Last year was a year to remember: Three countries ruled in favor of same-sex marriage. We came closer than ever to editing genetically linked diseases out of our DNA. Taking action to prevent gun violence is a bigger priority. And, after years of anticipation, McDonald's finally launched all-day breakfast.

Yes, 2015 was one for the books. It wasn't all good, but the world changed in many ways that will continue to shape our future.

Keep scrolling to see 25 ways the world changed in 2015.

NOW CHECK OUT: The 55 best Reuters photos of the year

AND: The top 50 franchises of 2015

Donald Trump changed the political game.

Trump's inflammatory statements and proposals — to ban Muslims from entering the US, or saying the Mexican government sends its "rapists" across the border — have only served to embolden his supporters. At the end of December, Trump had a sizable lead over other Republican candidates, with 39% of GOP support, according to a nationwide CNN/ORC poll.

The rising support is not due to a lack of reprimand from the media or the public — even members of his own party have condemned his remarks. But unlike other politicians who reverse course and apologize for their blunders, Trump has stuck to his guns and not changed, or apologized for, his opinions. He says exactly what he thinks and feels and this, perhaps, could be his Trump card.

ISIS became a more powerful and deadly terror threat.

Attacks led by affiliates of the terrorist group ISIS in Paris in November that left 130 people dead, as well as the takedown of a Russian airliner in October that killed all 224 people on board, were among a number of "lone-wolf" terror attacks have made ISIS public terror enemy No. 1.

Feelings of alienation and a rift among Sunni and Shiite communities in Iraq and Syria, as well as chaos in Syria and other political turmoil in the Middle East, gave the terrorist group a hand in gaining momentum in 2015, and even in recruiting people from the UK, the US, and other countries.

The US has made fighting Islamic extremist forces like ISIS and other terrorist groups a priority since September 11. And other countries like Egypt, Syria, France, the UK, and Russia are now banding together to dismantle a violent organization.

We came closer than ever to editing human DNA.

This year, scientists used CRISPR/Cas9 — a gene-editing tool that uses a "find-and-replace" technique to replace faulty genes with potentially healthier ones — to modify genes in pigs to make their organs viable for transplants into humans. What sets CRISPR apart from other gene-editing tools is that CRISPR is easier and less expensive to use than tools of the past.

CRISPR has also been used to edit the genes in mice that were genetically predisposed to muscular dystrophy, and to make super-muscular beagles. It has major potential to edit out genetic diseases from humans, and by 2017 scientists will use it to try to treat human adults with a rare form of blindness.

The only potential downside is that editing a gene out of one species could have unintended consequences on another — for example, if we edited mosquito DNA to prevent the species from spreading dengue fever to humans, but accidentally transferred the modified gene to a related species and wiped it out.

This week, most in Hollywood are taking some time off to celebrate the holidays and be with loved ones.

Studio execs are also taking this break to joyfully count the 2015 box-office dollars, which hit $11 billion in the US alone, an all-time record.  

The 2015 box office has been historic. Universal had three movies cross the $1 billion mark worldwide, the first time a studio has ever done that.

And already "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" has had incredible success since it opened on December 18. It became the fastest movie to ever hit the $1 billion mark and ticket sales show no signs of slowing down.  

With the help of data from Box Office Mojo, we compiled the 10 biggest worldwide box-office earners of 2015.

SEE ALSO: The 10 biggest box office bombs of 2015

10. “The Martian” - $594.1 million

Matt Damon stranded on Mars turned out to be a real draw for audiences. Melding the star's dry humor in the role with its science-heavy plot, the movie turned into Twentieth Century Fox's biggest earner of the year.

*Still in theaters

9. “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2” - $619.4 million

Though it's been tracking slower than "Mockingjay - Part 1," the final chapter in the story of Katniss Everdeen is far from a disappointment from an earnings perspective. All the more reason why you'll likely see prequels and spin-offs of the franchise in the coming years.  

*Still in theaters

8. “Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation” - $682.3 million

The latest box-office dominance for Tom Cruise and the "M:I" franchise means we're in store for more from the franchise, and that also means more of Cruise's crazy stunts. But what may be the most exciting is the impending return of actress Rebecca Ferguson, who was a highlight playing the tough female lead in "Rogue Nation."

One of the joys of every new television season is watching which talented actors rise out of obscurity to become stars and force us to take notice.

The cards are usually stacked against unknown and new actors and actresses, just like the shows they're in. The industry doesn't have the patience it once did for untested programming to build an audience. And today, new faces have it even tougher as established movie stars have navigated their way to the top roles in TV, from Jennifer Lopez to Vince Vaughn.

