Michelle Obama will leave the White House a more cultured place than she found it. The outgoing First Lady's latest contribution to what has been a sterling eight years of White House-pop culture partnership is a screening of Hidden Figures. The film focuses on the contributions of three Black women who helped America win the space race.
Obama will host cast members Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monáe, Octavia Spencer, and Kevin Costner, and deliver remarks about the movie. The film, directed by Theodore Melfi, adapts Margot Lee Shatterly's nonfiction book about Black women who overcame racist and sexist obstacles through being hell of good at math.
The White House said, in a release, that they hope to "highlight the stories of Americans who have made significant contributions in the history of space flight, space science, and innovation. Hidden Figures is a biographical film that tells the story of NASA pioneers Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Mary Jackson, whose work enabled the first launches of Americans into space."
Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama last year. She'll attend the ceremony at 97 years old.
Hidden Figures opens Dec. 25 in certain cities, and will enter wide release on Jan. 6. Watch the trailer below.
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It's never too late in the holiday season for a surprise Starbucks flavor. And we mean it when we say that this new beverage is, well, surprising. Forget the crème brûlée and gingerbread lattes or eggnog frapps of late — all these aforementioned drinks have been playing it seasonally safe.
But not Starbucks' newest creation. The coffee company has presented us with what it's calling a take on a "popular holiday flavor." Meet the Fruitcake Frappuccino. We're detecting heavy air-quotes around "popular."
The new offering is crafted by blending a hazelnut créme frapp with dried fruit and cinnamon. The fruitcake-y beverage is then finished off with a topping of whipped cream that's been dotted with caramel and sprinkled with a dusting of matcha. And all that actually, sounds pretty damn delicious. So even though we may be skeptical of fruitcakes as a beloved holiday dessert (we're holiday cookie people), maybe the frappuccino version will make us reconsider the classic treat.
Starting today, participating locations across the U.S. and in Canada will be whipping up this limited edition drink. But you better snag a taste before they disappear on December 18 — and let us know in the comments whether you love or hate fruitcake, because there's really nothing in between.
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Better late than never, though. Swift turned 27 on Tuesday, December 13, and Lively finally got around to sharing the standard celebratory Instagram post late last night.
It turns out that the actress' brother-in-law, High School Musical alum Bart Johnson, also had his birthday on the "lamest day of the year," so Swift will just have to share the spotlight. Here's the series Lively dubbed "People Who I Not Only Really Love, But Also Really LIKE, That Were Born Yesterday."
"@taylorswift you know how I feel," she began, uploading a selfie of her and the singer.
Fingers crossed that Lively isn't docked Swift Squad points for being late. Let anyone who's never sent a belated birthday greeting throw the first stone.
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So here's the deal. It's winter. It might be cold out, depending on where you live. But maybe you're planning a little holiday getaway, maybe with the family or your S.O. or just your besties. Or perhaps you're going solo YOLO, you brave adventure seeker you. Now all you need is a little light reading for the plane and pool — or the jacuzzi near some ski slopes, depending on your destination.
First off: We are really jealous/happy for you regarding your upcoming vacation! Second, we've got some great reads in mind for your trip. But even if you're staying home and chilling by the fire (or maybe just a fireplace-scented candle), chances are you have a little extra time on your hands. What better way to fill it than with some of our favorite releases from this year, right? So glad we're on the same page. Now get your read on, wherever you may roam.
Tilly Hammond is brilliant, but her off-the-charts IQ also comes with complete and total social incompetence. When Tilly is booted from the last school in D.C., her mother, Alexandra, seems to have run out of options — save for one. The Hammonds head to Camp Harmony, seeking out a child-behavior guru named Scott Bean to help them solve Tilly's issues.
But what they find out there in the woods isn't what they expected, and it's going to take a lot of strength to get the whole family through this ordeal. Told from Alexandra's point of view, and that of her younger daughter, Iris, Harmony is book about the lengths a mother will go to in order to save her family, and it's nothing short of fantastic.
Photo: Delacorte Press.
Behold the Dreamers
By Imbolo Mbue
Out July 12
Jende and Neni moved from their native Ghana to New York City with their young son to track down their own iteration of the American dream. Neni is training to become a pharmacist while Jende works to provide for his family — and stabilize his status in the country.
But when Jende winds up with a job as a chauffeur for a Wall Street banking scion, he winds up taking home more than a paycheck. The Edwards family is wealthier than any people that Jende and Neni have ever come into contact with, and little by little they get pulled inside their new employer's world. But as the saying goes: Not all that glitters is gold. Mbue's beautifully conceived debut draws on her own experience of being a Cameroonian immigrant in the U.S. But more than that, it also asks an important question: Why is it so important to stay, and when is it time to let go of the dream and return home?
Photo: Penguin Random House.
The Girl Before
By Rena Olsen
Out August 9
Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train fans, you're going to love this one. Clara Lawson was blindsided the day that armed men broke into her house, tore her away from her husband and daughters, and life as she knew it ended. Even more confusing was that while she was was being dragged out the door, her husband yelled just one thing to her: Saynothing.
But it turns out that Clara knows less about her own history than she ever could have imagined. Alternating between the past and present, The Girl Before is the story of a woman who has lost herself — and her memory — reconciling who she used to be with what she has become. But the haunting question at the center of the plot is this: Who should she be more afraid of — her husband or her captors?
Photo: Putnam.
The Regulars
By Georgia Clark
Released August 2
What would you sacrifice to be gorgeous?
That's the question at the heart of The Regulars, a novel about three besties struggling to make their way up their respective career ladders in NYC who stumble upon a magic tincture that will make them supermodel gorgeous in a snap. But those kinds of looks don't come without a cost, and Evie, Krista, and Willow have to decide what they will give up to keep their show stopping good looks.
Sexy and smart, this novel is Sex and the City meets The Picture of Dorian Gray, and we doubt you'll be able to put it down.
Photo: Atria/Emily Bestler Books.
The Invitation
By Lucy Foley
Out August 2
When Hal and Stella meet in Rome in 1953, it's either chance or destiny — but in any case, they make the most of it. Hall falls for Stella in a romantic whirlwind, convinced he's met the love of his life. Until, mysteriously, she disappears.
Hal is devastated, slipping back into his regular routine as a journalist but never forgetting the girl he fell for. Until, one day, when he's asked by an Italian Contessa to be the reporter on her yacht en route to the Cannes Film Festival, Stella reenters his life. But on a boat filled with Hollywood's most gorgeous and powerful elite, Hal finds out that the object of his affections is well beyond his reach — and as they get closer to their final destination, his obsession grows until things take a tragic turn.
Photo: Little, Brown and Company.
Cherry
By Lindsey Rosin
Out August 16
After four long years, high school is finally coming to a close — but these besties still have one more major thing to tick off their to-do list.
Layla, Emma, Alex, and Zoe didn't start off planning to make a pact that they'd lose their virginities before graduation. But one afternoon, over frozen yogurt, they all wound up committing to doing the deed together...but not, like, actually together.
An insightful tale about the true bonds between young women, like Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants but deliciously saucier, Cherry traces the girls' journey to lose their V-cards and all that comes along with it. No matter how long it's been since you lost your virginity, this is still one of those books that will transport you right back into your teen years in the best possible way.
Photo: Simon & Schuster.
A Wife of Noble Character
By Yvonne Georgina Puig
Out August 2
Houston socialite Vivienne Cally has a secret: Behind her moneyed reputation she's actually penniless — and she'll need to snag a mate to help change that fact and keep up appearances sooner than later.
But the man she falls for doesn't exactly fit in with her social scene, and ultimately Vivienne must decide whether to follow tradition and stay the path, or give into love and give up her blue-blooded expectations.
A witty love story rife with social commentary inspired by Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, Puig's novel is a juicy look at a certain Southern segment of high society with all its delightfully salacious fixings.
Image: Henry Holt and Co.
Siracusa
By Delia Ephron
Out July 12
Lizzie knows that her husband of 13 years, Michael, is unhappy and distracted — and she thinks that if she can only whisk him away on a whirlwind Italian vacation, she can win him over again. They're joined by Finn and Taylor — Lizzie's ex-lover and his chilly wife — along with Snow, Finn and Taylor's beautiful but strange young daughter.
But what happens when they get to Italy is worse than anyone could have imagined — and someone isn't coming back alive. A suspenseful, sensuous portrait of marriage, the secrets we keep to save one another, and the ones we keep to save ourselves, Siracusa is a force. You won't be able to put it down until you reach the end.
Photo: Blue Rider Press.
This Must Be the Place
By Maggie O'Farrell
Out July 19
Daniel Sullivan is a New Yorker who packed up his life, leaving his broken first marriage and a whole mess of other complications behind in the states, to join his new wife, Claudette, at an idyllic farmhouse in the U.K.
But despite all the ways they have tried to seclude themselves from the world, Claudette and Daniel are followed by a secret from the past. When a woman Daniel lost contact with two decades ago tracks them down, he is thrown wildly off course. Will his love for his wife and kids be enough to bring him back again?
A compelling and nuanced portrait of marriage and how secrets can ruin everything we've worked for This Must Be the Place is a brilliant tapestry of one family's history, underbelly and all.
Photo: Knopf.
We Are All Made of Stars
By Rowan Coleman
Out July 26
Stella is a nurse who always works the late shift at her local hospice center, helping the dying write letters to loved ones. The missives will only be mailed after the author's passing, which means that things stay pretty placid for Stella at work — which is good, given that her war vet husband is at home, and their relationship has been rocky since his return.
Stella finds her work both rewarding and soothing, until one day a woman under her care writes a confession to the son she abandoned years ago, and Stella realizes the letter must be sent straightaway. But if she sends it, she'll not just be breaking a rule: She'll be tampering with fate.
We Are All Made of Stars will break your heart and put the pieces back together — fans of Jojo Moyes' Me Before You, this one is right up your alley.
Photo: Ballantine Books.
The Assistants
By Camille Perri
Out May 3
Tina Fontana is a 30-year-old assistant barely scraping by while working for the CEO of a multinational media organization. And she's always played by the rules, until now. When the opportunity to wipe out her student debt presents itself, Tina takes it.
But just when she thinks her secret is safe, another assistant finds out, pulling Tina into a major embezzlement scheme that could land her in a world of major pain. This delightfully wry debut from former Esquire and Cosmo books editor Camille Perri is equal parts satire and modern-day Robin Hood tale. And if you’ve ever worked too hard for too little while the people above you are rolling in bank...well this is a book you’re going to adore.
Lily and Will are engaged — and madly in love. But the closer they get to their wedding date, the more it becomes clear to them both that there's another side to Lily — one that might make getting married a huge mistake. Sexy, sassy, and wonderfully unapologetic, I Take You really goes there, in the most bawdy and brilliant way.
Photo: Broadway Books.
Last Ride to Graceland
By Kim Wright
Out May 24
Cory Ainsworth is a blues musician who has never known the identity of her father — but it's within the realm of possibility that her dear old dad could have been Elvis Presley himself. When Cory finds a piece of rock-'n'-roll history belonging to the King in a family storage shed, she decides to turn it over to his estate, taking a road trip down to Memphis. But what she finds along the way isn't just her parentage. On the ride to Graceland, Cory discovers herself.
Photo: Gallery Books.
It's Okay to Laugh (Crying Is Cool, Too)
By Nora McInerny Purmort
Out May 24
Nora McInerny Purmort had been through the dating ringer and wasn't sure if she would ever find The One — until she met Aaron. They fell hard and fast in love, but not long afterward, Aaron was diagnosed with a rare, terminal brain cancer. Together, they had to decide how they would spend his remaining months.
This gorgeous and insightful memoir holds up the lens to mortality and leaves us with a reminder to make every moment count and value what is truly precious: time — and laughter.
Photo: Dey Street Books.
Modern Lovers
By Emma Straub
Out May 31
Elizabeth and Zoe became best friends in college — and have stayed close ever since. After Oberlin, they moved to Brooklyn’s not-yet-gentrified Ditmas Park and stayed put while life (and the neighborhood) sprung up around them. They got married, started their own families and businesses, and worked their way through middle age.
But the past is always present, and things get complicated — especially when a producer approaches both women, along with Elizabeth’s husband Andrew, about being part of a film project that would reveal some unseemly moments from their youth. Modern Lovers, by the best-selling writer behind The Vacationers, is a treat, as well as a fabulous coming-of-age novel about women entering into a new era of their lives.
Photo: Riverhead Books.
This Is Not My Beautiful Life
By Victoria Fedden
Out June 7
Picture it: You're 36, pregnant, and living with your parents in Florida, when one morning the DEA knocks on the door to take your mom and stepdad down. Turns out, they've been masterminding a pump-and-dump scheme, and the only place their grandkid is going to see them for a while is behind bars.
So, what's a new mom to do when her family is in barely functioning order and she's got a new human on her hands? Work her way through it — and this laugh-out-loud memoir tells us how she did it.
Photo: Picador.
Homegoing
By Yaa Gyasi
Out June 7
At the beginning of Gyasi's epic debut novel, two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, are born in different villages in Ghana: One is married off to an English slave-trader, while the other is imprisoned and sent to America to become a slave herself. The stories of their families unfurl from those fates, and each chapter in this gorgeous and often heartbreaking book picks up with a new generation of the sisters' descendants, until the novel arrives in the modern moment.
Visceral and haunting, Homegoing traces three centuries of history, beginning in Africa and wending its way to modern-day San Francisco. If you're going to read one book the entire summer, let this be the one: Not only will it stimulate your literary sensibilities, it is an important and timely reminder of the legacy of Black existence in America.
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The Girls
By Emma Cline
Out June 7
This is not the story of the Summer of Evil. But you don't have to read too closely to see the tale of the Manson family emerge. Debut author Emma Cline crafts a thrilling coming-of-age novel imbued with an anxious urgency. As the drama builds and your eyes widen, it becomes ever more impossible to find a stopping point in this beautifully written book. For that reason: Plan to pick it up on a day when you have literally nothing else to do.
Read our in-depth coverage on The Girls and the Manson murders as American past time here.
Photo: Random House.
Monsters: A Love Story
By Liz Kay
Out June 7
Stacey has been a mess since her husband passed away eight months ago — unable to write, constantly feeling like she's failing her kids — and something has got to give.
But when Tommy — an A-list actor who wants to turn Stacey's feminist rewrite of Frankenstein into a movie — arrives on the scene, things get even messier. Tommy and Stacey fall for each other, but their budding relationship is anything but smooth sailing. Monsters tells the story of two people who are made for one another, but can't quite see that themselves because of all the baggage between them.
Photo: G.P. Putnam's Sons.
Rich and Pretty
By Rumaan Alam
Out June 7
Female friendships are a complex and beautiful thing. But what happens when your best friend — who has been like a sister to you for nearly 20 years — suddenly becomes someone you're not sure you even like very much anymore?
This delightful debut explores the longtime relationship between Sarah and Lauren, besties who have grown up and apart but still can't deny the tether that binds them. A charming and insightful meditation on what it means to mature and adapt to adult life while still holding on to our shared histories, Rich and Pretty is a perfect pick for book clubs and BFFs — and, of course, for a day at the beach with the most important lady friend in your life.
Read more about this book and the evolution of female friendship here.
Photo: Ecco.
Sons and Daughters of Ease and Plenty
By Ramona Ausubel
Out June 14
On Labor Day of 1976, Fern and Edgar — a married couple enjoying all the boons of being solidly upper class — happen upon their worst nightmare: becoming suddenly poor. After finding out that their fortune has disappeared, they both begin to unravel, which in turn leaves their three children left to fend for themselves, often for days at a time.
Nine-year-old Cricket becomes the de facto leader of the little trio, creating a sort of Neverland for his siblings on Martha's Vineyard in the wake of their parents' misfortune. Full of wisdom and wonderfully meditative insights on wealth and class in America, Sons and Daughters is both highly imaginative and philosophical in scope.
Photo: Riverhead Books.
The Whale: A Love Story
By Mark Beauregard
Out June 14
It's the summer of 1850, and Herman Melville is in a sad state of affairs. Hounded by debt-collectors and critics, he is afraid his writing career might have come to an end — until a fateful picnic in the Berkshires and a chance meeting changes the course of his life and the literary legacy he'll leave behind.
The Whale is the story of that meeting between Melville and Nathaniel Hawthorne and the connection that formed between these two brilliant men. Full of nuance and passion and an incredible amount of objective research, The Whale swirls around the relationship between Melville and Hawthorne, without losing its factual footing or sacrificing any storied intrigue.
Photo: Viking.
All The Missing Girls
By Megan Miranda
Out June 28
Nicolette Farrell left home ten years ago after her best friend disappeared into thin air one night, never to be seen or heard from again. But when she's called back to her small town on a family matter, the details of that case come back to haunt her — especially after another girl she grew up with goes missing just days after Nic's return.
A suspenseful psychological thriller in the vein of Gone Girl and The Girl On The Train, Miranda's novel is impossible to put down — so plan to pack it for a beach weekend when you have nothing to do but read in the sand.
