• Instagram pushed out an app update that introduced a redesigned feed that removed vertical scrolling in favor of a horizontal feed that you tap through.
• Those who received the update promptly started freaking out and posting to social media about the redesign.
• Instagram says it didn't mean to roll the update out as widely as it did, and that it was only intended as "a very small test."
• Instagram has now rolled back the update.

It may soon be time to say goodbye to Instagram as we know it. 

On Thursday, the company started rolling out a major redesign to its interface that eliminated vertical scrolling. Users who had gotten the update quickly took to Twitter to express their displeasure about the change.

It turns out that Instagram didn't intend to roll out the update as widely as it did. Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri tweeted out an apology, stating that "this was supposed to be a very small test but we went broader than we anticipated."

"Due to a bug, some users saw a change to the way their feed appears today," an Instagram spokesperson later told TechCrunch. "We quickly fixed the issue and feed is back to normal. We apologize for any confusion."

TechCrunch was the first to report about the redesign back in October. At the time, the feature was being tested internally and only on the app's Explore page. 

But on Thursday, Instagram accidentally expanded the update to a wider set of users. Those who received the update reported that when they opened Instagram, they were only be able to swipe left or right through photos rather than scrolling up and down, which has been the norm on Instagram since the app's inception. 

Here's a screen capture video of how the new update worked:

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1078304895701274624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
@samsheffer@instagram wtf is this, please undo this pic.twitter.com/WRws3Trwjy

Much like past Instagram updates, the change sparked everything from mild displeasure to outright rage on Twitter:

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1078319486489509888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Instagram making that new update like #instagramupdatepic.twitter.com/cpyKp1jSwLTweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1078317529792237568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
the folks at Instagram HQ today pic.twitter.com/MubEX9DFDHTweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1078319780107640837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Opening up Instagram like... pic.twitter.com/PoDkHC9okqTweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1078330417353277442?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The new Instagram update is trash! This isn’t tinder! 😡@instagramTweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1078310729877520385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
This new Instagram update pic.twitter.com/9rzcn607uFTweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1078349319126831109?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Big group sitting next to me at lunch in Kentucky all talking about the Instagram update #swipegazi

There were also those who went the sarcastic route:

Tweet Embed:
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(i don't, it's absofuckinglutely terrible, just seeing how ratio'd this tweet can get)Tweet Embed:
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Everybody loves the Instagram update.

• "Aquaman" is exceeding expectations at the box office and has breathed new life into Warner Bros.' DC Comics movie franchise.
• Here are all of the DC movies that have been confirmed or reported to be in development after "Aquaman."

Warner Bros. plotted a course correction for its DC Comics movies after "Justice League" disappointed at the box office last year, with a plan to focus more on standalone movies and less on the DC Extended Universe.

That approach paid off for "Aquaman," which is surging at the box office and shows no signs of slowing down. The James Wan-directed movie has grossed $557 million worldwide and $122 million in the US since it debuted last week.

Warner Bros. and DC's answer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe got fully underway in 2016 with the DC Extended Universe. "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and "Suicide Squad" were both released to underwhelming response, though.

READ MORE: Henry Cavill will reportedly no longer play Superman as DC focuses on Supergirl instead

The culmination of it all, "Justice League," failed to deliver both commercially and critically, as it made only $657 million worldwide and has a 40% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Before "Aquaman," the only DCEU movie that was both a financial and critical success was "Wonder Woman." But now, "Aquaman" has breathed new life into the future of Warner Bros.' DC Comics franchise. 

That's good news for Warner Bros., which has a lot of DC movies in the works. To make sense of it all, Business Insider has rounded up all of the DC movies that have been confirmed or are reported to be in development.

Below is every DC movie in the works:

SEE ALSO: 'Avengers: Endgame' directors explain which superheroes are the hardest to adapt for a movie

"Shazam!"

"Shazam!" is based on a DC Comics character named Billy Batson, a young boy who turns into an adult superhero by shouting the magic word "Shazam." Zachary Levi is playing the hero, Asher Angel is the young Batson, and Mark Strong will appear as the villain Dr. Thaddeus Sivana. David F. Sandberg, who directed horror movies "Lights Out" and "Annabell: Creation," is directing. It's set for release April 5, 2019. 

Todd Phillips' "Joker"

A Joker solo movie is coming from Warner Bros. and "The Hangover" director Todd Phillips. The movie, called "Joker," will be an origin story for Batman's greatest foe and star Joaquin Phoenix in the title role. It'll come to theaters October 4, 2019.

"Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)"

Warner Bros. announced this year that Cathy Yan will direct a movie based on the "Birds of Prey" comic book with Margo Robbie reprising her "Suicide Squad" character, Harley Quinn. The comic focuses on Gotham City-based female vigilantes like Black Canary and Huntress. In November, Robbie posted a photo to Instagram of the movie's full title, "Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)." It's coming to theaters February 7, 2020.

• DJ Khaled's waterfront Miami home has been listed for $7.99 million.
• The waterfront mansion has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, and an enormous sneaker closet.
• The home is flush with luxury amenities, including a boat lift, an elevator, a wine cellar, and an outdoor entertaining area.

DJ Khaled's home is the stuff of sneaker-lovers' dreams — and it's now on the market.

The Miami villa is listed at $7.99 million by Janet Ben Zvi of ONE Sotheby's International Realty.

DJ Khaled, 43, is a DJ and producer. He also, as Business Insider's Angela Johnson previously reported, launched a luxury furniture line called We The Best Home in September; the line includes lots of "leather, gold, and high-end features."