But there's always a select number of talents who break away from the pack. We've chosen a handful of stars who have done just that. They were able to transcend the pressure like new "Daily Show" host Trevor Noah, or brought something unexpected out of a well-known role like Melissa Benoist on "Supergirl."

Here are 13 of TV's fastest-rising stars of 2015:

SEE ALSO: THE A-LIST: The 30 coolest, most famous people in Hollywood right now

MORE: RANKED: The 20 best TV shows in 2015, according to critics

Melissa Benoist, "Supergirl" (CBS)

Who knew that the girl cast as a mini-Lea Michele on "Glee" in its declining seasons would come to play the most coveted role among Hollywood's young actresses this year? Landing the role of CBS's Supergirl catapulted Melissa Benoist into instant recognition. It would mean intense scrutiny from both comic-book fans and fans of the cult 1984 movie. Despite the pressure, she has won over fans with her fresh-faced take on the hero.

Daniel Wu, "Into the Badlands" (AMC)

Daniel Wu wasn't even supposed to be the star of AMC's "Into the Badlands." He came on as an executive producer to bring martial-arts cred to the show. But after auditioning many young actors for the role, his fellow executive producers convinced him to step in. Wu, who had appeared in more than 65 films in Asia, had retired from martial-arts films six years ago after tearing his ACL and breaking an ankle. It took him about seven months to get back into shape for the role. Now it's hard to imagine anyone else as Sunny. Currently, he's the only Asian actor to lead a drama on US television. American viewers became acquainted with him in huge numbers when "Into the Badlands" kicked off with the biggest series debut of the fall season. 

Amy Schumer, "Insider Amy Schumer" (Comedy Central)

This is definitely the year of Amy Schumer. Her Comedy Central series won two Emmys, including Best Variety Sketch Series. That's quite a jump for a show that was already in its third season. Schumer is being compared to Melissa McCarthy, who won an Emmy for "Mike & Molly" in 2011, the same year she broke out in the film "Bridesmaids." Schumer similarly garnered widespread attention for her movie, "Trainwreck," this year.

Bill Cosby has been charged with aggravated indecent assault of one woman after dozens of others came forward in the past year to claim the comedian drugged and raped them.

The answer to one question could have a big impact on the outcome of the case accusing Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting a former Temple University employee named Andrea Constand in 2004: Will his other accusers be allowed to testify?

In many other alleged assaults from decades ago, Cosby can't be charged because the statutes of limitations have passed. However, the law may allow his other accusers to testify in the Constand case — if prosecutors can show their testimony would demonstrate a "modus operandi" or a "common scheme," according to defense attorney Stuart Slotnick.

"There is legal precedent that allows the prosecution to bring in instances of prior bad acts or uncharged crimes to demonstrate that the defendant acted in a similar kind of way," said Slotnick, a partner at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney.

"There will no doubt be a huge fight between both sides, the prosecution seeking to admit as much of this evidence as possible and the defendant trying to preclude it as overly prejudicial," he added.

In the case of Cosby, prosecutors may indeed be able to present allegations that the comedian had a common way of operating.

The accusations against Cosby have common threads that paint a picture of a man who allegedly used his power and influence in the entertainment industry to seek out vulnerable young women and lure them in with the promise of mentorship.

Some accusers have said they felt discouraged from going public because of Cosby's fame, power, and reputation as "America's dad." Moreover, virtually all of their accusers said Cosby drugged them.

"In all, or almost all, of the cases involving Bill Cosby, the alleged victims describe Cosby giving her a pill that renders her unconscious and awakens to find that she's been assaulted," Wesley Oliver, the criminal justice program director at Duquesne University, told NBC News. "And there are a lot of women who describe this occurrence."

"This is as close to a signature sexual-assault crime as it gets," he added.

Gloria Allred, a famed lawyer who represents 29 of Cosby's accusers, has said they are "prepared to testify." 

For their part, Cosby's lawyers have blamed the prosecution against him on local politics. 

“The charge by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office came as no surprise, filed 12 years after the alleged incident and coming on the heels of a hotly contested election for this county’s DA during which this case was made the focal point,” Cosby’s attorneys said in a Wednesday afternoon statement posted by the Washington Post. 

“Make no mistake, we intend to mount a vigorous defense against this unjustified charge and we expect that Mr. Cosby will be exonerated by a court of law.”

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NOW WATCH: Here are the Republican candidates who lie the most

With the enormous box office sales "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is generating, it's a good bet that many people are going back numerous times to see the movie.

