dramatic complexity of a person dealing with loss, and expressing an amazing sardonic attitude that adds surprising moments of levity.

7. The Green Knight

From Ain’t Them Bodies Saints to A Ghost Story to Pete’s Dragon, writer/director David Lowery is a filmmaker who surprises every time out by always delivering something different, and that’s almost a shame because after The Green Knight I would be satisfied seeing him continue to make medieval dramas for the rest of his career. Remaining unflappably faithful to the era depicted, it’s one of the most gorgeous movies of the year as well as a rich approach to the classic hero’s journey navigated with an excellent performance by Dev Patel.

There is a great complexity to The Green Knight’s structure, as it plays out a series of vignettes while occasionally manipulating time, but it is ceaselessly fascinating and awe-inspiring. The movie also features one of my favorite endings of the year, as it sums up everything that the film is trying to stay, and successfully stuns you as the credits start to roll.

6. The French Dispatch

While it’s not exactly common, I always enjoy seeing a filmmaker I like take on an anthology project, as it generally provides them an opportunity to flex a number of different storytelling muscles in one go – and it’s always fun to see the range on display. Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch is as wonderful an example as one can give of this, as it’s an end-to-end delight that feels like five movies in one.

The film hits a high point early, as the second article, “The Concrete Masterpiece” is equal parts clever and hilarious, but every chapter is weird and fascinating in its own way, and textbook Wes Anderson material. The writer/director’s entire filmography is worth celebrating, and The French Dispatch is one of his best.

5. Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar

Josh Greenbaum’s Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar is a comedy so phenomenal that I actually felt compelled to double-check it prior to writing to finalizing this ranking. When I first watched the film back in February, I became breathless from laughing so hard, and 10 months later I became curious to see if it the movie was really as really as funny as I remembered it. Not only did I confirm my original sentiments, but I bumped the movie up two places.

It’s hard to know what to make of Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar after its first few minutes, featuring a Barbara Streisand sing-a-long and the setup of a bizarre supervillain plot – but as soon as Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo’s titular characters arrive on screen the movie is unceasing hilarity that constantly surprises with its unrepentant weirdness. Not only am I excited to rewatch it over and over again in the years to come, but proselytize it at every opportunity.

4. Dune

Denis Villenueve’s Dune is admittedly not a complete movie. As advertised from the start of its development, it’s an adaptation of only the first half of the book on which it is based, and the full arcs of its narrative and characters won’t be completed until Dune: Part Two arrives in 2023. Even with that being said, however, it still exists as one of the great cinematic accomplishments of the year, and a stunning execution of a spectacular vision.

The original sci-fi epic by author Frank Herbert was long deemed unadaptable in its full scope and scale, but Denis Villeneuve has dismissed that notion by perfectly capturing every ounce of the book’s spirit and intention on the big screen. It’s both brutal and beautiful, and a gift for the senses, inviting your eyes to widen beyond physical capacity and melodiously rapping on your ear drums with Hans Zimmer’s genius score. It’s a remarkable work to behold, and a successful sequel will only enhance its greatness further.

3. Spider-Man: No Way Home

Up until this month, I can’t say I was all that impressed by the output of Marvel Studios in 2021. While I did very much enjoy the Disney+ series Loki, I was let down by various parts of WandaVision, The Falcon And The Winter Soldier and What If, and not particularly blown away by Black Widow, Shang-Chi, or Eternals. This month, however, delivered us Hawkeye (the best yet of the streaming shows), and Jon Watts’ Spider-Man: No Way Home: one of the best blockbusters that the franchise has produced.

As much as I love the way the movie opens up the multiverse and re-explores the big screen history of the wall-crawler, what I truly love about Spider-Man: No Way Home is its spectacular advancement of the Tom Holland incarnation of the eponymous hero – the movie serving as an amazing capstone to what turns out to be an unexpected origin trilogy for the character. It’s everything that you want it to be, and leaves the hero in a intriguing place for future stories.

2. I Care A Lot

In movies about bad people doing bad things to other bad people, there is typically at least one character with whom audiences can connect emotionally – recognizing them as a relative innocent caught up in a terrible world. J. Blakeson’s I Care A Lot doesn’t bother with that formality. Instead, it’s a film that is solely about soulless monsters and criminals who are only out for themselves and those that they personally care about… and while you might imagine it would be hard to connect with such a story, it’s a remarkable experience watching them bite and claw at each other for an hour and 58 minutes.

Rosamund Pike's Marla Grayson is so deliciously fucked up that she would send Gone Girl’s Amy Dunne running up a tree – but she is surrounded by a perfect ensemble who are all at the top of their game (appearing in only a couple of scenes, Chris Messina delivers one of my favorite performances of the year). As is the case with most con movies, it’s best to know as little as possible, but once you watch it, you immediately want to watch it again.

1. Licorice Pizza

Paul Thomas Anderson is clearly fascinated by 1970s Los Angeles. A third of his filmography now has used the setting as a backdrop for his storytelling – which makes a fair amount of sense when you consider that it was the world in which he grew up. Given what we’ve seen, hopefully it is something that he continues to do for the rest of his career as a filmmaker, because the three films represent some of the best work he has ever done. Boogie Nights and Inherent Vice are brilliant (the latter being previously ranked as my favorite film of 2014), and Licorice Pizza is another genius addition to the canon.

Unbound by structure, the movie drops the audience into the lives of Cooper Hoffman’s Gary Valentine and Alan Haim’s Alan Kane, and it’s a joyful experience watching their admittedly bizarre friendship grow and evolve through various enterprising ventures and ambitious undertakings. Licorice Pizza is gorgeous, passionate, honest, and enrapturing filmmaking, and the best movie of 2021.

Honorable Mentions: Edgar Wright’s The Sparks Brothers, Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Lost Daughter, Morgan Neville’s Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, and Joe Wright’s Cyrano.

The “new normal” continues to shift and evolve in Hollywood. Because of major shifts implemented in 2020, the way that audiences interact with movies has drastically changed – and might not ever go back to the way things were. Streaming options and theatrical exclusives now compete for the same audiences, so while there are always going to be multiplex-packing blockbusters like Spider-Man: No Way Home, there are an equal amount of gems to be found on expanding players like AppleTV+, HBO Max, and Netflix.

This year did feel like a return to a standard release calendar, at least compared to 2020. And when scanning the landscape of viable candidates, there were a lot more than 10 movies I wanted to single out. But these are the 10 movies I saw this year, both in theaters and on select streaming services, that changed me, moved me, and will stay with me for years to come. Starting with a movie that we never thought was going to see the light of day.

10. Zack Snyder’s Justice League

This choice is a celebration of so many historic factors, it had to make the list. Fans told fables about the legendary “Snyder Cut” of Justice League, then took to social media to fight Warner Bros., toxic film reporters, and a skeptical pop-culture community who bought into the fallacy that the movie didn’t exist. The best part about Zack Snyder’s Justice League? The movie was fantastic, a drastic improvement over the theatrical cut that ends up being the best DCEU movie ever released… which almost wasn’t released.  

9. I Care A Lot

A vicious, pitch-black comedy written and directed by J Blakeson, I Care A Lot stashes some delicious twists up its sleeve as it tells the engrossing story of an ice-cold con artist (Rosamund Pike) who takes advantage of the elderly by obtaining legal guardianship over them. Pike is both sinister and brilliant, as expected, but the movie excels as the story escalates because Pike’s character lays claim to a woman she should have left alone. Go into I Care A Lot knowing as little as possible, and enjoy this whip-smart roller coaster ride peppered with stellar performances from actors sinking their teeth into a script with a heart of coal. 

8. The Green Knight

An epic medieval fantasy that over delivers, even by the standards set by David Lowery (Pete’s Dragon, A Ghost Story). The director adapts the 14th century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight into an imaginative, provocative tale of bad choices, second chances, legacy, and environmentalism. What? Yes, Lowery’s text is so rich in symbolism that you can translate Sir Gawain’s journey through numerous lenses… and one definitely pertains to our relationship with the planet. Beyond the literal text, Lowery’s visuals and Dev Patel’s performance make The Green Knight one of the year’s most unforgettable features.

7. Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar

The opening scene of the wickedly hysterical Barb and Star alert us to the fact that we’re in for something unexpected. In case you haven’t yet seen this film, I can’t tell you what you are in store for. But I can promise you that co-leads Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, who penned the screenplay, have concocted one of the wackiest, most self-aware spoofs since the first Austin Powers movie, packed to the brim with scream-out-loud gags that are as funny as they are bizarre. But it’s 50 Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan, cutting loose in ways we never thought possible, that steals every ounce of this enjoyable show.  

6. Dune

It’s Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049) doing large-scale science-fiction. You shouldn’t need any more of a recommendation to immediately dig into Dune: Part One. But Dune also seamlessly adapts one of the seminal novels of this genre, transporting audiences to the surface of the distant planet of Arrakis while also plunging us into the royal drama of House Atreides as they fulfill destinies, colonize worlds, and fight to stave off antagonists. The only thing preventing this masterful epic from making it a few notches higher on my Top 10 list is the fact that it’s half of a compelling story, ending on a cliffhanger that, thankfully, Villeneuve will be able to conclude with his excellent, A-list cast. 

5. CODA

I love it when a movie lives up to its insane hype. Usually, films generate buzz at early festivals like Sundance or SXSW, and when larger audiences finally get a chance to watch, we are left scratching our heads at what was so special about the feature. Every once in a while, though, we get a special, heartwarming gift like CODA, which justifies all of the praise it received in the beginning of 2021, and held on to make my Top 5. Welsh actress Emilia Jones lights up the screen as Ruby, the only member of a deaf family who’s able to hear. Will she leave home to study at a special music school, or stay home to care for her relatives. Coming-of-age stories hit the sweet spot when done right, and CODA had me crying my eyes out with a mixture of melancholy and joy. 

4. The Father

There’s nothing more satisfying than a world-class actor servicing a gripping script, which is precisely what we get out of Anthony Hopkins in The Father. The film was released early enough in 2021 to contend for the bizarro Academy Awards, which made adjustments to include more features. And the brilliant drama about an elderly man succumbing to his dementia earned well-deserved Oscars in those two categories: Best Actor, and Best Screenplay. Hopkins is brilliant, suffering from the confusion brought on by his dementia while also keeping us guessing about how much of this is real. And since it was released this year, it qualifies for this list.

3. Belfast

Ninety-seven minutes of pure bliss. Kenneth Branagh’s black-and-white treasure box is a heartfelt ode to his childhood on the politically charged streets of the close-knit Belfast neighborhood, where films, comic books, and the colorful stories spun by his family members (Ciaran Hinds and Judi Dench, both delightful) help young Buddy (Jude Hill) escape the doldrums of life. Belfast honors the bonds of family, as well as the mild pains associated with first loves. And Belfast really soars once co-star Jamie Dornan launches into “Everlasting Love,” easily the second-best Dornan song sequence of the year (after “Edgar’s Prayer” from Barb and Star).

2. Tick, tick… BOOM

Andrew Garfield’s so talented, it makes me angry. Seriously, I turned to my wife halfway through the opening rendition of “30/90” and stated, with all due respect and sincerity, “Man, fuck this dude.” Because what can’t he do? By playing Broadway playwright Jonathan Larson in his earliest days of creative uncertainty, Garfield gives the performance of the year, connecting with both the material and the imaginative direction of the equally brilliant Lin-Manuel Miranda to deliver a triumphant celebration of Larson, of the theater community, of struggling in your 20s as you chase whatever dream you hold on to, and of the power of movie musicals. In a year filled with them, tick, tick… BOOM was the head of the class, and one of the most enjoyable times I had at the movies all year.

1. Spider-Man: No Way Home

If you know anything about me, you know that Spider-Man is my favorite fictional character, in any medium. I grew up collecting his stories in weekly comic books. I devoured his appearances in animated programs, and on The Electric Company. And I’ve worshipped at his cinematic altar ever since Sam Raimi brought him to life in 2002. (Hell, I’m writing a book about Spider-Man’s Hollywood history, so yeah… I’m a fan). Even knowing all that I know about the wallcrawler, I’m still shocked beyond belief that Spider-Man: No Way Home exists. Literally, all of the boxes Marvel needed to check just to make a movie like No Way Home possible are mind-blowing. But it’s the effortless way that director Jon Watts balances a worthy Tom Holland sequel with the elements that honor the franchise’s legacy, producing the most surprising and satisfying Spider-Man film, ever. This was my favorite movie of 2021.

With the world continuing to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic throughout 2021, there have been many times in the last year when all of us have collectively needed a good laugh – and fortunately Hollywood was there for us in that respect. Between some of the best filmmakers in the industry flexing their comedic muscles and surprise hits that came out of nowhere, the last 12 months saw a number of awesome comedy movies hit theaters and streaming services and they made us cackle until it hurt.

To celebrate these awesome cinematic successes, we’ve put together this Top 10 list highlighting the best of the best from the past year. Keeping in mind that the ranking prioritizes funny above all else, let’s dig in!

10. Raya And The Last Dragon

There were a number of funny animated movies released in 2021, including Michael Rianda and Jeff Rowe's The Mitchells vs. The Machines and Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Charise Castro Smith’s Encanto, but in the comedy department the edge belongs to Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada, and Paul Briggs’ Raya And The Last Dragon, earning it the number 10 spot on this list. Its advantage? The effervescent presence of Awkwafina as Sisu.

The young star has proven to be a bright spot in anything she does, and earlier this year she got us laughing hard with her antics as an unconventional mythical hero. Her raspy voice and quick comedic timing translate beautifully in animation, and there is a great buddy rapport with Kelly Marie Tran’s Raya that is as solid a dynamic as any of its kind in live-action in the last year.

9. Free Guy

When properly utilized, Ryan Reynolds can deliver laughs as big as any star in Hollywood, and in 2021 his prime performance was in Shawn Levy’s Free Guy. It’s a very different turn than his cynical, R-rated antics in the Deadpool movies, but few can play ridiculous optimism like he can, and it’s the driving force behind the video game-inspired adventure.

Shawn Levy is a big go-to guy for family-friendly adventure, and on beyond taking advantage of Ryan Reynolds natural charm he has a good deal of fun playing with the tropes of gamer culture and the strange physics that the setting provides. Lil Rel Howery gives a standout supporting performance, and Jodie Comer demonstrates some surprising comedic chops while also being the movie’s big badass.

8. Jungle Cruise

Jaume Collet-Serra’s Jungle Cruise took a hell of a long time to get into theaters, as principal photography was completed all the way back in 2018, but when it did finally hit the big screen and Disney+ this summer, it proved to be worth the wait. In addition to spinning a fun adventure based on the Disneyland ride, the movie also sports some of the most charismatic leads of the year, with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt proving to have great comedic chemistry together.

After years of trying to adapt other classic theme park rides for the big screen, Disney finally managed to match the terrific energy of the first Pirates of the Caribbean with Jungle Cruise. As one would hope, the puns are charmingly bad, but the highlight is the back and forth between Dwayne Johnson’s Captain Frank Wolff and Emily Blunt’s Lily Houghton, who both get to sling some sharp barbs in addition to pulling off some entertaining physical comedy.

7. Bad Trip

Despite my previously established appreciation for the comedy of Eric André, I can’t say that I went into Kitao Sakurai’s Bad Trip with the highest expectations – assuming the “prank” movie genre was pretty well-cornered by Sacha Baron Cohen and the Jackass gang – but limited expectations can provide the best surprises, and this is a case in point.

Those who aren’t into blue/gross-out humor need not apply, but it’s genuinely impressive how much mileage the movie is able to get out of unabashed shamelessness. Not every bit in Bad Trip works, but the ones that do click make you laugh until you need a moment to catch your breath.

6. Werewolves Within

When it comes to end of year lists, any film that is able to successfully juggle genres and tones has opportunity to show up in multiple places, and that’s the position Josh Ruben’s Werewolves Within is in. Just a few days ago I ranked the movie as the fifth best horror feature of 2021, and now it’s time to laud it for how funny it is.

