• Sinemia CEO Rifat Oguz talked to Business Insider about his company's climb up the movie-ticket subscription service ranks. 
• He also explained how his company can thrive beyond movie tickets.

At this moment in the movie-ticket subscription wars, Sinemia is in an enviable position.

The company was recently praised by the National Research Group as having the most popular subscription plan for moviegoers with its $7.99 a month for two movies deal, and with MoviePass changing its plan to three movies per month for $9.95 after falling on hard times financially, Sinemia stands alone as the only service that offers an option where you can see one movie per day at any major movie theater in the country.

After creating the first version of the app six years ago, founder and CEO Rifat Oguz has launched Sinemia in numerous countries — including Canada, Australia, Turkey, and the UK — before landing in its ultimate location, the US, in 2017. He’s now even made Los Angeles the site for the company’s main headquarters.

And it turns out he showed up at the right time. Oguz said subscriptions have grown 50% month-over-month for the last 14 months, and that growth has doubled since MoviePass dropped its one-movie-per-day plan (Oguz would not divulge how many subscribers Sinemia has in the US or globally, only stating that 75% of its subscribers are in the US).

He admits his investors are singing a different tune now compared to over a year ago, when MoviePass announced its one-movie-per-day plan for $9.95 a month and seemed to instantly gain millions of subscribers.

“All my investors called me and asked if I was going to do the same,” Oguz told Business Insider. “I looked at the data from the other countries and decided we can’t.”

Instead of grabbing headlines and the ire of the movie business like MoviePass did, Sinemia kept a low profile, focused on its product (which is similar to MoviePass in that it provides its members debit cards with fixed amounts on it so the tickets can be bought, however, there is also a cardless option), and crunched the data to come up with numerous plans that cater to all types of moviegoers.

Currently, you can choose from a range of subscriptions, from one movie per month for $4.99 to three movies per month for $9.99 ($17.99 and $12.99, respectively, if you want the plan to include going to 3D or IMAX screenings). And unlike MoviePass, with Sinemia you can buy any ticket in advance for an additional convenience fee, and there's a family plan.

In August, when MoviePass could no longer sustain its one-movie-per-day plan, Sinemia introduced that an option as well, offering a $29.99-per-month plan for one movie a day.

“We’re going in the path of Netflix and Spotify,” Oguz said. “We are more focused on our product and technology.”

Oguz believes that, with that focus, he'll soon have the Sinemia brand used by its members for more than just movie tickets.

One part of that goal is implementing concession deals in the US that are currently active in the Sinemia app in Europe, like allowing members to buy popcorn through the app while in the theater. Then, there are the more ambitious ideas, like making deals with restaurants and stores so the Sinemia card could be used to shop and dine anywhere.

“We need to create an ecosystem,” Oguz said. “Movie ticket subscription is here to stay, it will become a major part of the box office, but we want to make the Sinemia card available for every need a moviegoer has.”

Oguz didn't mention a timeline for the the rollout of these ideas in the US, but, unlike his competition, he doesn't have to scramble to keep the lights on — he has the luxury of focusing on the long game.

“We didn’t grow like MoviePass, with millions of subscriptions in months, but we’re proud that over the last two months we are doubling our subscribers,” Oguz said. “We are happy and our investors are happy.”

SEE ALSO: "Venom" is a darkly comedic Marvel movie you will either love or hate

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Sony will release the PlayStation Classic, a mini version of its original video game console, on December 3rd. The console will come with 20 pre-selected games built-in and a pair of USB PlayStation controllers for $99. The PlayStation Classic follows the trend of the recently released Nintendo Classic and NEOGEO Mini, collecting some of the most memorable titles from past consoles and making them easily accessible for nostalgic fans.

The PlayStation Classic will employ new technology to make the console more compact and eliminate the need for CD-ROM discs and memory cards. But in some ways, the new design falls short of some of the features offered by the original PlayStation.

The PlayStation Classic won't use analog controls.

Despite the console's focus on 3D gaming, the original PlayStation controller only featured a four-way directional pad for movement. Two years after the PlayStation's 1995 launch, Sony introduced the Dual Analog controller which, as the name suggests, had two analog sticks to provide a full 360-degree range of motion.

Analog controls made games requiring frequent diagonal inputs, like "Metal Gear Solid" and "Tekken 3" easier to control and were popular enough to warrant re-releases of classic PlayStation games like "Resident Evil." The original Dual Analog also featured a flight stick mode for pilot simulation games like "Ace Combat 2" and "Colony Wars."

Considering that the dual analog design is now the standard for all video game console controllers, it's odd that Sony decided to choose the controller with less features and a shorter lifespan. Furthermore, considering the amount of 3D movement in PlayStation's most popular games, analog control would offer a clear improvement in gameplay.

No DualShock controller also means no rumble support for the games it was built for.

Within six months of releasing the Dual Analog controller, Sony introduced the DualShock, a controller line that has continued through to the PlayStation 4. The DualShock added rumble support to the Dual Analog controller with two vibrating motors. While vibrating controllers are now the standard, the DualShock's ability to provide feedback to players was considered novel at the time. Racing games like "Gran Turismo 2" and "Wipeout XL" felt just a bit more genuine with the controller rumbling along with the engine.

One of the console's most popular action games, "Ape Escape," actually required the use of the a DualShock controller, meaning it will likely be excluded from the final list of PlayStation Classic titles. Considering that dozens of PlayStation games featured rumble support it seems like a mistake to ignore the feature.

The PlayStation was a great CD player, but the PlayStation Classic has no music playback.

One of the more overlooked features of the original PlayStation was its ability to play CDs. The console was heralded by audiophiles as a cheap alternative to expensive front end CD players due to its high playback quality and RCA audio output. Certain PlayStation games would even let you swap out the disc for a music CD once the game had loaded, allowing you to listen to your own music while playing. 

The PlayStation Classic is too small to hold a disc, but does include USB slots that could allow for basic mp3 playback. Gaming will always be the focus for PlayStation, but the consoles have always been multi-featured entertainment systems. Seeing the PlayStation Classic include some functionality beyond the limited list of 20 games would be a big bonus.

• Blizzard co-founder and longtime president Mike Morhaime stepped down on Wednesday. 
• Morhaime will be replaced by twelve-year Blizzard vet J. Allen Brack, who was the executive producer on "World of Warcraft." 
• Brack laid out some new promotions to the Blizzard executive team — and said that one of these newly-appointed execs is overseeing the development of "several new games."

Blizzard Entertainment, the company behind smash-hit video games including "World of Warcraft," 
"Hearthstone," and "Overwatch," is undergoing a shakeup as long-time president and co-founder Mike Horhaime steps down. 

