A Netflix movie sparked so much controversy it landed the streamer in court and reportedly triggered an 800 percent increase in subscription cancellations.
The world’s biggest streaming platform has faced some challenges on its way to the top.
And in September 2020, it added a French movie that sparked international outrage.
From filmmaker Maïmouna Doucouré, it follows a young girls’ dance troupe, and first debuted at Sundance film festival that January.
Critics had praised the movie, but a Netflix promotional poster which supposedly ‘sexualized children’ catapulted it into the center of a social media storm.
The movie sparked major backlash (Bac Films)
Doucouré says she received death threats over it, while the streamer issued a public apology for using ‘inappropriate artwork’ to promote the film.
The movie in question, as you might remember, is called Cuties.
The coming-of-age flick sees Amy, a Senegalese-French girl with a traditional Muslim upbringing, rebel against her family as she joins a ‘twerking’ dance crew, becoming embroiled in a dangerous online world.
French-Senegalese director Doucouré told TIME it was inspired by her own personal experiences.
She told the publication: “For me, this film is sounding an alarm. This film tries to show that our children should have the time to be children, and we as adults should protect their innocence and keep them innocent as long as possible.”
But people were quick to slam the movie, as well as Netflix’s decision to add it to its catalogue.
People feared shots of the young actresses dancing suggestively would encourage children to be sexualized.
Controversial dance movie saw Netflix taken to court
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In the days after Cuties joined Netflix, subscription cancellation rates jumped to ‘nearly eight times higher than the average daily levels recorded in August 2020 – reaching a multiyear high’, reported Variety, based on information from data-analytics provider YipitData.
Shortly after its Netflix release, the streamer was indicted by a grand jury in Tyler County, Texas, on a charge that it ‘depicts the lewd exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of a clothed or partially clothed child who was younger than 18 years of age… and has no serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.’
Bizarrely, the district attorney was Lucas Babin, who played Spider in 2003’s School of Rock.
Anyway, Netflix hit back, defending Cuties as ‘a social commentary against the sexualization of young children.’
The case – and its subsequent appeal – were both dismissed.
Cuties was rated 88 percent by Rotten Tomatoes critics (Bac Films)
Cuties remained on the platform until its removal in September 2024.
But this wasn’t a delayed response to backlash.
Instead, it was simply because Cuties was sold to Netflix for a four-year license period, which expired.
Sometimes, the streaming giant renews its licences, but obviously it didn’t on this occasion.
The movie is no longer available to stream via any platform.
And despite its controversy, the Cuties garnered a respectable 88 percent from Rotten Tomatoes critics, with its consensus reading: “A thoughtful look at the intricacies of girlhood in the modern age, Cuties is a coming-of-age film that confronts its themes with poignancy and nuance.”
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Featured Image Credit: Bac Films
Topics: Film and TV, Netflix, France
Ellie Kemp
US Netflix fans fume after subscribers discover bingeable TV show that has a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score
Made up of six seasons, it’s a reliable binge-watch
Netflix subscribers are sharing their amazement after only just discovering a binge-worthy TV show with an 100 percent Rotten Tomatoes score.
Americans, however, are fuming as the series is yet to be added to the streamer in the US.
Having been hailed the ‘greatest family drama’ of all time, its third season was awarded a perfect rating by critics.
This ‘unconditionally lovable’ show first aired on NBC between 2010 and 2015, before joining Netflix for most of the world back in December.
In an even bigger blow for US fans, the show was streaming on Hulu until it was abruptly removed in 2023. How unlucky.
Bonnie Bedelia, aunt of Macaulay, Kieran, and Rory Culkin, stars in the family drama (NBC)
The family show is made up of six seasons – that’s 103 episodes – making it the ideal binge-watch.
The TV series – called Parenthood – follows three generations of the Braverman clan, parents, Ezekiel ‘Zeek’ and Camille, and their four adult children, Adam, Sarah, Crosby and Julia.
The family juggle modern life in their Berkeley, California hometown, dealing with everything from mental health and marriage to parenting and divorce.
Some of the star-studded cast includes No Good Deed’s Ray Romano, Gilmore Girls’ Lauren Graham and Die Hard’s Bonnie Bedelia, aunt of Macaulay, Kieran, and Rory Culkin, also stars.
Responding to the show joining Netflix over on Reddit, US fans shared their desperation.
“Plz can they add it to the US,” one person wrote with a praying hand emoji, as a second added: “I was wondering why I wasn’t seeing it on my Netflix.”
Last year, Hulu subscribers panicked when the show was removed with little warning. Taking to Reddit once again, one person raged: “It expired and I have been watching for the last month. 3 episodes left to watch so ANGRY! Paying 2.99 per episode to finish.”
A second vented: “I’m devastated! Came home late from a meeting to finish the last four episodes and it can be selected but no episodes are shown. This is not OK!”