A study released by Fandango, which surveyed 1,000 moviegoers, suggests as much. It found that 42% of people said they'd go see the new "Star Wars" movie again in theaters. The reasons varied. Some wanted to take their children for a repeat viewing (41%). Others wanted to catch things they missed the first time (17%). But the biggest reason people plan to see "Star Wars" more than once in theaters is simply because they loved the movie (69%).

"The Force Awakens" certainly has found universal acclaim. It currently has a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

But for more proof that many are returning to see "Awakens," Fandango told to Business Insider on Thursday that “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is seeing double the repeat customers it sees with a typical blockbuster.

"The Force Awakens" has currently made over $600 million in the US and $1.2 billion worldwide.

SEE ALSO: President Obama is laugh-out-loud funny on Jerry Seinfeld's web show about cars and coffee

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NOW WATCH: Pictures on the internet aren't always what they seem — and this photographer proves it

Jerry Seinfeld's web series, "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" kicked off its 7th season with special guest President Barack Obama. 

Produced by Jacqui Frank

Follow BI Video: On Facebook

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Proceed with caution, you must! There are TFA spoilers ahead.

If you've seen "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," you've probably left with a few questions.

One question that has been puzzling viewers is what plan of Darth Vader's Kylo Ren, the new bad guy, is trying to carry out. Throughout the movie Ren frequently expresses his desire to be as evil as his grandfather, Darth Vader, and he seems to idolize the dark lord — even though Darth Vader (spoiler alert!) turned good at the end of Episode VI.

At the end of "Return of the Jedi," Vader showed he wasn't all dark. When Emperor Palpatine attempts to kill Luke Skywalker, Vader intervenes to save his son's life and is fatally wounded. Vader's final line to Skywalker is, "tell your sister, you were right" (referring to Princess Leia), indicating Vader still had a good side and died at peace with himself.

So, does Kylo Ren simply not know what went down among Luke, the emperor, and Vader? Or is he aware and just idolizes the dark side of his grandpa?

The movie may not have answered those questions, but the book adaptation of the movie, which Disney/Lucasfilm had to sign off on before it was published, is more conclusive.

In the film's novelization, written by Alan Dean Foster, it is revealed that both Kylo Ren and Supreme Leader Snoke know the truth about what happened between Palpatine and Vader on the Death Star. Snoke also reveals that he has been around long enough to see the rise and fall of the Empire.

When the two discuss what occurred, Ren blames it on "sentiment." Snoke replies: "Such a foolish error of judgment. A momentary lapse in an otherwise exemplary life."

He continues: "Had Lord Vader not succumbed to emotion at the crucial moment — had the father killed the son — the Empire would have prevailed. And there would be no threat of Skywalker's return today."

Ren says he won't have the same problem, claiming that he is "immune to the light."

But Ren later proves that he faces the same struggle when he expresses doubts over killing his father, Han Solo. But ultimately he does kill Solo, perhaps because he knew the path his grandfather had chosen and actively did not want to make the same "weak" decision.

SEE ALSO: Here's how 'Starkiller Base' — the deadly weapon from 'Star Wars' that can blow entire planets to bits — works

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NOW WATCH: There was a 'Star Wars' made-for-TV movie you've never heard of — starring only Ewoks

Next summer's fifth installment of the Jason Bourne franchise will be Matt Damon's first in the title role since he left the series after the release of 2007's "The Bourne Ultimatum."

What's Bourne been up to all this time?

"We find him in a dark and tortured place," Damon told Entertainment Weekly about the character.

The movie will take place 12 years after "Ultimatum," and it turns out the film — which is helmed by "Ultimatum" director Paul Greengrass — will also touch on many worldly issues that have risen since we last saw Damon as Bourne.

"There's been the financial collapse, the great recession, and all these issues of cyber warfare and civil liberties" which Damon says will be part of the backdrop.

The new film, not yet titled but opening July 29, 2016, also stars Alicia Vikander, Tommy Lee Jones, and Vincent Cassel. Julia Stiles, who starred in the first three "Bourne" movies with Damon, will be returning as well.

The four previous "Bourne" movies have combined to earn over $1.2 billion worldwide. The last movie, "The Bourne Legacy," with Jeremy Renner in the lead, was the lowest earner in the franchise with a $276 million worldwide take.

SEE ALSO: How to make money off your viral video

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With movie folks descending on television like it's the new Gold Rush and iconic films and TV shows being rebooted left and right, there's bound to be shows that don't live up to the hype.

While networks and streaming companies believe that floating name talent or exploiting the fondness we had for a hit movie or series will help the success of their shows, expectations can become too high and failure to meet them becomes that much easier.