In a news release posted Wednesday afternoon, Blizzard says that J. Allen Brack, a twelve-year company veteran and the executive producer of "World of Warcraft," will be stepping into the role as president. 

Furthermore, in a message to the Blizzard community addressing the news, Brack said that he will be adding to his executive team, helping guide the company as it works on "several new games" on the horizon for the company —  exciting news for followers of Blizzard's smash-hit franchises.

As for the executive promotions: Ray Gresko, who helped create both Overwatch and Diablo III, will now serve as chief development officer. Allen Adham — one of Blizzard’s founders and the lead designer of World of Warcraft — will rejoin the executive team and lead the development of those new games.

Morhaime was one of the three who helped create Blizzard — then known as Silicon & Synapse — in 1991 and has served president since 1998. Under Morhaime, Blizzard became one of the most significant forces in gaming with franchises like "World of Warcraft," "Diablo" and "Overwatch."

“I am grateful to all of the hardworking and talented people at Blizzard for their dedication and creativity,” Morhaime wrote in a blog post announcing his departure. “Their belief in our mission and care for our players has helped Blizzard reach greater heights than I ever could have imagined.”

Morhaime will stay on with Blizzard as a strategic advisor.

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• Actress, director, and producer Elizabeth Banks recently hosted a series of podcasts and films featuring mid-cap companies that are re-inventing themselves in the face of business challenges.
• These spots were part of the series CrazyEnough2Work, created by State Street Global Advisors.
• The most valuable lesson she learned over the course of these interviews came from Dunkin' Donuts, which is getting back to its core business — coffee — and dropping the "Donuts" in its name.
• Banks said she learned the importance of figuring out your fundamental career goals and values. For her, that's spearheading women-led projects and films.

After decades in the entertainment industry — as an actress, a director, and a producer — Elizabeth Banks is turning to Dunkin' Donuts for career advice.

Just as Dunkin' Donuts has done in recent months, Banks told Business Insider, she's figuring out her core business goals and sticking to them.

Banks has appeared in the TV series "30 Rock," the film "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," and the "Pitch Perfect" franchise, which she developed and produced through Brownstone Productions, the production company she runs along with her husband. Right now she's directing a reboot of "Charlie's Angels," slated to hit theaters in 2019.

Recently, Banks also hosted a series of short films and podcasts created by State Street Global Advisors, called CrazyEnough2Work, interviewing mid-cap companies that are reinventing themselves in the face of business challenges.

One of those companies is Dunkin' Donuts, which Business Insider previously reported is gradually rolling out its so-called "store of the future experience." The most notable change in the rebrand is dropping the "Donuts" in its name.

In the podcast episode on Dunkin' Donuts, its CFO Kate Jaspon told Banks about a survey the company conducted, which found people thought that in trying to be both a beverage and a food company, it was doing too much of everything. The majority of survey respondents said they come to Dunkin' Donuts for the beverages, i.e. coffee.

Those survey results helped prompt Dunkin' Donuts' decision to become what Jaspon called a "beverage-led, on-the-go brand."

Jaspon summed up the challenge Dunkin' Donuts is currently facing: "How do you stay true to your heritage, but step out of your comfort zone enough to remain relevant?"

In fact, Banks told Business Insider, she saw all the companies she interviewed — including The New York Times and The Boston Beer Company — focus on "nailing down and understanding their core business."

It's important to keep thinking about your core values and the 'ethos that you want to live by as a leader'

Speaking with Dunkin' Donuts employees in particular taught Banks the importance of asking yourself: "What is your core business? What's the message of your company? What's the ethos that you want to live by as a leader?"

These questions are just as relevant if you're thinking about your personal career development, Banks said. "It's making me create a set of questions that hopefully will lead me closer to what I want to be doing with my time."

It goes beyond her acting career, she said. "How do I want to spend my time as a creative voice, and what kind of stories do I want to tell, and who do I want to promote with these stories?"

Banks said she already feels "pretty clear" on the answers to those questions: She wants to spearhead "women-driven, women-led" projects and "tell a story with a very interesting female protagonist." Working with Dunkin' Donuts has prompted her to double down on that mission.

Putting women at the helm is good business, too, Banks said. "Frankly, there are not that many companies in Hollywood that are focused on it."

SEE ALSO: A former Googler and Facebook exec says your parents' career path is just about dead, and there's a better way to move up in the world

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NOW WATCH: Dunkin' Donuts may shorten its name — here are 5 other chains that have changed theirs

• Jon Favreau is writing and executive producing a live-action "Star Wars" show for Disney's streaming service, and he revealed its title and details in an Instagram post.
• It's called "The Mandalorian," and it is about a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy.
• It will take place after the fall of the Empire, but before the rise of the First Order.
• The title refers to the cultural group behind the iconic armor worn by Jango Fett and his son, Boba Fett.
• Disney's streaming service is expected to launch in late 2019. 

Details about what could be the first of many "Star Wars" TV shows made exclusively for Disney's streaming service have finally been revealed. 

Director Jon Favreau, whose credits include "Elf," "Iron Man," and "The Jungle Book," is writing and executive producing a live-action "Star Wars" television series, and it finally has a name and synopsis. 

On Wednesday night, Favreau shared the title and details of what the series is about and when it takes place on social media. 

The show is called "The Mandalorian," and it takes place after the fall of the Empire which we see in the original "Star Wars" trilogy, but before the rise of the First Order, which we see in the current trilogy that started with "The Force Awakens."

Here's Favreau's post on Instagram:

Mandalorian refers to the cultural group of species (mostly humans) from Mandalore, a planet in the Outer Rim. Jango Fett — Boba Fett's father — is referred to as the last Mandalorian. The iconic armor worn by both bounty hunters is also Mandalorian-made.

The story of "The Mandalorian" will follow a warrior, "a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authorities of the New Republic." That almost sounds like a character description of Han Solo, but no characters from the trilogy will make any appearances.

The show is being made for Disney's streaming service, which isn't expected to launch until late 2019. Disney has announced plans to make several TV shows and films for the platform that exist within the Star Wars universe, including a new trilogy from "The Last Jedi" director Rian Johnson.  

SEE ALSO: 'Venom' is a darkly comedic Marvel movie you will either love or hate

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• A new study has shown people prefer fewer options to more — but only to a certain extent.
• Overall, people think they like to have more choice, but it actually causes more stress to make the ultimate decision.
• The sweet spot is probably 8 to 15 choices.
• Too few and we feel cheated; too many and we're overwhelmed.

About 20 years ago, researchers decided to study how we react to having too much choice. They set up a table full of jams in a grocery store, some with 24 samples, and some with just six.