Sofia has spent most of her life trying to solve the mystery of her mother's mercurial illness. But despite how frustrating that endeavor has been, she's more than happy to hit pause on her own life to accompany her mom to southern Spain over the summer for an experimental treatment.
But once they arrive, it becomes clear that the doctor's methods are more than a little unusual — and Sofia's mother's symptoms become even more confusing. But as the true source of the pain begins to bubble to the surface, Sofia discovers how her mother's suffering connects to her own struggles. Dazzling and, at times, deeply disturbing, Hot Milk is a mystery meets introspective coming-of-age novel. It's unnerving — and that's a good thing.
Photo: Bloomsbury USA.
Invincible Summer
By Alice Adams
Out June 28
The summer after college, Eva, Benedict, Sylvie, and Lucien all break away from their comfortable routines and try and reinvent themselves as adults on the cusp of the new millennium. But a toxic romance between two of the friends, combined with their expanding geographic divides, make staying in touch a true struggle. Once they reconvene, they realize how much they all really need one another and that they have to reconnect. A testament to the power of friendship and love, this is a beautiful coming-of-age story about the intimacy of long-term relationships against the changing landscape of time.
Photo: Little, Brown and Company.
Losing It
By Emma Rathbone
Out July 19
Julia Greenfield is 26 and uncomfortable with the fact that she hasn't lost her virginity. With sex in mind, she travels to spend the summer with her aunt Vivienne in North Carolina. As it turns out, 58-year-old Vivienne also still has her V-card, a discovery that makes Julia even more fearful that she's never going to meet the right guy — or, even some guy to simply have sex with.
A slightly neurotic and wholly hilarious meditation on the difference between love and lust, The One and close enough, Losing It is about so much more than a quest for sex: It's a confrontational narrative about all the other stuff that goes along with it, and the intimate decisions we make that shape our lives for better — and worse.
Photo: Riverhead Books.
The Hopefuls
By Jennifer Close
Out July 19
A young woman named Beth follows her husband Matt to DC, where he plans to pursue his political dreams. But when she gets there, she realizes that she is out of her social element. Soon enough, Beth and Matt become pals with a White House staffer named Jimmy and his wife, Ashley, developing a couples quad that helps the transplants find their footing in the capitol city.
But as Jimmy's career begins to take off, the easy friendship begins to shift shape, and everything begins to unravel — including Beth's marriage. A fascinating drama about relationships, loyalty, the price of aspirations and success, The Hopefuls will surely ensnare you into this world from page one — and hold you there, tightly, until the final word.
Photo: Knopf.
Kitchens of the Great Midwest
By J. Ryan Stradal
Out July 28
When Lars Thorvald's wife leaves him for a sommelier, he is left to raise their daughter, Eva, all on his own. Determined that his daughter develop a great of love food, Lars begins cultivating her culinary tastes early on, priming Eva to eventually become a star chef herself.
Food, identity, self-preservation, and the kitchen arts are all ingredients in this sumptuous novel, but at its heart, this story is about the bond between a parent and child. Fair warning: It will make you hungry. (Very, very hungry.) As such, this book is best enjoyed with a bar of chocolate and a box of tissues.
Photo: Pamela Dorman Books.
A Wife of Noble Character
By Yvonne Georgina Puig
Out August 2
Vivienne Cally is a beloved Houston socialite — but unlike her peers, she doesn't actually have the wealth to back up her status. For that reason, 30-year-old Vivienne needs to marry rich and marry quick. Fortunately, she has ample access to the city's most eligible bachelors.
But when she begins to fall for her childhood friend, Preston Duffin, a man who doesn't share her social-climbing aspirations, Vivienne begins to question what she wants out of life — and where she really belongs. Inspired by Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, A Wife of Noble Character is equal parts wry social commentary and heart-fluttering romance — an insightful journey for both the head and the heart.
Photo: Henry Holt and Co.
When Watched
By Leopoldine Core
Out August 9
This outstanding story collection from Whiting Award winner Leopoldine Core explores life on the margins, while digging into the vulnerability of longing and sadness. Full of dazzling insight and empathy, each of the 20 stories in this debut will force you to consider how personal identity is impossible to pin down: We are all chameleons, shifting parts of ourselves to make the best of new circumstances.
While there is an undeniable headiness to Core's collection, her writing is never heavy-handed: It's refreshing — even bright — and full of heart. This new voice fills a void that, until finishing the final pages, we didn't know was sorely missing. But now that When Watched has surfaced, we can't wait for more from Core.
Photo: Penguin Books.
The City Baker's Guide to Country Living
By Louise Miller
Out August 9
Olivia Rawlings didn't intend to relocate her life — and career as a prized pastry chef in a Boston dinner club — to the tucked away town of Guthrie, VT. But when the opportunity to take over the kitchen at a charming inn presented itself, Olivia leapt — and got more than she bargained for.
Once she's made the move, Olivia realizes that she's not just there to make decadent desserts: She's going to have to win a blue ribbon at the upcoming county fair for her apple pies. In the midst of reworking recipes and handling the cantankerous innkeeper, Olivia also discovers the scent of love in the air. All is going well and Olivia finally feels like she's found her home, until another game-changer shows up in her life — and Olivia has to decide where she truly belongs.
Photo: Pamela Dorman Books.
You'll Grow Out Of It
By Jessi Klein
Out July 12
Veteran comedy writer and stand-up comic Jessi Klein is one of the funniest voices in television, though you might not know it: As the lead writer and executive producer behind Inside Amy Schumer, she has a knack for letting the limelight wash over someone else while she continues honing her craft. But this delightful, laugh-out-loud collection puts Klein front and center.
Klein explores what its like to go from being a tom boy to a tom man (her hilarious little turn of phrase), working her way through anxiety and depression to grab a comedy career by the horns, and wrangle it all the way up to the top, all while dealing with all the things women have to contend with in the world these days, from cads to wedding dress shopping and navigating the complicated world of porn. Prediction: You will rip through this collection quick — and then go back and read your favorites all over again.
Photo: Hachette.
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Winter months are almost synonymous with shitty commutes. The first snow might be a beautiful, white wonderland, but after that, you're stuck with freezing temperatures and sludge and salt as far as the eye can see. In other words, the last thing you want to do is spend a lot of time walking to the train, waiting for the bus, or hailing a cab.
Uber's new app is the solution to your winter commuting concerns. While it rolled out last week — you might have noticed a much more detailed map — some key features are being unveiled today. All of them make it much easier and faster to get where you're going, whether you're trying to meet up with friends or head to the airport for your holiday travels. If you want to have a steaming bowl of ramen arrive at home at the same time you do, that's possible, too.
Click through to check out all the new tools. And don't forget to update your friends about the third slide.
Set Shortcuts
Whether you always head to the same karaoke spot on Thursdays or the gym after work, there are some spots (work and home, included) that are a part of your everyday routine. Now, instead of entering them into the destination search bar, you can add them as shortcuts on your Uber homescreen. That way, when you open the app, you can tap a button and be on your way.
Photo: Courtesy Uber.
Keep Your Calendar In Check
Now, you can sync your calendar with the Uber app. So say you're traveling to JFK on December 22 to go home for the holidays. If that's in your calendar, you can open Uber and you'll see a shortcut to go to JFK. An in-app shortcut does not mean that you'll avoid crazy holiday traffic delays, though, so plan accordingly.
Photo: Courtesy
Meet Up With Friends
This might be the new app's best feature. Instead of texting with a friend to find out where they are, you can connect with them through Uber. Sync your contacts, enter a friends name, and Uber will send them a request asking to verify their location. Once they've done so, Uber will make your friend's location your destination so you can get on your way sooner.
Photo: Courtesy Uber.
Get Price Points & ETAs
Not sure whether to take UberX, UberPool, or UberBlack? When you scroll through your options along the bottom of the screen, you'll see the price and ETA for each, so you can make a more informed decision.
Photo: Courtesy Uber.
Have Food Waiting
Uber's made its in-app experience much more all-inclusive. Once your car has arrived and you're headed towards your destination, you can scroll down in the app to order food from UberEats. The app lets you know which restaurants can deliver your Thai food by the time you get there, so dinner is ready and waiting. It's kind of like having a personal chef, right?
Photo: Courtesy Uber.
Hey, Soul Sister
You can also use the app to stream music from Pandora once your ride has started. The music will play through the car's speakers, meaning you're in control of the playlist.
Photo: Courtesy Uber.
Snap Happy
This tool is just for fun. Now, in addition to texting your ETA to friends, you can snap it to them. Within the Uber app, scroll down and press "unlock filter." That will open Snapchat. Once there, take a photo and add the ETA filter, which will show your minutes until arrival.
Photo: Courtesy Uber.
Find Your Driver
Up until now, airports, crowded event spaces, and concerts have had one major thing in common: Finding your Uber at any of those locations has been hell. Plenty of other weary travelers and revelers also ordered one and everyone is trying to squint at the license plates and figure out which car is their ride. Now, Uber is attempting to solve the problem with Beacons.
If you heard about Lyft's Amps, Uber's Beacons are essentially the same thing. Starting this week, drivers will have a light-up Uber logo on their dashboard. In the app, you can select the color you want the logo to be, making it easier to find your driver.
Photo: Courtesy Uber.
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There are two main strategies we use when shopping for nail polish (or picking a color at the nail salon under pressure). You're either the person who leaves the store with a new bottle and 10 fingers painted different hues, or you grab the first polish name you recognize. Either way, it can be hard to find a shade you love, especially when each brand offers (what feels like) endless color options.
Take, for example, Essie. The popular brand is a salon, pro, and consumer favorite, and many of us are on a first-name basis with popular colors like Clambake and Mademoiselle. But with dozens upon dozens to choose from, you're majorly missing out if you never stray beyond your go-to orangey-red. For help navigating the massive selection, we turned to nail artist Michelle Saunders, who also serves as the brand's official celebrity manicurist (and has an encyclopedic knowledge of its color offerings).
Ahead, Saunders takes a break from her A-list clientele to share her favorite foolproof shades for every skin tone, from everyday nudes and pale pinks to more unexpected brights and, of course, the best reds.
Best Bright For Fair Skin Tones
"This may be much brighter than you're used to wearing, but it's actually pretty classic on the nail," says Saunders. "People constantly ask about this shade when I use it [on shoots]."
Essie Nail Polish in Fiesta, $8.50, available at Essie.
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If Fiesta is a little too bright for your liking, a magenta shade like this one will be just as eye-catching. Plus, the polish is part of the brand's new Gel Couture line, which boasts an updated brush stem and a gorgeous Frank Gehry-inspired bottle.
Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish in Sit Me In the Front Row, $11.50, available at Essie.
Or Try...
"If you want to add a little more flair to [Sit Me In the Front Row], you can apply it over a coat of Blanc, Essie's opaque white, and it almost looks neon," Saunders says.
Essie Nail Polish in Blanc, $8.50, available at Essie.
Best Bright For Medium Skin Tones
"This color looks great on medium skin tones, and I think we're going to be seeing this color more this spring. It's the perfect sky blue," says Saunders.
Essie Nail Polish in Bikini So Teeny, $8.50, available at Essie.
Best Bright For Dark Skin Tones
“This brand-new, super-bright purple called Shades On is probably the most on-trend color to wear right now,” Saunders told us.
Essie Nail Polish in Shades On, $8.50, available at Essie.
Or Try...
"There is a another color that people don’t really know about that I love for [dark skin tones] called Play Date," Saunders says. "It's basically a neon lavender, and it's perfect for pedicures, and I use it all the time for nail art, too."
Essie Nail Polish in Play Date, $8.50, available at Essie.
Or Try...
This indigo shade may look dark in the bottle, but when it's layered onto the nails it provides a pop of shiny, bold color.
Essie Nail Polish in All Access Pass, $8.50, available at Essie.
Best Dark For Fair Skin Tones
"For [those with fair skin who] want to dip their toes into a dark shade, but not go too dark, my pick is Chinchilly," Saunders says. "It's like a deep neutral, almost like a warm gray. There is also this color that I love called Carry On. It feels like a rich, kind of mahogany wine color, which is good for a dark color that is also very on-trend."
Essie Nail Polish in Carry On, $8.50, available at Essie.
Or Try...
This deep plum looks really dark in the bottle, but it's not goth on — even if you're ultra-pale.
Essie Nail Polish in Kimono-Over, $9, available at Essie.
Best Dark For Medium Skin Tones
"Wicked is a bit like a plum burgundy, and it's one of the best colors, maybe ever," Saunders says. "I have to say, in my career, Wicked and Mademoiselle are the two most requested colors."
Essie Nail Polish in Wicked, $8.50, available at Essie.
Or Try...
"I [also] love the color Smokin' Hot and the shade Licorice, which is like a patent-leather black," says Saunders. Unfortunately both shades are sold out, but Luxedo (a deep plum) is a great alternative for those looking for vampier hues.
Essie Nail Polish in Luxedo, $8.50, available at Essie.
Best Dark For Dark Skin Tones
"My top pick for deep skin tones is Bahama Mama," Saunders says. "It's flattering for all darker skin tones; I would put that on anybody."
Essie Nail Polish in Bahama Mama, $8.50, available at Essie.
For a lacquer with the same rich hue, but a metallic finish, opt for It's Genius.
Essie Nail Polish in It's Genius, $8.50, available at Essie.
Best White For Medium Skin Tones
Ask any artist: Finding the right shade of white is a surprisingly tricky feat.But Kandalec says there's an easy way to achieve your desired ivory hue. Two coats of Essie's Marshmallow gives a semi-sheer tint, while three coats delivers more opaque coverage.
Essie Nail Polish in Marshmallow, $8.50, available at Essie.
Best Neutral For Fair Skin Tones
"A good overall neutral color for a fair hand is a color like Sugar Daddy. It's a traditional shade that gives your nail bed a healthy, sheer sheen. It's especially great for spring, because we're seeing a lot of pinks that lean on the sheer side," says Saunders.
Essie Nail Polish in Sugar Daddy, $8.50, available at Essie.
Or Try...
Ballet Slippers is another classic "your nails but better" shade. Plus, the sheer, pinkish hue is extremely forgiving, meaning you can swipe it on in a hurry and dash out the door.
Essie Nail Polish in Ballet Slippers, $8.50, available at Essie.
Best Neutral For Medium Skin Tones
"There is a traditional color called Ballet Slippers that is great for medium skin tones, but if you want something that is a bit more on-trend, I love Lady Like," says Saunders. "It looks like a natural flush of color if you apply it on hands [with a medium skin tone]."
Essie Nail Polish in Lady Like, $8.50, available at Essie.
Don't be fooled by Penny Talk's metallic finish, when on the nails the color is subdued and soft.
"The most traditional color that looks really great on a dark skin tone is Mademoiselle — you just can’t go wrong with that on dark skin," Saunders told us. "But, if you want to go more [trendy], I love this color called Mamba. It's the perfect peachy hue that we're seeing a lot of. I would almost call it a secret color, because not many people know about it."
Essie Nail Polish in Mambo, $8.50, available at Essie.
Best Red For Fair Skin Tones
"For fair skin, there is a color I love called Fifth Avenue," Saunders tells us. "People may look at it and think that it could be too coral, but on the nail it's not; it's a really bright red. I would call it a spring red."
Essie Nail Polish in Fifth Avenue, $8.50, available at Essie.
Best Red For Medium Skin Tones
"I know that people think that this shade, A-list, may be too dark, but I think this is the real red of all of Essie's colors," says Saunders. "It's a true red, and I have had it in my kit forever. It's a classic, traditional red and a cult favorite. It looks great on anyone, and I love it on medium skin tones."
Essie Nail Polish in A-List, $8.50, available at Essie.
Or Try...
Looking for something a little less vampy? You can't go wrong with Russian Roulette.
Essie Nail Polish in Russian Roulette, $8.50, available at Essie.
Best Red For Dark Skin Tones
"A few red colors that I love on dark skin tones are Berry Naughty, Bordeaux, and Lacy Not Racy. If you look them up online, they look very dark, but they go on quite red. Lacy Not Racy is my pick, If you see someone wearing it you can't help but think, Wow, she has really beautiful deep red nails," Saunders says.
Essie Nail Polish in Lacy Not Racy, $8.50, available at Essie.
Best Metallic For Dark Skin Tones
Kandalec’s all-time favorite metallic for dark skin? This amped-up mocha. “It's slight transparency and warm hue reflects a stunning warm glow,” she says.
Essie Nail Polish in Buy Me a Cameo, $8.50, available at Essie.
Best White For Dark Skin Tones
To keep white polish from looking too stark against dark skin, Kandalec suggests choosing a shade with an ivory undertone. This soft cream fits the bill.
Essie Nail Polish in Tuck It In My Tux, $8.50, available at Essie
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Zayn is too much of a "gentleman" to dish about his romance with girlfriend Gigi Hadid. He will, however, giggle like a teenage boy who just went to second base when his sex life is brought up.
Hadid's ears might have been burning after her pop star boyfriend's interview on Sirius XM's Morning Mash Up yesterday. The singer was there to promote his new theme for Fifty Shades Darker, "I Don't Wanna Live Forever," a collaboration with Taylor Swift. Zayn described Swift as "relaxed," and teased that a music video would be forthcoming.
