Sometimes, the best way to spend a long weekend or a hot summer day is to curl up on the couch and enjoy a film.

If you're looking for something entertaining and beautiful that'll also make you knowledgeable, there's an incredible variety of science- and nature-focused documentaries and TV episodes streaming on Netflix right now.

You can find compelling documentaries that'll captivate you with the beauty of the planet, you can delve into the details of how food arrives on your plate, or you can explore the mysterious and alien world that exists in oceans around the globe.

But there's a downside to all of that choice: It's a lot to choose from. So to make it easier, we've asked our colleagues to pick out some of their favorites from the Netflix documentary selection.

Here are our favorites, listed in no particular order:

Films come and go from Netflix every month, but as of the date of publication, all these films should be available on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: 24 health 'facts' that are actually wrong

"Cooked" (2016)

What it's about: Journalist and food expert Michael Pollan explores the evolutionary history of food and its preparation in this four-part docuseries through the lens of the four essential elements — fire, water, air, and earth. 

Why you should see it: Americans as a whole are cooking less, relying more on unhealthy, processed, and expensive and prepared foods. Pollan aims to bring viewers back to the kitchen by forging a meaningful connection to food and the joys of preparation. [Click to watch]

"Blackfish" (2013)

What it's about: This film highlights abuses in the sea park industry through the tale of Tilikum, an orca in captivity at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida. Tilikum has killed or been involved in the deaths of three people while living in the park. 

Why you should see it: This documentary opens your eyes to the troubles of keeping wild animals in captivity through shocking footage and emotional interviews, highlighting potential issues of animal cruelty and abuse when using highly intelligent animals as entertainment. Sea parks make billions of dollars off of keeping animals captive, often at the expense of the health and well-being of its animals. This documentary played a huge role in convincing SeaWorld to stop their theatrical "Shamu" killer whale shows. [Click to watch]

"Particle Fever" (2013)

What it's about: This documentary follows six scientists as they prepare for one of the biggest and most expensive experiments in history: recreating conditions from the Big Bang with the launch of the Large Hadron Collider in Europe. Their aim is to unravel the mysteries of the universe and the origins of matter.

Why you should see it: Physics is often considered a forbiddingly dense subject, but 'Particle Fever' gives you a window into physics without breaking your brain. It documents the discovery of the famous Higgs boson particle that many physicists think holds the key to understanding the universe. Instead of getting bogged down with the complexities of particle physics, the film focuses more on the human drama of the discovery, and how it could change our understanding of the world around us. [Click to watch]

The big stars are in the South of France looking their most glamorous for this year's Cannes Film Festival and getting their photos shared across the world.

Following her eye-catching red dress at last year's Cannes, model Bella Hadid returned to the festival to grace the legendary red carpet. But fellow model Emily Ratajkowski also showed up and was turning everyone's head. Then there are the movie stars like Nicole Kidman, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Elle Fanning, Robin Wright, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Williams, Charlize Theron, and Uma Thurman. 

And Rihanna pretty much put everyone to shame.

But the person having the best time has to be festival jury member Will Smith. When he's not arguing about Netflix with jury president Pedro Almodóvar, he's having an incredible time walking the carpet and waving to the fans.

Here are photos of all the stars looking fabulous at this year's Cannes:

SEE ALSO: RANKED: The 11 best movies of the year so far

Here's Robert Pattinson for the premiere of his movie "Good Time."

Here's Pattinson with his "Good Time" directors Benny and Josh Safdie.

David Lynch celebrated the return of "Twin Peaks" with a smoke on the red carpet for its Cannes premiere.

Influential Ohio Democrats are pushing former Cincinnati mayor and daytime-TV host Jerry Springer to run for Ohio governor in 2018, more than half a dozen Democrats familiar with the race told Business Insider.

Many said Springer, who sought the Democratic nomination for governor of Ohio in 1982 and remains active in state politics, could be a good fit for the current political climate.

Springer's proponents have highlighted his ability in the era of President Donald Trump to provide his own funding for a campaign and to connect with working-class voters familiar with his television show and history in Ohio politics.

Those discussing a possible run with the talk-show host include Ted Strickland, the former Ohio governor who ran for Senate last year, said Tim Burke, the Hamilton County Democratic Party chairman. And several Democrats said recent conversations with Springer, as well as his schedule, suggested he seemed to be more seriously interested in running this time than in years past.

Hamilton County is home to Cincinnati, where Springer served as mayor in the late 1970s.

Strickland confirmed to Business Insider that he had discussed a potential run with Springer. He said he had also spoken with candidates such as Mayor Nan Whaley of Dayton, former state Rep. Connie Pillich, and the former state Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni.

Saying it was "a little early" to make any endorsement, he said he had "been doing whatever I could to encourage any of those who are talking about running ... and I think it's important that we win and that we have the strongest possible candidate."

Strickland told Business Insider that Springer "certainly would start out with wide name recognition."

"I think he has a very strong ability to communicate what I think is the heart of the Democratic message," Strickland said, pointing to speeches Springer delivered to delegations at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last summer. "I think he is a superb communicator."