Although shoppers were more likely to stop and peruse when there was a larger selection, they were also less likely to buy anything.

In a new study, published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, researchers at Caltech looked further into why a choice overload makes us behave this way.

The researchers gave volunteers a selection of pictures of scenic landscapes they could have printed on a souvenir like a coffee mug. They were shown either six, 12, or 24 pictures in total. Then, they were asked to make a decision while lying in an MRI machine, so the researchers could measure their brain activity.

As a control, they were shown all the images again, but a computer randomly selected which one they would get.

Results of the scan revealed brain activity in two regions of the brain while participants were making their choices — the anterior cingulate cortex, where you weigh up costs and benefits, and the striatum, where you determine value. Brain activity was highest when the subjects had 12 options to pick from, rather than six or 24, suggesting around 12 is the sweet spot for optimum decision making.

You might relate to how it feels when you're trying to pick what sandwich to get at lunchtime, or struggling to choose a new Netflix show to watch. How many times have you scrolled through films, only to pick something you've seen before? How many times have you gone back to the same lunch spot, despite there being plenty of other places you want to try?

When there are fewer options though, somehow, it seems easier to make a decision. But when there are too few, you feel cheated.

"The idea is that the best out of 12 is probably rather good, while the jump to the best out of 24 is not a big improvement," said Colin Camerer, a professor of behavioural economics at Caltech and author of the study.

"Essentially, our eyes are bigger than our stomachs... When we think about how many choices we want, we may not be mentally representing the frustrations of making the decision."

He said the ideal number of options is probably somewhere between 8 and 15, depending on the reward, and your personality. And although we may feel freer and in control when we have lots to choose from, this actually ends up distressing us when it comes to making the decision.

Too much choice is arguably a bad thing anyway. While dating, people can fall into the trap of the "paradox of choice," where they obsess over little things they don't like about their partner, and constantly feel there's someone out there who's better. Essentially, it's the "grass is always greener" mindset. But if you're always looking out for someone more perfect, you're likely to miss out on something great.

So we might be better off with fewer options in life, or at least realising that more choice isn't always superior. Otherwise, we might end up never falling in love, never choosing a souvenir, or unable to even pick up a small jar or jam.

SEE ALSO: Dating apps give us too much choice, and it's ruining our chances for finding love

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• DC Universe's first original series, "Titans," is a dark reimagining of a classic comic book superhero team.
• It's violent and moody — similar to Zack Snyder's DC films.
• But fans who can accept that will find plenty to enjoy in the series.

There's a scene in "Deadpool 2" in which the title character says, "So dark! You sure you're not from the DC universe?"

It's one of many jokes satirizing Marvel's competition for its grit and gloom, but there's a lot of truth behind it. Director Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel" and "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," notably, were panned by critics for being devoid of the kind of joy seen in other, more fun superhero movies today. 

Last month, DC launched a new streaming service appropriately called DC Universe, and its first original series, "Titans," premieres October 12. It finds Dick Grayson, a.k.a. Robin (Brenton Thwaites), recruiting old allies Hawk (Alan Ritchson) and Dove (Minka Kelly) to help him protect a young girl with demonic powers named Rachel (Teagan Croft).

Deadpool may have been referring to the DC movies with his "So dark!" quip, but he might as well have been referring to the DC Universe streaming service itself, if "Titans" is any indication.

After the two episodes I've seen, it's apparent that the show is more reminiscent of Snyder's take on DC's superheroes, which is perplexing considering that DC and Warner Bros. are pivoting away from that tone in future films like "Aquaman," "Shazam!" and "Wonder Woman 1984."

READ MORE:  A DC Comics exec gave us a rundown of its new streaming service, and addressed the controversy over the violent 'Titans' trailer

While "Titans" isn't connected to DC's film universe, and therefore doesn't come with its baggage, it's hard not to notice the similarities to the Snyder-era of those movies, both in the show's tone and the overall structure of its plot. Like "Batman v Superman," "Titans" introduces an already established universe where Batman (who is referred to by name but isn't seen) has been operating for years in Gotham City. In fact, he already has a young protege.

But this Robin is not your grandpa's Robin. By day, he's a detective, and by night, a brooding vigilante who has distanced himself from Batman to carry out his own brand of bloody justice.

That's the brand of the entire show. "Titans" is a dark reimagining of a classic comic book superhero team. It's not just dark in mood (the body count is high and everyone seems to be struck with an unusual amount of angst), but in lighting, too. It's hard to make out what is happening in most scenes because it's so damn dark. Someone turn on a light!

But that's not to say that the show won't find an audience. There is plenty to enjoy in "Titans," and as a TV series, it has time to develop its world and characters more than the DC Extended Universe films did. There are some funny bits and Anna Diop, who plays Koriand'r/Starfire, is a standout character in the first episode. I would have preferred to see her more.

DC fans who can accept that this is unlike any previous interpretation of these beloved characters will like it. For those who can't accept that, it will be harder to enjoy. DC Universe has lauded itself as a "service for the fans." But it's going to be reminded very quickly of the fact that fandom can either be your greatest ally, or biggest enemy.

Watch a new trailer for the series below:

SEE ALSO: The first reactions to 'Venom' are in, and people are saying it's an unintentionally funny superhero movie with a bizarre Tom Hardy performance

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NOW WATCH: A top movie actor reveals how he learns different accents

• Hasbro has licensed "Fortnite" for a special version of "Monopoly" and a line of Nerf toys based on the video game.
• "Monopoly: Fortnite Edition" has hit stores in time for the holiday season. Retailers are selling the board game for $19.99.
• The Nerf toys will be released in 2019, and Hasbro has hinted at more games coming in the future. 
• "Fortnite" currently has more than 70 million players worldwide, making the move to licensed toys an easy business decision.

Toymaker Hasbro has released a version of "Monopoly" based on "Fortnite," the world's most popular video game.

Born from a licensing agreement with "Fortnite" developer Epic Games, "Monopoly: Fortnite Edition" has arrived in stores in the U.S. and U.K. in time for the holiday season. Retailers like Target and Barnes & Noble are currently selling the game for $19.99.

"Monopoly: Fortnite Edition" will be able to draw upon dozens of notable locations from the "Fortnite" map. Areas in "Fortnite: Battle Royale," like Paradise Palms and Loot Lake, will be used in place of the usual avenues in standard "Monopoly." 

Hasbro has also licensed "Fortnite"-themed Nerf blasters — which could be inspired by a number of weapons featured in the video game — that will launch in 2019. Hasbro hinted at some "Fortnite"-themed role-playing games launching sometime in the future, but there are currently no other details. 

