Search Results

TREASON Starring: Charlie Cox, Olga Kurylenko, Oona Chaplin, Tracy Ifeachor, Ciarán Hinds, Danila Kozlovskiy, Alex Kingston, and Adam James Creator: Matt Charman QUENTIN While it’s nice to see Charlie Cox outside of Daredevil , Treason is a run-of-the-mill, British espionage show. On the positive end, that means it’s only five episodes, so it doesn’t overstay its welcome; however, it also means that it’s quite dry at times and the character development suffers. The acting is serviceable, but the characters are written in ways that have them doing conveniently dumb things that don’t really ring true-to-life (especially Oona Chaplin’s Maddy, who is a constant head-scratcher of annoyance). Still though, Treason is so short that by the time you realize it’s an imperfect miniseries, you’re already at the finale.

BEHIND HER EYES Starring: Simona Brown, Eve Hewson, Tom Bateman, and Robert Aramayo Creator: Steve Lightfoot QUENTIN Despite lackluster characterizations and random dream sequences that muddy the waters, the first half of this miniseries sets up an intriguing, if unoriginal, psychological thriller. The tone is nearly perfect, as there is an ominous feeling of dread lurking just below the surface thanks to Eve Hewson's performance. However, in episode five, it shifts genres with a reveal that is patently ridiculous, while still insisting on taking itself very seriously. From this point on, everything buckles under the weight of its own absurdity, leading to an absolute bonkers ending that's too dumb and derivative for even a fun "WTF!?" moment.

Previous Next As we approach 2025 and the end of the 21st century’s first quarter, we wanted to look back to see which actors, actresses, directors, and movies have stood the test of time. With that in mind, for the rest of the year, the Bitesize Top Five will be giving a consensus view on what we think are the Bests of everything since 2000. We are only looking at work released since January 1, 2000, so don’t get mad because your favourites of the 90s didn’t make it. As always, each writer ranks his or her top 15 in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five. 5. THE PLANET OF THE APES FRANCHISE If you told me a famed Batman director was going to make this list, my money would have been on Christopher Nolan. Instead, we get Matt Reeves, who is no less deserving. Reeves' Apes trilogy (now a quadrilogy with Wes Ball's continuation) is one of those series where everyone has a different favourite installment, and every opinion is justifiable. Rise tells a story of compassion from a human side, Dawn tells a story of compassion from a primate side, and War tells a story where neither side exhibits much compassion. These all come together to create one of the greatest origin tales we've seen in cinema. - Nick 4. THE WIZARDING WORLD Like many, the Harry Potter films were a huge part of my childhood. The first film was released when I was a toddler, with the last one dropping when I was just shy of becoming a teenager, so the adventures of Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson), and Ron (Rupert Grint) had a significant impact on me, to the extent I feel like I grew up with the magical trio. Adapted from the immensely popular fantasy novels by J.K. Rowling, each film is impressively distinct, meticulously crafted, and a hit with audiences and critics alike. Let’s not forget the series boasts iconic performances from some of Britain's finest acting talent too. For more than a decade, the films brought witchcraft and wizardry to life in such captivating, creative, and exciting ways that it became one of the highest-grossing media franchises ever, behind the MCU and Star Wars , whilst having an unprecedented cultural impact, resonating with both children and adults. Plus, with a TV series destined for a 2026 release on Max, the Wizarding World still has more magic to conjure up. - Katie 3. THE MIDDLE EARTH SAGA In terms of genre blockbuster franchises, it's my humble opinion that there's never going to be anything that tops The Lord of the Rings . Peter Jackson's original trilogy is not only a marvel for the time it was released, but it holds up incredibly well thanks to the magnificent crafts on display and storytelling that elevates these films into something special. The trilogy was an Oscar juggernaut, with Return of the King winning all 11 Oscars it was nominated for, including Best Picture, and it has only grown in influence. Our first foray into Middle Earth was followed up years later with The Hobbit trilogy, and while it didn't live up to the gargantuan standards of the original trilogy, they were still great films in their own right. Then you have the vastly underrated Prime series The Rings of Power . The Middle Earth Saga is beyond special to most film-lovers, and deservedly so. - Adriano 2. THE MISSION IMPOSSIBLE FRANCHISE There aren’t many franchises that have had the same longevity and consistency as Mission: Impossible . Each movie operates with unique and distinct elements, following Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and the IMF team as they fight global threats all over the world, while simultaneously raising the stakes and somehow getting bigger and more action-packed with each installment. This is mainly due to Cruise’s appetite for doing his own stunts well into his 60s, which has made the action sequences the defining hallmark of the M:I movies, whether he’s dangling on ropes to break into a secure facility, scaling the Burj Khalifa, or literally hanging on to the side of a flying plane. Without question, after more than 20 years, this franchise remains one of the most ambitious and exciting spy sagas to ever appear on screen. - Paige 1. THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE To quote former Bitesize writer Darryl, I unequivocally and irrevocably agree that “the MCU is absolutely wonderful.” It was when it started in 2008, and it still is to this day. There has been nothing in the history of cinema that has had the same impact. Yes, there are more impactful individual movies, but nothing that changed the landscape of cinematic language, franchises, and character work like these 11 years of connected movies that range from pretty good to all-time great. And that’s just the immaculate “Infinity Saga.” More importantly, though, the ability for a near-bankrupt movie division to become a full-blown movie studio with flops, blockbusters, Oscar nominations, movie stars, and iconic characters is something I’m not sure we will ever see again. No, superhero movies are not dead, and they will never die because the Marvel Cinematic Universe has a wealth of stories, characters, genres, and themes that will always resonate to a large number of people around the world. - Amarú HONORABLE MENTIONS THE JOHN WICK FRANCHISE THE BREAKING BAD UNIVERSE CHRISTOPHER NOLAN'S BATMAN TRILOGY THE X-MEN UNIVERSE THE OCEAN'S FRANCHISE