The daytime talk-show host is set to keynote the Geauga County Democratic Party dinner next month. In April, the 73-year-old Springer also keynoted a similar dinner for the Sandusky County Democratic Party, at which he said he did not "need" to "run for office."

He's also met repeatedly with many Ohio Democrats and state power brokers.

One state Democratic leader told Business Insider that in a recent conversation, Springer did not rule out a bid, saying he would consider running if he was "needed by the party."

Burke said he did not "think Jerry has said no, but he certainly hasn't said yes, either."

"On the other hand, he's been into a good number of our Democratic county party organization events, a good number of them recently have been in Ohio's 2nd Congressional District," he added.

The 2nd District in Ohio is just east of Cincinnati, encompassing much of Southwest Ohio. Burke, who said Springer was the county party's largest donor annually, said it remained to be seen whether Springer's increased presence at local events was a sign of a possible run.

"Jerry every year does a lot of Ohio Democratic Party county events," Burke said. "And whenever he does them, he always draws a good crowd. He continues to have a very real interest in Ohio politics."

Business Insider reached a representative for Springer on Friday. The person was unable to reach Springer for comment before publication.

If he were to enter the race, he'd have stiff primary competition.

Schiavoni, Pillich, Whaley, and former US Rep. Betty Sutton have already declared their candidacies. Several other prominent contenders are viewed still as possibilities to jump into the race, including Richard Cordray, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Strickland compared the lengthy list of declared and possible candidates, all of whom are or would be seeking to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. John Kasich, to the 2016 Republican presidential primary field.

With a crowded field, Burke said he wasn't "ready to go that far" and say whether a Springer run was a real possibility.

"I will agree that there have been a significant number of smart, leading folks from the Ohio Democratic Party or who have held Ohio Democratic Party elected positions who have talked to Jerry about this," he said.

Other Democrats are hesitant about Springer's bid, a Democratic operative told Business Insider. Critics have cited his past controversies and well-known platform as host of "The Jerry Springer Show" as a distraction, saying Democrats already had numerous qualified candidates seeking the position.

It's not the first time a possible Springer candidacy has been rumored since his failed 1982 campaign. Most notably, he considered runs for US Senate from Ohio in 2000 and 2004, ultimately deciding against doing so.

Speaking with The Cincinnati Enquirer in February, Springer, who painted himself as a "populist, liberal progressive," said the idea of his candidacy gained steam because of Trump's victory.

"What's probably giving it more juice this time is the Trump victory," Springer told The Enquirer. "People are thinking that somebody outside the traditional political establishment can win. His constituency is basically mine. These are fans of the show. I could be Trump without the racism."

Springer called that constituency "ignored."

"That ought to be the constituency of the Democratic Party," he said. "Trump has misled these people. They're not helped by deregulation. They're not helped by getting rid of healthcare. These people are being duped."

Springer happens to be no stranger to political controversy.

He resigned from Cincinnati City Council in 1974 after it became public knowledge that he used a check to pay a prostitute, though he won a seat back on the council the following year. When he sought the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 1982, Springer cut a well-known ad to kick off his campaign in which he opened up about the past controversy.

"I spent time with a woman I shouldn't have," Springer said in the ad. "I paid her with a check. I wish I hadn't done that."

Springer won more than 20% of the vote in the primary, finishing last among three contenders.

But in the age of Trump, Springer is getting renewed consideration.

John Green, a distinguished professor of political science at the University of Akron, told Business Insider in an email that "under ordinary circumstances, a candidate like Springer would not be an especially strong prospect for governor."

"For one thing he has been out of Ohio politics for some time," Green said. "But given the success of Trump, a candidate like Springer might be successful. The Democrats have a number of declared candidates, but most are unknown outside of own area and none have held state-wide office. So there is an opportunity for an unconventional candidate with name recognition."

SEE ALSO: The FBI is reportedly looking into an attempted hack of the Trump Organization

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NOW WATCH: IAN BREMMER: Trump won't be impeached — his scandal is more like Iran-Contra, not Watergate

Yes, let the eye-rolling commence, but if I could explain myself ...

Out of the countless superhero movies I have to consume ever year (and have watched in my life), there are only a handful that I completely enjoyed and thought were masterworks of the genre: "Superman," "Batman," "The Dark Knight." Now Patty Jenkins' "Wonder Woman" has made that small list.

Not only does "Wonder Woman" (opening in theaters Friday) power through the potential pitfalls of the modern-day superhero movie — weak plot, boring villain, lackluster third act — but it also shows once and for all that a female-focused superhero movie can be as strong, heroic, thrilling, and funny as the guys' (and, I predict, as profitable).

Following her tease in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," in which she proved that she had the look to be a believable Wonder Woman, actress Gal Gadot gets to use her acting chops in this origin story.

Princess Diana of the Amazons starts out as a naive girl who dreams of being a great warrior like her mother, Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen), and aunt General Antiope (Robin Wright), but she is purposely being held back in her warrior training to keep secret an important truth about her. But when Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) crash-lands on the hidden island Wonder Woman lives on, Themyscira, she witnesses firsthand what the god of war, Ares, has done to man, and she sets out to destroy him and free mankind of his hold on them.

