by admin | Apr 13, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
It’s butterbeer season, and as a Harry Potter aficionado, that means my feed has been absolutely blowing up over the last several weeks with sweet treats. I was bummed to miss out on the opening of the Chicago Harry Potter store this week, but it turns out butterbeer season has expanded into stores. Fans can get sweet treats and sweet smells alike.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has a new butterbeer creme puff this year I’ve been desperate to try. And people going to the shops have gloated about sweet treats like these:
butterbeer has been getting more inclusive for years now. Probably the most interesting products to come out this Butterbeer season are the Orly products, which are bringing smell-o-rama nail polish and cuticle oil and foam to the table. I honestly didn’t know what to expect from butterbeer polish, but the cuticle oil smells really nice and the polish is lasting (so far). The other nice thing about the polish is that it’s a better gift than a lot of the snackable stuff because it will last longer.
Along with the nail polish, the full set of butterbeer products includes cuticle oil and foam, and it’s discounted if you buy them as a set, though individually they retail for between $8.99 and $15. I’m already planning to use the polish the next time I’m visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Still, One Harry Potter Snack Rules Them All
While I think the nail care collection makes for the best gift, if I’m picking a favorite snack, I would highly recommend the Harry Potter Fudge Stripes butterbeer cookies. Retailing at $4.80, the buttery cookies have a fudgy icing the brand says mimics “butterscotch and cream soda.”
Some people have expressed the Fudge Stripes sacrificing a little on the chocolate front, but I like that it tastes both similar and different to the regular chocolate-iced version of the same cookies without sacrificing on flavor. And butterbeer works really well with a cookie that is already soft and buttery. I’d probably pick up several of these products again and again, but if I had to choose one to become a grocery story staple, it would be the cookie.
Other products include a mini mug set and some Hershey’s kisses in the famous flavor.
Unfortunately, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products has only partnered with brands like Keebler and Hersheys for a limited time, so if you want to bring the butterbeer magic into your own home, you should do so soon. Butterbeer season officially runs until May 31st, and I’m already campaigning for Warner Bros. to get heavily into the candle game next year.
by admin | Apr 13, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
Harry Styles hasn’t released an album in three years, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t found himself at the center of public attention. After touring for two and a half years, the Grammy winner has been pretty quiet these days, running marathons in Japan and giving his acting aspirations a bit of a break. His love life is now a topic of interest again, though, and Michael B. Jordan is apparently in the mix this time around
The situation involves Styles’ ex-girlfriend, Taylor Russell, who’s now reportedly in a relationship with Jordan. The former One Direction member is allegedly taking it pretty hard, as he’s seemingly finding himself in the middle of another love triangle. According to Life and Style Magazine, Styles is having a hard time processing his break up with Russell, who he reportedly split with last May after dating for about a year. The news outlet’s source also shared supposed details on what sparked the end of Styles and Russell’s romance:
Michael B. Jordan, so it’s not like he has any actual hard feelings toward Russell’s rumored actor boyfriend. The source said:
In general, breakups are hard, and it’s natural for anyone to have pings of jealousy after a romantic relationship ends. We can’t say for sure whether Styles is truly hurt, it doesn’t seem like there’s any beef between him and Jordan. This marks yet another relationship-centric situation that the singer has been involved in within the past few years.
Harry Styles dated Taylor Swift from 2012 to 2013, with the relationship sparking a lot of media attention considering both of their levels of fame. Kendall Jenner and Styles also sparked romance rumors in the mid-2010s. However, most notably he was in a relationship with Olivia Wilde from 2021 to 2022 during the production of Wilde’s 2022 film, Don’t Worry Darling. The couple was the center of media controversy, considering there were whispers of their relationship contributing to a messy production on the film and Wilde’s split from Jason Sudeikis happening at the same time.
The Wilde/Sudeikis/Styles situation was quite fraught. Many outlets reporting that there was overlap between the Booksmart director’s relationships with longtime partner Sudeikis and Styles. However, Wilde doubled down on her claim that she and Sudeikis were over before she’d met the singer. If these reports about Russell and Styles have any validity at all, the singer is finding himself on the other side of things.