Delivering that special awkward energy that made him such a delight on Veep and Detroiters, Sam Richardson is brilliant as Finn Wheeler, a ranger who finds himself assigned to a mountain town in the midst of a lycanthrope attack, and he is surrounded by an amazing ensemble of character actors who make spectacular comedic fodder as chaos ever escalates. I said it before, and I’ll say it again: Werewolves Within is a strong candidate to be called the best video game movie ever.

5. The Suicide Squad

Most of the comic book movies released in 2021 are ultimately too serious to qualify as one of the best comedies of the year, but James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad is the big exception. The filmmaker’s comedic sensibilities have been a driving force in his work ever since he made his directorial debut with the horror comedy Slither in 2006, and with DC Films giving him the go-ahead to go buck wild with crazy R-rated action for the summer blockbuster, he did just that and created one of the funniest films of the last 12 months.

James Gunn’s ear for witty banter is working at full force in The Suicide Squad, and the spectacular ensemble cast he put together is impeccable in their delivery. It’s actually hard to even nail down which character is the funniest – be it John Cena’ Peacemaker, Sylvester Stallone’s King Shark, Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, or Daniela Melchior – because as soon as your brain puts up a candidate, your brain immediately reminds you of a hysterical sequence that puts someone else in the comedy spotlight.

4. The French Dispatch

Twenty-five years after the release of Bottle Rocket, cinephiles have made it clear that some are delighted by the whimsy of Wes Anderson, and others very much aren’t – but those of who are of the former persuasion got a hell of a lot to love in 2021 with the release of The French Dispatch. With the filmmaker taking a crack at making an anthology feature, the movie is an awesome five-for-the-price-of-one deal (including the wraparound story), and each has a different flavor that inspires big laughs.

The second chapter, “The Concrete Masterpiece,” is The French Dispatch’s funniest, as the premise about the homicidal artist (Benicio Del Toro) is played with perfect pitch, and Adrien Brody is the precise kind ridiculous in his rage flusters – but all of the segments have their own big laughs even among more somber and dramatic moments. It delivers exactly what you want from a Wes Anderson film.

3. Licorice Pizza

Paul Thomas Anderson has made some extremely grim and dark dramas (e.g. There Will Be Blood, The Master, and Magnolia), but some of his best works have been his lighter movies (e.g. Punch Drunk Love, Inherent Vice), and Licorice Pizza is a fantastic addition to the latter canon. It’s the filmmaker’s first crack at making a coming-of-age story, and the youthful energy is possesses is wild, endearing, and joyous.

There’s a terrific rambunctiousness to the hijinks of the lead characters – played flawlessly by Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman – but that’s paired with a wonderful ambitiousness that is genuinely endearing. The executed revenge against Bradley Cooper’s Jon Peters is the movie’s comedic highlight, but there are big laughs throughout, from Gary’s surprise arrest at the Teenage Fair that ends up being a bizarre case of mistaken identity, to Alana’s unfortunate tumble off the back of a motorcycle driven by Sean Penn’s Jack Holden.

2. I Care A Lot

J Blakeson’s I Care A Lot is a different kind of entry on this list, as it’s a comedy, but it also has a heart that is shriveled and black and pumps viscous tar. There isn’t a single redeemable human being among the cast of characters, as they are all either motivated by awful intent or willful ignorance, and it’s disturbing to think that it actually reflects a real part of modern society – but what’s magical about its sociopathic darkness is that it hits a point where it succeeds in being hysterically funny.

While audiences are naturally repelled by bad people doing bad things to good people, the rules are completely different when it’s bad people doing bad things to other bad people, and I Care A Lot is that notion incarnate. Rosamund Pike’s Marla Grayson puts the “devilish” in “devilish grin,” playing a lead even more evil than Gone Girl’s Amy Dunne, and the darkness in the film keeps you guessing and laughing right up until the shocking ending.

1. Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar

After the spectacular success of Paul Feig’s Bridesmaids in 2011, it took nearly a full decade to see the release of a new film written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig – but even if it takes another 10 years for them to make a third feature, it will be worth it if the movie is only half as phenomenal as Josh Greenbaum’s Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar. It is one of the most unrepentantly goofy comedies in recent memory, and far and away the most successful title in 2021 at inducing fits of hysterical laughter.

Critics may be praising Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast, but Jamie Dornan has no greater cinematic moment in the past year than his lovelorn ballad in Barb and Star that has him praying to seagulls on the beach for romantic guidance. The incessant babble produced Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig as the titular leads is miraculous in how consistently funny it manages to be, and Damon Wayans Jr. has some of the best scene-stealing moments of the year as Darlie Bunkle, the world’s least clandestine secret agent. It’s an endless delight, and the best comedy of 2021.

We can only hope that there will be as many movies next year that make us laugh as hard as we did at this selection of titles. For a full look at what’s ahead in the next 12 months, both on the big screen and on streaming, check out our 2022 Movie Release Calendar.

2021 was the year many of us finally stepped into a theater for the first time in a while. After the shutdowns in response to the global pandemic that left movie theaters out of business for months upon months, this past year, cinephiles went back to big movies, especially for the five Marvel offerings, F9: The Fast Saga, No Time To Die and Dune. 

There've been a lot of exciting blockbuster milestones this past year, but here we’re not talking about the big hits. We’re shedding light on the best under-the-radar movies not to sleep on. 

Blue Bayou 

At the beginning of the year, many of us we’re talking about the immigrant drama Minari, but another Korean-American story that slipped below the surface is Justin Chon’s Blue Bayou. This emotional movie from actor-turned-filmmaker Justin Chon (who also stars in it) tells the story of a hard-working family man who must confront being potentially deported from his life in Louisiana as his past catches up to him. 

The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain

There’s been a number of movies about real people this year, such as Spencer, The Eyes of Tammy Faye or Respect, but one biopic that was greatly swept under the rug is The Electrical Life of Louis Wain. This whimsical and inspirational movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy tells the story of an under-appreciated artist. Cumberbatch is brilliant in the role, and it’s the kind of movie that will have you never looking at cats the same again. 

Werewolves Within

The whodunnit has proven to be a tried and true genre over the past few years with Knives Out and Murder on the Orient Express finding huge audiences. There’s a hidden gem for fans of the subgenre in this year’s Werewolves Within. It's a detective story involving, yes, a werewolf. This is a fun ensemble comedy packed with talent, a B-movie flair, smart writing and notes of horror. Oh, and it’s also a video game adaptation. It’s a smorgasbord not enough people are digging into. 

Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar

Everything about Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar should scream big hits, and yet it seems we’re still introducing this hilarious comedy to new people who’ve yet to hear about it everyday. Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo laugh-till-you-cry vacation flick that also features an all-time great Jamie Dornan performance is the best comedy of the year, yet due to its early 2021 VOD release after COVID delays, it flew under the radar. 

Oxygen 

For the science fiction thriller fans out there, you may have missed the Netflix release Oxygen. From Alexandre Aja, the director of Crawl and Horns, Oxygen follows a woman (Mélanie Laurent) who wakes up from a cryogenic slumber and must figure out how to escape her chamber before she runs out of air. It goes without saying this is a claustrophobic and contained story, but this is a tight thriller sure to keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat. 

Shiva Baby

Have you ever felt like you were in a horror movie while at a family gathering? Emma Seligman made an unsettling thriller that does just that. Shiva Baby turns to answer ‘Where are you going with your life?’ questions from your relatives to a tense 78-minute nail-biter. The independent film gives Seligman a memorable directorial debut and first leading performance, as it follows her college student character as she attends a family shiva, which is also being attended by her sugar daddy.

Zola 

One of the most wild and wildly original 2021 movies was an A24 movie by no surprise, but unfortunately, it did not break out of the inner circle into mainstream as we’d expect. Zola tells the story of a pair of exotic dancers who go on a road trip that spins out of control. Janicza Bravo’s movie is one of the most stylistic films of the year, is rooted in a true story adapted by a viral Twitter thread and includes some especially incredible performances from Taylour Paige, Riley Keough and Colman Domingo. 

Mass 

One of the best movies of the year, and certainly one of the most topical in 2021, is a movie called Mass. The drama starring Jason Issacs, Martha Plimpton, Reed Birney and Ann Dowd is a simple concept of two pairs of parents who meet face-to-face years after a tragic shooting. One of them are parents to a victim and the other are parents to the perpetrator. The performance driven movie brings up important discussions on gun violence, mental health and the complicated emotions of grief, guilt and forgiveness associated with a topic that is unfortunately a common occurrence in the U.S. 

Pig 

It’s been some time since audiences raved about a specific Nicolas Cage performance, and in 2021, it’s his role in Pig which flew under the radar over the summer amidst more high-profile releases. The thrilling drama centers on Cage as a truffle hunter who lives alone in the Oregonian wilderness and goes in search of his beloved foraging pig after she is kidnapped. You wouldn’t think it from first glance, but Pig is a deeply moving movie that's collected a lot of fans. 

Drive My Car

While we could certainly craft an entire list of foreign films we need to catch up on from 2021, one particular movie from overseas is being hailed a “masterpiece” from the film community, and yet it has yet to hit the mainstream status of other movies of its caliber. Drive My Car, which was recently named Best Picture by the L.A. Film Critics Association, is a Japanese drama based on a Haruki Murakami short story follows a stage actor and the young woman appointed to drive his car. 

The beauty about movies is you never really know which treasure you’ll find that may speak to you, perhaps even more than a big-budget film like Spider-Man: No Way Home. Check out these under-the-radar films and we also urge you to find your own hidden gems and share them as well! 

While our movies and television shows were once saturated with comedians such as Adam Sandler, or the legendary Robin Williams, newer talents have been taking the stage for some time now, one of those being Damon Wayans Jr.

The actor/comedian has appared in several movies and shows, showing off not only his comedic skills but his dramatic chops as well. And, his time on Happy Endings and some of his funniest moments as Coach in New Girl aren't the only things Damon Wayans Jr. has done in Hollywood. Here’s where you can watch some of the best Damon Wayans Jr. movies and TV shows.

Happy Endings (Hulu, Netflix)

When I think of the typical sitcom, some of my thoughts are always directly related to three characteristics – love, comedy, and dysfunction of the characters. Luckily, Happy Endings has all three. In this popular sitcom, we get to follow the adventures of six best friends living in Chicago, all of which have their own quirks and adventures that take you for a ride.

While Damon Wayans Jr. had done some television and films prior to his role in Happy Endings, this is arguably what made him famous for how slick the comedy was, and how fun the story became. It’s almost like the Chicago version of Friends to me, but with some even crazier stories. If you’re looking for a fun time, Happy Endings is the way to go for you.

Stream Happy Endings on Hulu.

Stream Happy Endings on Netflix.

Rent Happy Endings on Amazon.

How To Be Single (HBO Max)

For a funny romantic comedy, we take a look at How To Be Single. In this film, we see four women who are friends, all with very different ideas on what love should be, while they navigate their single lives in New York City and have struggles of their own as they make new friends along the way.

If you’re looking for a star cast list besides Damon Wayans Jr., this whole entire film is stacked with stars, from Pitch Perfect cast member Rebel Wilson to Community cast memberAlison Brie. Alongside that, the chemistry between all the stars is enjoyable and really sets the tone for the film, creating a great romantic comedy that anyone could enjoy, whether you’re living life in a relationship or single. Damon Wayans Jr. rocks it in his role and shows off his great comedy chops in a romantic setting.

Stream How To Be Single on HBO Max.

Rent How To Be Single on Amazon.

Someone Marry Barry (Hulu)

I always feel like this is the one film that a lot of people don’t know about when it comes to Damon Wayans Jr., and honestly, that is a crime. In Someone Marry Barry, a group of childhood friends band together to try and get their socially inappropriate friend a wife – but, when he ends up finding his female equal, it only causes more and more problems for them.

As one of Damon Wayans Jr.’s first films, it doesn’t pull any punches in the comedy department. Some of the jokes will have you laughing so hard that you’ll be holding your side. What makes it even better is how much the lives of the group of friends do change when they meet this girl – showing that even when you want to try and help, sometimes it only ends in disaster. It’s a shame the film didn’t get more publicity than it did, which means you should go and watch it right now.

Stream Someone Marry Barry on Hulu.

Big Hero 6 (Disney+)

As someone who grew up loving Disney, this was actually where I first heard of Damon Wayans Jr., in a voice role that fits him perfectly. In Big Hero 6, we get to learn the story of a young boy, named Hiro Hamada, who utilizes Baymax, his late brother’s work, and healthcare robot, to form a superhero team to combat a villain who is responsible for the death of his brother.

So, why is this the perfect role for Damon Wayans Jr.? There’s just something about Wasabi in Big Hero 6, how every single one of his jokes keep hitting, including his preciseness about where he keeps his tools. He’s just a great time overall – and honestly, so is the film. Animation tells some awesome stories, and you shouldn’t miss out on this one. The movie became so popular, it even got a TV series.

Stream Big Hero 6 on Disney+.

Rent Big Hero 6 on Amazon.

Love, Guaranteed (Netflix)

In one of his most recent films, Damon Wayans Jr. tackled the classic romantic comedy once more. In the Netflix original film Love, Guaranteed, a small-town lawyer must try and save her law firm, so she teams up with Nick, a new client who wants to sue a dating site that supposedly “guarantees love.” However, as the case begins to grow, so do the feelings between the two of them.

While How To Be Single offered a different take on the rom-com, I feel like Love, Guaranteed is the perfect film for someone who just wants the easiest romantic comedy storyline there could be – and there’s literally nothing wrong with that, because I’m like that, too. The chemistry between Rachael Leigh Cook and Damon Wayans Jr. is great, and really drives the film, while also delivering that typical comedic romance you would expect from a film like this. It’s definitely a great pick among some of the rest.

Stream Love, Guaranteed on Netflix.

New Girl (Netflix)

After Happy Endings, Damon Wayans Jr. went on to another big role in TV – well, one that started out big and then turned into an even bigger one later on. In New Girl, we get to see the story of Jess, a teacher who was just cheated on by her boyfriend and decides to move into an apartment with three strangers named Coach, Schmidt, and Nick. And, from there, they go on to have some absolutely wild times together.

While Coach, played by Damon Wayans Jr., only appeared in the pilot of Season 1, his character replaced by Winston, he came back during Season 3, and would continue to make appearances in the show afterward, adding more ridiculous stories and fun times to the group of Californians. What makes Coach even more enjoyable is while he is super cocky and extremely talented at sports, he’s also adorkably awkward sometimes, which makes you want to root for him even if he is a bit of a jerk sometimes.

The New Girl cast in general is so great – you really should watch the show if you haven’t yet.

Stream New Girl on Netflix.

Rent New Girl on Amazon.

Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar (Amazon Rental)

Let me just say that this movie is one of the best comedies to come out in the last couple of years, in my opinion, and it deserves the praise that it’s gotten. This film, starring Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo as leads of the Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar cast, follows two best friends from Nebraska who go on vacation together, heading to Florida, only to end up trapped in some sort of evil plot.

There are so many things to praise this movie for. Not only is Damon Wayans Jr. super funny as Darlie Bunkle, but the rest of the cast has such great chemistry that everything, from comedy to story to wacky moments, flows together perfectly. The movie is bright and colorful, with plenty of great silly moments that make you snort with laughter. Also, the comedic pairing between Wiig and Mumolo is top-notch – you can’t convince me otherwise.

Rent Barn and Star Go To Vista Del Mar on Amazon.

Super Troopers 2 (Amazon Rental)

Super Troopers is a comedy that quickly became a cult favorite, whether that was for good reasons or bad, so it was only a matter of time before it got a sequel. Super Troopers 2 follows the original gang from the first film as they are called upon to set up a Highway Patrol station, when a border dispute suddenly comes up between the United States and Canada, creating a whirlwind of problems.

The sequel is about the same sort of quality for a Super Troopers film, creating interesting shenanigans and quirky moments that will have you laughing. The plot is ridiculously out there and silly, but it’s still funny enough to keep your attention. While Damon Wayans Jr.’s character isn’t featured heavily in this film, he's very funny for the time that he’s in it.