This is the make-or-break moment of the movie.

Jenkins has laid out a great setup with Diana's backstory: her thirst to be the warrior she was meant to be, some amazing CGI-fueled fight sequences. But what has ruined many superhero movies (yes, the DC ones, but also many Marvel titles) is the added human element. Jenkins uses a fish-out-of-water scene in which Steve takes Diana by boat to the front lines of World War I not just to bring some lighthearted moments to a mellow part of the movie, but also to start the groundwork for a relationship between Diana and Steve.

It works perfectly and creates some very humorous moments as Diana tries to become accustomed to the world beyond Themyscira (especially when she's dumbfounded about why all the women are subservient to the men).

After Steve exposes Diana to the war (there's also the discovery of a dangerous gas the Germans plan to use on Allied forces that Steve wants to stop), we get into Diana unveiling her Wonder Woman powers to the world with stunning fight sequences. A scene in which she seemingly takes on an entire German battalion in the middle of a muddy battlefield is one of the goose-bump-inducing moments in the movie.

If you aren't sucked into the movie by this point, you should really check to make sure you have a pulse.

Obviously, Gadot as Wonder Woman is what's front and center in the movie, but I would be doing a disservice if I didn't gush about Pine for a moment. He really is the secret weapon of the movie. With his dashing looks, self-deprecating humor, and red-hot chemistry with Gadot, he brings an important element to the movie that keeps it from being just a one-note actioner.

For all those reasons, I'm confident "Wonder Woman" is one of the best superhero movies ever made. I can't wait to get back to the theater and watch it again.

SEE ALSO: Here are all the jaw-dropping looks from the Cannes Film Festival red carpet

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NOW WATCH: 'Wonder Woman' director Patty Jenkins on the biggest challenge she faced bringing the hero to the big screen

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel married supermodel Miranda Kerr during an "intimate" event in their Brentwood, California, home on Saturday, E! News reported.

Spiegel and Kerr bought their lavish home for $12 million last year, as TMZ first reported. The 7,164-square-foot home came with city views, a pool and pool house, a home gym, and a guest house.

Take a look around the home that hosted an estimated 50 people for the wedding ceremony and reception on Saturday.

SEE ALSO: No one wants to buy this $20 million townhouse owned by a real-life 'Wolf of Wall Street'-er

Renowned California architect Gerard Colcord designed the house.

It's in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles.

There's more than 7,100 square feet of living space.

"Wonder Woman" is the fourth installment in DC's Extended Universe, and the first female superhero movie since Jennifer Garner starred in "Elektra" in 2006. Director Patty Jenkins explains what the biggest challenge she faced was in bringing the hero to life on the big screen.

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Following is a transcript of the video: 

Longevity of focus, I think, is the hardest part. You know it's to have a vision and then try to hold that vision and not have it change.

The hardest part was literally getting it to the start line and a commitment to make it happen even though you know it was a low burn over a long period of time. But you know longevity of focus is I think the hardest part. You know it’s to have a vision and then try to hold that vision and not have it change when a million elements around it change every day. So what a shot turned out like or what the thing turned out like or how the story changes subtly it’s like still trying to hold to the center.

I put it on myself before anybody else even had to because I am also a fan, I also appreciate the genre and it's a once of a lifetime chance for her to have her first movie. So I care a lot about making the greatest thing I can anyway. This is — there’s an added layer of responsibility. I did feel I was a perfectly good person to be the one to try and so from there I just gave everything that I had to trying to never drop the ball and make sure it really lived up to everything that I could. So, you know, it was pressure I could deal with and it actually was an amazingly fun experience because I love my cast and I love the story we are telling and we laughed all day long but it doesn’t mean I never stopped waking up everyday and saying like, "Anything I can do —I'll do to make this better."

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Another week means another addicting new smartphone game. 

This one is called "Balls VS Blocks," and it just skyrocketed to the top of the App Store's free apps chart.

Made by game maker Voodoo, "Balls VS Blocks" is a combination of "Snake," "Brick Breaker," and "Ballz," with the goal being to create a chain of balls that has enough power to break through numbered blocks. If your chain hits a block it can't break, you die. 

Here's what it looks like in action: 

The game is played entirely by swiping the screen to move your chain of balls — which the game refers to as a snake — to catch more balls and to break through blocks. 

The game is fun and easy to play, and there's no penalty if your turn ends — you can simply start over and try again. The only downside to the game is that there area lot of ads in between turns. If it bothers you, there's an option to pay $2.99 to remove them.

"Balls VS Blocks" is free to download and is available for both iOS and Android devices. 

SEE ALSO: Here are the coolest app launches and updates you may have missed in May

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Neve Campbell shot down speculation that the fifth season of Netflix's "House of Cards" borrowed from actual events surrounding the 2016 presidential election and Donald Trump's administration.

"Every season seems to have something that is true to life or true to some event that’s happening in the real world. The show has not gone out and actually tried to tear stories from the newspapers," Campbell told Business Insider on Friday.

There are certainly aspects of the show, which returns on Tuesday, that do echo some themes from the presidential election.

