The Pulse - 07/27/23

Pulse Check: 25 New Releases You Need To Know About

The Barbie partnerships were next level: from Airbnb, to Beis, and beyond. It's clear that the power of entertainment industry IP can be leveraged for collabs across verticals to mutually beneficial effect. And sometimes, competing releases can even inspire their own moments (we’re looking at you, Barbenheimer.) Read on for a list of 25 movies and streaming series you need to know about in Q4 2023, 2024, and beyond. Check it out here. ➔

Photo via MovieBloc

Barbenheimer broke the internet and was a smash hit. Warner Brothers and Universal Pictures both poured over $100MM into marketing, and almost everywhere we turn, something from one of the films appears. Barbie made over $155MM in sales in the U.S. for its opening weekend, making it the best selling movie of the year. Oppenheimer made over $80.5MM in the U.S., ranking highly for films longer than 2 hours. Many film fanatics planned double features and watched the movies back-to-back on the same day. The big debate – which do you see first? If you’ve been living under a rock, and haven’t seen these summer blockbusters yet – get your tickets here. ➔

Photo via Hulu

BMF client, FX, released Season 2 of The Bear on June 22nd and it has everyone saying “Yes, Chef” and “Corner!”. The Bear also earned the title of FX’s most watched Hulu premiere with viewership spiking 70%. Season 1 of The Bear was a huge success for FX, leaving fans expecting a spectacular season 2, and FX delivered that on a silver platter. Jeremy Allen White excellently and authentically portrays the intense trials and tribulations of being a chef and restaurant owner through his character Carmie. The intense restaurant environment, incredible character arcs, and satisfying cooking scenes have grabbed the attention of millions, earning it an impressive thirteen Emmy nominations. Watch season 1 and 2 of The Bear here. ➔

Photo via Fotografiska New York

Fotografiska New York is hosting the Stars exhibition, showcasing the iconic portraits taken by the renowned British photographer Terry O’Neill during the second half of the 20th century. His work features global celebrities and actors such as Brigitte Bardot, Mick Jagger, Audrey Hepburn, Frank Sinatra, David Bowie, The Beatles, Kate Moss, and many more. The retrospective includes over a hundred photographs, including some never-before-seen shots of stars like Elvis Presley and Bianca Jagger, offering a personal and candid perspective on these legendary figures of rock, Hollywood, and sports. The exhibition will be open through September 16th. Learn more and plan your visit here. ➔

Photo via People

Max, HBO’s newly renamed streaming platform, premiered season 2 of And Just Like That on June 22nd. The Sex And The City reboot had a wildly successful season 1 and is continuing to keep viewers enthralled with the lives of Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and their friends. There is a sense of nostalgia while maintaining new storylines as everyone’s favorite New York City girls navigate new seasons of life with each other. Episodes are released weekly on Thursdays through August 25th. Watch AJLT S2 here. ➔

Photo via Amazon

Season 2 of The Summer I Turned Pretty just premiered on Prime Video. The first three episodes were released on July 14th to reintroduce the smash hit teen drama that took the internet by storm last summer. We won’t spoil how season 2 has started off but you definitely want to catch up as new episodes are released every Thursday until the finale on August 18th. Watch season 2 of The Summer I Turned Pretty here. ➔

Photo via People

The highly anticipated third season of Only Murders in the Building will be available to stream on Hulu starting August 8th. Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd will be accompanying series stars Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short. Season 2 ended with a cliffhanger. Catch up on seasons 1 & 2 here, before S3 drops!

Photo via IGN

Wes Anderson’s latest film, Asteroid City, premiered in theaters on June 23rd. For avid Wes Anderson fans, this film may be considered a masterpiece, with Anderson's signature vibrant aesthetic and witty and quirky characters executed brilliantly. The film follows a playwright in his world-renowned play about a grieving father who travels with his family to a tiny rural town called Asteroid City to compete in a junior stargazing competition. Per Wes Anderson’s style, the visit goes awry with twists and turns as the father's worldview is permanently altered. The film is an excellent addition to Anderson’s nostalgic and whimsical repertoire. Learn more about Asteroid City here. ➔