A similar attention to detail — and appreciation for the shinier things in life — can be seen throughout his home.

Read more:A new report reveals the 17 most popular housing markets for the world's richest people, and a notoriously expensive city is missing from the list

According to a new report from Knight Frank, Miami is one of the world's most popular housing markets for the world's richest people. It's a growing market in which many of the top real estate sales come from penthouses in residential developments. Khaled's house now joins the likes of a $68 million penthouse, which could shatter the state's record, as some of the Miami area's glitzy real estate offerings.

Here's a look inside the mansion:

SEE ALSO: Tour the most expensive zip code in Florida — the mysterious members-only island where millionaires pay $250,000 for access

READ MORE: Here's what the most expensive house for sale in every US state looks like

According to The Wall Street Journal, the home sits on a half-acre of property on Dumbfoundling Bay in Aventura, about 20 miles north of Miami.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Google Maps

The home is located in an ultra-exclusive gated community ...

Source: Janet Ben Zvi of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty

... and has unobstructed views of the bay and city, according to Janet Ben Zvi of ONE Sotheby's International Realty.

Source: Janet Ben Zvi of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty

• With the Xbox Game Pass subscription, you get access to hundreds of games for a single low price — forget about buying games for $60 apiece.
• Trying Xbox Game Pass is incredibly inexpensive and easy: Just $1 gets you the first month, and it's $10 per month after that.
• Game Pass has tons of great games, including all Microsoft-published games.

You just got an Xbox One, and it's time to get wild. 

Great news: There are dozens of excellent games to be played on your new console! But before you drop upward of $60 on any of those, consider the Xbox Game Pass.

"What's the Xbox Game Pass?" you ask? It's sort of like Netflix, but for the Xbox.

You pay a single monthly fee — $10 per month — and you're given access to more than 100 mostly excellent games. Rather than streaming said games, à la Netflix with movies and TV, you download those games directly to your Xbox One. 

What kind of games? Really good games!

The five games above are just a small sampling of the many excellent games available through Game Pass.

Read more:There's one thing every parent should do before gifting a video game console

Let's say you bought just one of the games above — "Forza Horizon 4," which came out in September. Amazon's selling it right now for $35 ... or you could pay $1 and play it as much as you want for the next month.

And that's before we start talking about the literally dozens of other excellent games available, from "Halo: The Master Chief Collection" to the brand new "Mutant Year Zero."

Every game series published by Microsoft, from "Halo" to "Forza" to "Gears of War" to "Sea of Thieves" to the upcoming "Crackdown 3" arrives at launch in the Xbox Game Pass library. There are no exceptions — "Sea of Thieves" was the first major game to debut on the service at launch, followed by "State of Decay 2" and "Forza Horizon 4." And "Crackdown 3" is coming in February.

So, if you're at all interested in Microsoft-published games, or playing great games at a surprisingly reasonable price, Game Pass is a must-buy service. 

SEE ALSO: There is one crucial purchase every PlayStation 4 owner must make — and it will save you a ton of money in the long run

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: I'm a diehard iPhone user who switched to Android for a week — here's what I loved and hated about the Google Pixel 3 XL

• Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said on Variety's "Playback" podcast on Thursday that he could be approved to develop projects for Fox's Marvel characters in the next six months.
• The Disney-Fox merger is expected to close in early 2019 and the combination will give Disney access to Fox's film rights to Marvel characters like the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Deadpool.

Disney's acquisition of Fox is expected to close in early 2019. Once the merger is finalized, Disney's Marvel Studios will have access to Marvel characters that Fox owns the film rights to, such as the X-Men, Deadpool, and Fantastic Four.

During an interview on Variety's "Playback" podcast on Thursday, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige commented on the future of those characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after the Disney-Fox merger. He said that he hasn't been given the official green light to develop projects for Fox's Marvel characters yet, but that the future looks bright.

"We’ve been told it’s looking very, very good and could happen in the first six months of next year," Feige said.

Read more: 'Avengers: Endgame' directors on dealing with sky-high expectations, and which characters they want to enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Feige has previously said that the current era of the MCU is "gearing towards a conclusion" with next year's "Avengers: Endgame," and Disney CEO Bob Iger has said that the MCU will "try a new franchise beyond 'Avengers'" in the future.

That means that new characters will likely be essential to the MCU after "Endgame."

"The notion of the characters who had previously been under a Fox agreement coming back is great," Feige said on the podcast. "Number One, it’s nice when a company that created all these characters can have access to all those characters. It’s unusual not to. Marvel has been in a unique position to not have access to the characters for a long time."

Disney bought Fox's film studio and other assets earlier this year for $71.3 billion, raising its offer from $52.4 billion after a challenge from Comcast. On top of integrating Fox assets, Disney is also launching its own streaming service in 2019, called Disney+, which will feature Marvel TV shows.

SEE ALSO: Marvel leads the most anticipated movies of 2019 with 'Captain Marvel' and 'Avengers: Endgame' — but Star Wars is shut out

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why Harvard scientists think this interstellar object might be an alien spacecraft

• 2018 was the biggest year at the box office in North America of all time.
• We've gathered the 10 biggest movies, from "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" to "The Grinch."

2018 saw the biggest year ever for the North American box office. It's expected to hit $11.8 billion by year's end, surpassing 2016's then-record take of $11.38 billion.

Between massive blockbusters like "Avengers: Infinity War" and surprise hits like "A Quiet Place," 2018 proved that audiences still get excited to go to the movies. And it's not over yet, as "Aquaman" is currently surging at the box office and could enter the top 10 highest-grossing domestic movies of the year any day now.

