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The 11 Best Summer Horror Movies of All Time

What better way to beat the dog days of summer than hiding away inside, cranking the AC, and watching a horror flick? That’s why we put together a list of our favorite summer horror movies of all time. But just to clarify, by “summer horror movies” we mean movies that take place during the summer.

That means some “summer-ish” films — such as Cabin Fever (October) and Cabin in the Woods (weekend getaway) — aren’t eligible for the list. We also require summertime to be explicitly mentioned in the film, so that knocks 2 of our Mia Goth favorites, X and its sequel Pearl, out of contention. We’ve also excluded comedy horror flicks, so you won’t find The Final Girls lurking around here.

Without further ado, here are our favorite summer horror movies of all time.

#11: The Girl Next Door (2007)

This is not to be confused with the romantic comedy starring Emile Hirsch and Elisha Cuthbert from 2004. Not at all. Also known as Jack Ketchum’s Evil, The Girl Next Door is based on the multi-Stoker Award winner’s novel of the same name, which was itself loosely based on the true-life story of Sylvia Likens.

Without giving too much away, 2 recently orphaned sisters are sent to live with their aunt Ruth and her 3 sons. Very quickly, the older sister becomes persona non grata in Ruth’s eyes and is sent (or rather, sentenced) to live in the basement. Horrific things happen from there.

Stephen King called it “the dark-side-of-the-moon version of Stand By Me.” But even with the Master of Horror’s stamp of approval, it’s still one of the most divisive movies around, with as many 10-star ratings as 1-stars on IMDb.

Whether you love it or hate it, the only way to find out is by watching it. The first hour and 15 minutes are disturbing, but the final quarter-hour is downright horrifying. Still, it’s nothing compared to the real-life story behind it.

Where to stream it:

Prime Video

FASTs: Freevee, Tubi

#10: The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

The sophomore directorial effort by legendary horror director Wes Craven cemented his name — and filmmaking future — in the horror genre.

Based on the legend of Scotsman Sawney Bean and his merry band of cannibals, a suburban family’s California road trip is sidetracked by a clan of Nevada flesh-eaters.

Made on a shoestring budget of somewhere between $350k to $700k, it went on to make $25 million. Full of chills, thrills, and dark humor, the movie became a cult classic and was even included in Steven Jay Schneider’s 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (hopefully not on somebody’s dinner plate).

Pop it up on the screen for those in the backseat during your next summer road trip. It might be a good way to stop them from asking “Are we there yet?”

Where to stream it:

AMC+, Arrow, Screambox, Shudder

#9: Sleepaway Camp (1983)

Ask almost any horror fan and they’ll tell you that Sleepaway Camp is one of the classic summer camp slashers. Starring scream queen Felissa Rose, it’s got one of the greatest endings in movie history — which is all we’re going to say about that.

Aside from the ending, it’s notable for a cast mostly comprised of actual teenagers, rather than twentysomethings (or even thirtysomethings!) pretending to be young.

While not the most renowned horror franchise of all time, it spawned 4 sequels. Only one of them involved the original’s writer/director, Robert Hiltzik — who didn’t even know the others existed or that his film had become a cult classic! How’s that for a twist?

Where to stream it:

Fubo, Peacock, Screambox

#8: I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

Jennifer Love Hewitt leads a cast of beautiful people in low-cut, tight tees as they try to figure out who knows, uh, what they did last summer. And that’s not referring to where they went for vacation. It’s the deadly hit-and-run the group of then high schoolers covered up.

Loosely based on the YA novel of the same name by Lois Duncan, IKWYDLS has all the right ingredients for a summer slasher. Attractive, young cast? Check. A secret collective guilt? Check. Mysterious villain? Check. That’s probably why it’s the 7th highest-grossing slasher of all time.

Two forgettable sequels followed, and a third “legacy” sequel is reportedly in the works. But with no release date yet, you probably have at least one more summer to watch the original.

Where to stream it:

Hulu, MGM+

#7: Summer of 84 (2018)

Possibly (or likely) taking some inspiration from 1985’s classic horror film Fright Night, 15-year-old Davey suspects that his neighbor is a serial killer. Of course, Davey also digs conspiracy theories, so he gets a bit of the Boy-Who-Cried-Wolf treatment until he coughs up a bit more proof.

