• Panic, a company best-known for software development, will release a new portable video game console called Playdate.
• Playdate has a black-and-white screen, and an odd hand crank that's used to control its games.
• Playdate will have 12 exclusive games created by indie game developers, and Panic plans to release one per week after Playdate launches in early 2020.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Playdate is a bizarre new video game console with a black-and-white screen and hand crank created by software-maker Panic. While the tiny handheld has a simple retro style, it's equipped with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a USB-C connector, and a headphone jack. Thankfully, the console will have its own battery so you wont need to spin the crank to keep it charged.

The portable console will sell for $150 and comes with 12 exclusive games designed by popular indie developers, including Keita Takahashi ("Katamari Damacy"), Zach Gage ("SpellTower"), Bennett Foddy ("QWOP"), and Shaun Inman ("The Last Rocket").

Playdate is expected to launch in early 2020; Panic will release one new game per week over the course of a 12-week season. Panic announced the handheld device with a detailed Twitter thread on May 23rd and people are already signing up to buy one as soon as they become available.

This won't be Panic's first foray into video games– the software company also published the indie-hit "Firewatch" in 2016 and will release another indie title, "Untitled Goose Game," later this year. Playdate looks to have some very unique games as well. Some games will be controlled using just the hand crank while others will only use the standard buttons on the front of the device.

Playdate began as a pet project for Panic four years ago, and the company partnered with Stockholm-based Teenage Engineering to complete design.

You can sign up for updates on Playdate on the console's official website. Panic will also share more information on the @playdate Twitter account.

Here's what some people are saying about the odd new video game console so far:

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Now that Google and Nintendo offer digital video games, GameStop could have the same fate as Blockbuster

Hulu's "The Handmaid's Tale" won the best drama series Emmy award for 2017, making it the first streaming service to reach that prestigious spot.

And though the show, which returns for season three on June 5, is Hulu's most well-known original series, it's by no means the service's only great one.

Hulu's slate of new original TV has been red-hot this year, and much of it's been led by women. From "Shrill" to "Pen15," Hulu has quietly become the streamer with the highest consistent quality of output.

To give you a full picture of how Hulu shows stack up against each other, we turned to Rotten Tomatoes, which pulls in critic (and audience) reviews from around the world. We excluded documentaries, unscripted series, and Hulu originals that had fewer than four critic reviews.

Here are Hulu's 26 original shows (and Hulu-branded coproductions), ordered from worst to best:

John Lynch contributed to a previous version of this post.

"Shut Eye" — 37%

Critics score: 37

Audience score: 88

Hulu description: "Shut Eye takes a darkly comedic look at the world of Los Angeles storefront psychics and the organized crime syndicate that runs them. Former magician Charlie Haverford (Jeffrey Donovan) oversees a number of fortune telling parlors on behalf of his violent and domineering Romani kingpin boss, until a blow to the head jars him into a new mindset, making him question everything he has ever believed."

Status: Ended (2 seasons)

What critics said (Season 2): "Shut Eye is a complex web that juggles various side acts that often detract from the main through line of the show." -Entertainment Weekly

"Light as a Feather" — 38%

Critics score: 38

Audience score: 80

Hulu description: "An innocent game of 'Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board' goes wrong when the five teen girls who played start dying off in the exact way that was predicted, forcing the survivors to figure out why they're being targeted - and whether the evil force hunting them down is one of their own."

Status: Current (Season 2 coming)

What critics said: "Separating itself from Hereditary, A Quiet Place, or even Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House, the series is a temporary guest that can be a little dramatic-but only sometimes." -Cosmopolitan

"Hard Sun" — 48%

Critics score: 48

Audience score: 76

Hulu description: "Jim Sturgess and Agyness Deyn play detectives Charlie Hicks and Elaine Renko, partners and enemies, who seek to enforce the law and protect their loved ones in a world that every day slips closer to certain destruction.  Charlie Hicks (Sturgess) is a family man and a great, committed officer.  He's also profoundly corrupt.  Elaine Renko (Deyn) is a difficult and damaged, but utterly incorruptible officer.  Thus, the two cops stand on different ends of the social and moral spectrum and also seriously distrust one other – and for good reason.  But they must somehow learn to work together if they're going to survive until the end of the world."

Status: Ended (1 season)

What critics said: "To make up for the lack of substance, the cast is asked to overact." -Indiewire

"The First" — 66%

Critics score: 66

Audience score: 79

Hulu description: "Sean Penn leads an ensemble cast in this near-future drama about a crew of astronauts attempting to become the first humans on Mars. Under the direction of visionary aerospace magnate Laz Ingram (Natascha McElhone), the crew contends with peril and personal sacrifice as they undertake the greatest pioneering feat in human history."

Status: Ended (1 season)

What critics said: "The First needs to up its game or it's headed for the black hole of oblivion." -Metro

"Into the Dark" — 68%

Critics score: 68

Audience score: 78

Hulu description: "From Blumhouse Television, Into the Dark is a horror series of 12 super-sized episodes, with a new installment released each month."

Status: Current (Season 1)

What critics said: "If only this horror anthology was more, well, horrifying. As is, Into the Dark is more chill than chilling." -Los Angeles Times

"Dimension 404" — 75%

Critics score: 75

Audience score: 63

Hulu description: "In the darkest depths of cyberspace, there is another world. A lost dimension, home to wonders unseen, terrors unspeakable, and stories unlike any ever told. Dimension 404 is a science fiction anthology that explores the wonders - and terrors - of our digital age."

Status: Ended (1 season)

What critics said: "Again, the visual effects are remarkable, but there's little else to be entranced by." -The Atlantic

"Chance" — 75%

Critics score: 75

Audience score: 86

Hulu description: "Based on Kem Nunn's novel, Chance is described as a provocative psychological thriller that focuses on Eldon Chance (Hugh Laurie), a San Francisco-based forensic neuropsychiatrist who reluctantly gets sucked into a violent and dangerous world of mistaken identity, police corruption and mental illness."

Status: Ended (2 seasons)

What critics said (Season 1): "Chance wants to be a kind of seedy California noir, complete with femme fatale but is personality-less instead." -Slate

"The Path" — 77%

Critics score: 77

Audience score: 82

Hulu description: "The Path follows a family at the center of a controversial cult movement as they struggle with relationships, faith and power. Each episode takes an in-depth look at the gravitational pull of belief and what it means to choose between the life we live and the life we want. The series blends elements of mystery-thriller, romance and the supernatural."

Status: Ended (3 seasons)

What critics said (Season 3): "Those who have kept on The Path are in for fun surprises and wild action." -The Daily Dot

"11.22.63" — 80%

Critics score: 80

Audience score: 88

Hulu description: "Imagine having the power to change history. Would you journey down the 'rabbit hole?' This eight –part event series follows Jake Epping (James Franco), an ordinary high school teacher, presented with the unthinkable mission of traveling back in time to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963."

Status: Ended (1 season)

What critics said: "The eight-part miniseries, which begins streaming Monday, immaculately recreates the era - but it's also, at its beating heart, an exquisite romance about sacrifice and the perils of optimism." -Newark Star-Ledger

"The Hotwives of Orlando" — 85%

Critics score: 85

Audience score: 100

Hulu description: "A parody of one of the most popular franchises in reality television, "The Hotwives of Orlando," takes you inside the uber-exclusive and glamorous world of six hot housewives livin' large in Central Florida's sexiest city, Orlando."

Status: Ended (1 season)

What critics said: "The series is amusing enough to qualify as a good summer diversion-if not exactly must-see TV." -Entertainment Weekly

"Catch-22" — 86%

Critics score: 86

Audience score: 76

Hulu description: "Based on the acclaimed Joseph Heller novel, Catch-22 follows the adventures and misadventures of a US air squadron in Italy in World War II. Yossarian, a bombardier, whose frantic obsession every time he goes up on a mission is "to come down alive". His odds of success at such a simple aim keep getting worse because Colonel Cathcart keeps raising the number of missions the men have to fly. More than the retreating Germans, the real enemy for Yossarian and his rag-tag bunch of friends is the bureaucracy of the military, inverting logic at every turn. The pinnacle of this is Catch-22, a military by-law which states that if you fly your missions, you're crazy, and don't have to fly them; all you have to do is ask. But if you ask not to, then you're sane, and so you have to fly them."

Status: Ended (1 season)

What critics said: "There are good reasons to visit this project, but the big-name actors are, interestingly, not really among them. The lesser-known actors are, in many cases, stronger." -NPR

"The Mindy Project" — 86%

Critics score: 86

Audience score: 85

Hulu description: "A single-camera comedy, starring Mindy Kaling, that follows a skilled OB/GYN navigating the tricky waters of both her personal and professional life, as she pursues her dreams of becoming the perfect woman, finding the perfect man and getting her perfect romantic comedy ending."

Status: Ended (6 seasons)

What critics said (Season 6): "The Mindy Project was messy, but when it worked, boy was it fun." -Uproxx

"Marvel's Runaways" — 86%

Critics score: 86

Audience score: 87

Hulu description: "Every teenager thinks their parents are evil. What if you found out they actually were? Marvel's Runaways is the story of six diverse teenagers who can barely stand each other but who must unite against a common foe – their parents."

Status: Current (Season 3 coming)

What critics said (Season 1): "The superpowers-as-coming-of-age-story works so well, and why Marvel's Runaways has so much promise despite a slow start." -Observer

"Castle Rock" — 87%

Critics score: 87

Audience score: 80

Hulu description: "A psychological-horror series set in the Stephen King multiverse, Castle Rock combines the mythological scale and intimate character storytelling of King's best-loved works, weaving an epic saga of darkness and light, played out on a few square miles of Maine woodland. The fictional Maine town of Castle Rock has figured prominently in King's literary career: Cujo, The Dark Half, IT and Needful Things, as well as novella The Body and numerous short stories such as Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption are either set there or contain references to Castle Rock. Castle Rock is an original suspense/thriller — a first-of-its-kind reimagining that explores the themes and worlds uniting the entire King canon, while brushing up against some of his most iconic and beloved stories."

Status: Current (Season 2 coming)

What critics said: "For a purposely misleading series that prided itself on all its enigmas, Castle Rock answered its major questions in unexpected and impressive ways, while once again tying itself to the greater King universe." -Observer

"The Looming Tower" — 88%

Critics score: 88

Audience score: 63

Hulu description: "Based on the Pulitzer-Prize winning book, The Looming Tower traces the rising threat of Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda in the late 1990s and how the rivalry between the FBI and CIA during that time may have inadvertently set the path for the tragedy of 9/11. The series follows members of the I-49 Squad in New York and Alec Station in Washington, D.C., the counter-terrorism divisions of the FBI and CIA, respectively, as they travel the world fighting for ownership of information while seemingly working toward the same goal - trying to prevent an imminent attack on U.S. soil."

Status: Ended (1 season)

What critics said: "It's like watching Tom and Jerry play a testosterone-fueled game of cat and mouse while a venomous snake quietly slithers past them in a suicide vest." -Boston Globe

"The Bisexual" — 90%

Critics score: 90

Hulu description: "After splitting with her long-term girlfriend, Leila is forced to move in with stranger and has-been novelist Gabe. Their worlds collide in deeply awkward and revealing ways as he becomes her unlikely wingman, helping her to navigate her new life dating men as well as women."

Status: Pending (1 season)

What critics said: "The Bisexual's secret weapon is its willingness to be moving. You laugh like a drain, but you care." -Daily Telegraph

"Future Man" — 91%

Critics score: 91

Audience score: 85

Hulu description: "Future Man stars Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) as 'Josh Futturman,' a janitor by day/gamer by night who is recruited by mysterious visitors to travel through time in order to prevent the extinction of humanity."

Status: Ending (Season 3 coming)

What critics said (Season 1): "Everything feels meticulously, lovingly plotted by the show's creators, but as it's happening it leads to numerous surprises and big laughs. Future Man is what happens when giddy, geeky and inspired storytelling is allowed to go full throttle." -RogerEbert.com

"The Handmaid's Tale" — 91%

Critics score: 91

Audience score: 87

Hulu description: "Adapted from the classic novel by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale is the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was formerly the United States. Facing environmental disasters and a plunging birthrate, Gilead is ruled by a twisted fundamentalism in its militarized 'return to traditional values'. As one of the few remaining fertile women, Offred (Elisabeth Moss) is a Handmaid in the Commander's household, one of the caste of women forced into sexual servitude as a last desperate attempt to repopulate the world."