From NBC's "Aquarius" to HBO's "True Detective, here are the TV shows that didn't quite live up to the hype in 2015.

SEE ALSO: These were the top 10 illegally downloaded TV shows in 2015

MORE: RANKED: The 20 best TV shows in 2015, according to critics

"True Detective" Season 2 (HBO)

It was obnoxious how much people raved about the first season of HBO's "True Detective." Casting news for the second season then became a circus. Fans had whipped themselves into such a frenzy that it was kind of hilarious to see the bottom drop after the series finally returned and people saw that the magic writing, directing, and acting didn't come too.

"The Muppets" (ABC)

Who doesn't love the Muppets? After being served up some really entertaining movies and three decades since the iconic "The Muppets Show" last aired, it seemed prime time for a return. In fact, an updated documentary parody of the show similar to "Modern Family" or "The Office" seemed like a fun idea. But upon watching the show, it was everything but fun. The f-word we would use for it is "forced."

"The Bastard Executioner" (FX)

After the glorious end to "Sons of Anarchy" this year, creator Kurt Sutter quickly jumped back into TV with the poorly envisioned "The Bastard Executioner." FX may have wanted a piece of the "Game of Thrones" action with this period series, but viewers weren't biting. No one was surprised when Sutter and FX co-canceled the low-rated series via strategically placed ads.

George Lucas has issued a statement apologizing for essentially calling Disney, the new(ish) owner of his company Lucasfilm and the "Star Wars" franchise, "white slavers."

Lucas let the snide remark slip in a recent interview with Charlie Rose. Here's the full statement, via The Wrap:

"I want to clarify my interview on the Charlie Rose Show. It was for the Kennedy Center Honors and conducted prior to the premiere of the film. I misspoke and used a very inappropriate analogy and for that I apologize.

"I have been working with Disney for 40 years and chose them as the custodians of 'Star Wars' because of my great respect for the company and Bob Iger’s leadership. Disney is doing an incredible job of taking care of and expanding the franchise. I rarely go out with statements to clarify my feelings but I feel it is important to make it clear that I am thrilled that Disney has the franchise and is moving it in such exciting directions in film, television and the parks. Most of all I’m blown away with the record breaking blockbuster success of the new movie and am very proud of JJ and Kathy."

At the end Lucas is referring to "The Force Awakens" director J.J. Abrams and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.

In the Rose interview, Lucas opened up about the difficulty to let go of the "Star Wars" franchise. 

"It's a very, very, very hard thing to do," Lucas said. "You have to say, 'I have to move on,' and everything in your body says, 'Don't. You can't.' These are my kids."

Rose then said, "Those were your kids … and you sold them."

"I sold them to the white slavers that take these things and, and …" Lucas then stopped himself and laughed.

Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4 billion in 2012, which not only gave them ownership of the "Star Wars" franchise but another iconic brand, "Indiana Jones."

Watch a clip from the interview that includes the "white slavers" remark here:

SEE ALSO: 10 TV shows in 2015 that didn't live up to the hype

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Is drinking carbonated water bad for you?

You can watch the ball drop on TV or online from anywhere, but if you happen to be in New York on December 31, Times Square is a classic place to ring in the new year.

The New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square is co-produced by the Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment and takes a year of planning to put on.

Here is just some of the planning that goes into organizing the biggest New Year's bash in the world.

Planning for New Year's Eve begins the day after last year's bash.

When the streets are finally cleaned of noisemakers and confetti, planning for the next New Year's Eve celebration begins. This includes booking entertainment, making the ball bigger and brighter, working with sponsors, and all the other things viewers don't see going on behind the camera.

The ball today weighs almost 17 times what the first ball weighed.

Made of iron and wood, the first New Year's Eve ball to be dropped from the flagpole at One Times Square in 1907 weighed 700 pounds. The ball today weighs 11,875 pounds. The celebration begins when the ball is raised at 6 p.m.

The televised event gets bigger and better every year.

While a million people gather in Times Square to watch the live performances every year, another million and a half from over 200 countries tune in to watch the event online from a live webcast, which you can also view on your smartphone through the Times Square Ball App or the Times Square Crossroads App. Jessie J will headline the performances this year, singing John Lennon's "Imagine" moments before midnight; she will be joined by Daya, Wiz Khalifa, Demi Lovato, Carrie Underwood, and others.

The celebration continues Dick Clark's tradition of "New Year's Rockin' Eve."

The program still takes the name of its original host of 40 years, though today it's hosted by TV and radio personality Allison Hagendorf who, for her fourth year, will ring in the New Year with a few co-hosts.

The confetti that rains down on Times Square has messages written on it.