Developed by Epic Games, "Fortnite" is a survival action game with two main game modes: Battle Royale— which pits 100 players against each other — and Save The World, which lets players team up with friends to battle monsters.

With more than 70 million players worldwide, "Fortnite" has captured a young audience that is the envy of toymakers everywhere. The game has already inspired everything from dance classes to summer camps, making the move to licensed toys an easy business decision.

"Fortnite: Battle Royale" is free to play an available on nearly every gaming platform, including PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.

SEE ALSO: 'Fortnite' Season 6 launches today — here's everything you need to know about the new update

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• "Ralph Breaks the Internet" directors Phil Johnston and Rich Moore talked to Business Insider about the controversy surrounding the way Princess Tiana from "The Princess and the Frog" is depicted in the movie.
• Following the online backlash, they went back and worked on the character again, saying it is now "as close to the 2D version as you can get."
• The filmmakers also revealed that there is more than one Disney princesses scene in the movie. 

In "Ralph Breaks the Internet," the sequel to Disney's 2012 animated movie "Wreck-It Ralph," main characters from the original, Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope (Sarah Silverman), leave the friendly confines of their arcade games and launch into the world of the internet, where anything is possible. 

That includes Vanellope finding herself in a room full of Disney princesses. 

The scene has been in most of the promotions for the movie (which opens in theaters November 21), since it debuted at last year's D23 expo. And though it's a hilarious look at everyone from Snow White to Elsa talking about the unique similarities that make them all princesses, the scene was also caught up in controversy over how one of them was depicted. 

Many who have seen the footage of the scene in the "Ralph Breaks the Internet" trailer felt Princess Tiana, from the 2009 Disney animated movie "The Princess and the Frog," did not resemble how she looked in her movie. That includes the advocacy organization Color of Change and the actress who voices the character, Anika Noni Rose.

Rose posted her thoughts on Instagram:

The outcry led to the directors of "Ralph Breaks the Internet," Phil Johnston and Rich Moore, to go back in with their team and improve on Tiana before the release of the movie. 

Business Insider sat down with the filmmakers on Thursday leading up to their presentation of footage at New York Comic-Con, and they opened up about the process to get Princess Tiana right.

"In the last six or eight months we started getting some feedback that people didn't think Tiana looked like the original character from 'Princess and the Frog,'" Johnston said, who noted the challenges of converting a 2D-drawn character, which Tiana was in "Princess and the Frog," to a CGI version.

"It was the first time many of those princesses were done that way," Johnston said.

"So as we looked at it we said, 'Yeah, we need to do a better job.' So we did some work on her character to try to get her closer to the original 2D model, and once we had done that we invited in a bunch of groups, including Anika," Johnston said.

"If we don't get it perfect, we want to hear that," Moore added. "And even from outside sources. If we hear that something is not the best it can be, we look at it, because we want to honor those characters. We want it to be the best it can be. And we take that very, very seriously."

The filmmakers brought in Rose as well as advocacy groups like Color of Change and had them look at the revised Tiana. It's almost reminiscent of what Disney's Pixar Studios did with the making of "Coco," in which director Lee Unkrich invited in cultural consultants though different phases of the making of the movie to make sure the story correctly represented Mexican culture.

"There were tears, everyone was thrilled and happy that it was done," Johnston said. "And at the end of the day we are thrilled with the way that she looks and feel like it's as close to the 2D version as you can get in CG, knowing that there are going to be differences because the process is so different."

The filmmakers also said that the princesses scene will be a little different in the movie version compared to the footage in the trailer. Specifically, a few new jokes and a couple lines of dialogue from Vanellope.

And it sounds like that won't be the only time Princess Tiana will be seen in the movie. Johnston and Moore revealed that all the princesses show up again later in the movie. 

"I have friends who are like, 'It's just that one scene with them, right?' All I can say is you'll definitely see more of them," Moore said.

SEE ALSO: "Venom" is a darkly comedic Marvel movie you will either love or hate

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NOW WATCH: A top movie actor reveals how he learns different accents

 YouTube's streaming alternative to cable TV has earned rave reviews since its launch nearly two years ago — but YouTube isn't resting on its laurels.  

On Thursday, YouTube TV introduced a bunch of new features that improve the user experience of the subscription streaming service and enhance its DVR capabilities. 

The new features come as YouTube TV continues to expand its content menu beyond its existing selection of cable TV and traditional TV channels.  Earlier this week, Cordcutters.com reported that the NBA League Pass would soon become available on YouTube for $40 a month or $249 for the entire 2018-19 season.

As a growing number of consumers look for ways to "cut the cord," YouTube TV has emerged as one of the stronger alternatives to traditional cable TV.  Here's how AllianceBernstein analyst Tony Sacconaghi Jr. put it in a May report: 

"YouTube TV remains a shockingly good deal," the analyst wrote. "And remember, this is with no yearly contract, and no hidden fees. The cost savings are only part of the story...the fact of the matter is that YouTube TV is not merely cheaper than cable TV, but it is also better."

The newest YouTube TV features, most of which will automatically update for users, are another step forward. Check out some of the coolest new features coming to YouTube TV:

SEE ALSO: Apple should look at YouTube TV and be embarrassed that it didn't come up with the idea first, analysts say

You can now choose to whether to watch a show, say a sports event or your favorite series, via video-on-demand or a DVR version.

YouTube TV added a dark theme to cut down on glare.

The Dark Theme darkens the background on your PC while you watch YouTube TV.

According to YouTube, not only does this reduce glare, but also enables viewers to"take in the true colors of the videos."

These are the kinds of user-experience bells and whistles that help YouTube stay ahead of the Comcasts and AT&Ts of the world.  And this might be a good place to explain the reasons Sacconaghi said he believes YouTube TV is better than traditional cable.

"Cable companies are not tech companies," he wrote. "Their apps never work quite right. The user interfaces lag. The streams don't buffer properly. Cloud recordings mysteriously fail to record."

YouTube TV also tweaked its Live TV tab.

Subscribers can check out what's showing at the more than 60 television networks that YouTube TV offers. 

To make surfing all those channels a breeze there's a live preview (rather than just a thumbnail) that's visible as you scroll down the list of channels. 

The Live tab can now also be customized, so you can reorder channels and networks in the guide while hiding others.

• Chris Evans sent a tweet out on Thursday announcing that he's officially wrapped on filming for "Avengers 4."
• His tweet also made it sound like he is done playing Captain America.

It sounds like Chris Evans is hanging up the shield for good. 

After playing Captain America for the last eight years in Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe, the actor took to Twitter on Thursday to announced that he's officially wrapped on "Avengers 4," the sequel to "Avengers: Infinity War," and was "eternally grateful" to everyone for the memories.