Status: Current (Season 3 coming June 5)

What critics said (Season 2): "The Handmaid's Tale is powerful and propulsive. After the first three episodes, when the horrors become more predictable, it's even pretty watchable." -Slate

"The Act" — 91%

Critics score: 91

Audience score: 91

Hulu description: "The Act is a seasonal anthology series that tells startling, stranger-than-fiction true crime stories. Season One follows Gypsy Blanchard (Joey King), a girl trying to escape the toxic relationship she has with her overprotective mother, Dee Dee (Patricia Arquette). Her quest for independence opens a Pandora's box of secrets, one that ultimately leads to murder."

Status: Pending (1 season)

What critics said: "This is body horror by way of Walt Disney, a ghoulish fantasia of princess gowns, stuffed animals, prescription drugs, and physical harm." -The Atlantic

"Shrill" — 92%

Critics score: 92

Audience score: 79

Hulu description: "From Executive Producers Lorne Michaels and Elizabeth Banks comes Shrill, a comedy series starring Aidy Bryant (Saturday Night Live) as Annie, a fat young woman who wants to change her life — but not her body. Annie is trying to start her career while juggling bad boyfriends, a sick parent, and a perfectionist boss."

Status: Current (Season 2 coming)

What critics said: "Bryant, who even when she's playing self-obsessed-becoming a self-actualized human being may require a wee bit of egomania-is extremely appealing." -Slate

"Casual" — 92%

Critics score: 92

Audience score: 87

Hulu description: "From the Academy Award Nominated Director of 'Up in the Air' and 'Juno' comes Casual, a new comedy series about a bachelor brother and his newly divorced sister living under one roof again. Together, they coach each other through the crazy world of dating while raising her teenage daughter."

Status: Ended (4 seasons)

What critics said (Season 4): "It's about love, not hate, so while certain critics may feel the need to lash out in anger at a thing of beauty pulled from us too soon, these four seasons provide a lifetime of moments to treasure." -Indiewire

"Difficult People" — 95%

Critics score: 95

Audience score: 81

Hulu description: "Difficult People hails from Julie Klausner who stars alongside Emmy-nominated Billy on the Street host Billy Eichner. As best friends living in New York City, their typical, irreverent behavior lands them in some very awkward situations."

Status: Ended (3 seasons)

What critics said (Season 3): "It's big, existential stuff, pushing Klausner and Eichner towards their most nuanced performances yet." -Indiewire

"Pen15" — 95%

Critics score: 95

Audience score: 84

Hulu description: "PEN15 is middle school as it really happened. Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle star in this adult comedy, playing versions of themselves as thirteen-year-old outcasts in the year 2000, surrounded by actual thirteen-year-olds, where the best day of your life can turn into your worst with the stroke of a gel pen."

Status: Current (Season 2 coming)

What critics said: "It'll sneak up on you, this gem." -NPR

"The Wrong Mans" — 95%

Critics score: 95

Audience score: 91

Hulu description: "Lowly office workers Sam (Matthew Baynton) and Phil (James Corden) have a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. From being dragged into a deadly criminal conspiracy after answering someone else's phone to being thrown into witness protection in Texas, 'The Wrong Mans' is chock-full of plot twists and bold new enemies at every turn."

Status: Ended (2 seasons)

What critics said (Season 2): "It's a slapstick version of Mission Impossible, and nobody but [James] Corden could pull it off." -Daily Mail

"Ramy" — 97%

Critics score: 97

Audience score: 81

Hulu description: "Ramy is a first generation Egyptian-American who is on a spiritual journey in his politically-divided New Jersey neighborhood. RAMY will bring a new perspective to the screen as it explores the challenges of what it's like being caught between a Muslim community that thinks life is a moral test and a millennial generation that thinks life has no consequences."

Status: Current (Season 2 coming)

What critics said: "The writing is rich and layered, the references are topical...and 'Ramy' explores topics and themes that feel quietly revolutionary." -Detroit News

"Harlots" — 97%

Critics score: 97

Audience score: 91

Hulu description: "Margaret Wells struggles to reconcile her roles as brothel owner and mother to daughters Charlotte and Lucy. When her business comes under attack from Lydia Quigley, a rival madam with a ruthless streak, Margaret must fight back even if it means losing her family and possibly her life."

Status: Current (Season 3 coming July 10)

What critics said (Season 2): "It's a show that treats sex and gender dynamics with matter-of-fact horror and humor that feels honest but not solemn." -The Ringer

• Inflight entertainment has come a long way over the past few decades, evolving from communal movie to seatback screens to smartphone streaming. 
• According to American Airlines, the type of content we watch has also changed, with a greater focus these days placed on programming from streaming services and those that can be binge-watched.
• The most popular movie in 2018, as far as passenger viewing on American Airlines goes, was "Black Panther," while "The Big Bang Theory" proved to be the most watched TV series. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Inflight entertainment has come a long way over the past few decades. Not that long ago inflight entertainment meant everyone watching the same movie on communal screens. These days, we are spoiled by advanced seatback IFE systems with hundreds of movies, TV shows, and live sporting events. Beyond seatback screens, airlines have also expanded into streaming technology that allows passengers to view content on their smartphones or tablets. 

Not only has the way we watched movies and TV on planes changed, but the makeup of the entertainment options has also evolved, much of it as a result of online streaming.

"We've definitely moved away from the standard network television programming," Kelsey Hughes, the project manager in charge of inflight entertainment at American Airlines, told Business Insider. "It just doesn't seem to be quite as popular anymore."

Read more: American Airlines CEO reveals the most important lesson he learned from the legendary founder of Southwest Airlines

Instead of the standard network dramas that were once all the rage, American has instead turned to programming that's more likely to be binge-watched.

"We stick with more lighthearted sitcoms, comedy series, and we've gone to a lot of internet streaming providers like Amazon to source their shows and their exclusive content," Hughes added.

According to Hughes, the most popular movie in 2018, as far as passenger viewing on American Airlines goes, was "Black Panther," while "The Big Bang Theory" proved to be the most watched TV series. 

Here's a closer look at the 10 most popular inflight movies for 2018 on American Airlines.

SEE ALSO: American Airlines CEO reveals why a small Italian airline is the focus of the nastiest feud in the airline industry

FOLLOW US: On Facebook for more car and transportation content!

10. Darkest Hour

"During the early days of World War II, with the fall of France imminent, Britain faces its darkest hour as the threat of invasion looms. As the seemingly unstoppable Nazi forces advance, and with the Allied army cornered on the beaches of Dunkirk, the fate of Western Europe hangs on the leadership of the newly-appointed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill [Academy Award nominee Gary Oldman]. While maneuvering his political rivals, he must confront the ultimate choice: negotiate with Hitler and save the British people at a terrible cost or rally the nation and fight on against incredible odds."

Source: Focus Features

9. Book Club

"Four friends' (Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen) lives are turned upside down to hilarious ends when their book club tackles the infamous Fifty Shades of Grey. Also starring Andy Garcia, Don Johnson and Craig T. Nelson."

Source:Amazon

8. Avengers: Infinity War

"An unprecedented cinematic journey ten years in the making and spanning the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Infinity War" brings to the screen the ultimate, deadliest showdown of all time. As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment - the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain."

Source:Marvel

7. The Greatest Showman

"Hugh Jackman leads an all-star cast in this bold and original musical filled with infectious showstopping performances that will bring you to your feet time and time again. Inspired by the story of P.T. Barnum (Jackman), the film follows the visionary who rose from nothing to create a mesmerizing spectacle. This inspirational film also stars Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya."

Source:Fox Movies

6. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

"Four teenagers in detention discover an old video game console with a game they've never heard of. When they decide to play, they are immediately sucked into the jungle world of Jumanji in the bodies of their avatars (Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan). They'll have to complete the adventure of their lives filled with fun, thrills and danger or be stuck in the game forever!"

Source:Sony Pictures

5. All the Money in the World

"After the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III, in a race against time, his mother works to convince his wealthy grandfather to pay the ransom. Inspired by historical events. Certain scenes, characters and dialogue have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes."

Source:Amazon

4. Daddy's Home 2

"When it comes to raising their kids, Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) and Brad (Will Ferrell) finally have this co-parenting thing down. That is, until their dads come to town, putting their newfound partnership to the ultimate test in this hilarious comedy."

Source:Amazon

3. Coco

"In Disney/Pixar's vibrant tale of family, fun and adventure, aspiring young musician named Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) embarks on an extraordinary journey to the magical land of his ancestors. There, the charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael Garcia Bernal) becomes an unexpected friend who helps Miguel uncover the mysteries behind his family's stories and traditions."

Source:Disney

2. American Made

"Tom Cruise reunites with his "Edge of Tomorrow" director, Doug Liman, in this thriller based on the outrageous true story of Barry Seal, a hustler and pilot unexpectedly recruited by the CIA to run one of the biggest covert operations in U.S. history."

Source:Amazon

1. Black Panther

"Marvel Studios' "Black Panther" follows T'Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T'Challa's mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life."

Source:Disney

• It's not out of the realm of possibility, but as the box office of "Avengers: Endgame" slows, it will be difficult for the movie, which has made $2.6 billion worldwide, to reach the $2.8 billion gross of "Avatar."
• And it's practically impossible for "Endgame" to surpass "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" domestically. The latter made $936 million in the US, while "Endgame" has made $779 million.
• But "Endgame" is still a massive hit that broke box-office records at an unprecedented pace, including making $1 billion worldwide in its opening weekend.
• "Endgame" is also the biggest Hollywood movie in China ever, making over $600 million there.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

"Avengers: Endgame" has shattered plenty of box-office records and become one of the highest-grossing movies of all time. But after a month in theaters, its pace is slowing, and it's looking as if it could fall short of dethroning the biggest movies ever.

James Cameron's "Avatar" still sits at the top of the worldwide box office, with $2.79 billion, while "Endgame" is at $2.62 billion. It's not out of the realm of possibility for "Endgame" to reach "Avatar's" record number, but as the summer movie season heats up, it will become increasingly difficult.

Read more:'Avengers: Endgame' directors describe the 100-hour workweeks and tremendous pressure of making their $2 billion blockbuster

And it's practically impossible for "Endgame" to overthrow the domestic champion, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which made a monumental $936 million in the US. "Endgame" is the second-biggest movie domestically, at $779 million. It will make more before its theatrical run is over, but it would need a miracle and then some to top "The Force Awakens."

If international box office doesn't work in "Endgame's" favor this summer, it's likely to end its time in theaters as the No. 2 movie both globally and domestically.

Read more:'Avengers: Endgame' raises questions about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but gives plenty of clues

After adjusting for inflation, "Endgame" faces even greater challenges in the record books: It's the 22nd-highest-grossing movie domestically, and while it should climb the list before its run is over, it would need to gross an impossible $1.8 billion in the US alone to beat "Gone with the Wind."

Read more:Disney's movie release shake-up shows how it will dominate Hollywood for years to come, from 'Avatar' to 'Star Wars'

But even with that context, the box-office haul of "Endgame" is still massive, and it reached its impressive numbers at an unprecedented pace.

"Endgame" was the fastest movie to reach $1 billion worldwide (it did so in its opening weekend) and the fastest to hit $2 billion. It broke the domestic opening-weekend record held by "Avengers: Infinity War" with $357 million.

It's been a huge hit in China too. Marvel has found an audience there in a way that Disney's other flagship franchise, "Star Wars," has not. As Business Insider's Jason Guerrasio pointed out earlier this month, the total box office of the "Star Wars" movies since "The Force Awakens" in 2015 was less in China than what "Endgame" made in a week.

"Endgame" is China's highest-grossing Hollywood movie of all time and its third-biggest movie ever. (Two Chinese releases, "Wolf Warrior 2" and "The Wandering Earth," are ahead of it.) It broke China's record for the biggest opening weekend, with $191 million, and has so far made over $600 million there.