Pick up a piece of confetti from the street and you'll likely find a note on there written by someone wishing for good things for the next year, or letting go of something from the past one. The Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment actually do a trial run of the confetti a couple of days before New Year's Eve.

Revelers are ushered into "party pens" just before 6 p.m.

Police officers start letting people, in groups, into sectioned-off areas known as "party pens" just before the New Year's Eve bash begins at 6 p.m. (though many people wait around hours before then to get a good view of the ball drop). But once you're in, coming and going is not permitted.

Each year someone new gets to drop the ball.

Each year the mayor and a special guest pushes the Waterford crystal button that activates the descent of the ball down the Times Square flagpole. Last year, representatives from the International Rescue Committee had the honor; this year, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio will be joined by special guest Global Citizen, represented by Global Poverty Project CEO Hugh Evans.

The countdown to the new year always ends with a kiss at midnight.

Kissing at midnight is a New year's tradition, one which hundreds of thousands of revelers in Times Square uphold. The tradition is even turned into a contest, sponsored by Nivea, where a winning couple gets to kiss on stage.

This year, Americans watching the celebration on TV or online will also get to vote for one of two couples to be the "First Couple of 2016." The winning couple will be married and outfitted in Times Square by tuxedo company Generation Tux founder George Zimmer himself.

Join the conversation about this story »

Original story here.

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Business Insider recently released its list of the most powerful people in the world, and 10 of the top 50 included hedge fund managers, bank CEOs, and other magnates in the finance industry.

To determine the ranking, we considered more than 100 of the most influential players in business, politics, and entertainment and evaluated their influence using metrics in four major areas: economic power, command, newsworthiness, and impact— a subjective measure that captures how important they are in their respective spheres.

We then narrowed down the list to just those in the finance industry, adding six finance heavyweights who narrowly missed our top 50. You can read the full methodology here.

Read on to see the 16 most powerful people in finance in the world. 

Editing by Alex Morrell with additional research by Andy Kiersz.

SEE ALSO: The 50 most powerful people in the world

DON'T MISS: The 20 most powerful people in tech

16. George Soros

Title: Chairman, Soros Fund Management and Open Society Foundations

Country: US

Age: 85

Born in Budapest, George Soros lived through the Nazi occupation of Hungary during WWII before fleeing to England and later settling in the US. He remains actively interested in politics today and recently made news for supporting the refugees flooding into Europe, a move Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban saw as an attempt to undermine the authority of European nations. Soros is also seen as a friend to liberals and an enemy of conservatives in the US, and he donated $2 million to super PACs supporting Hillary Clinton earlier this year.

Touted as "the man who broke the bank of England," Soros is best known in the finance world for the Quantum Fund, a hedge fund he launched in 1973 under his Soros Fund Management company. In 1992 he shorted the British pound, a risky move that ended up earning the fund $1 billion in a single day and solidifying Soros’ place in finance. Quantum Fund also generated annual returns over 30% under Soros' leadership, making it one of the most successful hedge funds of all time.

Today, Soros, who has a personal net worth upwards of at least $23.3 billion, remains chairman of Soros Fund Management, which manages more than $25 billion in assets. He’s also the chairman of Open Society, an organization he founded in 1979 that operates as a network of foundations and partners across the globe who promote the values of open society and human rights.

15. Ding Xuedong

Title: Chairman and CEO, China Investment Corporation

Country: China

Age: 55

As the chairman and CEO of China Investment Corporation, the world’s fourth-largest sovereign wealth fund, Ding Xuedong manages over $700 billion in assets. A longtime employee of China’s finance ministry, Ding was appointed as chairman in 2013, following the exit of Lou Jiwei months prior.

The fund, founded in 2007, oversees China’s foreign exchange holdings. CIC has branched out into countries all over the globe, from Canada to Russia to Australia, and in November it expressed interest in purchasing a development site near Sydney Olympic Park, a deal worth about $660 million.

In addition to managing CIC, Ding also oversees China International Capital Corp, a huge investment bank that went public in November— the first Chinese company to do so in months. China curbed IPOs during a market plunge, but CICC’s IPO built confidence that the market had stabilized. 

14. Lloyd Blankfein

Title: CEO, Goldman Sachs

Country: US

Age: 61

As the CEO of Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein oversees the company’s $880 billion in total assets. Goldman is one of the strongest banks on Wall Street, ranking in the top two (alongside rival JPMorgan) in global investment-bank revenue across fixed income, equities, and banks for the first nine months of the year.  

