Month: February 2024

We’re living in an odd era for movies. Gone are the days when a simple trailer was all we needed to get us to shell out the cash for a ticket. Now weird memes power the box office. We saw it last summer with Barbenheimer, people couldn’t help but be obsessed with the juxtaposition between Barbie and Oppenheimer. It was harmless fun and it made going to see these movies more of a cultural event (it also helped that both movies are great) with many people seeing both films as an unofficial double feature.

Now we’re seeing the memification of the theater experience again with Dune: Part Two. Considering that the movie is getting stellar reviews, it’s sorta wild that the thing that has everyone talking about the upcoming movie isn’t Director Denis Villeneuve’s striking visuals or the performance of Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides. Instead, it’s AMC Theater’s weird sandworm-inspired promotional popcorn bucket.

A promotional popcorn bucket is nothing new, we’ve seen it with Star Wars, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, and Marvel. But none of those popcorn buckets have looked like some sort of weird sex toy that Elon Musk would own.

If you’ve looked at the sandworm popcorn bucket with some side-eye, you’re not alone. People are well aware that this thing looks weird. Saturday Night Live poked fun at the bucket’s resemblance to a sex toy, building an entire musical sketch around teens losing their virginity to it.

And the film’s director Denis Villeneuve is aware of the design too, telling the New York Times “When I saw it, I went, ‘Hooooooly smokes.’ What the ****!? … It’s some kind of… impressive design.”

Impressive isn’t the word we would’ve used, but hey, I guess this means we can count Villeneuve as a fan of the snack delivery system that might end up teaching kids about Indigenous mythology. Some people have also questioned the functionality of the design. Thanks to its teeth… or tendrils, or whatever the hell those things are, it doesn’t look like the easiest way to eat popcorn.

Also, we shudder at the sound this thing is going to make as dozens upon dozens of people ram their fists into these buckets while sitting through the film’s nearly three-hour runtime. Yeesh.

Anyway, if you’re looking to pick up the Dune 2 sandworm popcorn bucket (no judgment), you’ll be able to find it at participating AMC theaters as early as tomorrow, February 29th, one day before Dune: Part Two hits screens. And then what you do with your popcorn bucket in the privacy of your own home is your business, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Just make sure to wash it first. And after.

In a piece we published last week titled “One Change Each Fast Food Restaurant Should Make Today,” I wrote this about KFC:

What I want is a spicy version of its Original Recipe Chicken… All it would take is adding some cayenne pepper to the 11 herbs and spices. Heat is the one thing missing from KFC’s menu.

Now, I don’t expect any fast food chain to take my advice, I’m but a lowly customer, not someone who is paid a six-figure salary to come up with stupid ideas like The Chizza. But still… my pitch was better than whatever this is. (Sidenote, my thoughts on In-N-Out adding bacon caused absolute chaos in the In-N-Out Enthusiasts Facebook group and was eventually taken down.)

Anywayyyyyyy, what is the Chizza?

It’s two Extra Crispy breast filets topped with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni. It’s essentially KFC’s version of chicken parm, you know, the thing we’ve all been asking for, right?

Wrong. Please, KFC, we beg you — just give us spicy chicken.

The Chizza first debuted in the Philippines in 2015 and has since hit menus in Korea, Taiwan, India, Thailand, Germany, Spain, and Mexico. Now it’s coming stateside for a limited time. Let me just say outright — I went into this tasting pretty pessimistic. I mean… look at it!

Still, this Frankenfood nightmare is sort of my beat, so I did the thing. I ate it, and now I present you with two reasons why you need to eat the Chizza (and also five reasons why you definitely shouldn’t). In the end, the choice is yours.

Two Reasons Why You Need To Order The Chizza ASAP

1. You’re stoned. The Chizza is the sort of dish only Jack in the Box would be able to pull off right. “What if we had pizza but it was fried chicken?” Once you bite into this thing and all the flavors start to clash in weird ways, it’ll be a reminder that it’s best not to formulate ideas about what to eat once you’re already high. And for that lesson, it’s worth it… I guess.
2. So you can tell your friends on TikTok not to order the Chizza. Look, I get it, this dish is tempting and I’m sure a lot of people are going to want to eat it for the novelty. I’m one of them. But this dish has no redeeming qualities. The tomato sauce is very sweet and has a flavor way too similar to ketchup, the cheese is low quality, and the weird stiff almost jerky-like pepperoni is some of the worst pepperoni I’ve ever tasted. I did a whole ranking on frozen pepperoni pizzas, so trust me, I know bad pepperoni.