• Read more of Business Insider's "Avengers: Endgame" box-office coverage:
• The 21 movies that made more money than 'Avengers: Endgame' at the US box office — after inflation
• The only 5 movies to ever hit $2 billion at the box office, including 'Avengers: Endgame'
• 6 box-office records that 'Avengers: Endgame' has already broken on its quest to become the biggest movie of all time
• 'Avengers: Endgame' will have to make billions more at the box office to beat the biggest movie of all time, which came out in 1939
• The 17 movies that made $1 billion at the box office the fastest, including 'Avengers: Endgame'
• The 8 Marvel Cinematic Universe movies that made over $1 billion at the global box office
• Every Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, ranked by how much money they made at the box office opening weekend
• 'Avengers: Endgame' already broke the record for the biggest box-office opening in China of all time

SEE ALSO: How 'John Wick' spawned a hit franchise from a low-budget action movie almost every studio passed on

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 14 details in 'Game of Thrones' season 8 episode 4 you may have missed

• "Sonic the Hedgehog," a new live-action movie starring the world's most popular blue hedgehog, was scheduled to hit theaters this November.
• The first trailer for the movie with Sonic sparked major criticism on the internet over the way Sonic looked.
• The movie's director, Jeff Fowler, responded with a vow to change Sonic's look. "You aren't happy with the design & you want changes. It's going to happen," he wrote on Twitter.
• Now, the movie is being pushed back to 2020.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

After decades of appearances in video games, cartoons, plush figurines, and all other manner of merchandising, Sonic the Hedgehog is getting his own live-action film.

That film — titled "Sonic the Hedgehog" — was scheduled to arrive this November. But the first trailer for it landed earlier this year, and the reaction has been strong to say the least. Strongly negative, that is.

The issue mostly centers on the look of Sonic:

After years of cartoon depictions of the speedy blue hedgehog, the pseudo-real version of Sonic has some people freaking out. So much so, in fact, that the film's director has vowed to change the look of Sonic ahead of the movie's release. Moreover, the movie was just delayed to re-work Sonic's look — it's now scheduled to arrive on February 14, 2020.

Here's the deal:

SEE ALSO: The 'Sonic the Hedgehog' movie just dropped its first trailer, and Jim Carrey looks right at home as Dr. Robotnik

On April 30, the first trailer for the new "Sonic the Hedgehog" movie debuted.

Let's be clear: The "Sonic the Hedgehog" movie looks very silly. 

That isn't intended as a knock — this is clearly a film aimed at younger audiences. 

• It stars a snarky, anthropomorphized hedgehog who can run at nearly 800 mph.
• It features Jim Carrey as the bad guy, Dr. Robotnik, in what seems poised to be Carrey's silliest role in years. 

Though "Sonic the Hedgehog" started as a marquee video game on the Sega Genesis, the character has outgrown his retro gaming roots and become iconic across generations.

Here's that trailer:

Youtube Embed:
//www.youtube.com/embed/FvvZaBf9QQI
Width: 800px
Height: 450px

After the release of the trailer, "Sonic the Hedgehog" fans reacted negatively to the look of Sonic.

Gaming websites were particularly critical of the movie trailer.

Kotaku described the trailer as "horrific." A headline on Eurogamer said "The first Sonic the Hedgehog movie trailer is even worse than you expected." 

Commenters on Twitter and Tumblr were similarly critical. 

The backlash was swift, loud, and primarily from people who could be described as "very online" — folks who can get the attention of Sega and the film's maker, Paramount.

Just days after the trailer was released, the film's director said Sonic would be changed ahead of the film's release.

Jeff Fowler, the "Sonic the Hedgehog" director, tweeted a message days after the trailer's release intended to assuage concern over Sonic's look.

"Thank you for the support. And the criticism," he wrote. "The message is loud and clear... you aren't happy with the design & you want changes. It's going to happen. Everyone at Paramount & Sega are fully committed to making this character the BEST he can be... #sonicmovie #gottafixfast."

One artist on Twitter offered a pretty clear example of some changes that might make Sonic look less bizarrely human:

And now, the movie is getting outright delayed — it's set to arrive on February 14, 2020.

Sorry, Sonic superfans! 

"Taking a little more time to make Sonic just right," the film's director, Jeff Fowler, said in late May. He attached the hashtag "#novfxartistswereharmedinthemakingofthismovie" — a direct response to worries that re-working the look of Sonic would require absurdly hard work from the movie's visual effects team.

• You've probably seen this practical joke at a party or two: if you tap the top of someone's beer bottle with the bottom of yours, it instantly creates a beer foam volcano. 
• The reason this happens remained a mystery until Javier Rodriguez-Rodriguez, who has a doctorate in fluid mechanics, discussed it with his colleagues one night at a bar. 
• They used high-speed cameras to see the phenomenon in action and found that the vibration of the bottle causes the beer bubbles to pulsate and collapse, much like an explosion.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 

Following is a transcript of the video.

You might have experienced this, depending on how evil your friends are. Your friend taps the top of your beer bottle with the bottom of theirs. Why this happens was largely unknown until Javier Rodriguez-Rodriguez and his colleagues at Carlos III University in Madrid figured out why.

Rodriguez-Rodriguez: "I was with some colleagues one night in a bar after work. Colleagues from the university, from my department, and then we all started to do this thing to each other. And we were, we started basically to discuss like so what is the cause of this explosion of foam."

He used high-speed cameras to see the phenomenon in action. Then he zoomed in really close. As soon as the bottle is struck, a wave of vibrations runs through it. When the wave hits tiny bubbles throughout the beer, the bubbles begin pulsating and then collapse.

Rodriguez-Rodriguez: "So this is, in few words, this is like an explosion. You think about that, the explosion is actually the sudden release of a huge amount of gas that is trying to make it's way out. So this is what creates these waves and explosions and these things. So this is in few words what happens with the bubbles. The cloud of bubbles that resulted from the explosion. It goes super fast so it multiplies the volume by ten. In a matter of one millisecond to ten milliseconds."

When the bubbles collapse they form tiny fragments. Those fragments are inflated by other CO2 in the beer. As they fill up with CO2 gas, they grow more buoyant and start rushing toward the surface. The faster the bubbles rise, the faster they grow becoming a self-feeding loop. The effect looks something like a mushroom cloud and it's about as unstoppable as an explosion.

Rodriguez-Rodriguez: "So it means that these plumes are able to grow until basically, they occupy the whole volume of the bottle."

He says you can either try to drink the expanding foam or find the nearest sink.

Rodriguez-Rodriguez: "I prefer to drink it."

Their findings could have wide implications, beyond your beer. Often large amounts of CO2 erupt from lakes and volcanoes. Geologists say if they can predict those events they could curb CO2 exposure in nearby communities and even warn the public before volcanic eruptions. I'll drink to that!

EDITOR'S NOTE: This video was originally published on January 1, 2018. 

Join the conversation about this story »

"Avengers: Endgame" might not topple "Avatar" as the world's biggest movie of all time, but it's still cemented its place in the box-office record books.

"Endgame" grossed $1 billion in its opening weekend globally, and was the fastest movie to hit $2 billion in just 11 days. It surpassed other heavy hitters like "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and "Titanic" to become the second-biggest movie of all time. (Though if you account for inflation, "Endgame" would have to make an astounding $7.4 billion to beat 1939's "Gone with the Wind.")

Other Marvel movies that are among the 10 highest-grossing movies ever include "Black Panther" and "The Avengers." "Endgame" pushed "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" out of the top 10. 

We turned to Box Office Mojo for its data on worldwide box office grosses to determine the top 10 highest-grossing movies in the world. 

Here are the 10 highest-grossing movies of all time worldwide (not counting inflation):

SEE ALSO: 'Avengers: Endgame' shattered box-office records, but it could fall short of overthrowing 'Avatar' as the biggest movie of all time

10. "Black Panther" (2018)

Global box office: $1.342 billion

Domestic box office: $700 million

9. "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015)

Global box office: $1.405 billion

Domestic box office: $459 million

8. "Furious 7" (2015)

Global box office: $1.516 billion

Domestic box office: $353 million

7. "Marvel's The Avengers" (2012)

Global box office: $1.518 billion

Domestic box office: $623 million

6. "Jurassic World" (2015)

Global box office: $1.671 billion

Domestic box office: $652 million

5. "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018)

Global box office: $2.048 billion

Domestic box office: $678 million

4. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (2015)

Global box office: $2.068 billion

Domestic box office: $936 million

3. "Titanic" (1997)

Global box office: $2.187 billion

Domestic box office: $659 million

2. "Avengers: Endgame" (2019)

Global box office: $2.627 billion

Domestic box office: $781 million

1. "Avatar" (2009)

Global box office: $2.788 billion

Domestic box office: $760 million

• The reigning "Jeopardy!" champion James Holzhauer crossed the $2 million threshold on Friday evening.
• The 34-year-old professional sports gambler is on a winning streak, second only to Ken Jennings.
• Jennings crossed the $2 million mark with a final total of $2.5 million, which was racked up over 74 games. Holzhauer, by comparison, just hit this mark during his 27th game.
• Business Insider previously reported that Holzhauer broke the record for the most amount of money in a single game — and in the show's hall of fame, he is in the top 10 spots for "single-game winnings."
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The reigning "Jeopardy!" champion James Holzhauer crossed the $2 million threshold on Friday evening.

The 34-year-old professional sports gambler is on a winning streak, second only to Ken Jennings who also crossed the $2 million mark, raking in $2.5 million over a 74-game winning streak. (Jennings' total winnings including tournaments is higher.)

Holzhauer, by comparison, crossed $2 million during his 27th consecutive win. His total winnings are $2,065,535, and he is roughly $455,000 shy of Jennings' winning-streak earnings, The New York Times reported.

He has made his mark on the show by taking monetary risks, going after "high-value clues first and big bets on Daily Doubles, often doubling his total," Business Insider's Hillary Hoffower previously wrote.

Holzhauer wagered $35,000 during Final Jeopardy, TVLine reported, bringing his total game winnings to $74,000.

Business Insider previously reported that Holzhauer broke the record for the most amount of money in a single game — and in the show's hall of fame, he is in the top 10 spots for "single-game winnings."

In terms of all-time winnings, which includes tournaments, Brad Rutter holds the record with $4.6 million, followed by Jennings, who with his additional tournament wins has won a total of $3.3 million.

SEE ALSO: Meet the professional gambler from Illinois who's shattering 'Jeopardy!' records, just tied for the 2nd-longest winning streak, and has taken home $1.6 million in 21 days

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Nxivm founder Keith Raniere began his trial. Here's what happened inside the alleged sex-slave ring that recruited actresses and two billionaire heiresses.

• "Booksmart" (currently playing in theaters) is a critical darling and the must-see movie of the summer.
• But before it became the feature directing debut of actress Olivia Wilde, it was a 2009 selection of The Black List and went through two different versions of story development before finding its way to Annapurna Pictures and female-focused company, Gloria Sanchez Productions.
• Gloria Sanchez head Jessica Elbaum and screenwriter Katie Silberman talked to Business Insider about getting "Booksmart" to the screen.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

"Booksmart" came into the entertainment world with this description in the 2009 edition of The Black List, an annual list that gets passed around Hollywood of the best screenplays not yet produced:

'Book Smart' by Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins

"Two overachieving high school seniors realize the only thing they haven't accomplished is having boyfriends, and each resolves to find one by prom."

Ten years (two more screenwriters, a relentless producer, and an ambitious actress making her feature directing debut) later, the movie, now with a one-word title instead of two, has critics gushing and is one of the most anticipated movies of the summer.

How in the world did we get here?

Let's pick things up around 2014. At that point, the Halpern and Haskins (producers/writers on "Black-ish" and "The Mayor") script had made the rounds but not gotten anywhere. Then Susanna Fogel (director of "The Spy Who Dumped Me") came on the give it a pass. She made one of the characters gay and tweaked the plot from overachieving high-school girls trying to get boyfriends by prom, to overachievers realizing their two crushes are single and seeking them out at an after-prom party.

Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures saw potential and bought it. The company then teamed with Jessica Elbaum of Gloria Sanchez productions, the female-focused production shingle of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's Gary Sanchez Productions, to make it.

"It was something that I was instantly attracted to and something that I wish I had as a kid," Elbaum told Business Insider of why she signed on. "It was reminiscent of 'The Breakfast Club' and 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' and I had not made one of those yet so I was like, 'Yes, sign me up!'"

And Elbaum thought she had the perfect director for it: her friend, Olivia Wilde.

Wilde is known best as an actress with a filmography that ranges from "The O.C." to "TRON: Legacy," but recently she has been putting her focus into producing and directing shorts and music videos as well.

"We were driving one day and I told her that I had the perfect project for her," Elbaum recalled telling Wilde. "I sent her the script and literally two days later she said she loved it."

Wilde came in and pitched for the directing job. But she didn't stroll in thinking she had it locked up because of her Hollywood pedigree. She showed up with a full outline of how she wanted to do the movie with visual aids that included one sequence that would be in stop-motion animation, in which she wanted the two leads to become Barbie dolls.

Wilde got the job.

Next, Elbaum connected Wilde with screenwriter Katie Silberman, who had recently wrapped on what would become the romantic comedy sensation for Netflix, "Set It Up."

"What we wanted to do was update the story to 2019, because so much had changed for young women," Silberman told Business Insider. "We really clicked when we realized we wanted to do the same thing."

And that "same thing" was telling a high-school story that would pay homage to the classics in the genre, but also resonate with young people today.

Then Silberman pitched Wilde the idea that would make "Booksmart" stand out:

What if the two friends realized that they did high school all wrong? What if they realized that everyone they thought just partied and wasted their high-school years were going to Ivy League schools just like them?

They scrapped the prom plot and the story now revolved around the two friends, Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever), embarking on a night out to find the end-of-school-year party.

The film was shot last summer in 26 days around Los Angeles with four weeks of night shoots. That wasn't an ideal situation for any filmmaker, let alone someone making her first feature. But Silberman, who was also a producer on the movie, said it was Wilde's focus that kept everyone on task.

"You need someone at the helm who has a fundamentally strong idea of what the story is," she said. "Olivia not only understood it so well but was really brilliant at making sure we knew it too and conveying it to us."

That was a necessary element because — from casting through shooting — Silberman was constantly tweaking the script to fit the actors' strengths. Wilde was less focused on choosing actors who would fit what was on the page and instead selected those who wowed her.

Read more: "Booksmart" is more than just the must-see movie of the summer: it's generation defining

"She would come back from a casting session and say, 'We don't have anyone like this yet, but we have this incredible actor and we have to put them in the movie,'" Silberman recalled. "So we would either create new characters or adjust what was on the page to make it fit that person."

There were also whole new sequences made from scratch that needed to be fit into the story, like Wilde's idea for a stop-motion sequence.

In the movie when Molly and Amy accidentally take drugs for the first time, Wilde wanted their hallucination to be specific. And for two feminists, nothing would freak them out more than being turned into Barbie dolls. So Silberman crafted the scene in the middle of the movie, and gave it a little kick at the end.

"Their version of the drug nightmare would be being stuck in the body of a Barbie doll, which represents everything they think is wrong with society, and then one of them actually likes it," Silberman said.

It was the ambition of Wilde that thrilled both Silberman and Elbaum.

"As a producer, you hear about shooting, say, an underwater shot, [and] all you think is it's going to add time and money — and the stop-motion sequence is typically something that would be the first thing on the chopping block — but she pulled it off," Elbaum said. "She made the movie feel bigger than what it should have been, that's not easy."

The movie had its world premiere at the South By Southwest Film Festival this year and was an instant hit. Critics are almost universally in love with it and it has a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

"We wanted young women to see themselves, especially if they have felt they haven't been given that before," said Silberman, who is currently developing another female buddy movie with Wilde. "But I think it's really rewarding that men are responding to it as well as women. Older people as well as high schoolers. Because it's meant as much to be nostalgic as it is modern."

But Elbaum added that the changing tide in Hollywood has helped women-led stories like "Booksmart." Back in 2009 (when "Booksmart" was "Book Smart"), it would have been difficult to get the movie released in a significant way.

"What I have set out to do is work with women in front and behind the camera, and tell stories that are by women but for everybody," Elbaum said. "What has changed is not what I'm trying to do, it's just that everyone is really into it now." 

"Booksmart" is currently playing in theaters.

SEE ALSO: Rotten Tomatoes is launching a "verified" audience score to help fight internet trolls who have attacked movies like "Captain Marvel"

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 16 clues that foreshadowed Arya's big moment at the battle of Winterfell in 'Game of Thrones'

• James Holzhauer, the current reigning "Jeopardy!" champion, is on a 27-day winning streak.
• The Las Vegas resident and professional sports gambler has taken home more than $2 million so far. 
• Holzhauer's impressive daily totals are the result of how he plays the game— he knows exactly when to hit the buzzer, how much to bet on Daily Doubles, and which clues to knock off the board first.
• Other famous "Jeopardy!" champions have used similar strategies to increase their earnings.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Making it onto the show "Jeopardy!" is challenging enough. But winning once you're in the studio is even more difficult.

Unless you know how to play the odds.

The current "Jeopardy!" champion, James Holzhauer, is on a 27-day winning streak.

The 34-year-old sports gambler from Las Vegas has broken nearly every "Jeopardy!" record, including earning the highest one-day total ever — $131,127 — on April 17.

He's giving the infamous Ken Jennings a run for his money.

Read more: 'Jeopardy!' contestant James Holzhauer broke his own single-game record with a perfect game

Holzhauer has now won over $2 million. His impressive daily totals are no accident. Although his trivia knowledge certainly contributes to his success, Holzhauer's 27-day total of  $2,065,535 has more to do with how he plays the game than the answers he gets right or wrong.

Holzhauer's "Jeopardy!" strategy

Holzhauer makes sure to hit the show's iconic buzzer at just the right time, as The Ringer has described. Holzhauer grilled "Jeopardy!" producer Maggie Speak about the specifics of the buzzer timing, trying to pinpoint precisely when the "Jeopardy!" staff activates the switch that enables contestants to ring in after host Alex Trebek finishes reading a clue.

This timing is crucial because if a contestant hits the buzzer just a hair too soon, he or she gets locked out for about a quarter of a second, which tends to be enough for a competitor to get a buzz in edgewise, according to The Ringer.

What's more, Holzhauer goes for the high-value clues first. He tends to answer these correctly, aggregating a lot of money very quickly in the game. Then when he comes across a Daily Double, he bets big, often doubling his total.

Even with these tricks, however, there's no question that Holzhauer's foundation of superior trivia knowledge helps him win again and again. On April 17, when he broke his own one-day winnings record, Holzhauer played a perfect game. In "Jeopardy!" terms, that means he was correctly responded to every one of the 41 questions he buzzed-in to answer. 

He has even said that a big part of his preparations involved reading children's books.

Holzhauer now holds the top 10 slots in the "Jeopardy!" rankings of single-day winnings; he has obliterated the $77,000 record set by Roger Craig in 2010. All told, Holzhauer now sits in second place for longest winning streak and all-time regular-season earnings — behind Ken Jennings, who won 74 games in a row to take home $2.5 million in 2004. 

On April 17, Jennings gave Holzhauer some kudos. "This is absolutely insane. I've always wanted to see someone try 'Jeopardy!' wagering this way who had the skills to back it up," Jennings tweeted.

Slate went so far as to say Holzhauer could be the Serena Williams of "Jeopardy!".

Using game theory to bet on Final Jeopardy

Holzhauer isn't the only famous "Jeopardy!" champion who's gamed the game. Arthur Chu, a 35-year-old columnist from Albany, New York, had an impressive 11-day winning streak in 2014. (Though Chu had only netted a comparatively meager $298,200 when he was dethroned.)

Chu's goal wasn't to win the most money per day. Rather, he used game theory to give himself the highest probability of being able to return to the show the next day and play again.

He achieved this by modulating the way he placed his Final Jeopardy bets. Instead of betting to win, Chu purposefully wagered an amount that would result in a tie if both he and his trailing competitor correctly guessed the Final Jeopardy clue.

Leading contestants often bet $1 more than the tying wager. But in the event that they get the clue wrong and their opponents get it right, sometimes that means losing the game by just $1.

There were a few instances in which Chu wagered to tie when he didn't have to, and both he and his competitor moved on to the next day of play. To Chu, that's better than risking a loss.

He said he nicked this strategy from Keith Williams, a former "Jeopardy!" champion who now runs "The Final Wager" blog.

The hunt for Daily Doubles

Chu was also good at scouring the board for Daily Doubles. He consistently selected higher-value clues from the bottom of the board, bouncing from category to category to do so. In the Jeopardy annals, this is known as "The Forrest Bounce," after former champion Chuck Forrest who utilized the technique.

Bouncing from category to category has the added benefit of throwing off opponents who may have hit their stride in a single category.

When Chu came across a Daily Double in a category he knew nothing about — "The Sports Hall of Fame" for instance — he bet small. Pitifully small.

That way, even though Chu answered a sports question incorrectly, he only lost $5 and was still able to prevent his competitors (who might have more sports know-how) from getting the opportunity to bet big with the correct answer.

Holzhauer has been employing the same strategy of hunting for Daily Doubles and bouncing around between categories.

Though he has so far been a less polarizing figure than Chu — many "Jeopardy!" fans took umbrage with Chu's seemingly blasé playing style — some are worried that Holzhauer's record-breaking earnings could wreak havoc on the game show's finances.

Holzhauer will palm the buzzer on Monday for a 28th time, aiming to ace another night of clues and Daily Doubles. But the champion needs to stay sharper than ever if he's to keep up his impressive winning streak — on April 29, his competitors nearly bested him, when Holzhauer won by a mere $18 in Final Jeopardy.

SEE ALSO: We spent a day behind the scenes of 'Jeopardy!' with Alex Trebek in 2017 — here's what he's really like

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We spent a day behind the scenes of 'Jeopardy!' with Alex Trebek in 2017 — here's what he's really like

• John Krasinski is an actor, writer, and director who is best known for his role as Jim Halpert on NBC sitcom "The Office."
• Krasinski, a Brown University graduate, delivered the Baccalaureate address for the Brown Class of 2019 on Saturday. 
• Krasinski explained how the inspiring friends that he met at university helped him to succeed in his career.  
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

John Krasinski returned to Brown University on Saturday to deliver the Baccalaureate address to the school's undergraduate Class of 2019.

Krasinski, who is a writer, director, and actor and is best known for his role in NBC sitcom, "The Office," is a Brown Class of 2001 graduate. 

"People ask me how I got into acting, and the truth is, I didn't get into acting. I got into everything," he said.

Read more: Emily Blunt and John Krasinski recall their first date

Krasinski went on to explain how his decision to join a college sketch comedy group "changed his entire life."

"Not because I got in, not because I started acting. It was through that group that I found my way into this community. It was through that group that I met my people and all of a sudden I was surrounded by the most inspiring peers," he said. "One of the best decisions I made in my life was just to lean all the way in."

Krasinski ended his speech by telling the students to "believe in something" and to "fall in love as many times as it takes."

"Remember, before you do something special, just do something."

Watch the full video here:

SEE ALSO: Rihanna is launching her new luxury fashion brand Fenty with a pop-up in Paris — take a peek inside

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 14 details in 'Game of Thrones' season 8 episode 4 you may have missed

• Every week, Parrot Analytics provides Business Insider the most in-demand original TV shows on streaming services.
• This week sees the return of "Black Mirror" ahead of its upcoming fifth season.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Netflix recently announced the release date and episode details for its upcoming fifth season of the hit sci-fi anthology series, "Black Mirror," and now the show has skyrocketed in demand among audiences in anticipation for its return.

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.