"Playing this role for the last 8 years has been an honor," he wrote. Evans has played the legendary Marvel character since 2011's "Captain America: First Avenger."

Here's his tweet:

Disney did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment on if this is Evans' official retirement from the character, but it sounds like it could be.

Come see 'Avengers 4' directors Anthony and Joe Russo speak at Business Insider's IGNITION conference Dec. 3-4.

SEE ALSO: The directors of "Ralph Breaks the Internet" addresses the Princess Tiana backlash and teases more scenes featuring Disney princesses in the movie

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• Helios and Matheson, the owner of MoviePass, raised $65 million in funding in August and September, the company disclosed on Thursday in a regulatory document.
• But unlike company CEO Ted Farnsworth's assertion, the funding wasn't exactly "new."
• Part of it came from debt agreements the company struck months ago. 
• The other part came from selling shares it had already disclosed that it had issued.

The parent company of MoviePass, it turns out, hasn't exactly raised $65 million in "new" funds.

CEO Ted Farnsworth said Tuesday that Helios and Matheson had garnered new funding last month. But the company made clear Thursday his original statement wasn't completely accurate.

The funds were raised between August and September and came in part from notes it issued months earlier, the company, which acquired MoviePass last year, said in a regulatory document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The rest of the funding came from selling additional shares of stock, something it had already indicated it had done in a regulatory filing last week.

"The company wishes to clarify certain information contained in news reports regarding recent funding received by the company," Helios and Matheson said in the new filing, explaining why it spelled out the source of the new funds.

The MoviePass owner's stock was crushed following the filing, falling 1.5 cents, or 42%, to 2.1 cents a share. The stock had quadrupled to 4 cents a share the previous day on news of the alleged new funding.

MoviePass offers a subscription service that allows users to see movies in theaters on the cheap — until recently, it allowed subscribers to see as many as 30 movies a month for just $10. Because many users saw multiple movies each month, the company has lost hundreds of millions of dollars, forcing it to continually raise new funds — and putting it in danger of bankruptcy.

The company may no longer sell shares on the open market

Some of the $65 million came from money raised under debt agreements it struck in November and January, the company said in the new filing. Those agreements called for the company to issue notes that could be converted into stock in exchange for cash. It didn't immediately take possession of all the cash it was entitled to under either agreement.

The other part of the $65 million came from selling shares in August and September, Helios and Matheson said Thursday. The company disclosed last week that it had more than doubled its share count between August 14 and September 14, although it hadn't said previously what it had done with those new shares.

The company has increased its share count by more than 80,000% since it completed a reverse split of its stock at the end of July, largely by selling its shares on the open market. But that tactic may be coming to an end. Canaccord Genuity, the investment bank that was helping Helios and Matheson sell its shares on the open market, notified the company that it planned to cancel their contract as of October 11, according to the regulatory document.

"As a result of the termination of the [agreement], no further offers or sales of the company’s common stock will be made pursuant to the company’s at-the-market offering," Helios and Matheson said in the filing.

A Canaccord representative did not respond to an email seeking comment.

SEE ALSO: MoviePass' parent company has boosted its share count by an unbelievable 80,000% since July — but it's run out of room to issue new stock

SEE ALSO: Even after massively diluting its stock, MoviePass' parent company could issue billions of more shares, and there's little investors can do about it

SEE ALSO: MoviePass' parent company increased its share count by an incredible 9,000% in less than two weeks — and just after reverse splitting its stock to combat dilution

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• New YorkComic Con kicked off this week at Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.
• Many people dressed up as their favorite characters from comics, movies, TV shows, and video games. 
• We asked 15 people on the first day of the event how much money they spent on their costumes.
• The cosplayers surveyed spent between $20 and $1,000.

Thousands of people converged on a New York City convention center on Thursday for the first day of New York Comic Con — and many of them donned elaborate costumes that they'd spent months and hundreds of dollars creating.

At Comic Con and similar events, these costumes are commonly called cosplays, a contraction of "costume play."

We asked 15 people about their cosplays — who they were portraying, how they put them together, and how much they cost.

Here's what they told us.

SEE ALSO: One chart shows how much New York Comic Con has exploded in 12 years

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This group of friends traveled to New York Comic Con from Québec.

Mary Chretien, left, cosplayed as Starfire from DC. She said her costume took about eight hours to make and cost $50. Her shoulder and arm pieces are sporting gear, she said. "I just painted it black and put some bling bling on it," she said.

Tommy Bergeron dressed as a character from the Monster Hunter World video game. He made the leather pieces and bought the rest, spending about $1,000 total.

• Helios and Matheson, the parent of MoviePass, is required to reserve millions of shares of stock as part of a series of debt agreements.
• The company's creditors have agreed to reduce the number of shares it has to set aside.
• The move could free the company up to sell new shares to the public, something it's done repeatedly to stay in business.
• However, the agreement came around the same time that the investment bank that has been selling shares on the company's behalf announced it was cancelling their contract.

MoviePass' parent company just gave itself more wriggle room to issue new shares — at the same time the partner it's used to repeatedly sell new stock to shareholders cancelled their contract.

Helios and Matheson's creditors have agreed to reduce the number of shares the company needs to set aside for notes it issued that can be converted into stock, the company said in a regulatory document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday. Additionally, the company essentially reached an agreement with its creditors to cancel a convertible note deal it agreed to in June, meaning it no longer has to set aside shares for that either.

"Following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the [agreement], all of the June convertible notes have been cancelled," the company said in the regulatory document.

The moves could breathe new life into MoviePass. Helios and Matheson has repeatedly sold new shares on the market to fund the movie ticket service's ongoing losses. But last week it essentially warned that it had run out of room to issue new shares, thanks largely to the number of shares it had to set aside to cover its convertible notes.

Helios and Matheson reduced the shares it needs to reserve by 43%

Under the deals announced Thursday, the number of shares the company has to reserve for its debt fell by about 43%.

Previously, under the debt agreements it reached in November, January, and June, Helios and Matheson had to set aside twice as many shares as it was obligated to issue should its creditors choose to convert their notes into stock, according to its past regulatory filings. As of last week, it was obligated to keep in reserve 5.3 billion shares thanks to those terms, according to a proxy statement it filed with the SEC.

The problem for Helios and Matheson was that shareholders had only authorized it to issue 5 billion shares, and it already had nearly 1.4 billion shares outstanding before the convertible notes.

As part of the new deals, the company's creditors dramatically reduced the number of shares it needs to keep in reserve for its notes. For its November notes, it now only needs to set aside the same number of shares that it's obligated to issue if they are converted.