Previous Next With the release of Universal's latest film, Renfield, the crew decided not to wait until October to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Vampire Films/Series. Each writer ranks his or her top 15 films or series in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five. 5. BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA To me, director Francis Ford Coppola made the gold standard when it comes to Dracula. Bram Stoker’s Dracula is scary, romantic, strangely funny, and exciting, all in a stylish and haunting package that features a career-best performance from Gary Oldman as the titular vampire. The look and feel are way too iconic for me to ever forget the vibe and tone of this monster classic. - Adriano 4. INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE The Lost Boys may have brought vampires into modernity, but it’s Anne Rice’s novel and subsequent film adaptation, Interview with the Vampire , that solidified the sexy vampire trend. The influence the film has had on the vampire genre as it stands now cannot be understated, and it still holds up as a heartbreaking and fascinating character study on the price of eternal life. From the A-list cast to the gorgeous costumes and the grandiose scope, Interview with the Vampire is a certified and underappreciated classic. - Joseph 3. THE LOST BOYS The best thing about The Lost Boys is that it’s more than just another vampire movie. Despite the genuine scares and visceral gore, it’s also a very funny coming-of-age story. But more importantly, it is one of the first movies to introduce teenage vampires, paving the way for the likes of Twilight and Buffy the Vampire Slayer . If you need further evidence of its lasting influence, consider that the opening scene of Jordan Peele’s Us is one long The Lost Boys Easter Egg. Plus, who can forget 80s iconography like Kiefer Sutherland’s delightfully rad spiky-topped mullet, original song “Cry Little Sister,” the Two Coreys, and, of course, the oiled-up Sax Man. - Quentin 2. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement took a page right out of Christopher Guest’s playbook when they developed one of the all-time great mockumentaries. What We Do in the Shadows is a hilarious, blood-sucking comedy spoof that got its start as a short film before being expanded into a feature and one of the funniest series on television. It’s inventive and filled with extremely amusing and committed performances from some of the funniest actors and actresses in the business. - Paige 1. FROM DUSK TILL DAWN The greatest trick From Dusk till Dawn pulls is having Quentin Tarantino’s writing drive the whole affair right up to the minute that it goes full Robert Rodriguez. Half of what makes it a great vampire film is that it was already a good movie before the vampires even show up, the cringe fest that is Tarantino’s character notwithstanding. I can only imagine what the original theater reactions must have been like at the turn. - Jacob HONORABLE MENTIONS BLADE 30 DAYS OF NIGHT FRIGHT NIGHT (2011) LET THE RIGHT ONE IN NOSFERATU Photo Credits: Photo 1 - Columbia Pictures; Photo 2, 3 - Warner Bros.; Photo 4 - Madman Entertainment; Photo 5 - Miramax Films

TELL ME YOUR SECRETS Starring: Lily Rabe, Enrique Murciano, Hamish Linklater, Amy Brenneman, Marque Richardson, Elliot Fletcher, Chiara Aurelia, Xavier Samuel & Stella Baker Creators: Harriet Warner QUENTIN There is a good show buried somewhere in Tell Me Your Secrets . In fact, there might be as many as four good shows. The problem is that it never commits to any. The whole thing is a sprawling and disjointed mess. It poses questions and sets up mysteries almost in passing, only to ignore them for long stretches. Since it never builds the necessary momentum to make viewers interested in the answers, there are several "oh, I forgot that was a thing" moments. Then it has the audacity to assume a second season order by ending on a cliffhanger. Ugh.