Rent Super Troopers 2 on Amazon.

Let’s Be Cops (Amazon Rental)

Let’s Be Cops is one of my guilty pleasure movies, and I am not afraid to admit it. In this buddy cop action-comedy film, we see Damon Wayans Jr. team up with Jake Johnson, his former co-star on New Girl, and tell the story of two friends who decide to pretend to be police officers in the Los Angeles Police Department.

The first aspect that drives Let’s Be Cops is the chemistry between Wayans Jr. and Johnson. From their time already working together, the two perform exceptionally well in their roles, and play off the other nicely with their comedic timing. It almost feels like I’m watching Coach and Nick from New Girl on their own separate adventure. Other than that, the plot is hysterical and wacky and ridiculous, but to me, that’s what makes it such a guilty pleasure.

Rent Let’s Be Cops on Amazon.

Bonus: Cherry (Apple TV+)

Damon Wayans Jr. also recently had a minor role in the Apple TV+ original film, Cherry, starring Tom Holland, but his role was very brief as Drill Sgt. Masters. However Cherry is still a great film with plenty of stars attached to it, so be sure to check it out if you haven't yet.

Stream Cherry on Apple TV+.

While Damon Wayans Jr. may not be in the best movies on Netflix or the best movies on Amazon Prime, there’s no denying that the man is funny and has plenty of talent. I can’t wait to see what he does next, and the new films he has coming up.

The months march on, and at this point we've crossed the halfway mark of the year that is 2021. So of course, it’s time to celebrate what we’ll be experiencing on the back half of the year, as Hulu has all sorts of movies and TV being added to its ever growing selection. July 2021 is particularly exciting, especially when you've got movies like Bill and Ted Face the Music and Bohemian Rhapsody on the way, as well as a huge special that will see The Jonas Brothers going for Olympic gold. If you want to take a quick moment to look at June 2021's lineup, you'll find that handy below; otherwise let's see what July will bring to the Hulu streaming library.

Premiering On Hulu - Week Of July 1

The Mighty Ones: Complete Season 2 (Hulu Original) - 7/1/21

RuPaul's Drag Race: Complete Season 7 (MTV) - 7/1/21

127 Hours (2010) - 7/1/21

28 Days Later (2003) - 7/1/21

28 Weeks Later (2007) - 7/1/21

68 Kill (2017) - 7/1/21

78/52: Hitchcock's Shower Scene (2017) - 7/1/21

A Ciambra (2018) - 7/1/21

The Adventures of Hercules (1985) - 7/1/21

Almost Human (2014) - 7/1/21

Alpha & Omega: Legend Of The Saw Toothed (2014) - 7/1/21

American Gun (2005) - 7/1/21

An Acceptable Loss (2019) - 7/1/21

Australia (2008) - 7/1/21

Bad Teacher (2011) - 7/1/21

Band Aid (2017) - 7/1/21

Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels Of A Tribe Called Quest (2011) - 7/1/21

Beetlejuice (1988) - 7/1/21

The Best Man (1999) - 7/1/21

Better Living Through Chemistry (2014) - 7/1/21

Big Fish (2003) - 7/1/21

Bitter Harvest (2017) - 7/1/21

Blue Sky (1994) - 7/1/21

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) - 7/1/21

Breakdown (1997) - 7/1/21

Bruno (2009) - 7/1/21

Caddyshack (1980) - 7/1/21

Caddyshack II (1988) - 7/1/21

Candyman 3: Day of the Dead (1999) - 7/1/21

Carnage Park (2016) - 7/1/21

Caveman (1981) - 7/1/21

Chaplin (1992) - 7/1/21

Chuck (2017) - 7/1/21

The Chumscrubber (2005) - 7/1/21

Citizen Jane: Battle for the City (2017) - 7/1/21

Cliffhanger (1993) - 7/1/21

The Condemned (2007) - 7/1/21

Confessions Of A Shopaholic (2009) - 7/1/21

The Conversation (1974) - 7/1/21

Coyote Ugly (2000) - 7/1/21

The Cured (2018) - 7/1/21

Dangerous Minds (1995) - 7/1/21

Dealin' With Idiots (2013) - 7/1/21

Dealt (2017) - 7/1/21

Dear White People (2014) - 7/1/21

Donnybrook (2019) - 7/1/21

Dumb & Dumber (1994) - 7/1/21

Dumb And Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003) - 7/1/21

Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me (2014) - 7/1/21

Eliminators (2016) - 7/1/21

Enemy at the Gates (2001) - 7/1/21

The Face of Love (2014) - 7/1/21

Factotum (2006) - 7/1/21

Fargo (1996) - 7/1/21

The Feels (2017) - 7/1/21

Fired Up! (2009) - 7/1/21

Foxfire (1996) - 7/1/21

Frank Serpico (2017) - 7/1/21

Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974) - 7/1/21

Free To Run (2016) - 7/1/21

From Paris with Love (2010) - 7/1/21

Galaxy Quest (1999) - 7/1/21

The Gift (2000) - 7/1/21

Gimme the Loot (2013) - 7/1/21

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011) - 7/1/21

Gorp (1980) - 7/1/21

Graduation (2017) - 7/1/21

Grandma (2015) - 7/1/21

Hellions (2015) - 7/1/21

Hideaway (1995) - 7/1/21

House of the Dead (2003) - 7/1/21

House of the Dead 2 (2006) - 7/1/21

The House That Jack Built (2018) - 7/1/21

Housesitter (1992) - 7/1/21

I Daniel Blake (2017) - 7/1/21

I Do...Until I Don't (2017) - 7/1/21

I Remember You (2017) - 7/1/21

Ice Age (2002) - 7/1/21

In The Cut (2003) - 7/1/21

Indignation (2016) - 7/1/21

Intermission (2004) - 7/1/21

Intolerable Cruelty (2003) - 7/1/21

Johnny English (2003) - 7/1/21

Knowing (2009) - 7/1/21

The Ladies Man (2000) - 7/1/21

Last Days Here (2012) - 7/1/21

Let's Be Evil (2016) - 7/1/21

Manic (2013) - 7/1/21

The Mask (1994) - 7/1/21

Maximum Risk (1996) - 7/1/21

Mercury Rising (1998) - 7/1/21

Morning Glory (2010) - 7/1/21

Mystic Pizza (1988) - 7/1/21

The Natural (1984) - 7/1/21

Ode to Joy (2019) - 7/1/21

Open Range (2003) - 7/1/21

Open Water (2004) - 7/1/21

Open Water 2: Adrift (2006) - 7/1/21

Passage to Mars (2017) - 7/1/21

Personal Shopper (2017) - 7/1/21

The Polar Express (2004) - 7/1/21

Rabid Dogs (2016) - 7/1/21

Rebel in the Rye (2017) - 7/1/21

Reno 911!: Miami : The Movie (2007) - 7/1/21

Revolutionary Road (2008) - 7/1/21

Robocop (1987) - 7/1/21

Robocop 2 (1990) - 7/1/21

Robocop 3 (1993) - 7/1/21

Rookie of the Year (1993) - 7/1/21

Seabiscuit (2003) - 7/1/21

Shelley (2016) - 7/1/21

Sightseers (2013) - 7/1/21

Sleeping With The Enemy (1991) - 7/1/21

Sleepwalkers (1992) - 7/1/21

Soldier Boyz (1995) - 7/1/21

Something's Gotta Give (2003) - 7/1/21

Somewhere (2010) - 7/1/21

Sorority Row (2009) - 7/1/21

Space Jam (1996) - 7/1/21

Stand by Me (1986) - 7/1/21

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) - 7/1/21

Star Trek: First Contact (1996) - 7/1/21

Stephen King's Graveyard Shift (1990) - 7/1/21

The Stepfather (2009) - 7/1/21

Stonewall (2015) - 7/1/21

Stray (2020) - 7/1/21

Sunshine (2005) - 7/1/21

Super Troopers (2002) - 7/1/21

Sweet Virginia (2017) - 7/1/21

Taffin (1988) - 7/1/21

Take Every Wave (2017) - 7/1/21

Take Shelter (2011) - 7/1/21

Taken (2009) - 7/1/21

The Terminator (1984) - 7/1/21

They Came Together (2014) - 7/1/21

Thunderheart (1992) - 7/1/21

Timeline (2003) - 7/1/21

Tooth Fairy (2008) - 7/1/21

Twisted (2004) - 7/1/21

Underworld (2003) - 7/1/21

Underworld Awakening (2012) - 7/1/21

Underworld Evolution (2006) - 7/1/21

Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans (2009) - 7/1/21

Universal Soldier (1992) - 7/1/21

The Unknown Girl (2017) - 7/1/21

Walking Tall (1973) - 7/1/21

Whip It (2009) - 7/1/21

White Nights (1985) - 7/1/21

William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet (1996) - 7/1/21

Wolves (2017) - 7/1/21

Summer of Soul (2021) (Hulu Original) - 7/2/21

Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020) - 7/2/21

Flower of Evil: Complete Season 1 (Subbed) (Viki) - 7/3/21

I'll Go To You When The Weather Is Fine: Complete Season 1 (Subbed) (Viki) - 7/3/21

More Than Friends: Complete Season 1 (Subbed) (Viki) - 7/3/21

Dreamcatcher (2021) - 7/3/21

Premiering On Hulu - Week Of July 4

Leave No Trace (2018) - 7/4/21

My Wife and Kids: Complete Series (ABC) - 7/8/21

Murdoch Mysteries: Complete Season 13 (Acorn) - 7/8/21

Papillon (2017) - 7/8/21

This Way Up: Complete Season 2 (Hulu Original) - 7/9/21

grown-ish: Season 4 Premiere (Freeform) - 7/9/21

Barb and Star go to Vista Del Mar (2021) - 7/9/21

In a World... (2013) - 7/9/21

Moffie (2021) - 7/9/21

47 Meters Down (2017) - 7/10/21

Premiering On Hulu - Week Of July 11

Love Island UK: Season 7 Premiere (iTV) - 7/12/21

Cleopatra in Space: Complete Season 1 (Peacock) - 7/14/21

Cleopatra en el Espacio: Complete Season 1 (Peacock) - 7/14/21

My All-American (2015) - 7/14/21

American Horror Stories: Two-Episode Limited Series Premiere (FX on Hulu) - 7/15/21

20,000 Days on Earth (2014) - 7/15/21

A Field In England (2013) - 7/15/21

The Act of Killing (2012) - 7/15/21

Amira & Sam (2014) - 7/15/21

Borgman (2013) - 7/15/21

Bullhead (2011) - 7/15/21

Cheap Thrills (2013) - 7/15/21

The Complex: Lockdown (2020) - 7/15/21

The Congress (2013) - 7/15/21

The Connection (2014) - 7/15/21

Enforcement (2021) - 7/15/21

Exit Plan (2021) - 7/15/21

The Final Member (2014) - 7/15/21

The FP (2011) - 7/15/21

I Declare War (2012) - 7/15/21

The Keeping Room (2014) - 7/15/21

Men & Chicken (2015) - 7/15/21

Mood Indigo (2013) - 7/15/21

Pieta (2012) - 7/15/21

R100 (2013) - 7/15/21

Raiders! The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (2015) - 7/15/21

Wrong (2012) - 7/15/21

McCartney 3,2,1: Documentary Series Premiere (Hulu Original) - 7/16/21

Horimiya: Complete Season 1 (Dubbed) (Funimation) - 7/17/21

Premiering On Hulu - Week Of July 18

Olympic Dreams featuring Jonas Brothers: Special (NBC) - 7/22/21

Premiering On Hulu - Week Of July 25

The Artist (2011) - 7/26/21

The Resort (2021) - 7/29/21

Hulu’s TV Highlights For July 2021

While the ABC hit comedy black-ish is looking to wrap its run with its eighth and final season, its hit Freeform spinoff grown-ish is just about to enter its fourth season. Naturally, with all original Freeform programming, you’ll be able to catch the episode the day after, thanks to it being a part of the Hulu/Disney family! Meanwhile, with the 2020 Olympics finally looking to get underway, NBC will be airing a special entitled Olympic Dreams featuring Jonas Brothers. Just as the title would suggest, you’ll be able to see Joe, Kevin, and Nick Jonas competing against each other, assisted by actual Olympic athletes, in competitions of sport and strength.

Hulu’s Movie Highlights For July 2021

With 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures being two prime sources for Hulu originals, now is the perfect time to debut a movie like Summer of Soul. A documentary directed by famed musician Questlove, the film tells the story of the Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969, and delves into the events true cultural impact. The catalog that was formerly known as the 20th Century Fox/Fox Searchlight banner will also provide some legacy thrills in July as both 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later are coming online; just in time to hype audiences for the sequel that never happened, but still could.

But if there is anything we truly need to hype up for Hulu’s incoming additions, it has to be the fact that you’ll finally be able to watch Barb and Star go to Vista Del Mar with a streaming subscription. So if you’ve been waiting to see what the fuss is all about, or have been looking to recommit yourself to a relationship with this unexpected comedy hit, the hour draws near. Just keep in mind that everything we’ve listed above is subject to change and availability; and we’ll see you back here this time next month to run down what August 2021 has in store for Hulu subscribers.

The last half year has quite eventful for Saturday Night Live alum Kristen Wiig. First, we finally got to see her play The Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984, and just a few months later, she starred alongside Annie Mumolo in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, which the women also wrote and produced. Now Wiig and Mumolo are teaming back up to make a Cinderella musical for Disney, only this project won’t focus on the young woman who caught attention with her glass footwear.

Instead, Kirsten Wiig and Annie Mumolo have been tapped by the Mouse House to write a movie about Cinderella’s evil stepsisters, who are known as Drizella and Anastasia Tremaine in 1950’s Cinderella and its live-action remake. Per Deadline, this will be a “fairy tale musical comedy” that re-imagines the classic Cinderella story through the perspective of the stepsisters. The story will span from their early childhood to when Cinderella marries Prince Charming and beyond, with Drizella and Anastasia struggling to “uphold their family’s legacy.”

To clarify, Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo are only penning the script for this musical centered on Cinderella’s stepsisters for now. It’s unclear at this stage of development if they’ll also appear in the movie, and even if they do, they wouldn’t play the stepsisters, as those roles are intended for younger actresses. In any case, this marks Wiig and Mumolo’s third time collaborating on a movie. Along with February’s Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, which earned a lot of positive critical reception, they also wrote the Golden Globe-nominated Bridesmaids, which starred Wiig and featured Mumolo in a cameo role.

As noted earlier, Disney’s take on the classic Cinderella story was remade back in 2015, which starred Lily James as the eponymous protagonist, Richard Madden as the Prince, Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother, Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine, and Sophie McShera and Holliday Grainger as Drizella and Anastasia, respectively. Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo’s musical, on the other hand, sounds similar to the Maleficent movies, which have explored the Sleeping Beauty mythology through Angelina Jolie iteration of the title witch. Other villain-focused projects Disney has coming up include Cruella and the Beauty and the Beast Disney+ prequel series following Gaston and LeFou.

Of course, delving into the lives of Cinderella’s stepsisters is just one of several projects Kristen Wiig has lined up. She’s next set to reprise of Vicki Gloria St. Elmo for Peacock’s MacGruber series, which follows over a decade after the MacGruber movie came out. She’s also continuing to voice Jenny Hart on the Fox animated series Bless the Harts, and you can see her later this year starring alongside Jim Broadbent and Sally Hawkins in Netflix’s A Boy Called Christmas. As for Annie Mumolo, she’s taking part in the comedy Queenpins, which stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Vince Vaughn.

While we wait for more news about Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo’s stepsisters musical for Disney, learn what flicks are primed to play in theaters later this year with our upcoming 2021 movies schedule.

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Jamie Dornan won over the hearts of many as Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey. Since his Fifty Shades days, Dornan has diversified his career. He played a serial killer in the critically acclaimed series The Fall. In 2020, he voiced the character Chaz in Trolls World Tour, and in 2021, he returned to his romantic roots by playing the love interest of Kristen Wiig's Star in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar.