For its January notes, it now needs to set aside 125% of the shares it's obligated to issue. And it now no longer has to set aside any shares for its June notes, because those have been replaced with non-convertible debt.

The company owes $20.4 million under the November notes, $29 million under the January notes, and $20.4 million under the June notes.

All told, the company now needs to set aside an estimated 3 billion shares. That gets it well under its 5 billion total share cap. 

It has more room to sell shares — if it can find someone to sell them

And it could soon have plenty more room. It's seeking authorization from shareholders to do a reverse split of its stock — the second in three months. The move, which goes before investors on October 18, could reduce the company's share count to as little as one five-hundredth of its current total. Because the number of shares it's authorized to issue wouldn't be reduced by such a move, the split would dramatically increase the number of new shares it could issue.

But the company may have a tough time selling new stock to the public. In the same regulatory document it issued Thursday, it disclosed that Canaccord Genuity, the investment bank that had been selling its stock to the public on its behalf, has alerted it that its terminating their agreement as of October 11. 

In April, Helios and Matheson announced that it would be selling up to $150 million worth of shares in dribs and drabs on the open market and had hired Canaccord to manage those sales. To date, it's sold $126 million worth of stock under that authorization, the company disclosed in its regulatory filing Thursday. Canaccord's cancellation of the agreement comes despite the fact that Helios and Matheson could still sell more stock under that plan — and plenty more under other authorizations.

"As a result of the termination of the Equity Distribution Agreement, no further offers or sales of the company’s common stock will be made pursuant to the company's at-the-market offering," Helios and Matheson said in the regulatory filing. 

Representatives of Canaccord and Helios and Matheson did not respond to emails seeking an explanation for Canaccord's move. The company could potentially sign a deal with another investment bank to sell its shares to the public.

Helios and Matheson has been contending with ongoing monthly losses in the tens of millions of dollars thanks to its money-losing subscription movie ticket service. It has funded those losses — and kept itself in business — by selling hundreds of millions of shares of its stock to the public.

The company's share price fell largely in tandem with those massive stock sales. As it did, the number of shares the company had to set aside for its convertible notes went up in an inverse ratio.

SEE ALSO: MoviePass' parent company says the $65 million in new funding it just raised isn't exactly 'new'

SEE ALSO: MoviePass' parent company has boosted its share count by an unbelievable 80,000% since July — but it's run out of room to issue new stock

SEE ALSO: Even after massively diluting its stock, MoviePass' parent company could issue billions of more shares, and there's little investors can do about it

SEE ALSO: MoviePass' parent company increased its share count by an incredible 9,000% in less than two weeks — and just after reverse splitting its stock to combat dilution

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• Conor McGregor has revealed the tactics he will use against UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 on Saturday.
• McGregor delivered a passionate speech in Las Vegas this week where he claimed he will be "coming" for Nurmagomedov's "head from the f------ bell."
• McGregor later called Nurmagomedov a "smelly Dagestani rat," threw the microphone to the floor, fist-pumped the air, and stormed off the stage.
• Read all of Business Insider's UFC 229 coverage right here.

Conor McGregor has delivered a passionate speech where he predicted a "devastating KO" victory over the "smelly Dagestani rat" Khabib Nurmagomedov.

McGregor and the UFC lightweight world champion Nurmagomedov come to blows at UFC 229 on Saturday, October 6 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The bout involves a controversial backstory that gripped the sports world in April, when McGregor was seen on video throwing guard rails at a bus carrying UFC fighters— an extraordinary attack that hospitalised two athletes.

UFC boss Dana White later claimed McGregor was motivated to confront Nurmagomedov, who had slapped McGregor's close friend Artem Lobov, and was on the bus at the time of the attack.

McGregor and Nurmagomedov did not fight that night, but the incident left McGregor charged with three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief. He was later charged with menacing and reckless endangerment, according to the BBC.

Speaking at an open workout session on Wednesday, McGregor seemed as amped-up as ever.

The fight against Nurmagomedov is a mix of styles as it pits the knockout striker in McGregor against the strong wrestler in Nurmagomedov, but the Irishman made it clear he will be looking to make his style the dominant one come fight night.

"Let's do it. A proper fight. A proper, proper fight. I'm going to come out there fast. I don't give a f--- about anything – any wrestling, any technique – anything," he said.

"I'm coming for that man's head from the f------ bell. Trust me on that. Let's take this smelly Dagestani rat."

Watch McGregor fire himself up right here:

McGregor then threw the microphone on the floor, fist-pumped the air, and stormed off the stage.

SEE ALSO: We analysed who will win the Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor fight — and the answer is clear

DON'T MISS: Conor McGregor slugged whiskey, mocked his opponent’s accent, and accused him of disrespecting Vladimir Putin during a wild UFC 229 press conference

UP NEXT: One of the best UFC analysts in the fight game expects Conor McGregor to retire forever if he loses his comeback bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov

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• Adult film star Stormy Daniels banned selfies from her book signing as she feared people might try to hurt her.
• In her book, "Full Disclosure," Daniels details her alleged affair with President Donald Trump and writes that she received death threats after her first on-camera interview about the subject.
• Daniels' attorney, Michael Avenatti, told TMZ the ban on selfies was put in place because of safety concerns. 
• Bookstore staff were willing to take photos of people with Daniels, as long as a table was between the customer and the actress.

Adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who claims to have had an affair with Donald Trump in 2006, banned people from her book signing because she feared people might hurt her.

Michael Avenatti, Daniels' attorney, told TMZ that Daniels that the ban was enacted because of safety concerns.

The ban was in place as Daniels signed copies of her book, "Full Disclosure" at a Barnes & Noble in LA on Thursday night. The book outlines her alleged affair with Trump, sometimes in lurid detail.

For those who really wanted a photo with Daniels, Barnes & Noble staff were willing to take one on the condition that there was a table between them and Stormy, according to TMZ.

Daniels wrote in her book that she received so many death threats after her first in-depth TV interview about the alleged affair — on CBS's "60 Minutes" this March — that it prompted her to make a will.

"I had lived alone with the fear of being murdered to ensure my silence for so long that now that the world was discussing the death threats against me, I felt like I finally had some company in my concern," she wrote.

Daniels is currently on a publicity tour for the book, and earlier this week appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" where she spoke again in depth about her claim to have had sex with Trump.

SEE ALSO: Stormy Daniels picked out a mushroom she said most resembled Trump after her lurid description of their alleged affair

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NOW WATCH: Inside the Trump 'MAGA' hat factory

• “The Man in the High Castle” director and executive producer Daniel Percival spoke to Business Insider ahead of the show's third season, which premieres October 5 on Amazon Prime Video.
• Percival talked about being scared of running into cosplaying Nazis at Comic-Con, the increasing relevance of the show for audiences with the rise of far-right populism, and whether the team has plotted out an end for the show.