SEE ALSO: 'Black Mirror' season 5 is coming to Netflix this summer — here are all the details

9. "The Umbrella Academy" (Netflix)

Average demand expressions: 21,841,673

Description: "Reunited by their father's death, estranged siblings with extraordinary powers uncover shocking family secrets — and a looming threat to humanity."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 1): 77%

What critics said: "'Umbrella' looks, feels and sounds different - music does much of the heavy lifting, and effectively so. It's a gorgeous-looking production that evokes another world, with both feet still firmly planted in this one." — Verne Gay, Newsday

Season 1 premiered on Netflix February 15.

8. "Star Trek: Discovery" (CBS All Access)

Average demand expressions: 22,787,325

Description: "After answering a distress signal from the U.S.S. Enterprise, season two of Star Trek: Discovery finds the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery joining forces with Captain Christopher Pike on a new mission to investigate seven mysterious red signals and the appearance of an unknown being called the Red Angel. While the crew must work together to unravel their meaning and origin, Michael Burnham is forced to face her past with the return of her estranged brother, Spock."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 2): 82%

What critics said: "With a course correction and a potential spin-off, this new age of Star Trek finally achieves escape velocity from the old." — Jordan Hoffman, Polygon

Season 2 premiered on CBS All Access January 17.

7. "Doom Patrol" (DC Universe)

Average demand expressions: 23,431,928

Description: "DOOM PATROL reimagines one of DC's most beloved groups of Super Heroes: Robotman aka Cliff Steele (BRENDAN FRASER), Negative Man aka Larry Trainor (MATT BOMER), Elasti-Woman aka Rita Farr (APRIL BOWLBY) and Crazy Jane (DIANE GUERRERO), led by modern-day mad scientist Niles Caulder aka The Chief (TIMOTHY DALTON). Each member of the Doom Patrol suffered a horrible accident that gave them superhuman abilities, but also left them scarred and disfigured. Traumatized and downtrodden, the team found their purpose through The Chief, coming together to investigate the weirdest phenomena in existence. Following the mysterious disappearance of The Chief these reluctant heroes will find themselves in a place they never expected to be, called to action by none other than Cyborg (JOIVAN WADE), who comes to them with a mission hard to refuse. Part support group, part Super Hero team, the Doom Patrol is a band of superpowered freaks who fight for a world that wants nothing to do with them."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 1): 95%

What critics said: "DC's Doom Patrol isn't the first television show to bring about a team of unconventional heroes, but Doom Patrol places itself among the best of them." — Joseph Dominguez, Film Inquiry

6. "The Handmaid's Tale" (Hulu)

Average demand expressions: 29,185,441

Description: "A woman forced into sexual servitude struggles to survive in a terrifying, totalitarian society."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 2): 89%

What critics said: "Handmaid's Tale had a tough act to follow, but its second coming soars on multiple levels." — Ed Bark, Uncle Barky

Season 3 premieres June 25 on Hulu.

5. "Titans" (DC Universe)

Average demand expressions: 30,884,895

Description: "TITANS follows young heroes from across the DC Universe as they come of age and find belonging in a gritty take on the classic Teen Titans franchise. Dick Grayson and Rachel Roth, a special young girl possessed by a strange darkness, get embroiled in a conspiracy that could bring Hell on Earth. Joining them along the way are the hot-headed Starfire and lovable Beast Boy. Together they become a surrogate family and team of heroes."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 1): 79%

What critics said: "Titans is at its best when it revels in bold characters, insane plots, and eye-popping visuals." — Victor Stiff, That Shelf

Season 1 premiered on DC Universe October 12. Season 2 premieres this fall.

4. "Black Mirror" (Netflix)

Average demand expressions:32,203,092 

Description: "This sci-fi anthology series explores a twisted, high-tech near-future where humanity's greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 4): 84%

What critics said: "Depending on the story a particular episode may be romantic, action-packed, or creepy, but one thing they all have in common is that they're all downright terrifying." —Gem Seddon, Games Radar

Season 5 premieres on Netflix June 5.

3. "Cobra Kai" (YouTube Premium)

Average demand expressions: 32,939,715

Description: "Thirty years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, a down-and-out Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo, reigniting his rivalry with a now successful Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), who has been struggling to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of his mentor, Mr. Miyagi."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 2): 88%

What critics said: "Cobra Kai turned out to be far better than it had any right to be." — Ani Bundel, NBC News

Season 2 premiered on YouTube April 4.

2. "Stranger Things" (Netflix)

Average demand expressions: 40,034,062

Description: "When a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 2): 94%

What critics said: "Stranger Things provides a form of escapism that has nothing to do with alternate dimensions. It invites viewers to indulge in the sweet self-righteousness that can come with getting excluded for being uncool." — Alison Willmore, Buzzfeed

Season 3 drops July 4 on Netflix.

1. "Lucifer" (Netflix)

Average demand expressions: 51,474,913

Description: "Bored with being the Lord of Hell, the devil relocates to Los Angeles, where he opens a nightclub and forms a connection with a homicide detective."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 4): 100%

What critics said: "What a ride, friends. We just enjoyed ten episodes of practically perfect television. Thank you, Netflix, for this gift." — Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly

Season 4 premiered on Netflix May 8.

• Disney's live-action "Aladdin" remake took in an estimated $86.1 million over the weekend and will have brought in $105 million by Memorial Day, to win the domestic box office.
• It is the third-highest domestic opening of the year. Disney holds the top three spots ("Avengers: Endgame, "Captain Marvel," and now "Aladdin").
• Four out of the last five weeks a Disney title has been the number one movie. Previous to "Aladdin," "Avengers: Endgame" was tops for three-straight weekends. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Memorial Day weekend has historically been a slow one for the movie theater business, despite Disney's efforts.

Last year its standalone "Star Wars" movie, "Solo: A Star Wars Story," took in $103 million over the four-day holiday weekend. A major disappointment for a movie set in a galaxy far, far away. And before that, the studio had worse performers from the likes of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" (2017), "Alice Through the Looking Glass" (2016), and "Tomorrowland" (2015).

This year they slotted the live-action remake of "Aladdin" over the holiday and it seems Disney finally found itself a title that motivated people to take a break from pool parties and barbecues to go to the multiplex.

"Aladdin," a remake of the beloved 1992 Disney animated movie, took in an estimated $86.1 million over the weekend domestically, and by Monday's holiday will have a $105 million take. It was released on 4,476 screens, the widest ever for a Disney release over Memorial Day weekend.

Read more: How "Booksmart" went from a 2009 script collecting dust to this year's must-see movie of the summer

The $105 million four-day gross is the sixth-best opening ever over the holiday weekend, passing 2011's "The Hangover Part II" ($103.4 million).

It is also the third-best opening of the year, knocking off Universal's "Us" ($71.1 million). Disney now holds the top three domestic openings of the year, as "Aladdin" joins "Captain Marvel" ($153.4 million) and "Avengers: Endgame" ($357.1 million).

Audiences are certainly feeling differently about the movie than critics. The critical score on Rotten Tomatoes is a rotten 58%, however, it has a 93% audience score with over 6,300 of those being verified audience members. "Verified" is the new audience feature Rotten Tomatoes launched last week, which highlights how many people out of the audience score bought tickets to see the movie.

With "Aladdin" at the top of the domestic box office, that makes four out of the last five weeks a Disney title has been the number one movie. Previous to this, "Avengers: Endgame" was tops for three-straight weekends. Last week's win for "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum" is the only movie to take the gold from the house Mickey built.

But staying at the top won't be easy for "Aladdin" going forward. There's a lot of competition next week with Warner Bros.' "Godzilla: Kind of the Monsters," Paramount's Elton John biopic "Rocketman," and Universal's latest Blumhouse release "Ma."

SEE ALSO: 'Avengers: Endgame' shattered box-office records, but it could fall short of overthrowing 'Avatar' as the biggest movie of all time

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 14 details in 'Game of Thrones' season 8 episode 4 you may have missed

• Stan Lee's former business manager Keya Morgan was arrested on elder abuse charges.
• Before Lee's death in November, Morgan allegedly controlled who could get near him and tried to manipulate his estate.
• Police say he pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars and manipulated Lee during his mental decline before his death.
• Morgan denies the charges.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former business manager of Stan Lee was arrested Saturday on elder abuse charges involving the late comic book legend.

Keya Morgan was taken into custody in Arizona on an outstanding arrest warrant after being charged by Los Angeles County prosecutors earlier this month.

Morgan faces felony charges including theft, embezzlement, forgery or fraud against an elder adult, and false imprisonment of an elder adult. A misdemeanor count also alleges elder abuse.

Authorities say Morgan sought to capitalize on the Marvel Comic mastermind's wealth and exert influence over Lee even though he had no authority to act on his behalf. Lee died in November at the age of 95.

Read more:'Vultures' are reportedly picking apart Marvel icon Stan Lee's millions — here's everything we know about the bizarre situation

Police say Morgan pocketed more than $262,000 from autograph signing sessions Lee did in May 2018. Authorities say Morgan at one point also took Lee from his Hollywood Hills home to a Beverly Hills condominium "where Morgan had more control over Lee."

Lee's daughter said in a request for a restraining order last year that Morgan was manipulating the mentally declining Lee, preventing him from seeing family and friends, and trying to take control of his money and business affairs.

Attorney Alex Kessel has said Morgan has never abused or taken advantage of Lee. Kessel said in an email on Saturday that he had been in contact with prosecutors to arrange for Morgan to surrender on Tuesday.

"It is unfortunate that the DA and police did not honor our commitment to surrender next week and arrested him," Kessel said in an email.

Morgan's bail has been set at $300,000. He will eventually be extradited to Los Angeles to face the charges.

• Read more:
• 'Vultures' are reportedly picking apart Marvel icon Stan Lee's millions — here's everything we know about the bizarre situation
• Police are investigating claims of elder abuse suffered by Marvel legend Stan Lee, and it's just the latest turn in a strange saga
• Stan Lee has made 57 cameos in the Marvel universe — here they all are

Join the conversation about this story »

• The New York Times is launching its first weekly TV news program on June 2 on FX.
• The TV show, "The Weekly," aims to help the Times find new audiences on TV and streaming, and showcase bigger, more ambitious storytelling from the publication.
• Like the Times' popular news podcast, "The Daily," the TV series will show different sides of Times' reporters than we usually see in print.
• "When you watch an episode of 'The Weekly,' it's really hard to dismiss what journalists do as fake news," Sam Dolnick, the assistant managing editor who is overseeing the Times' push into TV, audio, and other digital formats, told Business Insider.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The New York Times, a 167-year-old newspaper, is pushing into prestige TV with its first weekly news program.  

"The Weekly," which premieres on FX on Jun. 2 and Hulu a day later, follows one big story each week through the lens of the Times journalists who reported them. The premiere of the docuseries unpacks the newsroom's investigation into a college-prep school's shady tactics for getting students into elite universities. Other episodes break down issues like New York's taxi medallion racket and the story of an infant baby who was separated from his parents by the US government.

The show — the Times' first foray into TV since a series of quarterly documentaries with Discovery in 2003 — signals how the newspaper has changed from one where reporters think purely in terms of 800-word stories or inches on a page, to one where the news can be told in any format that works best, Sam Dolnick, the assistant managing editor who is overseeing the Times' push into TV, audio, and other digital formats, told Business Insider.

"[TV] is a more exciting place than it ever has been before," Dolnick said. "We try to tell big, important stories in compelling ways. Through that lens, it felt like we had to be on television. And the newsroom at this point felt ready for it in a way that I'm not sure we would have been a few years ago."

Dolnick credits the newsroom's readiness to "The Daily," the Times' news podcast, which launched in 2017 shortly after the US presidential election. Host Michael Barbaro and Times reporters walk listeners through a big issue of the day, including tidbits of the story that didn't make it into print. Those reporter's-notebook elements are what the Times was most excited about, Dolnick said

"You have so much stuff that your friends at the bar get to hear about your adventures ... but because of the conventions of newspaper writing, so much of that gets left out," Dolnick said. "Audio felt like a revelation for us because you were able to showcase all of that stuff that always got left behind and you were able to bring the reporters to life in a way where their expertise and their humanity, sometimes their sense of humor, became part of their reporting."

"The Daily" was a fast success for the Times. It now garners nearly 2 million downloads per day, and 9 million monthly uniques, the company said. The Times also said the podcast was profitable, but declined to say how profitable.