Jamie Dornan has come a long way from his Marie Antoinette screen debut in 2006. Luckily for fans of the Irish actor, there are plenty of shows and movies available to stream or rent featuring Jamie Dornan. Here are some of your best Jamie Dornan film and TV options currently available.

Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar (2021)

Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo play best friends Star and Barb in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. When they’re fired from their jobs and kicked out of their favorite club, the women decide to have an adventure by vacationing at Vista Del Mar. Barb and Star experience more adventure than they expected (or wanted) when they become involved in a plan to kill everyone in Vista Del Mar.

In Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, Jamie Dornan plays Edgar, a handsome man with whom the women have a wild night that turns into true love for Star. Edgar is also a main part of the killing everyone in Vista Del Mar plan: it’s his whole reason for being in town. Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is a goofy, fun comedy that’s perfect viewing for when you want some lighthearted content and shirtless Dornan. The film is available to rent on your favorite VOD service.

Rent it on Amazon here.

The Fall (2013-2016)

The Fall follows a family man and serial killer Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan). Gillian Anderson played Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson, the woman on a quest to find Paul and stop his killings. The Fall is a fascinating crime drama that explores the psyche of a serial killer and the woman trying to bring him down.

Many consider The Fall one of Dornan’s best works, both for his performance and the show’s dark and complex writing. The series is also one of Dornan’s few TV series roles, so it allowed him to really flesh out Paul and his twisted mind. The Fall aired for three seasons and they’re all available on Tubi and Amazon Prime.

Stream it on Tubi here.

Stream it on Amazon Prime here.

Purchase episodes on Amazon here.

Fifty Shades of Grey Franchise (2015, 2017, 2018)

Fifty Shades of Grey is a film based on E.L James’ best-selling novel of the same name. It follows Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson), a college graduate who begins a sadomasochistic relationship with businessman Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan). The 2017 follow up film Fifty Shades Darker continues Ana and Christian’s journey of figuring out their relationship and all the complications that come with it. Fifty Shades Freed is the final installment and wraps up things for Ana and Christian.

The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy is what made Jamie Dornan a household name, so these are important films to watch if you’re a diehard fan of him or the Fifty Shades of Grey movies. These controversial films explore the world of BDSM in a way mainstream culture hasn’t before, making the Fifty Shades movies a much-debated topic. The Fifty Shades of Grey movies are all available to watch on Peacock.

Stream them on Peacock (1, 2, 3).

Rent them on Amazon (1, 2, 3).

Wild Mountain Thyme (2020)

Wild Mountain Thyme stars Jamie Dornan and Emily Blunt as Anthony Reilly and Rosemary Muldoon. She’s set on winning Anthony’s affections, but he’s oblivious to her. Meanwhile, Anthony’s farm is threatened when his father plans to sell it to his American cousin. The Wild Mountain Thyme cast also includes Jon Hamm and Christopher Walken.

Wild Mountain Thyme is a romantic drama set in Ireland and takes a bit of a fable quality with its whimsical nature and storylines. This film is one where you’re going to want to talk about its wild ending. Wild Mountain Thyme is currently available to rent through Video On Demand services, like Amazon and VUDU.

Rent it on Amazon here.

Once Upon A Time (2011-2018)

Once Upon a Time is an ABC series that ran from 2011 to 2018. It’s the reimagining of several fairy tales, especially those in Disney’s collection. Once Upon a Time follows Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) as she moves to Storybrooke, Maine. The son she gave up for adoption, Henry (Jared S. Gilmore) informs Emma that she is the savior and must break a curse. Everyone in this town has forgotten their true identity. They were once fairytale characters like Snow White and Cinderella.

Jamie Dornan only briefly appeared in Once Upon a Time. He played Sheriff Graham, whose fairytale identity was the Huntsman. He was also Emma Swan’s first love interest on the series, and she becomes the sheriff when he’s no longer on Once Upon a Time. Disney+ has all seven seasons of Once Upon a Time available to stream.

Stream it on Disney+ here.

Purchase episodes on Amazon here.

Endings, Beginnings

Endings, Beginning stars Shailene Woodley as Daphne, a woman who just broke up with her long-term boyfriend. She also just quit her job. Daphne vows to take a break from drinking and men but finds herself in a love triangle between two friends Jack (Jamie Dornan) and Frank (Sebastian Stan). Endings, Beginnings has Daphne fall for both men for different reasons, which makes her choice quite difficult.

I think many straight women and gay men would dream of the day that they’re in a love triangle with Jamie Dornan and Sebastian Stan. Yet, Endings, Beginning is a drama that digs deeper than just a sexy love triangle. It’s a look at spiraling downward and needing to love yourself before really opening your heart to loving another person. Dornan once again is in a romantic drama, so he’s right in his genre sweet spot. Endings, Beginnings is currently available to stream on HBO Max.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

Rent it on Amazon here.

Synchronic (2019)

Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan star in Synchronic, a science fiction horror movie. They play Steve and Dennis, two paramedics who work the late shift. After a series of strange deaths and cases, they find that all these cases are linked to a drug called Synchronic. Steve has recently been diagnosed with a brain tumor and he finds out that because of his tumor, Synchronic could help him find Dennis’s teen daughter, who goes missing.

Synchronic is a time-traveling movie that strays away from many of the time-traveling movie formulas, giving it a fresh perspective and allows it to de-romanticize the idea of the past. Dornan isn’t the main protagonist in the way Mackie is, but he’s a critical part of the story. His bond with Mackie’s character is one of Synchronic’s main driving forces. It also gets its emotional weight because of Dennis’s missing daughter and the toll that takes on his family. Synchronic is available to rent on VOD.

Rent it on Amazon here.

New Worlds (2014)

New Worlds is a four-episode historical miniseries that stars Jamie Dornan, Joe Dempsie, Alice Englert, Freya Mavor, Pip Carter, and Holli Dempsey. Set in America and England in the 1680s, New Worlds follows England during the rule of Charles II and the struggles endured by those with a quest for liberty. It’s the sequel to the 2008 miniseries The Devil’s Whore. New Worlds takes place 20-years after The Devil’s Whore.

Jamie Dornan plays Abe Goffe, a renegade that falls for the daughter of an anti-monarchist Beth Fanshawe (Freya Mavor). If you’re a fan of historical fiction, then New Worlds may fit your desires for some 1600s drama. New Worlds is available to stream on Acorn TV.

Stream it on Acorn TV here.

Purchase episodes on Amazon here.

My Dinner With Herve (2018)

My Dinner with Herve is based on the life of Hervé Villechaize, best known for his role as Tattoo on Fantasy Island. The film stars Peter Dinklage as Hervé Villechaize. The cast of My Dinner with Herve includes Jamie Dornan and Andy Garcia. Dornan plays Danny Tate, a journalist who interviews Hervé. It follows these two broken men as Hervé tells Tate more of his life story. The two bond in their self-destructive and damaged behavior.

My Dinner with Herve includes two really strong performances from Dornan and Dinklage. It’s a fascinating snapshot of one moment and how it fits into the big picture of these men’s lives. My Dinner with Herve is an HBO Original Movie, so available to stream on HBO Max.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

Purchase it on Amazon here.

Robin Hood (2018)

Robin Hood is the retelling of the prince of thieves story of Robin Hood. Taron Egerton plays the title character, Jamie Foxx plays Little John, Ben Mendelsohn plays the Sheriff of Nottingham, and Jamie Dornan plays Will Tillman (a new version of Will Scarlet), and Eve Hewson plays Maid Marian.

If you’ve ever thought, “they really need to do another Robin Hood movie and this time add a bunch of action, and also make sure the cast includes Egerton, Foxx, and Dornan,“ well your request is answered with this 2018 action-adventure flick. Robin Hood is available to stream for free on Peacock.

Stream it on Peacock here.

Rent it on Amazon here.

Anthropoid (2016)

Cillian Murphy and Jamie Dornan star in Anthropoid, a film about Operation Anthropoid. Operation Anthropoid was the code name for the World War II assassination of Nazi officer Reinhard Heydrich by Czechoslovak soldiers. Murphy and Dornan play Jozef Gabcík and Jan Kubis.

In Anthropoid, Dornan plays more of the naive character compared to Murphy’s driven and determined character. They balance each other out because it helps paint the picture of two men who are doing something massive that could change the course of the war, but ultimately to do so, they risk nearly certain death. Anthropoid is available to stream on Starz.

Stream it on Starz here.

Rent it on Amazon here.

The Fall, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, and Fifty Shades of Grey are just a few of Jamie Dornan’s films available to stream or rent: Trolls World Tour is available to stream on Peacock, The Siege of Jadotville is available to stream on Netflix, A Private War is available to stream on Amazon Prime, and Untogether is available on Tubi. Most of these movies are also available to rent on Amazon Video. You can next catch Jamie Dornan in the HBO Max series The Tourist and the Kenneth Branagh-directed film Belfast.

This will probably come as a surprise to absolutely no one, but Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo’s Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is one of the funniest movies since the pair released Bridesmaids in 2011. From the first scene to the assortment of post-credits scenes and every little moment in between (hot dog soup, anyone), the movie is a ridiculous, and at times absurd romp of a good time. And while the entire movie is a side-splitter we’ll all be gushing over for years to come, this instant cult classic has some scenes, especially anything with Jamie Dornan’s Edgar Paget, that are honestly some of the greatest comedic moments in years.

Now that you’ve seen already watched Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (please stop and check out how to stream it if you haven’t already because there are nearly as many spoilers as laughs), check out the 10 funniest moments in the 2021 comedy.

Yoyo Delivering Papers And Singing His Heart Out On The Bike

As soon as Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar opens with Yoyo (Reyn Doi) delivering papers and singing his heart out to Barbra Streisand’s “Guilty” I knew we were going to be in for one hell of a ride. The classic duet from “Babs” and Barry Gibb is perfect for freewheeling vibe of the movie’s opener, especially as Yoyo continues to get more and more into the feeling of the song. The juxtaposition of the soothing melody of the song with the destruction caused by the young assassin’s rigged newspaper (and the secret entrance to Sharon Gordon’s lair) is top notch.

The Introduction Of Barb And Star At Jennifer Convertibles

Everything about the introduction of Barb (Annie Mumolo) and Star (Kristen Wiig) at the Jennifer Convertibles furniture store is amazing, absolutely amazing. From the fake-out where you’re led to believe they are at home to them talking a couple out of buying their favorite couch to the pair realizing they are out of a job makes for one of the greatest stretches in a comedy in recent years. The chemistry between the pair sets up the rest of the movie and makes for a hilarious interaction with their boss when they can’t remember who’s actually working is the icing on the cake.

The Entire Talking Club Scene, Especially That Hot Dog Soup

Everything about the Talking Club scene in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar just works. The simple, yet preposterous concept of a club where a group of middle-aged women get together and talk about random topics, drink wine, and eat hot dog soup all while trying to stay in the good graces of the tyrannical Debbie (Vanessa Bayer) is absurdly hilarious. Like a lot of the interactions throughout the movie, this scene feels like improv or a great Saturday Night Live sketch and ends in spectacular fashion: Barb and Star lying about their jobs and getting the boot.

Barb And Star Describing Trish On The Plane And In The Airport

Just when you thought Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar couldn’t get any better you’re treated to the amazing “Trish” scene as the pair fly to Florida. A conversation like this among any other duo would would surely result in a back-and-forth that would ultimately run its course after a few minutes. But no, Barb and Star formulate this entire backstory and moving plot for their made-up character with a name they both love. But wait, there’s more… Even after they land and get off the plane, the Trish talk continues, this time with waterworks from the two stars as they agree on the tragic fate of their beloved Trish. But this isn’t the end of Trish…

The Palm Vista Hotel Song And Dance Number

The introduction of the Palm Vista Hotel and its various amenities in the form of a full-scale Broadway song and dance number is as hilarious as it is impressive. Not only is this charming and over-the-top spectacle of a good time the perfect way to show off what Barb and Star can expect (even if they’re at the wrong place), it also serves another way to get Edgar Paget (Jamie Dornan) on screen saying “Official Couple” (more on that later).

Every Time Richard Cheese Appears On Screen

Since we’re already talking about the musical numbers in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, now’s the perfect time to point out the greatness of Richard Cheese (Mark Jonathan Davis) and his various numbers featured throughout the movie. At first, they sound like little lounge songs, but when you listen to the lyrics, you’re welcomed into the mad world of a depraved lounge singer going on about his love of “boobies” or his friends from high school who recently passed away. Much like the rest of the movie, these songs are bonkers, absurd, but oddly fitting considering the tone of the film.

Edgar Randomly Breaking Into Song

The song “Edgar’s Prayer” is without a doubt one of the most ridiculous scenes in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar and for multiple reasons. First, it’s performed by a character who was set there to unleash killer mosquitos so that his crush can get revenge. Secondly, the music and sound of Jamie Dornan’s voice make you think this is a sincere and straight-forward song but the lyrics, man, the lyrics are out of this world. From comparing himself to a ballerina digging a hole in the sand to a palm tree who decided to grow up to be a palm tree, there’s just so much going on here, and I’m all for it.

Anytime Edgar Says “Official Couple”

I know it sounds like this is turning into an extended breakdown of Edgar’s character, but I promise you, this is the last part about the hitman with a heart of gold. One part of his character that kept killing me throughout the movie was the way he would say “official couple” whenever talking to or about Kristen Wiig's bleached character Sharon Gordon (who was busy stringing him along). There’s just something that’s hilarious about a hitman having the same motivations and hopeful optimism of a high school freshman. And Jamie Dornan’s innate ability to play off absurdity with a straight face doesn’t hurt either.

Morgan Freemond, The Crab, Not Morgan Freeman

Just when you thought Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar couldn’t get any wackier, Star has a conversation with a talking crab named Morgan Freemond, not to be confused with Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. The little crab even sounds like the Shawshank Redemption star, soothing voice and all. In a movie of bits coming out of left field, this is one of the most random and well-executed.

The Trish Payoff At The End Of The Movie

As soon as Barb and Star start talking about Trish, I knew there was going to be a payoff at some point in the movie, but never in my years did I expect it to pay off like that. Reba McEntire as the embodiment of the two friends’ favorite name, character, and spiritual entity was the greatest reveal since the country singer turned up as “the best driver there is” A.J. Ferguson in The Little Rascals. It was like a glamorous, southern-fried version of Moana in those final moments, and I can’t get enough.

These are just a few of the insanely funny moments Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Outside of these, there is Andy Garcia’s cameo as Tommy Bahama, Damon Wayans Jr.’s oversharing Darlie Bunkle, and all of those great interactions between Barb and Star. After going over all of these, I think I’ll have to rent the movie again…

Look, it’s late in the awards season, and all of the crazy scheduling and eligibility deadlines have people wondering just what’s going to be nominated when the Academy makes their big announcement on March 15th. But would you believe that Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar director Josh Greenbaum is gunning for a trophy himself? Well, it’s not really an award for him, but if it were up to Greenbaum, he’d make damned sure the film’s song “I Love Boobies” took home the trophy for Best Original Song.

As a guest of our ReelBlend podcast, Greenbaum talked up all things Barb and Star related, including some very spoilerific material that’s perfect for those of you who have seen the movie. But even if you haven’t seen it, you’ll be pleased to know that one of the best gags in Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo’s salute to friendship comes from a song sung by world renowned lounge singer Richard Cheese. Revealing his Oscar hopes, Josh Greenbaum told our hosts about a moment that did a lot to get his hopes up:

In the grab bag that is Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, a recurring gag is that Richard Cheese is doing what he does best, manning the piano and swingifying the most inappropriate content. This is, after all, the man who made it big when his band, Richard Cheese and Lounge Against The Machine, had their cover of “Down With The Sickness” featured in Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead. And while “I Love Boobies” is a much tamer song to tickle the ivories to, it’s still got that naughty comedy energy the man is suited for.