With a personal net worth topping $1.1 billion, Blankfein officially became a billionaire this summer as well. Most of his wealth is tied up in Goldman stock, but the CEO also owns a significant amount of real estate, including a duplex on Central Park West.

In September, Blankfein announced that he is battling cancer — a “highly curable” form of lymphoma, as he described it — but the banker isn’t slowing down. Blankfein continues to run the company as usual, coming into the office every day and keeping GS on top of Wall Street.

2016 will be filled with lots of streaming viewing options.

Highlights include new releases like "Goosebumps" and "Black Mass;" titles that never get old like "Dazed and Confused," and "Serpico;" as well as new seasons of TV shows like "Workaholics," "New Girl," "The Bachelor," and the premiere of the final season of "American Idol."

All the new movie and TV titles are below. We've highlighted in bold some titles we think are worth checking out.

SEE ALSO: The 9 biggest breakout stars in movies from 2015

iTunes

Available January 5

"Black Mass"
"Goosebumps"
"The Last Witch Hunter"

Available January 12

"All Things Must Pass"
"Burnt"
"The Diary of a Teenage Girl"
"Freeheld"
"Rock the Kasbah"
"Suffragette"

Available January 19

"The 33"
"The Assassin"
"By the Sea"
"Crimson Peak"
"Truth"

Amazon Prime

Available January 1

"An Affair To Remember"
"Annie" (2014)
"The Da Vinci Code"
"Dazed and Confused"
"Journey To The Center Of The Earth"
"Mad Dogs" (Season 1)
"Miracle On 34th Street"
"Paper Planes"
"Taps"
"The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water"
"The St. Valentine's Day Massacre"
"Thundercats" (Season 1)

Available January 4

"Breakfast At Tiffany's"
"Boardertown" (Season 1)
"Flesh and Bone" (Season 1)
"Margin Call"
"Planes, Trains & Automobiles"
"Serpico"

Available January 5

"1408"
"Captive"
"Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser"

Available January 8

"Hot Tub Time Machine"

Available January 9

"Goodnight Mommy"

Available January 10

"Shameless"

Available January 11

"All Creatures Big and Small"

Available January 12

"Black Mass"
"Goosebumps"

Available January 13

"The Missing"

Available January 14

"The Second Mother"

Available January 15

"Idiot Sitter" (Season 1)
"Workaholics" (Season 6)

Available January 16

"Frank Miller's Sin City"
"Hell's Kitchen" (Season 15)
"Spare Parts"

Available January 17

"Billions"

Available January 21

"Dark Net"

Available January 23

"Black Sails"
"Mortdecai"

Available January 26

"Man of Tai Chi"

HULU

Available January 1

"Bad Influence" 
"Beverly Hills Cop II"
"Breakfast at Tiffany's"
"Catch-22"
"Caveman"
"Devil's Double"
"Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007"
"Footloose" (1984)
"From Mexico with Love"
"Guns Of The Magnificent Seven"
"Heartbreakers"
"High Noon"
"I.Q."
"Larger Than Life"
"License to Kill" 
"Married to the Mob"
"Miami Blues"
"Mission: Impossible"
"Mighty Fine"
"Planes, Trains and Automobiles"
"Radio Days"
"Scrooged"
"Serpico"
"Shane"
"Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water"
"Stigmata"
"Thief" 

Available January 2

"Project Almanac"

Available January 3

"Bordertown": Series Premiere (FOX)

Available January 4

"Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life": Series Premiere (FOX)
"Into the Abyss"

Available January 5

"The Bachelor": Season 20 Premiere (ABC)
"The Biggest Loser": Season 17 Premiere (NBC)
"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia": Complete Season 10 (FXX)
"You Kill Me"

Available January 6

"American Idol": Final Season Premiere (FOX)
"New Girl": Season 5 Premiere (FOX)
"Stolen"        

Available January 7

"Chicago P.D.": New Episodes (NBC)
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit": New Episodes (NBC)
"The Mysteries of Laura": New Episodes (NBC)
"The Thin Blue Line"

Available January 8

"Beyond the Tank": Season Premiere (ABC)
"Hot Tub Time Machine 2"
"Shades of Blue": Series Premiere (NBC)
"Sleeping Beauty" (2011)

Available January 9

"Albatross"

Available January 16

"Hell’s Kitchen": Season 15 Premiere (FOX)

Available January 17

"Saturday Night Live": New Episodes (NBC)

Available January 25

"Regular Show": Complete Season 6 (Cartoon Network)
"The X-Files": Season 10 Premiere (FOX)

Available January 26

"Fear the Walking Dead": Complete Season 1 (AMC)
"Lucifer": Series Premiere (FOX)
"Mommy"
"The Westbrooks": Winter Finale (BET)

Available January 27

"The Boonies": Series Premiere (Nat Geo)
"Mine Hunters": Series Premiere (Nat Geo)

Available January 30

"Aqua Teen Hunger Force Forever": All Episodes (Adult Swim)

There's never a bad time to dive back into the archives and watch some good movies.