For example, an angry crowd chants "not my president" outside the White House. That was also a popular chant for Trump protesters after he won the presidential election with Electoral College votes but did not win the popular vote. But Campbell calls those kinds of similarities between the show and reality "accidental."

"They set out their characters and the plots and the arcs this season way before anything really got crazy," she said. "And I don’t think it would’ve made any sense to suddenly veer off the path of the season just because of things that are happening in the real world."

On season five, Campbell returns as political strategist Leann Harvey. Though she actually works for Claire Underwood (Robin Wright), the First Lady is the running mate to her husband, President Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey). And that means Leann not only works for Frank, but it's also in her nature to impress him. That puts her in direct conflict with the president's chief of staff, Doug Stamper (Micheal Kelly).

"Leann has come into the White House and into the world, and I think she likes the smell of power," Campbell said. "She could go either way. She does have a commitment to Claire, but also being true to the president is important to her because she cares about her position."

The new season finds Frank engaged in very corrupt plots to swing the election in his favor, a storyline that could be seen as playing off the current federal investigation into the Trump campaign and possible collusion with the Russian government to influence the 2016 presidential election.

"It just so happens that things did happen that mirror reality, but almost accidentally," said the actress, who catapulted to fame after starring in the 1990s show "Party of Five," the "Scream" movie franchise, and the provocative "Wild Things" opposite Kevin Bacon and Matt Dillon.

Campbell does say that the show faces the "challenge" of viewers feeling some fatigue surrounding politics who may not want to watch a political drama at the moment. But she thinks the show's fans will show up.

"These are characters that everybody loves to hate," she told us. "These are storylines that people have been following for four years already. People have a real thirst for more of it. And in the end, what’s great about this show is if you’re watching for Machiavellian characters, you’re watching it on your couch with a glass of wine. And when you turn it off, nothing bad happens. So there’s a difference between watching the show and tuning into CNN and witnessing what’s happening in the real world."

SEE ALSO: Netflix just released a creepy new trailer for 'House of Cards' season 5

DON'T MISS: Neve Campbell explains why she took a break from Hollywood: 'I got tired of the game'

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NOW WATCH: Netflix and Marvel just dropped the first 'The Defenders' trailer — and it looks amazing

Terry Crews, actor, former NFL player, and host of Netflix's "Ultimate Beastmaster," discusses the diet he's followed for the past five years to stay in great shape. Following is a transcript of the video.

My first meal is at 2 p.m. And then I eat from 2 to 10.

Over the last five years, I've been doing intermittent fasting. What happens is, I work out very early in the morning, but then I don’t eat. My first meal is at 2 p.m. And then I eat from 2 to 10.

Now, within the times I don’t eat, the fasting period, which is a 16-hour fasting, I drink amino acids drinks. I’ll have coffee, maybe tea. Sometimes I’ll have a little coconut oil on a spoon that makes you feel a little satiated. But it’s never a meal. And then, once I get on my meals, it’s good.

Now, the problem with intermittent fasting is that you never want to have a bad meal. [Laughs] Because you’re, like, “I waited all day, 16 hours for this?”

Over the last five years it’s really kept me in great, great shape. They found, scientifically, there’s a thing called "autophagy." Autophagy is when the cells in your body are rebuilding themselves. It’s one of those things where you go without the food — it really strengthens your cells.

The cells are trying to rebuild, and they’re trying to do their thing, and it’s a wonderful thing. It’s kind of like renewed. Once it’s done digesting, the body’s done working with food; it starts to work on other cells in the body.

I can feel the difference. I literally can put pictures of myself now versus pictures of myself at 22 years old, and I look and feel much better right now.

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Ali Fedotowsky walked away from Facebook when she opted to be ABC's Bachelorette.

Robert Cezar Matei missed his chance to join early Facebook, Square and Instagram teams.

It's impossible to know which startup is going to become the next billion dollar success story, and the risk of letting a golden opportunity slip through your fingers is something that tech workers grapple with every day.

While some who turn down lucrative offers still achieve success — Instagram's Kevin Systrom is a prime example — others may come to live in regret.

Here are how some Silicon Valley techies missed opportunities to make millions at companies like Facebook and Instagram:

SEE ALSO: Here's where Google's first 21 employees are now

Instagram wanted Amanda Wixted to be its first hire but she was cozy at Zynga.

First, we should note that Wixted is plenty successful. She joined Zynga as an early employee and stayed through its IPO. But she probably could have made even more millions if she had left for Instagram when it came calling in 2010.

Wixted writes about her missed opportunity on Quora:

In June 2010, Mike and Kevin were just getting started on their mobile web app which they called Burbn.  I was a lead engineer on the mobile team at Zynga at the time.  Mike contacted me about coming on board as their first hire.  We met, and they showed me their ideas for where they were thinking of heading with Burbn: a photo-sharing mobile app.

... It was a great team fit, but I just couldn't get excited about a photo-sharing app.  I felt, and I still feel, that I need to be working on more complicated things, so I've stayed in the games space...Of course, I'm kicking myself now.  Hindsight is 20/20 and all.