While that video will no doubt draw on Fifty Shades ' Christian Grey for inspiration, Zayn himself is mostly in the dark about E.L. James' steamy series. He admitted that he's neither seen nor read the Fifty Shades oeuvre. When a DJ suggested that he didn't need to because he [and, presumably, Hadid] were "living it," the former One Directioner broke down with laughter.
"I like that," he responded. We bet.
He did decline to elaborate on details about his relationship later in the interview. Guess he's discrete when he wants to be.
Contouring can, as we've shown before, look scary. But, enhancing your cheekbones or jawline doesn't have to be frightening — or require the skill of a makeup artist. You just need the proper product arsenal to get that subtle, natural-looking sculpt.
There's been an onslaught of contour kits and palettes on the market. To make sense of it all, we decided to poll our favorite makeup artists to see what they love and use most — and then, we divided the tools and cosmetics into easy-to-understand categories. There are winning options here for different skin tones and skill sets: Even the aspiring Kardashian will find something to fall in love with.
Click through to see which ones are right for you, and then leave any questions in the comments below.
For First-Timers
“The easiest way to contour is by using two shades of foundation — one that’s matched for the center of the face, the neck, and the high bones, and a second that’s slightly darker to use on the outer perimeter and underneath the cheekbones,” says Pati Dubroff, a makeup artist who works with Charlize Theron and Natalie Portman.
“Cream products are easier to manipulate and erase if you make mistakes,” adds Beau Nelson, whose clients include Kristen Stewart and Nicole Richie. “I’m a big fan of the Bobbi Brown Stick Foundations.”
Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick, $46, available at Bobbi Brown.
Photo: Via Bobbi Brown.
Start by creating an even base all over with the lighter shade, and then build the intensity very slightly at the temples, underneath the jawline, and on the cheekbones with your darker shade.
ColourPop Sculpting Stix in Dume, $5, available at ColourPop.
This is the perfect tool for those who have resisted the contouring trend until now. The single chubby wields cream contour and highlighter, is easily blended with fingers, and is an affordable way to see if contouring is right for you.
Maybelline Facestudio Master Contour V-Shape Duo Stick, $10, available at Walgreens.
A contouring kit — one full of cream products — can also be an easy way to go when you’re starting out. Look for one that includes both a highlight shade and a contour shade in order to provide dimension and balance.
Dr Jart+ BB Mate Contouring 1.2.3. Kit, $45, available at Birchbox.
Many brands also provide contour sticks in sets of three to make the whole process that much easier. These normally contain a contour shade, a bronzer shade, and a highlight shade. Always use the dark contour shade first along your cheekbone, and add the bronzer hue right above it for dimension. Then, add the highlight to the bridge of your nose, top of the chin, and corners of the eyes — just remember to blend everything well!
Smashbox Step-by-Step Contour Stick Trio, $45, available at Sephora.
For YouTube Dabblers
If you already know the basic principles of contouring and want to take your game to the next level, investing in a palette is a wise choice. “This kit has great shades to both contour and highlight," says Mario Dedivanovic, makeup artist to stars like Kim Kardashian. "You can experiment with the lighter shades at first, and then build to the deeper shades once you’re comfortable.”
Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit, $40, available at Sephora.
Photo: Via Anastasia Beverly Hills.
This four-pan contouring palette contains three sculpting shades and a gorgeous highlighting powder. Plus, it comes with a super-soft angled brush and smells like chocolate. What's not to love?
Too Faced Cocoa Contour Chiseled to Perfection, $40, available at Too Faced.
Since you’re already comfortable with the basics, try a palette that can really help bring out your cheekbones. Kevyn Aucoin’s The Creamy Glow Sculpting Powder helps to define the face by balancing dark powder with a creamy highlighter.
Kevyn Aucoin The Creamy Glow Duo in Candelight/Sculpting, $28, available at Sephora.
Sure, this palette may look like a simple shading and illuminating duo, but it packs a secret punch: the DHA-laced formula actually tans skin while you’re wearing it.
James Read Tantour Sculpting Palette, $54, available at Net-a-Porter.
For Aspiring Makeup Artists
There’s only one luxury contour product that the pros swear by, but it’s almost too intimidating for at-home use. “You can work this into a foundation application, or apply it underneath so it looks subtle," says beauty guru Nick Barose. "It takes more blending, but once you’ve mastered the technique, it’s totally worth it.”
There are two different shade levels available for purchase, so this works on almost all skin tones. The “illuminate” portion is a pearly highlight that delivers camera-ready levels of glow. Do consider it for special events or photo opps — but have a backup option for daily use.
Photo: Via Tom Ford Beauty.
If you’re an aspiring pro, play around with sculpting shades on a palette. BH Cosmetics’ versatile shades work well for all skin tones, and provide a matte finish for both highlight and contour.
BH Cosmetics Contour & Blush Palette, $12, available at BH Cosmetics.
For Fair Skin Tones
"Surratt’s blush in Grisaille is a great contour that has no orange tones," says Dubroff. "If you’re fair, and you use something with any warmth at all, it’s like the kiss of contour death. This is perfect because it’s a nice, soft tone."
Surratt, $32.00, available at Barneys New YorkPhoto: Via Surratt.
Smashbox's contour kit is easy to follow for beginners, and comes in two versions: one for fair complexions (seen here) and another for darker ones.
Tip: Dust the cooler shade under your jawline and cheekbones, then use the warmer shade along your hairline.
Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Kit, $45, available at Sephora.
For Medium Skin Tones
“Apply Aucoin’s sculpting powder with a small, dome-shaped blush brush under the cheekbones and jawline, and on the temples and bridge of the nose,” says Nelson. This shade is the “just right” of dark-but-not-too-dark for those of us who fall in the middle of the skin spectrum. If you prefer creams, Dubroff recommends Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base.
Kevyn Aucoin, $44.00, available at Barneys New YorkPhoto: Via Kevyn Aucoin.
For Deep Skin Tones
“I love this particular product for darker skins because it comes with a highlight shade, as well,” says celebrity makeup artist Kirin Bhatty. She also recommends following up with a great liquid luminizer in golden or copper shades, like NARS Hot Sand, to really finish the skin.
“If you’re quite dark, like Lupita Nyong’o, for example, you don’t need to contour. It can look a little too harsh,” says Barose. “Instead, add this bronzey highlight to bring out your features more.”
Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer, $62, available at Nordstrom.
Photo: Via Giorgio Armani Beauty.
For Applying
If you want to go after that sharper (yet still fine) edge that Dubroff suggests, try Tarte’s Sculpt & Slim Contour Brush, which is made just for that. You can use the fluffy fan brush to contour, highlight, and sculpt cheekbones, and the double-ended brush helps when you’re contouring areas like your nose or browbone.
Tarte Tarteist Sculpt & Slim Contour Brush, $34, available at Sephora.
“A clean foundation brush, like this one, is helpful for blending without depositing too much product,” says Dubroff.
Make Up For Ever Large Foundation Brush, $36, available at Sephora.
Photo: Via Make Up For Ever.
“If I’m using powders, I prefer to use a fan brush because it creates light layers," says Dubroff. "Plus, since it’s not thick, you can get a sharper (but still very fine) edge under the bones.”
Japonesque Kumadori Fan Brush, $19, available at Ulta Beauty.
An angled contour brush makes applying color in the hollows of the cheeks, along the hairline, and under the jaw a breeze — and for $12, you can't beat this editor-favorite brush.
Circa Beauty Brush Contour & Blush, $12, available at Walgreens.
For Blending
“Especially if you’re using cream contours, I recommend blending with a damp BeautyBlender sponge to diffuse any lines into the skin,” says Dedivanovic. This can also help you soften the intensity of products by buffing them out for a more clean, even finish.
The Beauty Blender Pro, $20, available at Sephora.
For Balancing
It’s not just enough to carve out bone structure using taupes and bronzes. “A pop of color on the apples of the cheeks is important for making the contour look happy, and not just angular,” says Dubroff. This product has the slightest sheen and a sheer color payoff that actually makes blush look believable.
Charlotte Tilbury, $40.00, available at Charlotte TilburyPhoto: Via Charlotte Tilbury.
Not into shimmer? A matte blush will do the trick, too.
Smashbox Blush Rush in Radiance, $24, available at Macys.
For Universal Highlighting
After you’ve contoured and added your color, it’s time to play with highlights. “Apply a liquid highlighter to the high points of the face, and then blend them out with a damp sponge,” Bhatty says. She loves the varied options from Benefit “depending on your skin tone,” but High Beam is a universal best bet.
Benefit High Beam Highlighter, $26, available at Sephora.
Photo: Via Benefit Cosmetics.
For Correcting
Spritzing the face — or your sponge — with a floral spray is one of Dubroff’s go-to tricks for sheering out an application. If you work quickly, you can hopefully erase harsh lines by wetting and correcting them.
Beautycounter, $35.00, available at BeautycounterPhoto: Via Beautycounter.
Caudalie's grape water is another great option — it's refreshing and natural, so it won't your clog pores or dry out your skin.
The creamy consistency of Nyx's double-ended bullets means you can draw directly onto your makeup brush before applying, or right onto your skin if you're more advanced. Then, simply blend and buff to get a seamless finish. There are four hues to choose from, making this a great travel-friendly option for any skin tone and skill level.
Nyx Wonder Stick in Light/Medium, $12, available at Nyx Cosmetics.
If packing the essentials when on the go means everything but the kitchen sink for you, simply reach for this set of mini contouring sticks instead. Each are the size of a lipstick bullet and cover your shade, highlight, and blush needs.
TreStiQue Trebebe Contour Kit, $40, available at TreStiQue.
For Blending On The Go
In order to blend well while you’re traveling, stock up on a compact contour brush, like Sephora’s Hide and Sleek Skinny Cheek Contour Brush. The retractable brush has an angled shape to give you a great contour along your cheekbones, with firm yet soft bristles to blend your edges.
Sephora Collection Hide and Sleek Skinny Cheek Contour Brush, $16, available at Sephora.
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Mascara is one of the major workhorses in our makeup routine — and there is truly a tube out there for everyone. Whether you're a fan of major volume or are looking for a formula that will leave you completely clump-free, a gal can be pretty particular about what she coats her lashes with. But what if you're looking to save some cash in the mascara department? Are there formulas that won't totally break your bank?
Luckily, the answer is a resounding "hell, yes." Ahead, we've rounded up the top mascaras — for just about every need. Click through and find your soulmate in a tube. Your lashes will thank you.
You've never seen beauty quite like this before. Check out ourBeauty Innovator Awardsfor the smartest, funkiest, most fresh to death products of the year.
Lengthening
Revlon’s new lengthening mascara has a fiber formula that helps to extend each lash as you glide through them with the brush, yet that exact formula also makes it easy to build on said lashes. The plush blush also helps with volume for super flirty, long lashes.
Revlon Super Length Mascara, $8.99, available at Ulta Beauty.
No 7's brush has three different sides — to make sure every single lash gets some loving.
This brand-new dual mascara kit from Physicians Formula is the easiest way to apply false lashes, ever. The set comes with a black lengthening mascara, as well as an “extensions” wand, which is a spoolie for applying false-lash fibers. All you have to do is apply a swipe of black mascara, apply a swipe of your extensions fibers, and then seal it all in with the black mascara. That’s it — and you'll have lashes that look like falsies. Plus, you'll have saved all that time it takes to glue on a strip.
Fun fact: This formula won over one of our editors in a big way.
Physicians Formula Eye Booster Instant Doll Lash Extension Kit, $14.99, available at Ulta Beauty.
Demi Lovato’s first makeup line in collaboration with New York Color is certainly a good one – but one of our favorite products is the Lovatics mascara, due to it’s lengthening skills. With a dual-fiber brush and a formula that has both beeswax and carnauba wax to help with volume and length, this mascara is a steal.
Lovatics by Demi Mascara, $4.47, available at Walmart.
Avon's Mega Effects mascara has a unique brush that helps separate each and every lash. The bristles coat and stretch your lashes, making this a clear winner in the lengthening department.
Maybelline's The Rocket mascara is a classic for a reason. Its densely packed plastic bristles make it super-easy to coat every single lash with a layer of its volumizing formula. Add a little waterproof action into the mix, and your mascara won't be going anywhere — whether you're sweating it up at the gym or trudging through a rainstorm.
Maybelline Volum'Express The Rocket Waterproof Mascara, $7.49, available at Ulta Beauty.
CoverGirl's original Lashblast Volume mascara is one of our favorites. But when we need our makeup to last all day (sans raccoon eyes), we always reach for the waterproof version.
COVERGIRL Lashblast Volume Mascara, $8.99, available at Ulta Beauty.
Through water, rain, sweat, or whatever else, this formula sticks to your lashes like no other.
Any mascara with the name Doll Eye has got to give your lashes a serious volume boost, right? And that's just what Nyx's formula does — at a very pretty price.
The thin, cone-shaped brush on this volumizing mascara makes it easy to coat every single lash. Yes, we mean every lash, from the hard-to-reach inner corners to the teeny bottom lashes.
Essence Forbidden Volume Mascara, $4.49, available at Ulta Beauty.
Those of you who dig clumpy lashes will love Maybelline's Colossal Spider Effect mascara. The unique plastic-bristle brush combs through lashes and deposits hefty amounts of product, which immediately beefs up limp hairs.
Maybelline The Colossal Spider Effect Mascara, $6.99, available at Ulta Beauty.
This lash duo from Honest Beauty helps to create both length and volume at the same time. First, the primer, protects and nourishes the lashes while also intensifying the color. Then, the mascara is able to be applied extra-smooth to appropriately lift and amplify each and every lash.
Honest Beauty Truly Lush Mascara + Lash Primer, $22, available at Honest Beauty.
Circa Beauty’s Absolute Lash Icon Mascara lives up to it’s name – the oversized, bulbous brush helps to mold each lash for extra volume. Plus, the formula has avocado oil in it, enriching the lashes so they won’t clump as you aspire to maximum lash height.
Circa Beauty Absolute Lash Icon Mascara, $12, available at Walgreens.
L'Oréal's Voluminous Carbon Black mascara is an editor and consumer favorite for a reason: It seriously plumps lashes. The fat brush has hundreds of tiny bristles that grab every hair and coat it with a volumizing formula that layers easily without veering into clumpy or crunchy territories.
L'Oréal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara, $7.99, available at Ulta Beauty.
Consider this mascara a Wonderbra for your lashes. It lifts, separates, and makes every individual lash look bigger.
For those of us who adore wet mascaras that are almost too goopy on the wand, this is stuff of magic. Whether you have long or short lashes, this not only volumizes them, but also makes them look darker.
Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara, $6.99, available at Ulta Beauty.
Thickening
Haven't tried Great Lash yet? You're missing out. There's a reason this lash-bulking formula is a favorite among pros.
Pro tip: To harness the tried-and-true formula with an added bonus, try the Lots of Lashes version — it has a fatter brush!
CoverGirl's newest launch is designed with every lash type in mind — but we love it best when going for thickness, thanks to the unique brush shape. The round tip allows the user to get incredibly close to the root of lashes, allowing for more more density.
CoverGirl So Lashy blast Pro Waterproof Mascara, $8.99, available at Target.
Neutrogena's Healthy Volume is made with a touch of olive oil to moisturize your lashes. The result? A thick, gorgeous set all through winter.
This fluffy brush creates fluttering lashes that won't sag or fall throughout the day. Plus, the formula can be layered for serious drama.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara, $8.99, available at Ulta Beauty.
Conditioning
This mascara does such a stellar job of separating and defining lashes, that we would be happy if that were its only trick. But it also contains conditioners geared to help lashes grow, too.
Kiko Milano 30 Days Extension Daily Treatment Mascara, $12, available at Kiko Milano.
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Many of us living in developed countries sometimes take for granted that — despite the cramps, the tampon tax, and other minor inconveniences — getting our periods doesn't have a huge impact on our day-to-day lives.
But for young girls across the globe, having access to sanitary products can directly make or break their futures.
In Africa, 1 in 10 school-aged girls miss classes or drop out of school because of their periods, according to a widely cited UNICEF report. But in the country of Malawi, an initiative dedicated to producing reusable sanitary pads might help girls stay in school for good.
Earlier this year, photographer Julia Gunther and her partner, Nick Schonfeld, visited Green Malata, an entrepreneurial training village run by the Children's Fund of Malawi. There, they discovered Green Malata's reusable sanitary tailoring program and decided to spend time with the people who make the pads and the girls using them.
"For us, the main aim with this story, aside from conveying the facts, of course, is to illustrate how a seemingly incongruous object, like a sanitary pad can significantly impact the lives of young women," Gunther told Refinery29.
In Malawi, menstrual products are extremely expensive. The supply shortage causes women to use improvised alternatives, such as rags, mattress foam, toilet paper, and other products to deal with their periods, according to Gunther. And on top of that, Gunther found that about 85% of the population lives in rural areas, where sanitary products are incredibly hard to come by. Not only do these conditions put women at risk of infections or other health problems, but they also put them at disadvantage in society.