The film captures the feel and essence of the 1980s as well as any episode of Stranger Things and is a commendable homage to the horror movies of that time. It’s not surprising that it made many year-end lists in 2018.

The Summer of 84 is essential viewing for horror fans from June to September.

Where to stream it:

AMC+, Shudder

#6: Hostel (2005)

Hold on to your backpack. And your lunch.

In his follow-up to his Cabin Fever debut, director Eli Roth does for backpacking what Jaws did for beachgoing. Or at least tries his damnedest. When a trio of college friends traveling across Europe arrive in Slovakia, they soon wish they’d splurged for a room at the Marriott.

Instead of room service or a dip in the pool, our intrepid travelers end up on the wrong side of a torture chamber glory hole for depraved plutocrats.

Roth’s sophomore effort is reputedly the first to be called “torture porn”, although Hostel is hardly the first film to fit that bill. But fit the bill it does.

Where to stream it:

Hostel is apparently taking a break from paid streaming services at this time (August 2023).

#5: Friday the 13th (1980)

While the question of which Friday the 13th film is the franchise’s best is a hotly debated topic, they all don’t take place during the summer. But that doesn’t matter, because the first one does, and that’s our top pick anyway.

Before the hockey mask. Even before the unkillable man himself. This is where it all started. (And was one of Kevin Bacon’s first movies roles.)

It may not hold up as well visually as another old horror flick ranked higher on this list, but the Jason-less horror remains a classic for reason. Not only did it explicitly establish the have-sex-and-die slasher trope, but that first time at Camp Crystal Lake put summer camp massacres on the cinematic map.

Where to stream it:

Paramount+ (Apple TV Channel only)

#4: It (2017)

Commonly referred to as It Chapter One, — probably to avoid confusion with the 1990 miniseries It starring Tim Curry — It is the highest-grossing horror film of all time. And with all due respect to the fabulous Mr. Curry — and an impressive first adaptation of King’s 1,000-page tome — It is better than It.

The movie starts on a rainy day in October and immediately tells the viewer this ain’t no made-for-TV miniseries. Fast forward to the following June, and 13-year-old Bill enlists his friends to help him correct the mistakes of his past — and fight a primordial, extraterrestrial evil shapeshifter that materializes as your greatest fear.

Stephen King wasn’t consulted on the film, as he has been with many film adaptations of his oeuvre, but he evidently loves it:

Where to stream it:

Unfortunately, It is not currently available on streaming services. However, you can grab a digital rental for $4 at all the usual places.

#3: Midsommar (2019)

Midsommar is director Ari Aster’s sophomore feature film — after Hereditary — and you couldn’t ask for a better follow-up.

Similar to a movie 3 spots down our list, a group of American college kids join their European schoolmate on his home turf during the summer break.

Heading to a commune for a midsummer festival in the idyllic Swedish countryside starts out wonderfully — except for the fact that one of the guy’s brought his girlfriend along. They even get a bunch of free mushrooms, which is great until said girlfriend has a bad trip.

It’s an A24 film, so obviously things are going to get messed up. And boy, do they. Then you’re left watching the rest of the film with your jaw hanging open.

Granted, it’s not loved by all — dividing both viewers and critics — so some may take umbrage with it ranking so high on our list. But we call ’em like see ’em.

Where to stream it:

Paramount+, DirecTV Stream

#2: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

When watching old movies, it helps to imagine being in the audience of the day. Only then can you truly appreciate when a film is doing something innovative or pushing the bounds of the norm.

And The Texas Chainsaw Massacre did exactly that. In his contemporaneous review, Roger Ebert gave the film 2 stars and a thumbs up but didn’t enjoy it.

It’s also without any apparent purpose, unless the creation of disgust and fright is a purpose. And yet in its own way, the movie is some kind of weird, off-the-wall achievement. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to make a movie like this, and yet it’s well-made, well-acted, and all too effective.

The landmark horror film has been given the 4K UHD remaster treatment at least twice, and both look fantastic. Certainly good enough to mollify those viewers who don’t like watching “old-looking” old movies.