Now, Wixted is the founder of Meteor Grove Software and serves as CTO for e-learning company Homer. 

Ali Fedotowsky left Facebook to become the lead on ABC's "The Bachelorette." Sadly, she and the guy she picked didn't work out.

In 2009, Ali Fedotowsky faced a dilemma: She was a contestant on "The Bachelor" dating pilot Jake Palveka. In a tearful goodbye, she left Palveka to return to her job at Facebook. Fedotowsky had run out of vacation days while filming the show and didn't want to miss out on millions.

But when ABC offered to make her its Bachelorette, Fedotowsky left her sales rep gig at Facebook. Two years after her March 2010 departure, Facebook had a massive IPO that turned many of its employees into millionaires.

Fedotowsky's engagement to contestant Roberto Martinez ended shortly after the show aired and while Facebook didn't re-hire her, she went on to be a host on NBC's "1st Look." Now, Fedotowsky is married to TV and radio host Kevin Manno and writes a blog called Ali Luvs.

Julian Targowski was offered a role at Instagram in 2011 but walked away to launch his own app.

Julian Targowski was offered a role at Instagram in October 2011 but walked away to launch his own app.

He says he wasn't even interested in the offer because he was loyal to his own team.

"I don't regret a thing," he says on Quora. "You realize a lot of things about yourself (how content you are with your current situation, how hard you're working, where you want to be in the next few years, etc) when things like this happen."

Targowski went on to work at a startup called DailyBooth, which was acquired by Airbnb in 2012. 

Unbelievably, there's no Netflix-like service for video games on the Xbox One. On June 1, that changes with the introduction of Xbox Game Pass for the Xbox One.

The concept is simple: Pay a monthly fee for unlimited access to a library of content.

The service costs $10 per month, and offers unlimited access to a library of over 100 games. You can download as many games as you want, play them for as long as you want, and new games are added monthly.

Xbox Game Pass is slightly different from a Netflix-type service in that the games aren't streamed over an internet connection — they're downloaded, meaning you can play them online or offline. The service lights up on June 1, and there's a 14-day free trial available to anyone with an Xbox One.

But with over 100 games, you might be wondering where to start. We've got some ideas below!

SEE ALSO: There's a simple, frustrating reason you can't play Xbox games with PlayStation owners online

1. "Spelunky"

"Spelunky" is simple to understand, impossible to master, and troublingly addictive. You're an explorer in a 2D environment, fighting spiders and skeletons and aliens, on a quest to reach a door that will lead to the next level.

More enemies, more treasures, and always a different adventure — "Spelunky" is a "procedurally-generated" game, which is a complicated way of saying the levels are different every time you play the game. They'll always look the same, but the way they're laid out is unique on each playthrough. It's just one of the many aspects in "Spelunky" that make it such a delight. 

2. "Halo 5: Guardians"

"Halo 5: Guardians" isn't as revelatory as the original "Halo" and its sequel were, but it's certainly the best-looking, best-playing "Halo" game ever made. It's a more fully-realized universe than ever, with vegetation and animals and ancient structures and all sorts of other pretty stuff to gawk at. Better still, the multiplayer is still thriving with players — which is good, because it's the finest multiplayer the series has ever had.

3. "Sunset Overdrive"

"Sunset Overdrive" is a ridiculous game. It can't be overstated — much of its aesthetic resembles a Monster energy drink commercial crossed with a Good Charlotte music video, which is entirely intentional. Don't let that dissuade you: "Sunset Overdrive" is a fantastic game that's like nothing else on the Xbox One. It's a third-person action game with a focus on high-speed movement — think "Tony Hawk Pro Skater" meets "Gears of War." It puts a premium on fun over all else that makes it a standout here.

The long-anticipated "Wonder Woman" hits theaters this weekend, and the reviews are in. The great news: It's better than "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." Like, a lot better.

Many critics are saying that "Wonder Woman" (starring Gal Gadot and directed by Patty Jenkins) is not only one of the best superhero origin stories ever, but it's also one of the best superhero movies ever.

The action is amazing, Gadot is amazing, Chris Pine and his blue eyes are charming, and Jenkins has made a watchable (and re-watchable) superhero movie that gives us hope for more satisfying installments in the so-called DC Extended Universe. "Wonder Woman" proves that women can direct action and lead a successful superhero movie.

We rounded up what the critics are saying below: 

SEE ALSO: 'Wonder Woman' is one of the best superhero movies ever made

It's reminiscent of classic action movies, like "Superman" and "Indiana Jones."

“It gives us the kind of hero a lot of us fell in love with back in those 12-cent days of truth, justice, and the American way — and the kind of movie we haven't seen since Christopher Reeve first flew into our lives.” —Newark Star-Ledger

"‘Wonder Woman’ feels like the real deal, a rollicking action adventure in the tradition of ‘Indiana Jones,’ with a fully functioning sense of humor and the year’s most lip-smackingly evil baddie." —Time Out London

It's smart and satisfying, in a way that none of the other DCEU movies have been.

“Wonder Woman is smart, slick, and satisfying in all of the ways superhero films ought to be.” —Entertainment Weekly

The film's action is great — and the stakes are heightened in the World War I setting.