Dolnick said episodes of "The Daily" draw attention to other coverage from the Times as well. Journalists who appear on the podcasts usually see big spikes in attention to their stories on the Times and on social media, he said.

The Times experiments with podcasts, and now TV series, are helping the publication reach new audiences at time when other media companies like CNN, BuzzFeed, and Vice are being forced to slash their staffs by the hundreds, in some cases.

Read more: More than 2,700 people lost their jobs in a media landslide so far this year

The Times, meanwhile, has continued to grow profits, which were up 38% year-over-year at $30 million during the first quarter of 2019, thanks in large part to new online subscribers and a growing digital-advertising business. Digital-advertising revenue, which includes podcasts, rose 19% to $55.5 million, during the period, and made up 44% of all the company's advertising revenue. Revenue from print advertising declined.

The new TV show adds another stream of revenue from licensing the series to cable network FX and streaming service Hulu.

"The Weekly," which is produced by a different team within the Times than "The Daily," borrows from the podcast in that it focuses on an issue of the moment and takes viewers along for the ride with the Times' reporters covering it. However, "The Weekly" doesn't have a regular host like the "Daily" does. It also focuses on big, visual stories that can be defining for the Times.

"Those stories that wouldn't be told if not for these kinds of reporters felt the most exciting to us," Dolnick said. "It's almost like a visual magazine cover ... something that may not have happened this week, but about something that is very relevant and resonant right now. That's the sweet spot for, 'The Weekly.'"

The show is run by a core team of about seven staffers from within the Times newsroom, including Dolnick and executive producers Mat Skene, Jason Stallman, and Stephanie Preiss, as well as two executive producers at production partner Left/Right. They work with journalists across the newsroom on stories. Episodes of "The Weekly" can take many weeks to produce, but the team plans to work nimbly when news breaks get stories on the air within a week or two of the news event, Dolnick said.

The Times' podcast listeners connect to its reporters on a personal level, the company has found, and it hopes the TV series will have the same effect. Episodes of the "The Weekly" give glimpses of the lengths journalists go to get stories. The series premiere, about the dark side of a college-prep school, shows reporter Erica Green grappling with the impact her exposé could have on the students who were accepted by universities because of the program.

"When you watch an episode of 'The Weekly,' it's really hard to dismiss what journalists do as fake news," Dolnick said.

"The Weekly" kicks ahead of the 2020 US presidential race, and the Times plans to cover the election closely in the show. The show will be a test to see if the Times can translate its stories to small screen, and find new audiences on cable TV and streaming.

"This is a big swing for the newsroom here," said Dolnick. "We've gotten a little bunker room and every day a different reporter comes by with a big story that they want to pitch and see if it's a good match for TV. It feels like a pretty exciting new era for us."

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 14 details in 'Game of Thrones' season 8 episode 4 you may have missed

• Complexity Gaming just opened its new 11,000 square foot headquarters, The GameStop Performance Center.
• The GSPC is at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys' 91-acre campus in Frisco, Texas. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and investor John Goff acquired Complexity in 2017.
• The new headquarters will be open to the public and Complexity's players will have access to the Cowboys' state-of-the-art facilities.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Complexity Gaming, one of the oldest esports organizations in the country, recently opened its new headquarters at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys' 91-acre campus in Frisco, Texas. Complexity's headquarters, formally named the GameStop Performance Center, spans 11,000 square feet and is open to the public.

Complexity was first founded in 2003 by CEO Jason Lake; Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and investor John Goff acquired the team in 2017.

"Given our organization's deep history, we are excited to continue this journey with an unprecedented facility that will drastically improve the lives of our players and provide a permanent home at The Star in Frisco for our fans old and new," Lake said in a statement.

Designed by ICRAVE, the GameStop Performance Center will be open to the public while serving as a day-to-day headquarters for Complexity's players, coaches, and management. While multiple sports ownership groups have also invested in esports teams, few franchises have invested in building their own facilities for esports.

Read more:This esports franchise is getting a $50 million arena alongside Philadelphia's NBA, NFL, and MLB teams

Complexity's esports team members will be able to train within the same facilities as the Dallas Cowboys players and enjoy professionally prepared meals together at the Training Table inside The Star's Ford Center, and train at state-of-the-art facilities like Cowboys Fit, the NFL team's 60,000 square foot gym. Fans will also be able to see the team practice and compete in-person.

Here's what's special about Complexity's new headquarters at The Star.

SEE ALSO: This esports franchise is getting a $50 million arena alongside Philadelphia's NBA, NFL, and MLB teams

Like other facilities at The Star, the GameStop Performance Center will also be open to the public to socialize, shop, attend events, and enjoy other entertainment starting this summer.

"The opening of Complexity Gaming's headquarters at The Star provides fans of all ages an opportunity to engage with our franchises in a unique, hands-on way," Jerry Jones, the owner and president of the Cowboys, said.

Complexity's private training room will be climate controlled with one-way glass that lets visitors watch the team, without the players being disturbed. The room is designed to mimic a tournament stage, complete with customizable lightning.

The GameStop Performance Center will also have a number of high-powered gaming setups for visitors to play the latest PC games, while casual gamers will have access to tablets for mobile games like "Fortnite."

GSPC also has studio space and editing bays for Complexity to produce videos for YouTube and Twitch.

The team will have a dedicated Players Lounge where Complexity team members can hang out and watch competitions on a huge video wall.

The public space will feature an 18-foot video wall that streams a variety of esports content, from live tournament coverage to Complexity's produced videos.

The "Mind Gym" is designed for mental wellness, using a mix of training software and low-impact activities like yoga to help players stay focused.

The "Decompression Patio" will also give players a quiet place to relax, complete with nap pods so they can enjoy a nice view of The Star.

Here's what the GameStop Performance Center's full 11,000 square foot floor plan looks like.

Complexity officially cut the ribbon on their new headquarters on May 20th. To find out more about how the GameStop Performance Center was created, check out this video.

Youtube Embed:
//www.youtube.com/embed/DFM0zuNOakI
Width: 560px
Height: 315px

• The next-generation video game consoles are just over the horizon.
• Microsoft and Sony have both begun speaking about the next generation, and rumors are swirling about the next iteration of Nintendo's Switch.
• Between the big three console makers working on new hardware, and the introduction of Google Stadia later this year, now isn't the best time to buy a new system.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

With about 7 billion people on the planet, there's still a decent chance you're part of the 6.8 billion who don't own a PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch yet.

But perhaps you were thinking about getting one?

Admittedly, it's very tempting: each of the three has dozens of excellent games. And the consoles are less expensive than ever before — a used PS4 or Xbox One can go for $200 or less, and a Nintendo Switch can be found for about $250.

But maybe, just maybe, you should wait for the next wave of consoles. Here's why:

SEE ALSO: I switch between iPhone and Android whenever I want without losing anything — here's the very simple way I do it

1. The next-generation Xbox is deep into production.

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

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, 2018.

The latest rumors point to multiple tiers of Xbox consoles, similar to the existing lineup with the Xbox One S and the Xbox One X consoles.

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

2. The next-generation PlayStation is also deep into production.

Who's ready for the PlayStation 5?

At the very least, Sony clearly is — the company detailed the successor to the PlayStation 4 in an interview with Wired in April, where it discussed everything from the specific chips powering the console to when it's expected to launch. (Spoiler: not this year!)

Unlike the PlayStation 4 Pro and the Xbox One X — half-step consoles that offered more power in the same console generation — the new PlayStation "allows for fundamental changes in what a game can be," Mark Cerny, Sony's lead system architect, told Wired.

Core to that mission is the new console's processing chips: a new central processing unit and a graphics processing unit from AMD. The former is based on AMD's Ryzen line, while the latter is part of Radeon's Navi GPU line.

What that means for you: The next PlayStation is built on chips that are yet-to-be-released.

Additionally, the new PlayStation console is said to be backwards compatible with PlayStation 4 games. Cerny touted its speedy load times thanks to a solid-state storage drive, and its ability to power higher-resolution games than ever before (up to 8K). 

He also said that it won't arrive until some point in 2020.

3. Rumors of a new version of the Nintendo Switch are picking up steam.

A new console from Nintendo? Already? Yes and no.

It's been just two years since Nintendo's Switch arrived, and in those two years, it's become a major hit. And now, in 2019, it sounds like Nintendo may be gearing up for a second version of its hit console.

Two reports in April — one from Nikkei and another from Bloomberg— point to two upcoming Nintendo Switch consoles: One new version, focused on portability, could arrive this year, and the second, more powerful device is either delayed or outright canceled in favor of a revision to the existing Switch.

The Nikkei report says that Nintendo will release a smaller, less expensive, portability-focused Nintendo Switch this fall.

That lines up with previous rumors about a Nintendo Switch hardware iteration, which pointed to two new versions of the Nintendo Switch: a smaller, less expensive one, and a more powerful new version.

The latter device is reportedly delayed, according to Nikkei, which cites development challenges.

Bloomberg, however, says that the more portable version of the Switch could arrive as soon as this June, and that the more powerful Switch will just be an update to the existing hardware (rather than a design revision).

Nintendo isn't commenting on either, but president Shuntaro Furakawa denied that the new hardware will be announced in June. "We have no plans to announce that at this year's E3 in June," he said in an investor call earlier this year. "We're always working on new hardware and we will announce it when we are able to sell it."

4. Forget about consoles — Google's introducing a Netflix-like video game streaming service later this year.

After years of rumors and speculation, Google officially detailed its plans to enter the video-game business in March.

Those plans start with a new service named Stadia (pronounced "STAY-dee-uh"), which Google CEO Sundar Pichai said will offer blockbuster games on any device that can run the Chrome web browser — everything from smartphones and tablets to laptops and TVs.

The pitch is simple: If you've got a Chromecast or an iPhone (or whatever device you're reading this on), you could potentially run Stadia.

Stadia promises to do for video games what Netflix-like services did for TV and film.

Unlike Microsoft's Xbox, Sony's PlayStation, and Nintendo's Switch, Google is promising no additional hardware is required with Stadia.

"At launch, we'll support being able to play games across desktops, laptops, TV, tablets, and phones. This new generation of gaming is not a box," Phil Harrison, a Google vice president, said at the announcement event in March.

Instead, processing is handled "in the cloud" — by Google's hardware in a data center — and streamed to you instantly. Your inputs are then instantly beamed back to the computer elsewhere.

This is an oversimplification of what is assuredly a deeply complicated process, but it's similar to how Netflix works: Instead of having to run physical media, it's simply streamed to wherever you're watching it.

If you could just pay for this service instead of buying new consoles, would you still buy those consoles?

• 2019 is shaping up to be a big year in gaming.
• Things are already popping off with the launch of a long-awaited sequel, "Kingdom Hearts 3," which arrived in late January, and the explosively popular "Apex Legends" in March.
• But that's just the beginning — major games are expected in 2019: "The Last of Us Part II" on PlayStation 4 and a brand new "Pokémon" game for the Nintendo Switch are highlights of the year.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

2018 is fading into the past, and we're already in the midst of 2019's major video game launches. 

The year started with a trip into the worlds of Disney with the long-awaited arrival of "Kingdom Hearts 3" in January, followed closely by the surprise announcement and release of the wildly popular "Apex Legends" in March.

And that's just the first quarter of the year! Here's a look at 2019 in games:

SEE ALSO: The best new game of 2019 is a free-to-play Battle Royale shooter that came out of nowhere

1. "Resident Evil 2" (re-mastered)

The long-awaited remake of fan-favorite horror classic "Resident Evil 2" arrived early in 2019.

"Resident Evil 2" introduced the world to Leon S. Kennedy (seen above) — the main character in "Resident Evil 4." Kennedy and Claire Redfield find themselves in the middle of a surprise zombie outbreak in the fictional town of Raccoon City. It's an action-packed introduction to many of the major themes of the "Resident Evil" franchise, and it's getting gorgeously remade for modern consoles.

Check out our full review of "Resident Evil 2" right here.

Release Date: January 25, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

2. "Kingdom Hearts 3"

Woody, Buzz, Rex and the rest of the "Toy Story" gang moved from film to video games with "Kingdom Hearts 3," an Xbox One and PlayStation 4 action-adventure game.