When “The Man in the High Castle” director and executive producer Daniel Percival first went to Comic-Con to help promote the Amazon TV series, he was terrified that people would show up dressed in character.

For most shows, that would be a lovely way for fans to support their favorite characters, but this show was different, since it dramatizes an alternate universe where the Axis Powers won World War II and are currently occupying what was formerly the United States of America.

“I was terrified [people would] roll up in Nazi or Japanese Imperial uniform,” Percival told Business Insider in a interview in advance of the show’s third season, which premieres Friday, October 5. Percival’s fear didn’t come to pass, though he did see one person dressed in a SS uniform at that Comic-Con, albeit a pink one, with a Hello Kitty logo where the SS logo should have been.

“A Hello Kitty Nazi,” Percival said.

But Percival’s fear speaks to something the "Man in the High Castle" team is aware of at all times: walking the tightrope of portraying the show's fascist characters as human beings, while trying to prevent them from being a rallying cry for the far right in our own world.

Percival said the goal was to demonstrate how evil comes from one's choices and circumstances.

“Very few shows deal with the subject matter of moral choice in quite this way,” Percival said. “Given the circumstances of your life what choices would you make.” It’s tricky and one reason why Percival acknowledged that it can be an alienating show for some audiences.

“Not everyone wants to watch Nazis and [Japanese] Imperial forces winning the war,” he said. But Percival said he has always thought it served an important function.

“High Castle sounds as a warning of how easy it is to slide,” Percival explained. He said from the moment he first signed onto the series, he knew that fascism was lurking in our contemporary world. “I was never in any doubt,” he said, perhaps partially because he is British and not American. But other people’s awareness of it has increased as far-right movements have picked up steam in various parts of the world, he said.

“For our audiences it’s become an increasingly fascinating parallel for them,” Percival said. He said since Amazon started making the show, the world has become more enamored with strong-man politics and populism — voting “with our guts instead of heads.”

“It happened in the 1930s and it’s happening again now, [so] we need to be wary,” he said.

The destruction of history

One of the most striking parts of season three of "The Man in the High Castle" — which certainly resonates with the war over truth going on in US media and politics — is the idea of controlling information and history.

“Hitler and Stalin, they understood that if you control the lie, you control the truth,” Percival said. In season three, the Nazis begin to try and eradicate history by destroying icons that people can rally behind, until there is only one truth: theirs.

“Hitler himself had this ambition,” Percival said.

There's an end in sight

The desire of the Nazis in the show to conquer history also ties up with the multiverse. In this season, the concept of a multiverse, which Percival said was an essential part of Philip K. Dick’s original vision, takes center stage.

Percival said in the show, the concept serves as a type of karmic cycle, that the characters are “destined to replicate the patterns until [they] reach full understanding.”

But it was also a tricky element to introduce heavily into the show, he said.

“How do we not overwhelm the audience?” he said. “How do we bring this back to human narratives?”

But one thing that's not going to happen is "The Man in the High Castle" throwing conceptual curveballs at the audience until it gets canceled. Percival said the team now has an end in mind, which was not the case two seasons ago.

“Now, yes, there is a plotted-out end,” he said.

"The Man in the High Castle" season three premieres October 5 on Amazon Prime Video.

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• Kensington Palace, next to London's Hyde Park, is home to 15 high-ranking royals.
• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly ready to move to a 21-room apartment on the grounds after renovations.
• They have been living in a cottage on the palace grounds, which is where Harry proposed.
• Prince William and Kate Middleton will be their new neighbors, as the couple and their three children share a grand 20-room apartment that spans four floors.
• Many other royals are there as well.
• The queen and Prince Philip live in Buckingham Palace, about 2 miles away.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly about to move apartments within Kensington Palace, the royal residence they share with more than a dozen other major royals.

British newspaper The Sun reported that a year-long refurbishment of the 21-bedroom Apartment 1 is complete, noting that scaffolding around the buildings has been removed.

But they won't be moving far: Meghan and Harry had already been living in a cottage on the grounds, which is where Harry proposed just over a year ago.

The couple's new apartment would be directly next door to Prince William and Kate Middleton's home — they will even have adjoining doors so the family can stay close.

The palace, a royal residence since the 1600s, has seen a royal wedding and a royal birth this year —and there's another royal wedding to come, making it easily the most bustling of the royal family's many grand homes.

Within its grounds are a host of separate properties, ranging from relatively humble cottages, to the grand 20-room apartment occupied by Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their young family.

As well as royal living quarters, which tend to be relatively sedately decorated, it is also home to lavish state rooms used for grand occasions, like this one:

Here's a breakdown of who's who, and where they live in Kensington Palace:

Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis: Apartment 1A

William, Kate, and their children are not only the largest group of royals in Kensington Palace but the closest to the throne.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, they have the best rooms going. The family of five occupies Apartment 1A, a collection of 20 stately rooms with a commanding view of Hyde Park.

They moved to Kensington Palace full time in October 2013, not long after their first child, Prince George, was born. Princess Charlotte followed in 2015, and Prince Louis in April 2018.

The public rarely get to see inside, but photographers were allowed to take photos of a reception room when William and Kate hosted the Obamas in 2016:

We also saw another view (or maybe even another room) where Prince George played on a rocking horse before meeting the US president.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Nottingham Cottage (for now)

While they may be moving soon, until now Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been living in a significantly less grand two-bed cottage.

They lived there before they got married on May 19, and came back two days after the ceremony to make it their marital home.

The cottage, nicknamed "Nott Cott" and often described as "snug," has been Harry's home since 2013.

Meghan moved in just after their engagement was made public in November 2017. Harry proposed to Meghan when they were spending an evening together at Nottingham Cottage, surprising her while they were roasting a chicken.

After announcing their engagement, they gave an interview from the cottage, sitting on its sofa, which is one of the only times the public has seen inside:

Traditionally, royal couples have been given bigger residences after getting married, and Apartment 1 would be a step up for the pair.

Duke of Gloucester and Duchess of Gloucester: Apartment 1 (but likely not for long)

The Duke of Gloucester, one of Queen Elizabeth II's cousins, and his wife, the Duchess of Gloucester, were the last to reside in Apartment 1. It isn't clear whether they moved out during the renovation work.

It is not clear if they continued to live in the apartment while renovations were underway. The Sun reported that the couple offered to vacate the property to make way for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Like William and Kate's home at 1A, the dwelling is a large complex of rooms in the main palace building. The two used to be one enormous set of rooms until they were divided in the 1950s.