What makes it all the more exciting is, this song was not only penned by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo for their Barb and Star script, but they also wrote the song with Richard Cheese! In fact, his appearance was baked right into the story from the word go, thanks to a fateful moment at a dinner party. Josh Greenbaum continued to explain this cosmically aligned coincidence in the following segment:

At this point, we’ve basically talked about Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar’s big musical number to the point where this is almost a For Your Consideration ad for “I Love Boobies.” Well, it’s not, but that doesn’t mean we don’t believe in this quest. In fact, to play us out, we’re going to include the video of the song itself. However, we’d like to include just one small warning before proceeding: Barb and Star is so funny, you’re going to want to go in as cold as possible. So if you’re the least bit sold on the movie, and this Richard Cheese musical number, go rent the movie and watch it in context. But if you need a hit of the good stuff before going in, then please enjoy, for your consideration, Richard Cheese singing “I Love Boobies.”

That, right there, is an Oscar worthy song, to be sure. Though don’t take our word for it, as Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar can be streamed, right now, through all good PVOD providers. And if you’re already a fan, but don’t want to pay $19.99 to hear the song again, relax: the soundtrack is already on Spotify.

Warning: spoilers for Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar are in play. If you absolutely need it spoiled for you, then fine you can keep reading. But if you want to be in for a surprising tit flapper of a time, read only the first two paragraphs, and watch only the trailer provided below.

I think the first time I ever saw the trailer for Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar was in front of a screening for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. It seemed at the time like watching the contents of that first trailer was all I needed to see in order to know that this movie movie wasn't for me. Then, 2020 happened, Barb and Star got pushed to 2021, so in the absence of a flourishing film market, I took a chance on a movie that eventually impressed me beyond belief.

Never have I been more wrong about pre-judging a movie in my entire life, which is why I’m here to tell you that not only should you see Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, you need to see it only watching that exact trailer I've just mentioned. Now don’t get me wrong, you can totally watch the second trailer that Lionsgate dropped for the film, as it too is pretty spoiler-free. But to fully state my case for Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar being the hardest 180 I’ve done on a movie maybe ever, as well as keep as much of the movie under wraps as possible, I suggest you only watch the trailer included at the top of this feature, and then go stream the movie as cold as possible.

You can see where a potential audience member might be a little put off with a trailer that was intended to introduce the world to Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. After seeing the movie, it’s a good thing that neither of the trailers reveals too much information about the movie that’s been taking critics and the internet by storm. One final warning: if you’re even remotely interested in seeing this film, what I’ve discussed above should be all you need to take the plunge. While I won’t go into very deep spoilers, the content that will be discussed does spoil the absolute surprise that is Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. That being said, here are some more detailed reasons why you need this movie in your life.

Barb And Star Is A Vicarious Thrill In A Pandemic Year

Take out all the jokes, mute all the music, and just show Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar as a silent movie, and what would you get? A vacation movie that shows off pleasant scenery, bright colors, and comedic violence befitting a PG-13 movie. That’s actually enough to suggest this movie as a curiosity, in a time where vacations are not exactly being suggested to the general populace. Hitting up the hotel bar, swimming lazily at the pool and wondering what to order off the room service menu, and heading to dinner with the dulcet tones of Richard Cheese singing about his love for boobs are all signs of a time when “vacation” wasn’t a dirty word. Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar couldn’t have been released at a better time. After all, sometimes you’ve just got to get away, if only just on your TV screen.

Kristen Wiig And Annie Mumolo Offer The Most Quotable Comedy In Years

If you’re here because you’ve seen Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, and merely want to read how my cold, cold heart was melted by this joyful comedy, you’ll notice the image selection for the film isn’t very showy. Again, secrecy is key with Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, but the lines in this movie are so funny, you don’t even need pictures to keep the magic going. Valentine’s hearts with sayings like “Official Couple” and “Tit Flapper” are all available to express your love for this movie, which is a testament to just how damned quotable the entire thing from Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo is. And if you don’t believe me, you can ask Tommy Bahama himself.

Everyone Involved In Barb And Star Is Having A Lot Of Fun

Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig are comedy wizards, so it’s not hard for them to look like they’re having fun. Naturally, casting themselves as Barb and Star’s leads was the thing to do, as you need that sort of fun to anchor the chaotic universe this movie presents. Yet, there is not one person that graces the screen in this movie that isn’t committed to the absurdity that Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar revels in. Selling the vacation angle is one thing, but selling the laugh filled enjoyment of every twist, turn, and accidentally revealed personal detail is what really brings everything together. That goes double for the surprise cameos.

Barb And Star’s Surprise Cameos Are Delights

Early on in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, our ladies go on an extended riff on why they love the name Trish. It’s a gag that, in a lesser movie, with weaker performers, would have stretched too damned long and worn out its welcome. But Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo make it work, especially when at the end of the film, the big Trish gag pays off in the form of special celebrity guest/country music icon Reba McEntire being the physical embodiment of Trish herself! Not only that, but if you take into account Andy Garcia appearing as/being credited as Tommy Bahama, and Josh Robert Thompson’s eerily close impression of Morgan Freeman, the surprises are around every laugh-filled corner.

Seriously, When Has Jamie Dornan Had This Much Fun In A Movie?

I cannot sell you on the fact that the entire cast of Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is having the time of their lives, and everyone fits this film like a nice pair of evening culottes. But if I had to single out one person for their performance, it’d have to be Jamie Dornan, simply because he looks like the one person who needed this vacation the most. Being given the opportunity to sing about seagulls and pine for Kristen Wiig’s dual roles of the loving Star and the cold-as-ice villainess Sharon Gordon Fisherman, Dornan’s comedy chops are clearly there for the taking. No longer does he have to merely play in dour dramas, when he can climb palm trees and weakly tear his shirt open for comedic effect.

Giving actors a chance to stretch their legs is something that’s never discouraged, especially when it leads to the results that Jamie Dornan racked up in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Yhat’s pretty much the thread that ties all of these charms together in the pleasant friendship bracelet that is this movie. I too got to stretch my legs a bit, as a world where vacationing and movie debuts has been reduced in the name of safety has given this film even more of a purpose than it would have had in the normal market. Rven if I got to see Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar on opening night at my local theater, I’d probably have enjoyed it just as much, if not more, than I currently have. It is, absolutely, irrevocably, and truly the biggest tit flapper you’ll see right now; and potentially throughout the entire year.

The majority of people reading this story probably know Jamie Dornan as the handsome leading man from the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise, where he played dominant sex addict Christian Grey. It’s easy to get typecast when you become a global sensation in a series such as that, and Dornan has been doing his part to take roles that are very different than Mr. Grey, leading to parts in the sci-fi thriller Synchronic, A Private War opposite Rosamund Pike, and the new comedy Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar.

In that new film from Kristen Wiig and Anniue Mumolo, Jamie Dornan plays … well, the henchman for an evil power broker named Sharon Gordon Fisherman (played by a surprise guest) who has a vengeance play against the seaside Florida town of Vista Del Mar. And it’s really, really silly. But Dornan fits right in with the bizarre humor -- something that didn’t surprise his wife one bit.

Barb and Star director Josh Greenbaum stopped by CinemaBlend’s official podcast, ReelBlend, to talk all things Barb and Star, and when we spoke about Jamie Dornan’s screamingly funny performance, Greenbaum shared this story:

We have seen other examples of non-comedians plugging into roles in wacky comedies and fitting right in. It tends to suggest that they have strong senses of humor in their own lives, but translating that to the screen isn’t always easy. Jamie Dornan is ridiculously funny in Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar. His song, “Edgar’s Prayer,” is the moment during my screening when I lost my breath from laughing so hard.

Can this lead to a slew of new comedic roles for Jamie Dornan? It’s possible, though I wonder if he needs to be in the right hands to make it work. He easily holds his own opposite Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo in Barb and Star. With the right collaborators, this definitely could be the start of a successful new avenue for him.

Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar is available to stream as we speak, and you absolutely should. It’s one of the funniest movies we have seen in a long time, thanks in large part to Jamie Dornan’s wild turn.

Nearly 10 years after their Oscar-nominated smash-hit comedy Bridesmaids made its way into theaters worldwide, Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo are back for their second screenwriting collaboration with the wacky, surrealistic new comedy, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, which also stars Mumolo and Wiig in the title roles. With a supporting ensemble that includes Jamie Dornan, Damon Wayans Jr., Vanessa Bayer, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Phyllis Smith, and a few surprise celebrity cameos, this is an appropriately star-studded cast. If you're wondering where or how you recognize all the high-profile people involved with this movie, we're here to help.

Here's how you recognize the Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar cast.

Kristen Wiig (Star/Sharon Gordon Fisherman)

In the dual roles of Star, one-half of our vacationing leads, and Sharon Gordon Fisherman, our scheming supervillain dead-set on seeking revenge on the citizens of Vista Del Mar, Kristen Wiig was, fittingly enough, the star of Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. She also co-wrote the movie alongside her screen partner, Annie Mumolo. Most notably, Wiig is known for her multi-Emmy nominated work on Saturday Night Live, where she was a main cast member from 2005 through 2012. The actress also starred in and co-wrote 2011's hit comedy, Bridesmaids, for which she was Oscar-nominated alongside Annie Mumolo for Best Original Screenplay.

Kristen Wiig's other starring roles include The Spoils of Babylon, for which she was Emmy-nominated, MacGruber, The Skeleton Twins, Welcome to Me, Ghostbusters (2016), Girl Most Likely, Hateship Loveship and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. She also played supporting characters in Knocked Up, Whip It, Paul, The Martian, Downsizing, mother!, Masterminds, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Zoolander 2, and Wonder Woman 1984. And Wiig lent her voice to the Despicable Me movies, the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, Sausage Party, The Looney Tunes Show, Big Mouth, and Fox's Bless the Harts. Her other TV credits include recurring roles in Arrested Development, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, The Spoils Before Dying, and The Last Man on Earth.

Annie Mumolo (Barb Quicksilver)

As Barb Quicksilver, the other half of our vacationing BFFs, Annie Mumolo found her first feature starring role in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, which she also wrote alongside her screen partner, Kristen Wiig. As an actress, Mumolo can also be seen in This is 40, Bad Moms, The Boss, Looks That Kill, Afternoon Delight, and Bewitched. You may also recognize her as the nervous seat-mate to Kristen Wiig's character during the hilarious plane scene in Bridesmaids.

On television, Annie Mumolo was part of the main cast for NBC's About a Boy. She can also be seen in Modern Family, Transparent, Angie Tribeca, and Quibi's Mapleworth Murders. As a voice actress, Mumolo played a prominent role in Curious George, The Looney Tunes Show, American Dad!, and Handy Manny. Next, Mumolo will be seen in Queenpins.

Jamie Dornan (Edgar Paget)

Playing the part of Edgar Paget, a woefully romantic hitman who unwittingly enters a three-way relationship with Barb and Star, Jamie Dornan gave one of his most surprising, inspired, and musical performances in this wacky new comedy. Previously, Dornan starred in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. The former model was also seen in The Fall, Once Upon a Time, Marie Antoinette, Anthropoid, The Siege of Jadotville, and New Worlds. His other notable credits include My Dinner with Herve, Untogether, A Private War, Robin Hood (2018), The 9th Life of Louis Drax, and Death and Nightingales.

Most recently, Jamie Dornan starred in Wild Mountain Thyme, as well as Endings, Beginnings and Synchronic. He can also be heard in last year's Trolls World Tour. Next, he'll be seen in Kenneth Branagh's Belfast.

Damon Wayans Jr. (Darlie Bunkle)

In the role of Darlie Bunkle, a secret spy who doesn't keep his identity much of a secret, Damon Wayans Jr. played a goofy side personality in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Most notably, Wayans Jr. is known for his starring roles in ABC's Happy Endings, Fox's New Girl, CBS's Happy Together, and Epix's The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair. His other television credits include My Wife and Kids, Bob's Burgers, The Twilight Zone, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Sherman's Showcase, and Hoops.

Additionally, Damon Wayans Jr.'s film credits include starring roles in Let's Be Cops, Dance Flick, and last year's Love Guaranteed. The actor can also be seen in Blankman, The Other Guys, Someone Marry Barry, How to Be Single, and Super Troopers 2. Wayans Jr. can also be heard in Marmaduke, Big Hero 6, The Land Before Time XIV: Journey of the Brave, and Trouble. Next, he'll be seen in Cherry, Supercool, and Long Weekend.

Michael Hitchcock (Gary)

As Gary, the overworked concierge at a very fancy (and overbooked) Vista Del Mar hotel, Michael Hitchcock plays a supporting role in this new comedy. Notably, Hitchcock can also be seen in Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, Happy Texas, A Mighty Wind, Serenity (2005), For Your Consideration, Wild Hogs and Bridesmaids. On television, Hitchcock served as a writer on MADtv, Glee, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and he appeared in all three shows. Furthermore, the actor also appeared in episodes of Trial & Error, Black Monday, Space Force, The Goldbergs, Veep, The New Normal, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The United States of Tara, Men of a Certain Age, NYPD Blue, and Arrested Development. Next, he'll be seen in The Bystanders and Amazon Prime's A League of Their Own.

Reyn Doi (Yoyo)

Playing the part of Yoyo, Sharon Gordon Fisherman's kidnapped 12-year-old assistant, Reyn Doi is an underutilized supporting player in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Prior to his breakout performance in this ultra-silly comedy, Doi was seen in bit roles in S.W.A.T., Kidding, and Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet. The child actor also appeared in a variety of short films. Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is Doi's first feature film.

Vanessa Bayer (Debbie)

In the role of Debbie, the pushy rule-enforcing leader of the Talking Club, Vanessa Bayer played a memorable supporting role in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Most notably, Bayer is known for her Emmy-nominated work in Saturday Night Live, where she served as a cast member between 2010 through 2017. She also starred in Netflix's Ibiza and played supporting roles in Trainwreck, Office Christmas Party, The Polka King, and Wander Darkly. She can also be heard in Despicable Me 2. Additionally, on television, Bayer can be seen in Will & Grace, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, Drunk History, Man Seeking Woman, Portlandia, The Mindy Project, and Modern Family. The actress also played a recurring role in Brooklyn Nine-Nine's most recent season. Additionally, Bayer was the star and co-creator of the web series, Sound Advice.

Next, Vanessa Bayer will star in, executive produce, and co-create Showtime's I Love You For This.

Phyllis Smith (Delores)

As Delores, the horse-loving member of the Talking Club, Phyllis Smith plays a mild-mannered supporting character in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Most notably, Smith is known for her work in NBC's The Office. She also voiced Sadness in Inside Out. Smith's other notable TV credits include The OA, where she was a series regular, as well as Arrested Development, Trophy Wife, and The Middle. Additionally, on the big screen, Smith can be seen in Bad Teacher and Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked. Outside of acting, Smith served as a casting associate for The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Spin City, and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. She also served as the uncredited narrator of The Princess and the Goblin.

Wendi McLendon-Covey (Mickey Revelet)

Playing the part of Mickey Revelet, a sunny friend who gleefully shares the news about the vast wonders of Vista Del Mar with our downtrodden titular friends, Wendi McLendon-Covey plays a small-but-pivotal character in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Most notably, McLendon-Covey is known for her starring roles in Reno 911! and The Goldbergs, which is still ongoing. Some of her other notable credits include Bridesmaids, Rules of Engagement, What to Expect When You're Expecting, Bewitched, Think Like a Man Too, Hello My Name Is Doris and Blended. Additionally, McLendon-Covey played the lead role in 2019's indie drama, Blush. She also lends her voice to the animated series, Big City Greens.

Most recently, outside of Barb and Star, Wendi McLendon-Covey was seen in Sylvie's Love and Breaking for Whales. She also reprised her role as Deputy Clementine Johnson in Quibi's Reno 911! reboot. She'll soon be seen in Long Weekend and Sick Girl, as well as heard in M.O.D.O.K.