THE BROTHERS SUN: SEASON ONE Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Justin Chien, Sam Song Li, Joon Lee, and Highdee Kuan Creators: Byron Wu and Brad Falchuk QUENTIN If you can picture a Jackie Chan movie done in the style and tone of Netflix’s Santa Clarita Diet , then you’ve got a pretty good idea of what The Brothers Sun is. It’s action-packed, with bone-cracking and bloody martial arts scenes, while also featuring a fun, comedic silliness, including a running joke about a legendary assassin from a Taipei Triad becoming obsessed with churros. Truth be told, it is just a lot of fun and super-bingeable. On top of that, you’ve got recent Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh giving a standout performance, which, if we’re being honest, just means she’s doing typical Michelle Yeoh things. AMARÚ I like a show that knows exactly how serious to take itself. While The Brothers Sun is fairly cheesy, it leans into it with a wholly realistic sincerity that makes the show an extremely fun watch. There are a few too many times where I figured out something that the characters stupidly did not, but the amazing action, honest moments of family tenderness, and nice balance of humor and mystery make the flaws easily roll off your shoulder. The Brothers Sun bangs as hard as its very eclectic soundtrack, and binging this show is an entertaining breeze. Plus, Michelle Yeoh. Need I say more?

YELLOWSTONE: SEASON FOUR Starring: Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Jefferson White, Gil Birmingham, Forrie J. Smith, Ryan Bingham, Breckin Merrill, Finn Little, Ian Bohen, and Denim Richards Creators: Taylor Sheridan and John Linson QUENTIN Although still watchable, this season of Yellowstone is the blah-est one yet. It’s more concerned with doing a soft reset, evolving from The (Cowboy) Sopranos to This is Us: Cowboy Edition , than building off previous seasons. The problem is that there is no true villain, and it’s more interested in setting up two spinoffs (6666 and 1883 ) than telling its own story. And enough with the cowboying montages (seriously, it’s like 5-10 minutes per episode). It all makes the season feel like filler. Everything else that made Yellowstone excellent is still there, but the writing is sorely lacking this time.

IT'S FLORIDA, MAN Starring: Sam Richardson, Simon Rex, Anna Faris, Juliette Lewis, Randall Park, Ego Nwodim, Betsy Sodaro, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Jon Gries, Matty Cardarople, Cameron Britton, Steven Ogg, Echo Kellum, Steve Little, and Stephen Root Creators: Mark Herwick and Jeff Tomsic QUENTIN People who love Drunk History and the exploits of “the world’s worst superhero,” Florida Man, are sure to have a blast with It’s Florida, Man . For someone who doesn’t care about either of those things, though, this comedic docuseries, which features famous people reenacting outlandish stories as told by real Floridians, becomes tiresome pretty quickly. The real people featured are certainly quirky, but this almost feels exploitative of low hanging fruit — more laughing at them than with them. Meanwhile, the reenactments don’t really add much. I’m sure there is an audience for this, but I ain't it. At least it’s a really quick watch (six 20-minute episodes).

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS: SEASON FIVE Starring: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch, and Kristen Schaal Creator: Jemaine Clement QUENTIN It’s wild that, after five seasons, I think that a mockumentary is one of the funniest, and overall best, shows on television. Believe it or not, I usually hate this format (The Office is terrible, fight me), but the characters, performances, writing, and level of genuine emotion that grounds the mystical absurdity of What We Do in the Shadows is flat out tremendous. In this season specifically, the interpersonal dynamics between my sweet, secretive boy Guillermo (Harvey Guillén) and the vampires is both touching and hilarious. Plus, no cast on television can deliver a one-liner like this one can. Season Five is maybe the best yet. KATIE The latest season of What We Do in the Shadows delivers exactly what I would expect from one of the best comedy series on TV. It’s consistently funny, hilariously macabre, and displays the show’s overall enduring charm. The amazing cast has an electric chemistry and comfortable familiarity, and before every episode, I was excited to see their latest shenanigans. Although I love the gore, absurdity, and Laszlo’s (Matt Berry) many unique pronunciations, the character’s emotional bonds are the beating (or not) heart of this show. ADRIANO It’s rare that a comedy series can continue its trajectory for five whole seasons, but that’s exactly what What We Do in the Shadows has accomplished. It continues to be as funny and clever as it has always been, but with new wacky situations to put our cast of characters through. Even with a major turning point in the plot, the show never once slows its momentum, all while evolving the characters in the process. If the show keeps going at the pace it’s currently at, then I don’t ever want this show to die.