Parenthood’s debut season landed its lowest Rotten Tomatoes score, with a pretty strong 88 percent. But it soon picked up, with season two earning 91 percent and season three, a perfect 100.
The final three series are ranked between 90 and 95 percent, so its quality doesn’t exactly dip.
Netflix subscribers in Canada, Australia and the UK do have access to the show, and they have been taking to social media to praise Parenthood.
Taking to X, one fan admitted: “Parenthood on Netflix is soooooo good. How is this 15 years old and I’m just now discovering it????”
Monica Potter and Peter Krause also star in Parenthood (NBC)
A second agreed: “Parenthood on Netflix is really good. Been binge watching for days.”
A third weighed in: “One of my favourite TV shows of all time. If you’ve never seen it before, I can’t recommend it enough. I’m about to jump back in for a rewatch.”
Users on Reddit also crowned it the ‘the greatest family drama of all time’.
The series bagged some notable nominations and awards to prove it, too – including a Vision Award, a Critics’ Choice Television Award and two Television Academy Honors awards, among several others.
All six seasons of Parenthood are available to stream now on Netflix in Canada, Australia and the UK.
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I get paid over $220 per hour working from home with 2 kids at home. I never thought I would be able to do it but my best friend earns over $35,000 a month>>>> WorkHighs.Com
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Featured Image Credit: NBC
Topics: Film and TV, Netflix, Nostalgia, Parenting, Rotten Tomatoes, US News, Social Media, Reddit
Ellie Kemp
Netflix fans are binging ‘new instant favorite’ TV series which has 97% Rotten Tomatoes score as it is finally added
Fans say they’re ‘hooked’ after just one episode
Netflix subscribers have been binge-watching an ‘instant favorite’ TV series which was scored with an impressive 97 percent by Rotten Tomatoes critics.
Some good old escapism might be in order to forget about the fact that we’re still – somehow – in January…
From an ‘outstanding 10/10’ miniseries fans have watched in a day, to a ‘hidden gem’ with an almost-perfect Rotten Tomatoes rating, the streaming platform has us covered.
But this new addition has been hailed an ‘instant favorite’ by fans who’ve been watching the TV series non-stop.
From Sex and the City and Emily in Paris creator Darren Star, the series boasts a star-studded cast including Hilary Duff, Sutton Foster, Miriam Shor, Nico Tortorella and Peter Hermann.
Sutton Foster stars in the ‘instant favorite’ TV series (TV Land)
It follows single mom Liza (Foster) who, at 40 years old, takes some serious measures to get back into her dream line of work.
A hair restyle, new make-up look and a fresh wardrobe later, Liza’s out here convincing everyone she’s 26.
As doors which were once jammed shut begin to swing open, her life drastically transforms – and chaos ensues.
Fans have hailed the series among the best they’ve ever watched – and if you’re looking a show you can really get into, this one is made up of seven seasons.
The more the better, right!?
The series in question is called Younger, and you can watch the trailer below:
Alongside the 97 percent rating, Rotten Tomatoes critics said: “Darren Star’s witty writing and Sutton Foster’s charisma help elevate Younger above some of TV Land’s previous sitcoms.”
Fans echoed critics’ sentiments, as one said: “One episode in, and I’m HOOKED!”
A second said: “This might quite honestly be the best show I’ve ever watched! I didn’t know that I would find a story about someone lying about their age so Damn interesting! I just can’t stop watching…”
A third admitted: “Honestly, the only reason I watched is that Hilary Duff is a main character, totally mesmerized by the whole setting, cast, and plot.”
As the series first debuted in 2015, some fans have taken its Netflix addition as an opportunity for a re-watch.
Hilary Duff also stars in Younger (TV Land)
One fan shared: “Instantly became my favorite show when it first aired and my love for it has only grown.”
A second added: “With clever writing, good acting and likeable characters all around, this is a show that shouldn’t be missed.”
Younger is available to stream now on Netflix.
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Best series i have seen in a long time could not stop watching i watched 7 seasons in 5 days i did not want it to end
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The most enjoyable series I’ve watched in many years. Absolutely loved it!
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Loved the show. The characters were so funny. Very entertaining hope there’s another season!
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I loved it! Loved Peter and Sutton’s relationship, and I loved the possibilities in the ending. Great writing!
Featured Image Credit: TV Land
Topics: Netflix, Film and TV
Ellie Kemp
Pepsi’s $32,000,000 ‘offer’ saw the company sued over military jet promise
A Netflix documentary previously combed through the bizarre case…
One of the most famous contract law cases in America involves a man who sued Pepsi for not giving him a $32 million dollar fighter jet.
You might wonder exactly how the soft drink brand and a military plane are linked.
But those of us who grew up in the 90s will remember the iconic Pepsi advert which promised consumers a plane in exchange for a certain amount of points – albeit, jokingly.