Fortune Feimster (Pinky)

In the role of Pinky, an animated member of the Talking Club, Fortune Feimster is an animated side character in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Most notably, Feimster was seen in The Mindy Project. Her other television credits include Chelsea Lately, where she was a writer and recurring Round Table co-host, Life in Pieces, Champions, Another Period, Chelsea, 2 Broke Girls, Workaholics, and Glee. She was also a contestant on Last Comic Standing. Additionally, Feimster appeared in Office Christmas Party, Chick Fight, Father of the Year, The Happytime Murders, and Friendsgiving. The comic can also be heard in Soul, Summer Camp Island, Bless the Harts, and The Simpsons.

Outside of acting, Feimster hosts Sirius XM's What a Joke with Papa and Fortune. Next. Feimster will be seen in Netflix's Yes Day, Deported, and NBC's Kenan.

Rose Abdoo (Bev)

As Bev, another member of the Talking Club, Rose Abdoo can be seen in several scenes in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. The actress-comedian is best known for her work in Gilmore Girls and That's So Raven. She also had recurring roles in Parenthood, Bunheads, Scandal, and Netflix's Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Additionally, the actress appeared in Veep, Better Things, Mike & Molly, Castle, Shameless, Psych, Malcolm in the Middle, Wizards of Waverly Place, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She was also seen in Peacock's Saved by the Bell.

Rose Abdoo's other film credits include My Best Friend's Wedding, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Bad Teacher, Other People, Good Night and Good Luck, Cake, and Friendsgiving. And she's heard in Legally Blondes and Hotel Transylvania 2.

Mark Jonathan Davis (Richard Cheese)

In what will hopefully be a star-making role for the Vegas favorite, lounge singer parody star Richard Cheese made a hell of a cinematic debut in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Performed in character by Mark Jonathan Davis, the musician previously did voice work for The LEGO Batman Movie, Batman Beyond, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, Superman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond: The Movie, American Dad!, and Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. Also, Davis played brief supporting turns in The Comedy Team of Pete & James and Friday Night. Additionally, the singer did voice work for Lands of Lore III, and he's heard on the soundtracks for House of Mouse, Dawn of the Dead (2004), The Leftovers, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. He also frequently performed on Last Call with Carson Daly.

As a musician, Richard Cheese has released several albums with his band, including Lounge Against the Machine, Aperitif for Destruction, The Sunny Side of the Moon, and this year's Big Cheese Energy.

Josh Robert Thompson (Morgan Freemond)

Believe it or not, Morgan Freeman did not lend his famous voice to Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Rather, the voice of Morgan Freemond, i.e. the sage and remorseful crab nearing the end of his wistful sandy life, was supplemented by voice actor Josh Robert Thompson, best known for playing loyal skeleton robot sidekick Geoff Peterson on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Away from this late-night talk show, Thompson can also be heard in Family Guy, American Dad!, Robot Chicken, Skylanders Academy, The Cleveland Show, Scary Movie V, Man Seeking Woman, The Angry Birds Movie, The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature, and We Bare Bears, among several other projects.

Additionally, last year, Josh Robert Thompson served as the uncredited narrator of Hulu's The Binge. Thompson also played the lead in 2014's indie comedy, Nowhere Girl.

If you haven't watched it already, find out how to stream Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar here.

This story is going to get into deep spoilers for the new comedy Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar, so stop reading now if you haven’t yet seen the movie.

By now, you know that Barb and Star isn’t exactly the movie that it advertised itself to be. The trailers suggested a buddy comedy for middle-aged Midwestern ladies starring Kristen Wiig and her Bridesmaids co-writer, Annie Mumolo. And it IS that… but that kernel is wrapped inside of an unconventional spy movie starring a ghost-white Bond villain named Sharon Gordon Fisherman who has a devious revenge scheme worked up against the coastal Florida town of Vista Del Mar, where Barb (Mumolo) and Star (Wiig) happen to be vacationing.

And in the role of Sharon Gordon Fisherman? Well, that’s Kristen Wiig, pulling double duty as the film’s evil villain, as well as one of the heroes who are going to foil Fisherman’s sinister plan. It’s similar to the days when Mike Myers would trade off scenes as both Austin Powers and his arch nemesis, Dr. Evil. Only, early audiences for Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar didn’t recognize Kristen Wiig in her second role, or so the film’s director tells us.

Josh Greenbaum stopped by the ReelBlend podcast this week to spill the tea on his wild new comedy, and when we opened the conversation up to Sharon Gordon Fisherman, he told us:

Sharon Gordon Fisherman looks like she’d be right at home in a Tim Burton movie. Her skin is pale white, and her hair is jet black. She despises the citizens of this quaint town for the way they humiliated Sharon at a young age. And this dual role is one that’s wildly unexpected, because all hints of the crime story are kept out of the film’s trailers.

For his part, Josh Greenbaum thinks it’s unprecedented what Kristen Wiig is doing on screen, stating:

It really is a sight to see. And you can see it now that Barb and Star is available to stream everywhere that movies can be rented. Once you do, listen to our full interview with Josh Greenbaum.

And then check out the full review for Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar, written by our very own Eric Eisenberg.

The past year we've seen countless movies pushed back, as studios attempt to bide their time and make money at the box office once theaters return to normal. Meanwhile, a number of projects have arrived straight to homes, providing a much needed distraction for those spending time in isolation. The latest of these is Josh Greenbaum's over the top comedy Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, which stars Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo. The cast is also rounded out by Fifty Shades icon Jamie Dornan, and now we know how he tore off his shirt during his over the top musical number.

Jamie Dornan is best known for starring as Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise. This made him a bonafide sex symbol, so there were definitely some fans thrilled to see him rip off his shirt in the trailer for Barb and Star. But it turns out the reality of the scene was far less glamorous. Director Josh Greenbaum recently spoke about this sequence, revealing:

It looks like Jamie Dornan does indeed have the physique to rip off a teal polo if needed. It's one of Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar's many sight gags, and it looks like took a number of takes to get perfectly. Luckily it's footage that worked great in the final cut.

Josh Greenbaum's comments to Slate are a testament to the shape Jamie Dornan is in. Because while they were shooting his big musical number for Barb and Star, some takes required him try to rip off a shirt without any assistance. He ultimately came through instead of flailing, to the unexpected joy of the film's director.

For his part, Jamie Dornan also recently spoke about what it was like filming his big montage number for Barb and Star. When asked by Vulture about the already infamous shirt rip, Dornan painted a far less glamorous picture. In his words,

It's unclear if Jamie Dornan is just being modest here, or if he and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar Josh Greenbaum just have very different recollections of what it was like filming the shirt ripping. Regardless, their collaboration paid off big time in the theatrical cut. You can see a brief clip of this sequence in the comedy's trailer below.

Aside from his physical prowess, Jamie Dornan flexed another set of muscles for Barb and Star: his comedic ones. Dornan plays his character Edgar as a lovable dope, and manages to volley admirably in scenes with comedic geniuses like Kristen Wiig. It's shows just how versatile the actor truly is, aside from his role as a literary BDSM enthusiast.

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is currently available to stream via VOD. Be sure to check out our 2021 release list to plan your next movie experience.

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It has already been a decade since Kirsten Wiig and Annie Mumolo got together to write and star in Bridesmaids, and if the past tells us anything, their latest collaboration, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, looks like it will become yet another cult classic we’ll be talking about for years to come. But we can’t talk about the movie unless we see it, and the best way to watch the comedy about two Midwestern women looking for a good time (not just with Jamie Dornan) is streaming. But where and how can we watch Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar streaming anyway? Funny you should ask.

Now, more so than ever before, watching a movie from the comfort of your own home on any number of streaming services is about as easy as it gets. That being said, while we push through the final weeks of wintry cold weather, here’s everything you need to know about escaping to a tropical dreamland and watch Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar streaming.

Where Is Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar Streaming

Were you bummed out to hear that Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar wasn’t coming to theaters, but instead would be exclusive to the premium video on demand market? Well, just like the titular characters leaving their Midwestern town for the first time, you are about to find yourself on a wild, daring adventure into the world of streaming.

If you want to watch Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo, Jamie Dornan, and the rest of the outrageous cast, all you have to do is go to the digital retailer of your choice, search for Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, purchase your 48-hour rental, and start watching the two best friends embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Right now, the movie is only set up as a PVOD rental, which means there aren't any purchase options for it yet.

Rent Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar on Amazon here.

The digital version of Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar will be available for purchase on March 26, 2021. The Blu-ray will go on sale on April 6. Pre-order it here.

Will Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar Be On Netflix?

With Lionsgate probably wanting to make as much money from VOD purchases of Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (especially with no theatrical release), the chances of watching the February 2021 comedy on Netflix at any point in the near future are most likely slim to none. Now, this isn’t to say the movie won’t eventually turn up on the streaming giant, but your best chance of watching the movie right now is the VOD route.

Here’s What Critics Had To Say About Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar

No surprise here, but Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is already being considered one of the funniest movies of 2021, and we’re only a two months in at this point. CinemaBlend’s Eric Eisenberg, who gave the movie 4.5 out of 5 stars, commented on everything from Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo’s comedic chemistry, Jamie Dornan’s surprisingly hilarious performance, and the general timing of the jokes before stating:

CinemaBlend isn’t the only outlet to sing high praises for Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar as multiple publications like IndieWire, The Wrap, and Variety gave the movie glowing reviews prior to the film’s release.

Now that you know how and where to watch Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, what critics are saying about it, and other information, all that is left to do is give the movie a shot for yourself.

Kristen Wiig’s latest adventure on the big screen is here. Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, who co-wrote the 2011 comedy Bridesmaids, have teamed up once again for Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar. Directed by Josh Greenbaum, the film features lifelong friends Barb (Annie Mumolo) and Star (Kristen Wiig) as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they decide to leave their small Midwestern town for the first time ever to go on vacation in Vista Del Mar, Florida.

Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar drops on VOD today, and critics have begun sharing their thoughts on the film.

CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg gave Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar 4.5 out of 5 stars and says that, though it takes a minute to adjust to the movie’s absurdity, the movie is spectacular fun. He calls Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo a phenomenal and enchanting pair, and was surprised at how Jamie Dornan “comes out of Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar looking like a comedy genius.” He continues, saying:

Jamie Dornan’s comedy chops seemed to surprise several people (who apparently haven't seen his Instagram). David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter pointed out that Dornan proves to be “a great sport in a himbo performance that's equal parts amusing and endearing.” Rooney notes the film’s “infectious spirit,” saying:

Owen Gleiberman of Variety describes Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar as a film that could be a spin-off of an SNL sketch but is actually executed well, and notes that “while it has more chuckles than belly laughs, doesn’t feel padded.” He goes on to compliment the performances of Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, saying:

Alonso Duralde of The Wrap was excited that Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar is a movie that diverges from the “same bland assembly line” that many other films seem to emerge from. Though he mentions that not all of the jokes hit 100% of the time for him because all viewers have different opinions about comedy, the movie kept him intrigued. He continued, saying:

Kate Erbland of IndieWire was a little bit less impressed with Barb And Star Go to Vista Del Mar. She noted that the film is mostly hysterical, but criticizes its cohesiveness. She said:

It would seem that though receiving a smattering of mostly positive, but somewhat mixed, reviews, Barb And Star Go to Vista Del Mar will probably make you laugh. It might even generate a cult following, though we'll have to wait and see just how big that cult becomes.

You can watch Barb And Star Go to Vista Del Mar on VOD today.

When a comedy movie is truly great, it doesn’t just make you laugh in the moment. Instead, a great comedy movie reveals itself to you days later when you’re letting your mind wander and suddenly find yourself in hysterics remembering a random line or scene. The perfect timing in some dialogue delivery or deft physicality of a moment becomes tattooed on your brain, and every time your thoughts drift to it the corners of your mouth make a run for your ears. Before too long you realize that you can watch the film on repeat, and every time it plays it provides the same kind of joy.

Josh Greenbaum’s Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar is a comedy absolutely destined for this kind of reception in the hearts of cinephiles – particularly those who enjoy their comedy with a nice mix of the surreal and absurd.

Admittedly the movie takes a minute to adjust to. The script, the first written by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo together since 2011’s Bridesmaids, doesn’t tiptoe around when it comes to establishing tone: its opening centers on a paperboy named Yoyo (Reyn Doi) haphazardly performing his route while singing along to "Guilty" by Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb… before revealing that he is a henchman for a James Bond-esque albino supervillain named Sharon Gordon Fisherman with a dastardly plan involving a swarm of deadly mosquitos. It’s somewhat throttling to be thrown into such dedicated weirdness so fast, but like adjusting to cool waters when wadding into the ocean on an early summer beach day, once you’re totally submerged and acclimated what awaits is spectacular fun.

With its odd plot established, Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar then introduces us to its titular leads, and within moments you’re both enchanted and flummoxed by the duo. Employees of a retail furniture shop in a small Nebraska town, Barb (Annie Mumolo) and Star (Kristen Wiig) are single, middle-aged ladies with simple demands in the world – asking only to be able to forever sit on their favorite floor model couch and talk. And talk. And talk. Unfortunately, this life gets ripped away from them when they’re told that the store’s parent chain shut down months ago and just never bothered to tell their manager.

Unemployed, afraid to be the shame of their Talking Club, and concerned about losing their “shimmer,” Barb and Star find themselves scared about the future – but fate intervenes with a casual run in with their friend Mickey Revelet (Wendi McLendon-Covey). Looking all kinds of tan and happy, Mickey tells them about a vacation oasis in Florida called Vista Del Mar, and paints her time there as a soul-cleansing experience.

Though there is hesitation to change up their routines, Barb and Star agree that a trip to Vista Del Mar is exactly what they need. One red eye flight later (the time equivalent of one conversation about their favorite name: Trish), they arrive and discover a tropical paradise. They check into their hotel and open themselves up to an experience that will bring them closer together as friends – but what they don’t expect is a romantic entanglement with a handsome stranger named Edgar (Jamie Dornan), who is, unbeknownst to them, an undercover agent working for Sharon Gordon Fisherman (Kristen Wiig in a dual role).

You never know where the next laugh is coming from in Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar, and that’s part of the magic.

It’s tricky to categorize Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar, or even really compare it to anything else, as its sensibilities are unique. In some ways it’s like a live-action cartoon, as it possesses its own kind of otherworldly logic, but even in its more grounded moments it makes you hysterical through pure goofiness. It’s functionally insane that Sharon Gordon Fisherman sends in a backup agent for Edgar who with each appearance divulges more and more secretive information about himself – but Damon Wayans Jr.'s Darlie Bunkle earns gasping-for-air laughs every time she shows up. So much of the material is delivered from 60 miles beyond left field, and it’s stunning how many original ways it’s able to hit comedic gold.

Part of what explains this success is the film’s pure earnestness. Barb and Star are characters who brim with positivity, and while you might think that this would be counterbalanced with cynicism for easy laughs, the more challenging path is taken. The energy of the movie’s protagonists proves contagious, and while you chuckle at things that are dumb and silly, none of it is mean-spirited or even dark. It’s not without adult themes, including some funny doses of sex and drugs, but it’s also thoroughly PG-13 (and the funniest PG-13 movie in years too).

Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo are a phenomenal pair with genius comedic chemistry.

The biggest want coming out of Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar is the intense demand to see Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo make many, many more movies together – both as screenwriters and as stars. This could be called affirmation that their script for Bridesmaids was no fluke, but it’s also so wildly different than the Paul Feig-directed movie that it feels the focus should more be on what else their awesome creative minds may create next. In addition to the weird, wild, and wonderful world of the film, its eponymous leads are spectacular and curiously rich characters, and the back and forth between Wiig and Mumolo is breathtaking in how organic it is (it’s a rare case where you can’t fully differentiate the material from the screenplay and improvisation).

Jamie Dornan is Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar’s greatest and most sidesplitting surprise.

Given Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo’s backgrounds, it’s not exactly a shock that they are so funny – but the same sentiment can’t be shared for Jamie Dornan, who comes out of Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar looking like a comedy genius. At first it looks like he may get set up as the movie’s main straight man, but don’t be misled: Edgar is as brilliantly bizarre as anyone else in the ensemble. He has a vexing unrequited love for Sharon Gordon Fisherman, but also has his worldview rocked by Barb and Star after one psychedelic night together, which leads him to do things like perform musical numbers on the beach praying to the seagulls for guidance. Those who watch Dornan’s performance will never look at him the same way – and opinions will only go up.