From "Black Panther" to "The Grinch," we've rounded up the biggest movies of the year, based on figures from Box Office Mojo. Disney dominated 2018 with five movies in the top 10.

Below are the 10 highest-grossing movies in the US of 2018:

SEE ALSO: Marvel Studios boss says that the X-Men and other Fox characters could be approved for the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the next 6 months

10. "Venom"

Domestic total: $213,030,843

Worldwide total: $854,982,569

Opening weekend:$80,255,756

9. "Solo: A Star Wars Story"

Domestic total: $213,767,512

Worldwide total: $392,924,807

Opening weekend:$84,420,489

8. "Ant-Man and the Wasp"

Domestic total: $216,648,740

Worldwide total: $622,674,139

Opening weekend:$75,812,205

• For the first time since 2013, Microsoft is expected to announce a brand-new Xbox console in 2019.
• In addition to the upcoming consoles, we're likely to see major games from the "Halo" and "Gears of War" franchises, among others, in the coming year.
• Here's everything we know — and a few educated guesses — about the next year for Microsoft's Xbox division.

In 2019, the next Xbox consoles are likely to be announced.

That's just the first major move of several expected from Microsoft's Xbox division in the coming year — and that's before we start talking about the major games, like "Gears 5" and "Halo Infinite," that are expected to arrive. 

Here's a look into the known and the expected from Xbox in 2019:

SEE ALSO: The 6 biggest things to expect from video games in 2019: New PlayStation and Xbox consoles, the first core 'Pokémon' game for Nintendo Switch, and much more

DON'T MISS: The 5 biggest things to expect from PlayStation in 2019

1. The next Xbox consoles.

Indeed, it's that time once again: Both Microsoft and Sony are gearing up to announce new versions of the Xbox and PlayStation platforms.

In the case of the next Xbox, things are a bit more clear — Xbox chief Phil Spencer has outright announced Microsoft's ongoing work on new Xbox consoles.

"The same team that delivered unprecedented performance with Xbox One X is deep into architecting the next Xbox consoles, where we will once again deliver on our commitment to set the benchmark for console gaming," Spencer said on stage in Los Angeles on June 10.

The latest rumors point to multiple tiers of Xbox consoles, similar to the current line-up with the Xbox One S and Xbox One X consoles.

Rumors also say the new Xbox will be compatible with all previous generations of Xbox; the code names are reportedly "Lockhart" (for the less powerful/less expensive version) and "Anaconda" (for the higher-end version).

2. "Crackdown 3"

"Crackdown 3" has been in the works for years at this point, having been delayed multiple times.

As the name implies, it's the third game in the open-world, third-person action "Crackdown" series. But this time, apparently, it stars Terry Crews!

The series is big on mobility — allowing you to go anywhere you want — and huge explosions. It looks like the third game in the series is no different in this respect.

3. "Gears 5"

Are you ready to chainsaw some more Locust? With "Gears 5" in the works, Microsoft's betting that the answer is a resounding "yes."

The next entry in the gruff and grisly "Gears of War" third-person shooter series was announced by Microsoft in June 2018 during the company's annual E3 media briefing. A new character is at the forefront, introduced during a short trailer — her name is Kait, and she previously debuted as a supporting "Gears" character.

Like previous games in the series, "Gears 5" features third-person shooting with a focus on movement and cover. It doesn't have a firm release date, but it's scheduled for launch sometime in 2019.

It was quite a rebound year for the movie business in 2018.

After a year of big-budget duds and attendance hitting a 25-year low in 2017, seeing theaters full this entire year was a big morale boost for the industry.

In fact, the domestic box office set a box office record with a $11.38 billion take (and still climbing). 

But there were also big changes to the industry that will be felt in 2019 and beyond. The popularity of MoviePass has given a boost to movie ticket subscription plans (whether or not that company stays in business), and Disney buying 20th Century Fox proves that the movie studio system as we've known it for decades is disappearing.

Here we look at 5 things to keep an eye out for in 2019:

SEE ALSO: MoviePass got rid of a consultant accused on inappropriate behavior towards women after executives threatened to quit. His quiet return has shaken the company.

1. Expect more movie ticket subscription options

One of the big stories at the movies in 2018 was the rise (and colossal fall) of MoviePass. But what the company showed the industry is that theatergoers love a subscription model as much as they love one for their favorite streaming service. This opened the door for AMC Theaters to launch its A-List plan, which has also become extremely popular, with subscriptions exceeding the chain's projections. And there are other options like Sinemia and Cinemark's Movie Club. 

More options are likely coming. Regal has been quiet when it comes to a movie subscription plan, but industry sources tell Business Insider they would be shocked if the company didn't unveil one in 2019. And Alamo Drafthouse could launch its subscription plan as well. Its Alamo Season Pass is currently in a beta version. 

2. Another Disney/Fox-like studio merger isn't out of the question

This year's news that Disney would acquire assets from 21st Century Fox, including its movie studio, likely caused other entertainment CEOs with existing studios salivating at the idea of nabbing a second. The question on everyone's mind is: Which studios will be next to team up? 

As far as we hear, there are no serious talks yet. But the studios that always come up in conversation are Sony and Paramount. Both have been on the low side of studio earners in the last handful of years. However, with Sony finding a box office resurgence in its Spider-Man properties and Paramount signing a multi-picture deal with Netflix, you could see both companies as being on the rebound and attractive as acquisition targets.