Not only that, the movie itself holds up just fine after (almost) 50 years. That’s no small achievement, as there aren’t too many films that can deliver scares to multiple generations.

Where to stream it:

Peacock, Shudder, Screambox

#1: Jaws (1975)

While this may come as a surprise to some, as Jaws is not your typical murder-filled horror film. Some may prefer to call it a thriller, or even an action or adventure movie. And sure, why can’t it be all of them? But what’s more horrific than a primordial beast invisibly lurking in the shadows until it strikes?

Horror film: …the representation of disturbing and dark subject matter, seek to elicit responses of fear, terror, disgust, shock, suspense, and, of course, horror from their viewers.

And who can forget that music? You can still hear people mimicking it today in swimming pools around the world. Without a doubt, the inimitable John Williams is as much to thank for the horror of Jaws as Spielberg.

No other horror movie — or perhaps movie in general — in the history of cinema has had such an impact on people’s actual lives. People were so afraid to go in the ocean that beach tourism declined in 1975. How many films can say that?

Where to stream it:

DirecTV Stream

FASTs: Tubi

Which streaming service has the most summer horror movies?

When it comes to paid streaming services (and therefore ad-free with the right plan), it’s a dead heat between 5 streamers. AMC+, Parmount+, Peacock, Shudder, and DirecTV all have 2 movies on our list. Hulu, Prime Video, and Screambox each have 1 movie.

However, when it comes to the best overall — including free ad-supported television (FAST) services — Freevee takes the top spot with 4 films. Tubi and Plex tie for second with 3 movies each.

What perhaps surprised us the most was that Max has none of the films on our list. It’s usually a solid choice when it comes horror.

What’s the “most popular” summer horror movie on streaming?

The most popular summer horror movie — ie: the one on the most platforms — is Sleepaway Camp, which is streaming on 9 of the 25 services we counted. The second-most popular summer horror movie is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which is available on 8 streaming services. And coming in a distant third — with only 3 platforms — is Hostel, which is only available on FASTs.

💀 Do you see a glaring omission from our list? What’s your favorite summer horror movie? Let us know in the comments below.

👀 And in the meantime, check out our Paramount Review, Peacock Review, and DirecTV Stream Review, to see if one of them suits your needs.

#horror films #horror #movies #scary movies

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10 Best Punk Movies & How to Stream Them

We're not talking about Dirty Harry's idea of a punk. Obviously. We're talking about good ole punk rock. And before you scan the list and freak out because you don't see The Decline of Western Civilization or American Hardcore or A Band Called Death, relax — we're also only talking about scripted films. No documentaries were considered (or harmed) during the making of this list of the best punk movies ever made.

We used 3 criteria when watching these films (and many others) in order to arrive at our best punk movies list.

Punk characters should be portrayed in a genuine light, rather than as a caricature (see the Dishonorable Mentions section below for more on this).

How much the punk ethos is a factor in the film's story.

How good (and enjoyable) the movie is.

But, you may ask, isn't the idea of "best movie" or "most punk" antithetical to the essence of punk? That's beyond the scope of this post and also — don't be that guy. So without further ado...

Our picks for the 10 best punk movies in history

#10: Smithereens (1982)

Watching this in retrospect, this feels like the rough draft of filmmaker Susan Seidelman next film, the much more successfulDesperately Seeking Susan, which starred an up-and-coming star by the name of Madonna.

This is actually more post-punk or new wave than punk, but it co-stars Richard Hell, so it deserves a place on this list. The low budget film has its lovers and haters, so it's definitely not for everyone. But if you like Clerks and have a soft spot for pre-gentrified Greenwich Village, this is the film for you.

Soundtrack punk cred:

Richard Hell and NYC underground indie rockers, The Feelies, who are post-punk at best.

Where to stream it: Max, Criterion Channel

Check out our Max Review to see if it's worth it to you.

#9: Green Room (2016)

A struggling punk band plays a last-minute gig at warehouse in the woods. It's an A24 film, so obviously things go wrong... and get bloody.