The complex has 21 rooms, slightly pipping the size of William and Kate's, but few details are available other than its overall size.

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank: Ivy Cottage

The newest royals at Kensington Palace are Princess Eugenie, who is William's and Harry's cousin, and her fiancé, Jack Brooksbank, a London socialite.

According to The Sun, the couple moved into a cottage right next to Harry and Meghan's about the same time Kate was in the hospital delivering Prince Louis.

The couple announced their engagement in January, a few weeks after getting engaged while vacationing in Nicaragua.

They are getting married at Windsor Castle in the same chapel as Harry and Meghan on October 12, but the occasion is likely to attract much less publicity.

Prince and Princess Michael of Kent: Apartment 10

Prince Michael of Kent, another of the queen's cousins but from a more junior line, lives in the main palace building with his wife.

She is known as Princess Michael, in the old-fashioned tradition by which the wives of princes take their husband's name.

This same rule means that Kate can technically be referred to as Princess William of Cambridge, and Meghan as Princess Henry of Wales, but the names are not widely used.

Their apartment, No. 10, consists of five bedrooms and five receptions rooms. They used to have use of the property rent-free, but since 2008 they have been paying a reported£10,000 ($13,600) per month in rent.

The Duke and Duchess of Kent: Wren House

The Duke of Kent, Prince Michael's older brother, also lives in the Kensington Palace grounds with his wife, the Duchess.

Their home, Wren House, is named after the famous British architect Christopher Wren, who built St Paul's Cathedral and several properties for the royal household.

Few details about their home have ever been made public. It is physically between Ivy and Nottingham cottages and appears to be of a similar size.

What about the queen?

Queen Elizabeth II lives at Buckingham Palace with her husband, Prince Philip. It's about 2 miles from Kensington Palace, across Hyde Park and Green Park.

It's not quite as cosy as living on the same property, but if Her Majesty ever wants to drop in on her cousins, grandchildren or great-grandchildren, they aren't far away.

Join the conversation about this story »

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Netflix can be a bit daunting, since there's so much to choose from. But we're here to make that easier. 

Every week, we look through what's available on the streaming service and recommend seven movies you can watch over the weekend. Some of our selections recently came to Netflix, like the excellent new original movie, "Private Life." And some have been available for a while. You just might have missed them because Netflix's algorithm didn't know you as well as it thought it did.

From the new Netflix original "Private Life" starring Paul Giamatti to "The Shining," these are the movies you should add to your queue for the weekend.

Here are seven movies on Netflix you should check out (along with their scores from Rotten Tomatoes).

Note: Not all of these films are available in countries outside the United States. Apologies!

SEE ALSO: The surprise theatrical success of Nicolas Cage's new movie, 'Mandy,' has forced its distributor to completely overhaul its release strategy

"Private Life" (2018) -- a Netflix Original

Netflix description: Struggling to conceive, a couple in their 40s are almost out of options — until a sliver of hope arrives in the form of their visiting step-niece.

Critic score: 90%

Audience score: N/A

This darkly funny and intimate story about infertility's effect on a married couple and their journey through it is given life through Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hahn's performances. It's one of the strongest Netflix Original movies so far. 

"Zack and Miri Make a Porno" (2008)

Netflix description: Zack and Miri make and star in an adult film to bring in easy money. But their unspoken feelings for each other might threaten the whole enterprise. 

Critic score: 65%

Audience score:  66%

This comedy isn't one of Kevin Smith's best, but it's fun and easy to watch, especially if you don't really feel like giving your full attention to a movie. The movie probably would've been terrible without the chemistry of its stars, Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. 

"Must Love Dogs" (2005)

Netflix description: Divorcée Sarah Nolan isn't ready for romance, but when her sister signs her up for an online dating service, love-seeking mates come calling.

Critic score: 35%

Audience score: 50%

Is this movie stupid? Yes. But it is cute and there are dogs in it. 

• Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga make an electric combination in "A Star Is Born."
• Cooper even does his own singing the movie's songs alongside Gaga.
• The movie, which Cooper also directed, definitely lives up to the hype and will be an Oscar contender.

Going all the way back to 1937, Hollywood has been in love with the rags to riches story of “A Star Is Born.”

The movie that follows the overnight success of an aspiring singer has been done by the likes of Judy Garland (in the 1954 version) and Barbara Streisand (1976), and now Lady Gaga has added her name to the roster.

We know Gaga for her incredible singing and stage persona, but for at least the rest of this year she'll also be lauded for her acting abilities. She's incredible as Ally, who is discovered by the singer-songwriter Jackson Maine (played by Bradley Cooper), who mentors her into a superstar. The two eventually also fall in love.

And if Gaga's acting ability comes as a surprise, get ready for another — Bradley Cooper can direct (wait for it...) and sing!

"A Star Is Born," which opens in theaters October 5, marks the actor’s directorial debut and he crushes it as he weaves together a story filled with emotion and heartache about love, ego, stardom, and acceptance.

Following the 1976 rock-and-roll musical version, which was nominated for four Oscars and won for best original song, the project was looking to be told once again in a modern setting. Names like Clint Eastwood were floated as a potential director, and Beyoncé, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Will Smith were all rumored to star over the years, but for the most part the project lingered in development hell. But in 2016 it was announced that Cooper had signed on to not just star but also direct and the project was on the fast track, nabbing Gaga along the way.

The movie is fueled by the chemistry between Cooper and Gaga, who performed many of the songs featured in the movie in front of live audiences. Cooper holds his own in the singing department and brings a lot of empathy to his drug and alcohol-addicted rocker character with a troubled past. But it's watching Gaga belt out the ballads with ferocious intensity that will give you goosebumps.

Along for the ride is Sam Elliott, who plays Bobby, Jackson's older brother and the one person who has looked out for him his whole life as their father was a drunk. Cooper gives Jackson a deep, twangy voice that's almost spot on to how Elliott talks, which just adds fuel to the authentic feel of the brothers' love-hate-relationship.

In the other versions of this movie, much of the focus is on the female character. But in this one, the pulse is Jackson, whose self-destructive life only brings Ally closer to him, until finally it's too much for her to handle. The last third of the movie is heart-wrenching to watch, but you can't turn away as Cooper delivers a tour-de-force performance that will certainly garner him an Oscar nomination.

In fact, there might be a lot of Oscar notice for this movie. Along with Gaga and Elliott's top-notch work, the original songs are fantastic, and the editing flawlessly delivered the fast-moving lifestyle the two main characters live.

The hype for this movie is already through the roof, and all I can say is it lives up to it.

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NOW WATCH: A top movie actor reveals how he learns different accents