“The film's action is explosive and engaging, and a sequence where Diana ventures into no man's land in the middle of a trench battle is stunning to behold.” —USA Today

"'Wonder Woman's'  WWI setting also provides a landscape that is ripe for action, since the war’s level of carnage was due to the advancement of weapon technology (while militaries continued to use traditional tactics and strategies)." —ScreenRant

After months of delays, Apple's first big original video series, "Carpool Karaoke," will finally debut on August 8, Apple's software and services boss Eddy Cue tweeted Tuesday.

In April, Reuters reported that the launch of the show, which features high-profile celebrities doing karaoke in a car, had been delayed after a launch party was abruptly canceled.

At the time, an Apple spokesperson told Reuters that "Carpool Karaoke: The Series will premiere on Apple Music later this year."

"Carpool Karaoke" began its life as a segment on CBS' "The Late Show with James Corden," and Apple acquired the rights in July 2016.

The plan was to use it to bolster the lineup of Apple Music, Apple's music streaming service, as it attempts to compete with major rival Spotify. The company has also produced some original music-focused documentaries — like one about the iconic Roland TR-808 drum machine, and another about British musician Skepta. It recently also acquired exclusive rights to a documentary about label executive Clive Davis.

The original "Carpool Karaoke" starred James Corden in each segment. Corden will still feature in the new show, but a trailer released earlier this year shows he won't appear in every installment.

Carpool Karaoke's delay wasn't the first hiccup for Apple's fledgling original video content ambitions. In February, it released the trailer for "Planet of the Apps," a forthcoming reality TV show about app development. The trailer was met with a mixed reception; many Apple fans mocked it, and one app developer who works at Apple even said they were "ashamed to work for Apple" because of it.

Apple is reportedly also planning a more significant push into original video content in the vein of HBO's "Westworld" or Netflix's "Stranger Things," according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's why Steve Wozniak used to wait in line overnight for new Apple products

Hours after comedian Kathy Griffin raised eyebrows with a photo shoot that featured her holding a decapitated and bloody mock head that resembled President Donald Trump, Griffin issued an apology, saying that she "went way too far."

"I sincerely apologize," Griffin said in a video posted Monday evening. "I am just now seeing the reaction of these images."

"I'm a comic, I crossed the line, I move the line ... I went way too far," continued Griffin. "I made a mistake, and I was wrong."

Griffin also stated that she would ask the photographer to "take down the image."

The comedian, who is known for off-color humor, initially defended the photo shoot, saying "OBVIOUSLY, I do not condone ANY violence by my fans or others to anyone, ever! I'm merely mocking the Mocker in Chief."

TMZ leaked the photo and reported that Griffin posed for it during a shoot with the photographer Tyler Shields. The outlet also posted a video of the shoot.

The photo quickly trended online, and Griffin began to gain heat on social media.

Representatives for Griffin and Shields did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Hours after TMZ posted its story, the US Secret Service touted on Twitter its "robust protective intelligence division that monitors open source reporting & social media to evaluate threats."

"Threats made against Secret Service protectees receive the highest priority of all of our investigations. #ProtectionNeverRests," the agency said in a follow-up tweet.

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Comedian Kathy Griffin set the internet ablaze Tuesday after a photo of her holding a gory, Donald Trump-like prop head surfaced online.

The provocative photo has earned Griffin widespread criticism from politicians and pundits.

Most public figures who opined on the issue reacted with disgust:

Some conservatives, including Donald Trump Jr., tried to make a connection between Griffin and the political left:

Some attempted to turn the controversy around at conservatives:

Some took the opportunity to throw barbs at Griffin:

 Others, meanwhile, mocked the controversy altogether:

The backlash prompted an apology from Griffin, who said she will ask the photographer from the shoot to take down the image.

"I sincerely apologize," Griffin said in a video on Twitter. "I went way too far. The image is too disturbing. I understand how it offends people, it wasn't funny, I get it."

SEE ALSO: Kathy Griffin holds Trump's decapitated head in a photo that's causing outrage

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President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday morning that comedian Kathy Griffin "should be ashamed of herself" after a provocative photo shoot.

"Kathy Griffin should be ashamed of herself. My children, especially my 11 year old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this. Sick!," Trump tweeted.

The controversial photo showed Griffin holding a gory, Trump-like prop head. The photo was met with widespread backlash after it was published by TMZ on Tuesday.

The backlash prompted an apology from Griffin, who said she will ask the photographer from the shoot to take down the image.

"I sincerely apologize," Griffin said in a video on Twitter. "I went way too far. The image is too disturbing. I understand how it offends people, it wasn't funny, I get it."

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Last year, the tech billionaire Sean Parker made headlines with his latest startup: a streaming service called Screening Room that would give users the ability to watch major movies still in theaters from the comfort of their homes for $50.

Instantly, people online said Parker was about to change the movie business as he did with the music industry 18 years ago, when he helped create the file-sharing service Napster.