Five Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Order The Chizza

1. Because it doesn’t taste good. As I said above, there are no redeeming qualities here. The sauce is way too bright and way too sweet. Imagine the worst spaghetti sauce you’ve ever had, now imagine that sauce wasn’t enough for whatever you wanted to use it for so you cut it with ketchup to spread it out a bit. Now put that on an underseasoned fried chicken breast filet. Tasty right? But it doesn’t stop at bad sauce, the cheese is oddly flavorless, serving as little more than a slimy texture. The pepperoni is chewy and barely registers on the tastebuds as pepperoni at all. I had to eat a pepperoni solo just to get an idea of what this stuff tasted like. If you fed it to me blindfolded, I would legit guess cardboard before meat.
2. Because you need to eat it with a fork and knife. Looking at this dish you’d think it’s easy to hold and crunch into. It’s not. When the Chizza is hot, it’s too hot to hold comfortably and you have to sort of balance it on the tips of your fingers. When it cools down a bit, the bottom sogs up and feels slimy.
3. Because the money isn’t worth what you get. The pricing for this dish is as follows: $12.99 for the Chizza combo, $9.99 for a two-filet Chizza, $5.99 for a one-filet Chizza. $12.99 doesn’t sound that steep for a combo and it’s in line with the price of KFC’s other combos, but let’s be real here — this dish should’ve been a chicken sandwich. KFC has all the ingredients on hand, all they had to do was ditch the pepperoni, slip this between two buns, and bam, KFC has a Chicken Parm Sandwich. Would that have been a harder sell for the marketing department than the Chizza?
4. Because it encourages KFC to make stupid dishes like this more often instead of SPICY CHICKEN. Enough said.
5. Because the chicken is the best part. Why order the Chizza and subject yourself to everything bad about this dish, when you could just order anything else on KFC’s menu? This dish is lazy and that’s the worst part about it. I don’t think it’s impossible to make this dish work, as stupid as it is, but the fact that KFC didn’t even try to give us quality marinara, mozzarella, or pepperoni adds insult to injury.

The Bottom Line:

The Chizza will probably go down as the biggest fast food misstep of 2024. If KFC is hoping to compete with the likes of Popeyes, Chick-fil-A, or Raising Canes, they need better ideas and better execution.

Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, especially when you’re hoping to replace The Shawshank Redemption as the top-rated movie on IMDb.

For what feels like forever, the 1994 prison drama starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman has been number one on the movie database’s “Top 250 Movies” list, as voted on by users. Over 2.9 million people have given Shawshank a rating of 9.3 out of 10 stars. It’s one of only seven films with a 9 or above; the others are The Godfather (9.2 — 2 million votes), The Dark Knight (9.0 — 2.8 million votes), The Godfather Part II (9.0 — 1.4 million votes), 12 Angry Men (9.0 — 856,000 votes), Schindler’s List (9.0 — 1.4 million votes), and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (9.0 — 2 million votes).

But has a new film replaced The Shawshank Redemption at the top of the list?

The Daily Mail reports that Dune: Part Two “has a 9.4 rating on IMDb from viewers who went to an early screening of the Sci-Fi epic on Sunday, along with a 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.” Impressive! And Dune: Part Two does look like a masterpiece. But that rating will likely drop.

The first Dune has an 8.0 with 769,000 votes. Let’s say Dune: Part Two gets bumped up to 8.5 (currently, it doesn’t have enough ratings to appear on the film’s page, so there’s no “official” score). That would place it between the 20s and 50s on the canonical list. Could Dune: Part Two still end The Shawshank Redemption‘s reign? Sure. But more likely, it will have to settle for being one of the highest-rated movies ever on IMDb, not the highest rated.

(Via the Daily Mail)

What number you wear as a player is something sacred to many. While there are some who certainly pick one arbitrarily, for most there is a deeper meaning behind it — and for many stars, they build their entire personal branding around it.

Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade shared a number that is permanently associated with them, as they both wore the No. 3 for almost the entirety of their careers (Wade briefly wore 9 in Cleveland). Paul built his brand around being CP3 and Wade’s No. 3 now resides in the rafters in Miami, and that is apparently a big reason why a trade to bring Paul to Miami fell through during the Heat’s Big 3 era.

On Dwyane Wade’s “The Why” podcast, Paul and Wade recalled having deep conversations about what the Heat would look like with Paul, Wade, and LeBron James. They had gotten so far down the road that they’d figured out how it all would work on the court, but then Paul’s brother C.J. brought up the question of who would wear No. 3 that stopped everything dead in its tracks. They both agreed that was the moment the trade possibility fell apart, which is a truly wild thing to happen.