Whether or not there’s truth to the rumors about Taylor Russell and Michael B. Jordan, it seems evident that Harry Styles is navigating this chapter of his life quietly. Considering his track record with these kinds of situations, there’s a good chance he probably won’t address any supposed drama publicly. I’d just hope that whatever the case, everyone can just move forward in a way that’s most healthy and beneficial for them.
by admin | Apr 13, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
There are so many reasons why Tom Hardy is swoon-worthy. Sure, as an actor, he’s been getting it down since he was cast in Black Hawk Down years ago. On top of that, though, the British star also has a sense of charisma and charm that’s just downright infectious. That’s arguably a major reason why many now view him as “the internet’s original boyfriend.” Apparently, Hardy himself was unaware of that moniker and, upon someone explaining it to him, he shared a funny take.
Tom Hardy has built a career on playing tough, transformative roles. Even when he hides his face at times while playing the titular character in the Venom movies or looks disheveled in Mad Max: Fury Road, the internet can’t help but go gaga over him. With that, it’s funny, but fitting, that the beloved actor apparently didn’t know that he was considered “the internet’s original boyfriend” at the time that ET revealed that to him. While checking out the chat, which is on Instagram, I couldn’t help but smile when listening to Hardy’s thoughts:
fascinating fact about Hardy is that his big break came due to him being a “model” student. While he was 20 years old and attending the Richmond Drama School, he became The Big Breakfast’s “Find Me a Model” big winner.
Jus as explained in ET’s video, Tom Hardy became “the internet’s original boyfriend” back during the early days of MySpace. His selfies on the site went viral, with fans loving them. Whether he was in his underwear or posing with an uncooked turkey, Hardy became one of the first celebrities to have a public and personal online presence. In that time, his popularity has grown, and we’ve even reached the point where there’s fan art of him as the next James Bond.
It’s funny to think that the Inception star walked as “the internet’s original boyfriend” so that many actors after him could run. Like Hardy, plenty of handsome actors treat the title with humility and humor. Keanu Reeves has been well-known for being “the internet’s boyfriend,” with the John Wick actor’s reaction being that he “appreciates the goodwill.” Dungeons & Dragons co-stars Chris Pine and Regé-Jean Page also love the title as they trolled each other over it on WhatsApp. Their playful acceptance is a big wink to the fans who bestowed on them the fun label.
Considering the manner in which Tom Hardy reacted to the title he’s been given, I’m no sure he has too much more to say on the matter. Still, his brief and polite response is enough for me and, ironically, it just makes me believe even more that he deserves his moniker. There’s just something endearing about a famous man who’s also incredibly humble. You can look forward to seeing Hardy in his next film, Havoc, which is set to debut on April 25 as part of the 2025 Netflix schedule.
by admin | Apr 13, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez may have finalized their divorce, but some bonds formed during their union can’t be broken. The couple always put a firm emphasis on their blended family — namely the children they share with Jennifer Garner and Marc Anthony, respectively — and, to that end, the doomed couple allegedly made an agreement following their breakup.
Headlines continue to come out about JLo and Ben Affleck’s relationship (especially since they share projects on the 2025 movie calendar). Some rumors have suggested Jennifer Lopez is “furious” about her ex spending more time with Jennifer Garner — his first ex-wife and the mother of his three children — but according to sources for inTouch, they’ve agreed to not let issues like these impact their kids’ relationships with each other. The insider said:
keep her bond with JLo’s family alive and has been pictured several times hanging out with her former stepmother. Also, 16-year-old Seraphina, aka Fin, 16, reportedly has an “especially strong bond” with Emme, one of JLo’s 17-year-old twins, and their parents “agreed that they have a responsibility to nurture that.”
As for how that’s going, it may be a work in progress. The exes were photographed together in September in what appeared to be a get-together for their children, but there’s still tension, the source alleges, saying:
Ben Affleck opened up about the divorce recently (and clarified those Dunkin’ Donuts pics), and he insisted his life is not as dramatic as the press makes it out to be. Meanwhile, JLo is reportedly saying “life goes on” as she continues to focus on her children and her work, rather than dating.
The This Is Me… Now artist has been overshadowed lately in the press anyway as questions have arisen regarding what’s going on with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner. After the parents of three spent Thanksgiving together, rumors began to swirl about “awkward” family holidays due to the fact that Garner has been in an on-off relationship with John Miller since 2018. There’s also allegedly been some “third-wheel” trouble in paradise happening.