Hollywood power players began to take sides: Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, J.J. Abrams, and Peter Jackson have all praised the forward-thinking philosophy of Screening Room. (They all also happen to be stakeholders.) Meanwhile, other filmmaking giants like Christopher Nolan and James Cameron, along with Kevin Tsujihara, the chairman and CEO of Warner Bros., have spoken out against it, voicing the importance of an exclusive theatrical experience.

But since the initial rush of news and analysis about the venture, the buzz around Screening Room has nearly disappeared — on the internet, but also, more importantly, in Hollywood. And now it looks as though the project may be a flop.

Though Parker and his cofounder, Prem Akkaraju, have promoted the company for the last two years at CinemaCon — an annual event in Las Vegas where studios and exhibitors showcase top titles and innovations — it has gotten little traction because of a naivete of the industry, competitors, and the decadelong discussion among studios and theater chains about how to move forward on premium video on demand, or PVOD.

"Everything you've heard in the press about studios and theaters wanting to explore a PVOD window, nothing about that revolves around Screening Room," a source close to the talks told Business Insider.

Hollywood has its own big ideas

Screening Room's main pitch to studios and exhibitors has been that it can bring added revenue to all sides of the equation. (Jackson has said that Screening Room could bring in $8.5 billion a year for the film industry.)

Of the proposed $50 rental fee, which would make a movie available to a viewer for 48 hours, 20% would go to the movie's distributor, a participating theater chain would get up to $20, each customer would receive two tickets to see that rented title at their local theater. Screening Room would take 10%.

Sources told Business Insider that all of the bells and whistles Screening Room is selling don't matter until the studios and theaters can agree on a PVOD window.

We're not going to share anything with the theaters.

Premium VOD is a term for titles that would be available to rent or buy before they are made available on most streaming services or through Blu-ray and DVD releases. Industry players don't want movies to be available on PVOD simultaneously with theatrical release dates because the first two weeks of a theatrical run are still when studios and exhibitors get a majority of a movie's income. It's more likely that a PVOD window would be put in place in the period when movies are out of most first-run theaters and haven't shown up on streaming services yet, known in the industry as "the dark zone."

Though PVOD hasn't happened yet, many insiders believe it's only a matter of time. (The only service that streams movies while they're still in theaters is the ultra high-end Prima Cinema, which costs $35,000 to install and $500 per movie rental.)

"Eventually I would imagine, I'm speaking as an observer, the studios will need to find their own platforms and create our own direct-to-consumer opportunities," 20th Century Fox studio head Stacey Snider said at a conference at UCLA in March.

Fox and Warner Bros. have reportedly considered a $30 rental fee for streaming movies after they've been in theaters for 30 days, while other studios have suggested slightly different options. Disney has said it's not interested in shortening the theatrical release window. 

The holdup is the debate between studios and exhibitors on some major issues, specifically what the price point for PVOD will be and how soon after a movie opens it will be available to stream. Once those questions are answered, Screening Room will be on the minds of those in the industry.

But there's another hurdle: Parker's company isn't the only game in town.

"There are about three other systems out there that are doing similar things and going around talking to theater owners and studios," a source said.

And some studio executives aren't too keen on Screening Room trying to muscle in as the exclusive streaming destination when a movie hits the PVOD window, or its plan to split sales with theaters. 

According to one source, a studio head reacted to Screening Room's proposal that theaters would get up to $20 of each rental fee by saying, "If Screening Room wants to pay it out of their cut, go ahead. We're not going to share anything with the theaters."

Screening Room was frozen out by theater chains

Then there are the struggles Screening Room has had trying to build relationships on the exhibition side. According to sources, the company no longer has a deal with multiplex giant AMC Theaters (AMC did not return Business Insider's requests for comment). And an attempted meeting with the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO), which would be a huge ally in starting a dialogue between Screening Room and the major theater chains, stalled after Screening Room wanted NATO to sign an NDA, which the organization declined to sign as the only reason it would want to meet with Screening Room is to relay the information it received to theater owners (NATO had no comment for this story).

"It seems to me it's often an individual company that comes along and believes it has figured out how to make all the money in the theater space," Barbara Twist, managing director of the Art House Convergence representing smaller theaters (which sat in on a Screening Room presentation at CinemaCon in 2016), told Business Insider. "Personally, I have yet to see a new version that ensures that everybody keeps making the amount of money currently being made."

Twist also questions how beneficial Screening Room could really be for theater owners.

"There's obviously the piracy issue, but also the economics," Twist said. "They say we'll give the person who rents a title two movie tickets, but how would they determine the person's main theater they go to? Commercial multiplexes and art houses occasionally show the same titles — who are they going to preference? Same for the rental-fee split. Moviegoers are often loyal to multiple theaters."

However, Twist admits her organization, which is made up of a community of 400 independently owned theaters across the country, would be open to sitting down with Parker and Akkaraju.

"We would welcome a discussion along the lines of them saying, ‘We have this idea, we would like to help the moviegoing population see more movies, how can we work with you?' Rather than a PowerPoint presentation," Twist said.

The elephant in the room: 'iTunes is the logical choice'

So studios don't want to share any of the money they get from Screening Room, exhibitors aren't feeling the love, and there's that issue of piracy (though Screening Room reportedly touted "refined" security measures at CinemaCon this year). But that's not all: iTunes might make Screening Room obsolete.