It’s clear that the whole thing is much funnier to Wade than it is Paul, which isn’t surprising considering Wade won two more rings with LeBron while Paul is still on a seemingly Sisyphean quest for his first. As such, Paul might have a bit more regret about the whole thing in hindsight, as he ultimately ended up with the Clippers, who never fulfilled their promise as a team, falling short of the conference finals each year.

It’s especially funny learning that a number blew up the trade when LeBron changed numbers in order to be on the Heat, going to No. 6, but Paul couldn’t do the same. Now, I certainly think we’re missing some information from the front office side in New Orleans and Miami about how close an actual trade was, but the way these two talk about it, it might as well have been a done deal had they been able to figure out the number situation.

A video making the rounds online is reminding us all that love transcends all time and distance.

94-year-old Barbara Carolan of Seabrook, Massachusetts, hadn’t been able to see her 90-year-old sister Shirley, who lives in Nevada, since 2020.

When it became clear to Barbara that she might not have much time left to spend with her beloved sister, she prepared to make the 2,700-mile cross country trip to say goodbye.

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“They waited so long to see each other, and if you don’t know if you’re going to see someone again, you know, especially siblings, it must be really hard,” Barbara’s granddaughter, Stephanie Atkinson Shively, told told her local news outlet WMUR.

Shively volunteered to ride alongside her grandmother and document the trip. In a TikTok video, which has been seen over 13 million times, we see Barbara and Shirley getting emotional while reminiscing.

“We had a wonderful, wonderful time,” Barbara tells Shirley through tears.

“If we don’t see each other [again] on this earth, we’ll see each other in heaven,” her little sister assured.

“You betcha!” Barbara sobs. “You betcha.”

Watch the video below, aptly captioned: “Hug your sister.”

@stephanieatkinson #goodbye #sistersforever #notgoodbye ♬ original sound – Stephanie Atkinson Shively

Needless to say, viewers were struck by the sweet moment.

“There needs to be a category on this app for videos that are guaranteed to make you cry cuz dammit I’m tired of randomly balling my eyes out!” one person wrote.

Another added, “It’s not good bye, it’s see you later. I imagine when we pass, it’ll be like going home. And never again will we have to be separated from the ones we love.”

Shively shared several other moments from the journeys, including some pictures of the sisters when they were younger. But the ‘last tearjerker’ showed grandma Barbara waving goodbye as she made her way back home.

There’s a bit of comic relief in this one, as Barbara yells “until we meet again!” and gets “WHAT?!” from Shirley, having to repeat herself a few times.

Watch:

@stephanieatkinson #sistersforever #notgoodbye #sisterlylove ♬ original sound – Stephanie Atkinson Shively

All in all, just a beautiful, heartwarming reminder to savor our lives, and all the loved ones in it.

Now go hug someone.

This article originally appeared on 9.16.23

Miley Cyrus previewed her new era a bit with her Grammys performance of her 2023 runaway hit “Flowers” but it looks like she’s going all-in on the ’70s glam schtick on her next project. In a preview of her next single “Doctor (Work It Out),” Cyrus goes full Tina Turner, with a big blowout and a little dress, embracing the funky inspirations behind Pharrell Williams’ loopy production. “I can be your doctor,” she sings, “And I can be your nurse / I think I see the problem, it’s only gon’ get worse.” Miley, meanwhile, seems only to be getting better with time.

While some folks didn’t much appreciate Cyrus’ 2023 album Endless Summer Vacation, “Flowers” was an absolute monster throughout last year, spending eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (non-consecutive) behind its popularity on TikTok and ultimately winning Record Of The Year at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, giving Miley her first Grammy wins and a chance to thank her friends for helping her remember her underwear.

With Pharrell at her side and a new disco-influenced direction in mind, it looks like “Doctor” might give her a strong follow-up to the dominance of “Flowers.” You can check out the preview above and enjoy the song in full on March 1.

Billionaire investor Kyle Bass really thought he had something on Wednesday morning when he slammed both Joe Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen because his room service breakfast cost too much. You cannot make this up.

Right out of the gate, if you’re not aware, room service menu prices are almost always astronomical regardless of who is in the White House. They’re particularly eye-watering if you’re staying in a 5-star hotel like Bass, and yet, that didn’t stop a man who runs his own investment firm from acting like his predicament is Biden’s fault.