3. Will the new owner of the country's largest independent theater chain force a rethink on the theatrical window?

In December, Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner's Landmark Theatres, the largest independent theater chain in US with 252 screens in 27 markets, was sold to Charles S. Cohen's Cohen Media Group for an undisclosed amount. News of a sale was expected, as the chain had been rumored to be sold to everyone from Amazon to Netflix to Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios. Less discussed is how the Cohen Media Group could shift the theatrical window all on its own.

Landmark is an outlier as a big chain in that it's willing to show Netflix movies theatrically, even though the streaming giant continues to show most of its titles in theaters and online at the same time. Cohen has already indicated that won't change on his watch. If the company wanted to, it could push for a shorter theatrical window (typically the 90-day period a movie shows in theaters before going to streaming or another ancillary market). Cohen Media Group is also an independent distribution and production company (it released past Oscar nominees "Faces Places" and "Frozen River"), which gives it control of both the making and release of movies. Another reason why a shorter window for a company that releases indies and foreign titles (which typically do better on streaming) may be more appealing.

• From revelations about Amazon's warehouses to people buying "flamethrowers" from Elon Musk's Boring Company, it's been quite a year in tech. 
• To look back on the past 12 months, we've compiled the most-read tech stories on Business Insider. 
• Here are our 17 most popular stories of the year.

As 2018 comes to a close, it's time to look back on the year in tech. 

The past 12 months have brought hilarity in all forms, like Rep. Steve King confusing which company makes the iPhone, and people lighting stuff on fire with Elon Musk's Not-A-Flamethrower.

But the year has also brought new revelations, like how late Apple CEO Steve Jobs treated his daughter, Lisa, and the conditions inside Amazon's warehouses. 

As a way to look back on 2018, we've compiled the 17 most-read tech stories of the year on Business Insider.

Here they are:

SEE ALSO: The 17 tech gadgets on our wish lists this year

17. "We used Google Flights and Kayak to see which is best for booking travel — here's the verdict" by Avery Hartmans

We compared two of the major flight booking services, Kayak and Google Flights, to see which one was better.

The services have a lot of features in common, the main one being that they both aggregate flights from major airlines and both take you off their sites to actually book your trip. But we were curious which had more standout features — and, of course, which could find cheaper flights.

Read the full story here.

16. "This 26-year-old makes $500,000 every month playing 'Fortnite' in his bedroom — here's how he does it" by Kaylee Fagan

We profiled Tyler "Ninja" Blevins, the 26-year-old Twitch streamer who plays the popular game "Fortnite" with Drake and professional athletes and reportedly makes half a million dollars every month from his bedroom.

Read the full story here.

15. "People are already torching things they shouldn't with Elon Musk's flamethrowers" by Isobel Asher Hamilton

Elon Musk's Boring Company got its $500 "Not-A-Flamethrower" into the hands of consumers for the first time in June.

More than 1,000 people got hold of the devices at a Boring Company headquarters pickup party, where they torched marshmallows.

Soon after, some people torched things at home and shared the images on social media.

Read the full story here.

• "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch" is an interactive movie and has five different endings.
• According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix first pitched the idea to "Black Mirror" creator Charlie Brooker in May 2017.
• A Netflix representative told Business Insider, "While Bandersnatch is a standalone film, it is not the sole film in Season 5. Season 5 will still return in 2019." 

Netflix released the first standalone "Black Mirror" movie on Friday, "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, which features an interactive, choose-your-own-adventure style storyline that has been nearly two years in the making. 

Netflix dropped a trailer for "Bandersnatch" on Thursday, which described it as a "Black Mirror Event," but the streamer kept most details away from the public. The Netflix page for the movie was also live, and described it as a Netflix Film. Now, the movie's Netflix page describes it as a "Netflix Interactive Film."

Here's the Netflix description for the movie: "In 1984, a young programmer begins to question reality as he adapts a dark fantasy novel into a video game. A mind-bending tale with multiple endings."

READ MORE: All 19 episodes of 'Black Mirror,' ranked from worst to best

"Bandersnatch" features five different endings, according to The New York Times. Options appear at the bottom of the screen with only a few seconds to choose. The Times reporter, David Streitfeld, said that the episode went back to the beginning when he did not choose anything, but it wasn't clear whether it was a glitch or punishment.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, viewers will need about 90 minutes to reach an ending to "Bandersnatch," but could take almost two and a half hours to fully experience it.

Netflix pitched the idea of an interactive story to "Black Mirror" creator Charlie Brooker in May 2017, THR said. Brooker was hesitant at first.

"We didn't know what the story would be and thought, 'Wouldn't that just be a gimmick?,'" Brooker told THR. "Annoyingly, several weeks later, we were throwing story ideas around and this idea popped up that would only work as an interactive. It was good to come back and have an idea, but also daunting."

"Bandersnatch" isn't taking the place of season 5, however.

A Netflix representative told Business Insider, "While Bandersnatch is a standalone film, it is not the sole film in Season 5. Season 5 will still return in 2019."

SEE ALSO: Stephen King was 'riveted' by Netflix's new thriller, 'Bird Box,' and slammed critics for suffering from 'Netflix Prejudice'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The true story behind the name 'Black Friday' is much darker than you may have thought

• Former President Barack Obama just shared his favorite songs of 2018.
• His 22 picks include some of his past favorites including Brandi Carlile, Chance The Rapper, and Kendrick Lamar.

Former President Barack Obama just shared his favorite songs list of 2018.

His 22 picks include some of his past favorites including Brandi Carlile, Chance The Rapper, and Kendrick Lamar, plus an entire album by the late jazz singer Nancy Wilson, who died in December.