While it's really more of a horror/thriller film rather than a movie about punk, the plot hinges on the eternal conflict between punks and Nazi skins. There are plenty of "legit" punk references, like Fugazi and GBH stickers, a Minor Threat t-shirt, and most importantly, the band decides to play a certain Dead Kennedys song to a room full of red laces.

Soundtrack punk cred: Dead Kennedys (cover), Bad Brains, Poison Idea, Fear

Where to stream it: Max, DirecTV Stream

#8: We Are the Best! (Vi ar bast!) (2013)

Sweden circa 1985, three middle-class junior high school girls in Stockholm start a punk band. They're the most entertaining and outspoken fictional all-girl punk trio since The Stains, and like The Stains, they can't play. (Well, one of them can.)

They reflect on that age-old important question — What is punk? — with bassist Klara lamenting at one point that her older brother no longer listens to punk, but listens to Joy Division!

While the Swedish coming-of-age film offers a taste of early Swedish punk, it's really a heartwarming tribute to adolescent angst and female friendships. The 3 outcasts deal with bullies, boys, religion, and divorce, while lyricizing about everything from politics to nuclear radiation.

Anyone who ever picked up an instrument in their youth to make noise with friends will probably see a lot of themselves in this film.

Soundtrack punk cred: Ebba Grön, KSMB

Where to stream it: Max, DirecTV Stream

#7: SLC Punk (1998)

Two anarcho-punks hang out and question life in Salt Lake City in 1985 — which appears to be a popular year for punk movies to be set in. An kicking off with The Exploited's Sex and Violence for the opening credits is as good a way to start as any.

The film, while a comedy, focuses on the true meaning of the punk subculture and ethos more than other movies on this list. It's not the tightest screenplay ever brought to the big screen, but Sid couldn't play bass worth a damn, and he became an icon.

Besides, SLC Punk is worth watching just for the scene with 2 affluent parents giving a pep talk to their purple-mohawked son.

Soundtrack punk cred:

The Exploited, The Suicide Machines, The Stooges, Ramones, Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys, Adolescents

Where to stream it: Not on streaming services, but available to rent on Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV, and more.

#6: Bomb City (2017)

Based on the true story of punk promoter Brian Deneke, this 2017 crime-thriller won over a dozen awards at film festivals.

In a punks vs. jocks story straight out of a Dead Kennedys lyrics sheet, it follows the days leading up to the horrifying murder 20 years before the film. It's one of those films where it's better to not to know much about it before watching, but even if you know the real story, it's one to watch.

Soundtrack punk cred:

Total Chaos, Subhumans (UK), Blanks 77, Blatz, and Filth.

Where to stream it: Prime Video, Fubo, Peacock, Paramount+, MGM+

FASTs: The Roku Channel and Tubi

Check out our reviews for Prime, Peacock, Paramount+, and MGM+ to see if one suits your needs.

#5: Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains (1982)

Newly formed all-girl punk band The Stains may have only had 3 practices, but that doesn't stop them from landing a gig as the opening act for touring British punk band The Looters.

Starring a 15-year-old Diane Lane (and 13-year-old Laura Dern), the satirical rebuke of media sensationalism and commercialism is as relevant today as it was 40+ years ago.

Soundtrack punk cred:

The bands on the soundtrack are all fictional, but band The Looters consists of punk royalty Steve Jones, Paul Cook, and Paul Simonon and actor Ray Winstone.

Where to stream it: It's not on any streaming services, but it's available for rent at the usual suspects like Amazon, Apple TV, and Vudu. Microsoft currently seems to be the cheapest option by a buck.

Library streamers: Kanopy

#4: Sid and Nancy (1986)

If punk didn't hate the monarchy, Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen would be its king and queen.

A twentysomething Gary Oldman essentially was Sid Vicious for countless 80s suburban punks and Chloe Webb won awards for her portrayal of the perennially troubled Nancy. Courtney Love, whose own life would eerily imitate art a few years later, has a small role in the film.

Former Pistols frontman John Lydon (née Rotten) criticized Alex Cox's follow-up to Repo Man for its inaccuracies, but what biopic doesn't suffer (or benefit) from artistic license?

Soundtrack punk cred: Circle Jerks, Joe Strummer, The Pogues, Steve Jones, Gary Oldman sings 2 songs as Sid Vicious

Where to stream it: IndieFlix

FASTs: Plex

It is NOT available to rent online.