"Although Malawi’s constitution guarantees equal rights for all, in reality, women remain disadvantaged in many aspects of daily life," Gunther said. "They are not treated equally by the law, they lack access to education, employment, and health care, and often are completely reliant on their husbands, fathers, or brothers."
That's why the reusable pads are such a breakthrough for many girls: They don't need to miss classes anymore and, in the long run, can stay in school.
"Going to school allows them to get a job, being employed means earning money, and being financially self-reliant is often the first step to true freedom," she said. "The reusable sanitary pads made at Green Malata, and those produced elsewhere in the world, are an important way for women to [get] the independence they deserve."
Ahead, a look at how this program is changing the lives of girls in Malawi.
Margriet Sacranie-Simons, director of the Children’s Fund of Malawi, which runs Green Malata, says, “We want to make sure that all girls in Malawi have access to the personal hygiene they need and that they don’t miss out on the education they deserve.”
Photographed by Julia Gunther.
Blessings, left, 15, and Tamanda, right, 16, are two of the girls who have benefitted from the Green Malata reusable pads.
Photographed by Julia Gunther.
A reusable sanitary pad made in Green Malata.
“The School Girl Pack,” as it is known, is sold in and around Luchenza and Blantyre for 2,500 Malawian kwachas, or about $3.50. This might sound expensive, considering Malawi’s extremely low wages, but the fact that a reusable pad can last for several months means that it works out a lot cheaper than buying disposable ones.
Photographed by Julia Gunther.
"In the future, once I have completed my schooling, I would like to go to nursing college, so that I can help other young women. I want to teach them about their health," Tamanda said.
Photographed by Julia Gunther.
The reusable pads are made at Green Malata Entrepreneurial Village by tailoring students.
Photographed by Julia Gunther.
A reusable pad in the making.
Photographed by Julia Gunther.
"My dream is to be a journalist. But first, I have to finish my school. I want to study hard and get good grades. Then, one day, I will be able to write about all the good things in Malawi,” Blessings said.
Photographed by Julia Gunther.
Tamanda had to get used to the reusable pads, but now swears by them.
“The first time it was difficult. I was not used to wearing them," she said. "But once I knew how, I realized that they were good. It is a good solution.”
Photographed by Julia Gunther.
At Green Malata, schoolgirls like Tamanda and Blessings, who cannot afford to buy "The School Girl Packs," receive them through donations.
Photographed by Julia Gunther.
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It sounds so glamorous, doesn't it? A royal prince and his celebrity lady love go for a romantic stroll in London. One pictures crowns and carriages, trumpets tooting in the background, and maybe some falling snowflakes or a cartoon bluebird hovering over them. One does not picture wool beanies.
But this is Prince Harry we're talking about, and that's what we've got. The ginger gent has been photographed with new girlfriend Meghan Markle for the first time, and the outing was more low-key than you might expect. Royals — they're just like us! Don't tell the queen.
According to People, the couple were papped as they walked along Piccadilly and Shaftesbury Avenue on their way to a play in London's West End Wednesday night. The Telegraph reports that the lovebirds attended a performance of Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night. It's not all grocery shopping and hunting for Christmas trees, folks.
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We are not robots. We feel things. We can't survive on comedic bromances and CGI-ed action sequences alone. We like our joy, but we need our sadness, too. So bring a box of Kleenex and settle in for some melancholic movie-watching. It's not about wallowing in misery. It's about getting lost in a story that captures the full human experience, with all of its highs and lows.
A good drama hits you right where it hurts, whether it's Blue Valentine 's broken romance or Fruitvale Station 's sense of injustice. If these cinematic tear-jerkers don't have you crying, keening, and curling up into a little ball, we don't know what will.
Field of Dreams (1989)
You don't have to be a dude with daddy issues, or even a baseball fan, to be moved by this tale about second chances.
Pictured: Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones.
Photo: Universal/Gordon/REX/Shutterstock.
The Light Between Oceans(2016)
Real-life couple Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender star as a married couple who try to pass off a newborn baby girl they've found as their own child. All goes well until the baby's birth mother resurfaces.
Catching one of the year's most critically acclaimed films comes with a price: buckets of tears. Grief is at the heart of this story about a man tapped to raise his late brother's teen son.
Pictured: Kyle Chandler and Casey Affleck
Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions/Amazon Studio.
Edge of Seventeen (2016)
Hailee Steinfeld's new drama is more emotionally piercing than you might expect from a film aimed at teens. You'll leave feeling grateful that your high school days are behind you.
Sarah Polley plays a young woman who keeps her terminal ovarian cancer a secret from her husband and children, choosing instead to embark on new experiences.
Pictured: Sarah Polley and Mark Ruffalo
Photo: Bob Askester/Milestones Productions Inc./Sony/REX/Shutterstock.
Of Mice and Men(1992)
Sad book, sad film. This adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel sees Gary Sinise and John Malkovich as ranch-hands George and Lennie, two men with big dreams and no shortage of hardships.
Pictured: John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, and Ray Walston
Photo: MGM/REX/Shutterstock.
Mask (1985)
Eric Stolz played Rocky Dennis, whose craniodiaphyseal dysplasia caused cranial enlargements, in this moving biographical film. Cher won a Cannes Film Festival Best Actress award for her performance as Dennis' tough-as-nails mother, who battles depression, drug addiction, and a tumultuous love life.
Pictured: Sam Elliott and Cher
Photo: Moviestore Collection/REX/Shutterstock.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button(2008)
No shame if Baby Benjamin made you crumple.
Pictured: Cate Blanchett and Charles Henry Wyson
Photo: Moviestore Collection/REX/Shutterstock.
A Tale of Love and Darkness (2015)
To call Natalie Portman's directorial feature debut bleak is an understatement. This adaptation of Israeli author Amos Oz's autobiographical novel tackles war, a loveless marriage, and depression against the backdrop of the Arab-Israeli War.
Pictured: Natalie Portman as Fania
Photo: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock.
The Land Before Time (1988)
Think of this animated tear-jerker as Bambi for '80s kids. Spoiler: Littlefoot's mom dies and turns into some sort of ghost cloud. Traumatizing.
Pictured: Littlefoot
Photo: Moviestore Collection/REX/Shutterstock.
Regarding Henry (1991)
A pre-stardom J.J. Abrams wrote this poignant screenplay about an unscrupulous lawyer who must piece his life back together after suffering brain damage in a shooting. Harrison Ford and Annette Bening star, but look out for Bill Nunn, who died September 24, 2016, in a pivotal supporting role.
Pictured: Harrison Ford and Bill Nunn
Photo: SNAP/REX/Shutterstock.
The Cider House Rules(1999)
Take a film about an orphanage, pile on subplots about incest, rape, heartbreak, war, and accidental overdoses, and you've got one bleak movie night ahead.
Pictured: Tobey Maguire as Homer
Photo: Moviestore Collection/REX/Shutterstock.
Rabbit Hole (2010)
Nicole Kidman earned an Academy Award nomination for her role as a mother mourning the sudden death of her young son. The film doesn't shy away from tackling grief in its many forms. Can a person forgive? Is one life worth more than another? How do you move on?
Pictured: Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart
Photo: Moviestore Collection/REX/Shutterstock.
Doubt(2008)
Stealing the show from Meryl Streep is no small feat, but Viola Davis did just that with her searing portrayal of a mother whose son, Donald, is thought to have been abused by his priest. Donald's story and the cloud over his future really is the emotional center of this powerful morality tale.
Pictured: Viola Davis as Mrs. Miller
Photo: Snap Stills/REX/Shutterstock.
I Am Sam (2001)
Sean Penn plays a father with a developmental disability who must fight to keep custody of his young daughter in this tearjerker co-starring baby Dakota Fanning.
Pictured: Sean Penn and Dakota Fanning
Photo: Moviestore Collection/REX/Shutterstock.
A River Runs Through It(1992)
Who knew fly fishing could make us so weepy? This Robert Redford-directed drama about two very different brothers requires hankies.
Pictured: Craig Sheffer and Brad Pitt
Photo: Moviestore Collection/REX/Shutterstock.
Away From Her(2006)
Julie Christie earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role as a Canadian woman whose Alzheimer's disease changes the dynamics of her picture-perfect marriage.
Pictured: Julia Christie and Gordon Pinsent
Photo: Moviestore Collection/Rex/Shutterstock.
Bright Star(2009)
Who doesn't love a heart-crushing romance between a sickly poet and his muse? Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish play John Keats and his true love Fanny Brawne in this stunning drama directed by Jane Campion.
Pictured: Cornish and Whishaw
Photo: Snap Stills/REX/Shutterstock.
Cinema Paradiso(1988)
There are plenty of joyful moments in this Italian film about a young boy's friendship with the local film projectionist. It's the final scene, featuring a grown-up Toto, that'll kick you in the gut.
Pictured: Philippe Noiret and Salvatore Cascio
Photo: Moviestore Collection/REX/Shutterstock.
Glory (1989)
The film that gave Denzel Washington his first Oscar should be mandatory viewing in classrooms, thanks to its moving portrayal of an African-American regiment fighting for the Union during the Civil War. Morgan Freeman, Matthew Broderick, and Andre Braugher co-star in the war drama.
Pictured: Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman
Photo: Moviestore Collection/REX/Shutterstock.
Dead Poets Society (1989)
Assuming that the gory Saturday Night Live parody didn't ruin it for you, expect major emotions from this drama about a teacher who changes the lives of his students forever thanks to Walt Whitman.
Pictured: Robin Williams stars alongside Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, and Josh Charles
Photo:Moviestore Collection/REX/Shutterstock.
The Hunt(2012)
Hannibal has feelings, y'all. Mads Mikkelsen stars as a man shut out by his friends and community after being falsely accused of molesting a young girl in this Danish drama. The ensuing witch hunt is upsetting and truly hard to watch.
Pictured: Mads Mikkelsen
Photo: Moviestore/Rex/Shutterstock.
Marley & Me(2008)
It's like Old Yeller for millennials, right down to the snotty ugly-crying. Who'd have thought an Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston film could make us feel so many feels?
Pictured: Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston
Photo: Moviestore/Rex/Shutterstock.
Mrs. Miniver (1942)
We know this Oscar-winning classic set during World War II is all about maintaining that British stiff upper lip, but the series of tragedies always turn us into a wobbly mess.
Pictured: Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon as the Minivers
Photo: Snap/Rex/Shutterstock.
Life as a House (2001)
Terminal illness, divorce, and a complex father-son relationship: This drama ticks all the tear-inducing boxes. Both Kevin Kline and Hayden Christensen (yes, Anakin himself) were nominated for acting awards for their moving performances.
Pictured: Kevin Kline, Hayden Christensen, and Kristin Scott Thomas
Photo: Snap Stills/Rex/Shutterstock.
Me Before You(2016)
Like, puddles. We won't give away any spoilers, but let's just say that this Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin romantic drama will make your tear ducts feel like they've been set on fire by Daenerys.
Pictured: Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin
Photo: Warner Bros/Moviestore Collection Ltd/REX/Shutterstock.
45 Years(2015)
More bleak and quietly disheartening than boo-hoo, this British drama earned Charlotte Rampling a Best Actress Oscar nomination earlier this year. It was well deserved, too, with the legendary actress beautifully conveying emotions like romantic disappointment and jealous irritation.
Pictured: Charlotte Rampling
Photo: Moviestore Collection/Rex/Shutterstock.
Jack (1996)
For the most part, this is a light comedy about a young boy with Werner syndrome, which ages him to the point that he looks like Robin Williams. It's all very bittersweet, though, culminating in a graduation speech that's sure to set off your facial sprinkler system.
Pictured: Diane Lane and Robin Williams
Photo: Moviestore Collection/Rex/Shutterstock.
Project Nim(2011)
This heart-wrenching documentary follows the story of a chimpanzee raised with a human family before becoming the subject of an extensive research project in the 1970s. Long story short: Nim Chimpsky gets let down by pretty much everyone.
Pictured: Nim Chimpsky with a researcher
Photo: Moviestore Collection/Rex/Shutterstock.
Rabbit-Proof Fence(2002)
Kenneth Branagh plays the baddie in this Australian drama about three mixed-race Aboriginal girls who try to make their way home after being ripped from their families and placed in a settlement camp for "half castes." The film is loosely based on a true story.
Pictured: Everlyn Sampi and Tianna Sansbury
Photo: Moviestore Collection/Rex/Shutterstock.
The Book Thief(2013)
Based on Markus Zusak's bestselling book of the same name, this story about a book-loving orphan entrusted to a German family in 1938 strings together a series of heartbreaking plot points. Star Sophie Nélisse is a wonder as the lead character Leisel.
Pictured: Sophie Nélisse
Photo: Moviestore Collection/Rex/Shutterstock.
The Danish Girl(2015)
Eddie Redmayne's Einar Wegener struggles to find love and acceptance as he transitions into a woman, while Alicia Vikander, playing Wegener's wife Gerda, beautifully captures a sense of loss. The train station scene is brutal.
Pictured: Eddie Redmayne
Photo: Moviestore/Rex/Shutterstock.
Schindler's List (1993)
Unless you're Jerry Seinfeld, this Oscar-winning story about heroism during the Holocaust will have you weeping uncontrollably right down to the end credits.
Pictured: Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson
Photo: Snap/Rex/Shutterstock.
The Pursuit of Happyness(2006)
Just keep reminding yourself that this based-on-a-true-story film has a happy ending as you watch Will Smith constantly struggle to support his son (a pre-Louis Vuitton Jaden Smith) and get a pinky toe on the corporate ladder.
Photo: Snap Stills/Rex/Shutterstock.
Southpaw (2015)
Consider this a sucker punch to the heartstrings. A surprise twist elevates this 2015 hit from a mere boxing flick to an emotional drama about love, family, and discipline.
Pictured: Rachel McAdams and Jake Gyllenhaal
Photo: Rex/Shutterstock.
The Constant Gardener (2005)
Beyond the intrigue, this political thriller digs deep into heartbreak, questions of fidelity, and devotion.
Pictured: Rachel Weisz
Photo: Moviestore Collection/REX/Shutterstock.
Frozen River (2008)
Melissa Leo and the late Misty Upham star in this bleak drama about two women (one a down-and-out single mom, the other a Mohawk bingo parlor employee separated from her son) going to great lengths to make ends meet.
Pictured: Melissa Leo
Photo: Moviestore Collection/REX/Shutterstock.
Still Life(2013)
Eddie Marsan stars as a government employee tasked with sorting out funerals for deceased citizens who have no loved ones. One final case prompts him to investigate the death of a man who died in squalor. Trust us when we tell you that the ending will hit you like a ton of bricks.
Pictured: Eddie Marsan
Photo: Redwave Films/Embargo Films.
Philadelphia (1993)
We still can't listen to Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen without welling up, and it's all due to this tearjerker. Tom Hanks won his first Oscar for playing an AIDS-stricken lawyer suing his old firm for discrimination, with Denzel Washington as the "ambulance chaser" leading the charge.
Pictured: Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks
Photo: Moviestore/REX Shutterstock.
Fruitvale Station (2013)
If you sobbed when Wallace got shot on The Wire, this other Michael B. Jordan vehicle will no doubt have you in the fetal position for days. Even more heartbreaking is the fact that the events in the Ryan Coogler-directed drama actually happened.
Pictured: Michael B. Jordan
Photo: Snap Stills/REX Shutterstock.
All Is Lost (2013)
What this Robert Redford drama lacks in dialogue, it compensates with edge-of-your-seat drama and an overwhelming sense of weariness and frustration. Will Redford save his broken boat? Maybe. Will you ever go sailing again? Probably not.
Pictured: Robert Redford
Photo: Moviestore/REX Shutterstock.
About Time(2013)
On its face, this is a rom-com with a time-traveling twist. Perhaps that's why the built-in life lessons and a plot about terminal illness hit us like a ton of bricks.
Pictured: Domhnall Gleeson and Bill Nighy
Photo: Moviestore/REX Shutterstock.
Still Alice (2014)
Julianne Moore earned her Best Actress Oscar for playing an active and intelligent 50-year-old woman diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Her struggle is heartbreaking, from having to tell her grown children that the disease is genetic, to making a list of questions she must answer every day to keep her memory sharp.
Pictured: Julianne Moore
Photo: Moviestore/REX Shutterstock.
My Girl (1991)
Although the 1991 coming-of-age film is billed as a comedy-drama, director Howard Zieff certainly pulled out all the stops when young Vada Sultenfuss (played by newcomer Anna Chlumsky) had to deal with the tragic loss of her friend (Macaulay Culkin) while growing up in her father's funeral home in the '70s.
Pictured: Macaulay Culkin and Anna Chlumsky
Photo: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures.
The Elephant Man (1980)
David Lynch's 1980 biopic of Victorian freak-show exhibit John Merrick, a man suffering from severe elephantiasis, is a stark indictment of the inhumanity and moral exclusion people routinely inflict on others.