See which of the year's songs from across Obama's eclectic music taste made the list.

SEE ALSO: Barack and Michelle Obama top Gallup's list of most-admired men and women in the world, trouncing the Trumps

DON'T MISS: Here are 18 times Obama got unapologetically political in 2018

"Apes**t" by The Carters

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"Bad Bad News" by Leon Bridges

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"Could've Been" by H.E.R. (feat. Bryson Tiller)

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• Netflix released its 2019 salaries for its top executives on Friday, and they're getting big raises.
• CEO Reed Hastings and content chief Ted Sarandos will each make $31.5 million in combined salary and stock options.
• Hastings' net worth was estimated to be $2.2 billion in 2017 when he landed on the Forbes 400 for the first time. 

Netflix released its 2019 salaries for its top executives on Friday, and they're getting big raises as the streaming giant continues to grow at a rapid pace.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings' salary will remain at $700,000, but his stock options will rise from $28.7 million this year to $30.8 million in 2019. Content chief Ted Sarandos will make $18 million in 2019, an increase from his $12 million salary in 2018. His stock options will be $13.5 million.

After combining their salaries and stock options, Hastings and Sarandos will both make $31.5 million in 2019. But Hastings' net worth is much more than his compensation in a given year. In 2017, Hastings landed on the Forbes 400 for the first time with an estimated net worth of $2.2 billion. 

READ MORE: 5 big trends that could shake up the movie business in 2019

Financial chief David Wells is set to make $3.5 million in 2019 with a $2.8 million stock option allocation, an increase from $2.8 million and $2.5 million in 2018, respectively.

Product chief Greg Peters is also getting a substantial raise in salary, from $6 million in 2018 to $10 million in 2019. His stock option allocation will rise from $6.6 million to $6.8 million.

And Netflix's general counsel and secretary, David Hyman, is expected to make $3.5 million in 2019, with a stock option allocation of $3.85 million. 

Netflix shares rose 33% in 2018 as the company invested heavily in original content and landed exclusive production deals with the likes of the Obamas and Ryan Murphy, according to CNN Business.

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch' is an interactive movie with 5 different endings, and fans can expect more 'Black Mirror' in 2019

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The inside story behind the Marvel movie you were never supposed to see

• Oscar-nominated writer-director Jason Reitman had two movies out this year and you probably didn't even realize it.
• Charlize Theron in "Tully" and Hugh Jackman in "The Front Runner" both give career-best performances, but both movies were forgotten when released in theaters.
• Here's why you should see both movies.

I have this recurring dream. It starts somewhere in the bowels of the Sony offices, and I’m hearing in the distance faint sounds of yelling and loud banging. As I get closer, I realize the noises are coming from inside a glass-walled board room. I peek at what’s going on inside and see writer-director Jason Reitman standing on the table, yelling at executives, while behind him Hugh Jackman is in full Wolverine berserker mode throwing chairs, a sofa, and trays of finger food set up for the meeting.

Okay, I never had this dream. It’s more of a fantasy I have of how Reitman and Jackman reacted during the nonexistent release Sony’s Columbia Pictures gave their movie, “The Front Runner.”

In a year when the field of Oscar contenders is so wide open, I’m still puzzled how this movie is on the outside looking in.

Read more: Inside how "The Front Runner" starring Hugh Jackman captured the tabloid affair scandal that changed politics forever

In "The Front Runner," Reitman takes the sex scandal that flatlined the presidential campaign of Senator Gary Hart in 1987 and delivers a Robert-Altman-esque satire that explores the insanity of political campaigns and the start of reporters digging deep into the personal lives of those running for the highest office in the land. This is all done with some of the best writing in any movie this year. And Jackman delivers one of the best performances of his career.

But you wouldn’t know anything about that, because you probably didn’t get a chance to see the movie.

Columbia played it in theaters for six weeks, but its highest theater count was around Thanksgiving on only 800 screens. It ended up making just $2 million. I mean, honestly, did you ever see any advertising for this movie? It's hard to go see a movie if you don't know it’s playing.

I wish I could say Reitman just got a tough break. But this had already happened to him this year!

In May, Reitman's movie “Tully” — in which he teamed once again with his “Juno” screenwriter Diablo Cody and had Charlize Theron (like Jackman, giving one of her best performances ever) in the lead playing a woman navigating the challenges of being a mother — also had a blink-and-you-missed-it release.

It wasn't quite at the level of “The Front Runner.” Focus Features at least gave it a marketing push and opened it on over 1,300 screens. The movie also had a 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But it’s likely you didn’t see this movie, which was in theaters for five weeks, because “Avengers: Infinity War” had just come out the weekend before and had taken over the zeitgeist. The plan was probably that "Tully" would serve as a counter-programming release to the Marvel blockbuster. But instead it was forgotten, only making $9.3 million domestically, and $15.5 million worldwide.

Read more: Diablo Cody took inspiration from her own parenting struggles to write "Tully" — her best movie since "Juno"

Jason Reitman’s work has always been an acquired taste, but when he finds the right material his movies are powerful works. He hit it out of the park with 2007’s “Juno,” which led to a best original screenplay Oscar win for Cody and nominations for both Reitman and star Ellen Page. Reitman then captured Clooney at his leading man zenith with 2009’s “Up in the Air,” which was nominated for six Oscars, including another directing nomination for Reitman and best picture.

Both “Tully” and “The Front Runner” are as good (arguably better) than Reitman's most well-known titles and both show his growth as a filmmaker.