ZERO DAY Starring: Robert De Niro, Angela Bassett, Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Plemons, Joan Allen, Connie Britton, Dan Stevens, Matthew Modine, Bill Camp, and McKinley Belcher III Creators: Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim, and Michael Schmidt AMARÚ Zero Day starts off as a straightforward political mystery, but as the story barrels forward and the twists keep piling up, Eric Newman & Noah Oppenheim’s tense writing allows the stacked ensemble to flex their more-than-capable acting chops. There’s present-day political commentary mixed with science fiction elements that shouldn’t work together, but the show’s grounded nature pulls the hodgepodge off. It’s a tad bit overwrought and can feel a little messy at times, but watching Robert De Niro spar with Angela Bassett, Lizzy Caplan spar with Jesse Plemons, and Joan Allen absolutely demand the screen makes Zero Day a worthy watch. ROBERT Post-Lost , I was a major proponent of FlashForward , a show where everyone on Earth loses consciousness for 137 seconds to see their future. Zero Day reminded me of a less fantastical version of that crossed with House of Cards , where everyone is impacted by a global event that takes lives and mounts political intrigue. The difference between these programs is that I felt FlashForward’ s mystery was more compelling since the plot dynamics of Zero Day play out stupidly for six episodes. A few good performances can't save what is an overall benign thriller that's less effective than a pop-up ad. QUENTIN Zero Day is a great example of how a star-studded cast can elevate terrible writing without saving it because, despite the ensemble’s collective 15 Oscar and 32 Emmy nominations, this political conspiracy thriller is a mess that only barely reaches “somewhat watchable” status. The entire cast does the best they can with the material, with most getting at least one awards-worthy scene, but on the whole, cringy dialogue, silly twists, and plot points that are somehow rushed in the face of laggy pacing undermine a series that takes itself way too seriously as it tries to lightly comment on current events without picking a side. BRYAN When one is told a Netflix series stars the likes of Robert De Niro, Angela Bassett, and Jesse Plemons, it’s an easy addition to the watchlist. Despite all the promise on paper, the results are otherwise middling, to say the least. The stacked cast is doing their damndest to carry Zero Day on its back, but it mirrors the plethora of airport thrillers that lack any ounce of thrills or intrigue to keep the plot moving forward. It's utterly forgettable by the end, and not even very entertaining, which may be the show’s biggest sin.

3 BODY PROBLEM: SEASON ONE Starring: Jess Hong, Benedict Wong, Liam Cunningham, Eiza González, Alex Sharp, Jovan Adepo, John Bradley, Zine Tseng, Rosalind Chao, Jonathan Pryce, Sea Shimooka, and Marlo Kelly Creators: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo QUENTIN Though certainly not without its flaws, 3 Body Problem is one of the better sci-fi series I’ve seen in some time. Let’s be honest, when you’re making ambitious and heady sci-fi that still needs to be accessible for regular (read: non-nerd) viewers, flaws are to be expected, but the ones found here are minor quibbles. Sure, some of the characters seem unnecessary (for now), and some melodramatic subplots just aren’t that interesting, but the core story of scientific problem solving to avert [spoiler redacted]…while also adeptly addressing themes of faith, science, religion, and humanity…kept me thoroughly engaged. I’m eager to see where Season Two goes. PAIGE Although 3 Body Problem sets itself apart from other sci-fi stories by emphasizing complex problem solving, this spectacle falls short in the most crucial area of the narrative — its characters. It struggles to strike a balance between its larger-than-life concepts and the characters with whom we are stuck going through this journey, with a few of the character-driven plots seemingly unrelated to the main themes of the show. Despite my enjoyment of the first half of the season, the latter half is more like set-up for what is to come next rather than an overall satisfying first season.

HOLLYWOOD CON QUEEN Starring: Scott Johnson Creator: Chris Smith QUENTIN Hollywood Con Queen , a three-part documentary, is about two parts too long. After a compelling first episode that takes viewers down the rabbit hole of a wild scam where a con artist impersonated some of the most powerful people in Hollywood for both financial gain and, apparently, shits and giggles, the final two episodes fizzle out entirely. Instead of staying focused on the scam itself, it boringly focuses on the perpetrator’s personality and his uninteresting conversations with a journalist. Once the mystery, suspense, and “whodunnit” aspect went out the window at the end of the first episode, there wasn’t much left to hold my interest.