Comedy is a subjective art form, and there will certainly be plenty of people who don’t quite vibe with Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar, but those who do are in for a spectacular treat. Whether or not it finds an immediate audience is incidental, as it is guaranteed to be headed towards cult movie status; the only question pre-release is exactly how big the cult will be.

The year 2020 started out promising for the movie industry but things quickly shifted, and many major films expected for a 2020 release got delayed until 2021 and beyond. Now several of the anticipated films of 2020 are coming out in 2021, including romantic dramas and comedies. There are so many great romantic comedies in 2021. For example, in 2021, Netflix plans to conclude their romantic film series To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and The Kissing Booth. Netflix will release To All the Boys: Always and Forever in early 2021 and The Kissing Booth 3 will likely come out in the summer of 2021.

The romances of 2021 include some films with A-list stars, respected directors, and beloved singers. This is going to be a year for a lot more romance, starting with these romantic comedies and dramas.

To All The Boys: Always And Forever (February 12)

The final To All the Boys film, To All the Boys: Always and Forever follows Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Peter (Noah Centineo) as they’re dealing with the last year of high school and what that means for their future. Along with dealing with things like the prom and graduation, Lara Jean and Peter discover that their plans to attend college together may not go as expected.

Fans of the To All the Boys series want to know if Lara Jean and Peter’s romance can survive the major hurdle of growing in different directions. Though Jenny Han hasn’t written any more books in the series, I suspect that we may see Lara Jean and Peter again in book form, but there is no guarantee of any future Netflix To All the Boys films, so this could really be the end of a teen era, which means it’s a must-watch romantic comedy. To All the Boys: Always and Forever will be available to stream on Netflix on February 12.

Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar (February 12)

Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar is the latest film by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo. They wrote the screenplay and Josh Greenbaum directed it. Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wig co-wrote Bridesmaids together, so many are hoping that Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is just as funny. Mumolo and Wiig also star as the title characters, Barb and Star, while Jamie Dornan and Damon Wayans Jr. are also featured, likely as their love interests and probable criminals.

Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar follows these two women as they go on a trip to Vista Del Mar, Florida. Their adventure turns deadly as they’re caught in a plot to murder the whole town. Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar will be available to rent VOD on February 12.

In The Heights (June 18)

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first musical, In the Heights, gets a theatrical release in Summer 2021. The film takes place over three days, as it follows characters from a mainly Latino neighborhood, Washington Heights, in New York City. Jon M. Chu will direct and Anthony Ramos stars in it. Jimmy Smits, Melissa Barrera, Dascha Polanco, Corey Hawkins, and Stephanie Beatriz also have roles in the film.

It’s mainly about Ramos’ character Usnavi’s dream of a better life, but it also involves some stories of romance and love. In the Heights will be released in theaters and on HBO Max on June 18.

Cinderella (July 16)

The latest version of Cinderella stars singer Camila Cabello in the title role and Nicholas Galitzine as her Prince. Billy Porter plays her Fab G (genderless fairy godparent), Idina Menzel plays Cinderella’s stepmother. John Mulaney, Romesh Ranganathan, and James Corden voice the mice/footmen. Cinderella’s cast also includes Missy Elliott, Maddie Baillio, Charlotte Spencer, and Pierce Brosnan.

Cinderella is a story that’s been done many times, most recently in 2015 with Lily James and Richard Madden, because people gravitate towards the story of goodness, true love, and upward mobility. The 2021 version of Cinderella has a little twist with new original music being made for the movie. Cinderella was supposed to come out in February 2021, but it got pushed to a July 16, 2021 release date. As of February 2021, it’s set for a theatrical release.

West Side Story (December 10)

Steven Spielberg puts his spin on Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical, West Side Story, for this remake. Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler play Tony and Maria, two star crossed lovers who are being ripped apart by their rival gang affiliations. West Side Story also features appearances by cast members of the 1961 film, including Rita Moreno.

West Side Story is a highly anticipated film because fans of the original want to see Spielberg’s vision for the story. It also features many newcomers, like Rachel Zegler, so this is a major project for those involved and fans of the original movie. This West Side Story has the potential to introduce a whole new audience to the characters of Maria, Tony, the Sharks, and the Jets. The film will be released in theaters on December 10.

The Kissing Booth 3 (2021)

The Kissing Booth 3 is the final journey of Elle (Joey King), Noah (Jacob Elori), and Lee (Joel Courtney). The Kissing Booth 2 dealt with the end of high school for Lee and Elle. It left on a cliffhanger with Elle trying to decide whether to go to Harvard with Noah or Berkeley with Lee. Fans of The Kissing Booth series want to know who Elle joins at college. They also want to know how Netflix wraps it all up.

The Kissing Booth 3 was shown in Netflix’s official teaser for the films coming out in 2021. A release date hasn’t been announced yet, but The Kissing Booth was released in May 2018, and The Kissing Booth 2 in July 2020. The Kissing Booth 3 will likely be released in Summer 2021.

The French Dispatch (2021)

The French Dispatch is Wes Anderson’s latest film. It features an all-star cast that includes Bill Murray, Timothée Chalamet, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton, and Owen Wilson. It’s described as a “love letter to journalists” and set in a fictional French city. It centers around three storylines and a collection of tales from the eponymous The French Dispatch magazine.

The French Dispatch is one of those movies that has been moved around quite a bit because of COVID-19. As of February 2021, it doesn’t have a release date, but Indiewire suspects that it may be scheduled for a July 2021 release date, so that it can premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

The Last Letter From Your Lover (2021)

Based on Jojo Moyes’ book of the same name, The Last Letter from Your Lover takes place in the 1960s and 2003. It follows a woman who has lost her memory but discovers a letter from a lover. In 2003, another woman becomes obsessed with finding this woman’s unknown lover. The Last Letter from Your Lover cast includes Felicity Jones, Shailene Woodley, Nabhaan Rizwan, Callum Turner, and Joe Alwyn.

Jojo Moyes has a dedicated fan base, the film includes a cast of well respected young actors, and it has an intriguing plot, so The Last Letter from Your Lover will definitely be on most romantic movie fans to-watch list. It doesn’t have an official premiere for the USA, but the film has a March 12, 2021 release date in the UK. It’ll be released in the USA on Netflix. It should be released on Netflix around the same time as the UK release, so The Last Letter from Your Love is likely a Spring 2021 release.

Love Hard (2021)

Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, and Darren Barnet star in this romantic comedy. It’s about a young woman who travels to meet her online crush. She goes to his hometown around Christmas, only to discover that she’s been catfished. Her crush lives in the same town, and the guy who tricked her offers to help her win her crush, but she has to pretend to be his girlfriend.

Love Hard has a promising cast with Dobrev, Yang, and Barnet (a.k.a. your Never Have I Ever crush). Love Hard is another Netflix film expected for 2021. Based on the Christmas setting, we don’t expect Netflix to release this until the holiday season, likely November or December 2021.

Untitled Alicia Keys Rom-Com (2021)

In August 2020, Alicia Keys announced plans to produce a romantic comedy for Netflix. The film’s cast includes Christina Milian, Jay Pharoah, and Sinqua Walls. It will be directed by Steven Tsuchida. It centers around an aspiring pop star, Erica, who ends up as the performer at her ex-fiancé’s wedding. Erica tries to keep her past with her ex-boyfriend from his new fiancé, but then feelings are rekindled between Erica and her soon-to-be-married ex.

With Alicia Keys being involved, this might be the musical romance we need. As of February 2021, no release date or title has been announced but it will be released by Netflix in 2021.

Princess Switch 3 (2021)

In Netflix’s big movie announcement for 2021, they mentioned a third Princess Switch movie with Vanessa Hudgens. Prior to the Princess Switch 3 announcement, Hudgens said that there would be no more new Hudgens’ doppelgangers in this one. So, fans will just have to accept three characters with Hudgens’ face. This one takes place in Scotland.

Princess Switch fans can likely expect the film to be on Netflix in December 2021.

We’re very excited to finally see these romantic comedies in 2021. Since many of their dates are still unknown, make sure to monitor Cinema Blend’s 2021 movie release schedule to stay updated on all movie release changes and announcements.

Following a year that saw more than a few titles pushed back due to the production delays and other issues caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, January 2021 saw it’s fair share of long-awaited streaming releases of several Academy Award contenders, big-budget action flicks, and a crime thriller featuring a trio of Oscar winners, to highlight a few. And by the looks of it, the second month of the year won’t be any different because there are multiple new movies coming February 2021 that we will probably be talking about for some time.

With highly-anticipated Netflix originals showcasing to the talent of two young faces in Hollywood that seem to have no ceiling, the pairing of a certain Marvel actor and the directors who helped make him the leap from the friendly neighborhood, and the retelling of one the most significant chapters in late 1960s Chicago, the shortest month of the year is absolutely stacked.

Malcolm And Marie (Friday, February 5 - Netflix)

John David Washington and Zendaya are two of young Hollywood’s brightest stars and their Netflix film, Malcom and Marie, looks to only help their respective cases. The tense drama, which was written and directed by Same Levinson (Euphoria), follows the titular characters as they return from a movie premiere to discuss their past relationships, which ultimately begins to test themselves and their love.

Little Fish (Friday, February 5 - Theaters And VOD)

February is typically the month we focus on love and relationships, but that will be quite the task for Olive Cooke and Jack O’Connell’s characters in Chad Hartigan’s sci-fi romance Little Fish. In the midst of an outbreak of a virus that causes memory loss, the pair struggles to remember their love for one another before all hope is lost.

Son Of The South (Friday, February 5 - Theaters, VOD)

It is no easy task breaking from one’s family and turning a new leaf, but that’s the case for Lucas Till’s Bob Zellner in the biographical drama Son of the South, which follows the grandson of a Klansman to take a stand against racism as he joins the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

Falling (Friday, February 5 - Theaters, VOD)

In Falling, Viggo Mortensen (who also directs) plays John Peterson a man who left his rural home years ago when his father, played by Lance Henriksen, didn’t agree with his lifestyle. Years later, John attempts to bring his father back into his life and have him live closer, which ultimately leads to complications for all involved.

Minamata (Friday, February 5 - Theaters)

Based on the true-life story of photographer Eugene Smith, Minamata sees Johnny Depp take on the role of the legendary photojournalist as he travels to Japan to document the neurological effects of mercury poisoning on residents in communities along the coastline, a condition that would become known as Minamata disease.

Bliss (Friday, February 5 - Amazon)

Things aren’t always what they seem, or at least that’s the case for Isabel (Salma Hayek) in the weird and mind-bending sci-fi romance Bliss, who attempts to convince Greg (Owen Wilson) that their polluted and dying world isn’t reality, but instead the product of an advanced computer simulation.

The Right One (Friday, February 5 - VOD)

The Right One follows struggling novelist, Sara (Cleopatra Coleman) as she finds inspiration for her next project when she has a chance encounter with Godfrey (Nick Thune), a man who uses multiple personalities as a coping mechanism. Things become complicated for the pair as they uncover truths about one another.

What About Love (Friday, February 12 - Theaters)

It is usually the parents who influence the children, but Klaus Menzel aims to flip that idea on its head in What About Love, a story following two young lovers as they travel the world getting to the bottom of the mystery of love. Their journey comes close to home, however, when their work begins to inspire their parents and bring a spark to their dormant love life.

The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things (Friday, February 12 - Amazon)

The “stuck in a time loop” setup has been making a comeback as of late and Ian Samuels attempts to keep the momentum going in his upcoming fantasy drama The Map of Tiny Perfect Things. Starring Kathryn Newton and Kyle Allen as two teens forced to live the same day over and over again. Along the way, however, the couple makes the most of the situation and creates a perfect map.

Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar (Friday, February 12 - Theaters, VOD)

Ten years after getting together for Bridesmaids, Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo return to the big screen (and VOD) with the raucous comedy Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar about two lifelong friends who decide to finally leave their quaint Midwestern town for the trip of a lifetime. Little do they know, Barb and Star are about to find themselves in quite the situation.

Land (Friday, February 12 - Theaters)

Robin Wright will try her hand at directing with the survival drama Land, which sees a character played by the former House of Cards star come to terms with a near-death experience in the wilderness and how she finds a way to regain the will to live.

French Exit (Friday, February 12 - Theaters)

If surreal comedy is your thing then French Exit is right up your alley. The movie follows a widow with an ever-dwindling bank account (Michelle Pfeiffer), her son (Lucas Hedges), and her cat that happens to be her reincarnated husband as she takes up shop in a small apartment in the heart of Paris.

Judas And The Black Messiah (Friday, February 12 - Theaters, HBO Max)

Shaka King’s long-awaited biographical drama Judas and the Black Messiah features Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton, the late chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, and Lakeith Stanfield as William O’Neal, the FBI informant whose undercover work led to 1969 raid that would ultimately end Hampton’s life.

To All The Boys: Always And Forever (Friday, February 12 - Netflix)

It has only been three years since To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before took Netflix, and the world, by storm, and the series is already on its third entry: To All the Boys: Always and Forever. The third chapter follows Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) as she embarks upon two significant trips that will forever change the way she sees life and love.

The Mauritanian (Friday, February 12 - Theaters)

The legal thriller The Mauritanian follows the story of Mohamedou Ould Salahi (Tahir Rahim), a detainee at Guantanamo Bay who was held without ever formally being charged with a crime for 14 years. After years of lost hope, Salahi gets a new lease on life when two defense attorneys (Jodie Foster and Shailene Woodley) take his case and seek freedom.

Nomadland (Friday, February 19 - Theaters, Hulu)

Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland follows a woman by the name of Fern (Frances McDormand) as she picks up the pieces of her life after losing everything during a reception and embarks upon a journey through the American west, learning something about herself and life in the process.

Blithe Spirit (Friday, February 19 - Theaters)

Based on the 1941 play of the same name, Edward Hall’s supernatural comedy Blithe Spirit follows a struggling writer (Dan Stevens) after the spirit of his dead wife (Leslie Mann) is accidentally summoned during a failed séance, bringing a great deal of complications to his relationship with his second wife (Isla Fisher).

Flora & Ulysses (Friday, February 19 - Disney+)

The Disney+ original film Flora & Ulysses follows 10-year-old Flora Buckman (Matilda Lawler) after she adopts a squirrel that unbeknownst to her or anyone else possesses superpowers, setting the pair off on an adventure of a lifetime.

I Care A Lot (Friday, February 19 - Netflix)

The Netflix original dark comedy I Car A Lot centers on Marla Grayson (Rosamund Pike), a master con artists who signature trick is convincing various judges that she is the legal caregiver of elderly victims that she then robs blind. The deceit catches up with Marla, however, when she bites off more than she can chew with her latest target.

Tom & Jerry (Friday, February 26 - Theaters, HBO Max)

The iconic animated cat and mouse duo is back for another adventure in Tom & Jerry, but this time the pair of frenemies find themselves homeless on the streets of New York City after their last run-in resulted in them getting the boot from Tom’s owners, resulting in them going their separate ways. The break doesn’t last two long as Tom and Jerry have to get back together to uncover a conspiracy.

The Father (Friday, February 26 - Theaters)

Florian Zeller’s drama The Father centers on a man feeling the effects of aging (Anthony Hopkins) and his daughter (Olivia Colman) who moves in to care for him in his deteriorating state. As his condition worsens, the man begins to lose touch with his family, himself, and his reality.

Cherry (Friday, February 26 - Theaters)

Based on Nico Walker’s breakthrough novel of the same name, the Russo brothers’ crime drama Cherry features Tom Holland as the the titular character as he goes from the lovestruck teenager to soldier in the Iraqi War to addicted bank robber with quite a story to tell. Cherry will come to Apple TV+ on March 5, 2021.