In “Tully,” Reitman uses Cody’s words and story structure to weave one of the most honest looks at parenthood you’ll ever see.

Stressed, tired, and at the end of her rope with everyone in her life, Marlo (Theron) hires a nanny, Tully (Mackenzie Davis), whose specialty is to work overnight and take care of a newborn while the mom gets some much needed sleep. The mom then wakes up to a clean house and is recharged to take care of the kids during the day. Gradually, Reitman peels the layers to show that what the audience is watching is not reality as much as the world Marlo has created through her state of exhaustion.

You might read this and say, “Sounds too serious for me.” Okay, but the biggest movie in the world this year was about a giant purple guy who eliminated half of the world’s population with just the snap of his fingers. So I think you can take it!

While “Tully” is very much Reitman being the vessel for Cody’s powerful story, in “The Front Runner,” he’s the driving force.

Reitman shared screenwriting duties with political columnist Matt Bai (who wrote the book the movie is based on) and political strategist Jay Carson. Together the trio dived into the weeks leading up to Senator Gary Hart dropping out of the presidential race in 1987. What resulted is an authentically told look at not just how Hart’s reported affair crippled his campaign, but how campaign trail life is. Reitman tells the story at a fast pace, with most of the shots featuring the cast talking over one another and the camera moving around showing the numerous things going on at the same time. It’s highlighted by the movie's opening: Reitman does a long uncut shot that begins at a news truck delivering election results, and weaves through a crowded street, ending high above the action with a political aide of Hart’s looking outside a hotel window.

The movie is a mixture of Robert Altman’s overlapping dialogue style mixed with the naturalistic cinematography found in early Michael Ritchie movies like “Downhill Racer” or “The Candidate.”

And then there’s the performance given by Jackman as Hart. Hart is a man who has become a beacon for young voters to get behind with his good looks and platform that is different than most preached by the political establishment. And Jackman plays him as someone who doesn’t like the political game but knows he has to do it to make the change he wants possible. When he’s confronted with the affair news, Jackman then perfectly plays the crippling effect of a front runner relegated to tabloid fodder.

"The Front Runner" is Reitman’s most unique movie yet, and is a fascinating evolution to see after the strong work he did on “Tully.”

But you probably wouldn’t know that.

Sure, my fantasy of Reitman and Jackman making a big stink is probably just that. But I hope someone got a stern phone call from Reitman — or at least a text.

SEE ALSO: 5 big trends that could shake up the movie business in 2019

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Bethesda Studios, the company behind "Fallout 76," recently banned a wave of players from the game for cheating with third-party modifications.
• Banned players received an email from the company saying that to appeal their ban, they would need to write an essay explaining why "cheat software" is detrimental to online games.
• The email doesn't specify exactly what software leads to a ban, and affected players are pushing back against the assignment.
• "Fallout 76" has been steeped in controversy since its launch in November, with players reporting game-halting bugs and customer service issues.

The creators of "Fallout 76" recently banned a group of players suspected of cheating and closed their accounts without warning. In an email detailing the ban, Bethesda Studios told the affected players that they can appeal their account closure by writing "an essay on ‘Why the use of third party cheat software is detrimental to an online game community.'"

Members of the "Fallout 76" community reacted to the wave of bans on Reddit and YouTube. Players were initially unsure exactly what software led to the ban, but reports from several banned players specified a handful of programs including Cheat Engine and Nexus Mod Manager. Mod software can be used for a range of effects, like making a player unkillable, or duplicating rare items and money.

However, some of those impacted by the bans claimed they only used third-party modifications to improve the game's graphics or fix persistent issues, changes that don't alter how the game plays or impact other players. With the email failing to identify how the cheat software was used, players on the r/Fallout subreddit felt that Bethesda's essay request was both condescending and presumptuous in assuming that all mods have a negative impact.

"Its insulting. We are adults, or most of us; and the rest are (probably) mid-teens or older. Frankly this sort of thing is unprofessional; we aren't some tweens in [in-school suspension] for tagging a room; we are paying costumers that used 3rd party modifications to fix their broken product," a user named  Vaperius wrote.

SEE ALSO: A dedicated group of 'Fallout 76' players crashed the game's server with a trio of nuclear explosions

SEE ALSO: The maker of 'Fortnite' is suing two YouTubers for trolling with cheats and sharing hacks

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• With the No. 1 channel on live-streaming video platform Twitch and over 20 million subscribers on YouTube, Tyler "Ninja" Blevins has become the face of the video-gaming world.
• In advance of the Fortnite virtuoso's New Year's Eve streaming event in Times Square, Ninja and Jimmy Fallon competed in a series of old-school video game challenges that included games like Pong, Mario Kart, Olympic Summer Games, GoldenEye 007, and Rocket League on Sega Genesis, Nintendo 64, and Super Nintendo.
• Although Ninja jumped out to a 2-0 lead, Fallon mounted a comeback in the following two games that forced a tiebreaker once the duo started playing Rocket League.
• Check out the full video below:

• Read more: Ninja had a simple answer for Jimmy Fallon when he questioned why people love to watch him play video games

Join the conversation about this story »

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• 2018 was a record year at the box office, but Hollywood still experienced plenty of flops. 
• From "The Girl in the Spider's Web" to "Robin Hood," these are the biggest box-office disappointments of the year.

2018 was a record year at the North American box office, but Hollywood still had its fair share of flops.

A "Star Wars" movie didn't land with audiences the way Disney expected, and anything starring Claire Foy struggled this year. The latest iteration of "Robin Hood" was dead on arrival, and a new big-budget fantasy from Peter Jackson didn't attract moviegoers the way the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy did. 