At the time, competition between Coca-Cola and Pepsi was raging, with both companies running major advertising campaigns.
Pepsi brought in Pepsi Points, which were earned by buying bottles of Pepsi and could be exchanged for prizes.
With the purchase of a fountain drink, you could get one point, a two-litre bottle would be two points, and a 12-pack would bag you five points.
Pepsi advertised the jet on TV (Netflix)
These could be redeemed on Pepsi merch items such as baseball caps (60 points) and T-shirts (80 points).
But some were a bit harder to earn – such as a mountain bike, which was thousands of Pepsi points.
A Pepsi TV ad claimed that a military-style fighter jet could be won for a staggering 7,000,000 points.
John Leonard, a 21-year-old business student at the time in 1995, found it was possible to purchase Pepsi Points for 10 cents each: thus seven million points cost $700,000.
The rules only required a minimum of 15 Pepsi Points worth of physical tags from Pepsi products beyond the purchased points.
So, Leonard convinced five investors to help him buy the remaining points, including his friend Todd Hoffman.
Leonard confidently sent his points and a check to PepsiCo to claim the jet.
But his request was denied, with the company responding that the commercial was a joke.
Leonard filed a lawsuit in Miami accusing PepsiCo of breach of contract, fraud, deceptive and unfair trade practices and misleading advertising.
He even hired political strategist – and later celebrity attorney – Michael Avenatti, who is currently in prison for felony fraud and extortion…
.webp)
John Leonard (Netflix)
Anyway, the case was assigned to Judge Kimba Wood, who ultimately decided to grant the summary judgment in Pepsi’s favor.
“No objective person could reasonably have concluded that the commercial actually offered consumers a Harrier jet,” she wrote in her opinion. “If it is clear that an offer was not serious, then no offer has been made.”
This came after Pepsi offered a settlement of $750,000, which Hoffman and Leonard rejected.
“Now, sure, [I would have settled],” Leonard said on reflection in the 2022 Netflix documentary, Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?
“But I still get a kick out of the fact that I had the chutzpah at that time to actually come to that conclusion. Probably wasn’t the smartest decision I’ve ever made in my life.”
Leonard v. Pepsico is now one of the most well-known contracts law cases in the US.
The Pepsi advert was later altered to increase the number of Pepsi Points required for the jet from seven million to 700 million. A ‘just kidding’ disclaimer was also added.
Pepsi, Where’s My Jet? is available to stream now on Netflix.
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Featured Image Credit: Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images/Ashley Cooper/Getty Images
Topics: Food and Drink, Film and TV, Netflix, Money
Netflix subscribers are raving about a ’10/10′ action-comedy starring Pedro Pascal and Nicolas Cage.
The world’s largest streaming service has plenty of new additions to keep us occupied, from an ‘instant favorite’ TV series to Cameron Diaz’s first movie in a decade.
But a 2022 film exploring the ‘unexpected bromance’ between Pascal and Cage has been climbing the Netflix movie charts, peaking at number four in the US.
Nicolas Cage plays a fictionalized version of himself: a once-successful actor whose star is, sadly, beginning to dim.
In a bid to save him from financial ruin, his agent (Harris) secures Cage a $1 million job in Majorca, Spain, where he meets billionaire playboy Javi Gutierrez (Pascal).
The movie first debuted in 2022 (Lionsgate)
“Things take a wildly unexpected turn when a CIA operative recruits Cage for an unusual mission,” the flick’s synopsis explains.
“Taking on the role of a lifetime, he soon finds himself channeling his most iconic and beloved characters to save himself and his loved ones.”
On top of all this, Cage is periodically tormented by a deranged, younger version of himself.
The movie also features a dazzling ensemble, including Neil Patrick Harris, Tiffany Haddish and Sharon Horgan.
Titled The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, see the trailer for yourself below:
The movie was scored a respectable 87 percent by both Rotten Tomatoes critics and audience members.
But it’s the ‘chemistry’ between The Last of Us star and the Hollywood legend that has fans hooked.
One person so eloquently described the movie: “A surprisingly enjoyable comedy that makes you ask yourself ‘WTF am I watching’, yet keeps a smile on your face while celebrating Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal and their unexpected bromance.”
Labeling the movie a 10/10, a second agreed: “Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal are so great, they have such amazing chemistry.
“I could watch this movie a million times I loved it so much.”
Critics and fans both loved the comedy-action flick (Lionsgate)
A third wrote: “This movie had me laughing beginning to end. Pascal gives a great performance and Cage is as watchable as ever.”
Meanwhile a fourth candidly admitted: “There’s a few movies I want to watch twice.. This will probably be one of them.”
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Cage admitted he ‘turned down’ the movie ‘three of four times.’
“I wanted no part of it,” he admitted, but writer-director Tom Gormican managed to convince him otherwise.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is available to stream now on Netflix.