Tyger Tyger (Friday, February 26 - Theaters, VOD)

The pandemic thriller Tyger Tyger follows the misadventures of Blake (Sam Quartin) after she robs a pharmacy for a life-saving medication and sets off on a journey to distribute the drug with a drug addict by the name of Luke (Dylan Sprouse). Life on the run, however, proves to be more difficult than anyone would have ever guessed.

Crisis (Friday, February 26 - Theaters)

The crime thriller Crisis focuses not on one story about the decremental effects of opioid addiction but three intertwined tales of despair. The movie follows a drug trafficker arranging a massive fentanyl smuggling operation, an OxyContin-addicted architect trying to get to the bottom of his son’s mysterious life, and a college professor attempting to reconcile with his employer’s new painkiller. These characters will be played by Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, and Evangeline Lilly when it drops in theaters in February and VOD on March 5.

The United States Vs. Billie Holiday (Friday, February 26 - Hulu)

Billie Holiday will forever go down as one of the most prolific singers of the 20th Century, but her adoring fans weren’t the only ones obsessed with the late singer, as the FBI was actively investigator her over the years. Those investigations are the subject of the Hulu film The United States vs. Billie Holiday, which follows the singer (Andra Day) as she is the target of an operation led by Jimmy Fletcher (Trevante Rhodes).

That sure is a lot of movies, but those aren’t the only films coming to to your streaming services in February as there are multiple others coming to Netflix throughout the second month of the year. For an updated list of all those movies, check out CinemaBlend’s Netflix movie premiere guide.

By now, just about everyone has had the opportunity to watch Kristen Wiig’s harrowing and scene-stealing performance as Barbara Minerva, aka Cheetah, in Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman 1984, either in theaters or streaming on HBO Max as part of Warner Bros. new release model. But, the DC Comics apex predator (and her much discussed potential return) is just the beginning of some of the highly anticipated projects involving the Saturday Night Live alum who has found a great deal of success on film and television since her career got started in the early days of the 21st Century.

So, what is next for Kristen Wiig now that she is a bonafide action star responsible for some of the most electric scenes in 2020’s premier comic book adaptation? Truth be told, Wiig has several projects that have the potential to be in the conversation as the incredibly funny actress' top performances. With the upcoming return of Wiig’s Fox adult animated comedy, another movie co-written by her Bridesmaids writing partner, and so much more, the future looks bright for one of the funniest names in show business.

Bless The Harts - February 14, 2021 (Season 2 Midseason Premiere)

The next time we will see Kristen Wiig, err, hear Kristen Wiig, will be on the Fox adult animated comedy Bless the Harts, which is set to return to the network’s “Animation Domination” block when the show’s second season resumes on Sunday, February 14, 2021. The series, which follows a working-class family in North Carolina, centers on Jenny Hart (Wiig), a single mother who struggles to provide for her family as a waitress at a local diner, and is loosely based on the life of series creator and former Saturday Night Live writer and producer Emily Spivey.

This authentically southern and earnest comedy came about after Emily Spivey wanted to create a show in the tradition of The Andy Griffith Show and King of the Hill which didn't so much treat its characters as over-exaggerations of southerners, but instead had a lot of heart and soul, as the comedy writer told CinemaBlend in 2019.

In addition to Kristen Wiig, Bless the Harts also features the voice work of former SNL star and longtime comedy partner of Wiig’s, Maya Rudolph, as well as Jillian Bell, Ike Barinholtz, and Kumail Nanjiani as Jesus Christ.

Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar - July 16, 2021 (Post-Production)

CinemaBlend recently included Barb and Star Go to Vista Dela Mar in its list of 10 under-the-radar movies that everyone should get excited for in 2021, and there are plenty of reasons why Kristen Wiig’s upcoming comedy deserved a spot on the list. For the first time since the release of Bridesmaids (which came out 10 years ago), Wiig and that film’s co-writer, Annie Mumolo, are getting back together not only to star in what sounds like a hilarious reunion, but also to write and produce the farcical comedy directed by Josh Greenbaum. The film follows the titular characters as they leave their Midwestern town for a vacation in sunny Florida, where they get caught in a dangerous plot.

Production on Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar got underway in back in the summer of 2019 when filming began in various locations in Mexico. Initially set to be released in July 2020, Lionsgate decided to push back the movie’s premiere until July 16, 2021, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Jamie Dornan, Damon Wayans Jr., Vanessa Bayer, and Wendi McLendon-Covey are all set to star in the movie, as well.

A Boy Called Christmas - November 2021 (Post-Production)

It’s a long way until the 2021 holiday season picks up, but it’s never too early to start thinking about all the great Christmas movies that await us later on in the year. One of the biggest of those Christmastime treats (which features an insanely stacked and varied cast list) is the upcoming adaptation of Matt Haig’s novel, A Boy Called Christmas. The movie, which is going by the same name, is being written and directed by Gil Kenan (2015’s Poltergeist, MTV’s Scream, co-wrote Ghostbusters: Afterlife with Jason Reitman) and centers on a young boy by the name of Nikolas (Henry Lawful), who sets off into the wintry north on an epic adventure to search for his father, who is on a quest of his own to discover the fabled elven village, Elfhelm.

In addition to featuring Henry Lawful’s portrayal of the young boy who would later become a certain holiday icon, A Boy Called Christmas has a cast made up of the likes of Jim Broadbent, Sally Hawkins, Toby Jones, and Kristen Wiig as Nikolas’ nasty and cruel Aunt Carlotta. The first teaser trailer for the upcoming holiday epic features each of those stars in brief glimpses and highlights just what the story will be about with eye-catching visuals that will certainly make A Boy Called Christmas another staple of future Christmas movie marathons.

Toni Erdmann - TBD (Announced)

It has been more than a decade since Jack Nicholson appeared in his last dramatic role (2010’s How Do You Know). But, that extended break was originally supposed to be much shorter (by a few years), as it was announced in 2017 that the three-time Academy Award-winning actor was set to star in the English-language remake of the German dramedy Toni Erdmann, alongside Kristen Wiig, in which he would have played an older man with an affinity for practical jokes and alter-egos. Since Nicholson’s 2018 departure from the project, Toni Erdman has been left in a state of limbo, even though Wiig is still attached to star as the daughter of the titular character. In the original German version, Wiig's character was a hard-working business executive whose life becomes complicated when her father creates the persona of her life coach.

Things looked to be on the up-and-up for the English-language version of Toni Erdmann before Jack Nicholson’s return to acting was delayed, with Lisa Cholodenko (The Kids Are All Right, Olive Kitteridge) set to direct and everyone from Adam McKay and Will Ferrell to Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner all attached to serve as producers alongside Kristen Wiig.

There hasn’t been much progress on Toni Erdmann in recent years, but with Kristen Wiig having finished her commitments to Wonder Woman 1984, now is the perfect time to pick up where she and the rest of the producers left off with the sudden departure of Jack Nicholson. If all else fails, they could always call on the great Bill Murray, who was attached to the project in its early stages.

Wonder Woman 3 - TBD (Rumored)

Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman 1984 was filled with some of the most tragic characters in recent DCEU history, with one of the most harrowing being Kristen Wiig’s Barbara Minerva as she transformed from a klutzy and socially-inept geologist to the apex predator Cheetah, and learned some bitter yet valuable lessons along the way. Things ended more than a little ambiguously for Wonder Woman’s (Gal Gadot) feline foe in the final moments of the Christmas Day blockbuster, which could leave that door open, something that was the intention of the filmmaker as she told CinemaBlend:

This could just be Patty Jenkins having fun with all the speculation surrounding the ending of Wonder Woman 1984 or it could be the critically acclaimed filmmaker teasing a potential return for Kristen Wiig’s Barbara Minerva in Wonder Woman 3. Now, there has been nothing substantial revealed about the movie aside from its setting and lead actress, but the DCEU has had some major success in recent years.

Big Gold Brick - TBD (Executive Producer)

The final upcoming project involving Kristen Wiig doesn’t see the Saturday Night Live alum acting, but instead as one of the executive producers of Brian Petsos’ feature-length directorial debut, Big Gold Brick, which follows a series of events after a middle-aged Floyd Deveraux (Andy Garcia) hires Samuel Liston (Emory Cohen) to write a chronology of his adventurous life. The film also features one of Petsos’ oldest friends and collaborators, Oscar Isaac, who will serve alongside Wiig on the producing side of things.

Originally set to be released at some point in 2020, Big Gold Brick is now slated to hit theaters at some point in 2021, though a specific release date, or any additional information about the mysterious project, hasn't been announced at this time. However, with a cast that includes the likes of Oscar Isaac, Andy Garcia, Emory Cohen, Megan Fox, and Lucy Hale, expect to hear more about this dark comedy in the months to come.

Those are all the upcoming film and television projects involving Kristen Wiig in some shape or form. If you want to know what else is coming out this year, don’t forget to check out CinemaBlend’s 2021 Movie Release Guide for all the latest information about movies coming to a movie theater (or streaming service) near you.

Movie fans will long remember 2020 as being almost totally without blockbusters, but should things go as hoped, 2021 will be completely different. The Marvel Cinematic Universe will have four new big screen adventures for fans, not to mention the exhilaration of big titles like F9, Dune, and Halloween Kills. It should be a great 12 months for major event films – but not to be ignored is the incredibly exciting roster of more under-the-radar titles like The Little Things, Bios, and King Richard featuring major stars like Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto, Tom Hanks, and Will Smith.

You may not have read much about these indies and non-franchise titles, but you should consider this feature a launched beacon for each one of them. We can’t guarantee that they will all end up being good (How could we? We haven’t seen them), but there are multiple things about each one that has us anticipating them.

The Little Things (January 29)

The last time that Denzel Washington played a police officer operating in Los Angeles, it earned him an Academy Award – but that’s only a portion of the reason why John Lee Hancock’s The Little Things has our attention. It’s also a film that pairs him up with fellow Oscar winner Rami Malek on the hunt for a serial killer who may or may not be a character played by another member of that golden trophy club, Jared Leto. The debut trailer certainly paints it as having the potential for wicked thrills, and hopefully it satisfies. As one of the Warner Bros. films hitting theaters and HBO Max simultaneously, its release is guaranteed, and it’s coming up very soon, so be on the lookout.

French Exit (February 12)

Azazel Jacobs' French Exit made a splash when it premiered during last fall’s New York Film Festival, and the reaction to it has us intrigued. Based on the book of the same name by author Patrick Dewitt, it’s been described as a caustic comedy starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges as a Manhattan socialite and her adult son who move to a small apartment in Paris when their inheritance money begins to dry up. It looks like a great spotlight role for Pfeiffer, and the writing seems sharp and smart. We’re going to hope that the hype for this one proves to be genuine, and that it proves to be an odd little treat for the Valentine’s Day weekend.

Nobody (February 19)

Bob Odenkirk has been bowling us over with his talent for decades at this point, from the eternally hilarious Mr. Show to his genius portrayal of Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, but now it looks like he’s ready to do it again – with something completely different. We weren’t aware that he had it in him to go full action star, but Ilya Naishuller’s Nobody has him working with a script from John Wick screenwriter Derek Kolstad, and it looks utterly badass. The actor has been cooking it up for a couple of years, signing on to both produce and star back in January 2018, and we have our fingers crossed that it will prove to be worth the wait. Everything we’ve seen suggests that it will be.

The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent (Release Date Unknown)

Nicolas Cage has been known to make some odd career choices, and it’s fairly frequent that those choices turn out to be bad ones, but it’s really the wink-and-nod at that reality that has us excited for Tom Gormican’s The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent. Rather than playing another eccentric character with a crazy wig, the March release will feature Cage playing himself – forced to make a paid appearance at a billionaire’s birthday party because he’s strapped for cash. The fun twist is that said billionaire (played by Pedro Pascal) is a drug kingpin, and when things start getting violent and chaotic the actor leans into experiences from his past roles so that he can save his wife and daughter. All things considered, how could you not be excited after reading that plot description?

Update: While The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent was originally scheduled for release on March 19, it has now been pushed back and no longer has a specific date. Hopefully that status will change soon!

BIOS (April 16)

Thanks to Robert Zemeckis’ Castaway, there is a strong reputation for movies that find Tom Hanks all by himself with only nature and an inanimate friend to talk to, and that alone has us geared up and excited for Miguel Sapochnik’s BIOS. The upcoming film reformulates that approach by not being set in the present, but instead a post-apocalyptic future, and this time around Tom Hanks has a robot (played by Caleb Landry Jones) instead of a volleyball. The film was originally going to be one of three Hanks movies in 2020 – along with Greyhound and News Of The World – but the redistribution now means that we’re getting a pair in 2021, with this sci-fi adventure paired with the scheduled late fall release of Baz Luhrmann’s untitled Elvis Presley biopic.

Last Night In Soho (April 23)

Speaking of delayed 2020 releases, cinephiles were originally supposed to get their thirst for new Edgar Wright movies quenched last fall when his latest, Last Night In Soho, was originally scheduled to be released, but instead we’re hotly anticipating the film’s debut this spring. Not counting Wright’s fake trailer in Grindhouse, it marks the director’s first venture into the horror genre since Shaun of the Dead, though it looks like a lot more dread than laughs is on the menu this time. The period psychological thriller stars Anya Taylor-Joy (fresh off the Netflix hit The Queen’s Gambit) as an aspiring fashion designer in the 1960s who gets sucked into a nightmare after meeting her idol. Krysty Wilson-Cairns, who earned an Oscar nomination last year for co-writing 1917, penned the script with Wright, and we’re feverishly excited to see what they’ve come up with in their collaboration.

Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar (July 16)

It’s been nearly a decade since we last saw the end result of a film co-scripted by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, but considering that film was the hilarious 2011 hit Bridesmaids we’re thinking that their latest is something to be hotly anticipated. In addition to having penned the script, the duo also stars as the titular leads in Josh Greenbaum's Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, which follows them on a vacation from the Midwest to Florida and finds them caught up in an adventure fraught with danger. The supporting cast is stacked with talent including Jamie Dornan, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Damon Wayans Jr., and Vanessa Bayer, and makes us think it has the potential to be the funniest film of 2021.

The Green Knight (July 30)

Big screen fantasy epics have dried up quite a bit since the end of the Middle-earth and Chronicles of Narnia franchises ended/dried up, but that’s all the more reason why we’re excited for David Lowery’s The Green Knight to scratch our itch. The trailer released early last year makes it look absolutely gorgeous, and it has enticing source material, being based on the Arthurian legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. It has a terrific ensemble lined up including Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, and Sean Harris, and between Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, A Ghost Story, and Pete’s Dragon David Lowery has consistently proven himself an exceptionally talented filmmaker.

Deep Water (August 13)

Books by Patricia Highsmith have a long history of being adapted for the big screen, the first and greatest being Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers On A Train in 1951, and we’re hoping that Adrian Lyne’s Deep Water can join an awesome legacy that also includes The Talented Mr. Ripley and Carol. The director has a history with sex-fueled thrillers, with a resume that includes Fatal Attraction, Indecent Proposal, and Unfaithful, and this one very much seems in his wheelhouse – starring Ben Affleck as a husband who begins to become suspicious when the lovers of his philandering wife (played by Ana de Armas) – with whom he has an open relationship – begin to disappear. It’s a great high concept plot, and we can’t wait to see all of the twist and turns that shake out.

King Richard (November 19)

Will Smith has spent most of the last few years in blockbuster mode, making films like Bad Boys For Life, Gemini Man, Aladdin, and Suicide Squad, but Reinaldo Marcus Green’s King Richard seems like it could be the film that earns the star his first Academy Award nomination since 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness. The movie will feature the actor as Richard Williams, the father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams, and recount the journey working with them as young girls to eventually help transform them into two of the greatest players the sport has ever seen. Jon Bernthal, Tony Goldwyn, and Dylan McDermott co-star, with Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton playing Venus and Serena, respectively.

You can expect us to write about all of these movies and many more here on CinemaBlend as we begin our trip into the mysterious waters of 2021, so be sure to stay tuned here on the site for all of the latest news, updates, trailers, and more!