We've rounded up the biggest box-office disappointments and disasters this year.

Below are 13 of the biggest movie flops of 2018 (box-office figures and production budgets are based on numbers from Box Office Mojo, unless otherwise stated):

SEE ALSO: The 10 highest-grossing movies in the US of 2018, from 'Black Panther' to 'The Grinch'

"A Wrinkle in Time" (March 9)

Worldwide box office: $132 million

Estimated production budget: $100 million (source: The Hollywood Reporter)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 42%

Disney ruled the box office in 2018 with movies like "Black Panther," "Avengers: Infinity War," and "Incredibles 2." But not everything it released was a wild success. The first disappointment was with Ava DuVernay's Disney adaptation of the fantasy novel "A Wrinkle in Time," which made just $132 million worldwide. Only $32 million of that came from international box office. 

"Solo: A Star Wars Story" (May 25)

Worldwide box office: $392 million

Estimated production budget: $250 million (source: Variety)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 70%

"Solo" is in the top 10 of the highest-grossing movies of the year in the US. But it's still a major disappointment by "Star Wars" standards, and is the first movie during the Disney era of the franchise to likely lose money. After a troubled production in which Ron Howard replaced fired directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, "Solo" didn't even crack $400 million worldwide. Every other Disney "Star Wars" movie has grossed over $1 billion.

"Billionaire Boy's Club" (August 17)

Worldwide box office: $2.2 million

Estimated production budget: N/A

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 8%

Kevin Spacey's new movie made only $126 on its opening day in August, with just six people seeing it per theater in its first weekend. It barely made over $600 for its opening weekend. The movie went on to earn only $1,300 in the US, and $2.2 million internationally. 

• Netflix said more than 45 million accounts watched "Bird Box" in the movie's first week.
• That's a record for a Netflix movie, according to the streamer.
• Netflix did not specify how many viewers actually finished the movie, though.

Over 45 million accounts have watched Netflix's new original thriller, "Bird Box," in the best first week for a Netflix movie, the streaming giant said on Friday.

"Took off my blindfold this morning to discover that 45,037,125 Netflix accounts have already watched Bird Box — best first 7 days ever for a Netflix film!" Netflix tweeted.

Netflix had over 137 million subscribers as of October, so around 33% of Netflix accounts viewed "Bird Box."

The movie stars Sandra Bullock as a mother who's trying to protect her children after a supernatural force that kills you if you see it wipes out most of humanity.

Read more: Stephen King was 'riveted' by Netflix's new thriller, 'Bird Box,' and slammed critics for suffering from 'Netflix Prejudice'

Netflix did not specify how many users actually finished the entire movie, though. And Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for clarification from Business Insider.

Netflix has made bold statements about its original movies before. Its content chief, Ted Sarandos, recently said that "The Christmas Chronicles" was the biggest movie of its star Kurt Russell's career, with 20 million views on the streaming service. (He did not specify how many of those were repeat viewings.)

"Bird Box" has generated buzz (and memes) online since it debuted on Netflix last Friday, December 21, though critics weren't blown away by it. The movie has a 65% critic score on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

Stephen King praised the movie last week, saying he was "absolutely riveted" by it.

"Don't believe the lukewarm reviews, which may in part have been caused by reviewers' ambivalence to the streaming platform, as opposed to theatrical releases," he said, adding, "One might say movie reviewers suffer from the dread NP syndrome: Netflix Prejudice."

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch' is an interactive movie with 5 different endings, and fans can expect more 'Black Mirror' in 2019

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• "Overwatch" is one of the most popular video games in the world, and the international Overwatch League allows the best players to compete as paid professionals.
• The 2019 Overwatch League season will start on February 14 with a rematch between last year's grand finalists, the Philadelphia Fusion and defending champion London Spitfire.
• Eight new teams have joined the Overwatch League for its upcoming second season, bringing the total number of international teams to 20. Activision Blizzard, the parent company of the Overwatch League, reportedly asked for $30 to $60 million from each new franchise.
• Overwatch League players receive a minimum salary of $50,000, healthcare, housing during the season, and a retirement plan. There are about 170 contracted players involved with the league.
• The Overwatch League season one finals brought in 10.8 million viewers, according to parent company Activision Blizzard. The finals were streamed on Twitch and broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and Disney XD.

"Overwatch" is one of the most popular video games in the world, and the best players can pursue a career playing the game through the Overwatch League, an international esports league dedicated to the first-person shooter.

Overwatch League's first season launched in December 2017 with 12 teams, nine of which are based in the United States. Those teams signed up players from across the globe, offering a minimum salary of $50,000 and a shot at another $3.8 million in prize money. The season one finals brought in 10.8 million viewers across Twitch, ABC, ESPN, Disney XD and Twitch, according to "Overwatch" publisher and league owner Activision Blizzard.

The 2019 Overwatch League season will start on February 14 with a rematch between last year's grand finalists, the Philadelphia Fusion, and defending champion London Spitfire.

As it enters its second season, the Overwatch League has added eight new teams, expanding the roster to 20 international franchises. According to Jacob Wolf of ESPN, Activision Blizzard asked each new expansion team to pay between $30 and $60 million for the rights to join the league. The 12 founding teams reportedly paid $20 million each to participate in the inaugural season, meaning that the cost of buying in is going up. 

The new teams will expand the international scope of the league with three expansions in China (Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Guangzhou), two in Canada (Toronto and Vancouver), and a team based in Paris. The U.S. welcomes new teams in Washington D.C., and Atlanta. At the bottom of this post you can find a list can see every Overwatch League team, their parent organizations (in parenthesis), and their team colors.