#3: Hard Core Logo (1996)

Bruce Macdonald's masterpiece gets the bronze medal on our list of punk movies. The Canadian mockumentary follows punk band Hard Core Logo on a final reunion tour across Western Canada. As egos bulge and tensions mount, frontman Joe Dick does everything in his power to hold the band together and make it through the tour.

Punk cameos include Joey Shithead, Joey Ramone, and Art Bergman as themselves. And punky Canadian alt rockers Billy Talent named themselves after the Hard Core Logo guitarist.

Often referred to as punk's Spinal Tap, the film is far from being derivative, and Hard Core Logo is must-see viewing for any self-respecting punk.

Soundtrack punk cred: Teenage Head, Ramones

Where to stream it: Hard Core Logo is not currently available on any streaming services.

Library streamers: Hoopla

#2: Repo Man (1984)

Two years before Sid and Nancy, recent UCLA grad Alex Cox wrote and made his directorial debut, which (IMO) is the best film of his career. Emilio Estevez stars as an L.A. punk who gets a job repossessing cars with Harry Dean Stanton. And chasing down a '64 Chevy Malibu that might be connected to E.T.

The film initially had a rather brief cinema run. But thanks to the killer soundtrack, it crawled back into theaters and pulled in almost $4 million at the box office, on its way to becoming a cult classic and must-see film. And #2 on our list of the best punk movies.

Soundtrack punk cred: Iggy Pop, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Suicidal Tendencies, The Plugz, Fear

Where to stream it: Incredibly, Repo Man is not streaming anywhere. But it's available to rent almost everywhere, including Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and Vudu.

#1: Suburbia (1984)

Penelope Spheeris, whose The Decline of Western Civilization is the definitive American punk documentary, was also at the helm of the definitive 80s punk movie.

Produced by Roger Corman, the coming-of-age film revolves around suburban punk squatters and the L.A. punk scene of the early 80s. Spheeris chose to have street kids (rather than actors) play most rolls, and one of the punks is a young Flea, before he joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The film includes live performances by D.I., T.S.O.L., and The Vandals. Read more about the movie in this Georgia Straight interview with Spheeris from 2018 to further understand why this is our pick to top the best punk movies ever made.

Soundtrack punk cred: D.I., T.S.O.L., The Vandals, The Germs

Where to stream it: Fandor, Night Flight Plus

FASTs: Tubi, Vudu Free, Shout TV, Freevee, Plex

Dishonorable Mentions

Our list of the best punk movies doesn't include 2 movies that commonly come up in the conversation. And that's because they don't meet our first criterion. But if you're looking for movies centered around campy Hollywood versions of punks, check out Class of 1984 (released in 1982) and The Return of the Living Dead (1985).

Class of 1984 stars Perry King from 80s detective show Riptide and the original Melrose Place, as well as Roddy McDowall, Canada's "King of Kensington" Al Waxman, and a pre-Family Ties Michael J. Fox. Filmed in Toronto, the highlight is a cameo performance by local Canadian punk legends, Teenage Head. The film's non-punk theme song, I Am the Future, is by a very non-punk Alice Cooper.

The Return of the Living Dead follows the formula of most of the films in the franchise genre, but this time the group of humans frantically trying to save their brains from being devoured are, you guessed it, punkers.

Predictability aside, it's one of the best in the series and a personal zombie flick favorite. It even did alright at the box office, bringing in $14 million on a $4 million budget. Roger Ebert even gave it 3 out of 4 stars. Soundtrack highlights include tracks by The Cramps, TSOL, The F.U.'s and The Damned.

Which streaming service is the most punk?

Based on the number of movies from our list of best punk movies, with its historically edgy HBO library, Max is the most punk streaming service out there. Obviously being owned by megacorporation Warner Bros. Discovery takes a bite out of its punk cred, but we live in a world where punk rock stars are worth $100 million.

Was Crass right when they declared Punk is Dead all the way back in 1978, or do you side with The Exploited and agree that Punks Not Dead? Either way, it's hard to argue with Jello in those opening lines of Chickenshit Conformist...