The game was the long-anticipated third entry in the "Kingdom Hearts" series — the last major entry, "Kingdom Hearts 2," launched all the way back in 2005 on the PlayStation 2. In "Kingdom Hearts," various Disney characters and their worlds are mashed up with characters that would be right at home in a "Final Fantasy" game.

Alongside the cast of "Toy Story" (and their Earth-like setting), "Kingdom Hearts 3" also stars Goofy and Donald Duck. You may have noticed a third character here — that's "Sora," the main character of "Kingdom Hearts 3" and who you play as.

Check out our full review of "Kingdom Hearts 3" right here.

Release Date: January 29, 2019

Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One

3. "Apex Legends"

On paper, "Apex Legends" sounds a lot like "Fortnite."

It's a free-to-play shooter centered around a Battle Royale mode! It's available on several gaming platforms! It's full of colorful loot!

In reality, "Apex Legends" is a very different game in the same genre as "Fortnite."

If you've spent any time with the "Titanfall" games, you'll feel at least some tinge of familiarity with "Apex Legends."

There's a simple reason for that: "Apex Legends" is made by Respawn Entertainment, the EA-owned studio that made the "Titanfall" games. In fact, "Apex Legends" is sort of a "Titanfall" game, albeit one without wall-running or giant, hulking robot suits.

What it lacks in that stuff, it keeps in excellent first-person shooting. Above all else, "Apex Legends" is a really, really great multiplayer first-person shooter.

Yes, it's a Battle Royale game. And yes, it's a free-to-play game, with all the baggage that phrase comes with. But, more than any of that stuff, "Apex Legends" is a best-in-class first-person shooter.

Check out our full review of "Apex Legends" right here.

Release Date: February 4, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

4. "Far Cry New Dawn"

A new "Far Cry" game? Didn't one of those come out, like, in 2018?

Yep! That game was "Far Cry 5," and it came out back in late March 2018 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The open-world first-person shooter was set in America for the first time ever, and featured a new antagonist: a maniacal cult leader with nuclear ambitions.

"Far Cry New Dawn" is a sequel to that game, set in a post-apocalypse Montana 17 years after the events of "Far Cry 5." The trailer alludes to a period of extreme weather following a nuclear detonation, eventually leading to a new world — a world where people shoot saw blades from crossbows, apparently.

Release Date: February 15, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

5. "Crackdown 3"

"Crackdown 3" was in the works for years, having been delayed multiple times.

As the name implies, it's the third game in the open-world, third-person action "Crackdown" series. The series is big on mobility — allowing you to go anywhere you want — and huge explosions. The third game in the series is no different in this respect.

Check out our full review of "Crackdown 3" right here.

Release Date: February 15, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PC

6. "Anthem"

Remember "Mass Effect"? How about "Dragon Age," or "The Knights of the Old Republic"?

That trio of blockbusters came from the folks at EA's BioWare studios — the same people behind next year's "Anthem," an all-new action-RPG. Like "Destiny," BioWare's "Anthem" is played online and focuses on players grouping up to collectively take on missions.

Each player has the ability to fly through the air, Iron Man-style, whenever they want. It adds a layer of exploration that makes it unlike anything else available.

Frankly speaking, while the game looks gorgeous, I found it to be a vacuous, aggressively boring game.

Check out our full review of "Anthem" right here.

Release Date: February 22, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

7. "Metro: Exodus"

Like so many other video games, the "Metro" series is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Unlike many of those games, "Metro" is set in Russia. It envisions a post-apocalypse shaped by nuclear radiation, dwindling resources, and unpredictable, extreme weather conditions.

It's a game about nuclear monsters, survival, and humanity. It's also a first-person shooter, so expect lots of shooting.

In "Metro: Exodus," the series finally exits the underground subway tunnels of previous games for higher ground. 

Release Date: February 22, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

8. "Trials Rising"

The "Trials" series is years-deep at this point, and it's still a surprising delight. The game is pretty straightforward: Carefully pilot a dirt bike through precarious stages that are rife with traps and pitfalls.

If you've spent any time watching bicycle or motorbike-based trials, you're no doubt familiar with what this game series is all about: Precision movement in extremely dangerous settings. "Trials" takes that formula and turns it into a risk-free video game, and then it adds massive, ridiculous explosions. 

Release Date: February 26, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch

9. "Dead or Alive 6"

The fighting game renaissance is in full swing, and "Dead or Alive" is the next major fighting series to get a new entry in 2019. "Dead or Alive 6" continues in the tradition of the dozens of "Dead or Alive" games before it, featuring 3D fighting focused on counters and parries.

Release Date: March 1, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

10. "Devil May Cry 5"

Early 2019 has been rife with slick-looking third-person action games, and "Devil May Cry 5" is the perfect example.

The series is known for its ultra-stylish characters, deep fighting system, and over-the-top settings. "Devil May Cry 5" takes those ideas and runs with them (then leaps into the air and murders, like, two-dozen flying demons).

Check out our full review of "Devil May Cry 5" right here.

Release Date: March 8, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

11. "The Division 2"

New York City? That's old hat — in "The Division 2," you're headed straight into the nation's capital to straighten out some bad guys from a third-person perspective.

As in the first "Division" game, players group up online to tackle missions. It's reminiscent of games like "Destiny" and the upcoming "Anthem" — a third-person shooter with a focus on cooperative play online.

Check out our full review of "The Division 2" right here.

Release Date: March 15, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

12. "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice"

The folks behind the "Souls" series ("Demons Souls"/"Dark Souls") and 2014's incredible "Bloodborne" are back at it — only this time, instead of a Cthulu-inspired Victorian setting, the new game takes place in Feudal Japan.

In "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice," you play as a ninja out for justice. Like previous third-person action games from the folks at From Software, "Sekiro" is extremely difficult. Any enemy can take you down, and your best bet is to carefully, tactically, take down each foe. Unlike previous From Software games, "Sekiro" features a major stealth component, as well as a ton of mobility (as seen above).

Check out our full review of "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice" right here.

Release Date: March 22, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

13. "Yoshi's Crafted World"

Like "Yoshi's Island" for the Super Nintendo, "Yoshi" for the Switch is a platformer starring Yoshi. He can pause to aim and throw eggs at enemies, or he can consume them, or he can leap into the air and butt stomp down. Yoshi is versatile!

In the new "Yoshi" game, you're able to walk into the background, and occasionally switch up the entire orientation of levels. In so many words, it's a new spin on the classic 2D formula.

Check out our full review of "Yoshi's Crafted World" right here.

Release Date: March 29, 2019

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch

14. "Mortal Kombat 11"

Since the series launched in 1992, "Mortal Kombat" has been synonymous with video game gore, earning legions of fans with over-the-top violence and edgy character designs.

The new "Mortal Kombat 11" is still ultra-violent, but it doesn't take itself too seriously.

Check out our full review of "Mortal Kombat 11" right here. 

Release Date: April 23, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch

15. "Days Gone"

"Days Gone" is "Sons of Anarchy" meets "28 Days Later." You play as a lone biker surviving in the wake of a global pandemic. Billions were wiped out, and many millions more became "freakers" — that's zombies to you and me.

As if zombies weren't scary enough, "Days Gone" turns them into a water-like mass capable of flooding into corridors with the speed and fury of a tsunami. They're a far more overwhelming threat than the "Night of the Living Dead" zombies in games like "Resident Evil."

That is, of course, when you're not riding away on your sweet hog — which is always an option.

Release Date: April 26, 2019

Platform(s): PlayStation 4

16. "Rage 2"

If "Mad Max" were an ongoing series of video games, it might look something like the "Rage" franchise. 

It's set in a very familiar post-apocalypse, where gangs of extremely theatrical-looking survivors endlessly battle for control of the remaining world around them. There are scrappy-looking off-road vehicles to battle in, and horrific mutated creatures, and a whole bunch of crazy-looking guns. 

If nothing else, it should provide a fantastic excuse to blow stuff up.

Release Date: May 14, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

17. "Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled"

Remember "Crash Team Racing"? It was the "Mario Kart" equivalent on PlayStation 1 that some folks swore by, and in 2019 it's coming back!

The original game is being re-created in loving/ridiculous detail for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. In addition to all the original racers and tracks, the new game is getting online racing — something that didn't become commonplace in gaming until two full game generations after the original PlayStation 1.

Since this game's a reboot of an older game, it comes with a lower price tag: Just $40.

Release Date: June 21, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch

18. "Super Mario Maker 2"

One of the best 2D "Super Mario" games ever made isn't just a game, but a creation tool: "Super Mario Maker" on Wii U enabled millions of players to create their own "Super Mario" levels, test them, and then share them all over the world.

In June, Nintendo plans to release the second game in that series with "Super Mario Maker 2."

Like in the first "Super Mario Maker," you're able to create your own 2D "Super Mario" levels using objects from a variety of "Super Mario" games — goombas and koopas and chain chomps from across decades of "Super Mario" history.

While the first "Super Mario Maker" offered objects from "Super Mario Bros.," "Super Mario Bros. 3," "Super Mario World," and "New Super Mario Bros. U," it looks like "Super Mario Maker 2" will also allow the use of objects from "Super Mario 3D World" — including the various "suits" from that game.

Release Date: June 28, 2019

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch

19. "Dr. Mario World"

"Dr. Mario World" is a free-to-play puzzle game based on the long line of "Dr. Mario" puzzle games from Nintendo. Like previous Nintendo games on smartphones, "Dr. Mario World" is being developed in collaboration with third-party partners — in this case, it's the Japanese social media company Line and the Korean game development studio NHN Entertainment.

So, uh, what is it? We don't know too much just yet, but it sounds like a traditional color-matching puzzle game along the lines of previous "Dr. Mario" games. One twist: It'll be free-to-play. Nintendo describes it as, "free to download with optional in-app purchases."

Release Date: Early summer 2019

Platform(s): Apple and Android devices

20. "Mario Kart Tour"

"Mario Kart" has been a big deal for over 25 years. And now — finally— it's coming to smartphones.

The game is "Mario Kart Tour," and it's now scheduled to arrive at some point this summer.

So, what is "Mario Kart Tour"? That remains to be seen — Nintendo has yet to show anything beyond the logo seen above. 

You can tell from the naming convention that "Mario Kart Tour" is its own thing, separate from the main thread of "Mario Kart" games that have come out on Nintendo consoles exclusively. "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" is the most recent entry in the main series. "Mario Kart Tour" is expected to be a side game, like "Mario Kart Arcade GP."

That the game isn't a numbered entry isn't the only indication that it's a spin-off — the fact that it's for a smartphone, not one of Nintendo's consoles, is another big indicator. We'll find out soon enough!

Release Date: Summer 2019

Platform(s): Apple and Android devices

21. "Shenmue 3"

On the cusp of the millennium, Sega launched an ambitious third-person action game for its similarly ambitious new game console, the Sega Dreamcast. That game was "Shenmue," and it went on to become a cult classic. 

The game — and the subsequent franchise it spawned — are known for offering players a level of freedom previously unseen in a console game. 

In 2019, "Shenmue" is coming back with a brand new entry from the original creators: "Shenmue 3." The game is notorious for having outright broken Kickstarter when it was announced back in 2015. Now, nearly four years later, it's nearly here.

Release Date: August 27, 2019

Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PC

22. "Borderlands 3"

Finally, after years of waiting, "Borderlands 3" was revealed and given a relatively imminent release date.

The game franchise that helped popularize the loot-shooter genre is back with a new entry, and it seems like more "Borderlands" in every way: new character classes, new planets to explore, and new guns to fire. 

Perhaps most notable is what "Borderlands 3" isn't— an online-only loot-shooter along the lines of "Destiny" and "The Division."

Release Date: September 13, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

23. "The Outer Worlds"

The creative duo behind the original "Fallout" are working together again on a new series that feels suspiciously familiar: It's called "The Outer Worlds."

The kitschy first trailer for "The Outer Worlds" is a delight, and follows in the tradition of irreverent role-playing games like "Fallout."