For years, iTunes has gotten first dibs on movie titles for home viewing before all other providers. Sources believe that whenever studios and exhibitors want to go down the PVOD path, they would likely put their trust in a service they already work with like iTunes (or they would build their own PVOD streaming service internally), rather than a newcomer like Screening Room.

"If an earlier window gets put in place, iTunes would probably have some say in being part of the earlier window," a source said.

Apple has been in talks with studios about making movies available on iTunes two weeks after theatrical debuts, Bloomberg reported in December. (Apple did not respond to Business Insider's numerous requests for comment.)

"I think iTunes is the logical choice," Exhibitor Relations senior box office analyst Jeff Bock said. "It's what everybody has, and if the price point is right, Screening Room is cut out. Nobody needs them. And to build that infrastructure with Screening Room would take a long time. Screening Room has a really tough hill to climb."

Business Insider contacted Sean Parker multiple times to comment for this story, and he did not respond. Screening Room lawyer Skip Brittenham had no comment for this story.

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Toilet stool company Squatty Potty is pulling a commercial starring Kathy Griffin after photos emerged on Tuesday showing the comedian holding a fake Donald Trump head covered in blood. 

"Kathy Griffin is not, nor ever has been Squatty Potty's spokesperson," Squatty Potty said in a statement. "She was hired to make one commercial. Squatty Potty has pulled said commercial as well as other promotional and marketing content featuring Kathy Griffin." 

Squatty Potty's decision to distance itself from Griffin was applauded by many on social media, including Donald Trump Jr., the president's son. 

"So 'Squatty Potty' pulls the plug on #KathyGriffin but @CNN still 'evaluating' and weighing their options," Trump Jr. wrote on Twitter. "Insane what's going on there!!!"

Squatty Potty makes a stool that aims to help you "simulate a squat position for a faster and more effective elimination."

Griffin has since apologized for the photo shoot.

"I beg for your forgiveness. I went too far," she said. "I made a mistake and I was wrong."

Griffin, along with Anderson Cooper, is the longtime host of CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast. According to CNN, the company is evaluating if Griffin would return this year. 

Squatty Potty's now-pulled ad starring Griffin debuted earlier in May.

"[I]t was a perfect match that neither of us could pass up," Squatty Potty wrote at the time. "Kathy is not only a fan of our product, she’s the only person who could possibly get away with telling people that they may be literally 'full of sh-t.'"

SEE ALSO: Trump tweets Kathy Griffin 'should be ashamed of herself' after provocative photo shoot

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According to Conan O'Brien, there's one big way that the smartphone has changed life for famous people: the selfie.

"The only thing that's changed is the selfie," O'Brien said on a recent Vanity Fair podcast, when talking about being famous in the digital era. "The selfie has changed everything. Ask any person who is known and the first thing they'll talk to you about is the selfie."

Why is that? The short answer is that everyone wants to take a selfie with a celebrity when they see them on the street. But the reasons are a bit more nuanced, according to O'Brien. There's a few people who are truly excited to see the celebrity, and are big fans. But when those people start taking a selfie, suddenly everyone else wants to as well.

O'Brien's analogy is someone giving away free gum. "I don't even like gum, but it's free, and I'd like a stick," he said. 

So what does O'Brien do? He usually just keeps taking selfies until there is no one left. He called it a character flaw. He just really needs people to not think he's a bad guy, even if they are pestering him for selfies.

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The rise of social media has given birth to a new type of star: the "influencer."

Many of these influencers have careers outside of social media, but they are famous for being really good at social media, particularly Instagram. These are people with tens or hundreds of thousands of followers checking out their photos, and who brands will often pay money to be associated with.

But part of what makes social-media influencers intriguing is that they let fans into their lives in a casual and intimate way. They aren't peering down at you from celebrity mountain like a Hollywood movie star. They are more like a friend, or perhaps someone you could even date.

But wait, could you?

Well, you might at least have a shot — it turns out a lot of influencers are active on dating apps. Dating app Hinge recently debuted the ability to link your Instagram to your profile, something you can also do on competitor Tinder as well. And in doing so, Hinge found out that some of its users have quite prominent Instagram followings.

Hinge put a list together for us of the 30 most eligible influencers, decided by who had a combination of activity on the app and a ton of Instagram followers. Here they are, along with links so you can actually find their particular profile if you want. Good luck!

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No. 30: Lauren Schramm

Work: Personal Trainer

Education: University of Pittsburgh

Influencer type: Fitness

Instagram handle: @laurenschrammfit

Followers: 27k

City: New York City

Here's her dating profile.

No. 29: Matt Weitz

Work: Client Financial Analyst at Marketing Werks

Education: DePaul University

Influencer type: Photographer

Instagram handle: @mattbweitz

Followers: 27k

City: Chicago

Here's his dating profile.

No. 28: Laura Stuart

Work: Laura Elizabeth Jewelry

Education: University of Santa Monica

Influencer type: Lifestyle

Instagram handle: @lauraelizabethjewelry

Followers: 13k

City: Austin

Here's her dating profile.