“Terrible Inflation milestone reached – My first $85 breakfast for one at a NYC hotel,” Bass tweeted. “After signing this bill, I have decided NEVER AGAIN. #Biden #Inflation @SecYellen @federalreserve”

As you can see by the bill, Bass got hit for $9.00 just to have the meal delivered (standard practice) before shelling out for $14.00 orange juice, $26.00 waffles, $12.00 bacon, and an $8.00 Diet Coke. For the record, Kyle looked at the menu prices and still went ahead with his order, which he did of his own accord. Joe Biden didn’t burst into the room, put a gun to Bass’ head, and yell, “Order the damn waffles!”

As Bass’ rant went viral, the dunks started flying as people accurately noted that room service prices have always been highway robbery and Bass could’ve just as easily walked down the street and got a cheaper meal elsewhere. They also noted that, again, nobody made Kyle Bass drop $85 on room service except Kyle Bass.

You can see some of the reactions below:

(Via Kyle Bass on Twitter)

Rapper Jack Harlow has announced the inaugural Gazebo Festival in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Over the course of two days (May 25 & 26), fans will be able to see performances from 26 acts on two different stages at Louisville’s Waterfront Park. On the bill are SZA, Omar Apollo, Vince Staples, PinkPantheress, Harlow himself, and more.

“We are beyond excited to support our city’s hometown hero, Jack Harlow, as he launches a new music festival at Louisville’s Waterfront Park,” said Cleo Battle, President and CEO of Louisville Tourism, in a statement. “In addition to great music, festival goers will get a taste of this city’s iconic attractions, renowned heritage and global culinary scene.”

As tickets are set to go on sale soon, we’ve put together a nifty price guide for fans hoping to get their hands on passes for this hotly-anticipated festival.

How much are tickets for the 2024 Gazebo Festival?

Tickets for Gazebo Festival go on sale Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 10 a.m. EST as part of a special fan pre-sale. General on-sale will begin Friday, March 8, 2024, at 10 a.m. EST. Fans will be able to purchase tickets via the festival’s website.

According to a press release, general admission tickets for the entire weekend will begin at $255. Prices for VIP passes have not yet been listed.

You can see the full line-up below.

Some of the artists mentioned here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Jack Harlow announced that he’s giving back to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky in another very special way. Today (February 28), the rapper announced that he will be hosting the first-ever Gazebo Festival there on May 25 and 26. And for the festival’s debut year, Harlow is bringing a killer lineup of performers along with him.

Harlow and SZA are set as the headliners. They will also be joined by James Blake (DJ set), Omar Apollo, PinkPantheress, Vince Staples, Amaarae, Channel Tres, Majid Jordan, Slum Village, Veeze, Dahi, Jordan Ward, Ravyn Lenae, Rich Homie Quan, BNYX, James Savage, Karrahbooo, and Malcolm Todd.

For those looking to go to Gazebo Festival, here’s what to know about securing tickets.

How To Buy Tickets For Gazebo Festival 2024

Right now, there is a presale sign-up open for Gazebo Festival, with the sale taking place on Wednesday, March 6 at 10 a.m. ET. Passes will then open to the public for the general sale on Friday, March 8 at the same time. The two-day General Admission pass is $255, with a portion of the proceeds from each ticket sale going to the Jack Harlow Foundation.

Additional information about Gazebo Festival 2024, including about the presale registration, can be found on their website.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Despite becoming the next rom-com icon, Sydney Sweeney has been in her fair share of spooky flicks over the years. In the last three years alone she starred in a handful of horror movies, including Nocturne, The Voyeurs, and the vampire flick Night Teeth. And who could forget the terrifying Madame Web? Though that movie was scary for a different reason.

Sweeney stars in the upcoming horror film Immaculate as Celia, a young American nun invited to the Italian countryside to join a new convent. While things seem fine at first, it is soon revealed that Celia is pregnant, and the women of the convent become suspicious of Celia’s mysterious past. Celia’s life begins to unravel, and director Michael Mohan says that Sweeney gives an astounding performance.

Mohan told Total Film, “In our film, the terror is about something very real and deep and personal and raw,” Mohan shared, but you have to get to the end in order to see Sweeney’s true scream queen moment. “The last two minutes of this film – it is the most unhinged performance Sydney has ever given. It fully establishes her in the pantheon of scream queens. Like, no doubt,” he teased. Considering Sweeney’s iconically unhinged Euphoria bathroom moment, the bar is extremely high, but there seems to be an equally distressing bathroom scene in this tale, too.

Immaculate hits theaters on March 22nd, and Sweeney will host Saturday Night Live this weekend. Despite popular belief, this woman knows how to work!

(Via Total Film)