Punk's not dead, it just deserves to die

when it becomes another stale cartoon...

- Jello Biafra

Featured image photo by Viktor Forgacs on Unsplash

Read the full article

#Bestmovies #IndieFilms #Movies #Punk

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Is the HBO Max Name Change Good News? 6+ Things to Know

HBO’s path to deliver its online streaming service has been anything but straight. If you were to map it out, it would look more like San Francisco’s iconic Lombard Street than the Interstate. And the HBO Max name change brings another turn in the road, thanks to a recent merger between HBO’s parent company, WarnerMedia, and Discovery, Inc.

A brief history of HBO’s streaming services

The long road to Max

First, there was HBO on Demand. And it launched way back on July 1, 2001. That a full 6 years before Netflix took to the information highway! However, it’s not a streaming service per se, but a companion service available to subscribers of HBO’s linear service through cable or satellite providers.

Then came HBO on Broadband in 2008, which was almost immediately replaced by HBO Go, which officially launched in February 2010. This attempt at online content was an on-demand streaming service, but it also required an HBO subscription through a traditional television provider. The service was slowly put out to pasture starting in the summer of 2020 (and will continue its slow death until mid-2024.)

While HBO Go was just entering mid-life, the big wigs at WarnerMedia saw fit to launch HBO Now in April 2015. Unlike all of the previously launched HBO streaming platforms, HBO Now was a standalone service that did not require a traditional TV subscription. This was HBO’s answer to emergent TV entertainment powerhouses Netflix and Hulu.

Finally… well, not finally, obviously… HBO Max launched in May 2020. But if you think that it replaced HBO Now outright, you’d be mistaken. It was a brand-new service, distinct from HBO’s existing on-demand streaming service. The 2 services existed concurrently for a time while HBO Now subscribers were slowly migrated over to HBO Max.

The HBO Max name change

Getting back on track, in the balmy summer of 2022, WarnerMedia merged with Discovery, Inc., which naturally had its own streaming service, discovery+. (Yes, it was all lowercase.) Abandoning its initial plan to scuttle the somewhat-educational streaming service, the bigwigs decided to roll some of its content into HBO Max. But seeing as the HBO brand doesn’t really gel with Discovery, they decided to drop the “HBO” and go with just Max.

When does Max launch?

The new Max streaming service, which we agree is better than HBO Discovery Max+ (or something like that), launches May 23, 2023.

On May 23, HBO Max is becoming Max — The One To Watch for all of HBO, hit series, movies, reality, and more. #StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/GYJ4yJtkhG — HBO Max (@hbomax) April 12, 2023

What shows will be on Max?

You’ll find all of the same HBO and HBO Max originals (like Euphoria, Succession, and The White Lotus) on the new service, as well as all those Warner Bros. films, the DC Universe, Sesame Street, and all the other things you’re used to. On top of all that, there’ll be a whole new slate of reality and lifestyle content, from brands like HGTV, Food Network, Discovery Channel, TLC, and more.

Will Max cost more than HBO Max?

The good news is that the prices will remain the same (for now). The With Ads plan will continue to cost $9.99/month or $99.99/year, and the Ad-Free plan will stay at $15.99/month or $149.99/year.

The bad news — of course, there’s going to be bad news — is that Warner Bros. Discovery is taking a page out of the Netflix playbook and locking 4K quality behind a premier tier. Unlike Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Hulu, who don’t charge extra for 4K Quality, Max will move its 4K content into a new third tier called Max Ultimate Ad Free. (I guess nobody told them that Max and Ultimate are basically synonymous.) It’ll set you back $19.99/month (the same as Netflix Premium) or $199.99/year.

However, given that we’ve never really been wowed by the so-called Ultra-High Definition 4K streaming that we’ve watched on HBO Max, so we don’t see any reason to upgrade.

Do existing HBO Max subscribers need to do anything?

Not really. Your subscription will stay the same, so unless you want to upgrade to get 4K, you don’t need to do anything about your subscription.

If you’ve got HBO Max installed on any of the following devices, your app will automatically update to Max: Amazon Fire devices, Roku, Vizio TV, Xfinity, and Cox.