Pictured: John Hurt
Photo: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Blue Valentine(2010)
Michelle Williams certainly earned her Oscar nomination in this 2010 film documenting the gut-wrenching dissolution of her character's marriage to a violent alcoholic played by Ryan Gosling.
Pictured: Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling
Photo: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company.
Steel Magnolias(1989)
Few movies portray the bonds of female friendship quite like this 1989 ensemble dramedy, adapted from the eponymous Robert Harling play. The film — which features a magnificent cast, including Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, and Dolly Parton — tells the story of how a tight-knit group of Southern women support each other through the various peaks and valleys of their lives. Some of the saddest moments are watching Sally Fields' grief as her daughter, a pre- Pretty Woman Julia Roberts, dies of complications from diabetes. Talk about an emotional gut punch.
Pictured: Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Daryl Hannah, and Dolly Parton
Photo: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures.
P.S. I Love You (2007)
This movie is explicitly designed to turn on the waterworks. It's the story of a young widow (Hilary Swank) who receives posthumous letters of encouragement from her late husband (Gerard Butler) after he dies of a brain tumor.
Pictured: Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank
Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
My Life (1993)
This under-appreciated 1993 gem features Michael Keaton as a high-powered PR executive and expectant father who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Fearing that he will not live long enough to see the birth of his son, Keaton records a video documentary of himself so that his child can get to know him.
Pictured: Nicole Kidman and Michael Keaton
Photo: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures.
Magnolia (1999)
Paul Thomas Anderson's 1999 drama features an interconnected group of characters in L.A, who are forced to grapple with forgiveness, desperation, and the search for happiness when their lives intersect around the death of a terminally ill quiz-show producer played by Jason Robards. The scene where Tom Cruise's pick-up artist character breaks down by the death bed of his estranged father is one of the great emotionally affecting scenes (and Cruise won his third Golden Globe for the role).
Pictured: A theatrical poster for Magnolia
Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema.
Atonement(2007)
The iconic Vanessa Redgrave delivers a somber and arresting performance as a novelist who used fiction to atone for the young lovers whose lives she ruined when she mistakenly accused a man (James McAvoy) of a sex crime at the onset of World War II. Adapted from the 2001 Ian McEwan novel, the film deals with decades' worth of grief as a result of a youthful flight of fancy that contributed to the premature death of her sister (Keira Knightley) and the false imprisonment of her sister's lover.
Pictured: James McAvoy and Keira Knightley.
Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pictures.
Beaches (1988)
It is absolutely impossible not to cry during this 1988 drama where the deeply complicated 30-year-friendship between a brash actress (Bette Midler) and a privileged lawyer (Barbara Hershey) is brought to an abrupt end when the latter is diagnosed with a rare heart disease. The opening bars of Midler's performance of "The Wind Beneath My Wings" are usually all it takes to open the floodgates.
Pictured: Barbara Hershey and Bette Midler
Photo: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures.
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Hilary Swank is a bit of a staple in the tearjerker genre. This time around she's a scrappy boxer who eventually develops a bond with her hard-nosed boxing coach, played by Clint Eastwood (who also directed the film). The movie has all the makings of your typical sports drama with a triumphant underdog — until it delivers an emotional sucker punch at the end.
Pictured: Hilary Swank
Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Up(2009)
We have to hand it to this 2009 Pixar offering for completely reinventing the formula we've come to know and expect from sad movies. While most tearjerkers save the most gut-wrenching developments for the third act, this beloved animated feature has both kids and adults reaching for the Kleenex within the first 10 minutes.
Pictured: A scene from Up
Photo: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
The Fault in Our Stars(2014)
As this 2014 romantic dramedy proves, the only thing more tragic than a fresh-faced teenager with terminal cancer is a fresh-faced teenager with terminal cancer in love. This film though? Doubles down: It features two terminally ill teens in love, played by Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort.
Pictured: Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley
Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.
Life Is Beautiful (1997)
The Italian film's director and star Roberto Benigni took home the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance of a father trying to distract his son from the horrors of life in a Nazi concentration camp.
Pictured: Roberto Benigni with Nicoletta Braschi and Giorgio Cantarini
Photo: Courtesy of Miramax Films.
Boys Don't Cry(1999)
Hilary Swank makes yet another appearance on the list in this indie biopic of Brandon Teena, a trans man whose blossoming romance with a karaoke singer (Chloë Sevigny) was cut short after he was brutally murdered in small-town Nebraska. The movie is not only heartbreaking because of it's ill-fated love story, but also because it illustrates the bigotry and threats that many trans people have historically endured and continue to face.
Pictured: Chloë Sevigny and Hilary Swank
Photo: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
Dear Zachary is a unique entry on this list because it's a documentary. The 2008 film starts off as a video diary to the infant Zachary from friends and family giving testimonials about the murdered father he'll never meet. Events take an unexpected, true-crime turn however, and tragedy further compounds itself by the film's end.
Pictured: Zachary with his grandparents
Photo: Courtesy of Oscilloscope Laboratories.
Dancer in the Dark (2000)
Leave it to Lars von Trier to make arguably the most depressing musical ever filmed. Things start out pretty bleak, with Björk starring as an impoverished factory worker who is pinching pennies to pay for an operation that will save her son from the same genetic, degenerative eye disease that is causing her to go blind. If that doesn't sound upsetting enough, things only go downhill from there.
Pictured: Björk
Photo: Courtesy of Fine Line Features.
Sophie's Choice(1982)
Thanks to this critically lauded 1982 drama, the term "Sophie's Choice" has entered the lexicon to stand for any scenario where one must make an impossible decision. In this case, Meryl Streep's Sophie was forced to choose which of her two young children would be sent to the gas chamber when the family was imprisoned in Auschwitz. Streep brought home an Oscar for her performance, and the film as a whole pretty much set the gold standard for tearjerkers.
Pictured: Meryl Streep
Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pictures.
12 Years a Slave(2014)
One could argue that the saddest movies on the list are the ones depict the inhumanity of people or institutions in power. Steve McQueen's 2014 Best Picture winner is not only heartbreaking because it depicts the plight of one man sold into slavery, but because it depicts the cruelty that was once an accepted as status quo.
Pictured: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Photo: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
Bicycle Thieves(1948)
Vittorio De Sica's 1948 Italian neorealist film is widely lauded as one of the best movies ever made. A young father is desperate to feed his impoverished family, so he scrapes together the money to buy the bicycle necessary for his new job hanging advertisements around the city. As luck would have it, his bike gets stolen on his first day on the job. With his young son in tow, the man sets out on a near impossible mission to get it back.
Pictured: Enzo Staiola and Lamberto Maggiorani
Photo: Courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment.
Amour(2012)
Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke isn't known for making particularly uplifting films, and 2012's Amour is no exception. This Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film takes a profoundly sad and somber look at how an elderly Parisian couple fares when one half slips into dementia after a series of strokes.
Pictured: Emmanuelle Riva
Photo: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
Terms of Endearment(1983)
No list of sad movies is complete without this 1983 dramedy. Shirley MacLaine's performance, particularly the part where she's dealing with the loss of her daughter, is the barometer against which all other sad-movie performances must be measured.
Pictured: Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger
Photo: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
If Sophie's Choice and Life Is Beautiful taught us anything, the surefire formula for a devastating tearjerker combines the Holocaust with child mortality, and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas has both. Nine-year-old Bruno's family relocates near a concentration camp when his father, an SS officer, is given a promotion. Little Bruno sneaks off and befriends a prisoner his age near the edge of the camp, where they play checkers through the barbed wire. Although the two boys become great friends, little Bruno learns some hard truths about what his father does for a living, and why his new friend wears what he mistakenly assumes are pajamas.
Pictured: Jack Scanlon.
Photo: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
The Road(2009)
In this adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name, this film's grim, post-apocalyptic vision makes the dystopia of The Hunger Games look downright desirable. The unnamed father and son duo do their best to keep hope alive in a bleak world where roving bands have turned to cannibalism in the bleak hellscape left over from an unspecified disaster.
Pictured: Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee
Photo: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company.
The Day of the Locust(1975)
John Schlesinger's 1975 adaptation of the Nathanael West novel of the same name is a grim look at Hollywood in the '30s, particularly at a group of broken has-beens and never-were who failed to make their show business dreams come true.
Pictured: A scene from The Day of the Locust
Photo: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
The Notebook(2004)
Sure, we all like to think of 2004's The Notebook as an enduring love story first and foremost, especially given the fantastic circumstances leading up to Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling's sexy, rain-soaked kiss. However, we have to hand it to James Garner and Gena Rowlands for effectively reducing us all to tears at the end.
Pictured: Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling
Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema.
Brokeback Mountain(2005)
This heartbreaking love story of the 20-year affair between two ranch hands, played by Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger, was easily the most talked-about movie of 2005. Ledger and Gyllenhaal began an affair on a job site on the movie's titular mountain, before being fired by the summer's end. The pair continue with a shaky and sporadic relationship, despite their attempts to marry women and live lifestyles that society deemed more acceptable in the '60s to the '80s.
Pictured: Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger
Photo: Courtesy of Focus Features.
Stepmom(1998)
Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts play the respective ex-wife and fiancée to Ed Harris. The tension between the two is heightened when Sarandon passive aggressively uses her children as pawns in her quiet war with her ex. However, the women are forced to make peace when Sarandon is diagnosed with terminal cancer and they realize the family dynamics really will change forever.
Pictured: Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts
Photo: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures.
Precious(2009)
This is easily one of the hardest movies on the list to watch. The 2009 Lee Daniels films tells the story of Claireece Precious Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), an illiterate, pregnant 16-year-old who regularly escapes into her own fantasy world when faced with emotional, physical, and sexual abuse from her family. Despite being in the eighth grade at 16, Precious is tasked with getting her GED and ultimately changing her life's direction so that she can escape her abusive home and provide for her children.
Pictured: Gabourey Sidibe
Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
The Champ (1979)
Franco Zeffirelli's 1979 remake of the 1931 film of the same name features a young Ricky Schroder in his film debut. The movie details the dysfunctional relationship between young T.J (Schroder) and his dad (Jon Voight), a former boxer turned alcoholic horse trainer with a gambling problem. However, things get more complicated as T.J.'s estranged mother (Faye Dunaway) comes back into the picture. Despite being just 9 years old, Schroder gives an incredibly impressive onscreen cry. In turn, it will definitely get your waterworks going.
Pictured: Ricky Schroder and Jon Voight
Photo: Courtesy of United Artists.
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The couple's E! reality show, Rob & Chyna, has just been renewed for a second season, Us Weekly reports. To celebrate, Kardashian treated fans to some uncomfortable PDA and charming frat-boy-on-a-yacht behavior. Aw, you shouldn't have.
The new father Snapchatted himself giggling and telling viewers, "Chyna's going to be so mad at me." Then he strolled over to the mother of his child and flung a pile of $100 bills in her face. Yuck.
A video posted by Angela Renee | Chy Mafia 👑 (@blacchynarmy) on
Chyna was understandably annoyed, but eventually warmed to the idea of having a few thousand dollars sitting in her lap. Judging by the PDA that quickly ensued, money is a serious turn-on.
Watch at your own risk. Then write a letter to E! thanking them for enabling all this.
Tiffany Trump briefly became a national hero when she dodged her father's kiss following a Presidential debate.
Now, iconic jeweler Tiffany & Co. will do the impossible and bring a touch of class to the President-elect's Manhattan lair. WWD reports that Tiffany has reached a deal with the NYPD to put branded sleeves on the barricades that separate the Fifth Avenue block their flagship store shares with Trump Tower.
The businesses around the tower, especially luxury brands, have been hard hit by the blockades necessitated by Trump's presence.
From WWD:
"Retailers in the tower’s vicinity — which include, among others, Gucci, Armani, Tiffany and Ralph Lauren — have reported a steep drop in foot traffic, with commotion and police restrictions limiting entry into the stores. Gucci, located inside the tower, is understood to pay about $25 million a year in rent."
Of course, that pales in comparison to the $1 million per day New York City will spend when Trump is in town. Still, we're glad we'll have something other than "Trump" to focus on when on that particular block. Also, it must sting Trump to see the name of the daughter that dissed him on every barricade around his tower.
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Kalief Browder is a New York City Black man who was the victim of a stunning miscarriage of justice. Browder spent three years on Rikers Island without getting a trial. His ordeal, which defies belief, was documented in this piece by the New Yorker.
Here are the facts. Browder was arrested in the early hours of May 15, 2010 while walking home from a party. He was accused of stealing a backpack. The victim, in the back of the squad car, changed his story on the spot. Browder was taken to the station. He thought he was going home. Instead, he was sent to Riker's.
What followed is horrible, and we don't want to spoil it because Jay Z is bringing Browder's story to the small screen. “TIME: The Kalief Browder Story” promises to bring Making a Murderer 's true crime outrage narrative to the New York City setting of The Night Of. The initial look is exciting, in a sickening way.
The first show of six will premiere March 1 at 10 p.m. ET on Spike. Check out the preview below.
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Lily Sheen 's just given them a new reason to celebrate. The teen received her first college acceptance letter, prompting her actor dad to scoop her up in his arms while crying like a baby. For good measure, he also picked up Beckinsale, from whom he split in 2003, making us shed a wee tear or two. That's #babydaddygoals right there.
A photo posted by Kate Beckinsale (@katebeckinsale) on
"The appropriate fatherly response when you find out your girl got into college: burst into tears, drop everything, rush over and pick up everyone even remotely involved," the Love & Friendship star captioned pics of Sheen hoisting up her and Lily. "@lily_beckinsale we are so unbelievably proud of you. Fly fly fly."
Funnily enough, Lily had recently complained that her famous parents and their mortifying ways would be "the reason I won't get into college." Are you kidding? What institution of higher learning wouldn't jump at the chance to have this modern family on campus? Parents Day is going to slay.
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Amazing news, TV lovers of the world: Since we first published this story in 2013, there have been leaps and bounds in the number of streaming platforms offering hours upon hours of programming to binge-watch whenever the mood strikes. In the interest of equal opportunity, we’ve decided to broaden the scope of this slideshow to look beyond the options available on Netflix Instant. There’s a whole wide world of streaming options out there and you deserve to know everything that’s available. Consider this the one-stop menu we'll be updating every week for your continued viewing pleasure.
We've been there. You've exhausted your Netflix queue, flipped through your entire spectrum of TV channels (twice), and seen every season of 30 Rock. It's tough, but don't despair. There's still uncharted territory out there! In fact, there's oodles of fun to be had from the comfort of your laptop this weekend. You just have to know what to look for.
These are our favorite finds on Netflix Instant Watch. Never heard of 'em? Good! Heard the word, but haven't gotten around to it yet? Now's the time.
LoveStranger Things?
Then Netflix's latest series, The OA, belongs in your queue. The streaming service's latest original show is similar in that it centers on someone who mysteriously goes missing from a small town. But warning: This show is much darker — and way creepier.
Robb Stark may be long gone from the HBO series (RIP), but actor Richard Madden is back in another period piece, Medici: Masters of Florence. But this isn't the imaginary world of Westeros: It's Renaissance-era Florence, Italy, following the family of Giovanni Medici, played by Dustin Hoffman, after his death. Madden is yet again the son of a powerful man trying to create his own legacy. But the big question is: Will he? Or will he end up with the same fate as Robb?
Season 1 of Glitch, the hit Australian show about a small town affected by curious paranormal activity, is now streaming on Netflix. Even better news? Season 2 of the chilling series will now be produced by Netflix, so there's even more of the Aussie thriller coming to America. Good on ya, Netflix!
Check out The Fall, a British phycological thriller that follows a serial killer (Jamie Dornan, in a very un-Christian Grey-like role), and a female detective, played by Gillian Anderson. It's got all the ingredients needed for an irresistible binge: It's gritty, intense, and tantalizing. All three seasons are up on Netflix now. You're welcome!
Photo: BBC Northern Ireland.
LoveDownton Abbey?
Then you may never leave the couch after settling in for the new series The Crown. The show is a glittering, fascinating look behind the scenes of the early days of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign — and her relationship to Prince Philip. It's gorgeous, British, and juicy, but if that's not enough to convince you, watch simply for the fact that this is Netflix's most expensive show ever.
If you're looking to sink your teeth into another large-scale, sweeping epic that will inspire you to theorize for weeks, HBO's latest mega series Westworld needs to be added to your watch list. But instead of Thrones ' medieval-like fantasy tale, here we have an imaginary amusement park — hosted by robots. We won't say too much more to avoid spoiling some of this show's coolest elements, but trust us, it's worth the binge.
Fans of TWD 's "what if a widespread epidemic ends the world" premise will appreciate The CW's Containment. The first season begins in Atlanta, where a contagion has spread through the city forcing a mandatory quarantine that causes loved ones, friends, and colleagues to question their love, morals, and human decency. Intense, right?
Just in time for Halloween, the entire season of American Horror Story: Hotel is now on Netflix for your binge-watching pleasure. You can now get lost in the creepy, bloody world of the Hotel Cortez in Los Angeles. The murders, vampires, and specters portrayed by everyone from Lady Gaga to Angela Bassett may be fictional, but you might want to keep the lights on — just in case.