Whatever is happening behind the scenes, it’s clear there’s still a lot of love there, just as there is between their kids and Jennifer Lopez’s twins. After Ben Affleck and JLo made such an effort to blend their families, I love hearing that they’re apparently still committed to finding a way to foster those relationships.
by admin | Apr 13, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
As if we weren’t excited enough for the release of Sinners next weekend, Hailee Steinfeld has shared the personal reason why Ryan Coogler’s movie was important to her. Along with it being one of April’s exciting upcoming horror movies, it also allowed the Hawkeye and Across The Spider-Verse actress to explore her African American roots.
The 28-year-old actress has a Jewish father and a mother with Filipino and African American among her mixed heritage. Since Steinfeld’s character in Sinners also has a half-Black grandfather written into her character, the actress got the chance to explore her own family history further. In her words:
Blavity, she discussed further about what the movie means to her and her family:
The role has allowed Hailee Steinfeld to feel “closer” to her relatives and ancestors after taking the time to learn more about them in preparation for her role. As she also told People, she does wish her grandfather was still living so he could “answer all the questions” that she’s amassed since starring in the movie. Overall, though, she appreciates the way the character “challenged” her.
Something particularly meaningful about the role is how Sinners takes place in the segregated American South in the 1930s, which was around the time Steinfeld’s grandfather was living.
Ahead of the film’s release, we don’t have a lot of context regarding what this all means for her role of Mary. However, based on what the first viewers of Sinners have said about it, it sounds like we’re in for a real treat from Ryan Coogler, who named Stephen King, the Coen Brothers and John Carpenter among his influences for this film.
People who have seen this movie have been “floored” by it, calling it the “best film of the year (so far),” with a “social commentary with a hell of a bite.” If that’s not enough, Spike Lee also called it the “greatest experience of watching a film in years.” Oh, and the movie’s star, Michael B. Jordan, has also given Hailee Stenfield a shoutout for her performance, allowing her talents to be shown “in a new light.” Jordan said he’s really excited for the audiences to react to her role’s “depth.”
Sinners will be playing in theaters next Friday, April 18.
by admin | Apr 13, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
As soon as I heard Y2K described as a “painfully accurate” portrayal of the ‘90s teen experience, I knew I had to see this movie. It took me longer than expected to check out one of the funniest comedies of 2024, but the wait was worth it, as Kyle Mooney’s coming-of-age horror-comedy checked all the boxes for this ‘90s kid. From those Superbad meets Maximum Overdrive vibes to the myriad of ‘90s references to a special cameo I won’t spoil, this great A24 horror flick had it all. Well, except for one thing: a main protagonist I could root for.
Come with me as I break down everything I loved about Y2K and the one major issue I had with the movie, specifically when it comes to the main character and how he is presented from start to finish of this blood-soaked, joke-filled, and outrageously fun techno-horror film that brought back so many memories from my childhood…
Okay, Y2K Captured Those 1999 Vibes Better Than Anything Else I’ve Seen
went over the cast’s heads, for the sake of including them. They worked, and set the tone for the movie and helped establish the various characters in the first half of the story before everything goes to hell in a hand basket.
great ‘90s comedies that perfectly captured the era. Much like classics like Can’t Hardly Wait, Mooney’s horror-comedy features all the major archetypes and cliques found at schools, malls, skateparks, and random street corners in the mid-to-late 1990s. During the big New Year’s Eve party, you have stoners, you have kandi kids, you have nu-metal fans, you have wannabe rappers obsessed with the likes of Immortal Technique…they’re all there. I mean, there’s even a character named Soccer Chris, for crying out loud.
A lot of these characters are just there for world-building, background roles, or bodies to put through the proverbial meat grinder when the machines attack after the ball drops, but there are a handful like Julian Dennison’s Danny, Rachel Zegler’s Laura, and Lachlan Watson’s Ash that really shine in their respective roles. I wish I could say the same about Jaeden Martell’s Eli, the main character in Y2K, however I couldn’t really get down with the main protagonist, which is bumming me out.
he was the worst part of his own story.
one of his Weekend Update characters but to the max.
Then there’s all the nostalgia throughout the movie. Mooney and his team got everything down perfectly when it came to rebuilding the 1999 setting. I’m honestly considering watching it again just so I can pick up on all the references I missed the first time around.
All in all, Y2K felt like a blast from the past and gave me some of the funniest movie moments I’ve had in a long time. Now I can’t wait to see how the former SNL mainstay follows it up.
