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On this day three years ago, the Barbenheimer craze swept the country as passionate fans flocked to theaters to watch Barbie and Oppenheimer back-to-back. It feels like ancient history now, but it proved people will happily show up for two wildly different experiences. This week we get a streaming version of that: a soapy romantic western and an intergalactic sci-fi adventure, both worth clearing time for.
And if the conclusion of Love Island USA has left you searching for a new reality dating show to hate-watch, you’re in luck. In this week’s Worth the Chat, Meredith covered the most unhinged reality dating shows on TV. Subscribe to Pix Plus for 4+ weekly newsletters just like this one from our entertainment writers with strong opinions and even stronger recommendations. Plus no ads, ever. Try it free for 7 days!
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The Reviews Are In
With all the releases every week, it’s challenging for a show or movie to generate serious buzz. Here are the ones that did, for better or worse.
“a stupendous bout of supernatural fun”
—Screen Rant
“another monumental piece of work from one of our boldest filmmakers”
—Empire
“it is just not funny”
—The Independent
Trailer of the Day
Together with Apple TV
The Dink
Ted Lasso meets New Girl’s “will-they-won’t-they” energy in a new sports comedy starring Jake Johnson and Mary Steenburgen. Johnson plays “The Hammer”, a washed-up tennis pro whose injury leads him to the pickleball courts, where an unlikely mentor teaches him the game. Streaming this Friday, July 24, on Apple TV.
Up Next: Biggest Mid-Week Premieres
Ransom Canyon
Season 2 streaming July 23 on Netflix
Season 1 ended with Staten and Quinn at a standstill: his anger got the better of him, and she landed a gig in New York. Now she's home, he's fighting to reclaim his seat at Double K, and neither one is telling the other everything. Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly make the slow burn romance worth the wait.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Season 4 streaming July 23 on Paramount+
Pike and crew take on terrifying alien encounters, all while keeping the hopeful, adventure-of-the-week tone that's made it the rare modern Trek beloved by longtime fans and newcomers alike. Let’s just hope they don’t spend half the season on Spock’s love life again…
The full list:
Hotel Spotlight
Together with Inside Hotels
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
The Vibe: Oceanfront luxury
The Location: Lahaina, HI
Instaworthy Accommodations:
Sitting on 54 acres along Maui's protected northwest shore, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua is surrounded by 22,000 acres of open land—including the Honokahua Preservation Site, a sacred Hawaiian landmark directly adjacent. Recently redesigned rooms feature island-modern interiors, travertine bathrooms, and wide lanais overlooking the Pacific. Spend your days enjoying 70+ weekly experiences, lingering poolside or hiking coastal trails. The 17,000-square-foot spa draws on ancient Hawaiian traditions, and six dining experiences source ingredients from the resort's own organic garden. With historic Lahaina just minutes away, it's the kind of Maui home base you'll have trouble leaving.
Guess the Movie: Poorly Explained Plots
An important package proves much harder to deliver than expected.
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Coming Soon
👀 Two main characters are leaving the Scrubs reboot for Season 2.
🌟 Chloe Fineman has landed her first role since leaving SNL.
🧟 The popular comic book, Afterlife with Archie, is becoming a show.
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How Jennifer Aniston’s LolaVie brand grew sales 40% with CTV ads
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