Photo via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is finally coming to Disney+. This film first hit the screens three months ago and is now arriving on August 2nd for all Disney+ subscribers. The film stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, and Pom Klementieff. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 earned over $840MM at the box offices worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film of the year. See what all the rage is about here. ➔

Photo via Barbie

2023 is the summer of Barbie, and we’d be remiss if we didn't mention we’ve had Barbie: The Album on repeat since it was released last week. Many of our faves include HAIM, Lizzo, Dua Lipa, GAYLE, The Kid LAROI, Billie Eilish, and more. Also, we’re completely obsessed with the fact that it’s available on a transparent pink cassette tape. The Indigo Girls didn’t make the cut, but if you’re ready to choose the Birkenstocks and go soul searching in the Real World, get ‘Closer To Fine’ here. ➔

Photo via @benjamiindutton

Atlanta’s film industry has been described as the “Next Hollywood.” Experience the magic of Atlanta firsthand. Check out our newly refreshed travel guide here. ➔

Photo via CBS

Ghosts, TV’s #1 hit comedy, welcomed fans into their world at San Diego Comic-Con with the “Destiny Decider”. Within this interactive booth, fans were welcomed as guests of the Woodstone Manor. In doing so, they were able to relive special moments from the show and have their fate determined. Did they get “sucked off” into the light above or “go down” to their past misfortunes? After being brought to their next life, fans received images of the experience as well as a limited edition Comic-Con T-shirt for Ghosts. Watch Ghosts here. ➔

The Planet Express Building was transported from the future to San Diego just in time for Comic-Con. The spaceship, which got viewers excited for season 11 of Futurama, was one of the many experiences that were parked in the lot behind the San Diego Convention Center as part of Hulu’s Animayhem offsite activation. Some interesting stops within the exhibit included the Bob’s Burgers stand, and the Family Guy 360 time travel pad & living room. Get the full list of stops within this experience here. ➔

Photo via Hulu

FX returned to Comic-Con and brought fans into the world of Shōgun, which is set in Edo period Japan. Guests were able to explore an AR koi pond and live samurai battles, but also had the opportunity to visit the other show’s booths. The upcoming series A Murder at the End of The World allowed fans to get a feel for their world by taking them onto a billionaire’s private plane and allowing them to become part of a dark mystery with exclusive content along the way. Promoting AHS, FX provided “wellness shots” and consultations to get fans excited for the twelfth season. Lastly, for What We Do in the Shadows, guests were able to visit Laszlo's garden and find custom popsicles and sunscreen. Get more information about this event here. ➔

Photo via FX Networks

Paramount+ went all out this Comic Con, making sure fans got the best experience. Fans saw the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds experience on the floor with two mesmerizing photo ops. Beyond the convention center, there was a city-wide digital scavenger hunt. After registering, attendees could scan an item in seven locations and earn a passport stamp. Once fans visited all seven locations, they headed to a redemption area for a limited edition prize. Learn more about Paramount+ and Star Trek here. ➔

Photo via Paramount

Cole Bennett founded Lyrical Lemonade a decade ago, which started as an internet blog in High School. He has directed multiple music videos for both established and up-and-coming artists. Lyrical Lemonade’s first short film titled “whyrush?” has just been released, describing the need to slow down and enjoy the journey. The short stars Teezo Touchdown, Alexis Carey, David Alarcon, and more. Shortly after the launch of the short film, Bennett announced a new album which includes a single called DOOMSDAY featuring Juice WRLD and Cordae. Watch the new short film here. ➔

Photo via Hypebeast

Focusing on showcasing the career of filmmaker and artist, Sir Isaac Julien, Tate Britain has created a moving exhibition that is nothing short of a tribute. Sir Isaac Julien was born in East London in 1960 and has spent the past 40 years dedicated to investigating themes such as homophobia, racism, and desire. This exhibition is the largest to date, featuring a handful of his most celebrated works, including five single-screen films alongside six floating installations. The title of the show, What Freedom is to Me, was chosen in recognition of Nina Simone, who once used this phrase in a 1968 interview. Learn more about the exhibition and secure tickets here. ➔

Photo via Tate