And if you have some time off around the start of the new year, this might be a good time to binge some modern-day classics.

With that in mind, I've come up with 20 essential titles from the past 15 years that you should reexamine or, if you've never seen them, delve into.

SEE ALSO: RANKED: All 13 late-night talk shows from best to worst

1. “Donnie Darko” (2001)

Jake Gyllenhaal was just starting to get on everyone's radar when he scored one of his first lead roles, playing a troubled teen who is tormented by visions of the future and a disturbing-looking bunny. "Donnie Darko" has become a cult classic, as it captured the angst of the youth who at the time the movie was in theaters were coping with the confusion of a post-9/11 world.

2. "Bowling For Columbine" (2002)

Michael Moore's fourth feature film, which won an Oscar for best documentary, might be his best. The controversial director uses the events of the Columbine High School massacre to address the US' addiction to guns. Sadly, 14 years later the issues explored in this movie are still relevant.

3. "City of God" (2002)

This incredibly stylish look at the slums of Rio de Janeiro charts the lives of two boys as they grow up among guns and drugs. The cast is made up mostly of nonprofessional actors, which gives an authenticity to the movie. But what's most surprising about this extremely violent film is how much comedy is layered into it.

On October 21st, 2015, the very day that Marty McFly and his friends traveled to the future in the 80s movie “Back To The Future Part II,” Nike made the cult film's iconic self-lacing sneakers a reality.

The company announced that a limited run of Nike Air Mag sneakers will be released in Spring 2016, with all proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation to support Parkinson’s research.

The shoes feature a power lacing system that mimics the one depicted in the movie. When Michael J. Fox tried on the first pair all he managed to say was, “That’s insane.”

Seems like the 80s movie got a lot of future predestines right.

Story by Tony Manfred and editing by Adam Banicki

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As winter arrives, it's time to find new midseason addictions and wait for favorites to return to TV.

Networks have started releasing their winter schedules, which include new series such as HBO's "Vinyl," The CW's "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" and Fox's "X-Files" reboot. 

The new year also brings the return of midseason shows like ABC's "Agent Carter" and the new season premieres of AMC's "Better Call Saul" and Comedy Central's "Broad City," among others. It also marks ABC Family's relaunch as Freeform.  

Other shows like PBS' "Downton Abbey" and Fox's "American Idol" are taking a lap with their final seasons.

And don't worry, some fall favorites like Fox's "Empire," ABC's "How to Get Away With Murder" and CBS' "Criminal Minds" already have their winter/spring return dates set for next year. 

Here are all of the premiere and return dates you want to know so far (we'll update as more come in), and note, all times are Eastern: 

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Friday, January 1
9:00 p.m. PBS "Sherlock: The Abominable Bride" (4th season special) 

Sunday, January 3
8:00 p.m. ABC "Galavant" (2nd season premiere)
8:00 p.m. Fox "The Simpsons" (winter return)
8:30 p.m. Fox "Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life" (series premiere)
9:00 p.m. Fox "Family Guy" (winter return)
9:00 p.m. PBS "Downton Abbey" (6th season premiere) 
9:30 p.m. Fox "Bordertown" (series premiere) 

Monday, January 4
8:00 p.m. NBC "Superstore" (series premiere) 
8:00 p.m. ABC "The Bachelor" (20th season premiere) 
8:00 p.m. Fox "Superhuman" (series premiere)
8:30 p.m. NBC "Telenovela" (series premiere) 
9:00 p.m. NBC "The Biggest Loser" (17th season premiere)

Tuesday, January 5
8:00 p.m. Fox "New Girl" (5th season premiere) 
8:00 p.m. PBS "Finding Your Roots" (3rd season premiere) 
8:30 p.m. Fox "Grandfathered" (winter return)
9:00 p.m. Fox "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (winter return)
9:00 p.m. ABC "Marvel's Agent Carter" (2nd season premiere) 
9:00 p.m. MTV "Teen Wolf" (winter return) 
9:30 p.m. Fox "The Grinder" (winter return)
10:00 p.m. MTV "The Shannara Chronicles" (series premiere)