Each of the episodes in Netflix's original original series Easy, is like a quirky miniature rom-com. Guest stars include the likes of Malin Åkerman, Orlando Bloom, and Dave Franco exploring everything from unplanned pregnancies to threesomes, breakups, and using Tinder to find a teacher for your child. (Ha!) And because this is an anthology series, each episode focuses on a different couple, making it perfect for the viewer looking for an enjoyable show with minimal commitment.
Marvel's latest comic book-based series, Luke Cage, stars Mike Colter as a regular human who ends up with super strength and capabilities after an experiment gone awry. Binge watch the Harlem-set series to see how Cage uses his new powers to fight the bad guys — and we're not just talking about superhuman villains.
Then Gotham is for you. The Fox series revolves around the characters created in DC Comics' Batman, specifically Bruce Wayne, of course, and police commissioner James Gordon. But you can also expect special appearances by everyone from Catwoman to the Penguin, Poison Ivy, and Two-Face.
Sci-fi lovers, this one's for you. Netflix's hit series Stranger Things has captivated audiences with its tale of Joyce Byers, the mother of a little boy who goes missing from a small Indiana town in 1983. There are government conspiracy theory cover-ups, supernatural occurrences, and some really cute kids. So '80s.
In Shameless, a gaggle of Gallaghers — that would be, the Gallagher family — are figuring out how to make it in life, despite their alcoholic father. And trust us, William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum's characters alone will keep you hooked. Seasons 1-6 are up now; happy bingeing.
The U.K. already took on a family tale centered on three daughters of marrying age during times of war. Now it's Germany's turn with Ku'damm 56, a new series hitting America via Netflix, set at the family's strict dance school. But of course, just like Lady Sybil in Downton, one of the daughters rebels. Binge with subtitles and enjoy.
If magic, whimsy, and a contemporary spin on the fables you grew up loving sound like the makings of a great TV show, Once Upon a Time will keep you hooked. The fifth season of the ABC drama is now on Netflix; prepare to get acquainted with Snow White, Prince Charming, and the rest of their squad.
If you love all things football — or even just the behind-the-scenes, off-the-field drama — then you'll easily become addicted to Netflix's docuseries Last Chance U, which follows NFL-bound college players from East Mississippi Community College. You'll get to know the men underneath the helmets and see firsthand the blood, sweat, and dedication it takes to succeed in the world of football.
Odds are fans of the Fox drama — and music-lovers in general — will enjoy the much-buzzed-about original series The Get Down. Baz Luhrmann's Bronx tale is set in the late-1970s and glamorously weaves together the coming-of-age stories of teenage love, New York history, and the rise of hip-hop. The show is perfect for binge-watching. Believe us, we know. Bonus: The soundtrack is just as dope as the show itself.
Season 4 of BET's The Real Husbands of Hollywood hits Netflix this week. Kevin Hart's hilarious series trolls The Real Housewives franchise from a celebrity male perspective, starring everyone from Nick Cannon to Nelly. We promise you, it's worth watching just for the laughs. Seasons 1-3 are already on Netflix, so get to bingeing just in time for the new one.
Of course you do. You are a human. And that’s why you might enjoy Mork & Mindy. In this weird-as-hell sitcom, Williams plays Mork, an alien hailing from the planet Ork. And then he befriends Mindy, who becomes his roommate. An alien and a terrestrial in the same apartment? Hilarity probably ensues.
Then it’s time to watch Gossip Girl. In fact, even if you already experienced this show in real time, you should re-watch it. It’s a guilty-pleasure dramatic view of how Manhattan’s elite live — fictionally, anyway. The show centers around Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) and Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester). They’re the cream of the crop at the fancy Upper East Side high school, which is basically a political landscape none of us could even begin to comprehend. Drama! Fashion! Get into it.
Then you must experience him in his landmark role as Jim Halpert in The Office. Yes, technically Michael Scott (Steve Carell) is the main character, but you’ll see very quickly that the most addictive story line is the will-they-won’t-they between Jim and Pam (Jenna Fischer). It only helps that the show is hilarious.
Then Veep is for you. Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars as Selina Meyer, the vice president who inevitably becomes president. She and her team hilariously make their way through the political landscape, while trying to do actual good work and leave their mark as an administration that made a difference. Kind of like if Leslie Knope made it to the White House.
Then it's time to get into Friday Night Lights. Let me tell you something about Dillon, Texas. It’s the home of the top football team in the state, and also home to some real soap-opera crap. You would think that when you combine those two things, you get a terrible show. But it actually works, here. You will fall in love with Tim Riggins (Kitsch). You will wish Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) was your dad. You will wish Tami Taylor (Connie Britton) was your best friend.
Then Buffy the Vampire Slayer is for you. Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is a teenage vampire slayer, but she also is in love with a vampire. It's all very strange, but Joss Whedon delivers an incredibly satisfactory show around that otherwise ridiculous plot.
Love waiting until the buzz dies down to watch a great TV show?
Then it’s time you committed to Breaking Bad. The hype is real, but it is justified. Walter White (Bryan Cranston) is a high school chemistry teacher who, diagnosed with cancer, must figure out a way to leave his family with enough money to survive when he dies. So, naturally, he starts making the best meth New Mexico’s ever seen.
Then Six Feet Under is for you. The Fisher family runs a funeral home in California. But when the patriarch dies unexpectedly in a car crash, they’re thrown into handling the family business — along with all of their pre-existing personal baggage. It’s five seasons of solid television, and the finale is bound to destroy you.
Then you’re gonna freaking love Sherlock. Benedict Cumberbatch plays the modern-day Sherlock opposite Martin Freeman as Watson. Their chemistry — and comedy — is downright delightful. Don’t get put off by the hour-and-a-half length of each episode, either. This show’s so entertaining it’ll fly right by.
Then Five Days is for you. In this BBC mini series, a young mother and her children go missing. The show wastes no time, taking us right to the police investigation. It’s the perfect amount of length, too, so you won’t find yourself in the shame spiral of a 15-episode binge.
Well, that’s pretty much Louis C.K.’s brand of comedy. Maybe that’s why his series, Louie, feels like such a natural fit for him. The scripted series focuses on the trials and tribulations of the comedian’s day-to-day existence, but with the smart brand of commentary we’ve come to expect from him.
Stay with us here: Imagine if the Axis powers (Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan) had won World War II. That’s the scenario in The Man in the High Castle, Amazon’s adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s 1962 novel. The show is set in a dystopian version of the United States where the country has been divided into the Pacific States of America, a Japanese puppet state on the West Coast, the Greater Nazi Reich, a German puppet state that takes up the majority of the country through the midwest, and the Rocky Mountain States, which act as a neutral zone between the two.
Just like T.M.P., Catastrophe flips the script on traditional romantic comedies by upending all the usual contrivances. They have sex immediately. She (Sharon Horgan) gets pregnant. They live on two separate continents and decide to give it a go. The humor is blunt and British. In other words, if you’re tired of boring rom-coms, this is the show for you.
If you love a good Masterpiece production (that might have some quality eye candy), journey to Cornwall shortly after the American revolution to find out how the Brits fared after they lost the war for the colonies. Poldark is the story of Ross Poldark, who returns home from fighting in the revolution to find that his father has died, leaving Ross penniless.
You really owe it to yourself to binge-watch all of FX’s The Americans. The tense, slow-burn series follows two Soviet spies (Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys) deep undercover in the United States during the Cold War in the 1980s.
Turn to another show about late-in-life personal discoveries that lead to larger familial repercussions: Transparent. As Maura Pfefferman (Jeffrey Tambor) — formerly Mort — transitions, tumultuous issues that had previously bubbled beneath the surface in her children’s lives also come to light.
If you aren’t on the Orphan Black train yet, you absolutely need to climb aboard. In the opening scene, a woman named Sarah watches someone who looks exactly like her commit suicide by jumping in front of a train. From there, things only get more involved. Sarah learns that she’s one of more than 10 clones (and counting) developed by a top-secret genetic engineering project. She also learns ther life is in peril, as is that of her daughter Kira. Tatiana Maslany stars as every single one of the clones. She’s amazing.
And investigations into fringe movements whose beliefs don’t quite match those of mainstream society? Watch Hulu’s The Path. Aaron Paul (of Breaking Bad fame) makes his return to TV — well, streaming — in this drama about a creepy movement called Meyerism. It started out with good intentions, but it’s become a cult. Many viewers and critics questioned whether creator Jessica Goldberg based the Meyerist movement on Scientology, but that’s something you’ll have to decide for yourself as you watch. There are some very eerie similarities, we’ll tell you that much.
Are ne’er-do-well British teens who just DGAF and look effortlessly cool while doing so your jam? Then why not add a dash of superhuman abilities into the mix? On Misfits, a group of teens doing court-mandated community service are struck by lightning during a freak storm. Afterward, they discover that the storm gave them all different superpowers.
This isn’t your typical sci-fi show, though. We’re still dealing with cheeky teens who really just want to rub their parts together, but now there's an additional element of intrigue because the superpowered group needs to hide their abilities — and the fact that they accidentally murdered their probation officer. And yes, that is Iwan Rheon, who plays the villainous Ramsay Bolton on Game of Thrones, on the right. You’ll fall in love with him on Misfits, and then be very confused by your feelings for him the next time you watch GoT.
If you can’t get enough of Billy Eichner’s sassy, in-your-face humor, it behooves you to watch Difficult People. It’s a perfect blend of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Will & Grace.
You, Me and the Apocalypse is a sardonically dark and funny look at what happens to the people of Earth when they learn they have only 33 days left to live. It’s even got Rob Lowe as a Catholic priest tasked with discerning which people claiming to be the second coming of Christ are the real deal.
The blink-and-you-missed it marvel Happy Endings is finally (finally!) on Hulu — and it is a gosh-darn delight. Prepare to meet a group of friends with even better inside jokes than the gang on How I Met Your Mother, better chemistry than the Friends, and more bodily function discussions than Abbi and Ilana on Broad City.
Well, the first few seasons. If you’ve been missing a show with diegetic musical interludes, you need to be watching Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. This series one-ups Glee, though, because all of the songs are original and Rebecca Bunch’s (Rachel Bloom) life is much more grown-up and relatable than those of the high-schoolers in Glee.
If you thrive on seeing incredibly awkward human interactions, cue up Nathan for You. Comedian Nathan Fielder adopts the persona of a rube who just wants to help failing small businesses — and the outcomes are so uncomfortable you’ll actually squirm in your seat.
Fans of the mockumentary-style comedy will definitely enjoy Parks and Rec, which follows the lives and times of a local parks department. Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) is kind of like the Michael Scott here, though more adept by leaps and bounds. Come for the jokes, stay for the cast of incredible weird characters.
Then you’ll probably enjoy The Twilight Zone. You’re likely familiar with Rod Serling’s more timeless tales. (Think: William Shatner shouting that there’s something on the wing of a plane.) But there are so many episodes worthy of your attention, each more interesting and chilling than the last.
Nurse Jackie is for you. Edie Falco plays Jackie, a no-nonsense nurse who’s hiding a painkiller addiction. Her life begins to slowly spiral out of control. At moments, it’s hard to watch her make such terrible decisions. But you’ll want to stick with it for her sassy hospital friends and her babe of a husband (Dominic Fumusa).
Of course you do. That’s why 3rd Rock from the Sun is right up your alley. This '90s sitcom features Saturday Night Live alum Jane Curtin, John Lithgow, and yes, a baby-faced Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The show centers on an extraterrestrial family visiting Earth to learn about human behavior. If you loved the fish-out-of-water feeling from Boy Meets World, then you’ll be delighted by the utterly strange cast of characters in this one. Did we mention JGL is in it? Just wanna make sure you got that part.
Guess what’s on Netflix? Animaniacs! That’s right; those zany-to-the-max creatures and their joyous antics are finally available to stream on the 'flix. Unfortunately, you may no longer be able to watch them during those prime after-school hours on weekdays like you used to (due to a little annoyance called work). Oh well; that's what weekends are for when you're an adult: watching cartoons.
If you can’t stand corporate doublespeak, buzzwords, and meetings that go absolutely nowhere (or in complete circles), watch W1A. This brilliant mockumentary follows Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville), the BBC’s new Head of Values — yes, a completely bullshit position — as he tries to sort out the institutional jeremiads plaguing the U.K.’s most important broadcast company.
If you love watching comedians showcasing their weirdest, wackiest, most creative characters, Netflix Presents: The Characters is right up your alley. In each 30-minute episode (there are eight in total), one up-and-coming comedian writes and stars in a series of sketches straight from his or her witty, clever imagination. Some notable comedians who are already on your radar include Lauren Lapkus ( Orange Is the New Black) and Paul W. Downs ( Broad City).
And wondering what he’s been up to lately? Why, ol’ T. Lauts has been across the pond starring in the Britcom Cuckoo. He took the reins from Andy Samberg during season 2 of the show after Samberg was forced to step aside due to scheduling commitments to Brooklyn 99. On Cuckoo, Lautner gets the chance to demonstrate his comedy chops. Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix, so you get a chance to watch both Samberg and Lautner play off of one of Britain’s current funniest actor/comedians, Greg Davies.
There’s been a shifting tide in television over the past few years wherein shows like The Mindy Project, Catastrophe, and You’re the Worst are more than undoing the cloying, completely unrealistic romantic comedies that came out in spades in the early aughts. Netflix’s Love is the latest entry in this canon. The show follows nice, nerdy Gus (Paul Rust) and cool girl Mickey (Gillian Jacobs) as they try to find love in Los Angeles.
You need to watch Being Mary Jane: The Series. Gabrielle Union plays Mary Jane Paul, the host of a successful talk show who’s also trying to support her extended family and find love at the same time. Her life is a whirlwind, her clothes are unreal, and the show is addictive AF.
But can’t stand the commercials you always end up watching during the H.H. and H.H. International marathons that always seem to suck you in on lazy Sundays? Sure, you could plan ahead and keep a few episodes stored on your DVR for whenever the mood for some shelter porn strikes, but that just sounds like something that would never happen.
Well, guess what? Our good friend Netflix has House Hunters, House Hunters International, and House Hunters Renovation collections at the ready for you to watch whenever you so please. Now, if only the couples where he wants to live in a one-story ranch located far away from the city, but she wants to be right in the heart of downtown could agree as easily as you will on what to watch tonight.
If you’ve been missing Chelsea Handler’s signature brand of undercutting sass and refusal to accept the status quo since her late-night show on E! went off the air, tune into Chelsea Does..., the comedian’s new investigative docuseries on Netflix. In each episode, Handler explores a stand-alone topic, such as race, Silicon Valley, or marriage, from many angles. She doesn’t always reach a conclusion or even come to any groundbreaking realizations, but by looking at each subject through a unique lens, with help from many different interview subjects, Handler moves the conversation along in a way only she really can.
If your favorite part of George R.R. Martin’s sweeping saga is the various characters’ devious machinations and power plays for the Iron Throne, cue up The Tudors. There are no dragons or White Walkers, but the historical drama does tell the extremely scandalous story of England’s 16th-century royal court, led by King Henry VIII (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers), and there’s just as much sex as you’ll find on Game of Thrones. There’s even some Thrones crossover: Natalie Dormer, who plays Margaery Tyrell on GoT, stars as the doomed Anne Boleyn on The Tudors.
Really, who doesn’t? The hallowed halls of Degrassi Community School saw more than their fair share of D-R-A-M-A throughout the show’s 14 (yes, 14) seasons. Not only did the series deal with serious issues, including teen pregnancy, drug addiction, eating disorders, and school shootings, it also introduced us to then-unknown actors like Jake Epstein (who’s now a Broadway star), Nina Dobrev, and Aubrey Graham (now better known as the rapper named Drake). The Next Generation had a long run, yet fans seemed surprised when TeenNick announced its cancellation in June 2015. Luckily, Netflix swooped in to make loyal Degrassi viewers very happy. Degrassi: Next Class premiered on January 4, 2016, with a whole new cast of characters and updated issues for a new generation, including cyberbullying in the world of e-sports.
Sean Penn claims in his Rolling Stone interview with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman that Mexican actress Kate del Castillo is the one who connected Penn with El Chapo. del Castillo has since noted that some of the stories surrounding her involvement with El Chapo are untrue, but still, her involvement with a drug cartel leader is almost stranger than fiction. Why? del Castillo starred as Teresa Mendoza, who is also known as the “Queen of the South” on the popular telenovela La Reina del Sur. The telenovela is based on Arturo Pérez-Reverte's 2002 novel of the same name, which tells the story of the first woman to become the leader of a Spanish drug cartel.
It seems everyone came back from the 2015 holidays talking about one thing and one thing only: Making a Murderer. Netflix’s 10-episode true-crime docuseries follows the trial of Steven Avery, who was accused of killing 25-year-old Teresa Halbach in 2005. Avery had a troubled history with law enforcement officials in his home county of Manitowoc, WI, which led his defense attorneys to argue that he had been framed by the police. The series offers a riveting look at the criminal justice system that will leave you wondering what to believe.