If you’ve got HBO Max installed on these devices, you’ll be prompted to download the Max app when you log in after May 23: Android, Apple, DirecTV, LG TV, Samsung TV, PlayStation, and Xbox.

Can you keep your HBO Max profiles and settings?

Yep. Everything stays the same. Your profiles, account settings, even your viewing history.

Can you keep your HBO Max downloads?

Nope. This is one of the only things that changes. You’ll have to redownload any movies and TV shows with the new Max app.

Is discovery+ going away?

Verdict: Is the new “Just Max” a good thing?

Unless you need 4K streaming (which we’ve never really been impressed with), the revamped Max is a good thing. What you lose in a spotty and limited 4K library is more than made up for with a bunch of new content that make HBO’s offering a more well-rounded streaming service. It will definitely be more appealing to families moving forward.

#HBO Max #HBO #Max #streaming #discovery #discoveryplus

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How to Watch Scream VI… and is it Worth Watching?

After landing in theaters on March 10, the latest installment of Wes Craven’s Scream movie franchise is now on streaming. We gave Scream VI a full 2 hours of our time to tell you where you can watch it and — perhaps more importantly — if it’s worth your time.

Spoiler Alert:

Before you read further, we assume you’ve seen all or most Screams 1 through 5. If you haven’t, just be warned that there are some (major) spoilers regarding the earlier movies. But don’t worry, there are NOT any major spoilers about Scream VI.

Do you need to watch Scream 5 before watching Scream VI?

You don’t absolutely need to watch Scream (as the 5th movie is officially titled) before watching Scream VI, because you could probably still enjoy it enough as a slasher. However, we strongly recommend watching it, because there are a lot of callbacks to it throughout the movie. (So much so, that you’ll have a fairly good idea about what happened in “Scream 5” just from watching “Scream 6”.)

Another reason to watch it first is that the movie’s main characters (and their backstories) are introduced in the previous film. And one of the franchise’s regular characters is also killed off.

Who is in Scream VI?

Three characters appeared in all of the first 5 films: Sidney, Gale, and Dewey. They were like the Holy Trinity of Ghostface Slayers. However, only one of them returns for Scream VI.

Neve Campbell chose not to reprise her role, making this the first Scream movie without Sidney Prescott. But we figure she’ll be back one day – maybe for Scream X. Dewey, due to his heroism and an unfortunately timed text message, was mortally unable to return. 

Therefore, Courtney Cox became the only person to appear on the screen in all six Scream movies. (Roger L. Jackson has voiced Ghostface in all six films.)

Also returning, are the “Core 4” characters from the last movie: sisters Sam and Tara and twins Chad and Mindy. A couple of others return as well, but if you haven’t seen the movie poster, we won’t spoil the surprise.

Other notable actors include Dermot Mulroney, Josh Segarra, and Henry Czerny. And in a stroke of genius casting, there’s also Samara Weaving, who starred as the titular character in the horror black comedy The Babysitter and its sequel, The Babysitter: Killer Queen. We’ll give you one guess as to her role in the latest Scream movie.

Is Scream VI worth watching?

Paying homage to its roots while updating to reflect the current zeitgeist (as all Screams do), the movie starts with a pretty blonde answering the phone. But instead of a babysitter in a kitchen, she’s a college prof in a bar – trying to connect with her Tinder Flirtr date. And anyone who’s seen a Scream movie knows where this hookup is heading.

After an opening scene that adds some new twists, we discover that similar to Scream 2, our heroines have moved away to college. And this time they’re in NYC, à la Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan – but this movie’s actually good.

There’s still the film buff who explains sequels and prequels and requels, laying out the rules of the “franchise”, where films are only made to boost an IP and even the main characters are expendable. 

No one is safe. Legacy characters? Cannon fodder at this point. Usually brought back only to be killed off in some cheap bid for nostalgia.

It just needs to be bigger, badder, and the opposite of last time. And that certainly comes true here. The gore factor is cranked up a notch, so if Scream 3 (the tamest in the series) is your favorite in the franchise, this may not be for you. It’s not Hostel, but it’s a bloody far cry from Scary Movie.

Let’s be blunt. If you enjoyed Scream “5”, the answer is undoubtedly yes. If you like slashers, the answer is also yes. And if you’re even asking this question, the answer is most likely still yes.