Here's what you need to know about the Overwatch League, the teams, and the key games to watch this season.

SEE ALSO: What it's like to play in the Overwatch League

SEE ALSO: Overwatch League aims to make eSports mainstream

Overwatch League turns players into professionals

Each Overwatch team can sign up to 12 salaried players, and the league currently employs more than 170 players in total. Overwatch League players earn a minimum salary of $50,000 a year — complete with healthcare, a retirement savings plan and housing during the course of the season. All Overwatch League players need to be 18 years old by June 1, 2019 to compete.

Top players in the league are reportedly earning more than six figures, and this season Activision is letting teams sign players to contracts that extend up to three years.

Teams acquired players through free agency prior to the start of the season. Expansion teams got first dibs on signing new players from September 9th, while the free agency signing period opened up to all 20 yeams on October 8th. Each Overwatch team was required to sign a minimum of eight players to their pro roster for the 2019 season.

Overwatch Contenders helps develop new talent

To help develop new professional talent, the Overwatch League also has a regional minor league system called Overwatch Contenders. There will be eight Contenders regions in 2019, with eight teams in each region.

Players on a Contenders team can sign a two-way contract with an Overwatch League squad that allows them to compete in both leagues during the season, while earning the same basic benefits as a full-time League player. The only drawback is that a player cannot compete with both their Contenders team and their Overwatch League team in the same week.

2019 Overwatch League schedule and prizes

The 2019 Overwatch League season will start on February 14 with a rematch between last year's grand finalists the Philadelphia Fusion, and defending champion London Spitfire.

Each team will play a 28-match schedule spread across four 5-week periods during the year. Regular season matches will conclude in August and the eight best teams will qualify for the playoffs. Activision Blizzard is offering a $5 million prize pool spread throughout the season, including a $1.1 million purse for the season 2 champions.

The majority of the regular season matches will be played in the league's main arena in Burbank, California, but three teams — the Dallas Fuel, Atlanta Reign, and Los Angeles Valiant — will host matches in their home cities during special weekend events.

• Every week, Parrot Analytics provides Business Insider the most in-demand TV shows on streaming services.
• This week continued to include the likes of Netflix's "Voltron: Legendary Defender" and "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina."

With the holidays looming, audiences stuck to what interested them on streaming services last week, as the usual suspects and newcomers like Netflix's "Voltron: Legendary Defender" remained on this week's list.

Every week, Parrot Analytics provides Business Insider with a list of the seven most "in-demand" TV shows on streaming services. The data is based on "demand expressions," the globally standardized TV demand measurement unit from Parrot Analytics. Audience demand reflects the desire, engagement, and viewership weighted by importance, so a stream or download is a higher expression of demand than a "like" or comment on social media.

Below are this week's seven most popular shows on Netflix and other streaming services:

SEE ALSO: How many millions Netflix's top executives will make in 2019 after big raises, including $31.5 million for its content boss

7. "Voltron: Legendary Defender" (Netflix)

Average demand expressions: 23,295,462

Description: "In an all-new series, five unlikely heroes and their flying robot lions unite to form the megapowerfulVoltron and defend the universe from evil."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 8): N/A

What critics said: "Season 8 manages to do the seemingly impossible by ramping up the stakes to the utmost, delivering the most powerful emotional resonance between our heroes and villains yet, and wrapping everything up in a tearful, bittersweet, and fully satisfying way." — Dave Trumbore, Collider

Season 8 premiered on Netflix December 14.

6. "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" (Amazon)

Average demand expressions:  25,306,683

Description: "After Midge's triumph at the Gaslight, the fallout from her takedown of Sophie Lennon looms large, making her climb up the comedy ladder more challenging than ever. As the actual grind of being a comic begins to take its toll on Midge, the pressure to come clean to her family weighs on her - especially as her choices have a ripple effect on everyone around her."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 2): 91%

What critics said: "Season 2 is definitely more ambitious than the first effort" — Megan Vick, TV Guide

Season 2 premiered on Amazon December 5.

5. "Narcos: Mexico" (Netflix)

Average demand expressions: 25,378,639

Netflix description: "Witness the birth of the Mexican drug war in the 1980s as a gritty new 'Narcos' saga chronicles the true story of the Guadalajara cartel's ascent."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 1): 86%

What critics said: "This season... is a wonderful showcase for two talented Latinx actors who've long deserved a high-profile TV project. "Narcos: Mexico" is all that and more, a poignant lesson on the bloody history behind our modern war on drugs." — Eric Deggans, NPR

Season 1 premiered on Netflix November 16.

The Nintendo Switch is approaching its second birthday, and there's already a killer line-up of games available.

Whether you're looking for Nintendo staples like "Mario" and "Zelda," fast-paced first-person shooters like "DOOM", or narrative-driven indie RPGs like "Golf Story," there's something for everyone on the Switch.

Good news! We've put together a list of the best games to enjoy on Nintendo's latest console:

SEE ALSO: The 31 best Nintendo Switch games under $20

1. "Super Mario Odyssey"

The pure joy of playing "Odyssey" is hard to convey. It's the best Mario game in years, and easily one of the best Mario games ever made. It's certainly the best game on the Nintendo Switch, which is really saying something.

Read our review of "Super Mario Odyssey" right here.

Check it out in action right here:

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2. "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild"

"The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" is a rare gem.

It's the kind of game that changes player expectations — what they expect of themselves and what they expect from games.

Read our review of "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" right here.