Sundance TV's Rectify tells the story of Daniel Holden, who was put on death row after being found guilty of rape and murder as a teenager. Almost 20 years later, his conviction is overturned after new DNA evidence nullifies it, and Daniel is released. He returns to live in the town where everyone is still convinced of his guilt, except for his younger sister, Amantha.
Better Off Ted is a criminally underrated gem of a sitcom about Ted Crisp (Jay Harrington), who runs the R&D department at a soulless mega-corporation called Veridian Dynamics. It’s a send-up of everything that’s wrong with corporate America and evil companies content to destroy the environment without thinking twice. Yet the show always errs on the side of hopeful optimism while taking them to task. The biggest disappointment of all is that this delight of a series never got another season.
But looking for a half-hour show grounded a bit more in reality with up-to-date references? You need Aziz Ansari’s Master of None. The series is a combination of lessons from the comedian’s book, Modern Romance, aspects of his own life, and the overall experience of being in one's late 20s and early 30s. The result is a poignant, funny, and an extremely accurate depiction of what it’s like to be alive right now.
Netflix continues its dark dive into the Marvel universe with Jessica Jones. She’s not your typical superhero. Jessica (Krysten Ritter) works as a P.I. and floats along the outskirts of society. She’s suffering from PTSD after a mysterious man named Kilgrave (David Tennant) took control over her mind for months. The series has just the right amount of gritty badassary we’ve been longing to see from a female superhero. You can binge-watch all of season 1 along with us right here.
You need The Great British Baking Show (or, as it’s called in the U.K., The Great British Bake Off) in your life. Picture all the things you like about Top Chef (drooling at the culinary creations, and worrying whether the contestants will finish them in the time limit provided) without the things you don’t like (the heavily sponsored and overly branded everything, and how they make the contestants extremely stressed and frazzled by keeping them isolated from their families). Add to that the most quaint, idyllic British location you can imagine — a tent outside a manor complete with a pond, adorable sheep, and rolling lawns for days — and two judges who take baking more seriously than you’ve ever thought anyone could. It’s basically a recipe for the most charming cooking competition you’ve ever seen, and it’s finally on Netflix.
If shows featuring strong, take-charge women who aren’t afraid to show that they’re also flawed (because seriously, who among us isn’t) are your television milieu, you’ll easily sail through Rita. This Danish dramedy (yes, there are subtitles, but we promise it’s worth it) follows a fiercely independent teacher and single mother-of-three as she navigates through institutional bullshit and personal affairs.
Picture the beautiful period costumes and luxe settings, but transport them to a gorgeous hotel in Santander. On Grand Hotel, there's mystery afoot when a maid goes missing from one of Spain's most elegant hotels. Soon, her disappearance reveals other secrets, and the drama is positively Downton -esque.
If you enjoy a bodice-ripping romance with dashes of true-to-life historical events mixed in, you’ll want to wait out the break between seasons 1 and 2 of Outlander with Reign. It’s a CW show, so the sex is much less explicit (sorry), but you’re still in for some sordid, nefarious plots against the monarchy in this story centered on the years Mary, Queen of Scots, spent in France during her youth.
If watching skilled chefs do their thing is your jam, Netflix’s six-part documentary series Chef’s Table is ideal for you. Each episode follows a world-famous chef, from Dan Barber of the renowned Blue Hill restaurants in NYC and Pocantico Hills, NY, to Niki Nakayama at N/Naka in L.A. You might want to eat before watching, though, because this series is going to make your mouth water.
One of the taglines for Netflix’s newest original series, Narcos, which premiered on August 28, 2015, is “There’s no business like blow business.” It’s a pun on the famous line about show business, and also a true statement about the thriving drug empire run by Colombian kingpin Pablo Escobar in the 1980s and ‘90s. This series chronicles the inner workings of Escobar’s life and cartel, and the DEA’s increasing attempts to take him down.
Watch… Reading Rainbow! The beloved childhood show that instilled a love of reading in many generations is finally available on Netflix. Watching episodes from Volume 1 will make you feel all sorts of nostalgic for books like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Miss Nelson Is Back. Take a look, it’s in a book …on Reading Rainbow.
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Love Wet Hot American Summer?
The entire gang is back for Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, the prequel to end all prequels. Fifteen years after the cult classic film, head back to Camp Firewood for eight new episodes chock-full of absurdist humor, talking vegetable cans, and your favorite actors (Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Elizabeth Banks…the list goes on and on) playing 16-year-old camp counselors.
Throw in a dash of Melrose Place, and you’ve got The L.A. Complex. The short-lived cult favorite is a painfully honest portrayal of a group of twentysomethings pursuing stardom in Hollywood. In the most compelling and dramatic storyline, closeted rapper Kaldrick King (Andra Fuller) tries to stage a successful comeback while resorting to violence to hide his gay relationships.
Drop in on the supernatural creatures of Bristol, England, including a ghost, a werewolf, and a sexy vampire, all shacking up in a house and doing their best to fit in with the locals on Being Human. Go for the original U.K. version (although Netflix also has the American remake), with Looking ’s Russell Tovey as the werewolf who hates his time of the month, Poldark ’s Aidan Turner as the brooding vampire, and A to Z ’s Lenora Crichlow as the ghost with unfinished business.
Sci-fi powerhouse siblings, the Wachowskis, have brought their flair for mind-bending, perception-and-reality-altering plotlines to the small screen with Sense8. The new Netflix original spares no expense in its scenic globetrotting (seriously, if you can’t afford to travel, this show might just be the next best thing) as it rambles through the lives of eight characters whose minds are somehow intertwined.
Go deep into the paranormal YA archives with Roswell, the now-cult classic that ran from 1999-2002. On Roswell, not only did a UFO crash at Area 51, but it had three alien children aboard. When the show starts, they’re in high school trying to be normal teenagers and stay under the radar. They’re falling in love with humans and want to share their secret, though, so there’s clearly going to be some D-R-A-M-A.
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin star in Netflix’s newest original show, Grace and Frankie. The two play frenemies in their 70s whose husbands announce that they’re in love and are leaving Grace and Frankie to be together. What happens when you have to reboot your life as a septuagenarian? That’s what these two are bound to find out.
Watch Daredevil, Netflix’s gritty new original series about Marvel hero Matt Murdock: blind lawyer by day, masked vigilante who protects Hell’s Kitchen by night (and, still blind). It’ll completely make you forget about that Ben Affleck travesty from 2003.
Specifically, the episode where Joey models for a free clinic and unwittingly becomes the face of gonorrhea? Imagine a whole series using that conceit, only the protagonist (an affable British twentysomething named Dylan) really does have chlamydia, and he has to contact all of his past sexual partners to tell them. It winds up being sort of charming, because in the process, he reconnects with past loves who might have been the one. Also, the show is called Scrotal Recall, and if that’s not the best Arnold Schwarzenegger movie pun-based sitcom title ever, your pec-spectations are too high.
Cue up the dulcet sounds of comedy duo Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci, also known as Garfunkel and Oates. The duo writes and performs satirical songs about their personal and professional lives, which get incorporated into the framework of this clever half-hour comedy named for the pair.
Sounds like you love a good multi-generational familial drama. Dig into Netflix’s new original series Bloodline, which stars Kyle Chandler (Coach Taylor on FNL) as the supposedly good son in the hard-working Rayburn family, who run a hotel in the Florida Keys.
It sounds like you enjoy watching strong female characters who know a thing or two about dabbling in the grayer areas of the law. Watch Damages, which stars Glenn Close as a ruthless, all-star attorney of questionable morals and Rose Byrne as her wide-eyed protégée.
Watch The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret. David Cross (who played Tobias Fünke) stars as the titular bumbling American businessman, who’s sent across the pond to promote an energy drink called Thunder Muscle in England.
But also feel like the show can be overwhelmingly serious at times? Get ready for some laddish hijinks courtesy of The Inbetweeners. The humor’s a bit sophomoric, but just try not to LOL as you watch Will, Simon, Jay, and Neil fumble their way through high school in England.
Swords-and-sandals-clad warriors get even sexier and more bloodthirsty in Spartacus. If you thought the Unsullied were treated brutally in Astapor, just wait until you see the dregs from which the gladiators of Thrace had to rise.
Maggie Gyllenhaal just won a Golden Globe for her work in the political spy thriller The Honorable Woman. The eight-part miniseries follows a British-Israeli businesswoman as she tries to work toward peace in the Middle East.
Watch JTV creator Jennie Snyder Urman’s last CW romp, Emily Owens, M.D. The short-lived show was a sweet mix of Grey’s Anatomy and Scrubs — plus it introduced the talented Aja Naomi King, who’s now blowing audiences away on How t o Get Away with Murder.
For starters, make sure you watch season 2, which hit Netflix back on January 16, 2015. Once you’ve done that, cue up Southcliffe, an extremely vivid portrait of a fictional English town wracked by a horrifying shooting spree. It’s a macabre study of the human condition you won’t forget.
Get locked up in Wentworth, the equally compelling women’s prison drama from Australia. Bea Smith (played by Danielle Cormack) is thrown in jail while awaiting trial for trying to kill her violent husband, and the series follows her time behind bars learning the ins and outs of prison life.
Watch The Bletchley Circle, a British mystery about four women who worked at Bletchley Park breaking codes during World War II and reunite in the early 1950s to solve new mysteries.
Journey across the pond for the British historical crime drama, Peaky Blinders. In the aftermath of World War I, a detective (Sam Neill) is tasked with taking down the Birmingham gang, Peaky Blinders, led by the quick-witted Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy).
Watch the spectacularly twisted Black Mirror. The Brit anthology series has just six episodes, each one telling a uniquely haunting tale about near-distant futures where technology can recreate dead loved ones, get the prime minister to commit bestiality on national television, and allow people to rewatch old memories that might destroy their lives. The scariest part is just how much of a reflection the series is of our current fixation with gadgets and the lives we lead online.
Watch Lilyhammer. Steven Van Zandt plays a New York gangster named Frank “The Fixer” Tagliano who tries to start a new life for himself in the titular isolated Norway town after he’s forced into the federal witness protection program.
Cozy up with the wry Britcom Coupling. It's a clever and humorous exploration of looking for love when you’re absolutely terrified of everything that comes with it.
Cue up Netflix’s horror series, Hemlock Grove. Executive produced by gore-lover Eli Roth, the show focuses on the mysterious goings-on in the fictional titular town, which range from the supernatural to the just plain sadistic.
Take a gun-running thrill ride with Sons of Anarchy. Loosely based on Hamlet, it brings the intra-familial intrigue of Shakespeare’s Danish royalty tale to a motorcycle gang unofficially responsible for keeping things going in the fictional city of Charming, CA.
We’re guessing you do because here you are, reading a slideshow of Netflix streaming recommendations. As an aficionado and appreciator of the finer TV series in life, we think you’ll also love The Writers’ Room. In this fascinating interview show, Academy Award-winning writer Jim Rash (who’s best known for playing Dean Pelton on Community) sits down with writers of some of your favorite shows to discuss how they’re crafted. In the first six episodes, he talks to the writers and creators of Breaking Bad, Parks and Recreation, Dexter, New Girl, Game of Thrones, and American Horror Story. If you’re a fan of television and love hearing about how it’s created, this is for you.
Watch the British gem that is Peep Show. Part The Odd Couple, part The Office (British version), and filmed through each character’s eyes, the offbeat sitcom is perfect for a weekend binge.
Tune your spidey senses into Psych. This playful show features the overly clever, extremely witty Shawn Spencer who uses his heightened powers of observation to serve as the resident psychic for the Santa Barbara Police Department. Come for the ridiculous fake clairvoyant act, but stay for the lovable characters like Gus, O’Hara, and Lassie. And, did we mention that there’s a musical episode? Because there’s a musical episode.
Get your New Zealand fix with Short Poppies, a mockumentary series created and written by Rhys Darby, who you’ll recognize from his role as Murray, the Conchords’ clueless manager. On Short Poppies, Darby plays David Farrier, an entertainment reporter. Farrier interviews people he deems "extraordinary New Zealanders," who live in a fictional town known as The Bay. With just eight episodes, this is the perfect Sunday Funday binge-watch.
That’s a silly question; of course you do. You’re a human being with emotions and a heart, right? Also, you’ve seen Tim Riggins. Texas forever. Unfortunately, we don’t have any updates on the proposed movie (yes, that would mean a book that became a movie that became a show would be made into a movie again), but we do have a series currently streaming on Netflix that will make you feel as many feelings as FNL.
Jason Katims, the brilliant screenwriter who adapted Friday Night Lights for the small screen, also turned the 1989 dramedy Parenthood into a poignant drama now entering its fifth and final season on NBC. Warning: You will definitely need tissues for this one, but the emotional roller coaster of watching the Bravermans is so, so worth it.
Check out the short-lived but hilarious Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23. Krysten Ritter plays the titular B, a hustler and legend in her own mind with a gorgeous apartment and a best friend/ex-boyfriend named James Van Der Beek. Yes, the Beek from the Creek. He plays a heightened caricature of himself complete with a tragic stint on Dancing with the Stars. Enter into the fray Dreama Walker, a small-town girl with a business degree who just wants to make it in New York City — plus a pervy neighbor across the air shaft — and you’ve got yourself a delightful little sitcom.
After many requests, Netflix secured the rights to the newest British cult hit Happy Valley. Police sergeant Catherine Cawood is trying to cope with her daughter’s suicide, but things unravel when she spots the man she believes raped her daughter (which led to her death). She becomes obsessed with finding him, which uncovers an even larger mystery involving the kidnapping of a local girl.
Or, any animated show for adults, really, including The Simpsons, The Critic, Bob’s Burgers, South Park, and Archer? Netflix debuted its first foray into original animated programming for grown-ups this week with BoJack Horseman. Will Arnett voices the titular character, a washed-up actor who starred in a popular sitcom called Horsin’ Around 20 years ago and has done nothing of note since. The world of BoJack is populated with humans and anthropomorphized animals alike, so it’s a bit surreal. Aaron Paul plays Todd, BoJack’s sycophantic perma-houseguest, and Alison Brie is Diane, who’s been hired to ghostwrite his memoirs. Can BoJack and his ragtag crew somehow turn his downward spiral of a life around? Watch and find out.
If you’re especially attuned to the burgeoning role of women beyond the domestic sphere in Downton, cue up Call the Midwife. Imagine Sybil’s can-do nursing skills transported to a group of midwives in a convent in East London in the ‘50s. That’s exactly what you’ll find in this engrossing BBC series, which airs new seasons on PBS.
First of all, read the books instead. They’re even more engrossing than ABC Family’s frothy mystery about Rosewood. When you’re done with those (or concurrently), cue up Skins. The British show made international headlines for the reckless lifestyle promoted by “Skins parties ” and sent the U.K. into a nationwide panic about the hedonistic pursuits of Millennial teens. No matter what your takeaway, Skins will suck you right in.
If you love a slow-build, extremely tense, psychological thriller, watch The Fall. Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan, here causing much inner turmoil when you find yourself attracted to a deviant sociopath) is a serial killer terrorizing Belfast, and Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) is the detective trying to catch him before he strikes again. Season 1 is only five episodes, so you’ll burn through them in no time. Luckily, they’re filming the second season right now.
Guilty pleasures: We all have them. Gossip Girl (well, the first few seasons) was one of ours. The South Korean series Boys Over Flowers follows the whole fish-out-of-water setup, only this time Lonely Boy is Jan Di, the daughter of a dry cleaner who finds herself falling for the spoiled rich kid whose clique runs their elite private school. It’s somehow even more addictive than Gossip Girl — maybe it’s the amazing vintage Bieber haircuts all of the boys sport. And, because of the subtitles, watching it feels a bit more highbrow. Get watching. XOXO.
Dive even deeper into the uncanny valley with The Returned. The cult French show follows the lives — and afterlives — of a sleepy town where nothing is as it seems. Long-dead relatives return to life; residents try to leave — only to be thwarted by roads running in circles. There’s a serial killer on the loose, but no one seems to care. It’s a slow, eerie build but oh, is it worth it.
Try turning your machine off and on again, then booting up The IT Crowd (that’s a joke you’ll get when you start watching). This hilarious British sitcom chronicles an odd couple of IT guys trying to do as little work as possible in their dungeon of an office at a horrible corporation. Chris O’Dowd (before he became a household name in Bridesmaids) plays Roy, the ringleader, while Richard Ayoade is Moss, his introverted, nebbishy foil. And, just like the Pied Piper guys on Silicon Valley, Roy and Moss’ world is rocked when a female enters their daily routine. Fire up the Internet and get watching.
You've undoubtedly heard of Top of the Lake — everyone, or at least everyone in this office, is talking about it. Like Twin Peaks and The Killing, it centers around a mysterious, troubled young girl and a small town with a lot of secrets to hide. Recipe for a good time, right?
You'll go crazy for Swedish crime show Wallander. Though it doesn't cover sex-based offenses in particular, this thriller reminds us of SVU (our favorite iteration, obviously) because of its focus on the cops' and detectives' personal lives. There's also a Masterpiece Mystery version, but we recommend starting out with the original Henning Mankel l.