The story is simple: "You awake from hibernation on a colonist ship lost in transit to its destination on the edge of the galaxy, only to find yourself in the midst of a deep conspiracy threatening to destroy the colony." How you play out that scenario is seemingly up to you.

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

24. "The Last of Us Part II"

The folks behind the Indiana Jones-esque blockbuster third-person action "Uncharted" series are true veterans of video game creation. The studio, Naughty Dog, goes all the way back to the first PlayStation console, having created the beloved "Crash Bandicoot" series.

Beyond those two (massive) game franchises, Naughty Dog is also responsible for the incredible, genre-pushing PlayStation game "The Last of Us." Naughty Dog's next game is a highly anticipated follow-up, the aptly-titled "The Last of Us Part II."

In "Part II," the duo of protagonists Joel and Ellie are making a return.

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): PlayStation 4

25. "Luigi's Mansion 3"

If you're old like me, you may remember playing an early Nintendo GameCube game named "Luigi's Mansion." It came out way back in 2001!

It wasn't anything like a typical Super Mario game — instead of jumping on Goombas and clearing treacherous gaps, Luigi was sneaking around a haunted mansion with a flashlight and a vacuum. His goal: Stun the villainous ghosts with his flashlight, then vacuum them up. Naturally!

The game got a sequel, many years later: "Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon" for the Nintendo 3DS console. But the series has been absent from a Nintendo home console since that original game. Soon, in 2019, a third entry in the series is finally coming: "Luigi's Mansion 3."

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch

26. "Gears of War 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 during the company's annual E3 media briefing. A new character is at the forefront, introduced during a short trailer — her name is Kait, who 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.

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PC

27. "Ghost of Tsushima"

Sucker Punch, the studio that created the PlayStation blockbuster "inFamous," is working on something completely new: a samurai game set in Feudal Japan, called "Ghost of Tsushima."

All we know about the game is that it's a tale of revenge. Here's the full description from Sucker Punch:

"The year is 1274. Samurai warriors are the legendary defenders of Japan — until the fearsome Mongol Empire invades the island of Tsushima, wreaking havoc and conquering the local population. As one of the last surviving samurai, you rise from the ashes to fight back. But, honorable tactics won't lead you to victory. You must move beyond your samurai traditions to forge a new way of fighting — the way of the Ghost — as you wage an unconventional war for the freedom of Japan."

From what the trailer shows, "Ghost of Tsushima" is a third-person, character-driven action game with a focus on swordplay. This is a samurai game, after all.

Beyond the story, and the pedigree, "Ghost of Tsushima" simply looks incredibly unique. It's gorgeous, and set in a time period rarely explored in blockbuster video games.

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): PlayStation 4

28. "Cyberpunk 2077"

"Cyberpunk 2077" is what happens when you mix "Blade Runner" with "Grand Theft Auto" — an open-world action game set in a dystopian future, where body modification is standard and cold, empty capitalism is the driving force of society.

How you choose to live in the world of "Cyberpunk 2077" is up to you. The game is a role-playing game in the truest sense: You create a character and shape who they are through your actions in-game. 

Whether "Cyberpunk 2077" launches in 2019 is anyone's guess, but it's been in the works for years at this point. Fingers crossed!

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

29. "Death Stranding"

What is "Death Stranding"? That's a great question. Even though I've seen several trailers for the game, I have no idea what it is.

Here's what we know for sure:

— The game is being created by "Metal Gear" series creative lead Hideo Kojima, a legendary figure in the video game business.
— It stars Norman Reedus, of "The Walking Dead" fame. He's the main character. Mads Mikkelsen, a Danish actor best known as the bad guy from "Casino Royale," appears to be the antagonist.
— The game is a collaboration between Hideo Kojima and famed film director Guillermo del Toro.
— It's being funded by Sony, which means the game is only coming to the PlayStation 4.

Is it a first-person or third-person game? A survival game? Open world, or linear? All of this stuff is still up in the air. Even after seeing the latest trailer, I'm no closer to knowing exactly what it is.

All that aside, it's clearly gorgeous and doing something totally different.

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): PlayStation 4

30. "Dreams"

The British studio behind "Dreams," Media Molecule, is most well-known for its previous franchise: "LittleBigPlanet." Like that series, "Dreams" focuses on letting players create their own game worlds. Also like the "LBP" series, "Dreams" offers a straightforward campaign that's intended to introduce the kinds of worlds that players can create.

What that actually means in practice is far more complex. "Dreams" is almost more of a tool than a game, but you're also able to buy it and play creations from other players without ever actually creating anything yourself.

Release Date: 2019 ("Early Access" started on April 16)

Platform(s): PlayStation 4

31. "Halo Infinite"

The new "Halo" is the next major entry in the long-running first-person shooter series, and it once again features the iconic super-soldier Master Chief as its main protagonist. And "Halo Infinite" is rife with nods to "Halo" tradition.

But let's be clear: It's not named "Halo 6" for a good reason. The game features a new art style, and is said to take the series in "new and unexpected directions."

But let's not get too crazy: This is still a "Halo" game, and that means that everyone's favorite supersoldier, Master Chief, is still front and center. The game's story focuses on him, and you playing as him, and — if history serves as a guide here — shooting like a trillion aliens as him.

Regardless of the name, "Infinite" is a follow-up to "Halo 5: Guardians," and will continue the story that began in that game. Given that it's been over three years since the last "Halo" game, we expect to see this one in 2019.

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PC

32. "Animal Crossing"

A brand new "Animal Crossing"? Yes, a brand new "Animal Crossing"! If there's one game that Nintendo Switch owners have been clamoring for, it's a new "Animal Crossing" game.

The beloved home-making game that's endeared so many fans across nearly 20 years is finally coming to the Nintendo Switch. The tiny bit of tease that Nintendo offered during its Nintendo Direct presentation isn't intended to directly represent gameplay, but I'd be surprised if it didn't look similar when the game arrives at some point in 2019.

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch

33. "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening"

The Game Boy classic "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening" was an incredible achievement when it arrived on Nintendo's Game Boy handheld console in 1993. It felt and played almost as well as the Super Nintendo game "The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past," despite running on far less powerful hardware.

Over 25 years later, Nintendo is finally giving "Link's Awakening" the re-master treatment it deserves: The game is getting a gorgeous update on the Nintendo Switch at some point in 2019.

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch

34. "Pokémon Sword and Shield"

Pokémon is coming to the Nintendo Switch — prepare yourself!

Indeed, Nintendo is developing "Pokémon Sword" and "Pokémon Shield" for the Nintendo Switch. Not spin-offs, like "Pokémon Stadium" or "Pokémon Snap" way back on the Nintendo 64, but a full-on main series entry. As is typical for main series "Pokémon" games, there are two versions ("Sword" and "Shield").

The game is set in a new region, known as "Galar," and it features the new art style that looks similar to the "Pokémon Let's Go!" games that ari ved in late 2018. It also features new Pokémon, new trainers, and a totally new story. 

With a launch window set for late 2019, "Pokémon Sword" and "Pokémon Shield" are likely to be the biggest Nintendo games of the year.

Release Date: "Late" 2019

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch

Perhaps we forgot your favorite game? Let us know! This list will be updated over time, and your contribution is much appreciated!

• The New York Times' new TV show is airing on the US cable channel FX on Sundays starting in June, and hours later on streaming service Hulu.
• It's the kind of distribution deal we could start to see more of in the modern TV era. 
• The deal offers the Times the scale of cable TV and a footing in the rapidly growing streaming-video space.
• "This was kind of the best of both worlds," Sam Dolnick, assistant managing editor at the Times, told Business Insider.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The New York Times' licensing strategy for its first weekly TV news program, "The Weekly," represents the kind of deals we might see more of in the modern TV era.

The series, "The Weekly," will air on US cable channel FX on Sundays, starting Jun. 2 at 10 p.m., and hit the streaming service Hulu three hours later. 

The cable channel and streaming service are both licensing the show from the New York Times. It's the first time FX is partnering with a streaming service to distribute a show. And, while Hulu is known for streaming new episodes of select series the day after they air on TV, the deal with FX for "The Weekly" marks the fastest a show will be coming to Hulu after being broadcast on traditional TV. 

The Times shopped the series to distributors in Los Angeles before landing on FX and Hulu. The two distributors then reached a deal to distribute the show amongst themselves.

For the Times, the strategy offers scale and a footing in the rapidly growing streaming-TV space.

"Cable has a giant reach in tens of millions of homes, which was quite tantalizing to us, but we all know the world is going towards streaming and so it felt necessary that we be there as well," Sam Dolnick, the assistant managing editor at the New York Times who is overseeing the publication's push into TV, told Business Insider. "This was kind of the best of both worlds."

The deal provided the Times with a "big budget" for the show, which was produced with production company Left/Right, Dolnick said. The publication declined to reveal the size of the budget. 

The Times was also able to remain editorially independent, though it took notes on the series from both FX and Hulu. FX, for example, asked the team to step back and explain the country of Tajikistan in an episode where reporter Rukmini Callimachi traveled there to uncover what had happened to two Americans who were killed in a terrorist attack. 

"Their most consistent notes, which are really well taken and we tried to address nearly every time, have been, slow down, add context, remember your viewers are not necessarily people who read the front page of the New York Times," Dolnick said.

Read Business Insider's full interview with Sam Dolnick on The Times' push into prestige TV.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 14 details in 'Game of Thrones' season 8 episode 4 you may have missed

• Director Dexter Fletcher follows finishing up "Bohemian Rhapsody" (after initial director Bryan Singer was fired) by making a biopic on Elton John with "Rocketman."
• Good news! Fletcher proves he can tell a great story.
• Using flashy CGI dance numbers and John's music, "Rocketman" is as dazzling as the artist it is celebrating.
• The movie also doesn't shy away from putting a spotlight on John's sexuality, which was a major criticism of "Rhapsody."
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The career of Elton Hercules John has been flamboyant, overindulgent, and has resulted in some of the best music ever made. "Rocketman" (in theaters Friday) uses those three things to fuel this dazzling look at his life.

Directed by Dexter Fletcher, who took over the making of last year's rock star biopic hit "Bohemian Rhapsody" after Bryan Singer was fired, the "Rocketman" DNA is not far from Fletcher's look at Queen. The only difference, and it's a big one, is while "Rhapsody" felt like a stale paint-by-numbers biopic, "Rocketman" is full of life.

Taron Egerton ("Sing," the "Kingsman" franchise) stars as John and gives an incredible performance playing him as shy Reggie Dwight from Middlesex who — thanks to his ear for music and finding a soul mate in lyricist Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell) — reinvents himself as Elton John and goes on to become one of the biggest musicians on the planet in the 1970s.

John's meteoric rise is filled with his hit songs that play over dance numbers that pop up throughout the movie. But we are also given the dark side of fame and John's persona.

John, who is still troubled by the fact that he never got much affection from his parents, and is struggling with his sexuality, uses drugs and alcohol to numb the pain. He also gets into a destructive relationship with his manager at the time, John Reid (Richard Madden). For all you "Game of Thrones" fans, you aren't going crazy: Robb Stark plays Reid in "Rocketman," while Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) played him in "Bohemian Rhapsody" (John Reid was also the manager of Queen).

While "Rhapsody" was criticized for not going far enough in truthfully depicting Queen frontman Freddie Mercury's sexuality, Fletcher has it front-and-center in "Rocketman," including the lengths John and his team went to in order to make the public think he was straight.

Read more: How "Booksmart" went from a 2009 script collecting dust to this year's must-see movie of the summer

Egerton gives the best performance of his career to date and embodies John in every way possible. There are some shots in the movie when you have to do a double-take because Egerton looks so much like the musician. And if you know his work from "Sing," you already know he can belt out an Elton John tune.

With "Rocketman," Fletcher proves that when he takes on a rock biopic from start to finish, he can pull off a great movie. With elaborate dance numbers that have a CGI-added "All That Jazz" feel, the movie is part rags-to-riches story and part rock concert.

SEE ALSO: Disney's "Aladdin" remake has fun moments, but feels like a watered-down version of the original

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 14 details in 'Game of Thrones' season 8 episode 4 you may have missed