Where to stream Scream VI

For now, you can only stream Scream VI on Paramount+.

It is not available to rent yet, but you can buy it for around $20 at the usual places: Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, Redbox, Vudu, and more. 

Where to watch all Scream movies online

Scream (1996)

Director Wes Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson essentially revived the horror movie genre in 1996 with Scream. It openly mocked the genre’s clichés, but embraced them just as hard, injecting life into a tired and dying genre that had become a straight-to-video boneyard.

After hauling in $173 million at the box office on a $15 million budget, the movie has since found a place on many Best of lists, including Bravo’s 100 Scariest Movie Moments and Empire’s 500 Greatest Movies of All Time.

You can stream the original Scream on:

DirectTV STREAM

STARZ

It’s also available for rent for around $4 on plenty of platforms, like Apple TV, Amazon, Redbox, Vudu, and more.

Scream 2 (1997)

Sidney, Gale, and Dewey are back just a year later! And the first Stab movie is already in theaters. Also back – of course – is the next iteration of Ghostface, who follows Sidney to college in Ohio. 

Faced with production problems and plot leaks, Scream 2 still did nearly as well at the box office, taking in just $680k less than the first one. It’s the highest-rated sequel in the series on Rotten Tomatoes, and many consider it the best film in the franchise.

The impressive cast is like a Who’s Who? of the 90s, with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jamie Kennedy, Heather Graham, Joshua Jackson, Omar Epps, Tori Spelling, and Rebecca Gayheart. Liev Schreiber also returns, along with Timothy Olyphant and Jada Pinkett Smith, a quarter-century before The Slap Heard Around the World.

You can stream Scream 2 on:

Paramount+

Hoopla (with ads)

Pluto TV (with ads)

It’s also available for rent for around $3 to $4 on platforms like the Microsoft Store, Apple TV, Amazon, Redbox, Vudu, and more.

Scream 3 (2000)

Three years after the events of the previous film, Scream 3 has Sidney living far away from Woodsboro, hoping to never see Ghostface again. But of course, she gets called back into action. As do Gale and Dewy. But this time they’re in Hollywood, where they’re filming Stab 3, the latest installment of the meta film series that’s a constant throughout the real-life franchise.

Hot on the heels of the Columbine Massacre, this installment leans more heavily on comedic elements than violence and horror, an approach that Scream VI definitely did not take. This makes Scream 3, in our opinion, the weakest film in the series.

You can stream Scream 3 on:

Paramount+

Hoopla (with ads)

Pluto TV (with ads)

It’s also available for rent for around $3 to $4 on platforms like the Microsoft Store, Apple TV, Amazon, Redbox, Vudu, and more.

Scream 4 (2011)

Officially stylized as SCRE4M, the 4th in the series was better than the previous film, but it still felt like the cow was running out of milk. The 3 mainstay characters – Sidney, Gale, and Dewey – are back, and it’s the 15th anniversary of the Woodsboro murders. 

On tour to promote her self-help book, Sidney swings through Woodsboro for a reunion with old friends. And there’s no way Ghostface is going to miss it!

You can stream Scream 4 on:

DirectTV STREAM

STARZ

It’s also available for rent for around $4 on plenty of platforms, like Apple TV, Amazon, Redbox, Vudu, and more.

Scream (2022)

With another 11-year gap between Scream movies, the 5th installment indicated it was rebooting the franchise by titling itself simply Scream. However, it wasn’t a complete scorched-earth reboot as Sidney, Gale, and Dewey were all present and accounted for. But it did introduce new, younger heroines for Sidney to pass the torch to.

You can stream Scream exclusively on:

Paramount+

It’s also available for rent for around $3 to $4 on platforms like the Microsoft Store, Apple TV, Amazon, Flix Fling, Redbox, Vudu, and more.

Scream VI (2023)

We’ve already given the rundown on what Scream VI is about and where you can stream it, but we’re adding it here for those of you who prefer to jump to the end.

You can stream Scream VI exclusively on:

Paramount+

It is not available to rent yet, but you can buy it for around $20 at the usual places: Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, Redbox, Vudu, and more.

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