Well, this is basically the exact same concept, but British. And that's usually a good thing. Doc Martin follows the antics of a curmudgeonly MD after he moves to a provincial town, abandoning his prestigious London surgical post for unknown reasons. Weird diseases, even weirder people.
If you're a fan of all things dysfunctional, British sitcom Black Books is perfect for you. Focused on a perpetually down-and-out bookstore owner who regularly puts a mid-afternoon drink over customer service, this show should be heartbreaking — but instead, it's hilarious. Plus, if you're missing the glory days of TV, you'll dig the distinct early-2000s vibe.
British series House of Cards is chock-full of political drama and underhanded scheming, guaranteed to get your blood pumping. It's also great if totally inappropriate and unethical sexual relationships are your thing. This is a great pick if you've already binged through the American version, but are still hungry for more!
Little James Reynolds has finally been unmasked. Now we can't get enough of the curly-haired moppet.
The 2-year-old daughter of Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively made her public debut yesterday at her daddy's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. While there, the family found time for a time-honored tradition: the shoe selfie.
Lively shared a photo of her, Reynolds, and James planting their feet (those baby Converse!) on Dad's very own star. Unfortunately, the new baby missed out, presumably because she can't walk and wasn't wearing shoes. Next time, kid. Next time.
"Proud is a pitiful word to describe how I felt today," Lively gushed. "@vancityreynolds the permanence of your impact is undeniable. Always has been, but now we have a fancy 🌟to show for it."
In short: These two can never break up. Ever.
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Here's a fun fact: Babies born the year Mariah Carey first released "All I Want For Christmas Is You" are now old enough to order a round of kamikaze shots.
Some things never change, though. More than 22 years later, Carey is still merrily belting out the festive tune for anyone who asks. This time, it's James Corden who's asking.
Though he's no doubt at risk of getting vehicle-induced bed sores from all that driving around, the Late Late Show host couldn't resist inviting Carey over for a holiday-themed edition of "Carpool Karaoke." You'll never guess which song they sang.
But wait! There's a twist! Corden has been asking other pop stars to sing "All I Want For Christmas Is You" this whole time.
Cut to past "Carpool Karaoke" guests like Adele, Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas, Elton John, Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani, Chris Martin, and (yes, yes, yes) the hilariously enthusiastic Red Hot Chili Peppers all lending their vocals to the holiday hit. Observation: Flea is the ultimate elf, no?
This might be the best present we get this year. Quit while you're ahead, Santa.
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Bars are as bountiful as Starbucks in New York City, but there are a few that raise their drinks — and their dishes — to an art form. So don’t just settle for a slice (or two) of $1 pizza! Instead, hit these crowd-pleasing gastropubs, where the scene is chill and the food is four stars; we're for any place that encourages a burger, fries, and a cold beer on tap. Seriously, what else could you possibly want in a night out?
Dirty Pierre
Dirty Pierre is one of those spots you could call a definite "diamond in the rough" (heavy quotes). It's a tiny gastropub in Forest Hills that just so happens to have fantastic service with even better fare. Try the cheesy French onion soup or the "famous" 1/2 pound burger on an toasty English Muffin bun. The menu spans from French to American and even a few Mexican offerings too (shrimp quesadilla, anyone?).
Dirty Pierre, 13 Station Square (at Continental Avenue); 718-830-9698.
This Brooklyn Height's historic bar has been updated with satisfyingly retro-chic touches. The interior is warm and funky and so is the gastropub fare. Order the buffalo-fried cauliflower, or trout roe and rye crackers, and wash it all down with a Long Island Gimlet.
Long Island Bar, 110 Atlantic Avenue (at Henry Street) in Brooklyn; 718-625-8908.
Situated on top of the Renaissance Hotel in Midtown, Rock & Reilly's offers up sky high rustic-industrial vibes. With classic Irish pub fare and a few wackier options (ahem, cheeseburger spring rolls), this unexpected spot will give you all the sports bar feels with a dash of quirky personality and tasty dishes to boot.
Rock &Reilly, 218 West 35th Street (at 7th Avenue); 646-850-2850.
A low key Nolita bar dishing out delicious brunch and dinner fare in addition to some fabulous spirits (Aperol spritz, anyone?), YN is the spot to frequent on any lazy Sunday. The made-to-order cocktails and smooth craft beers pair up perfectly with the waffle sandwich or homemade kettle chips.
YN, 227 Mott Street (between Prince and Spring Streets); 212-226-3330.
Photo: Courtesy of YN.
Gottino
Gottino is on the quainter end of the gastropub spectrum. Serving up superb small plates and quality Italian wines by the glass, this evening destination is a lovely surprise. Stop by to try their delectable fig and ricotta crostini drizzled with honey and almond slivers — and stay for a relaxing evening with a comfortable price tag attached.
The Redhead has boldly put a gastropub spin on Southern comfort fare. Something about fried chicken that's crispy, crunchy, and salted-buttery soft, just pairs perfectly with a cold draft beer. Be sure to stop by early on weekends, as this joint gets packed — you'll be glad you did.
The Redhead, 349 East 13th Street ( at 1st Avenue); 212-533-6212.
The Sparrow Tavern is an ideal spot to have your first gastropub experience. Upon first glance, you may not expect much, but rest assured that it will definitely exceed all expectations. Thanks to its delicious bar food, to-die-for drinks, and buzzy crowd, this divine dive is truly a hidden gem.
Henry Public is your one stop spot for a true BK gastropub. This Cobble Hill saloon exudes some major swanky, old school vibes — with wooden decor and cozy corner tables. If you're stopping by for beers after work, you may as well order up their famous turkey leg sandwich or marrow bones with toast (for good form).
Henry Public, 329 Henry Street (at Pacific Street) in Brooklyn; 718-852-8630.
As the moniker suggests, the bar has a Norse theme going on. The selection of craft beer is enormous, and the atmosphere encourages hanging around for a while and trying as many as you can — just use your Viking strength. If you get hungry, there is really solid drunk food of nachos, chicken fingers, fried pickles, and so on.
Here’s a place everyone can agree on. There’s plenty of space, the happy hours specials are awesome, the locations are uber convenient, and the food is next-level bar food. There is the solid greasy stuff, as well as English stuff like shepherd’s pie and fish and chips. Maybe it could be your gang’s Cheers?
The Crooked Knife, 232 West 14th Street (between Eighth and Seventh Avenues); 212-929-4534, and 20 East 30th Street (between Madison and Park Avenues); 212-696-2593
A lot of places call themselves Irish pubs, but this one is actually run by three lads from the Emerald Isle. They bake Irish soda bread daily and match it with homemade butter, in standards like a Guiness beef stew and fingerling potatoes. Aside from the big G, though, the beer list is surprisingly stocked with American brews.
Hartley’s, 14 Putnam Avenue (between Grand Avenue and Downing Street); 347-799-2877
The folks behind beloved local spot Dear Bushwick closed down and rebranded as Sincerely Burger. No surprise here, the focus is burgers (with fish and veggie patty options), but the accoutrements deserve special attention. The disco fries come with oxtail gravy, for example, and there are a handful of alcoholic milkshakes for only $6.
Sincerely Burger, 41 Wilson Avenue (at Melrose Street), Bushwick; 929-234-2344
Bacon trend won’t die, and it had better not. With a name like this, you can indeed expect pork to find its way into almost every dish, with fun ideas like a beer and bacon flight. There are even bacon-infused liquors in the cocktails. You could see it as kind of shticky, or just kind of delicious.
Bar Bacon, 836 Ninth Avenue (between 54th and 55th Streets); 646-362-0622.
A decent place to eat near Penn Station? Will wonders never cease. Haymaker has a gigantic beer list, with 20 ales on tap and another 10 waiting in the wings but still on your menu (a great way to get you to come back). The eats are like an even better version of bar food: wings in a sweet lime chili sauce, or “bacon wrapped bacon,” pork belly in a bourbon maple glaze.
Haymaker, 252 W. 29th Street (between Eighth and Seventh Avenues); 646-429-8237.
This Brooklyn spot has all the makings of a typical gastropub — the ambience is rustic, inviting, and pub-like with wooden floors, booths, and a bar. But the menu itself is where the refreshing twist on the dining genre comes into play. In addition to the classic burgers and chips, Vekslers is also serving up some majorly delicious Asian-American fare. Its fusion fare (pork buns, scallion pancakes, kale Caesar with peanuts, and even some General Tso's chicken) is sure to delight.
Vekslers, 521 Hicks Street (at Degraw Street); 718-534-5498.
Nestled within the cozy streets of NYC's West Village, Bar Sardine is much more than your average watering hole. The close quarters keep this space intimate with a retro-chic finish for hip vibes all around. Come for the cool craft cocktails and stay for the insanely delicious Fedora Burger (smoked cheddar, crispy potatoes, cucumbers and BBQ mayo)— oh, and the soy and black garlic deviled eggs!
Bar Sardine, 183 W. 10th Street (at the corner of W. 4th Street); 646-360-3705.
There's almost always a crowd at Dale Talde's popular neighborhood spot — and it's easy to see why. The inventive menu elevates standard bar fare: munch on whipped ricotta toast, a falafel burger, or a side of buffalo cauliflower.
Can a place this cool actually deliver a good burger? It sure can. The all-black-everything decor and hip locations can’t detract from the eleven different burger offerings (a Middle Eastern option with feta and hummus!) and yummy shakes. The craft beers on tap feature local brews from Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.
Black Tap, 529 Broome Street (between Sullivan and Thompson Streets); (917) 639-3089, and 248 W. 14th Street (between Seventh and Eighth Avenues); (212) 675-7236.
Don’t overthink the venue for happy-hour drinks with coworkers. This neighborhood staple offers up several $4 beer options and $3 short rib sliders from 4-7pm, and the large space allows for even the most reticent, party-poopin’ colleagues to sit down. Blessedly, Malt House opened a second location in the Financial District, which is in perpetual need of new bars.
The Malt House, 206 Thompson Street (between Bleecker and 3rd Streets); (212) 228-7713, and 9 Maiden Lane (between Broadway and Nassau Streets); (646) 682-7577.
Anyone who’s ventured out to see a show or game at the Barclays Center knows that the surrounding food scene still hasn’t quite caught up to the needs of all those spectators. Rose’s aims to fill that gap. Opened up in Franny’s former space (and by the same owners), the menu boasts solid comfort foods, including what may be the best burger in the borough.
Rose’s Bar & Grill, 295 Flatbush Avenue (between St. Mark’s Avenue and Prospect Place); (718) 230-0427
Royale is the kind of place you want to keep all for yourself. Hidden away on Avenue C, the divey exterior belies the delicious burgers that await within, as well as the beautiful back patio. The $4 beers during happy hour though? That’s one dive hold-out you can allow.
Royale, 157 Avenue C (at 10th Street); 212-254-6600.
This corner spot is named after the two Brits who produced steam engines during the Industrial Revolution, and the space does indeed feel like you’re grabbing a brew with factory coworkers at the turn of the last century. The menu isn’t only heavy Anglo fare, however. There’s veggie-centric options like a quinoa salad with baby kale, eggplant meatballs, and a side of artichoke hearts.
Located beneath Beecher’s cheese shop, the Cellar is where they age the cheeses and delight patrons with dairy, dairy, and more dairy. There’s so much more than mac and cheese and cheese boards, though: try the interesting, flavorful dishes like a kale salad with rhubarb and pistachio, or the steak with avocado and radish.
The place should be applauded just for surviving its bro-y Murray Hill environs with a delicious, veggie-centric menu intact. But the real all-star meal here is boozy brunch, with a vast menu and multiple flavors of Bloody Mary's. Why hasn’t anyone else thought of mid-morning appetizers?
Resto, 111 East 29th Street (between Park and Lexington avenues); 212-685-5585.
If you happen to find yourself in the vicinity of the Queensboro Bridge (it happens), hightail it to The Jeffrey, a welcome escape from the fratty Irish bars of Midtown East. The menu offers around sixty different beers at any given time, so feel free to spend an afternoon experimenting, particularly at the picnic tables in the backyard.
The Jeffrey, 311 East 60th Street (at First Avenue); 212-355-2337.
Lots of beer places in New York assert some sort of German or Eastern European heritage, but Jimmy’s No. 43 actually feels like an old-world beer hall, with a curved-ceiling basement hideaway. The beer menu is long, and the food is hearty: think potato soup, bratwurst, and brussel sprouts. Go hard, or go home.
Jimmy’s No. 43, 43 East 7th Street (between Cooper Square and Second Avenue); 212-982-3006.
Gastropubdoesn’t have to be a synonym for“hole in the wall,”and Post Office proves this by being improbably gorgeous, with dark wood paneling and comfy club chairs by the windows. While the menu is incredibly straight-forward (grilled cheese, deviled eggs), the mostly whiskey-based cocktails are spicy and interesting. Hello, hellfire habanero bitters.
Post Office, 188HavemeyerStreet (between South 3rd and 4th streets); 718-963-2574.
New York night life tends to quiet way, way down on the Upper West Side, but there are pockets of fun between Lincoln Center and Harlem. One of them can be found at The Ellington, which has an airy, barn-like feeling and (delicious!) grilled cheese bites on the menu.
The Ellington, 936 Amsterdam Avenue (at 106th Street); 212-222-4050.
When arguing about which bar to hit next on the Lower East Side, the group can usually agree on Spitzer’s. This happy, lively place features wide communal tables and forty beers on tap, but don’t let the frivolity keep you from eating. There’s something for everyone: sliders, burgers, grilled cheese, and a fried chicken the menu calls “epic.” Believe it.
Spitzer’s Corner, 101 Rivington Street (at Ludlow Street); 212-228-0027.
Top Chef star Dale Talde’s most fun restaurant is the rowdy Pork Slope. And while there is obviously plenty of pig up for grabs, that’s hardly where the finger-licking ends; there's also spicy chicken nuggets, fried catfish, and some of the best nachos in New York City. You can swallow it down with the many beers available, or the seemingly endless list of bourbon, rye, and whiskey.
Pork Slope, 247 Fifth Avenue (between Garfield Place and Carroll Street); 718-768-7675.
If you are seeking authenticity from your gastropub experience — not just burgers and beers — look no further than Highlands. The restaurant isn’t just Scottish in name and appearance, though the pheasant wallpaper is nice. You’ll find a U.K. take on several of the mains, including that blasted haggis, along with endless whiskey options.
Highlands, 150 West 10th Street (at Waverly Place); 212-229-2670.
If the term "gastropub" still manages to conjure up a dude scarfing down a burger and swilling a pint, then consider the Wren the antidote. The clean, downright feminine space offers an eggplant sandwich and lemony roast chicken, and the cocktails contain pinkies-up add-ins like strawberry-lime cider and cherry liqueurs. For the ladies who drunch, if you will.
The Wren, 344 Bowery (at Great Jones Street), 212-388-0148.
This popular eatery claimed to be the first gastropub when it opened in New York in 2004, and while that might be a bit of a stretch, how many bars with food earn a Michelin star? If you can handle the wait, the warm, rollicking atmosphere contrasts the surprisingly elegant British-Italian menu. And, hey, you might even spot a celebrity.
The Spotted Pig, 314 West 11th Street (at Greenwich Street), 212-620-0393.
Seeing as it is in the West Village, Wilfie and Nell is typically packed with pretty young things. The restaurant encourages patrons "not be shy in squeezing in wherever they find space," which people definitely do. The plates are, of course, hearty and meant to be shared, from seasonal fried pickles to a Murray’s cheese board.
Wilfie and Nell, 228 West Fourth Street (between Seventh Avenue and West 10th Street); 212-242-2990.
The Spotted Pig's chef and co-owner April Broomfield ran with a good thing when she opened the Breslin, which is even more British-looking than its predecessor. The tartan, dark wood, and oil paintings of animals prepare you for a menu heavy on meat and cheese. Wash it down with the their own cask-conditioned ale, the Spotted Pig Bitter.
Bedford Avenue gets a little more swanky with every passing week, but one place that still feels homey and relaxed is Allswell. Everything is comforting, from the calico, quilt-like wallpaper to the fried chicken sandwich and the well-researched domestic beer list.
Yes, the Upper East Side can be hip — in its own posh-old-lady kind of way. The Penrose's sprawling space resembles a bed and breakfast in Vermont, albeit it with one of the best whiskey lists in the city. The beer, wine, and cocktail menus are similarly surprising and fun, while the food is simple and delicious: think burgers, mac and cheese, and fried pickles.
The Penrose, 1590 Second Avenue (between 82nd and 83rd streets); 212-203-2751.
If your office is in Tribeca, you already know that there aren't a ton of chill bars to hang out after work with colleagues. Distilled aims to be that bar, and its massive capacity means you won’t be all smushed together, either. There are loads of beers, cocktails, and even "mead" options, and the grub is remarkably upscale. Consider it your new neighborhood spot.
Distilled, 211 West Broadway (between Franklin and White streets), 212-601-9514.