Wednesday, January 6
8:00 p.m. Fox "American Idol" (15th season premiere, part 1) 
8:00 p.m. CBS "2 Broke Girls" (new time)
8:30 p.m. CBS "Mike & Molly" (6th season premiere)
10:00 p.m. ABC "American Crime" (2nd season premiere) 
10:00 p.m. FXX "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" (11th season premiere)
10:30 p.m. FXX "Man Seeking Woman" (2nd season premiere) 

Thursday, January 7
8:00 p.m. Fox "American Idol" (15th season premiere, part 2) 
8:00 p.m. ABC "My Diet is Better Than Yours" (series premiere)
8:00 p.m. CBS "The Big Bang Theory" (winter return) 
8:30 p.m. CBS "Life in Pieces" (winter return) 
9:00 p.m. CBS "Mom" (winter return)
9:30 p.m. CBS "Angel From Hell" (series premiere)
10:00 p.m. ABC "Beyond the Tank" (season premiere) 
10:00 p.m. NBC "Shades of Blue" (series premiere)  
10:00 p.m. CBS "Elementary" (winter return) 

Friday, January 8
8:00 p.m. Fox "Masterchef Junior" (5th season premiere) 
9:00 p.m. CBS "Hawaii 5-0" (winter return) 
10:00 p.m. CBS "Blue Bloods" (winter return)

Sunday, January 10
7:30 p.m. Fox "Bob's Burgers" (winter return)
9:00 p.m. Showtime "Shameless" (6th season premiere) 

Tuesday, January 12
8:00 p.m. Freeform "Pretty Little Liars" (winter return) 
9:00 p.m. Freeform "Shadowhunters" (series premiere) 

Wednesday, January 13
9:00 p.m. Fox "Second Chance" (series premiere) 
9:00 p.m. CBS "Criminal Minds" (winter return) 
10:00 p.m. CBS "Code Black" (winter return)
10:00 p.m. TV Land "Younger" (2nd season premiere) 
11:00 p.m. TV Land "Teachers" (series premiere) 

Thursday, January 14
10:00 p.m. Comedy Central "Workaholics" (6th season premiere)
10:00 p.m. USA "Colony" (series premiere) 
10:30 p.m. Comedy Central "Idiotsitter" (series premiere)

Friday, January 15
9:00 p.m. Fox "Hell's Kitchen" (15th season premiere)  

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" introduces the New Republic, the Resistance (basically the new Rebels), and the First Order (basically the new Empire), but between all the battle scenes, it never exactly explains the relationship between the three organizations.

For those wondering about the new galactic politics, the film's novelization, written by Alan Dean Foster, offers some insight. We read it and this is what we found.

The New Republic formed in the wake of the Battle of Endor (seen in "Return of the Jedi") as the new central government, but in the 30 years that have since transpired, it fell into disarray and began to collapse. 

The novel begins with General Leia remembering how people failed to take advantage of their newfound freedom and disagreeing about the threat from the First Order, which rose from the fallen Empire.

According to Kylo Ren, the First Order exists to fix what the Republic had destroyed. He explains to a lieutenant:

"It is the task of the First Order to remove the disorder from our own existence, so that civilization may be returned to the stability that promotes progress. A stability that existed under the Empire, was reduced to anarchy by the Rebellion, was inherited in turn by the so-called Republic, and will be restored by us. Future historians will look upon this as the time when a strong hand brought the rule of law back to civilization.”

Leia recalls that the former rebellion leaders thought rebuilding after the Empire's fall would be easy, but they underestimated the challenges that were ahead.

"Those who had led the rebellion had under-estimated the deeply buried desire of far too large a proportion of the population who simply preferred to be told what to do," she remembers. "Much easier it was to follow orders than to think for oneself. So everyone had argued and debated and discussed. Until it was too late."

Leia and others who perceived the First Order as a threat formed the Resistance. Due to a treaty between the New Republic and the First Order, the Resistance was an unsanctioned organization, though it did have the private support of the New Republic.  

In a scene not featured in the movie, Leia implores her personal envoy, Korr Sella, to travel to the Hosnian System, home to Hosnian Prime, the current capital of the New Republic, to seek support against the First Order. 

Sella suspects the Senate won't listen, but Leia insists that the Senate has changed and might now be willing to help. When Sella asks Leia why she won't personally go, Leia says it's because she wouldn't be safe. 

"I would never, never get out of the Hosnian system alive," she says. "I would have a terrible ‘accident,’ or become the victim of some ‘deranged’ radical. Or I would eat something that didn’t agree with me. Or encounter someone who didn’t agree with me.”

Sella does briefly appear in "The Force Awakens." Played by Maisie Richardson-Sellers, she is standing on the balcony when the Starkiller Base destroys the Hosnian System.   

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